Thread by @imanmbadawi

﷽

Simple tip. Nothing fancy-philosophical, super-sophisticated, or ultra-empirical. Simple but impactful, real.

When reading an Islamic book, orient yourself to search for deeds to add to your practice. Append a sticky note to the inner cover and record them as you go.

1/

When finished, return to your list. Make a plan to practice each item. Some might be long-term goals and some might be immediate habit-goals.

Don’t move onto another book until you’ve actualized your list. Keep the note in the book as a reminder the next time you open it.

2/

This is the real way to acquire sacred knowledge, because what you *know* isn’t what you’ve read, but what has become a part of you. This is true in many fields of study, but no more so than in Islamic studies.

The study of Islam isn’t academic, it’s transformative.

3/

If one absorbs sacred knowledge in this way, it won’t just enhance the mind. It will expand the heart and make the soul vast. It will grant perspective and wisdom and fill one up in ways that others can’t possibly imagine. In this way, the pursuit of knowledge becomes dhikr.

4/

Sacred knowledge is for Allah, alone. When the objective is pure, the pursuit bears fruit.

If we study Islam like any other subject, we might just find ourselves as undistinguished in the sight of Allah as we made our study.

Start with a sticky note. Let practice stick.

5/end

P.S. Do be advised, however, that sticky notes multiply rapidly over time, become fancy philosophical, super-sophisticated, and sometime even ultra-empirical. They might even end up changing the world.

Please use with caution.

Especially Hanafi ones. Dangerous stuff.

No, you may not read my sticky notes.

سبقك بها عكاشة