Habib Kazim as-Saggaf

Bismillah.

May our young ones grow up to be like Habib Kazim as-Saggaf, one whose presence and demeanor bring so much joy to those around him - a trait common to most habaib (plural for habib/the ahlul bayt/families of the Prophet s.a.w).

My first encounter with a habib whose aura simply bowl you over was Habib Yusuf Bakhour al-Hasani, who is originally from Lebanon, former Mufti of Canada. But Habib Kazim is truly the apple of my eye (perhaps I speak for many ladies out there) and Habib Ali Zainal Abidin comes a close second. There is a chapter from Ibn Arabi's book on 'Divine Governance of the Human Kingdom' which describes: "Someone who speaks with measured words, and whose hands move expressively" as having "a firm understanding of what he says and is logical." Habib Kazim is one such person. When he speaks, he speaks animatedly. He does not only speak with his voice but also with his eyes, head, and hands. Originally from Siwon, Hadramaut, Yemen, Habib Kazim was born in 1969. He is one of Habib Umar's early students entrusted to lead Darul Mustafa in Tarim and at Maahad al-Badar, he teaches students from Europe. This much I could jot down from a biography of Habib Kazim read by Habib Ali Zainal Abidin at Ijtima Ulama organized by Al-Jenderami. (Photo below)

Alhamdulillah, I had the opportunity to be in Habib Kazim's presence on four occasions last Rabi'ul Awal. Apparently, this was his first trip to Malaysia. It goes without saying that meeting him has heightened my love for Rasulullah s.a.w. and Habib Kazim certainly has the capability to make people conform as in sami'na wa atoqna meaning 'we listen and we obey'.

At Baitul Aman mosque in Kuala Lumpur, he divulged three fairly simple but weighty points:

Allah grants both general and specific rahmah (mercy) he said. To win His Rahmat Khusus (specific mercy) one need only do three things:

1. Istighfar (Astaghfirullahallazim) 27x daily for all muslimin and muslimat.

2. Rise before fajar and recite as many times as possible:

- La illa ha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz zolimin

- La illa ha illallah wahdahu la sharikalah lahul mulku walahul hamdu yuhyi wayumit wahuwa ala kulli syai in qodir

3. Salawat Nabi (durood) 20x before one goes to sleep. Salawat not absent-mindedly and if you know any qasidah eg. qasidah burdah, sing it. The point is PRAISE Rasulullah s.a.w!

Wallahu'alam.

May Allah increase us in knowledge and give tawfik for us to practise.
Ameen Ya Robbal Alameen.

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You may wish to listen to Habib Kazim from these links:
1. 'Knowing, Loving, Following' Part 1 - from Radical Middle Way UK

2. 'Knowing, Loving, Following' Part 2 - from Radical Middle Way UK