Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Ibn Taymeeyah’s Letters

First letter:

From Ahmad bin Taymeeyah to my dear and honourable Mother

In the name of Allaah, Most Merciful, Dispenser of Mercy

Wasalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakatuh!

Praise be to Allaah, and may His Blessings and Peace be upon Muhammad, his family and companions

From Ahmad bin Taymeeyah to my dear and honourable Mother, may Allaah bless her amply, and grant her peace and comfort, and make her amongst the best of His servants, Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakatuh.

We praise Allaah, the most worthy of praise. There is no deity worthy of worship but He, and He has Power over all things. We ask Him to bless the Seal of the Prophets and Imaam of the pious, Muhammad His servant and Messenger (salallaahu alayhi wa salam).

Indeed the bounties of Allaah come abundantly, and His aid is never ending. We praise Him for it, and ask Him to increase His favour. It will not escape you, my contented mother, the fact that our stay in Egypt is for an important issue. The abandonment of such a task leads to the corruption of our Deen and of our life.

Yet it was not our choice to be far from you. Had birds been able to carry us, we would have come to you. But the absent one has his reason; and had you been able to look deeply into the affairs of the Muslims, you would not choose for me another place to the one I am in now. Nevertheless, I had never intended to reside here permanently. Instead, I pray to Allaah to guide you and I to the right choice, and I pray for your well-being. I ask Allaah to bless us and the rest of the Muslims, with His goodness and what that goodness encompasses of safety and benefit.

Allaah had opened for me His gates of blessings, mercy and guidance in a way I have never conceived of before. Yet I am always considering travel towards you, making the prayers of Istikhaarah. It is inconceivable for me, if given the choice, to favour any of this life’s mundane issues or of the lesser obligations of the Deen, to being close to you. Yet there are great issues which l cannot abandon for fear of their general and personal dangers (1) – and the witness sees what the absent does not.

I beseech you to supplicate to Allaah profusely. Ask Him to guide us to choose our best paths, for He Knows and we do not, and He is able and we are weak. The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu alayhi wa salam) said:

It is from the happiness of the son of Aadam to practice lstikhaarah and be pleased wîth what Allaah had ordained for him. And it is from the misery of the son of Aadam to drop tbe Istikhaarah of Allaah and be displeased at Allaah’s decrees. (2)

Indeed, the travelling trader might fear the loss of his money, so he resides at a place until he is able to travel once again. The matter that we are in the middle of is too great to describe, but there is no power or ability but through Allaah.

Finally, convey my salaam to the entire household, young and old, and the rest of neighbours, friends and relatives one by one.

Second letter:

For the benefits of Students and brothers in Demascus:

In the name of Allaah, Most Merciful, Dispenser of Mercy

Truly Allaah, the most worthy of praise, Has bestowed upon me great rewards and immense merits that oblige me to thank Him, and be steadfast upon His worship, and be patient at all times in fulfilling the obligations. Patience is an obligation in itself, commanded by Allaah in times of ease more than at times of unease. Allaah says:

“Thus it is, if We let man taste some of our grace, and then take it away from him - behold, he abandons all hope, forgetting all gratitude (for our past favours). And thus it is if we let him taste ease and plenty after hardship had visited him, he is sure to say: “Gone is all affliction from me” – for, behold, he is given to vain exultation, and glories only in himself. [And thus it is with most men] save those who are patient in adversity and do righteous deeds: it is they whom forgiveness of sins awaits, and a great reward.” [Al Qur'aan 11:9-11]

My brothers, you know that Allaah, the Exalted in Might, had favoured me in this matter (1), with favours He usually reserves for the assistance of His soldiers in order to elevate His Word, aid His religion, strengthen Ahlul-sunnah wal Jama’ah, and humiliate the people of innovation and deviation (2). The guidance of the Sunnah was proclaimed conclusively with proofs. This lead to the truth prevailing to so many people, and their returning to the way of Ahlus-sunnah wal Jama’ah. You should know that one of the great principles of this religion is the bringing of Muslims’ hearts together and unifying their call. Allaah the Glorified says:

“Remain conscious of Allaah, and keep alive the bonds of brotherhood among yourselves.” [Al Qur'aan 8:1]

“And hold fast, all together, to the rope of Allaah, and do not draw apart from one another.” [Al Qur'aan 3:103]

“And be not like those who have drawn apart from one another and have taken to conflicting views after all evidence of the truth has come to them.” [Al Qur'aan 5:105]

Similarly, one of the fundamental themes of the Sunnah is obedience to the Messenger (salallaahu alayhi wa salam). Therefore the Prophet (salallaahu alayhi wa salam) said in the authentic hadeeth related by Muslim on the authority of Aboo Hurayrah:

“Allaah is pleased with you on three occasions. (Firstly) when you worship Him and do not associate any partners with Him. (Secondly) when you hold fast, all together to the bond of Allaah and do not draw apart and, (thirdly) when you advise the good rulers whom Allaah had placed in charge of your affairs.”

Furthermore, in the hadeeth of Zayd bin Thaabit and Ibn Mas’ood, who were both among the scholars from the companions that the Messenger of Allaah said:

“May Allaah brighten the face of a man who hears me and then relays to another who has not. It impossible that a carrier of knowledge is not himself knowledgeable, or that the carrier of knowledge will deliver it to someone more knowledgeable. Three things purify the heart of a Muslim. The sincerity in working for the sake of Allaah, taking-up the task of advising the rulers, and not departing from tbe group of Muslims.”

In order to implement this principle on a personal note, I say that it is not my wish for any Muslim to be harmed because of me overtly or covertly. This applies to all Muslims, but more specifically to our companions and acquaintances. Neither do I want any of them to be blamed or condemned, as they are still worthy of honour and respect. Indeed, man does not escape being classified into one of three categories: a correct mutjtahid, a wrong one, and a sinner. The first is rewarded and praised, the second is rewarded yet forgiven for his blunder. Regarding the third, I ask Allaah to forgive him, us and the rest of the Muslims. (3)

Therefore, we shall turn a new leaf on those who had erred and not fulfilled this aforementioned principle (4). Yet I know of some who say “this man erred” and “this man did not do what he should have”, or “the Shaykh was harmed because of this man.”

Those words that have harmed some brothers I do not condone, nor do I pardon those who utter them.

You should also know that we are all joining to assist one another. It is obligatory upon us to aid each other, more so now than before. So whomsoever thinks that harming some brothers as a result of the hardship experienced in Damascus and Egypt, then he is wrong. It is true that a believer to a believer is like the two hands, one cleans the other. And it is also true that some kinds of dirt can only be washed by hard scrubbing, yet this treatment will be justified when the outcome appears to the restoration of that botherly love. Let no one think that the believer can be economical with helping their brothers, and in aiding them. If some of our companions had neglected us before, they came to us, their status will rise higher than before. You might also know – may Allaah be pleased with you – that issues like this one often occur due to a difference of opinion and variations that might even befall the people of eemaan due to the whispers of shaytaan. Allaah says:

“Yet man took it [the trust] up – for, verily, he has always been prone to the most wicked, most foolish. [And so it is] that Allaah imposes suffering on the hypocrites, both men and women, as well as on the men and women who ascribe divinity to anything besides Him. And [so too, it is] that Allaah turns in His Mercy unto the believing men and believing women: for Allaah is indeed much forgiving, a dispenser of grace.” [Al Qur'aan 33:72-73]

Even the excesses that took place in this issue (5), including the misconceptions, both desires and also the lies and fabrications, were all a bonus and benefit as Allaah says:

“Verily, numerous among you are those who would falsely accuse others of unchastity: [but, O you who are thus wronged,] deem it not a bad thing for you. No, it is good for you. [As for the slanderers,] to every one of them [will be accounted] all that he has earned by [thus] sinning; and awesome suffering awaits any of them who takes it upon himself to enhance this [sin].” [Al Qur'aan 24:11]

Those who erred towards me, I pardon. As for those who abused the rights of Allaah, then let them repent and Allaah will forgive them. If they do not, then Allaah’s Rule should be imposed upon them. For if the human were to be thanked for his errors, I would have thanked everyone responsible in this matter for the subsequent benefits in this life and in the next (6). But Allaah is the most worthy of praise, and the believer seeks the good in all of His decrees. Similarly, those with good intention are thanked for that, and those who do good are praised for their work. But to those who perform bad deeds, we ask Allaah to forgive them. And this is what you are accustomed to of my manners, and what I know of this matter and I what I have experienced is great and more grave than what you perceive.

Nevertheless, the rights of people to one another, and the rights of Allaah upon them, are all under His Rule, and He will be the eventual arbiter.

Let us not forget the incident involving the Sideeq (truthful one) Aboo Bakr during the trial of Ifk (7) about which some verses of the Qur’aan were revealed. In it, Aboo Bakr promised that he would no longer assist the companion Mistah ibn Athathah. The reason behind Aboo Bakr’s decision to exclude Mistah from the many Muslims he helped on a regular basis, was based on the latter’s involvement in the spreading of lies. So Allaah revealed:

“Hence, [even if they have been wronged by slander,] let not those of you who have been graced with [Allaah's] favour and ease become remiss in helping [the erring ones among] their near of kin, and the needy, and those who have forsaken the domains of evil for the sake of Allaah, but let them pardon and forbear. [For] do you not desire that Allaah should forgive your sins, seeing that Allaah is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace.” [Al Qur'aan 24:22]

The reaction of Aboo Bakr when this verse was revealed was, “Of course! By Allaah, I wish for Him to forgive me.” Aboo Bakr, the father of the wrongly accused promptly returned to helping Mistah.

“Allaah will in time, bring forth people whom He loves and who live Him – humble towards the believers, proud towards the disbelievers. They strive hard in Allaah’s cause and do not fear to be blamed by anyone who might blame them: such is Allaah’s favour, which He grants unto whom He wills. And Allaah is infinite, All-Knowing. Behold, your only helper shall be Allaah, and His Messenger, and the believers – those that are constant in prayer, pay Zakat and bow down before Allaah. For, all those who ally themselves with Allaah and His Messenger and those who believed – behold, it is they, the partisans of Allaah who shall be victorious.” [Al Qur'aan 5:54-56]

Wasalaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaah!

And praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds, and may His Blessings and Peace be upon our leader Muhammad.

Click here to read footnotes and comentary….

Talk about taking an initiative!

What do you get when you combine:

• A student-run initiative
• A petition which is signed by over 3000 signatures. …
• Investment of $225,000

You get:

• Full year Arabic language course at one of best Canadian universities.
• New department of Islamic Studies

And Comments like:

“There was certainly a lot of interest. We were turning away people who wanted to sign up because the course was capped at 30 people because it is an instructional language course,” he said. “It’s promising to see this much support for the program.”

“We’re working on expanding [Islamic studies] to a minor program. We plan on adding a second year course next year and then ultimately a third year course. …We’re starting out small with the hopes of getting much larger.”

As you might think of this as an opportunity for QueensU to make extra money, I would think that it might take a while for the program to get of the ground never the less initiatives like this encourage students to study and make available for our coming generations to study Islam at academic levels.

This is also a great opportunity for students of other faiths to learn about the message of Islam and familiarize them self with the fundamental teaching of the message which can lead to further intrest.

read more about the program here….