Habib Ahmad Hussein Aideed on beneficial knowledge

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah, thanks to Brother Mohamed Sidek from Radical Middle Way Asia from whom we received recordings of the tausiyah by Habib Ahmad Hussein Aideed, held in KL last month.

Below is a partial transcript of the Habib's tausiyah:

Habib Ahmad Hussein Aideed began by praising Allah for bringing the attendees together in a gathering of remembrance and gathering of knowledge. He said, Muslims, male and female, none is independent of the need for zikir and knowledge. We all are in need of remembrance of Allah and knowledge. What we strive for is knowledge, that is knowledge that brings benefit. Knowledge that brings benefit is knowledge that increases the believer in his awe, respect and reverence for Allah. So that everytime he increases in knowledge, he increases in reverence and awe for Allah.

Allah subhanahu wata'ala commands the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam to seek all of it and He taught him to say: "O our Lord, increase me in knowledge." He is the most knowledgeable of the creations of Allah without conditions. Without conditions means the Prophet is the most knowledgeable of creations including the angels, jinns and everything else. And even the most knowledgeable of Creations was commanded by Allah to make du'a to seek more knowledge.

What is the knowledge that Allah commanded Prophet Muhammad to seek more of? It is the knowledge that brings a servant of Allah closer to Him. This is what is called beneficial knowledge. Knowledge that brings a servant closer to Allah.

For that reason, Allah commanded the Prophet: Qul Rabbi zidni 'ilma - O our Lord, increase me in knowledge and in another ayah: Fa'lam annahu laila haillallah - Know that there is no God except Allah. In the second ayah, Allah uses the word know alluding to knowledge. Knowledge is what brings us to the realization that there is no deity except Allah. 

It is obligatory upon all Muslims, male and female to learn this knowledge. Knowledge is that you know what is the meaning of la ilaha illallah. How many believing men and women say la ilaha illallah without knowing the reality of la ilaha illallah? The meaning of la ilaha illallah is that there is nothing to be worshiped, who deserves to be worshiped in existence, except Allah. Therefore, someone can continue his entire life learning and discovering the light of la ilaha illallah. 

The first step in the pursuit of happiness is the seeking of knowledge. According to Imam Ghazali knowledge is divided into three categories. The first of this three knowledge is knowledge of Allah or knowing Allah. So it is obligatory upon all Muslims to learn the qualities (sifat) of Allah. All the existence and everything that happens in it is a manifestation of the act of Allah, it is the act of Allah. All of it is the creation of Allah even the actions of the creations is in reality the acts of Allah. 

For that reason, Allah says in the Quran: 'Allah created you and that which you do' meaning even your actions that you do is from the creation of Allah. Therefore, it is a must for us to believe that all of existence is one act or the acts of Allah.

So then you know that Allah possess great qualities. Allah is the All-Powerful. He is Grand. He Hears and Sees. Everything that is in the heaven and earth is in His knowledge. The other quality that is necessary for all Muslims to know and this knowing affords the believer certainty in Allah. 

Certainty is a light from Allah that Allah places in the heart of human beings. For this reason Prophet Muhammad says: 'Saidina Abu Bakar is not better than you because of his prayers or fasting but because the light that Allah places in his heart.'

The path or the way to happiness (saadah) is through certainty in Allah. So, it is obligatory upon all Muslims to seek certainty in Allah. Certainty in Allah is divided into three categories: certainty on the basis of knowledge (ilmu yaqin); certainty on the basis of seeing (ainul yaqin) and certainty on the basis of experience (haqqul yaqin). These are three categories of yaqin. And where does yaqin comes from? It comes from iman. 

This is the first category of the obligatory knowledge that Imam Ghazali spoke about i.e. knowledge of Allah. This knowledge is extremely important. A mistake in this knowledge leads to disbelief. Ignorance or deviation in the knowledge of tauhid and the knowledge of aqidah takes someone out of the deen of Allah. As opposed to knowledge of fiqh, if somebody is ignorant of it and make a mistake, we say it's haram to be ignorant of fiqh but at least you remain in the fold of Islam. But ignorance in aqidah takes you out of the fold of Islam. For that, we seek protection from Allah. 

Where can somebody find certainty? Where is the source of certainty? Certainty is a power in iman, it is what gives energy to iman, in the same way the body cannot move without energy, light bulb cannot be lit without energy, in the same way iman cannot go without certainty...

Credit: Majlis Arraudhah 

THE Companion | Al Ghazali's Bidayatul Hidayah - Rules of companionship

Bismillah.

Our friends in Singapore are busy preparing for a dawra on Imam Ghazali's Kitab Bidayatul Hidayah to be led by our dearest Shaykh Fahmi Zamzam al-Maliki. It's supposed to take place on 30th and 31st of May 2015 bi-iznillah. Let's pray so that everything will go smooth for the organizer. Ameen. 

Upon knowing about the upcoming event, I looked up the kitab and found a chapter on adab of companionship with Allah. This is what Hujjatul Islam wrote and may, by reproducing it here, you and I will get to internalize it better.

Know that your Companion who does not leave you whether you are living in a place permanently or travelling, whether you are sleeping or awake, and indeed whether you are alive or dead, is He who is your Lord, your Master and your Creator. Whenever you remember Him, He is your Companion, as He (exalted is He) said: 'I am the companion of him who remembers Me.'

When your mind is filled with grief over your shortcomings in your religious duties, God is your inseparable Companion as God (exalted is He) said: 'I am with those whose minds are filled with grief for My sake.' 

If you knew God truly and perfectly, you would take Him for a companion and leave people aside. Should you be unable to do this all the time, take care that your day and night are not without a time in which you will be alone with your Master and enjoy the pleasure of your secret converse with Him. At that time you have to follow the rules of companionship with Him, so you must learn them. 

The rules of companionship with God are:

• keeping silent with the head cast down
• ignoring one's surrounding
• concentration of care and attention on God
• continuation of silence
• keeping the body's members at rest
• hastening to carry out His commands and avoiding His prohibitions
• not complaining against fate
• continual remembrance of God and reflection on Him
• preference of the truth over falsehood
• independence from people
• humility before the awe of Him
• brokenness of mind under the sense of shame
• quiescence of mind from worries of earning a livelihood while relying on the guarantee of sustenance given by God
• and trust in the bounty of God knowing that He chooses for man only that which is good for him.

All these should be your distinctive characteristics in all your days and nights for they are the rules of companionship with a Companion who does not leave you [at all] whereas [your companions from among] people sometimes leave you.          

***

Of the 14 rules of companionship with the Most Loyal Companion, I need to hammer hard two of them: independence from people and that He chooses only the best for His servants. On this auspicious evening of Israk Mikraj, I wish you a serene time alone with Him.

 Ref: https://attahawi.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/bidayat-al-hidayah-by-imam-al-ghazali.pdf

Rajab's blessings | Jumaah Mubarrak

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah for another beautiful day, it's Friday, it's the last Friday in the month of Rajab.

What's your achievement this month? Though we all know it's impossible to enumerate the bounties of Allah, I am delighted to mention one, that my family and I have finally obtained the permission to recite the wazeefah in Kitab Barakat Makkiyah. That is but one of His generous bounties. Alhamdulillah. For that Alhamdulillah, we say Alhamdulillah again.

And I say Alhamdulillah that Allah has given me a little bit of education and knowledge that I have been able to work and look after my mother, even though there are people who ridiculed my Economics degree. You know they say, people can rob your money, but they can't rob your education from you. Oh well, at least I know the difference between believe and belief.

Anyway, folks, I wish you all a blessed day. Thanks for your visits and kind thoughts. I will try to share something useful tomorrow InshaAllah.

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullah.

-E-

[Poster credit: The Sacred Path of Love FB]

p/s

Our Malay readers may want to watch video clips of Shaykh Muhammad Husni Ginting of Langkat Indonesia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOaqHWNpgpo

We caught up with him in Penang last week and asked him to speak about his background, his views on Muslims in Indonesia and Malaysia, and his words of advice for the youth, in conjunction with the Israk Mikraj occasion.

Achieve something new each day | Dream it, do it!

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.

Was in Penang during the Mother's Day weekend and came back to KL, to these lovely pieces.

You know, we should all love our Lord because the more patient we are, the more shall we receive wonderful bounties from Him. So folks, let the critiques bark, let those who envy have their faith and good deeds destroyed, like fire destroys wood, whereas we keep achieving something new each day bi-iznillah. Actually the best reward for being patient is that He is with us. He is with those who are patient, yes.
  

Let's ponder on this wise sayings of Shaykh Salman Al-Oadah:

"When you see your achievements in front of you, do not stand and admire them for too long. Turn away from them so you can head off to achieve something new, and use your sense of achievement as a source of renewed energy for your future projects. The progression of your life's achievements, success, disappointments and experience carve out the course of your life and give it meaning."

Keep dreaming, and keep doing.

Reference: Islam Today

Greetings from Penang

Bismillah.

Tafsir Al Jailani
and plenty of precious Islamic books
at Maktaba An-Nur Penang

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.

It's always a joy to be writing from Penang, my be-You-tiful hometown where all the be-You-tiful people live : )

We were supposed to attend a daurah on Tafsir Al-Jailani by Shaykh Rohimuddin Al-Banteni organized by Majlis Ta'lim Ahbabunnaby but the shaykh got held up in KL. It was supposed to be the 6th dawra. 

Fortunately, as God willed it, we were able to benefit from a tausiyah by Shaykh Muhammad Husni Ginting of Indonesia and recorded his messages for the youth, on lessons they should heed from Israk Mikraj. Do check Al Falah TV Youtube channel from time to time. 

***

  

OK folks, until next time, it's Mother's Day, let's spend some quality time with our mothers. My mom and I are heading to a special luncheon at a resort tomorrow InshaAllah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah for His endless bounties.

Ten Minutes With: Shaykh Abdul Aziz Fredericks in KL, January 2015 | Five random questions

Bismillah

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.

At long last we managed to publish this video which was supposed to be the first to come out on Al Falah TV channel. We planned this and that, we shall continue planning this and that but Allah's plans prevails everytime, all the time. 

The lessons I personally learned while trying to get this short piece out was that you should not depend on a single person to assist you because there are people who would especially turn you down when they know you depend quite a bit on them. That Allah is always there to open many other doors. That a student can actually do a better job than a "teacher" sometimes. That one should not be so proud about having a particular specialist knowledge because there are many others who in fact have better knowledge and understanding. That we should be humble and persistent in trying to learn new things. One of my earliest guides once said, "Knowledge is like water. Water can only accumulate on low grounds. Knowledge, likewise, will accumulate in a humble heart."

Anyway, folks, please watch the video below. It may be short, but Shaykh Abdul Aziz spoke succinctly about inculcating in youth the love for Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam; about incorporating Al Falah (success) principles in our daily lives; about explaining tasawuf/Sufism to young people; about timeless New Year resolutions a Muslim should make; and his views about Muslims in this region.

Oh, it's 3 a.m. I need to prepare for a road trip. Pray Allah will keep us safe and carry us to another "Heavenly Garden" bi-iznillah. Pray we are given the tawfiq to have high aspirations in everything we do. Honestly, I wish I could write more regularly but....

But of course I miss you too!

Screencaptured the video
on poor quality due to horrible internet connection at our new office.
Half a loaf is better than none.

Gear up and chill

Bismillah.

Pardon me, am still in holiday mood yet can't wait for my young and talented team mates to fill up those chairs. InshaAllah. I sure hope they'll love our new office as we are all set to work, work, work bi-iznillah.

The best part about being a boss is you can decide when you need to clock out, go chill and go for a swim : D

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.

"To have faith is to trust yourself to the water.
When you swim you don't grab hold of the water,
because if you do, you will sink and drown
Instead, you relax and float."
- Alan Watts

A bunch of us are going for a night swim now YaHuuuu...

Allah Kareem. Allah Wadud.

Enjoy the long weekend folks! Enjoy the present moment. Here's one quote I have just found and thought oh how profound. It's by Leornado da Vinci:

"In rivers, the water that you touch
is the last of what has passed
and the first of that which comes;
so with present time."

Let's embrace the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes.