Who are your current most favorite people?

From the series: ‘Reflections from Tarim’

My current most favourite people are… I’m sure you’ve guessed it: the people of Tarim. ☺️

But Tarim wouldn’t have been possible to love or know without the duas of my ancestors and the support of my family, alhamdulillah.

I want to honour, acknowledge, and deeply appreciate my father; the one who first introduced me to Tarim and brought me to the city that became the home of my heart and soul. My father, who is my sheikh, my guide, and the one who taught me to love the Ahlul Bayt and the pious. He taught me to honour those whom Allah has honoured, and to keep the dunya in my hand, never in my heart. He taught me its worthlessness; that it is only a means to acquire our daily bread, and that chasing wealth brings nothing but worry. In the end, we depart from it, leaving it behind for those who may never truly value us.

My father taught me to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. But behind my love, admiration, and respect for him stands my mother.

My mother is the backbone of our family; the quiet strength, the gentle force, the heart that instilled in us the deep love and respect we have for our father. Without my mother, I wouldn’t honour my father the way I do. Without my father, I wouldn’t love Tarim and its blessed people the way I do. And without Tarim, I wouldn’t love Allah and His Messenger ﷺ the way I do.

Alhamdulillah for everything. My mother and father deserve a post of their own. A space dedicated solely to them because nothing I write will ever fully express my love, gratitude, and appreciation. I will never be able to repay them, not even for a single moment of what they have given me.

All I hope is to make them proud in both worlds, and that Allah grants them Jannatul Firdaus without reckoning.

I am grateful to be in a place like Tarim, where people become beloved to you purely through the love of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. I am grateful to be sharing this experience with loved ones who accompany me, while also carrying in my heart those left behind who continue to support me and make this journey possible.

One of the qualities I deeply admire about the Ahlul Bayt (the family of the Prophet ﷺ) and the pious among God’s creation (the Saliheen) is that when you meet them for the first time, they welcome you in such a way that you feel like you are the most beloved to them. Everyone feels this way towards them, Subhanallah.

These are people who, once they get to know you, carry you in their hearts and remember you in their prayers. Even after long periods apart, they do not forget you, despite meeting countless others. Being with them fills you with a peace and serenity you find nowhere else. Sitting with them inspires you to be a better person. Their presence fuels you with spiritual energy to achieve far more than you imagined, and yet, when you depart from them, even doing the bare minimum feels like a struggle.

These are humble, soft-hearted souls, overflowing with the love and emulation of the Prophet ﷺ. They are guiding lamps for the Ummah, and wherever they go, hearts are drawn to them, even if people know nothing about them. Peace and light emanate from them in such a way that everyone around them feels a longing to stay. They wear their smiles like a crown and greet you wholeheartedly, embracing you with sincerity and warmth.

Habib Umar bin Hafidh is among the noble descendants of the Prophet ﷺ, carrying an unbroken chain of transmission in both lineage and sacred knowledge. He is a spiritual guide of our time, one who dedicates his life to leading hearts back to Allah with clarity, gentleness, and unwavering devotion. In an age filled with confusion and distraction, he stands as a steady lamp and a firm pillar, illuminating the path of guidance for all who seek it.

Through his teachings, countless souls have been nurtured, refined, and transformed into beacons of light themselves. His students are now spread across the world, calling people to Allah with the same immense love, care, and compassion that they learned from him.

Do you still wonder why I choose the people of Tarim as my favourite? Surely, we are all thirsty for peace and love, and the family of the Prophet ﷺ especially the Tarimis possess these qualities abundantly, Mashallah.

The Prophet ﷺ himself said in a Hadith:

“A person is with those whom he loves.”
— [Sahih Bukhari & Muslim]

We hope to be with them in this world and next.

May Allah increase them in their beautiful qualities, raise them higher, and protect them from all evil. May we all benefit from their presence, come to know them, love them, and strive to emulate the light they carry.

Ameeen.

Until next time….

Peace be with you.