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Kosovar Mosque Honors Shaykh Hisham

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani

29 January 2010 London, UK

Kosovar Mosque | Dhikr and Suhbah after `Isha

Introduction by Imam of Kosovan Masjid, Shaykh Zimmer

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

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham (q) is one of the special leaders of the western hemisphere. He has done so much around the USA, UK and the rest of Europe. Speaking of Mawlana Shaykh Hisham, he has done many great tasks and many great projects to benefit people around the world. They are blessings from Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) and his barakah; the result is this place. We were trying to secure the deeds here but didn't get a response. As soon as I visited Mawlana in Cyprus, I came back and I was speaking on khutbah. I was in the minbar, and there was a phone call. Mashaa-Allah we were able to purchase the masjid for £250,000. Don't be surprised from one of the great awliyaa of all time. Now it is a place of worship and `ibaadah.

Shaykh Hisham (q) is one of those people that all Kosovans and Albanians, here and abroad, we are in debt to him. We haven't even given one word of thanks for what he has done for us in Kosovo. I remember when the war started, things changed after meeting with him. We went to the muftis, and brought from Albania all the muftis. Shaykh had arranged in Washington a three-day conference in order to make us known, for people to understand. USA national TV was broadcasting live, it would have been impossible for us to gather in the biggest country for us, for Albania, because it is 95% Muslim. But due to that blessed gathering and conference all the doors opened to make it possible for the muftis to go to places of power, and we haven't thanked Shaykh Hisham! I did once through the radio. I hope they can realize the important work for freedom of rights he did for the people of Balkans, especially Kosova. Everyone wants to see him in so many parts of the UK. Inshaa-Allah Allah (swt) will grant him long life and barakah to continue with this great service to the Ummah. We are so pleased with him.

You will listen to the speech and we will have dhikr for the first time in this blessed place, and inshaa-Allah Allah (swt) will strengthen us through the barakah of awliyaa and saaliheen. We expected to have the Kosovo ambassador and Albanian ambassador, but they sent their apologies to Shaykh Hisham that the foreign minister from Albania are arriving today; inshaa-Allah there will be another opportunity for them to meet and know Shaykh Hisham.

Albanian Embassy Official's Speech

As-salaamu `alaykum. First of all I want to say thank you to all of you here today. Tonight is a blessed night. Shaykh Hisham (q) is with us. I have strong relationship with his master and I pray for the `ulama. I am so happy with the prayers of all of you and for these two gentleman (Mawlana Shaykh Nazim [q] and Mawlana Shaykh Hisham [q]) and for the future spiritual life of this center. Mawlana Shaykh Nazim (q) and Mawlana Shaykh Hisham (q) and their good friends are responsible for acquiring this place to enjoy for cultural activities. We are grateful to this country of which the Queen is the head. We are part of the state in this country and we benefit from the freedom here. It is not just politics, it is very like a Muslim country here. I also want to thank the ladies, whom we can't see; we need our sisters and wives. Those who are good to their wives, there is a room for you in Jannah. My greetings to your shaykh and my greetings to your family and all the people in America. Thank you Shaykh Hisham! The ambassador sends greetings to Mawlana Shaykh Hisham and all brothers. We want to organize another meeting as I am representing our embassy.

Mawlana Shaykh Hisham's Suhbah

Astaghfirullah. A`oodhu billahi min ash-Shaytaani 'r-rajeem. Bismillahi 'r-Rahmaani 'r-Raheem. Dastoor, yaa Sayyidee.

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.

Ati`oollaha wa ati`oo 'r-Rasoola wa ooli 'l-amri minkum.

Obey Allah, obey the Prophet, and obey those in authority among you. (4:59)

May Allah (swt) keep us always under His mercy, alhamdulillahi Rabbi 'l-'alameen. Allahumma salli ‘alaa Sayyidina Muhammad wa `ala aalihi wa sahbihi ajma'een. Alhamdulillah, it is an honor for me to be here today in this, I think, first Kosovan mosque (in UK), which is a product of too many hands, Shaykh Muhammad and Shaykh Zimmer and continuous generosity of Kosovans that are living here, because without their help it was impossible to buy the place. We hope that they keep helping and following hadith, ghaniyyun shaakir khayrun min faqeerun `abid, "A rich man who is always thanking Allah for what He gave him, is better than a poor man who is worshipping." Now when you look at this hadeeth, you think a poor man praying is better than a rich man involved in this dunya world, collecting money. But no, Prophet (s) is looking to us to learn. He is teaching us that ghaniyun shakir shakir, in Arabic means "a thankful person". Because Allah (swt) said in Holy Qu'ran:

لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ

Wa la in shakartum la-azeedannakum

If you thank Me, I will give you more. (Ibrahim, 14:7)

So shaakir is a rich person raising a good family and with the rest of the money he is helping in the Way of Allah (swt).

To thank Allah (swt) is not to look for your own pockets only, but to give. For example, in this masjid, he gave money from what he collected. Which is better: that someone can't do anything, who is lazy, who benefits himself alone, or the rich who benefits everyone? The Prophet (s) was the first one to call for community work and social work. This masjid is community work and is a social work, a place where people come and socialize, to speak with each other, to marry, to make relationships. That is why it is important to realize these small sayings of the Prophet (s) because (from them) we can understand Islam. When Prophet (s) is saying ghaniyyun shaakir, it means a rich person cannot (tolerate) to see Muslims suffering, cannot see even non-Muslims suffering, because reaching communities is also for non-Muslims.

In Kosova there are also non-Muslims, the government is reaching them. In the government state of Madinatu 'l-Munawwara, there were also non-Muslims and the Prophet (s) was treating everyone the same. So we cannot say your generosity for only asmall group of people, but generosity has to involve everyone. That is why Allah (swt) said:

وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ

wa rahmatee wasi`yat kulla shay

My mercy encompasses everything, (al-A`araaf, 7:156)

It reaches all, not saying from Christian, from Jewish, from Hindu, but said wa rahmatee wasi`yat kulla shay, "My Mercy has encompassed all things."

Did you hear about Muhiyddin ibn `Arabi (q), that is in his book about meeting with Iblees? One time Iblees came to Muhiyddin ibn `Arabi. And you know Iblees is cursed, because he wouldn't make sajdah to Adam (a) Look how much Sayyidna Adam (a) and his family are being honored. But we find ways not to give honor, we do not honor always each other. We fight because Shaytan comes to us and plays with us. So Iblees came to Muhiyddin ibn `Arabi and he said, he is not illiterate Iblees, he knows the main four books: the Psalms of David, the Torah of Musa, the Injeel of `Isa, and the Qur'an of Muhammad (s.) He is not ignorant but he disobeyed. Every day we disobey, but Allah (swt) forgives us. So Iblees came to the wise man and he said, "Yaa Muhiyddin, Allah said, 'My Mercy encompasses everything.' Am I not from everything? I am part of everything Allah created, so do I have mercy or not? What do you say?" He is clever! "Do I have mercy or not?" What do you think Muhiyddin ibn `Arabi said? He didn't answer; he was afraid to say yes, afraid to say no, because if he says yes, might be Allah (swt) is not happy with that answer, and if he says no, Allah also might not be happy. He kept quiet, and this is an indication of Allah's mercy that covers all human beings, Muhiyddin could not answer. But if you had asked if there is mercy for humans, he would have said, "Yes, for sure there is mercy."

O People! Muslims! Allah (swt) honored us when he said,

وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ

Wa laqad karamna Bani Adam

We have honored human beings, We have honored them, We carried them in the ocean and on the Earth, and We have provided them with everything good! (al-Isra, 17:70)

See how much Allah (swt) loves us, and we are running away from Him!

When Sayyida `Ayesha (a) asked Prophet (s), "Why you are praying nafl at night when Allah (swt) has given you Paradise?" what did he say? Alaa akoonu `abdan shakoora? "You don't want me to be thankful?" So thankfulness is important. We forget to say during the day to Allah (swt), yaa Rabbee, shukrulillah, shukrulillah. If someone gives you £100,000 what do you say? You say, "Thank you, thank you." Allah gives you Paradise, but we don't say thanks because our form prevents us to see it. The problem is the £100,000 we can feel now, but we are not feeling Paradise, because we are imprisoned in our bodies. Awliyaullah are spiritual when they are reading about something and they can feel it. When Allah (swt) says, "I give you Paradise," they can feel, see, and smell Paradise! Their lives will be Paradise. But when all day we are running after dunya, we feel good when we come to the masjid and then we go back to work, and, "Oh, feeling like this again."

O Muslims! Especially Kosovans, that country is a blessed area. There are a lot of pious and sincere people in that area, Albania, Kosova, Bosnia, Turkey. It is a very nice region, full of awliyaa there. Our hearts must always do our best to show we are Kosovan, we are role models to others, and to build a strong community and strong masjid to show people really what you are.

One time, an example of awliyaaullah how they work, how they do things. I never told you that, but one day when I was arranging for the conference that you mentioned, I called Mawlana Shaykh and I told him I was inviting muftis from the former Soviet Union. He told me, "What about Balkans?" I never thought about Balkans. I said, "Mawlana, I don't know really too much." He said, "No, you go and there is one person who I wanted to meet long time ago. Go and find him." And I didn't tell you, that was the Grand Mufti of Albania, Shaykh Sabri, who was in prison for 25 years, he told me 27 years, I am sure. He said, "Find that one who used to stay praying at night for months and months on an empty stomach, because they were not feeding him except for pork and he was not accepting to eat it."

Who is telling me this, Mawlana Shaykh, not Shaykh Sabri. He said, "Go find that one. He is refusing to eat pork till he gets weak, then they give him food and he eats." He passed his life in that prison, he is one of the abdaal, 40 of them, means substitute. And Imam Ahmad (a) mentioned many times, in hadith in his Musnad. If you are in jungle or desert, call on RijaalAllah if you are in troubles and these awliyaas will come. He was one of them and the people in Albania were calling on him and he was able to reach them. Yet he was in prison with his body, but out with his spirit. At prison they think he is in his body, but he is outside reaching the Albanian people. With your help we reached Shaykh Sabri and we invited him. And Mawlana was telling me when we he went to America, "I used to meet with him spirituallynot just sometimes, but every day. But I wanted to meet with him physically, that was my desire," and that happened in 1998 (in Washington D.C. at the 2nd International Islamic Unity Conference.)

So there are a lot of awliyaa in this region; they are hidden and people not knowing them. And in your country, Mawlana mentioned to me and I am saying this for the first time, that if the government is clever there is a lot of wealth under the Earth; they need to drill and dig. Drill means oil, dig means gold or something more expensive than oil or gold, more than diamonds, that every country is fighting for it now, uranium. That is why if someone doesn't have a guide, they cannot go along with his life balancing between dunya and akhirah. Guides are important in our lives. I think many of you have, but for me, I have Mawlana Shaykh Nazim, may Allah (swt) give him long life.

Prophet (s) said, Man laa yarham, laa yarham, "Who does not feel love or pity for people, Allah will not have pity for him." So we have to feel that relationship and love between brothers and sisters before Allah (swt). Most problems are social problems between brother and sister, wife and husband. Wives are not happy, husbands are not happy, children are not happy, they come to you every day; when Shaytan sees a nice family he wants to destroy that family. Why Allah says, Man laa yarham, laa yarham? If your wife feels upset, feel pity, she might have a cold and if you are upset she has to feel pity from you. If both parties have mercy to each other, Allah's rahmah will descend on us. They come and say, "We are Muslims, we are on haqq, why always difficulties are coming on us?" Because you are not on haqq! We are humiliated because our behavior is not on haqq. Islam, our religion is on haqq, but Muslims are not on haqq, on shari'atullah. We are not following the message that Prophet (s) has given us. We are not following and in the khutbah I called it the "manual." If you have a computer, you can't work without a manual. What you think about akhirah, it doesn't need a manual? Of course it needs a manual!

May Allah (swt) always keep us under blessings of Muhammad (s). He said, "Who makes one salawaat on me, Allah will make ten salawaat on him." O you educated ones, engineers, doctors, lawyers, Prophet (s) is saying that hadeeth, "Make one salawaat on me, Allah will give ten on you." If you say du'a it may be accepted or declined, but if you are saying salawaat, Allah is dressing you with ten salawaat. If you make salawaat, you think He is sending you to Hellfire when you are dressed? You make salawaat, finished, you will get protection! These ten salawaat are coming from Allah's Holy Divine Presence, He is dressing. You think the Fire can carry you? The whole Fire will extinguish from salawaat!

Grandshaykh (q) said that on the Day of Judgment, Allah calls His servants and says, "This is the Scale," and putting his `amal on scale, and his sins will be heavier than his good `amal, good deeds. Prophet (s) will be coming, he is the Intercessor, and he looks at the Scale and he will say to the Scale, "Are you not ashamed, that this person has made one salawaat on me?" One salawaat is enough to waive all your sins!

O People! We are the Ummah of the Prophet (s)! Allah (swt) blessed it, ummatun marhooma. He forgave that Ummah. Allah (swt) created us and forgave us on Day One.

O Muslims! Don't feel bad, come to the masjid often, as much as you can, and ask for forgiveness. If you do something wrong, Allah will forgive us. Just now the imam was reading:

لَوْ أَنزَلْنَا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ عَلَى جَبَلٍ لَّرَأَيْتَهُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

"Law anzalna hadha 'l-qurana `ala jabalin la-raaitahu khashi`yyan mutasaddiya`n min khashi`yatillah."

Had We sent down this Qur'an on a mountain, verily, thou wouldst have seen it humble itself and cleave asunder for fear of Allah. Such are the similitudes which We propound to men, that they may reflect. (al-Hashr, 59:21 )

Allah is saying in Holy Qur'an, "If We reveal, if Wesend that Holy Qur'an to descend on the mountain, it will shatter from Allah's fear." The mountain will disappear! Look into the secrets here. Think. Allah has revealed Qur'an to whom? He revealed to the heart of Prophet (s). Muhammad (s) received that and he did not shatter, he was able to take it. If Allah gave that Holy Qur'an to a mountain, it would shatter and disappear, but the Prophet (s) was able to carry it!

O Muslims! We are in days that are very problematic. Prophet (s) said, "There is going to come a time that fitna, confusion, is going to come like black chunks in the sky." There will come a day when that confusion is going to be on Earth. Are we seeing such confusions or not? Too many on Earth. He said, Al-qayd minal qawakif, "The one who is sitting at home is better than the one who is in the streets." So my advice is to keep to yourself, keep at home, don't go into the streets for demonstrations. It is not going to change anything, it will incite fitna. Prophet (s) said, "The one who is sitting is better than the one who is standing." And he said, "The one who is standing is better than one who is walking," because you can bring confusions on yourself; the one walking could be shot.

O Muslims! Look after yourselves and look to build the name of Islam. As they say, look at your "inn", it means look at your house inside you, don't look outside you; look at your inner self, not to the outside. What people are doing for Allah (swt) has nothing to do with you; do for your Lord and your Lord will do for you.

May Allah forgive us and support us. May Allah (swt) grant us the love of Sayyidina Muhammad (s).

[End of suhbah, dikhr starts.]

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