Muslim Translators

If faith settles in the heart, it beats with the very pinnacle of the matter [Jihad]. Faith and humiliation can never coexist in a believer's heart. A believer is either propelled by their faith to manifest strength and dignity on earth, whether it takes a long time or a short time, or they die of heartbreak if they are rendered helpless by trials, plots, and obstacles. The ultimate end of a believer is to live with their dignity or to die with their dignity—there is absolutely no third option. — Dr. Layla Hamdan

Your maturity, your awareness, your vigilance, your excellent comprehension of what is happening around you, your striving in various fields, and your race to benefit Muslims anywhere and everywhere—all of this reflects on the image of the entire Ummah. So be generous, chivalrous, noble, and heroic, because you represent a great Ummah that knows neither idleness nor defeat. They will all remember us with respect one day—be certain of that. — Dr. Layla Hamdan

Beware of Satan during three states: ◦ During intense anger ◦ During overwhelming joy ◦ And during severe grief For these are wide-open gateways for him to destroy you. Moderation in emotions is essential, and if it becomes difficult, then safeguarding oneself through supplications, words of remembrance, and the companionship of the Qur'an is a source of understanding, insight, and salvation. — Dr. Layla Hamdan

The clouds of fatigue and exhaustion dissipate upon completing a mission and accomplishing a task. The soul then shines with a passion for more. There is a wondrous relationship that feeds determination and creates happiness, which lazy people do not comprehend. The sweetness of rest that comes after hard work is greater than all the hours of their laziness and idleness, no matter how long they last. True happiness is born from productive rest that harmoniously and continuously drives one's resolve higher. — Dr. Layla Hamdan

"...You know not; perhaps Allah will bring about after that a [different] matter.' [Qur'an Translated Meaning 65:1] Matters constrict for a person until they think there is no way out, but then relief comes from Allah, Glory be to Him. Who would have thought that Hajar, who was running between Safa and Marwa searching for a sip of water, would have Zamzam water gush forth from beneath her son's feet?! Not just for the two of them to drink, but for whole nations to drink from until the Day of Resurrection. That is how Allah changes conditions from one state to another in the blink of an eye. Hardship is short-lived and has no permanence. As Ibnul-Qayyim says: All of us have passed through harsh moments that we thought were the end of the road, yet today, all of it has become mere memories. So do not despair, and trust in your Lord, for the greatest worship is waiting for relief!" — Adham Al-Sharqawi

If you love, do not discard your entire intellect, for hearts change; and do not abandon all of your caution, for it happens that people are struck from the very places they felt secure. Those who lit all ten of their fingers like candles for someone later found no finger left even to bite out of sheer regret! — Adham Al-Sharqawi (Messages from the Companions)

'And We inspired to the mother of Moses, "Suckle him; but when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear and do not grieve. Indeed, We will return him to you and will make him [one] of the messengers."' [Qur'an Translated Meaning 28:7]. Oh Allah, this certainty that You planted in the heart of the mother of Musa as she cast him into the river—fully trusting that You would return him to her—grant me the likes of it! — Adham Al-Sharqawi

If you are on the path to Allah, then run. If it becomes difficult for you, then jog. If you get tired, then walk. If you are unable, then move forward even if you must crawl—but beware of ever turning back! — Imam Al-Shafi'i

The best thing a person can be given is a heart that sorrow cannot paralyze from striving. — Adham Al-Sharqawi

Abandoning sins requires patience and striving at the beginning. Once that initial period passes, the soul complies with you! For the heart attaches itself to sins just as an infant attaches to nursing; when they want to wean the child, he cries out and rebels! But they remain patient with him, so he becomes weaned, and if they wanted him to nurse a month later, he would refuse and feel repulsed. Resist during the first days of repentance, for they are the weaning period, and after that, your heart will obey you! — Adham Al-Sharqawi

Among the blessings of closeness to Allah: ◦ That your responsibilities are immense, yet you are aided. ◦ That the world around you is turbulent, yet you are tranquil. ◦ That your tasks are heavy, yet you accomplish them. ◦ That your time is tight, yet there is blessing in it. ◦ That you seek what is lawful, so it is made easy for you and beautified in your eyes. ◦ That you abandon what is unlawful, so you find no hardship in leaving it. ◦ That people grow harsh, yet you are surrounded by the tenderness of your loved ones. ◦ That masks multiply, yet your share consists of true and honest faces. ◦ That people busy themselves with others, while you are focused on improving yourself. ◦ That they compete over trivialities, while you are entrusted with a noble cause. Everything is beautiful when you are close to Allah. — Adham Al-Sharqawi

The equation is simple: if you cannot rid yourself of a sin, then besiege it with acts of obedience! — Adham Al-Sharqawi

Allah described the place of guidance theoretically as a 'Straight Path.' Did He stop at this description? No... rather, He added to it by linking it to a known human experience, saying: 'The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor...' [Qur'an Translated Meaning 1:7]. Compare this connection to those who say, 'The methodology of the Companions and those who followed them is not binding upon us!' Allah the Almighty clarifies the path for us as the path of those upon whom He has bestowed favor, and the greatest of those who fall under this description are the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ, yet these people say the way of the Companions is not binding upon us! — Sheikh Al-Sakran

Patiently enduring the hardships faced by a seeker of knowledge striving to revive his Ummah is a great act of worship and a means of drawing closer to Allah. In doing so, one combines one act of worship with another, and one virtue with another. A person who claims to seek knowledge for his own betterment and the betterment of his Ummah proves the sincerity of that claim by remaining steadfast and patient through the trials, tests, hardships, and temptations he encounters on the path toward this noble goal. Ahmed Alsayed

In the early part of Surah Al-Dhariyat, when Allah mentioned the terrors of the Day of Resurrection, the context paused, and the Ayahs began to point toward a group that harvested eternal happiness and succeeded in reaching 'gardens and springs.' But what was the reason that delivered them to that happiness amidst those vast terrors? It was 'the unknown night vigil'! Contemplate how the Ayahs explain the reason for this group reaching the gardens and springs: 'Indeed, they were before that doers of good. They used to sleep but little of the night.' [Qur'an Translated Meaning 51:16-17]. — Sheikh Al-Sakran

Perhaps if you sat in a gathering and asked those present: 'What is the definition of righteous companionship?' the definitions would wander into worldly characteristics—especially after the dominance of the Western perspective on the concept of 'self-development,' whereby material criteria for looking at life and success began to flow into the joints of these books. However, the one who ponders the Qur'an finds a stunning definition of righteous companionship in Surah Al-Kahf. Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, says to His Prophet: 'And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening...' [Qur'an Translated Meaning 18:28]. I ask you by the One who created you, do you find anyone in our contemporary intellectual and revivalist discourses today who defines an outstanding personality using this definition?! — Sheikh Al-Sakran

Sparing with Remembrance Allah deprives certain people who possess wealth from spending it, and likewise, you find people capable of remembrance (Dhikr), yet He deprives them of it. Just as there are spenders and hoarders when it comes to wealth, there are spenders and hoarders when it comes to remembrance. — Gems of Al-Tarifi

The Freedom of the Soul If the body is imprisoned, the heart is set free, because the body divides and disputes with the heart over effort and focus. Most of the bliss of wisdom, intellect, and governance given to Yusuf (Joseph) Peace be upon him occurred while he was in prison. — Gems of Al-Tarifi

The Weight of Deeds And what makes you know?! Do not belittle a good deed because of its smallness, for perhaps it will be the one that tips the scale of your good deeds on the Day of Judgment. And do not belittle a bad deed because of its smallness, for perhaps it will be the one that tips the scale of your bad deeds on the Day of Judgment. Whoever's good deeds outweigh their bad deeds will not be punished in the Fire for their sins; rather, they will be admitted into Paradise. And whoever's bad deeds outweigh their good deeds deserves to enter the Fire in proportion to their sins—though not eternally therein so long as they are a Muslim. "...Whoever is kept away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise will have triumphed..." (Qur'an Translated Meaning 3:185) — Dr. Ayman Khalil Al-Balwy

Religion and Public Safety Through religion, society becomes secure and tranquil, and those exorbitant security costs are lifted from the shoulders of the state. We put an end to the frenzy of desire, the evolution of crime, and administrative corruption. Developing security apparatuses to keep pace with these crimes is a competitive fever that sometimes ends in surrender, recognizing the legitimacy of certain types of crimes, or being lenient toward them. For instance, the police complained that cases multiplied against them after the work of the Committee for the Enjoining of Good and Forbidding of Evil was reduced, so the answer given to them was: 'Overlook some of the cases,' until the one who felt afraid became the policeman or the officer himself. — Gems of Sheikh Al-Hawali

Rights and Duties Through religion, one learns to fulfill what is due upon then before demanding what belongs to them. As for liberal ideas, they incite people to take their rights without teaching them their duties, and they stimulate the citizen to demand participation in governance and to stand in the ranks of the opposition, even without proof or knowledge. — Gems of Sheikh Al-Hawali

It's Not About the Numbers History shows us that the victor is not always the one who possesses more weapons or power. The Romans and the Persians surpassed the Muslims in their numbers and munitions when the Muslims defeated them. In the battle of Badr, Muslims were less in numbers and weapons when they triumphed over their enemies. With faith, the believing battalion prevails. This is the promise of Allah! — Dr. Mustafa Mahmoud

The Excellent Companions Make these 4 words your companion (Subhan Allah, Alhamdullah, La ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu Akbar). By the name of Allah, these are the excellent companion. They are the abiding deeds whose goodness never ends. They remain mentioned in the exalted assembly along with the name of their companion. Their reward is the most plentiful reward and the hope for their blessings is the worthiest hope. Sticking to these words brings the best return and the most favorable future outcome. — Ghaithul-Wahy

The Noble Character of the Prophet The Prophet ﷺ used to lower his gaze [out of modesty]. Whoever saw him unexpectedly was awestruck by him, and whoever associated with him closely came to love him. He never withheld his cheerful countenance from anyone. His warmth and good character encompassed all people, so he became a father to them. He would not fix his gaze upon anyone’s face; a light elevated him, as if the sun was running across his face. — Al-Rafe'i

Reassurance for the Heart Whenever you see your dreams in one valley and circumstances in another valley, recite over your heart: "...You know not; perhaps Allah will bring about after that a [different] matter." [Qur'an Translated Meaning 65:1] — Adham Sharqawi