Yâ Hâbib Yâ Sâhib al-Qadam

I can be without anyone
but not without you.
You twist my heart, dwell in my mind
and fill my eyes, you are my joy
I can’t be without you.
You are my sleep, my rest, the water I drink.
You are my clarity, my dignity, my world
I can’t be without you.
Sometimes you are kind, sometimes unfaithful,
you break my heart but
my love, my essence, do not go away
I can’t be without you.
You are the head I am the feet
you are the hand, I am your banner
if you leave, I will perish
I can’t be without you.
You have erased my image, taken my sleep
you’ve torn me away from everybody but
I can’t be without you.
I find no joy in life or relief in death.
Why don’t you say it too
I can’t be without you.

3. The Fast of Ashura

Bukhaari and Muslim narrate from Abdullah ibn Abbas that when the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam arrived in Madinah

‘He found the Jews fasting on the day of Ashura so he enquired about it from them. They replied ‘This is the day in which Allah received Musa and the Bani Israil upon Firawn and we fast in its honour’  (Bukhaari & Muslim)

To this the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam replied;

‘We are closer to Musa than you and ordered the fast’ (Bukhaari)

In a second narration of Bukhaari the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said to the companions

‘You have more right to Musa than them so fast on it’

When the Imam ul Muhaditheen Hafiz Ibn Hajar was asked about the gathering of Milaad, in its permissibity, he referred to this hadith and said;

‘The narration of the Sahihain (Bukaari and Muslim) has the rank of Sanad (proof) in the permissibility of the gathering of Milaad’ (Al Mawrid Ar Rawaa 31)

It is true! If it is permissible to commemorate the day when Allah favoured Musa and his Ummah, how can it be bid’ah and deviation to show gratitude at that time when Allah blessed this Ummah with the greatest favour, about which even Musa said ‘Oh Allah, make me one of his Ummah’ And because the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam is the greatest blessing it is more important and right for this Ummah to show gratitude. This is what Hafiz Ibn Hajar explained in his own words.

‘This act of the Prophet upon him be Allah’s blessing and Salutation reveals that Allah should be thanked on the day in which His blessing is received or a catastrophe is lifted and He should also be thanked when that day returns. There are many ways of thanking Allah such as worship, prostration, fasting, charity and recitation’ (Al Mawrid Ar Rawaa 31)

After this prelude he turns the readers attention to the fact that all blessings have their respective places but;

‘The greatest blessing of all is the arrival on that day of the honourable Prophet upon him be Allah’s blessing and Salutation’ (Al Mawid Ar Rawaa 31)



An oft quoted objection is;

“The celebration of Milaad is similar to (or an imitation of) the acts of the Jews and Christians who celebrate the day of the birth of Isa as an Eid”

To this we respond in the following way:

The above mentioned hadith should have destroyed such an objection because no one knows the Shariah better than the legislator himself! And according to (the reasoning of) these critics the Prophet upon him be Allah’s blessing and Salutation should have prohibited fasting on the day of Ashura because the Jews fasted on it. But he did not forbid such similarity in good acts! Instead he ordered a show of greater love and directed the companions to fast! So what room is there for such an objection?

Note that the similarity which Islam forbade is in those beliefs and acts which negate Islam. It is mandatory to refrain from such matters for Allah shall be displeased with anyone who undertakes such similarity.

Further, those aware of the inner secrets of Islam have actually claimed that if the Christians celebrate the day of their Prophets birth then the Muslims should celebrate the day of their Prophets birth with greater fervour! And that this would not be an imitation of the disbelievers but would instead be the living death of satanic forces. Listen to what Imam ul Quraa Hafiz ul Hadith Shaykh Ibn Jazari writes

‘In it (Milaad) is death for satanic forces and life for the believers. And if the Christians take the day of the birth of their Prophet as their greatest Eid then the Muslims have a greater right in honouring the Milaad day of their Prophet’ (Al Mawrid Ar Rawaa 29-30)

Another typical objection:

“The birth of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam happened once and that day has passed. This event does not happen each year so what is the need to commemorate it (each year)?”

The response:

The Prophet’s SallAllahu alaihi wasallam action described in the above hadith bears witness to the fact that when the day, in which a specific bounty of Allah occurred, returns it is commemorated in gratitude. This is based on the fact that when the Jews revealed that this was the day in which Allah gave salvation to Musa and the Bani Israeel and destroyed Firawn and his nation the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam replied that in future he would also fast and ordered the companions to do so. If it was bid’ah to commemorate this day each year would anyone have been more aware of this than the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam? Rather than forbidding it he established the principle that the day in which a blessing of Allah occurs should be remembered through a show of happiness.

In using this hadith as a basis Shaykh Muhammad Alawi Maliki states

‘The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam took account of past times in which religious events took place and when those times returned he would honour them by showing happiness in remembrance of the religious event. (This is) for the day became the ‘arena’ for those religious events. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam blessed us this principle himself through his actions and words, for example the Sahih hadith in which he saw the Jews in Madeenah fasting on Ashura and ordered the companions to also fast.’ (Muqaddima Al Mawrid Ar Rawaa 10)

All the days that are celebrated in Islam are in reality the remembrance (of something). Take for example the celebration of the Quran’s revelation, it is celebrated each year but the Quran is not revealed each year. Similarly day of Jumaah is in remembrance of Syeduna Adam, other days include the fast of Ashura, Night of Qadr and Night of Baraa’h! When each of these days return they bring back with them all their blessings, so how blessed is the day of the Prophet’s SallAllahu alaihi wasallam birth ?

Ya Allah! Give me the courage and wisdom to retain;
Your Mustafa’s love in my heart as long as i reamin.

O Mustafa’s spirit of generosity, magnanimity and affection;
We have entrusted our hopes to your care and compassion. 

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
Illuminate the grave of the victims of misery.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
Without you my house is neither warm nor sunny.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
The dark night of sorrow is terribly frightening for me.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
Shine in my eyes and enter my heart compassionately.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
Change my dark night into a bright day swiftly.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
Uplift the helpless sinners and make them happy.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
I have lost my way and the people of the world are threatning me.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy! 
It is too dark and my eyes are unable to see.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
Kindle the flame of your love in my heart to save me.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
The dark and dreadful clouds of sorrow surround me.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
I have lost my way, please guide me.

O bright sun of Mustafa’s grace and mercy!
The darkness of sins is frightening me.

Ever since I was in my senses;
My boat is at the mercy of the waves of a stormy sea.

The roaring winds threaten every moment to destroy me.
Why should i not say "O beloved prophet! Support my supplication"
I have always got rid of my hardships through your intercession.

Ya Muhammada  

One bead after another

My Rosary is breaking

Star by Star

My sky is shattering.

How terrible is the wound

Caused by the sword shining

I have lost the count of Love

When the rosary with me is no more

Now where will I depict

The Glory of the Ultimate Architect

How can I recall the days

Spent at the green fields

Who will break the silence

In the depth of the sand dunes

Who will fly that silent kite

On the hills of my heart

Who will bring the rain

To ease the depth of my pain

Whom will I hold dear

To remind me of His Fear

Who shall clean the stains on my mirror

In whom shall I confide to forgive when I err?

A happy ending? As soon as Daniele Mastrogiacomo, the Italian journalist of the daily newspaper La Repubblica, kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan two weeks ago, arrived home safely yesterday evening, a row started in Italy over the terms under which he was released: five Taliban terrorists freed immediately from prison, Ramhatullah Hanefi (the emergency mediator who conducted the negotiations to free Mastrogiacomo) arrested and unreachable, Aymal Naqshbandi, Mastrogiacomo’s interpreter, disappeared, probably transferred from the Taliban prisons to those of the secret services, and his driver, Sayed Agha, beheaded. When Agha’s wife, six months pregnant, heard of the horrible end of her husband, she suffered a miscarriage.

Italian media and politicians don’t seem to be paying much attention to all this horror: what’s important is that "our" journalist got home safely, hugging his wife and kids and colleagues with his thumbs up as soon as he landed in Italy. Italian public opinion is divided on whether it was a good idea to give in to the Talibans’ demands, because this might pave the way to future kidnappings, given that they now know that the Italian government will pay up.

The debate is about to shift to centre stage in parliament after the wounding yesterday of an Italian soldier in guerilla fire in western Afghanistan: should Italy withdraw its peace-keeping troups from Afghanistan? A poll by Ipr Marketing for La Repubblica today shows that 51% of Italians approve of the negotiation with the Taliban and 54% want peace talks with them.

Afghan journalists, meanwhile, are outraged that the Italian media is celebrating the freedom of Mastrogiacomo: is the life of an Afghan worth less than that of an Italian? Today’s Italian press - especially La Repubblica- is so full of excitement for the safe return of its own reporter it barely mentions the Afghans, counting them among the many "normal" casualties of international conflicts.

The exception is La Stampa’s Massimo Gramellini, whose Buongiorno column today is dedicated to the poor beheaded driver, who - after all - died while trying to make a living driving irresponsible journalists in dangerous places.

Mastrogiacomo himself didn’t say much about Agha’s sacrifice: in his first interviews he told of his horror at witnessing the beheading - not a horror born of pity, more worried that he would be next. Later he said that he was "convinced" that his interpreter would be released (where did this idea come from? Nobody seems interested in finding out), and that he felt that his driver sold him to the Taliban, therefore paying with his life for his ambiguous role. In the meantime, the Italian journalist has already made clear that he will not return in Afghanistan - too dangerous. Whose happy ending?

Milaad and the Sunnah of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam

We will mention just three actions of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam which our Aslaaf (elders) have used as a basis of the Milaad gathering.

‘In it (this hadith) is a signal towards the fact that it is good practice to fast on the days in which Allah bestowed His servants with a blessing. And surely the greatest blessing upon this Ummah is the appearance of Syedina Muhammad sall Allaahu alaihi wasallam, his mission and his prophethood just as Allah says ‘Undoubtedly Allah favoured the believers when He sent to them the Messenger’. Verily the sending of the Prophet, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam is a blessing greater than the blessings of the creating of the sky, earth, sun, moon, wind, night, day, falling of rain, growing of plants etc. Of course these (latter mentioned) blessings are great blessings for all of humanity, even for those who have rejected Allah and His prophet and show ingratitude for them. But with the arrival of the Prophet, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam all the virtues of this and the next world were completed. Because of him the religion was completed just as Allah had wished it for His servants and whose acceptance would lead to prosperity for the servants in this and the next world.

Consequently fasting on the days these blessings were received from Allah is a beautiful deed. And this is part of renewing thanks for the blessing and the day of Ashura is an example of this’

1. The Fast of Monday

The beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam fasted every Monday.
Syeduna Qataada asked him about this and he replied;

‘This is the day in which I was born and in which it (Quran) was revealed’ (Muslim, Book of Siyaam)

Using the above hadith to evidence the Milaad gathering Shaykh Muhammad Alawi Maliki writes that through this action ‘he (highlights) the greatness of the day of his birth; the gratitude on it to Allah for the greatest blessing upon him and the Fadhl of his presence being good fortune for all those present. And all this greatness was expressed through fasting. And this too is what the Milaad gathering is - even if it has a different appearance, its purpose is the same – whether it be a fast or distributing food or gatherings for the Dhikr and Salaat upon the Nabi or listening to his honoured
Shamaail (characteristics)’ (Muqaddima, Mawrid arRawaa 9-10)

In other words, the underlying basis of all these actions is the same, to thank Allah for His greatest blessing.

Shaykh Ibn Rajab Hanbali writes that this hadith proves it is Mustahab to fast on the days in which a blessing of Allah is received. And the greatest blessing for the Ummah is the arrival of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.

‘In it (this hadith) is a signal towards the fact that it is good practice to fast on the days in which Allah bestowed His servants with a blessing. And surely the greatest blessing upon this Ummah is the appearance of Syedina Muhammad sall Allaahu alaihi wasallam, his mission and his prophethood just as Allah says ‘Undoubtedly Allah favoured the believers when He sent to them the Messenger’. Verily the sending of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam is a blessing greater than the blessings of the creating of the sky, earth, sun, moon, wind, night, day, falling of rain, growing of plants etc. Of course these (latter mentioned) blessings are great blessings for all of humanity, even for those who have rejected Allah and His prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and show ingratitude for them. But with the arrival of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam all the virtues of this and the next world were completed. Because of him the religion was completed just as Allah had wished it for His servants and whose acceptance would lead to prosperity for the servants in this and the next world. Consequently fasting on the days these blessings were received from Allah is a beautiful deed. And this is part of renewing thanks for the blessing and the day of Ashura is an example of this’
(Lataaif ul Ma’arif : 189)




2. Sacrificing an Animal in gratitude in Madeenah

Imam Suyuti writes that he believes the proof of Milaad to be found in the hadith is the Prophet’s SallAllahu alaihi wasallam act in Madinah of sacrificing an animal, in gratitude to Allah, in happiness of his birth. Some claim this act was Aqeeqah but Imam Suyooti rejects this by explaining that the Aqeeqah of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had been performed by the Prophet’s SallAllahu alaihi wasallam grandfather Syedina Abd’ul Muttalib.

‘The Aqeeqah is not repeated so this act of the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam has to be interpreted as a display of gratitude to Allah for making him the Rahmat ulil Alameen and to make it permissible for his Ummah’ (Husn ul Maqsad fi Amal il Mawlid 196)


To be continued -

A Muslim fought an infidel one day
And as they fought requested time to pray.
He prayed and fought again, the infidel
Then asked for time to say his prayers as well;
He went aside to find a cleaner place
And there before his idol bowed his face.
The Muslim, when he saw him kneel and bow,
Said: "Victory is mine if i strike now."
But as he raised his sword for that last stroke,
A warning voice from highest heaven spoke:

"O Vicious wretch, from head to foot deceit,
What promises are these, you faithless cheat?
His blade was sheathed when you asked him for time;
For you to strike him now would be a crime,
Have you not read in our Quran the verse
‘Fulfil your promises’? And will you curse
The word you gave? The infidel was true;
He kept his promises? And so should you.
You offer evil in return for good-
With others act as yourself you would!
The infidel kept faith with you, and where
Is your fidelity, for all your prayer?
You are a Muslim, but false piety
Is less than this poor pagan’s loyalty"
The Muslim heard this speech and went apart;
Sweat poured from him, remorse accused his heart.

The pagan saw him as if spell bound stand,
Tears in his eyes, his sword still in his hand,
And asked: "Why do you weep" The man replied:
"My shame is not a matter i can hide"
He told him of the voice that he had heard
Reproaching him when he would break his word,
And ending said: "My tears antcipate
The fury of your vengeance and your hate"
But when the infidel had heard this tale,
His eyes were filled with tears, his face turned pale,
"God censures you for your disloyalty
And guards the life of His sworn enemy,
Can i continue to be faithless now?
I’ll burn my Gods, to Allah I will bow,
Expound His law! Too long my heart has lain
In darkness bound by superstition’s chain" 
What infidelity you give for love!
But I shall wait until the heavens above
Confront you with the actions you have done
And number them before you, one by one.