Shaykh Fahmi Zamzam Al-Maliki's lecture on Kitab Bidayatul Hidayah - Singapore, 30 - 31 May 2015

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah, we are pleased to announce that the intended majlis to be led by Shaykh Fahmi Zamzam al-Maliki will be held as planned inshaAllah.

Singaporeans are fortunate to have event organizers who religiously put together one good event after another. So, Singaporeans should mark their calendar and free up their weekend on 30th and 31st May 2015.

Fortunate is he/she who gets to sit in a garden of knowledge in a House of Allah reading a kitab by the legendary Imam Al Ghazali, Hujjatul Islam.

May Allah bless the participants, organizers and supporters. 

Found this hadith quoted by Imam Al Ghazali in his Kitab Bidayatul Hidayah:

'Of two persons who keep company with each other, the more beloved to God, is certainly he who is more kind to his companion.'

Let us all compete in showing compassion towards one another.

Wassalamualaikum warahmatullah.

'Book Insights' with Dr Jasser Auda

Bismillah.

As you might remember, there was a couple of postings made in September last year about how excited and inspired I was about Dr Jasser Auda's book -  'A Journey to God'. I even thought of flying to Doha to interview him.

Guess what, if all goes well, I will get to meet and interview him soon! Allah Kareem! Allah Mujib!

Hence we have created a slot on Al Falah TV Youtube channel called Book Insights where we will bi-iznillah feature Dr Jasser Auda.

Below are his words, quoted from the said book in which he reflects upon 30 aphorisms of Hikam by Shaykh Ibn Ata'illah.

***

'Neediness is the source of humiliation and illusion is the source of neediness. Freedom from all this is the solution and is another step in God's way.'

***

'When you open your eyes in the morning, ask yourself: What is the first thing that comes to my mind? What is my goal? Is it the hereafter? Is it about God? If this is the case, God will grant you contentment and cause this worldly life to come to you despite your indifference to it.'

***

The journey to God in this life is much shorter than the journey to Him in the afterlife.'

http://lisanaldin.blogspot.com/2014/09/on-neediness-and-freedom.html
http://lisanaldin.blogspot.com/2014/09/hereafter-mindset-make-world-come-after.html

Until then, wish y'all a fabulous weekend.

The kernels

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah for another wonderful trip to Penang.

It was a joy to again visit Al-Hafiz Datuk Haji Abdullah Bukhari, former long-time imam of Masjid Kapitan Keling, a recipient of Penang's Maal Hijrah personality award, a member of the state's Fatwa Council -- but all official titles aside, this 83-year-old man insisted that we refer to him as ustaz. 

I had interviewed him once, several years ago, when he was still serving as imam of Masjid Kapitan Keling. I had visited him at his residence before. Yesterday's ziarah was both a happy and sad occasion because he looked a little frail.

However, that was not the first thing we noticed as we entered his house. The moment we stepped in, we saw a charismatic figure sitting in the living room smiling. Instantaneously he raised up his hands and with an energetic voice he said out loud barakallah...barakallah.  

MashaAllah!

Look out for a recording of his message in conjunction with the month of Shaaban. He did not have much voice left, yet he was willing to speak and let us record his words of advice.

[Video of the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV28C6CDUDc]

 

***

On the same evening, Shaykh Rohimuddin Nawawi Al Bantani spoke to Al Falah TV about his role as a 'khadim' [Director] at Al Jailani's South-East Asia Center and the uniqueness of Tafsir Al Jailani of which he has been given permission to teach.

Shaykh Rohimuddin Nawawi Al Bantani
at the 6th Dawra on Tafsir Kitab Al Jailani
organized by Majlis Ta'alim Ahbabunaby

Alhamdulillah, we're grateful for the generous opportunities offered by our Lord. We will share with you videos of both interviews soon InshaAllah.

Until then, Jumaah Mubarrak!

Shaykh Mohammed Aslam - Malaysia Tour - 25th to 28th May 2015

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah, we ought to be grateful that Malaysia is continually blessed with majlis ta'alim and that more and more international scholars, young and old, are frequenting this country. 

Shaykh Mohammed Aslam is the founder of The City of Knowledge Academy in Birmingham, UK which has since its opening in 2009, become a bustling community hub. This graduate of Maahad al-Fatih al-Islami of Damascus is also imam and khatib of Lozells Central Mosque. He was a murid of the late Shaykh Dr Mohammed Said Ramadan al-Buti.

Shaykh Mohammed Aslam will be in Kuala Lumpur as per below program:

Monday, 25th May 2015
@ 8 pm - International Islamic University

Tuesday, 26th May 2015
@ 9 am - USIM
@ 7.20 pm - Masjid Al Falah

Wednesday, 27th May 2015
@ 9 am - As Sirajul Munir
@ 7.20 pm - Al Wariseen Trust

In Kuala Lumpur, next week, the Shaykh will be covering a variety of subjects:

• True Freedom In A Materialistic World
• Confusion of Knowledge and the Importance of Sanad
• The Challenges of Dakwah in Current Times
• Israk Mikraj
• The Women of Islam
• The Light of Guidance 

***

'From the signs of the ignorance is to look down upon a Muslim who only prays Jummah because that one prayer may be a means which changes the entire course of his life. Allah is able to take anyone as a close friend.' 

- Shaykh Mohammed Aslam

In my humble opinion, the ummah need to hear a lot more liberating statements such as the one above. How dare we paint a picture as if  the religion is an exclusive club for the pious or people who think they are more righteous than others hence have better authorities of the deen? Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam right from the beginning had laid a foundation for an all-inclusive religion. He did not say 'Oh the pious of my people.' He said, 'ummati ummati...'

Allahu a'lam.

Poster borrowed from: The Sacred Path of Love FB

A special trip home -- A special day -- 19 May 2015

Bismillah.

Praise be to Allah that almost all of the trips we take are happy trips. Alhamdulillah.

Was in Penang last week and here I am again as God has willed it. I did not plan this trip which has turned out to be a very historic, meaningful and surreal trip.

Found this on a friend's FB:

'You know how it is. 

Sometimes we plan a trip to one place, 

but something takes us to another.' 

- Mawlana Rumi

Am writing by the roadside, at one of Penang's famous street vendor, waiting for the nasi tomato (Tomato Rice) to be ready, at 5 pm. Yes Penangites are heavy rice eater, we eat rice for breakfast, lunch, tea-time, dinner and supper. That is why we are 'wholesome' people and we are 'well-rounded' heh heh...

Blogging on the run

Nasi Tomato

The 19th of May 2015 is indeed a special date for me, for reasons I cannot disclose here. But I must put it on record so that five or ten years down the road, I could look back and count my blessings. 

May is also a special month because it is the birth month of my late father : )

May Allah bless our families and bless each generous soul. May Allah make us belong with people who understand and accept the role the Lord wants us to play and may we belong with those who graciously accept His decree.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.

Be-You-tiful Days

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah. It's a be-You-tiful day. [Writing this on a Sunday]. Am writing from the exact spot you see in the picture. Allah Wadud!

You won't believe this. Some people spied on me [yes the same woman who gatecrashed my house in Penang]. She somehow thought I had moved to a seemingly cheaper apartment and she sent sms asking if I had been "downgraded"? How snobbish and ill-hearted eh? And these people think they are holier. OMG. [MSA: no wonder you considered your wife nusyuz. Anyhow, please educate her.]

Anyways, I am not the type who brags but I remembered one ustaz once told me, it's advisable to show some pride to people who are proud. So know that while they rejoice thinking I'd been "downgraded", I have in fact received good news that I will be given another property valued at a little over 1 million Ringgit, bi-iznillah! Maybe it's good to have people who envy us? Maybe it's good to fan their envy so that they will keep destroying their faith and good deeds like fire destroys wood!

Ah! Let's blow away the husks and focus on good people who are kernels in this life, and keep busy doing something useful.

Our Malay readers may want to check out the latest video uploaded on Al Falah TV Youtube channel about a brother who busies himself organizing mawlid and majlis ta'alim in Penang. And a sister who spends her time and money travelling regularly to Mekah. When she is in the country, she spends her time going from one gathering of knowledge to another. I sure want to be like her when I reach 50 InshaAllah. 

Peace y'all!

Never stop dreaming good dreams.

***

NEW Video on Al Falah TV [Malay]: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9-RbxnNeJU         

Salawat calling upon Ya Batin - as taught by Habib Umar bin Hafiz

Bismillah.

Yet another precious teachings of Habib Umar bin Hafiz taken from Muwasala.org which we need to learn and memorize.

***

On the night of Isra' wal Mikraj, the Messenger of Allah salallah alaihi wasalam was greeted by one of the Prophets as follows:

Peace be upon you, the First One
Peace be upon you, the Last One
Peace be upon you the Manifest One
Peace be upon you the Hidden One

In this salawat, Sayyidi Habib Umar bin Hafiz (may Allah preserve him and benefit us by him) calls upon Allah by His Name, the Hidden One [Ya Batin] and asks Him to bestow prayers upon His hidden Prophet.

O Allah the Hidden One, bestow abundant prayers and peace upon Your slave and beloved, our Master Muhammad, the hidden Prophet and upon his family and companions, and by him rectify in us all that is manifest and all that is hidden and purify our hearts. By him allow us to obey Your commands in the best way inwardly and outwardly.

اللَّهُمَّ يا اللهُ يا باطِنُ صَلِّ على عَبْدِكَ و حَبِيبِكَ سَيِّدِنا مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيِّ البَاطِن و على آلِهِ و صَحْبِهِ و سَلِّمْ تَسْلِيماً و أَصْلِحْ لَنا بِهِ كُلَّ ظَاهِرٍ و باطِنٍ و صَفِّ لنا البَوَاطِن و ارْزُقْنا بِهِ حُسْنَ الِامْتِثالِ لِأَمْرِكَ ظاهِراً و باطِناً

Allahumma Ya Allah Ya Batin
Salli 'ala abdika wa habibika 
Saidina Muhammad an Nabiyil batin
wa 'ala alihi wasahbihi wa sallim tasliman 
wa aslih lana bihi 
kulla zahirin wa batinin
wa saffi lana bawatin
war zuqna bihi husna imtisali
li amrika zahiran wa batinan

Reference: http://muwasala.org/weekly-salat-ya-batin/
Pic credit: www.arthafez.com