Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani leading the congregation in Praise of the Prophet and Invocation after Remembrance of Allah Ribat al-Muhibeen (Masjid al-Iman), Oakland, California

Suhbat (association) is followed by Dhikr.

After Dhikr and night prayers all stand and join in praise of the Prophet Muhammad upon whom be peace.

Then Shaykh Hisham prays for the good of the community, the Nation and all humankind.

Friday Congregational Prayers

      After the salaat many come requesting the Shaykh's prayers.

Following the prayer service at Masjid al-Iman, the Shaykh was invited to the newly opened restaurant of one attendee in order to pray for its success.

There the Shaykh with a number of students and family was invited to a lunch of "wraps" of Gyros and Kebab.

Students avidly discuss the Mawlid in the San Francisco  Bay Area, scheduled for April 24th, 2004.

The restaurant staff pose for blessings (baraka) with the Shaykh.

Ten Steps to the Station of Seeker

- Listen to the first talk in  the series -

During the Shaykh's stay in Oakland, he was giving suhbat (association) each night on the Ten Step Program to reach the level of a true Seeker in the Naqshbandi Order.

Each  night he took the listeners on a spiritual ascent from one level to the next in the traversal of states and stations.

The Shaykh described this process as a form of Migration - Hijrah:

"What the Prophet (s) gave to us is the hijrah, migration from reprobrate characteristics and traits to praiseworthy characteristics and traits (al-akhlaq al-dhameema to al-akhlaq al-hameeda) and from the worst manners and desires to the best desires seeking to achieve moral values and in attempting this migration and achieving it we achieve God’s Eternal Satisfaction or happiness with us (rida-ullah)."

 In the process the Shaykh brought forth ten verses from the Holy Quran to describe these Ten Spiritual Steps:

1. al-Qawma;
Standing Forth

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَعِظُكُم بِوَاحِدَةٍ أَن تَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ مَثْنَى وَفُرَادَى ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا مَا بِصَاحِبِكُم مِّن جِنَّةٍ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ لَّكُم بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ

Say: "I do admonish you on one point: that ye do stand up before Allah,- (It may be) in pairs, or (it may be) singly,- and reflect (within yourselves): your Companion is not possessed: he is no less than a warner to you, in face of a terrible Penalty." (34:46)

2. at-Tawbah;
Repentance

وَمَن لَّمْ يَتُبْ فَأُوْلَئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ

And those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong. (49:11)

3. al-Muhasabah;
Self-inventory

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and let every soul look to what (provision) He has sent forth for the morrow. Yea, fear Allah. for Allah is well-acquainted with (all) that ye do. (59:18)

Evening prayers, Oakland Zawiya

Dhikr - Oakland Zawiya

وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُون

Turn ye to our Lord (in repentance) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that ye shall not be helped. (39:54)

5. al-Fikr;
Contemplation

بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالزُّبُرِ وَأَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَيِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَفَكَّرُون

(We sent them) with Clear Signs and Books of dark prophecies; and We have sent down unto thee (also) the Message; that thou mayest explain clearly to men what is sent for them, and that they may give thought. (16:44)

After Dhikr Shaykh Hisham continues the discourse on the Ten Steps to the level of Seeker in the Way.

6. al-Tadhakur
The Remembrance

هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِيكُمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُنَزِّلُ لَكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ رِزْقاً وَمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ إِلَّا مَن يُنِيبُ

He it is Who showeth you his Signs, and sendeth down sustenance for you from the sky: but only those receive admonition who turn (to Allah). (40:13)

7. al-`Itisaam
Holding Fast

َجَاهِدُوا فِي اللَّهِ حَقَّ جِهَادِهِ هُوَ اجْتَبَاكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ مِّلَّةَ أَبِيكُمْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمينَ مِن قَبْلُ وَفِي هَذَا لِيَكُونَ الرَّسُولُ شَهِيداً عَلَيْكُمْ وَتَكُونُوا شُهَدَاء عَلَى النَّاسِ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِاللَّهِ هُوَ مَوْلَاكُمْ فَنِعْمَ الْمَوْلَى وَنِعْمَ النَّصِيرُ

And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive, (with sincerity and under discipline). He has chosen you, and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims, both before and in this (Revelation); that the Messenger may be a witness for you, and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to Allah. He is your Protector - the Best to protect and the Best to help! (22:78)

8. al-Firaar
Fleeing to God

 فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

Hasten ye then (at once) to Allah. I am from Him a Warner to you, clear and open! (51:50)

After Dhikr, Shaykh Hisham traditionally serves "Dervish Soup," fruits and other delectables.

The Shaykh spoke on the delicacy of the spiritual training in a true Shaykh's dergah, noting that even the Shaykh's request to the seeker to eat is something which if fulfilled will raise the station of the seeker and if neglected will be the cause of delay in his or her progress.

9. at-Tamreen
Training

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ

And those who dispense their charity with their hearts full of fear, because they will return to their Lord;- (23:60)

  Night Prayer follows the evening meal.

10. al-Istim`a
Listening

وَلَوْ عَلِمَ اللّهُ فِيهِمْ خَيْراً لَّأسْمَعَهُمْ وَلَوْ أَسْمَعَهُمْ لَتَوَلَّواْ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ

If Allah had found in them any good. He would indeed have made them listen: (As it is), if He had made them listen, they would but have turned back and declined (Faith). (8:23)

- Listen to a talk on Energy-Mass Equivalence -

Jumu`ah Congregational Prayers, Masjid al-Iman

Following Sunnah prayers the call to prayer is made after which the Shaykh addressed the gathered congregation.

After the sermon the Shaykh invokes on behalf the congregation.

Special Event: Julie's Cafe, Berkeley

On April 16th, Shaykh Hisham was the honored guest speaker at a Sufi Remembrance and Islamic Outreach Event held in Berkeley, California at the invitation of Mustafa, owner of Julie's Cafe.

The event began with the recitation of Qasidat al-Burda (the poem of the Mantle of the Prophet, upon whom be peace).

Masjid al-Iman's imam Shaykh Yasser Chadly played the daff, accompanying the beautiful poem which is famous the world over as the penultimate spiritual ode of veneration to the Prophet (s).

Dr. Nazeer Ahmed, former chief scientists on the Hubble Space Telescope gave an excellent introduction to the importance of the spiritual light of the Prophet whose creation he described, upon whom be peace and God's blessings.

Shaykh Hisham then introduced the topic of

The Importance of Spirituality in Human Life with the remembrance of God.

Following an extraordinary talk, which moved through the levels of the heart and the ways of seekers, both in Islam and before Islam, and in particular the Buddha, the Shaykh brought all present to a different level of awareness of the reality of the spirit-heart connection in the path of the seeker.

After the association, the Muslim attendees prayed the evening prayer in congregation - something highly appreciated by the non-Muslims in the audience who observed Islamic prayer with all its rituals and adornment.

Following Maghrib prayers the Shaykh sat with a number of attendees who had questions or just wanted to partake of his presence.

Explaining the dilemma presented to the human mind by the existence of evil notwithstanding God's ultimate goodness, Shaykh Hisham demonstrated that reality has many perspectives, and placed his turban on the head of the questioner who was extremely pleased with the answer. A spiritual teacher himself, he found the Shaykh's teachings unusually refreshing.

   The Shaykh then presented his plate of food to the guest.

While attendees lined up for dinner, brother Kamau made brisk sales of the Shaykh's books and CDs in one corner.

Everyone was served large helpings of delicious hala Thai chicken, rice and salad without charge, courtesy of cafe owner Mustafa.

And then everyone got to "chill" as a joyous atmosphere of upliftment filled the crowded cafe.

Shaykh Hisham greeting various guests.

Organizer Mahboob Khan discusses the upcoming Milad event with the Shaykh.

Everyone wanted to have a group photo.

As the Shaykh bids farewell to Mustafa everyone wished him a good night and asked for his prayers.

The Shaykh walked through Berkeley's crowded streets dispensing charity to the needy along with his blessed smile.

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