Haji Shakil (db)



Al Salamu 'Alaykum.

Haji Shakil Saheb needs no introduction. He lives in Panvel and his majlis is held every Sunday over there. People come over from places as varied and far off as Khopoli, Bombay, Malegaon, Surat etc to attend his Deeni Majlis. He is known for his inimitable sense of humour and his invariable adherence to the truth, however unpalatable it maybe for his listeners. In addition, Hadrat finances and runs many makaatib in rural areas of India where Muslims are in a minority and are at risk of losing their faith and their identity.

Right now, Haji Shakil Sb is on Hajj. Before he left, this unworthy soul asked him to make dua' by name. Yesterday morning, I got a message on my mobile from his Saudi number. It said, "Al Salamu Alaikum. Aapke liye dua kar raha hun. Aapse dua ki darkhwast hai." Translation: "I am praying for you. Request for dua".

For a long time I just sat in my office staring at my mobile wondering at the love and mercy of our elders. Out of the hundreds, nay thousands of people who must have requested Hadrat for dua's, the Shaykh remembered me and while sitting in the Haram he managed to get the message across to me and at the same time requested for dua's himself.

Truly, our elders cannot be matched in their love for the Ummah, their humility and their compassion. May Allah protect and preserve our Shuyukh, our Sufiya and our 'Ulema.
Peace and Blessings upon Muhammad al Mustafa, his Companions and his Family.
'Alaikum Salam.

The Rope Of Allah.

Al Salamu 'Alaykum.

Allah says in Sura Aal-e-'Imraan, ayat 103-105:

"And hold fast, all together by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth Allah make his signs clear to you: that ye may be guided.  Let there arise out of you a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong; they are the ones to attain felicity.  Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear signs; for them is a dreadful penalty." (Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali).

And yet there are no signs of the Ummah uniting. Alas.

"Yun to Sayyid bhi ho, Mirza bhi ho, Afghan bhi ho,

Sabhi kuch ho, batao to Musalman bhi ho?"

Wa'alaykum Salam.