A Muslim Convert Once Before

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ The following is my answer to a Quora question: “ Would you allow Muslims to immigrate to your country? ”   It makes no sense for immigration policy to be based solely on religion.  When we consider it logically, how many people who claim adherence to any faith actually follow every single commandment, every rule, every article of faith?  Nobody knows that much.  Even if they did, considering the multitudes of schools, sects and denominations in every religion, it would be impossible because they contradict each other.   Immigration policy should be based on need of the state, the values of the prospective immigrant in relation to the citizenry, and whether they would make good citizens.  Ultimately, it is about values.  Values are not commensurate with religious adherence. An honest man is honest regardless of his faith or lack of it.  A dishonest man is dishonest likewise.

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn ‘Abbad ar-Rundi ( r.a. ) wrote Sharh al-Hikam ‘Atha’illah , a commentary on Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari’s ( q.s. ) Hikam .   In response to Shaykh ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari’s ( q.s. ) comment, “Spiritual illuminations are the riding platforms of hearts and innermost beings”, he wrote, “The lights of faith and certainty are vehicles, which carry the innermost beings and hearts to the presence of the Knower of the Unseen.  These are the aforementioned spiritual experiences.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ) said, in Tanwir , “The slaves are prevented from coming to Allah by attractions to other than Allah.  Whenever their hearts desire to travel to Allah, that attachment pulls them to what they are attached to and they think of returning to it and turning to it.  The Presence of Allah is denied to those who are like this and forbidden to the one with this description.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ) wrote, in his Hikam , “Among the ignorance of the disciple is that he breaks the rules of etiquette and upon seeing the punishment delayed, he says, ‘If this were bad etiquette, it would have cut off the Divine Help and obligated being distanced.’  But, it may cut off Divine Help from whence he knows not - even if it only prevents an increase.  Further still, the disciple may be distanced without knowing it - even if it is by leaving him alone to do what he wants.”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Dr. Ahmad Hijazi as-Saqqa wrote, in Mukhalifun li Zhahir al-Lafz , that Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Swalih al-‘Utsaymin said, “It is established that Allah ( s.w.t. ) has feet, and the Ahl as-Sunnah have explained the leg and foot as being literal according to what befits Allah, whereas the Ahl at-Ta’wil have explained ‘ al-rijl ’ as being the group which Allah will Place in the Fire, and ‘ al-qadam ’ as being those who are sent forth to the Fire ...”  He continued later in the passage, “… and I reject and return their explanation to them on the grounds that it contravenes the external meaning of the words.”  This is found in his Sharh al-Ajurumiyyah .   In response to this, Imam Muhammad Sa’id ibn Muhammad Ramadhan al-Buwthi ( r.a. ) mentioned that Imam Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Husayn al-Bayhaqi ( r.a. ) related from Imam Abu Sulayman Hamd ibn Muhammad al-Khaththabi ( r.a. ), after the latter cited the hadits of Sayyidina An...

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari ( q.s. ) wrote, in his Hikam , “No one looks down on worship except the ignorant.  The spiritual fruits of worship are found in the next life while the worship itself ceases with the end of this world.  And it is more befitting to concern oneself with the opportunity which will cease to exist.  He Seeks from you worship and you seek from Him spiritual fruits.  What is the rank of what you seek compared to what He Seeks?”

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ   Imam Ahmad ibn Ahmad az-Zarruq ( q.s. ) said, “The gnostics have three signs.  The first is turning away from what other than the One they recognise in every state and by every aspect.  The second is turning to Him by abandoning portions and carrying out rights.  The third is pleasure with Him in whatever He Decrees.”