Soul∙Resources
English language resources that meet contemporary Muslim community needs in Western English speaking environmentsLitany for the First Ten of Dhul-Hijja
As the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja dawn upon us please find below a litany specified for this virtous period as compiled and recited by the inheritors of Prophetic knowledge. It is to be recited ten times every day.
With thanks to Br Amin Buxton for this work.
For information on the virtues of Dhul-Hijja please refer to:
Merits & Striving in Spiritual Works - Sheikh Faraz Rabbani
Reflections on the Hajj – Imam Zaid Shakir
Ramadan Supplications
Ramadan is upon us once again, the season of generosity, mercy, drawing near and supplication. Allah says in the Qu’ran addressing the Messenger of Allah, upon him be peace and blessings:
“When My servants ask you concerning Me, say to them that I am indeed close to them. I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calls upon me”
The hadith narrators and scholars of this umma expended a tremendous effort in relating to us the supplications of Ramadan as practiced by the Messenger of Allah, upon him be peace and blessings, and it is hoped that through their recital we are apportioned an ounce of the baraka and closeness that descended upon the best of Allah’s creation and those who were with him, may Allah be pleased with them all.
Download Ramadan Supplications Here
Note: The dua of obedience to our parents will be released soon, insha-Allah.
The Intention for Knowledge – Imam al-Haddad
One of the most well known hadith amongst Muslims is that which was narrated by the companion Umar ibn Khattab, may God be pleased with him, regarding intention:
“Verily actions are but by intentions”
The import of the hadith suggests that all actions return back to the intentions preceding them, and therefore the intention behind the action is more weightier than the action itself. For this reason Imam al- Bukhari began his collection of hadith, Sahih al-Bukhari, with the hadith of Umar citing that all actions that are devoid of the correct intention are in vain.
The scholars of the Hadramawt valley emphasised the formulation of an intention for every action because a seemingly mundane or permissable action can be turned into worship merely by the intention behind it. The scholar and spiritual educator, al-Habib Muhammad b. Alawi al-Aydarus, compiled a comprehensive book of intentions that is widely available in Arabic and partly available in English.
One of the most emphasised intentions in Hadramawt is that of knowledge, as compiled by the great scholar of Tarim Imam Abdullah b. Alawi al-Haddad, may God be pleased with him. The intention is meant to be recited before a lesson or endeavour of seeking knowledge but beyond that it is to be internalised and realised.
May God give us the insight, sincerity and success to precede our actions with righteous intentions!
The Tasbih Prayer (Salat al-Tasbih)
The Messenger of Allah, upon him be peace, taught his beloved uncle ‘Abbas the prayer of tasbih as a gift that he and the umma may benefit from. It is especially significant in the known nights of the year where extra worship and remembrance of Allah was encouraged. As the mid-night of Sha’ban approaches you can find below a small instruction on how to perform the Tasbih prayer. It can also be used to distribute in mosques and amongst friends so they too may benefit.
The Sha’ban Advice
اللهم بارك لنا في رجب وشعبان وبلغنا رمضان
“Oh Allah bless us in the month of Rajab and Sha’ban, and let us reach Ramadan”
It was in the month of Sha’ban that Allah revealed the verse commanding us to send prayers and blessings upon the Prophet, upon him be peace. It was also this blessed month that the Messenger of Allah called his own, and he used to fast the whole of it in preparation of Ramadan.
The 15th night of Sha’ban is also well known for it merit. It is reported that Sayyidunah Ali ibn Abi Talib used to single out this night, along with the first night of Rajab and the night of the two Eids, for worship due to the mercy of Allah and blessings that descend in it.
In the UK some mosques tend to stay open to allow the community a place where they can spend time in the remembrance of Allah. Attached is a small advice on some practices which have been passed down to us through an authentic chain of transmission from the ulama.
May Allah accept from us in this month and ennoble us with his mercy, love and closeness.
Note: The mentioning of 100 rakat being prayed in this night as an innovation refers specifically to gathering for the performance of 100 rakat in a particular way such that it might be advocated that this was encouraged or rewarded according to the legislative texts. Imam al-Nawawi, amongst other scholars, mentioned it as a blameworthy innovation.
Introducing S•R
Welcome to the S·R website and blog! Here you’ll find, in the coming weeks and months, resources that will benefit you and your community’s knowledge, spiritual and intellectual needs, inshaAllah.
The impetus for S·R came from almost a decade of grassroots community work, from which I realised that the real driver for change in our communities will stem from us plugging into the rich classical tradition of Islam and the magnanimous works of the great scholars past and present. I found that access to traditional English resources was rare, and so many times we’d try to find translations, transliterations, commentaries, advices, anything that would connect the audience with classical Islamic scholarship.
Over the coming months the plan is to add all of that which is currently in my possession to this site, and use other peoples contributions and hardwork too (where they want to). I’ll also be working on new stuff, all of which will become available in due course.
If you have any ideas, recommendations, resources at your disposal then please get in touch on:
affluentminds @ gmail . com
Disclaimer: I am not a translator, so won’t be translating any major works in English. My projects are small scale and require minimal translational effort, all of which passes through the consultation of professionals in the field.
