The alphabet hasn't enough letters to describe the Prophet's Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam perfection

The alphabet hasn't enough letters to describe the Prophet's Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam perfection

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani | Tuesday, Feb 19, 2002 | Upper Saddle River, NJ US | SufiLive.com

Audhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajeem

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-raheem



Nawaytul arba`în, nawaytul ‘itikâf, nawatul khalwat, nawaytur-riyâda, nawaytus-sulûk, nawaytul `uzla, fî hâdha al-masjid



“Ati`ullaha wa ati`ur-rasul wa uwlil-amri minkum wa in tanaza`atum fee shayin faradduhu ill-Allahi wa rasulihi.” – “Obey Allah; obey the Prophet (s) and those in authority among you.” [4:59]



مَّنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللّهَ

Man yuti` ar-rasul faqad at`a-ullah. – “He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah” [4:80]



I was thinking about what to speak tonight. I would like to say alhamdulillah we are seeing more masajid being opened. People can do a little, because we are weak servants of Allah swt. We are helpless. Whether we become rich or we become leaders, still we are helpless.

One incident happened in the past that showed us how weak we are. Phiraun was the enemy of Sayyidina Musa Alayhissalam. He was the richest and he was the leader of his time; he was the one that said, “ana rabbukum ul-`ala.” – “I am your most high lord.” What did Allah do with him? He finished him in the ocean. He finished him and saved his body. Why did he save his body? Whey didn’t he save the bodies of the others?

Because he said a word that Allah liked. He said,

…حَتَّى إِذَا أَدْرَكَهُ الْغَرَقُ قَالَ آمَنتُ أَنَّهُ لا إِلِـهَ إِلاَّ الَّذِي آمَنَتْ بِهِ بَنُو إِسْرَائِيلَ وَأَنَاْ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ آلآنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِينَ

فَالْيَوْمَ نُنَجِّيكَ بِبَدَنِكَ لِتَكُونَ لِمَنْ خَلْفَكَ آيَةً وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ عَنْ آيَاتِنَا لَغَافِلُونَ “

hatta idhaa adrakahu al-gharaqu qaala amantu annahu la ilaha illa alladhee aamanat bihi banoo israeela wa ana mina al-muslimeen. Alaana wa qad `asayta qablu wa kunta mina al-mufsideen. Fa’l-yawma nunajjeeka bi-badanika litakoona liman khalfaka ayatan wa inna katheeran mina an-naasi `an ayaatina la-ghaafiloon

until [they were overwhelmed by the waters of the sea. And] when he was about to drown, [Pharaoh] exclaimed: “I have come to believe that there is no deity save Him in whom the children of Israel believe, and I am of those who surrender themselves unto Him!" But God said:] "Now? when ever before this thou hast been rebelling [against Us], and hast been among those who spread corruption? "This day shall We save thee in the body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! but verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!" Yunus, 10:90-92

Because of that Allah saved his body. Why? To be an example to others who came later to show them: “I saved him to be an example to those who came after him. Do not begin to believe in Me only when you are drowning. I am saving your body to remind those who come later.”

Nimrod came against Sayyidina Ibrahim Alayhissalam. What did Allah do with him? He sent against him one small mosquito that ate his brain, ate his skull. What happened? He was gone. That was because he said “I am going to kill that one you are worshipping.” For that Allah destroyed him.

So wherever you are reaching of greatness, if you are not a believer, you are going to reach this end. If you are a believer and you reach a high level, still you cannot reach more than Sayyidina Sulayman. No one can reach more than Sayyidina Sulayman - richer than him. Allah made the whole world, jinn, animals and mankind listen to him. What happened to him. No one knew he was dead until a small animal ate his stick, and he fell when it broke and they became aware of his passing. Before that the jinn were all working for him under the belief that he was watching them.

Greatness therefore is for Allah swt. If you think you are great in Islam that is accepted. Allah said, “al-izzatu lillahi wa li-rasulihi wa lil-mumineen.” – “Respect, honor is for Allah, the Prophet and the believers.”

Not only did jinn listen to Sayyidina Muhammad (s), but Allah made even the angels listen to him. For this the tongue has no words to describe the perfection of the Prophet (s). The alphabet has no letters to describe the perfection of the Prophet (s). Whatever you describe, he is more. “Wa innaka la`ala khuluqin `adheem. Fa-satubsiru was sayubsirun.”

Allah is giving an oath by ‘Nun’ in the alphabet. That is the third from last letter in the alphabet. What comes before it – ‘mim’? What comes after it – ‘waw’? Why did ‘mim’ come after ‘lam’ [In alif, lam, mim]? Professor Abdul Ghani? [I don’t know].

Allah is giving an oath with the letter ‘Nun’. ‘Nun. Wal-qalami wa maa yasturoon.” Allah is saying “‘Nun’ and by whatever the Pen can write. You O Muhammad are not as they say, without mind. You are a real Prophet of a very high character.”

‘Nun’ is what? Allah said, “Nun!” He is giving an oath with that letter. It comes after what? ‘Mim’, yes, but in the dunya understanding ‘nun’ refers to dunya and ‘kaf’ refers to heavens. When Allah wants something to happen He only says to it “Be! – Kun!” and it is. Therefore “amruhu bayn al-kaf wan-nun.” – “His Order is between ‘kaf’ and ‘nun’” That is why He said, “Nun!”. When He says, “Kun” it will be. It does not need to continue, for when He says ‘be’ it will be. So ‘nun’ relates to us and ‘kaf’ relates to heaven.

So when He says, that order is going to come, ‘Nun’ happened. That means, “I swear by the greatness of My Creation, and what the Pen writes of what is to come of My Creation, un-endingly, with the endlessness of that creation, you Ya Muhammad, are of a higher character. The Pen cannot write a description of your character, you are on a higher level!

Allah is One. Allah laa shareek lah. And ‘alif’ is the ibtida’ - commencement of creation. So when Allah Name wants to appear, as we described many times: Allah consists of three letters. ‘Alif’ is ibtida, ‘ha’ is intiha – the ending--and ‘lam’ is in the middle. That means Allah has no beginning and no end, while His creation has a beginning and an end. So what follows ‘lam’ is ‘mim’ – representing Muhammad (s). That is why ‘mim’ came after ‘lam’ in the alphabet. ‘Lam’ is one letter of Allah’s Greatest Name, the All-encompassing Name. ‘Mim’ represents the Prophet (s). ‘Nun’ represents the creation. Then ‘hah’, ‘waw’, ‘yeh’. ‘Hah’, ‘waw’ is ‘Hu’! That cannot be described, except through, “I was a hidden treasure and I wanted to be known, so I created creation.”

“Qul Hua.” There is no way to describe that. ‘Ya’ describes the end.

So when the Shaykh recited from al-`Asr just now in Salat al-Maghrib, I have now built up a foundation to describe that.

What is al-`Asr. It is the `Asr prayer. Allah is giving an oath with something that is great, something that is beyond description. How much has Allah shown us the importance of Salat al-`Asr. Many people are losing their Salat al-`Asr today because they are busy with their dunya. And Allah is swearing an oath by al-`Asr. We are running after dunya and losing akhira. One day you are dying.

If you are not dying and you are someone who doesn’t pray, no harm comes to you. But if you are dying and you take nothing with you, then you are a loser. No one of us is taking one thing from what we are dressing. You cannot take even your clothes. Even your ring, which is Sunnah, they are taking. Even the gold on your teeth they are taking. And even if they leave it, the gravedigger, after everyone goes, will dig up the grave again and removes from you your teeth!

So you are left with nothing. No bargaining there. Now look at the UN, when they pass a resolution there is no bargaining. Now with Allah swt you can bargain? Can you? No one can bargain. “Ilayhi yarji`u al-`amal as-salih.” – “To Him returns the good deeds.” That is the only thing your good `amal – your deeds. But if you have no good `amal then what will you bargain with? You say, I am” getting up at 6 am working like a donkey, coming in the evening and tired, too tired to pray.”

Allah is saying, “I didn’t create you for that! Wa ma khalaqtul jinna wal ins illa li-ya`budun.” –“ I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me” [51:56]

So Allah is swearing by al-`Asr. Now `asr in Arabic is not just Salat al-`Asr. It is also the century. Correct professor? Or a timeframe.[1]

Ulama at-tafsir, not those of today, who are like children in diapers compared to the ulama of tafsir of the past. Today they changed the whole methodology of tafsir. They became social reformers, who are of a revolutionary, socialist mentality, and they want to make Islam socialism. Like Maudoodi, Jamaluddin Afghani, Abduh, and Sayyid Qutb. They came and thought they are revolutionizing Islam and reforming Islam. Islam does not need to be reformed.

I was at a meeting in Washington three weeks ago. This gentleman, Nurjan, and Dr. Iqbal were there. The head of the Fiqh Council of America, was present there on the panel. One time they asked me about the reformation of Islam. I said, “There is no reformation of Islam. Islam is Islam. Not one word more and not one word less.” Unfortunately the people of today have gone crazy in their minds. They asked me a question, “Is it necessary for the Muslims of the Arab and Middle East and the Muslim world to be like American Muslims?”

I said, “No! There is no American Islam.” The person who asked that question is a good friend to me. But I had to tell him the truth. There is no American Islam. Islam can accommodate the American way of life. But we cannot say “American Islam”. We can stretch Islam to accommodate everyone and all ways of life but we cannot change it.

So we were sitting, myself and the head of the Fiqh Council and we were discussing Islam. Some officials were sitting trying to understand the cause of the violence in Islam that we see today.

He said, “We want for our Muslims overseas to adopt ‘American Islam’. Because we are in America and we have adopted an American Islam.”

If that is what our scholars say, that is surprising. It struck me that we are losing our identity. The Prophet (s) has showed us the way. After the full moon, and tonight is the full moon of Shaban. After the full moon there is no higher level. Nothing can be added to it. “Al-yawma akmaltu lakum deenakum wa atmamtu alaykum ni`matee wa radaytu lakum al-Islamu deena.” – “Today I have perfected for you your religion and completed My Favour on you and I have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”

Finished there is no more. When Allah is giving an oath in Surat al-`Asr, on al-`Asr, He is giving an oath to emphasize the importance of that century or timeframe.

It is not like the scholars of today who are like children with pampers. Then those who want an “American Islam”, would do better to hide themselves in their homes, not to represent the Muslims.

When Allah gave an oath, He gave an oath by the time frame. The time frame referred to is the life of the Ummat an-Nabi (s). That is either the time of the life of the Prophet (s), which is 63 years, the best years of this dunya, or the other meaning of al-`Asr is the life of the Ummah of the Prophet. Since Allah regarded the Ummah highly, He gave an oath by that time frame. With that He said, “Inna al-insaana lafee khusr.” – “Indeed man is in a state of loss.” He immediately followed it by “illa-alladheena aamanu was `amilus saalihaat” – “except those who believe and do good works.” He mentioned those who believe. And He did not stop at that. He added to that “wa `amilus saalihaat”. Who is doing good? We are believers, do you think your `amal is good? Judge yourself. He did not stop at “alladheena aamanu” – “those who believed”. Not only must they be doing good, but they have to “watawasu bil-haqq” – “urge one another to Truth” You might do good but you might not be on Haqq. You have to be haqqaniyun. You have to be Haqqani, on haqq. Not lying and cheating. And finally, you must “Wa tawaasu bis-sabr.” – “urge one another to patience.”

And they advise each other on patience. When you are on haqq what happens? People are going to curse you. People come against you. Shaytan sends his whole army to come after Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama`at. He doesn’t want them to stand up. Allah wants Ahl al-Haqq to stand up. So what do they have to do? To be patient. If you lose patience, you go to Ahl al-Baatil. Understood?

So what is important – to be on haqq, to refuse baatil, and to stand for haqq by being patient. In that is what Allah will judge us. That is what you can take with you to akhira. There is nothing for you to take with you. You are going to be stuck if you cannot take surat al-`Asr with you.

You think that when you reading the whole Qur’an, every letter, how many letters in the Qur’an? Do you think there is no light coming out when you read? That light is a dress in akhira, as much as you read, you will be dressed with it. Ornaments. Medallions. So in akhira, when you are dressed with these, the people will look at you and say, “This one did not forget the Qur’an.” Allah swt’s word. There is no description of the Qur’an. That is why Allah said, “laa yamasahu illal-mutaahiroon” – “none touch except those who are pure.” You must be clean when you dress that light. You cannot put clean clothes on a dirty body. What you have to do if you are dirty. You have to take a shower. You cannot dress clean clothes on a dirty body.

So with Qur’an, no one can dress its light, except a clean one. It has two meanings. One is that you cannot touch the Qur’an except with wudu. But the real meaning is when you have been accepted as a pure person, when your heart has been cleaned of dirtiness when you are uplifting yourself to the maqam al-ihsan – the Station of Perfect Character. Until then you are not yet clean. You still have to make progress.

Allah said, “None may touch it except those who are clean.” Who can describe and certify you are clean? How does it work? Let us go into the spiritual dimension. When you are a seeker on the road, and you have a guide guiding on the way of Sayyidina Muhammad, through many seclusions, then you will be able to reach the level of great purity. I will give an example. I wanted to give the example of Shaykh Nazim but never mind.

I will relate this from the time of Sayyidina Jamaluddin al-Ghumuqi al-Husayni, one of the Naqshbandi shaykhs. He usually prayed in the mosque. He had a follower that is a very pious person. One day after Isha prayer that mureed thought he was alone. In fact the shaykh was still there, preparing to lock the mosque. He heard that mureed, who was behind the pillar. He was saying to himself, “The Shaykh asked you to look after this and you failed. He asked you to study this and you failed. He asked you to be good you’re your friends and you failed. He asked you to treat your wife in a good way and you failed. You don’t deserve anything. You are cursed yourself.”

Not only that, he said, “O Allah bear witness on me that I am the worst of the worst and if I am not saying the truth, my wife is not halal for me.” At that moment, Sayyidina Jamaluddin al-Ghumuqi was laughing and smiling. The mureed was surprised, “O my Shaykh, you are here?”

Shaykh Jamaluddin said, “Come and sit down.” He sat down and as he sat he began to hear voices. The mosque was full of unseen people. He kept hearing voices. Then as the Shaykh was sitting on his knees and the mureed was facing him and he raised his shahada finger and moved that finger towards the heart of the mureed. That mureed was rising up to the ceiling and falling down, rising up and falling down, as he did this the shaykh opened to him the six powers of the heart.

Our mashaykh say that all people have six powers in their heart but they have to be opened. Haqiqat al-jazba, haqiqat at-tawajjuh, haqiqat al-fa’id, haqiqat at-tawassul, haqiqat at-ta’I, haqiqat al-irshad.

He was opening that to him. for example haqiqat at-tawajjuh. If someone is in China, and the mureed is here, he will be able to reach that mureed.

Haqiqat at-tawassul, when he makes a du`a that du`a is accepted.

Why did he open these secrets to his heart? Because he received an order from the Prophet (s), “He is clean. You can open his secrets to him and the jewels will not be thrown at the feet.”

Until we get that certificate, we will not be in a good situation. We will be in a bad situation. Not so bad we go to hell, because there is always the shafa` of the Prophet (s) for the sinners. When Allah gives the shafa` of the Prophet, that is for those who did not reach purity in this dunya.

That is what we are seeking.

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Regarding mahr:

Mahr must be mu`ajjal and mu`akhir. Mu’akhir is paid later. It may be any amount but it must be in the marriage contract. That is paid to wife if the husband dies before having paid it, before the distribution of the will.





[1] Imam Ahmad reported via Abu Nudrah that Abu Sa'id said: "One day the Prophet (s) led us in praying the afternoon prayer (Salat al-'Asr). Then he stood and addressed us until sunset. He mentioned everything that was to happen until the Day of Resurrection, and left nothing unsaid. Some of us remembered it, and some of us forgot it. One of the things he said was: 'O people, this world is full of attractive temptations. Allah has appointed you as vicegerents (Khalifah) in this world, and He will see how you will act. So guard yourselves against the temptations of this world and of women.' Towards the end of this speech, he said, 'The sun is about to set, and what remains of this world, compared to what has passed, is like what remains of this day compared to what has passed.' [Part of this Hadith is reported in Sahih Muslim, through Abu Nudrah on the authority of Abu Sa'id.]