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Life Lessons – The Answer is Tomorrow | Shaykh Waleed Basyouni

Published

April 3, 2013

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For many years of my youth, I used to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in Makkah. My favorite sitting spot was on the first floor in the Ottoman construction area between Al-Rukn Al-Yamani and the Hijr, and it was there that I would largely remain during the days and nights I was in the Haram.

One year my regular choice of dwelling was changed when I heard that my teacher, Sh. Ibn Jibreen, was also visiting and was sitting on the third floor. I wanted to pray by him, watch him pray, and hoped that I might find some private moments to ask him questions or listen to answers he gave. Just watching the sheikh was in itself a great opportunity for the student of knowledge. We learned from his manners, the way he carried himself, and how he dealt with others.

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One night a group of young men came up to the Shaikh after Isha and before Taraweeh. They asked the Shaikh if praying Taraweeh in congregation would be better for them, or whether they should go out to the markets to give advice and do some street Da’wah. Unfortunately, during the Taraweeh prayer time, it was very common for unsupervised young girls and boys to go out to the markets to hit on each other, and there were many other improper practices that would prevail during this time. They explained the situation to the Shaikh and the told him that they were not from Makkah and that they had traveled only so they could pray and fast at the Haram. The Shaikh said that he would answer them the next day and to meet him in the same place and at the same time. That was one of longest 24 hours in my life; I could not wait to see what the Shaikh’s answer would be. I started thinking about all the answers he might give and the different ways the Shaikh might say them, but what happened that night was very different than anything I had thought of.

I came early to ensure a spot close to the Shaikh. After Isha, the brothers came and the Shaikh said, “Bismillah, let’s go!”

“Whereto, Shaikhana?” they said.
With his well-known big smile, the Shaikh replied, “To the market together.” That was his answer! Giving Da’wah and advising people could be more beloved to Allah than congregational Qiyam and Taraweeh in Makkah if it was done for the sake of Allah.

Of course I followed them to the market. It was Sooq Al-Layl (the night Sooq), and the brothers were very happy to have the Shaikh with them. At the entrance of the marketplace, the Shaikh noticed a store selling music (cassette tapes), and the Shaikh asked the man in the store to come out. The Shaikh reminded him in a private manner about the prohibition of music and what these songs were calling for. I snuck as close to the Shaikh as I could to watch him and see what he was saying to the man. Among what he said was that Ibn Abbas did not live in Makkah because he was afraid that his sins would be multiplied as the rewards multiply in Makkah due to its holiness and sanctity. “Your store is only 50 meters away from the Haram. Are you ready to meet Allah with such record?” he asked in a kind and concerned tone. After 10 minutes I heard the man shout out to all the people around the area in a voice mixed with tears, “As Allah is my witness, and His Angels, and all of you, I promise that before Fajr I’ll get rid of all these tapes. From now on, I will change my business to a Halal one that sells Qur’an and Islamic lectures and nasheeds.”

The story was in the news the next day. It was a great night and one in which I learned great life lessons that I try to practice until today.

1- Actions speak louder than words. If we want our words to have a real impact, we have to be the first to practice with the people.
2- The real scholars and leaders are the ones who mix with the youth, live amongst them, and are seen with the public, not those who give orders and advice from distance.
3- Naseehah to those you know and you don’t know can have a powerful impact when given with mercy and wisdom.
4- Sometimes we talk about the big things that we cannot change and we do not work on the things that we can change.

If this incident inspired you as did me, share your thoughts and give your comments.

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Sh. Waleed Basyouni

is Vice President of AlMaghrib Institute and Director of Clear Lake Islamic Center (CLIC). He is a frequent guest speaker at Universities, Conventions, Radio Talk Shows, Television, Interfaith meetings, and community centers nationally and internationally. He is also a member of the North American Imam Federation (NAIF), Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America (AMJA)-Fatwa and Research Committee, Director of Texas Dawah Convention, and Advisor to numerous Islamic Societies/Organizations around the US. Shaykh Waleed Basyouni graduated with a Bachelors in Islamic Sciences from Al-Imam Muhammad University, KSA; did his Masters in Islamic Theology, World Religions and Modern Religious Sects from Al-Imam Muhammad University; and acquired a Doctorate in Theology. He is also an instructor at the American Open University in Alexandria, VA, USA, and serves as, the Imam of Clear Lake Islamic Center, Houston, TX, USA. Shaykh Waleed has Ijaazahs in reciting the Holy Quran and in several books of Hadeeth, awarded by various scholars. He studied with great scholars time such as Shaykh Ibn Baz, Abdul-Razzaq Afify and others.

10 Comments

Waleed Rahman

April 3, 2013 at 10:24 AM

JazakAllahuKhair, this was really awesome, Alhumdulilah.

Reply
Siraaj

April 3, 2013 at 2:51 PM

That is one amazing story. Do you know what the reason is Sh Jibreen waited the extra day before taking everyone to the market? Some sort of preparation?

Siraaj

Reply
Hassen

April 3, 2013 at 7:01 PM

subhanAllah, this is such a beautiful story masha’Allah. I really appreciate you sharing this with us, Shaykh Waleed.

Reply
Umm hadi

April 3, 2013 at 11:06 PM

Asalaam a laikum Sheikh, Takabbal minna wa minkum.

It is an irony that most of the time in life you have all the things right in front of you, but one can see it only if a sense of interest is aroused within the person.

Reply
Majid Mirza

April 4, 2013 at 2:40 AM

Jazakumullah Khairan Shaykh for sharing such a beautiful and inspiring story. We keep wondering what the barrier to beautiful dawaah is and the biggest barrier is ourself. When we learn to get rid of our ego, humble ourselves and develop a true concern for others like the Rasool (saw) and our Scholars, the impact of our dawaah will change. May Allah reward you and your family – Ameen.

Reply
omar malik

April 5, 2013 at 9:41 AM

Assalam o Alaikum wrwk

that was an amazing story but more then that it was an assurance for me that I need to continue to give da’wa. because lot of times I try to work with youth and give da’wa and find it difficult to keep up with other brothers who are simply in their privacy most of the times doing more good deeds then me. however I have to try to do as much good as I can and not drop the da’wa just because I am not able to read as much Quran as them, or memorize etc. because at the end of the day someone has to be out there with the youth mingling and trying to bring them back to Allah SWT

Reply
- Aly Balagamwala | DiscoMaulvi
  
  April 6, 2013 at 3:12 AM
  
  WaAlaikum Assalam wa rehmatullahi wa barakatuhu:
  
  Someone put the importance of dawah to me very nicely. Had the sahaba not considered going out and giving dawah a bigger priority than their individual worship they would have stayed in Makkah and Madinah (where salah is several times better than other places) and none of us (in Pakistan) would be Muslim today.
  
  The Prophet (SAW) said (meaning of his sayings) that whoever guides to good will get the reward of that good without the person doing that good losing any reward. Therefore, imagine if you went out and got 1 person to pray his 5 daily prayers. You effectively doubled your sawab of daily prayers from 5 to 10. Now multiply this to 100 people. Imagine the rewards.
  
  However, one thing I have learnt from many of the teachers and shayookh is that alongwith your dawah, you MUST also give some time to establishing that bond with Allah (SWT) through prayer, thru recitation, thru azkar. In fact Shaykh Tawfique Chowdhury, who is CEO of Mercy Mission, told a bunch of us recently prior to launch of Al-Kauthar Karachi that do Dawah and other Islamic work for 10 months then take 2 months off if you have to. Build YOUR connection and renew your sincerity to the religion and the work you are doing.
  
  WasSalamuAlaikum
  -Aly
  *Comment above is posted in a personal capacity and may not reflect the official views of MuslimMatters or its staff*
  
  Reply
Abu Hafsa

April 15, 2013 at 1:18 AM

SubhanAllah, Inspirational Story. Its discouraging to hear the condition of the muslims where ever you go. May Allah preserve the shiekh and reward you for sharing this story. Please Continue your series I’m enjoying it.

Sometimes people and their thought process are so ingrained in doing an act, that its hard for them to see past delusion, the act in actually is haram. When you speak to them, in a kind way, they look at you as if you’re the mad one. In essence turning your into some fanatic when in fact it is them that are committing the crime against Allah, and in turn only oppressing themselves. For every ONE good story, there are too many that dont end in such a beautiful way.

Reply
O H

April 28, 2013 at 2:12 AM

Allaahu Akbar! May Allaah have mercy on his soul. May this awesome series continue In sha Allaah

Reply
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