“Every call and every movement has foundational principles and a basis. As for us, our foundational principles are the statement, “There is no god but Allah” , the turning of the face toward Allah alone, continuity in the remembrance of Allah, the recitation of His Book, salutations upon the Messenger of Allah, the sincerity of actions for Allah alone, the love of the Friends of Allah, bearing the harm of the creation, good character with the slaves of Allah, a good opinion of Allah, bearing witness to the generosity of Allah, resignation of affairs to Allah, work and acquisition for the benefit of humanity and dependents, obeying the commands of Allah, avoiding what Allah has prohibited, contentment with Allah’s destiny, be He exalted, striving in the way of Allah, the prayer for Allah’s sake, the fast for Allah’s sake, spending in the way of Allah, the pilgrimage to the House of Allah and the lesser pilgrimage if Allah makes it easy to do so, enmity toward the enemies of Allah for Allah’s sake, and mutual striving for the good. I have tried various good acts and have not seen any better than the recitation of the Quran, love of the Prophet, peace be upon him, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, the remembrance of Allah, love of the Righteous, and striving to benefit the creation.
This is my foundation. I ask Allah, be He exalted, to assist us and to assist our striving brothers in every area of the world, and that He enable all to do that which is in accordance with what He loves and is content with, and that He cure our sick hearts. Peace be upon you and the Mercy of Allah, be He exalted, and His blessings.”
Shaikh Ibrahim Inyas, may God be pleased with him, al-Juz al-Thaalith min Khutab wa al-Rasaa-il, pg. 195-96.
Translated by Imam Muhammad Abdul Latif Finch
Imam Muhammad Abdul Latif Finch converted to Islam at the age of 20 and has earned ijazas in Islamic Sciences including Quranic Sciences, Hadith, Maliki and Shafi’i Jurisprudence, Usul al-Fiqh, Seerah, Logic, and Arabic Grammar and Morphology under the tutelage of numerous scholars, including Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Shaykh Salik bin Siddina, Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Abdur Rahman Taahir, Qari Umar Bellahi, Shaykh Abdullah Ali, and Shaykh Yahya Rhodus.
Imam Muhammad Abdul Latif Finch co-founded the Lighthouse Mosque in Oakland, California where he served as the Imam for 3 years until he resigned in 2012 to focus on his graduate studies. In addition, he was a teacher and a program developer for Deen Intensive Foundation, Seekers Guidance and had assisted Zaytuna College’s Summer Arabic Intensive program for three years in a row.
Imam Muhammad Abdul Latif Finch has recently attained a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, a member of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.
Many thanks to Imam Muhammad Abdul Latif Finch for contributing to this blog.
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