Ramadan advice from the imam with the “kafir” tattoo
A few days ago we received a message from brother Habibullah (born David) with some advice for the month.
You may remember him as the brother with a difficult past that led him to drug use, crime, and a tattoo with the word “kafir”, who despite all of that accepted Islam in prison, turned his life around, gained Islamic knowledge, and was elected imam of his prison community.
You can read his original story here.
He’s now been out for 2 years and a few days back he sent a message to the Muslims still behind bars. We wanted to share his message with you as well:
I don't know what brings you peace at this moment. For me it was my studies. Tayba was instrumental in keeping me busy. My entire outlook while in the chaingang was based on the thought they can make me do the time, however they can't force me to waste it. Brother al-Hajj-Malik-al-Shabazz said he didn't trust a man that didn't own a watch, it meant he didn't know the value of his time. You can do all the push ups, and chin ups, as you want ahki. We both know when the Dunya and shaitan get together its easy to slack on keeping up with what you worked so hard on the inside to gain.
Not this time, after 42 months in the Florida DOC as a white Muslim who was foolish enough to have “Infidel” tattooed on his neck in Arabic and English 10 years before I even knew what a Shahada was. Allah had other plans for me though alhumdullah. So I read and read and studied and studied… I won't go into the details of where it took me. However, Ramadan was the hardest every time . They ain't feeding you enough to begin with, and then they playing with your meal at iftar, it's hard.
Trust me it ain't no easier out here, you tell a brother on the sidewalk “As-salaamu alaykum” and they look at you like you got 5 heads, lol but I kept saying “As-salaamu alaykum” every time I walked into the deli, gas station, whatever - they are all Muslim-owned. Now if I walk in the door it’s "As-salaamu alaykum ahki where's the wife, what can I help with brother?"
But just like my journey through the chaingang, I just kept doing what I knew was the right thing to do, yes it all takes time, and wasted time is lost time. But this is your time to be the best brother you can. I heard the Mufti say once Ramadan was like Allah (subhannā-wa-tallah) puts blessing on sale, he said if you heard there was a sale at the store and something you desperately wanted was there cheaper, then normally would you not rush to get it? Well this is that time for baraka - do not forget Allah (subhannā-wa-tallah) has no use for Hungry Muslims [editor’s note: i.e. Muslims who have no knowledge], so learn everything you can now you have the opportunity to educate yourself.
Feed off the ones that the peace of Allah (subhannā-wa-tallah) can almost be seen with the naked eye and remember man is always fallible, only the Prophets( Alay-hī-salam) were experts. So even the old guys that know something you wanna learn are gonna make mistakes, learn from them Ahki. They are there - the quiet ones that have their nose buried in the Quran all day. They sit alone so they find peace, not to be excluded.
One must spend time between him and his Creator (subhannā-wa-tallah) or the noise just gets in the way. Night prayers are awesome for this. I'm sure Tayba is sending the literature around explaining the many nightly prayers that are mandub during these times.
Anyway, I have been out 2 years since my last Ramadan inside and I'm working towards my Bachelors in Computer Science.Allah (subhannā-wa-tallah) has blessed me with so many tools, abilities, ambitions and a beautiful wife and 2 cats that are everything to us. It brings me to tears when I think of how blessed I truly am its overwhelming, I pray every Muslim one day knows the Gratitude that bring me to tears today.
Inshallah you'll know what I mean - if not then pray for understanding. And look out, because when it's plain as day the will of Allah (subhannā-wa-tallah) al-Raqēb puts that path before you - walk it and walk it without fear of persecution, bigotry, or judgment from none but He who is meant to be Judge. And you have my word - everything is gonna be better than you could have ever planned it.
Ramadan Mubarak
Salams,
Habibullah
