A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   The following is adapted from a note by Ustadz Swuhayb William Webb .   Imam Shihab ad-Din Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Abu al-‘Ala’ Idris al-Qarafi al-Maliki ( r.a. ) said, “A person who clings to books is deviant, leading others to misguidance.”   Shaykh ‘Abdullah ibn Mahfuzh ibn Bayyah explained saying that a student of knowledge may be gifted in reading and finding things in ancient texts that are rooted in things related to their times; that shaped the opinions found in them.   A true scholar is not only gifted in navigating the classics, but he sees them through the particular needs of the day.   Dr. ThaHa Jabi al-‘Alwani said to Ustadz Swuhayb, “A person that thinks fiqh is concrete, has no fiqh .”   This, meaning fiqh is a dynamic that is ever changing to bring the best for a person in this life and the Hereafter.   Imam Shams ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is adapted from a note by Ustadz Swuhayb William Webb.   Imam Shihab ad-Din Abu al-‘Abbas Ahmad ibn Abu al-‘Ala’ Idris al-Qarafi al-Maliki ( r.a. ) said, “A person who clings to books is deviant, leading others to misguidance.”   Shaykh ‘Abdullah ibn Mahfuzh ibn Bayyah explained saying that a student of knowledge may be gifted in reading and finding things in ancient texts that are rooted in things related to their times; that shaped the opinions found in them.  A true scholar is not only gifted in navigating the classics, but he sees them through the particular needs of the day.   Shaykh ThaHa Jabi al-‘Awani said to Ustadz Swuhayb Webb, “A person that thinks fiqh is concrete, has no fiqh .”  This means fiqh is a dynamic that is ever changing to bring the best for a person in this life and the Hereafter.   Imam Shams ad-Din Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah ( r.a. ) said abo...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is taken from The Kunya , Cowardice & Principles: Use This to Keep Your Walls & Pages Free from Trolls by Ustadz Swuhayb William Webb.   It seems like, no matter the topic, posts online are eventually invaded by the rude comments of Abu so-and-so or Umm so-and-so.  In Arabic, “ Abu ” means “Father of” and “ Umm ” means “Mother of.”  This form of naming convention is a tetronym called a kunya in Arabic.  A quick background search on these people reveals everything from lion pictures, jihad flags, superheroes and even pictures of the forbidden.  In short, often times, these people are using a kunya to hide their identity.   Here are two axioms related to the use of a kunya that Ustadz Webb heard from his teachers:   Firstly, if a person tries to act like a scholar or speak from a position of authority, using a kunya to hide his identity, then he is considered majhul , unknown, and...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Allah ( s.w.t. ) Says, in the Qur’an:   سُوۡرَةُ العَنکبوت بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ الٓمٓ (١) أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتۡرَكُوٓاْ أَن يَقُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفۡتَنُونَ (٢)وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ‌ۖ فَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ (٣)   In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful Alif Lam Mim.   Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, “We believe”, and that they will not be tested?   We did Test those before them, and Allah will certainly Know those who are true from those who are false. (Surah al-‘Ankabut:1-3)   Normally, the dialogue regarding those who embrace Islam is focused on why they converted.   This is very much a feel-good exercise for the community at large.   When someone converts to Islam, the immediate response from the Muslim community is overwhelmingly welcoming.   A...