On 21st February 2016, Habib Kadhim Jaafar as-Saggaf concluded his last night for this visit in Singapore with an electrifying mawlid with the Singapore Haqqani Ensemble at SimplyIslam, 152 Still Road.

Habib Kadhim during the Mahallul Qiyam

Habib Kadhim attracted over 250 people to the premises, filling the whole hall with men, women, children and the elderly. The Singapore Haqqani Ensemble recited the Mawlid ad-Diba’ie, interspersing it with various qasaaid in praise of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It was very apt then that Habib Kadhim’s ensuing advice to the crowd was on the greatness of sending prayers (salawat) upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

Habib Kadhim speaking in Arabic and SimplyIslam’s staff & Arabic translator, Ustadh Abid as-Salah translating into English.

Here are some notes from his sharing last night:

If we had tongues numbering the number of hair we have and all the tongues are praising and being thankful for the Prophet ﷺ , it will not be enough for the ni’mah (gift) of the Prophet ﷺ.

In a qasidah, there’s a line that goes, “Khairal bariyya, nazra ilayya” “O best of creation, cast your glance on me”. One gaze/glance from the Prophet ﷺ  will lift you up in spiritual stations more than 1000 years of worship would.

Without us asking for this glance/gaze, he will send us these gazes by virtue of his mercy ﷺ

One of the greatest blessings for us is that we are from his ummah (community) and receiving the most beautiful aspects of his mercy.

To preserve these blessings upon us, we have to just thank Allah for them. Like in the Qur’an it says, “If you are grateful, I will give you more.”

If we leave such majalis (gatherings) that remember the Prophet ﷺ , gradually the love for the Prophet will leave our hearts, nauzubillah (may Allah save us from this).

A mark of a weakness of a Muslim in his love for the Prophet ﷺ is when he says salaam to the Prophet ﷺ during the tahiyat  without presence/in heedlessness.

The pious, righteous, the ulama’ and the awliya’ are in, and feeling the presence of the Prophet ﷺ at all times.

Believers who are sincere in their love for him do not forget the grants and the presence of the Prophet ﷺ.

Sultanah Zubaydiyah, a lady from the 9th century in Yemen was known for her abundance of zikr and salawat. She was blessed with a vision of the Prophet ﷺ in her dream based on her numerous salawat. She saw that someone told her that her da’wah is accepted by Allah, so ask for whatever she wants. She consulted her teacher and was told, the greatest thing you can ask for is to see the Prophet ﷺ  in this life before the next.

Divine gifts are not restricted to time, place or gender. When Allah, the Malikul Mulk (Owner of the Kingdom), wants to give, He will give.

Why are these gatherings to remember the Prophet ﷺ  important? Because they attach and link the hearts to the Prophet ﷺ . And the gaze/glance of the Prophet ﷺ will land on those who remember him ﷺ.

Allah raises and purify us by the virtue of the salawat of Prophet ﷺ.

The easiest and shortest way to the Prophet ﷺ  is to make salawat.

How amazing is this matter? Allah sent salawat first then He tells us to send salawat. And when we send salawat, Allah sends 50 salawat upon US for one salawat we send to the Prophet ﷺ . This is the abundant gift from the Greatest Giver.

If all of mankind from Nabi Adam alayhi-salaam until the last man at the end of time were to send salawat on the Prophet ﷺ , the amount is not even a fraction of the salawat done by the angels in the first heaven. Then what about the 2nd, 3rd, 4th heaven and so forth?

There are angels in the planets, stars and moons making salawat on the Prophet ﷺ and we cannot imagine the number of angels nor the number of salawat being made.

One salawat from Allah on us is more than a million years worth of our worship. The Companion Ubayy bin Ka’b said he would spend all his du’a in salawat on the Prophet ﷺ.

Ubayy bin Ka’ab said “I once told the Messenger of God, (upon whom be peace and blessings of God The Exalted) ‘O Messenger of God, I invoke much. What portion should I offer salutations upon you?’

The Prophet replied, “However much you wish.”

To this I asked, “A fourth?”

He said, “If you wish, but should you increase the number, it will be better for you.”

I then asked, “A third?”

He said, “If you wish, but should you increase the number, it is still better for you.”

I then asked, “A half?”

He said, “If you wish, but should you increase the number, it is still better for you.”

I then said, “Indeed in my invocation, I shall make all of my prayers upon you!”

To this, the Messenger of God replied, “If you do that you will be freed from anxiety and all your wrongs pardoned.” [Hadith, recorded by Tirmidhi]

This is why we make salawat: we have needs and requests from Allah, and by virtue of our salawat, all our needs and requests will be met. The greatest channel and most beautiful medium IS our prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ.

No one knows the reward of the person who does salawat except Allah.

The Muslim continuously make praises until his heart will receive mercy from the Prophet ﷺ.

Remembering the Prophet ﷺ  is in reality remembering Allah.

May we keep our tongues moist with salawat, our hearts alive by being thankful for the gift of the Prophet ﷺ and be granted many more opportunities to be in gatherings that remember the Prophet ﷺ. And may Allah grant Habib Kadhim and all our teachers long and healthy lives so that we may benefit from their counsel and rectify our states. Ameen!

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Ameera Begum
Ameera is the Editor of Muzlimbuzz.sg, a chronic reader and a news junkie.