ALMISKEENAH

 

 

What seems long long long ago on the island of Santorini a rosary was gifted to me by the priest of a Carmelite Monastery.  For a small fee one could stay in rooms within the inner courtyard close to where the cloistered nuns lived in total seclusion from the world. I was told some had been there for more than sixty years! They would regularly attend a service seated behind wooden screens as they chanted various litanies. One can imagine how many trillions of rosaries they would have completed.

While on this same island a silver mala, ‘garland’ (Buddhist prayer beads) was purchased.  Traditionally these beads total 108. An auspicious number for Buddhists. Tibetan women divide their long dark hair into 108 small plaits. A mantra would be recited for each bead.

Fascinating how fundamentally the innate nature of man’s desire is submission, seeking various, but also similar methods in attempting to dive to depths divine.   

Sometime later whilst still searching for Truth, thinking it was to be found in Tibet where I happened to be, this silver mala broke. It was in a tiny earthen floor hut when the beads scattered in all directions. Try as I may I could only retrieve 99 beads. Just as the thread shattered, so it seemed did my soul at the time. I carefully wrapped the 99 beads in a cloth, securely tying and placing them in one of the inner pouches of the back pack. This seemingly insignificant incident was to be a momentous and symbolic turning point in my seeking. An inner knowing knew it was time to change direction, to shake the spiritual journey.  In retrospect, the number ninety-nine was a profound sign.  

Unlike the flimsy thread that these beads were strung upon, the thread that Allah Ta’ala connects with His creation is sturdy and resistant. However mankind tends to thwart and sabotage this union with so many banal excuses; arrogance, ignorance, neglect, laziness. Alhumdulillah Allah Ta’ala often responds to such futile attempts when He sees the slightest tug, firmly pulling the one lost towards Him and His Way.  

I believe the practices and traditions I gleaned from many other disciplines formed a structure and training for the blessing of Islam that followed. The sublime and intrinsic relationship with Al-Khaliq and His most Beloved SallAllahu alaihi wasallam transformed what appeared to be a fragile thread from my side into what felt like a steel cable. SubhanAllah!

This blessing, regardless of how we have been gifted it, requires effort in maintaining, and one from the myriad of the blissful practices we have as Believers is Salat and Salam on our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  

“The greatest source of blessings and mercy for the Muslim and for all of mankind is Muhammad, the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), sent as a Mercy to the Worlds. Muslims, as the most privileged recipients of this mercy, are required to invoke blessings (salat) upon him, and doing so holds great reward; the Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever sends one blessing upon me, Allah will send ten blessings upon him” (Muslim). Abu Muhammad al-Marjani says, “Your invoking blessings upon him is in reality praying for yourself since the benefits of it are returning to you.”

According to the hadith master, Shams al-Din al-Sakhawi, the benefits of sending blessings on Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) are numerous: Allah, His angels, and His Messenger send mercy upon the one who invokes blessings. Such a person’s wrongdoings are expiated, his good deeds increased and purified, and his status elevated. Whoever makes it his complete regimen by day and night, both his worldly and otherworldly matters are taken care of. He is shown his abode in Paradise before his death, his wealth is increased, and more than one hundred needs of his are fulfilled . . .”

Following are the first eighteen of ninety-nine invocations of Blessings and Peace based on the Beautiful Names of Allah Ta’ala coupled with Prophetic Attributes, compiled by Shaykh Mawlana Yusuf ibn Sulayman Motala found in this delightful little publication.

 

In the name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

He is Allah besides whom there is no god.

Most Beneficent! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, the clear proof.

Most Merciful! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, most graceful.

Sovereign! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, most pious and chaste.

Most Holy! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, most purified.

Giver of Peace! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, the haven.

Guardian of Faith! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, herald of truth.

Protector! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, the helper.

Almighty! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, most cogent.

 

Compeller! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet elect.

Glorifying Lord! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet most humble.

Creator! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, the first light.

Maker! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet most brilliant.

Fashioner! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet, the wise counsel.

Most Forgiving! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet most grateful.

Conqueror! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet most mindful of You.

Bestower! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet most reverent.

Provider! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet most generous.

Facilitator! Your blessings and peace on the Prophet most awed.

~*~

We have our ninety-nine beaded Tasbih, or Subhah plus a variety of other counters for tallying our daily Salawaat, as recommended by the majority of Shuyukh, past and present, providing a means to keep the thread of our connection to the Best of Creation SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as intimate as Allah Ta’ala Wills.

 

This digital tasbih is one I find most helpful when wanting to count into the thousands. It is a small, 6cm, extremely light weight little device with the facility to reach 999,999! I have some to post out to those who request same in the comments! Maybe some of you who aready use this would like to share your experiences.

Allahumma Salli Ala Sayyedina Al-Mustafa SallAllahu alaihi wasallam wa Ala Aalihi Wa Sahbihi wa salama wa Taslima. 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.