The
Place
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) mentioned the merits of Yemen in a number of hadith.
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) mentioned the merits of Yemen in a number of hadith.
The
Valley of Hadramawt, in which Tarim is situated, has a number of special
qualities. Many of its people accepted Islam in the time of the Prophet. While
some tribes in the region wavered upon the death of the Prophet, the people of
the city of Tarim remained loyal to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and pledged
allegiance to him as soon as he was instated. For that reason he made three
supplications for the city and its people. He asked Allah to protect the city
from destruction, to bless it with abundant water supplies and to bring forth
in it abundant righteous people.
Since
members of the blessed Prophetic household settled in the Valley in the fourth
century of the Hijrah, it has been a centre of sacred knowledge and the
attainment of spiritual perfection. For that reason it has been said that while
the Hijrah (migration) of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)
was from Makkah to Madinah, the migration of his progeny was to the
Valley of Hadramawt.
The
Dowra
The establishment of Dar al-Mustafa represents the latest chapter in this long and blessed tradition. It was established by the caller to Allah, Habib Umar bin Hafiz in 1414 (1994). It is built upon three foundations: seeking sacred knowledge (`Ilm), spiritual wayfaring (Suluk) and calling to Allah (Da`wah). Habib Umar subsequently established Dar al-Zahra in 1418 (1998) to impart this Prophetic methodology to women.
Dar
al-Mustafa has run a Dowra or summer course every year since 1415 (1995). Since
only a few people will be able to study long term in Dar al-Mustafa or Dar
al-Zahra, the Dowra was set up to give more people the opportunity to receive a
portion of the Prophetic methodology upon which the Dar was established.
Students will have the opportunity to take knowledge from teachers are the
direct descendants of the Messenger of Allah and have the strongest chains of
connection to him. They are ready to impart this knowledge to anyone ready to
receive it and then take it back to illuminate their communities.
The
programme takes place over forty days. This time period has special properties
which are mentioned both in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. If someone is consistent
in doing something for this period, it is likely to become a firm habit.
Goals of
the Dowra
1.
To
increase in knowledge of Allah and certitude
2.
To
purify the lower self and attain noble character traits
3.
To
honour our covenant with Allah and to seek to benefit His slaves