Remember Death – Shaykh Nuh Keller

It is the way of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) to remember death frequently.

Listen to Remember Death

Source: MysticMedicine

Seven Questions – Shams al-Din Tabrizi

Shams al-Din Tabrizi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

“You must bind yourself to knowing this:

1. Who am I?
2. What substance am I?
3. Why have I come?
4. Where am I going?
5. Whence is my root?
6. At this time what am I doing?
7. Toward what have I turned my face?”

Source: Salikah

Taariikhda Imaamu-Shaafici

Rag badan oo kamid ah culumada waaweeyn ee ahlu xadiithka ayaa waxay qoreen kutub ugooni ah taariikhda imaamu shaafici waxayna kahadleen cilmigiisa, sharafta ilaahay siiyay, qiimaha uu uleeyahay umada islaamka iyo sida uu diinta islaamka usoo nooleeyay waxaa kamid ah culamadaas xaafith al-bayhaqi, ibnu-abiixaatim iyo xaafith ibnu-xajar al-casqalaani dhamaantood alaha unaxariisto ragaas kadib Qofka ku shakiya daraja imaamu shaafici wuxuu lamidyahay qof ku shakiyay maalinimo eyadoo qoraxdu dheertahay. Taariikhda imaamka waxaan kasoo guuriyay kitaabka layiraah (tawaalii al-taasiis limacaalii muxammad binu-idriis al-shaafici) waxaa qoray imaamka wayn ee layiraahdo (al-xaafith al-kabiir ibnu-xajar al-casqalaani).

Continue reading Taariikhda Imaamu-Shaafici

Hadiths That the Mujtahid Imams Lacked – Shaykh Nuh Keller

Because the many of the considerations we have detailed above (”Why Muslims Follow Madhhabs”) are no longer generally understood, some Muslims in our times say that whoever follows the four schools is following them blindly, as the Imams of them did not have all the hadiths that we have today. For example, the great hadith collections of Bukhari or Muslim were not yet compiled in the times of the Imams, who were thus unable incorporate their hadiths into their schools of thought. What should one say to such an objection?

Continue reading Hadiths That the Mujtahid Imams Lacked

Oh My Soul – Habib Ali bin Husayn al-Habshi

Habib Ali bin Husayn al-Habshi (Allah have mercy on him) said,

“Should you not gain your wants, my soul, then be not grieved;
But hasten to that banquet which your Lord’s bequeathed.

And when a thing for which you ask is slow to come,
Then know that often through delay are gifts received.

Find solace in privation and respect its due,
For only by contentment is the heart relieved.

And know that when the trials of life have rendered you
Despairing of all hope, and of all joy bereaved,

Then shake yourself and rouse yourself from heedlessness,
And make pure hope a meadow that you never leave.

Your Maker’s gifts take subtle and uncounted forms.
How fine the fabric of the world His hands have weaved.

The journey done, they came to the water of life,
And all the caravan drank deep, their thirst relieved.

Far be it from the host to leave them thirsty there,
His spring pours forth all generosity received.

My Lord, my trust in all Your purposes is strong,
That trust is now my shield; I’m safe, and undeceived.

All those who hope for grace from You will feel Your rain;
Too generous are You to leave my branch unleaved.

May blessings rest upon the loved one, Muhammad,
Who’s been my means to high degrees since I believed.

He is my fortress and my handhold, so my soul,
Hold fast, and travel to a joy still unconceived.”

Translated by Shaykh Abdal-Hakim Murad (Allah preserve him)

Source: DeenPort

Download: Original Arabic qasida (Ya Nafsu) sung by Shaykh Abdal-Hakim Murad & English translation sung by Sidi Haroon Sellers.

Suffering and Divine Wisdom – Shaykh Nuh Keller

Sheikh al-’Alawi has said, “All the universe is Light, and the only thing that darkens it is the manifestation of the self in it.” Sheikh ‘Abd al-Rahman al-Shaghouri, who met Sheikh al-’Alawi, and related this to me, used to teach that the notions that affect our hearts come from one of four quarters. Notions of tawhid or the absolute Oneness of the Divine come from the All-merciful Himself; those of doing good come from the presence of the angels; those of lusts and desires come from the ego; and those of doubts in eternal truths come from the Devil.

Read Suffering and Divine Wisdom

Source: Shadhili Teachings

Blessings – Shaykh Nuh Keller

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) never saw any blessing as a tiny blessing.

Listen to Blessings

Source: MysticMedicine

Nationalism – Dr. Ibrahim Kreps

Dr. Ibrahim Kreps (Allah bless him) said,

“Nationalism, so popular in modern times, is really a form of collective egotism. Instead of me, myself and I, it becomes we, ourselves, and us.”

[Dr. Ibrahim Kreps, Snakes and Ladders]