Umar Quinn

🆕 Allah Tests Us So that West Can Grow: Reframing Hardship & Trauma with Sound Islamic Beliefs 🖊️Imam Ibn Al Qayyim (d. 751 AH رحمه الله) said [in al Fawā’id]: • إِذَا جَرَى عَلَى الْعَبْدِ مَقْدُورٌ يَكْرَهُهُ؛ فَلَهُ فِيهِ سِتَّةُ مَشَاهِدَ: "If a servant experiences a predestined event that he dislikes, he has six perspectives regarding it: أَحَدُهَا: مَشْهَدُ التَّوْحِيدِ، وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الَّذِي قَدَّرَهُ وَشَاءَهُ وَخَلَقَهُ، وَمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ كَانَ، وَمَا لَمْ يَشَأْ لَمْ يَكُنْ. 1️⃣ First: The perspective of monotheism, recognizing that Allah is the one who decreed, willed, and created it. Whatever Allah wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not happen. الثَّانِي: مَشْهَدُ الْعَدْلِ، وَأَنَّهُ مَاضٍ فِيهِ حُكْمُهُ، عَدْلٌ فِيهِ قَضَاؤُهُ. 2️⃣ Second: The perspective of justice, recognizing that His judgment is carried out in it, and His decree is just. الثَّالِثُ: مَشْهَدُ الرَّحْمَةِ، وَأَنَّ رَحْمَتَهُ فِي هَذَا الْمَقْدُورِ غَالِبَةٌ لِغَضَبِهِ وَانْتِقَامِهِ، وَرَحْمَتُهُ حَشْوُهُ. 3️⃣ Third: The perspective of mercy, recognizing that His mercy in this predestined event outweighs His wrath and vengeance, and His mercy permeates it. الرَّابِعُ: مَشْهَدُ الْحِكْمَةِ، وَأَنَّ حِكْمَتَهُ سُبْحَانَهُ اقْتَضَتْ ذَلِكَ، لَمْ يُقَدِّرْهُ سُدًى وَلَا قَضَاهُ عَبَثًا. 4️⃣Fourth: The perspective of wisdom, recognizing that His wisdom, Glorified be He, necessitated this. He did not decree it in vain, nor did He judge it arbitrarily. الْخَامِسُ: مَشْهَدُ الْحَمْدِ، وَأَنَّ لَهُ سُبْحَانَهُ الْحَمْدَ التَّامَّ عَلَى ذَلِكَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ وُجُوهِهِ. 5️⃣Fifth: The perspective of praise, recognizing that He, Glorified be He, deserves complete praise for it from all aspects. السَّادِسُ: مَشْهَدُ الْعُبُودِيَّةِ، وَأَنَّهُ عَبْدٌ مَحْضٌ مِنْ كُلِّ وَجْهٍ، تَجْرِي عَلَيْهِ أَحْكَامُ سَيِّدِهِ وَأَقْضِيَتُهُ بِحُكْمِ كَوْنِهِ مِلْكَهُ وَعَبْدَهُ، 6️⃣ Sixth: The perspective of servitude, recognizing that he is purely a servant in every respect, subjected to the judgments and decrees of his Master due to his status as His property and servant. فَيُصَرِّفُهُ تَحْتَ أَحْكَامِهِ الْقَدَرِيَّةِ كَمَا يُصَرِّفُهُ تَحْتَ أَحْكَامِهِ الدِّينِيَّةِ؛ فَهُوَ مَحَلٌّ لِجَرَيَانِ هَذِهِ الْأَحْكَامِ عَلَيْهِ. He is directed under His (universal) decrees (of predestination) as he is directed under His religious commands; he is a locus for the operation of these judgments upon him."

Islam is only a cure when we take the medicine and work to improve our hearts and character. Many of us, prior to Islam, lived chaotic lives of raw, unfiltered tragedy and collective trauma, oftentimes resulting in two contradictory results: (1.) a sense of camaraderie and common purpose, knowing the stakes and that failure is not an option; after Allah we are all that each other have; (3.) finding much difficult in trusting people or interpreting their words or behaviors charitably, as Muslims are obliged to. Sadly, hurt people hurt people, and oftentimes, neurotic and baseless assumptions about what others might be thinking or implicitly intending, no matter what they may actually say or do to the contrary, oftentimes become the playground of the devil, from which he isolates and alienates individuals and wreaks havoc on families and communities. Pre-Islamic mentalities and mind-sets seem to haunt many of us and obscure the bigger picture, shredding the fabric of community and brotherhood one tear at a time. These mentalities oftentimes make us our own worst enemies and greatest obstacle to growth… https://www.umarquinn.com/articles/forebear-forgive-amp-disregard-amp-ignore-provocation-and-instigation

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: ### Four Things That Destroy the Body: 1. Worry 2. Grief 3. Hunger 4. Sleeplessness ### Four Things That Dry the Face and Remove its Radiance and Freshness: 1. Lying 2. Shamelessness 3. Asking too many questions without knowledge 4. Excessive immorality ### Four Things That Increase the Radiance and Freshness of the Face: 1. Nobility of character 2. Loyalty 3. Generosity 4. Piety ### Four Things That Bring About Hatred and Dislike: 1. Arrogance 2. Envy 3. Lying 4. Slander ### Four Things That Bring About Sustenance: 1. Night prayers 2. Frequent seeking forgiveness at dawn 3. Consistent charity 4. Remembrance of Allah in the morning and evening ### Four Things That Prevent Sustenance: 1. Morning sleep (after Fajr) 2. Neglect of prayers 3. Laziness 4. Betrayal ☜ See [Zad al-Ma'ad (378/4)]

▪️قال الإمام ابن القيم رحمه الله تعالى: ※ أربعة تهدم البدن: ❶ - الهم ❷ - والحزن ❸ - والجوع ❹ - والسهر ※ وأربعة تيبِّس الوجه وتذهب ماءه وبهجته وطلاوته: ❶ - الكذب ❷ - والوقاحة ❸ - وكثرة السؤال عن غير علم ❹ - وكثرة الفجور ※ وأربعة تزيد في ماء الوجه وبهجته: ❶ - المروءة ❷ - والوفاء ❸ - والكرم ❹ - والتقوى ※ وأربعة تجلب البغضاء والمقت: ❶ - الكبر ❷ - والحسد ❸ - والكذب ❹ - والنميمة ※ وأربعة تجلب الرزق: ❶ - قيام الليل ❷ - وكثرة الإستغفار بالأسحار ❸ - وتعاهد الصدقة ❹ - والذكر أول النهار وآخره ※ وأربعة تمنع الرزق: ❶ - نوم الصبحة ❷ - وقلة الصلاة ❸ - والكسل ❹ - والخيانة ☜ انظر [ زاد المعاد (٣٧٨/٤)

🆕 The Connection Between Knowledge, Wise-Restraint, Dignity & Tranquility (from the speech of Ibn Al Qayyim رحمه الله) https://www.umarquinn.com/articles/the-nobility-of-wise-restraint-dignity-and-tranquility-the-guaranteed-means-to-achieve-them

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[THE STRANGEST OF THE STRANGERS] I wanted to share the translation of a beautiful benefit that was sent to me last week by my beloved brother and elder, Shaykh Abu Muhammad Al Maghribi (حفظه الله ورعاه): Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad b. Al Hussayn Al-Ajurri (d. 360 AH رحمه الله) said: " ﺃﻏﺮﺏ ﺍﻟﻐﺮﺑﺎﺀ ﻓﻲ ﻭﻗﺘﻨﺎ ﻫﺬﺍ : ﻣﻦ ﺃﺧﺬ ﺑﺎﻟﺴﻨﻦ ﻭﺻﺒﺮ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ، ﻭﺣﺬﺭ ﺍﻟﺒﺪﻉ ﻭﺻﺒﺮ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ، ﻭﺍﺗﺒﻊ ﺁﺛﺎﺭ ﻣﻦ ﺳﻠﻒ ﻣﻦ ﺃﺋﻤﺔ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻠﻤﻴﻦ، ﻭﻋﺮﻑ ﺯﻣﺎﻧﻪ، ﻭﺷﺪﺓ ﻓﺴﺎﺩﻩ، ﻭﻓﺴﺎﺩ ﺃﻫﻠﻪ، "The strangest of strangers in our time is the one who adheres to the Sunnah and is patient with it, warns against innovations and is patient in avoiding them, follows the footsteps of the predecessors from the leaders of the Muslims, understands his time and the severity of its corruption and the corruption of its people. فاﺷﺘﻐﻞ ﺑﺈﺻﻼﺡ ﺷﺄﻥﻧﻔﺴﻪ، ﻭﻣﻦ ﺣﻔﻆ ﺟﻮﺍﺭﺣﻪ، ﻭﺗﺮﻙ ﺍﻟﺨﻮﺽ ﻓﻴﻤﺎ ﻻ ﻳﻌﻨﻴﻪ، ﻭﻋﻤﻞ ﻓﻲ ﺇﺻﻼﺡﻛﺴﺮﺗﻪ، ﻭﻛﺎﻥ ﻃﻠﺒﻪ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﺪﻧﻴﺎ ﻣﺎ ﻓﻴﻪ ﻛﻔﺎﻳﺘﻪ، ﻭﺗﺮﻙ ﺍﻟﻔﻀﻞ ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﻳﻄﻐﻴﻪ، ﻭﺩﺍﺭﻯ ﺃﻫﻞ ﺯﻣﺎﻧﻪ، ﻭﻟﻢ ﻳﺪﺍﻫﻨﻬﻢ، ﻭﺻﺒﺮ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺫﻟﻚ، Thus, he occupies himself with rectifying his own affairs, safeguarding his limbs, refraining from delving into what does not concern him, working on mending his shortcomings, seeking from the world what suffices him, avoiding excessive wealth that leads to transgression, diplomatically accommodating the people of his time without compromising, and enduring all of that with patience. ﻓﻬﺬﺍ ﻏﺮﻳﺐ، ﻭﻗﻞ ﻣﻦ ﻳﺄﻧﺲ ﺇﻟﻴﻪ ﻣﻦ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﻴﺮﺓ ﻭﺍﻹﺧﻮﺍﻥ، ﻭﻻ ﻳﻀﺮﻩ ﺫﻟﻚ ". Such a person is a stranger, and few among his kin and brothers would feel comfortable with him, but this does not harm him." 📚 From the book "al Ghuraba (The Strangers)" by Al-Ajurri

💎 Don’t Let too Much Time Pass without Visiting Allah’s House if You Are Healthy & Wealthy Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reports from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ): إنَّ اللهَ تعالى يقولُ : إنَّ عبدًا أصحَحتُ لهُ جسمَهُ ، ووسَّعتُ عليهِ في مَعيشتِهِ ، تمضي عليهِ خمسةُ أعوامٍ لا يَفِدُ إليَّ لمَحرومٌ Allah, the Exalted, says: "Indeed, if I grant good health to a servant and provide him with ample sustenance, and five years pass without him coming to visit Me, he is indeed deprived." [Graded Sahih by Al Albānī in Sahih al-Jami' (1909)] collected by At-Tabarani in "Al-Mu'jam Al-Awsat" (486), Ibn Hibban (3703), and Al-Bayhaqi (10695) with slight variations.

🆕💎The Essential Components of Self-Mastery 🖊️The following advice of Ibn al Qayyim (رحمه الله) is extremely useful and comprehensive. I first heard it more than 20 years ago from my dear brother Abu Uwais Abdullah Ahmad ‘Alī (رحمهما الله تعالى) from the book Al Fawa’id in a brief reminder in Detroit. It resonated strongly with me; I rediscovered it a little over 15 years ago and memorized it verbatim. I have shared it on many occasions, and have especially directed it at the youth at the cusp of adulthood. Each characteristic is explained in significant detail elsewhere in his writings. Do yourself a favor and give it a careful, contemplative reading: طَالب النّفُوذ إِلَى الله وَالدَّار الْآخِرَة بل وَإِلَى كل علم وصناعة ورئاسة بِحَيْثُ يكون رَأْسا فِي ذَلِك مقتدى بِهِ فِيهِ يحْتَاج أَن يكون: “The seeker of progress toward Allah and the Hereafter, and indeed toward all knowledge, tradecraft, and leadership, to the extent that he becomes a leader in that and an example to be followed, needs to be: شجاعا مقداما حَاكما على وهمه غير مقهور تَحت سُلْطَان تخيّله Brave, daring, a master over his delusions, not subdued under the dominion of his imagination; زاهدا فِي كل مَا سوى مَطْلُوبه عَاشِقًا لما توجه إِلَيْهِ Disinterested in everything except his goal; Loving what he is directed towards; عَارِفًا بطرِيق الْوُصُول إِلَيْهِ والطرق القواطع عَنهُ Knowledgeable of the path to reach it and the obstacles preventing it; مِقْدَام الهمة ثَابت الجأش Ambitious and steadfast in resolve; لَا يثنيه عَن مَطْلُوبه لوم لأثم وَلَا عذل عاذل Not deterred from his goal by the blame of the blamer nor the reproach of the reproacher; كثير السّكُون دَائِم الْفِكر Constantly calm and continually thinking; غير مائل مَعَ لَذَّة الْمَدْح وَلَا ألم الذَّم Not swayed by the pleasure of praise nor the pain of blame; قَائِما بِمَا يحْتَاج إِلَيْهِ من أَسبَاب معونته Taking it upon himself to take the means to support himself; لَا تستفزه المعارضات Not provoked by adversity; شعاره الصَّبْر His motto is patience; وراحته التَّعَب His comfort is in fatigue; محبا لمكارم الْأَخْلَاق Loving noble morals; حَافِظًا لوقته Guarding his time; لَا يخالط النَّاس إِلَّا على حذر كالطائر الَّذِي يلتقط الْحبّ بَينهم Not mingling with people except cautiously, like a bird picking grains among them; قَائِما على نَفسه بالرغبة والرهبة Personally undertaking self-motivation and self-dissuasion; طامعا فِي نتائج الِاخْتِصَاص على بني جنسه Aspiring to achieve the results of exceptionality among his own kind; غير مُرْسل شَيْئا من حواسه عَبَثا وَلَا مسرحا خواطره فِي مَرَاتِب الْكَوْن Not letting any of his senses roam in vain nor letting his thoughts wander in the realms of the universe. وملاك ذَلِك هجر العوائد وَقطع العلائق الحائلة بَيْنك وَبَين الْمَطْلُوب The essence of this is abandoning (individual or cultural) habits and severing ties that come between you and your goal. وَعند الْعَوام أَن لُزُوم الْأَدَب مَعَ الْحجاب خير من إطراح الْأَدَب مَعَ الْكَشْف And among the common people, adherence to decorum while remaining unenlightened is better than casting off decorum while achieving enlightenment.”

🖊️ 🆕 Article: Be Gentle with Each Other; Don’t Destroy the Da’wah with Harshness (A collection of essential advices) Excerpt: The esteemed scholar Rabi' al-Madkhali (may Allah preserve him) said: "ﻭﺃﻧﺎ ﺃﻗﻮﻝ ﻟﻺ‌ﺧﻮﺍﻥ : ﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﻳُﻘَﺼِّﺮ ﻣﺎ ﻳﻨﺒﻐﻲ ﺃﻥ ﻧﺴﻘﻄﻪ ﺃﻭ ﻧُﻬﻠﻜﻪ ، ﻭﺍﻟﺬﻱ ﻳُﺨﻄﺊ ﻣﻨَّﺎ ﻻ‌ ﻧُﻬﻠﻜﻪ ، ﺑﺎﺭﻙ ﺍﻟﻠّﻪ ﻓﻴﻜﻢ ، “And I say to the brothers: The one who falls short should not be dropped or destroyed. The one who errs among us should not be destroyed. ﻭﻟﻜﻦ ﻧﻌﺎﻟﺠﻪ ، ﺑﺎﻟلطف ﻭﺍﻟﺤﻜﻤﺔ ، ﻭﻧﻮﺟِّﻪ ﻟﻪ ﺍﻟﻤﺤﺒﺔ ﻭﺍﻟﻤﻮﺩﺓ ﻭﺳﺎﺋﺮ ﺍﻷ‌ﺧﻼ‌ﻕ ﺍﻟﺼﺎﻟﺤﺔ ، ﻣﻊ ﺍﻟﺪﻋﻮﺓ ﺍﻟﺼﺤﻴﺤﺔ ﺣﺘَّﻰ ﻳﺌﻮﺏ ، ﻭﺇﻥ ﺑﻘﻲ ﻓﻴﻪ ﺿﻌﻒ ﻓﻼ‌ ﻧﺴﺘﻌﺠﻞ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ، ﻭﺇﻻ‌ ؛ ﻭﺍﻟﻠّﻪ ﻣﺎ ﻳﺒﻘﻰ ﺃﺣﺪ ! ، ﻣﺎﻳﺒﻘﻰ ﺃﺣﺪ ! . Rather, we treat him with kindness and wisdom, and we direct towards him love, affection, and all good manners, along with proper da'wah until he returns. And if he remains weak, we should not hasten against him. Otherwise, no one would remain! No one would remain! ﻓﺒﻌﺾ ﺍﻟﻨﺎﺱ ﺍﻵ‌ﻥ ﻳﻄﺎﺭﺩﻭﻥ ﺍﻟﺴﻠﻔﻴﻴﻦ ﺣَﺘَّﻰ ﻭﺻﻠﻮﺍ ﺇﻟﻰ ﺍﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎﺀ ، ﻭﺳﻤﻮﻫﻢ ﻣُﻤﻴﻌﻴﻦ! Now, some people are casting away the Salafis to the extent that they have even reached the scholars, calling them compromisers! ﻭﺍﻵ‌ﻥ ﻣﺎﺑﻘﻲ ﻓﻲ ﺍﻟﺴﺎﺣﺔ ﻋﺎﻟﻢ ﺗﻘﺮﻳﺒًﺎ ﺇﻻ‌ ﻃُﻌﻦ ﺑﻪ ﻭﻓﻴﻪ! ، ﻭﻫﺬﻩِ ﻃﺒﻌﺎً ﻫﻲ ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﺍﻹ‌ﺧﻮﺍﻥ ﺍﻟﻤﺴﻠﻤﻴﻦ ، ﻭﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﺃﻫﻞ ﺍﻟﺒﺪﻉ! . Now, there is almost no scholar left without being attacked. This, of course, is the way of the Muslim Brotherhood and the people of innovation. ﻓﺈﻥ ﺃﻫﻞ ﺍﻟﺒﺪﻉ ﻣﻦ ﺃﺳﻠﺤﺘﻬﻢ ﺃﻥ ﻳﺒﺪﺀﻭﺍ ﺑﺈﺳﻘﺎﻁ ﺍﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎﺀ ، ﺑﻞ ﻫﻲ ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﻳﻬﻮﺩﻳﺔ ﻣﺎﺳﻮﻧﻴﺔ : ﺇﺫﺍ ﺃﺭﺩﺕ ﺇﺳﻘﺎﻁ ﻓﻜﺮﺓ ﻓﺄﺳﻘﻂ ﻋﻠﻤﺎﺀﻫﺎ ﺃﻭ ﺷﺨﺼﻴﺎﺗﻬﺎ!! . The people of innovation use one of their weapons to discredit the scholars. This is indeed a Jewish-Masonic method: if you want to discredit an idea, discredit its scholars or figures! ﻓﺎﺑﺘﻌﺪﻭﺍ ﻋﻦ ﻫﺬﺍ ﺍﻟﻤﻴﺮﺍﺙ ﺍﻟﺮﺩﻱﺀ ، ﻭﺍﺣﺘﺮﻣﻮﺍ ﺍﻟﻌﻠﻤﺎﺀ . ﺍﻫـ So stay away from this despicable legacy and respect the scholars." Read more: https://www.umarquinn.com/articles/be-gentle-with-each-other-dont-destroy-the-dawah-with-harshness

💎 Amazing Advice on Blindly Following What Opposes the Qur’ān & Sunnah The following is a Short Poem called, “The Message of Guidance in Following the Exemplary Prophet” (Urjuzah Risālat al Hudā fī Ittibā’ al-Nabiyyil Muqtadā), composed by Sheikh Muhammad Sa'id bin Muhammad Amin Safar Al-Madani Al-Hanafi (1114 – 1194 رحمه الله). وَقَوْلُ أَعْلَامِ الْهُدَى لَا يُعْمَلُ ******* بِقَوْلِنَا فِي خُلْفِ نَصٍّ يُقْبَلُ The sayings of the guiding leaders state: "Do not follow our statements in opposition to an accepted text." فِيهِ دَلِيلُ الْأَخْذِ بِالْحَدِيثِālat al Hوَذَاكَ فِي الْقَدِيمِ وَالْحَدِيثِ Serves as evidence for adhering to the Hadith, Both in early and current times. قَالَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ الْإِمَامُhe Exempl"لَا يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ لَهُ إِسْلَامُ Imam Abu Hanifa (d. 150 AH رحمه الله) said: "It is not appropriate for anyone who has Islam أَخْذًا بِأَقْوَالِي حَتَّى تُعْرَضَاet” (Urjuعَلَى الْكِتَابِ وَالْحَدِيثِ الْمُرْتَضَى" To follow my statements until they are analyzed (for veracity) Against the Book and the approved Hadith." وَمَالِكٌ إِمَامُ دَارِ الْهِجْرَةِ al Hudā قَالَ وَقَدْ أَشَارَ نَحْوَ الْحُجْرَةِ And Malik (d. 179 AH رحمه الله) , the Imam of the Abode of Migration, Said, pointing towards the chamber (the Prophet's grave): "كُلُّ كَلَامٍ مِنْهُ ذُو قَبُولٍbā’ al-Naوَمِنْهُ مَرْدُودٌ سِوَى الرَّسُولِ" "Every statement can be accepted or rejected, Except for the Messenger's." وَالشَّافِعِيُّ قَالَ "إِنْ رَأَيْتُمْ Exemplarقَوْلِي مُخَالِفًا لِمَا رُوِيْتُموا Al-Shafi'i (d. 204 AH رحمه الله) said: "If you see My statement contradicting what has been narrated to you مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ فَاضْرِبُوا الْجِدَارَat al Hudبِقَوْلِي الْمُخَالِفِ الْأَخْبَارَ" From the Hadith, then strike Against the wall my statement that opposes the reports." وَأَحْمَدُ قَالَ لَهُمْ "لَا تَكْتُبُواrophet” (مَا قُلْتُهُ بَلْ أَصْلَ ذَاكَ اطْلُبُوا" And Ahmad (d. 241 AH رحمه الله) told them: "Do not write What I have said, but seek the source of that." دِينُكَ لَا تُقَلِّدِ الرِّجَالَاsālat al حَتَّى تَرَى أُولَاهُمَا مَقَالَا Do not blindly follow men in your religion Until you see which of the two has precedence in statement. فَانْظُرْ مَقَالَاتِ الْهُدَاةِ الْأَرْبَعَةsālat al وَاعْمَلْ بِهَا فَإِنَّ فِيهَا مَنْفَعَةَ Look at the statements of the four guiding scholars, And act upon them, for they are beneficial. لِقَمْعِهَا لِكُلِّ ذِي تَعَصُّبِrjuzah Riوَالْمُنْصِفُونَ يَكْتَفُونَ بِالنَّبِيِّ They suppress every person of bias, While the just ones are content with the Prophet.”

💎 Amazing Advice on Blindly Following What Opposes the Qur’ān & Sunnah The following is a Short Poem called, “The Message of Guidance in Following the Exemplary Prophet” (Urjuzah Risālat al Hudā fī Ittibā’ al-Nabiyyil Muqtadā), composed by Sheikh Muhammad Sa'id bin Muhammad Amin Safar Al-Madani Al-Hanafi (1114 – 1194 رحمه الله). وَقَوْلُ أَعْلَامِ الْهُدَى لَا يُعْمَلُ ******* بِقَوْلِنَا فِي خُلْفِ نَصٍّ يُقْبَلُ The sayings of the guiding leaders state: "Do not follow our statements in opposition to an accepted text." فِيهِ دَلِيلُ الْأَخْذِ بِالْحَدِيثِālat al Hوَذَاكَ فِي الْقَدِيمِ وَالْحَدِيثِ Serves as evidence for adhering to the Hadith, Both in early and current times. قَالَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ الْإِمَامُhe Exempl"لَا يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ لَهُ إِسْلَامُ Imam Abu Hanifa (d. 150 AH رحمه الله) said: "It is not appropriate for anyone who has Islam أَخْذًا بِأَقْوَالِي حَتَّى تُعْرَضَاet” (Urjuعَلَى الْكِتَابِ وَالْحَدِيثِ الْمُرْتَضَى" To follow my statements until they are analyzed (for veracity) Against the Book and the approved Hadith." وَمَالِكٌ إِمَامُ دَارِ الْهِجْرَةِ al Hudā قَالَ وَقَدْ أَشَارَ نَحْوَ الْحُجْرَةِ And Malik (d. 179 AH رحمه الله) , the Imam of the Abode of Migration, Said, pointing towards the chamber (the Prophet's grave): "كُلُّ كَلَامٍ مِنْهُ ذُو قَبُولٍbā’ al-Naوَمِنْهُ مَرْدُودٌ سِوَى الرَّسُولِ" "Every statement can be accepted or rejected, Except for the Messenger's." وَالشَّافِعِيُّ قَالَ "إِنْ رَأَيْتُمْ Exemplarقَوْلِي مُخَالِفًا لِمَا رُوِيْتُموا Al-Shafi'i (d. 204 AH رحمه الله) said: "If you see My statement contradicting what has been narrated to you مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ فَاضْرِبُوا الْجِدَارَat al Hudبِقَوْلِي الْمُخَالِفِ الْأَخْبَارَ" From the Hadith, then strike Against the wall my statement that opposes the reports." وَأَحْمَدُ قَالَ لَهُمْ "لَا تَكْتُبُواrophet” (مَا قُلْتُهُ بَلْ أَصْلَ ذَاكَ اطْلُبُوا" And Ahmad (d. 241 AH رحمه الله) told them: "Do not write What I have said, but seek the source of that." دِينُكَ لَا تُقَلِّدِ الرِّجَالَاsālat al حَتَّى تَرَى أُولَاهُمَا مَقَالَا Do not blindly follow men in your religion Until you see which of the two has precedence in statement. فَانْظُرْ مَقَالَاتِ الْهُدَاةِ الْأَرْبَعَةsālat al وَاعْمَلْ بِهَا فَإِنَّ فِيهَا مَنْفَعَةَ Look at the statements of the four guides, And act upon them, for they are beneficial. لِقَمْعِهَا لِكُلِّ ذِي تَعَصُّبِrophet” (وَالْمُنْصِفُونَ يَكْتَفُونَ بِالنَّبِيِّ They suppress every person of bias, While the just ones are content with the Prophet.”

💎 Amazing Advice on Not Blindly Following What Opposes the Qur’ān & Sunnah The following is a Short Poem titled, “The Message of Guidance in Following the Exemplary Prophet” (Urjuzah Risālat al Hudā fī Ittibā’ al-Nabiyyil Muqtadā), composed by Sheikh Muhammad Sa'id bin Muhammad Amin Safar Al-Madani Al-Hanafi (1114 – 1194 رحمه الله). وَقَوْلُ أَعْلَامِ الْهُدَى لَا يُعْمَلُ ******* بِقَوْلِنَا فِي خُلْفِ نَصٍّ يُقْبَلُ The sayings of the guiding leaders state: "Do not follow our statements in opposition to an accepted text." فِيهِ دَلِيلُ الْأَخْذِ بِالْحَدِيثِ Risālat وَذَاكَ فِي الْقَدِيمِ وَالْحَدِيثِ Serves as evidence for adhering to the Hadith, Both in early and current times. قَالَ أَبُو حَنِيفَةَ الْإِمَامُng the Ex"لَا يَنْبَغِي لِمَنْ لَهُ إِسْلَامُ Imam Abu Hanifa (d. 150 AH رحمه الله) said: "It is not appropriate for anyone who has Islam أَخْذًا بِأَقْوَالِي حَتَّى تُعْرَضَاrophet” (عَلَى الْكِتَابِ وَالْحَدِيثِ الْمُرْتَضَى" To follow my statements until they are analyzed (for veracity) Against the Book and the approved Hadith." وَمَالِكٌ إِمَامُ دَارِ الْهِجْرَةِālat al Hقَالَ وَقَدْ أَشَارَ نَحْوَ الْحُجْرَةِ And Malik (d. 179 AH رحمه الله) , the Imam of the Abode of Migration, Said, pointing towards the chamber (the Prophet's grave): "كُلُّ كَلَامٍ مِنْهُ ذُو قَبُولٍIttibā’ aوَمِنْهُ مَرْدُودٌ سِوَى الرَّسُولِ" "Every statement can be accepted or rejected, Except for the Messenger's." وَالشَّافِعِيُّ قَالَ "إِنْ رَأَيْتُمْ the Exemقَوْلِي مُخَالِفًا لِمَا رُوِيْتُموا Al-Shafi'i (d. 204 AH رحمه الله) said: "If you see My statement contradicting what has been narrated to you مِنَ الْحَدِيثِ فَاضْرِبُوا الْجِدَارَisālat alبِقَوْلِي الْمُخَالِفِ الْأَخْبَارَ" From the Hadith, then strike Against the wall my statement that opposes the reports." وَأَحْمَدُ قَالَ لَهُمْ "لَا تَكْتُبُواry Propheمَا قُلْتُهُ بَلْ أَصْلَ ذَاكَ اطْلُبُوا" And Ahmad (d. 240 AH رحمه الله) told them: "Do not write What I have said, but seek the source of that." دِينُكَ لَا تُقَلِّدِ الرِّجَالَاh Risālatحَتَّى تَرَى أُولَاهُمَا مَقَالَا Do not blindly follow men in your religion Until you see which of the two has precedence in statement. فَانْظُرْ مَقَالَاتِ الْهُدَاةِ الْأَرْبَعَةh Risālatوَاعْمَلْ بِهَا فَإِنَّ فِيهَا مَنْفَعَةَ Look at the statements of the four guiding scholars, And act upon them, for they are beneficial. لِقَمْعِهَا لِكُلِّ ذِي تَعَصُّبِ” (Urjuzaوَالْمُنْصِفُونَ يَكْتَفُونَ بِالنَّبِيِّ They suppress every person of bias, While the just ones are content with the Prophet.”

💎[Learning At an Early Age to Ignore Antagonizers & Provocation] The Prophet’s (ﷺ) statement «إنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الرِّفْقَ فِي الْأَمْرِ كُلِّهِ:» "Indeed, Allah loves gentleness in all matters" Waliyyud-Dīn al ‘Irāqī (رحمه الله) comments: هُوَ مِنْ عَظِيمِ خُلُقِهِ - عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ - وَكَمَالِ حِلْمِهِ Reflects the magnificent character of the Prophet (عليه الصلاة والسلام) and his perfect forbearance. وَفِيهِ حَثٌّ عَلَى الرِّفْقِ وَالصَّبْرِ وَالْحِلْمِ وَمُلَاطَفَةِ النَّاسِ مَا لَمْ تَدْعُ حَاجَةٌ إلَى الْمُخَاشَنَةِ. It encourages gentleness, patience, forbearance, and kindness towards people as long as there is no need for harshness. وَفِيهِ اسْتِحْبَابُ تَغَافُلِ أَهْلِ الْفَضْلِ عَنْ سَفَهِ الْمُبْطِلِينَ إذَا لَمْ يَتَرَتَّبْ عَلَيْهِ مَفْسَدَةٌ It also contains a recommendation that people of virtue overlook the foolishness of wrongdoers if no harm will result from it. وَفِي التَّنْزِيلِ {وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ الْجَاهِلِينَ} [الأعراف: ١٩٩] It says in the revelation (the Quran): {And turn away from the ignorant} [Al-A'raf: 199]. وَقَالَ الشَّافِعِيُّ - رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ - الْكَيِّسُ الْعَاقِلُ هُوَ الْفَطِنُ الْمُتَغَافِلُ Imam al-Shafi'i (رحمه الله) said: "The prudent, intelligent person is the shrewd one who overlooks." وَمِنْ كَلَامِ بَعْضِهِمْ، عَظِّمُوا مَقَادِيرَكُمْ بِالتَّغَافُلِ And some have said, "Enhance your status by ignoring [such matters]." Waliyyud-Dīn al ‘Irāqī (رحمه الله) then comments: وَهَذَا الْكَلَامُ مِمَّا كَانَ وَالِدِي - رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ - يُؤَدِّبُنِي بِهِ فِي مَبْدَأِ شَبَابِي حِينَ يَرَى غَضَبِي مِنْ كَلِمَاتٍ تَرِدُ عَلَيَّ. This was something my father (the great Hadīth scholar, al Hāfidh Zain al-Dīn al ‘Irāqī رحمه الله) used to teach me at the beginning of my youth when he saw my anger at words directed towards me.” [Tarh al-Tathrīb fī Sharh Taqrīb al Asānīd vol. 8, p. 111]

May Allah forgive me and you.

💎An Advice that Could Spare Much Heartache I wanted to share something pretty personal, although I am a very private person. One of the things that sent me avidly soulsearching for peace and guidance in my late teens (which resulted in my embracing Islam) was that I was raised in a very poor and violent neighborhood. It was the type of place, without exaggeration, where people quite literally lost their lives for looking sharply at or speaking cross to others. I vividly remember occasions of people armed and hunting others down over vendettas and disputes about money, women, reputation and perceived disrespect. I had been practically on my own since the age of 15. I learned to adapt and survive. It taught me a thing or two about toughness and resiliency. My mind and body still carries the after effects of that window of time, especially as I age. One of the most important survival instincts one can hone in life is not caving to peer-pressure or being draped into people’s personal beef and dramas. Another correlated behavior is playing dumb and acting oblivious to people trying to antagonize and provoke you. When people run around with your name in their mouth, let them savor the flavor. Stay on your toes, deescalate conflict or defend yourself if forced to, but otherwise act as though you don’t know. Also, second guess people and your own perceptions. I came to Islam for peace of mind and guidance. To learn how I ought to be and break generational cycles of dysfunction for my children so they could have better and do better. I saw that the streets were full of immature fickle people stuck in the high-school/gangs/prison mentality. No thank you. Not interested at all. The first thing that piqued my interest in Islam was a book about patience and forbearance. Every page dripped with wisdom. I was terrified of going to jail or hell at the time. The choice was easy. Islam is beautiful. Islam is wisdom. Early into my Islam, I met a Salafi teacher who lived in the gang-ridden neighborhood of my former high-school. He was wise and kind beyond his years. He made me love knowledge and the scholars. He was very dignified and adept at picking up on character nuances and generously gave me valuable counsel until his passing (رحمه الله). He had a serious skill in diffusing conflicts, especially between Muslims. This he learned and implemented from the wise counsel of our scholars. I miss him and many of our elder Salafi scholars who loved and advised us over the years with kindness. Allah saved me with Islam. I have tried to play some small part in paying that forward. With some of my background, I have been favored to serve in a number of communities in some rough places in America without any degree of culture shock. It hasn’t always been easy, but from my single days of living and teaching in the Masjid to watching my children grow into adulthood and being blessed to be a grandparent, I have enjoyed my life. May Allah make the next generations better than us. Many have very similar stories. We came to Islam to escape drama and immaturity. The culture of America from its streets to its corporate boardrooms breeds an unhealthy narcissism and sociopathy. Keep your head down, chin tucked, focus on what’s most important and let people miss you with all the nonsense. Keep your eyes on the prize, and beg Allah for His help and mercy. Silly disputes over community administration, personal beefs, and trivial spats over fiqh issues are distractions. We ain’t gotta all like each other, but as Salafis we have to love each other. We don’t have to all be chummy friends, but don’t let Shaytan convince you that your Salafi brothers are your enemies. Grin and bear, and perhaps one day we’ll be on raised couches facing each other in paradise, without any feeling of injury towards each other. Meanwhile, we’re in the world of trial and will be a test for each other. Let’s not fail our tests. We are a pioneering generation. The wilderness is vast and opportunities abound. No need to step on anyone else’s toes.