All praise is due to Allah, and may endless peace, mercy, and blessings shower upon His Beloved Messenger Muhammad, his Kin, and his Companions

{And remind them of the days of Allah} (14:5)

These are excerpts taken from the book Kanz Al-Najah Wal-Surur, a book that focuses on the special qualities of each month and what devotional acts are recommended during those particular months and days. Please note that these recommended acts for the month of Safar have been suggested by many of the Righteous scholars and people of insight and have proved beneficial to many over the centuries.

Safar:

Many of the Saliheen state that Allah sends down the trials and tribulations that will occur throughout the year on the last Wednesday of the month of Safar (which is Wednesday, 29th of Safar – February 25th, 2009). Those trials and tribulations are spread out accordingly and apportioned to specific people. It has been recommended to make certain duas and perform certain devotional acts seeking Allah’s Mercy and Gentlessness during this time to avoid being apportioned any trial or tribulation.

What to do on the last Wednesday of Safar:

• Pray 4 rak’ahs (other than an obligatory/fard prayer)
• In each rak’ah recite the Fatiha, then Surat Al-Kawthar (Chapter 108) 17 times, then Surat Al-Ikhlas (Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad – Chapter 112) 5 times, then Surat Al-Falaq (Chapter 113) once, and finally Surat Al-Naas (Chapter 114) once.
• Repeat this in each rak’ah.

After saying the salaam after the 4th rak’ah, this dua should be recited:
Bismillahi Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem, wa Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘ala Sayyidna Muhammadin wa ‘ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa sallim. {Allahuma} ya Shadeed al-Quwa, wa ya Shadeed al-Mihaal, ya ‘Azeezu dhallat li ‘izzatika jamee’ khalqik; ikfini min jamee’ khalqik, ya Muhsin, ya Mujammil, ya Mutafaddil, ya Mun’im, ya Mukrim – ya men la illaha illa Anta, bi Rahmatika ya Arham Ar-Rahimeen. {Allahuma} bi sirri Al-Hasan wa Akheeh, wa Jaddihi wa Abeeh, ikfini sharra hadha al-youm wa ma yunzilu feeh, ya Kaafi. {Fasa yakfeekahumu Allahu wa Huwa As-Samee’u Al-’Aleem}. Wa Hasbunal Allahu wa na’am al wakeel, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahi Al-’Alee, Al-’Adheem. Wa Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘ala Sayyidna Muhammad wa ‘ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa sallim.

The Translation:
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. May the peace and mercy of Allah the Exalted be upon our Master Muhammad, and upon his Family and Companions. {O Allah} the One of Intense Power, the One of Intense Perspicacity. O Glorious One, Your entire creation is humbled before your Might – protect me from your entire creation, O Charitable One, O Beautifier, O Gracious One, O Giver of Blessing, O Generous One – there is no god except You, we ask your Mercy, of Most Merciful. {O Allah} by the secret [blessing you have given] Al-Hasan, his brother [Husayn], his grandfather [may the peace and mercy of Allah be upon him!], his father [Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him] – protect us from the evil of this day and from what descends on this day, O Sufficient Protector! {Allah will suffice you against them, He is the All-Seeing, All-Knowing}. Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs, and there is no might or power except Allah’s, the Exalted, the Mighty. And may the peace and mercy of Allah be upon our Master Muhammad, his Family, and Companions.

Also, it is highly recommended to read Surat Ya-Seen (Chapter 36) on that day, and when reaching the verse:

{Sallamun qawlan min Rabbin Raheem} (Verse 58) to repeat that verse 313 times.

After finishing the Surah, then read this dua:
{Allahuma} Salli ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammadin salaatan tunjeena biha min jamee’ al-ahwaali wa al-afaat, wa taqdi lana biha jamee’ al-hajaat, wa tutahirruna biha min jamee’ al-sayyi’aat, wa tarfa’una biha ‘ala ad-darajaat, wa tubalighuna biha aqsa al-ghayaat, min jamee’ al-khayraat, fi al-hayaati wa ba’ad al mamaat. {Allahuma} isrif ‘anna sharra ma yanzilu min al-samaa, wa ma yakhruju min al-ard, innaka ‘ala kul shayy’in qadeer. Wa Salla Allahu ta’ala ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammad wa ‘ala Aalihi wa Sahbihi wa Sallim.

Translation:
O Allah, send mercy upon our Master Muhammad, a [prayer of] mercy with which You save us from all threats and calamaties, and by it [the prayer for mercy] You fulfill all our needs, and You purify us from the entirety of our sins, and You raise us by it to the highest levels, and You allow us to reach our greatest aspirations, in this life and after death. O Allah, avert from us the evil that descends from the heavens, and from [the evil] the comes from the earth – indeed, You are in power over all things. And may Allah send His Mercy upon our Master Muhammad, his Family, and Companions.

Finally, it is recommended to make dua for one’s spiritual needs as well as one’s worldly needs, then ask Allah for protection and good health.

May Allah give us all the success to benefit from each month, each day, and each moment. May Allah continue to bless you all, your families, and the entire Ummah.

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This article was provided by our beloved brother, Sidi Amjad Tarsin. Originally posted in Facebook, graciously allowed to be shared here.

At a recent event, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf presented a new paper, titled “Climbing Mount Purgatorio: Reflections from the Seventh Cornice”. The event was The Social Costs of Pornography, a consultation organized by the Witherspoon Institute at Princeton University. This event was held in December 2008. Click here for more details about The Social Costs of Pornography event.

And click here to download Shaykh Hamza’s paper: “Climbing Mount Purgatorio”.

The consultation on The Social Costs of Pornography was organized by the Witherspoon Institute in conjunction with the Institute for the Psychological Sciences in Washington, DC and held at Princeton University, December 11 – 13, 2008. The consultation was hosted by Robert P. George, Senior Fellow of the Witherspoon Institute and McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence at Princeton University. This meeting assembled leading experts in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, neurophysiology, philosophy, sociology, law, and political theory to present a rigorously argued overview of the problem of pornography in our society and to make recommendations. The primary purpose of the meeting was to examine the real nature of pornography in its moral and social consequences.

It is essential to note the scholars who participated in this consultation represent a wide range of political perspectives, but share a common interest in addressing pornography’s devastating social cost. At the two-day-long consultation, ten scholars delivered papers on subject-specific aspects of pornography’s impact, and approximately twelve scholars served as discussants throughout the meeting. This format ensured that the papers will be energetically critiqued in order to promote a fair and in-depth assessment of the issues in question.

The National, an English newspaper based in Abu Dhabi, has published an opinion piece by Rasha Elass, which quotes Imam Zaid’s recent lecture in New York.

Here are some highlights:

“This is our time. This is our place,” Imam Zaid Shakir told his enthusiastic young Muslim audience in New York. “As a community we’re not invisible, but some of us have chosen to pretend that we are.”

“Yes, there are challenges in this post-9/11 America: the Patriot Act… right-wing elements and their surrogates. But we should embrace the challenges,” he said.

And a quote from Dave Chappelle:

“You’re not playing around, America, because you just put a black man with a brown name in the White House.”

Read the full article here: http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090114/OPINION/778135416/-1/NEWS

Jamal Mashburn, NBA All Star and entrepreneur, launches his new interactive website. This begins a new era in Mr. Mashburn’s online presence, and advancement of his social vision for change.

Syed Sharif Omar bin Ali Aljunied (al-Junied, Al-junied, al Junied) (b.1792 ,Hadramaut, Yemen – d. 6 November 1852, Singapore), the patriarch of the Aljunieds in Singapore, was a noted Arab spice trader and businessman, philanthropist and important leader of the early Arab community.

Early Life
The Aljunieds, descendants of the Prophet Muhammed, had established themselves as traders in Southeast Asia long before coming to Singapore. One such member of the family, Syed Sharif Omar al-Junied and his uncle, Syed Mohammed bin Harun (Haroon) Aljunied, (d. 22 February 1824, Singapore) were probably the first Arabs to come to Singapore. The first in the family to leave Yemen, he travelled to the East in 1816 set on spreading the Muslim faith. He landed in Palembang, Sumatra and established himself as a successful trader in spices. Syed Omar’s fame in Palembang was not only as a merchant but also as a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammed, for which he was honoured with the title of Pengeran Sherif or “Prince” of the Malays. He was well-known as a leader of the Arabs in the Malay Sultanate in the East, an upright and honourable man.

Meanwhile, Syed Mohammed set up business by June 1819 just four months after the founding of Singapore in 1819. His nephew, Syed Omar soon followed and was personally welcomed by Stamford Raffles eager to court the wealth of Arab traders who had established a lucrative trade between the Far East and the known world. The Arabs in turn were attracted to Singapore’s free port which contrasted with the heavy duties charged at ports held by the Dutch.

Through Raffles’ support, the Aljunieds gained a plot of land between High Street and the Singapore River to set up their home. A platform with a shaded roof, a balei, served as the meeting place for fellow Arabs who often consulted the Pengeran Sherif. It was also here that a vengeful Arab merchant, Syed Yasin, attempted to kill the Pengeran for having him incarcerated for debts owed the Aljunieds. However, Syed Yasin was spotted by the Pengeran and killed in a violent battle with the police, but not without wounding Colonel Farquhar who was assisting in the arrest. When Syed Mohammed died in February 1824, the business was passed on to Syed Omar who served as guardian for the heir apparent, Syed Ali bin Mohammed Aljunied who was only 9 years old then. Syed Omar carried on the business under Syed Ali’s name rather than his own, multiplying the already great wealth of his uncle’s.

Syed Omar bought land at the southwest corner of High Street and North Bridge Road. The family home was also where the merchant conducted his business, with transactions extending between London and Indonesia. His spice trade spilled over into other products, with even a personal brandname on cotton purchased from Britain and traded with Indonesia for batik printing. The Aljunied home was sold to the Seah Eu Chin family and Omar’s nephew, Syed Ali, moved the Aljunied home to Balestier Road.

Major Accomplishments
Apart from his successful trading business, Syed Omar was also noted as one of the first religious leaders and one who was a generous contributer to charitable causes. He donated land for religious buildings such as St Andrew’s Cathedral and the Masjid Kampong Melaka (a.k.a Masjid Omar Kampong Melaka or Malacca Mosque) in Chinatown. He had commissioned the building of the mosque in 1820 for the Malay fishermen, Bugis merchants and Malaccan businessmen who traded with the Chinese in Chinatown. It was the first place of worship constructed in Singapore.

Click here for a larger image (different angle).

Another mosque in Bencoolen street is also attributed to him. He then contributed land for the Pauper’s Hospital in 1844 which later would become Tan Tock Seng Hospital for which his nephew Syed Ali would also donate land between Victoria Street and Arab Street. The large plot of land between Victoria Street and Rochore Canal was originally an Arab-Muslim burial ground named after Syed Omar himself after he was buried there.

When he died in 1852, he left behind five sons and several grandchildren. He was buried with his uncle Syed Mohammed at the Syed Omar Cemetery.

Family
Uncle: Syed Mohammed bin Harun (Haroon) Aljunied

Sons
Syed Abdullah Omar Aljunied, who carried on the family business with his cousin, Syed Ali. He also rebuilt the Masjid Kampong Melaka and named the road on which it stood, Omar Road.
Syed Abu Bakar Omar Aljunied, who was a founding member of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce and the only non-European on the Board of Governors of the Singapore Harbour Board, the precursor to the Port of Singapore Authority.

Nephew: Syed Ali bin Mohammed Aljunied (d.1858), son of Syed Mohammed bin Harun, headed the family busines with Syed Sharif Omar’s son, Syed Abdullah Omar. He was a community leader in his own right, contributing land and money in the spirit of the Aljunied clan. Some commendable deeds included:

• Ensuring the supply of drinking water to the community by financing the building of four community wells dug behind Fort Canning, at Selegie Road, Pungulu Kisang and Telok Ayer.
• Donating land for the Bukit Wakaff Cemetery off Grange Road.
• Donating the land in 1857 between Victoria Street and Arab Street for the new site of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
• Rebuilding the Masjid Melaka in 1855.
  Grandnephew : Syed Alwi, son of Syed Ali bin Mohammed Aljunied.

The Aljunieds along with the Alkaffs and Alsagoffs were the three most prominent and wealthiest Arab families in Singapore for some time. The Aljunieds (the family name al-Junied coalesced to form a single word in the last century) were notable residents at Balestier Road for over 100 years. The Aljunied Islamic School (Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah) built in 1927 is attributed to one of the Aljunieds, Syed Abdul Rahman Aljunied. Large sums of money was also contributed by the family for the building of the Town Hall. The business moved to 737 North Bridge Road under the name Toko Aljunied (meaning “Aljunied’s shop”), long famous for its atar, an alcohol-free perfume preferred by Muslims. The family also started the House of Batik. Today, the Aljunieds are more than 300 strong, many still residing in Singapore.

Source: http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_847_2004-12-29.html
Author: Michael Mukunthan

singapore, aljunied, hadramaut, yemen, arab, history, biography, commerce, trade, business, islam, ba’alawi, sayyid