Q & A Session
Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani
31 October 2009 Jakarta, Indonesia
Fundraiser for Orphan Children at University Paramadina Jakarta
Qur'an recitation by Ustaz Jumhuri
As-salaam `alaykum wa rahmatullahi ta`ala wa barakatuh
Salama alayykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakutuh
Mawlana Shaykh Hisham responds to questions from the audience.
Q: I want to know about the most pressing topic in us. Since you are the chairman of ISCA, what is biggest concern of Muslims in the US and what is your opinion about it?
A: Thank you for this important question. We are looking into this subject. In reality, Muslims are not united. If the Muslims were united it would be easy to have a better understanding with the others. You know that the US is a very open, democratic and open-minded country. The pressing subject is, how to show and share the values of Islam with our our American brothers and sisters. The values the Prophet (s) brought of moral excellence, which many Muslims don't know about. They focus on the first 5 pillars; that is the shahada, prayers, fasting in Ramadan, giving donations and doing the Hajj. However, they don't give attention to the other two aspects of religion. Namely, Iman (faith) and Ihsan, moral excellence. You cannot cheat as a Muslim. In general, it is important for a Muslim to be taught these principles in Muslim schools. To learn the discipline of Islam which teaches how to behave with [for example] Americans. For instance, if you say to my daughter you are not American she will refuse. She says she is American and she laughs. With my grandchildren it is the same. We want to show that we want integration not segregation. Muslims have to step forward as the US government likes integration. We are trying to work very closely with the administration to implement Islamic teachings. To show Islam to be a moderate religion as it is a heavenly religion. This is very important within the US and outside it as well. What you are asking is to have an understanding of Islam with all its interpretations and technicalities.
Q: Why do some Naqshbandis ignore the government's ruling of the breaking of fast at the end of Ramadan?
A: This question is very easy. The question is why some of the Naqshbandis broke fast 2 days earlier than the others. That was a stupid mistake by them. We don't accept it and they are on their own. That is their responsibility. As I told them, if they want to repent to Allah (swt) they must fast 60 days for each. You must break fast with the rest of the country. Religion is not a joke. You live in a certain country, you fast with them and you break fast with them according to the government. Once the Saudi government mistakenly announced the breaking of fast after 28 days, having realized this they announced a further fast of 2 days. Our people did this without authority. They are not the judge or the authority in the country. In Saudi there was mistake in sighting the moon. Here, these Naqshbandi knew that we were fasting, our Shaykh was fasting and even if he broke fast with Cyprus, we in America must follow our country. All Muslim countries broke fast on Sunday, so we broke fast on Sunday. That is an easy answer. They are responsible for what they have done; they asked repentance in public and are fasting 120 days. I didn't make the Shariah, that is what Allah (swt) and Prophet (s) did. They must fast and if they can't they must feed a poor person. This is their punishment. Some are following it, some are not. It is up to them.
A: The first question is why were there two celebrations of Laylat al-Qadr. I am not going into the technicality of it in Shariah. The Prophet (s) said, soomoo li ruiyatih wa aftiroo li ruiyatih, fast when you see the moon and break fast when you see the moon. In some countries they might not see the moon as it is cloudy but today there is technology and they can know the first and the last days of the moon by calculations. Some Islamic scholars approve using technology to calculate the days and some say you have to see the moon. These are the differences and 90 percent of people here might not understand this discussion. Mawlana fasted with Turkey, ahead of Indonesia by one day. It was a Thursday and here, Friday, as in some Arab countries also. So if it is Thursday then Laylat al-Qadr is ahead of Indonesia by one day. It was not that it was two days, but there they follow their country and here you follow your country and this is what the Prophet (s) mentioned. You follow the country you are in, so Indonesia cannot follow Turkey and vice versa. That is an answer to the first question and that is enough for the questions the lady asked.
You see? No questions, they are very good students,thank you.
Q: I would like to know your view of Islam in Indonesia, as sometimes it is very encouraging to be democratic and how do you view Islam in the Western countries?
A: A`udhu billahi min ash-Shaytani 'r-rajeem, bismillahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem. Religion to Allah (swt) is Islam. Since Islam is the religion that Allah revealed to Sayyidina Muhammad (s) I am seeing that it is not going to be now, qad ja al-haq wa zahaq al-batil. Haqq came with Sayyidina Muhammad (s.) Muslims can be down but not Islam. Islam is perfect. Today I have perfected your religion for you and completed My favor upon you and chosen for you Islam as your religion.(5:3) We cannot say except that Islam will be known around the world. For those who want to be Muslim, alhamdulillah. For those who don't, it is up to them. We cannot say Islam will take over. Islam is a religion of the heavens. The Torah was revealed to Musa (as) and it was a religion of heaven. The Bible came with Isa (as), it was a religion of heaven and when Islam came, it is now a religion of heaven. We cannot say people must accept Islam. That is up to them. If they like it they may accept. What is important is to make Islam seen to be moderate not terrorizing. We are stubborn with our ideas. Islam is shown as a religion of suicide bombing which is not accepted by
Allah (swt) Who wants people to live happily and feel happy. That is why He sent the prophets with their religions and He sent a perfect man, Sayyidina Muhammad (s) to the Muslims. It is a message of perfection and a message of heaven. You can go anywhere around the world now and Islam is on the tongue of every human being, which is good for us.
We have to show that Islam is a religion that respects everyone. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of divisions in Islam; though they say there are four schools of thought, add on Jafari and Zaidi... in reality not just 7 schools, an Egyptian scholar found 467 schools. Which school to follow? It is confusing with everyone taking sides. They don't meet in the middle. Each one goes from one way to another. The Prophet (s) indicated that a day would come when the earth would be filled with ignorance. Today we see too much ignorance, not in science but in relations. We have become cruel like animals in a jungle. We ask Allah (swt) to keep this country very peaceful, in the east, west, north or south.
Mawlana was very touched by a beautiful poem, recited by a young, orphan girl.
I would like to comment on this. I got the translation of the young, beautiful, girl's reciting and she said:
O Holy Prophet you have been born
from the womb of a woman named Amina
You are the perfect man,
you are God's messenger
from the womb of a woman named Amina
You are the perfect man,
you are God's messenger
Every man has to commemorate your birth
on 12th rabi ul-awwal, peace and peace and peace
on 12th rabi ul-awwal, peace and peace and peace
Allah said in Qur'an, alam yajidka yateeman fa awaa
Allah is saying to Muhammad: Ya Muhammad!
I know you were orphan,
your father and mother died but I gave you shelter
I gave you a place to live,
I gave you heaven,
I gave you earth,
I gave you knowledge.
Allah gave the best orphan
the best knowledge
He gave him the night of ascension,
and He gave him,
"Read in the Name of your Lord
Who created mankind from a clot."
Allah gave Sayyidina Muhammad (s) everything.
Ya Muhammad! Your face is like sunshine on earth;
You are the example
of commendable character
You have the jewelled heart.
And she said about herself, listen to what she said to those who don't know Bahasa.
I found myself in the womb
of my mother - alone,
between screams
as I was to be born
of my mother - alone,
between screams
as I was to be born
But Divine destiny came quickly
and took my mother away
and took her to heaven
and took my mother away
and took her to heaven
Then my father struggled
against temptation and his illness was so great,
struggling for his life
But daddy and mommy passed away,
now I was born into the world as an orphan,
without a father or mother
I miss my mother's carress
and I miss her face
as she died when I was in her womb
I miss my father's care,
I pray for my father and mother
who died shaheeds
Make people to care for an orphan
as it should be,
make people to care for us and help us
Patience and trust are my clothes.
against temptation and his illness was so great,
struggling for his life
But daddy and mommy passed away,
now I was born into the world as an orphan,
without a father or mother
I miss my mother's carress
and I miss her face
as she died when I was in her womb
I miss my father's care,
I pray for my father and mother
who died shaheeds
Make people to care for an orphan
as it should be,
make people to care for us and help us
Patience and trust are my clothes.
May Allah (swt) forgive us. It struck my heart when I read this. May Allah (swt) bless and forgive us and give us from His endless mercy oceans.
The Prophet (s) said, "yanqati`u `amaal abnu adam illa min thalaath -- the deeds of Bani Adam are cut except from three elements.: It means that whatever you did in dunya, is finished when you die. You cannot do any `amal in the grave, you cannot pray or fast anymore. If you lost you lost and if you gained you gained. You cannot do any `aamal in the grave. There are only three `aamaal that can assist you, even in the grave. What are they? The Prophet (s) said, sadaqatun jaariya, a flowing donation; if you are a generous person and gave away money or even a brick or block in a masjid or school, orphanage or university. That is something that benefits all people. The benefit that you gave people will be rewarded and reach you in the grave because of the sadaqa you did (earlier) in dunya. The second is, `ilmun yuntafi`u bih, knowledge that you left behind and people benefited from it. You are a writer and wrote about Islam, or chemistry or psychology or physics. Anything of benefit you left behind, the reward of it reaches you in the grave as people benefit from knowledge. Third, waladun saalihun yadu` bihi, a child you raise well and he always reads the Qur'an or gives sadaqa on behalf of the father and mother. The well raised child, gifting rewards to his parents who receive the reward for as much as he is doing in his life.
The Prophet (s) said, "yanqati`u `amaal abnu adam illa min thalaath -- the deeds of Bani Adam are cut except from three elements.: It means that whatever you did in dunya, is finished when you die. You cannot do any `amal in the grave, you cannot pray or fast anymore. If you lost you lost and if you gained you gained. You cannot do any `aamal in the grave. There are only three `aamaal that can assist you, even in the grave. What are they? The Prophet (s) said, sadaqatun jaariya, a flowing donation; if you are a generous person and gave away money or even a brick or block in a masjid or school, orphanage or university. That is something that benefits all people. The benefit that you gave people will be rewarded and reach you in the grave because of the sadaqa you did (earlier) in dunya. The second is, `ilmun yuntafi`u bih, knowledge that you left behind and people benefited from it. You are a writer and wrote about Islam, or chemistry or psychology or physics. Anything of benefit you left behind, the reward of it reaches you in the grave as people benefit from knowledge. Third, waladun saalihun yadu` bihi, a child you raise well and he always reads the Qur'an or gives sadaqa on behalf of the father and mother. The well raised child, gifting rewards to his parents who receive the reward for as much as he is doing in his life.
What I am seeing in this university, mashaa-Allah, is a place of education, and for those who built it brick by brick Allah (swt) is sending a reward to them in their graves and for those who benefit from the knowledge being taught here and then those who are learning the love of Sayyidina Muhammad (s,) these orphans. They are learning it well and are here to remind us. The Prophet (s) didn't have a father and mother and how lucky we are who have fathers and mothers. May Allah (swt) reward Mrs. Hendor, I heard she has 28 schools. May Allah (swt) grant her happiness and us and all here and that is not easy, to run 28 schools
Mawlana addresses problems related to unauthorized publishing in Indonesia:
Last, we have problems, and all have problems. People must be very careful what you put on the name of your shaykh. You might make a mistake and it will harm you a lot and make big problems. These are unforgiven mistakes. You might be sincere, but you are still doing something that is incorrect.
(Mrs. Hendor)
So, you have to be very careful about using the pictures of the Shaykh, the name of the Shaykh or using name of an organization without permission, without knowing what you are doing. Then you jeopardize your Shaykh and your brothers and sisters in tariqah. So no one is authorized to translate books of Malwana Shaykh or myself or my brother as it might create a misunderstanding in translating these very high issues in Islam. They might make a mistake in translating. They can use their own name, then we have no responsibility. They have no right to use our name. I never saw these books and and I authorize someone to collect them and burn them all in order to be sure they are not distributed. The only book that I have authorized is the Encyclopedia of Islamic Doctrine and Approach of Armageddon, that has been translated. these 5 books we accept and they are checked to be sure they keep the original meanings. Those who did other translations are not accepted. They must learn from this issue, they should take course in Islamic studies to better understand such issues and they can write books in their own names with their own pictures. I would like to end by saying, those who made these books might have good intentions, but unfortunately they don't have deep knowledge of tasawwuf and that is why they made these mistakes.
So, you have to be very careful about using the pictures of the Shaykh, the name of the Shaykh or using name of an organization without permission, without knowing what you are doing. Then you jeopardize your Shaykh and your brothers and sisters in tariqah. So no one is authorized to translate books of Malwana Shaykh or myself or my brother as it might create a misunderstanding in translating these very high issues in Islam. They might make a mistake in translating. They can use their own name, then we have no responsibility. They have no right to use our name. I never saw these books and and I authorize someone to collect them and burn them all in order to be sure they are not distributed. The only book that I have authorized is the Encyclopedia of Islamic Doctrine and Approach of Armageddon, that has been translated. these 5 books we accept and they are checked to be sure they keep the original meanings. Those who did other translations are not accepted. They must learn from this issue, they should take course in Islamic studies to better understand such issues and they can write books in their own names with their own pictures. I would like to end by saying, those who made these books might have good intentions, but unfortunately they don't have deep knowledge of tasawwuf and that is why they made these mistakes.
(end of Q&A)
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