Day 26 – Lubbock, TX

Peace and blessings to All. This is Hamza Abdullah checking in for the Abdullah Brothers Ramadan Tour. I am very grateful for the city of Lubbock. This is the home of Texas Tech University. And the former home, of my alma mater Washington State University’s, Football Coach. Mike Leach is a great coach, and God willing he can get our program back to national prominence. As we go around the country visiting different Masjid’s one question always comes up: What’s the state of Islam in America? Our response might be shocking, Islam in America is doing very well. Where we can get better, is by connecting communities. This is one Ummah. Once we as Muslims start doing that, Islam will be back to National Prominence. 
Lubbock reminds me of a bigger Pullman, WA. I’m partial to college towns, because the communities are always so tight. That is the case for the Muslim community here. Everyone knows everyone. Some would say that’s a good thing and a bad thing. A good thing, because you know everyone on a personal level. A bad thing, because everyone knows your business. As a Muslim, we don’t deal in slander, libel or backbiting.

(2) Abdullah b. Umar said that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him), said: “The Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand a Muslim is safe…”

So as a Muslim, we long for companionship and brotherhood. True brotherhood. To not hurt our brother. To care for our brother. To watch over our brother, as we would want him to watch over us. To love our brother. And to want for our brother what we want for ourselves.

As we go around and see these beautiful structures of Masjid’s, it makes me proud. There was a time where buildings like this didn’t exist in America. Now it’s common place. Every person deserves a nice place to perform worship. God willing we can all help to achieve this goal. I know a community in Detroit that really needs our help. I’m sure there are others out there, so we need to ban together and help where needed. They pray just as we pray. They love the building that God has blessed them with. This is the house of God. We should keep them clean, and we should not transgress our bounds. We must respect everyone’s place of worship, and we should pray that everyone feel safe when entering these sacred places.

One day we will be asked of how we spent our time, and how we spent our money. I pray we all have great answers for both. I’m working on maximizing my time for good, now I need to work on my money. God has blessed me, and I want to make sure the blessing doesn’t stop there. Many people can reap the rewards, if we have a plan, and do it right. Please continue to give in the way of God. Please continue to search for people who really need your assistance. Just because the lights are on at your place of worship, doesn’t mean they’re on everywhere. Please actively reach out and see if you can lend a hand. I am trying to fulfill this obligation as well. Every dollar that I am blessed with is from God. So I have to make great decisions, or he may not trust me with his blessings anymore. I appreciate you reading this, and I pray we can all help someone in need.

Next stop, Salih’s dorm room. Western New Mexico University is in Silver City, New Mexico, and that is our next tour stop. Our younger brothers Esa, Salih and Mustafa are enrolled there. It will be good to see them. God willing, We should have a good time. Please remember us in your prayers. Peace and Be Blessed.

Hamza Abdullah

@AbdullahBros