Salaams All
Alhamdulillah we had our second LIVE webcast through Livestream tonight. Inshallah this will be available every week BUT it doesn't mean you should not and try attend in person! Did the stream break after a while? Can someone let us know when and how long it lasted?
We were nicely surprised to see brother Aslam here and everyone who regularly attends and one or two new faces. Please, please, please ask new people coming to attend for their contact details, especially, email as we can keep everyone update on news and events as they happen.
Unfortunately, we did not see Shk Nadeem or Shk Ramadhan but Inshallah see them next week.
Jazakhallah again to brother Rahil & Auntie who bring the delicious food all the way from Dulwich.
As always, we are keen to hear of your experience of the Zikr and any feedback will be appreciated. We are in process of preparing pamphlets with the Zikr in transliteration and translation so please bear with us on this.
Inshallah see you all, and the ones who could not make it, next Thursday Inshallah!
Salaams
'mwc'
Sufi Zikr
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Sufi Meditation (Zikr) - Thursday - 30 July 2009
Month of Shaban - the month of The Holy Prophet (SWS)
Salaams
Sha`ban is one of the meritorious months for which we find particular instructions in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (SWS).
It is reported in authentic Ahadith that Prophet Muhammad (SWS), used to fast most of the month in Sha`ban. These fasts are supererogatory (Nafl) and well deserving of reward, for Sha`ban is the month immediately preceding the month of Ramadan.
The Prophet mentioned in a hadith, "Rajab is the month of Allah, Sha`ban is my month and Ramadan is the month of the Nation". (Imam Bukhari RA)
1. The blessed companion Anas (RA), reports that Prophet Muhammad (SWS), was asked, "Which fast is the most meritorious after the fasts of Ramadan?" He replied, "Fasts of Sha`ban in honor of Ramadan."
2. The blessed companion Usama ibn Zaid (RA), reports that he asked Prophet Muhammad (SWS): "Messenger of Allah, I have seen you fasting in the month of Sha`ban so frequently that I have never seen you fasting in any other month." Prophet Muhammad (SWS), replied: "That (Sha`ban) is a month between Rajab and Ramadan which is neglected by many people. And it is a month in which an account of the deeds (of human beings) is presented before the Lord of the universe, so, I wish that my deeds be presented at a time when I am in a state of fasting."
3. Ummul Mu'mineen `Aishah (RA), says, "Prophet Muhammad (SWS), used to fast the whole of Sha`ban. I said to him, 'Messenger of Allah, is Sha`ban your favorite month for fasting?' He said, 'In this month Allah prescribes the list of the persons dying this year. Therefore, I like that my death comes when I am in a state of fasting.’"
4. In another Tradition Ummul Mu'mineen `Aishah (RA) says, "Prophet Muhammad (SWS), would sometimes begin to fast continuously until we thought he would not stop fasting, and sometimes he used to stop fasting until we thought he would never fast. I never saw the Messenger of Allah (S) fasting a complete month, except the month of Ramadan, and I have never seen him fasting in a month more frequently than he did in Sha`ban."
5. In another Tradition Ummul Mu'mineen `Aishah (RA) says, "I never saw the Messenger of Allah, (SWS), fasting in a month so profusely as he did in the month of Sha`ban. He used to fast in that month leaving only a few days, rather, he used to fast almost the whole of the month."
6. Ummul-Mu'mineen Umm Salamah (RA), says: "I have never seen the Messenger of Allah fasting for two months continuously except in the months of Sha`ban and Ramadan."
These reports indicate that fasting in the month of Sha`ban, though not obligatory, is so meritorious that Prophet Muhammad (SWS) did not like to miss it.
*** The Night of Bara`ah
Another significant feature of the month of Sha`ban is that it consists of a night which is termed in Shari`ah as "Laylatul-Bara`ah" (The night of freedom from Fire). This is the night occurring between 14th and 15th day of Sha`ban. Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (SWS), prove that it is a meritorious night in which the people of the earth are attended by special Divine mercy. We will be posting much more about this blessed night shortly.
*** What should be done in this night?
On the Holy Night of 15th Shaban, after Maghrib and between Isha prayer, it is traditional practice to read Surah Yasin three times, and after each time, read a special Du`a (Du'a Nisf Shaban) with the following intentions:
1st reading of Yaseen with the Niyyat (intention) for should be for Long Life.
2nd reading of Yaseen with the Niyyat (intention) should be for Protection from Calamities.
3rd Reading of Yaseen with the Niyyat (intention) should be for not being needy to anyone except Allah.
It is necessary that just as others observe this night, you observe it. To make an invitation to feed people on that night, to remember Allah (SWT) and to remember His Prophet (SWS) and to fast its day and pray its night will be rewarded for that night and for whoever observes it. In order to observe the Night of Bara`ah one should remain awake in this night as much as possible.
If someone has better opportunities, he should spend the whole night in worship and prayer. However, if you for one reason or another, you can select a considerable portion of the night, preferably of the second half of it for this purpose and should perform the following acts of worship: It is good to spend that night praying Salat al-Khair which conists of 100 raka`ts, in each raka`t reciting Sura al-Fatiha and 10 Surat Ikhlas. To complete the prayer you recite 1000 Sura Ikhlas.
The Night of Bara`ah is a night in which special blessings are directed towards the Muslims. Therefore, this night should be spent in total submission to Allah Almighty, and one should refrain from all those activities which may displease Allah.
*** Fast of the 15th Shaban
On the day immediately following the Night of Bara`ah, i.e. the 15th of Sha`ban, it is mustahabb (advisable) to keep fast. Prophet Muhammad (SWS), is reported to have recommended this fast emphatically. A large number of the predecessors (Salaf) of the Ummah have been observing the fast of the 15th of Sha`ban.
Therefore, it is advisable to fast the 15th of Sha`ban as an optional (Nafl) fast. One can also keep a fast of Qada on this day and it is hoped that he can also benefit from the merits of this fast.
Source: Sayyid Abdul Qadir Gilani (KS) (Ghawth-i `Adham)
Al-Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq
Excellency of 15th Sha'ban
There are some other narrations that inform us about the excellency of the 15th night of Sha'ban. Imam Ibn Majah states:
"It is narrated by Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated, 'When it is the 15th night of Sha'ban, do qiyam[stand in prayer] in the night, and fast in the morning, and ask for forgiveness because on that night Allah calls:'Is there anyone who is asking for forgiveness so that I can forgive them, who is in distress that I may relieve his distress. Is there anyone who needs provision that I may give it to him.'And this continues till the morning'"
[Ibn Majah, chapter on 'Salat']
Imam at-Tirmidhi writes:
"'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: 'On this night the Prophet went to Jannat al-Baqi' to make du'a'; I followed him. The Prophet said to me: 'Allah puts His attention towards the first Heaven, and forgives the sins of the people, even if they were equivalent to the hairs of the goats of Bani Qalb [A tribe who at the time had a lot of goats]'"
[At-Tirmidhi, 'Kitab as-Siyam]
Imam al-Bukhari has objected upon one narrator but this is compensated by the fact that Ibn Majah has narrated it with different chains. Allama adh-adh-Dhahabi,and Hafiz Ibn Kathir quote from Hafiz Abu Zur'a that only 30 ahadith in Ibn Majah are weak [adh-Dhahabi, Tadhkirat al-Huffaz; Ta'rikh Ibn Kathir, 'Biography of Ibn Majah']
Some other people have stated that more than 30 ahadith are da'if (weak) but the narrations we have are not amongst those 30, and that is why these ahadith can be used to support the validity of 15th Sha'ban night.
Even Imam at-Tirmidhi's narration is weak but this does not belittle the subject when it concerns its merits and excellence - since weak narrations are still acceptable. However, we would like to ask those people who are so against the observance of 15th of Sha'ban, whether they have even a weak hadith to disprove the prayers on the 15th of Sha'ban? In reality they have no narration against the 15th night of Sha'ban. If there are any they should produce it.
Those who are against the 15th night of Sha'ban usually ask, 'Why do you celebrate the 15th night of Sha'ban?' An appropriate answer might be, 'Why do all of the Saudi Arabian scholars celebrate Laylat al-Qadr on the 27th night of Ramadan in Haramayn (Makka and Madina)? Did the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and his Companions celebrate the Laylat al-Qadr on the 27th night of Ramadan?' The answer is clearly, 'No, they did not.' So if this is permitted then the 15th night of Sha'ban is permitted as well.
Ruling regarding 15th of Sha'ban
The Ahl As-Sunnah say that observing the 15th night od Sha'ban is a permissible act, but it is not a Sunna. There is enough proof that if the majority of the Muslims consider it to be good then it is sufficient.As the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated: 'The thing that a group of a Muslims says is good, it is accepted by Allah[ Mishkat, chapter on 'Istihsan']
Two great followers of Ibn Taymiyya and Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab an-Najdi, are Hafiz 'Abdullah Rawpari and Thana'ullah Amritsari, who both state that to worship on the 15th night of Sha'ban is not a bid'a and the person who worships on this night will obtain reward for it. The narrations concerning this night are weak but this does not matter since weak ahadith are acceptable for virtuous actions
[Hafiz Rawpari, Fatawa Ahl al-Hadith; Amritsari, T., Fatawa Thana'iya, chapter on 'Fasting']
Hafiz Ibn Taymiyya writes:
"The excellency regarding the 15th of Sha'ban is an area of dispute between the scholars; some of them say that there is no significance of this night, but Imam Ahmed recognises the excellency of this night, and our other Hanbali scholars also agree with Imam Ahmed.There are ahadith on this night being significant, some of them are from the Sunnan of At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and other books of Ahadith as well"
[Ibn Taymiyya, Iqtida Sirat al-Mustaqim, page 203]
The people who reject the significance of this night argue that the Holy Qur'an was not revealed on this night so that is why there is no significance of this night. It is true that the Holy Qur'an was revealed in Ramadan, but the significance is due to the ahadith that tells us about the reward one will obtain if one worships on the 15th night of Sha'ban.
'mwc'
Sufi Zikr
Praising The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SWS)
Belated Shaban Mubarak to Everyone!
We just had a comment a week ago from our few You Tube videos about people questioning where did Sayyidina Muhammad (SWS) ask to be praised and whether Muslims in general should praise them or not.
We found this quite shocking as it really shows the ignorance and lack of awareness of our basic teachings as Muslims and Islamic teaching as a whole.
We pray for everyone, including us, to gain better understanding and love His messenger Sayyidina Muhammad (SWS).
We have included an article that answers the basic concern asked by mistaken or misunderstood Muslims in general.
by Mas'ud Ahmed Khan
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Allah (ta'ala) says in the Glorious Qur'an (Surah Al-Azhab 33:56):
"Surely Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe call for (Divine) blessings on him and salute him with a (becoming) salutation."
The very name "Muhammad" means "the one who is praised, often praised" and the name of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is also known as "Ahmad" meaning "the one deserving of praise".
Imam Jalaludin as-Suyuti mentions:
His name is Muhammad and Ahmad; his people are the people of praise (hamd)- and his prayer rite and the prayer rite of his people is opened with praise (hamd). In the Preserved Tablet in God's abode it was written that his Caliphs and his Companions in writing the Sacred Volume, should open it with praise (Surah 1:1). And in his hand on the Resurrection Day will be the banner of praise. And when he then prostrates himself before God in intercession in our behalf and it is accepted he will praise the Lord with a new song that shall then be revealed to him, for his is the Heavenly Station of Praise (al-maqam al-mahmud, Surah 17:79)-and when he rises up in that Station all the assembly shall praise him, Muslims and misbelievers alike, the first and the last, and all meanings and modes of thankful praise shall be gathered up and offered to him. [quoted from And Muhammad is His Messenger by Annemarie Schimmel p. 107]
There are those naysayers that may object on the grounds that too much praising will lapse Muslims into the major sin of shirk, to this Imam al-Busiri in his amazing Qasidah al-Burdah says:
Leave what the Christians have said about their Prophet!
And then affirm what you will in praise, and do so with excellence.
It is clear that sending praise, blessings and salutations on the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is a general obligation on each and every Muslim as mentioned by Qadi Iyad in the Shifa, and if we keep Imam al-Busiri's principle in mind then there is no danger of falling into the trap that the Christians have fallen into with Sayyidina Isa (AS).
Unfortunately, we live in an age where very few Muslims actually know their Prophet. He is the fountainhead of our guidance and the light by which we tread the straight path, and yet Muslims in general and Muslim children in particular, know more about their favourite pop star, footballer or film actor and our Prophet is as a stranger to them. How can this be? Why have we forgotten the one whom Allah has commanded us to send salutations and blessings upon? Again it comes down to the age in which we live; no more are there special chairs in our masajid where the Sirah or the Shifa' of Qadi Iyad or the Shama'il of Tirmidhi are read in perpetuity to the faithful as was once the practice throughout the Muslim world. The Mawlid-celebrations of the birth and life of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)-are frowned upon by certain sections of the community. Our mosques are ill equipped to teach our children anything besides the reading of the Holy Qur'an and the very basics of the faith, which, while important, are insufficient to the long term spiritual and religious development of our community and especially our children who are our future. We have to look at ways in which we can help to nurture the love and familiarity that are missing. From hadith literature we know how important it is to love the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace): Bukhari and Muslim report- "None of you believes until he loves me more than he loves his children, his parents, and all people." In another hadith in Bukhari the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "None of you believes until he loves me more than he loves himself."
'mwc'
Sufi Zikr
Friday, 24 July 2009
Sufi Zikr London - 23 July 2009
23 July 2009
23 July 2009
16 July 2009Alhamdulillah we had our first online broadcast today and barring recording settings, everything went well. Did anyone manage to view online? We saw 12 people logged in at one point.
A BIG thank you to Baji Shenaz & Aslam bhai for their support as a whole but for also making this online broadcast happen. You are always in our prayers and may Allah Almighty bless you here and hereafter.
We will upload the separate videos after this blog update with a link.
Mashallah the Zikr was very nice with Qasidas from Shk Ramadhan & Shk Nadeem and his blessed family crew. It was also nice to see familiar and a few new faces.
Jazakhallah to brother Rahil & Auntie for always providing such fantastic food as always!
Inshallah, we will have the whole recording next time in one video clip downloadable and plan to broadcast every week from now on. Naqshbandi Zikr Online Link
We will be trying to form a Hadrah group to add to the Naqshbandi Zikr and if anyone is interested to learn (we will provide translation and transliteration versions) please let us know.
Salaams, be safe and Shaban Mubarak!
'mwc'
Sufi Zikr
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