Blogging! As some of you know, I am a musician of sorts, coming from a long line of musicians in my family. So I’ve started to make records again and will eventually write, arrange, produce and record a number of songs and some specifically for the readers of this blog.

I’ve been blogging for some time now and its taken shape over a long period of time. There have been a number of life experiences that I’ve shared blogging but there was always a veil of mystery that I intentionally plugged into my blog posts. And after meeting so many people just being around my Shaykh I’ve learned that its better to be open. Its better – within the limits of course – to be a real person. A person that people can relate to; something to connect with.

Most of my relatives are not Muslims, but because of our Shaykh they are loving things they learn about the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him). That love is coming when they see something that touches their hearts.

For example, when my children kiss their Grandparent’s hands, they get an understanding that this is the Right Way. And they know where its coming from and who is teaching it. I don’t have to say much about that at all.

Another example is the donning of leather socks. It may sound funny to Muslims but I have had dozens of requests for leather socks from non-Muslim family and friends. OK, perhaps they do not use it for ease on performing ablution during traveling but they are liking what they see; they are loving what they see and what they are seeing are traditions coming from our Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him). And I’m sure their is something good for those who love the ways of the Most Beloved One in Divine Presence.

Marc Manley wrote an interesting blog post a few weeks back, where he asked the question,

“[N]ow that Islam has arrived on America’s shores, what will its spiritual tradition look like?”

For me, there is a very easy answer: The Osmanli Naks-i’bendi Sufi Association. There is not much more to it. Really, for me its that simple. The reasons why are spelled out plainly on the front page of the main website saying,

“We are followers of the most distinguished Naks-I’bendi Hakkani Tarikat (sufi order), which traces its traditions directly back to the life-style and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Sufism (‘Tasawwuf’, in Arabic) is one of the Islamic sciences. Under the guidance of a Sheykh of the Tarikat, sufism is the way of purifying oneself from bad manners and characteristics in preparation for passing clean to the afterlife. Sufism is the spirituality in Islam. The chain of transmission (of the teachings) is documented through the 40 GrandSheykhs of the Tarikat back to Abu Bakr Siddik, the first companion to whom the Prophet passed the sufi knowledge of the heart.”

The spiritual tradition of the Osmanli Naks-i’bendi-Hakkani Tarikat is directly connected to the spiritual tradition of the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him), his Companions (may Allah’s Mercy be with them) and those that succeeded them (may Allah keep their Secret).

Therefore, our lifestyle – though living in America – should look like that of our shaykh, who is following his shaykh and so on reaching all the way to the Best of Mankind, the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him). There is not much more to it. It really is that simple.  And if you didn’t know, now you do. But a better question is: Now that you know, what are you willing to do about it?

I keep getting these emails from a certain school in Queens. They are having classes at a reduced rate, mashaAllah! A few years back I invested in these  and other classes for myself and my family. If you are wondering the results well, lets just say that I would not be the ideal interview.  So when I receive these emails I am wondering why would I pay so much money for a trickle of something that comes as a  free-flowing river at no cost?

I know this is a rhetorical question and the answer is obvious but I thought it would make an interesting post. I am certainly not claiming to know with certainty what is and what isn’t a Holy gathering, but I am asking Allah Almighty to show me the difference and trusting my heart to know the difference. shukr ya Rabbi (thank you O’ Lord).

And for those who pick Gathering B, unless you have been to both gatherings, I know better than you.

Shaykh Abdul Kerim at the Monestary of St. Barnabas

Ramadan kerim; Ramadan mubarak all. Its good to be writing again and it is only because of a simple yet profound realization that I find myself with the inspiration to write anything at all. That realization coming through so many ways but they all begin with a sohbet. The sohbet of our Shaykh, Abdul Kerim Hazretleri.

My life, like many of you goes through stages and these stages are usually wrought with test after test. All of which seem to be opportunities for growth. Growth in personal strength, understanding  or perhaps even knowledge. The end result however always seems to be an increase in responsibility. My most recent life event and life-changes are no different.

The most recent events have resulted in an increased number of responsibilities, more than I have yet seen in my thirty-one years of life. And trying to manage them from my own understanding is where I have failed in the past. I prayed this time would be different. And patiently sought the guidance of my shaykh.

I recall when I first came to the Osmanli Naksibendi Tarikat, I was frantic. Life changes, difficulties and responsibility were coming so quickly and in such a manner that I was not prepared to face them. I was frantic. But sitting with our Shaykh gave me solace and hope. That hope I felt was coming from being with someone who I know is connected to the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him), living his lifestyle and keeping his sunnat.

Allah Almighty says in his Quran, “Be with Righteous People”, it is an order. Shaykh Muyidin ibn Arabi discusses this in his Futuhat al-Makkiyah saying,

“When you keep company, you must do so with those whose company will benefit you in your religion by knowledge which you witness in him, actions which  he does, or the good character which he possesses. When a person sits with someone whose company reminds him of the Next World, he must obtain some of it according to the success God gives him in that. When the one he sits with has this transference, God accepts the companion by the remembrance of God. The remembrance of the Quran is the greatest remembrance. The Almighty said, “We sent down the remembrance (zikr),” meaning the Quran. He said, “The people of the Quran are the people of God and His elite.” The elite of the king are those with whom he sits in most cases.”

I was feeling that hope coming from being in the company of my Shaykh. Feeling and obtaining hope was one stage of my life, but the hope I felt had to be put to action in my life, a life that is deeply connected to and responsible for others. I retreated to following the instructions of my shaykh in search of inspiration. And then Shaykh Abdul Kerim gave a sohbet where he said,

“Allah subhana wa ta ‘ala, He has created us to be His servant, nothing but His servant. When you are doing your servanthood correctly, that time you will be learning anyway, learning how to help the situation that is around you too. If you are not being a good servant, you are not going to be a good individual to your community; you are not going to be a good person to your country.”

The first time I heard this, I missed it. I was sitting right in front of Shaykh Abdul Kerim when he said it, but yet I still missed it. Then, I downloaded the sohbet to my iPod and listened to it over and over again while on my way to work in Brooklyn or business meetings in Manhattan. I listened to the same sohbet over and over, I sat with my family and listened to it during warm evenings of late June and July. But I still didn’t make the connection that would be the means for me to apply the hope I have found in Shaykh Effendi’s association to my own life outside of tariqat. And then recently during a talk with another murid, inspiration came and it was all based on this sohbet. Shaykh Abdul Kerim said,

“When you are doing your servanthood correctly, that time you will be learning anyway, learning how to help the situation that is around you too.”

And the question now becomes, how does one do his servanthood correctly?

Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi meets Master Shams i Tabrizi

Ramadan kerim everyone! Yesterday, I was talking to a family member on the phone and they were continuously saying inshaAllah, inshaAllah; God willing, to almost everything we spoke about. Overtime our conversation came to a close, but when I got off the phone the phrase, inshaAllah played over and over again in my mind. And it reminded me of a story from Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi’s masnavi.

A prince, while engaged on a hunting excursion, espied a fair maiden, and by promises of gold induced her to accompany him. After a time she fell sick, and the prince had her tended by divers physicians. As, however, they all omitted to say, “God willing, we will cure her,” their treatment was of no avail. So the prince offered prayer, and in answer thereto a physician was sent from heaven. He at once condemned his predecessors’ view of the case, and by a very skillful diagnosis, discovered that the real cause of the maiden’s illness was her love for a certain goldsmith of Samarkand. In accordance with the physician’s advice, the prince sent to Samarcand and fetched the goldsmith, and married him to the lovesick maiden, and for six months the pair lived together in the utmost harmony and happiness. At the end of that period the physician, by divine command, gave the goldsmith a poisonous draught, which caused his strength and beauty to decay, and he then lost favour with the maiden, and she was reunited to the king. This Divine command was precisely similar to God’s command to Abraham to slay his son Ismail, and to the act of the Angel in slaying the servant of Moses, and is therefore beyond human criticism. (Rumi, Masnavi i Ma’navi, tr. EH Whitfield)

BismillaharRahmanirRahim

Selam alaykum all! Someone has brought to my attention that it has been over 40 days since my last post. And this has been the longest stint that I have withheld a post from this blog since 2005. But as it were, I just don’t have much to say. Before I had a shaykh, I had a lot to say. Probably because I thought very highly of myself and my faith. Before I was witness to someone that exhibited the Holy Prophet’s lifestyle, in a way that we can’t understand from reading hadith or listening to our Islamic stories, I thought my little blog posts were invaluable. How foolish was I?

The reality is that as the Holy Nights quickly approach and quickly pass I struggle with myself to stay up an extra hour to make a little zikr before bed or to wake up in the night and make salatul tasbih. The reality is that if it weren’t for the support of my shaykh I probably wouldn’t spend one late night in prayer. I can see that very easily. So in light of all of that, what can I say to you all… nothing.

The best thing that I can do is warn you against my own mistakes, something that I have tasted – quite frequently I might add – in thinking that my ibadat is sufficient. It is better to be humble and struggle for your Lord, that time the dawah is natural and you have to do nothing. I’m not quoting any text this time, I’m not citing any great masters or shuyukh from the past, I am merely talking what is coming to my heart. May Allah Almighty forgive me for my heedlessness and may He bless you all, amin.

Today was an interesting day, it began for me a bit reluctantly because I left the window open and it was much colder in my bedroom than normal. But eventually, I prepared myself and quickly raced out of the bedroom to prepare for fajr, the morning prayers. When I left my apartment to catch the train, I noticed the chilly wind had become a soft and cool breeze and accompanied by the Sun set the tone of the day.

When I got to work I everything was as usual until a woman came to me and began to ask me about death. She wanted to know my views on death and how do I – really referring to Muslims – understand death. I did not answer her question directly, instead I shared with her a real life scenario. I told her that the older I get the less I feel the need to acquire things: money, possessions, collateral, etc. I explained that more and more I am feeling satisfied with my basic needs met. She inquired what I meant, so I explained further saying,

“These days, I am happy to have comfortable pants and shirt, a place to sleep and a meal. I feel like having money in my pocket is nice but if I die tomorrow what will I do with it? Pass it on to my family? Yes that is necessary however, there are limits and I feel better about using the money to help others today than holding onto unnecessary amounts for an unknown future.”

We continued our talk and as I was about to walk away she said,

“Thats a good way to look at it. I think you are headed in the right direction.”

Then she paused and said,

“But… I don’t think you are going to Heaven.”

I laughed to myself, but kept a straight face. Then asked why not, she explained that she doesn’t think Islam and its Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) will lead people to Heaven. So I asked her if she thought my lifestyle was good? She said yes. Then I asked if she thought my values were good? She said yes. Then I asked if she thought that my intentions were sincere? And she said yes. 

So I asked her if the all of these things are good, how is it that I’m on the wrong track? She was a Christian and her disagreement was basically in the age old discussion that I will not entertain in this post. But what I will say is that this showed me something very important. It showed me, in effect, how important the murshid (the Master) is to the murid, (the disciple). 

Essentially, what he is doing is ‘polishing your mirror’ so that you may see yourself more clearly. This is why it is sometimes difficult to accept tariqat ways because in that polished mirror, all the ugliness and dirtiness of our ego’s wants and desires are shown clearly to us and at times others as well.

In an unpolished mirror, we can make up any story about ourselves and others. When looking into the unpolished mirror, that blurred image, can be anything our imagination can dream up. Yet the reality may be something else. The murshid is polishing our mirror so that we may finally see ourselves; so that we may finally meet ourselves:

One of man’s greatest difficulties is also his most obvious drawback. It could be corrected if anyone troubled himself to point it out often and cogently enough. It is the difficulty that man is describing himself when he thinks that he is describing others. How often do you hear people say, about me: ‘I regard this man as the Qutub (magnetic Pole) of the Age?’

He means, of course: ‘I regard this man…’

He is describing his own feelings or convictions, when what we might want to know is something about the person or thing being described.

When he says: ‘This teaching is sublime,’ he means: ‘This appears to suit me.’ But we might have wanted to know something about the teaching, not how he thinks it influences him.

Some people say: ‘But a  thing can truly be known by its effects. Why not observe the effect upon a person?’

Most people do not understand that the effect of, say, sunlight on trees is something constant. In order to know the nature of the teaching, we would have to know the nature of the person upon whom it has acted. The ordinary person cannot know this: all he can know is what that person assumes to be an effect upon himself – and he has no coherent picture of what ‘himself’ is. Since the outward observer knows even less than the person describing himself, we are left with quite useless evidence. We have no reliable witness.

Remember, that while this situation still obtains, there will generally be an equal number of people saying: ‘This is marvellous,’ as are saying: ‘This is ridiculous’. ‘This is ridiculous’ really means: ‘This appears ridiculous to me,’ and ‘this is marvellous’ means: ‘This appears marvellous to me.’

Do you really enjoy being like that?

Many people do, while energetically pretending otherwise.

Would you like to be able to test what really is ridiculous or marvellous, or anything in between?

You can do it, but not when you presume that you can do it without any practice, without any training, in the midst of being quite uncertain as to what it is you are and why you like or dislike anything.

When you have found yourself you can have knowledge. Until then you can only have opinions. Opinions are based on habit and what you conceive to be convenient to you.

The study of the Way requires self-encounter along the way. You have not met yourself yet. The only advantage of meeting others in the meantime is that one of them may present you to yourself.

Before you do that, you will possibly imagine that you have met yourself many times. but the truth is that when you do meet yourself, you come into a permanent endowment and bequest of knowledge that is like no other experience on earth. (Tariqavi; qtd in Shah, Wisdom of the Idiots)

I’m longing for this final meeting, though I see that it is a gradual process, a process that has progressed most effectively in the company of my murshid; the association of my shaykh. And today, it was in the few moments with this woman, questioning me on death, that I realized that: whether we agree, disagree, form this opinion or that one, it is not as important as that meeting in the polished mirror. It was Mevlana Rumi (ks) that said, “If you are irritated with every rub how will your mirror be polished.” When the mirror is polished perhaps then we will know something; perhaps then we will have something to say.

These days I find the sohbet of my shaykh to be more important than I could have ever imagined. As the days and nights pass I am appreciating, more and more, the sentiments of the Qawwali, Ilahi, the traditional sufi poets and their diwan devoted to their beloved murshid. And as I continue to trip and fall making a fool of myself in this clumsy body, I am seeking true freedom in the Paradises, yet intending to fulfill my responsibility as a prisoner of these two breaths.

One of the things that have really been heavy on my mind is heedlessness and speech. I find that heedlessness is the harbinger of folly and that foolish speech can spoil almost every good deed that proceeded it. The combination of the two (heedlessness and speech) is disastrous. The Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) has said,

“Whoever can guarantee (the chastity of) what is between his two jaw-bones and what is between his two legs (i.e. his tongue and his private parts), I guarantee Paradise for him.”

Believing in this, in effect, makes speaking in general something much more weightier than a transient means to a temporal end. May Allah Almighty increase our faith and protect us from heedlessness and foolish speech, Amin.

If I were to ask you what are the five Holy Nights, what would come to your mind? Perhaps nothing or perhaps something. The fact of the matter is that the Holy Days and Nights are not discussed very often among religious people in America. But for Muslims in America there are evenings that should matter in our lives, they should not be ordinary nights that pass in an ordinary way. There are five Holy Nights that I am going to mention here and if these nights mean something in the Heavens, then they should mean something to Believers on Earth:

Laylat al-Mawlid: Night of the Birth, this Holy Night occurs on the 12th of the Holy Month of Rabi’ al-Awwal. And celebrates the birth of our Holy Prophet, Sayyidina Maulana Muhammad Mustafa (may Peace and Blessings be upon him). On the night that the Holy Prophet was born, Allah Almighty, ordered the angels to open wide all the gates of Heaven and Paradise. It was also during that day that the sun was brighter and more brilliant in its radiance and the world over was uplifted. Hazreti Aaminah, the Holy Prophet’s mother reported,

Laylat ar-Raghaib: Night of the Rewards, this Holy night occurs on the 1st Friday of Rajab. And it is known as the night that the Holy Prophet’s essence, his nur, was passed from Hazreti Abdullah (ra) to Hazreti Aaminah (ra), the Holy Prophet’s father and mother. Hazreti Abbas ibn Abdul-Muttalib (ra), the Holy Prophet’s (s) uncle relates,

‘Abdullah saw many visions and experienced many strange things. One day he said to his father Abdul-Muttalib,

Laylat al-Miraj: Night of the Journey, this Holy Night occurs on the 27th of Rajab. Laylat al-Mi’raj is the night that the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) ascended into the Heavenly Stations attaining the highest honor among Allah Almighty’s creation.

Laylat al-Bara’at: Night of the Emancipation, this Holy Night occurs on the 15th of Sha’ban. It is during this great month that Allah Almighty takes the account of His creation. This month should not go unnoticed. The Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) would fast most of this month and after sunset on Laylat al-Bara’at. If there is anyone who seeks forgiveness or if there is anyone who is in need or if there is anyone in pain and seeks help the time between sunset and sunrise on the Night of the Emancipation is recommended to ask for forgiveness; provision; healing and help. Shaykh Abdul-Kerim Efendi has said,

Laylat al-Qadr: Night of the Power, occurs during the last third of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Laylat al-Qadr is the Holy Night that the Qur’an al-kerim was revealed to the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him). It is the Holiest of Holy Nights and was the night that Allah Almighty ordered the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) to spend most of the night in worship to prepare his heart for the tremendous revelation of the Qur’an al-kerim. It says in the Qur’an al-kerim,

These are Holy Nights which means that they are specific dates, between sunset and sunrise, that are associated with Divine Power and sacred things. It is recommended to fast during the day and make supererogatory prayers on these nights. Religious people have to connect ourselves with Holy things and Holy people to receive support from them. Our love for the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) brings us closer to him. The best associations are Holy associations and the worst associations are Shaytan’s associations, likewise the best support is Holy support.

The bottom-line is that we are weak and our faith is weak but if we connect ourselves to Holy people; Holy things; Holy Nights and Days then perhaps Allah Almighty will Grant us a little bit more Power to wake up in the morning or get the kids to school on time or improve our situations on the job or mend our broken relationships or refuse temptations. I am sure we all could use a little bit more of any one of those items mentioned.

In past posts I have discussed the importance of heritage, culture and history as they relate to various peoples all over the world. But the severity of this issue may not be understood by all. In fact some of us may just think, heritage, culture and a person’s historical lineage are interesting but benign facts that have little meaning in today’s world. I know this is the feeling of many African Americans as a result of the disconnection felt from a complex history that surrounds their arrival into America. I have a number of family members that feel this way, but nevertheless it is for this reason, the complexity of their history, that heritage, culture and history become even more important.

Imam al-Habib ‘Abdullah al-Haddad, a saint from a long line of saints and descendant of the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) said in his treatise called Union of Kinship,

“For Allah Almighty said in the order of connecting bonds with them: “Give the kinsman his due” [17:26]. And in an elucidation of honour for the nation He chose and was delighted with, He said: “And those who join that which Allah has commanded to be joined and fear their Lord, and dread the terrible reckoning” [13:21], from what Allah ordered as per “to be joined“: kinship bonds.”

Kinship means a relationship by connection of blood, marriage, or adoption; some kind of family relationship in nature or character. The bond mentioned refers to something such as a fetter, cord or tie that works as a uniting force as in a familial situation. So it seems this “kinship bond” is really speaking of something quite specific with respect to familial relationship and that this is something we have no control over it is completely out of our hands, placed wholly in the authority of the Supreme Authority. Therefore it is something we must respect. But I think the question I would like to ask African Americans is how much of this obligation, “Give the kinsman his due” are we actually fulfilling? And how much of this obligation is enough? It says in the Qur’an al-kerim,

“O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Lo! Allah is Knower, Aware.” (49:013)

This is explaining that Allah Almighty has created an order to mankind in the form of nations and tribes. Are we honoring that order or are we accepting an order of a condition other than the binding obligation of “kinship” commanded by Allah Almighty? It seems that African Americans are stuck on color when in fact ones color may or may not be a factor related to one’s actual kinship. And a person’s blood ties is a true bond of kinship that we have no choice but to accept or ignore and unfortunately this aspect of our Creator’s instructions to us is largely being ignored or handled with weak attempts of self aggrandizement. Imam al-Haddad continues his treatise saying,

“And Allah Almighty said in anticipation of breaking kinship bond as well as (acting as) a warning from that: “And those who break the Covenant of Allah, after its ratification, and sever that which Allah has commanded to be joined and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse; and for them is the unhappy home.” [13:25] And He, the Almighty, said: “Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? Such are they whom Allah has cursed, so that He has made them deaf and blinded their sight.” [47:22-23] Hence the severer of ties is damned as per the script of the Book (Qur’an).”

The item above is heavy and should not be taken lightly. The curse of Allah Almighty is far from what we are looking to acquire as Muslims. Therefore it is incumbent upon us to follow Allah Almighty’s commandments to ensure our happiness in this life and the hereafter. So what are we supposed to do? The command is to, “Give the kinsman his due”, which first means to acknowledge the familial bond. And then to identify with that bond and since it is a commandment of Allah Almighty, treat it as such and value that bond of kinship. I once asked Shaykh Abdul Kerim, “What is faith?” and he said,

“What is faith… ::with a half smile:: faith is putting high what Allah ta ‘ala puts high and putting low what Allah ta ‘ala puts low.”

This familial bond is indeed something Allah Almighty is putting high therefore we must place value on this thing and not dismiss it because of embarrassment or bewilderment of its complex history. In the end we will just harm ourselves. By putting high the things that Allah Almighty loves we find the result of wisdom that brings satisfaction and happiness to our hearts. Such wisdom is expressed by one of those whom Allah Almighty loved, the martyr, ‘Ali ibn Husayn (RA) who said to his sons,

“Beware of the companionship of the severer of ties, for certainly I have found him to be cursed on three occasions in the Book of Allah ta ‘ala.”

But what should be more eye opening, especially for African American Muslims is what was expressed by the Messenger of Allah Almighty when he said,

“The severer [of ties] will not enter paradise; Indeed mercy does not descend on a community which has a severer of ties,”

It is safe to say that the person who cuts off blood ties is hated by Allah Almighty. But what about those that join or rejoin those blood ties? Imam al-Haddad continues saying,

“Upon you then is Allah’s mercy by joining kinship bonds. Beware of severing ties with them for this is an abhorrent crime, chastisement of which readily reaches one in this world along with dreadful anticipation for what Allah ta ‘ala has prepared for the severer in the next world from among the gravest of sanctions and most painful of punishments. Equally, readily does the reward fo benevolence and joining (ties) reach one in this world along with what awaits the one who joins (ties) from among the greatest rewards and generous gifts. The Messenger of Allah ta ‘ala said: “Hastening of good and reward lies in benevolence and joining kinship, hastening of evil and chastisement lies in malevolence and severing of ties.” The Messenger of Allah ta ‘ala said: “There is no transgression more deserving in Allah making for that companion (person) chastisement in this world along with what is left awaiting for him in the next world than malevolence and severing ties.“

I was discussing this with a woman I have a great deal of respect for and she remarked on how Islam was sustained for hundreds of years in West Africa by the Sufis and that the Salafi position which was once strong within the African American Muslim community is now waning. Suggesting that African American Muslims seem to have exhausted the staying power of “Salafi dawah” finding themselves unsatisfied. This dissatisfaction however is not progressing into a return to the Islamic origins of the African Americans instead it is becoming a clone of the former authored by American born narrators. This dissatisfaction is real and can be understood from real expressions like that of an unknown commenter on Tariq Nelson’s blog,

“Maybe it is time for AA’s to come in mass to traditonal Sunni Islam meaning the four well known Sunni mathabs, the two schools of Sunni aqeedah and Ihsan/Sufi’ism instead of jumping from one movement to the movement and do it your self Islam. This is what I think and I have been on the “salafi dawah” for 5 years now and have had more fitnah then I had when I was a kuffar, my eman has dropped In lost contact with good SunniMuslim over the years for what? There is no magic sect or masjid that is going to poof make you pious or resolve all of your issue’s, AA Muslim like me need to grow up.” (UNKNOWN)

This was such an impressive statement because it really hit on much of what needed to be said in a brief statement. And I believe it is essential for the success of African Americans Muslims to develop a kinship of religious character with the ‘Ahl Sunnat wal Jama’ah, as Tariq’s unknown commenter has mentioned, as well as an acknowledgment of blood ties and familial identity with the numerous nations from which the multitude of African Americans originate. It seems to me that this resonates with the proper Islamic manner. I have discussed this before with African Americans and they often say that they cannot relate to West African people or culture. And as a response I would merely cite Imam al-Haddad saying,

“Admirable it is for man to join kinship if they don’t bond with him, to be courteous towards them if they are rude with him. The Messenger of Allah Almighty said: “The one who joins kinship bonds is not the one who merely reciprocates, nay, the one who joins is he who keeps kinship ties when he is cut off (from them).“

Allahu Akbar, what more is there to say! The Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) has provided for mankind all solutions to improve our lives. But it is up to us to heed the warnings. And make his instruction a part of our lifestyle. All prophets have been sent to the world to teach people how to live. How to live in the world and what to expect and how to prepare themselves for the hereafter. Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) has been sent to this world to complete the good teachings, the good living, learning the good lifestyle and to complete the good manners. Shaykh Abdul Kerim is saying,

“The reason Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) was sent by the Divine Order is to complete good manners.”

Which means up until the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) all other prophets have been sent to teach manners to people, because if there is no manner then there is no religion; if there is no manner then there is no respect; if there is no manner then there is no friendship, no business, if there is no manner then there is no progress. Giving the kinsman his due, is a commandment from Allah Almighty and a manner; a protocol of the Holy Prophet (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) and I’m not going to think that I can live my life as I like, the way that fits to me, and be satisfied. Like the unknown commenter said, eventually I have to grow up.