"Be ambitious, aim high!" - Habib Faishol Al Kaff at Masjid Raya Bandung, Indonesia - 24 Sept 2019

Bismillah.

Below is my translation of Habib Faishol's tausiyah at Masjid Raya Bandung, as interpreted by Sayyid Mujtaba.

Habib Faishol AlKaff (right)
Sayyid Mujtaba bin Shahab (translator - left)

Praise be to Allah for allowing us to gather at this sacred place. Greetings and salutations are for Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam the Messenger who was sent as a mercy to the universe.

It is common nowadays to see two kinds of large gatherings. One group gathers to watch a singer performs, the other group gathers in order to mention Allah, to make salawat and to watch the faces of Allah's Beloveds. They differ greatly.

Who brought us here? It is Allah.

There are people who take pride in meeting their favourite artiste or VIPs. But the real honor is to be at this kind of gathering.

In the hereafter, the former group will wish to be sent back to this dunya so that they could attend this gathering. 

We are here as a result of the tawfik from Allah. That we are able to partake the sweet scent of love for Allah, love for Rasulullah, and love for the solehin. This love is one that is deep-seated in the hearts. Alhamdulillah that Allah has given you such a major blessing.

You have love [for Allah, Rasulullah, and the solehin] and to your knowledge, the love that you have is one that is on the right path.

I wish to ask all of you men and women. Every one of us has a target in our lives. What is your objective for sitting here? What are your life goals?

Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam encourages us to be ambitious and set a big goal. For anything that you wish to ask from Allah, ask Him for great things, ask Him to grant you the highest Heaven - Syurga Firdaus.

A poet once said: if you have a target, a vision, or a desire, then do not settle for anything that is below the stars.

Speaking of ambitions, we are reminded of a sahabi (a companion of the Prophet). He is Sayidina Amar bin Jamuh. He is old and limping. So that makes him ineligible to participate in a battle. For that reason, his children prevented him from joining the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam to go to war. Sayidina Amar was not happy about this. He was a highly ambitious man. So he went to see Rasulullah salallah alaihi wasalam complaining about his children. He badly wanted to be involved in jihad.  

"O Rasulullah, my children are not letting me join you in jihad fi sabillillah."

The Prophet responded: "What is it that you want from jihad, O Amar?"

"I wish to set my limping foot in Heaven!"

At seeing Amar's bold ambition, the Prophet relented. Amar was enlisted in the army. He fought and died as a syahid. His dream came true. He made it to Heaven, limping.

I ask from Allah, so that we will not leave this place unless He grants us a strong determination, a high aspiration to earn His redha. Such a character is natural for real men, like Sayidina Umar Abdul Aziz who said: 'I do not achieve something good, only to want something that is much better than that.'

***

Habib Faishol ended his tausiyah with a lengthy and meaningful du'a. One du'a is for Allah to make us pleasing to the hearts of our guru.

Walhamdulillahi Rabbil Alamin.

Habib Umar bin Hafiz
at Masjid Raya Bandung
24 Sept 2019

Video source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJAZ1vvhosg&t=17673s

Credit: Nabawi TV and Nahdatul Ulama Indonesia

***

"Jika kau mempunyai keinginan, 
maka janganlah engkau rela 
dengan keinginan yang di bawah bintang."
- Penyair Arab

The Opener | The Provider |The Healer

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah that we have witnessed some amazing times of our lives thus far. He is Time. Therefore, anything and everything which had been manifested in the times that passed was all about Him and His Power, His Beauty and His Perfection. 

His Plans prevailed and will always prevail. Two years ago when I decided to work on a part-time basis and planned to base myself in Penang, He was quick to place me in a better circumstance, something that never crossed my mind. He is indeed the Opener of new doors and new paths - to success, happiness, and better wisdom.

I strongly encourage you to recite Salawat Fateh. Now that Rabiul Awwal is over, I stopped reciting the salawat which Habib Umar bin Hafiz prescribed for Rabiul Awwal 1441 Hijri, and I have moved on to Salawat Fateh, prescribed by Habib Umar in 2016:

Allahumma salli wa salim wa barik ala Sayyidina Muhammad
O Allah, bestow Your prayers and peace upon our master Muhammad

Al Fatihi lima ughliq
the one who opens that which is closed

wal khatimi lima sabaq
the seal of those that came before

nasiril haqqi bil haqq
the defender of truth with truth

wal haadi ila siratal mustaqim
the guide to the straight path

wa ala alihi wa sohbihi
and upon his family and companions

haqqa qadrihi wa miqdarihil azim
befitting his immense position and grandeur 



***

There's a new recommended practice I discovered on Facebook. It's taught by Ustazah Asma', one popular Malaysian da'ie. She taught this to a group of students. Recite it every time you drink plain water especially if you have special health-related needs.

Allah humma inni
as aluka 'ilman nafi'an
wa rizqan wasi'an
wa shifa an
min kulli da in   

O Allah, grant me beneficial knowledge
and plenty of rizq 
and cure all illnesses.

Take note that rizq (provisions) would include getting good/caring teachers/supervisors etc., not just money. And illness should include those which are non-zahir i.e. hasad, ujub etc.

***

Do make notes, practice, and share.

I was delighted to have read a Facebook posting of my schoolmate. She's in the same class when we're 16 and 17. She's just obtained a Ph.D. qualification MaShaAllah and she is a regular tholabul ilmi. She wrote some notes from a majlis taa'lim she attended on 26 Nov 2019, translated as below:

According to Ustaz Syed Norhisham bin Tuan Padang:

Imam Al Ghazali wrote in a poem: knowledge is like an animal you are hunting. Taking notes of lessons that you learn is analogous to tying up the hunted beast. It would be stupid for one who took the trouble hunting for it, only to let it roam free because he/she did not tie it up.

To learn is fard (obligatory).
Taking notes is sunnah.
Sharing knowledge wins you a reward.
Practicing knowledge brings barakah.

***

So I deduce from the above, blogging (writing notes on useful lessons) is a sunnah.
Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.

Menuntut ilmu itu fardu
Mencatat ilmu adalah sunnah
Berkongsi ilmu itu satu pahala
Mengamalkan ilmu itu satu keberkatan