Blogging! As some of you know, I am a musician of sorts, coming from a long line of musicians in my family. So I’ve started to make records again and will eventually write, arrange, produce and record a number of songs and some specifically for the readers of this blog.

I’ve been blogging for some time now and its taken shape over a long period of time. There have been a number of life experiences that I’ve shared blogging but there was always a veil of mystery that I intentionally plugged into my blog posts. And after meeting so many people just being around my Shaykh I’ve learned that its better to be open. Its better – within the limits of course – to be a real person. A person that people can relate to; something to connect with.

Most of my relatives are not Muslims, but because of our Shaykh they are loving things they learn about the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him). That love is coming when they see something that touches their hearts.

For example, when my children kiss their Grandparent’s hands, they get an understanding that this is the Right Way. And they know where its coming from and who is teaching it. I don’t have to say much about that at all.

Another example is the donning of leather socks. It may sound funny to Muslims but I have had dozens of requests for leather socks from non-Muslim family and friends. OK, perhaps they do not use it for ease on performing ablution during traveling but they are liking what they see; they are loving what they see and what they are seeing are traditions coming from our Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him). And I’m sure their is something good for those who love the ways of the Most Beloved One in Divine Presence.

Marc Manley wrote an interesting blog post a few weeks back, where he asked the question,

“[N]ow that Islam has arrived on America’s shores, what will its spiritual tradition look like?”

For me, there is a very easy answer: The Osmanli Naks-i’bendi Sufi Association. There is not much more to it. Really, for me its that simple. The reasons why are spelled out plainly on the front page of the main website saying,

“We are followers of the most distinguished Naks-I’bendi Hakkani Tarikat (sufi order), which traces its traditions directly back to the life-style and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Sufism (‘Tasawwuf’, in Arabic) is one of the Islamic sciences. Under the guidance of a Sheykh of the Tarikat, sufism is the way of purifying oneself from bad manners and characteristics in preparation for passing clean to the afterlife. Sufism is the spirituality in Islam. The chain of transmission (of the teachings) is documented through the 40 GrandSheykhs of the Tarikat back to Abu Bakr Siddik, the first companion to whom the Prophet passed the sufi knowledge of the heart.”

The spiritual tradition of the Osmanli Naks-i’bendi-Hakkani Tarikat is directly connected to the spiritual tradition of the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him), his Companions (may Allah’s Mercy be with them) and those that succeeded them (may Allah keep their Secret).

Therefore, our lifestyle – though living in America – should look like that of our shaykh, who is following his shaykh and so on reaching all the way to the Best of Mankind, the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him). There is not much more to it. It really is that simple.  And if you didn’t know, now you do. But a better question is: Now that you know, what are you willing to do about it?

Selam alaykum. This blog has been around for a good number of years and I’ve received a good deal of comments over the years. Some good and some bad, the bad comments are partly the reason that I developed the comment policy. But over the past few months I have taken some time off of this blog and in that time I have received an unpresidented number of comments. There have been many “selams” and “thank you’s”, there have also been a fair share of “f*&$ you’s” as well So I would like to make this post a general response to all of the “selams” and “thank you’s” offering back selams to everyone, even those who aren’t so polite. Thank you for your comments, there are just too many to respond to all of them over the next few days but I will revisit the blog a bit more frequently than the past few months to return comments and perhaps post something you may find interesting, inshaAllah. So lets see how it goes.

-Saifuddin

BismillaharRahmanirRahim

Selam Alaykum! How is everyone? I have received a few letters and some casual comments from friends wondering about the activity on this blog or about me in general. So I just wanted to reach out to the readers of this blog and let you know that everything is alright, I’m fine, just working on a few projects right now that have my hands a bit tied. As a result of a lapse is available time I chose to slow the frequency of posts periodically while I clear my desk so to speak.

I felt this was better than posting poor quality blog posts. Those of you who have been following this blog throughout the years you know that from time to time I take a moment and have come back with loads of new and fresh topics to read and discuss, inshaAllah this will be no different.

Well thats about all I have for now, but before I go make sure you all bookmark, digg, del.cio.us or facebook the latest sohbets from Shaykh Abdul Kerim Hazretleri. He is back from his journeys to Cyprus and other countries in Europe, the Middle East and Mediterranean and you may find his latests sohbets in HDTV on Viddler.com courtesy of Yursil at the Mind, Body, Soul blog. InshaAllah, I will be back to post regularly soon.

Allah hafiz

-Saifuddin

In past posts I have discussed the importance of heritage, culture and history as they relate to various peoples all over the world. But the severity of this issue may not be understood by all. In fact some of us may just think, heritage, culture and a person’s historical lineage are interesting but benign facts that have little meaning in today’s world. I know this is the feeling of many African Americans as a result of the disconnection felt from a complex history that surrounds their arrival into America. I have a number of family members that feel this way, but nevertheless it is for this reason, the complexity of their history, that heritage, culture and history become even more important.

Imam al-Habib ‘Abdullah al-Haddad, a saint from a long line of saints and descendant of the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) said in his treatise called Union of Kinship,

“For Allah Almighty said in the order of connecting bonds with them: “Give the kinsman his due” [17:26]. And in an elucidation of honour for the nation He chose and was delighted with, He said: “And those who join that which Allah has commanded to be joined and fear their Lord, and dread the terrible reckoning” [13:21], from what Allah ordered as per “to be joined“: kinship bonds.”

Kinship means a relationship by connection of blood, marriage, or adoption; some kind of family relationship in nature or character. The bond mentioned refers to something such as a fetter, cord or tie that works as a uniting force as in a familial situation. So it seems this “kinship bond” is really speaking of something quite specific with respect to familial relationship and that this is something we have no control over it is completely out of our hands, placed wholly in the authority of the Supreme Authority. Therefore it is something we must respect. But I think the question I would like to ask African Americans is how much of this obligation, “Give the kinsman his due” are we actually fulfilling? And how much of this obligation is enough? It says in the Qur’an al-kerim,

“O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.” (49:013)

This is explaining that Allah Almighty has created an order to mankind in the form of nations and tribes. Are we honoring that order or are we accepting an order of a condition other than the binding obligation of “kinship” commanded by Allah Almighty? It seems that African Americans are stuck on color when in fact ones color may or may not be a factor related to one’s actual kinship. And a person’s blood ties is a true bond of kinship that we have no choice but to accept or ignore and unfortunately this aspect of our Creator’s instructions to us is largely being ignored or handled with weak attempts of self aggrandizement. Imam al-Haddad continues his treatise saying,

“And Allah Almighty said in anticipation of breaking kinship bond as well as (acting as) a warning from that: “And those who break the Covenant of Allah, after its ratification, and sever that which Allah has commanded to be joined and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse; and for them is the unhappy home.” [13:25] And He, the Almighty, said: “Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allah has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.” [47:22-23] Hence the severer of ties is damned as per the script of the Book (Qur’an).”

The item above is heavy and should not be taken lightly. The curse of Allah Almighty is far from what we are looking to acquire as Muslims. Therefore it is incumbent upon us to follow Allah Almighty’s commandments to ensure our happiness in this life and the hereafter. So what are we supposed to do? The command is to, “Give the kinsman his due”, which first means to acknowledge the familial bond. And then to identify with that bond and since it is a commandment of Allah Almighty, treat it as such and value that bond of kinship. I once asked Shaykh Abdul Kerim, “What is faith?” and he said,

“What is faith… ::with a half smile:: faith is putting high what Allah ta ‘ala puts high and putting low what Allah ta ‘ala puts low.”

This familial bond is indeed something Allah Almighty is putting high therefore we must place value on this thing and not dismiss it because of embarrassment or bewilderment of its complex history. In the end we will just harm ourselves. By putting high the things that Allah Almighty loves we find the result of wisdom that brings satisfaction and happiness to our hearts. Such wisdom is expressed by one of those whom Allah Almighty loved, the martyr, ‘Ali ibn Husayn (RA) who said to his sons,

“Beware of the companionship of the severer of ties, for certainly I have found him to be cursed on three occasions in the Book of Allah ta ‘ala.”

But what should be more eye opening, especially for African American Muslims is what was expressed by the Messenger of Allah Almighty when he said,

“The severer [of ties] will not enter paradise; Indeed mercy does not descend on a community which has a severer of ties,”

It is safe to say that the person who cuts off blood ties is hated by Allah Almighty. But what about those that join or rejoin those blood ties? Imam al-Haddad continues saying,

“Upon you then is Allah’s mercy by joining kinship bonds. Beware of severing ties with them for this is an abhorrent crime, chastisement of which readily reaches one in this world along with dreadful anticipation for what Allah ta ‘ala has prepared for the severer in the next world from among the gravest of sanctions and most painful of punishments. Equally, readily does the reward fo benevolence and joining (ties) reach one in this world along with what awaits the one who joins (ties) from among the greatest rewards and generous gifts. The Messenger of Allah ta ‘ala said: “Hastening of good and reward lies in benevolence and joining kinship, hastening of evil and chastisement lies in malevolence and severing of ties.” The Messenger of Allah ta ‘ala said: “There is no transgression more deserving in Allah making for that companion (person) chastisement in this world along with what is left awaiting for him in the next world than malevolence and severing ties.“

I was discussing this with a woman I have a great deal of respect for and she remarked on how Islam was sustained for hundreds of years in West Africa by the Sufis and that the Salafi position which was once strong within the African American Muslim community is now waning. Suggesting that African American Muslims seem to have exhausted the staying power of “Salafi dawah” finding themselves unsatisfied. This dissatisfaction however is not progressing into a return to the Islamic origins of the African Americans instead it is becoming a clone of the former authored by American born narrators. This dissatisfaction is real and can be understood from real expressions like that of an unknown commenter on Tariq Nelson’s blog,

“Maybe it is time for AA’s to come in mass to traditonal Sunni Islam meaning the four well known Sunni mathabs, the two schools of Sunni aqeedah and Ihsan/Sufi’ism instead of jumping from one movement to the movement and do it your self Islam. This is what I think and I have been on the “salafi dawah” for 5 years now and have had more fitnah then I had when I was a kuffar, my eman has dropped In lost contact with good SunniMuslim over the years for what? There is no magic sect or masjid that is going to poof make you pious or resolve all of your issue’s, AA Muslim like me need to grow up.” (UNKNOWN)

This was such an impressive statement because it really hit on much of what needed to be said in a brief statement. And I believe it is essential for the success of African Americans Muslims to develop a kinship of religious character with the ‘Ahl Sunnat wal Jama’ah, as Tariq’s unknown commenter has mentioned, as well as an acknowledgment of blood ties and familial identity with the numerous nations from which the multitude of African Americans originate. It seems to me that this resonates with the proper Islamic manner. I have discussed this before with African Americans and they often say that they cannot relate to West African people or culture. And as a response I would merely cite Imam al-Haddad saying,

“Admirable it is for man to join kinship if they don’t bond with him, to be courteous towards them if they are rude with him. The Messenger of Allah Almighty said: “The one who joins kinship bonds is not the one who merely reciprocates, nay, the one who joins is he who keeps kinship ties when he is cut off (from them).“

Allahu Akbar, what more is there to say! The Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) has provided for mankind all solutions to improve our lives. But it is up to us to heed the warnings. And make his instruction a part of our lifestyle. All prophets have been sent to the world to teach people how to live. How to live in the world and what to expect and how to prepare themselves for the hereafter. Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) has been sent to this world to complete the good teachings, the good living, learning the good lifestyle and to complete the good manners. Shaykh Abdul Kerim is saying,

“The reason Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) was sent by the Divine Order is to complete good manners.”

Which means up until the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) all other prophets have been sent to teach manners to people, because if there is no manner then there is no religion; if there is no manner then there is no respect; if there is no manner then there is no friendship, no business, if there is no manner then there is no progress. Giving the kinsman his due, is a commandment from Allah Almighty and a manner; a protocol of the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) and I’m not going to think that I can live my life as I like, the way that fits to me, and be satisfied. Like the unknown commenter said, eventually I have to grow up.

Alright folks, its time for another meme. Muslims have been putting out a number of memes lately. This one is a book-meme coming from the Saha Blog.

The Rules:

The Meme: History of the Ottoman Turks – From the Beginning of Their Empire To the Present Time, by Sir Edward S. Creasy M.A. (1878)

“The old Sultan [Bayezit II], who was suffering under severe illness, joined the forces which some of his faithful followers had collected for his defense; but he wept bitterly on seeing the standards of Selim’s troop, and at the prospect of encountering his own child in battle. In this mood, he was easily persuaded to negotiate by the Beyler-bey of Roumelia, who strove to avert the unnatural conflict, and acted as mediator between father and son. Selim received the European government of Semendra; and the Sultan promised not to abdicate in favour of his brother Ahmed, who was known to be the old man’s favourite child.”

Little do people know or want to accept the fact that European history is heavily influenced by the Ottomans. In fact much of the aristocracy and diplomacy of Europe during the 14th and 15th century was cultivated by the Ottoman Sultans. Sultan Bayezit II was involved in an interesting quarrel or dispute with his brother Cem which ended with Cem being seized by Christian Soldiers called the Knights of St. John. Cem was utilizing these soldiers to reinforce his own military however, they betrayed him at the command the Sultan Bayezit II. Later Pope Innocent VIII attempted to persuade other European monarchs to form a Crusade to remove the Ottomans from Europe. This plan failed but Cem died in prison as a privileged captive in Rhodes.

Tagged Men: Abu Muhammad, Abdus Salaam, True Life; Women: Umm Layth and Sketched Soul

The Sirat an-Nabawiyya is the recorded history of the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (may Peace and Blessings be upon him). It is the biography of the Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) from which most historical information about his life and the early period of Islam is derived. I will be posting biographical excerpts as I find them on the Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him), his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), the Successors (may Allah be pleased with them) and the Saints of Islam (may Allah keep their Secret) in a new category called “biographies“. The emphasis on these biographies will be on the unbroken Golden Chain of the 40 Grand Shaykhs of the Naks-i’bendi Sufi Order, from the present day Sultan Awliya, Shaykh Nazim al-Hakkani reaching all the way back to the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him). There will also be a number of scholars and salihin that I will post on. So this is just an introduction to the new project. I pray that it is of benefit to us both for you and for me, inshaAllah.

In conclusion, we can say that the Christian church is mentioned on the internet much more than the Muslims and Jewish places of worship. And one observation I did make looking into the articles written during these months is that Christians often write on their personal experiences at the church. For example, getting up in the morning and going to church; gathering the family for Sunday service; the difficulty of getting to church on time and things like that. While Muslims and Jews have an entirely different dialogue on their place of worship, at least on the internet. I think this should be enough to remind Muslim and Jewish bloggers that developing a disconnection with your place of worship is a dangerous thing. For Muslims it may prove helpful to reflect on what the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon) has reminded us, saying that among the people shaded by Allah in the shade of His Throne on the Day of Judgment will be a believer whose heart is attached to the Masjid. (an-Nawawi, p. 155)

This meme was cooked up by chef brnaeem, an American Muslim of Pakistani heritage currently living in Saudi Arabia, as something to moisten our palate and appease our appetite for the interesting and unusual. Therefore, I would like to honor the tradition of brnaeem, by giving it my best shot at being “interesting” and “unusual”. Lets see how I do shall we.

The Rules:

1. Post these rules before presenting your list.
2. List 6 actions or achievements you think every person should accomplish before turning 18.
3. There are no conditions on what can be included on the list.*
4. At the end of your blog, choose 6 people to get tagged and list their names.
5. People who are tagged write their own blog entry with their 6 suggestions.
6. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged.
7. Optional: You can include the image of the ridiculous Reese’s Puffs list in your post as a reference.

MEME: 6 Things A Person Should Accomplish Before Turning 18

1. Being born seems like a nice start.
2. Remember the promise we made to Allah Almighty before our birth.
3. Learn how to suckle breasts.
4. Circumcision: For males, highly recommended; for women, optional.
5. Acquire the fiqh and proper Islamic manners for using the toilet.
6. Memorize the components of ritual ablution and the ability to distinguish the furud from sunnat for wudu & ghusl (a rare knowledge today).
7. Extra Credit: Before learning how to make the salah, we must first learn how to climb onto the back and hold the neck of someone making the salah (only parents with naughty children will understand).

Unfortunately, this meme forced me to realize how much we need to learn; how much we need to know and how much we need to accomplish in this life. So much that the first 6 things that came to mind all needed to be accomplished before 18 months of age. Some of which many in their 30s, 40s and 50s have not learned.

This is why, if we are following the sunnat of the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) we are going to have a head start. If we are not, may Allah Almighty have Mercy on us, as-salaamu ‘alaikum.

Tagged: Men – Green Sufi, Mad Sufi, MR Sufi, Yusuf-i; Women: Aziza, IrisBlue

*By the way brnaeem, thanks for this, I finally get to add the “Humor” tag to my blog.