AL-’ARIF BILLAH SAYYIDUNAL IMAM AL-HABIB
AHMAD MASH-HUR BIN TAHA AL-HADDAD
Rady Allahu Anhu
A Tazkira by Siddiq Osman Noormuhammad
Our beloved Shaykh Al-Habib Ahmad Mash-hur bin Taha al-Haddad, Rady Allahu ‘Anhu (1325-1416 A.H) inherited everything from his noble ancestor, Sayyidunal Imam Al-Habib Mawlana Abdallah bin ‘Alawi al-Haddad, Rady Allahu ‘Anhu (1044-1132 A.H). Both are Hadhrami, Shafi’i, ‘Alawi, Husaini, descendants of our beloved Prophet Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam. Al-Habib (The beloved) inherited from Mawlana al-Haddad the ‘ulum (knowledge), the Mustafawi akhlaaq (character), the sirr (spiritual secrets); indeed everything. Perhaps he considered it his greatest achievement to try to follow in the footsteps of Mawlana al-Haddad. It was this humility that made him the beloved of Allah Sub’hanahu wa Ta’ala, the beloved of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam, and the beloved among angels, jinn and people. Like Mawlana al-Haddad, he became Haddad-al-Qulub, that is, one who purifies hearts (qulub) to make them glow and shine with the nur (light) of imaan (belief), just as an iron-smith (Haddad in Arabic), smelts iron to remove its rust and makes it glow in the furnace.
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen.
He is the majestic Shaykh in return for whose smile you feel like giving away everything in the name of Allah.
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen.
He is the Qutb-ul-Gauth (the pillar of spiritual succour) whose dua (invocation to Allah) turns a shaqee (doubtful person) into a sa’eed (the saved).
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen.
He is the Murshid-e-Kaamil (The most accomplished Shaykh) who removes shayaateen (devils) from your way and immerses you in the pond of kauthar of his ancestor, the beloved of Allah, Sayyidina wa Mawlana, Muhammad ibn Abdillah, Nurin min Nurillah, Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him.
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen
He is the greatest gift of Allah Sub’hanahu wa Ta’ala to the mu’mineem (believers) in the present age and time. He is the beloved of Allah who keeps company with Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam, Pir Khidhr Hayaat, Shaykh AbdulQadir Jilani, Mawlana al-Haddad, and other awliya Allah (friends of Allah).
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen
He is Ad-Daa’ee al-Kaamil (The most accomplished preacher) who spread Islam in East Africa, especially in the countries of Zanzibar, Uganda and Kenya, converting thousands of people to Islam, only Allah knows the exact number.
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen.
He is an international personality who was born in the town of Qaydun in Hadhramaut; studied in Hadhramaut and Indonesia; spread Islam in East Africa; resided in Jeddah in his old age; has mureedeen and muhibbeen (loving disciples) in East Africa, Yemen, Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, U.K, Canada, U.S.A, indeed all over the world; whose salatul janaza was prayed at the Ka’ba in Makkah; and whose last resting place is Jannaatul Malaa in Makkah, his grave easily distinguished by the fact that it is the only one on which grass grows.
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen.
He is the ‘Aalimul ‘Allamah and the Shaykhul Mashaaikh (the Shaykh of Shaykhs) whose spiritual masterpiece Miftah ul Jannah (The Key To Paradise) brings people into the fold of Islam without their even having seen him. All your questions are answered in his majlis (spiritual gathering) without you asking him. His obituary on Sayyid Omar Abdallah moves you to tears and obituaries on him move you to tears.
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen.
He is the representative of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam who lived according to his sunnah (life-style) each moment of his life. We learn about the sunnah of our beloved Prophet Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam from his Hadith Shareef (noble sayings). One of his sunnahs was to make each of his sahaba (companions) feel special the way he dealt with him. Al-Habib lived upto this sunnah as well; when you talk with his mureedeen (loving disciples), each one of them will tell you that his relationship with Al-Habib was so special that no other person could hope to attain it!
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen.
He is our Shaykh who teaches us Islam not only in words but also by living according to it. He is the Shaykh most dear to your heart who will give you a practical demonstration of how his mercy overpowers his anger.
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah Ta’ala make us benefit from him, Aameen.
His majlis (spiritual gathering) consists of dars (lesson) from Qur’an Kareem, Hadith Shareef from Riyadh us Saleheen (The Gardens of the Righteous) compiled by Imam an-Nawawi, and classics of Muslim spirituality like Ihya ‘Ulum al-Deen (The Revival of Religious Knowledge) of Imam al-Ghazali, Risalatul Mu’awanah (The Book of Assistance), and An-Nasaaih id-Diniyya (Sincere Religious Advices) of Mawlana al-Haddad, Naf’anAllahu bihim. There will be recitation of qasaaid (hymns) from the Diwan (Collected Hymns) of Mawlana al-Haddad and the Diwan of Imam Ali bin Muhammad al-Habshi, may Allah make us benefit from them, Aameen. Recitation about mawlid (birth) and seerah (history) of Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam would be from Simtud Durar (Necklace of Pearls) of Imam al-Habshi, Naf’anAllahu bih. And his aqeeda (beliefs) was as expounded by Mawlana al-Haddad, coming from the pure fount of the teachings of our beloved Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him. And the azkaar (regular voluntary invocations) you receive from his own blessed hands or hear him recite are Ratib al-Haddad, Ratib al-Attas, Wird ul-Latif, and Burda Shareef, among others. You do zikr with him until it runs in your veins. Now rejoice at your good fortune. Indeed, he might bestow on you and you only, some more azkaar like one or more of the Asma Allah ul Husna (The Most Beautiful Names of Allah Ta’ala). This then is a secret between you and him and such secrets between you and your Shaykh are not to be divulged.
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him Aameen.
When the mashaaikh (spiritual masters) meet him, they acclaim him as the ‘Aarif Billah (knower of Allah), on RidhaAllah, existing for the pleasure of Allah. He invokes Allah Sub’hanahu wa Ta’ala in fulfilment of Sunnah but he accepts whatever Allah ordains. If Allah has decreed shahaadah (martyrdom) for one or more of his mureedeen, he accepts that just as Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam acknowledged that his beloved grandson Imam Husain Rady Allahu ‘Anhu and his family were ordained to receive the daraja (spiritual station) of shaheed (martys). And with each such shahaadah (martyrdom), Islam spreads more and more.
Naf’anAllahu bih
May Allah Ta’ala make us benefit from him, Aameen.
Salawaat by Al-Habib
Allah, The Glorified and the Exalted inspired al-Habib to compose the following salawaat on our Beloved Prophet Khaatamun Nabiyyeen, Rahmatullil 'Alameen Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam. It comes naturally for any muhib (loving disciple) to make it his daily wird (additional voluntary invocation). These salawaat have been published in the kitab of Dr. Mustafa al-Badawi titled "Ziyara Sayyidi'l Kawnain Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Aalihi wa Sallam" (Visit To The Leader of both The Worlds) to be recited at the Rawda of Rasulullah Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam in Madina.
Allahumma salli wa sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad
Habib-ir-Rahmaan
Wa Durratil akwaan
Al-Haadiri ma'a man salla 'alayhi fee kulli zamaan wa makaan
Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa tabi'eehim bi-ihsaan
O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad,
the beloved of the Beneficent,
and the most precious in all creation
who is present with whoever sends blessings on him in every age and place,
and on his family and companions and good followers.
Allahumma salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad
Sayyidil kawnayn
Wa bahjatath-thaqalayn
Wa Jaddil Hasanayn
Waj'al lee bissalaati alayhi qurrata 'ayn
Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi as sallim.
O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad,
the leader of both the worlds,
the light of jinn and people,
the grandfather of Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn,
and with this blessing on him make him the delight of my eyes
and (bestow blessings and peace as well)
on his family and companions.
Allahumma salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad in-Nabiyy il-Ummiyy
Wa aalihi wa sallim tasleema
Wa Astaghfirullahal 'Azeem wa atubu Ilayh
O Allah! Bestow blessings and total peace on Sayyidina Muhammad
the Prophet not taught by any human (but by You, O Allah),
and on his family
and I beg forgiveness of Allah, The Incomparably Great,
and turn to Him repentant.
Allahumma Yaa Nur as-samaawaati wal ardi
Salli 'alaa man khalaqtahu min Nurika
Waghfirlee dhanbee wa nawwir qalbee bi-Anwaari Ma'rifatika
Wa bi-Ma'rifatihi Bika
Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallim
O Allah! O The Light of the heavens and the earth
Bestow blessings and peace on the one you created from Your Light
and forgive my sins and fill my heart with
the light of Your Knowledge and the knowledge that is with You,
and (bestow blessings and peace as well)
on his family and companions.
Allahumma salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad
Saahibil maqaamil asnaa
Al-makhsusi bi-sharafil adnaa
Man laulaahu maa kunna
Waghmirnaa bi-anfaasihi fil hissi wal ma'naa
Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallim
O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad,
the one who has the highest position;
the one with special nobility of closeness (to Allah);
were it not for him, we wouldn't exist;
immerse us in his breath, in reality and in its true meaning,
and (bestow blessings and peace as well)
on his family and companions.
Allahumma salli 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad
Alladhee maa dhukirasmuhu 'alaa mareedin illa shufiya
Wa laa saqeemin illa 'ufiya
Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa sallim
O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad
the mention of whose name before anyone who is sick, cures him
and anyone who is ill and in pain is given good health
and (bestow blessings and peace as well)
on his family and companions.
Allahumma salli wa sallim
'alal badril muneer
Al-Bashir in-Nadheer
Ruhi ma'nal wujud
War-Rahmatil muhdaati li kulli maujud
Wa 'alaa aalihi wa sahbihi wa taabi'eehim ilaa yaumil maw'ood
O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace
on the bright moon,
the bringer of glad tidings, the warner,
the soul of all existence
and the merciful gift for all that exists
and on his family and companions and followers
till the Promised Day.
Al-Habib Rady Allahu 'Anhu must have sensed that those in his daaerah (spiritual learning circle) would automatically adopt this as their daily wird (additional voluntary recitation). It was perhaps for this reason that he kept these salawaat short (yet comprehensive) so as not to be too much of a burden on the mureedeen (loving disciples). And true to the tradition of his illustrious ancestor Mawlana al-Haddad Rady Allahu 'Anhu, who had seven salawaat for wird, he also settled for seven!
Naf'an Allahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen
Salaat with the name of Al-Habib
Allah, The Creator and Sustainer of all the worlds, guided and inspired Shaykh Umar 'Ali Umar of Kenya to compose salawaaat on Habib-Allah (The Beloved of Allah) Muhammad al-Mustafa Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam and in one of these salawaat, he included the name of Al-Habib in it. This is just one indication of how much the muhibeen (loving disciples) love their Shaykh. And we notice that this salaat has rhyming prose: the words quboor, bukoor, fujoor, nushoor, and tuhoor rhyme with the name most dear to our heart, Al-Mash-hur!.
Allahumma salli wa sallim 'alaa Sayyidina Muhammad
Wa 'alaa aalihi wa as'haabihi
Salaatan ta'ummu barakatuhaa
Jamee'al mu'mineena wal mu'minaat
Wal muslimeena wal muslimaat
'Alaa man fiddunyaa wa man fil quboor
Wa natana'amu bihaa fil 'ashiyyi wa fil bukoor
Wa nanju bihaa minal ma'asee wal fujoor
Wa nujma'u bihaa yauman nushoor
Ma'a ahl-is-surur-it-tuhoor
Bi-sirri al-Habib Ahmad Al-Mash-hur
O Allah! Bestow blessings and peace on Sayyidina Muhammad
and on his family and companions,
such blessings that will bestow favours
on all the believing men and believing women
and on all the men and women who surrender to Allah,
in this life and in the graves,
and that will bestow boons on us day and night
and that will keep us away from sin and wrong-doing,
and that will keep us on the Day of Rising
with those that are happy, the pure
for the sake of the secret of Al-Habib Ahmad al-Mash-hur
Naf'an Allahu bih
May Allah make us benefit from him, Aameen.
Qasaaid by Al-Habib and on Al-Habib
Al-Habib composed qasaaid (hymns) some of which have been translated and some haven't. Let us benefit from the translation of some verses he composed on the blessed Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu 'alaihi wa Sallam.
Like the rain you descended
Casting knowledge from end to end
Or like the morning sun
Risen from Heaven
You blazed the night
And the stars
And lesser lamps away
Your luminous wake trailing a heritage
Most immense
Divine armed-men to inspire
In the fulness of time
To heights of sacred bliss
And triumphs sublime
Qur'an their refulgent light
Guiding them to righteousness
To a path most straight
And an argument most impeccable
(Miftahul Jannah: The Key to Paradise, pg 20, translated by Shaykh Muhammad Mlamali Adam).
Many qasaaid have been composed on al-Habib, some of them even during his own life-time. Some have been published, some haven't. One such qasida that touches any saalik (traveller on the spiritual path) is the one composed by Shaykh Muhammad Abdullah Shaddad Bin Umar Baa Umar in Ad-Durrul Munaddad Fee Seerati Sayyidina Muhammad ( A Necklace of Pearls in the History of Our Leader and Master Muhammad). In it, he invokes Allah Ta'ala to fulfil all our noble intentions for the sake of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad-e-Arabi Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam, the sahaba (his companions), the ahlul bayt (his family) and the awliya (friends of Allah), among whom he mentions our own beloved Shaykh Al-Habib Ahmad Mash-hur al-Haddad. Here is a transliteration and translation of a few verses from this qasida (the opening couplet forms the chorus).
Allah Allahu Allah Allahu
Allah Allahu Allah Allahu
Allah Allahu Allah Allahu
Rabbi waj'alnaa minal akhyaar
Feeha Mawlana 'Ali 'l Habshi
Man Gadaa fee sayrihi namshi
Mithla falakin fil 'ulaa dawwaar
Rabbi waj'alnaa minal akhyaar
Jarba Haysam bin Sumaitil bar
Kam hawat min kaamilin azhar
Kam jarat min tahtihal anhaar
Rabbi waj'alnaa minal akhyaar
Fee Haraydhah Umar ul 'Attas
Qutbuhal Mash-huru baynan Naas
Wa Abubakr-in Abu 'l Akhyaar
Rabbi Waj'alaa minal akhyaar
Bu 'Ali Ahmad Imamul Qaum
Faaidhul Imdaadi Muqwissawm
Thumma kam fil qaumi min Abraar
Rabbi waj'alnaa minal akhyaar
Rabba nanfa'naa bihim Yaa Rab
Wanjahil maqsuda wal matlab
Warridhaa feemaa bihi takhtaar
Rabbi waj'alnaa minal akhyaar
Among them is al-Habib Mawlana Ali al-Habshi
We are on foot, following him in his travels
Just like the orbit that circles high above
O Lord make us among the best people
Try al-Habib Haysam bin Sumait, the pious
How many contain such total brightness?
How many are the rivers that flow under his feet?
O Lord make us among the best people
In Haraydhah al-Habib Umar al-'Attas
A pillar, famous among people
And Abubakar, the father of the chosen few
O Lord make us among the best people
The father of Ali, al-Habib Ahmad, the Imam of the people
Superabundant help, the one who reinforces free grazing
How many such righteous can you find in the community?
O Lord make us among the best people
Our Lord! Make us benefit from them O Lord
And fulfil our aims and ambitions
And for his sake we are pleased with whatever You choose
O Lord made us among the best people
In this qasida, al-Habib who is from the illustrious family of al-Haddad is mentioned together with luminaries from three other great families in the BaAlawi tradition, that is al-Habshi, Bin Sumait and al-'Attas! Allahu Akbar!
Naf'an Allahu bihim
May Allah, The Glorified and the Exalted, make us benefit from them, Aameen.
Supplication
What better supplication to conclude this article with than the famous supplication of Mawlana al-Haddad Rady Allahu 'Anhu following the recitation of Surah YaaSeen.
(Translation is by Shaykh Mohamed Mlamali Adam)
Imam al-Haddad's Famous Supplication Following the Recitation of Surat YaaSeen
O Lord, Thou we invoke to protect and take in trust our sacred covenants - adyanana - and our very lives and our people and our children and our possessions and each and everything You bestow upon us.
O Lord, may You place us and them in Your Providential care and in the shadow of Your security and refuge, safe from every evil one obstinate in rebellion, and (safe) from every powerful, obstinate transgressor, and (safe) from every one possessed of jealousy and given to trespassing, and (safe) from the evil of all evil ones. Verily, You have Power over all things.
O Lord, adorn us with well-being and enfold us in peace and endue us with a spirit of adoration for You and uphold us in righteousness, and guard us against all that which is a source of regret, verily, O Lord, You are the Hearer of prayers.
O Lord, bestow forgiveness to us and our parents and our children and our shaykhs and our brothers in religion and our friends, and to those who love us in Your love, and those who cherish us, and to Believing men and Believing women, and to Muslim men and Muslim women, O Lord of All Creation.
And bestow, O Lord, Your blessings and hosts of peace upon your most adoring servant and Apostle, our lord and master, Muhammad, as well as upon his kinsfolk and his companions and grant us an intimate adherence towards this Great Exemplar, both in our outward conduct and inner dispositions - all that in a state of well being and security, by virtue of Your Grace, O Most Merciful of the Merciful.
(Translation is by Shaykh Mohamed Mlamali Adam
