‘True lovers are as the lone flower blooming amidst a field of ignorance: their beauty overwhelms the ignorant and we hope the wind carries their seeds of wisdom. It is not for the new bud or sprouting leaf to criticise the open, fragrant flower; so is it not the place of those who walk in the footsteps of saints to question their shadows. The arrogant tongue impedes the eager and studious heart. Contemplative silence is surely greater than unknowing noise. We live in a society which cultivates a love of fame, honour and prominence. But if you turn to the true lover and ask them of the sweetness of devotion they will tell you of the bliss of discovery along the path of the beloved. Juma Mubaraka.’ Shaykh Tahir
27th November 2020
‘Allah is He, Who sends out rain to nourish the earth and who facilitates the attainment of goals. It is He who knows the secrets of your heart and realizes them; who annihilates possessions at will; whose presence is boundless. It is He who is the beginning with no end. By his leave are the clouds perfected in their fall of rain. By his leave does the desert storm blow and the gentle breeze pass through the branches of the blossom tree. The Lord’s splendour is in every cell, every grain. Who should deny gratitude to the most praiseworthy?- deny love to the benevolent?- deny submission to the omnipotent? There is no limit to the capacity of your Lord’s mercy. No sin too great. In life, our souls must find contentment in Him, as they will so do in the hereafter. Juma Mubaraka.’ Shaykh Tahir
20th November 2020
‘Without a flame the candle provides no light. The truth of the candle is discovered when the flame glows. Likewise, the soul is the truth of the body. Just as we protect the flame of the candle from wind and rain, so we must protect the soul from the winds of temptation and the waters of disbelief. The storm which brings such torrents is an arrogance which creates walls against the Truth. Humility is the oxygen on which the flame of your soul can feed, without humility you cannot see what is front of you. In this way do the ignorant bring their souls to a point of useless devastation. Perfection, however, stands against human nature. Innate curiosity and misdemeanours define the human being. And so do our flames flicker; the purity of our soul wanes. It is for this reason that our Lord extends His hand in to this world showering us with blessings we sometimes don’t even see. He is the means through which we may attain a soul at peace, able to glance over the hurdles of the world. If only we allow it, the Lord of the Worlds will bring stillness, constancy and light to our flame. Juma Mubaraka’ Shaykh Tahir
13th November 2020
‘The greatest quality of the living is our likeness to a body of water. When the surface calms and the ripples fade to leave a perfect, still mirror, that is indeed beauty. The clearness of the water- the revelation of our divine natures- reflects the mastery in the Lord’s creation. To quieten our inner lakes, to deflect the droplets threatening to disturb them, one must erect barriers around their heart to dispel the tempting call of sin. The eyes of the modern believer are led towards petty distractions in sin and away from the guiding jewel of the Earth, the Qur’an. Contentment sought in worldly sin fails to fill the space in one’s heart that seems to yearn without fulfilment. That void has one true cure: love. Not for the worldly and the misleading, but true love for your Lord and those He has blessed. Once that love surpasses all else within one’s soul, then will the waters be a mirror of divinity. Juma Mubaraka’ shaykh Tahir
6th November 2020
‘Neglect not your time, nor use it haphazardly; on the contrary, you should bring yourself to account. Make supplication the consumer of your days and nights. Each breath you take is a priceless jewel, but only if you notice it sparkle will you use it wisely. Time is a gift to be cherished and not wasted. Be not as the miser who whittles away the seconds planning worldly gain, nor as the fool who doesn’t even see his time passing. Seek refuge in the arms of your Lord. Make your moments count towards the blessings of paradise. What have the painted ceilings of a thousand castles to offer compared with the celestial canopy promised to those who truly remember their Lord? Comfort for a few decades of living is but a speck besides a glorious spiritual eternity. Juma Mubaraka’ Shaykh Tahir
16th October 2020
‘No chains shackle us to any particular route; we have complete freedom to make our decisions. Even eating, sleeping and seeking shelter are a choice, but our awareness of the physical imperative makes us view these as a need rather than a choice. We have allowed our spirituality to diminish through generations of neglect. What if we were as aware of our spiritual nature as we have become of our physical? If only we acknowledged the longing of the soul, we would consider the guidance from Allah through the messengers as equally imperative. We would feel hungry for prayer and look forward to every ‘meal’. It is your choice. Allah does not force you. If He had wanted, He could have guided every heart. But freedom is it’s own virtue. It is His omniscience that gives rise to His commands. He knows and you do not. If you knew the spiritual benefits of prayer you would pray. Just as you drink because you recognise the physical benefits of water. If we follow His guidance; that is what is best for us. He knows and you do not. Who do we follow when we say that we do not follow the guidance of Allah? Do you think that makes you free? Don’t be fooled; you are following a boiling pot of human interpretation, some good some less so. It is fallible and it cannot compare. Why light a candle when the sun is shining? Wise are those who follow the Most Wise. Juma Mubaraka.’ Shaykh Tahir
9th October 2020
‘Those in whose company you share reflect the state of your soul. If you make friendship with a fool, you will be subject to and influenced by foolery. If you make friends with a coward you will be weakened by his weakness. If you make friends with a vicious and wicked person, he will sell you and your friendship at the cheapest price. If you make friends with a liar, he will make you visualize very near the things which lie at a great distance and will make you see at the great distance the things which are near to you. Those who align themselves with the corrupt will compromise their morality. Those who befriend the corrosive will eat away at their own strength. There are those who are bad at the core yet hide under a blanket of goodness. Their wickedness cannot remain hidden forever. Do not make the mistake of remaining in this friendship after the unveiling. The glow of your good character will be dampened and you will be lured away from your path. Stay true to the path you are travelling and leave those who drag you away to their own journey. Juma Mubaraka’ Shaykh Tahir
30th October 2020
‘In whispered prayers and soft smiles is the remembrance of our beloved Prophet Muhammad. He was a paragon of mercy. His justice, humility, piety and kindness caressed all those who met him and continues to nourish those who love and remember him today. We have been sent messengers as a mercy, to guide us where we may fall astray. Those who seek to support the insult or ridicule of these beacons of faith are misguided. Though blind in one eye, they are crisp in their words and regale freedom of speech at the expense of common decency and respect for Prophet Muhammad, who is loved more than our own families and all the things we hold dear. This month brings the fragrance of Paradise, sweetening the iman and giving rise to tears of happiness as we remember the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. His heart brimmed with a love for us that escapes our fathoming. Day and night, the Prophet prayed for the whole of humanity, long past and yet to come. It is with their guidance that we are able to widen the constricted passages of our hearts. What stands in our way but the clouds of worldliness? Allow Allah to clear your sky, so that we may rise amongst His blessed messenger. Juma Mubaraka’ Shaykh Tahir
23rd October 2020
‘The hereafter falls into one’s hands with the rejection of this world’s offerings. The true sweetness of worship is only found when one abandons this infatuation. The believer’s eyes are open to the reality of life. This world is temporary. What are seventy years when faced with eternity? How short is this journey compared with everlasting rest? The believer knows, the believer understands. To they who view these lives as a mere drop in the ocean of existence; mistakes, misgivings, misfortunes, are nothing. So continues the faithful servant in their everyday, painting the canvas of life with the colours that will brighten their eternity with an unimaginable vibrancy. Juma mubaraka.’ Shaykh Tahir
2nd October 2020
‘He responds to the call of those who call on Him; He sustains His servant and surrounds him with His love; His subtle details are hidden from our comprehension; His power is mighty; His mercy is wide; His penalty is painful. Seek the Garden of Paradise; the very completion of all satisfactions and avoid the punishment of Hell filled with horrors and chains. The luxuries of life are yours to claim. If their allure is so strong upon you that you do not see their true nature, then your spiritual window is shut. That desert oasis is but a mirage. What you covet, the fulfilment that you believe the material brings, has a single true source. Why settle for a single drop when one may bathe in an ocean of contentment? Let open your windows and that which you have made yourself blind to and step towards Him; He will run to you. Juma mubaraka’ Shaykh Tahir
Shaykh Tahir 