Is there forgiveness for a sinner?

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Eshaykh Staff

Question:

Assalaamu’alaikum, Has Maulana Shaykh Nazim thrown me out from the Tariqat because I’ve not done my award, I don’t do my prayers, I don’t fast, I’ve committed Adultery even taken drugs. I’ve renewed my bayat but I feel so empty. I tried praying, putting up his photo, but I’m lost and I’m the worst person and I have disappointed my Shaykh, Prophet Muhammad S.A.W and Allah.. Is there any salvation as Imam Mehdi is just around the corner ?

Answer:

wa `alaykum salam,

Repent to Allah swt for the door of repentance is open. Repent before it becomes too late. With every fard prayer do 5 fard prayers that you missed. Stop drinking and fast Ramadan and fast Mondays and Thursdays in winter where days are short to compensate for days missed fasting in Ramadan and Allah is Ghafooran Raheem, Forgiving and Merciful, He will forgive all of us, insha-Allah.

A dervish prayed : ‘O Lord, have mercy upon the wicked,
because thou hast already had mercy upon good men
by creating them to be good.’ ~Gulistan of Sa`di

Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani

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Homosexual acquaintances

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Imam Kamau Ayyubi

Question:

Salaam Alaykum dear Shaykh and Scholars,

First of all I want to express my gratitude. I love this initiative and I’m sure this will help many people as it has helped me. Thank you very much.

My question: Since we live in the west, homosexuality has become quite normal here. Some people ask Muslims about their opinions on homosexuality. I personally don’t have an opinion about it, since it’s possible to have friends, colleagues or family who are homosexual. They don’t necessarily have to be bad people.

Usually I see Muslims expressing their discontent with people being homosexual. In this way, people label Muslims as intolerant. I personally feel that we as Muslims have to be open to everyone (and not exclude anyone). I don’t know why Muslims show their discontent to people being homosexual. Could you please let us know how to deal with these situations since people usually ask Muslims opinions about homosexuality? Why are some people against it?

Salaam Alaykum,
Moin

Answer:

A`udhu Billahi min ash-Shaytaani ‘r-rajeem
Bismillahi ‘r-Rahmani ‘r-Raheem

wa `alaykum salam

There is a hadith of Prophet (saws) that “Fitnah is sleeping, the Curse of Allah on who wakes it.”

Allah (swt) likes for us to cover up the faults of people for He is As-Sattar. Everywhere you look there is injustice and haram being done.  Homosexuality is included in that haram.   However we as Muslims have responsibility for being ambassadors to represent the good character from Prophet’s (s) sunnah. If someone is eating pork, drinking alcohol, making fornication, these are are acts that Allah (swt) does not like.  This does not mean that we should humiliate people involved, showing them an ugly or hateful face. Rather we should hate the action and try to look to what honor, good qualities we can see in those people and let Allah be the ultimate Judge.

We cannot lie and say that homosexuality is accepted in Islam, but we must use wisdom and always encourage and invite to what is good. The Prophet (s) said:  “Give good tidings and do not drive people away”. We work and live among people of different faiths, beliefs and behaviors but companionship and friendship is something else.

Allah says:’O you who believe, be conscious of Allah and be with the Trustworthy (Sadiqin)‘  (Tawba, 9:119)

The sadiqin are those who kept their covenant from the Day of Promises by worshiping Allah and following his Prophet (saws).   When you look at them you remember Allah (swt) and His Prophet (saws).

We see in the example of shuyukh such as Shaykh Nazim and Shaykh Hisham and many others, who tolerate all types of bad behavior from people but their source of belief and character is steadfastly from the Prophet (s), not those who are living in that harmful behavior.

The prophets and awliya are like Suns that can absorb and transform bad character into light.  You see transformation in those who keep companionship and listen to their teachings, they help people to change while miraculously maintaining their dignity.  This is the way of our Beloved Prophet (s). They also encourage this method in their students and to all Muslims, to be good examples in the community by purifying their own character and leaving judgment to Allah.

One last comment.  When people inquire about what Islam says on various issues, we can try to understand their intent.  Are they trying to understand or make questions to make Islam seem intolerant?  Judaism, Christianity, and Islamic teachings do not accept homosexuality, fornication etc. Islam offers the wisdom of not prying or exposing peoples faults, yet encourages building high moral standards through Love of Allah and His Messenger.

W `Allahu `alam wa Rasuluh

Kamau Ayyubi

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Dream: Baby Boy from Wall to Ocean Swim

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Taher Siddiqui

Dream:

My sister sees me sitting with my back against a wall next to a beautiful baby. She pets him affectionately repeatedly and every time he lifts his hands to heavens and says, “Ya Rabb, ya Rabb!” Next time she looks he is gone. My other sister Hafida and I confirm that I sent him “to play in the ocean with the ‘boys’ ”

Interpretation:

That baby represents your soul, and your sister petting it means uplifting, and your soul is in connection with the Divine Presence, always asking the Lord’s pleasure. Disappearing means entering the state of fana, annihilation. Sending him to the ocean means your soul  is swimming in the oceans of heavenly knowledge, ma`rifah, and “gone to play with the boys” means your soul has developed to the level of spiritual maturity, it no longer is in need for playing but is now in the presence of rijal, men, which doesn’t refer to gender but to those “heros” who overcame their ego, rijal-Allah.

w ‘Allahu`alam,

Taher Siddiqui

reviewed and approved by Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

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the way to dress your hair

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Taher Siddiqui

Question:

Salaam alaikum wrwb,
Our beloved Maulana Sjeikh Nazim talked about combing the hair of women in the style of tha way the women of Yemen used to wear it. Can anyone tell me what way that is? I assume braided hair on each side (left and right) and than?
Thank you very much in advance to answer, may Allah bless you.

With High respect and salaam

Answer:

The one who told you this may have misunderstood. Yemeni is a Turkish term for a type hijab (hair covering).

Taher Siddiqui

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Takbirat of Eid

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Shaykh Gibril Fouad Haddad

Question:

There are two type of dhikr during Eid days:
1. Allahu Akbar (3x) La ilaha Ilallah, wa Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd
2. Allahu Akbar (2x) La ilaha Ilallah, wa Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar wa lillahil hamd
Which one is valid according to sunnah ?

Answer:

Both are valid according to Sunna, but Hanafis and Hanbalis prefer a double repetition, while Shafi`is and Malikis prefer a triple one. (For Shafi`is see Nawawi’s remarks in al-Adhkar, chapter on the dhikr prescribed by the Law in the two `Eids.) There is no specification about it in the hadith, but the triple repetition: allahu akbar allahu akbar allahu akbar was the practice of five of the major Companions, see Shawkani’s references in Nayl al-awtar. wallahu a`lam.

Hajj Gibril Haddad

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Number of Repetitions of Dhikr

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Eshaykh Staff

Question:

Why do the sufis give special significance to certain numbers of recitations of different types of adhkar?

Answer:

Allah swt said:

لَقَدْ أَحْصَاهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا

laqad ahsahum wa `addahum `adda,
He does take an account of them (all), and hath numbered them (all) exactly. (Maryam, 19:94)

It is thus established that counting with precision is one of Allah swt’s sunan. Thus we see that according to natural laws, established by Allah Almighty, In addition to the fact that the days of the week are seven, the days of the month 29 or 30, the days of the year 354, the months of the year 12. Does anyone find this objectionable?

Qatadah said about Allah’s statement,

فَلاَ تَظْلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ

“so wrong not yourselves therein” (at-Tawbah, 9:36)

“Injustice during the Sacred Months is worse and graver than injustice in other months. Verily, injustice is always wrong, but Allah makes things graver than others as He will.”

He also said, “Allah has chosen some of His creation above others. He chose Messengers from angels and from men. He also chose His Speech above all speech, the Masajid above other areas of the earth, Ramadan and the Sacred Months above all months, Friday above the other days and Laylatul-Qadr (The Night of Decree) above all nights. Therefore, sanctify what Allah has sanctified, for doing so is the practice of people of understanding and comprehension.”

All this is to show that some times and places are more preferable in the Sight of Allah than others. Additionally, many forms of worship have specified repetitions: the daily prayers are 5, there are nine days of (sunnah) fast in Dhu’l-Hijjah and 2 in Muharram, 6 in Shawwal and 29 or 30 farai’d obligatory fasts in Ramadan.

Similarly for the numbers of repetitions, as in the many ahadith of the Prophet (s) recommending specific numbers of repetitions of certain prayers, phrases of praise (tahmid), glorification (tasbih), magnification  (takbir), glorification (tamjid), affirming Divine Unity (tahlil) or remembrance (adhkar).

For example, during the Eid takbir, but the triple repetition: Allahu akbar Allahu akbar Allahu akbar was the practice of five of the major Companions. Similarly, the Prophet (s) specified 33 subhanallah, 33 alhamdulillah and 34 Allah abkar as a sunnah ratib following each of the fara’id prayers:

The Messenger of Allah (s) said:

“There are some words, the reciters of which will never be disappointed. These are: Tasbih [saying Subhan-Allah (Allah is free from imperfection)] 33 times, Tahmid [saying Alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah)] 33 times, and Takbir [saying Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)] 34 times; and these should be recited after every fard salat.” (Sahih Muslim)

and the examples of such specified repetitions of dhikr or tasbih are far too many to mention here.

See the webpage: Evidence for Dhikr Beads at sunnah.org.

w ‘Allahu `alam

Taher Siddiqui

reviewed and approved by Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

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wiping over the socks

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Shaykh Gibril Fouad Haddad

Question:

As-salaamu alaykum blessed servants of Allah!

What kind of socks can we wipe over? I was told I can wipe over cotton socks, and even if they have a small hole in them it is okay. Someone else said I can’t wipe over cotton socks, they have to be thick woollen socks! I have seen people wiping over sheer stockings too. Will be most grateful if you can clarify this issue for me.

May Allah reward you endlessly.

Answer:

See also Wiping Over Socks in Ablution.

Hajj Gibril Haddad

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Dream: Creatures

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Dr. Aziz Hussein

Dream:

Assalamualaikom!

A week ago I had a dream that I was with my cousin, and all of a sudden there were these two/three black creatures there, like cats/lions, smaller than lions. They wanted to attack me and it was really scary and frightening, their eyes were really scary I was holding myself back from them. Then there was a White creature sitting in my cousin’s lap, it looked really peaceful and she told me to come for this one and that it won’t hurt. I have a feeling it’s to do with marriage because before I came into tariqa, I saw a dream of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim dressed in White looking really young and presenting me with a huge cake, and he had a White creature in his hand, I had that dream interpretered and they said Mawlana has chosen for me a husband.

Interpretation:

wa `alaykum salam

In light of the previous interpretation of the white creature, the black creatures represent negative forces or people in your life that you may be drawn to but need to be wary of because they may “harm” you. Keep your heart and your attention open to finding the “white” one.

Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi

Ma` salams and love.

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a vision

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Dr. Aziz Hussein

Dream:

Asalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barkatuhu

It was a vision as though I was between awake and sleeping. I was whirling I wanted to put my arm in the whirling position but when I look down to see, my hands were already in the position. The next thing I know I was layed down on my bed I could hear a man singing beatifully in arabic,the singing started to get closer and closer I couldn’t understand what he was singing about but tried to remember the words he sung. He then said Asalamu Alaikum. I replyed walaikum asalam. I asked who am I going to marry and if I was going to marry him.he spoke back to me but because he spoke in arabic I couldn’t understand what he was saying but i heard him mention my name. I had a feeling that he was going to meet with the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. So I said send my salams to the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w . Then the man said his salams and I said mine and he was gone.I was still on my bed I saw a man approching me but I didn’t feel afraid. It was dark so I couldn’t see his face I could only see that he was tall with slim to medium built. He was walking towards me and I signaled with my hand that it was ok and he could sit on my bed.the next thing I hear is children playing, laughing and water splashing.

May ALLAH swt shower you with endless blessing.

Interpretation:

This was not the person you were going to marry it was one of the awliya who watches over you. Though your mind didn’t understand what he said its ok because the message was for your heart. Alhamdulilah you sent your salam to Prophet [sas] that is good tidings for you.

Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi

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purple light

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Dr. Aziz Hussein

Question:

selam aleke
I’m an English convert my sheikh is Shaykh Nazim Haqqani. I would like to know what does it mean that purple flashes of light which I see all of the time? May Allah bless you

Answer:

Purple flashes of light is the spiritual energy coming from Mawlana that he is sending to you, mash’Allah most people cannot see it so it is a good sign that your heart is open to receiving it. Insh’allah it increases in strength to being inspirations with the light or in the
vision of Mawlana himself.

Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi

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