`Isha Suhbah at Private Residence (2)
As-salaamu `alaykum. When you find pious people take advantage; don't let them go without making dhikrullah and praising the Prophet (s). Due to this very nice invitation, people came from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and far away distances, and the biggest invitation was from the ziyarah of Shaykh Isma`il (r)! The presence of all of us here is what Allah (swt) loves, when people come together.
يد الله مع الجماعة من شذ شذ في النار
Yadullahi ma`al-jama`ah.
The Hand of Allah is with the congregation.
The Prophet (s) said, yadul-Llahi ma`a al-jama`ah, “Allah's Hand is with the group,” and in another narration he said, yadul-Llahi `alaa al-jama`ah, “Allah's Hand is over the group” with a difference of one word. In the first case he used the word “ma`a,” meaning, “with the group,” which means Allah (swt) reaches His servants; in the second case Prophet (s) used the word “`alaa,” meaning “over the group,” which means if you are under Allah’s Hand, Shaytan cannot take you away! Although the difference is only two letters, there is a huge difference in meaning.
As we are here, we will do a short dhikr and renew baya` for everyone and those who have not taken baya` before may do so today. We will then give a short talk.
(Khatm)
Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illa-Llah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan `abduhu wa rasooluh!
There are three places to connect your heart: first, if you feel it is difficult to connect with your teacher, you can connect to Kaa`bat al-Musharrafa, al-Haraam. Now connect your heart with the Prophet (s): ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah!
(Khatm continues)
Prophet (s) said, “I have been sent to perfect your character.” Allah sent him to change the bad behavior of human beings to good behavior. That is the whole message of Islam. There are many ahadeeth that mention examples of good character and now we will mention one more, that Prophet (s) said:
يا أيها الناس، أفشوا السلام، وأطعموا الطعام، وصلوا بالليل والناس نيام، تدخلوا الجنة بسلام
Afshoo 's-salaam wa 'ati`mu 't-ta`am wa salloo bi 'l-layl wa 'n-naasu niyaam tadkhulu 'l-jannata bi 's-salaam.
Spread (or say) the salaam, give food, and pray at night while people are asleep, then you will enter Paradise peacefully. (Tirmidhi)
Some Muslims look like westerners, dressing in shorts and sleeveless shirts, walking in the streets of London. I saw too many like that where the wife, who is covered from top to bottom, is walking with her child behind her husband, who is dressed in shorts, no sleeves, and he has long hair. Many men here in Malaysia also have long hair that makes them look like women, and another man might see someone doing that and automatically assume it is something good, then they do it too.
First, afshoo as-salaam, “say the salaam,” then, after you smile and give a nice greeting, then, wa 'ati`mu 't-ta`am, “feed the people.” So it’s good to feed people to spread Islam because it works. There are many ribaat or khaniqahs where people can meet shaykhs; in Persian they call it “khaniqah,” in Turkish it is called “dergah,” and in Arabic, “zaawiyah.” They also have funduq, special hotels where they offer food to wayfaring people who come, rest and learn, then they go.
So afshoo as-salaam, say, “As-salaam `alaykum,” then, ati`m at-ta`am, “offer the food,” and salloo wa ‘n-naasu niyaam, “pray when people are sleeping.” If you pray when people are asleep, Allah (swt) will send special rahmat on you. Pray your Fajr early; don’t delay! Pray when people are sleeping, and Allah will recompense you with tadkhulu 'l-jannata bi 's-salaam, “Enter Paradise with peace, without account.” Look how simple Islam is: you pray when people are sleeping and you enter Paradise with salaam. Giving salaam, offering food, and praying at night are all from good manners. Allah (swt) will reward you and you will enter Jannah with no account.
I am surprised to see the increasing number of attendees this time, which is from the barakah of Shaykh Isma`il. Last time our host catered for two-hundred and he counted five-hundred, so don't fight over the food, recite:
لِإِيلَافِ قُرَيْشٍ إِيلَافِهِمْ رِحْلَةَ الشِّتَاء وَالصَّيْفِفَلْيَعْبُدُوا رَبَّ هَذَا الْبَيْتِالَّذِي أَطْعَمَهُم
li ilaafihim qurayshin ilaafihim rihlati ‘sh-shitaa'i wa ‘s-sayf, fal-ya`budoo hadhaa al-bayt alladhee at`amahum.
So the Quraysh might remain secure, secure in their winter and summer journeys, let them, therefore, worship the Sustainer of this Temple, Who has given them food; (Quraysh, 106:1-3)
(Don’t recite ‘min ju`in wa aamanahum min khawf,” i.e., all of Surat al-Quraysh except "from hunger and made them safe from danger.”)
At that time the angels will fill your stomachs. This is what awliyaullah recommend to recite, then food will increase. You may all read it and if you recite it this way, food for one-hundred will feed a thousand people!
(Bay`a)