This post and the upcoming ones will be a series of transcribe notes from a course based on the book of the great scholar from Yemen, Imam Al Haddad – The Book of Assistance. Its led by a scholar Shaykh Musa’b Penfound in Sweden.
Shaykh Musa’b Penfound was born and raised in Manchester, England. After a two year journey, he entered Islam at the age of eighteen. He has a Degree in Arabic Language & History from the University of Manchester. Since 2005, after an interim period at the University of Manchester attaining a degree in Arabic Language & History, he has been studying full-time under authentic scholarship, with unbroken chains of transmission back to the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
His formal training and knowledge was derived through a classical syllabus based upon the formal Islamic sciences combined with the disciplines of inward purification. He has received scholastic permission and licences (ijazah) from leading traditional scholars, providing authentic credentials that ensure a trustworthy and credible source for accurate teaching and demonstration of the faith.
His main teacher is the distinguished Islamic scholar; Al-Habib Umar bin Muhammad bin Hafidh under which Shaykh Musa’b has received guidance and tutelage.
He has also studied under scholars in the renowned seminary of Dar-Al Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen which include the Grand Mufti of Tarim, Habib Ali Mashour bin Hafidh, Shaykh Umar Al-Khatib, Al-Habib Muhammad bin Abdullah Al-Idrus, Al-Habib Musa Khadhim As-Seggaf among others.
He has received training and ijazah to teach the following Islamic sciences:
- Qur’anic commentary (Tafsir)
- Prophetic narrations (Hadith)
- Islamic theology (Aqidah)
- Sacred law (Islamic Jurispudence)
- Arabic language (Nahu, Sarf, Balagha)
- Sacred Ettiquette (Tarbiyya / Adab)
- The Prophetic methodology of Calling (Da’wah)
He travels regularly and has taught and lectured in the UK, the Middle East, South Africa, Comoros Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Shaykh Musab currently lives in Hadramout, Yemen where he continues to learn and teach.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الحمد لله رب العالمين
والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله
- Making an Intention is the process of aiming for something. The locus point is in the heart. The intention is not formulated in the mind but in the heart.
- The heart in nature is constantly revolving and going to different places everytime, so we always need to redirect it.
- “..إنَّمَا الأعمَال بالنِّيَّاتِ وإِنَّما لِكُلِّ امريءٍ ما نَوَى” “Sesungguhnya setiap amalan tergantung pada niatnya. Setiap orang akan mendapatkan apa yang ia niatkan ” / “Verily actions are by intentions, and for every person is what he intended.”
- ‘Innama/ إنَّمَا ’ in the arabic word is the term used for the translation of Sesungguhnya or Verily. It is a word of negating option, it negates/nullifies whatever that is not. In other words, Amal is ONLY valid/accepted in accordance to what is in the state of the heart.
- The making of intentions has an analogy in getting rid of weeds in plants so it can grow properly. So its in weeding out the hypocrisy, riya, etc in the Amal to let it grow properly and eventually bear fruit. Meaning to say, there will always be weeds (disease of the heart) sprouting out when planting a good action.
- Now, most of what we do is pretty mundane stuff (Mubah) and it can make us feel detached in life, not living it purposefully. We want to feel more devoted, more attached in doing things for our Deen. Theres too much focus on other things, too many worthless distractions.
- Mubah(Allowed/Neutral): no reward in doing it, no sin in leaving it. Most of the stuff we waste time is in this realm.
- Go to the car, go to work etc are all Mubah/Neutral actions. But in earning Rizq, if that person has dependence/responsibility then that Hukum changes from Mubah to Wajib. Thus, all of the time spent in working earns reward.
- So Example of making an intention is firstly in the actions itself (eg. going to work) and then along the way doing that act, more intentions can sprout up; so example, the intentions of the act of going to work is 1) you want to earn a living and not depend on anyone. 2) That surplus is going to go for Islamic studies and donation. So on and so forth; the extra intentions you intent to do while doing that act of going to work/or at work would be like; 1) will smile along way 2) help ppl in their trouble 3) say salam first etc. Now when you start to have this intentions in the time of the Mubah Period. It becomes a period of Fi Sabilillah. Youre embracing and using this ‘neutral’ time for/to Allah.
- We need to take this Intentions seriously and understand that this gift that the Prophet Saw gave us. Activating, understanding and facilitating the space for our intentions to flourish is precious.
- Habib Ahmad Hasan Al Attas said “The reality of an Intention is that it’s which something that is given to you” You think youre thinking abt it (the intention) but actually all you need to do is to make sure the heart is in a receiving/soft state to receive those intentions. (purify the heart)
- So to turn to Allah, to be a person of Zikr. To have time alone to reflect on intentions. So when a person habituates itself in this state, Allah reciprocates, and those intentions will be ‘taught’ to him, he will start to be more creative and be more mindful in intentions.
- Now how do you train yourself to be ready to ‘think ‘about (receiving) those intentions? Its the same analogy as working out, the more you constantly ‘think’ about it the stronger your mind/heart can get into frame.
- The Prophet Saw won’t be so excessive in his praise for the food because that would be engaging the Nafs. So to ask what’s the reason I’m saying what im saying? Why and what’s the intention? Now that will make you be more aware, reflective and more quiet.
- The Prophet saw said the Mu’min should be Easy Going. (hayyin layyin) dont be too stiff and serious all the time.
- Example is in marriage and friendship. Something said in trivia or fun/joke can be rewarded because it’s part of the whole affair to make people at ease, be easy going.
- But the difference is that it’s rooted in something bigger, that you care for that someone, you want them to be connected to Allah, you have love for them and hope that Allah raises and blesses them by through the means of being fun, easy going, make people happy etc.
- THAT SHOULD BE THE DEFAULT OF EVERY MEETING AND INTERACTION.
- See, it’s totally not from you that the person can be guided. But Allah works through people. When you come laden with intentions and goodness it spills out and elevates people.
- The first intention is always to be to seek the Redha of Allah for that person and for ourselves. It must be strongly rooted for Allah cos that’s where the light will come forth.
- Habib Qadir Assegaff said ” Every person has rays that emanates from their soul. You receive these rays when you come close to them or sit in their presence. Each person’s rays differ in strengths according to the state of their soul. This explains why you get affected when you seat in the presence of great people. They are the people that follow the way of the Prophet Saw in their religious and worldly affairs. When they speak they counsel people in a beautiful way and sometimes their actions alone guides people. When they are silent they are like signpost that guides people along the Path or like lighthouses which rays guides the ships. Many of them say little. But when you sit by them you get affected. This is because the rays of their soul enter you”
- Why do this people speak little? Because they are speaking more to Allah. Communing of the Heart whilst in the presence of people.
- In this science particularly is to know how to have a face to Allah and to Creations and it’s not on opposites end but rather in harmony.
- When the people of Allah speaks you HAVE TO BE ATTENTIVE no matter how plain the advice is. Bcs it’s coming from a place of meaning and depth they’re connected and conscious of realities.
- Many people feel less worthy and unmotivated in life, relationships, religion due to the disconnection of the soul to Allah whilst doing the ‘Dunya stuff’.
- Have intentions on a daily level, when you start doing it. Things will start to change within the heart and you’ll be able to lift more weights (bigger epic intentions, stronger ‘rays)
- This is one of the ways to really see if you’re real with your intentions and Allah. (see if those intentions are sticking & growing)
- Part of the nature of the intentions is that its timeless. you can do it before and during the act.
- Some of the Muhaqiqin, say it could still be done after due to the grace of Allah.
- You can even have so many good intentions in cooking a samosa. The intention that itll benefit not just the people eating but the entire Ummah!
- Like a mother caring for a child can have the intention of taking care a person from the Ummah of the prophet saw and with this may Allah take care all other childs from the ummahs of the Prophet Saw.
- This will have an effect on the people around you. If all you do is cultivate your heart and be a person of good intentions, for Allah. Ikhlas. That’s the reason that will change things.
- So dont wait idle, think about intentions.
- The intention to attend a class of sacred knowledge is Huge. Cld be a means to entering Jannah. And when you have the intention of conveying and be that knowledge. You will become Nabawi.
Seedlings 