Now that we have completed our Hajj requirement, we are ready to get back to football. I have played football since I was 12 years old, and this has been a tough year being away from it. I haven’t had the opportunity to watch very many games, but i have had the opportunity to watch some old film. The film has kept me near the game, even while I’m away. I have had the opportunity to talk to a number of my old teammates and even some coaches. They are pulling for us and they’re anticipating us getting back into our routine. Many people have asked what Hajj was like, how has the time away from football, and what did we learn? All praises are due to God. We actually had NBC follow us and God willing you can see it soon.

We have been truly blessed with an opportunity to play the game that we love. And because of this platform, we have been able to collaborate on some pretty amazing projects. This one, has to be the most exciting. NBC brought their cameras and shot for days. They interviewed my family and our former teachers, it was amazing. I never thought I would see the day, where NBC was at my high school. It was a surreal feeling. The piece is scheduled to play this Thursday November 29th at 10pm/9pm Central. Rock Center with Brian Williams. Please check your local listings, set your DVR’s and please tell your family and friends to tune in.

We are truly appreciative of this opportunity to try and promote good. What we want for our brother, is what we want for ourselves. And we would like everyone who has accompanied us on this journey, to get the credit they deserve. Thank you to everyone, and please keep us in your prayers. Peace and Be Blessed.

I figured the physical aspect of our layoff would be difficult, but the mental aspect, may be more difficult. It’s tough to watch NFL games now. I’d be a lie if I said, I didn’t miss being out there with my teammates. I do. God willing, I will have the opportunity, to get back out there, fly around and hit people, like I’m accustomed to doing. I know this is bigger than me, and I’m appreciative for this opportunity to fulfill a pillar of my faith. I know that if I keep God first, I’ll never be last. I know that through patience, I will persevere. God willing. I’ve only been out a few months, and I’m already anxious. But the guy I’m working out with, inspires me, and makes me reflect on my patience even more.  He’s been away from the game for Years. His name is Brian Banks.

Brian Banks is a humble, soft spoken young man, who loves life. When I say he loves life, I mean he really does. He loves the small things, like getting up and going to the restroom, ordering food at a restaurant, and being able to drive a car. Why? Because these things were taken away from him. He was wrongfully accused of rape, during a promising high school career, that landed him in prison for over five years. He was then placed on strict house arrest for almost 5 years. 10 years of this man’s life, gone. But do to the grace and mercy of God, and the never quit attitude Brian has, he proved his innocence. He was exonerated (XONR8) of all charges in May, and now he is working feverishly to get back to football. Patience. Perseverance. Consistency. These are qualities Brian possesses, and I want to work on. Brian doesn’t have an ounce of hate or anger in his heart. He praises God constantly, and thanks Him, for all that he has been through. He exemplifies not just a professional by his work ethic, but also by his character. I’m pulling for Brian Banks, and you should too. He inspires me to not only be a better football player, but also a better man. I am truly grateful that God has placed him in my life, and I can’t wait to see how his story unfolds.

Thank you again for checking in on our progress, and keeping up with my family and I. We truly appreciate your time and consideration. I pray we can continue to be a positive influence, and spread good. Please forgive us for our shortcomings. Have a productive week. Peace and Be Blessed.

Islam is universal. Islam is simple. Islam is peaceful. On our trip, we found ourselves offering our Salah (Prayer), at a number of places. At rest stops, college campuses and even parking lots. We would notice people stopping and wondering what we were doing. I’m sure it was some of their first times, seeing a Muslim pray. We met people who came to the Masjid for the first time. We met people who had never met a Muslim before. What stood out among the ones we interacted with, was the level of peace and serenity in Islam. The reason is simple. We aim to be in constant remembrance of God. Every act and action should be to seek the pleasure of God. We are not perfect, nor do we claim to be. I am trying to do my best to earn the pleasure of God. Please forgive me if I have wronged you, upset you, or not been honest with you on our tour. I ask that every step I take is in line with being a great Muslim, man, father, brother, son and neighbor. God willing we all have learned something and gotten better this month.

I have learned the respect and hospitality, one must show their guest. We’ve literally been given the shirt off peoples backs. I febreezed it first, but it still was great gesture. The Qureshi family in Lexington, KY and the Kidwai family in Houston, TX have an extended son. They basically copied a key for us. The Zaidi brothers in Boston, Subhan and Omar in New York, Shaizan in Chicago, and brother Abdullah in Seattle, all gave us the keys to the city. They fed us signature foods and guarded us like they were the secret service. These brothers stopped at nothing to make sure we had anything and everything we needed. The Canadian Dawah Association made sure our trip was first class, and all we had to do was show up. It was good to see family friends like Jerome Harrison, Erik Coleman, Ibrahim Bengali, Joshua Salaam, Abdul-Malik Ahmad, Karl Paymah, and George Green. We had an opportunity to see our sister Hajirah, our grandmother and of course the “Street Sheikh”. The street Sheikh is nationally known as a promoter of Islam, but we simply know him as our father. He’s been at it since we were young, and he shows no signs of slowing down. God willing, he is rewarded for all of his efforts.

We met people who I can now call my friend and brother. AbdarRahman from Santa Clara may be my new best friend. He was a young guy full of energy and promise. He had heart, intelligence and respect. He admired and listened to his older brother Abdullah. I saw a lot of myself in him. God willing, he’ll be very successful in any and every field he chooses. I had a chance to rekindle some relationships, and see some of my very good brothers from around the country. To all my brothers in Arizona, I love you. To all of my brothers, that held us down during this trip, and all of the individuals who aided in this effort, I love you for the sake of Allah. To all of the sisters who were behind the scenes, taking care of us, we truly appreciate it. All of the sisters who cooked that wonderful food, gave us that free candy, and made those beautiful welcome signs. We truly appreciate it. To the sisters who set up a lot of the trips, thank you. I know sisters did most of them, because our handwriting is not that good. And men don’t have the level of empathy, that women have. So thank you for all your efforts. Thank you to the sisters who spread the news of our tour to their families, friends and communities. Without our sisters help, where would we be? I wouldn’t be able to leave the house, eat, sleep, get dressed or keep appointments if it wasn’t for my wife. So I understand the value of our sisters.

As Men we must continue to strengthen our faith, ourselves and our love for our women. We must strengthen our knowledge in Islam so we understand the platform women are on. Paradise, which is the goal for us all, lies at the feet of the mother. In the famous Hadith (Teachings of the Prophet, peace be upon him), the Prophet, peace be upon him, was asked about who is most deserving of their companionship, and three times He replied “Your Mother“. The fourth time He replied “Your Father”. The mother is the key. Respecting our women is key to us getting better as a community, society and world. We must learn about the great women in Islam. Mariam, Asiya, Khadijah and Fatimah. Learn about the way the Prophet loved and took care of his wives. The way He showed a special emphasis in making sure His Companions understood how to treat and respect the women in their lives. How Muslim men are to be of the best of character, and we must protect our women.

To protect our women we have to know what it takes to be a man. A man is not someone who can boss someone around and control them because they are physically superior. A man is someone who protects, provides, loves, nurtures and cares for the ones under their protection. We are shepherd’s to our sheep. This is a fact. We have to be physically, mentally and emotionally strong for our women. Women are tougher than men. That’s a fact. There is no pain, like the pain of childbirth. And I for one, am glad I’m a man. To see my wife in constant pain, but continuing to say “Alhamdulillah”…I couldn’t do it. I’m not that strong. Let us make a commitment that it starts with us. We will be stronger for our women. Our sisters need us. We need to be stronger in our Deen (way of life), and stronger in our Islamic presence.

Every time a sister steps outside, everyone knows their Muslim. What about me? I think about this constantly. I need to work on not only my physical appearance, but also the way I carry myself. It needs to be a constant form of worship, and a constant presentation of Islam in a positive light. To all my sisters who wear a Hijab (Head covering), I thank you. You are doing more work for Islam, than anything I could ever do. You’re walking the walk, and talking the talk. You are a constant reminder of Islam, and God willing I can get to that point. To my sisters that don’t wear a Hijab, please continue to be good examples of Muslim sisters. A sister who wears a Hijab is not better, or more of a Muslim, than a sister who doesn’t. We’ve met sisters from all over, some covered and some didn’t. And their Eman (faith) was not tilted either way. They were set firm in the Deen (way of life) and promoted Islam well. As a Muslim man, there is no way I can say I know what sisters go through when it comes to the topic of covering or not covering. Whatever your decision is, please just always be a Muslim. If there’s a sister holding up 7 eleven, but she’s wearing a Hijab, am I going to be proud? Probably not. If there is a scholar at a conference breaking down the importance of Interfaith communication, but she does not have a Hijab on, am I going to discount everything she said? No. Who am I? I’m a servant of God. Who are they? A servant of God. Do they answer to me? No. They, along with me, answer to God. So I can keep my two cents, and save it for a Coke. I pray God has mercy on all of us, and makes it easy on us.

I say all that, to get to my final point. We need to get married. As a society we look down on marriage, and we promote the single life. It’s all a facade. Ain’t nothing fun about cooking a grilled cheese sandwich on your iron, in a hotel room, alone. You can have that. No thank you. We need to promote and encourage ourselves, our families, our friends and our community members, to get married. We don’t need to wait for someone who is from our city, and is a Doctor, who graduated from Harvard, with a 720 credit score and dimples. The reality is, they’re not there. If a man asks for your daughters hand in marriage, and you are pleased with his Deen and his character, you can’t turn him away. We need to readjust our standards, not lower them. Just make sure they’re realistic. If you’re young and you are thinking about marriage, talk with your brothers and sisters (friends) who are near in age with you. Then talk to your parents, with a comrade preferably, about marriage. Let them know you are serious. That you are trying to live your life in accordance with what will please God. Then you must work on yourself. A woman doesn’t want a boy, and a man doesn’t want a girl. A wife doesn’t want a dictator, and a husband doesn’t want a nagger. We can all get better and work on ourselves. So let’s enjoin good, and get married. I would love to go to a few more weddings. God willing we can all get better and be a better support system for our brothers and sisters.

Finally the goal of the trip. To educate, communicate, promote and show what “Want for your brother, what you want for yourself” means. We have tried our best to be good examples, but we are not perfect. Please forgive us for our shortcomings. We understand that we have a platform where we can promote other individuals who are doing some amazing things. I would like to personally thank them for their efforts and their sacrifices. I would also like for you to support and follow them in their careers. Ibtihaj Muhammad, Sadam Ali, Sarah Attar, Wojdan Shaherkani and Woroud Sawalha. They are all Professionals in their respective fields, they stand up for what they believe in, and they’re even better people. I pray that we can continue the dialogue and further our relationships with these special individuals. God willing, please look out for all of our future endeavors.

I am truly appreciative of every single person I met. Every person that read a single line of our blog. Every person that hit “Like”, “Share”, “Tweet” and “Email”. Every person that uttered a good word about me, my family and Muslims everywhere. I am truly appreciative of this honor. The honor to communicate with all of you. I am truly blessed, and I really feel as though I was the big benefactor on this tour. I pray I was able to do more good than harm. Please forgive me for any inconsistencies and for my shortcomings. May God bless you and your family to be of those He is pleased with. JazakAllah Khayren (May God reward you with goodness). Peace and Be Blessed.

Assalamu Alaikuum (Peace be upon you)

Hamza Abdullah

@AbdullahBros

PS

Thank you to Ihsaan Fusion for this beautiful website, the trailer and the apps. We know only God can repay you what you deserve, but we still thank you very very much. You do great work, and God willing, you’re day is coming. Just remember us when Google comes along.

To LisnUp Clothing and Kamani Online, thank you for keeping us fresh during the tour. We hit em with a whole lot, but that’s not even the tip of the iceberg. We look forward to future collaborations. Thanks again. Salaams

As I ride this squeaky beach cruiser, I first feel like Deebow from Friday, then I feel a sense of strong appreciation. I took a 30 minute bike ride when I got back to my mom’s house, and it gave me a chance to clear my head. A chance to think about all of the individuals who emailed, texted, tweeted, facebooked and called us. The ones who created petitions to lobby for our arrival. The ones who stayed up all night to make sure we were comfortable. The ones who forfeited time with their wives and children to make sure we had everything we needed. The ones who gave us symbolic piggy back rides, when we were hurting. The ones who allowed us into their homes and fed us like they didn’t want to us to leave. The ones who embraced us as if we were long lost friends. The ones who said they’d pray for us. The ones who wanted for their brother what they wanted for themselves. Those are the people we should praise. These brothers and sisters were nothing short of amazing. When I get back on twitter, they will definitely be getting personal Shout Outs! I’m so appreciative of you all. Thank you.

So here we are. The last day of our trip, and God willing, the last day of Ramadan. It was a nice quiet night. Just us, our families and the few families from the local Masjid. It was good to see the people who inspired us to go on this trip. They gave us their blessings, and sent us on our way. To them we are just Abbas, Hamza and Husain. Alhamdulillah. They’ve known us for so long, and they keep us grounded. We are truly appreciative of all the warm welcomes we received, but Allah knows we don’t deserve it. All we need is a handshake and a smile, and that will suffice. Thank you to all of our brothers and sisters around the country. You make me smile every time I think of you. I now have a very positive memory in each city. Thank you for welcoming us. Thank you for coming along on our tour, and making this thing happen.

I pray God continues to shower you with his grace and mercy. You should be proud of your efforts to make the people around you, and the communities around you, a better place. When we all want for our brother what we want for ourselves, we’ll know we’ve won. I thank you again for coming along on the trip. We finished what we started, and now its time to party! EID MUBARAK!!! (Have a blessed festival). God willing I will put up a “Reflection” Post tomorrow. Thank you again, and go enjoy your family. Peace and Be Blessed.

Hamza Abdullah

@AbdullahBros

I could not think of a better venue, to end our official tour stops at then San Diego. They have a flourishing Muslim community, and they are very diverse. As Muslims, we need to promote such qualities of our religion. I think back to Boise, where approximately 30 different countries, ethnicities and nationalities were represented. We’re only talking about 50 people total. That’s amazing. In San Diego, we felt that same flavor. And to go even further, after Jummah, a brother took Shahadah (Declaration of Faith) and became Muslim. It was an amazing event.

We have been asked a number of questions on this trip, but the easiest one to answer is: “How do you become Muslim?”. It’s easy because, there is no waiting list, there is no classes you have to take and there is no background check. All you have to do, is believe what you say. It can’t be coerced, it has to be natural, and of your own accord. One must state the Shahadah, and He/She is a Muslim. The Shahadah is as follows:

“لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله” (lā ʾilāha ʾillà l-Lāh, Muḥammadun rasūlu l-Lāh) (in Arabic)
There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God. (in English)

It’s a very simple statement, but it carries with it a big responsibility. Do good unto others, be just, educate yourself and be a contributing member of society. It’s always a warming feeling when someone becomes Muslim. They look like the weight of the world is lifted off their shoulders. While we were in San Diego, we met 2 brothers who took their Shahadah. Alhamdulillah (All praises are due to God).

The community in San Diego is growing rapidly, and I’m glad we got a chance to share our experiences with them. Now it’s time to head home and get some of my mothers home cooking. I can’t wait to see my wife and children. They are the true warriors. They have allowed us to be away from them for an entire month, and they haven’t complained one bit. When I would tell my wife I missed her, she would reply, “I miss you too, but this is for the sake of Allah”. SubhanAllah (Glory to be God), what a response. That’s why I love my wife so much. She is constantly trying to make me a better person. I remember the first thing she said to me when I met her. Mind you, she was not a Muslim. She said “You’re a Muslim? Ok. So you pray 5 times a day?” I Instantly had to check myself, and make sure I was doing what I needed to do. She has been that reminder for me throughout our marriage. I am truly blessed to have her in my corner. For all of my single brothers and sisters out there. You’ll know you’ve found your spouse when, you look at them, and they make you remember God.

God willing we are on our way home, so thank you again for tagging along on the trip. Please continue to follow us, “Like” us, and let us know what you thought about the trip. This is not my last blog post, but I wanted to make sure I thanked you properly for being with us on the trip. Thank you again. Peace and Be Blessed.

Read Husain’s Blog here!

Hamza Abdullah

@AbdullahBros

After lunch, the next appointment was at ICC Tempe Masjid. The on campus Mosque at Arizona State University. It’s rather large, and the crowd matched the structure. We sat and told our story, had Q & A, then took pictures. The amazing part of this site was the interaction of the ESPN crew. They had never been in a Masjid before, so I’m sure, it wasn’t what they expected. The best way to learn is through your own experience. God willing, they can now associate a positive memory with Muslims and Mosques.

For the grand finale we went to my old stomping grounds, the ICEV Chandler Masjid. As we drove up, I started to get anxious. When I stepped out of the car, there waited one of my good brothers, Saleh. A freshmen at ASU, Hafiz of Quran, and young stud who recently got engaged. If I need anything, or have a question he’s always been there. He escorted me to the front, where the Shaykh, who is also his Father, awaited our arrival. We embraced and he told me he missed me. I miss him and the community as well. He’s one of the coolest brothers you would ever meet. I once saw him walking into Wal-mart with jeans, a flannel shirt and baseball cap on. I almost fell out laughing. It was good to see him outside his usual position. He was just a regular American guy. After the Shaykh I greeted the usual suspects. Abu Bakr, Ahmed Hashem, Ibrahim, Shehab El Dean, Hamza, Nofil, Mossab, Dawud and finally Brother Ishmael.

If you love someone you should tell them. I love Brother Ishmael, simply for the sake of Allah. He is my brother. Allah placed him in my life for a reason. Let me tell you a story about this brother, so you can see why I love him. And why first impressions are the most important impressions. When I first arrived in Arizona, I looked up the nearest Mosque, and just showed up randomly. It was time for our afternoon prayer, Asr. I went inside and prayed. After we were finished, a Muslim brother of African descent, with a big beard, came to greet me. He was in his 40s and he looked like a former Soccer player. He was very cordial, and he was trying to get my scouting report. He was very respectful and humble. He made me feel right at home. When I meet people, I am hesitant to tell them I am a professional athlete. It’s funny to watch them fish, but I have been able to get by. And Brother Ishmael was like the guy in the yellow boots on the Van de Kamps fish sticks box. A deep sea fisher.
For the next week I would visit the Mosque, and Brother Ishmael was there every time. He would shake my hand, give me the greetings, embrace me, ask about my family, then send me on my way. A few days after we met, Brother Ishmael had a surprise for me. I had one Thobe (Traditional Islamic Gown for Men) that I would wear to the Masjid everyday. This special day, Brother Ishmael had a brand new thobe awaiting me. When he presented me with the thobe, I almost cried. He didn’t know who I was. He didn’t know I was a professional athlete. I was just his Muslim brother. Maybe he thought I was homeless, a new Muslim, or just not able to afford any other clothes. Outside of my family, this was the most touching thing, anyone has ever done for me. He doesn’t know how much of an influence he’s been on me, and I could never express to him, what that moment meant to me. He wanted for his brother, what he wanted for himself.

This was my first interaction with the Arizona Muslim community. I think about a “what if” scenario. What if, He would not have been courteous, eloquent and brotherly? What if I went to the Mosque and Brother Ishmael told me “you’re doing this wrong.” “or you’re doing that wrong”. When you see someone at the Masjid, that might be a little “different”, don’t say “I can’t wait to correct him”, say “At least he’s at the Mosque”. Only Allah knows where I would be if I got turned away from the Mosque, or had a bad experience at the Mosque. Imagine this, a brother comes to the Mosque, and he has on shorter shorts, a sleeveless t-shirt, tattoos, a mohawk, and piercings. And you say, “You can’t wear that in here”. So this brother leaves, and never comes back to the Mosque. Now on the Day of Judgement, he’s standing in front of The Almighty God, and God asks him “Why didn’t you visit the Mosque and worship me?”. And the man replies “Because when I tried to go and worship and praise you,  _____ (your name here) told me I couldn’t be there”. Then all of creation turns and looks at you…. How humiliated would you be. How much of a loser would you feel like? Who wants this weight on their shoulders?… Not me. And I don’t want it on anyone else’s shoulders.

My dear respected brothers and sisters. Let us not judge a book by it’s cover. Let us practice Islam, as it is written in the Quran and Hadith. Let us be a Muslim at every turn. Want for our brother what we want for ourselves. And just because a person is not Muslim, or we think they’re not a Muslim, doesn’t mean we treat them any differently. If a lady needs help with her over head baggage, we don’t first ask her “Are you Muslim?”. This is Islam. Let us follow the way of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Let us follow the Deen (way of life), as is mapped out in the Quran. Let us be like my dear Brother Ishmael. I love him for the sake of Allah. And God willing, I will be able to repay him. If not with a gift, then with a duaa (prayer). I thank you for your time and consideration. Please keep us in your prayers. Peace and Be Blessed.

Hamza Abdulah

Make sure you read Husain’s latest blog here!

@AbdullahBros

Is it tough being the only known Muslim in a region? I’m sure it is. That’s what my brother Salih faced last year as a Freshman at Western New Mexico University. He was the only man standing. Want for your brother what you want for yourself? What if there is no brother to lean on? What if you find yourself in a situation like this? What was our advice? You better start recruiting. There are good people everywhere, and God willing you know them. You can usually find someone who has the same morals and values that you have. For me, it was Jason Wright. When I got to Arizona, I looked at him as an example. He was my brother. He was not Muslim, but he was a devout Christian. He was married, and he stayed in his Bible. It made me want to be better in my religion. To be a better husband, father and teammate. To read my Quran, just as he read his bible. We can’t go at it alone. We need someone to lean on.

Salih happens to be a great recruiter. Last year he was the only known Muslim in Silver City, now there are two more. My brothers Esa and Mustafa. They all want for their brother, what they want for themselves. They wouldn’t want each other to go at it alone, so they made a pact to be together. They each have sacrificed being close to home, to be together. It’s very admiral. They have decided to try and build something, more than a tighter bond among brothers. That takes strength, and I applaud them for their efforts. They would like to start the first ever MSA (Muslim Student Association) at Western New Mexico University. They would also like to build the first Masjid (Mosque) in Silver City. These are very lofty goals, and with hard work, dedication and teamwork, it can be attained. A year ago there was one. This year there are three. Who knows where it can be in 10 years. I would like to help be a part of something as unique and special as this. God willing, the bricks are being laid for a strong foundation.

What other Universities can you go to and start an MSA? Or build a Masjid? These are great opportunities. And with our help, it can be done. If you have any suggestions, advice or know of ways they can start the process, please let us know. I just imagine how many blessings it would be to build a Masjid. And how even after we’re gone, people are still visiting and praying in a place you help build. The need is there. There are numerous college kids looking for guidance and a safe haven here in Silver City. Masjid’s act as information centers, community centers, tutoring halls, cafeterias and even hotels. The intentions are strong, we will pray on it, and God willing, we need all the help we can get. So please let us know if you would like to help.

We’re headed back to my old stomping grounds, Phoenix, AZ. We have to have a better turn out then Minnesota. Minnesota was a great trip, so I can’t lose to Husain. He’s beaten us on the field twice, please don’t let him say his city was livelier than mine. So tweet, share, email, Like and join us in Phoenix. Please keep us in your prayers, and please say a special prayer for my brothers, who are in need of your support. Thank you for spending your time with me. It truly is an honor, and I wish you knew how much I appreciate your feedback. Thank you again. Peace and Be Blessed.

Hamza Abdullah

@AbdullahBros

(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

I love this time of year, because it seems like everywhere you turn, a good deed is waiting for you. And some good deeds, seem to be more rewarding than others. Like the helping of someone in need. If you alleviate a difficulty of a needy person, Allah (God) will alleviate your difficulty in this world and the Hereafter. With that being said, I’ve caught wind of a Masjid in Detroit that needs help to have an Eid. Everyone deserves an Eid. The brothers and sisters in Detroit, have been Fasting just as we have been Fasting. We want for our brothers, what we want for ourselves. I’d like the best Eid ever, to go along with the best Ramadan ever! And God willing with our help, our donations, and our prayers, the brothers and sisters in Detroit can have an Eid. Please help them, and remember you’re doing this for the pleasure of God.

I sometimes have a hard time with giving, knowing the proper amount to give and who to give it to. What I started to do, was pray about it and ask God to make it easy for me.
Then I read Quran Surah (Chapter) 2 Al-Baqrah (The Cow) Ayah (Verse) 265:

“And the likeness of those who spend their substance, seeking to please Allah (God) and to strengthen their souls, is as a garden, high and fertile: heavy rain falls on it but makes it yield a double increase of harvest…”

Now I want to start giving like this. Dallas is where this brother resides, and if he’s that enthusiastic about giving, I may have to move to Dallas.

Like we already know, everything is bigger in Texas, and Dallas may take the cake. Home of the biggest HD television in the world, it’s also home to a Jerry Jones like Masjid. The Islamic Center of Irving let’s you know what time it is when you first step through the door. I thought the current structure was big, but they’re only in Phase 1. They had about 5 more phases to go. This made me wonder if they were gearing up to host the next olympics. It was that impressive. Great facilities and great people.

I was really looking forward to the Dallas stop because one of my brothers from college lives there. Omar Demir, was one of the brothers from Washington State that held on tight to me. Omar, Guled and Irshad always had a hand out to help me. These brothers loved me. Truly loved me. Regardless of the circumstances, they always had my back. And the way they did it…SubhanAllah (Glory be to God). They’d see me somewhere and say things like “Did you get my email?”. I’d be thinking, “what kind of question is that?” They made no bones of where I was or what I was doing, they would just smile and say they couldn’t wait to see me again. But this time on their turf. I pray God blesses these brothers with any good deeds I have ever accrued. I can’t stress enough what a good brother/sister will do for you. It has helped me, and I pray it will help you.

We’re on our way to Lubbock, TX, and another college community. These are fun stops for me, because I grew up in a college town. I thank you for spending this time with me, and I pray we can continue to do good, long after Ramadan is over. But while we are in this great month, let us do more good. Please help out the community in Detroit. I pray God blesses you with 1,000 times what ever you donate to them. Please keep us in your prayers, and pray for anyone and everyone who is suffering a hardship. Thank you again. Peace and Be Blessed.

Hamza Abdullah

@AbdullahBros