Abu Sumayyah Pérez

Revert | Student of Knowledge | Sunni |

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Sidna Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani stated in Jawahir al-Ma'ani.

"Faith has two wings like a bird. One wing is the fear (of God), which causes the heart to lament in fear of (God’s) threatened punishment. The Prophet said, “The believer sees his sins as having placed him beneath a mountain, and he fears lest it fall on top of him. The hypocrite considers his sins as (inconsequential) flies passing before his nose.” The other wing is the hope in God, glorious and exalted: that He might forgive him, and not punish him nor cause him tribulation in his faith. The one who has only hope (in God) without fear feels himself secure, and feeling oneself secure from God is the source of disbelief (ʿayn al-kufr). The one who has only fear (of God) becomes desperately hopeless of God, and despair of God is (also) the source of disbelief."

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Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: A man from the Jews said, “O leader of the believers, there is a verse you recite in your book and, had it been revealed to us as Jews, we would have taken that day as a celebration.”

Umar said, “Which verse is it?”

The man recited the verse, “Today I have completed your religion for you, perfected My favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.” (5:3)

Umar said, “I know the day and place in which this verse was revealed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. It was while he was standing on the day of Arafat on Friday.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 45, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 3017

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#Heart | Within the chest of man is a piece of flesh that can make you or break you. It can win or loss you, and it will be that which determines how your afterlife will end up.

This piece of flesh is something that most of us tend to neglect compared to our other body parts, and it is the heart. As was mentioned in a narration about our Beloved Prophet ﷺ.

While it is important to take care of the external by excersing and eating healthy, we should keep in mind what Hassan al Basri once said:

"Treat your hearts, for what Allah wants from people is the wellbeing of their hearts." [Jami' al-Ulum wa al-Hikam]

And the same goes for our worship. It is a very great matter that the believers should know the details of the outter limbs when it comes to wudu, salah, etc. But we should beware of making these things mere habitual acts and daily routines. Abu al-Darda' said the following:

"Seek Allah's protection from hypocritical reverence. When he was asked, "What is hypocritical reverence?" He said: It is for you to see a reverent body while the heart is not." [Shu'ab al-Iman]

It is also important to understand, that the external is a reflection of the internal. If in the heart there is hate, the body will reflect that hate through our actions. If there is love, it will reflect that love through our actions. The body follows eveything that the heart tells it to do. Abu Hurayrah said:

"The heart is the king and the limbs are its soldiers. So if the king is good, his soldiers will be good. And if he is evil, his soldiers will be evil." [Shu'ab al-Iman]

One should also note that the the external plays a role on the internal. So beware of what you gaze upon, and also on what you lend your ear to. For some of these things can lead the heart to have sinful desires and emotions.

The cure to the diseases and reformation of the body begins with this one piece of flesh. And our Beloved Messenger ﷺ told us the cure, as is reported in Sahih Muslim.

"Taqwa (mindfulness of God) is here" while pointing at his chest.

May Allah allow us to be of those who are mindful of Him so that our hearts are rectified and our actions are correct. Ameen!

- Abu Sumayyah Pérez

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Imam al-Nawawi al-Shafi'i said,

❝If a man leads his wife or child in prayer at home, he obtains the reward of praying in a congregation.❞

— Rawdah al-Talibin, (1/445)

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Ibn Masud رضي الله عنه said:

"The emptiest of houses are those which are empty (free) from the (recitation of the) Book of Allah."

[Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, 30024]

Shaikh 'Abdul Razzaaq al-Badr said:

"Meaning: the houses with the least good and blessings in them are those houses in which the Book of Allah is rarely recited. This effaces the blessing from the house, and motivates (invites) the Shayaateen towards it."

Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه used to say:

"The house - which is expanded for its inhabitants (even if it's small in size), and which is visited by the Angels, and from which the Shayateen flee, and who's goodness is increased - is the one in which the Qur’an is recited.

And the house - which is constricted for its inhabitants (irrespective of its big size), and from which the Angels flee, and which is visited by the Shayaateen, and who's goodness is decreased - is the one in which the Qur’an is not recited."

[Sunan al-Daarimi, 3309] 

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#Shukr | How many of us have experienced someone being ungrateful for something that was done in order to help, or done out of kindness? It dosen't feel good. And even though we don't do things for praise or to be seen, it still feels good to have certain actions recognized from time to time. When we do something for someone, we are most likely to help that person out again if they show gratitude (Even if its just facial expression). But how many of us would help someone who is ungrateful and felt entitled to our help? I doubt we would want to help such person out again.

However Allah works differently. Allah gives to all people. Whether we are grateful or ungreatful. As it says in the Qur'an: "Surely Allah is ever Bountiful to humanity, but most people are ungrateful." (2:243)

Allah will always be there for us and provide all our needs for He is not in need of our praise, but when a servant is grateful. Allah out of His grace, love, and mercy. Will give us in abundance, more than we can ever expect especially at times we never expected. Allah says in the Qur'an: “Be grateful to Allah, for whoever is grateful, it is only for their own good. And whoever is ungrateful, then surely Allah is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy.” (31:12)

Also, Allah says: "If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more." (14:7)

So, servant of Allah. Know that if we give thanks to Allah. He WILL give more as it is a promise from Him. Which in return should result in us thanking Him more, which would then lead to an ongoing cycle of gratitude and reward.

May Allah make us from amongst those who are grateful. Ameen.

- Abu Sumayyah Pérez

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So much has happened in my life in just 10 years. Allah has gotten me through things i would have never imagined. After changing my life, leaving behind the gang life and drugs. I became a Christian youth minister, attending seminary, and calling people to Jesus. My life made a huge turn when i started questioning and doubting my faith. I completely left church and went back to what i knew would only give temporary pleasure. Drugs, alcohol, and parties. In the process Allah truly saved me from so many things. I literally almost faced death 3 times and escaped going to jail twice. I knew i had to change! Allah guided me to Islam after much self study and research. Alhamdulillah today I have been Muslim for a little over 6 years. I teach people the truth of Islam and I have 3 beautiful children, and a wonderful wife (Umm Sumayyah) whom Allah has blessed me with. I can not wait to see what Allah has in store for my family and i in the upcoming years.

الحمد الله ثم الحمد الله

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#Dhikr | In order for us to gain nearness to Allah, it is obligatory, to do those actions which will bring us closer to Him. In fact we must cling on to them. Because like marriage, it is not sufficient to just say "i love you" and not follow it up with any action. How much more with Allah? What good is it that we say we want to get closer to Allah, yet not do those actions which bring us closer to Him?

At times we may feel alone, or not close to Allah and we know it. We may even say "i feel so far away from Allah" or "i dont feel a connection with Allah". But was it Allah who moved away from us? Or is it we who moved away from Him? Moved away from doing that which reminds us of Him.

So think about it. Where do you want to be in your relationship with Allah? What is it you are attached to?

If you are serious about building a relationship with Allah, start by talking to Him. On your drive to work, while cooking, while washing, and by also doing those actions which get us closer to Him. Like reading Qur'an, studying, listening to lectures, etc.

Allah says in the Qur'an:

فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ

So remember Me; I will remember you. (2:152)

May Allah allow us to get closer to Him. To build a relationship with Him. And may He allow us to follow that desire of nearness to Him with our actions.

- Abu Sumayyah Pérez

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#Realization | When one does an action for the sake of Allah, there should be nothing else attached to that action except for the intention of pleasing and seeking Allah alone.

But due to human nature, we tend to fail over and over again, knowingly or unknowingly. Which is why whenever we pray or do other acts of worship. We continue to ask for forgiveness afterwards, because it will never be enough to thank Allah. This was an example left to us by our beloved prophet ﷺ, whom would spend his nights asking Allah for forgiveness, even though he had no sin. When asked why he would do that, his response would be; "Shall i not be a thankful servant?"

One would ask, "Well why should i do all that if it's never enough?"

To you i would say, all your life from the day you are born to the day you return to Allah. All you do is take and consume, not "realizing" the source of those things, which is ultimately Allah. From the food you eat, the breath you take, your heart that beats, and every little single movement you make. All of that which is given to you by the permission of Allah, despite the fact that we constantly sin and disobey Allah.

One reaches this level of understanding only after realization. We all say we "know" this or that is from Allah. But when ever you come to "realize" it is from Allah. You will feel disheartened and empty for not thanking Him ﷻ as much as you should.

- Abu Sumayyah Pérez

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“The Dīn itself is manners. Anyone surpassing you in manners is better than you in the Dīn.”

[Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah Madarij-us-Salikīn]

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While I’m fasting and feeling the pain of hunger, I remembered the post about a Syrian kid that out of hunger had to eat grass, literally grass…

Keep Syria in your prayers.