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.