Haul for Sidi Muhammad Dandarawy

The Haul of Sayyid Muhammad ad-Dandarawi will be held on Thursday, 29th Jan after Isyak prayers at Malabar Mosque. This event will be led by Ustaz Hasbi Hassan.All are invited to attend.

About Sidi Muhammad Dandarawy:

Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad ad-Dandarawi was born in Dandara, Sa’id in Egypt.Beliau adalah antara murid-murid Tuan Shaykh Sayyid Ibrahim ar-Rashid . He was among the students of Shaykh Sayyid Ibrahim ar-Rashid . Apart from receiving authorization (ijazah) of the Tariqah Ahmadiah from his Sufi Guide ie Shaykh Sayyid Ibrahim , he also inherited the akhlak, knowledge and secrets of his guide. [1] He was highly determined to spread Tariqah Ahmadiah not only to the Arabian Peninsula but also other further regions such as India, Africa dan South East Asia.Like the other Tariqah Ahmadiah Shaykhs, Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad also received the honour of meeting the Prophet whilst awake. [2]. He then received some amal not received by his two Shaykhs. Among them includes the recitation of “La ilaha ilallahu wallahu akbar” 4 times during Initiation. [3] This amal has its merits mentioned in a sohih hadith.With that, the name of the Tariqah is thus attributed to Al-Qutb Ar-Rais Shaykh Sayyid Ahmad bin Idris and the two other Qutbs after Sayyid Ahmad bin Idris . Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad al-Dandarawi is the final main leader of Tariqah Ahmadiah. Allah, the Most Exalted, has placed this tariqah in a high station based on sound dalils which can be viewed from all aspects.There is no mursyid for he who is with Tariqah Ahmadiah other than Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad ad-Dandarawi , even after his death. He has said, “I am your guide whilst alive or dead.” This means that the relationship between the murid and his guide will still exist even after the guide’s passing away.[4] Shaykh Sayyid Muhammad bin Ahmad ad-Dandarawi passed away in Madinah al-Munawwarah on 29 Muharram 1909 (1327 H). [5]


[1] Shaykh Ahmad bin Muhammad Sa’id , 1354H/1935M. Majmuk, al-Ahmadiyah Press, Singapore, (in Jawi), pg 72 and 75
[2] Pauzi Haji Awang, Tariqah Ahmadiyyah History and Development, 2001, published by Persatuan Ulama Malaysia, pg 53
[3] Hamdan Hassan, Tarekat Ahmadiyah Di Malaysia Suatu Analisis Secara Ilmiah, (1990) published (in Malay) Percetakan Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, pg 43
[4] Shaykh Ahmad bin Muhammad Sa’id . Faraid al-Ma’thir al-Marwiyah li al Tariqah al-Ahmadiyah al-Rasyidiyah al-Dandarawiyah, in Jawi on pg 41
[5] Shaykh Ahmad bin Muhammad Sa’id , Setengah daripada Manaqib, (Seremban: Sungai Ujung Press, 1854), in Malay pg 81

About Celebrating Majlis Haul:

The letter that was sent by Shaykh Sayyid Ibrahim al-Rasyid to his student Shaykh Ismail al-Bilyah does contain a few explanation with regards to Tariqah Ahmadiah [1].
Among them was an in depth discussion about the Majlis Hol.Shaykh Sayyid Ibrahim ar-Rasyid wrote :

“… Majlis haul is an ‘amal practiced by the people of Hijaz [2]. As for those who partake in the Majlis Haul, their intent is to send prayers and blessings to those who have passed from year to year. This Majlis would not have been done if it were not for the Love the we have for the subject, and there is no one dearer to us than Sayyid Ahmad ibn Idris [3].

The merits of those who participate in this majlis and those who help makt it possible is uncountable in the eyes of Allah. These merits can never be transcribed into books, nor can it be conceived in the mind except for a strong faith and conviction in Allah.

Those who contribute in this Majlis(either via preparation or participation), according to Sayyid Ahmad ibn Idris , have done a deed to/for him. The people of God are those who have a high esteem and great Nobility. They will recompense the people of good deeds with rewards many times greater, in accordance to each and everyone’s maqam.

"He who does one good sunnah, he will be rewarded along with all those who emulate his good deeds till Qiamah...”

The remembrance of death is one of the practices done by Rasulullah . The Prophet visited the graves of his wives, uncles and parents routinely. Imam Baihaqi narrates that Rasulullah the graves of the syuhada’ of Uhud yearly like a routine – “ ‘ala ra’si kulli hawl”. Also narrated by Imam Baihaqi that Rasulullah said: “He who visits the graves of both his parents or even just one of them every Friday will be forgiven and considered a pious child. - (Man zaara qabra abawayhi aw ahadihima fi kulli Jumu`ah, ghufira lahu wa kutiba barran) [4]. It now stands undisputed that Rasulullah himself is the most apt and most deserving of being called a pious son. In addition, al-Bazzar narrated that Rasulullah visited Jannat al-Ma’la in Mecca where Saiyidatina Khatijah was interred dan and the Prophet said : “Ni’ma al-maqbarah Hadhihi”.
Imam Ja’afar as-Sodiq narrated from his sanad from al-Hassan bin ‘Ali that Saiyidatina Fatimah (daughter of Rasulullah ) the grave of her paternal uncle Saiyidina Hamza bin ‘Abd al-Mutalib on every Friday. She had also marked the grave with a stone for easy recognition, and it was there that she would pray and cry. [5].

According to Shaykh Sayyid Soleh al-Ja’afari , hol is an ibadah that falls under the category of blessings and prayers that are presented to those who have died. And according to the majority of the ulama, such prayers reach the dead at anytime.

Saiyyiduna Sa’ad had donated his plantation with the intention of rewarding the merits to his late mother. Then Rasulullah endorsed the action and asked Sa’ad to donate water for the same purpose [6]. This matter was espoused by Shaykh Habibullah al-Syanqiti in his book Zad al Muslim.

Imam Muslim narrated a hadith about when the Prophet was asked about Solat Qasar in a peaceful situation. The Prophet said: “It is a kind of charity that Allah has given to you; so accept it.” [7]. Al-Qurtubi said: “The original topic of this issue is about charity which is unanimous among the ulama. Just like how the merits of charity reach the dead, so too does the reward of Quranic recitations reach the dead. This is because these topics are all under the broad wing of charity. Charity is not limited to physical only as explained by the Prophet when he was asked about solat Qasar in a peaceful situation.”

Ibn Qayyim (when he was discussing in depth about the question of whether or not merits of amal presented to the dead will eventally reach the dead)[8] said : “The merits of Qur’anic recitations and presentation of its merits to the dead on a voluntary basis do reach the dead just like the merits of fasting and Hajj…”

Ibn Taimiyyah said [9] : “He who believes that man will not benefit from amal other than strictly his won has gone against the consensus of the Ulama. Such a belief is invalid on various grounds …” Ibnu Taimiyah was asked about reciting the Quran for the dead and also about tasbih, tahmid, tahlil and takbir when they are intended to be presented to the dead. Do the merits reach them? And he answered like how it was mentioned in his book,“ It reaches to the dead; the merits of Quranic recitation from family members,and tasbih, takbir together will all their zikir, when they intend to present its rewards to the dead.”

About the quote from Shaykh Sayyid Ibrahim al-Rasyid ,“… no one is dearer to us than Sayyid Ahmad ibn Idris …”,

Shaykh Sayyid Soleh al-Ja’afari explained that this is a good and truthful expression. Shaykh Sayyid Ibrahim al-Rasyid was not the only one in this matter, it was followed by Sayyid Uthman al-Mirghani , Sayyid Muhammad ibn Ali al-Sanusi , Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sulaiman al-Ahdal (Mufti Zabid, Yaman) and also those who have taken the Tariqah from Sayyid Ahmad ibn Idris and those who have taken from his awrad till the present day.