Please use the above URL from now on as it is the address for our new blog site!!!!

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In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Always All Merciful.

All Praise is for Allah Alone.

And may the peace and blessings be upon him whom there is no prophet after.

Sitting in a halaqah–in a khutbah–in an AlMaghrib class, learning about the deen of Allah– the emanrush, your heart just flutters with tranquility. With satisfaction. With humility. With peace.

Why do we only feel this way in these gatherings?

Allah azza wa jal provides the answer:

He says in Surah Ra’d ayah 28:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوب
Those who have believed and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, it is the remembrance of Allah which provides tranquility to hearts.

The true believers are those who find peace in the remembrance of Allah. Their hearts find rest. Their hearts are still. Their hearts find satisfaction. When dhikr (the mention of Allah) is made in their presence, their hearts find assurance and security. Dhikr, in this verse, can be the Qur’an or any deed that includes the remembrance of Allah. The Qur’an is the most effective dhikr because it is a shifaa’, a cure, for any illness in our chests.

The believers in this verse are those who remember Allah, recognize His ayaat, and are conscious of their emaan. Their hearts are the ones that find peace and security in the remembrance of Allah.

Why do their hearts find rest?

Simple: Our purpose in this life is to worship Allah, dhikr is worship, and when we remember Allah, we are fulfilling our purpose. Therefore, our hearts are at peace.

People often seek peace of mind (or heart) in such things as music, alcohol, shopping, or eating. But Allah ta’ala uses “alaa” in this verse. ‘Alaa’ is known in the Arabic language to imply exclusivity, meaning, ONLY with the remembrance of Allah will hearts be at peace–there is no other way!

Allah ta’ala also says

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
The true believers are those whose hearts tremble with fear when Allah is mentioned, and whose faith increases as they listen to His verses and their put their trust in their Rabb. (8:2)

Again, Allah ta’ala uses a phrase in Arabic that shows exclusivity, for “inna-ma” is like saying the reality is nothing but this, meaning the reality is that only the believers have these special qualities.

Ask yourself how your heart feels when the name of Allah is mentioned? Does your emaan increase when the Qur’an is recited? If not, we need to re-evaluate our emaan because this verse shows that only the true believers feel this way.

Notice that Allah ta’ala describes this as a cause and effect relationship. The believers feel their hearts tremble–they are literally awe-struck–and their emaan increases and becomes stronger. Still, they take the means, put their trust in Allah, and enjoining what He has commanded while staying away from His prohibitions. These believers don’t just seek a fuzzy feeling, they follow their fuzzy feelings with actions.

These fuzzy feelings are what is known as an “emanrush.” Many of us may attend gatherings of dhikr just to soften our hearts and bask in the mention and remembrance of The Most High. It is this feeling that draws people again and again to classes at the masajid, lectures by the shuyookh, and almaghrib seminars. Yes, our intention also includes seeking knowledge for the sake of Allah, but nothing can come close to hearing an ayah and whispering to yourself “subhanAllah” while your heart is utterly humbled. This is where the believers find tranquility.

In these two verses we see that Allah ta’ala mentions the effect of dhikr on the hearts of the believers, but does dhikr effect us externally as well?

Allah, azza wa jal, says

اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ يَشَاء وَمَن يُضْلِلْ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ

Allah has revealed the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating: the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble thereat; then their skins and their hearts do soften to the remembrance of Allah. Such is the guidance of Allah. He guides therewith whom He pleases, but such as Allah leaves to stray, can have none to guide. (39:23)1

Qatadah said about this verse, “`This is the characteristic of the friends [auliyaa] of Allah; Allah has described them in this manner, saying that their skin shivers, their eyes weep and their hearts find rest to the remembrance of Allah.”
Then Allah ta’ala says in the end of the verse, “Such is the guidance of Allah,” meaning these feelings are a trait of those who are truly guided, and no one else. This, again, shows exclusivity.

Thus, these verses imply three implications of exclusivity:

ONLY with the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace.

ONLY the believers’ hearts tremble with fear when Allah is mentioned, and their faith increases as they listen to His verses.

And

ONLY the skins and hearts of the guided will shiver with the remembrance of Allah and then become soft.

Next time you have an emanrush, remember these verses and thank Allah ta’ala. Always seek out the dhikr of Allah to soften your heart, to reach peace of mind, to feel humble in front of The One to Whom prostrates what is in the heavens and earth. Remind yourself that Allah ta’ala is not in need of your worship or remembrance in any way, He is Al-Ghaniyy (The One Free of All Needs), and this good is only for your weak and needy self, so be not among those whom Allah has cursed:

فَوَيْلٌ لِّلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مِّن ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
So, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah! They are in plain error! (39:22)

These are the ones whose hearts do not become soft, who do not take heed when the verses of Allah are recited to them, who do not feel any fear or humility, and they are in plain misguidance. may Allah azza wa jal protect us from being amongst them and may He soften our hearts and skins to His remembrance and make us among those who act upon it, Ameen.

_____
1-Imam ibn Katheer states beautifully, “this is the description of the righteous, when they hear the Words of the Compeller, the Protector, the Almighty, the Oft-Forgiving, because they understand the promises and warnings contained therein. The frightening words and threats make their skin shiver from fear. ‘Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah’ because of their hope for His mercy and kindness.”

الحمد لله وحده

و الصلاة و السلام على من لا نبي بعده

What am I talking about here? Am I talking about the 8 cylinder motor in your Cadillac? It’s a riddle, one of my favorite things. Because I don’t like using a lot of real estate, let me get to the point.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
من سلك طريقا يلتمس فيه علما، سهل الله له طريقا إلى الجنة
“Whoever embarks on a path to seek knowledge, Allah facilitates for him the path to Jannah.”

How’s that for motivation? The feeling you get when you’re on the road, traveling on the black asphalt, with the wind blowing in your face…………(okay okay, I’ll stop) For real though, there really is a sense of peace that Allah puts in your heart when you are on the road to seek knowledge. Leaving your worldly priorities behind and dropping them for your journey to knowledge.

One big chunk of the traveling experience is the group of friends or acquaintances you travel with. You actually begin to learn about who they are deep down inside and what bothers them. But in all honesty, it really is a bonding experience between all the people in the ride. You share some laughs, and you discuss some controversial issues, and just have a good time worshiping Allah together. This fact reminds me of and makes me appreciate the wisdom of Umar ibn al Khattab, who considered traveling with somebody one of the three definitive ways to really get to know who a person is. You want to know what the other two are, dont ya? Well, the other two are: 2. Doing business with a person, and 3. Being a long time companion of a person.

Probably though, the worst part of traveling with some friends to seek knowledge is at the end of the trip, when everyone is being dropped off at their houses or cars, and say their goodbyes. So sappy, so corny it is, but yet, how true it is.

During this past Heavenly Hues class, Shaykh Yaser Birjas (may Allah preserve him) held a special session after lunch for about half an hour with all of the volunteers. In it, he described his time growing up and how he became serious about practicing Islam. One of the brothers/sisters on the forums posted an transcript of Shaykh Yaser’s speech to their class at Qabeelah Haadi which is much more detailed, but somewhat similar to what he told us as well. For the benefit of everyone who was unable to attend that session, I am pasting the post below.

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Shaykh Yasir Qadhi had a special question to Shaykh Yaser Birjas, which was broadcasted in our Heavenly Hues class:

“Fellow Haadians, I welcome you all to this beautiful class being taught by our beloved Sheikh and brother, Sheikh Yaser Birjas.

Believe me, it gives me great jealousy that you are attending this class right now, I wish that I could be sitting in your seat right here and now to benefit from the prose and wisdom that our dearly beloved Sheikh and brother in Islam, Sh. Yaser Birjas is giving all of you.

My question to you my dear Sheikh is: can you please tell us a little bit about yourself and about your path and journey to Islam, and how you ended up studying Islam and going to the University of Medina? What are the major scholars you studied with and your favorite subject that you took, some of the anecdotes of your personal life, especially the time you spent with our dear Sheikh Muhammad ibn Salih al Uthaymeen, do you have any stories that truly inspires you?

My request to my fellow Haadians is, beacuse I won’t be there to take the answer from our Sh. Yaser Birjas, can you please post the answers on the forums so that all of us can benefit from what he has to say.

Lastly, I advise all of you to “milk” as much as you can out of Sh. Yaser Birjas and benefit from his wisdom. Really and truly, he is one of the greatest source of inspiration and blessings that I, personnaly, have in this country.
May Allah azza wa jal increase him and all of us in their benefit, barakah and knowledge.”

Below is a quick transcription of what he said… please forgive me for the mistakes and for what I couldn’t take down.

We ask Allah ‘Azza wa Jal to accept from our scholars.

“AlhamdullahiRabilalameen

As you know, subhanAllah, every individual has his own moment is life that directed towards this path. I personally remember being in the masajid since I was around 11/12 years old. I joined the masajid in such an early age. Masajid in Muslim countries always full with activities. My coming to the dawah field was during the month of Ramadan. Such a blessing from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala….we were going to masjid just like the Ramadan kids..so on getting into the masjid, we saw on the side there was a library, all kids jumping, enjoying their time…as kids, we were so curious. All of a sudden one brother came out, with ea beautiful smile and said, would you like to come in?

We felt kind of shy so he said come on in…so we got in. Alhamdulliah I never got out out of that.

We got in there and joined those kids, and we never got out. they were learning about seerah….we start coming everyday, Ramadan finished, just like anybody else, we went back to our old habits for a few days. At some point, one brother came in and he said to me, they’re missing you in the masjid. subhanAllah at that time it hit me, why should we stop? We started joining again…since then, became active in the dawah way.

I learned many dawah techniques the hard way. Being a child…growing up teenager…learned a lot of techniques how to deal with older people, harsh situations, … however, studying Islam was never my idea of being a profession, it was just a hobby. It’s a lifestyle, not a profession…

Therefore I continued with my own passions for engineering. Started with electronic engineering after graduation. Studied for 1.5 years, I live din Kuwait, taking many classes…Alhamdullilah I was very good in sciences in general

In 1990 when Saddam invaded Kuwait, everything came to a stop. I was unable to continue my studies…. It was a time for contemplation, looking for an idea in what we need to do… things change suddenly… that developed another passion in my heart. That’s when I started thinking seriously as studying shariah…increasing my eman and knowledge about the deen. After the war in 1991, I got a chance Alhamdullilah to go for Umrah, apply for Madinah, and I didn’t expect to be accepted…but Alhamudllilah we were accepted…

Studying in Madinah… Alhamdulilah in madinah there are an abundance of mashaiekh. It is up to you to go and benefit, or to leave and gain nothing. Alhamdulilah we had opportunity to benefit from mashaiekh.

One thing I learned from this, and I want you also to consider that. When you hear an opportunity that there is a shaykh coming to give a lecture, seminar…whatever activity, don’t let people discourage you. Wallahi you will regret that for the rest of your life.

After we finished the first year in Madinah, Shaykh Uthamin rahimahullah lived about 400 mil from Madinah. After, we asked our senior students who were about to graduate, we think he lives over there… [the seniors told them to go back to their countires to make dawah] for me, it was a disaster. Didn’t benefit as much this summer [for listening to the seniors and not going to study with the Shaykh]….

He made decisions no matter how difficult will go to Unayza with Shaykh Uthamin rahimahullah. They went, group fo students about 4-5 of us, and as we went there we asked for accommodations. The Shaykh and two buildings at that time, like dorm for students who live there, but we asked permission to get in there and they said no, sorry, we don’t have space for you. so you stay in the masjid, but the food, you’re welcome. We learned later that that was a technique to filter the students. if you cannot endure the hardships, go home. So we stayed in masjid for almost a week, eating by the mosquitoes. During that week we used to attend all the programs, and we learned the technique with the Shaykh. During Hajj, Ramadan and so on, we learned so much from the personal interaction than the academic learning we had in university of Madinah. The shaykh had a lifestyle that is completely amazing. Never seen a shaykh so active, always busy teaching subhanAllah, almost all the moments of his life.

For fajr for instance, he doesn’t allow students to walk with him from his house to the masjid, he walks by himself and barefoot. Why? This is sunnah of the Prophet salAllahu alayhi wa sallam that sometimes you do so so that you’ll get a little bit ruff…… for dhur, asr maghrib and ishaa, students would go and wait for him by his door. Once he walks out, the halaqaat begins. Students will be walking, carrying with them recording, for each of them 2-3 minutes they’ll read from the book, shaykh explains that, shaykh answers, next, next next…by the time get to masjid, probably interact with 20 people. Same thing on the way back. Questions, answers, programs, halaqaat. He’s seen people studying books with the shaykh going back and forth with him.

After asr explains Riyad as Saliheenm

After maghrib from sahih Muslim. Between adhan and iqama sahih Bukhari.

During summer: first session: 35 min, second and third 25…last session 10 minutes. There are always some types of beeping when you hear the shaykh giving lecture for the alarm, class end, …..

Makes it easier for the students. once you say 35 minutes…etc…it makes it easier for you to stay until the end fo the program.

Had a very sophisticated well organized program, rahmatAllahe alayhe

Whenever you get an opportunity and chance to go attend these programs, don’t let someone discourage you. don’t let them say, you don’t have to attend it. If you think you can benefit, Bismillah, go ahead and join.

That second year, he felt so guilty about the previous year. Allahu mustaan..why did we even ask them the question? We should have gone immediately. Since then, every year we go and interact with the Shaykh, meet him … had a lot of experiences in that local.

One thing also I learned from that experience is that you learn from his manners and etiquette before his knowledge…the way he is with awwam, with students of knowledge, dignitaries…dealing with all these people…one time there was a janaza. While he walks, everyone in town knows him. even the bakers, mechanics, everyone says as salamu alaykum, all the way to the cemetery just giving salamu alaykum.

Even sometimes the shakykh will repeat his salams twice if someone is not paying attention.

Unfortunately, in America we miss that. We don’t have resident scholars who live with us…you make sure you benefit from Shaykh Jamaal Zarabozo (Note: Alhamdullilah the Shaykh moved here recently). Don’t let this opportunity slip from your hand.

My message: please, don’t let anyone discourage you from seeking knowledge. Always aspire to go further in you’re education and increase your eman and if you learn something that you practice what you learn. Wa Allahu ta’ala ‘alam
Q and A with Shaykh:

-Since Shaykh Uthamin rahimahullah did not live in the west, should we still follow his fatawa since some people say he was not familiar with this area? (the question was something like that)?

The shaykh would know about things going around… students would inform him about what is going on. In the middle of class, the Shaykh would bring information about all around the world…always being informed. Sometimes he would call some students who were from specific areas to talk to his students. one time we were there and the Shaykh realized that here were no students coming from certain areas and he wanted some of them to inform the students about the condition of the students in his location so he asked one of them to talk and he spoke for about 25 minutes, and the Shaykh commented about what he heard, how students should make duaa for each other, etc.

-Which is better? Finish formal degree here and then go and study shariah, or leave studies, go study shariah and then come back?

Depends on circumstances… he explained that both situations may work. Wa Allahu ‘alam

Let me tell you one thing about Shaykh Uthamieen: he liked to laugh so much. He would laugh so much, if there wasn’t a wall, he would have fall over on his back, rahmatAllahe alayhe.

The shaykh personally has adapted his style… saying “ya jam’aa”-that’s his rahimahullah. Ya jamaa! Ojeebo!

The style of standing is from Shaykh Al Shinqeeti hafidahullah…students would tell him to sit down when teaching. No. I feel it is not even halal for me to sit down while I am teaching.

Amazing, these ulema moving around, teaching you the deen.

May Allah subhanahu wat a’ala reward them for teaching us the deen. And I am carrying their message to you, so that you may carry it to others bi’idnillah subhanahu wa ta’ala.”

An Examination of Good and Evil in the Glorious Qur’an

Questioning the nature of good and evil is part of human nature. We find people of all creeds, races, and eras seeking to understand good and evil through works of literature, poetry, theatre, art, and more. While an examination of these collective works can provide insight into man’s struggle between good and evil and his understanding of it, such an examination will not provide man with the definition of what good and evil are nor with a prescription for achieving good and prohibiting evil in his life. Only the One who created us, our Lord, Allah subhaanahu wa ta’ala can provide us with such knowledge and guidance. In this paper, we will examine the words of Allah azza wa jal to offer a definition of good and evil and a way to achieving good and preventing evil in this life and the next.

Click here to continue reading

Alhamdullilah, wa salaatu wa salaamu ‘ala Rasool’Allah

Part II of II    Click here to See Part I

The Nation of Islam, Then and Now

As the night and speech was coming to a close, Imam Siraj shed more light on the Nation of Islam, then and now.

After the death of Elijah Muhammad in 1975, his son Wallace Muhammad was appointed as leader.

Wallace introduced the Nation of Islam to Sunni Islam, and the first thing he taught was that W.D. Fard was not God, and that his father Elijah Muhammad was not a messenger of Allah, and that Prophet Muhammad, sal’Allahu alahi wa salam, is the Last Messenger of Allah. Wallace brought so many people out of absolute shirk and pointed them in the direction of Allah. Wallace did that as a Sunni Muslim, and while wearing a Nation of Islam Fruit of Islam uniform.

After the death of Elijah Muhammad, from 1975 to 1977, Minister Louis Farrakhan, in fact, taught orthodox Islam. In 1977, Farrakhan again started the movement of the Nation of Islam.

During 1975, Shaykh Jafar Idris came and taught twenty-five ministers of the Nation of Islam, Imam Siraj Wahaj being one of them.

When Shaykh Jafar recited the Qur’an, that was the first time in his life that Imam Siraj had heard it. Imam Siraj even has it is on tape. In the background you can hear his voice saying, “That’s the greatest thing I’ve ever heard in my life, I’ve got to learn THAT!“

Shaykh Jafar also taught them to fast in Ramadan, and not during the month of December as the Nation of Islam did. He then took thousands of his followers to Mecca to make pilgrimage.

Imam Siraj said that up to that point during his time in the Nation of Islam, from 1969 to 1975, he had also never made salaat once. He had prayed, but not as the Prophet sal’Allahu alayhi wa salam had prayed. And it was Imam Muhammad who taught them.

The Breakdown

Imam Siraj was actually invited to speak at the Million Man March in 1995. And even though other imams had disagreed with him and criticized him, since he had the opportunity to do dawah, Imam Siraj still refused to attend, for Allah, because he did not want to make it legitimate.

Last year, Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam had their annual Savior’s Day convention in Detroit.

For that event, Minister Farrakhan and his top staff from the Nation of Islam called Imam Siraj to come to Detriot and lead thousands of their followers in salaatul Jumuah.

Imam Siraj invited imams he respected to take shura with them, and they talked about changes that needed to be made in the Nation. They witnessed that changes were occurring, and that things were getting closer to orthodox Islam. So they made the decision that he should go and give khutbah there.

Imam Siraj said that you can be of opinion that he should not have gone there, that’s ok.  He thought about it a lot himself and waited. In this case, he decided to go, for Allah, and he thought that he could somehow help to bring them closer.

After the khutbah, many of the leaders of the Nation of Islam came to Imam Siraj and asked him to teach in their cities. In fact and already, one of the biggest ministers of the Nation of Islam has already taken his shahada and is in the Nation teaching right now. Other ministers in the Nation are also ready for Islam.

Imam Siraj said that Imam Muhammad, son of Elijah Muhammad, was the one who first brought them to Islam in massive numbers, and pointed him in the direction of the Qur’an and Sunnah. And because of that, Imam Siraj believes that some of the credit of the work he does will also be given to Imam Muhammad on the Day of Judgment.

Final Words and Advice

In closing, Imam Siraj asked Allah to bless Imam Muhammad, to continue to help him grow and help his community, and asked Allah to guide minister Farakhan to Islam.

He recalled the dua of the Prophet, sal’Allahu alayhi wa salam, for Allah to strengthen Islam with Abu Jahl Ibn Hisham or Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be please with him. Umar accepted Islam, and the rest is history.

He finished by saying one of the biggest lessons we learn in the Qur’an and Sunnah is that it is not how you begin the race that counts – everyone is born Muslim – but your deeds shall be judged by your last deeds.

Imam Siraj said he will continue to work with all the Muslim groups he can, and try to bring them closer to Islam, and that in that attempt he takes the position of Shafi, may Allah have mercy on him:

I believe that I’m right, with the possibility that I might be wrong. And I believe that you’re wrong, with the possibility that you might be right.

“May Allah bless you brothers and sisters, and keep on learning and keep on growing, and keep having patience with one another… Asalamu alaykum wa rahmatallah”, Imam Siraj ended.

Alhamdullilah, wa salaatu wa salaamu ‘alaa Rasool’Allah

Part I of II

Sunday night of Ilm Fest began with a video of Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef giving a special keynote address about Leaving a Legacy, in which he spoke about performing deeds that give on-going returns. Of them are knowledge that continues to benefit, a continuous charity which people take from, and a pious child who prays for the parents.

He ended by saying that when he was being interviewed for Madinah University and was asked who it was who had inspired him, he mentioned Imam Siraj Wahaj. Muhammad Alshareef finished by thanking Imam Siraj for being such an influence in his life, and praying that Imam Siraj gets the reward for the work AlMaghrib has done.

Next, Shaykhs Yasir Qadhi and Muhammad Ibn Faqih went up stage with Imam Siraj, and both felt it incumbent to take time before Imam Siraj’s speech to say a few words to thank him, appreciate him, and show their love and respect for the great things he has done for the Muslim American community and the American community at large, and for the positive effect he has had on so many people.

Shaykh Yasir mentioned how one day we will tell our grandchildren about how we were actually there to hear Imam Siraj speak, and that when it comes to Imam Siraj, we are reminded of the following portion of a hadith from Rasool’Allah, sal’Allahu alayhi wa salam,

If Allah has loved a servant [of His] He calls Gabriel (alay salam) and says: I love so-and-so, therefore love him. He (the Prophet sal’Allahu alayhi wa salam) said: So Jibreel loves him. Then he (Jibreel) calls out in heaven, saying: Allah loves so-and-so, therefore love him. And the inhabitants of heaven love him. He (the Prophet sal’Allahu alayhi wa salam) said: Then acceptance is established for him on earth…. [Muslim]

It’s very difficult and perhaps impossible to describe the feeling in the audience that night. Love, care and respect oozed throughout the audience and permeated the air. And what followed was a heartfelt, emotional and remarkable speech.

Imam Siraj Bringing Down the House on Ilm Fest ’08

Imam Siraj finally took to the podium.

He began by praising Allah and sending salams on the Prophet, sal’Allahu alayhi wa salam.

His shock was noted in his expression and demeanor. He explained how he had not expected such a reception, and then, the mood changed.

As he continued he sniffled, and the eyes became red and wet. The tears then rolled down his cheeks as he stood under the bright lights in front of hundreds and hundreds of people who love him so much. He couldn’t even speak a word, and the room was at a still.

In the audience that night, how many eyes welled up or shed tears, or how many hearts were captured with love and emotion, or how many heads hanged low, only Allah knows. How could they look up, as their teacher, Imam Siraj Wahaj, stood before them shedding his tears in silence.

Finally able to speak, Imam Siraj thanked Allah for allowing him to try his best to serve Him, and said that he appreciated that there are those who have recognized what was being attempted to be done.

Tears still in his eyes, Imam Siraj mentioned how 1978 he was blessed to study at Umm Al-Qura, not for 10 years – but for 4 months – and that he was blessed to have learned from true scholars.

Imam Siraj mentioned that one of his favorite teachers was Shaykh Husayn Hamid from Egypt, who began every class in the same way: “Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise.” [2:32]. He then added, “We ask Allah to accept our very humble effort.”

He mentioned how he did not want to come to a conference, a meeting, or a gathering, and meet for one minute or an hour or a day without taking something of benefit home.

He mentioned how some of the George Mason students he saw on Thursday said they were coming to Ilm Fest, and the next day at University of Boston, some of the Muslims there said they were coming. And as he went around the country, various students – especially students – said they were coming to the conference.

He related how the Prophet sal’Allahu alayhi wa salam sought refuge in Allah from knowledge that does not benefit, and how Mu’awiyyah had said that there is no real wisdom without experience.

A Travel through the Life of Imam Siraj

Having fully gathered himself, Imam Siraj took the audience through the story of his life. A history – as he described it- that you know, and some of it you don’t know, a history that was very intimate.

He took the audience through the days of his life as a basketball player at New York University. A basketball player would talk to him about the Nation of Islam on the bus. Things led up to his acceptance of what he thought was Islam, in 1969.

Believe it or not, Imam Siraj was in fact a very shy person.

In high school, whenever he was called to come up and read in front of the class, he would sit in the back and hide under the desk. And when he began selling the Nation of Islam’s newspaper, “Muhammad Speaks”, which Malcolm X himself started, Imam Siraj would walk up to people fired up inside, yet scared to death, and would ask, “Excuse me sir, you don’t want one of these, do you?” They said “No”, and he would say, “Ok.”

Fast forward to the 1990s, and Imam Siraj Wahaj is the first Muslim ever to open up a US congressional session with supplication. Then to India, were Imam Siraj gives a talk with John Esposito to a crowd of around three hundred thousand. Till this day, Imam Siraj has spoken around the globe.

Imam Siraj drew from his life experiences. He advised Muslims to stop talking about one another, and rather start talking to one another. He said that we seem to be good at the former, and make a lot of assumptions, while we learn from the Qur’an and hadith and the Prophet, sal’Allahu alayhi wa salam, to be very careful to give our brothers and sisters the benefit of the doubt.

One of the most difficult things, he said, is when someone gives so many speeches and everyone listens to everything they say, and some people listen not to get information, or naseeha, or inspiration, but to try to find something wrong.

Yet when a man came to Rasool’Allah, sal’Allahu alayhi wa salam, about some offense he committed, the Prophet, sal’Allahu alayhi was salam, replied: maybe you just kissed. Maybe some Muslims today would ask: who, and where, and how many times? The point being that he, sal’Allah alayhi wa salam, did not dig in or try to find people’s faults.

Malcolm X: Courage and Conviction, may Allah have mercy on him

As Imam Siraj traversed through his life and things related to the Nation of Islam, he touched upon the life of Malcolm X.

Malcolm X, Imam Siraj said, knew he was going to die.

On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X parked his car not right in front of the Audubon Ballroom, but ten blocks away. A follower of his saw Malcolm walking, and picked Malcolm up in his car and they drove to the ballroom.

When they were in the back of the Audubon Ballroom, Malcolm said, “I feel something’s going to happen. I shouldn’t go out there.” But, Malcolm went out.

Benjamin Kareem, who Imam Siraj said he used to visit personally in Richmond, Virginia, to learn about history from someone who knows, was the person who would open for Malcolm X.

“Imam Siraj, Malcolm X saved my life”, Benjamin said. How, Imam Siraj asked?

“Usually, when I open up for Malcolm I sit right there next to him. And that day I opened up for Malcolm, and Malcolm said, ‘Benjamin, don’t sit there.”

Benjamin was sent back, and at that moment the guns fired and Malcolm was murdered, may Allah have mercy on him.

What you don’t know, Imam Siraj explained, is that two days before that, a professor at the University of Brown invited Malcolm on Tuesday to come and give a lecture to his students. Malcolm said “I’ll be dead by Tuesday.” The professor said, “Malcolm, don’t mess around.” Malcolm said, “I won’t be alive.” “Come on, Malcolm.” Malcolm said, “Ok, I’ll be there – if I’m still alive.” Malcolm knew.

Imam Siraj said that “Malcolm had courage. So even courage is not the absence of fear, courage is to move ahead despite your fear.”

“I know sometimes, young students, you have fear. As a student in college, maybe the only one in your college, only one in your highschool, I know you have fear. But despite that fear, move foward.

“I know some of the sisters, they have fear about wearing the khimar, because nobody else in the area, in the school, on the block, in the neighborhood, wear khimar, so there’s a little bit fear. So some sisters - despite the fear – they put on the khimar, and they move ahead, because they have courage.”

Part II soon insha’Allah…

Wise scholar once said… “If your brother can’t reach into your pocket and take what he needs without permission, then this is not brotherhood” or something very similar to this. Now please don’t misunderstand me, not everyone’s supposed to have their hand in your pocket, but it’s a pretty bad sign when no one does.

When was the last time we walked up to someone and said “I love you for the sake of Allah”? Probably yesterday or even today right? Alhamdulilah, we got the lip service part down, but when was the last time we extended our pockets? Now I understand our dilemma, most of us are students and school has probably emptied out our pockets, but the last time I checked (and trust me, I checked) our cell phone address books are still full as ever. So the next time you have 5 minutes of free time, call a brotha (or sista) up and check up on them. You never know, you might actually ‘enjoy’ talking to that person.

JazakAllahu khairan for reading. May Allah accept from us our good deeds and pardon our sins. Ameen!