Sulaiman Kabir

Assalamu'alaikom,

Hope you are in good health.

Sorry i haven't updated my blog in a while, I have just given birth to a healthy beautiful baby boy Sulaiman Kabir on November 13 at 1.50pm.

Just getting used to motherhood :)

Little Naqshi.

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HILYE-I SERIFE

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahmin

About the Hilye:

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "he who sees my hilye after me, it is as if he had actually seen me, and he who sees it out of love and desire for me, Allah will forbid the fire of Hell to touch him. He will be safe from the trials of the grave, and he will not be sent forth naked on the day of resurrection." ~ Tirmidhi

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Women are honoured

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahmin



Women are honoured to carry themselves the greatest secret - that of human life.

Jalaluddin Rumi wrote:

The Prophet, to whose speech the whole world was enslaved,
Used to say, “Speak to me, O Aisha!”
The Prophet said that women dominate men of intellect
and Possessors of hearts,
but ignorant men dominate women,
for they are shackled by the ferocity of animals.
They have no kindness, gentleness, or love,
Since animality dominates their nature.
Love and kindness are human attributes,
Anger and sensuality belong to the animal.
She is not your “Sweetheart” – She is the radiance of God!

What better example of a women is there than the daughter of the
Prophet (s.w.a), Fatimah az-Zahrah (r.a)? When she saw that her father was
constantly saying, “O my Community,” she wanted to do something herself
for the benefit of this Community. when God ordered the Prophet s.w.a to find
a husband for his daughter, the Prophet s.w.a called all the Companions
without discrimination and said to them, “God has ordered me to say that
whoever recites the Quran from beginning to end tonight may marry my
daughter Fatimah, if she consents.”

That night, all the Companions tried to recite the Quran from
beginning to end. All stayed at the mosque trying to finish except Ali ibn
Abi Talib (r.a) who went home and slept. Everyone, including the blessed
Prophet (s.w.a) assembled in the mosque when Bilal (r.a) recited the call for the
dawn prayer. After performing the dawn prayer, Prophet Muhammad (s.w.a)
asked, who finished the Quran last night so that I can marry him to my
daughter Fatimah?” No one was able to answer, because it is very difficult
to finish the thirty parts of the Quran in only seven or eight hours.

Ali ibn Abi Talib (r.a) said, “O Messenger of God, I finished reciting the
Quran last night.”

The other Companions looked at him and said, “How is it that you
finished the Quran? You slept all night.”

He said, “No, I completed Quran from beginning to end.”

The Prophet (s.w.a) said to Ali (r.a) “Who is your witness?”

Ali (r.a) said, “God is my witness and you, O Prophet (s.w.a), are my witness
that I completed it. O Messenger of God, I recited the following: “There is no
God but God, Muhammad is the Messenger of God” three times; “I seek the
forgiveness of God” seventy times; the Opening Chapter once; the Chapter
of Sincerity three times; the Chapter of the Dawn once; then the Chapter of
Humanity once; There is no god but God” ten times ; and ten times “Peace
and the blessings of God be upon Muhammad and his family.”

The Prophet (s.w.a) said, “As God bears witness, I also bear witness that Ali
has completed the Quran.” If you recite what he recited, it is equivalent to
having completed the Quran.”

The Prophet (s.w.a.) asked Fatimah (r.a), “o Fatimah, do you accept Ali as
your husband?”

She said, “On one condition.”

All the Companions looked at Ali (r.a), at Fatimah (r.a), and at the Prophet
(s.w.a). the Prophet’s face changed as he wondered why Fatimah (r.a) said this?
What could the condition be? The angel Gabriel (a.s) came and told him, “O
Prophet, do not make a quick decision concerning her. God is telling you to
ask her what her condition is.”

The Prophet (s.w.a) said, “O Fatimah, what is your condition?”

She said, “The condition does not concern Ali, but it is related to me. If
that condition is fulfilled, I will accept. If not, I will never accept to marry
Ali.”

Again, the angel Gabriel (a.s) came to the Prophet (s.w.a) saying, “God is
ordering you to ask her what her condition is.” Now look at what God had
put into her heart and consider the benefit and station of women in
spirituality.

The Prophet (s.w.a) said, “O Fatimah, what is your condition?”

She said, “I hear you continuously, day and night, praying for your
Community. You say “O my Lord! Give me permission to lead my
Community to you! Forgive them! Purify them! Take away their sins,
difficulties and burdens!” I hear you, and know how much you suffer for
your Community. I know from what you have said that when you pass
away, you will still be saying, “My Community!” before your Lord, in your
grave, and on the Judgement Day.

My father, I see you suffering so much for your Community. Since
that love of your Community is also in my heart, I want your Community as
my dowry. If you accept, I will marry Ali.”

She asked for all of the Prophet’s Community, everyone without
discrimination. What was the Prophet (s.w.a) going to say? It was not in his hand
to give such a dowry. He waited for Gabriel (a.s), but Gabriel did not come quickly. He kept him waiting for some time, then came and said,
“God sends you His greetings and accepts Fatimah’s request. He gives her what
she asked for her dowry to marry Ali,” the Prophet (s.w.a) immediately stood
up and performed two rakats of prostrations of thankfulness to his Lord.

Fatimah (r.a) was only concerned for the salvation of the Community of
the Prophet (s.w.a). No one is going to be outside of her dowry because if God
removes one person from the dowry, it will be as if her marriage to Ali (r.a)
had been invalid. Therefore, she is going to take the entire Community
under her wing and they shall enter with her into Paradise.

This is from the power of one Muslim woman. She will take everyone with her into
Paradise.

What about other such women in islam? What will their power be?
What about saints? What about prophets? God has created human beings
pure. He keeps them pure with such power as that of the Prophet (s.w.a), Abu
Bakr (r.a) Umar (r.a) Uthman (r.a), Ali (r.a), and especially our grandmother,
Fatimah az-Zahrah (r.a), as well as our Grandshaykh, our Shaykh, and the
masters of the Naqshbandi Order and other orders.

May God guide us and all seekers in the Way of Divine Love and the
Divine Presence.

Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani
Chairman, Islamic Supreme Council of America
Washington, D.C.

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Melbourne Retreat Rabiul'Awwal 1428

Assalamu'alaikum waRahmatullahi waBarakatuh

Alhamdulillah I felt great blessing in the Melbourne Retreat that just passed over the Easter long weekend. It was a great opportunity to reunite with the neighbouring mureeds down in Melbourne. The entire event was a great spritual re-charge for all of us. Below is my husband's account of what happened at the blissful gathering not forgetting some memorable moments caught on camera!

Wassalam

Aaisha

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Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

We greeted the fresh scents of Melbourne on the early rise of Friday morning with our hearts occupied with high enthusiasm and at the same time anxiety of what to expect. It had been a while since we rejoiced with our Melbournite comrades. The atmosphere was filled with a heightening sense of welcome and reunion from Sayyid Hazem and the rest of the local mureeds, greeting us with open arms and hearts. Our advent was quickly set straight with a highly motivating suhba by Sayyid Hazem on what to expect for the weekend and how our aims should be set in tune with our Lord. It was a highly inspiring reminder that stayed with us throughout the visit. As 8 of us squeezed into one of the visiting brothers' four wheel-drive to head for Jumuaah prayers, the feeling of togetherness felt more imminent. It brought to my head the picture of how our Master always emphasises in togetherness in brotherhood and establishing the concept of having 'Goodness in Congregation' such that even in a small squeezy compartment, we are together journeying.

The days and nights of the weekend followed with highly spiritually powered chantings of congregational zikrullah with Sayyid Hazem orchestrating and firing up vibes of pure rhythms of praise to our Lord Almighty Allah and His most Blessed of Creation, Muhammad sallallahu 'alaihi wassalam. In many of the gatherings of remembrance we were graced by the whirling of a humble dervish whom I strongly felt unveiled a great presence to the gathering bringing forth a strong symbolism of being in tune with surrendering ourselves to the Divine Will of our Lord.

Perhaps the most imminent of feelings in the gatherings was the feeling of ukhuwah (brotherhood) that felt like a strong force being pulled together by the will of our shaykh directed by our Lord Most High, a feeling that none of us could deny. Amongst ourselves we not only exchanged life experiences and showered embraces, we all felt this bond that established a firmhold around us encapsulating us as a jamaah (congregation) as our Master often testifies: "Whenever any group of our brothers or sisters meet for the sake of Allah, joining their hearts to the hearts of the Masters of this Way, that meeting will attain the level of an association with the Sheikh. In such a meeting, such a power descends on the hearts of the attenders that even the deepest roots of hidden idolatry, of ego-worship, can be pulled out. Such an assembly is more beneficial than years of superogatory worship"

We departed with a longing that was stronger that ever for each other, knowing that even if we did not get to see each other again, our residence was together within our hearts where the throne of our Lord is. May Allah bless our Master Mawlana Shaykh Nazim and always keep us in his company and in the Blessed Presence of the Masters of the Way to our Lord's Divinely Presence. Ameen!

Bi hurmatil Habib, bi hurmatil- Fatihah

Wassalam
ashaari

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Mawlid Mubarak!

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Naqshbandi Sufi Order for Spiritual Healing & Meditation, Australia
Wishes all Naqshbandi mureeds. spiritual aspirants and lovers of the Beloved Prophet of Allah (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) a joyous season of celebrating praises of Allah Almighty's most Beloved, Sayyiduna wa Habbibuna wa Mawlana Muhammad salallahu 'alaihi wassalam.

Allahumma salli cala Muhammadin wa `ala ali Muhammadin wa sallim

http://www.naqshbandi.asn.au/



Position of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on the Last Day

The Last of the Prophets, Sayyidina Muhammad, Peace be Upon Him, is the most humble person of all mankind; no one can attain to his humbleness in the Divine Presence. Humility is the most beloved attribute of mankind in the eyes of Allah Almighty. To whatever extent we can be humble just so much is our Lord raising us higher; as much as a person is proud in front of his Lord, that much his Lord will debase him.

Allah Almighty raised His Beloved Muhammad to the highest ranks in the Divine Presence and entrusted him with the distribution of ranks to all mankind according to their need. The ranks of the various Propphets and Saints have been divided up and bestowed by Muhammad, and also, for believers in general, their ranks of faith (Iman) have been given by him. Allah Almighty has deputized the Prophet Muhammad to judge every creature, but he is never judging beyond that authority - that authority may extend to every creature but Allah Almighty is the Judge of Judges and He holds in His Hand judgment for all creatures including Muhammad. Grandsheikh was saying that Allah Almighty may open up to His Prophet the reality of being judge for all creatures on the Last Day. He will give to him authority to be judge for all people gathering on the Last Day in the Divine Presence. On that day, the Prophet's authority for judgment will appear. To know this is enough to know the honor belonging to our Prophet, who said in a hadith: "On that day Adam and all the Prophets will be under my flag. I am not saying this from pride, but only to inform you so you may believe in what my Lord is giving me on the Last Day; on that day all Prophets will be under my flag by the order of Allah Almighty, and by His command I am informing you so that you may know every one's rank in the Divine Presence."

When Adam's soul was first blown into him, he looked up to the throne of Allah; later, when he sinned in Paradise and Allah Almighty sent him to Earth, he asked his Lord, "Oh my Lord, for the sake of Muhammad, forgive me." Allah Almighty asked him, "Oh Adam, how did you know Muhammad when yet he is not created?" "Oh my Lord, when my soul entered my body and I first opened my eyes, I looked to Your throne, where I saw written, "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger" (La ilaha illallah, Muhammadun Rasulallah), and so I know that he must be the most beloved person to You Almighty and the most honorable of creatures that his name may be thus written alongside Yours. Allah Almighty answered Adam, "Yes, you are right, he is My beloved, and is so respectable in My sight that I created the whole Universe for his sake; if you ask Me for forgiveness for his sake, I shaIl forgive you and shall be merciful with your sons as well."

Allah Almighty will give authority to Muhammad on the Last Day. On that day Allah will judge everyone, and when He is finished with His judgment He will call Muhammad to the most praised station (al-Maqam-ul- Mahmud) which no one else can reach. Allah Almighty shall say, "Ask, and whatever you want shall be granted to you, for these people are now subject to your judgment." This is the meaning of the Qur'anic saying that Muhammad was not sent but as a mercy to the worlds.

- Mawlana Sheikh Nazim Haqqani
(taken from Mercy Oceans Hidden Treasures)

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Esma ul Husna

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Wonderful Gifts - Rumi

" We love: that's why life is full of so many wonderful gifts".

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Mohamed Mounir - Madad Ya Rasulallah

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Brand new blog on Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi

http://mevlanarumi.blogspot.com

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“Love is Lovely”

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahmin

Love is lovely to the Lord and to His servants. If you do anything with love it should be accepted by your Lord, and He should make it tasteful for you. If you love your work it will be easy for you to do, if not, it will only be a burden. The Lord says: “I am not in need of your worship, I am only seeking the love with which it is offered.” Oh servants of the Lord, Oh believers, you must not overlook this point. Don’t be like slaves rowing in the galley of a ship – if you pray, you must pray with love not by force, as if a slavedriver were standing over you with a whip! Allah never appreciates such forced devotions. Now we are trying to perform all the practices but forgetting to ask for Divine Love, so we are becoming like mechanical robots, or like people performing gymnastics.

Allah has asked us to engage our bodies in His worship and in service to His creation through charity and good deeds, but what must be the fruit of those actions? If the fruit is not love it is a bitter fruit and is rejected. If our worship causes Love of God to grow in our hearts, then we must keep to that practice and continue on our way; and if we are keeping the company of a spiritual teacher, and find that through keeping his company love of God is awakening in our hearts, then we must follow him closely.

The Love of God is not easy to attain, for we cannot imagine Him; therefore, He Almighty has made the Prophets apostles of His Love. Allah’s Beloved, the Seal of Prophets, Muhammad, upon whom be peace, was such a pure medium for the transmission of that love that the hearts of his companions were overwhelmed with his love, and were transported to the love of God. He was the representative of Allah, who is the Absolute Truth; therefore, the Prophet declared: “Who has seen me has seen the Absolute Truth”.

When a delegation of non-Muslims came to visit Medina, they were amazed at the love and respect shown to the Prophet by his companions. When they returned home they said to their leader: “We have met many emperors, kings and tribal chiefs, but never have we seen one whose subjects or courtiers treated him with such sincere love and devotion. How can this be?” They were not able to comprehend the secret of this love, as their egos caused them to deny Muhammed’s prophethood. The love of the companions towards the Prophet was such that they used to say to him: “I am ready to sacrifice for you even my mother and father”, which, for the Arabs, is much stronger than saying: “I would sacrifice myself for you”. And in reality many of them underwent nearly unbearable hardships for the sake of their belief in the mission of the Holy Prophet: exile, disinheritance, boycott, torture and death.

Who represented the Holy Prophet after his life on Earth? Those who evoked such love. The Prophet himself described them: “Those who see them are reminded of God”. He who thirsts for Divine Love must seek out such people, but in our time they are mostly hidden, and Islam has come to mean for many people only a set of rules of conduct and forms of worship – an empty shell. Who can derive taste from such a thing? Shall mosques be only gymnasiums? And now the “gym teachers” are opposing Sufi Paths, which are the ways of the heart, ways that lead to the Love of God.

Our Lord has given us an instrument that measures not your blood pressure but our “love pressure” and our goal is to make it high! Yes, seek to improve with every new day, for the Holy Prophet said: “Whoever does not improve with each day is losing ground.” What does this mean? It doesn’t mean that if we pray forty rakats of prayer today, we should pray forty-one tomorrow and forty-two the next day. No, that is not required, what is intended is that you fill your worship with ever more love of your Lord, so that He will observe: “My servant has sent Me more love today than yesterday. “One of our Grandsheikhs summarised perfectly what I am trying to say: “An atom’s weight of love is worth more than seventy years’ worship without love”.

Sheikh Nazim Al Qubrusi MERCY OCEANS - Rising Sun

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Sheikh Nazim Quote

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THE TRUE SUFI

What makes the Sufi? Purity of heart;
Not the patched mantle and the lust perverse
Of those vile earth-bound men who steal his name.
He in all dregs discerns the essence pure:
In hardship ease, in tribulation joy.
The phantom sentries, who with batons drawn
Guard Beauty's place-gate and curtained bower,
Give way before him, unafraid he passes,
And showing the King's arrow, enters in.

R. A. Nicholson
'Persian Poems', an Anthology of verse translations edited by A.J.Arberry, Everyman's Library, 1972

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What gives man dishonour?

Assalamu'alaikom

Eid Mubarak to you! Sorry i haven't updated my blog in a while, I have been busy with Studies and Eid.

Below is a Sohbet by Mevlana Sheikh Nazim al Haqqani

Enjoy! :)

Wassalam,
Aaisha
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Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

The Imam of the Naqshbandi Tariqah, Shah Naqshband, was asking the prophet an important question. This news is from our Grandsheikh. He was present and has permission for speaking. "Oh my Prophet, can you tell me about a characteristic that makes people dishonourable?" Every man has been honoured by his Lord. No one can find without honour, women, men, little boys, street cleaners, everyone is honoured the same. You may loose or keep this honour for yourself, but you must keep respect for the honour of everyone. You must not look at their titles, stars on their shoulders or their clothes. The sons of Adam are honoured by their Lord. This is reality, but some actions make people dishonourable. Shah Naqshband was asking which kind of actions. The Prophet said: “Oh Fard-ul-Arsh, you are not asking for yourself but for my nation. I am pleased with you and my nation will benefit. The first action is for a man to involve himself in things that are not his concern. (Ma-la-ya’in)” if you are not concerned, don’t look. This makes people dishonourable. So many people are in trouble from this characteristic; all troubles in the world are coming from this. Students are gathering, ‘that person down, that person up’. So many people are criticizing governments. Each should look after their job, farmers to plant, students to study. If you could do that job better, Allah would put you as president, don’t speak against governments, no need for this. For Russians, their president is suitable, for Americans, their president is suitable, each nation gets the ruler it deserves.

The Second action bringing dishonour is not to endure disliked things. Perhaps one person addresses you with the words you don’t like and you are offended. You must keep that anger in yourself, not showing i. if anger showing in the face, with hand or tongue, that anger makes people dishonourable. Anger is an adder, a strong poisonous snake like the cobra; if you are not careful, it will bite you and others. Anger first blows out the light of faith in your heart and then comes on your face. Keep one mirror with you, and when angry, look at your face. You will be frightened. Our Grandsheikh says, to show anger in the face or actions takes away faith from the heart. You can’t listen to your Lord or to Your Prophet. If a person dies angry, he will go to Hell.

- MERCY OCEANS (BOOK TWO)
Teachings of Mevlana Sheikh Abdullah Ed-Dagistani En-Naqshbandi

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Ramadan Mubarak

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The Power of the Sheikh

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

The Holy Prophet (sws) used to pray: “ Allahumma, la takilni ila nafsi tarfataini...Oh Lord, don’t leave me in the hands of my ego for even the blink of an eye.” If you are with your ego, it cuts you off from others, and then you are alone with the ego. To feel and think that you are alone makes you depressive; it destroys the personality, and you are in a helpless situation. Loneliness is the beginning of difficulties and suffering, physically and spiritually. If you are alone, you are unable to think clearly and realize the needs of other people. And if you are speaking to people, and you are not with your Sheikh, then you are like a blind man throwing stones, unable to reach your target.

Therefore you must ask: “ Oh my Sheikh, I am asking to be with you. You are with me, but I am not with you. I will try to be with you.” If these two currents meet, the power will run. The more you are able to concentrate on his being with you, the more power reaches you from his side. If you are wholly with him, then he is in you, and you are your own Sheikh.

That is the meaning of being with your Sheikh... His power will surround you as much as you are with him, and then you should reach to unlimited power, because the Sheikh is connected to the Prophet, and the Prophet is in the Divine Presence.

Be with your Sheikh, and you will lose neither power, knowledge, wisdom, patience, nor your life, because everything is with him. You are never alone, not even in deserts or on seas, even if you were the only human being on earth. You will be most powerful among people; and even if the whole of mankind was coming against you, you wouldn’t fear, because you are connected to the real power station. If anyone was to touch you, he would fall down.

The fact that this power exists makes our life easy and safe. There is no need to fear if we concentrate on our Sheikh. But if we forget him, hopelessness and depression, suffering and fear may come to us. Therefore take him with you, wherever you are going. Then he will lead and guide you in everything. Then you will understand what it means to be with the Prophet, to be with Allah. You will experience Fana...you will vanish, and He will appear in you.

Those are the people about whom the Prophet said: “When you look to them, you look to Allah.” If you are with your Sheikh, Shaitan will never conquer your heart. He can’t enter because your Sheikh is there with you. May Allah make it easy for us to be with one of His servants who is in the Divine Presence... Fatiha.

- Mawlana Shaykh Nazim ( from Bridges to Eternity)

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Taking Initiation (Bay'ah)

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

The seeker must follow a perfect Master able to guide him to the way of Allah, Almighty and Exalted, and to illuminate for him that way until he reaches the State of Annihilation. The seeker must give his oath and his promise to his guide, to learn from him how to leave his bad manners and to lift himself to better conduct in order to reach the Perfect Knowledge of Spirituality.

The meaning of initiation and its conditions have been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, in the Sunnah of the Prophet and in the life of the Companions.

1. In verse 10 of Surat al-Fath, "Verily those who swear allegiance to thee indeed swear allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands. So whoever breaks his oath breaks it to his own loss; and whoever fulfils the covenant that he has made with Allah, He will surely give him a great reward." [48:10]

2. In verse 91 of Surat an-Nahl, "And fulfil the Covenant of Allah when you have made it; and break not your oaths after making them firm, while you have made Allah your surety. Certainly, Allah knows what you do." [16:91]

3. In verse 34 of Surat al-Isra', "and fulfil the covenant, for the covenant shall be questioned about." [17:34]

We see the Qur'an encouraging the people to give their oath and to keep their oath to the Prophet (s), who leads them to the presence of Allah, Almighty and Exalted. That initiation was done in the time of the Prophet (s) and after the time of the Prophet (s).

According to the Sunnah of the Prophet (s), the oath was taken from men, as a group, or as individuals; from women, as a group or as individuals, and even from children. Bukhari and Muslim narrate that ‘Ubada ibn as-Samit said, "The Prophet (s) said, 'Give me your pledge and oath not to associate anything with Allah, not to steal, not to commit adultery, not to kill your children, not to backbite, not to fall into sin; and who keeps his promise, then his reward is from Allah, Almighty and Exalted.' And then we gave our pledge to the Prophet (s) and our oath."

The Prophet (s) used to give initiation (bay'ah) to all people and urged them to take it. Bukhari and Muslim narrated in their books that 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar said, "When we pledged to the Prophet (s) to listen and obey, the Prophet (s) used to say, 'To the limit that you can carry.'"

Initiation of Women

The Prophet (s) gave bay'ah to women many many times. It is narrated by Imam A mad in the Musnad that Salma bint Qays said, "I came to the Prophet (s) with many people from the Ansar, and we gave him our bay'ah, our pledge that we would not associate anyone with Allah, we would not steal, we would not commit adultery, we would not kill our children, we would not backbite and we would not disobey. We gave him our bay’ah and we went."

Initiation of Children

The Prophet (s), according to the books of Nisa'i and Tirmidhi gave initiation to Umayymah bint Ruqiyyah. It was narrated by Tabarani that 'Izza bint Khayyil took initiation from the Prophet (s) when they were not yet seven. It was also narrated by Tabarani in in an authentic hadith that the Prophet (s) gave bay’ah to al-H asan, al-Hussain, ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas and ‘Abdullah ibn Ja’far when they were 7 years of age.

The Companions of the Prophet (s) gave Bay’ah to the khalifs of the Prophet (s) after his passing. It is narrated through the books of Sirah of the Sahhaba that the Sahaba gave Bay’ah to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, to ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan, to ‘Ali, to Mu’awiya, and to all the khalifs who came later, as they had given it to the Prophet (s).

The Prophet (s) said in a Hadith related by Abu Dawud and Ahmad, "Whoever imitates a group of people will be of them." So the inheritors of the Masters of the Sufi orders, especially the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, inherited the initiation in every century. As it was an obligation in the time of the Prophet, and in the time of the Sahaba and in the time of the Tabi’in and Tabi’ at-Tabi’in, and in the times of the Umayyads, Abbasids, Seljukids, and Ottomans, so it is also an obligation to give our Bay’ah to a perfect guide, who guides us to the Way of Allah, Almighty and Exalted. And who is a better guide than the Sufi Masters who are inheritors of the Prophet (s) and inheritors of the Divine Presence?

The scholar Abul asan ‘Ali Nadwi wrote in his book Rijal al-Fikr wa-d-Da’wah , page 253, "Abdul Qadir Jilani, the Ghawth of the Sufi Orders, Shaikh Muhiyideen ibn Arabi, and all the Masters of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain, opened the door of initiation as wide as possible, for every individual who has good and true belief, to find something that will be of value to him spiritually, and for everyone to renew his Bay’ah with Allah, Almighty and Exalted. These Sufi Masters of the Naqshbandi Golden Chain and all Sufi orders lifted their followers to a station of Truthfulness, to feel the responsibility of their initiation and to renew their faith."

Thus we see that it is an important factor in every Sufi Order for one to take Bay’ah with the Shaikh, in order to sanctify oneself and to be lifted up to the Divine Presence. These guides are the revivers in every century, to connect our hearts with the heart of the Prophet (s), who in his turn connects our heart to the Divine Presence. These guides are the beacon of the light of the Prophet (s) and the light of the Divine Presence and they are the true examples for all nations to follow.

THE PROBLEM OF BAI’AH (i.e. PLEDGE OF OBEDIENCE) AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF REFRAINING FROM BAI’AH.

It is clear from the following hadith that bai’ah was a part of Islam as delivered by the Prophet (s):

Junada bin Abi Umaiya said: we entered upon Ubada bin as-Samit while he was sick. We said: May Allah make you healthy. Will you tell us a hadith which you heard from the Prophet (s) and by which Allah may make you benefit?

He said: The Prophet (s) called us and we gave him the bai’ah (pledge of Obedience) for islam, and amongst the conditions on which he took the pledge from us, was that we were to listen and obey (the orders) both at the time when we were active and at the time when we were tired, and at our difficult time and at our ease, in need of that which we give up, and that which we should not fight, contest with or dispute with (the Ameer) in his right except in case of such open kufr (disbelief) which can be used as proof with Allah.
(Bukhari)


Abdullah ibn ‘Umar said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: whoever removes a hand from (the pledge of) obedience he will meet Allah on the day of qiyamah with no evidence (of being a believer): and whoever dies without bai’ah on his neck (i.e. without having given the pledge of obedience to the Imam/ Ameer and, as a consequence, submitted himself to the obligation of having to obey the Ameer/Imam), has died a death of jahiliyyah.

(Muslim)

Wassalam

Aaisha

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Months of Vigilance

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(click image below)



wassalam
Aaisha

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Allahu Haqq

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Naqshbandi Taweez

Bismillaahir rahmaanir rahim, La illaaha illallah Muahmmad Rasulallah salallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam wa 'ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallam, Yaa Rahman, Yaa Rahim,Yaa Musta'an, Yaa Allah, Yaa Muhammad salallaahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa sallam, Yaa Abu Bakar, Yaa Umar, Yaa Uthman, Yaa Ali, Yaa Hassan, Yaa Hussein, Yaa Yahya, Yaa Halim, Yaa Allah, walaa haula walaa quwwata illa bilahil 'aliyyil adhim, Shahamatul Fardaani, Yusuf as Siddiiq, Abdurrauf al Yamani, Imaamul 'Aarifin Amanul Haqq, Lisaanul Mutakallimiin 'Awnullah as Sakhaawi, 'Aarif at Tayyar al Ma'ruf bi mulhaan, Burhaanul Kuramaa Ghautsul Anaam, Yaa Saahib az Zaman Muhammad Al Mahdi wasaahibal 'unsur, Yaa Khidhir. Allahu Haqq

wassalam,
Aaisha

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New venue for zikr

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

Naqshbandi - Haqqani
Khatm-ul-Khwajagan zikr

Venue: 52 Park Road, Auburn, Sydney
Day: Saturdays
Time: 7pm

for further info please call or sms 0422 213 084

http://www.naqshbandi.asn.au/

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Photos of singapore

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Maqam of Habib Nuh

Flats of S'pore

Sultan Mosque

Ash chasing Pigeons

Wassalam,

Aaisha

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Trip to Singapore!

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Assalamu'alaikom Brothers and Sisters,

Sorry I haven't updated my blog in a while as i was busy with a few things.

I just got back from a trip to Singapore. The first thing that hit me was of course, the weather! It was just sooo hot!

I managed to stop by Wardah Bookstore which was a haven of Sufi books. I just felt like buying everything there if I could! My hubby and I did some sightseeing and got to visit the Sultan mosque which was just massive and really historical. We also got to stop by the Maqam of Habib Nuh al-Habshyi, a great saint of Singapore who rests on a hill near the shoreline of the island overlooking the horizon of skyscrapers of the Singapore Business District. The experience at the maqam was amazing. It was my first ever visit to a great tomb and I was overcome with both anxiety and awe.

Singapore was also soo full of shopping to do. We paced around the busy markets of Geylang, Bugis, Little India and the all-s0-Western Orchard Road. Arab Street was my favourite with its array of shophouses of garments and crafts.

We were also thrilled to gather for a regular Naqshbandi zikr session with an overwhelming crowd of mureeds at a majestic mosque. For my hubby, it was a rejoicing with mates from when he used to reside in Singapore, especially with Shaykh Zakaria, the khalif of the Singapore jamm'at who has such a bubbly personality and always seemed to put on smiles and laughter on everyone's face.

The highlight of Singapore though was the mouth-watering asian delights. There was kuih lapis, a traditional Malay layered-cake, Ice Kachang, a mouth-watering desert dish of ice shavings topped with sweetened milk and syrup, and my hubby's favourite, Burger King's Singaporean speciality, Rendang Burger, a regular type burger with beef patty thats dipped in spicy traditional Malay rendang sauce. Yummmmm!

Oh yea, forgot to mention that this was my actual first time on a plane out of my homeland. The view in the sky was breathtaking! The photos of the trip aren't developed yet, but I can't wait to post em up soon inshallah.

Wassalam,
Aaisha

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Boyfriend: Girlfriend?

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

Boyfriend: Girlfriend?

The Sheikh asked a visitor whether he was married.
The man replied that while he wasn’t married he did, however, have a girlfriend, who was also present in the gathering and whom he then introduced to the sheikh.

The Sheikh then said:

She is the most suitable lady for him, and he is the most suitable man for her. It is a bad practice that has become prevalent in our time for people to be boyfriend and girlfriend. If their friendship is going to result in marriage, then it is alright, normal. But if they are not even considering marriage, it is very bad for them to be together.

Therefore, when a man finds himself a lady friend, who it seems to him who would make him a good wife, and if she is satisfied with him as well, they should marry without delay. A couple needs some time to get to know each other, but they must not forestall making a discission. The ideal period for getting to know one another is between three days and forty days. Some people can find out enough in three days to be able to decide, and others may need up to forty - but that is the maximum (barring unusual circumstances). If a decision is deferred for longer than that, the relationship will weaken, and doubt will seize the hearts of one or both of them.

This lady is the best lady for our brother here, but our lower selves desire to have all ladies. The lower selves of men hate being limited in one woman, and demand to have absolute freedom to go with all the ladies that they may fancy. Especially in our times men want to be like a ram in a flock of ewes – one male to a hundred females. That is the ego’s demand, and that is why they see marriage as a prison for themselves.

But you must know that even if you attain absolute freedom to pursue your ego desires, and even if you manage to enjoy yourself, yourself ego is still not going to be satisfied. Material pleasures are like salt water to a thirsty person: the more he drinks, the more acute his thirst becomes. But if you give a thirsty person one cup of fresh water, he drinks and is satisfied.

Therefore, from among all ladies your wedded wife alone is permitted to you by God’s law, and if she is the one who is sweet and can quench your thirst. My advice to everyone is to drink fresh water by taking a lawfully wedded wife. Let every man with a girlfriend take her as his wife, and every lady with a boyfriend take him as her husband.

taken from: Mercy Oceans - Pink Pearls by Shaykh Nazim Haqqani

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Three Responsibilities

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Our Grandshaykh said that wives have three obligations to their husbands. Only these and nothing more, can a man place upon them:

The first obligation is that she must be under her husband’s will. She must be as his shadow, her likes and dislikes must be his likes and dislikes. When she acts contrary to her husband’s will, she is not a wife in the sight of the Awliya.

Her second obligation is to be the keeper of his property. She must not spend without his permission even if he has millions. If he gives permission, she may spend all of it. This is adab.

Thirdly, she must keep his honour when out of his presence. She must not sit with another man in her husband’s absence, even his brother. When a man and a woman sit together alone, Satan is always the third party. In ancient times when a man knocked at the door, a woman would answer with her thumb in her mouth so as not to sound lovely.

Abu Muhammad al-Madani (May Allah be pleased with Him) was the uncle of our Grandshaykh’s Shaykh, Sayyid Sharif ud’din Daghestani (May Allah be pleased with Him), and a Wali in his own right. No one dared question him or raise their face to him, such was his majesty. And yet, he said that he would have preferred to be a woman rather then a man! He said this because a woman has only these three responsibilities, and if she honours them, she would enter Paradise without questions. A man on the other hand, would be asked so many questions that he would wish that he were dirt, let alone woman! “I say this because I am a weak servant,” Said Abu Muhammad. “If the Husband is pleased with his wife, Allah is pleased.”

Nowadays, women are asking to be treated like men, wishing to bear the same heavy load. This is lack of wisdom. Women have the same chance as men for improvement in the Divine Presence, but they are created in a different way. Their inner lives are different. Men are hard and women are soft. “Men are the controllers of women,” Says Allah. The souls of men are the perfection of Allah, while the souls of women are the appearance of the beauty of Allah. “Jamal,” “Kamal,” “Jalal” beauty, perfection, and majesty…

taken from: Mercy Oceans - the teachings of Maulana Abdullah al-Faizi ad-Daghestani by Shaykh Nazim Haqqani

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Women and marriage

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

Inshallah the upcoming posts will be in relation to women and marriage.

Specially dedicated to beloved Naqshbandi Sisters on the Naqshbandiwomen egroup.

Wassalam,
Aaisha

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Ali's (ra) Forbearance

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‘Ali (r.a), the “Lion of God,” was once engaged in conflict with a Magian chief, and in the midst of the struggle the Magian spat in his face. ‘Ali (r.a), instead of taking vengeance on him, at once dropped his sword, to the Magian’s great astonishment. On his inquiring the reason such forbearance, ‘Ali (r.a) informed him that the “Lion of God” did not destroy life for the satisfaction of his own vengeance, but simply to carry out God’s will, and whenever he saw just cause, he held his hand even in the midst of the strife, and spared the foe. The Prophet, ‘Ali (r.a) continued, had long since he informed him that he will die by the hands of his own stirrup-bearer (Ibn Maljun), and the stirrup-bearer had frequently implored ‘Ali (r.a) to kill him, and thous save him from the commission of that great crime; but ‘Ali (r.a) said he always refused to do so, as to him death was as sweet as life, and he felt no anger against his destined assassin, who was only the instrument of God’s eternal purpose. The Magian chief, on hearing ‘Ali’s (r.a) discourse, was so much affected that he embraced Islam, together with all his family, to the number of fifty souls.

taken from: Masnavi-i-Ma'navi by Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi

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My Journey So Far

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

It was a cold windy morning when I was told that the only person that I was close to had just passed away 3 hours earlier. My beloved mother.

I was born in Sydney, Australia to Lebanese parents. They filed for divorce when I was born so I didn’t know my father much as I was brought up by my late mother. We didn’t see much of her as she was busy working a few jobs to look after her 4 children, me being the youngest of them.

Islam was only a basic teaching within my family. When I lost my whole world (my mother) it woke me up to reality and made me realise that life was too short to waste so I begun soul searching towards the religion that I was born into but didn’t really know much about. Initially I was introduced to the teachings of Islam through my newly-married Pakistani brother-in-law. He began to influence my sister and I with the teachings of the Tabligh Jamaat. I took much interest to it, however, as time passed, I began to feel that there was something missing and that I wasn’t fully satisfied. I kept praying to Allah to show me the right way to Him. I yearned to be with someone who could guide me to Allah and His beloved Prophet (saws). Alhamdulillah, my prayers were answered and I got married to my destined partner. Although reaching marriage was a big test, it was so worthwhile and a great blessing.

I was amazed that my husband, a revert from Sikhism was into Sufism, the spiritual side of Islam. I had always been curious about Sufism despite being rather devoted to Tabligh. However, most of my Tabligh mentors kept pressuring me to marry a devoted Tablighi, so I began to appeal to my husband-to-be to take up Tabligh activities. He didn’t want to be inclined to it, so I gave up trying to persuade him to get involved in Tabligh. Back then, I was brainwashed with the mentality that anything apart from Tabligh was false and would end up being denied the true blessings of Islam.

At the beginning stages of my discovery of Sufism, I had many questions for my husband. He responded calmly urging me to take my discovery slowly. I was quite puzzled at why he always kept a picture of his shaykh and why there was much focus on him. His explanation seemed rather convincing to which he said it was out of respect that he carried his shaykh’s presence with him in the form of whatever could make him remember him and his teachings. It got to a stage where I was really impatient to discover what it was that my husband was so passionate about in his devotions that I began to do a search the internet on the practices and concepts of Sufism, particularly the Naqshbandi tariqah which my husband was adhering to.

I began to listen to some of Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani’s (who is the son-in-law of the leading Shaykh of the Naqshbandi tariqah, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Haqqani) suhbas (spiritual discourses) and gradually I accepted the tariqah. I began to have the yearning to be initiated into it but it seemed that there was no way I could reach anyone who had a connection with the Shaykh as we were isolated in Australia without much finances to travel to his place of residence in Cyprus.

Subhanallah, it seems that when intention is in place and patience is kept, Allah fulfils your wants. My husband received a surprising e-mail from a brother from Melbourne (about 800k from where we live) who was a Wakil (representative) of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim and had permission to accept bai’at (initiation) into the tariqah. We travelled to Melbourne just to meet him, however, the initiation did not take place as there were some complications. A month later, the wakil came to Sydney to visit and I had the chance to finally be initiated into the Naqshbandi Sufi Path being connected to Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Haqqani.

I look back now at what I’ve been through and think to myself that it is indeed Allah’s guidance and blessings that has rained upon me and given me this great connection to my spiritual guide Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Haqqani.

May Allah Ta’ala bless Mawlana Shaykh Nazim and accept us all in the Divine Presence. Ameeeeeeeeeeen!

wassalam
Aaisha

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Mawlid un Nabi

Link: Mawlid

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The rank of Abu Bakr (r.a)

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"Allah gave one of His servants a choice between this world and what He has with Him, and that servant chose what Allah has with Him." Abu Bakr wept profusely and we wondered why he wept, since the Prophet had told of a servant that was given a choice. The Prophet himself was that servant, as Abu Bakr later told us. The Prophet continued: "Among those most dedicated to me in his companionship and property is Abu Bakr. If I were to take an intimate friend other than my Lord, I would take Abu Bakr. But what binds us is the brotherhood of Islam and its love. Let no door [of the Prophet’s mosque] remain open except Abu Bakr’s."

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Muslim Quiz

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The other day i was told to take this quiz:

Title: What Muslim stereotype are you?

it actually tells by your answers what muslim you are, either shia, wahabi, or Sufi!


You are a SUFI. You may be grounded solidly in
sharia, or as coocoo as cocoa puffs. If only
more people meditated on the Beloved, the
world would be set right. You may have
marijuan, err HEMP products in your
posession.

This was my answer!

wassalam

Aaisha

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Naqshbandi

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