Habib Umar @ Friends House, Euston, 13th April 2011

To point with full fingers is Sunnah of Rasul(saw). This is the way that Habib Umar has always pointed, never with one finger.

The greatest gift, honour, pleasure, is to know you are doing what is Sunnah. To do other than following in the example of the Beloved of God(saw), is to be outside the shade of Divine Mercy and Love. It is the perfected example, so to follow other than the perfected example can not bring any real pleasure.

Gibril (as) did not come to teach Rasul(saw) the religion, but came to teach Umar(RA) and all those in witness, their religion. From this, it seems the only way that the Shahaba knew of the Baatin, is through Rasullullah(saw). Just like in our Tawheed, we know of the Uloohiya, Nabuwiyah and the Samiyaat; this third meaning things we can not know of except through what was transmitted to us through Prophecy. So if you are cut off from Prophecy you are cut off from the knowledge of the Baatin.

So how do we make sure we are not cut off from this?

We exist only out of God’s generousity and we only experience out of this too. Nothing exists or is created, or sustained, but by God. That is infinitely generous.

Four terms to describe he same meaning found within the human
AQL
QALB
NUFS
RUH

As one is making themselves more pure, their footing in the deen is made more firm and established. The beginning of this is their realisation/feeling of God knowing or being aware of their thoughts and actions. This continues until it becomes a state of the heart; a constant awareness. Then it becomes a state of presence of God being felt. This is Ihsan, worshipping God as if you see Him, knowing if you can not see Him that He sees you. So see, how we began with the first part of making oneself aware and remembering that God sees us always; till finally you are in the state of witnessing God’s Divinity everywhere.

There is no Tazkiyah if attempted alone, cut off from transmission of light. The Shahaba did not practice alone, they only knew of the baatin and only could be purified through the company of Rasul(saw), through obedience to him and exemplifying him as best as possible. Key to this light is True Love for God and Rasul(saw). The light is contained in the heart and only passed from heart to heart.
Knowledge you can find anywhere, its easy. But this light is a rare jewel.

Habib Umar gave the example of a noble companion of Imam Malik. He said he spent 20 years with him. 2 years learning knowledge, and 18years learning adab. After he lost Imam Malik, he regretted that he did not spend all 20 years learning adab, for he did not find that light again, but could find any other knowledge any time and any where.

Haddith of where Rasul(saw) is asked out of those who pray, who is the more rewarded. Rasul(saw) replied that the one who does more Dhikr has more reward.
Then Rasul(saw) was asked the same of those who fast, of those who fight in Jihad, etc. All of them, Rasul(saw) responded those who do more Dhikr.

So you can have two people doing exactly the same outward actions, but they can be receiving different rewards, depending on who does more dhikr, they will receive more reward.

Purification is not possible if the FARDs of Shariah are not observed. Beyond these basics is communal obligation. Reason being, that everyone should focus on perfecting their character. You attain the fards, then you purify and perfect them.

Through the Sheikh one gets to know his vices so then he can work to remove those vices. The Sheikh is also who you learn to remove these vices from; usually the Sheikh is one who has completed the purification process at all stages.

Vain glory
Ostentation
Hassad (Envy)

Mother of these vices is love for that which distracts one from God.

1. to work on these main vices
2. Sincere advice of bretheren
3. Being in the company of bretheren
4. See what you are displeased in others so that you can purify yourself of these vices you see in others

A sign of weak faith, is that you hate others who show you your faults.

What appears in the heart of a person in the face of receiving abuse? This is a test to show us the reality in our hearts.

Hasan al-Basri(ra), he was given knews of a company of people speaking ill of him. He went and took gifts to them. He said to them, “I heard you have given to me your deeds, all I have are these insignificant gifts to give in return. These things are temporal and will perish, yet deeds will last forever”. He did this to teach them and to turn them away from back-biting, as a reminder.

Another time he was asked regarding back-biting. He said if he had to back-bite anyone, he would back-bite his own mother. They asked shocked, how could you back bite your own mother? He replied that only she is deserving of all his deeds.

5 Meanings in showing Khushu
1. Present of Qalb
2. Pondering upon meanings
3. Magnification/Exaltation
4. Being in Awe, fearing rejection and hoping acceptance.
5. Shyness
Prostration of the heart from where it never rises. How can it rise, if it knows that to do so will be its doom!
Those whose hearts prostrate, the sign is on their faces. Various haddith quoted where Rasul(saw) says you can see the mark of prostration upon their faces.

Person of God invites to God, not to themselves, their opinions, their knowledge, etc.
We invite on behalf or Rasul(saw).
Dawah is not useless debate and polemics. One should also not be upset from people reminding us, even when we are reminding others.

3 things that make acts truly accepted.
1. Making ones intention sincerely for seeking God’s Pleasure
2. Giving the work/act what it deserves, in himaa, time and effort.
3. Consign and trust the outcome to God, so you don’t depend upon your own efforts, works or sincerity.

Say much Tahleel, is Rasul(saw) answer to the question of how do we renew our faiths. Then Haddiths explicitly showing Rasul(saw) commanding loud dhikr of Tahleel in group gatherings.