MSH.8 MAY 2010.MAGHRIB.PREPOST.ENG

Our Passport to Akhirah Is Love of Prophet (s)
Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani
8 May 2010    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Maghrib Suhbah in Private Home

As-salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakutuh. I came here by the invitation of the host, Shahzad. May Allah (swt) honor him and his family; his father, mother, wife, brothers and sisters and children, and give them a happy life, in dunya and akhirah. We are very happy to see Ustadhz here, if he is here why should I talk? He is fluent in Urdu, Arabic, Farsi and Malay.

A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytaani 'r-rajeem. Bismillahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem.

Nawaytu 'l-arba`een, nawaytu 'l-`itikaaf, nawaytu 'l-khalwah, nawaytu 'l-`uzlah,

nawaytu 'r-riyaadah, nawaytu 's-sulook, lillahi ta`ala fee haadha 'l-masjid.

Madad yaa Nabi'ullah (s)! In every meeting, you always have to ask for support, and show humility and humbleness, that you know nothing. Don't say to your ego that you know something, as it will trick you. Say, "Yaa Rabbee, I know nothing." What are you going to know? It is an ayatu 'l-kareema,

يَنقَلِبْ إِلَيْكَ الْبَصَرُ خَاسِأً وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ

yanqalib ilayk albasaru khaasiyan wa huwa haseer,
vision will come back to thee dull and discomfited, in a state worn out. (67:4)

You look at the stars, the universe and say 'I am nothing'. Your vision goes back to you, khaasiyan. It is the lowest level of humility when you say ikhsa, it means "don't talk; what you think of yourself is nonsense, shame on you!" When we look at stars we say, "shame on me."

وَفَوْقَ كُلِّ ذِي عِلْمٍ عَلِيمٌ

Fawqa kulli dhil `ilmin aleem,
Above every knower is a higher knower. (12:76)

And fawqa kulli maqaamin muqeem, "Above every rank there is one of a higher rank." So where are we in front of Allah (swt)? We can only stand by the mercy that He dressed them with, Sayyidina Muhammad (s)! (Mawlana stands.) No one can convince us or debate on this issue the only one that can intercede from Adam (a) to the end of Ummat an-Nabi is the Seal of Messengers (s)!

So it means look at yourself in a mirror and say, Yaa Rabbee jammal khuluqee kama jamalta khalqee, "O my Lord! As you made my outside appearance beautiful, also make my inside beautiful." Because everyone to Allah (swt) is the best, the way He created them. You cannot say to yourself, "I am the ugliest." No, to Allah (swt) you are the best. To say "no" is haraam; you cannot.

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ

Wa laqad karamna Bani Adam,
We have honored the Children of Adam. (17:70)

Allah (swt) created us with perfection.

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ

Wa laqad khalaq al-insaan fee ahsani taqweem,
And We created Man in the best of forms. (95:4)
So what do you have to say?  Sayyidina Muhammad (s) is saying this. How dare you say about yourself, or else your ego will take you down easily.

What happened to Iblees? His ego took him down; in heavens he was worshiping, and in the blink of an eye his ego took him down! And in the blink of an eye, Adam (a) was sent to Earth, but the difference is Adam (a) repented and asked for forgiveness, and Iblees refused to repent. What did he say?

خَلَقْتَنِي مِن نَّارٍ وَخَلَقْتَهُ مِن طِينٍ

Khalaqtanee min naar wa khalaqtahu min teen.
You created me from fire, naar, and you created him from earth. (7:12)

What is tata`ajaj an-naar? When the boiling in Hellfire spreads and you see its flames; like when there are fleas in your clothes, you bury them or burn them, because you don't want that disgusting poison to go all over you. So you burn it to get rid of it, as it is spreading. That fire increases with the sins of human beings, as if pouring oil over ashes, they ignite and burst into huge flames.

The biggest sinner, as mentioned in Holy Qur'an, is Iblees. Anyone assuming his character is like a very powerful fire. Allah (swt) described Abu Lahab, the corrupt uncle of Prophet (s):

تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ

Tabat yada abi lahabin wa tab,
The hands of Abu Lahab will perish (in Hellfire)! (111:1)

Abu Lahab is in the lowest level of Hellfire. So what must we do to save ourselves from that bad character? We make du`a, yaa rabbee jammal khuluqee kama jamalta khalqee, "As You perfected my appearance, Yaa Rabbee, also perfect my behavior and character." And who has the best character? Sayyidina Muhammad (s)! (Mawlana stands.) We are standing for his love. Wa innak la`ala khuluqin `adheem, "He is created with the highest character." His moral excellence and character are described by Allah (swt) in Holy Qur'an.

 

You need to look in the mirror every day, and be happy that Allah (swt) perfected your appearance, but don't be happy with your behavior. So look in the mirror and say, "O Allah! Forgive me, ad You made me perfect and I am a sinner!" Do you think Allah (swt) will not forgive you? He will forgive! You need to get your passport to cross on the bridge between Paradise and Hellfire, Siraatu 'l-Mustaqeem. On that bridge, any wrong movement will cause you to fall into Hellfire. If you pass over it, you reach Paradise. Can you travel without a passport? Today you travel with a passport, and they also take your fingerprint, put a badge on your shoulder with your name and picture, and give you a number to identify yourself!

Do we have badges for Akhirah? We don't yet have it. Yes, the `ashara mubashireen bil-jannah have it, but we don't. We have to cut one, tailor it, and put it on our neck and go. So do what you want to tailor and what you want to put? Everything related to heavens begins with "alif " (first letter of the Arabic alphabet). First Allah (swt) is the Creator. His Name, his Beautful Name, ism al-jalala, begins with alif; the religion, Islam, begins with alif; the faith, imaan, begins with alif; moral excellence, ihsaan, begins with alif. Allah (swt) revealed His message to Sayyidina Muhammad (s) and gave him a heavenly name, Ahmad, which begins with alif.

Prophet's name in dunya is "Muhammad." So anything related to Heaven must begin with alif, and anything related to Islamic `aqeedah in dunya must begin with the Arabic letter "meem," the first letter of the name of Prophet (s)! That is why those who follow Islam are "Muslim," (with meem); one who has imaan is a "mu'min;" .those at the Station of Ihsaan are "muhsin." Also, you cannot be muhibb (a lover) without the power of Prophet (s), as he said,  Al-maru ma` man ahhab, "A person will be resurrected with the one he loves." So if you love Sayyidina Muhammad (s), you will be resurrected with him; then our safety is with the Prophet (s).
Yuhshar al-maru ma` man ahhab. No one can say this hadith is wrong! You will be resurrected with the ones you love! If you love Prophet (s), you will be resurrected with Prophet (s); if you love mumin, you will be with them; if you love ulama, you will be with them; if you love pious people, you will be with them; if you love awliyaullah, you will be with them.

 

But that has to be with its secret code. What is that code? You cannot identify yourself where there is hubb, love, but you have to be muhibb, a lover. You have to add to your name the meem to identify with hubb, and meem goes back to Prophet Muhammad (s). So without Muhammad (s) there is no hayyat (life) and no baqaa (permanence, with Allah). So Allah (swt) gave Prophet (s) that oath, and he gives you that passport you want; it is so simple! We are not saying something beyond what people can understand.  Allah (swt) mentioned in Holy Qur'an:

قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Qul 'in kuntum tuhibboona Allaha fa `attabi`oonee yuhbibkumu Allahu wa yaghfir lakum dhunoobakum wa Allahu Ghafoorun Raheemun.

Say (to them O Muhammad), "If you (really) love Allah then follow me! Allah will love you and forgive your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (3:31)

So, `alayna bil-ittiba, "we must follow." Be a follower, a sheep. Don't be a shepherd, you will take your sheep to hyenas and they will be eaten. The shepherd is one, Sayyidina Muhammad (s), to whom Allah (swt) gave that power and made him a perfect human being, a perfect hubb al-insaanul kaamil. He didn't say insaanun kaamilun. There is a great difference between the two, that ala ta`reef ma`anahu annahu faqad kaamil, wal akhireen laysa bi kummal yahtaaj. "All others are not perfect they must work it out."

That's why all prophets will come to Prophet (s) on the Day of Judgment and seek his intercession, as he (s) said, "I am Master of the Children of Adam (s) and I have no pride." He said, wa la fakhr. How you are making fakhr to someone? You cannot. You cannot exalt someone, that is only for Allah (swt) to say. "Glory be to Him who took his servant on 'Isra and Mi`raj", subhanalladhee asra bee `abdihi. He (s) has siffat al-`uboodiyyah, "The character of ultimate servanthood." Allah (swt) didn't give siffat khalifah. He said:

إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً

innee ja`ilun fil `ardi khalifah.
"I will create a vicegerent on earth."  (2:30)

When He raised him up, He also dressed Sayyidina Muhammad (s) with a heavenly dress and sent him back. Why He sent him back? Sayyidina Idrees (a) was raised but not sent back. He raised Sayyidina Isa (a) to the First Heaven. And to where did He raise Prophet (s)? Not to Heaven, but above it, to qaaba qawsayni aw adna.

From the qasidah, Hubb an-Nabi, hubb an-nabi wa `aalihi wa madhhabee, "The love of Prophet (s) and his family is my religion and my way." You are not one to check them. Your responsibility is to have adab to the family of Prophet (s), to defend the family of Prophet until the Day of Judgment!! Any family member of Prophet (s), from Sayyidina Hasan (r) and Sayyidina Husayn (r) has to be honored and you cannot lie on what we know from people's background!! No one can say "I am sayyid," just like that because it is a lie when claimed with no evidence!

So, hubb an-nabi, love of Prophet (s) is most important.

قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى

qul laa asaalukum `alayhi ajra illa al-mawadata fil qurba,
Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin." (42:23)

Prophet (s) said, 'I ask nothing from the ummah but love of my family.'" And Sahih Bukhari narrates,  "I left among you the book of Allah (swt) and my way (sunnah)." And in another hadith, "I left to you the book of Allah (swt) and my family; follow them."

We know who are the right family and who are not and we don't need to discuss this issue. Therefore, our duty is mahabbah, love. If you have mahabbah to Allah (swt), "Follow My Seal of Messengers (s)! Then you really love Allah (swt). If not, don't claim your love to Me." The sunnah of Prophet (s) is not only to have a walking stick and turban and beard; it is ittiba` ma jaah bih an-nabi, "to follow all that he brought." You have to be `alim; if not, at least study. You have to know your religion, to follow what he brought.

You go to a doctor for a checkup. Why? He can study your case and tell you what is wrong or right. So audit yourself (your deeds); don't wait for them to audit you. There are many auditors on the Day of Judgment! They are the best auditors! They are Allah's (swt) angels. Every small and every big thing is in Holy Qur'an, fee kitabun mubeen. It has its own book. There will be angels on the Judgment Day that check everyone. That is why we have to say, "O Allah, forgive us as we are sinners." You cannot ask anything anymore!! Everyone must say, "I am sinner!"

Prophet (s) prayed day and night until his feet were swollen, and Sayyida Ayesha (r) said to him, "Allah forgave you all your sins before and after, so why prays so much?" and the Prophet (s) is without sin, ma`sum. What did he answer there?
`Ala akoonu abdan shakooran, "Will I not be a thankful servant? I have to thank Allah (swt) that he made me ma'sum, so I pray."

(Mawlana stands.) Yaa shafee` il-mudhnibeen ishfa` lana `inda rabbil-`alameen...waghfir lana dhunoobana, yaa Rabbana, yaa Allah! (Mawlana sits.)

You have to say to yourself, "O Allah, forgive me! O Allah, support me and protect me from devils, sinners, Iblees and his army!" Prophet (s) is ma`soom and he said, "I have to pray more." What about us? We have to pray without raising our head from beginning of dunya to the end! Our right, haqq is to keep our head in sajdah, not eating or drinking. There are angels always in sajdah, not raising their heads for even one moment, asking istighfar to Allah (swt). All of this is given to whom? Allah (swt) gives the reward to the believers! So the muhibb is the one who bihubihi lin-nabi yadkhul fee hayaatun dunyawiy feehi rooh wa roohaaniyya wa fi 'l-aakhirati baaqiyoon fi 'l-jinaan. With the secret, if someone has the love, it has to be first to Sayyidina Muhammad (s). That will take him to a heavenly life in Paradise forever. Everything is based on hubb. Two words that are very simple but very difficult to do, hubb wa baqa. Everyone of us likes to have hayyaat and to be happy in dunya and to be ever-living in akhirah, in paradises. So to be happy in dunya is not by dunya wealth. That is why awliya are happy by praying and praising the Prophet (s). O Believers! keep praising the Prophet (s): it is our passport to Paradise.

 

Last year in October, I was in a house here, and I took the names from everyone. Don't be proud because we are wearing turbans! Allah (swt) can give `ilm to everyone. It might be Allah (swt) will make someone to become His wali, unknown to everyone, but when he is making du`a, Allah (swt) will accept it. Then I was sitting in that house and Ahmad Nazim was collecting  names and from those names was chosen, "Abdur Rahman," that  whom I was shaking my hand outside. That is the sign of Allah's Greatness of Allah (swt). Then I called Abdur Rahman to stand and give a suhbah, and he gave a beautiful suhbah.

Mawlana gives the microphone to Abdur Rahman to speak.)

 

Abdur Rahman: As-salaamu `alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh! May Allah (swt) give us rahmah. I am thankful to see our shaykh and to meet each other. My daughter has passed away; please read Fatihah for her, her name was "Husna." May Allah have mercy on her spirit. I make some small business. I had seven children, now I have only six. We have to accept Allah's Will. We have to understand the haqiqat of this life (or loneliness). We are born alone, we are lonely and will go back alone. With intelligence we will see again in Akhirah. With emotion, we have to keep our feeling, ikhlaas (sincerity) to Allah. With ikhlaas we will be safe. As-salaamu `alaykum. Fatihah. (End of speech).

Look, he has no hands, he has seven children, but he is happy. People have cars, houses, they have millions and hundreds of millions in banks, and they waste their time on golf , cricket, tennis, volleyball, soccer, or football. They waste their money on cars, hundreds of different racing cars. For what? Are you taking it with you to Akhirah? Give to these poor people a little bit, give from what Allah (swt) gave you a little more. I am passing to collect from each to give to Abdur Rahman, whose daughter died. Did anyone from Naqshbandis attend your daugher's funeral, saying, "I am here on behalf of the Naqshbandis, coming to give our condolences?" May Allah (swt) give your daughter Paradise! She is innocent, and may Allah (swt) give us and you Paradise, and make us to be with the Prophet (s)! (Mawlana stands.) alfu salaat was-salaam `alayk yaa sayyid al-awaleen, alfu salaat wa 's-salaam `alayk yaa maahi, alfu salaat wa 's-salaam `alayk yaa taahir, alfu salaat wa 's-salaam `alayk yaa qaasim, subhaana rabbika rabbi 'l-`izzat `amaa yasifoon wa salaamun `ala al-mursaleen w 'alhamdulillah rabbi 'l-`alameen.  (Mawlana sits.)

 

May Allah (swt) support us and protect us and forgive us from every sin we did in the past, and protect us in the coming years, months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds from falling into sins.

 

Bi hurmati 'l-habeeb, bi hurmati 'l-Fatihah.