Come with us

If you never searched for truth

come with us

and you will become a seeker

If you were never a musician

come with us

and you will find your voice

You may posses immense wealth

come with us

and you will become love's beggar

You may think yourself a master

come with us

and love will turn you into a slave

If you've lost your spirit,

come with us

take off your silk coverings,

put on our rough cloak

and we will bring you back to life.

Ghazal/Ode 74,

Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi,

may Allah sanctify his soul & bless his secret

Rumi: Hidden Music, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2001

Love and self Interest

If one loves someone because it gives pleasure, one should not be regarded as loving that person at all. The love is, in reality, though this is not perceived, directed towards the pleasure. The source of the pleasure is the secondary object of attention, and it is perceived only because the perception of the pleasure is not well enough developed for the real feeling to be identified and described.

Imam Ghazali

Conceal others mistake

You have to be concealers of your brothers’ and sisters ‘faults as God is the Concealer of the sins of human beings. You must not show up their mistakes for you yourself are in the midst of mistakes. If you do not show their mistakes, God will never show your mistake. This is the meaning of Sattār, the Concealer. Hide their mistakes; don’t speak ill of your brothers and sisters, and God will hide your mistakes. For everyone has mistakes they are hiding in their heart. If you take such care to hide your own mistakes, why do you bring out the mistakes of the others? Hide others’ mistakes, and God has sworn on His Honor and Greatness that He is going to curse anyone that is not going to hide the mistakes of his brothers and sisters, or hide whatever bad events have passed concerning them.

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

taken From Hide Others’ Mistakes

Pic: Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani in Indonesia

Mawlid of Habib Umar bin Hafiz " The Glitettering Illumination "

Mawlid of Habib Umar bin Hafiz " The Glitettering Illumination "

The long awaited Mawlid of Habib Umar bin Hafiz " The Glitettering Illumination A maulid Eulogy in Rememberance of the Intercessor Prophet s.a.w." with english translation book is finally out published by Ilham Press. This is defitnely a must for those who strive on the path of love for the Beloved Prophet s.a.w. Insha'Allah with the english translation, you may understand the meaning of these wonderful and amazing words from this Divine poetry composed by Habib Umar bin Hafiz.

This book consist of 84 pages amd A5 size. It only cost you $10. 00 singapore dollars (doesnt include postage). While stock last. If you are keen, pls email me at khalid_ajmain@yahoo.com.sg or +65 90687106

I believe in The Religion of Love

I believe in The Religion of Love

Khalid Ajmain

It saddenes me to hear about muslims not possessing moral ethics (adab). I tend to ignore such accusations on us until I recently experienced a rude awakening caused by some fellow muslims.

I was at a mosque one day when suddenly, I heard someone shouting hastily to a group of people. Curious about the commotion, I rushed to see what was going on. To my astonishment, I saw an elderly muslim 'uncle' cursing and shouting at a group of Japanese tourists. It seemed that his outburst was due to the tourists being improperly attired to enter the mosque. To me, his outburst was an evident example of tarnishing the image of muslims. Although there were signboards stating the regulations for entry to the mosque, I strongly felt that caution had to be exercised in how they were dealt with. Their intentions could be as noble as to explore more about the faith and it would be unfair for us to expect that much out of them. Fortunately, the Japanese tourists responded calmly and heeded his instructions.

The Japanese people come from a vast spiritual culture and this is seems to be the main drive in their interest towards other religions. People engulfed in modern living constantly live with spiritual anixety in their hearts. Their souls long deeply for the light of faith to guide them to the righteous path. In the past, many Europeans embraced Islam upon their discovery of the heavenly Islamic architecture of ancient mosques in Morrocco, Egypt, Syria amongst other ancient cities. Many hearts sense such Divine attractions. This seemed alike to what the Japanese tourists felt, this longing to discover their own spirituality through such Divine wonders that Allah has blessed us with. It could have been the towering minaret or the magnificent interior of the prayer hall or even the melodious prayer call (adhan). Whatever reason it could be, we are nobody to judge. Their intentions are truly with Allah and it was most definitely His will for them to enter a Sacred dominion.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. always reacted with complete love and sincerity. Once, a bedouin walked into a mosque and urinated in the prayer hall in the presence of the Prophet s.a.w. and his companions. With extreme caution and a heart filled with tolerance the Prophet s.a.w. urged his companions not the react to what the bedouin had done and allowed the man to leave without being confronted. All this was in effort to allow the man to not retaliate from any harsh reaction and end up never setting foot in a mosque again. Our Blessed Prophet s.a.w. was a true protector of the dignity of Islam. These days we proudly claim to be members of the community (ummah) of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. while we stain our religion's name with bad manners towards others.

The Holy Prophet s.a.w. was sent as a 'Mercy to the all worlds' (Rahmatan lil alamin). He demonstrated perfectly the manner in building bridges with other communities. His perfection in characther attracted many into embracing Islam. His humble actions alone were a source of pulling companionship from others towards him. The opposers to his message once lamented, "How could we challenge him when he has earned the title of 'The Trustworthy One' (al-Amin)?". I recall Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani mentioning to me before, "The Prophet s.a.w. gave out flowers not swords".

A Holy Companion of the Prophet s.a.w., Sayyidina Ayub al-Ansari r.a. moved to Istanbul, spreading the Holy message of Islam whilst being unable to speak a word of Turkish. Similarly, Saad ibn Abi Waqqas r.a. was sent to China without knowing how to speak Chinese. Instead, these noble followers of the Holy Prophet s.a.w. spoke the language of love, learning from his s.a.w. true example. The Sufis also played a major role into spreading Islam through love and compassion. They travelled as traders from arab continents into many parts of the world, spreading the message of Islam and transforming the lives of many. Historical sources never recorded the spread of Islam coming through swords and bloodshed. The Sufis never intended any colonization of territories nor did implement force on non-muslims. Islam spread with love from Divine Character. A true example was the Wali Songo, the Noble Council of 9 Saints who transformed the Javanese nation from Hinduism to the ritual purity of Islam.

The moment for self reflection begins today. We need to re-evaluate ourselves. Let us not look at others but at ourselves instead. We need to regain important values. We desperately need this change to fuel solutions on our moral crisis that our youth now face, the high rates of divorce, neglect of the elderly and the rapid spread of extremist ideologies. We have to rekindle the light of Spirituality (ihsan) by following the true example of the Prophet s.a.w.Our religion is based on the platform of love. The great saint Ibn 'Arabi Q.s. said “I follow the religion of love, wherever its caravan might take me,”

The Prophet s.a.w. said, “No one should look down on a gift from his neighbour, even if it is only a sheep’s trotter.” Despising is pure ignorance. So do not be a curser nor someone abusive nor someone who shouts. Anyone who curses a believer is like someone who kills him. When Jesus a.s. met a pig, he said to it, “Be saved with peace.” He was asked about that and said, “I do not want to accustom my tongue to anything except good speech.”

People are all speech,so be the best words heard.

When a thorn pierces you from them,

be the strongest shield in repelling it.

When you are like that with them,

then you, by God, are a beneficial leader.

The candle harms itselfwhile it is a

blazing light to the onlooker.

The blame which you recognizeis a blessing

in the hand a person who is deprived.
- Muhyiddin Ibn al-‘Arabi

Pic by Shahran (symbolize bridging differences)

Like Layla and Majnun

Our Grandsheikh says if a man loves a person, he never sees any disliked thing; every thing is perfect, his features, his speaking and actions. By practicing, you may be on that station. Like Layla and Majnun, he loved everything belonging to her, her dogs, her village, including even the stones. Perfect love results in looking to a person and seeing all perfection. For a lover, nothing can be disliked in his beloved; if we see people in perfection, we will like them. Because everyone is unique in His creation, there is complete and special perfection with him.

Even physically, each one is a special individual. This is from Allah’s endless power, to make everyone unique. Looking with these eyes, our hearts must incline to at least be friends with everybody. Then everybody also comes to us with friendship, and then friendship will lead to love. As much as we are loving people, we are strong in love for the Lord. Look always at people’s perfection and search for their good actions. Allah orders, don’t look at people’s faults, it brings you to hate and enmity. You will come down to these same faults. You must keep your eyes.

Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil Haqqani

taken from The real love is forever

Love must not be by tongue

An ‘Arabi [Beduin] came to the mosque and asked the Prophet s.a.w., “When is Judgment Day Ya Rasulullah? The Prophet s.a.w. answered, “What have you prepared for it?” He said, “I am in love with you Ya Muhammad s.a.w..” And he left. The Prophet s.a.w. informed him, yuhshar al-mar’u ma` man ahab – “the man will be with whom he loves.”

If you love Muhammad s.a.w. you will be with alladheena an`am Allaha `alayhim min an-nabiyyeen was-siddiqeen wash-shuhada’ was-saliheen wa hasuna ula’ika rafeeqa. All who obey Allah and the apostle are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah,- of the prophets (who teach), the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the Righteous (who do good): Ah! what a beautiful fellowship! [4:69]

Love must not be by tongue. It must be by heart, by body, every cell of your body must say, “I love Muhammad s.a.w.!”

That is not shirk, that is love. There are people when “Muhammad s.a.w.” is mentioned tears come to their eyes.

Do you think love is only by means of the tongue? If you are in love with a woman and she doesn’t respond to letters or to calls, you are crying – you don’t sleep. There are awliya who cannot enjoy themselves except through tears of love to Muhammad s.a.w.. Their joy is in their tears. That is why the greatness of Sayyidina Muhammad s.a.w. cannot be understood.

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

Taken from Love is the key

pic of Mawlana Shaykh Hisham in Germany,2007