October 8, 2003 Bandung

Adhan of Fajr
The next morning Shaykh Hisham led Tahajjud and Fajr prayers in the Jakarta zawiya.
Shaykh Hisham addressed the gathered mureeds. After an early morning breakfast
the entourage headed up into the highlands of Java towards the city of Bandung. After over four hours of relentless driving over winding, steep, narrow roads, busy with trucks and motorbikes the long line of vehicles from Jakarta arrived at a pesantren high in the mountains.
Shaykh Shahid, representative of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani tariqat in the area welcomes Shaykh Hisham, as do the huge crowds of thousands of children chanting songs of welcome.
A warm welcome for the entourage members. Here Sayyid Nojan Mirahmadi is greeted by one of the pesantren's teachers. Photos of Mawlana Shaykh Nazim and Shaykh Hisham line the walls of Shaykh Shahid's home along with the full silsila (lineage of the tariqat from Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace to Shaykh Nazim). A lovely repast lies ready...
but Shaykh Hisham requests to go to the mosque immediately, in order not to keep the thousands of students waiting.
As Shaykh Hisham moves from Shaykh Shahid's home to the main prayer hall he is greeted by thousands of youthful students, each eager for a glimpse of their shaykh.
     
Shaykh Hisham prays two rakats to greet the mosque.
Shaykh Hisham sits below the huge sign welcoming his presence.
Iqama is called and Shaykh Hisham leads the gathered congregation in Dhuhr prayers
Following the tasbih and du`a, reciters gather below the stage for a presentation before the Shaykh. This is their big day.  
First Quran was chanted by the renowned quadravox reciters after which the reciters of mawlid qasidas ascended the stage and to the swift beat of the daff, poured out their hearts in love of Rasulullah and love of their Shaykhs.
     
The gathered crowd stands up out of respect for the Prophet of Allah, upon whom be peace.
Shaykh Hisham then addressed the youth, parents and teachers in a subhat wherein he focussed on the importance of the religious and spiritual dimensions of the learning they were struggling to acquire, something he noted was extremely rare in this time. Here another sign of welcoming Shaykh Hisham.
After the suhbat, people began requesting "baya`, baya`!" (initiation). There was a rush as new attendees pushed forward through the crowd, seeking to receive initiation on the Naqshbandi-Haqqani tariqat.
The entourage then proceeded from the prayer hall running through a gauntlet of young people craning to see the Shaykh.
This time the Shaykh was taken to another location: home of the future Naqshbandi-Haqqani mosque and zawiya.
 
At the location of the future mosque Shaykh Hisham plants the cornerstone and then a small tree.
Shaykh prays for the establishment of this new center for the spread of the teachings of Islam and the Naqshbandi spiritual path.
The crowds gather to bid farewell to the Shaykh.
The entourage traveled another hour to the home of Mr. Sunarto in Bandung, where they spent the night.
2003 © copyright Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order