Disqus - Latest Comments for JYB

Re: Al-Madina Institute

Jinan Yousef — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 01:01:43 -0000

I loved the discussion on haya. Most people define haya very narrowly, but haya is the defining feature of Islam. One of Allah's names is al-Hayyiy, and the person described as having the most haya was Uthman bin Affan (ra), one of the ten companions promised paradise. It includes how we dress, but how we dress should be the result of the haya we feel in our hearts towards Allah. May Allah grant us that.

Re: Al-Madina Institute

Jinan Yousef — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 23:39:13 -0000

Many people think that being 'authentic' to one's self is freeing- and thisis the mainstream mantra that is being preached. But what is missing is the realization of what type of nafs prevails. If you are authentic to an angelic nafs, than that this is beautiful. However, if we are honest with ourselves (collectively and individually) we are plagued by the other types of nufoos. And if one is authentic to a cattle-like nafs, or a predatory self, or a satanic self, what does that say about our hearts and actions? May Allah protect us.

Re: Al-Madina Institute

Jinan Yousef — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 03:20:32 -0000

Salam alaikum
As usual, I loved this week's class, especially the breakdown of the different enemies. I find that in modern times, we downplay the role of shaytan. The nafs we can recognize, and the dunya we can recognize, but we almost feel that shaytan is 'imaginary'. I feel that this is one way that shaytan attacks us, because we are not wary of him, and thus are more likely to listen to his insinuations. Allah protect us.
I also especially loved the focus on contentment as protection from being absorbed in the dunya. Indeed the opposite of contentment is dissatisfaction, which can lead to ingratitude for the blessings we have been given.

Re: Al-Madina Institute

Jinan Yousef — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 02:04:32 -0000

As-salam alaykum wa rahmat Allah

I loved the analogy about going uphill and fighting the nafs. Anyone who does physical exercise knows that the discomfort is necessary for any sort of gains one desires (strength, fitness, stamina, etc). But it is more than worth it. It is even more important to keep our spiritual hearts in shape and our nafs in check, and doing the hard thing, the uncomfortable thing, the least desired thing is what will give us spiritual strength.

Reflecting on this, it just made me think how important self awareness is. And what is crucial for self-awareness is both muraqabah - being watchful over our hearts - and knowledge of Divine law - so that we know what we are measuring our hearts and actions against.

May Allah bless Sheikh Mokhtar and all our teachers for these lessons.

Re: Al-Madina Institute

Jinan Yousef — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 02:49:44 -0000

In reflecting on the diseases of my nafs, I found that the most dangerous are the most subtle. But Allah in His kindness reveals them in how we react to the slights against us, and how we respond to different circumstances. Part of mujahada is prioritizing what Allah loves over what we love, and also over what the world expects of us when it conflicts.

I also started thinking about our wider community - it seems that we glorify harshness, as though that is what being pious means. But all the ahadeeth we went over show us the opposite. It is easy to be harsh and negative because makes it gives our nafs an ego boost. But true mujahada is in being kind and easy-going with others.

So grateful for the lessons.

Re: Al-Madina Institute

Jinan Yousef — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 13:01:10 -0000

As-salam alaykum
I thought a lot about hawa this week and how it is the opposite of huda. Sometimes we do not recognize hawa because modern society justifies it. We are taught that we are justified in our demands, in our anger, and in our expectations of others. But the way to recognize the hawa is to put it next to huda - is this what divine guidance teaches me? Is this the example of the Prophet (pbuh)?

Re: Al-Madina Institute

Jinan Yousef — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 02:53:33 -0000

Salaam alaykum, loved everyone's reflections mashAllah.

One major thing I came away with is that purifying our hearts is the prerequisite to everything: it is a prerequisite to having a relationship with Allah without the barriers of the diseases of the heart; it is a prerequisite to learning in Islam so that we can receive the truth and not reject it due to ego; it is the ultimate prerequisite that teaches us to humble ourselves so that we can truly submit to Allah and not to our nafs and hawa.

Re: Lessons for the Student from Allah’s Blessed Names 1

Jinan Yousef — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:08:54 -0000

MashAllah I only had time to listen to the first 35 minutes or so, and it's really inspiring. I learned a lot, alhamdillah. May Allah bless you and increase you in all that is good, in this life and the next!

Re: No Heart Softeners Tonight

Jinan Yousef — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:57:55 -0000

May Allah grant you shifa sheikh- we'll be praying for you inshAllah!

Re: Last Week’s Khutbah: Either Your Calling to being Called!

Jinan Yousef — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:32:47 -0000

Thank you soooo much. wAllah I benefit greatly from these lectures- may Allah reward you for reaching out to people and making everything relevent :)

Re: Lessons from Israa wal Mi’raaj (high quality recording)

Jinan Yousef — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:55:08 -0000

Thank you so much.

Re: Islam and Hip Hop by Brother Ahmad James

Jinan Yousef — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 05:25:27 -0000

I've stayed quiet during this debate mainly because there were many interesting points made on both sides and I don't know much about the topic to comment. But this was definitely a very thought-provoking article. And it is important because hip-hop doesn't end in America- I have many friends who although they've grown up in an Arab Muslim country (im from the UAE), they are listening to both 'my girl' and 'ya habibi'. This the new generation of the 'western-educated'. They know akon and kanye west, they play their music at parties and get excited when they hear that they are coming here for a concert. Yet they also get even more excited when they hear someone rapping about Islam. My brothers are the same. They will listen to the mainstream hiphop trash but then will be proud when they hear a duet by Outlandish and Sami Yusuf singing about the Ummah. No matter how many lectures I send them, they'll then sit in the car and bop their heads to the latest hiphop beat.

A friend of mind who converted to Islam and doesn't understand Arabic, will not listen to the offensive music that is played in the radios but would always play songs singing about God because that is what she can relate to at this time. I myself prefer not to listen to music on most occasions... but I will listen to appropriate ones with my friends, and will send inspirational ones by email to friends and family who like music.

Muslims need to be brought back to the Qur'an, but perhaps songs/hiphop can be one of those ways especially if they are an intrinsic part of one's culture and people relate to it, and they can adhere to islamic principles. Hiphop/music artists who behave in opposition to Islamic etiquette need to be given advice and learn the deen but not shunned. I think it's beautiful when I meet Muslims from different parts of the world, and we all pray the same way and stand in our lines, yet share different food and different sports and different ways of celebrating.

Thank you for this great piece and thank you Imam Suhaib for posting it. Definitely gives a lot to think about!

Re: Starting Classes This Monday Inshallah Brothers and Sisters Welcome

Jinan Yousef — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:05:19 -0000

Yay, please do webcast :)

Re: Shaykh Abdullah Bin Bayyah “I call upon the Muslims to revive the science of Tasawwuf”

Jinan Yousef — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:01:33 -0000

May Allah preserve the Sheikh for this Ummah- he is such a blessed man and we are so lucky to be able to learn from him.

Re: Men see bikini-clad women as objects, psychologists say

Jinan Yousef — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:26:03 -0000

"Women should be aware of how they are perceived when wearing provocative clothing, and men shouldn’t let feelings of impersonal sexual longing interfere with their more personal relationships with other women, including female friends."

I have a better solution:

1- men should lower their gaze
2- women should cover
3- observe the etiquettes (shouldnt be alone, no excessive talk etc..)

And the world will be fine, inshAllah ;)

Re: “What would Mariam do?” (Part 1) By: Muslema al-Purmul al-Azhariyah

Jinan Yousef — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:58:01 -0000

SubhanAllah, thank you for this! It's funny, just yesterday a group of us were discussing Sayyida Mariam (as) and how we should emulate her.