Posted in Events, Words of Wisdom

Urs of Shaykh Muhyddin Ansari – Grand Shaykh of Ansari Qadiri Rifai Order

shaykhmuhyiddinansariAnsari Qadiri Rifai Sufi Tariqa celebrates the Urs (union of the devotee with his Beloved) of Shaykh Muhyiddin Ansari, who is our Grand Shaykh, and the Shaykh of our Shaykh, Murshid Shaykh Taner Ansari.

Below is a chapter from the book, “What About My Wood?” by Murshid Shaykh Taner Ansari.

Chapter: Shaykh Muhyiddin’s Treasure

For Shaykh Muhyiddin Ansari, it was very important not to break anyone’s heart, as it should be for all Sufis. Sufis should be able to get along with everyone. When Muhyiddin Baba was with children, he acted as a child. When he was with adults, he acted as an adult. He went along with the mentality of the person with whom he happened to be keeping company.

One day, a friend of his invited him to go on a treasure hunt. He thought that since Muhyiddin Baba was a shaykh, he would be able to help find the treasure with his special powers. Shaykh Muhyiddin consented to go and took one of his young dervishes along.

While they were digging here and there, the young dervish thought, “Why is my shaykh looking for treasure?”

The shaykh was able to read the dervish’s thoughts and said, “My Son, I don’t do this to get rich. Come here, son, let me show you something.” He grabbed a handful of earth and said, “Be gold.” The dirt instantly became a handful of gold.

Shaykh Muhyiddin said, “If I want, I can do this. But I will not. I came here only because I didn’t want to break my friend’s heart. If I want, I can turn anything to gold, just like that. But we obey Allah’s decrees. We don’t try to override them. We want to be natural, simple, and to not do anything against the laws of nature.”

Posted in Arts, Events, Interfaith, London

New Zikr group in Shoreditch – starting 21st July 2016

** Note this event has been re-scheduled to the 21st of July – apologies for any inconvenience caused **

Dear all,

We will be starting a new Zikr (Sufi Meditation) group in Shoreditch from the 21st July 2016. Initially the Zikr will run monthly and then hopefully weekly.

Briefly, Zikr is “Remembrance of God” and we do this through chanting the Most Beautiful Names of the Beloved, singing hymns and performing simple sacred movements – all accompanied with frame drumming.

Details:
Thursday 21st July
7:15 PM – 9:00 PM
Kobi Nazrul Centre
30 Hanbury St, E1 6QR, London
(Meetup Link)

This is an open group for spiritual exploration in the widest sense with no prior knowledge required. We welcome everyone who comes in peace regardless of their faith/non-faith background.

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For this first event (21st July 2016) there will be a short workshop of Sufi chants and movements, and perhaps practising a Sufi song, before starting the zikr ceremony.

We can share tea and something nice to eat at the end. So if we each bring fruit or fresh bread and humous or cheese, what better way to taste the Divine.

Kobi Nazrul Centre is a pleasant walk from Liverpool St station down Brushfield St and Spitalfields market. Aldgate East and Shoreditch Overground are just as near.

Zikr is free to attend, and we suggest a small donation for those who are able (£4) to contribute towards the rent.

Our Zikr at Notting Hill Gate will continue every Monday as usual (Meetup Link) – we hope to see you in Notting Hill and/or in Shoreditch!

Posted in Events, Interfaith, London

London visit by Shaykh Taner and Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari – May 2016

Dearest all,

We are pleased to announce that the spiritual leaders of the Ansari Sufi Order, Shaykh Taner and Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari, will be visiting the United Kingdom this May.

They will be leading the Sufi Zikr (Remembrance Ceremony) on Mondays, 16th and 23rd May 2016. We will begin with a Sufi talk and Q&A, and serve dinner after the Zikr. We welcome everyone who comes in peace, and the event is free of charge

Sufi Zikr
Dates: 16th and 23rd May (Mondays)
Venue: Essex Unitarian Church, 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, Notting Hill Gate, London, W8 4RT

If you would like spiritual consultation and/or healing, please contact Rita / Reeyaaz at 07941653337 / 07875569921.

We hope all of you are in good health, and we look forward to seeing you at our events. Peace and blessings.

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Posted in Arts, Events, Interfaith, London

‘Rubaiyat’: New Translations and New Poetry, and Zikr (Saturday, May 7, 7 PM, London)

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Do not worry , O Khushal!

No matter how wretched you are

You are only flesh and blood

And not some heavenly seraph.

We are delighted to welcome Sami ur Rahman who has flown in from Pakistan to present his new translations of the national poet of Afghanistan – Khushal Khan Khattak. A contemporary of Bulleh Shah, he likewise rejected caste and clerical edicts. Part warrior poet who led the Pashtun struggles against emperor Aurangzeb, part mystic, part scholar, he produced ghazals, rubaiyat, and verse treatises on the body and falconry.

Sami ur Rahman (journalist, translator, lover of mystic poetry and theoretical physics), hails from the same obscure village as the 17th century Khushal, and has published two books of translations. He will be reading in Pashtu, Farsi and English, and will include Rumi in Farsi and English.

In the other half we have original poetry from guest Jane Silk who studied Islamic and Sufi philosophy at Kings College and SOAS and then deepened her academic experience with a spiritual awakening in Isfahan. She took to a form of meditation-writing at night, covering her wall with scores of jottings. This outpouring is sometimes described in farsi as ‘taravoosh zehniyat’ – a ‘dripping of the mind’.

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As always we keep our floor open to contributions of original poetry or music from our audience.

Ending with a Sufi zikr- a traditional meditation of remembrance with chanting, movement, breathing, and music, which closes with prayers for humanity and the planet.

Please note: the Sufi zikr at approximately 9pm is FREE and you are welcome to come only for the zikr.

‘Rubaiyat’: New Translations and New Poetry, and Zikr

Poetry Cafe
22 Betterton St, Covent Garden WCH2 9BX
Saturday 7th May 2016
7pm to 9:45pm

£8 on the door 

http://www.meetup.com/SufiMusic/

Posted in Events, London

October 2015 UK Visit by Heads of Ansari Sufi Order, Shaykh Taner and Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari

Dear all,

Shaykh Taner and his wife, Shaykha Muzeyyen Ansari, who are the Heads of our Sufi Order, will be visiting London from 16th – 29th October 2015.

We warmly welcome you to three events where they will be leading / giving talks – below is a summary of events, and we will also detail these events in subsequent posts.

In addition to the events, you can also contact us for private consultation and/or Sufi Healing. These are by appointment only. Please contact Shaykha Rita (07941 653337) or Shaykh Reeyaaz (07875569921)

UK Events (click the title of the event for more details)

  1. Living from the Heart (Interfaith Dialogues) – a Sufi perspective of spirituality in the 21st century
    18th October, 11 AM, Richmond and Putney Unitarian Church, TW10 6TH
  2. Sufi Zikr (Meditation), Monday 19th October, 7:30 PM, Kensington Unitarian Church, W8 4RT (Dinner provided)
  3. Sufi Zikr (Meditation), Monday 26th October, 7:30 PM, Kensington Unitarian Church, W8 4RT (Dinner provided)

It would be excellent to see you at the events. Please contact Shaykha Rita (07941 653337) or Shaykh Reeyaaz (07875569921) for any queries on the events or private/healing appointments.