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Comments by Shaykh Gibril Fouad Haddad:
This great talk about the late Hafiz and Shaykh al-Islam of Aleppo, Sayyid `Abd Allah Siraj al-Din, by his son-in-law and greatest student the Hafiz Nur al-Din `Itr was given in the historical old mosque of Jami` al-Tawba in Damascus as part of the biographical lectures about the lives of the great Shuyukh of Shaam every first Thursday of the Arabic month.
The date of this talk is Thursday 4 Rabi` al-Awwal 1423 = 16 May 2002, over two months after the Shaykh had passed away on March 4, 2002.
The talks are organized under the auspices of the Mosque, headed by Dr. Hisham al-Burhani (sitting at Dr. `Itr's right, who spoke right after him), the son of the great Hanafi Faqih and Shadhili Shaykh Sa`id al-Burhani who edited, among other great books, the Hadiyya `Ala'iyya in Hanafi Fiqh and al-Hazr wal-Ibaha in morals and manners, which are studied daily in Damascus.
Outwardly the talk is about the life and states of Shaykh Abd Allah Siraj al-Din and his teachings. However, the talk also shows the delightful, profound language and state of our dear beloved teacher Dr. Nur al-Din `Itr who, as usual when he speaks of his teacher, was constantly on the brink of tears. You can hear him address the Holy Prophet at one point, and you can hear him also say that he converses (in the present tense) with his teacher Sh Siraj al-Din although most probably no one or almost no one notices.
The talk sums up the focus of the senior Shuyukh of Shaam on two traits which I find are special to them:
1. The complete yet unassuming focus on `azima (strictness) and mastery in `ilm and practice at the highest level possible of the Shari`a and their inculcation in the students.
2. The continuous yet once again unassuming intimacy with the Messenger of Allah, upon him blessings and peace and the preparation of students for it.
As Dr. Shihab al-Din Farfur said in his elegiac poem (ratha') which he read for the first time at the closing of the session: "Messenger of Allah, I send the expression of my sadness [at the passing of our teacher] to you, and we have no other request than meeting you." He said he composed it after he gifted the Fatiha to the Shaykh, whereupon he received its inspiration. Indeed, such a line itself seems straight from the mouth of Shaykh Siraj al-Din.
These are our teachers and fathers in the Religion, and even the stone pillars around them could tell you most eloquently: If, after you sit with them attentively, you can boast of better living examplars at these two levels, point them out to us so that we may travel to them on the apples of our eyes and kiss their feet. Otherwise, leave us in peace with them for they are the testament of the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, concerning the people of Shaam.
Was-Salam,
GF Haddad
The date of this talk is Thursday 4 Rabi` al-Awwal 1423 = 16 May 2002, over two months after the Shaykh had passed away on March 4, 2002.
The talks are organized under the auspices of the Mosque, headed by Dr. Hisham al-Burhani (sitting at Dr. `Itr's right, who spoke right after him), the son of the great Hanafi Faqih and Shadhili Shaykh Sa`id al-Burhani who edited, among other great books, the Hadiyya `Ala'iyya in Hanafi Fiqh and al-Hazr wal-Ibaha in morals and manners, which are studied daily in Damascus.
Outwardly the talk is about the life and states of Shaykh Abd Allah Siraj al-Din and his teachings. However, the talk also shows the delightful, profound language and state of our dear beloved teacher Dr. Nur al-Din `Itr who, as usual when he speaks of his teacher, was constantly on the brink of tears. You can hear him address the Holy Prophet at one point, and you can hear him also say that he converses (in the present tense) with his teacher Sh Siraj al-Din although most probably no one or almost no one notices.
The talk sums up the focus of the senior Shuyukh of Shaam on two traits which I find are special to them:
1. The complete yet unassuming focus on `azima (strictness) and mastery in `ilm and practice at the highest level possible of the Shari`a and their inculcation in the students.
2. The continuous yet once again unassuming intimacy with the Messenger of Allah, upon him blessings and peace and the preparation of students for it.
As Dr. Shihab al-Din Farfur said in his elegiac poem (ratha') which he read for the first time at the closing of the session: "Messenger of Allah, I send the expression of my sadness [at the passing of our teacher] to you, and we have no other request than meeting you." He said he composed it after he gifted the Fatiha to the Shaykh, whereupon he received its inspiration. Indeed, such a line itself seems straight from the mouth of Shaykh Siraj al-Din.
These are our teachers and fathers in the Religion, and even the stone pillars around them could tell you most eloquently: If, after you sit with them attentively, you can boast of better living examplars at these two levels, point them out to us so that we may travel to them on the apples of our eyes and kiss their feet. Otherwise, leave us in peace with them for they are the testament of the Prophet, upon him blessings and peace, concerning the people of Shaam.
Was-Salam,
GF Haddad
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