Public Lecture with Q & A
As-salaam `alaykum wa rahmatullahi ta`ala wa barakatuhu, I am going to take the advice of the chairman and shorten my speech also.
A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytani 'r-rajeem. Bismillahi 'r-Rahmani 'r-Raheem. Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillahi nasta`eenuhu wa nastaghfiruhu wa nastahdee wa na`udhu billahi min shuroori anfusina wa sayyi'aati `aamalina, man yahdillahu falaa mudilla lah wa man yudlil falaa haadiya lah, wa nashhadu an laa ilaaha illa-Llahu wahdahu laa shareeka lah wa laa matheela lahu fee `ulooi shaanihi wa `azheema sultaanih, wa nashhadu anna Sayyidina wa sanadana wa Mawlana Muhammadan `Abduhu wa Habeebuhu wa Rasooluhu, arjaha 'l-`Arabiyya meezaana wa awdaha bayaanan fa awdaha 't-tareeqatan wa nasaha 'l-khaleeqata, sallallahu ta`ala `alayhi wa aalihi wa ashaabihi wa azwaajihi wa awlaadihi wa dhurriyyaatihi wa khulafaihi 'l-Mahdiyyeena min b`aadih wa wuzaraa'i `l-`amileena fee `ahdih khusoosan minhum `alaa a'immati khulufaai Rasoolullaahi `ala tahqeeq umara 'l-mu'mineen Hadaraati Abi Bakrin wa `Umar wa `Uthmaan wa `Ali dhu 'l-qadri 'l-jalee wa `alaa baqiyati 's-sahaabati wa 't-taabi`een ridwaanallahi ta`aala `alayhim ajm`aeen. Ayyuha 'l-mu'minoona 'l-hadiroon ittaqullaaha wa aati`oo, inna 'Llahi ta`aala alladheena ittaqaw w'alladheenahum muhsinoon.
O Brothers and Sisters! O sisters and brothers, whatever you like. I see more ladies than men! (laughter) But we are happy that (inaudible) is here, I am correct, Zaynul Abideen Rasheed (mayor of Singapore); now I am frightened to make a mistake, careful not to fall into mistakes or misunderstandings. I ask his permission from his honorable self to begin. I don't know, every time Mohammad Naseer comes with a nice event title. He said to speak about, "The Jewel of Creation.” It's a very important title that Allah (swt) likes for the Prophet (s), but can we explain that? Can we describe that jewel? The One to describe is the One who Created, not us normal people! But alhamdulillah, we are asking Allah (swt) to keep us on Islam. We are normal people, how can we describe someone who went on Isra' and Mir`aj? Such titles frighten me because I am nothing, may I be a pebble!
Shaykh Muhammad al-Busayri wrote in the famous poem, Al-Burdah ash-Shareefah, "Mantle of Prophet (s)," which many people recite in a melodious way. ... So I think we are pebbles, as Muhammad al-Busayri said out of `ishq, love to Prophet (s) when he was writing his poetry. He was putting his feet in the Nile and reciting, and the river water boiled from the love in his heart and he said:
Muhammadun basharun
wa laysa ka 'l-bashari,
Muhammad is a human
but not a human being like us.
From the time that line was written until today, millions of people have recited and passed through that line. Coming from within him, he experienced the reality of Prophet (s) in front of him, that presence of that Jewel in front of him (and recited):
bal huwa yaaqootatan,
wa 'n-naasu ka 'l-hajari
No, My Lord, he is a jewel
and human beings are like pebbles in comparison.
He experienced his 'self' as a pebble, his egoism and selfishness dissolved, as soon as he felt the presence of the light of Prophet (s). He was not anymore Muhammad Busayri, but a pebble! No ego.
That is why Prophet (s) said to the Sahaaba (r), "If you want to see someone who has died before he died, look at Sayyidina Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (r); he has no more has egoism, he dropped it." So that feeling of Muhammad al-Busayri, yes, he could experience the reality of that jewel, of the Prophet (s.) Because (in that state) you understand the comparison of a pebble and a jewel. And what kind of jewel? There are too many kinds of jewels; emeralds, sapphires, rubies, diamonds. If he compared him to a diamond or ruby, or any kind of jewel, he would have made a mistake. Because there is no comparison of an earthly jewel can be made with Prophet (s); he is not that kind of jewel. He is Jewel of Paradise, whom Allah (swt) created and fashioned with His Hands; not physical hands. First Allah (swt) created as mentioned in Musannaf of Abdur Razzaq, the Heavenly Light of Muhammad (s), which can't be compared with anything else. That was his specialty and that is why Allah (swt) raised him, Laa ilaaha illa-Llah, Muhammadun Rasoolullah. Describing His servant who reached maqaam 'l-`uboodiyah wa 'l-`abdiyyah. He said:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَى بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلاً مِّنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى
Subhaan alladhee 'asraa bi`abdihee laylan min al-masjidi 'l-haraami 'ilaa 'l-masjidi 'l-aqsaa
Glory be to Allah Who took His servant for a Night Journey from the Sacred Mosque to the Furthest Mosque (17:1)
Allah (swt) took His servant through Mi`raj, the ascent through the heavens, to qaaba qawsayni aw adnaa (within two bows' length of the Divine Presence). What kind of human being can move (there)? No one can move! Go to the Himalayas, you die. Try, if you like, no problem. Go to Madinah and you become alive again! Because the light that is emitting from that holy place, the house of Sayyida `Ayesha (r).
O Muslims! How do we describe something we don't know? There are many issues in Islam that we think we know, but we don't. People speak about the Prophet (s) in an easy way, as though they sat with him at the same desk in school. They make presentations, open books, recite about him, describe him. How dare you speak about Sayyidina Muhammad (s) when you don't know him, except through books! The Sahaaba (r) knew the Prophet Muhammad (s) because they were living with him! We are not living. Busayri was living with him, not physically, but through his spirituality. Those who live with spirituality and have the quality of feeling the presence of that light, of course they can understand the reality of Sayyidina Muhammad (s).
Prophet (s) read, that you were seeing him laughing, maybe smiling, for كثرة الضحك تميت القلب kathratu 'd-dahak tumeetu 'l-qalb, "too much laughter will make your heart dead." Today they are spoiling us with everything, they call it comedy and movies. To make us laugh and make our hearts dead, as Prophet (s) said, "If you knew what I know, you would cry a lot!" Law t`aalamoonaa ma a`alam baqaytum katheera. Why? It is mentioned in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad, in a well-known hadith of Prophet (s):
عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال لجبريل : " ما لي لا أرى ميكائيل ضاحكاً قط ؟ " قال : ما ضحك ميكائيل منذ خلقت النار .
qaal Humayd, qaal Anas ibn Malik, anahu sami`a Sayyidina Muhammad (s) annahu saala Jibreel maa lee laa araa Mikaaeelu dahaq qat? Qaala Jibreelu, ma dahiqa Mika`eelu mundhu khuliqatu 'n-naar.
Anas ibn Malik said that the Prophet (s) said, "One day I asked Jibreel why Mikaaeel was never smiling." Jibreel (as) answered "Since Hellfire was created, Mikaaeel never smiled or laughed!"
That is what the Jewel of Creation is telling us! O Mu`mins! O Muslims! O Human beings, there is Hellfire is in front of you! How can you want to smile and laugh? Look into the future, what is going to happen to us? Be careful. What is the benefit of jewels? Today men are wearing earrings. The Jewel of Creation (s) tells you what is halaal and what is haraam. One day you are going to be called and asked. Since Hellfire was created, Mikaaeel has never smiled! He is m`asoom, innocent, an angel, but still he is afraid! Sayyidina Muhammad (s) is telling us. I don't want you to tremble, but be careful, as we are Muslims!
It is good tidings for us to know that the Prophet (s) was sent as Rahmatan li 'l-`Alameen, "Mercy to all the Worlds," who will carry the ummah on his shoulders. And he (s) will plead, “Yaa Rabbee, this is my ummah, free them!” But be good, cry a little bit, try to push your tears a little when reading Holy Qur'an. It is mentioned in al-Mujahid's book, Al-Riqqa wal-Bukaa, that when Adam (a) ate from the tree, committing a sin, the jewels of Paradise dropped down.
In Paradise, there is nothing except jewels, there is no sin there. If you want to be with Prophet (s), then say astaghfirullah immediately if you do a sin! That is the greatness of the Prophet (s), the Jewel of Creation, who can intercede for anyone because Allah (swt) gave him shafa`ah.
Adam (as) took leaves from the trees of Paradise and covered himself and looked at Hawwa, his wife. Adam (a) was told, "Prepare yourself to leave from this neighborhood of Allah (swt.)" This is the beginning of miseries because he ate from the tree.
Are we doing sins or is no one sinning? Adam (a) disobeyed once, and his wife, Hawwa said, “O Adam! I never thought when someone gives an oath by Allah (swt) that he could be lying!" Iblees did that. She didn't believe that someone would lie in Allah's Name, that is why she believed it. Adam and his wife were running away, feeling very shy from Allah (swt) in Paradise. They hit a tree and were held by it's branches and thought they would be punished there, and they asked, "`Afwak yaa Rabbee, `afwuk yaa Rabbee," they said, astaghfirullah. Don't forget to ask for forgiveness day and night! Adam (s) was saying astaghfirullah and running away, feeling ashamed!
O Muslims! If you really feel ashamed then you can reach the ideal Muslim and the reality of the Jewel of Creation can reach us at that time. Every person, man woman, child, has a goal to achieve in this life. You must have the goal to achieve akhirah and that is to reach the reality of Sayyidina Muhammad (s), because he will intercede for Adam (a) and all of his nation who is under his flag until the the Day of Judgment. When he asks for intercession for his ummah we do not want to feel ashamed. If you make a mistake do you not feel ashamed from your boss? Are we not ashamed from our Creator and His khalifah? Prophet (s) is khalifah for Allah (swt) on Earth, in this universe.
Allah (swt) ordered two angels to punish Adam (a) and his wife by sending them to dunya. Do not think that dunya is a lively place, with discos and movie theaters outside, where you think you are enjoying yourself. In reality it is Hellfire outside. This is Paradise, here! Allah (swt) threw Sayyidina Adam (a) and his wife, down to Earth and they began to cry, crying for a hundred years and tears flowing from their eyes went into the pores of stones! A thirsty eagle searching for water saw that the tears from Adam (a) made a small stream, (we try to show people one tear falling from our eyes.) The eagle saw the stream and drank from the water of Adam's tears. He asked, "What you are doing?" He said, "Allah (swt) created me two-thousand years before you, I moved from east to west and north to south, I quenched every thirst from every river in this world, and I never found any water sweeter than your tears! These are tears of Paradise!" Adam (s) was crying not only for himself but for the ummah, to show Prophet (s), "Yaa Muhammad (s)! I am doing something for you!"
Sayyidina Adam (a) replied, "Shame on you! What are you saying? Sweetness of tears, from the cheeks of someone disobedient? How can you say these are sweet drops? My tears are the most sour you can find in this world. O Eagle, I think you criticize, to humiliate me!" How much heaviness and shame he was experiencing from his sin. Imam Busayri was experiencing love; feel it within you. If they give you plastic food, would you eat it? No. If not fresh, you don't eat. It means you need something real.
The eagle said, "Yaa Adam, w'Allahi I am not criticizing. What do you think about someone who disobeys his Lord, but he repented?"
Allah (swt) wanted to send a message to Sayyidina Adam (a) through that eagle. He is accepting misery in his heart that he disobeyed and is crying from his sin!
O Muslims! I brought that story up because really if we love someone, we must feel. When Adam (a) disobeyed, he felt his sin. Imam Busayri (r) felt the holy presence and without thinking poetry poured out. Do you think Sayyidina Muhammad (s) is not hearing? He is hearing every moment! Allah (swt) gave him that power; he (s) is fresh, alive in his grave. Allah (swt) sends his soul back to his body to return our salaams, and he is going to take heed on Day of Judgment, and will not leave one member of the ummah behind! This is mentioned in many ahadith.
Prophet (s) said Allah (s) inspired du'as that He never revealed to me before.
He asked Allah (swt), "Forgive my ummah!"
And Allah (swt) said, "Ask and you will be given."
What he is going to ask for? Not a dunya gift. But it's nice on the Day of Judgment to ask (for mercy) and you will be given.
Allah (swt) said to Muhammad (s), “Yaa Habeebi, ask for what you want, tell Me!”
Can anyone speak there, not Sayyidina `Isa (a), Ayna Musa (a), Nuh (a). ... On the Day of Judgment, Allah (swt) will say, “Ask for what you want. What you want, you take,” and the Prophet (s) will answer, “I want the ummah. I don't want only for my benefit:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil ‘akhirati wa hasanatan waqina ‘adhaban-naar.
Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire. (2:201)
One of the realities behind that verse. May Allah (swt) give us Sayyidina Muhammad (s) in akhirah and here! Not with 500 dollars, rather: aatina fi 'd-dunya! Seek love of Prophet (s), to see him! Pray nawaafil (voluntary) prayers. Allah (swt) said in a qudsee hadith:
ومايزال عبدي يتقرب إلي بالنوافل حتى أحبه فإذا أحببته كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به وبصره الذي يبصر به ويده التي يبطش بها ورجله التي يمشي بها
Maa zaala `abdee yataqarraba ilayya bi 'n-nawaafil hatta uhibbah. Fa idhaa ahbabtahu kuntu sama`u 'Lladhee yasma`u bihi wa basarahu 'Lladhee yubsiru bihi, wa yadahu 'Lladhee yubtishu bihi wa rijlahulladhee yabtishu bihaa.
My servant does not cease to approach Me through voluntary worship until I will love him. When I love him, I will become the ears with which he hears, the eyes with which he sees, the hand with which he acts, and the foot with which he steps.
Allah (swt) says to His Beloved, "Ask and you will be given, Yaa Muhammad (s)!"
And Prophet (s) goes into sajdah and says, “Allah will open for me on my heart du`as I never understood, or heard before, or have been revealed to me,” meaning they are some kind of codes or words that might not be in the Arabic language today.
Then Allah says, “Yaa Muhammad (s), raise your head. Ask, and you will be given!”
That is shafa`ah. Prophet (s) is asking for shafa`ah for his (s) ummah. With an Arabic language, but in a way that these du`as have never been said before.
Prophet (s) will say, “Yaa Rabbee, ummatee. Give me my ummah.”
Allah (swt) will say, “Yaa Muhammad (s), I’m giving you one-third. Take one-third to Paradise.”
Prophet (s) was happy, he (s) saved one-third, with no questioning, no hisaab, with shafa`ata 'n-Nabi (s). He (s) takes them and sends them to Paradise by Allah’s order. In Al-Adab al-Mufrad of Imam Bukhari (q), you can find that hadith. Prophet (s) goes into another sajdah, “And then Allah says to me, ‘Yaa Muhammad, raise your head. Ask, and you will be given.’ Then I will ask another time, Yaa Rabbee, ummatee. I want them, you promised to give me shafa`ah, and I want them.”
Allah (swt) will say, “Take half of the rest. Take one-third more.” Now two-thirds will be in Paradise.
Prophet (s) said, “Then I go in another sajdah and Allah will open for me du`as that He didn’t open for me in the second sajdah, nor in the first. I will ask, ‘Yaa Rabbee, give me my ummah.’ And Allah will say, ‘Raise your head, ask and I will give you.’ And I will say, ‘My ummah.’ Allah will say, ‘Take all of them. They are for you. Except that one, take the rest, leave that one.”
One-third, two-thirds, last third, all except one, who might be worst one! And Allah (swt) looks at that one, that is the one who is a Jewel, who takes us to Paradise, who takes us wherever he (s) goes! Muhammad Rasoolullah (s) is with you every moment; don't make him to be far away! How we say to Muslims, "Muhammad (s) is far." No! Who is better? Shaytan is everywhere, and Sayyidina Muhammad (s) is not everywhere? Prophet (s) is following Allah's order. Let us have common sense! Only common sense is teaching and explaining. We say all of us that Shaytan is everywhere, so how Prophet (s) is not everywhere?
We have a jewel on our chest, salli `ala an-Nabi (s)! Say salawaat, this is enough to reach Prophet (s)! Inshaa-Allah, Allah (swt) will make us see His reality, in dunya before akhirah.
Fatihah.
As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh.
Q & A
Q: How do we listen to our hearts more than our minds? With certainty in our hearts, can we overcome our inner demons?
MSH: Between hearts and minds is the cause of every problem. Allah (swt) said, وَنَفْسٍ وَمَا سَوَّاهَا Wa nafsin wa maa sawwaaha. "He fixed the self and inspired that self that He fixed for you and honored you with what is good and what is bad." (ash-Shams, 91:7) Everyone has a mind with which to balance decisions. If it feels good, do it, if it feels bad, leave it! Don't say you don't have that. If you are able to see good, goodness varies from one person to another. If listening to ego and selfishness, you will fall into mistakes. The heart is mentioned more than one-hundred times in Holy Qur'an, therefore emphasis is on hearts, not listening only to minds. Shaytan can whisper to minds. How to polish the heart? Leave what is bad. Think, "I want to go to beach today, me and friends. Might be people are not dressed well," then you step on that inspiration and go. We should say, "Since people there are not dressed well, I don't want to be there!" Then you think, "Is there any good movie?” So don't go a movie theater, give that money to poor people instead. Can you stop yourself from going to the movie theatre? That is the problem. To be pious, stop these things and if you are in between, Allah (swt) is merciful.
Q: How do you love Prophet (s) and how can we meet Prophet (s)?
MSH: Do you ask Allah (swt), "How do I love my son or daughter?" Focusing on your son and daughter every moment, are you thinking, what is Prophet (s) doing? Make salawaat on him, then love of Prophet (s) comes.
Q: It is hard to find a leader; how to follow a teacher?
MSH: Put inspiration of Prophet (s) in your heart, that will guide you. Everyone is guided. Especially youth who study fiqh instead of spending time with friends. Give time for Islamic teachings. No one is telling you not to do that. Too much wasting of time now. Allah (swt) will put someone in your heart to guide you. Allah (swt) will guide who He likes. If you look deeply in Qur`an, you will find a guide. Youth has to be reasonable also, must have a conscience and can't just blame older people and not listen to your mother and father, thinking they are old style, not fashionable!
Q: How do I clean my heart? Something stops me from praying, and how do I remove ego?
MSH: Prophet (s) took twenty-three years to remove ego. Every time there is sin, avoid it. Run from anger and make ablution. Anger is like disbelief. The main trunk of bad manners is anger! Don't get angry. Don't argue; it kills the heart. Don't try to argue, as Sayyidina Ali (q) said, keep your mouth closed, zip it completely and don't talk. You don't need to talk. As soon as talk we make mistakes. People see you are not perfect. When you become angry, don't argue; leave and go, because if don't debate you win! May Allah (swt) keep us always.
Q: If we all receive shafa`ah, then what's the point of Hellfire? Don't laugh and say to that person, "You go to Hell, we go to Paradise."
MSH: You don't want shafa`ah? Allahu akbar. Prophet (s) intercedes for his ummah. For the others, Allah (swt) is the best Judge; whom He punishes, whom He forgives. You go where you like, and we go where we like!
Q: Which is the best salawaat to send on Prophet (s)?
MSH: Many, many kinds of salawaat. Chose one you are happier with than others. Keep and don't stop reciting, recite non-stop, no problem, to increase love of Prophet (s) in the heart.
Q: Can you give us baya`? How do I know I am not a munafiq (hypocrite)?
MSH: That is the real thing Allah (swt) wants from you, to say what's in your heart. People are happy with me, and I feel Allah (swt) is not happy with me. Don't exalt self, say to it, "you are the worst!"
Q: It is not fair that bad Muslims enter Paradise from saying, la ilaha illa-Llah...
MSH: Allah (swt) is merciful, best merciful we leave that to Allah (swt). lakum deenukum wa liya deen. "To you be your religion, and to me my religion." (al-Kafirun, 109:6) Leave matters to Allah (swt); He knows better.
Q: On going to the beach, should we travel world, including beaches?
MSH: I didn't understand? See beach? Go to see the world? Why you have to go to the beach? Stay at home and close our eyes. Singapore is surrounded by people who do not conform to our (dressing). Muslims are a minority in Singapore. Balance your private space, my advice to myself and to you. The first look is for you, but the second look is against you. People here are not well dressed. What can you do? The first look is for you, and the second, astaghfirullah! Say, "O Allah, You know better," and ask forgiveness. Make yourself not after that. Don't look at every lady, or every man. Seek beaches for less people or beaches just for ladies. In the Arabian Gulf, you will find people naked on the beaches! Say astaghfirullah, don't think Allah (swt) will not forgive.
Q: Last question. Tell us about baya`?
MSH: That baya` puts love in your heart and mind.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ
Inna alladheena yubaaee`oonka innamaa yubaaee`oon'Llah. Yadullaahi fawqa aydeehim.
"Verily, those who give baya` (pledge) to you (O Muhammad) they are giving baya` (pledge) to Allah. The Hand of Allah is over their hands." (Al-Fath 48:10)
Those giving baya` are really giving it to Allah (swt). We hope to fulfill that.
As-salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh. Time for Maghrib. May Allah (swt) bless us and forgive us. As-salaamu `alaykum.
Fatihah.