In session 2 the Shaykh began with the 1st sphere that one enters: Islam.

One enters this sphere, that of Islam, by mentioning the two testifications of faith, declaring ones beleif in Allah and His Messenger(SAW), and by committing to the actions prescribed, i.e. Praying, Fasting etc. And it was stated that if the seven heavens and Earth were to be put on one side and the two testification on the other, the testifications would outweigh them all.   The one who believes in the testification of faith, will make a firm resolve to practically follow Islam in his or her actions in all facets of life. However this is the start and this faith, which can be looked at as a seed, requires water. And this water is knowledge. The point of knowledge therefore being that the seed of faith is watered and then expands.

Good Watering

The following are examples of good watering, which has caused the heart to be in a pure state.

1] During the battle of Khaybar a Mushrik man who was a slave and tended to sheep for the Jew’s of Khaybar came to the Prophet(SAW) inquiring about Islam and asked what happens if he should become Muslim. After being informed of what awaits him in the hereafter he accepted Islam. However he had sheep and did not want stealing from the wealth of others to be his first deed, so he sent the sheep back and returned to fight the war immediately for the sake of Allah. During the fighting he died and was among those who entered the gardens of paradise, not praying a single prayer. A seed well watered, despite not having the opportunity to offer Salah. On the contrary there was also a man who wrongfully took one blanket from the spoils of war, however the Prophet(SAW) made it clear that this will be a blanket of fire for him.

2] An arab from Madina also embraced Islam and went to fight as he wanted to serve the Prophet(SAW) and Allah(SWT). When the spoils of war were distributed we was absent and when asked of where he is, it was said that he is looking after something. The Prophet(SAW) ordered them to give him his share. Upon receiving his share he went to the Prophet(SAW) asking what all this was. The Prophet(SAW) replied it was his share. The man responded “I did not follow you for this”. The Prophet(SAW) questioned what he fought for? And the man said “So that I may end up with an arrow here” (pointing to his throat, in the pursuit of Paradise). During the next battle this is what the man received. Upon which the Prophet(SAW) said that he was true to Allah and Allah is true to him.

3] The other story mentioned was of a man who longed to be with the Prophet(SAW), but his people would not let him go. When the opportunity presented itself he fled, however he was caught at which he explained that he was of no use to them and asked them to take all his wealth, leaving him with only what he was wearing – his upper and lower garment. After this he dedicated his life to the Prophet(SAW) following him everywhere. After he died in battle, Abu Bakr, Umar and Ali, along with the Prophet(SAW) lowered him into his grave and said “Oh Allah be pleased with him, as I am pleased with him”.

So, if the seed[the faith within our hearts] is nourished by good deeds, it will grow, leading a goodly life and even if the body decays the seed will not. However if the seed is in wretched soil, nourished with bad water, i.e. sins, it will die! At this point everyone must assess themselves and where they are. If one is doing deeds and not benefiting, then the problem is in the deeds themselves or the heart.

Oh you who believe, respond to God and His Messenger when He calls you to that which will give you life; and know that God intervenes between a person and his heart. [Qur'an 8:24]

Causes of corruption of the heart

Corruption comes in many forms. [The following are an excellent list that can be looked to in order to focus ones efforts to remove these bad characteristics from our hearts]

1) Being pleased with ones nafs. Allah gives effects to the one who blames himself and worries about his state, not the one who is pleased with himself. A famous scholar once said that “someone who looks at himself with pleasure, Allah(SWT) is displeased with him”.

Allah(SWT) says in a Hadith Qudsi: “I am with those whose hearts are broken for my sake.”

2) Seeing and being around those things which cause temptation or create pride in the heart. If the heart becomes attached to creatures or people, then the person may begin to show off and envy among other things, in attempts to subconsciously or consciously please people, rather than Allah(SWT). Therefore ostentation is something which can quickly corrupt the heart rendering deeds worthless.

3) To become overtaken by beastial desires of the lowerself, to the point where one is dominated be these desires.

4) Listening to the shaytan, not wanting good for others and anger. “The one who follows his desires, becomes a slave to the lowerself. The one who follows the shaytan, becomes a slave to anger.”

So a beleiver must strive to have a heart purified from these enormities. And from here, it is clear that the realities of the intellect appear. That which differentiates the human from the animal. The one who does not take note of these realities, then how different is he from an animal. [It is only once we begin to use our intellect that we move forward towards the purification of the heart. Upon realising the importance of nurturing and looking after the heart, the one who utilises his intellect will seek to journey the path of self-purification.]

Asalamualaikum Warahmatullahi

This post includes the first section of the book covered by Habib Umar(ra), which included the Introduction along with the excellence of saying ‘Bismillah’ and the superiority of the ‘Shahada’.

Bismillahi-Rahmani-Raheem

The teacher began praising Allah and send blessings upon Muhammad, peace be upon him.  It was stated that this book suffices anyone who yearns to get closer to Allah, saying that the book shows how Islam is interlinked and how one can get closer to Allah.  And so from studying this book there will hopefully manifest in the heart a spiritual benefit and realization.

The book begins with an extremely eloquent introduction sending blessings on the Prophet(SAW) and praising Allah(SWT).  The good that Allah(SWT) wills for His creatures is mentioned, along with the fact that Allah(SWT)’s Mercy, outweighs His(SWT)’s wrath.  Making it a point to mention that the author and dignified scholar did not begin with characteristics such as the Compellor for example, rather putting emphasis on the attribute of Mercy, as is in ‘Bismillahir-Rahmaani-Raheem’.

Leading on to this great saying of ‘Bismillahir-Rahmaani-Raheem’.  That Allah has allowed us to start in His name, so make a strict effort to never start without it.  The evil of things, that may come through drinking, eating, putting on clothes etc are fended with this pronouncement.  And truly blessings are increased.  And as we know the devil’s are restricted from partaking in activities where this has been said.  While a point to note is that it can also be used to veil from the Jinn community, so when we reveal awrah it is good practice to say ‘Bismillah’ to veil ourselves from any Jinn that may pass or be there.

Story of the Pious woman

There was once a pious women who used to say ‘Bismillah” before she committed to any action, small or large.  So some people decided to play a trick on her and gave her some money for safe keeping.  The lady took the money saying ‘Bismillah’, got up saying ‘Bismillah’, took the key to her safe saying ‘Bismillah’, went to the safe saying ‘Bismillah’, opened it saying ‘Bismillah’ and so on, until she deposited it.

The man after quietly took the key and removed the gold and threw it into a well.  At a later point the man returned requesting his possessions.  So the lady again saying ‘Bismillah’ before every action took the key and opened the safe.   To the mans surprise, there it was, the gold coins were there! At this point he was in shock and began to cry, thereafter realizing the greatness of this invocation.

Continual reward

It was mentioned that some people who loved the Scholar asked him to write council/advice.  These people would love to receive council, so that they may benefit.  However it is something to be marveled, that if  100′s of years after, for example in this gathering, we are also benefiting from that same council, then the scholar who gave this AND those who asked council will share in the reward of this gathering and that which comes from it.  Such is the greatness and endless reward that Allah(SWT) is capable of giving. [Pure generosity, Allah Al-Kareem]

This deen that was sent to the Prophet(SAW) has outward and inward, roots and also branches, general and also detail.  The end of this affair cannot be reached but by fixing it’s beginning.  The BEGINNING IS KEY.  As however, the inward cannot be reached without the outward also.  Every human based on their aptitude and level of striving will reach an equivalent daraja(stage).  For example, the Sahaba all saw the Prophet(SAW), but yet EVEN they had ranks.  The four Caliphs and the ten promised Paradise[ashra mubashr], were ranked highest, then the ones that fought in the early days were superior, like in the battle of Badr, however those that witnessed the pledge of Aqaba were considered like those present at Badr, you had the Muhajir(emigrants from Makkah) and Ansar(helpers of Madina), who were also respectfully different.  And there are many other ranks.

The deen of Islam is therefore only one, however there are many ranks that can be reached, in this world and the hereafter.  For example:

• The people of Emaan will say:  there is no deity but God
• The people of Ihsaan will say:  there is no aim other than God
• The people who are established in Ihsaan will say:  there is nothing but God
• The people of spiritual Gnosis will say: there is no vision except God

The Shahada and a method

It is said that those who know Allah, the knower’s of Allah, they have concluded the Shahada is the best thing!  And there are also methods to it.  For example saying it 360 times, where in the first 100, one thinks that there is no deity but Allah, in the second 100, one thinks there is no aim but Allah, in the third 100, one thinks there is nothing in existence but God.  In the last 60, one thinks a vision of nothing but Allah.  This should be done with the presence of heart and without lighting is the best. There are many secrets in the shahada.  [Something to this effect is also mentioned in a great book called "The Degrees of the Soul", where la illaaha ilallah is also recomended as a remedy to the diseased heart].

Realisation

We say ‘Bismillah’ when we do various actions so that we are attached to Allah,  so it should be understood that  meaning should also be attached to this invocation.  This means that when we are eating, wearing, entering or exiting; we say ‘Bismillah!’ REALIZING that all we have and see exists only because of Allah.  [This is a beautiful point.  As all too often invocations can become habitual to the extent that one doesn't ponder on its purpose, what is actually being said and the greatness of the One who it is being made to].

There is a famous story of the Companions of the Prophet(SAW) where some disbelievers came to them, the Sahaba(ra), and questioned whether they are the companions that came with Tawhid (Oneness of Allah/Monotheism).  After the companions responded in the affirmative, the disbelievers said “Who will drink this poison then?”.  Khalid Bin Walid(RA), the great general, came forward saying ‘Bismillah’ and drank the poison.  The effects on him were none.  Why?  Because he drank in a state of realization!  [The same was with the pious lady mentioned earlier]

Concluding the introductory section the scholar explained that Allah, when He sent the Message, He made it complete and also easy.  And the deen can be said to comprise of the two testifications , where  islam, imaan and ihsaan are the axis upon which the sphere of Islam spins.  [There are 4 stages: Islam, Imaan, Ihsaan and Gnosis in the spiritual path which have so far been highlighted.  These will be explained in the following sessions]

“May this reading not be reading, but a spiritual enhancing progress”.

Asalamualaikum Warahmatullahi

Last month I was fortunate enough to attend a Mosque retreat. It started off being informed about a local mosque at which there was a scholar who was visiting from Yemen. I had heard much about him, but never had an opportunity to hear him, let alone sit in his gathering. So I attended. Upon hearing his ‘speech’, ‘talk’, ‘lecture’? I don’t really think these words are befitting, because I’ve been to talks/lectures before, however this seemed to be all that and also a ‘call’, a call to the heart to return, not just to rules and laws, but also to the internal affair of the soul. I’m not really able to describe it fully, because some it was “felt”, not seen. However it was uniquely comprehensive, taking from and including all spheres of life, from family to the outside world, from internal to external and from this life to the hereafter, all beautifully linked with the Seerah(Biography/Life) of the Prophet(SAW) and the book of Allah(SWT).

The Scholar was the respected Habib Umar bin Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafidh(RA).

At the mosque they mentioned a retreat with the Scholar, upon hearing about it, I was determined to spend time in his gathering over the period of 2 nights and 2 days. And Alhamdulillah they were two great days. It was organized so a classical text would be covered on the issue of spirituality and gaining closeness to Allah, the ultimate purpose of our religion, something which can easily be lost focus of when the only thing discussed is the prohibited and permissible, i.e. laws. The course was a sure winner after hearing the Shaykh speak the previous night and sure enough, that it was. After attending it and insha Allah taking much benefit from it, I’ve decided to put my notes into an organized format on this blog, so that firstly I may benefit from it and also, maybe others that might pass through here. The explanation Shaykh Habib Umar gave of this deep yet comprehensive book was truly an awakening and enlightening.

May Allah reward and bless all those who organized and were a part of this great effort, including the author of the book which was covered. May all those that attended have a continual benefit from what they have learned and maybe even insha Allah experienced. Ameen.

[N.B: The notes that will follow will be in six sections. The notes will consist of quotes, directly from the Habib Umar(ra), but also summaries of what was said, paraphrased. If there are any mistakes in these than they are from me, if someone should notice anything please let me know, JazakAllahKheir]