The mysteries of destiny and life.

As salamu alai kum

Allah SWT works in mysterious ways; we do have not many choices when we do not comply to His SWT recommendations; so how can we complain?

A recent true story happened a few days ago. Somebody had a birthday and turned 35; I was intending to give her The Lives of Man book as a gift, thinking it may be helpful but I was also hesitant because I felt she may not read it. So, I did not give it to her. The very next morning on the way back from dropping her kids off at school, she witnessed a motorcyclist, going at normal speed, accidentally swerving and bumped into the car in front of her, he fell to the ground motionless... she got out of the car to see him in throes of heavy breathing. The passers by(on this quiet street) decided to move him in order not to create a traffic jam ( and you know you should never carry off a victim carelessly); as she entered her car, she noticed his blood oozing from his neck in time with a low heart rate and instinctively felt he was dying, so she had the car reverse to offer to take the victim to the nearby hospital; but a police vehicle came at that moment, gathered the man and put him into the truck, which by then she noticed, the blood was not running out as profusely.

The victim died.... she had a wake up call, an enlightenment..which made her ponder then realise, that nothing matters really in this world, because we are here one day and at any minute, taken without further ado. I apologised for not yet given her the book before she had to witness it through Allah SWT's own way of serving lessons and reminders. I have since handed the book Lives of Man over to her and hope she will read and understand what all this mission and vision of life is really all about. Inshaallah.

This is one of my favourite doa which I encourage everyone to read daily.

 

Why should we make shalat?

Shalat, prostration only to Allah Subhana wa Ta’ala (SWT) is a non negotiable command. It was taught directly to our holy Prophet Muhammad (SAAW) during Isra’ Miraj. Shalat is the key to Jannah. Every other devotions becomes easier when we make a commitment to adhere to the command of shalat. It is the first action that will be counted. All fard shalat first and if it is all acceptable then the sunnah shalat. The sunnah shalat will cover any fard shalat that has been deleted because of many reasons. Therefore, it is necessary to understand why shalat is so important for our lives. In the akhirat, there will be no more shalat. It is only in the dunya that we are commanded to shalat. When a believer remembers Allah SWT, the believer will run to shalat at the specified times and will never take shalat for granted. All praises are due to Allah SWT , Who has made shalat encumbent only to this ummat. This ummat has the benefits other ummat did not get. We are the last ummat, the ummat of Nabi Muhammad saw, and we are the first ummat to enter Jannah. Shalat precedes the other pillars of Islam and makes it easier to follow. Why is the daily ritual so difficult for most? When in the month of Ramadan, some fast although they do not make shalat, their fast means nothing. We are blessed when we make shalat in jamaah, 27 times more than making shalat alone. Islam, encourages togetherness, in shalat we have this solidarity. We all stand in safs, rows of mixed people from all backgrounds, in the eyes of Allah SWT, all are equal, except in iman. We need to look after our shalat, maintain our deen through it and be known for the consistency as a muslim, by making proper shalat, with proper wudhu. In shalat, we remember Allah SWT, we are in His presence, we recite “attayyiyatu….” Remembering the conversation between Allah SWT and Rasulallah (SAAW), how can we dismiss the importance of such remembrance? How can we neglect this simple but so important daily routine? We take pains to get to work, school, meetings and appointments on time, why do we neglect making shalat on time when all dunyawi matters are unimportant and insignificant without shalat? All that’s left is an empty shell. Devoid of anything useful. Precious time wasted on uneventful nor meaningful matters. Shalat is the main ingredient in the life of a muslim, and it denotes a special bond as a believer and makes the difference between a kuffar and muslim. When a muslim makes time in full sincerity for shalat and all other pillars and devotions for Allah SWT, Allah SWT will take care of all matters for him/her. Allah SWT loves those that remember Him, makes shalat, makes shalawat and endears all commands for His sake. Mashaallah, every soul enrobed in light, is one that makes wudhu, shalat, zikir, fasts,gives charity, does good works, has good charater, obeys the commands, visits the Haramain, and acts in accordance to what Rasulallah (SAAW) did, has good speech, behavior and attitudes, who thinks well of Allah SWT, loves Rasulallah SAAW and his progeny, as well as other muslims; who prays for the ummat and makes life easier for those with difficulties. These are some of the teachings Islam advocates. How can we be mislead by the opposite of all these things????

Following the Ba Alawi

Assalamualaikum warahmahtullahi wa barakatuh

Bismillah HiRahmaniRahim

I am a muslimah of 27 years. In the past, I learnt from books , mostly reading Al Qur’an and the hadith of Al Bukhari and Muslim. I also read books of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Jilani, all of which I ordered from the US. In those days, I had difficulty accessing anything but Indonesian books from my circle of friends, my late teachers , may Allah be pleased with them, were also Indonesian.

I used to read a lot, as I felt such a thirst for Islamic knowledge. I was fascinated by the character of our Holy Prophet, Muhammad (SAAW) and fell in love and loved him so much. I knew nothing of his (SAAW) descendants nor that they still survived on the Earth. Often times, I would always think , “What if all men were to emulate even 10% of his (SAAW) characteristics , that this world would be so much better.” I tried my best in all I learnt and to apply what I learnt , in a country that was not Islamic and initially alone…later having a great Islamic community I became a part of and consider family.

Since, I relocated to Indonesia, I found the Islamic culture was not as “thick” as I had become accustomed to in Australia. I found many muslims called themselves muslims yet many things that I saw were not what was encouraged in the deen.I too, went through a phase of tests which according to me, I drastically failed. Upon which time, I also realized that becoming the muslim/ah we desire, we shall have these tests. In all these moments, I never heard nor knew of the existence of the descendants of our Holy Prophet (SAAW) till 2008.

In 1987, I had a dream, I was in a stupored state, between awakened and asleep, where I saw a man dressed in jubah, his face filled with light, with dark hair and piercing dark eyes, a friendly face who smiled and gave me a nod; as I drifted back to sleep , my body was paralysed, so this was the state of which I first saw, any person in the state of purity, a person from the realm of light. I was on the 2^nd level of an apartment building. I tend to remember him often, although not knowing who he was, hence, when I first saw a sayyid in jubah, I remembered this image.

A “sayyid” is a member of the descendants of Rasulallah (SAAW). I was introduced to their existence very late in my Islamic life. I remember having a sense of relief, when I first discovered. A relief, that was like a fresh breath of air and an unburdening. You see, I always remember the hadith that relates when there are no more muslims or anyone who remembers Allah SWT any more that Allah SWT will end this world. I felt such a responsibility to always remember, so that I was not one of those who would hasten this event. It seems very ignorant, but in truth, it was an innocence that Allah SWT bestowed as a fitrah of the new muslim. The learning was in a pure environment, non contaminated, when I was being pollinated. Alhamdullilah.

Since 2008, I have been learning more and more regarding the sayyids/habibs, who’s work in Indonesia/SEA, seems to have elevated and they are more ‘seen” in public. It may only be my perception, but that is how it was uncovered for me. I learnt a different tharekat for many years prior, and since my late teacher passed on, I never took on any other teacher and tried to keep practicing whatever she had taught me. This daily habit I continued throughout, having reached the lowest level as I was tested; zikirullah the least of my devotions aside from my sholat, was what helped maintain my deen and finally helped to bring me up again from the depths of despair and trials. A feat in my jihad against everything gone bad, in the life and world. The hijab of the changed world had also been lifted. The pristine world, I was enclosed in, the time of learning, from age 22 to 41; opened up a chaotic world outside which I was flung into by life’s unseen circumstances and the risks I took to gain a freedom. I felt like I time travelled.

Ages 41-45, saw me struggling to thread deep and perilous waters; struggling not to drown in waves of gigantic heights. In this part of a person’s life, our strength, hope and eventual help comes from the One, whose Mercy outstrips His (SWT) Wrath; alhamdullilah… and in that moment, He(SWT) rescues us, and lays us in breathlessness on the beach of warmth and comfort. Some veils were opened, some insight into the other realms were seen, and these events were frightening and enlightening at the same time. The moment of realization came as as sense of shame descended; and an ultimate knowledge that this world is of no use to the person who seeks the Truth and the One.

As I now read the books and works, from the Ba Alawi scholars and masters, the Poles and circle of saints; I feel more determined that as we pass through this life, we must never focus on this realm , for this temporal realm is the testing ground which will determine our next existence. I am fortunate to have guidance from Him (SWT) and that I have been given an elevation in my studies to understand more in the way of tharekat; know what to read and to inculcate these into my daily habits in slow and small dosages; and this little knowledge is from the vast ocean of knowledge from the honourable House of Alawiyyin, is a mere trickle but so very potent.

We are very fortunate, if we can find and be close to an honoured one, for through them, we receive much barakah, just by being in their presence. Know too, as is often said, the beloveds of Allah (SWT) are not dead, they are alive… so we who try and who are given this blessings , inshaallah must continue to emulate their teachings and come back to the straight path, taking the middle way, and do our best..inshallah we shall receive the ridha and barakah from Allah SWT from our grand masters and sheiks.Amiin.