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On April 4, 2010, this world lost a spiritual leader, Habib Abdul Qadir Al-Saggaf. We cannot express our loss and sorrow. Instead, here is a biography of the Habib. Below, you will find a eulogy from Sidi Yahya Rhodus, courtesy of Seekers Guidance.

al-Qutb al-Habib Abdul Qadir Ibn Ahmad al-Saggaf

The spiritual Emperor of the People of the House and progeny of Alawi (may peace be upon Him) Abdul Qadir al-Saggaf, the son of Ahmad al-Saggaf (may Allah exalt His family), the living Pole of the AhlulBayt is the unsung Shaykh of al-Habib Umar bin Hafidh. He presently resides in Jeddah, where he has lived for many years.

Unlike his contemporaries, such as al-Habib Mashhur al-Haddad (may Allah show him mercy), Abdul Qadir al-Saggaf was less transient and thus received Shuyukh from all over the world; the Masters and Honourables of the family of Hashim in order they may acquire just a fragment of his light and wisdom. He is known not for innovations or controversies, but strictly for his unrivalled station amongst the People of the House and Trustees of Allah. It would be very unfortunate for a scholar to be unaware of Abdul Qadir al-Saggaf, which is not disobedience, but purely a lack of connection with such a profound human being.

There is not much to mention concerning this individual if we were to speak in earthly terms which does not seperate him from any other of the highest and most elite Islamic scholars; and in adherence to the example of the Messenger of Allah (May infinite blessings be sent to him and his family), the divulgences of the higher realm must be treated with care and prudence. Although it is very difficult to remain within those boundaries as the legends that navigate around the name of Abdul Qadir al-Saggaf involve the tendency to break the limits of reason. It would be wise instead to quote al-Habib Umar bin Hafidh, who epitomised his Guide’s rank, when famously in a gathering, he stood and pointed at the noble descendent and firmly declared “By Allah! There is no man in the universe like him! By Allah! There is no man in the universe like him!”

It is no secret that the station of Abdul Qadir al-Saggaf comes through his nearness to the Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bring us nearness to the final messenger in order we may honour him), dedicating his life to the example of the Messenger (Peace and infinite blessings be upon him) and gaining connection with his ancestor, the Emissary of God. However, carrying the preserved and unhampered lineage of al-Sayyid Abdur Rahman al-Saggaf (May Allah extol him) and al-Faqih al-Muqaddam (Peace be upon Him), it is obvious that his birth right was complemented with incomparable honour, that we are not worthy to question.

A pillar which signifies ones nearness to Allah is humility, and Abdul Qadir al-Saggaf never fell short of this quality. He is renowned for his efforts to make people feel at ease, never feeling comfortable if the people around him were uncomfortable. He respected people, and thus he was respected, he asked for prayer and made sure his guests felt welcome – even his students. A major element of his honour is derived from his subservient nature and immense shame before Allah. May Allah exalt the people of humility.

In the mid 90′s, al-Qutb Abdul Qadir al-Saggaf was known to be very frail, with nearly half his body on the verge of paralysis. His current state is described only as…annihilated. His next of kin describe him as “gone…”, he does not speak anymore, and spent the latter part of the 90′s in a state of weeping and sleepless nights. There is no vocal transmissions from the Sheikh anymore, only his unworldly presence. al-Qutb al-Habib Abdul Qadir is undoubtedly, a charismatic authority in every shape and form, in every realm, in every dimension. May Allah give us the strength to convey his honour well in’sha’Allah.

Source:

http://users1.nofeehost.com/saqqaf/ Thanks to Kidragon

Shaykh Yahya Rhodus expresses his condolences on the death of the spiritual luminary and renown scholar, Habib Abd al-Qadir bin Ahmad al-Saqqaf who passed away earlier this week. He shares a brief biography of Habib Abd al-Qadir and gives key insights from his life.

On the Passing of Habib Abd al-Qadir bin Ahmad al-Saqqaf – Shaykh Yahya Rhodus from SeekersGuidance on Vimeo.

Source:

On the Passing of Habib Abd al-Qadir bin Ahmad al-Saqqaf – Shaykh Yahya Rhodus

Facebook links:

• Habib Abdul Qadir Al-Saqqaf Facebook Page
• Habib Abdul Qadir Al-saggaf Group
• Tariqah ‘Alawiyyah
• The Habaib / Ba Alawi Tariqa

Here are some ideas on how you can honor Malcolm X on his death anniversary, during Black History Month and throughout the year.

On Twitter: make #MalcolmX as the trending topic. Encourage all your followers to share a quote of Malcolm or link to some of his resources and include the hashtag #MalcolmX. Here’s an example – http://twitter.com/sueetness/status/9420396588

With the written word: start a study circle and read the autobiography of Malcolm X.

On screen: organize a group viewing of various speeches of Malcolm X. Include a discussion session.

Share with us on how you plan to honor Malcolm in your community.

Source: Remembering Malcolm X

A while ago, a good friend, and fellow thinker, Sakiya Sandifer, asked me to compose and article on the recent and tragic shootings at Fort Hood military base. As I watched the news, the words “killer,” “Muslim,” “terrorist,” and “Islamic” seemed to roll across the screen as it made its way in the context of conversation being offered by the journalist. It appeared, in a continuing trend, that the media was looking to take the actions of alleged “Muslim” gunman’s act of terror, and immediately try to connect his actions to a fundamentalist, violent, radical, but extremely profitable and marketable form of Islam. I affectionately call this making doe on the “Muslim Problem.” For those who are new to this…

Welcome to the world of the Anti-Muslim Industrial Complex (AMI Complex) my friends…or maybe not.

If you want to know what the “Muslim Problem” is I would submit to you as Example A, an interview conducted by CNN morning host, John Roberts in the time following the shooting. Roberts interviewed someone who worked with alleged shooter, Nidal Hassan. What was puzzling about the interview was the interviewee, hadn’t seen, nor spoken to Hassan in nearly five years. Roberts, oblivious to the fact the interviewee really had not contact matter, made the situation worse by asking the interviewer if he had noticed the shooter exhibiting radical Islamic characteristics or behavior. The invited guest simply answered the question by informing Roberts that he had no contact with Hassan in five years, and wouldn’t know what he was up to. I’m glad this guy got it because Roberts was caught up in the AMI Complex. The problem here extends well beyond the Roberts’ desperation to make this a terror plot of radical Islamists, and attaching Islam as the culprit in this situation. It’s more important than that. This attitude illuminates the present strategy in place that makes it not only acceptable to do this, but sadly mainstream in its nature. It is indicative of the Anti-Muslim Industrial Complex, AMI Complex for short.

Now, if you want to know what this term means, you have to invest in the history of business, and the business of profiling for profit. Stop here if you can’t think beyond the mid 70’s, because you’ll learn as great as America, and it’s citizens are, on the extreme that’s how dysfunctional, and sinister they can be as well. Scratch that. It’s all the dynamic of human existence. The AMI Complex is easy to understand if you can reason that any Industrial complex, despite what you put in front of it, uses innovation to create profitability for the market, and it’s shareholders. The Anti-Muslim Industrial Complex is no different except that the geniuses of this market have innovated on fear, intolerance, intimidation, and distortion of information to grow their market. They then maintain their market by presenting their “systemic solutions” to deal with the problems. They are a culture of experts on the problems they produce. Let’s face it hating on the Muslim image has become big business, just as terrorists have found the can make money, and expand their opportunities by attacking the U.S. Government.  These terrorists would include Al-Qaeda, the KKK, militias, and those who religious folks that actively pray for President Obama’s assassination, and the uninformed chants of the uninsured, “I don’t want healthcare reform, because I don’t want government interfering with my Medicare.” I give it up to the Healthcare Industrial Complex, that’s a classic. The hits just keep coming.

For a minute, let’s examine Nidal Hasssan. There are those who would say that his religion made him commit these horrible acts. Here’s a question. What ever happened to the idea of “crazy?” It’s still happens you know. Check this out. Nidal Hassan chose a career in mental heath industry. Anyone knows that the Mental Un-Health Industrial Complex has a market, and mission that make mental illness profitable. Prozac anyone? Could it be possible that Hassan made the short walk from physician to client? I say, “yep.”

Would anyone be surprised, or care, if a drug dealer somehow wound up hooked on drugs? How about a doctor that prescribes medication, Oh My God! getting hooked on prescription drugs. Did you ever hear about the white kids that hung with black kids, and wound up calling themselves niggers? Let’s stop choking the “proverbial chicken” here and fess up.

The level of defense contracts, celebrity punditry, profiling, and other actionable negatives against the Muslim Image, and the concept of Islam as a religion of terrorist, as opposed to submission to God, is PROFITABLE for everyone…that’s not Muslim. IF Muslims every find a way to get in on the AMI Complex, and make money off their negative image, we’d be able to build more mosques than there are McDonalds. Seriously, the AMI Complex is profitable. It’s comparable in a way that the industries that produce hair products for black people is profitable…for everyone who isn’t black, and doesn’t have black hair.

Let’s get back to facts and reason. The recently executed John Allen Muhammad never got full value in the AMI Complex, because he wasn’t the right kind of Muslim. He was Muslim but by all accounts wanted to kill his wife, not attack the United States. He was of no value to the Anti-Muslim Industrial Complex. According to market segmentation, he was a just a crazy nigger that wound up going into the “Prison Industrial Complex.”

And now for my dismount…

As far as Nidal Hassan’s situation, he was a troubled individual. His peers in the military knew it, documented it, but didn’t fully address it as a mental health issue. Being real, isn’t mental health their business? I mean psychiatrist have to have psychiatrists to keep each other in check; so I’m not sure what went astray in this situation. The cost of looking the other way, or possibly just the Muslim way, cost the lives and well-being of innocent people, and their families.

I’m Muslim, but I ain’t crazy. If I were crazy, wouldn’t it make sense to address my mental state verses my religious beliefs? Oops forgot. I’m not the right kind of Muslim (Black) so I don’t have significant value to the AMI Complex Folks either.

This idea of a profitable market for treating Muslims, and Islam in a negative way should not be new to anyone that understands, and has a faint grasp of historical context. The tendencies of any selfish, and non-humane Industrial Complex, regardless of the noun you put out in front of it, are dangerous. Let me refresh your memory.

Drug laws of the mid-eighties gave rise to mass arrests and mandatory sentencing to insure deliverance of inmates for the “Prison Industrial Complex.

Manipulators of education initiatives conspired to  guarantee a poorly trained workforce feeding the “Cheap Labor Industrial Complex.”

The constant, and healthy doses of fear of invasion, and more terrorist acts helped fuel the billions of dollars to feed the “Military Industrial Complex.”

The devaluing of Africans as objects rather than human beings, or creations of God gave the permissible oppression to grow the “Slavery Industrial Complex.”

In closing, I grieve at the senseless loss of life, and health attributed to Hassan’s actions. After due process, if he’s guilty he should be punished, and will be. The one thing we can’t lose is our sensibility to look comprehensively at the situations in front of us. To do this we would acquiesce that inside all of we to harbor a/an (place your type of complex here) Industrial Complex.

The truth my brothers and sisters, when you really think about it…It’s not that COMPLEX at all.  Oh and hey, if you every think I’m losing my mind, you’re free to join me.

P.S.- I wonder what new complex will claim Tiger Woods’ latest situation. Let’s just wait and see hmmm.

[Editor's note: This guest post is by our mentor and big brother, Preacher Moss. Find him on Twitter: http://twitter.com/preachermoss and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/preachermoss. Follow his Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Preacher-Moss/79402084297]

He has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer in the brain and stomach and has been told he has only a few weeks left before he returns to his Creator.  Please make du’a for him and his family, and make a contribution to help his family cover their expenses in this difficult time.

He is very, very deserving of our support. A webpage has been set up to provide more info and help raise funds for Imam Benjamin and his family.
http://imambenjamin.blogspot.com/

Please take a moment to make a donation, and circulate this to others as well.

Thanks to Zachary Twist for sharing the above information.

UPDATE:

(Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un)
Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return…

Imam Benjamin Perez returned to his Creator this evening, December 8, 2009 at 8:22 PM. He was at home, surrounded with family and a brother in faith. He passed peacefully in his sleep.

May Allah bless him, reward him immensely for all his good, forgive him his mistakes, make his return easy for him, and place him in the highest abode in the afterlife.

Please pray for his family, make sincere du’a for him, recite Qur’an for him, and commit righteous acts and charity on his behalf. (It is related that the gifts of alms, prayers, and Qur’anic recitation sent by the living to the dead reach them carried by the angels on plates of light, and adorned with silk handkerchiefs, and they say to them: ‘This is a gift from so-and-so’, and in this way they find joy and delight. Source: Lives of Man.)

Imam Benjamin led a vibrant and beautiful life and touched many people along the way.  He will be very deeply missed.

The janazah (funeral services) are being organized within the next couple days.  Check the website, http://imambenjamin.blogspot.com, for details and updates.

The first noble scholar to speak was Habib Mashhur, Habib Umar bin Hafidh’s oldest brother. Habib Mashhur is also the mufti of Tarim. The next to speak was Habib Abdullah bin Shihab. Soon after, Habib Salim Al-Shatiry, the Sultan of Scholars, began his speech. Habib Salim said that all these majalis (gatherings) were from the barakah of the martyrdom of Habib Umar’s beloved father.

After this, Habib Umar began by speaking about the blessings of these gatherings.

Praise is due to Allah with thanks, for the blessings that come down in succession. We praise Him in secret and openly, and in the mornings and evenings (part of an Imam Al-Haddad poem).

He sent upon the clouds of His mercy and made us of the Community of the best of His creation. And He allowed us to enjoy life – those who remember, remember and they turn to the Most Merciful, Mighty and Majestic is He. And He prepared for us those who remind us, and those who make us pay attention, and those who warns us, and those who guide us.

Habib Jafar bin Muhammad Al-Aydarus wrote: “My young heart has become torn asunder out of love for the best of creation.”

An online fundraiser will be conducted on April 25, 2009 @ 7pm EST. Please sign up here: http://www.helpimamsiraj.com/ (sign up link located on top right corner below the banner).

Guest speakers include: Imam Suhaib Webb, Imam Zaid Shakir and Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.

You can read Imam Siraj’s letter about his situation here:
A Letter from Imam Siraj Wahhaj to the World

You can also donate online now!

Download the audio here: Supercession and Intercession of the Mawlid – Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad

This lecture is also available on YouTube.

Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4 * Part 5

Much thanks to Sidi Mas’ud Khan for sharing us his recording of this lecture. Please read his article about the Praise of Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace).

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

Today, the Muslim community lost a teacher and a leader. Imam Warith Deen Mohammed transcended boundaries to bring Islam to many homes, schools, communities and beyond. His passing today is a reminder to us that we need to latch on to our rightly guided leaders as they are the ones who will resist the tide, move towards the truth and hold our hands.

If you have not had a chance to read his biography, please take a moment to remember Imam W. D.

Biography from Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam

PBS Biography of Imam Warith Deen

Articles of Imam Warith Deen – http://newafricaradio.com/articles/index.html

Imam Warith Deen’s audio, video and literary publications – http://www.wdmpublications.com/

A message from Imam Amin Nathari: "…it didn’t take me long to figure out that he was a pivotal figure who would be recorded as a “legend” on the Islamic landscape in America."

Imam Dawud Walid, a student of Imam W. D. will be writing about his teacher soon on his blog.

Chicago Tribune Obituary

Guestbook for Imam W. D. Mohammed

Facebook group

Imam Suhaib Webb shares videos of Imam W. D. from Muslim Alliance of North America

Article from Free Detroit Press

The family of W. D. Mohammed also experienced a recent loss; Imam W. D.’s brother passed away on August 25. Jabir Mohammed was boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s manager. More from MANA. And the Chicago Tribune.

To Allah we belong and to Allah we return.

Rest in peace, dear Imam Warith Deen, we are missing you.