Habib Umar ibn Hafiz
The Trodden Path: Spirituality and the Remembrance of God
From the text Fatah Al-Basir Al-Ikhwan fi Sharh Dawir Al-Islam/Opening the brothers insight by explaining the spheres of Islam
October 2008 Bradford
This work is sufficient for a traveller to Allah (the exalted)
The author was from the Ahl Al-Bayt (from the blessed Prophetic descent)
He was a master in one hundred disciplines
Sheikh Abdurraham ibn Abdullah ibn Ahmed Al-Faqih Muhammad Ba’alawi
Lived in 12th Islamic century
He studied other knowledge after he studied the knowledge of the religion
There will be a realisation with it’s study
Let us direct ourselves
Bismillah is important to mention when beginning actions
The devil is unable is change this
A pious woman became persistent in saying Bismillah in all her affairs. A foolish man gave her some silver coins to look after. She took the coins saying bismillah, stood up, sat down, took the key, opened the safe and placed the coins in the safe, then closed the safe then put the key into its place and she had said bismillah upon every movement. The man sneaked into the house, opened the safe and threw the coins into a well then he went to her and asked her to return the money. She went as she did saying bismillah upon every movement and when she opened the safe, the coins were where she left them wet with water. She gave them back to him, he reflected and wept
Receiving counsel is the way of the successful
The inward cannot be reached without the outward
The companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are the best of this nation, their station is unattainable
Some are better than others: oath of content, those at Badr and Uhud, Oath of happiness, those Muslims before the opening of Mecca.
The religion is one but the levels are various
This depends on sincerity
Entrance is the testification of faith
The people of mercy say there is no reality except Allah (mighty and majestic)
The first level is that there is no deity other than Allah
There are three hundred degrees:
100 no deity
200 no aim
300 no existence
360 No vision
Khalid ibn Al-Walid and some companions come to a place with some Christians who said if the message of Islam was true then which of you will drink from this poison. Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) drank poison of the Christians, when he said nothing but Allah (mighty and majestic) would harm him. He said, “Nothing with his name harms; in the Earth and the heavens; he is the All-hearing, All -Knowing.” When he did not die this shock their hearts and they became Muslims.
He said this in a state of realisation
There was a lady who asked a scholar to write bismillah on a glass vessel but every time he wrote this the glass would break. Then he said I wrote this in a state of realisation and if you were bring all the glass vessels of the town they would break. Get someone whose heart is headless to write it.
Session two
This sphere explains the two testification and their necessities
If the word, “There is no deity but Allah” was placed into one scale and the other the heavens and the Earth; these words would outweigh it
Do not let the world cut you off
The two testification of faith comprise all of the affairs of the religion
The tawheed/oneness of Allah is clear
If someone says the two testifications and dies will enter paradise
We learn to water the seed of faith so it can expand
During the battle of Hybar there was a Sheppard asked what would happen to him if he became Muslim? He said paradise the man entered Islam but because of he did not want his first action of faith to be cheating a Jewish mans sheep. So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon) said to throw a stone near the sheep and they will return and they went back into the fortress. He later died during the battle.
There were some spoils apportioned to a companion who took it to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and asked, “What is this?” “Your portion of the spoils.” “I did not follow you for this.” “Then why did you follow me?” “I followed to be struck by an arrow here and enter paradise.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “If you are truthful to Allah then Allah is truthful to you.” He went forth to fight again and was struck by an arrow in that place he pointed to. He was found in the ranks and was carried to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked, “Is that him?” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) supplicated for him
If the seed of faith is watered by good works
Allah gives the effect of pious deeds to the one who is angry and blames with himself not one who is happy
Abu Bakr As-Salim said, “Someone who looks at themselves with displeasure; Allah looks at him with pleasure.”
This is first ailment that causes the hearts to be blamed
Directing oneself to creation is the second disease that corrupts the heart
When a person listens to the devil then he becomes devilish
A sign of a pious heart is happy with faith, disliking disbelief, loving the pious, benefiting from admonition, remembrance.
When someone gets attached to dhikr then they ascends the ladder of Islam
Pious deeds are a gift from Allah
Someone attached to pious is like someone knocking on a door; soon they will enter
So one turning away from pious deeds is turning away from the door
Abu Bakr Al-Buwara was a known highway man in Iraq truly repented; heard a man tell his wife to wake him in the night so I can travel early so he can escape Abu Bakr. This affected him and caused people to fear; he heard the wife waking the husband and told her to leave him asleep. He went to a masjid made ghusl and found a gathering of dhikr were the men of Allah where present. He heard what he had to say and they studied various knowledges and remained with the pious people; he stayed with them for three days. Allah sent him a light and he spoke when they were discussing the
meaning of knowledge. They asked who spoke they said Abu Bakr Al-Bawara, the highway man? Who was known for wicked deeds. He said I repented to Allah and remained his door then he accepted me.
Third Session
With a broken heart see Allah’s favour upon us
This sphere we take benefit for beneficial knowledge
Knowledge and action need to be combined; a mixture
All knowledge is a blessing by Allah’s will
Anyone opposing this is contentious; the one who envies is punished and the person who is envied about is raised
Pray for that person and it will removed from your
Knowledge in the heart is beneficial knowledge
It was stated that one unit of prayer is better than a thousand of ignoramus because of his knowledge
Three types of scholar:
1. Scholar of people
2. Scholar of refinement of purification
3. Scholar of spiritual opening
Some have more than one level
It is stated that those without a sheikh; have satan as their sheikh (spiritual leader)
Satan tricked a student telling him that he would take him to paradise, he did this a few times and the student was confused and asked his sheikh who said for him to refuse to leave there because if someone goes the paradise then they do not leave. So when this occurred again he refused to leave then when fajr adhan came he realised in was in a rubbish heap. The student returned home ashamed. The Sheikh knew was it was satan but did not tell the student because he knew the students reaction.
The unclear matters in this religion were cleared up by Abu Mansur Al-Maturdi (Hanafi) and Abu Hassan Al-Ashari (Ashari) – after the initial period
The defended the correct path and refuted those incorrect
These creeds are the footing to realise Allah
Fourth Lesson
We spoke about out the outward rulings
The word Faqaha means to understand (the same word used for the Fiqh/Jurisprudence)
Faquha means someone with much understanding
Faqaha means someone who has changed
This is to know the ruling based on sound scholarship
500 verses in the Quran pertain to legal rulings and the verses of the Quran are over 6000
When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon) sent Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) to Yemen and asked how he was going to Judge he said with the Book of Allah. He asked if you do not find it, then with the sunna, and if you will not find it then I will endeavour to use my opinion. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “All praise is to Allah who taught the messenger of the Messenger.”
There are thing that have been transmitted canonically/tawatur so there was no need for anyone to to make ijtihad (try to find a ruling) on them
Allah (mighty and majestic) has
The companions would refer to leading companions of they had a question
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would gather the people of Badr to answer a question
Then there was a need for people who could make rulings so Allah (mighty and majestic) sent the Imams including the four Imams (Hanafi, Maliki, Shaf’i and Hanbali)
Then these school spread outside their areas to other lands
The founders of the schools were scrupulous and followed the prophetic example
Owais al-Qarni was good to his mother with a heart present with Allah; this is gave him a great station; he had dishelved hair, two garments but if he would make a prayer it would be accepted; it was said they he would intercede for two large tribes.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told Umar and Ali to seek his supplication
Their station was greater than his but this is manner in which we treat the poius
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) advised that they would find him in the groups that would come for major pilgrimage, from Yeman. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)
would ask the Yemenis, if they were all there. They said yes but there was an old man who stayed behind looking after the flock of camels, near arf. They went there and found him praying towards a tree with camels around him; they gave him greetings. He finished his prayer returned the greetings, they asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “The slave of Allah.”
“All of creation is a slave of Allah, what does your mother call you by?” asked Umar
“Owais.”
“Son of Amr?”
“Yes.”
“Qarani?”
“Yes.”
“From the tribe of murad?”
“You had a mother and you were kind to her.”
Surprised he said, “Yes.”
“You had leprosy which you were healed from, except a place on your left shoulder.”
“Who explained my condition to you?”
“He is Umar leader of the believers and I am Ali ibn Abu Talib.”
He got up greeted them and said, “May Allah give you the best reward on behalf of the Muhammad nation.” Then he said, “Who informed you about me?”
“Allah and his Messenger.”
“He mentioned me by name?”
“Your name, your fathers and tribes name and all of your description.”
Owais cried and cried. Then he said, “May my father and mother be a ransom for you O’ Messenger of Allah.”
Then they asked, “Show us the spot on your left shoulder.” He showed it to them. They found it as it was described and they asked. “Seek forgiveness for us.”
“How can I seek forgiveness for you, when you are the companions of the Messenger of Allah, I ask you to seek forgiveness for me.”
“The Messenger of Allah ordered us to so.”
So he cried and supplicated for them. “Where do you want to go?”
“Al-Basara.”
“Would you like me to write a letter to the governor?”
“No, I love to be unknown.”
“When you reach that place I will send you provision and support.”
“I have tended to the camels for four silver coins. I have these two clothes. I do not need any provision or support. Where will we be at the basin of the Messenger?”
“Before you and I is a difficult ascent. No one will pass it except those who are light.”
Umar cried and hit the ground with a stick, “Who will take this caliphate with everything in it? I will that i could leave it without anything for it or against it.”
They bade farewell after this
This was Owais Al-Qarni who reached a great station because he was kind to his mother out of faith
Fifth session
Much of the state of the Muslims is due to the lack of recitation of Quran and Hadith
The generality of Muslims neglect the blessing of the Quran
If our hearts were pure we would be satiated by this speech
If you mention a pure soul there is a subtle connection that opens up between you and them
The pure soul is the soul of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
How many people sent invocations to him, all the time? In the Earth and in the Heaven; As it is stated in hadith that Allah will return his soul back to his body so he can return the greeting/invocation; he is also praying; how pure is this soul?
Persist on reading the Quran, invocations and wirds (continuous ritual acts)
When you mention the pious, you are mentioned with them
It was said, “Mercy descends by the mention of the righteous.”
One of the companions used to say that they did not find the same state of heart when they with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when they were away
Who are the awilya of Allah/Men of Allah those who when mentioned, Allah is remembered
During some battles they would call those who had seen the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then they seek victory through them
Sixth Session
Like the prayer needs to be directed to the Qibla likewise the prayer of the heart needs to be directed to the chosen one (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
This is uncovering of if you follow me Allah will love you
Fear Allah and Allah will teach you
Allah mentions that we gave taught him knowledge about Khidr (Sura Al-Kaf)
This is a vast sphere
We ask Allah to gaze into hearts; and make this an opening for our hearts
Sura Takatur talks about different states of certainty, eye of certainty, knowledge of certainty and true certainty.
Entering paradise is the true certainty
Knowledge of certainty was that they heard about the gathering, eye of certainty is someone who saw us learning and the true certainty is when someone sits with us
There is a reality to every saying
The slave is given their wage upon completion and what is left to conclude the book
Seventh Session
The outwards should not conflict the inward
The shariah should be followed; these are Allahs rulings
Applying the rulings of the scared law whilst spiritual journeying
They ascribe their good deeds to Allah
When they travel this way Allah bring them out of the darkness into the light
Ask Allah for success, pardon, pleasure and to be with the righteous
He witnesses that every blessing is from Allah
Allah created us and what we do
Our ability and deeds are created, however we are responsible for the action
A person will be asked about they are responsible for
Final session and Question and Answers
There is a summary of the shariah, the reality and spiritual journeying
Pharaoh, Harrun had great armies and empires but were oppressors; then final outcome was in favour of Musa (upon him peace)
They are in a persistent punishment now and will arrive at a greater punishment
The fire is presented to them in the morning and evening
Musa, Haroon and their followers are show bliss in the morning and evening
Our master Hassan ibn Ali cried near death; our master Hussain said, “Did not Ali, your mother Fatima and your grandfather the Messenger of Allah all die?” he replied, “I swear by Allah that I am not crying for sadness of death or for leaving the world but I fear that I will die and I will not travel as they travelled.”
This is the fear of someone truthful
Q+A
We have ability to acquire deeds and we are responsible for that
When someone does something they are held in responsibility for their action
If someone sees a dream it has to be in the sacred law if it is not then the problem is with the person who saw it
Deem all obstacles as major
Directly yourself to Allah and have glad tidings
Do not seek to be protected from sin because that’s is for the Prophets (upon them peace)
If you make a mistake repent and return