IlmFest 2014: Mercy 2 MankindConference Notes

Gregory (Abdul Muid) MorseAlhamdulillah (all praise and thanks to Allah) for #ilmfest 2014 and special thanks to the ones whose hard work has paid off by giving us the most important type of knowledge, that which brings us closer to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him):

Shaykh Abdulbary Yahya

Shaykh Abdullah Hakim Quick

Shaykh Abu Eesa Niamatullah

Shaykh Ahsan Hanif

Shaykh Kamal El Mekki

Shaykh Mohammed Faqih

Shaykh Muhammad Alshareef

Shaykh Navaid Aziz

Shaykh Omar Suleiman

Shaykh Reda Bedeir

Shaykh Saad Tasleem

Shaykh Waleed Basyouni

Ustadha Yasmin Mogahed

Boonaa Mohammed

All Al-Maghrib volunteers!My written notes for #ilmfest day 1 - knowledge of Islam conference about the Prophet Muhammad (upon him be peace) Mercy 2 Mankind. Alhamdulillah I learned much more.

2) We are the only Ummah (community) to have authenticated history. One cannot understand some of the Qur'an without the seerah (the recorded life of the Prophet, upon him be peace).

3) Prophet's (peace be upon him) characteristics: Tauba (repentance), good manners/treatment/relations, akhlaq (virtue), ibadah (worship), patience/forbearance, consideration, humility, compassion.

4) Don't even go close to zina (fornication and adultery) as it is a path and not a simple act. Modesty and chastity are of utmost importance to stop that path.

5) Duha (morning light) is the most productive part of the day. The source of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) strength was salah (prayer). We are a summary of the people we surround ourselves with. Genuine happiness has 3 components: thankfulness to Allah, patience in trials, repenting for sins. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was at the service of the people during the day and at the service of Allah during the night. 3 important things to integrate: go to bed remembering Allah, eliminate negative people from your life, get to know Him including through Islamic education.

6) Corruption in the land and sea will bring about great changes here on earth. True Muslims do not harm one another with tongue or hand. Strong community requires 3 elements. 1) all-purpose Islamic center with prayer, education, helping the poor, outreach, dawah (call to Islam), more than just a masjid (mosque). 2) strengthening the relationship between one another perhaps by pairing people and bring them together to support each other, with share cropping as an example. 3) strengthen relations between believers and people of other faiths. The Constitution of Medinah was all-encompassing of all people.

7) For women - embrace femininity which involves gentleness and tenderness. Women are the foundation of the community.

8) Very few people are reliable and trustworthy near to 1 in 100. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was considered a friend by all and He cared for all, always made time for others needs especially marriage. He returned belongings of enemies before He was forced out into exile for hijrah (migration). When He was angry, did not bring or put others down but defended those who were good.

9) Prophet (peace be upon him) at age 20 become part of committee of Makkah and was the youngest person ever to be apart because they could tell he was a future leader. His first issue was to enforce fair dealing and treaties. Islam is more than theology. Give credit where credit due even to kafir (disbelievers) or mushrik (polytheists) as non-Muslim can still be noble or just and deserve credit. Cannot live isolationist lives. Seerah (recorded life of the Prophet, upon him be peace) itself is a miracle enough and proof of legitimacy.

10) The Prophet's (peace be upon him) wives said He was better in the house than out in public and He provides a genuine example and role model of a family man.

#ilmfest notes for day 2:

11) Only the Prophet (peace be upon him) deserves the love and following that celebrities get. He has 3 rights on us: belief, love and obedience. One is not a true believer until the Prophet (peace be upon him) is more beloved to them than their parents, their children or even their self. Not only should one be ready to die for him but ready to live for Him. He deserves to be obeyed and we should be played doing so. If more than 50% chance the Prophet (peace be upon him) said something then accept it and act on it. Adopt a lifestyle which is prophetic, more productive, meaningful and fulfilling including sleeping, eating, daily habits, routines and patterns and all aspects of life. Must love and honor the members of His household, His wives who were the mothers of the believers and His companions.

12) Sports trick youth because they get absorbed in it, thinking it is not haram (forbidden) and becomes more important than it should be. Ummah (Muslim community) become too concerned with dunia (this world). The Prophet (peace be upon him) picked youth to do important jobs and sought their council frequently. 3 advice: have taqwa (God-consciousness) everywhere, follow bad deeds with good deeds and it will erase it, have good character. Taqwa (God-consciousness) is feeling shame and gratitude, must have alone, with others even strangers. After a sin, have good faith that Allah will forgive it as sin can raise someone up and make them a good Muslim. Realize the Ummah will not change on its own, everyone is important to bringing change, on the day of judgement, we will see the real celebrities.

13) People are crying for change in this world, from halal (permissible) to rizq( sustenance), political change. 65% of Muslims are under 25 years old. Islamic revival ten points. 1) Increase in taqwa (God-consciousness) will remove difference of the heart. 2) Return to authentic sources and learn Arabic. 3) Focus on Islamic character more than rituals as the essence of the message is character. 4) Hikma (wisdom) and balance meaning not how much knowledge but how you use it. 5) Healthy empowered families opposite to the globalization of culture of corruption, when family is the roots of the tree of the Ummah. 6) Shura (mutual consultation) including leaders, families, communities. 7) Cooperation and unity including operational/functional for example Khalid bin Walid and Abdullah bin Masud changing roles of fighter and Imam so the opposite takes the lead in the right function. 8) Special emphasis on the youth as the masjid cannot only be for men over 35 years old, put youth into leadership. 9) Empowerment of new Muslims. 10) Outreach, dawah (call to Islam), providing Islamic solutions to real problems for Allah. Great example in Libya ambassador who opened a 3 story medical clinic offering free treatment on the ground floor with the 2nd floor for learning about Islam and the 3rd floor for embracing Islam.

14) When people gather together for no reason except Allah, then the Angels are boasting about them. Companions loved the Prophet (peace be upon him) so much they would count the white hairs on his beard. Brothers and sisters to Him meant people who did not meet Him but believe and love him in his 1st Ummah after Him. Prophet (peace be upon him) was handsome and beautiful, above average height, physically fit, prominent forehead, wide radiant eyes, wide eyelashes, extremely black pupils and whites of eye extremely white , when extremely happy His smile showed His molar teeth, long neck, slender, long fingers, thick black hair towards shoulders, 17 white hairs on his beard, mostly on the lower lip, fair in complexion, walked at a quick pace. Allah knows best who to send His message with. The Prophet (peace be upon him) made people feel special, was approachable, honest, just, forgiving, compassionate, patient, forbearing. He would smile and shed tears. He would cry for Allah in prayer, dua'a (supplication), dzikr (remembrance). He was guaranteed Jannah (paradise), forgiving all sins, had the greatest bounty, yet would cry all night in prayer, soaking the ground and His beard with tears as a grateful and humble slave of Allah.

15) Woman go to jail or face a fine for covering their head but nudity is allowed. Society is backwards. Faith is 60 something parts and shyness is one of those attributes. Shyness defines Ummah (Muslim community). The Angels stand up when a shy person enters a room. One who is shy and bashful has hayya (shyness) does not hurt others feelings, does not use vulgar, harsh or coarse words, often does not say no or remains quiet. Be more shy of Allah than shy of asking a question to come closer to Him. No equality in Islam but there is justice. Kindness to parents is shyness. When alone should still be shy to Allah. The worst of people and most corrupt of people have no shyness. If man is not brave enough to ask a woman's father for her hand in marriage then he is not the right one for her.

16) Life is two types: one of dunia (this world), one is akhirah (the hereafter). One of the body, one of the heart which have different ages. Some live only the life of the body which is living only for themselves, not asking why or how we got here, and they only make problems. The real life is of the heart. This world is not real life, just a test and we can never be satisfied in dunia (this world), just passing time as the real life is the hereafter. Dunia (this world) comes from Arabic words dana meaning worthlessness and dia meaning short. This world is like a defective goat with small ears. The greatest even in a persons life is their death. The best people have the best character, of them the wisest are those who always think of death. Winners are those who go to paradise, the true losers lose themselves and their family on qayimah (the day of judgement). 3 tips: go to Allah right now and submit to Him, be ready all the time to meet Allah since nobody knows when death will come, live the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and follow His example in all one does. Iqra (recite), kum, kum: Get knowledge, be close to Allah perhaps by praying at night, and share knowledge.17) Can only learn about being a gentleman and husband from the Prophet (upon him be peace). All other examples are baseless and misguided. No person is complete until they are part of a family. Allah created woman from man and for man. Many languages of love though will use 5 for examples. Couples speak different languages. 2 questions. 1) which languages do you use for others? 2) what language do you want to receive love with? The answers are often different and men and women tend to be different as well. All 5 are essential though everyone has a preference. 1) verbal, speak the heart. a) I love you (like a strong knot). b) praise of spouse, affirmation, lies are allowed to strengthen romance. 2) quality time, attention, companionship. 3) gift-giving, ignore negative embarrassed reactions, not only money but poems, thoughts or others. Men prefer big gifts infrequently and women like little gifts more frequently. 4) help each other out physically, generally cooking, cleaning, taking care of household is for woman, men take care of finances, once in a while reverse the role to show appreciation and that one is not a slave. 5) physical, sexuality. a) non-sexual touching including hugging, kissing, squeezing, massaging of shoulders. b) conjugal act.

18) After a difficult day, people want sleep, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would salat (pray). Some pray to get it out of the way. Sleep makes us comfortable, we feel better and enjoy it so we do not get tired of it. Make salat (prayer) like sleep. Once a week, make a long prayer. If one cannot remember the surah (chapter) of the Quran recited in the last prayer, it is a sign of a problem as well as being unable to focus or concentrate. The heart is always occupied. Dzikr (remembrance) is the only way to reclaim life since our time per day in prayer is not long and doing other even mundane activities is long.19) We are all in poverty compared to the wealth of Allah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) complains to Allah and not about Allah. Concern if Allah is pleased with Him. 3 responses in hardship: 1) anger, why me? Complaining about Allah. 2) patience. 3) enduring. We are full of impurities and hardship cleans us. People of Taif throw stones at Prophet (peace be upon him) for his dawah (call to Islam) but He tells the Angel which comes willing to punish them to spare them. Focus is on deen (religion) and not His own ego. When problems appear in a Muslim, salah (prayer) suffers first before people go off from faith. Salah (prayer) protects us from evil deeds and shamelessness and is a shield as is dzikr (remembrance). Shaitan (Satan) always only real enemy and having one single enemy will unite us, a tactic the West has used countless times.

20) Yunus was the first Prophet revealed in the Quran. Story of Yunus shows Allah with our patience will bring victory. Never wish to be left to your own efforts. Man from nation of Yunus in Iraq embraced Islam on day of Taif after bringing the Prophet (upon him be peace) grapes. Following Him is more than just love.

21) The Prophet (peace be upon him) made a farewell journey before falling ill in the final year. Illness caused fainting and indescribable pain. Loss of revelation is a catastrophe for mankind. A catastrophe is only going to destroy those who change their course because of it.22) Everyone is a leader and will be accountable for it. Laws of leadership. Law of the ability roof: Your project can only go as far as your OWN ability will allow. 3 types of people. 1) Creative thinkers. 2) Delegators. 3) Busy bees and hard workers. 2) Law of the mic: When you speak up do people listen? When you ask them to stand, do they stand? 3) Law of future present: dealing with day to day is easy but it takes a leader to chart where everyone is heading. 4) Law of addition (before subtraction): leaders create value in the community before they ask of others. 5) Law of strength: people follow those who are strong, or have strong vision. 6) Law of ducks, law of eagles: birds of a feather, flock together, same goes for people. 7) Law of caring: touch the hearts before asking for hands. 8) Leader comes before vision: people accept leaders before they accept the direction. 9) Law of growth, to grow exponentially, lead leaders.