15th Ramadhan Urs of Sayyidah Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) who is also a direct descendant of Imam al Hassan ibn Ali qaddas Allahu sirru.
Part 1 - Is the brief life of Sayyidah Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru).
Part 2 - Method of How to get Maddad-from Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru)
Today marks Half way point of Ramadan 15th Fast and is also the Passing of Sayyida Nafisa At-Tahira (qaddas Allahu sirru) known as "The Rare Lady Of Purity” Sayyidah Nafisa, or Lady Nafisa, was the great-great grand-daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
When she was first born in Mecca, her father Sayyid Hassan al-Anwar. (Sayyida Nafisa at-Tahira bint al-Hasan al-Anwar bin Zaid al-Ablaj bin al-Imam al-Hasan bin Imam Ali) (qaddas Allahu sirru).
She lived in the time of Imam Shafi`(qaddas Allahu sirru) who would always request her when he was ill duas as they were answered immediately.
Many of the great saints would come visit her. Women would just touch her as great blessings would flow her. (see post comments for me).
More than 150 miracles were recorded by historians as appearing from Sayyida Nafisa. She completed the Holy Qur`an while sitting in her grave six thousand times (6000), and she granted the rewards of that recitation to all deceased Muslims.”.
Al-faitha for this great lady of Allah’s soul also its known to ask her for intercession in duas for even now her Miracles are still heard.
How to get Madad-support/assistance from Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) even today
Under that is written “Anyone experiencing difficulties in his life should visit the grave of Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru), recite suratal-Fatiha (Qur`an, 1), surat al-`Ala (87), surat al-Ikhlas(112) and al-muwadhitayn (113, 114), gift that recitation to her and make du`a for Allah to solve that problem.”
The method of greeting Sayyida Nafisa us also described;
“In a low voice say, ‘Peace be upon you, as-salaamu `alayki, O Sayyidina Nafisa, daughter of Hasan al-Anwar, son of as-Sayyid Zayd al-Ablaj, son of As-Sayyid Hasan, son of Sayyida Ali, and of Sayyida Fatima, daughter of the Prophetﷺ.”
(Excerpted from From the Light of Ahl al-Bayt: My Spiritual Experiences Unveiled) by Imam Metawalli ash-Sha`rawi
Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) had many titles by which she was known among the people, derived from her many different miracles (karamat).
She is known as;
Nafisat al-`ilmi wal-ma`rifat, (the Rare Lady of Knowledge and Gnosis) because of what she achieved and accumulated from knowledge of the Family of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
She is called
Nafisat al-Tahira, the Rare Lady of Purity,
and Nafisat al-`Abida, the Rare Worshipful Lady,
and Nafisat al-Darayn, the “Rare one among ladies in this life and the next”,
and Sahibat al-Karamat, “the Lady of Miracles”,
and Sayyidat Ahl al-Fatwa, “the Leading Lady in deriving rulings and verdicts”, and Umm al-Awaajiz, “the Mother of Elderly Women”,
andNafisat al-Masriyyin, “the Rare Lady of the Egyptians”,
because of the Egyptian people’s intense love for her and her love for them, and her being their recourse for their every problem – collectively and individually.
Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) used to pray the five prayers regularly behind her father in Masjid an-Nabawi from the age of six. Her father used to take her by the hand and enter inside the room of the grave of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, which is the house of Sayyida `Ayesha (qaddas Allahu sirru).
He would address the Prophet ﷺ directly saying: “Ya Rasullullah!, O Beloved Prophet of Allah! ﷺ I am pleased with my daughter Nafisa!” He continued these visits repeatedly until one day the Prophet ﷺ appeared to him in a dream saying to him, “Ya Hasan, I am pleased with your daughter Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru), because you are pleased with her, and Allah is pleased with her because I am pleased with her.
It was only after many years that Allah answered that prayer making it possible for Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) to visit the grave of al-Khalil, the Prophet Ibrahim (alayhis salaam) (in Palestine).
When she finally arrived, she sat there in front of his grave weeping and reciting, “And when Ibrahim said: My Lord! make this city secure, and save me and my sons from worshipping idols:” (14: 35)
As Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) sat in front of the grave of Ibrahim al-Khalil (as), reciting the Qur`an, she felt an intense presence, almost tangible, and saw the image of Sayyidina Ibrahim (alayhis salaam) in front of her. Of that moment she said, “My heart began to beat harder and my eyes to blink.”
She called upon him saying “O my grandfather! – Ya Jiddee!” in the present tense. “I came to you in body and spirit…. as my soul has come to you before many times, I now come to you in body as well. I seek your good pleasure with me and I seek your guidance and instruction in order that I may worship Allah until my dying breath.”
At that moment she heard a voice emerging from the image of Sayyidina Ibrahim (alayhis salaam) which was before her saying, “Good tidings my granddaughter! You are chosen to be one of the sanctified, worshipful maidservants of your Lord.
My advice to you is to recite Surah al-Muzammil, wherein Allah says, “O thou folded in garments! Stand (to prayer) by night, but not all night,…” (73:1) until its end and seek to meditate on what you recite.
“By reciting this chapter you will be guided to the forms of worship and devotion that contain no hardship, as Allah said, ‘Allah does not burden any soul with more than it can bear.’ O my granddaughter! The intensity of your worship has made your body weak – try to keep everything in balance.”
From Her Miracles - More than 150 miracles were recorded by historians as appearing from Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru)
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (qaddas Allahu sirru) wrote about them.
The story is related that when Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) arrived in Egypt and settled in her home, there was a non-Muslim family living beside her, whose daughter was paralyzed from the waist down.
One day the girl’s mother brought her to Sayyida Nafisa to watch while she went shopping. She left her daughter in one corner of Sayyida Nafisa’s house.
Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) began making ablution and water from her ablution flowed towards the girl. As the water touched the body of the girl, she experienced something strange.
She began to take the water from Sayyida Nafisa’s ablution and rub it on her paralyzed feet and legs. Suddenly by Allah’s Mercy, the paralysis disappeared completely and she was able to stand.
Meanwhile Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) was busy in prayer. The girl stood up and seeing her mother just returning from the market, ran to meet her to tell her what had happened. Her mother cried with joy declaring, “That woman is truly holy and her religion is the truth.”
She came in, hugged Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru), thanked her for healing her daughter and asked her to pray that she be guided from darkness to light. Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) then taught her to recite the shahada.
When the father of the girl returned home that evening, whose name was Ayyub Abu Surraya, and saw his daughter cured, he was overjoyed. He asked his wife about what happened and she told him the whole story.
He raised his head heavenwards saying, “O Allah! You guide whom You like and I now know that Islam is the true religion, completing what we believe in.” He went to the home of Sayyida Nafisa(qaddas Allahu sirru). Speaking to her from behind a veil he said, “I believe in your religion, and I accept it.
I testify that there is none to worship except Allah and that your grandfather Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah.” That miracle was the cause for the entire tribe of Sayyida Nafisa’s neighbors to enter Islam.
One of Sayyida Nafisa’s (qaddas Allahu sirru) miracles relates to a Muslim man married to a Christian woman. They had a son. When he grew up he began to travel. While traveling in a country far from home he was captured and held prisoner. After hearing of his capture, his mother used to frequent the church, praying that her son be released and returned to them.
Years passed but he was not released. One day she told her husband, “I heard that there is a saintly woman Nafisa bint al-Hasan al-Anwar whose prayers are always answered. Since you are Muslim go and ask her to pray for the return of our son.” He went and asked Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) for her Du`a.
Late that night they heard a knock at the door. Waking and wondering who it could be they went and opened the door. To their astonishment they found their son standing there. They asked him, “How did you come here?”
He said, “Tonight I was sitting there in prison, in chains. Suddenly I felt a spiritual presence, and I heard a voice saying, ‘Free him! Nafisa bint al-Hasan (qaddas Allahu sirru) interceded for him.’
Suddenly I found myself standing here at the door of our house.” That day his mother went to visit Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru), thanking her for saving her son, then accepting Islam at her hand.
The Nile fails to flood
In the year 201 H. (816 CE) the Nile failed to flood, as is its normal annual custom. People went to Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) asking her to pray that Allah cause the Nile to flood, for without the usual flood no crops would grow.
Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) gave them her face veil telling them, “throw that in the Nile and by Allah’s grace it will flood. ”They took her burqa and threw it in the Nile. Immediately the river began to rise and overflow its banks.
[One should note here this is a miracle extremely similar to the incident of the shirt of Sayiddina Yusuf (alayhis salaam), which when cast on the face of his father Ya`qub (alayhis salaam), was the cause for his sight to be restored by Allah’s Will. Again, such incidents clarify the true meaning of tawassul and shafa`a (intercession) by means of objects related to pure, pious individuals.]
Stolen wool
Al-Imam al-Munawi mentions a story of Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru), related to him from al-Azhari in his book al-Kawakib as-sayyaara:
There was an old lady who had four daughters. This woman used to spin wool into yarn, then take the yarn and sell it. With half the earnings she would buy more wool spending the rest on their food and drink for the week.
One day the old lady set out for the market, with the spun wool wrapped in a red package. Without warning an eagle dove out of the sky, grabbed the package in its claws and flew off.
The old lady, overcome with fear and worry, fainted. When she awoke she began crying. People around her, hearing her story told her about Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru). She went to Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) and related this strange incident.
Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) said, “O Allah! Exalted in Power and Owner of this creation: put right what the affairs of Your servant this lady fulana. She is Your servant and her children are Your servants and You are powerful over all things.” She told the old lady to return to her home and wait.
The old lady went home crying with worry for the sake of her young children. Night found her still crying. Suddenly a commotion was heard outside.
It was a group of people seeking Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru). They told her, “Something very strange just happened to us. We came to you because we have been ordered to do so.”
She said, “What happened?” They related, “We were on a ship traveling at sea. As we began approaching land one of the planks suddenly sprung loose and the boat began to flood. Some of us did not know how to swim and we were in deep water still five hours from shore. The boat began to fill up and sink.
All of a sudden an eagle appeared holding a red package in its claws. It threw that package, which was full of spun wool, into that crack filling it. The water stopped flooding and we managed to reach shore safely. We heard a voice saying, ‘Go to Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru)’
The boat crew presented Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) a gift of 500 dinars. Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) began to cry, “O Allah you are so merciful to Your servants.” She asked the old lady, “How much did you usually get for your wool each week?”
The lady replied, “I used to get 20 dinars.” Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) gave her the 500 dinars and she went home overjoyed.
She told her neighbors what happened and they came in droves to see Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru). Many ended up giving themselves over to her service, helping her cook food for the poor, distribute alms and aid the sick and lame.
The wise lady of Cairo Sayeda Nafisa Tahira (qaddas Allahu sirru)
How to get Maddad-from Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) support/assistance from Sayyida Nafisa even today is her Urs and the Best time to ask a Saint is on the day of their Urs for 3 Nights.
Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) is the Female version of Ghawth al-Adhim Shaykh Abdal Qadir Jilani (qaddas allahu sirrahu).
That's my view and others will agree, this is to her Spiritual power as she is a Great source of help even Imam Shaf'i (qaddas Allahu sirru) would ask her Duas when ill and alwasy recovered very extremely fast.
Now at her Maqam it is written;
“Anyone experiencing difficulties in his life should visit the grave of Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru), recite once each the following;
Surah Fatiha
Surah `Ala (87)
Surah Ikhlas (112)
Surah Falaq (113)
Surah Nass (114)
Then Say I gift this recitation to the Soul of Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) and make Dua for Allah to solve that problem.”
The method of greeting Sayyida Nafisa (qaddas Allahu sirru) us also described:
“In a low voice say, ‘Peace be upon you, as-salaamu `alayki, O Sayyidina Nafisa, daughter of Hasan al-Anwar, son of as-Sayyid Zayd al-Ablaj, son of As-Sayyid Hasan, son of Sayyida Ali, and of Sayyida Fatima, daughter of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam.”
Excerpted from From the Light of Ahl al-Bayt: My Spiritual Experiences Unveiled by Imam Metawalli ash-Sha`rawi.
Question Sajad, what if one can't visit the grave?
my reply: Love has no barrier or distance,
Make dua from your heart sincerely wherever you are, that is the closest you can be there, there is no distance with Love.
Just focus (make Niyyah that is important) and visualise that you are in the presence of Sayyida Nafisa's maqam show the utmost 'adaab and recite surah Al-Fatiha and feel the connection with the yearning of your love.
Love has no distance or barriers with hearts, as souls communicate with souls through space and time, this is also known from Qur'an with the Du'a of Sayyidina Ibrahim, who was told to call all mankind to hajj, through the world, time and space those who replied his call will be destined to go hajj.
