We praise Allaah, the most worthy of praise. There is no deity worthy of worship but He, and He has Power over all things. We ask Him to bless the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad His servant and Messenger (صلي الله عليه وسلم).
Within the last month the community of Sydney has been bombarded with an intense marketing campaign for the upcoming “Habib Umar tour”. Whilst pamphlets have been distributed to nearly every masjid and Islamic centre in Sydney, the question remains – Who is Habib Umar? The marketing campaign has painted a picture that Habib Umar is a scholar, a man of immense knowledge and wisdom, however our careful research has found some alarming information.
Our research has shown a few critical errors in the beliefs and innovations which Habib Umar propagates. Accordingly, we have provided the proof so all may bear witness to it, followed by a concise correction of each belief.
Our aim is not to attack a particular individual, rather it is intended to protect the believers from falling into erroneous beliefs and actions.
All Praise is due to Allaah, Lord of the worlds, and may His Peace and Blessings be upon the Messengers and Prophets, and upon the final Messenger, Muhammad (صلي الله عليه وسلم), his family and companions.
Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah Association of Australia aswj.com.au
The Evidence
The clear evidence that Habib Umar endorses and encourages the practice of Madad can be found on his official website (www.alhabibomar.com) in his Fataawa section.
Asking for madad from anyone other than Allah, as mentioned in the question, is a kind of calling upon (or making du’aa’ to) someone other than Allah, hence it is a kind of shirk (associating partners with Allah (SWT)). That is because what is meant by madad is giving help and support. So for example, a person who says, “Madad ya Sayyid ya Badawi, madad ya Sayyidah Zaynab” etc is essentially saying: Help us and give us of your bounty, and relieve us from hardship and ward off calamity from us.
Putting it in perspective
In a nutshell, the people who practice and teach asking Madad from other than Allah (like Habib Umar) say that it is permissible to call (i.e. make Du'aa') upon deceased messengers, awliyaa’ and righteous people or call upon those who are alive to perform acts which they are unable to perform, and ask them to fulfil their needs, or remove them from hardship. This act has be deemed as major Shirk (associating partners with Allah) by the scholars of Islam (see rulings of the scholars)
Dear brothers and sisters we have to understand that du'aa' (supplication) is an ibaadah (an act of worship). The Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (PBUH) said in an authentic hadith narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2969, “Du'aa' is worship” . Moreover, Allah (SWT) says:
And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.
Ghafir 40: Verse 60
Also, if we get back to basics and look intoSuratAl-Faatiha which we read at least 17 times a day, we recite;
You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
Al-Faatiha 1: Verse 5
Ibaadah such as Du'aa' is to be performed only for the sake of Allah (SWT), so to do it for other than Him is Shirk(associating partners with Allah). This is also because the dead are neither able to help or support those who ask for their help, nor are they able to answer the supplication of those who supplicate to them as the they have passed into the afterlife. So to seek help from the dead and those who are absent in order to aid them, remove calamity, ease hardship and such actions, these are all from the Shirk of Jahiliyyah (associating partners with Allah (SWT), the way the people from the days of ignorance (such as Quraish) used to do prior to Islam, which Islam came to eradicate.
And do not invoke besides Allah that which neither benefits you nor harms you, for if you did, then indeed you would be of the wrongdoers.
And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him; and if He intends for you good, then there is no repeller of His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful
Yunus 10:Verse 106-107
So Allah tells us that those who are called upon other than Him (the Prophets and the righteous) are unaware of the call of those who call upon them and will never respond to their calls. Moreover, they will be their enemies on the day of judgement and will deny their worship of them.
And Allah (SWT) says;
Do they associate with Him those who create nothing and they are [themselves] created? And the false deities are unable to [give] them help, nor can they help themselves. And if you [believers] invite them to guidance, they will not follow you. It is all the same for you whether you invite them or you are silent. Indeed, those you [polytheists] call upon besides Allah are servants like you. So call upon them and let them respond to you, if you should be truthful.
Al-A’raaf 7:Verse 191-194
Habib Umar and others claim that they only use them as an intermediary when praying directly to Allah, they don't believe that these intermediaries are gods. This argument is actually against them as Allah (SWT) says in the holy Qur’aan:
Unquestionably, for Allah is the pure religion. And those who take protectors besides Him [say], "We only worship them that they may bring us nearer to Allah in position." Indeed, Allah will judge between them concerning that over which they differ. Indeed, Allah does not guide he who is a liar and [confirmed] disbeliever.
Az-Zumur 39: Verse 3
Allah (SWT) also says,
He causes the night to enter the day, and He causes the day to enter the night and has subjected the sun and the moon - each running [its course] for a specified term. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs sovereignty. And those whom you invoke other than Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed.
If you invoke them, they do not hear your supplication; and if they heard, they would not respond to you. And on the Day of Resurrection they will deny your association. And none can inform you like [one] Acquainted [with all matters].
Fatir 35, Verse 13-14
We advise our brothers and sisters in Islam to seek the truth in this matter and not to be a blind follower of anybody. The likes of Habib Umar are only human and can make errors, even if he is a true descendant of Prophet Muahmmad (PBUH), may Allah (SWT) honour them. So we sincerely ask Allah (SWT) to guide the Muslims to the straight path and protect us from all forms of shirk.
The ruling of the scholars
Ruling of Istighatha and Madad by Sheikh Salih Al Fawzan [Arabic] [English]
Ruling of Madad by Sheikh Ibn Baz [Arabic] [English]
The clear evidence that Habib Umar endorses the practice of sacrificing an animal for other than Allah (SWT) can be found on his official website (www.alhabibomar.com) in his Fataawa section.
Background behind sacrificing an animal for other than Allah
Since sacrifice is an act of worship (ibaadah), then it must be dedicated sincerely to Allah and Him alone. According to Habib Umar in one of his fataawa he explicitly tries to justify how we can sacrifice to other than Allah (see link above). We will allow the words of Allah and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to answer this conflict of thought. Allah, the Exalted, says:
O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
An-Nisaa 4: Verse 59
Putting it into perspective
It is known from the proofs of the Qur'an and Sunnah that seeking nearness by slaughtering to other than Allah, such as to pious people, Jinn, idols, or any other creatures is Shirk and is a practice of the pre-Islamic era (Jaahiliyyah) and the pagans (idol worshipers). Allah, the Exalted says,
Say (O Muhammad), "Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first [among you] of the Muslims."
Al-Anaam 6: Verse 162-163
Allah, Glorious is He, clarifies in the above verse that sacrificing to other than Allah is Shirk, just as performing the prayer to other than Him is also Shirk. Allah the exalted also says
Indeed, We have granted you, [O Mudammad], al-Kawthar (a river in Paradise). So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].
Al-Kawthar 108: Verse 1-2
In the above surah Allah, Glorious is He, instructed his prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) to pray to His Lord, and sacrifice to Him, contrary to the people of Shirk, who pray and slaughter to other than Allah. Allah, the Exalted also says
"And your Lord has decreed that you should worship none other than Allah."
Al-Isra 17: Verse 23
Imam Muslim and An-Nisaai narrated in a Sahih Hadith that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
"Allah curses him who sacrifices to other than Allah."
Collected by Muslim & An-Nisaai
The ruling of the scholars
Ruling on sacrificing an animal for other than Allah Ibn Baaz [Arabic] [English]
Ruling on sacrificing an animal for other than Allah Ibn Uthaymeen [Arabic] [English]
We all know and understand the 5th pillar of Islam – Hajj.NOW, how about if we inform you about an additional “Hajj” performed by Habib Umar and his dedicated followers? What’s known as the “The Thousand Year Journey”. A journey in which apparently the world’s great (Muslim) saints and sages gather in the south of Yemen every year….
Below is a link to an official video by Guidance Media- Whose founder isAli Zain Al-Abidin Al-Jifri also known as Habib Ali (see Official website) - We recommend you watch before proceeding.
*We apologies in advance for the use of music as it is beyond our control
Comments
Introduction - The video starts off by saying,
“seeking purification and forgiveness they congregate at base of Hud canyon, where the grave of Prophet Hud rests on the mountainside”
It’s plain to see from the onset that this is NOT your normal visit to a grave yard. In fact, its a specific ritual, which has a specific “Tarteeb” i.e. schedule of things to do.
Swimming in the river - not your average swim!
The brother in the video (Abdul Malik Klockemann) says,
“The tradition has been there for at least 1000 years. Shuyuskh [plural of sheikh] visiting this location and doing the tarteeb that we did, swimming in the river, making the intention for ghusul [the Islamic ritual bath] having sins removed every time you make this ghusul, every time you dip your head under making this intention”.
Truly brothers and sisters, have you heard of this act of worship in Islam?! To go and swim in a specific river in the south of Yemen, next to the grave of Prophet Hud (PBUH), which results in the forgiveness of sins? Not only that, but every time you dip your head in more and more sins are forgiven! Indeed, this is a great reward BUT the question remains…. who came up with this? Apparently it’s been happening for thousands of years. This may be the case, but we sincerely ask the Muslims who believe and practice this, where is the proof from the Qur’an or from the words of our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) or in the actions of the rightly guided khaliphs? Or the sahabah? Or from the blessed three generations that followed the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?
The Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said,
Verily he among you who lives [long] will see great controversy, so you must keep to my sunnah and to the sunnah of the rightly-guided Khalifahs – hold on to it tightly. Beware of newly invented matters, for every invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a misguidance, and every misguidance is in Hell-fire."
Found in An-Nawawi’s Forty Hadith, collected by Abu Dawud & Al-Tirmidhi, who classed it as authentic
Moreover, the Prophet (PBUH) said,
"The best of my nation is my generation then those who follow them and then those who follow them"
Collected by Bukhari and Muslim
Shafi narrated that the Prophet Muahmmad (PBUH) said,
“I have not left any good that will get you closer to Allah and distance you from the hell fire except I have told you about”.
And finally Allah says,
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.
Al-Ma'idah 5: Verse 3
Have they found a good ritual which the prophet (PBUH) didn’t alert us too? Indeed this is a great and severe innovation in our pure religion!
When we look into the Qur’an, we can see the formula for purifying the soul and attaining forgiveness, and it does not mentioned visiting the grave of prophet Hud (PBUH). Rather Allah (SWT) instructs us by saying,
And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah . And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful.
An-Nisaa 4:Verse 64
Dear brothers and sisters, I’m sure you will agree on the fundamental point that we are all trying to achieve Allah's love. So if this is all our common aim we should work in the manner which Allah (SWT) has taught us to achieve this, Allah says,
Say, [O Muhammad to mankind], "If you (really) love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
Aali-Imran 3:Verse 31
Is this action of visiting the grave of Prophet Hud (PBUH) every year on a specific date annually, doing a settarteeb over 3 days, swimming in the river to get your sins forgiven all part of following the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?!
Appearance of the group leader - None other than Habib Umar
As we progress through the video we find the appearance of Habib Umar, not just as a passerby but in fact theleaderof this group, the leader of this journey, leading them to the grave. Abdul Malik Klockemann then mentions that there is a specific book which has the specific du'aa' to be recited when entering the grave of Prophet Hud (PBUH) - “A case in point – if you have a look at the du'aa' sections of the most comprehensive and authentic collections of ahaadeeth such as Bukhari, Muslim and Tirmidhi etc, you again will not find anything regarding this ritual!
General issues
Some general ahaadeeth (narrations) regarding graves and worship;
Ibn Mas‘oud reported that the Prophet (Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, “The most evil of mankind are those who will be alive when the Last Day arrives and those who take graves as places of worship.”
(Collected by Ahmed)
Jundub ibn ‘Abdillah reported that five days before the Prophet’s death he heard him say, “Those before you took the graves as places of their prophets as places of worship. Do not take graves as places of worship for verily I forbid you to do so."
(Collected by Muslim
Watch Habib Umar and his follows at the grave of Prophet Hud (PBUH)
This is a general video (2 minutes only) showing the nature of Habib Umar and his followers *A MUST*
Below are some photos of Habib Umar - we will not comment as they speak for themselves - Click to enlarge
Ali Zain Al-Abideen al-Jifri (aka Habib Ali) is well known around the world. He is the founder and general director of Tabah Foundation and more importantly for our discussion he is the deputy dean of Dar Al-Mustafa for Islamic studies (Adapted from Habib Ali Al-Jifri's official website).This point is crucial as the founder of Dar Al-Mustapha is none other than Habib Umar! Al-Jifri also currently serves as a lecturer at Dar Al Mustafa, and is currently seen as the “right hand man” of Habib Umar. The deviance of this sheikh has been exposed in an astonishing trailer video by Sheikh Hasan Qari Al Husayniy. *Note video is in Arabic
For our English viewers we have summarised the video in point form:
- Allah clearly states in the Quran that he only created Jinn and mankind to worship him alone >> BUT Al-Jifri believes that Allah created Adam (PBUH) for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
- Allah clearly states in the Quran that you should ask Allah alone “And if my slave ask you about me than I am near to answer their dua” >> While Al-Jifri prefers to ask the Prophet (PBUH) in his dua (Eg. Ya Rasul)
- Allah says: “only Allah knows that the unseen in the heavens and earth >> Al-Jifri believes that there is type of people that Allah chooses who know the unseen
- Allah says: “When Allah desires anything he says to it be” >> Al-Jifri believes that awliyaa have this power
- Allah says: “that no soul knows in which land it will die” >> Al-Jifri believes that the "poor" Sufis have this knowledge
- Al-Jifri claims that there is authentic ahadeeth in Saheeh Muslim that say that the companions wanted to bury the Prophet in his Masjid. However Al bukahri said that this hadeeth was narrated by a man who was well know for fabricating ahadeeth
- Al-Jifri quotes un-authentic ahadeeth that Allah created Adam (PBUH) for Muhammad (PBUH) >> Ibn Hajar (a great scholar) said it is fabricated. Al-Jifri quotes certain ahadeeth as authentic when in fact they are weak and others hadeeth which do not exist in the first place, i.e. fabricated.
Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Association of Australia has compiled this page as a means to warn the Muslim community of Australia first and foremost, regarding the truth behind Habib Umar and his upcoming tour. However, this page also serves as a reference for all other countries which promote Habib Umar and his tours such as Germany, France, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Indonesia and any other country. As a community there is a need to pose the question to those in charge of spreading the word about these tours, do you really know who you are advertising for? Brothers and sisters in Islam by accepting this man in our Masjid or the acceptance of this man’s tour posters on our notice board is a clear indication that we accept this man and his deviant teachings. Hence will be asked about this support on the Day of Judgment.
The reason why our Ummah is considered to be the best of nations is due to the fact that it commands good and forbids evil, as Allah (SWT) says
You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah
Aali-Imran 3:Verse 110
From the above Ayah, we can deduce that there is no good in this nation if it does not take upon this honorable role. In fact, Allah (SWT) warns against those who choose not to in surat-ul-maa’idah:
Cursed were those who disbelieved among the Children of Israel by the tongue of David and of Jesus, the son of Mary. That was because they disobeyed and [habitually] transgressed. They used not to prevent one another from wrongdoing that they did. How wretched was that which they were doing.
Al-Maa'idah 5 :Verse 78-79
It is the responsibility of the whole Ummah to speak up, not just the mashaykhs. It is therefore incumbent upon each and every one of us to spread the truth about this man to as much people as possible.
Finally, we ask Allah, the Exalted to accept this from us as a deed that is for His sake only. We also ask Allah (SWT) to clear our hearts from any shirk and misguidance. We ask Allah the Most High, the All-Powerful, to teach us that which will benefit us, and to benefit us by that which we learn and increase us in knowledge. And we end our dua’ by saying alhamdulillaah and may Allah grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
After the launch of the "Truth about Habib Umar Website" there was a need to clarify some very important issues by the mashaykhs of Sydney. These clarifications and advices are found below. To download (right click and select “save target as” or “save link as”)
Sheikh Zuhair Issa, Imam of Al-Azhar Masjid, Belmore with some kind words of advice to Sheikh Fida Al-Majzoub after certain comments were made on the Voice of Islam (87.6FM) radio station
