Zhuhr Suhbah at Simply Islam (1)
A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytaani ‘r-rajim. Bismillahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem.
Nawaytu 'l-arba`een, nawaytu 'l-`itikaaf, nawaytu 'l-khalwah, nawaytu 'l-`uzlah,
nawaytu 'r-riyaadah, nawaytu 's-sulook, lillahi ta`alaa fee haadha 'l-masjid.
أَطِيعُواْ اللّهَ وَأَطِيعُواْ الرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ
Atee`oollaha wa atee`oo 'r-Rasoola wa ooli 'l-amri minkum.
Obey Allah, obey the Prophet, and obey those in authority among you. (Surat an-Nisa, 4:59)
With my respect to what you are saying, and my respect to Habeeb Lutfi and all the Habaa`ib in Indonesia, Nahdlatu ’l-`Ulama, everyone from Ahlu ’s-Sunnah wa ’l-Jama`ah and the rest also, the Muhammadiyya, with respect to everyone, there is a difference between organized and unorganized people. Too many governments work with the organized people and no one works with the un-organized ones, simply because they are not organized. The organized ones, although they are not from Ahlu ’s-Sunnah wa ’l-Jama`ah, Al-Multaqaa Sufi or the Multaqaa, people run to work with them because they are organized and they know what their goals are and what they want to do. In order to succeed, the Al-Multaka Sufi and the Nahdlatu ’l-`Ulama have to be organized. Nahdlatu ’l-`Ulama has been here for 80-85 years and, alhamdulillah, they achieved a lot of goodness, but since the last ten years they went down because they are not organized! The other group, with all my respect to them, is organized, and because of that they are improving and spreading their teachings everywhere, the Muhammadiyya (...) because they don't try to destroy each other, they support each other. If Nahdlatu ’l-`Ulama and Multaqaa Sufi want to succeed, they must support each other or else there will be no way to succeed, even if they bring all the `ulama of the world! It is nice when `ulama come, they speak, but “as you come as you go,” They even make resolutions that have already been passed, they declare them, but there is no continuity because there is no organization.
The first Multaqaa Sufi I attended last year was nice; scholars and people were there, but what happened or what changed? Nothing, because everyone wants to put the carpet for himself to be the main focus. Our work is humble work. Your work and my work, by the blessings and barakah of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) and his orders, is on the grassroots (community) level, not on the scholarly level. Last time I asked them how many people are going to attend? It was about 500 people. Who are you going to change? Grassroots level means to develop direct connections (to the people). These people are sitting on their chairs (seeking power). When we sit on our chair and don't go to the grassroots level, what will be the benefit? You are doing more benefit than anyone, with my respect and honor to everyone; this is how Mawlana has guided you and you have brought many people.
We began in Indonesia with five people and now there are millions! Where did they come from? They came because of direct contact, like Habeeb Shaykh, and who is more popular than Habeeb Shaykh? Even all the `ulama are not! He is more popular by making Qasidas due to love of Prophet (s), which raised him up because he is really Habeeb an-Nabi (s) and Muhib an-Nabi (s)! He is really a lover of Prophet (s) with his Qasidas. There are others, like Ameer Hamza, who is also the same, and many Habaa`ib do qasidas, like Habeeb `Ali Jafri and Shaykh `Umar bin Hafeez, who are working at the grassroots level. It works! But when you want to sit in your office, what is going to happen? Nothing! I asked, “Is the conference open for public?” They said, “No!” So what's the benefit? All of them are already `ulama, so do you want to give to them as they already know what you know! This one speaks on that topic, the other one speaks on this topic, and after one year they bring them back and change the topics. It’s the same; they know how to speak about these topics. There are no young ones coming up to make a change. Now is the time to do that; he has to make it public.
Is the upcoming conference public or private? It’s private. So what's the benefit? All of them are good `alims from the top one to the last and they all know what they are speaking about and no one can contradict the other because they have `ilm, knowledge about Hadith Fiqh, Qur`an and about everything. But what is the benefit at the grassroots level? That’s what Shaykh Mustafa needs if they want to succeed. Why did we succeed? Not because I am something or you are something, no. We succeeded because of the barakah of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q), Ahlu 'l-Bayt and Prophet (s)! The teachings go directly to the people. He is sitting with people everyday and every night, talking to people, making lectures, making qasidahs. They go home and come back the next day when they are free. The people keep changing. Are they moving from one masjid to another masjid giving lectures/conference? No! People need to see them: give a talk, speak about the love and greatness of Prophet (s)!
That is the topic we need and no one is speaking about the Greatness of the Prophet (s)! They speak about different issues of today. It has changed. Who cares about Islamic banking and finance? Who cares? It is for himself to have a job, but what about the people? Do the driver or the carpenter want to know about Islamic banking? Who wants to know about Islamic banking? The millionaires and billionaires who are sucking the money and blood of people! So these topics are like that, without benefit! At least make it an open invitation for the public. How much does that conference cost? At least one million dollars. How many families are suffering? Give ten dollars to every family, you can give to a hundred thousand families and ten dollars would last them a month.
I am not saying not to make a conference, but open it to the public, not the scholars. I went to a conference in Turkey last year where top scholars attended, like the head of Al-Azhar University and many others, by private invitation and we were ten-to-eleven speakers with Shaykh Rajab, the Mufti of Jordan, with the head of Muslim scholars in Saudia Arabia stationed in Jeddah, and many others. They gave lectures to the mullahs of Afghanistan and they flew in a hundred shaykhs from Afghanistan. (...audio cut...) And it was organized by (different) universities of America.(audio cut-20:58 to 23:05-FS)...is suicide bombing allowed in Islam? For a day-and-a-half the president of al-Azhar University spoke (on this issue), and who is higher (in scholarship) than the president of al-Azhar?
(...audio cut...) If it was no, then on the Day of Judgment you are going to be responsible for hundreds of people that you are killing, if it is not, but who can guarantee that it is not? Let’s say what your mullah is saying, that it is okay, but there is the other opinion saying that no, it’s not okay! If Allah’s Judgment is that it’s not okay, then what will you do? If it’s ok, then fine, you will go to Paradise, but if it’s not and you kill, then what are you going to do? The president of Al-Azhar was happy with that answer, then it ended. I don't know what happened to them, they made another conference but this year it was in Afghanistan and I didn’t go.
Scholar to scholar, they understand each other easily. Like Imam Shafi`i (r) said, “If a hundred scholars come to me I will win on them (in debate), but if one jahil comes to me he will win on me (from ignorance, he will never accept what I say).” These `ulama know each other and if one quotes a hadith, they understand.
Now Habeeb Lutfi wants to do something (hold a conference). It is good, but it’s better to let it be open for the public. I came to the one last year, but who was rewarded? Only the ones who attended! A maximum of 400-500 people. So, inshaa-Allah khayr, but it is my advice to myself and you to move on to the grassroots level. If they spend that money targeting one area in one state of Indonesia, they go there and move them in a field, like what Habeeb Shaykh is doing, they mix qaseedahs and make people happy. I think it will be more accepted and beneficial. So that’s what we want and this is my advice.
Do you have any questions? (A mureed discusses an issue.) Allahu Akbar! I understand we are in need of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q), but you and I, what can we do? It’s like an ant in the Far West or Far East. He wants to convince me! (Laughter). Are you going to Cyprus? How much are you going to pay for the ticket? About 6,000 dollars (for three people). Go make 300 boxes of food with sugar, rice, olive oil and other essential items and distribute them among the poor people. This is more preferable to Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) instead of going to see him and asking him to come to the conference. Why do I say that? Not because I don't want you to go and meet Mawlana Shaykh Nazim, but because unfortunately 99% of visitors don't get to see him and are disappointed. My son went to see his grandfather and said to Mawlana Shaykh, “There is one man from Indonesia.” There were three, but I told them everyone cannot get upstairs. Even to get one upstairs is very difficult and we got Buddy up; he went upstairs and spoke to Mawlana for just one minute or maybe just kissed his hands. When he was going down, Mawlana Shaykh asked him, “Do you have anyone with you?”
(Buddy: Mawlana asked me, “Is anyone with you?” I told him there were two more guests downstairs, then I don't know from where, this lady started yelling, talking to Mawlana Shaykh in a high voice to stop anything further!)
Yes, I don't want you to go and get disappointed there, you will spend so much money to go there. Even on `Ashoora Day, for the opening of the masjid they built there, they brought a special car for Mawlana Shaykh. The President and the Prime Minister came, but Mawlana Shaykh said, “I cannot go.” It’s only forty minutes away from his house, but he didn't come (to the dedication of Hajjah Anne’s mosque). If anyone wants to go for barakah, whether they get to see him or not they get the blessings. For sure we have no problem with that. You go to visit the shaykh and even if you don't get to see him, you get the barakah as if you saw him. But for making a discussion or giving an invitation, he is not going to discuss anything. This is just my opinion.You may do as you like. It’s free and that’s no problem as Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) is supporting!
Once I was coming to Malaysia when some `alim there had died, and we have this on video tape. One person from Malaysia, a shaykh of the Qadri Order, said, “You are responsible for Malaysia. Go and find his mureeds and work with them.” I was surprised when he told me I was responsible as I am not responsible, but it means he is giving barakah. Then he said to me, “Are you passing by Singapore?”
I said, “Yes, I like Singapore.”
He said, “Singapore, too.” It means ‘keep holding the mureeds.’
I said, “Okay, with your barakah inshaa-Allah.”
Mawlana's way is the peaceful and moderate way. He doesn’t like violence and his teachings are the teachings of love. All his life he has been teaching love, love, love and that's why people come. But when the other groups teach about hate and they speak ill about each other, then the barakah is gone. So we’ll see.
May Allah (swt) forgive us.
Bi hurmati 'l-habeeb, bi hurmati 'l-Fatihah.
(Du`a.)
(Fatihah.)
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