Habib Umar bin Hafiz

May Allah preserve Habib Umar and guide us by him….  This is an incredible man. 

(Probably the best intro ever by Shaykh Ibrahim Osi Efa!)

 

 

Sufi and ibn Dunya

Sufi:  As salamu ‘alaykum my brother, tell me what ails ya?

ibn Dunya:  Wa ‘alaykum as salam Sufi Shaykh, I hope you have the words to heal me, but my sickness isn’t a physical one, it’s mental.

S:  Yes I did think when you came in, someone walking around in public with that haircut could not be of a sane frame of mind. Hehehehe (laughing to himself), I kid young man, please go on.

iD:  (laughs nervously) Yes erm that’s funny.  Actually my friend cut my hair.

S:  A friend?  What kind of friend would do that?  Shall I get him for you?  I am trained in Silat you know, hehehe (laughing on his own again) I kill me sometimes.

iD:  O Shaykh you are making fun of me but I’m really ill, I think I’m depressed.  Please I need you to cure me, I heard you have helped many people.

S:  No more joking my friend, sometimes a little laughter is the best cure for sadness.

By the will of Allah we will try to make you better, most physical and mental sicknesses are rooted in some sort of spiritual disease.  Didn’t our beloved Prophet, peace be upon him, say “No man fills a vessel worse than his stomach..?” And “an unbeliever eats and fills seven intestines whereas a believer uses only one” also that “Allah hates those who eat excessively.”  Yet we find people transgress and eat more than they need, and what is the root of this?  The spiritual disease of greed.

This advice should suffice if you grasp the apparent and hidden meaning behind them, if not tell me your problems.

iD:  Thank you for your advice but I actually have quite a healthy, balanced diet.  My problem is that I am unhappy with my life, I am not happy with the cards I have been dealt in my life.

S:  (Thinks to himself: “My first reply did answer him, only if he pondered more deeply)

iD: Am I an unbeliever for what I said O Shaykh?  I’m admitting I’m not happy with Allah’s will.

S: No my friend you certainly are not an unbeliever. The fact you have taken your time to come to see me, to ask for help, concerned you may be an unbeliever, proves you are a Mu’min with taqwa of Allah.  Now tell me what specifically are you unhappy with in your life?

iD:  Everything… My job - I wish I was earning more money, my body - I wish I was taller and slimmer, my house - I wish I had a bigger one, my friends - I wish I had more interesting ones, my personality - I wish I was more intelligent, more funny….

S:  Stop, stop.  Do you not see this is from the hunger of your nafs (lower self)?  It can never be satiated with more dunya.  Job - be grateful you have a job many don’t, body - be thankful you are not ill, house - you still have a house…

iD:  (interrupting the Shaykh)  I’m sorry Shaykh but I’ve heard all this before, look to those who have less than you and all that, but  all I see are people with more than me.  I meet people who are less capable than me but have better jobs, why did Allah make me smaller than others?  Why can’t I have a bigger house?  If I had these things I would be happier and more grateful to God. Please Shaykh that kind of advice may work for simple people but not for sophisticated people with complicated lives.

S:  (Silently prays: “God bless the simple folk) My friend, sophisticated person or not the problems are usually very simple and often the same.  This is love of dunya over the akhira.  Islam means to “submit”, to submit your affairs to Allah, to put your trust in Allah, your faith and hopes all in Allah.  You were not created for the dunya, you were created for the akhira, to be with Allah.

Your nafs is not a complicated thing; it only wants one thing - MORE.  You are a clever man you can see this want of the nafs will never be satiated, no matter if you give it more, it will still want.. yes you guessed it - more.  Even if you were given the whole Earth with everything in it, it would just want another planet!

iD:  Please go on Shaykh, my heart is listening to your words.

S:  My friend you need to change your world view, change it to an akhiri view!  Your purpose in this world is to know God, through worship.  Worship in prayer, your state with God, your relationships with people, your work, the way you treat the environment.  You work hard to make these things as best and beautiful as possible. 

After your hard work the condition you are placed in; your physical state, your wealth, your job all of those things are exactly what God wants you to have.  Be thankful for it and be patient during difficult predicaments.  Also know that these situations you face are all from the infinite wisdom of Allah so that you could know him.  These things are given in perfect measure for you, the best possible combination for you to know Him.  You may think you would be better off with a different job, different house, no!  This is your nafs talking again. This wisdom warrants repeating:

The share of the dunya apportioned to you is the perfect amount you need to fulfil your purpose in life.

Please ponder on this.  Whether religious or irreligious this benefits all.  If you internalise this wisdom and live by it you will find a priceless contentment in your life.  If you don’t, no matter how much dunya you amass you will never be satisfied.

iD:  Wow Shaykh, you have blown me away.  I will reflect on your words and pray my state changes to that which God will be pleased with me.

S:  Yes may Allah always guide you, and lastly get a decent haircut.

Young boy killed by Quran “teacher”

This is disgusting, hope the “teacher” gets his just deserves.  A Fatiha for the deceased, brother Atif.

The Amazing Brain

One of my biggest vices from the “bad ol’ days” was music.  It was a large part of my everyday life since I was 9/10 years old, up to 21.  In those 10 years built up a collection of CD’s worth a small fortune.  I wonder sometimes if all that still has an effect on my state now? 

Something weird happened to me recently, I heard a song by Alicia Keys on TV; Teenage Love Affair, there is Motown sounding base sample used in the song and the instant it was played I recognised I had heard it before.  The sample was used on a Hip Hop album, I couldn’t remember the album or the group but for some odd reason I remembered it was an intermission type track on the album.  It bugged me for hours not being able to remember which album it was.

Then a few days later as I was waking up for work, still semi-conscious, the album name and group suddenly came to me!  It was from Muse-Sick-N-Hour-Message by Public Enemy, track: White Heaven/Black Hell.

This was truly freaky, kinda like my brain was working on retrieving the data stored somewhere in my long term memory all that time, then involuntarily gave me the answer, I didn’t even think about it since that day I first heard it.  And the last time I listened to that album was probably 12 years ago!  What an amazing organ the brain is.

I wish I used my time (and money!) on something more beneficial like memorising the Qur’an.  Memorising comes easy to me alhamdulillah, I can still remember many rhymes word for word.  Even now after listening to and singing some qasida’s I memorise it after a few days, maybe all that music and rhyming has improved my memorisation skills?  Still I would have loved to have the Qur’an memorised instead of all that music.

Allah knows best, I can’t change the past and there must be a divine wisdom behind my misspent youth.  Most obvious of all is that I should do tawba for all of that and thank Allah or changing my state.  No point crying over what I could have done instead, it was all meant to be.  Insha Allah I will try to make sure my kids don’t make the same mistakes. 

Studying Arabic

Sometimes studying Arabic is laborious, especially trying to study part time whilst working and along with family commitments. It can be very difficult and seems like you’re not learning fast enough. Then you reach a point where you “get” something, you understand a certain grammar rule, or become comfortable with certain verb forms, often unconsciously, as in you didn’t realise you had the vocabulary memorised, didn’t know you could apply them in a sentence. You start making up sentences that you had no idea you were able to!

Nothing can describe the feeling when reading the Quran and realise the ayat you just recited you actually understood it, understood the Arabic; the meaning of the words, the sentence structure, even sense a little of the high eloquence of the Majestic Quran. As a non-Arabic speaker this in an ecstatic moment that has you in tears, a great bounty from Allah.

Studying Arabic is hard, for me anyway I find it very difficult. It’s not as interesting as the other sciences, I remember in a grammar class once our teacher in the middle of the lesson said shut your books that’s enough of grammar, it’s getting boring, let’s read some stories of the Prophets!

It’s very humbling experience learning Arabic, you work hard, study, memorise like crazy but don’t always see the fruits (not straight away anyway). Sometimes you feel like your comprehension has been the same level for several months, may even feel you’re forgetting words! But as long you are doing it, everyday, or every other day, you are always learning. Even if it doesn’t seem so.
You really do realise it’s in Allah’s will. You work hard and feel you’re not getting anywhere then out of the blue Allah (sw) grants you a gift that blows you away.

Studying Arabic is a very good exercise in gaining tawakkul (trust) in Allah.

The Most Blessed Last Words

“As-salah! As-salah” (The Prayer! The Prayer!)

The last words of the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)

These last few words of the Messenger of God (صلى الله عليه وسلم) speaks volumes about his blessed character and nature. His (صلى الله عليه وسلم) last words are reminding us of the thing we will be first questioned about when we are resurrected.

His (صلى الله عليه وسلم) speech is described as “jawami’ al-kalam” - comprehensive speech, eloquent, concise words with a wealth of meaning behind them, comprehensive message and guidance in them.

“As-salah! As-salah!” He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is advising us to guard our prayer, to guard our prayer we must learn to pray properly, the prayer includes the Quran, the prayer includes the shahadah, it includes salawat upon him (صلى الله عليه وسلم), it includes du’a (the original pre-Islamic meaning of ’salah’ was supplication or du’a), salah is prayed in congregation (importance of keeping close to the jama’), it’s about the mosque, it’s about sacrificing time, it’s everyday….

The most amazing thing is that his (صلى الله عليه وسلم) last words, his last concern before leaving the world was for us. He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was thinking about our well being, our guidance until he breathed his last (صلى الله عليه وسلم). The mercy to the world, may Allah bless and raise the rank of His Messenger, His beloved, the final Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

Reflection on Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (ra)

Allah (sw) says in the Quran (4:69):

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَئِكَ رَفِيقًا

And whoever obeys God and the Messenger, these will be [in paradise] with the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous, upon whom God has bestowed favours”

This ayah lists the people in paradise whom Allah says he has betowed favours upon. What is understood in this ayah is that there are ranks in mankind and the ranking of these people who are in paradise, is known by the order in which they are mentioned in the ayah.The best of all human beings are the Prophets, then the Siddiqeen or the Truthful, then the Martyrs and then the Righteous.

The highest possible station a human being can achieve is the maqam of Siddiq, as Prophethood has ended.  And the person that was given the title ‘al-Siddq’ by the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) was none other than Abu Bakr (ra). A teacher of mine once said “where prophethood ends Abu Bakr begins”. After the prophets (’alayhum as salam) the best person to have ever lived was Abu Bakr (ra).

What earned Abu Bakr the title al-Siddiq? It was after the Prophets (صلى الله عليه وسلم) night journey (Mi’raj) when the enemies of the Muslims jeered at what the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said of his night journey, claiming it was fanciful and thought the Muslims will not believe such a thing and will leave Islam.

They went to Abu Bakr (ra) and said “Do you know, Abu Bakr, what news your friend has for you in the morning?” said one of the mean. “He says he was on the highest heaven last night, having a talk with Allah, the Almighty. Would you believe it?”

Abu Bakr replied “If he had said this then I believe what the Messenger of Allah has said.”

Abu Bakr (ra) has such firm belief he never had any doubt in the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم). It was the above incident plus the sacrifices he made after becoming Muslim, his wealth, leaving his family members who did not accept islam; this is what earned him the title of al-Siddiq, a station better than the martyrs, better than righteous and close to the station of Prophethood.

Abu Bakr (ra) is also teaching us the importance of checking soundness of narration of knowledge in the above incident. The importance of Isnad. When he (ra) replied “If he had said this then I believe…” What he is saying is “you who is telling me this, I don’t trust as a sound source of knowledge, but if the Messenger of God (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had said what you are saying, I believe it.”

This is an incredibly high level of adab Abu Bakr (ra) has of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

Loving the beloved (صلى الله عليه وسلم)

An inspirational speech by Shaykh Dr Sa’id Ramadan al-Buti (may Allah preserve him):

Ladies and gentlemen, at the beginning of my talk I’d like to express my sorrow and apologise for not being able to attend this blessed Conference of yours. In short, the reason for my absence is not having been able to obtain an entry visa. The only consolation for my absence is our belief that there’s good in whatever Allah exalted and high chooses for us, and I hope that Allah swt will bless me with another opportunity to meet you in another blessed meeting.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have no doubt that the motive behind your celebration of the birth of the Prophet (pbuh) and making his birth the central theme of such meetings and of this blessed Conference in particular - I have no doubt that what motivated you is your wish to renew your pledge (bay’a) with the Prophet (pbuh) out of your belief in his Prophethood and following his way and out of love for his sirah and in order to spread his message. I have no doubt that this is what motivated you to organise this Conference and have as its central theme the birth of the Prophet (pbuh).

Indeed this makes me even more sorry for not being able to participate with you in this blessed Conference, I further believe that you would not use this Conference to achieve any worldly gains, and you wouldn’t involve any if these religious activities in partisan competitions or to seek any political gains. I believe that whoever has strong belief in Allah exalted and high is He, and whose heart is dominated by the love of Allah and his Prophet (pbuh) wouldn’t veil himself from the love of Allah and his Prophet (pbuh) through collecting worldly gains or seeking them or exploiting such activities as a means towards such ends; I ask Allah swt to make me and you firm on this stance which I hope that we will all meet Allah swt while committed to it, with our faces brightened with our sincere devotion to Him and His religion.

However, dear brothers and sisters let me ask myself and ask you: What would keep us firm on this way ? What would keep us walking on the path of Allah swt, following on the footsteps of His Prophet, loving his sirah and spreading his message without having any ulterior motives beyond that? What is the guarantee that makes us committed to this path? In reality, rational belief exists and I can’t doubt it. I believe that each of us rationally believe in Allah swt and rationally believe in the Prophet (pbuh), yet this rational belief cannot by itself be the guarantee to remain on this path away from the worldly influences, away from the various temptations of this world. Rational belief is a reaction and not an action, one can’t make the decision to answer the question 1 + 1 = 10 for example; he’s compelled to say 1 + 1 = 2. Rational matters always involve compulsory reactions rather than a conscious decision.

I ask again, what is the guarantee that makes us firm on this path that I have described to you, sincere to Allah, ever alert to ensure that nothing influences our goals except seeking Allah’s pleasure? The answer is Love.

Love of Allah swt and then love of the Prophet (pbuh) is the only guarantee to keep us firm on seeking the pleasure of Allah SWT, without being tempted by worldly things and without being influenced by any temptations or divisions or blind following of any madhab or group .

Love, as Imam Shateby says, brings closer what is far, causes iron to melt, and makes what is difficult easy, but if the heart is devoid of the love of Allah and love of His messenger then I believe it would be easy for us and for many orientalists to follow the same path, and it would be very easy for us to do so because they (the orientalists) also believe in the same things we believe in - rational belief is a common feature between us and many of them, but what is the difference between those who write about rational proofs of God’s existence a lot more than what we write, and talk about the life of the Prophet (pbuh) with more respect and reverence than us? The difference is that they talk about it in a rational way, devoid of the flame of love, whereas the believer in Allah swt, whereas we - and I hope that this is true of us - the difference is that love of Allah and hence the love of His Prophet has filled our hearts. You may remember the saying of the Prophet (pbuh): “None of you believes until Allah and His messenger are more beloved to him than any one else.”

However, I’d like to suppose that we need to feed this flame of love within our hearts. I don’t think we need to strengthen our rational belief because such a belief can reach a peak, whereas love has no limit. We need to strengthen this love within our hearts to chase away the lower love and strengthen the higher love.

How can we renew our love of the Prophet (pbuh) within this blessed Conference that you have organised seeking the pleasure of Allah and His Prophet? There are several methods but I shall summarise and say: loving someone who loves us is something natural and I don’t believe that it’s a conscious decision. The Prophet (pbuh) loved us, and I don’t think that I’m making an empty claim because there are numerous proofs for us - specially that I’m basing this on my starting point that we all believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that you had only organised this Conference seeking Allah’s pleasure. Well, we would all like to increase our love for the Prophet (pbuh) so we can guard our lives against temptations, deviations and forgetfulness: To love the Prophet (pbuh) as he loves us is the way.

I present to you the following scene that deeply moved me , and I believe that all of us should embody this example whenever we feel that this world seeping into our hearts. The night the Prophet (pbuh) passed away, he went out to the cemetery of al-Baqee’ - as narrated by Imam Malik in his book al-Muwatta’ and by other scholars - he greeted the people of al-Baqee’, then he said, “I wished that I had met my brothers.” One of his Companions asked him, “Are we not your brothers O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “No, you are my Companions, my brothers are those who have not yet come, and I’ll precede them await them at the Fountain.” They said, “Do you know them O Messenger of Allah? How will you welcome them when you have not seen them?” He said, “You see one who has noble horses with white circles signs on their foreheads and ankles (Ghorran muhajjaleen) mixed in with common horses, would he not recognise them?” They said, “Yes.” So he said, “So will I know them, for they will have white circles of light on their foreheads and ankles (Ghorran muhajjaleen) from the traces of wudhu’”. This is what the Prophet said in longing for us.

When we think about this longing that overwhelmed the heart of our beloved Prophet (pbuh) should we not feel the same longing for him? Should we not love him the way he loves us? Indeed, that would be natural. This scene is one we should never forget dear ladies and gentlemen. The Prophet (pbuh) just as he loved and cared for his Companions he felt the same for his brothers who had not yet come, and I pray to Allah swt that we will be among them.

At the end of this talk, I’d like to mention another situation but this time a negative one, even though one usually would not mention separation (jafaa’) at the time of rejoicing (safaa’), but nevertheless I’d like to mention it as a deterrent for us. The Prophet (pbuh) says, “Indeed some would be taken away from my Fountain just like lost cattle, I would say let them come, let them come, they would say you do not know what they did after you, I would say away with them, away with them, away with them.

Two images, the first one, I truly hope that we would be amongst them, those who didn’t deviate and remained steadfast on the pledge, faithful to Allah, and to his messenger (pbuh), and the love of Allah and the love of his messenger (pbuh) overwhelming their heart, they didn’t look to the temptations and distractions and didn’t justify their deviations; I hope and I pray to Allah to make me and you among them. Then the Prophet (pbuh) would welcome us and the signs of his love would be apparent on us.

In contrast, the other image, which we should be cautious lest we may fall into it and be of those who are removed from the Fountain (hawdh) like lost cattle; the Prophet (pbuh) would say, “Let them come” which shows that they appear like Muslims, they used to raise the banner of da’wa to Allah, and they used to talk about Islam and Iman so you would assume that they would be with their brothers on the day of judgment, but the Prophet (pbuh) is surprised that they would be taken away, the explanation is “You do not know what they have done after you.” They were not faithful to the pledge, they were not faithful to the message which the Prophet (pbuh) left with them.

I do not wish to dwell on the temptations and distractions which make us justify changing and deviating. The scholars of shariah agree that the interests that the shariah came to protect are based on the Text (Qur’an and Sunnah) and that one cannot recognise any interests that contradict the Text, remember this important rule dear ladies and gentlemen. If there was a need for our souls to burn with love for the Prophet (pbuh) then study his sirah. I don’t think there is a human being who has love for humanity whose heart wouldn’t be filled with the love of the Prophet (pbuh). Muhammad (pbuh) is the source of all human values.

Let me relate to you an example that I never forget which I want each one of you to emulate everyday. After the end of the battle of Hunain, the Prophet (pbuh) gave a large share of the booty to those who had recently embraced Islam from among the people of Meccah considering them recent converts (al-mu’allafatu quloobuhom). The Prophet (pbuh) heard that some of the Ansar were saying to one another may Allah forgive the Prophet, he gives these people while our swords are still dripping with their blood. The Prophet (pbuh) heard about this so he gathered those people in an isolated place and he gave them a sermon. Let’s listen to what he said and reflect upon it. He praised Allah and glorified him and said: “O people of Ansar, I heard something regarding you. Did I not come to you while you were astray and Allah guided you through me? Were you not disunited and Allah united you through me? Were you not destitute and Allah enriched you through me?” Everytime he asked one of those questions they said: “Indeed O Messenger of Allah, to Allah and His Messenger be all praise and gratitude.” The Prophet (pbuh) stood and said, “Will you not respond O people of Ansar?” They said, “We do respond O Messenger of Allah, indeed He did, to Allah and His messenger be all praise and gratitude.” Once again the Prophet (pbuh) asked them, “Will you not reply?” They said, “How should we reply?” He said, “By Allah if you had wished you could’ve said and you would’ve been truthful: You came to us chased away by your people and we gave you refuge, defeated and we gave you victory, and belied and we believed in you.” i.e. he said you could’ve responded that you have also given me in return. Then he said, “O people of Ansar, did you feel something in your heart just for a little wealth I had given to some people so that they believe, entrusting you to your belief. Would you not be pleased that people go back with sheep and camels while you go back with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh); by Allah, that with which you go back is far better than that with which they go back. Indeed - by Allah - had it not been for the fact that I migrated I would’ve been one of the Ansar. People are my outer garment and the Ansar are my inner garment. You will find selfishness after me so be patient until you meet me at the Fount. O Allah have mercy on the Ansar and on the children of the Ansar and on the children of the children of the Ansar.” The people cried until their beards were wet.

Dear brothers and sisters we have been deprived of meeting the Prophet (pbuh), but we were not deprived of hearing these words and of seeing these human emotions.

I just wish to say one thing which might be an answer to a question that might be in your minds: What about those who insult the Prophet (pbuh) or rather they do not insult him, for no one can insult the Prophet (pbuh) but they only try. We have greater mission which should make us ignore their attempts. What is that mission? It is to embody the message of Islam which our Prophet has brought us and make every effort towards that goal. Then to convey that message in the way our Prophet conveyed it, to clarify to people the true image of Islam, to show them the true character of the Prophet (pbuh) using the attractive Prophetic methods, to address this Western world which is lost in its ignorance out of mercy and love for them, to introduce them to the sacred message with which our Prophet was sent to the whole of mankind. If we fulfilled this obligation with which Allah has entrusted us we would find ourselves too busy to pay attention to such people. Dear brothers and sisters, leave them alone, do not busy yourselves with them. Instead of running after them and focusing on them thinking that we are doing something for Islam, we should plan our actions to seek Allah’s pleasure motivated by two things: our rational belief in Allah, and our love for him and His Messenger, remaining between these two fundamentals.

I pray that Allah accepts this gathering of yours, and I pray that Allah makes it one of those meetings which Abdullah Ibn Rawaha called for every now and then, asking the Companions “Let us sit and remember Allah.”

I pray that Allah swt brings us together and praise be to Allah Lord of the worlds.

Source link and video of speech (in Arabic) - http://www.sirahtour.com/

Famous Last Words

Famous last words before death….  Some are quite frightening.  Wonder what our last words will be?  May Allah give us a husn ul khatim, amin.

 { - }

Go on, get out - last words are for fools who haven’t said enough.
To his housekeeper, who urged him to tell her his last words so she could write them down for posterity.
Karl Marx, revolutionary, d. 1883

Let’s cool it brothers . . .
Spoken to his assassins, 3 men who shot him 16 times.
Malcolm X, Black leader, d. 1966

I am a Queen, but I have not the power to move my arms.
Louise, Queen of Prussia, d. 1820

God will pardon me, that’s his line of work.
Heinrich Heine, poet, d. February 15, 1856

All my possessions for a moment of time.
Elizabeth I, Queen of England, d. 1603

My God. What’s happened?
Diana (Spencer), Princess of Wales, d. August 31, 1997

I’m bored with it all.
Before slipping into a coma. He died 9 days later.
Winston Churchill, statesman, d. January 24, 1965

How were the receipts today at Madison Square Garden?
P. T. Barnum, entrepreneur, d. 1891

Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.
Oscar Wilde, writer, d. November 30, 1900

I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.
Leonardo da Vinci, artist, d. 1519

Lord help my poor soul.
Edgar Allan Poe, writer, d. October 7, 1849

Why do you weep. Did you think I was immortal?
Louis XIV, King of France, d. 1715

I see black light.
Victor Hugo, writer, d. May 22, 1885

Damn it . . . Don’t you dare ask God to help me.
To her housekeeper, who had begun to pray aloud.
Joan Crawford, actress, d. May 10, 1977

“I don’t know.”
Abelard, Peter. Philosopher (1079-1142)

“To the strongest.”
Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.)

“Now comes the mystery.”
Beecher, Henry Ward. Abolitionist (1813-1887)

“Pity, pity . . . too late!”
Beethoven, Ludwig van. Composer (1770-1827)

“What’s this?”
Bernstein, Leonard. Composer (1918-1990)

“Do you know where I can get any shit?”
Died of drug overdose with needle still stuck in his arm
Bruce, Lenny (Leonard Schneider). Comedian (1925-1966)

“You too, Brutus?”
Caesar, Julius Gaius (100-44 B.C.)

“Why not? After all, it belongs to him.”
In response to priest attending over deathbed saying: “May the Lord have mercy on your soul”
Chaplin, Charles. Actor (1889-1977)

“You sons of bitches. Give my love to Mother.”
..before being executed
Crowley, Francis “Two Gun” (1900-1931)

“I am not the least afraid to die.”
Darwin, Charles (1809-1882)

“We have a major problem, a major power problem, it looks as though we’re, er, going in, we’re going in”.
Mike Roberts, Pilot of Plane that crashed in Kent March 2008.

“My dear Schur, you remember our first talk. You promised to help me when I could no longer carry on. It is only torture now, and it has no longer any sense.”
Freud, Sigmund (1856-1939)

“Let not my end disarm you, and on no account weep or keen for me, let the enemy be warned of my death”
Genghis, Khan of the Mongols (1155?-1227)

“I know you have come to kill me. Shoot, coward. You are only going to kill a man.”
Guevara, Ernesto “Che” (1928-1967)

“Capital punishment; them without the capital get the punishment.”
About to be executed
Spenkelink, John 1979

“Tomorrow, I shall no longer be here.”
Nostradamus (Michel de Notre Dame) 1503-1566

“As salah! As salah!” (The prayer! The prayer!)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

Taken from various sources including Wikiquote and Corsinet

 

This is Love…

From a talk given by Shaykh Habib Ali al-Jiffry last night (paraphrased).

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was on a journey with some of his companions and his wife ‘Aisha (ra). He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) noticed from Aisha’s face she was getting weary from the journey, so to be with her in private and comfort her he told the rest of the companions to go on ahead. Habib said this is the haya (humilty/shyness) Muslims should have, intimacy between husband and wife is not something to be shown in public view, other cultures have different levels of haya, this is the Muslim etiquette.

So the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) comforted ‘Aisha (ra) then asked if she wanted a race? She replied yes, and they raced. ‘Aisha (ra) narrates that she won. Sometime later, ‘Aisha (ra) says when she had put on a bit more weight, they raced again but this time Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) won. He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said this is for that time.

Habib Ali said by saying “this os for that time” the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is showing ‘Aisha (ra) that he remembers every little intimate moment they shared, no matter how long ago it was. These moments are special.

Another narration Habib told us, again narrated by ‘Asiah (ra) herself (paraphrased) -

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and ‘Aisha (ra) had a disagreement, ‘Aisha was angry with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) so the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) suggetsed they call ‘Aisha’s father, Abu Bakr (ra), to mediate between them. So they went to Abu Bakr (ra) and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) asked ‘Aisha (ra) if she wanted to go first (Habib pointed out this in an example of the courtesy of the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم), even in a disagreement he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) had the utmost adab). ‘Aisha (ra) replied “No, you go first but speak the truth!” Abu Bakr (ra) was shocked at this, how dare she speak to the Messenger of God (صلى الله عليه وسلم) like that?! He raised his hands to hit her and ‘Aisha (ra) ran behind the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) for protection. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to Abu Bakr (ra) “No Abu Bakr, we didn’t call you for this, we called you to arbitrate between us!”

‘Aisha (ra) knew despite being in an argument with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he is someone she can always turn to for mercy, he is a mercy to the whole world (صلى الله عليه وسلم).