facebook

Many friends were asking why I didn't update my blog frequently anymore . I am not too sure of a positive reply. Beats me, could be I have nothing to say lately or could be I spend most of the time on facebook. Yeah! Facebook ! A revolutionary tools that have brought the world together. I felt such emotion meeting old friends, enemies and long lost cousins through facebook. It empower the whole surrounding of your life, suddenly, you felt mature, thinking of old friends regardless whether they are close to you. Somehow, each one of them play major role in our life. Those days of misunderstanding and back biting vanish into thin air as we tend to appreciate their friendship in our life.

I am dumbfounded to realize those friends back then who even not close to me before, have a sense of emotion with me. You felt the spirit of togetherness. Let us ignore the politics of life and focus on the path of friendship in this world and hereafter. Easier said than done. However, after going through the patch of turbulence in life, the discovery of appreciation of others will ensure our soberity in thanking Allah that He have send us many wonderful strangers who we call them friends. I realize when we keep on pointing at others faults, relatively we are also the same. It reminds me of what Shah Naqshband said :If we look at the mistakes of our friends, we will be left friendless because no one is perfect. We keep on changing from time to time.

Burdah Night on 24 dec 08 at Malabar Mosque

Salaam everyone,

To the lovers of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. we hope and dua you are in the state of good health in this blessed month. In the Colleberation between Malabar Muslim Jama-ath Mosque, Simply Islam and Sout Ilaahi, we would like to invite you to Burdah Night "The Love for Prophet s.a.w. with Shaykh Fakhruddin Owaisi al Madani al Tijani from South Africa. The event will commence after the Solat Maghrib on 24 Dec 08 at Malabar Mosque 471 Victoria Street , Singapore

Insha'Allah shaykh Fakhrudin who is himself a master of reading burdah will be leading this noble majlis. We hope you are able to attend this Burdah event. All are welcome, man and woman. Its an opportunity not to be miss.

Biography
Shaykh Fakhruddin Owaisi al-Madani,is the descendant of Sayyidina Owais al-Qarni, is a muqaddam of the Tijaniyya in Cape Town, South Africa. He was born in the USA but grew up and studied in Medina al-Munawwara for 18 years. He has an MA in Islamic Studies from the University of Cape Town and is the Imam of the Hout Bay Mosque in Capetown. He is also the Head of the Sunni `Ulema Council of Cape Town. Shaykh Fakhruddin studied with Sayyid Muhammad `Alawi al-Maliki of Mecca and also has ijazah in Hadith from Sayyid Muhammad al-Yaqubi. He took the Tariqa from the great Sufi master Shaykh Hassan Cisse of Senegal.

What is Burdah?
"Historians look at the Burdah, we very soon realize that what we are dealing with is very probably the most influential and the most popular single poem in the history of any language. there simply is no other text from ancient or recent times that has been done in so many languages, not just for some rarefied literary elite but for the people..." -

Timothy J. Winter (Abdal Hakim Murad), Cambridge University, UK

Qasida Burdah as a poem has had a unique history. Even in the poet's lifetime it was already regarded as sacred. Over 90 commentaries have been written on this poem by many of the foremost scholars and imams of Islam, including Ibn Hajar, Mulla Ali al-Qari, Ibn Allan, Bajuri, and others. It has been translated into Persian, Urdu, Turkish, Berber, Punjabi, English, French, German, Sindhi, Dutch and other languages. It is recited across the world in sacred ceremonies, mosques, on blessed days even in social gatherings such as marriage etc. The poem is memorized and recited in congregations, and its verses decorate the walls of public buildings and mosques.

From coasts of Senegal to the Philippines, from Russia to South Africa, everywhere Qasida Burdah is recited as a token of love for the Prophet and to ask for blessings. In some circles it is a major and regular practice to recite the Burdah. In Indonesia for example, its a normal routine for the students of religious training to read Burdah on the Friday morning after sunrise or Saturday afternoon. Some having it thrice a week while others may have it the whole week in the early morning. In Java, Burdah is one of their Spiritual Culture.

Melodies of Medina by Shaykh Fakhrudin

This CD produced by Sout Ilaahi is available at Wardah Bookstore and Toko Warisan
You can listen to the samples at www.soutilaahi.com

Track titles of the CD:

1) Tala al badru alayna
2) Allahu Adkhulul Madinah
3) As Salatu Alal Muzallal
4) Bushra Lana
5) Hubb un nabiyyi wal ali
6) Ya Imama Rusli
7) Allahu Ataynaka Bil Faqri
8) Allahu Ma Madda
9) Khayr Al Bariyyah
10) Sal Allahu ala Taha
11) Sal Allahu Alayk Ya nur
12) Al Burdah

photo: CD cover, below: Shaykh Fakhrudin Owaisi

Sout Ilaahi Website

Salaam and Hellooo everyone, We are thankful to Allah swt and his beloved Prophet Muhammd s.a.w for the reality of Sout Ilaahi new website at www.soutilaahi.com Thanks for your support since the beginning. We hope to continue our effort in producing Qasidah, mawlid, Nasheeds and many more other projects which will bring benefit to our society. may Allah bless you and your families and friends.

Qurban (Thanks for your participation)

786m

Salaam bro and sis,

I hope and dua you are in the state of good health in this blessed month. I would like to thanks those who have been participating the Qurban project which me and few friends have been organizing for the past few years till today.This year the number of people participating the Qurban increase tremendously despite the economic turmoil. Alhamdulilah. We are glad that we are able to help the poor people in Solo, Jogjarkarta and Aceh. We hope you are able to support our future projects. May Allah bless you.

In Solo, there were 350 poor families and many orphans which hadbenefit from this Qurban project. The Qurban meat was distributed to them. The Qurban was handled by Kiyai Sholeh Masrur and supervised by Habib Noh al Haddad who is the direct descendant of Habib Abdullah al haddad and a prince of Solo.The Qurban was done at the villa of Habib Nuh al Haddad. There was a video taken during the Qurban there. Those who participated will be able to get the vcd soon. Habib Noh and Kiyai Sholeh express their sincerest love and thanks to you whom had participated in this Qurban

While in Aceh, the Qurban was handled by Shaykh Jamhuri bin Ramli al Hafiz. There was photo and video taken during the Qurban, those who participated Qurban in Aceh can get the Vcd and photos from me soon. There were many poor people, orphans and broken families from the tsunami tragedy benefited from this Qurban as meat of the Qurban were distributed among them.They came from many parts of Aceh estimated more than 300 people. They were overwhelmed and happy to receive such gifts from our brothers and sisters in Singapore. Shaykh Jamhuri and the Governor of Banda Aceh would like to thanks those who participate in this Qurban and hope to continue this noble effort.

In Jogjakarta, the Qurban is handled by bro Joko together with the Keraton, Royal family and workers. Alhamdulilah, the king and his family including his secretary was very happy with the contributions of Qurban from Singaporeans.They were also looking forward to continue this noble project in the coming future, inshaAllah.

The success of this noble Qurban project is due to the baraqah of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and Awliyah Allah including our beloved Murshid Mawlana Shaykh Nazim and his deputies Mawlana Shaykh Hisham and Mawlana Shaykh Adnan. may Allah bless them and lengthen their life in this world to guide us and the rest of humanities.

may Allah bless you and forgive me.

Available of our products

Alhamdulilah, some of our CDs such as Recitation Of The Beloved "Mawlid Daibai" by Shaykh Zakaria Bahgarib, Qasidah Burdah by Habib Hassan al kaff, Celebration of the beloved, Melodies of Medina by Shaykh Fakhrudin Owaisi, Mawlid berzanji is available at Toko Warisan.

address of Toko Warisan
1 Joo Chiat Road, #02-1017 JOO CHIAT COMPLEX,
Blk 201E Tampines St 23 #01-96 Singapore 527201

Also available at al Khidmah
http://www.alkhidmah.com/
only certain CDs such as Habib Syech vol 01, Mawlid Daibai by Shaykh Zakaria, Melodies of Medinah by Shaykh Fakhrudin Owaisi

All our CD products are available at Wardah Books (www.wardahbooks.com)

Poverty and meat

I cant forget those days I spent in Java especially in Solo. It was something which I will never forget for the rest of my life. The images of poverty remain in my mind which I always try to force myself to be thankful to live in Singapore. One cant imagine how tough their life could be. Living at home with no tiles and proper renovation, rats running around, mosquitoes attacking them in the middle of the night. Yet they are contend with life and remain faithful to God. Its something precious and valuable that I learn. Some have sheep, goats and cows but cant consume meat because of their poverty. Usually, they had meat meal once in a year or during the Haul of some habaaib. Otherwise their routine meal would be beans, rice and some vegetable. No doubt its the healthy lifestyle but if we can help them to have the experience of eating meat would make them happy. Even the poor people in Singapore does get this sort of luxury meal. Therefore, I have decided to have this Qurban Project in Solo and Aceh, sorely the purpose is to help these poor families having the experience of eating meat. may Allah forgive me by being with them.