Ahlan wa sahlan Ya Ramadhan 1442 Hijri

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.

How many of us had been praying 'Allahumma balighna Ramadhan'...and it's here, we have embraced it yet again?

It's 3rd Ramadhan 1442 Hijri already. I have read 2 juz of the Quran so far. I was out shopping for Mabkhara, bukhoor and some Arabia perfumes, so I missed the Book.

Anyway, let's try to practise as many sunnah as possible. I have been meaning to document two new selawat I learned on Nabawi TV recently. Do come and check this posting again later.

Meantime, I pray Allah would be kind to grant us Laylatul Qadar this year and help us stay loyal to the Quran beyond Ramadhan. 

Aamiin Allahumma Aamiin.

Wasalamualaikum warahmatullah.

*****************

Habib Quraisy Baharun
5 April 2021
Jalsah Itsnain Majelis Rasulullah
West Java
[Pic credit: Nabawi TV]

As promised here are the two selawat as taught by Habib Quraisy Baharun, a prominent Indonesian dai'e on Nabawi TV on 5th April 2021 at a weekly majlis known as 'Jalsah Itsnain Majelis Rasulullah' in West Java.

The first selawat was originally taught by Habib Ali bin Abdul Rahman Al Mahsyur. It is known to be highly effective for those who have passed away so that by the grace of Rasulullah salallah alaihi wasalam, the mayyit (the deceased) would be pardoned even if he/she was already destined for Jahannam, or if the mayyit was in a better position than that, Allah would improve his/her conditions and elevate his/her rank. 

I do not have it in Arabic script, so please refer to the original recording of the majlis at the link provided below. Go to minute 1:27:27 and please ask someone to help with the translation.

Bismillah

Allahumma solli wa sallim 

wa baarik wa sharrif wa karrim

ala Sayidina Muhammad

an Nabiyil kaamil

wa 'ala aalihi solatan

laa niha ya talaha

kama la niha yata

lika maa lika

wa 'adada kamaa lih

The second selawat, according to Habib Quraisy Harun, is attributed to [unnamed] solehin who first obtained it through a dream. Reciting this selawat for just ten times is equivalent to reciting more than 100,000 times selawat.

For your reference, check the audio recording at minute 1:30:39.

Bismillah

Allahumma solli wa sallim wa baarik

ala Sayidina Muhammad

wa 'ala alihi

ada da kama lika

wa kama yalii ku

bi kamaa lih

***

Nabawi TV FB link for the aforementioned majlis:

https://www.facebook.com/Nabawitv/videos/510035407053280

Wama tawfiqi illa billah,

- E. Ismail

Du'a during i'tidal and post-solah as practised by Rasulullah salallah alaihi wasalam

Bismillah.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah,

I am delighted to be here and share this lesson I picked up last Feb. By the way, I hope those who intended to recite 7000 selawat, the specific selawat as recommended by Habib Umar bin Hafiz for Shaaban, have managed to complete the task.

I am grateful for the simple pleasures of life like being able to complete the said task in time for Nisfu Shaaban and being a top fan of Masjid An-Nur's FB page, Alhamdulillah. You should be happy that I am a top fan there LOL, else I would not have come across this precious du'a and record it here for our benefit bi-iznillah. Well, this is for those who have not heard of it before or those who are yet to memorize it. 

Ustaz Hafiz (pic below) related some heartwarming stories of the special relationship between Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam and Abdullah ibn Abbas. As he did so, he recalled a du'a which the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam would customarily recite during i'tidal and after solah. It is a very good du'a to strengthen one's aqidah, as it makes one reaffirms the supreme might of Allah against any makhluk who may appear powerful or threatening in the eyes of man.  

So I checked, this could be traced to a hadith recorded by Al Bukhari and Muslim.

Allahumma laa maani'a

lima a'thoita

wala mu'tia

lima mana'ta

wala yan fa'uu

zal jaddi

minkal jadd

Screenshot credit:
https://bimbinganislam.com/dzikir-setelah-shalat/

The English translation, as shared on sunnah.com is as follows:

"O Allah there is none

who can withhold

what You give

and none may give what You have withheld

and the might of the mighty person

cannot benefit him

against You."

  

***

Let's put it to practice.

La quwwata illah billah.

Allahumma bal lighna Ramadhan.

Ustaz Hafiz on Masjid An Nur Temasya Glenmarie online session dated 26th Feb.
I'd like to encourage the Malay speaking visitors to this blog to peruse the mosque's FB and check out his tausiyah.

Reference:

https://www.facebook.com/masjidannurglenmarie

https://sunnah.com/search

Zikir for Shaaban 1441 Hijri as recommended by Habib Umar bin Hafiz

Bismillah.

Assalamualaikum warahmatullah,

Let us all act upon this assignment. To state the obvious, Habib Umar is recommending it to us for our own good, in this world and the hereafter.

May Allah grant us the tawfiq to act upon it. May Allah make our tongues light and inclined to lofty affirmations. May Allah enliven our hearts with the remembrance of His Essence.

Aamiin Allahumma aamiin.

Pic credit: Nabawi TV

Habib Umar bin Hafiz's recommended practice for the month of Rejab 1441 Hijri [Year 2020]

Bismillah.


Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah, we have reached the beginning of the three best months - Rejab. May Allah let us live to see Shaaban and Ramadhan. Aamiin.

Below is Habib Umar's recommended practice for Rejab.
We are encouraged to recite it 3000x or more.

أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِما يَعْلَمُهُ الله

 أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ كَما يُحِبُّهُ الله

Astaghfirullah lima ya’lamuhullah

Astaghfirullah kama yuhibbuhullah

I seek the forgiveness of Allah for everything that He knows;
I seek Allah's forgiveness in the way that He loves.

May Allah capacitate our limbs to keep busy in the ways that are pleasing to Him.

May Allah make it light for our tongues and hearts to make plenty of istighfar every single day of Rejab.

May Allah forgive you and me for everything that He knows about us. May Allah forgive you and me in the way that He loves.

Aamin Ya Rabbal 'alamin.


Source:
https://www.facebook.com/Nabawitv/?epa=SEARCH_BOX
https://www.facebook.com/Muwasala/

Qul Ya Azim & Ya Hannan Ya Mannan - Qasidah rendition by Superdervish | Lyrics for Qul Ya Azim & Ya Hannan Ya Mannan

Bismillah

The rhythm and moments I've missed. And keep longing ever since the passing of Almarhum Dato' Seri Shaykh Raja Ashman ibni Almarhum Sultan Azlan Shah (1958-2012), the former Naqshbandi-Haqqani Tariqa leader for Malaysia.

The below videos were recorded ten years ago at Almarhum's residence.

The qasidah band, comprised of talented boys from Kedah and Sarawak, led by Brother Amirul was just awesome. Videos of their performance are borrowed from the Superdervish YouTube channel. May Allah bless them with more significant success in dunya wal akhirah.

It was a privilege to be present at several of the majlis that Almarhum Shaykh Raja Ashman hosted. May Allah bless his soul and place him with the muqarabin. Aamin. Al Fatihah.

Let's have a look at the lyrics for Qul Ya Azim, taken initially from sufilive.com. It was first shared on this blog on 7th April 2011, a posting that garnered 10,000+ views. MashaAllah. The pull of  The Magnificent Al-Azeem.

https://lisanaldin.blogspot.com/2011/04/recite-qul-ya-azeem-orders-mawlana.html

May Allah pull us to Him and His Beloved Rasul [salallah alaihi wasalam].

***

Qul ya 'Azeem antal 'Azeem

qad hammanaa hammun 'Azeem

wa kullu hammin hammana

ya huunu bismika ya Azeem

Say O tremendous! You are the Tremendous One

We have been afflicted with a grave concern

And every concern we are worried about

becomes easy with the mention of Your Name, O Great One

Antal qadeem qadeemun fil azal

antal lateef lateefun lam tazal

'Anna azil maa qad nazaal

min faadhil khatbis-shadeed

You are the ancient one, ancient one

You are the subtle with subtleness everlasting

Remove from us what has befallen us

of grave and difficult afflictions

CHORUS
Qul ya 'Azeem antal 'Azeem
qad hammanaa hammun 'Azeem

wa kullu hammin hammana
ya huunu bismika ya Azeem 

Hayyun qadeem qadeemun waajidu
baaqi ghanee ghaniyyun maajidu
'Adlun ilaahi ilahun waahidu
barrun ra'uf ra'ufun bil 'abid
Living Ancient, Ancient and Generous
Immortal Rich, Rich, and Glorious
Just God, one God
God is Tender, tender with the servant

CHORUS

Wa lin nabiyyi salli ya salaam
minna salaatun maa salaam
yawmal jazaa nahnaa salaam
mimmaa nakhaa fu ya majeed
And upon the Prophet of Peace
From us send greetings and blessings
Grant us safety on Judgment Day
From all things which we fear, O Glorious One

CHORUS

Wal 'aali was sahbil usood
saadu bihi beedan wa sood
laa siyyamaa maahil hasood
sayfu' ilaah ibnul waleed
And the lions from the Family and Companions
Became masters through him, regardless of being white or black
Especially the one who wipes out great armies
the Sword of Allah (Khalid) son of al-Waleed

CHORUS
Allahumma salli wa sallim wa baarik 'alayhi wa 'alaa alaih

Both videos are from Superdervish channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffj2HLDa5UI

Last but not least, I am pleased to offer the transliteration and translation for Ya Hannan Ya Mannan for the first time here. It was done based on the Arabic script and Indonesian translation, made available on 'Lirik Sholawat' Facebook dated 1st March 2019. 

Kindly highlight any mistakes and forgive me for it. 

Allahu a'lam.

***

Ya Hannan Ya Mannan Ya Khadimal ehsan

O Most Loving, Most Beneficent Lord whose compassion is without beginning

Bahrujuudik malyan judlana bil ghufron

The ocean of Your generosity is abundant, so forgive us

Jud lihazal insan 'abda suu in khozyan 

Be generous toward me, one ugly despicable servant

Min zunu bih wahlan kho-if innak khodban

One who is full of sins, fearful of Your wrath

Robbana nastagh fik robbana nastar dhik

O Lord, we ask for Your forgiveness and mercy

Walana zonnu fik ya roja ahlal iman

We think well of you O Lord, unto You the believers pin their hopes

CHORUS

Ya Hannan Ya Mannan Ya Khadimal ehsan

O Most Loving, Most Beneficent Lord whose compassion is without beginning

Bahrujuudik malyan judlana bil ghufron

The ocean of Your generosity is abundant, so forgive us

***

La tughaiyib ro ji tahta baabik laa jii

Do not forsake Your servant who begs at Your door

Lam yazal fidda jii kho ilan Ya Hannan

The darkness persists in pleading O Most Beneficent

Nin nabiyyil 'ummi wa Khadijah ummi

By the name of the unlettered Prophet and Khadijah the mother

Wal batuulil khotmi sayyida tin niswan

And Fatimah the devout worshipper, the female leader of Heaven

***

Ref:

Lirik Sholawat Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Lirik-Sholawat-375214303032959/posts/

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

Qasidah Qul Ya'Adzim | Habib Kadzim's counsel in conjunction with Rabiul Awwal 1441 Hijri

Bismillah.

This has to be here, a beautiful rendition of one of my favorite qasidah - Qul Ya Adzim. The video is three days old. Take it as a sweet Rabiul Awwal gift.

As a matter of fact, Nabawi TV has been gifting its followers and supporters with amazing live streaming of Habib Kadzim's tausiyah in Indonesia since 9 Nov 2019. The channel was launched by the venerable Habib Umar bin Hafiz in 2015 if I am not mistaken.

Below is a brief summary of recommended practice and advice (mauidhatul hasanah) from Habib Kadzim, given on several occasions in Indonesia in this blessed month of Rabiul Awwal:

• "From the bottom of my heart, please use siwak and quit smoking. Siwak is a sunnah from the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam. Smoking is not an act of any sahabah or anbiya." "Siwak is from Rasul. Cigarettes are from Shaytan." From East Kalimantan to Surabaya to Jakarta, Habib Kadzim kept encouraging people to use siwak. "Replace cigarettes with siwak." When a person uses siwak prior to performing solah, Allah will have redha upon him/her and would grant 70 times reward for each solah made. So that in the akhirah we will be amazed at the number of rewards that we are given just because of a small act of using siwak. Someone who makes it a habit to use siwak, his/her last words upon death would be la ilaha illallah. For that reason, shaytan truly hates siwak.

• That you should make a strong intention to perform hajj so that Allah would facilitate and make it happen. And should you die before going for hajj, Allah would regard you as one who has fulfilled the hajj.

• At the minimum, you should recite 10 salawat in the morning (after Subuh) and 10 in the evening (after Maghrib). If you are too busy and forgot about it, then you should recite 20 salawat before you sleep. One who does this will be guaranteed of shafaat from Rasulullah salallah alaihi wasalam. If you could recite 100 times that would be better as Allah would grant your wishes for both dunya and akhirah, and protect you from anything that you dislike. It would be even better to recite 100 salawat after each of the five solah, so that you will have made 500 salawat in a day. There are pious people who make 25,000 salawat in a day and the guru to my guru, to his guru, customarily recites 25,000 salawat, 25,000 Ya Allah and 25,000 la ilaha illallah. On Fridays, make 80 salawat after Asar. According to a hadith Allah would pardon 80 years of your sins. Do so with an intention to enliven the sunnah of Rasulullah. The time nearing Maghrib, before sunset is the time of Saidatina Fatimah who is also known as Al Batul, one who performed plenty of ibadah continuously.

• Recite Jazallahu anna Sayyidina Muhammadan mahuwa ahluh. Imam Sha'rani recites this 100 times every night. If you can't, then at least recite it 3 times. One who makes this salawat would keep 70 angels occupied with recording the rewards for 1000 days.

• Recite Astaghfirullah lil mukmina wal mukminat 27 times after each of the five solah. And for Subuh, do also recite 27 times before. If you can't then just recite 27 times after.     

• Take a bath on Friday morning and make niyyat so that Allah would purify your heart and soul. It is important to purify our heart because Allah looks at our hearts, whereas people look at our outer appearance. If you make such an intention, Allah would look at your heart with a special attention. 

• Recite Surah Al Kahf on Fridays. If you can't read the entire surah, then you should recite the first 10 verses so that you would be protected from Al Masih ad-Dajjal.

• Be early for Friday prayers, turn up before the khatib goes on the mimbar, so that you will be rewarded as if you had given one camel for charity.

• After solah Jummah and after any majalis that you attend, recite Zikir Azim: Subhanakallah humma la ila ha illa anta wa astaghfiruka wa atubu ilaik so that Allah would seal what you have learned until Qiyamah.

• After taking wudhu, recite Ashhadu an lailaha illallah wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa Rasuluh. Many people already memorize this. Be sure to internalize it and not just say it because that would unlock the doors to all eight Heavens.

• Wear a white outfit on Fridays because it is sunnah and leave your colorful outfits for other days.

• Cut your nails on Fridays. Based on a sound hadith, you would be cured of 70 illnesses and given 70 medications (cure).

• Fulfill all five obligatory prayers (solah), ideally in a congregation, so that your rizq will be blessed with lots of barakah.

• Read the Al Quran at least one page every day. If you can't, then at least recite Surah Al Ikhlas.    

• Recite Subhanallah 100 times, so that you would be rewarded as if you had performed hajj a hundred times. If you recite subhanallah wa bihamdih, you will have a date tree made of nur, planted for you in Heaven.

• Show your gratitude that Allah has given you good health and eased your affairs, by attending majlis taalim and mawlid.

• Serve your parents. Be good to them.
• Cover your head with a skullcap (kopiah)
• Wear a ring.
• Make one rakaat of witir.
• Get up slightly early before Subuh to perform Qiyamulail.

In conclusion, try to do as many of the sunnah as you can. Ty adding bit by bit until more and more light would seep into your heart so that your yearning for Rasulullah would increase and your longing to meet Rasulullah salallah alaihi wasalam would also increase. So that we belong with the people, or rather the relatives of the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam, whom he longs to meet, as related in a hadith.

 

Habib Musa Kadzim at Cidodol, Jakarta on 23 Nov 2019
Credit: Majelis Rasulullah SAW and Nabawi TV Indonesia

Alhamdulillah wa shukru lillah.
: )

Dalailul Khayrat Recitation by Muhammad Qalby on Nabawi TV

Bismillah,

I am very pleased to have discovered this beautiful recital of Asmaun Nabi (the Prophet's names) from Dalailul Khayrat on Nabawi TV YouTube channel.
Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah!

It's a pretty new recording. It's dated 29 Oct 2019, so that's about two weeks old whereas my Dalailul Khayrat kitab is 10 years old. It's dated 1st March 2009. About a month before this blog began. MaShaAllah! 

But...it's never too late to begin, or begin again...and begin again.

201 names of the Beloved of Allah - let's listen to them, recite them and feel them. It takes only 19 minutes.

At a mawlid celebration, I attended yesterday, the ustaz said, salawat is, in fact, sunnatullah and not just the sunnah of Prophet, because Allah Himself offers greetings and salutations to Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam.

So consider the importance of making salawat.

May Allah guide us all. May Allah make it light on our tongues to praise Rasulullah salallah alaihi wasalam. May Allah make our hearts yearn for him salallah alaihi wasalam. May by his blessings, we would attain a big and meaningful success in this dunya and akhirah, especially.

Aameen.

Dalailul Khayrat

My 10 years old Kitab. May Allah forgive me for the time I had wasted.
Let's make an intention so that each day of the next 10 years
shall not pass without the recital of Asmaun Nabi.
Aameen.

PDF File: 201-Names-of-Our-Master-and-Prophet

201 Names of Our Master and... by Bacho Bin Mahansah on Scribd

The Merciful | Hadith Ar-Rahmah ijazah from Habib Kadzim As-Seggaf, delivered at Masjid Nurur Rahmah, Surabaya Indonesia on 11 Nov 2019

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.

Allah The Most Merciful has shown His generous mercy upon us again and again. Glory be to Him, Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim, Ya Kareem, Ya Wali, Ya Wadud.

Alhamdulillah that Allah has blessed this region with the presence of the venerable Habib Kadzim As-Seggaf in conjunction with Mawlid Ar-Rasul 1441 Hijri. 

By the grace of Allah I was able to listen to his tausiyah on 12 Rabiul Awwal at Monas in Jakarta, and then in Malang, then Gresik and last night was a special one, held in Surabaya. A heap of thanks goes to the Indonesian-based Nabawi TV YouTube channel, for organizing all the wonderful live streamings.

The tausiyah held at Masjid Nur Rahmah in Surabaya was special because Habib Kadzim had granted ijazah for Hadith Ar Rahmah bil Awaliah [Hadith of Mercy]. He did so upon request from Habib Idrus Al-Aydrus who wanted it to be a blessing so that the jamaah would have a stronger connection to the mashaikh.

According to Habib Kadzim, he had received the ijazah for Hadith Ar-Rahmah from his guru Habib Zain bin Ibrahim bin Samait on the compound of Masjid Nabawi in Madinah. Habib Zain had received the same ijazah from his guru Habib Abdul Kadir bin Ahmad As-Saggaf who had received it from the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam.

Habib Kadzim made the audience recite after him the said hadith as follows:

Ar Rahimu yarhamu humur Rahman

tabaraka wa taala

ir hamu man fil ardhi

yar hamukum man fis samaa'

In short, it means, Allah Ar-Rahman, the Merciful will show mercy to those who are merciful. Therefore, show mercy towards those on earth, so that the angels in Heaven would also be merciful towards us.

This Hadith Ar-Rahmah is usually given by a shaykh to his mureed as the first hadith which the shaykh had heard from his teacher and it traced all the way back through a chain of transmission right to the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam.

I was reminded of the first time I heard it from Shaykh Muhammad Al-Ya'qoubi of Damascus when he visited KL in December 2009. In fact, when I reviewed some of the old postings of 2009, I came across the first posting I ever made about Habib Kadzim, it was dated 13 April 2009, just a few days after this blog came into being, MaShaAllah!

So I regard this visit by Habib Kadzim in 2019 as a merciful reminder from Allah for this faqir to look back 10 years ago, and refresh, and strengthen her resolve. Indeed 2009 seemed like a great year.

Let's have the links here: 

http://lisanaldin.blogspot.com/2009/04/habib-kazim-as-saggaf.html

http://lisanaldin.blogspot.com/2009/12/first-hadith-i-heard-from-my-teacher.html

It gave me great joy in reading the wonderful comments left by the visitors at that time. Revisiting these two postings had truly rejuvenated my tired spirit. We have come a long way. Ten years have passed just like that.

I am motivated now, to increase my himmah in following the advice and awrad given by Habib Kadzim this time around. The key messages/practices are the same as what he had recommended ten years ago. We cannot afford to wait another 10 years for another so-called "second chance"!

Yesterday at a majlis in Gresik, Habib Kadzim, yet again urged the audience to recite:

Astaghfirullah lil 

mukmina 

wal mukminat

To recite 27 times after each solah, but for Subuh, one should also recite it 27 times before the prayer, if possible, otherwise, just recite 27 times after.

Habib Kadzim As-Seggaf at Masjid Nurur Rahmah, Surabaya
11 Nov 2019

May by the blessings of Rasulullah salallah alaihi wasalam in this blessed month of Rabiul Awwal, may Allah grant us tawfiq to do as told.

Aamiiin.

***

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each one of the visitors who had left such kind words in both the old (2009) postings shared above. You have revived my spirits, that once upon a time as early as 2009 this blog had such lovely vibes. May Allah bless you abundantly.

Aaamiiin.

2009 --- 2019

***

Reference:
Recording of Habib Kadzim's tausiyah and ijazah ceremony held at Masjid Nurur Rahmah, Surabaya on 11 Nov 2019 was provided by Nabawi TV:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8plppsia2jM

Prophetic pass

Bismillah.

There is no doubt that Habib Umar bin Hafiz's actions have inspired many people to learn more, do more and become more. I will speak/write from my own experience with the hope that more people would want to read up/listen to Habib Umar's advice over the years especially on the importance of learning and reciting salawat for Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam.

Thanks to the advancement of social media (yes, there are plenty of socmed pros too ok), yup, thanks especially to Muwasala who has been active on various socmed platforms in propagating lessons given by the venerable Habib Umar bin Hafiz, particularly on the various "new" salawat that the habib would ask people to recite in Rabiul Awal each year.

If you care to search, this blog has been following the annual Rabiul Awal salawat challenge (or rather amanah) since 2015. Except for 2018 cos I slacked in blogging.

It is interesting to note that the salawat which Habib Umar prescribed this year (2019) contains one same line with the salawat he taught us in 2015 - that is wa adzib huzna qalbi. It means: "remove the sadness in my heart."

So in 2015, he asked us to recite the recommended salawat for 10,000 times; in 2016 he prescribed the well known Salawat Fatih for 10,000 times; in 2017 another "new" salawat for 3,000 times, and in 2018 he tasked us with reciting another new salawat for 5,000 times.

This year the minimum recommended recital is also 5,000 times. Please refer to the posting dated 29 Oct 2019.

Habib Umar bin Hafiz is [I repeat] a true leader as he is able to inspire people to learn more, do more and become more. I am one of those, Alhamdulillah, who have been deeply inspired by the Habib. By his barakah, for 2019 challenge, I have been able to recite 3300 times, so far. Alhamdulillah. I am determined to exceed the 5000-target because according to Habib Umar, those who do more, will get more rewards from Allah.

I wish to impress upon the young ones in my family (some of them follow this blog) to make an attempt to learn salawat and make it a habit because I reckon, the merits for those who recite plenty of salawat are worth more than a million dollars. It is like the mother of all VIP pass there is. No, it is not comparable to the other mortals because Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam is THE Beloved of Allah. Those other so-called VIPs, who cares?

I wish to remind you, O young man/woman, it does not matter how bad your days/years had been; it does not matter if some people cut ties with you, belittle you, or if for any reason you feel left out, it does not matter, as long as you keep an open express channel with Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam. Reciting salawat is the Prophetic-pass, the only pass you will ever need. And it will sort out everything for you. Not only will it sort things out for you, but it will also elevate you. Elevate you it will, to a better consciousness, better peace of mind, and ultimately it could place you at a better "seat" in the Hereafter. Let those who take pride in their fancy superbikes or Ferraris or whatever, let them speed as they wish, but you, we, let us speed up on the express-lane to Prophet Muhammad.

OK?

It's been a week since I memorized the salawat which Habib Umar taught us this year. What do I feel? I feel so much calmer as I am able to recognize and discard all nonsense and just move forward with the salawat, hoping for more shafaat from the Prophet and more bounties from Allah. I also feel that 5000 is achievable. It's not that difficult if we really want it hard enough. I will be 50 next year, and I've made an intention to recite 50,000 salawat from now until my birthday month in the year 2020 InShaAllah, bi-iznillah. It would be the best birthday present one could give to oneself. Forget those thematic fancy birthday parties. Who cares? [We can have a much grander party if we get admitted to Heaven. I am already dreaming about my hairstyles there LOL]

And do not be shy about it. Don't be shy talking about it, just as I am not shy about sharing and promoting it. Because as said Habib Umar bin Hafiz, and I quote this from Muwasala FB: 

"Those who spread, share and publish prayers upon the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam are among those who are closest to him because they will have the reward of all those who bestow prayers upon him as a result of their efforts. They have a high rank in the sight of Allah and His Messenger salallah alaihi wasalam."

Who cares about being a celebrity in this world? Who cares about having tonnes of followers on IG or having a blue-tick next to one's name? We should care about having a high rank in the sight of Allah and Prophet Muhammad.

Our path is one that is private and direct to the one man that matters most - Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam.

So hurry up!

*** 

The Salawat prescribed by Habib Umar bin Hafiz for Rabiul Awal in 1441 Hijri/2019:

Allahumma Ya Robba
Sayyidina Muhammad wa ali Sayyidina Muhammad
solli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad
wa 'ala ali Sayyidina Muhammad 
wa soh bihi wasallim 'adada 'ilmik
wa az hib huzna qalbi (remove sadness from my heart)
fid dunya wal akhirah (in this world and the hereafter)

wa far rij kuruba ummatihi (relieve the hardship of this ummah)
wa hawwil ahwa lahum (and make their state)
ila ahsanil ahwal (the best possible state)
Ya Rahman

Habib Umar bin Hafiz
[Pic credit: Habib Umar followers]

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https://www.youtube.com/user/muwasala/videos
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One birthday that matters | Welcoming Rabi'ul Awal

Bismillah.

The only birthday that matters this year and every year, takes place in this blessed month of Rabiul Awal.

***

Who cares about those seemingly cool, fanciful, thematic birthday parties for other mortals? Who cares?

My life began to matter the year I realized the existence of the honorable Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam. My existence began to carry meaning only from the time I became conscious of making salawat for the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam. The times, the years prior to this realization, were as if, nullified, as if I was not yet alive.

It is quite likely that our years in the grave will be greater than the number of years we spend on this earth. Do you think those who are still alive when we are dead, would care about planning an elaborate party for us every single year, on our birthday? No way. But it is our salawat that would light up our grave, way brighter than all the birthday cakes' candles could. 

But, yes, there is a very small group of people who are extremely special that their passing is remembered hundreds of years after their demise; that their names live on, long after their death. And these people never bothered about celebrating birthdays.

For Muslims, the only one birthday that should matter is that of the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam.  I came to this consciousness quite late in life, that I do not care about how many assets, qualifications, etc. I have to this day, instead, I rejoice with much gratitude and humility, the number of salawat that Allah has made easy for me to memorize to this day, that He made light on the tongue to recite. This is the most expensive "branded" stuff we should be proud to carry. Our attachment to making salawat is a mark of achievement. This is my advice to the young ones in my family who follow this blog.

Moreover, as said Habib Umar bin Hafiz and this I picked up from Muwasala IG, the more we thank Allah for the blessing i.e. our connection with the Prophet through salawat, our knowledge about his prophethood, greatness, and station in the sight of Allah; the more we thank Allah for these, the more Allah would increase the blessings. So acknowledge the blessings we have been given.

Now, here's another new salawat to learn and memorize by heart, and recite over and over. The "challenge" given by Habib Umar bin Hafiz for this year is to recite it 5000 times in this blessed month. [Source: Muwasala FB] 

***

Allahumma Ya Robba
Sayyidina Muhammad wa ali Sayyidina Muhammad
solli 'ala Sayyidina Muhammad
wa 'ala ali Sayyidina Muhammad 
wa soh bihi wasallim 'adada 'ilmik
wa az hib huzna qalbi (remove sadness from my heart)
fid dunya wal akhirah (in this world and the hereafter)

wa far rij kuruba ummatihi (relieve the hardship of this ummah)
wa hawwil ahwa lahum (and make their state)
ila ahsanil ahwal (the best possible state)
Ya Rahman

(Please refer to the original poster below from Muwasala FB for the correct pronunciation and transliteration.)
***

Oh well, if you find it hard to memorize, then try this shorter one. This salawat has been quite popular in Malaysia lately as it's taught by many a da'ie.

Jazallahu anna Sayyidina Muhammadan 
(sallallah alaihi wasalam)
ma huwa ahluh.

***

Rejab - A splendid month

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah, here comes the first of the three sacred months.

May the Lord help us prep for this auspicious season.

Allahumma bariklana fi Rajaba wa Syaaban
wa ballighna Ramadhan

Rejab istighfar as recommended by Habib Umar bin Hafiz is pretty long for a novice like me.
So I've chosen this one-liner to learn by heart.

I seek the forgiveness of Allah
for every
word
act
and thought
and every inward
and outward action of mine
which Allah dislikes.

http://muwasala.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/IstighfarRajab.pdf


WaSalamualaikum warahmatullah.

[Trying] As ever,
-E-

Possessor of Great Bounty

Bismillah.

The Quran as we know it is like a bottomless ocean. We are bound to find new treasures every time. 

This should be here as a reminder, as I was impressed by these words - partially in verse 73, and verse 74 of Surah Ali Imran.

"Indeed, all bounty is in the hand of Allah, He grants it to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing and Wise. He selects for His mercy whom He wills. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty."

Let's call upon Him to select for His mercy and bestow it on us.

Yakh tassu birahmatihi man yashaaq

wallahu zul fadhlil azeem

(Q3:74)

3000 salat for Rabiul Awal 1438 H

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah, this is it, I had been waiting to learn a new selawat for this year's Rabiul Awal from none other than Habib Umar bin Hafiz.

I sure hope the honourable shaykh as ahlul bayt would intercede for me. That he would say something to this effect: "Ah...yes Eza learned and practiced many of the selawat I shared with the public through the years." 

LOL

OK it's going to be a busy weekend memorizing this and getting on with the 3000 selawat challenge the habib has put forth this year.

Allahumma salli wasalim 
'ala 'abdika wa rasulika
khatamin nabiyyin
wa akramil awwalina wal aakhirina
Sayyidina Muhammad wa 'ala alihi 
wa sahbihi wat tabi'in 
wa farrij 'alal Muslimin
Ya Qawiy Ya Matin
wak fi sharraz zalimin

Let's get to it.

The Rabiul Awal clock is ticking. About 25 days left.

Sallu alan Nabi

1000 Al Ikhlas in exchange for His gaze

Bismillah.

Credit: Muwasala

The above is a screenshot of a video of Habib Umar bin Hafiz during Awal Muharram of the previous year (2016). A universal message as such is timeless.

Have you done it? Will you do it?
1000 Al Ikhlas?
Let's.

I hope you are relishing this auspicious weekend too.

Bye for now.

Let's be selfish about our time. Don't give it up for actions that do not carry much weight for the good of dunya and akhirah.

May Allah protect us from heedlessness (laghaw), from pointless activities, both online and offline. Let us point ourselves and others towards good deeds, towards our Creator and His beloved Messenger (pbuh).

Ameen.

1st Zulhijjah 1438 H

Bismillah.

La ilaha illAllah
to the number of nights and ages
La ilaha illAllah
to the number of days and months

May Allah grant us tawfiq to improve the quality of our ibadah and multiply it during these auspicious first ten days of Zulhijjah.

p/s

For full azkar as recommended by Habib Umar bin Hafiz.

http://muwasala.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Adhkar-for-the-First-Ten-Days-of-Dhu%E2%80%99l-Hijjah-1.pdf

Frankly speaking, I found it a bit challenging, definitely not for the "faint-hearted", but let's just read them. 

La hawla wala quwata illah billah

***

I wish y'all a productive Wednesday.

Magic number | Hasbunallah

Bismillah.

I noticed our venerable Habib Umar bin Hafiz had on two occasions prescribed this azkar when asking for aid from Allah to remove difficulties and also prevent a mishap - 450 times - is the "magic number" to recite. 

There must be some secrets as to why a certain number of repetitions is recommended for a certain azkar e.g. 100, 75, 33, 27 and in the case of  Hasbunallah wa nikmal wakil - it's 450. 

Let's have this here for future reminder/reference.

Let's heed.

May this simple lesson and practice bring much benefit to he/she who has in the chamber of his/her heart, a secret plea.

We must thank Allah for we can't fathom the number of times when we surrendered to Him Al Wakil and He evicted major harm from us. That which seemed as an unanswered prayer or a withholding was actually a big blessing. Or that He acts/reacts on our behalf with greater might and wisdom.

: )

Allahu Akbar!


Ref: Muwasala.org

Salawat for healing as taught by Shaykh Muhammad Al Yaqoubi

Bismillah.

YaHuu...here's another new salawat for me to memorize (and you, if you are keen).

Allahumma salli ala Sayyidina Muhammad
solatan tashfina
wa sallim alaihi
salaman yudawina
wa 'ala alihi wa sohbihi wa sallim

O Allah, send prayers upon our Master Muhammad
a prayer which heals us
and send peace upon him
peace that is a medicine for us
and upon his family and companions

Ref/Credit: @sikiandar



Have a pleasant weekend, folks.
Remember this:
"No person is your friend who demands your silence or denies your right to grow."
- Alice Walker

#speaktruth #speakup

The benchmark of understanding, judgment and knowledge

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah, my Quran lesson has resumed after a short break. May Allah grant my ustaz and his family sihah wal afiah and much heavenly bounties. Ameen.

I have got to place my notes here for ease of reference because Ustaz has asked me to memorize Verse 79 of Surah Anbiya and make it a daily wirid. (Since I haven't. Those of you who have and who are "holier" than me, please kindly stop reading now and go mind your own business. LOL).

Yes, we ask for understanding from Allah, but what kind of understanding? What is the benchmark? So, now I know, the kind of understanding that Allah has granted to Prophet Sulaiman is what we should pray and ask from Allah. What kind of sound judgment and knowledge we should aim for? That which was given to Prophet Sulaiman and Daud. 

Fa fahimna Sulaiman
wa kullan aa taina
hukman wa 'il ma
wa sakh kharna ma 'ad Dawud
dal jiba la yusab bih na wat thoir
wa kunna fa 'ilin

To Sulaiman We inspired the (right) understanding,
to each (of them) We gave
judgment and knowledge,
it was Our power that made the hills and the birds
celebrate our praises,
with Dawud
it was We Who did (all these things).

***

I shall practise and benefit from verse 79 of Surah Anbiya, bi-iznillah and I rejoice thinking how much benefit I could get if some of you readers will memorize and practise it too. Thank God for compounded rewards : )

Shielding oneself | Bismillahil lazi la ilaha illa huwa

Bismillah.

In case you're like me, one who has the tendency to get du'a all mixed up. 

This is the correct du'a (one of) for shielding oneself from the prying eyes of the unseen creations e.g. the Jinn.

There is a couple of du'a for a similar situation and I am reminded of my first and only experience being in a majlis with Shaykh Yaqoubi who said, it sufficed that you recite a'uzubillahi minasyaitanirajim, but you have got to say it with conviction. May Allah grant safety to him and ease his affairs. 

May Allah protect us all from evil eyes. Ameen.   

***

So...this....is what it is for Sunday posting. I'm trying my best to catch up with this space and all other things that are taking place in the other space. Hope you have had a pleasant weekend.

"Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions. Never know too much to learn something new."
 - Og Mandino (1923 - 1996)