Event with Habib Naqib
Translated from Arabic
As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh. Bismillahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem. Alhamdulillahi Rabbi 'l-`Alameen, wa 's-salaatu wa 's-salaamu `ala ashrafa 'l-mursaleen, Sayyidina wa Nabiyyina Muhammadin wa `ala alihi wa saahbihi ajma`een. We pray to Allah (swt) to keep us always in the presence of Prophet (s) in this world and the Next. Upon the witness of Prophet (s), the witness of Allah (swt), and the witness of the angels of Heaven and Earth, and the witness of all Creation, we witness that there is no God but Allah and that Prophet Muhammad (s) is His Messenger. Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illa-Llah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan `abduhu wa rasooluh. We hope that Allah will put our shahadah in the book of our deeds and that it will be an opening for us on the Last Day, and a salvation from punishment, and an expression of our love to Prophet (s)!
It is an honor for us to be here today in the company of our dear Shaykh Habib Naqib, and all lovers of Prophet (s), and lovers of whomever you please to name. Kul `alaa `ataab an-Nabi, wa kullun min rasoolullah multamisan, gharfan min al-bahr aw rashfan min ad-diyami. We are all at the doorsteps of Prophet (s). We are all seeking from Prophet (s), either like taking water from the sea or like sipping water from the rain.
There is no difference between any one of you or amongst you: all people are equal before the eyes of the beloved and chosen Prophet (s). In the eyes of Prophet (s) people are equal, sawaasiyyah, like the teeth of the comb. We hope Allah will make us from those who are equal in the love of Prophet (s), and to make us jewels on the crown of Prophet (s) and jewels on the footwear of the Prophet (s), al-Mustafa! With the blessing of Prophet (s) we hope to read Fatihah.
I am not coming here to speak, but coming here to strengthen relations with relatives (silat ar-rahim). Upon this occasion, a short advice for me and for you. Firstly, I need it before you and whatever is sent to my heart I am relating to you. I did not prepare a paper or a speech for this association. I am telling you that I am not a scholar but a student. Allah (swt) mentioned in His glorious Qur’an:
وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ
Wa fawqa kulli dhi `ilmin `aleem.
Above every knower there is a (higher) knower. (12:76)
A poet once said:
قل لمن يدعي في العلم فلسفةً ....حفظت شيئا وغابت عنك أشياءُ
Qul liman yada’ey fee al `ilm falsafah, hafatht shay`an wa ghabat anka ashyaa`on.
Tell whomever claims to know the philosophy of knowledge and who has memorized something and was unable to know others.
A scholar can never be perfect. Sayyidina `Ali (r) mentioned the most important issue of knowledge is that we must follow the Qur’an and hadith. What is the epitome of knowledge? What is it that makes us from the people of awliyaaullah? The epitome of knowledge is the fear of Allah:
رأس الحكمة مخافة الله
Ra’es al-hikma makhafat Allah.
It is not to be kept far away from Allah and His Prophet (s). This is the suffering of Muslims; the suffering of unbelievers is Hell, but the suffering of Muslims is being kept away from the presence of Allah and from the Heavens of His Prophet (s). This is the aim of knowledge which Sayyidina `Ali (r) wrote and taught the honorable Companions (r). The proof we have for this is if we take a little bit of incense and put it on the fire, the smell of perfume and goodness will emanate. If we increase the amount of incense, the vapors increase. These vapors can never be lost. Their effect becomes subdued as they move further, but wherever it reaches it gives a good smell. An association like this one, in praise of Prophet (s), is like incense and perfume that guides people even if they were thousands of miles away. When this perfume reaches them, the light of Prophet (s) reaches them, and not only does mercy descend, but the doors of Heavens and Earth and Paradise are opened, until each angel is ordered to pray upon Prophet (s). This association will then be written in the books as an association in praise of Prophet (s)!
O honorable Shaykh Saleh, honorable Habib Naqib, and all lovers! Everything has been given in a certain number: prayers five times a day, fasting 30 days, Hajj once in a lifetime, and zakat 2.5%. Everything in the tenets of Islam is given in a number as specified by Allah (swt), except two things: remembrance of Allah (swt) and praise of Prophet (s). Praise of Prophet (s) has not been ordered by a given number, but is obligatory upon every Muslim and Muslimah. It is stronger than obligation, since Allah (swt) has made it an obligation upon Himself and His angels! Allah ordered His angels to praise Prophet (s) and mentioned that He praises Prophet (s):
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
inna Llaha wa malaa`ikatahu yusalloona `ala 'n-nabi, yaa ayyuhal-ladheena aamanoo salloo `alayhi was sallimoo tasleema.
Verily, Allah and His angels send praise on the Prophet. O Believers! Pray upon him and greet him. (33:56)
Praise of Prophet (s) is an order over and above every tenet and obligation in Islam. Allah specified this to those who believe. Many Qur’anic verses mention, "O Muslims" or, "O people," but Allah mentioned specifically those who have in their hearts an atom of faith to praise Prophet (s). All Creation is ordered to praise Prophet (s): every stone and pebble, all trees and leaves, all Creation, all living Creation, as well as jinn and angels. Praise upon Prophet (s) is not limited. Allah’s Words are Eternal and pre-Eternal, and are not created! The Qur’an is Eternal and not created! The Qur’anic order to praise Prophet (s) is Eternal! Bismillahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem.
لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
law anzalnaa hadha 'l-Qur'ana `alaa jabalin la ra'aytahu khaashi`an mutasaddi`an min khashiyatillah.
Had We sent down this Qur'an on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder (shatter to dust) by the fear of Allah! (Al-Hashr, 59:21)
If Allah’s Words are descended upon this world, all the mountains of this world and all worlds will vanish completely, as they will not be able to bear the secrets of Qur’an!
وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلاَّ اللّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا
maa ya`lamu taa'weelahu illa-Allah wa 'r-raasikhoona fi 'l-`ilm yaqooloona kullun min `inda rabbinaa.
but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say, "We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord:" (3:7)
Upon every letter of Qur’an, Allah opens endless knowledge to the hearts of His men. This Qur’an has descended upon the heart of Prophet (s), but he was not weak and he was able to bear the power of this knowledge, as Allah (swt) has mentioned:
أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ
Alam nashrah laka sadrak wa wada`naa `anka wizrak.
We expanded for you your chest and relieved you of the burden. (94:1,2)
There are secrets, O Shaykh Saleh, that the rijaalAllah, "men of Allah" have hidden in their hearts, so it does not become a temptation among the scholars who cannot bear those secrets.
We hope from Allah (swt) to always make us successful in our love of Prophet (s,) and to be with him on the Last Day, and in this world, and to see him with our hearts as well as our physical eyes, and to keep us on the Straight Path, which is (to follow the sunnah of) Prophet (s).
(Du`a.)
Fatihah.