Shaykh Abdurrahman ash-Shaghouri

We went twice to Shaykh Abdurrahman ash-Shaghouri's (rahimahu Allah) home on Jabl Qasyoon with Shaykh Muhammad al-Yakoubi.

On the first occasion, he looked at us as we walked into his room to greet him and have a seat . He pointed to the heavens and said: "Laa taufiqa illa billah!" ("There is no Taufiq, except through Allah!")

When I think back, I can't remember how loud his voice was when he said it. That is because he had difficulty speaking (I assume due to his age at the time). But, the intensity with which he said it erased my memory of his volume - since it does not matter. Now, those words are chiseled deep into my heart.

The second time we went was when he invited us for dinner. That was amazing. SubhanAllah, even at his age I saw him struggling to eat his own food himself, not wanting any assistance. He was close to 100 years old, I think.

His face was one of those faces you could look at all day - but wouldn't out of awe. I can tell you that his face had an illumination that you have to see to believe.

May Allah forgive him, and enter him into jannat-i-firdaus. Ameen.

Knowledge is what is Taken from the Mouths of Men

Knowledge is what is taken from the mouths of men. Because they memorize the best of what they hear, and they say the best of what they memorize.

Paraphrased from Ta'leem al-Muta'allim by Imam Zarnuji

Damascus

bismillah

I had the honor of visiting Damascus from 2001 to 2002 to study Arabic for about 11 months.

Sh. Muhammad al-Yakoubi helped me study there.

Bismillah

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem

I don't plan to write too much useless stuff, inshaAllah (God-willing).

I just have a few things in mind.

1) Relating an experience of something I think will benefit others in this world or the aakhirah.

2) Any bits of wisdom I have been fortunate to gather.