Porter

One day the Mullah Nasruddin made a lot of shopping at the market place and found a porter to carry all of his purchases. The porter had a large basket on his back and Mullah Nasruddin loaded everything he bought into the porter's basket. They headed towards the Mullah's home, Mullah walking at the front and the porter following behind. However, the dishonest porter preferred to make off with Mullah's purchases than receiving a porter's fee. By the time Mullah noticed that the porter was no longer following him, the swindler had disappeared from sight. Mullah complained to his friends and neighbours but the porter was nowhere to be found.

Ten days later, as the Mullah and his friends were sitting in the coffee house, someone spotted the thief porter.

`Look Mullah, isn't that the porter you lost?' Mullah's friend pointed the man to Mullah. But Mullah Nasruddin, instead of going up to the man and confronting him, tried to hide.

`Mullah!' everyone in the coffee house was surprised, `Why don't you go and face the man?'

`What if,' the Mullah said, `he asks me to pay him ten-days-worth of porter fee?'

Reading Lessons for the Donkey

One day Timur was in the mood for teasing Nasreddin Hodja.

`Hodja,' he asked, `can you teach your donkey how to read?

`Yes I can Great Timur.'

`Come now Hodja! How can you teach a donkey to read?'

`If you give me three years time and 3000 gold coins, then I can teach my donkey how to read.' the Hodja was adamant.

`But if in three years time, your donkey cannot read, then I will punish you most severely for trying to mock the Great Timur.'

Nasreddin Hodja and Timur agreed on the terms, the Hodja took the 3000 gold coins and left Timur's luxurious tent. Hodja's friends who witnessed the deal were incredulous.

`Hodja Effendi, what did you do? You know you can't teach a donkey anything other than braying. Three years later Timur will have your head chopped off!' However, Nasreddin Hodja was not worried.

`My dear fellows,' he said calmly, `before three years are up, either I will die or Timur will die. Or, the donkey will die!'

Neighbour's Donkey Gave Birth

One day the Mulla and his wife were just about to sit down to dinner. Mulla's wife had cooked a Halva dish, the way the Mulla liked best. Mulla was in anticipation of a good, peaceful meal when there was a knock on the door.

`Mulla' it was the neighbour's son, `my father wants you. Something peculiar happened.' Mulla had no choice but to leave his warm Halva on the table and follow the boy to their house. When an hour later he returned, his wife asked him what it was all about.

`Oh nothing noteworthy.' the mulla dismissed, `Once in a blue moon, I was going to enjoy a good Halva, that's the time the neighbour's donkey happened to give birth to a foal with no tail.'

Minhaj Ul Salam - Habib Kazim al Saqqaf

Habib Kazim offers an explanation on the true way to be steadfast and how to stand up for the religion of truth by expounding the lives and struggles of "Shabaab Ahle Janna" - the Youth of Paradise

The Lost Coin

On a summer evening, the front garden of the coffee house was well lit by the gas lamps placed on the few wooden tables. Men of Aksehir were playing tavla. Nasreddin Hodja was, however, troubled. He was searching something beside the tables of the tavla players.

`What are you looking for, Hodja Effendi?' they asked.

`I lost a gold coin.' The Hodja said.

`Hodja Effendi, did you lose your coin here?'

`No, I lost it in that back alley over there.'

`Then why are you looking for it here? You should search the alley where you lost it!'

`But it is dark in there and I can't see anything. Here it is nice and illuminated, so I search here, where I can see better.'

The Old Inn

Mullah Nasruddin was in town for some business. He had to stay overnight, so he found a cheap old inn. At night, as the Mullah was trying to sleep, a heavy rain storm started. The old inn was shaking and creaking all over. The noise of the storm mixed with the noise of the squeaking wood and trembling windows was so loud that the Mullah was afraid that the worn-out dwelling was going to tumble down, or else the roof was going to cave in. He brought his concerns to the attention of the innkeeper. The innkeeper was an impish man. He immediately came up with a reassurance that he thought the Mullah could not challenge.

`Mullah Nasruddin, no need to worry. The house is chanting the ninety-nine names of Allah. All this praying and praising makes it tremble with devotion.'

`That's exactly what I am worried about.' the Mullah said, `It is so devoutly praying that pretty soon it will want to go down on the ground and prostrate!'

The Elephant

Timur brought an elephant to Aksehir. The monumental animal was left alone to roam as it willed. All the sawn fields, vineyards, vegetable gardens were ruined. On top of all that, the people of Aksehir were left in charge of feeding the animal. In short, Timur's elephant became the first and foremost problem of Aksehir.

`Hodja Effendi,' the people of Aksehir entreated Nasreddin Hodja, `you are the only person who is not afraid of talking to Timur. Only you can convince him. Go tell him that we don't want this elephant here. Explain to him that we had enough.'

`You are right,' the Hodja agreed, `we need to do something about this. But I am scared of talking to Timur also. How about tomorrow, 10-15 of you and I, all together go to Timur and plead our case as a group. We'll be stronger that way.' Everyone agreed.

The next morning a large group of men gathered in front of the Hodja's house and thus the procession with the Hodja up in front and the crowd following behind, started towards Timur's tent. As they approached the despot's temporary residence, people behind the Hodja, overcome by fear of Timur's fury, disappeared one by one. When the Hodja was about to enter the grand tent, he noticed that he was all alone. `Ahh you cowards!' he said to himself.

`Hodja,' thundered Timur, `What brings you to my presence today?'

`Great Timur,' Nasreddin Hodja gathered up his courage, `we love the elephant you brought to Aksehir. We are grateful to you for your benefaction. He is our pride and joy. But we are concerned, Great Timur. The poor animal is a little lonely. Maybe you can bring a friend to him, perhaps a female elephant to keep him company. They can stroll around in the fields and gardens together and, if Allah may allow, they might even have a family. That can only increase our appreciation of your very generous gift to us.'

A Century of Guidance

Sh. Muhammad al-Yaqoubi on the passing of Sheikh 'Abd al-Rahman al-Shaghouri (radhiAllahu anhu).

Only for Allah

There was a pious man among the Banu Israel who always remained busy in the worship of Allah. A group of people came to him and told him that a tribe living nearby worshipped a tree. The news upset him, and with an axe on his shoulder he went to cut down that tree. On the way, Satan met him in the form of an old man and asked him where he was going. He said he was going to cut a particular tree. Satan said, “You have nothing to be concerned with this tree, you better mind your worship and do not give it up for the sake of something that does not concern you.” “This is also worship,” retorted the worshipper.

Then Satan tried to prevent him from cutting the tree, and there followed a fight between the two, in which the worshipper overpowered the Satan. Finding himself completely helpless, Satan begged to be excused, and when the worshipper released him, he again said, “Allah has not made the cutting of this tree obligatory on you. You do not lose anything if you do not cut it. If its cutting were necessary, Allah could have got it done through one of his many Prophets.” The worshipper insisted on cutting the tree. There was again a fight between the two and again the worshipper overpowered the Satan. “Well listen,” said Satan, “I propose a settlement that will be to your advantage.” The worshipper agreed, and Satan said, “You are a poor man, a mere burden on this earth. If you stay away from this act, I will pay you three gold coins everyday. You will daily find them lying under your pillow.

By this money you can fulfil your own needs, can oblige your relative, help the needy, and do so many other virtuous things. Cutting the tree will be only one virtue, which will ultimately be of no use because the people will grow another tree.” This proposal appealed to the worshipper, and he accepted it. He found the money on two successive days, but on the third day there was nothing. He got enraged, picked up his axe and went to cut the tree. Satan as an old man again met him on the way and asked him where he was going. “To cut the tree,” shouted the worshipper. “I will not let you do it,” said Satan. A fight took place between the two again but this time Satan had the upper hand and overpowered the worshipper. The latter was surprised at his own defeat, and asked the former the cause of his success. Satan replied, “At first, your anger was purely for earning the pleasure of Allah, and therefore Almighty Allah helped you to overpower me, but now it has been partly for the sake of the gold coins and therefore you lost.”

Source: From the book “Ihyaa-ul Uloom Ud Deen” by Imam Ghazzali (ra).

Petty Criminal's Punishment

One day the Mullah tied his donkey in front of the court house and went shopping. While he was gone, the Qadi sentenced a thief to wear a sign that retold his crime and ordered his assistants to cruise him around the town seated backwards on a donkey. The Qadi's assistants saw Mullah's donkey in front of the court house and took the liberty to use it for the purpose of the thief's punishment. When Mullah Nasruddin came back from the market place and couldn't find his donkey, he got very upset. People around explained to him what had happened. Mullah Nasruddin had to wait until the embarrassing city tour of the thief was over and the donkey was returned back to him.

Some time later, the same man was caught stealing again. The Qadi sentenced him to the exact same punishment. When the Qadi's aides couldn't find a donkey, they thought of Mullah Nasruddin. They went to Mullah Nasruddin's house, explained the situation and asked to borrow his donkey one more time. Mullah Nasruddin was not willing to lend his donkey.

'Tell that criminal of yours either to give up this craft or to get his own donkey.' he said.

Maqam Of Imam Busiri.R.A

Imam Al Busiri R.A

Muslim believer’s heart becomes upbeat with joy upon hearing admirations of their beloved Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alihi Wasallam. There were many poets in history who wrote much on praise of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alihi Wasallam. The list starts at well known companions of Prophet Hassan ibn Thabith and Kaab bin Zuhair (Raliya Allahu Anhuma). Many scholars wrote volumes and volumes of prose and poetry admiring the Prophet of mercy (Sallallahu Alihi Wasallam) whom Allah has called Rahmathu Lilalameen (Mercy for the whole universe).

There is one outstanding poem which is recited through generations after generations in multitude of tunes on many occasions. Ask any common man about a popular poem admiring our Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alihi Wasallam. The immediate answer could be ‘Qaseedatul Burdha’. This famous poem also known as ‘Bure al Dae’ or simply as ‘Burdah’ is written by Imam Sharafudhin Abu Abdullah Muhammad Al Busiri (R.A).

Imam Busiri was born in 1^st Shawal 608 (hijri - 1212 A.D) in an Egyptian village called ‘Busir’ and passed away in 696 (hijri – 1296 A.D). He is buried in Alexandria, Northern Egyptian city overlooking Mediterranean Sea. His Maqam is in one of the busiest streets in Alexandria often flooded with visitors.

The famous poem ‘Qaseedatul Burdha’ contains 160 rhyme distributed in 10 chapters. This poem is translated to many languages. Burdah is recited in big gatherings of lovers of Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alihi Wasallam in many occasions like Prophet’s Birthday, house warming reception and wedding celebration in many part of the world.

Maqam Of Imam Busiri.R.A

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Glory of Shaikh Ibn ata’illah al-iskandari

This picture is of tomb of Al Kamal bin Al Hamam. This great Shaikh is buried in ‘Qarafa al Kubra’ in old Cairo near Maqam of ibn ata’illah al-iskandari. There is a well known incident on Shaikh Kamal. He was a constant visitor at Maqam of ibn ata’illah al-iskandari. One day while he was reciting ‘Surah Al Hud’ at vicinity of the Maqam and when he reached the verse يَوْمَ يَأْتِ لاَ تَكَلَّمُ نَفْسٌ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ فَمِنْهُمْ شَقِيٌّ وَسَعِيدٌ  (105 - The day it arrives, no soul shall speak except by his leave: of those (gathered) some will be wretched and some will be blessed) a voice in high tone came from Qabr of ibn ata’illah (RA) saying that يا كمال ليس فينا شقي  (Oh Kamal, there is no wretched among us)!

Shaikh Al Kamal bin Al Hamam then made wasiyya (وصية) to bury him near Shaikh ibn ata’illah al-iskandari (R.A). Now we can see this Qabr just close to Maqam and Musjid of Shaikh ibn ata’illah al-iskandari (R.A).

Tomb of ibn ata’illah al-iskandari

Tomb of Kamal Ibnu Humam

Writing on marble plate about the incident placed near the Tomb

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