Event at Legacy Suites Birmingham, UK
DEC 2009 UK TOUR
A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytaani ‘r-rajeem. 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`ala fee haadha ‘l-masjid.
As-salaatu was-salaamu `alayka to the whole family of Prophet (s) until the Day of Judgment!
A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytaani ‘r-rajeem, Bismillahi ‘r-Rahmaani ‘r-Raheem.
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil `alameen. Yaa ayyuhal Muslimoon wa hadiroon!
We are in a beautiful, blessed meeting where everyone is praising Sayyidina Muhammad (s). (Mawlana stands.) If we keep standing for the honor of Sayyidina Muhammad it is no problem; it’s better to stand here and not to be lost on the Day of Judgment. If we stand here for Sayyidina Muhammad (s), he will take us into his arms and give us shafa`a (intercession) on the Day of Judgment! May Allah (swt) forgive us.
I would like to thank Shaykh Munir and `Ashique ar-Rasool and their team for putting this event together tonight. I was not expecting so much to be done because as `Ashique said, we live humbly. You have honored me in a way I don’t deserve. But my shaykh, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q), deserves everything from us. He did his best for the Muslim ummah around the world. I am so thankful for what you have done tonight.
Alhamdulillah, I don’t know where to begin and where to end. It is a long journey from dunya to akhira, and it is not easy. Whoever is prepared will be saved; whoever is not will insha’Allah be saved also, with shafa`a of Sayyidina Muhammad (s).
O Muslims, such events are a preparation for the Day of Judgment, and we are filling our account. What is the dearest thing to human beings’ hearts? Of course you will say Allah (swt), the Prophet (s), and the Qur’an without doubt. But speaking in terms of dunya, what is the dearest? Your mother? Money? What is the dearest to the heart of human beings? Every mother was a child and every father was a child, so for sure you will say your child. You give your life for your child. When the child gets sick, you stay up all night while everyone sleeps. You give them a nice life and try to give them a long and healthy life. It is reasonable to try to raise your children and also to give them every possible means to make them happy. For sure it is for that reason that we are trying to work, especially the Muslim ummah. They want to raise children who will remember them in the future. We are orphans. I am an orphan and you are an orphan. Why? Because we need a father and a mother. That is why Allah (swt) sent Sayyidina Muhammad as a father, and his wives, Ummhaatu ‘l-Mu’minoon (r) as the mothers of all Muslims. Anyone who says, “Yaa Rabbee, for the sake of that wife of Prophet (s),” for her sake Allah will give you.
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَى
alam yajidka yateeman fa-aawaa, He saw you, yaa Muhammad (s); you were an orphan and He gave you shelter. (Suratu 'd-Duha, 93:6)
Is Sayyidina Muhammad an orphan from mother and father? Yes. But looking from his Lord, he wanted that nearness Allah gave him (s). Allah saw His servant and He gave to him. So Allah said take care of the orphan, because we need support. No one can have support without the love of Sayyidina Muhammad (s). (Mawlana stands.) As-salaatu was-salaam `alayka yaa Rasoolullah (s)! No matter how many times you stand for Prophet (s), it is not enough! On the Day of Judgment, Allah will make people stand for us if we now stand for Muhammad (s). As he said just now, there was standing out of respect for his Royal Highness from the Muslim community. What do you think of Sayyidina Muhammad (s)? We must keep standing; from beginning to end, it is not enough.
So we are orphans. Allah did not want to leave us; He guided us to our shaykh, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q). The meaning of losing a father and a mother is deeply rooted in the hearts of Muslims. That is why we don’t like our children to leave us even if they’re 25 years old and married, we want them with us. Not like in western countries where they say, “We want to be independent.” Independent from what? Everyone is depending on their guide, so take that out of your mind. Say, “I don’t want to follow,” because Prophet (s) said, “Don’t follow those who do not follow Islam.” Don’t follow them, but respect them. If they drink, don’t follow. If they take drugs, don’t follow. Allah (swt) is looking and watching, but He is merciful.
O Muslims, don’t think Allah just gave you to say La ilaaha illa-Llah Muhammadun Rasoolullah (s). Everyone will be saved, they will enter Paradise. Prophet (s), from the love to his children, used to take care of them. When his son, Sayyidina `Ibraheem (r) died, he said, “The heart will be sad and the eyes will have tears from losing you, yaa `Ibraheem (a).” So Prophet has a heart. Don’t hurt Prophet by coming against Islam. Keep your relationship to Sayyidina Muhammad (s). We sing songs, we jump and do different kinds of movements. But remember we have duties, and these duties are to be respected. Allah (swt) honored the family of Prophet (s). Allah said, “Say, I don’t ask anything from you, yaa Muhammad (s).” He said, “I am asking one thing from you, O ummati: to take care of my family. My family is your family because you are from my ummah. Allah gave you to me and I will give you shafa`ah on the Day of Judgment. So keep your love to my family.”
In this month, Sayyidina Hussayn (r) was killed and we need to remember that incident. When Sahaabah (r) came to Prophet’s (s) house, they usually saw him praying. And as he went into sajda, the sons of Sayyida Fatimah az-Zahara (r), the daughter of Sayyida Khadijah al-Kubra (r), used to jump on his back and sit on it. I see many children doing that. It is a sign that they are getting inspiration from Sayyidina Hussayn (r) and Sayyidina Hasan (a), to imitate them. And that imitation means you have love and you are doing the same. It is the saying of Prophet (s) that if you love someone you will be with them on the Day of Judgment. If you love your shaykh, you will be with him. But Muslims love what they have learned.
Sayyidina Hasan (r) and Sayyidina Hussayn (r) were jumping on their beloved grandfather’s back. How many of your children jump on your back, and what do you do? Do you stay in sajdah, which is good sign, or carry them, or slap them? (laughter) Sayyidina Muhammad (s) used to never get up from sajdah, even if it took one hour, because he knew that one day he will lose them. He (s) knew they were going to be martyrs of the ummah. He knew that reality. He said, “Who will hurt Hasan or Husayn (r) will hurt me.” And how did they hurt Sayyidina Hussayn (r)? In battle, they cut him to pieces.
O Muslims, if you knew your child or grandchild is going to be killed, what would you do? You would be sad all the time. Prophet (s) knew that, and he knew Sayyidina Ali (r) was going to be killed also. How do you think he was feeling? Very sad. He carried what no one could. He said, “I carried more than all other prophets (a) carried.
O Muslims, alhumdulillah Allah (swt) guided us to awliyaullah. And how did they become awliyaullah? One time when Sahaaba (r) were with Prophet (s), he said, “That one is going to Paradise.” Sayyidina `Umar (r) said, “This one? How?” So he followed him. The man said, “Yaa `Umar, come in,” and he gave him food. The time for `Isha prayer came, they prayed. Sayyidina `Umar (r) decided to stay. The man did not question, they don’t question guests for three days.
So the first day the man prayed Fajr, and he did not pray Tahajjud. Then prayed Dhuhr. He was not doing anything extra, except praying behind Prophet (s). Sayyidina `Umar (r) asked, “What are you doing extra when Prophet (s) said you will go to Paradise?” He said, “I don’t do anything. In the morning I say shahaadah and renew my imaan. And if I get my rizq (provision), I am the same. If I loose it in the evening, it is a balance and I don’t get sad. And at night, I forgive anyone whoever harmed me. If completely forgive them, and Allah (swt) will give me my reward. Allah said in Holy Qur’an, “He will defend those who are the believers.” So don’t worry about the believers, Allah will defend them.
O Muslims, Sayyidina Hussayn (r) and Sayyidina Hasan (r), the beloved grandchildren, were cut into pieces. Do you think Allah (swt) will not take revenge from those who did that? He will, but He will bring them in front of Prophet (s), and he will forgive them. Because Allah sent rahmah to humanity.
Allah (swt) gave us something so precious, if we keep it we will be saved. Allah revealed 103 books to his prophets (a). He gave fifty book to Sayyidina Sheeth (a) (Seth); twenty books to Sayyidina `Ibraheem (a). Every book was bigger than the other, and there are 100. He gave Sayyidina Musa (a) the Tauraat (Torah); and He gave 1000 surahs to Sayyidina Dawood (a). Allah (swt) put all the secrets of this dunya and the heavens in these 103 books. Sayyidina Musa (a) said, “Who can read that? Every book contains 1000 surahs, and every surah is bigger than Suratu 'l-Baqara."
Allah said to Sayyidina Muhammad (Mawlana stands), “I am giving to Muhammad the Holy Qur’an. It will have 114 surahs that you will never be able to memorize. I am giving the power to memorize them, there is a secret.” Do you see the Bible being memorized from beginning to end? I was in a Catholic school and no one was able to memorize the Bible. But Ummat an-Nabee memorize the Holy Qur’an. He said, “Yaa Musa! I have put knowledge of all these books in the meaning of Holy Qur’an and I am giving this to Sayyidina Muhammad for his ummah. And I have put the entire meaning of Holy Qur’an in Surat al-Fatihah. Whoever reads Surat al-Fatihah, it is as if they read the entire Qur’an and as if all of 103 books have been read. That is the meaning of what Prophet (s) said, “You will get the reward for what is read.” If it is for taking away difficulties or for a cure, it will give that.
What do the `ulama of today they speak about? Not food. (laughter) They speak about love of Sayyidina Muhammad (s): that he loves those who love him (s). That is why Ahlu `l-Sunnah w 'al-Jama`ah speak about the importance of love to Sayyidina Muhammad (s). Our children need a hero! Give them a role model to learn from and to speak about, and to know what he predicted for us for the Last Days. No one speaks about it. If I ask anyone here, no one knows. Everyone is concerned about business, prayers, and studies for their children. But is anyone concerned about where we are now? No one is thinking that this year is gone. People are celebrating the New Year. Sultanu 'l-Awliya, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) said few days ago, “You have to make a funeral because one year of your life is gone. You are approaching death.” So are we far or are we in the Last Days? Prophet (s) said, “In the coming days, there will be too much killing on this Earth.”
Are they not killing in Pakistan? Not only are they doing that, they are bringing awliyaa from their graves and cutting them to bits! In Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia—there is bloodshed everywhere. Prophet (s) said, “There would be too much bloodshed. The one killing doesn’t know why they are killing and the one dying doesn’t know why they are being killed.”
Are we near the Day of Judgment or not? We are approaching nearer and nearer, and we have to remember that or else we are losing. “Yaa Rabbee, we are weak servants, helpless and hopeless. What are you expecting, yaa Rabbee, we are seeking Your rahmah.” When the Bedouin came during Jumu`ah khutbah, stood at the door and asked Sayyidina Muhammad (s) about the Hour, Prophet did not answer. And again a second time, Prophet did not answer. Then the third time Sayyidina Jibreel (a) said to answer, so Prophet (s) asked, “Yaa Bedouin, what have you prepared for it?” Look, O Muslims, how much honor Allah gave us! He told Prophet (s), “I have only prepared my love for you.” Do you love Sayyidina Muhammad (s)? (Yes!) What are you expecting then? If he doesn’t love us and we love him, or if he loves us and we don’t love him, he will still love us!
One time a wali (saint) said—and I want everyone to memorize this—he said it in an association of awliyaullah. Everyone was making salawaat in a meeting, and that wali wrote how to praise Sayyidina Muhammad (s). He is from Daghestan and a big scholar of baatin, zhaahir, spirit, and shari`ah. He read the salawaat, and it was written with very nice calligraphy. At night when they slept, all awliyaullah had the same dream. That wali was seeing Prophet (s) saying that it is the best poem among all awliyaullah. And that wali got an answer from Prophet (s). His name is Shaykh Sharafuddin (q). He is the shaykh and uncle of Grandshaykh `AbdAllah (q). Prophet (s) said, “Yaa Shaykh, what you wrote today, if from the beginning of time up to the end you do normal salawaat, reciting this salawaat once, is equal to all of that.” So memorize it and read it, because many of you are already reading it in the khatm:
(Mawlana recites “Chief of Prayers” in Naqshbandi Daily Handbook)
Salli ya Rabbee wa sallim `ala jami`i 'l-anbiya’i w 'al-mursaleen, wa aali kulli ajma`een, w 'al-hamdu li 'l-Llahi Rabbi 'l-`alameen.`Ala ashrafi 'l-`alameena Sayyidina Muhammadini 's-salawaat. `Ala afdali 'l-`alameena Sayyidina Muhammadini 's-salawaat. `Ala akmali 'l-`alameena Sayyidina Muhammadini 's-salawaat. Salawaatu 'l-Lahi ta`ala wa malaa’ikatihi wa anbiyaa’ihi wa rusoolih wa jami`ee khalqihee `ala Muhammadin wa `ala aali Muhammad, `alayhi wa `alayhimu 's-salaam wa rahmatullahi ta`ala wa barakaatuh, wa radiya 'l-Lahu tabaaraka wa ta`ala `an saadaatina as-haabi rasooli 'l-Lahi ajma`een, wa `ani 't-taabi`eena bihim bi ihsaan, wa `ani 'l-`ulama'i 'l-muttaqeen, wa `ani 'l-awliya'i 's-saaliheen, wa `am-mashayikhina fi 't-tariqati 'n-Naqshabandiyyati 'l-`aliyya, qaddasal-Lahu ta`ala arwaahahumu 'z-zakiyya, wa nawwara 'Llahu ta`ala adrihatahumu 'l-mubaaraka, wa a`adal-Llahu ta`ala `alayna min baraakatihim wa fuyoodaatihim daa’iman w 'al-hamduli 'l-Lahi Rabbi 'l-`alameen, al-Fatihah.
There are all kinds of secrets in it. May Allah (swt) bless all of you and this meeting. All of you are under the protection of Sayyidina Muhammad (s). When we say, “Yaa Muhammad,” he is ready for you! (Mawlana stands) Say, “Yaa Muhammad, yaa Muhammad, yaa Muhammad, yaa Muhammad! Yaa Allah, yaa Allah, yaa Allah, yaa Allah! Ash-hadu an laa ilaha illa-Llah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan `abduhu wa rasooluh! (Mawlana sits.)
Awliyaullah can hear Prophet (s); he is present and observing. This is the belief of Ahlu `s-Sunnah wa’l- Jama`ah. Don’t think Prophet (s) is not looking. It’s not by your normal name, but everyone has a name with Prophet (s). He calls you by that name, meaning he knows that name and the secret of that name as well. May Allah (swt) bless us and keep us in the presence of our shaykh, Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil al-Haqqani (q), and in presence of Rasoolullah (s).
Wa min Allahi `t-tawfeeq, bi hurmati `l-habeeb, bi hurmati `l-Faatihah.
Copyright Sufilive 2009