By Mohammad Shahrul Amsyar Bin Ramlan

Ahlan wa Sahlan, wa Marhaban to you—an affectionate greeting and a warm welcome to those who wish to set forth on the noble pursuit of discovering a spiritual path.

A 36-week session that focused on “Ayyuhal Walad” or “Dear Beloved Son” by Imam Al-Ghazali came to a close just this past week.

Here we are once more, starting a new book, “Purification of the Heart” by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, with some returning faces, as well as some brand new ones, the very next week.

Taking after the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , our Beloved ﷺ was recognised as being both an educator and a lifelong learner who hammered home the importance of education to his immediate family, his companions and the Muslim community in its entirety.

Gleaned from various collections weekly, our well-wisher, Ustaz Sameer, transmits a selection of hadiths, reminding us of the value of Ilm and the noble pursuit of it.

IT STANDS TO REASON, THEN, THAT A MUSLIM’S PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE DOES NOT END WITH THE READING OF A SINGLE BOOK. RECOGNISE THAT THE PURSUIT OF ILM IS A SUSTAINED DEDICATION, AN ONGOING PLEDGE, AND AN EXTENDED INVESTMENT.

This is something you’ll be doing for the rest of your life, so resolve to give it your all.

My initial thoughts for this week’s class, though, do not centre on this exclusive focus on acquiring knowledge. In particular, I’d want to zero in on the expression “Ahlan wa Sahlan, wa Marhaban to you,” greeted by our Murabbi at the start of the session.

What more fitting way to greet forty or so of us than with an affectionate token of welcome? There really isn’t, is there? First impressions matter, and in my humble experience and that of many others, students will stick around if they are made to feel welcome, valued, and cared for.

Islam teaches its followers to be welcoming and kind to others, whether these be individuals whom we know or do not know. Evidently, during one of our former sessions, we were advised that the ideal form of Islam is to “feed those who are hungry, and to greet with peace those whom we know and do not know,” – reported by Abdullah Ibn Amr.

Alhamdulillah, I cherish the lessons we’ve learned and the means by which we’ve subconsciously put them into practice. Hosting and attending the Seekers’ Circle, which warmly welcomes visitors, is an expression of these values.

Offering refreshments and tasbih beads, making visitors feel at ease and making them feel appreciated are all ways to display hospitality. In addition, the diversity of identities and life experiences encapsulated in the Seekers’ Circle, of a Born Muslim/Returning Muslim/Convert, fosters an environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ

“O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may get to know one another. Surely the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous among you. Allah is truly All-Knowing, All-Aware.”
Quran 49:13

In short, “Ahlan wa Sahlan, wa Marhaban to you” to those who are present weekly, who are new,

those who have yet joined us and those who are reading this piece. Welcome, then, to Allah’s ﷻ Eternal Mercy: the bowed wings of the angels in humbling respect and the invocations of forgiveness from the fishes in depths of the seas be given to you, and to your fellow seekers of knowledge, a hearty welcome.

Join us, and we may realise our life’s essential purpose and uncover our greatest potential.

Ahlan wa Sahlan, wa Marhaban to you.

A noble endeavour that can do great good for both the individual and the community at large is to share knowledge and invite others to study Islam. You and I can be catalysts for change in the lives of others by disseminating noble knowledge and insights. As we were able to witness first-hand, Islam’s canonical texts are a treasure trove of insights, direction and answers to life’s perplexities.

Yet, for some of us, we contain these truths within ourselves from the very individuals whose company we seek in the next life. Yes, I am occasionally guilty of this too.

As Muslims, our hope and aspirations for the happiness and salvation of our loved ones are both natural and praiseworthy, yet it is understandable to be wary of the reception your words of guidance might receive. In spite of this, extend invitations rather than impositions. It’s good to impart knowledge to others but keep in mind that Allah ﷻ alone may direct their steps.

Remember that everyone’s spiritual path is different and that transformation requires time. Allow those you care about to mature at their own pace and model patience and tolerance for them as they do so. Don’t taint your bond with them and their faith in Allah ﷻ with your anger or aggressiveness. Adapt the approach you take to getting others to learn more about Islam.

If I may, there are three means through which we can get people genuinely interested in our Deen:

Have meaningful exchanges

Bring up the topics of faith and convictions in a courteous and thoughtful fashion. Make a safe place where your friends and family can talk about their thoughts, worries and queries without worrying about receiving criticism. Listen carefully and answer with empathy and kindness.

Be a good example

Spend your day-to-day existence as a model Muslim, incorporating the guidelines of Islam into your deeds and demeanour. Show those closest to you how Islam has changed you for the better by how you act, what you say and what you do.

Supplication

Make prayers for the best interests of your loved ones and ask Allah ﷻ to soften and broaden their hearts to Islam. Ask Allah ﷻ to help you in your efforts and have faith in His perfect plan.

We ask Allah ﷻ to guide our loved ones to the right sources of knowledge and to bless them with teachers, mentors and resources that will facilitate their learning journey. We acknowledge that true guidance comes from Him alone. We hope that our families and friends receive a share of the treasures He has given us.

Some things to share on Zullhijjah:

The first 10 days of the Islamic month of Zulhijjah hold great significance, so it’s great that you plan to give them the attention they deserve. Here are some pointers for making the most of these blessed days.

Participate in religious rites

Undertake supplementary prayers (Nafl), observe fasting, recite the Glorious Quran, make supplications (Dua) and engage in the remembrance of Allah ﷻ (Dhikr). You will grow in your devotion to Allah ﷻ and be greatly rewarded for performing these deeds. Incorporate simple deeds into your day. In turn, these modest steps can make a big difference.

By way of illustration, get up at 5 am so you can offer two units of Tahajjud/Taubah prayers, and when the call to Fajr prayer is proclaimed, you’ll be sufficiently prepared to offer the sunnah prayers of Fajr. If possible, offer the Fajr prayers in a congregation, and then use the time afterward to recite your daily litanies in Allah’s ﷻ honour such as Wirdul Lateef and the recitation of Surah Ya-Seen.

To maximise the blessings you receive from these sacred days, observe fasting. If you are unable to fast for the entirety of the first nine days of Zulhijjah, fast the sunnah fasts on Mondays and Thursdays. If you can’t do that, then fast on the 8th (Day of Tarwiyah) and 9th (Day of Arafah), to which the latter attaches the most significance––that is, the expiation of sins from the past and the following year. Illuminate the days of Zulhijjah by habitually moistening your tongues with the remembrance of Allah ﷻ, be it Dhikr or Quran.

These are sacred days, though many seem to treat them as ordinary days. So, emulate the saying of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by being in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller. The actions of others are irrelevant. Instead, you ought to revel in the grace of your Lord as much as possible during these ten blessed days.

Repentance

Intensify your efforts to repent by confessing your wrongdoing, expressing genuine regret, and resolving to never again engage in sinful activities. Take advantage of this time to seek Allah’s ﷻ forgiveness and clean your heart. If our sinless prophet ﷺ who guided and inspired us sought forgiveness 70-100 times a day, why don’t we individuals, who are infinitely more guilty, not utter one ‘Astaghfirullah’?

Charity

Support good causes and lend a hand to those in need during these auspicious times. Now, more than ever, the charitable deeds you perform will be remembered and rewarded. Even if it is as low as $1 a day, do not withhold yourselves from the mercy and generosity of Allah ﷻ.

Qurban

You should give some thought to carrying out the rite of Qurbani, which entails sacrificing an animal (a sheep, goat, cow or camel) in order to emulate Prophet Ibrahim’s AS actions. Make sure that you complete all of the demands and conditions of this act of worship and then distribute the meat to those who are in need of it. Meat is a staple in most of our diets, but our brethren in economically insecure countries eagerly await Eidul Adha each year so that they can enjoy the meat we sacrifice for them.

The first ten days of the Islamic calendar month of Zulhijjah are unquestionably very important, yet practising Islam is a year-round commitment to worship and piety. The momentum you’ve built up during these holy days is yours to persevere, so make an effort to bring that sense of dedication and piety into the rest of your life as well.

Remember, the most beloved of deeds to Allah ﷻ are those that are most consistent, even if they are small. Avoid trying to do too much as your Nafs will exact vengeance if you fail to keep up your good habits after Eid.

May Allah ﷻ allow us to become more determined to follow that which He has obligated us to do in these ten days—increase us in all voluntary good deeds that are attainable on a daily basis, and increase us in khair.