Preparing for Ramadan lesson 1: Shaykh Al-Habib Kadhim in Sweden

Shaykh Al-Habib Kadhim adressing a crowd of
Swedish Muslim men & women in Uppsala

The rain fell outside Uppsala Mosque in Sweden yesterday as we prayed Maghrib, and got ready for a talk by the prominent Muslim Scholar from Tarim in Yemen, Shaykh Al-Habib Kadhim Ja‘far Muhammad al-Saqqaf.

His Yemeni-Arabic was made comprehendable to the Swedish crowd of Muslims thanks to the American Muslim Yahya Rhodus translation. "Give thanks," he started, mentioning the great merit in not only giving thanks to God for whatever blessings one has but also giving thanks for being able to give thanks.

"Thank God first and foremost for our faith", he pointed out that those who also thank God for the blessings He gives other people, be it friends or family, will partake in those blessings as well and help guard ones heart from any ill will one might harbor to take those blessings away from others. Giving thanks (alhamdulillah*), he concluded, is one of the greatest ways of drawing near to our Lord.

*Alhamdulillah is Arabic for 'All praise is due to Allah'

Some verses from the Quran on giving thanks:

Ch. 39 Verse 66 Nay, but worship Allah, and be of those who give thanks.

Ch. 40 Verse 61 It is Allah Who has made the Night for you, that ye may rest therein,
and the days as that which helps (you) to see. Verily Allah is full of Grace and Bounty
to men: yet most men give no thanks.

Ch. 54 Verse 35 As a Grace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks.