Allah’s Light!

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahmin

There was a famous orientalist who went everywhere asking questions, never satisfied with the world religions that he had studied. He came to my Master Grandshaykh Abdullah Daghestani and said, “I feel as if I am catching air. I find myself knowing more than the rabbis and priest and Islamic scholars that I questioned. I am finally coming to you and ask you for an answer. If you do not give it to me, I am going to remain without belief for the rest of my life.” And he said, “Show me God.”

My teacher said:

O my son, why do you feel that you are only catching air? If you take that seed of a fruit and plant it and water it, you will find a green sprout coming out after thirty or forty days, and if you look for the original seed in the ground you will not find it anymore. If you come back after thirty years, you will find a large tree giving fruit to everyone. If you put an egg under a chicken for twenty-one days, the inner egg disappears, only a shell remains, and a chick will come out. The sperm that Allah allows to nest in the mother’s womb, a holy place, undergoes a similar seclusion for a period of nine months to disappear completely and come out as a new generation.

God has chosen a sacred place to send His first light to humanity: the mother’s womb. For that reason women are highly honored by God. He chose them, not men to carry that light. Love in women, therefore is ninety-nine times stronger than in the hearts of men. If women bring only one more part of love in their heart, women vanish in the love of God. They have been more honored than men because they carry God’s light in their womb. Yet they suffer tyranny and oppression everywhere in this life, but Allah never accepts that women be mistreated. He loves them more for it and the first people to go to paradise are women. This is Allah’s Will from the beginning.

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Pearls And Coral 2
Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani

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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

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

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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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

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

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

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

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Asking “Ya Shaykh Madad!” – Istighatha/Isti`ana

Al-Madad = "Help!"

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim
This Madad was asked by Musa (AS) from his countryman with the word istaghaatha “he asked for help” (28:15) and by Dhul-Qarnayan using the term "help me" in Surat al-Kahf (a`eenuni) (18:95) which is the same root as "we turn for help" (nasta`een) in the Fatiha.

Following are proofs from the Sunna for calling out to an invisible helper in a situation of need:

1. Al-Bukhari narrates in his Sahih that our mother Hajar, when she was running in search of water between Safa and Marwa, heard a voice and called out: "O you whose voice you have made me hear! If there is a ghawth (help/helper) with you (then help me)!" and an angel appeared at the spot of the spring of Zamzam.

2. Abu Ya`la, Ibn al-Sunni, and al-Tabarani in al-Mu`jam al-Kabir narrated that the Prophet (saws) said: "If one of you loses something or seeks help or a helper (ghawth), and he is in a land where there is no one to befriend, let him say: "O servants of Allah, help me! (ya `ibad Allah, aghithuni), for verily Allah has servants whom one does not see." Al-Haythami said in Majma` al-Zawa'id (10:132): "The men in its chain of transmission have been declared reliable despite weakness in one of them."

Another wording:

3. Al-Bayhaqi narrates on the authority of Ibn `Abbas in "Kitab al-Aadaab" (p. 436) and with a second chain mawquf from Ibn `Abbas in "Shu`ab al-Iman" (1:445-446=1:183 #167; 6:128 #7697) and a third from Ibn Mas`ud in "Hayat al-Anbiya' ba`da Wafatihim" p. 44: "Allah has angels on the earth - other than the [two] record-keepers - who keep a record [even] of the leaves that fall on the ground. Therefore, if one of you is crippled in a deserted land where no-one is in sight, let him cry out: a'înû 'ibâd Allâh rahimakum Allâh, 'Help, O servants of Allah, may Allah have mercy on you!' Verily he shall be helped, if God wills." Ibn Hajar said its chain is fair (isnaduhu hasan) in "al-amali".

Narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Kabir with a fair chain (according to Ibn Hajar in al-Amali) of sound narrators according to al-Haythami (10:132), al-Bazzar (#3128) - as cited by al-Shawkani in Tuhfa al-Dhakirin (p. 219=p. 155-156) -, and Ibn Abi Shayba (7:103).

4. Ibn Abi Shayba relates in his "Musannaf" (7:103) from Aban ibn Salih that the Prophet (saws) said: "If one of you loses his animal or his camel in a deserted land where there is no-one in sight, let him say: "O servants of Allah, help me! (yâ 'ibâd Allâh a'înûnî), for verily he will be helped."

Al-Zahawi said in al-Fajr al-Sadiq, a book he wrote in refutation of Wahhabism:

Al-Shawkani also allows the calling on someone invisible: "In the hadith (of a`inu) there is evidence that it is permissible to ask help from those one does not see among the servants of God, whether angels or good jinn, and there is nothing wrong in doing it, just as it is permissible for someone to seek the help of human beings if his mount becomes unmanageable or runs loose." Tuhfat al-Dhakirin p. 155-156.

5. Ahmad relates in his Musnad (4:217) that at the time of the greatest fitna of the Dajjal, when the Muslims will be at their weakest point, and just before `Isa ibn Maryam descends at the time of salat al-fajr, people will hear a caller calling out three times: "O people, al-ghawth (the helper) has come to you!"

6. Ibn Kathir in his history, al-Bidaya wal- Nihaya [7:91, Year 18] narrates that `Umar (ra) sought help and relief from drought and famine in Madina by writing to `Amr ibn al-As and Abu Musa al-Ash`ari in Egypt and Basra respectively, each with the words, "Yaa ghawthaah li Ummati Muhammad! = Help! Help! for the Community of Muhammad!" If this is not istighaatha and isti`aana then there is no istighaatha and isti`aana.

Al-Zahawi said in al-Fajr al-Sadiq:

Shaykh Khayr al-Din Ramli in his Fatawa Khayriyya (p. 180-181) was asked about "those who say: O Shaykh `Abd al-Qadir! O Shaykh Ahmad! O Rifa`i! [Give us] something for the sake of Allah (shay'un lillah) O `Abd al-Qadir! and such, at which time they become greatly entranced and experience states that make them jump up and down etc. He answered - Allah have mercy on him: 'Know first of all that among the famous rules that are firmly put to use in the books of the Imams is the rule that matters are judged according to their ends... as taken from the hadith of the Two Shaykhs al-Bukhari and Muslim: Actions are only according to intentions.... and none denies the reality of the Sufis except every ignorant, foolish soul.'"

And Allah knows best.

Dr. G.F. Haddad

See also the relevant pages at :
Source

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In Memory of Our Mother Hajjah Aminah Adil

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

Hajjah Amina Adil is a renowned author, lecturer and spiritual advisor who, for more than forty years, has devoted herself to help people of all walks of life better understand Islam. In addition, she has played a pivotal role in helping Muslim women understand and apply the many distinguishing rights God Almighty set forth for women in the Islamic faith.

Married for fifty years to Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani, the spiritual head of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order, Hajjah Amina has traveled the world. A scholar of Shari`ah and shaykha, she has thousands of disciples throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East, Southeast and Central Asia, and Africa. She studied under many scholars of the Middle East and Turkey, including Grandshaykh Abdullah ad-Daghestani an-Naqshbandi, among others. Hajjah Amina is from the family of Prophet Muhammad (s).

She was born in Russia’s Kazan Province during the early Communist era, which mandated a statewide purge of Jews, Christians and Muslims. With neighbors mysteriously disappearing and millions exiled to camps in Siberia where they either froze or starved to death, when she was a mere toddler the family fled on foot in the dark of night on a perilous journey that, for reasons of safety, could only be undertaken with the clothes on their backs.

Too young to recall the long journey that would eventually lead them to Turkey, family members have narrated her parents’ bravery and deep sense of faith, young Amina’s sense of adventure, and a tragic life-threatening fall that left her in a coma from which they feared she would not recover.

After more than a year and with Communist officials in deadly pursuit, the family miraculously made their way to Arzurum in northeastern Turkey. Thus, at such a tender age, Hajjah Amina was granted the high status of “muhajirah”, which means one who migrated from tyranny and religious oppression to a place where they can openly practice their faith. It is said the reward for such an undertaking rests solely with God Almighty.

These early life experiences seem to have shaped Hajjah Amina’s love of family, community and travel, her forthrightness in standing for justice, and her love of Islam. However, after twelve years in Turkey, Hajjah Amina’s father had a vision in which he was instructed to relocate the family to “Sham” (Damascus), which had been their original destination upon leaving Russia.
In Damascus they found the life they had been seeking, and settled on Jabal Qasiyun, a high mountain which overlooks the entire city. It was here the family met Grandshaykh Abdullah al-Fa`iz ad-Daghestani of the Golden Chain of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, who took particular care in overseeing Hajjah Amina’s religious and spiritual development. Under Grandshaykh Abdullah she studied Tasawwuf (Sufism – Islamic spirituality) and she studied Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) under such notable scholars as Shaykh Salih Farfour of Syria and Shaykh Mukhtar Alaily, then Secretary General of Religious Affairs of Lebanon.

Hajjah Amina’s teachers and mentors were always amazed with her acumen, with her high level of retention, and her ability to grasp and reason complex issues within the framework of Islamic Law, even at a young age.

At age twenty-three, upon the advice of Grandshaykh Abdullah she was engaged to the young Shaykh Nazim; they married a month later and have remained great companions for nearly fifty years. In fact Shaykh Nazim often remarks that his wife seems to him the same as when they first married. Together they have lived and raised their four children between Syria, Turkey and Cyprus, and at the time of this writing they have been blessed with sixteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

As a young mother and wife of a shaykh in training, Hajjah Amina was often left alone to face the challenges of raising a family while her husband was either in spiritual retreat or traveling for months on end, visiting various regions to spread the word of the Unity of God. This, coupled with her early life experience, only strengthened her faith and reliance on God Almighty. Hajjah Amina has thrice performed Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

Known for her wise, practical approach to life and her problem-solving skills, over the years she has become a much-turned-to advisor of women on a host of issues. She speaks fluent Turkish and Arabic, and is proficient in English. She is uniquely beloved to heads of state and their ministers, to celebrities, as well as common folk.

Hajjah Amina currently resides in Cyprus in a comfortable “old world” farm house with a spacious garden, where she receives thousands of visitors each year from all over the world. She still occasionally accompanies Shaykh Nazim on his official visits to other countries and has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences on Islam and Muslim women. Hajjah Amina’s other works include the three-volume series Lore of Light, her inimitable narration of stories of the prophets and miracles of the saints. All inquiries for Hajjah Amina may be directed to the publisher.

Source: (Here)

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Patience

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

Whenever we direct our hearts towards our Lord Almighty we are immersed in inner peace, and when we turn away from Him we are stranded at the bottom of a deep and dark well seething with snakes, scorpions and spiders.

Grandsheikh (Dagestani) told me of a man who always felt aggravated by his surroundings who always felt as if people were disturbing his peace of mind. One day he got so fed up with the society of men that he decided to leave it behind and become a cave dwelling hermit. So he settled all of his affairs and retired to a remote mountainside. After searching for many days he finally found a cave suitable for his purposes, and occupied it, saying: "There is no one here and no one knows where I am. I am finally in peace."

Just as he was saying this to himself, someone passed in the valley below, looked up at the mountainside and noticed a very beautiful rock just near that cave. "I must have a piece of that colourful rock", he said to himself, began climbing the mountain and started chiseling away at the rock, tak! tak! tak!

At this the man in the cave became really exasperated and said: "Oh my Lord, I try to escape from people and You send me this! There are so many mountains, why did you have to send him to this one?

No one can escape discomfort in this life, as the Holy Prophet said, "There is no rest in this world." You may live in a city or a village, even on the side of a mountain - but all you will discover is that this life is made of unrest. We have been ordered to be patient in the face of this situation, for, "He who is patient ultimately succeeds". Allah sends us trails and burdens in accordance with our capacities, but every single person must carry some burden through this life. We will be asked to carry burdens in accordance with our faith-power. In our times believers will be loaded to their absolute capacities, as spiritually blind people have made sure to make the lives of believers as difficult as possible.

- Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Haqqani (taken from Mercy Oceans : Lovestreams)
Taken from: Naqshbandi-Australia

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Naqshbandi Sufi Order for Spiritual Healing & Meditation

Assalamu'Alaikom Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuhu,

Due solely to the Grace of Allah and the blessings and permission of Sultan al-Awliya Mawlana Shaykh Muhammed Nazim al-Haqqani (qs), the official website for Australia is

NOW OPEN!

Spread the word!

Naqshbandi-Australia

wasalaam,
Aaisha

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New Sufi Forums

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

assalamu'alaikom

DeenIslam has a new forum.
you could just register or login at:
Sufi Forum
a forum for all those intereted in Sufism or better known as Spirituality in Islam.

wassalam
Aaisha

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Sports Car vs. Qur’an

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many
months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom,
and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he
wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man waited signs that
his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation
his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud
he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him.
He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box
and found a lovely, leather-bound Qur’an. Angrily, he raised his voice
at his father and said "With all your money you give me a Qur’an?" and
stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business.
He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father
was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not
seen him since that graduation day.

Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling
him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his
son. He needed to come home immediately and take care things.
When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled
his heart. He began to search his father's important papers and saw the
still new Qur’an, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened
the Qur’an and began to turn the pages.

As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped
behind the Qur’an. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same
dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the
date of his graduation, and the words...PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss ALLAH blessings because they are not
packaged as we expected?

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Map of the Human Heart

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

Science of Heart & Secrets of The Saints
"the wise seeker must safeguard his breath from heedlessness, coming in and going out, thereby keeping his heart always in the Divine Presence; and he must revive his breath with worship and servitude and dispatch this worship to His Lord full of life, for every breath which is inhaled and exhaled with Presence is alive and connected with the Divine Presence. Every breath inhaled and exhaled with heedlessness is dead, disconnected from the Divine Presence."

1. Oxygen-poor blood (shown in blue) flows from the body into the right atrium.

2. Blood flows through the right atrium into the right ventricle.

3. The right ventricle pumps the blood to the lungs, { This Where Dhikr on the Blood} where the blood releases waste gases and picks up oxygen.

4. The newly oxygen-rich blood (shown in red) returns to the heart and enters the left atrium.

5. Blood flows through the left atrium into the left ventricle.

6. The left ventricle pumps the oxygen-rich blood to all parts of the body.

Link: Heart Levels

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Abu Bakr al-Siddiq

Abu Bakr al-Siddiq,
Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) exclusive
companion and greatest supporter.

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

He was the first man who believed in Prophet Mohammad(PBUH) and the first one who did
so unhesitatingly, also he is the first of the ten who were promised Paradise, and first of the Prophet’s Community to enter Paradise.

Alone among the Prophet Mohammad's Companions, Abu Bakr led the Community in prayer in the lifetime of the Prophet. The latter used to call him "The Most Truthful" (al-Siddîq) and "Allah’s Freedman from the Fire" (`Atîq Allâh min al-nâr). When the Koraysh tribe confronted the Prophet(PBUH)after the Night Journey, they turned to Abu Bakr and said: "Do you believe what he said, that he went last night to the Hallowed House and came back before morning?" He replied: "If he said it, then I believe him, yes, and I do believe him regarding what is farther than that. I believe the news of heaven he brings, whether in the space of a morning or in that of an evening journey." And that was the reason Abu Bakr was named al-Siddîq: the Very Truthful, the One Who Never Lies.

`Umar Ibn Al Khattab, another one of Prophet Mohammad's companions, said: "Abu Bakr’s faith outweighs the faith of the entire Umma (The Muslim Nation)." This is confirmed by the following Hadith:

The Prophet asked:"Did any of you see anything in his dream?" A man said to the Prophet (PBUH): "O Messenger of Allah, I saw in my dream as if a balance came down from the heaven in which you were weighed against Abu Bakr and outweighed him, then Abu Bakr was weighed against `Umar and outweighed him, then `Umar was weighed against `Uthman and outweighed him, then the balance was raised up." This displeased the Prophet(PBUH) who said: "Successorship of prophethood! Then Allah shall give kingship to whomever He will."

`Umar also said: "The best of this Community after its Prophet is Abu Bakr." `Ali named him and `Umar, the two Sheikhs of Islam of the Community and said: "The best of this Community after its Prophet(PBUH) are Abu Bakr and `Umar," "The most courageous of people is Abu Bakr," and "The greatest in reward among people for the volumes of the Qur’an is Abu Bakr, for he was the first of those who gathered the Qur’an between two covers." He was also the first to name it Mus'haf.

The Prophet confirmed his high rank in many of his sayings, among them when he (PBUH) said:

"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.

"Allah praised Abu Bakr above the rest of the Prophet's companions by saying: "Those who spent and fought before the victory are not upon a level (with the rest of you)."

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Poison for the body

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

Two people in the time of the Prophet s.w.a. came to him. Listen well-this is for us.

Those Sahaba came to the Prophets.w.a. in the morning with stomach-aches. They said “Ya Rasulallah, we cannot sleep.” Our stomachs are aching, and you are the best doctor. Give us a cure.

He said, “There is no cure except to vomit what you have eaten.” Today when you eat something and have a stomach-ache, your doctor will give you a pill. The Prophet s.w.a could have given them some prophetic medicine, but instead he said “No,” because for that kind of sickness there is no medicine-but the only thing you can do is to reject it completely and discard it, because it is poisonous for your system. Your whole system is going to be completely crippled by it-like these two companions who were unable to move.

Many diseases we have and that we think come from normal sickness actually are spiritual in nature. Diseases do not only come from normal sickness. They come back to us as manifestations of different bad manners and negative energy that we are spreading.

You see this room here? A lot of negative energy is here. Who is it coming from? From the people who are here. I am positive that at least 80% of the people here have sickness similar to these two companions who came to the Prophet s.w.a. The Prophet s.w.a. said, “You have to take it out;” you have to reject it completely. How do you remove this characteristic? There is no way to take it out! As soon as it goes to the stomach, it is going through the whole body.

A family is like one body. A community is like one body. A nation also is like one body. And now the globalization-the whole world is one body. So to improve our situation, we begin first with the family. If one part of the body is aching, the whole body will ache, and fever will come. For instance, if you have hay fever your whole body will ache. Prophet s.w.a. said, “Vomit now!” They said, “We did not eat anything” He said “No, you did eat raw flesh!” 80% of those sitting here are in the same position as those men, having eaten raw flesh. What is that raw meat? The flesh or your brothers and sisters whom you have been backbiting.

He said, “You have been backbiting the flesh of your brother and sister.” They said, “Yes, Ya Rasulallah (Messenger of Allah). We spoke badly about the family.” The relationship between those backbiting and the victim of that backbiting was not so good, so they were talking about them. How is it your business to do so? Who are you to speak about them? What is your relationship to interfere in their business?

Prophet s.w.a. said, “Reject it from your system.” So they took their fingers and vomited. Raw meat came out. Look at this miracle of Prophet s.w.a. He turned this event into a miracle, to give them the physical taste of their actions.

This is not a fictitious story. It is real. The Prophet made it real, to show them that this is a real issue in our life today. They vomited meat-vomiting, vomiting, and vomiting, and then when they were relaxed, Prophet s.w.a. said, “This is not to be repeated.”

Backbiting poisons the whole body. How much are we backbiting and poisoning our bodies today, interfering in things that are not our business? Your business is your wife and your child or children. For each of us, this business is to look after his own family, not to look at his neighbour.

Taken from “Keys to the divine Kingdom by Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani”

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Hazrat Aaisha r.a

Aaisha
Beloved Wife of
The Prophet s.w.a.

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

The Life of Aaisha is a wonderful Illustration that a Muslim woman can be a scholar and a teacher. Aaisha exerted a Powerful influence in the early Islamic community and provided many others with inspiration and leadership. Her talks are still read in literature courses, her legal pronouncements are studied in law schools, and her life and works have been examined by students of Muslim history for nearly 1,400 years.

In her early childhood Aaisha was brought up by her father, Abu Bakr, a man of wide knowledge and the closet friend of the Prophet s.w.a. in her youth, Aaisha was known for her striking beauty and her extraordinary memory.

Aaisha married the prophet s.w.a. in 624 C.E, during the second year after the migration to Madinah, when she was about 14 or 15 years old. This was considered a normal age for marriage at that time. Before and after her wedding, Aaisha maintained a natural gaiety and innocence. She was not overawed by her marriage to the Messenger of God, Whom all his companions, including her own mother and father, treated with a level of love and reverence they gave to no one else. As his wife and close companions, she acquired from the Prophet s.w.a. great depths of knowledge and insight.

Aaisha was generous and patient. The entire Prophet’s household suffered poverty and hunger for long periods. For many days, no cooking fire was lit in their sparsely furnished house, and they would live on dates and water. Poverty did not cause Aaisha distress or humiliation, and when wealth did come, it did not affect her simple lifestyle. She would habitually give to the poor whatever she had and never leave anything for the next day.

During his final illness, the Prophet s.w.a. went to Aaisha’s apartment. He lay there on a couch with his head resting on her breast or on her lap. Gradually his head grew heavier upon her breast, as he quietly passed away. He was buried in the floor of Aaisha’s room near the couch where he had been lying during his illness.

Aaisha lived for almost 50 years after the passing away of the Prophet s.w.a. She had been his wife for nearly a decade. Much of his time was spent in learning and acquiring knowledge of the Qur’an and the hadith. Aaisha became a hafiz, one who memorized the entire Qur’an. She was one of four persons who transmitted more than two thousand hadith. Many of these pertain to some of the most intimate aspects of the Prophet’s s.w.a. life, which only someone in Aaisha’s position could have witnessed.

Aaisha was knowledgeable in law, mathematics, medicine, and poetry. Scholars regard her as one of the earliest legal experts of Islam along with the caliphs Umar and Ali. The Prophet s.w.a. Referring to her extensive knowledge of Islam is reported to have said: “Learn a portion of your religion from this lady.”

Aaisha also took an active part in education and social reform. She trained many boys and girls, and her house became an Islamic academy. As a teacher she had a clear persuasive manner of speech. One of the early Muslim said, “I have heard speeches of Abu Bakr and Umar, Uthman and Ali up to this day, but I have not heard speech more persuasive and more beautiful from the mouth of any person than from the mouth of Aaisha.”

Aaisha was the most respected woman of her time. Men and women came from far and wide benefit from her great knowledge. She died in the year 680 C.E. and was buried beside other companions of the Prophet s.w.a.

Taken from “The wisdom of Islam” by Robert Frager, Ph.D.

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Ego - Nafs

Bismillahir'Rahmanir'Rahim

A Suhba by our Beloved Teacher Mawlana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani
DAY OF ISRA AND MIRAJ 27 Rajab 1425 / Saturday 11 September 2004 Lefke,
Northern Cyprus Heard & transcribed by GFH ---

A`udhu billahi min al-shaytan al-rajim.

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim La hawla wala quwwata illa billah al-Ali al-Azim
Allah, Allah! Subhan Allah.

This is a holy month and a holy day today. That it is the most important miracle, not only for the Seal of Prophets, but from the beginning up to today. How many thousands of Prophets! – they came and they have been sent by theLord of Heavens; and each one, also, they have been granted miracles.

Miracles: it is only [a] means to make people to be satisfied with what that person is claiming as his prophecy and his messengerhood, or for his message – that he has been sent by the Lord of heavens.

But always, people when they are under the hegemony or under the control of their egos, they were refusing. That is their egoistic characteristic. Because man – every man – they have ego, nafs. And nafs – [the] first characteristic of the ego is to be proud.

That is the biggest cursing that is carrying on anyone! It is the worst characteristic, and what is easily making curses coming on their head: to be proud! And Allah Almighty never likes for a servant to be proud. You are a servant! A servant! You can’t be proud!

But pride is most important characteristic of ego, to say: LA ILAHA ILLA ANA [No god except I]. [Addressing someone] X.! Don’t sleep.... Astaghfirullah. That is kufr; that is shirk; beyond shirk also. Whoever says la ilaha illa ana is refusing the existence for the Lord of heavens; not asking to be on an equal position with the Lord of Heavens, no; “la ilaha illa ana” – ha-ha! It is the worst characteristic that is making people to be thrown away from the Divine Presence.

Servanthood. It is the main characteristic that the Lord of heavens is asking from His servants, from His creatures. He is asking: “Declare that you are My servants!” {ALASTU BI-RABBIKUM?} [“Am I not your Lord?”] [sheepish voice, broken posture:] {qalu bala} [“they said: yes.”]

Am I your Lord? Their Creator. The greatness that was covering that assembly, ijtima` – no one can be able to raise their eyes a little bit up. They were saying: [meek voice, cowed posture] “Bala, bala.” As is mentioned through Holy Qur’an – Do you recite Holy Qur’an? Hahaha. We are reciting [nodding head as if to mean “merely with the tongue”]. Asta`idhu billah. Say: {Wa rafa`na fawqahumu al-tur.} “We raised above them the mount of Tur.”(4:54).

[“Them” meaning] Yahud, Jews, the children of Israel. They’re the first, [the] first or highest level to be refusing servanthood and to claim that they’re something. Moses, peace be upon him, [was] bringing Holy Torah and asking from them: “That is your Lord’s commands to you, O servants of our Lord.” They [were] making: “mm, ah, er, uh, oh, wha, nn [stammering noises signifying stalling and denial], we’re accepting, but from where you did you bring this....?”

{Wa rafa`n fawqahum al-tur!} [And We raised above them the Mount of Tur.] Allah Almighty, with His endless power, was taking the mount of Tur up like an umbrella: “[Are you] ACCEPTING OR NOT??” [Immediate prostrating gesture] They were falling down, acceptin by force. They were so very fearful, making like this [prostrating] and like this [glancing up sideways] to see if the mountain is coming down on their heads! When when they are making sajda today, they are doing also like this. Yet today they are still doing this.

Astaghfirullah al-`azim. By force, ego is going to accept! When the mountain was coming back to its place, again they were beginning to say, “Oh, why, why… maybe this was a dream?” And their children, their generations are saying, “It can’t be, it can’t be, for this mountain to get up, a huge mountain, to stand from its base, to get up [gesturing upwards] and to be there! [With mock-earnest nasal voice:] “Be-cause-gravy-tea-ne-ver-accepts-such-a-thing!” Uh-huh. “Gravy-tea! Oh! Even this [Throws his tasbih in the air] must come down, must fall down!” They are not valuing what we are saying. Their ancestors are saying, “Don’t say this.” “But We were there!” “Perhaps you were dreaming this. Can’t be! Bring a proof that a mountain can be taken up by itself or by someone that we are not believing, to be on your head like an umbrella. Perhaps you were dreaming or, out of fear, you were imagining ‘a mountina may fall on ourselves.’”

The begininng of materialist philosophy, materialist principles. Materialism from our Iraelite brothers. All of us from the same root, but branches are different. And branches are going to be like brothers. Never accepting. Can’t be. And Allah Almighty is showing, it is not only for Isrtaelite people, but showing that everyone’s ego is of the same type. No different. The characteristic of ego – asta`idhu billah: {Inna al-nafsa la-ammaratun bil-su’} “Truly, the soul ever commands evil” (12:53). Never, unchangeable characteristic for the ego: to order to you, ordering you not to believe in anything. Don’t do anything for anyone else, only for me. I am – if you are asking a lord, I am your lord. If you are asking anyone to be worshipped, I am that one. Never changing from the beginning up to today, the ego. So proud! Even not accepting its Lord’s existence, saying: “No. La ilaha illa ana”; astaghfirullah.

A`zamu al-bala’ – that is carrying the biggest cursing on the people. Therefore the Lord of Heavens is asking to teach people, to train people, to give everyone’s right to their owners. Your ego, what is right you must give. No more. If you are going to give more, you are going to be zalim – oppressor eating the rights of others. Coming for training people to know their rights. First, rights of the Lord of Heavens that created you and created everything. You must give first His rights. Not anyone else’s. No. If you are passing, not looking that rights, don’t ask that anyone is going to give rights to you, everyone is going to be oppressors for you.

Now people are in it; because they left heavenly orders, heavenly commands. Because they are like the first tribes of the children of Israel , they are saying la ilaha illa ana, and at least they were doing, to get a satisfaction through themselves, they are making a Golden Cow. Because common people are always asking to see something, to look to that one and to touch and to hear from that one. Our ego’s characteristic. If leaving them as they were claiming, after a while, that idea is going to be changed. They should asksomething that they may lookto it, they may touch it, they may hear it, they may see that one. Because they are never going to be in statisfaction if they are not seeing, looking and touching.

That is materialism that destroyed whole heavenly beliefs. And people are on it now. Therefore, cursing is every day coming on earth, today one, tomorrow seven times, after tomorrow seven times more curses coming. Tomorrow, after tomorrow... double, double cursing coming.

What is your opinion for govts. and nations? Every day are they coming into a better condition or getting everything worse, and worse, and worse. Bad situation growing up and troubles climbing, suffering climbing, and miseries coming through whole people.

La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah al-`ali al-azim. Yes. First man. He did a khata’ - mistake. He did a mistake because he did according to his ego, and mostly egopistic character is through women. Through traditional knowledge, Allah Almighty is making the power of ego ten parts, giving one part for men, and to women nine parts. Then making `aql ten parts, giving nine parts to men and one part to women. Come and say to me: “Ee-qua-lee-tee” for women and men!

But people, they are drunk now. Drunk from their ignorance. Ignorance is a dark cloud – dukhan - smoke. We can bring ta’wil [figurative interpretation]. For understanding, we may bring some words on some words of Holy Qur’an al-Karim. “That should be covered” [{But watch thou for the day when the sky will produce visible smoke that will envelop the people (44:10-11)}]: one of the big signs of Qiyamat, last days – a big sign that should be a smoke, a smoke that is going to be dark, covering the hwole world from East to West, from North to South, and people – unbelievers are going to be like drunk ones, only that smoke, that darkness is never going to affect believers. Believers, they should have a majal, atmosphere private atmosphere that you should be in it. You should be in a special situation where that is never touching to you - that smoke, poison, darkness, is never touching you.

We can bring an opening with another verse/words; and it is true, it should be , what Allah Almighty said: that dukhan, that smoke should cover all the world, it is Ok, it should be that literal meaning but also we may give an example, we may give a new teaching, a new understanding from that: that there should be on earth such darkness that every religion’s light just extinguished, therefore the whole world is going to be in dark darkness. Only as stars through dark darkness of space, the skies – they are keeping their positions, their lights clearly – its is clear you can see them; also, Believers, through that dark darkness, poisoned darkness, they should be in safety; their faith, their beliefs’ lights are going to be seen, and others are going to be unseen through the dark darkness of that smoke. Now people are in it.

It is an understanding of Tafsir also. And Allah Almighty knows, and His Prophet knows, and whoever the Prophet may give a light may understand. The Holy Qur’an is not an ordinary book. You can find everything in it. But people are never touching such a meanings, or they can’t be able to dive through the oceans of Holy Qur’an. Now, people through that dark darkness. And coming also, as it is informed – because this preparing that poisoned smoke. That, as Prophet’s explanations are giving us, never harming Believers that darkness or that dark smoke cloud because they have lights of their faith keeping themselves. But others should be like drunk, or dying to pass away.

May Allah forgive me. We were speaking on the characteristic, the worst characteristic of our ego: to be proud. A proud person, fighting to his Lord. Behind every sin, every fighting, every evil lies that characteristic; because they are proud and they are fighting. Proud people are never accepting peace, either in himself or in others. Therefore I am running to Allah from their sharr - from their harms, evils. I am asking protection, not to leave me through the hands of my dirty ego. That is the summary of Prophet’s hadith sharif, good perfect advice: Allahumma la takilni ila nafsi tarfata `ayn. O my Lord, do not leave me in the hands of my ego, because to be in its hands means to fall into a dark darkness of egoistic dirty worlds, dirty situations.

May Allah forgive me and bless you for the honor of the most honored one who was teaching whole nations for their eternal lives, calling them to enlightened worlds, endless lightened worlds that the Lord of heavens prepared for them through their eternal lives, for Eternity, Eternity - Subhan Allah - Abadi, Sarmadi!

May Allah forgive me. Ya Rabbi, forgive us! For the honor of the most honored one whom You have honored with the Night-Journey and granted that which noone can grant to anyone else. From Your grants we are asking humbly for a protection and shelter from our dirty egoes and evil. Amin. For the honor of that one.

Bi-hurmat al-Fatiha.

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One year commeoration of Hajjah Anne's passing

Bismillahi' r-Rahmani 'r-Raheem was-salaat was-salaam `ala Sayyidina Muhammadin wa `ala alihi wa sahbihi was sallim


In honor of the one-year anniversary of the passing of Hajjah Amina Adil, according to the Miladi calendar, on behalf of all Naqshbandi-Haqqani mureeds around the world, we send our condolences to our master Mawlana Shaykh Nazim, and his entire family. In commemoration of this day, we request all mureeds to make Tahlil*, or recite a section from the Qur'anand present the rewards to our blessed spiritual mother Hajjah Amina bint Ayesha.

May Allah bless Hajjah Amina's soul and we ask Allah to give Mawlana Shaykh Nazim a long and healthy life, always supported, and make his teachings to be ever-living in our hearts. Signed, Shaykh Muhammad Hisham al-Kabbani

*Tahlil means Khatm al-Khawajagan followed by recitation of Surat Yasin.

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Honour of Women

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

The sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi wrote:

Women are honoured to carry in themselves the greatest secret – that of human life.
The Prophet, to whose speech the whole world was enslaved, use 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 animals.
She is not your “sweetheart”!
She is the radiance of God.

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EID MUBARAK

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

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The Price of Iman

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Several years ago an imaam moved to London. He often
took the bus from his home to the downtown area. Some
weeks after he arrived, he had occasion to ride the
same bus. When he sat down, he discovered that the
driver had accidentally given him twenty pence too
much change. As he considered what to do, he thought
to himself, 'you better give the twenty pence back. It
would be wrong to keep it'.

Then he thought, 'oh forget it, it's only twenty
pence. Who would worry about this little amount?
Anyway, the bus company already gets too much fare;
they will never miss it. Accept it as a gift from
Almighty Allah and keep quiet'.

When his stop came, the Imaam paused momentarily at
the door, then he handed the twenty pence back to the
driver and said:

"Here, you gave me too much change."
The driver with a smile replied:
"Aren't you the new Imaam in this area? I have been
thinking lately about going to worship at your mosque.
I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you
too much change."

When the Imaam stepped off the bus, his knees became
weak and soft. He had to grab the nearest light pole
and held for support, and looked up to the heavens and
cried: "Oh Allah, I almost sold Islam for twenty pence!"

Bottom-line: We may never see the impact our actions
have on people... Sometimes we may be the only Islam a
non-Muslim will see. Let us be an example for others
to see. Be careful and be honest everyday, because you
never know who is watching your actions.

O Allah! Guide us, make our intentions sincere,
accept our deeds, answer our prayers, and make us of
those who are patient.

al-Fatiha...

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Laylat al-Qadr

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

As-Sayyid Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani speaks on
Laylat al-Qadr

Peckham Mosque, London on Laylat ul-Qadr Ramadan 1415 (Feb-Mar 1995)

Nights are the time which Allah `azza wa jall has designated for the attainment of spiritual blessing and power. Allah told His Beloved in the Quran: Rise to pray in the night except a little (73:1)

Allah ordered Prophet (s) to spend most of the night in worship in order to prepare his heart for the tremendous revelation of Quran. This night worship was the means for the Prophet (s) to ascend and to attain more and more power. His Companions would join him for the night prayer and would be rising up in station and spirituality:

" Surely We will make to descend on you a weighty Word. Surely the rising by night is the firmest way to tread and the best corrective of speech. (73, 1-5) "

Laylat al-Qadr is a holy night. All nights of Ramadan are holy nights but Laylat al-Qadr is the holiest night of this holy month. It is also the holiest night among all other holy nights throughout the entire year. It comes only once a year and Allah Almighty grants to His most praised, most respected and most beloved servant Sayyidina Muhammad (s) this holy night, the Night of Power. About this night, God, the Glorious and Exalted said:

In the name of God, the Beneficent the MercifulIndeed We sent it [the Holy Quran] down on the Night of Power.What will convey to you what the Night of Power is like!Better is the Night of Power than a thousand monthsin that Night the angels and the Spirit descendby the permission of their Lord for every affair.Peace it is, till the break of dawn.[Quran, Chapter 97]

"Night of Power" is a very strange translation for "Laylat al-Qadr" but it attributes to it a good meaning: whoever may attain the blessings of this holy night should attain perfect power in his spiritual life. One can attain perfect power by means of this night because its value is more than one thousand months of worshipping. Every worship performed increases the spiritual power of people and in this night any worship is going to be valued as one thousand months of worshipping on any other night. It is condensed power. God, the Almighty, makes it a mighty night by placing in it such incredible power, making it a much mightier night than other nights. Allah Almighty says it is much more valuble than one thousand months of worshipping. That means Allah Almighty granted such huge power to that night.

It is just such a mighty night which is highly respected and given such a high value by the Lord Almighty. It is so mighty that it is said that it is the most mighty night, that Night of Power. Allah Almighty puts in it power for His servants to come closer to His Divine Presence. In a short time a that great power adorns worshippers in this night and they may be able to penetrate through the entire heavens and reach the Divine Presence.

People on this night are going to be on several different levels. No doubt we are on the lowest level, so we are hoping in this night to attain the honor and illumination granted in it. When we reach a higher level and as it is a holy night in the heavens as well, we will begin to sense something [of the great power being manifested] on this night. Whoever is at the highest spiritual level must be present for this night in the Divine Presence of the Lord.

That appearance will occur in a matter of seconds, perhaps within a single second. Perhaps one second is an enormous unit of time [in comparison] to that moment. It may be more than a second or much less, but it is an instant in time when an appearance from Divine Presence is manifested to creation. When that Divine Appearance manifests (Ar. tajalli), no one will remain standing throughout the heavens and the earth. Everything falls into prostration, throwing themselves down in prostration for that moment. That manifestation of Divine Power--that Divine Light--appears, and whoever is prepared and who has also been invited to attend that appearance sees it and falls in prostration. Everything in that moment falls in prostration (Ar. sajda): all animals--even ants, even elephants, even giraffes, even dogs--on that night they are not sleeping but are hurrying to make prostration on experiencing that divine manifestation. All trees-- even buildings--bow down in prostration and then rise up to their original positions. This is mentioned in Quran:

" And unto Allah falleth prostrate whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows in the morning and the evening hours. (ar-R`ad, 15) "

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Where is God? by J. Rumi

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

I tried to find Him on the Christian cross, but He was not there; I went to the Temple of the Hindus and to the old pagoda, but I could not find a trace of Him anywhere.

I searched the mountains and the valleys but neither in the heights nor in the depths was I able to find Him. I went to the Kaaba in Mecca, but He was not there either.

I questioned the scholars and philosophers, but He was beyond their understanding.

I then looked into my heart and it was there where He dwelled that I saw him; He was nowhere else to be found.

Jalaluddin Rumi

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Ramadan - The Gates of Allah’s Mercy

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

The Prophet (s) gave good tidings about this holy month. The first third of this Holy Ramadan is the days of mercy for all people, ten days, the second ten days are the days of forgiveness of Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala, and the last one-third, is freedom from Hell for believers--Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala freeing them from Hell. Therefore, believers who try to keep the Lord’s orders during the days of Blessed Ramadan by fasting and during the night by praying Tarawih and night prayers (tahajjud), may be rewarded by our Lord giving them immunity safety, (bara`a) from Hell, and they have been given good tidings of Paradise.

read more: Ramadan The gates of Allah's mercy

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The Fast of Holy Ramadan

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

"who believe, fasting is decreed for you

as it was decreed for those before you;

perchance you will guard yourselves

....

The month of Ramadan is the month

in which the Koran was sent down,

a guidance for the people,

and clear verses of guidance and

criterion.

[Quran: Chapter 2, 183]"

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Welcome Recitation for Ramadan

a`udhu billahi min al-shaytan al-rajim

bismillah al-rahman al-rahim

marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahra ramadan
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-nur
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-fuqara'
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-du`a'i wa al-wuquf
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-ihsan
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-fawzi wa al-falah
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-da`wati wa al-irshad
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-masabiha wa al-qanadil
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-mala'ikati wa al-salam
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-mutheerati wa al-asabb
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-ajri wa al-jaza'
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-sa`ada
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-wasli wa al-wisal
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-qur'an
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-ijtima`
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-tawbati wa al-ruju`
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-fuqara'i wa al-du`afa'
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-`usat
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-munajati wa al-tasbih
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-tarawiha wa al-qiyam
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-khaza'ini wa al-kunuz
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-iftari wa al-suhur
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-du`afa'
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-sabri wa al-siyam
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-miftah
marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya shahr al-wadadi wa al-mahabba

marhaban ahlan wa sahlan ya sayyid al-shuhur
lam na`rif qadraka wa lam nahfaz hurmataka ya shahr al-ghufran
fa ardi `anna wa la tashku minna ila al-rahman
wa kun shahidan lana bi al-fadli wa al-ihsan

Translation:

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan
In the name of Allah the Merciful the Beneficent
Greetings and welcome O month of Ramadan
Greetings and welcome O month of the Qur'an
Greetings and welcome O month of light
Greetings and welcome O month of gathering
Greetings and welcome O month of the poor
Greetings and welcome O month of repentence and return
Greetings and welcome O month of invocation and standing in supplication
Greetings and welcome O month of the poor and the weak
Greetings and welcome O month of doing one's best
Greetings and welcome O month of the sinners
Greetings and welcome O month of victory and success
Greetings and welcome O month of intimate discourse and glorification
Greetings and welcome O month of the call and the guidance
Greetings and welcome O month of rest-between-prayers and standing to pray
Greetings and welcome O month of lanterns and lights
Greetings and welcome O month of coffers and treasures
Greetings and welcome O month of angels and safety
Greetings and welcome O month of breaking fast and eating before the fast
Greetings and welcome O month of tilling and of deafness to sin
Greetings and welcome O month of the weak
Greetings and welcome O month of repayment and reward
Greetings and welcome O month of fast and patience
Greetings and welcome O month of felicity
Greetings and welcome O month of the key
Greetings and welcome O month of union and reunion
Greetings and welcome O month of friendship and love
Greetings and welcome O master of all months
We have not treated you according to your immense price
Nor truly sanctified you, O month of forgiveness,
But be pleased with us nevertheless, do not blame us before the Merciful,
And testify for us with grace and goodness!

Welcome Ramadan

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The Naqshbandi Golden Chain

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

The Naqshbandi Golden Chain

Our particular lineage of Masters and Teachers is known as the Naqshbandi Golden Chain, taking its name from the great Mystic Sage Shah Naqshband who lived in Bukhara in Central Asia approximately 700 years ago. The great Guides of the Naqshbandi Order however span throughout the world and have included great Teachers as widespread as from the spiritual land of India to the barren deserts of the Middle East to the plains of Anatolia and the Mediterranean to the lush regions of Southeast Asia, and finally to the fertile and blessed land of America. Our current Grandmaster, Sayyidina Shaykh Nazim resides on the island of Cypruss where he hosts hundreds of visiting students from around the world on a daily basis, and our Master Sayyidina Shaykh Hisham resides in the United States, spending his time traveling not only coast to coast, but throughout the world teaching students of all backgrounds the subtleties and secrets of the Naqshbandi Sufi Way.

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Meditation of the Breath

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Saints say that a human being has in each day 24,000 breaths- in and out. In evey in-and-out breath, there is an action, whether good or bad.

That is why when you.... breathe in and breathe out.... breathe in with "Allah," breathe out with "Hu." Take in good action and cleanse yourself with that breath. Breathe in God's Attributes and Names meditating on the name of "Allah" Ta'ala. If that Name goes through your whole system, He is taking you into an unknown area, an area full of treasures that you do not know about. That is why you breathe out with "Hu."

Therefore meditate on the name "Allah" because God introduces His complete unknown Self through His Beautiful Name "Allah." When you do good actions, you do not know how much God is going to raise you. That is why it goes with "Hu," also.
Every breath in is an act, and every breath out is an act. Whether you breathe in or breathe out you expend effort, energy. So you are doing at least 24,000 acts every day. Think, then, whether these acts are like dead trees that have to be cut and thrown into fire or like living things that must be put into eternal area of heaven.

Taken from "Keys to the Divine Kingdom" by Mawlana Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani.

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Those who run after Dunya

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

"You are running for the world to earn things from the world but you are not going to. If you are not making Allah happy with you then the world is not going to give you the best of it. It's going to give you only the headaches of it and the burdens of it because the world has also been ordered by the Creator Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) that, "Those who run after you, run away from them. Cheat them and fool them saying to them, `I am yours. Come, come.' And they will be busy with you running after you all the time. But never give any treasure to them. Keep them wandering, keep them in pain, keep the mind suffering and keep them running after you. Any minute, any second they turn away from you and they turn their faces towards Me then put all the treasures under their feet." This is the order that Allah has given to this world. Except man, all other creatures are obeying the order. Except man. Man has been created in Ahsani Taqweem, as the most perfect one, but man is the one that is disobeying the order. All other creatures and anything that you are seeing, alive or dead (to you it's dead but in the Divine Presence everything has a life, everything in existence has a life in their own world) are obeying that order."

- Sheykh Abdul Kerim al-Haqqani al-Qubrisi.

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Love: The Light of the Prophet

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Where does all this love come from? Why is it coming? The answer is nothing but He. He brings it to us. That love that He gives us is our life support system and He is the Owner of it. Ya Muqallibal qulubi wal absar! (O Turner of hearts and eyes!) The heart is a centrifugal organ. Continuously generating emotions and energy out, not just to the senses of our bodies but out to all that our senses extend to: to the touch of a loved one, to the wail of an infant, to the sound of a hum, to the taste of a fruit. All connected to the heart. That's where we are.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace and blesings of God be upon him, said: "Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it be whole, all the body is whole, and which, if it is diseased, all of it is diseased. truly, it is the heart."

The hearts that grasp one another come together for the love of the beloved one, Muhammad, peace and blessings of God be upon him, uniting together like a binding chain ever illuminating nur ala nur (light upon light).

The next time you wonder why you love someone, turn your hearts towards the Causer of the Causes, and acknowledge that it is that love; that which is light, which He created from the very begining, that light of Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wassalam.

taken from: MyHeartSpeaksToYou

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The Earth is your Mother

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Everything which has a beginning has an ending. You are asking me to stay. But if I was here for 20 years instead of for 20 days and it would end today, it would be the same. In this life this is how it has to be. No-one is together forever, even children and families, neighbours, friends, relatives, murids and sheikhs, students and teachers, all go different ways one day. We can continue in our hearts. We are always together in our souls, even if it is not physical. It tells us that we are servants of Allah the Almighty. All of us are creatures. Even if our clothes change, our original position never will. We are not giving a lecture, I am not a professor but a simple person, like all prophets were. They were sitting on the ground with poor people, slaves, women, children... We have been created from earth and we must try to be closer to earth. This will give you a good character and make you more humble. If you sit on strange chairs, you think you are important. Being close to earth gives benefit to your body. Scientists tell us that there are so many bacteria there. The closer you come to earth the friendlier they will be with you. They will run after those who escape from them. Just like with dogs: if you are friendly with them, they will be too... People nowadays are living in skyscrapers far away from earth. They are in concrete buildings surrounded by plastic and metal. They are escaping from nature and all kinds of illnesses come to them. They want to know where cancer comes from. It is because people are running away from nature. Befriend the earth! You have been created from earth and you will return to earth. If not today, then tomorrow, after one week, one month, one year, or even after 100 years. You cannot escape, you will return to earth. Don't run away from earth, it is your mother. If you come closer to earth it will change your nature for the better. It will give your face more lights and take away the darkness. Disturbing bacteria will leave you and you will be more in peace and in comfort. T'his is why all prophets used to sit on earth. But nowadays people want to be elegant. Physically you take benefit by sitting close to earth, spiritually even more so. Your spirituality will increase, because you will accept to be humble. No-one can develop spiritually without becoming humble. The most humble person is the highest one spiritually. The characteristic which prevents spirituality is pride. Satan was on the highest position when he was humble, but when he became proud he fell to the lowest. The best quality for a servant is to be humble. Whoever wants to reach the high stations of Heavens must accept that they are nothing. If you want safety, you must throw your weight away. In the old days when ships were travelling through difficult straits, people would throw their luggage overboard. If you want to reach Heavenly Stations you must throw your burdens overboard. The heaviest part of you is your ego, asking to be something, never sacrificing itself Sacrifice it! When you have done that, you will reach Heavens and be like lights without any physical body stopping you. It can carry you from earth to Heavens.

- Sheikh Nazim al Haqqani

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Means of Approach

"Everything He Almighty has given to the Descendants of Adam is temporary, not worthy of that ultimate love. You must give your love to the One who is always in existence - from pre eternity to post-eternity.

'Glorified is the Ever-living (Lord), for whom there is no Death'
At any time sorrowful and unliked events may - and will - descend upon you, your Lord makes them a means of approach to Him that He may pour out everlasting Love Oceans on His beloved servants.

This is a very important point, and a very heavy one. We must comprehend these wisdoms and their import, but such a realization will evade us as long as we are thinking that these are just some words. That Divine Love must be tasted. As much as I may repeat the words: 'Honey, honey, honey...' or describe the characteristics and flavour of honey, as long as you are not tasting it, you are not going to be satisfied. These realities must be tasted, and unless you have reached that point you cannot understand more than these words."

-Mawlana Shaykh Nazim

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Surah An-Naba'

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

1. AAamma yatasaaloona
What are they asking (one another)?

2. AAani alnnaba-i alAAatheemi
About the great news, (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism, the Qur'ân, which Prophet Muhammad brought and the Day of Resurrection, etc.)

3. Allathee hum feehi mukhtalifoona
About which they are in disagreement.

4. Kalla sayaAAlamoona
Nay, they will come to know!

5. Thumma kalla sayaAAlamoona
Nay, again, they will come to know!

6. Alam najAAali al-arda mihadan
Have We not made the earth as a bed,

7. Waaljibala awtadan
And the mountains as pegs?

8. Wakhalaqnakum azwajan
And We have created you in pairs (male and female, tall and short, good and bad, etc.).

9. WajaAAalna nawmakum subatan
And have made your sleep as a thing for rest.

10. WajaAAalna allayla libasan
And have made the night as a covering (through its darkness),

11. WajaAAalna alnnahara maAAashan
And have made the day for livelihood.

12. Wabanayna fawqakum sabAAan shidadan
And We have built above you seven strong (heavens)

13. WajaAAalna sirajan wahhajan
And have made (therein) a shinning lamp (sun).

14. Waanzalna mina almuAAsirati maan thajjajan
And have sent down from the rainy clouds abundant water.

15. Linukhrija bihi habban wanabatan
That We may produce therewith corn and vegetations,

16. Wajannatin alfafan
And gardens of thick growth.

17. Inna yawma alfasli kana meeqatan
Verily, the Day of Decision is a fixed time,

18. Yawma yunfakhu fee alssoori fata'toona afwajan
The Day when the Trumpet will be blown, and you shall come forth in crowds (groups);

19. Wafutihati alssamao fakanat abwaban
And the heaven shall be opened, and it will become as gates,

20. Wasuyyirati aljibalu fakanat saraban
And the mountains shall be moved away from their places and they will be as if they were a mirage.

21. Inna jahannama kanat mirsadan
Truly, Hell is a place of ambush,

22. Lilttagheena maaban
A dwelling place for the Tâghûn (those who transgress the boundry limits set by Allâh like polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh, hyprocrites, sinners, criminals, etc.),

23. Labitheena feeha ahqaban
They will abide therein for ages,

24. La yathooqoona feeha bardan wala sharaban
Nothing cool shall they taste therein, nor any drink.

25. Illa hameeman waghassaqan
Except boiling water, and dirty wound discharges.

26. Jazaan wifaqan
An exact recompense (according to their evil crimes).

27. Innahum kanoo la yarjoona hisaban
For verily, they used not to look for a reckoning.

28. Wakaththaboo bi-ayatina kiththaban
But they belied Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, and that which Our Prophet (Peace be upon him) brought) completely.

29. Wakulla shay-in ahsaynahu kitaban
And all things We have recorded in a Book.

30. Fathooqoo falan nazeedakum illa AAathaban
So taste you (the results of your evil actions); no increase shall We give you, except in torment.

31. Inna lilmuttaqeena mafazan
Verily, for the Muttaqûn, there will be a success (Paradise);

32. Hada-iqa waaAAnaban
Gardens and grapeyards;

33. WakawaAAiba atraban
And young full-breasted (mature) maidens of equal age;

34. Waka'san dihaqan
And a full cup (of wine).

35. La yasmaAAoona feeha laghwan wala kiththaban
No Laghw (dirty, false, evil talk) shall they hear therein, nor lying;

36. Jazaan min rabbika AAataan hisaban
A reward from your Lord, an ample calculated gift (according to the best of their good deeds).

37. Rabbi alssamawati waal-ardi wama baynahuma alrrahmani la yamlikoona minhu khitaban
(From) the Lord of the heavens and the earth, and whatsoever is in between them, the Most Beneficent, none can dare to speak with Him (on the Day of Resurrection except after His Leave).

38. Yawma yaqoomu alrroohu waalmala-ikatu saffan la yatakallamoona illa man athina lahu alrrahmanu waqala sawaban
The Day that Ar-Rûh [Jibrael (Gabriel) or another angel] and the angels will stand forth in rows, none shall speak except him whom the Most Beneficent (Allâh) allows, and he will speak what is right.

39. Thalika alyawmu alhaqqu faman shaa ittakhatha ila rabbihi maaban
That is without doubt the True Day, so, whosoever wills, let him seek a place with (or a way to) His Lord (by obeying Him in this worldly life)!

40. Inna antharnakum AAathaban qareeban yawma yanthuru almaro ma qaddamat yadahu wayaqoolu alkafiru ya laytanee kuntu turaban
Verily, We have warned you of a near torment, the Day when man will see that (the deeds) which his hands have sent forth, and the disbeliever will say: "Woe to me! Would that I were dust!"

from The Holy Quran

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Daddy, Can you give me $10?

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5 year old son waiting for him at the door.

"Daddy, may I ask you a question?"

"Yeah, sure, what is it?" replied the man.

"Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?"

"That's none of your business! What makes you ask such a thing?" the man said angrily.

"I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?" pleaded the little boy.

"If you must know, I make $20.00 an hour."

"Oh,” the little boy replied, head bowed. Looking up, he said, "Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?"

The father was furious. "If the only reason you want to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you're being so selfish. I work long, hard hour’s everyday and don't have time for such childish games."

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even madder about the little boy's questioning. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his son. May be there was something he really needed to buy with that $10.00 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door. "Are you asleep son?" he asked.

"No daddy, I'm awake," replied the boy.

"I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier," said the man. "It's been a long day and I took my aggravation out on you. Here's that $10.00 you asked for."

The little boy sat straight up, beaming. "Oh, thank you daddy!" he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some more crumpled up bills. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at the man.

"Why did you want more money if you already had some?" the father grumbled.

"Because I didn't have enough, but now I do," the little boy replied. "Daddy, I have $20.00 now... Can I buy an hour of your time?"

(source: unknown)

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What Prophet Mohammed (SAW) Said About Some Food

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Milk: The Prophet (SAW) said that milk wipes away heat from the heart just as the finger wipes away sweat from the brow. It strengthens the back, increases the brain, augments intelligence, renews vision & drives away forgetfulness.

Honey: Considered to be the best remedy for diarrhoea when mixed in hot water. It is the food of foods, drink of drinks & drug of drugs. It is used for creating appetite, strengthening the stomach, eliminating phlegm, as a meat preservative,hair conditioner, eye salve & mouthwash. It is extremely beneficial in the morning in warm water & is also a sunnah.

Olive oil: Excellence treatment for skin and hair, delays old age, treats inflammation of the stomach

Mushroom: The Prophet ( SAW) said that mushroom is a good cure for the eyes, it also serves as a form of birth control and arrests paralysis.

Grapes: The Prophet was very fond of grapes, it purifies the blood, provides vigour & and health, strengthens the kidneys & clears the bowels.

Dates: The Prophet (SAW) said that a house without dates has no food, also to be eaten at the time of childbirth.

Figs: It is a fruit from paradise and a cure for piles.

Barley: Good for fever in a soup form

Melon: Melon contains 1000 blessings & 1000 mercies, the Prophet SAW said "None of your women who are pregnant & eat of water melon will fail to produce offspring who are good in countenance & good in character.

Pomegranate: The Prophet (SAW) said it cleanse you of Satan and evil aspirations for 40 days.

Water: The Prophet (SAW) said the best drink in this world & the next is Water. When you are thirsty drink it by sips and not gulps. Gulping produces sickness of the liver.

So praise be to our beloved Nabi (SAW) who produced us with knowledge which dazzles the wisest minds. May this information be beneficial to all of us

Blessed Foods

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Ya Mawlana Shaykh!

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

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How I Came to Islam

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Shaykh Gibril Fouad Haddad
Written on the 19th of Ramadan 1417 (28 January 1997)

I was born and raised in a typical middle-class Lebanese Catholic family in Beirut, Lebanon. Two years into the war I was forced to leave, and completed high school in England. Then I went to Columbia College in New York. After my BA I went back to Lebanon and taught at my old school. Two years later I left Lebanon again, this time of my own free will, although it was a more wrenching separation than the first. I left behind my war-torn country and made for my new land of opportunities. I was demoralized, and spiritually at a complete impasse. With my uncle's support I went back to graduate studies at Columbia. This is the brief story of my conversion to Islam while there.

While in Lebanon I had come to realize that I was a nominal Christian who did not really live according to what he knew were the norms of his faith. I decided than whenever the chance came I would try my best to live according to my idea of Christian standards for one year, no matter the cost. I took this challenge while at Columbia. A graduate student's life is blessed with the leisure necessary for spiritual and intellectual exploration. In the process I read and meditated abundantly, and I prayed earnestly for dear guidance. My time was shared literally between the church and the library, and I gradually got rid of all that stood in the way of my experiment, especially social attachments or activities that threatened to steal my time and concentration. I only left campus to visit my mother every now and then.

Certain meetings and experiences had set me on the road of inquiry about Islam. During a scholarship year spent in Paris I had bought a complete set of tapes of the holy Qur'an. Back in New York I listened to its recitation for the first time, as I read simultaneously the translation, drinking in its awesome beauty. I paid particular attention to the passages that concerned Christians. I felt an inviting familiarity to it because undoubtedly the One I addressed in my prayers was the same One that spoke this speech, even as I squirmed at some of the "verses of threat". After some time I knew that this was my path, since I had become convinced of the heavenly origin of the Qur'an.

I was reading many books at the same time. Two of them were Martin Lings' "Life of Muhammad" and Fariduddin Attar's "Book of Secrets" (Persian "Asrar-Nama", in French translation). I found extremely inspiring Lings' account of Shaykh Ahmad `Alawi's life in his book "A Sufi Saint of the Twentieth Century." I did not finish the latter before I became a Muslim; but I am jumping ahead. At any rate, it now seemed my previous experience of religion had been like learning the alphabet in comparison, even my early morning and late night Bible readings and my past studies in the original Latin of Saint Augustine, who had once towered in my life as a spiritual giant.

I began to long almost physically for a kind of prayer closer to the Islamic way, which to me held promises of great spiritual fulfilment, although I had grown completely dependent on certain spiritual habits -- particularly communion and prayer -- and could hardly do without them. And yet I had unmistakable signs pointing me in a further direction. One of them I considered almost a slap in the face in its frankness: when I told my local priest about the attraction I felt towards Islam he responded as he should, but then closed his talk with the words: Allahu akbar. "Allahu akbar"? An Italian-American priest?!

I went to two New York mosques but the imams there wanted to talk about the Bible or about the Middle East conflict, I suppose to make polite conversation with me. I realized they did not necessarily see what drove me to them and yet I did not find an avenue where I would pluck up the courage to declare my intention. Then I would go home and tell myself: Another day has passed, and you are still not Muslim. Finally I went to the Muslim student group at Columbia and announced my intention, and declared the two Shahada: The Arabic formula that consists in saying "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah" -- the Arabic name for God -- "and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Prophet." They taught me ablution and Salat (prayer), and I gained a dear friend among them. Those days are marked in my life with letters of light.

Another close friend of mine played a role in this conversion. This devout American Christian friend had entered Islam years before me. At the time I felt in my silly pride that it was wrong for an American to enter into the religion of the Arabs and for me, an Arab, to stand like a mule in complete ignorance of it. It had a great effect on me from both sides: the cultural one and the spiritual, because he was -- is -- an honest and upright person whose major move meant a great deal to me.

I had also come to realize that my early education in Lebanon had carefully sheltered me from Islam, even though I lived in a mixed neighbourhood in the middle of Beirut. I went to my father's and grandfather's Jesuit school. The following incident is proof that there is no turning away of Allah's gift when He decides to give it. One year, when I was 12, a strange religious education teacher gave us as an assignment the task of learning the Fatiha -- the first chapter of the Qur'an -- by heart. I went home and did, and it stayed with me all my life. After parents complained he was fired -- "we do not send our children to a Christian school in order for them to learn the religion of Muslims" -- but the seed had been sown, right there in the staunch Christian heartland, inside its prize school. Now here I was in the United States, knocking at the door of the religion of the Prophet, peace be upon him!

Days after I took Shahada I met my teacher and the light on my path, Shaykh Hisham Kabbani of Tripoli, after which I met his own teacher, Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani of Cyprus. May Allah bless and grant them long life. Through them, after some years, my mother also took Shahada and I hope and pray every day that my two brothers and stepfather will soon follow in Allah's immense generosity. Allah's blessings and peace on the Prophet, his Family, his Companions, and all Prophets.

Fouad Haddad

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S.O.S. - Save Our Souls!

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

All souls are calling S.O.S.- Save our Souls! They feel as if they are in Hell. All mankind is in need of spiritual food. It makes their faces bright and their hearts full of light, peace comes to their minds, and their spirits open towards the Heavens. Contentment is dressed on their physical beings.

Sufi Ways are spiritual ways, the ways to the Heavens. If you like, you may follow them, so that your soul is in Paradise before you die. Then dying will only be like a change from one place to another, so easy- opening a door and being welcomed.

- Sheikh Nazim Adil Al Haqqani
(taken from Bridge to Eternity)

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Easy Way to Change Ourselves

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem
============================

There was a king long time ago and he had a vast kingdom. Though he had tremendous amount of wealth, but he didn't have peace of heart. So he decided to be a good Muslim. He heard that there is a very pious man who stays in a jungle and that many people go to visit him for advice. The king decided to visit him for some advice also. When he got there, he asked the pious man "How can I become pious like you?" The pious man replied that remember death 40 times a day for 40 days. The king thought that it was very easy and he thanked him and left for his palace. He remembered death 40 times a day for 40 days but no change came to his life. He was same as before.

The king became angry and called that pious man to his court. The king told him that he is nothing but a liar and that he should be killed before he fools other people. It was decided that he will be beheaded the next day. But the Pious man had a request. He asked if he could become the king for a day. He promised that after getting the command, he will not kill the previous king or do any harm to him. So, the king agreed and made the pious man the king for a day. As soon as the pious man became the king, he went to the market and saw a man selling peanuts. He told the soldiers to catch that man and bring him to the palace. So, the peanut sales man was brought to the court. The pious man told the peanut sales man that he will be killed tomorrow. The peanut sales man became frightened and dropped all his peanuts. He started crying and asked what he did. But the pious man said that he will be killed tomorrow and locked up in jail for today.

Now, as the peanut sales man knew that he is going to die, he forgot about everything else and started asking forgiveness from Allah. He started praying and doing excessive Dhikr (remembrance of Allah). The Pious man ordered that the most beautiful prostitute in the city should be brought and placed in the jail with peanut sales man. She was brought and she asked the man to commit adultery with her. Now the pious man brought the previous king and told him to watch. The peanut sales man started yelling at the woman to get away because he is going to die tomorrow and this evil deed will surely cause him problems with Allah.

Then the pious man asked the previous king if he understood what is going on. The Pious man explained that when you really know that you will die, then you will surely stay away from all evil deeds and engage yourself into the worship of Allah. So, remembering death once properly would be enough to change the life of a human being.

Of course, the peanut sales man was released afterwards.

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Warid Press

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

===========================

visit www.waridpress.com which is based in Singapore.

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Rumi Poem

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Who is the Sheik?

Who is the Sheik?
The infinite elixir.Who is the Sheik?
The very sea of eternity.
Fire is always terrified by water.
When was water ever afraid of being set aflame?

Know that while the eyes of the egoless Sheik are asleep,
his heart is awake.
Our eyes are awake
while our heart is sunk in slumber;
the true, egoless Sheik's eyes are asleep
but his heart is in contemplation of the
opening of the door of divine grace.
While he dwells with us
in some place on the earth,
he is traversing over
the seventh sphere of heaven like Saturn.

Immediate intuition or intuitive knowledge in relation to the egoless Sheik
is what thought is to us.
Thought is of the past and future.
When it is emancipated from these two,
the difficulty is solved.
The spirit beholds the wine in the grape,
the spirit beholds 'thing' in "no-thing'.
It beholds every conditioned thing as unconditioned.
The spirit beholds the genuine coin
and the alloyed before it is discovered in the mine.
In hot July the egoless sees December;
in the sunbeams he see the shade.
In the heart of the grape
he sees the wine.
In his egoless state,
he sees the object.
When you see two of them meet together as friends,
they are one and at the same time
they are six hundred thousand.
Their numbers are in the likeness of waves.

An egoless Sheik is as the lion,
and people's hearts are his jungle.
Like hope and fear,
he enters into the heart
not hidden from him are the secrets of the world.

The book of the egoless Sheik
is not composed of ink and letters
it is naught
but a heart white as snow.
What is the Sheik's provision?
Footmarks.
The Sheik stalks the game like a hunter
he sees the musk-deer's track
and follows the footprints.
For a time the track of the deer
is the proper clue for him;
afterwards it is the navel
(musk-gland) of the deer that is his guide.
When he has given thanks for having
been favoured with knowledge of
the track and has traversed the way,
of necessity by means of that track
he arrives at a goal.
To go one stage
guided by the scent of the musk-gland
is better than going a hundred stages
following the track and roaming about.

The heart that is the rising-place of the moonbeams of divine light
is the opening of the doors of reality
for the egoless.
To us it is a wall,
to them it is a door.
To us a stone,
to them a pearl.
What we see plainly in the mirror
the egoless sees more than that
in a brick.

Choose an egoless Sheik
for without a him
this journey is exceeding full of woe, fear and danger.
Without an escort
you are bewildered
even on a road you have travelled many times before.
Do not then travel alone
on a Way
that you have not seen at all.
Do not turn your head
away from the guide.
Fool,
if his shadow
--protection--
be not over you,
then the cry of the ego will keep you
wandering about
with your head in a whirl.
The ego will entice you
away from the Way
and cast you into destruction.
There have been on this Way
many craftier than you
who have perished miserably.
Be not a friend to your ego
since it leads you astray
from the Way of God.
Nothing in the world will break or mortify your ego
like the egoless protection
of the Sheik.

- Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi

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Honour of Women

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Jalaluddin Rumi wrote:
Women are honoured to carry in themselves the greatest secret – that of human life.
The Prophet, to whose speech the whole world was enslaved, use 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 animals.
She is not your “sweetheart”!
She is the radiance of God.

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Quote of Rasul S.W.A

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

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Divine Presence

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Love is a Stranger

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

What shall I do, O Muslims?
I do not recognize myself.
I am neither Christian nor Jew,
nor Magian, nor Muslim.
I am not of the East, nor the West,
not of the land, nor the sea.
I am not from nature's mine,
nor from the circling stars.
I am neither of earth nor water,
neither of wind nor fire.
I am not of the empyrean,
nor of the dust on this carpet.
I am not of the deep, nor from behind.
I am not of India or China,
not of Bulgaria, nor Saqsin;
I am not of the kingdom of Iraqain,
nor of the land of Khorasan.
I am not of this world nor the next,
not of heaven, nor of purgatory.
My place is the placeless,
my trace is the traceless.
It is not the body nor is it the soul,
for I belong to the soul of my love.
I have put duality away
and seen the two worlds as one.
One I seek, One I know.
One I see, One I call.
He is the First, He is the Last.
He is the outward, He is the Inward.
I know of nothing but Hu, none but him.
Intoxicated with the cup of love,
two worlds slip from my hands.
I am occupied with nothing
but fun and carousing.
If once in my life I pass a moment without You,
I repent my life from that moment on.
If once in this world
I should win a moment with You,
I will put both worlds under my feet
and dance forever in joy.
O Shams of Tabriz, I am so drunk in the world
that except for revelry and intoxication
I have no tale to tell.

by Mevlana Rumi

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Selected Ones

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

"What God sends, these are selected people.
We don't want the unselected.
There are many people outside. You can go to them.
I am leaving them for others.
I want the selected ones.
When the selected ones come, you can depend on them.
The unselected ones come and go, come and go, like a sieve.
What remains are the selected ones."

- Mawlana Shaykh Nazim al-Haqqani

(from Miracles in Naqshbandiyah

a Suhba by Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani)

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Fighting Depression with Dhikr

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

May Allah keep us from the evil of our egos. As much as you are able, fight your ego. There is a different test each day; Allah Almighty is looking. If you go after your ego like a sheep, then it is dangerous. Keep to the right hand and go on, straight. Then there will be peace and satisfaction for you, here and in the Hereafer.

May Allah Almighty let all of you taste real faith. It is sweet, real faith's taste. When you taste real faith, you keep it, never losing it. The one who does not taste, he quickly leaves, quickly loses.

Which way makes you taste real faith? Dhikr; dhikr makes you taste the taste of iman. Say Allah…and you may taste the taste of faith. Whoever feels darkness and depression in his heart may say Allah, Allah, Allah…, and then nothing can stop his heart. When you say Allah, Allah, Allah…, there is no darkness in your heart. But if it should continue, keep your tongue silent and make your heart say Allah hu, Allah hu, Allah hu, haqq,* and you should hear the same dhikr, which we are now saying, in your heart.

Now listen! Three times Allah hu, haqq. Any time you may want to listen and keep your tongue silent, look at your heart, and you may, you must, hear that dhikr going on, never stopping. When you are listening, then darkness and depression are going away.

"Allah, Allah, Allah, truth (or reality)." This dhikr was transmitted by the Holy Prophet (s) to Abu Bakr as-Siddiq when the two of them hid in the cave of Thaur near Mecca during their flight from Mecca to Madinah.

Wa min Allah at Taufiq

- Sheikh Nazim Adil Al Haqqani

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Gallipolli Moqsue!!!

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Auburn Gallipolli Masjid Sydney, Australia

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Hajja Amina Adil

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioun




Bismillahi' r-Rahmani 'r-Raheem Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji`oon.
To Allah we belong and unto Him do we return

Hajjah Amina Adil is a renowned author, lecturer and spiritual advisor who, for more than forty years, has devoted herself to help people of all walks of life better understand Islam. In addition, she has played a pivotal role in helping Muslim women understand and apply the many distinguishing rights God Almighty set forth for women in the Islamic faith.

Married for fifty years to Shaykh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Haqqani, the spiritual head of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order, Hajjah Amina has traveled the world. A scholar of Shari`ah and shaykha, she has thousands of disciples throughout North and South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East, Southeast and Central Asia, and Africa. She studied under many scholars of the Middle East and Turkey, including Grandshaykh Abdullah ad-Daghestani an-Naqshbandi, among others. Hajjah Amina is from the family of Prophet Muhammad (s).

She was born in Russia's Kazan Province during the early Communist era, which mandated a statewide purge of Jews, Christians and Muslims. With neighbors mysteriously disappearing and millions exiled to camps in Siberia where they either froze or starved to death, when she was a mere toddler the family fled on foot in the dark of night on a perilous journey that, for reasons of safety, could only be undertaken with the clothes on their backs.

Too young to recall the long journey that would eventually lead them to Turkey, family members have narrated her parents' bravery and deep sense of faith, young Amina's sense of adventure, and a tragic life-threatening fall that left her in a coma from which they feared she would not recover.

After more than a year and with Communist officials in deadly pursuit, the family miraculously made their way to Arzurum in northeastern Turkey. Thus, at such a tender age, Hajjah Amina was granted the high status of "muhajirah", which means one who migrated from tyranny and religious oppression to a place where they can openly practice their faith. It is said the reward for such an undertaking rests solely with God Almighty.

These early life experiences seem to have shaped Hajjah Amina's love of family, community and travel, her forthrightness in standing for justice, and her love of Islam. However, after twelve years in Turkey, Hajjah Amina's father had a vision in which he was instructed to relocate the family to "Sham" (Damascus), which had been their original destination upon leaving Russia.

In Damascus they found the life they had been seeking, and settled on Jabal Qasiyun, a high mountain which overlooks the entire city. It was here the family met Grandshaykh Abdullah al-Fa`iz ad-Daghestani of the Golden Chain of the Naqshbandi Sufi Order, who took particular care in overseeing Hajjah Amina's religious and spiritual development. Under Grandshaykh Abdullah she studied Tasawwuf (Sufism – Islamic spirituality) and she studied Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) under such notable scholars as Shaykh Salih Farfour of Syria and Shaykh Mukhtar Alaily, then Secretary General of Religious Affairs of Lebanon.

Hajjah Amina's teachers and mentors were always amazed with her acumen, with her high level of retention, and her ability to grasp and reason complex issues within the framework of Islamic Law, even at a young age.

At age twenty-three, upon the advice of Grandshaykh Abdullah she was engaged to the young Shaykh Nazim; they married a month later and have remained great companions for nearly fifty years. In fact Shaykh Nazim often remarks that his wife seems to him the same as when they first married. Together they have lived and raised their four children between Syria, Turkey and Cyprus, and at the time of this writing they have been blessed with sixteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

As a young mother and wife of a shaykh in training, Hajjah Amina was often left alone to face the challenges of raising a family while her husband was either in spiritual retreat or traveling for months on end, visiting various regions to spread the word of the Unity of God. This, coupled with her early life experience, only strengthened her faith and reliance on God Almighty. Hajjah Amina has thrice performed Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

Known for her wise, practical approach to life and her problem-solving skills, over the years she has become a much-turned-to advisor of women on a host of issues. She speaks fluent Turkish and Arabic, and is proficient in English. She is uniquely beloved to heads of state and their ministers, to celebrities, as well as common folk.

Hajjah Amina's other works include the three-volume series Lore of Light, her inimitable narration of stories of the prophets and miracles of the saints.

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Shadows

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem



People are running away from a shadow – a shadow which is themselves, that is why they are ill – and the harder they run, the more their miseries catch up with them. They flee from themselves all their lives in pursuit of a desert mirage that turns out to be nothing but sand. After all that struggle to reach that “Oasis” and to quench their thirst, they find that their struggles and false hopes have only made them more parched and that much closer to death for their efforts.
When they arrive they drink the draught of death and must face a meeting with their Lord for which they are unprepared. This is the fate of those who waste away their lives in vain amusement.
The main goal of Islam and of Sufi Paths, especially the Naqshbandi Path, is to bring people back to themselves, to teach them to stop fleeing from their own shadows and to stop chasing a mirage.

Mercy Oceans- Devine Sources (Shaykh Nazim al- Qubrusi)

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Silsila of Naqshbandi-Haqqani

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

The Golden Chain of the Spiritual Transmission
of the Naqshabandi Khwajagan Masters


1. The Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (Peace be upon him)
2. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (ral)
3. Salman al Farsi (ral)
4. Al-Imam Qasim bin Muhammad bin Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (ral)
5. Al-Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (ral)
6 Abu Yazid al Bistami (ral)
7. Abul Hasan al Kharqani (ral)
8. Abu Ali al Farmadi (ral)
9. Yusuf al Hamdani (ral)
10. Abul Abbas (Khidr, upon whom be peace)
11. Abdul Khaliq al-Ghujadawani (ral)
12. Arif Righwari (ral)
13. Mahmud al Faghnawi (ral)
14. Ali Ramitani (ral)
15. Muhammad Baba Sammasi (ral)
16. Seyyid Amir Kullal (ral)
17. Qutub at Tariqah Shah Bahauddin Naqshband al Uwaysi al Bukhari (ral)
18. Alauddin Muhammad al Attar (ral)
19. Ya'qub al Charkhy (ral)
20. Ubeydullah al Ahrar as-Samarqandi (ral)
21. Muhammad az Zahid (ral)
22. Dervish Muhammad al Bukhari (ral)
23. Hajegi Emkeneki as Samarqandi (ral)
24. Muhammad al Baqibillah as Samarqandi (ral)
25. Mujaddid al Alf ath Thani Imam Rabbani Ahmad Faruq as Sirhindi (ral)
26. Urwat ul Wuthqa Muhammad Ma'sum ar Rabbani (ral)
27. Haji Sayfuddin ar Rabbani (ral)
28. Nur Muhammad al Badwani (ral)
29. Habibullah Mizra Jan i Janan al Mazhar (ral)
30. Ghulam Ali Abdullah ad Dehlawi (ral)
31. Ziyauddin Abu Naasan Muhammad Khalid al Baghidadi ash Shami (ral)
32. Sheikh Ismail an Narani (ral)
33. Khas Muhammad Shirwani (ral)
34. Sheikh Muhammad Yaraghi (ral)
35. Sayyid Jamaluddin al Ghumuqi al-Husseini (ral)
36. Abu Ahmed as Sughuri (ral)
37. Abu Muhammad al Madani (ral)
38. Sayyid Sharafuddin ad Daghistani (ral)
39. Sheik Abdullah Faiz ad Daghistani (ral)
40. Sheikh Muhammad Nazim Adil al Haqqani al Qubrusi (qsa)

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Whirling Dervishes

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Dervishhood
By Kabir Helminski

A dervish is an apprentice, one who is learning the profession that will provide eternal livelihood. This profession is still taught in certain "schools of higher learning." While there are many skills that can be self-taught or learned alone, the skills of dervishood are learned by being in relationship to a shaikh, or guide, and within a spiritual family, a Sufi circle.

There will always be much to learn on one's own, through one's own efforts, and within one's own understanding. The final responsibility, of course, lies with ourselves, and in reality there is no intermediary between us and our God. And yet one can no more become a dervish alone than one can become a lover alone.

People will dedicate the whole of their lives to becoming a accomplished musician or a professional athlete. In doing so they will have to organize the whole of their lives around this one master desire. A dervish is one who has made Truth his or her master desire and is willing to submit all other desires and aims before this aim.

It is possible to make Sufism a pastime, one interest among others, but that does not make one a dervish. It is fine to read widely and become acquainted with various traditions, but to be a Sufi is much more than to have a preference for reading Sufi books or listening to Sufi music.The price of dervishood is one's whole life, a total commitment of one's life energies. Fortunately, in our tradition it does not mean the abandonment of a productive and socially useful livelihood, nor the renunciation of marriage and family, but it does mean that everything we are involved with will be understood and arranged from the perspective of our essential spiritual intention. Certain lifestyles may not be consistent with our intention; certain forms of livelihood may not be appropriate in light of the more stringent requirements of remembering God with each breath. We may find that we are not asked to sacrifice everything, that the Way does not contradict our essential humanity.

We may find that our Friend is a patient, generous and compassionate Friend, but we gradually learn that we ourselves must withhold nothing.In dervishood we pledge ourselves to a shaikh and a lineage. This reaches hand over hand all the way to Allah. Our pledge, our obedience, our commitment is to Allah, and the shaikh is a link. Why should there be any intermediary at all? This is a very good question. Actually there is no intermediary if the shaikh is a real shaikh and if one's pledge is sincere.

The shaikh actually is the evidence of God's mercy and generosity, making grace more tangible, more immediate. The shaikh does not gather power or privilege for himself or herself, but is the servant of the yearning of the dervish's heart. The shaikh may also be the challenger of the dervish's egoism, calling us to surpass our timidity, our fears, our comfortable complacency. The shaikh may be the one to say, "Come into this fire, it will not burn you."No shaikh is perfect, and it is particularly in his function as shaikh that he may sometimes disappear and become a pure medium for divine grace or wisdom.

It is the dervish who helps to create the shaikh, and both are in the process of learning from the relationship. It must be remembered that before becoming a shaikh one had to be a dervish, and one never stops being a dervish. One day Mevlâna and Shams were sitting together in spiritual intimacy and conversation. A messenger entered with the news that a certain shaikh in a distant village had died. The community was asking that a shaikh be sent to succeed their late teacher. Mevlâna said, "Send so-and-so--let him be your new shaikh." After the messenger had left, however, Shams turned to Mevlâna and said, "We're lucky they only asked for a shaikh. If they had asked for a dervish, one of us would have to go!"Spiritual seekers are typically people who have learned to question conventional reality.

Most spiritual seekers have experienced a loss of "blind faith" and have searched for answers to legitimate questions. Our post-modern culture has also suffered a loss of faith, the result of which can be characterized as a pervasive cynicism. The conventional conditioning and orthodoxy of the post-modern world consists of a profound cynicism, doubt, and inability to approach truth innocently. While one should look quite critically at any spiritual path or teacher before committing oneself, one shouldn't allow the pervasive cynicism and rebelliousness of our times to prevent one from seeing what humility and trust can offer.

Once one has decided to play the master game of self-transformation one must do it wholeheartedly.In my own case it took quite a while for me to understand the value of cultivating a relationship with a teacher. Although I didn't realize it at the time, I was a typical product of my own culture, a culture which has a fundamental mistrust and disrespect for leadership and authority. Perhaps I was simply too rebellious and critical. Now I can look back on my own relationships with my teachers with some remorse for the disappointments and pain I caused them through my insensitivity and lack of awareness.

It is easy to forget that the shaikh is a servant more than a master. The shaikh holds the keys to a treasure the seeker cannot really understand. He may be able to unlock the treasure within the dervish's heart, but how likely is he to do this for a someone who is half-hearted, ungrateful, or full of resistance, who lacks humility or respect? The dervish's intention should always be to allow a sincere love for the shaikh to grow and deepen. Sometimes the outer respect is the best that can be offered, but we must realize that we can fool ourselves more easily than we can deceive others and especially our shaikh. What is required in this relationship is a connection of love, rabita, which allows all that one has to pass to the other.

When there is real love between a shaikh and a dervish, the dervish comes into resonance with the wisdom and light of the shaikh, and the shaikh carries some of the burden of the dervish. A shaikh needs to be strong enough to do this and this is possible only with the help of God and the lineage, especially the Pir, the Complete Human Being from whom the particular order derives its baraka, or grace. There is more than one kind of real shaikh, in addition to the self-appointed teachers who can do some good and much harm. There are shaikhs who serve a kind of managerial function in dervish circles.

They need to have a certain natural authority, experience, and knowledge; they must be trusted not to use the position to gain any kind of advantage for themselves. In their managerial capacity they are useful in the preparatory work of dervish training, provided they are backed up by a real source of baraka. Then there are those shaikhs who have the permission of the unseen world, who have true spiritual authority.

Such a shaikh not only has experience, wisdom, and knowledge, but also serves as a channel for the transformative energies of the tradition, both in group activities like the zhikr, and in relationship to individual dervishes. In order for this individual connection to work at its highest potential, the student needs to cultivate a spiritual connection with the shaikh. The shaikh is a "wireless transformer" connected to the powerhouse of the Pir.In the story-book version of shaikh and dervish, the dervish is involved in a period of closely supervised experiences under the watchful eyes of the shaikh. While it would be wonderful to have such a shaikh in one's life to listen to one's problems and answer one's questions, such a situation is rare.

A Sufi shaikh is likely to have a family and a profession and rarely has the time to give such personal attention to many people. Unless one somehow shares in his mission, works by his side, or has reached a high degree of surrender and can give all one's time to the service of the shaikh, one's relationship will more likely be through attending regular meetings and keeping the heart connection active at other times.Given the rarity of real shaikhs, especially in the Western world, one should be thankful if one has found a connection even at a distance to an effective Sufi lineage. In reality, the dervish's connection is beyond the tangible matrix of space and time, beyond even the conscious mind.

What needs to flow to the student will flow if the student knows how to cultivate that connection and has surrendered to it. In the physical world we are under many limitations of time and space. In some cases you may see your shaikh in the tangible world only rarely. In the world of the conscious mind, you may cultivate a positive bond and even converse inwardly with your teacher. At the subconscious level of the heart, however, the shaikh's benevolent energy will be working on you continuously.

As Yunus Emre says, "Ever since the glance of the mature one fell upon me, nothing has been a problem."There are many legitimate issues regarding authority and its abuse that have occurred as Westerners have uncritically accepted other traditions, especially traditions untied from their traditional ethical moorings. In some cases we have been led to believe that outrageous and abusive behavior from the teacher is part of the training. One cannot have an absolute rule, but generally the stronger tactics are reserved for the strong and devoted dervishes, and only after the greatest bond of love has been made certain.

Rumi's own teacher, Shams of Tabriz, was a stringent master, and once said, "My wrath causes a seventy-year-long unbeliever to become a believer, and a believer to become a saint!" We should bear in mind, however, that abusive conduct was never the method of Muhammad. On the contrary, he showed profound respect to people, always being the first to say hello, jumping up to greet the humblest people. If Muhammad set this example he was teaching a lesson for generations to come.Shaikhs may also challenge a person's conditioning or belief structure, may even appear to be doing something unethical or harmful, as in the case of Khidr and Moses in the Qur'an. No real shaikh, however, would keep a student in a state of prolonged moral ambivalence.

If the shaikh appears to do or require something that contradicts one's idea of the good, or moral norms, or the religious law, the reason for this should be made clear before too long, as it was in the case of Moses and Khidr.The relationship between a shaikh and a dervish is one of the most sacred bonds any human being could experience. To find a real shaikh, and to be accepted by one, is a great gift. Shaikhs are taught that if one of their dervishes were to be excluded from the gates of paradise, the shaikh, too, must remain outside. If a shaikh accepts you into his heart and you can accept the shaikh into yours, it is in order that hand and hand you both will go to God. Value that relationship as you would an infant put into your hands: in the beginning it may require great care and sacrifice, and even perhaps sleepless nights, but eventually, after tests, difficulties, and joys, that infant relationship may mature into a being of strength and great beauty, and the generations of the Way will continue.

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What Sheikh Nazim al haqqani said about Maulana Rumi:

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

I begin with His sublime name,
Maulana is the high minded person
who makes the hearts of the people fruitful
with Divine Love and sympathy.

I introduce him to you and show my respect.
Thus I begin my words.

He is The One who is,
Whose absence does not exist,
It is Him, I love and Him I praise.
It is His path that I have chosen,
It is to His path that I have turned my face,
Everybody has somebody whom he loves,
The One I love is the Eternal Beloved,
He is the One whom I love,

He is so radiant
And so worthy of respect,
Those who love Him,
Are the immortal lovers,

He is He,
He is also He,
They are also He,
This is a mystery,

If you possess Love,

you will understand this,
This is what the Maulanas understand,
For others it is forbidden.

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Rumi:

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

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Three Animals

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Our Grandsheikh described how a Derwish may be acceptable as a servant to Allah Almighty. “He must have one character from each of three animals,” he said.”

From the donkey, he must be able to carry burdens with patience and without objection. Unless he can do this he will be unsuccessful, because without patience one cannot carry the responsibilities of life.

From the dog, he must learn faithfulness to his master. If the master tells the dog to stay somewhere until he returns, that dog will stay, even until death. If the owner beats it and chases it away, the dog will still return, with its tail wagging, when its master calls.

Finally, when a man looks at a pig, he must know that his nafs is dirtier and filthier than a pig. The dirt of pigs is external, it comes from eating dirty things. But the nafs is dirty inside. Its dirt comes from fighting with its Lord. A perfect man must have such a character that he will accept whatever dirt is thrown on him, whether by words or by actions, knowing that his nafs is dirtier.

”These three characteristics give a man rest and satisfaction in his heart. Only in this way can he reach happiness in this life. These are the characteristics of Prophets and Saints...

- Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Haqqani

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Love is ...

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

What is love? Love means to give up everything for the sake of human beings. Do you want more details? You know the details inside yourself. Everyone knows when he loves someone for the sake of God, for the sake of the Prophet (s), for the sake of masters: that is when he or she gives everything. If a man loves a woman and she asks him to bring her the sky, he will try to find a rocket to take him to the sky and try to bring the sky to her. If she tells him to bring her a diamond, he will try to buy her the best diamond that money can buy. Is this not true? If you love your Lord, it means you have to love every one of His creations and try to help them as much as possible.

-Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

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The Four Archangels in charge of the Earth

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

The Four Archangels in charge of the Earth

"Almost might the heavens above be rent asunder while the angels hymn the praise of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on the earth. Lo! God is the Forgiver; the Merciful" (42:5). "And how many angels are in the heavens whose intercession avails not save after God gives leave to whom He chooses and accepts!" (53:26) "A written record, attested by those who are brought near unto thier Lord" (83:20-21)

There are four angels and their innumerable retinues in charge of this world.

The First is Gabriel and his armies. He is in charge of Soldier-angels and revelation. Gabriel insures victory and is responsible for the extinction of nations: human, animal, vegetal, or others, when God wills it.

The Second is Michael and his armies, in charge of rain and vegetation. He conveys sustenance to nurture mankind.

The Third is Azrail the angel of death his assisstants. They are incharge of seizing the souls of those who die.

The Fourth is Israfil and his assistants, in charge of The Hour of Judgement Day. When the earth passes away God will order these angels to bring forth their scrolls and they will bring them. The God will order them to open the Book of Life. They will then find that their scrolls are the same as it.

Taken from "ANGELS UNVEILED- A SUFI PERSPECTIVE.

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Love is The water of Life

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

Love is the Water of Life

Everything other than love for the most beautiful God
though it be sugar- eating.
What is agony of the spirit?
To advance toward death without seizing
hold of the Water of Life.

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Love

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

The garden of Love is green
without limit and yields
many fruits other than
sorrow and joy.
Love is beyond either
condition: without spring,
without autumn,
it is always fresh.

-- Jelaluddin Rumi

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Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Haqqani and Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

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The Power of Love

The Power of Love
a talk by Sheikh Nazim 1984/5

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

(Sheikh Nazim led the assembly in calling on the Holy Name of Allah - ya Wadud) – a Divine Name signifying God’s all embracing Love. (pronounced Wadood, rhyming with food). Then he spoke;

There is nothing in all creation that the Creator, Allah Almighty, hates. Indeed it is impossible to be hated by Allah and to be in existence; one absolutely precludes the other. All creation appeared through His Divine Love. He loved them and they appeared; therefore everything in existence carries its share of Divine Love in it.

When I say “everything”, I mean everything from atoms and their parts – the very building- blocks of the universe – up to mankind. Yes, everything, even the smallest particles of matter, carry that Divine gift. As you know, the electrons of atoms revolve around the nuclei, and at enormous velocity. Someone told me that the famous scientist Albert Einstein once declared; “I have come to understand so much, but what I have never been able to fathom is what power gives the electrons the energy to orbit nuclei at such a speed. From where does such power come to them?”

We believe, and furthermore, have been granted certainty in our belief, that everything in existence has life, is living. For the sake of everyday reckoning we classify certain things, such as rocks, as inanimate objects, and recognise life only in plants, animals and human beings. But we believe that beyond these outward distinctions everything has life. Therefore, atoms, and their electrons that turn around the nuclei with such speed as to baffle even the renowned Mr Einstein, are, in reality, alive. They are alive with the Divine Love Power that their Lord has granted them. That’s what makes them spin at the speed of light.

It is for those who have access to a realm of knowledge beyond science to say with certainty, that it is Allah Almighty, the Lord of the universe, who through His Holy Name “Al Wadud” ( the All-loving ) gives His Divine Love to everything in the universe. Those electrons, drunken with Divine Love, spin at such velocity around the nuclei. That is how the influence of Divine Love is manifested by them.

Science can neither prove nor deny this explanation, as this phenomenon is beyond their realm, and they cannot as much as offer a theory. But our hearts may be content with this explanation, as each and every one of us may try it himself within himself; for we all have the power of that Divine Love in our hearts ready to be contacted.

There is no one word in western languages that gives the full meaning of “Al Wadud”. And even explanations don’t do it justice, even though the west claims its knowledge to be superior and looks down disdainfully on every religious experience. And this Holy Name, the meaning of which cannot even be adequately expressed in advanced western languages, is the most suitable “Dhikr”, the most suitable of all the Divine Names to repeat and meditate upon for people who see themselves as superior beings and as being above normal standards.

“Love,” it is certainly not a concept that western culture is unfamiliar with, and undoubtedly most people lay claim to loving and being loved, to knowing the meaning of love, and to it being an important aspect of their lives, indeed the most important. But the love we refer to in connection with the Divine Name “al Wadud” is not the physical transitory love that is rapidly becoming the only meaning of love applicable to modern man; the love that one may find in the zoo. If you can’t imagine a love other that what is on the level of animals, then you belong in the zoo.

There is a real love, never changing, never dying love, and then there is temporary animal love. Both are in man through the wisdom of the Creator, but the permanent Love is the love given to man through the Divine Name “Al Wadud”. To realise that love is the challenge and fulfilment of human existence - to come in contact with those love oceans, for He has given His Divine Love to His most honoured representatives in creation, mankind.

You may love a young lady for her youth, and when that youth departs you love her no more. That is false love. Sometimes we may have both kinds of love simultaneously, but usually the physical overpowers the spiritual, so that it is never allowed to appear. But to reach the ultimate goal of human life we are in need of permanent love, and it is only the Lord of the universe who can grant it.

Therefore, when we say “Ya Wadud” we are opening ourselves up to that Divine Love, asking our Lord to awaken that Love that knows no limitation, that is eternal and extends to all creation.

I have been ordered to teach and advise people to call on our Lord, saying “Ya Wadud”, as this will enable the sincere to attain real love of their Lord Almighty and to love everything around themselves. We must learn to love everything for the sake of the Love the Creator has for all His creation.

And we are in utmost need to pray for such love, as, although it is the essence of all success in the way of spiritual purification, it has become almost extinct in our times. Therefore, suffering, disturbances, struggle, crises and chaos are continually on the rise.

What passes for human love nowadays is indeed a very far cry from real human love. Mostly people cling to it for two or three months then throw it away. You are saying; “Oh my goddess”, and she is saying “Oh my god”, but look in again on them two or three months later and see what is left of that “true devotion” and “deep emotion.” That is the greatest cause of wretchedness in our times.

For this reason I don’t refer to this century as a civilised one. Rather, the twentieth century is witnessing the destruction of civilisation, and every minute violence and misery are increasing. A society may be termed “civilised” when it provides the surrounding in which people may easily reach to the point of extending their permanent love to everyone. One shouldn’t be so proud of being a part of Twentieth Century Civilisation”, for I really don’t consider such a violent and sick society to be civilised, and when I come here (London) I feel my hair standing on end from what I see. Such wildness! No familiarity! Everyone looking so suspiciously to each other!

Because of this acute situation in our times we must, first and foremost, seek to awaken permanent love. Practices, prayers and rules are of no use in this time without love. For people whose hearts have not regained contact with such love, the ego easily attaches itself to practices and uses them as a means to pin empty titles onto itself. Leave every practice that serves your vanity and strive for permanent Love.

Where shall we start? Every person has a circle of friends, relations, acquaintances. Starting from those closest to us: wives and husbands, parents and children, brothers and sisters, we must be generous in giving of our permanent love. How can we consider a person who cannot make peace with those nearest to him as civilised? If we could approach the level of permanent love that befits us the world’s courts would have to be closed down from a lack of suits: no complaining, no divorce, no wretchedness, no struggle.

Giving of our permanent love is the most important practice for our time. No one can say ”I am not in need of practising it, “ neither the speaker nor the listeners. Don’t tell me that so-and–so is on such-and-such a level when he is tight-fisted with permanent love, withholding it even from those with whom he is most intimate.

The lower self of man, the selfish ego, never wants to give permanent love except to himself. I don’t believe that such petty self love is all we have been created for. I believe that we have been created to love all creation. Man represents his Lord on earth and has the greatest reservoir of Divine Love within him; he can be a great means of expression for that Divine Love in this world. Indeed a fountain of love that every creature may drink from.

Abridged from Mercy Oceans of the Heart (also partially reprinted in On the Bridge to Eternity)

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Introduction

Bismillahi 'r-rahmani 'r-raheem

assalamu'alaikom,

Just wanted a blog to share some articles and material that really inspire me. I hope you enjoy the read through this blog, insya'Allah.

Just a little bit about myself: I'm an Australian-born Lebanese, happly married and really enjoy reading and learning about the Naqshbandi Tariqah.

Hope that's enough for an introduction.

Aaisha

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