Biography of Habib Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafiz

Al-Habib Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafidz

His Lineage

He is al-Habib al-`Allamah al-Shahid Muhammad bin Salim bin Hafiz bin `Abdullah bin Abu Bakr bin `Aydarus bin `Umar bin `Aydarus bin `Umar bin Abu Bakr bin `Aydarus bin al-Husayn bin al-Shaykh al-Fakhr Abu Bakr bin Salim bin `Abdullah bin `Abd al-Rahman bin `Abdullah bin Shaykh `Abd al-Rahman al-Saqqaf bin Shaykh Muhammad Mawla al-Dawilah, bin `Ali Mawla Darak, bin `Alawi al-Ghuyur, bin al-Faqih al-Muqaddam, Muhammad bin `Ali, bin Muhammad Sahib Mirbat, bin `Ali Khali` Qasam, bin `Alawi, bin Muhammad Sahib al-Sawma’a, bin `Alawi, bin `Ubaydullah, bin al-Imam al-Muhajir il-Allah Ahmad, bin `Isa, bin Muhammad al-Naqib, bin `Ali al-`Uraydi, bin Ja`far al-Sadiq, bin Muhammad al-Baqir, bin `Ali Zayn al-`Abidin, bin Husayn al-Sibt, bin `Ali bin Abu Talib and Fatima al-Zahra, the daughter of our Master Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets G.

His Life

Habib Muhammad was born in the village of Mishtah near Tarim in the year 1332 Hijri (1914 CE) and was brought up under the supervision of his noble father, the great scholar Habib Salim. Habib Salim taught his son the foundational sciences of the Din and then took him to Tarim to learn from the city’s scholars. His teachers were the Imams of the time. Among them were Habib `Abdullah bin `Umar al-Shatiri, Habib `Alawi bin `Abdullah Shihab al-Din and Habib 'Ali bin al-Imam 'Abdur-Rahman al-Mashhur, his grandfather on his mother's side. Habib Muhammad also built a strong connection with the Knower of Allah Habib Ja`far bin Ahmad al-`Aydarus. He took knowledge from Habib Muhammad bin Hadi al-Saqqaf in Seiyun and Habib Mustafa bin Ahmad al-Mihdar in al-Gwayra. He travelled on numerous occasions to the Hijaz to take knowledge from its scholars, among them Shaykh Muhammad al-`Arabi al-Tabani, Sayyid `Alawi bin `Abbaas al-Maliki, Shaykh Muhammad Amin Kutbi and Shaikh Hasan al-Mashat.

The extensive knowledge which he obtained led to his appointment as Mufti of Hadramawt. His use of his time was legendary. A day and a night would not pass except that he had stood in prayer, recited a large portion of the Qur'an, made abundant dhikr, taught his students, visited someone, written something, given fatwa and seen to the needs of a Muslim. He would attend in one day up to 14 gatherings of knowledge and remembrance.

He had a great concern for conveying and preserving sacred knowledge, and authored a number of works in several sciences which are of great benefit to students. Among them are Takmilah Zubdah al-Hadith in the law of inheritance, al-Miftah and al-Nuqul al-Sihah in the law of marriage and Durus al-Tawhid in tenets of faith. He wrote small books to help beginners in the sciences of jurisprudence and grammar and al-Tadhkirah aI-Hadramiyyah which covers all religious knowledge that it is compulsory for women to know. He also recorded in several volumes the speech of Habib `Alawi bin `Abdullah Shihab al-Din and wrote a biography of Habib `Abdullah bin `Umar al-Shatiri, Nafh al-Tayyib al-`Atiri. He composed a number of poems as well as a beautiful Mawlid, named Al-Nafhah al-Wardiyyah which shows his intense love for and connection to the Messenger of Allah G. He also put the Mawlid of al-Hafiz Ibn Kathir into verse.

He had a passion for calling people to Allah and spreading knowledge, expressed by his constant visits to the towns and villages of Hadramawt. He journeyed to India and Pakistan where he took knowledge from the Hadith scholars there, and to Sudan and East Africa. He also visited Habib `Umar bin Ahmad bin Sumayt in the Comoros Islands.

A socialist government came to power in South Yemen in 1387 (1967) which attempted to eradicate Islam from society. Scholars were persecuted and religious institutions, such as the famous Ribat of Tarim, where Habib Muhammad himself studied, were forcibly closed. This did not, however, deter him from exerting all his efforts in calling to Allah. This did not, however, deter him from exerting all his efforts in calling to Allah and speaking out fearlessly in the defence of truth. He was required to register with the security forces on a daily basis so that they could check on his whereabouts. Thus on Friday morning on 29th Dhu’l-Hijjah 1392 (1973) he left his son Habib `Umar, then only nine years of age, in the mosque before the Friday prayer and went to register. He was never seen again.

His Legacy

The socialist regime thought that by abducting and killing Habib Muhammad bin Salim they would succeed in their mission but they failed completely. Their intention is to extinguish Allah’s light (by blowing) with their mouths but Allah will complete His light, even though the disbelievers may detest it. In 1410 (1990) the regime fell and North and South Yemen reunited, paving the way for a revival of the Din. Habib Muhammad’s work did not come to an end but rather was continued by his sons. Habib `Ali Mashhur remained in Hadramawt throughout this dangerous period teaching and preserving the way of his forefathers. He is currently the Mufti of Tarim. Habib `Umar spent ten years in safety in al-Bayda in the North of Yemen under the tutelage of his father’s companion Habib Muhammad bin `Abdullah al-Haddar. He then returned to Hadramawt to breathe new life into the religious life of the region. His tireless work led to the establishment of Dar al-Mustafa. Dar al-Mustafa is a centre for traditional Islamic learning based upon three foundations: knowledge (`Ilm), spiritual purification (Tazkiya) and calling to Allah (Da`wa). It continues to grow and receive students from all corners of the earth. Habib `Umar, like his father before him, is constantly travelling, spreading the pure methodology of his predecessors. All of the fruits that we now see are the result of the steadfastness and sacrifice of Habib Muhammad bin Salim. Dar al-Mustafa was opened in 1414 (1994) on 29th Dhu’l-Hijjah, the same date on which Habib Muhammad was abducted. Every year on that date Dar al-Mustafa celebrates its anniversary and along with it the life and achievements of this great Imam. May Allah grant him the best of rewards on behalf of this Ummah, benefit us by him and raise him to the highest station in the company of his grandfather the Messenger of Allah...


Al-Saff 61.8
Source: Sunniforum

Sending Salutations Upon The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

"Verily, Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O Believers! send blessings upon him and salute him with a worthy salutation". (Qur'aan - 33:56)

al-Salamu `alayka ya Rasul Allah	Peace be upon you O Messenger of Allah
al-Salamu `alayka ya Nabi Allah	Peace be upon you O Prophet of Allah
al-Salamu `alayka ya Khiyarat Allah	Peace be upon you O Elect of Allah
al-Salamu `alayka ya Khayr Allah	Peace be upon you O Goodness of Allah
al-Salamu `alayka ya Habib Allah	Peace be upon you O Beloved of Allah
al-Salamu `alayka ya Nadhir	Peace be upon you O Warner
al-Salamu `alayka ya Bashir	Peace be upon you O Bearer of Glad Tidings
al-Salamu `alayka ya Tuhr	Peace be upon you O Purity
al-Salamu `alayka ya Tahir	Peace be upon you O Pure One
al-Salamu `alayka ya Nabi al-Rahma	Peace be upon you O Prophet of Mercy
al-Salamu `alayka ya Nabi al-Umma	Peace be upon you O Prophet of the Community
al-Salamu `alayka ya Abu Qasim	Peace be upon you O Father of Qasim
al-Salamu `alayka ya Rasul Rabb al-`Alamin	Peace be upon you O Messenger of the Lord of the Worlds
al-Salamu `alayka ya sayyid al-mursalin wa ya khatam al- nabiyyin	Peace be upon you O Master of Messengers and Seal of Prophets
al-Salamu `alayka ya Khayr al-Khala'iqi ajma`in	Peace be upon you O Best of All Creatures
al-Salamu `alayka ya Qa'id al-Ghurri al-Muhajjalin	Peace be upon you O Leader of the Bright-faced ones
al-Salamu `alayka wa `ala Alika wa Ahli baytika wa Azwajika wa Dhurriyyatika wa Ashabika ajma`in	Peace be upon you and upon your Family, the People of your House, your Wives, your Children, and all your Companions
al-Salamu `alayka wa `ala Sa'ir al-Anbiya'i wa Jami`i `Ibad Allah al-Salihin	Peace be upon you and upon all the Prophets and Allah's righteous Servants
Jazak Allahu Ya Rasulallahi `anna Afdala jaza Nabiyyan wa Rasulan `an Ummatihi	May Allah reward you, O Messenger of Allah, with the best reward a Prophet or a Messenger ever received on behalf of his Community
Wa Sallallahu `alayka wa Sallama kulla ma dhakaraka dhakirun wa ghafala `an dhikrika ghafilun	Blessings and Peace of Allah upon you every time one remembers you and every time one fails to remember you
Afdala wa Akmala wa Atyaba ma Salla wa Sallama `ala Ahadin min al-Khalqi ajma`in	With the best, most perfect, and choicest of blessings and peace ever bestowed upon anyone in creation
Ashhadu an La Ilaha Illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah	I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone, without partner
Wa ashhadu annaka `Abduhu wa Rasuluhu wa Khiyaratuhu min khalqihi	And I bear witness that you are His servant, His Messenger, His Elect among all creatures
Wa ashhadu annaka qad ballaghta al-Risala wa addayta al-Amana wa nasahta al-Umma wa jahadta fillahi haqqa jihadih	And I bear witness that you have conveyed the Message and fulfilled the trust and counseled the Community and striven for Allah with the most truthful striving
Allahumma atihi al-wasilata wa al-fadilata wa ib`athhu maqaman mahmudan al-ladhi wa`adtah	O Allah! Grant him the Means and the Excellent Gift and Raise him to the Exalted Station You have promised him
Wa atihi nihayata ma yanbaghi an yas'aluhu al-sa'ilun	And grant him the goal of what those who beseech You must beseech for him
Allahumma salli `ala Sayyidina Muhammadin `abdika wa rasulika al-Nabiyyi al-Ummi wa `ala Ali Sayyidina Muhammadin wa Azwajihi wa dhurriyyatih	O Allah! Send blessings on our Master Muhammad Your servant and Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, and upon the Family of our Master Muhammad, his Wives and his Children
Kama sallayta `ala Sayyidina Ibrahima wa `ala Ali Sayyidina Ibrahima	As you have sent blessings on our Master Ibrahim and on the Family of our Master Ibrahim
Wa barik `ala Sayyidina Muhammadin al-nabiyyi al-ummi wa `ala Ali Sayyidina Muhammadin wa Azwajihi wa dhurriyyatih	And send benedictions on our Master Muhammad Your servant and Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, and upon the Family of our Master Muhammad, his Wives and his Children
Kama barakta `ala Sayyidina Ibrahima wa `ala Ali Sayyidina Ibrahima fi al-`alamina innaka Hamidun Majid	As you have sent benedictions on our Master Ibrahim and on the Family of our Master Ibrahim in the worlds, for You are truly the most praiseworthy and noble.

The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:

Frequently send salutations on me on Friday during the day and night. Whoever sends one salutation on me, Allaah will send ten to him.

Imam Ibnul-Qayyim (rahimahullaah), who wrote a book about the virtues of sending salutations on Prophet Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), listed some benefits for practicing the above hadeeth:

1. Doing this act is following Allaah's order

2. Sending Salutations on the Prophet agrees with Allaah's. And if they differ then our salutations are du'aa and request. Allaah's salutation raises the Prophet's rank and is a praise for him.

3. Sending salutations on the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is an act the Angels do.

4. Sending salutations on the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) raises your rank ten levels.

5. Sending salutations on the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) removes ten bad deeds and adds ten good deeds to your record.

6. Sending salutations on the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is a means to draw you closer to the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) on the Day of Judgment.

7. Sending salutations on the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) allows him to return the same salutation to you.

8. Sending salutations on the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) is a way to earn Allaah's mercy.

9. Sending salutations on the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) saves you from being stingy in giving him salutations.

10. Sending salutations on the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) with the du'aa after the Adhaan earns you the right for his intercession on the Day of Judgment.