On the last Monday in Rabi Al-Awwal, a special mawlid was held in Dar Al-Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen. We were blessed to have Sidi Amjad Tarsin share with us the link to the live broadcast as well as his live translation of Habib Umar’s speech. All praises to Allah for allowing us to gather the pearls of wisdom, advice and knowledge from Habib Umar. We would like to share with you the notes we took. All mistakes are entirely from us, we are incapable of fully translating the tremendous wisdom of Habib Umar. Please be aware that these notes are for reference only. If you are plan on posting this elsewhere, kindly include the link to this post.

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.”

Imam Siraj Wahhaj recently announced that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. In his well-known humble and noble manner, he has accepted his fate and seeks a cure through Allah’s grace. As his students and admirers, we can also support our beloved teacher.

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!

Shaykh Abdul Hakim Murad gave this lecture at a Milad conference held by the Naqshbandiya Foundation for Islamic Education in the early 1990s. He talks about the importance of celebrating the mawlid, performing the sunnah on all levels (Islam, Iman, Ihsan) and many more dimensions of the mawlid (also called milad or mawlud).

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).

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

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.