Korban at Aceh and Solo 2008

InshaAllah, this year, I will be helping Yayasan Nurul Ummah and Zawiyah Haqqani Aceh for Ibadah Korban. Per sheep for Solo is $190 while Aceh is $200.

Kiyai Sholeh Mashruh is the principal of Yayasan Nurul ummah. Hes the famous teacher who teach and guide students who are going to study in Egypt, Yemen (Darul Mustafa) and many more while Shaykh Jamhuri is handling the Zawiyah Haqqani Aceh. He is one of the Imam of Baitur Rahman Mosque in Aceh. Alhamdulilah,we have been working together for many years. For those who are keen, you may send the money to me.

The money currency is in Singapore dollars. For more information and enquiries please email me. Thanks. wasalam. may Allah bless you Khalid Ajmain

Ramadhan Mubarak

Sout Ilaahi wishes you Ramadhan Mubarak. May Allah bless you and your family. Thanks for supporting us all this while. We hope to rejuvenate the spirit of love and compassion within our society through music, poetry and arts. Please doa for us. thanks

Jogjakarta with Love

When the beloved brothers of our naqshbandi haqqani from jogjakarta invited me to attend this event with Mawlana Shaykh Hisham, I can sense it will be a very special one because every event which I had ever attend in Java seems to be very unique and full of spiritual ambiance. The actual venue for the event was supposed to be at Keraton, Royal Palace but somehow have to change its place to another venue. I did what I could to help our brothers in Jogjakarta for this event. When I reached jogjakarta, I was very happy to see many old friends. Alhamdulilah, it was a significant moment because these are the brothers who i spend time with whenever I am in Java.

When we arrive at the venue, there were huge crowd gathering on the big field. They had already started to sing qasidah. Then Habib Syech Assegaf arrived with his delegations. After a while Mawlana Shaykh Hisham came and we followed him to be on the stage. I experience such gathering before during the days I had at Solo with Habib Sholeh al Jufri and Kiyai Sholeh Masrur. Indeed, this event is full of spiritual feelings. Along the Qasidah being recited, Mawlana Shaykh Hisham stood up. We followed his actions and continue reading the Qasidah. When He began to cry, almost the whole audience and gathering shed some tears too including us. Later. during the suhbah, mawlana explained why he stood during the Qasidah. It was because the presence of our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. that make him stand during the Qasidah. And he continued how he is able to give suhbah when Prophet Muhammad s.a.w was in our presence.

The Java event had always been a memorable one. I hope and doa that I will be able to return to Jogjakarta and some other parts of Java again in the future. Insha'Allah

Pics by Rifaat Ali
Please do not use this photos without our permission

Masjid Baitur Ihsan with Mawlana Shaykh Hisham

Alhamdulilah, I managed to attend some of Mawlana Shaykh Hisham Kabbani event in Jakarta, Indonesia. On saturday, Mawlana Shaykh Hisham had an event at the Baitul Ihsan Mosque or also known as Masjid Bank. Its an interesting talk because last year Mawlana Shaykh Hisham mentioned the need to build a maqam in the mosque. There's a special spiritual force within the mosque. Then during the suhbah this time, Mawlana Shaykh Hisham revealed the secret of the mosque. He said underneath the mosque, there are awliyah been buried. And these awliyah gave inspiration those people to build this mosque. These awliyah also gave the name Baitul Ihsan. It was unique cause the name of the road was simillar meaning to the mosque. Everyone was overwhelmed with the suhbah and was in the state of joy. Mawlana Shaykh Hisham continued saying whoever pray in this mosque, the awliyah will be praying behind them. Masha'Allah.

pics by Rifaat Ali
p.s When you look at the first pic, from the side view Mawlana Shaykh Hisham resemble alike with Mawlana Shaykh Nazim Adil Haqqani, may Allah bless them

Aceh Tour "Revisiting The Islamic Heritage", Nusantara

Masjid Ikhlas is one of the few mosque that survive the Tsunami. Many Politicians, Celebrities of Sports and Movies visited this mosque after the tragedy such as Bill Clinton, David Beckham , Jackie Chan and many more.

Alhamdulilah we as a group of friends are arranging for spiritual tour to Aceh from 11 July to 15 July 08. We will be visiting to Pasai, the land where Islam reached first in this region. We will discover the history of how Islam came into this region with peace, love and tolerance. We are also visiting some Great Sufis Maqam and school of Nusantara such as Shaykh Hamza Fansuri, Shaykh Abdur Rauf as Singkili and many more. Not forgetting visiting the Royal Palace Aceh Museum and the maqam of Sultan Iskandar Muda. Insha'Allah we will be visiting the Tsunami site, this include the place where the huge ship is on the land. Not forgetting witnessing the wedding culture and food. There will be Zikir Akhbar on 11 July 08.

For the whole package, it will be $750.00 sin dollars. This include air fare from S'pore to Medan then Medan to Aceh the same goes when return, from Aceh to Medan then S'pore, Accomodation 4 days 5 nights at Hotel Medinah, Bus transportation on daily schedules for ziyarah, sight seeing and shopping, airport tax and meals.

We had organize the spiritual tour to Wali Songo last year and it was success and we hope, you are able to join us for this spiritual tour. Reviving the spirit of Spirituality. The deadline to submit your confirmation in joining us for this trip will be on 25th June08. For any information, please email me or call me.

Visiting The Maqam of Habib Ali Kwitang, Jakarta

I am sorry to post this late due to unforseen circumstances. My last ziayarah was at Maqam Habib Ali Kwitang. His real name is Habib Ali al Habsyi. There was a narration comfirmed that somehow he is related to Habib noh al Habsyi, Singapore. In fact, he attended the early days of Haul Habib Noh in Singapore. Another story was said, he attended the grand opening of Masjid Ba'alawi in Singapore.

When we arrived after maghrib, there was Mawlid leading by Habib Abdul Rahman al Habsyi and Habib Najib al Haddad including few other habaaibs. Thousand of Crowds was there. After the mawlid, they performed ziyarah. When I entered the mosque, the ambiance of the atmosphere surrounding reminded me of Solo and Hadramawt, Yemen. Even the decoratiion of Maqam of Habib Ali looks similar to the Hadramawt. It was abit more unique as the crowd gathered to sing Qasidah with drums. One of the Amazement I discovered, when I saw few people holding a Javanese umbrella while Habib Abdul Rahman was walking.

As I was walking towards the Maqam, a habib came to me with a warm welcome. I didn't know who he was perhaps a humble habib that wants me to feel comfortable attending the ziyarah . I saw many performing tawaf and at the same time doa around the maqam, this is their spiritual culture there. From a distance, the glimpse of the maqam, make me excited. Alhamdulilah, I managed to be near the maqam as we tawwasul upon those who are closer to Allah swt.

pic 01- Habib Najib al Haddad leaving the place
pic 02 - Maqam of Habib Ali Kwitang.
Pic 03- Tawaf and also tawwasul
pic 04 - Crowd trying to salam Habib Abdul Rahman al Habsyi while he is leaving the place

Please take note do not take the photos without permission.

Qasidah Burdah by Habib Hassan al Kaff

Sout Ilaahi present Qasidah Burdah CD album by Habib Hassan al Kaff. This recitation of the Burdah is unique, as it infuses into your heart the atmospheric ambience of the Nusantara, without forgetting its Middle-eastern essence. This particular Burdah is a must add to your Burdah collection.

Biography:

Habib Hassan alKaff was born in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, where many famous Ulama bore roots since early history.He grew up studying Religious knowledge while receiving tremendous support from his family. After graduating from a local Pesantren, he ventured onwards to Darul Mustafa in Yemen, to further his studies.After the completion of his studies, he promptly returned to Indonesia. Now, he is residing in Solo and teaching at Al Hidayah. At times, he lead the Majlis Burdah together with Ahabbul Mukhtar.

For sales and ordering, please contact Khalid Ajmain at khalid_ajmain@yahoo.com.sg or call +65 90687106. or check out http://soutilaahi.blogspot.com/

The cost of this Burdah CD is $13.00.Singapore dollars. Insha'Allah the Burdah CD will be on sale this saturday 03 may at the life of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.Seminar at Masjid Al Kaff. And we are hoping Wardah Books will be able to sell the CD too.