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“Convey from me, even if it is one verse."

- The Beloved Prophet ﷺ 📚 Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 3461)

We're excited to announce a special guest for this week's faith circle, join us on *Thursday 17th of April at 6:45pm* as we'll be joined once again by *Sheikh Sajid Umar* for *The Dawah Imperative in The West*.

Sh. Sajid has completed a bachelor's degree in comparative fiqh and honours from the higher institute for judiciary studies. Following this, he completed a PhD relating to the topic of Financial Risk Management.

As a qualified Mufti, judge, educator, author and researcher, and his experience in delivering programs for youth worldwide, Sh. Sajid brings us a unique background which will help us tackle an important questions related to our Islamic duties for Dawah in the west:

🗣️ What are our individual responsibilties in calling to Islam in a non-Muslim society?

🌍 How do we accurately, and effectively represent Islam in a world full of misconceptions and hostility?

🎯 What are the biggest mistakes we make in Dawah—and how can we fix them?

Don't miss our Q & A after the class, and we look forward to welcoming you in sha Allah!

n Al Qayyim said,

“The first thing of your religion that you will lose is khushoo’, and the last thing that you will lose of your religion is salaah. There may be a person praying who has no goodness in him, and soon you will enter the mosque and not find anyone who has khushoo” (Madarij Salikeen)

Allah has declared that the flourishing of the believer is connected to the flourishing of their prayer, “Successful are the believers, those who have Khushu’ in their prayer” (Quran, 23:2)

Hasan Al-Basri said, *“Allah is not worshipped with anything greater than long-lasting sorrow (tūl-al-huzn)”*

We often hear people say that if you have faith you will never be sad or anxious. But then how do we understand this aphorism from one of the great tabi’un?

Are Muslims immune from the midlife crisis ? Or quarter life crisis ? Is it possible that you are a believer but feel nihilistic ?

As you know I dislike platitudes and cliches…let’s explore these questions at a deeper level as we continue our reflections from Kitab Zuhd wa Ar-Raqa’iq by Ibn Mubarak.

Umar bin Khattab said, “*Sit with those who have repented, because they have the softest hearts”*

The believer with a past can feel so many different emotions - guilt over their sins, overwhelming gratitude for guidance, imposter syndrome, shame, happiness all together.

Can a righteous believer still be heart broken? Can a repentant Muslim who lost his friends feel lonely?

Maybe your sins were a blessing in disguise to make you humble and not arrogant. To make you soft hearted and not harsh hearted.

These are themes we will explore in Kitab Zuhd wa Raqa’iq this week - we’ll call it: “Righteous Sadness: A Believer’s Grief”

When Wolves become Shepherds

Kitab Zuhd Wa Raqa’iq by Ibn Al-Mubarak.

- ⁠Pitfalls of Preaching & Activism

- ⁠The Art of Da’wah in the West

- ⁠Knowledge & Power

Time waits for no one

We start to go through the narrations in the book, Kitab az-Zuhd wa Raqa’iq.

The key theme of the beginning is about the passing of time and how a believer’s attitude should be toward the finiteness of his life span. This is a reality we often ignore - time is certainly running out, and where are we going?

Ibn Mubarak chooses this narration to start his book:

The Prophet SAW said, “there are two blessings which many people are deceived in: health and free time”

Explore lessons from the life of Abdullah ibn Mubarak the Author of Kitāb az-Zuhd wa’r-Raqāʾiq by Imām Ibn al-Mubārak (رحمه الله), a timeless work on breaking the dunya delusion.

This week and the weeks following, we will draw from the timeless wisdom of Kitāb az-Zuhd wa’r-Raqāʾiq by Imām ʿAbdullāh Ibn al-Mubārak (رحمه الله) (736–797 CE). A scholar, muḥaddith, jurist, and ascetic. Known for his depth, balance, and protection of the vulnerable.

Zuhd isn’t about looking poor or avoiding life’s blessings. It’s about keeping the heart detached from worldly things, even when they’re within reach. Ibn al-Mubārak exemplified this. Though he had wealth and dressed well, he lived simply, gave generously, and stayed focused on Allah.

Ninth Foundation: On the Censure of Pride and Self-Conceit