The Place
In a hadith related in Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wasalllam) pointed towards Yemen and said; “Imaan is there.”
Also related in another hadith the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wasalllam) said: “Faith is Yemeni, and (Religious) Understanding is Yemeni and Wisdom is Yemeni.”
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddique (RA) made three duas for Tarim; “Allah make plentiful it’s water, and make it prosperous/ cultivated till the Day of Judgment, and may the Righteous blossom in its lands as plants/harvesting blossom/grow from water”
This is truly from one of the blessed lands. It has a tradition of over 900 years of scholars and awliya living and teaching the true Prophetic way in every sense, ready to be passed on to those willing to take, from attending these blessed 40 days, and carry it as shining lamps to those in the midst of darkness.
The Dowra is aimed to give brothers and sisters from all parts of the world and different backgrounds an insight and experience into one of the rarest Prophetic Traditions alive in the world today. Taking from scholars who have direct traces linking back to the Master of Mankind (sallalhu alayhi wasallam) through lineage and knowledge.
It is an intensive in its whole meaning, teaching Islamic sciences and Purification of the heart, Da’wah and Prophetic etiquettes along with addressing modern issues faced in the modern world today. Students also have the opportunity to visit many historical and holy sites, tasting a real prophetic environment, outwardly and inwardly, and sitting at the feet of the men of Allah in one of the most preserved and traditional places on the planet, Tarim, Hadramaut, Yemen.
The Program
The Dowra has been set to start on the 1 st July –10 th August 2009.
The day starts before Fajr, where students busy themselves for the night vigil prayers and litanies, concentrating on the spiritual aspects that can be gained in a place such as Tarim. After Fajr Salaah and litanies, there will be 3 periods of classes, each period lasting 45 min’s – 1 hour, with breaks in between, where refreshments will be available and the opportunity to pray the Ishraq / Doha prayer.
The morning classes generally consist of Hadith (Prophetic Traditions), Hanafi / Shafi Fiqh and Prophetic Etiquettes.
Students then are advised to take the morning siesta, known as the qaylulah, as practiced by the Prophet (saw), until Dhohr, as the schedule can prove tiring if one does not take this time to rest.
After Dhohr prayer, students generally arrange themselves into circles of Qur’an, reciting with someone well grounded in recitation and rules of tajweed. This helps students to improve their recitation and reading of the Qur’an in general. Those who wish to have further private classes may do so, at the availability of time and teachers. Likewise some may want to concentrate on memorization, which they can do. Again this is generally 45 minutes, which after that lunch is served, and students rest until Asr. Asr prayer is performed at Dar al-Mustafa, after which Habib Umar bin Hafidh gives a discourse to all the students, concentrating on the sciences of the heart and spiritual wayfaring.
The discourse finishes approximately 30 minutes before Maghrib prayer which is enough time for students to freshen up and get ready for the evening classes.
After Maghrib until Isha, Habib Ali al-Jifri and Habib Kadhim as-Saqqaf teach on alternate days. After Isha, students either go to Dar al-Mustafa to attend a lesson by Habib Umar or Habib Ali al-Jifri, again this is on alternate days. On the remaining days Habib Umar gives a lesson specifically for the Dowra students, concentrating on spiritual wayfaring and Prophetic Etiquettes.
The day ends with dinner and revision, with students expected to have lights out by 11:00pm as to be ready for the early start.
Students will study the following subjects either via English/Arabic translation or directly through the medium of the English language;
(Please note, list below is the list of subjects studied in the 2007 Dowra and is meant as a guide only. Subjects for the 2008 Dowra have yet to be confirmed).
- Hanafi Fiqh
- Da'wah Methodology
- Prophetic Traditions
- Shama’il (Prophetic descriptions)
- Spiritual Wayfaring
- Prophetic Etiquettes
- Controversial Contemporary Issues
- The Prophetic Biography (Sira)
- Muslims' Issues of the West
Confirmed teachers
- Habib Umar bin Hafidh
- Habib Ali al-Jifri
- Habib Kadhim as-Saqqaf
- Shaykh Umar al-Khatib
Course Texts
Note: To be confirmed on arrival. Below are from the past Dowra and for guidance only.
Tarbia and Spiritual Development
Awarif al-Ma’arif by Al-Imam Al- Sahrawardi
Shama’il
Shamaail Al-Tirmidhi (selected chapters)
Sira
Al-Sira al-Shamiyya
Prophetic Traditions
A Selection of Prophetic Traditions.
Hanafi Fiqh
Mukhtasar al-Quduri
Although it sounds like all work and no fun, students do get to relax every week with pool gatherings, nasheeds, visitations to the Haba’ib and significant landmarks, not to mention the visitation of the Prophet Hud (AS). Please see Activities for details of visitations and trips.
Students do not necessarily have to have had experienced past Dowras or deen intensives nor have a background of knowledge etc. We are purely expecting students to have a desire and strive for exhorting themselves for the duration of this intensive program, thus he/she gains as much benefit for themselves and the communities they are to return to. However good educational background and references will be to your advantage.
As Habib Umar constantly mentions, students receive according to their level of sincerity, intentions and endeavour they bring with them for the 40 days. They can receive the same as one who has been in Tarim for 4 years, or more, within this short period of 40 days. Whether this is in the realms of knowledge, or personal skills, or spiritual gain and closeness to the Divine, or purification of ones inner-self. Tarim is a place that has many jewels and secrets that cannot be gained elsewhere, so this is what is available for students to receive, if you adhere to the conditions mentioned by Habib Umar bin Hafidh (may Allah preserve him).
