“Baba, every time they give me a needle I imagine how you used to hold my hand and tell me it’ll be fine and make duaa–telling me it’s from Allah.”
Her golden quote, { “Baba, don’t worry about me because my worry is about you worrying about me.”}

On my final day, after news broke of my release, the brothers wanted to hold a good-bye party for me. I was very much against this idea because there was nothing fun, nor is there anything happy, about walking out and leaving your brothers in misery. They insisted on the gathering and we met in the cafeteria. The brothers cooked and each person stood up and gave a farewell talk.

After the gathering, at 9:15pm on my final night, we were ordered to go to our cells for lockdown. As everyone was cleaning the cafeteria, Shukri took me to the hallway and hugged me tightly as he cried. He said,

“Please stay in touch with Sanabil. You are my touch to them since I cannot touch them. If my daughter dies please be at the funeral.”
As he uttered those words, he broke down crying and weeping like a child. As this was happening, his co-defendant Sheikh Mohammad El-Mezain was the first to walk out of the cafeteria with his cane and was heading to his cell. He looked at Shukri as he wept in my arms and asked if everything was okay?

The following day, the Muslims and non-Muslims, in a bittersweet mood, walked me to the door of the prison, but Shukri was nowhere to be found. I asked about him and was told he was sitting in his cell in deep sadness.

I made sujud al Shukr (a prostration of gratitude), upon crossing over to the other side of the world, and embraced my family for the first time in years. We headed on our journey home and I learned to use the iPhone a family member had, to make myself an email account. The first thing I did was send an email to the email Shukri gave me for Sanabil. Then I contacted her with something new to me called facebook.

She informed me of what she was facing and her suffering. She wrote of her family’s trips from Texas to Indiana to visit her father; a distance of over 16 hours by car only to find out that the phones used in the visit room, which were monitored live by local unit staff in the CMU, local prison and Counter terrorism unit in Virginia, were not functioning and their visit was cancelled.

I tried to speak to her of patience, but she taught me patience. I explained to her that such incidents happened to me often, hoping to ease her hardship.

Whenever I would ask about her health, she was always upbeat and happy with the destiny of Allah. Over the past year, it seemed to me that she had no concern over herself, but rather, it was all over her father, Shukri. I continuously messaged her to check on her and make sure that she was okay. She was always prompt in her response, even when she was admitted to hospitals.

Her most recent and last messages to me were nothing short of unwavering courage in the face of tremendous difficulties, deep pain, and extreme sorrow. They were remarkable and deeply inspirational.

She needs our duaa, but she went to a Ghafoorun Raheem. She’s now with the one who is more merciful to her than her own father and mother. The one who truly needs our duaa more than her is her father and our Muslim brothers who are in the iron fist of those who know no mercy.

No one can bear the pain or feeling of being locked in prison with a family member outside who is ill or passed away except someone who underwent it.

Shukri I’m sure this will find it’s way to you, {Wallahi, Billahi, Tallahi} not a single night since I left that I did not remember you and the brothers I left behind in my duaa. I never expected to see this side of the wall again, but the One who granted me this will soon grant you and our brothers the same -inshallah.

May Allah grant you patience Shukri, and may Sanabil take you by your hand to ferdous!!!! Ameen!!!

For anyone who wishes to write to Abu Sanabil, below is his name, inmate number, and mailing address:

SHUKRI ABU BAKER #32589-177
USP BEAUMONT
U.S. PENITENTIARY
P. O. BOX 26030
BEAUMONT, TX 77720

We used to be an ummah of action

This ummah used to be an ummah of action and not just speech, and when it was such we were victorious, had glory by the will of Allāh, and we were honoured by the blessings of Allāh. Such were the men of the Salaf who spoke very little but their actions conquered lands, aided the muslimeen, and were a terror and punishment for the enemies. Very few people of action exist amongst us. From the 2-3K muwahideen on the haqq, very few are true to their words and very few live by their words. Our prisoners - our brethren in faith, our responsibility, the abandoned limbs of this “one body” ummah have truly been abandoned.

When opportunities arise for the muwahideen to aid their brethren very few aid them. To put this in perspective - out of the 2-3k people who view our posts, only 2-3, sometimes 4 reach out to us to send letters to our prisoners Wallahul musta’ān. We need more muwahideen of action, because muwahideen are more honourable than to sit around and do nothing when an opportunity to help their brethren arises. And know that opportunities to help your brothers are very few. As the saying of Imam AAA رحمه الله, sometimes Allah drops an opportunity to do good out of nowhere. You don’t ask for it, it’s given to you, and it’s from Allāh. But many reject this opportunity to do good and turn away from it.

Fear Allah ya muwahideen! Fear Allāh and be of aid to the ummah atleast through your words!

Are you giving Da’wah to The Deen of Allāh سبحانه و تعالى or to yourself?

How could you, even for a moment, think that posting your Niqabi selfies with long Islamic captions, is an acceptable way of Da'wah for a Muslim woman, when even The Mothers of The Believers used to give Da'wah while being hidden behind a curtain? If it was acceptable, why did they not sit in the public in their Niqab and preach? They were scholars, and this was their etiquette in teaching, and most of these influencers aren’t even proper students of knowledge but they are arrogant when told to follow the example of our Mothers A’ishah and Hafsah رضي الله عنهما and not display themselves. Surely there is hypocrisy and doubtful intentions in a post where the picture is focusing on showcasing the beauty of the eyes or the luxurious adornments and clothing and the caption is urging people to remember Allāh. Who are you trying to fool, this is “Da’wah”?

Wallahi they taught men as noble and respectful as the Sahabah, yet they remained hidden and out of their sight, harsh in their voices, and to the point. Your followers are possibly full of the filthiest types of men, but you leave your selfies in their phones shamelessly, post your voice for no reason while it is soft, and rant aimlessly about your life.

Do you only seek to follow their examples or mention them when it comes to being a “business woman” or the likes? When will you learn to emulate them in their impeccable Hayah?

Normally I would hate to bring such filth to the surface and expose others to it, but perhaps this can open the eyes of some naïve sisters insha’Allah.

If I remember correctly, this comment was made about a woman who was fully covered in Niqāb and Jilbāb. It just goes to show the filthy minds of people, and how neglected the obligation of lowering the gaze is amongst those who claim to be Muslims.

It also goes to show the carelessness of these so called “modest” influencers to their claimed “modesty”. They expect everyone on the face of the earth to lower their gazes from them, kafir or Muslim, it’s always someone else’s fault that they’re being objectified. Ironic when they’re literally using themselves as an attraction piece for their pages. Obviously, any woman with two cents of decency and shyness would rather disappear under the earth than to hear such a comment about herself, and even reading it is enough for her to feel second hand shyness and disturbance. And any man with honor and Ghayrah would not stand to have any stranger PUBLICLY utter this about his wife/sister/mother/daughter, or even his sister in Islam. Sisters may think “well I’ve never received such a comment”, well we’d like to inform you that if nobody said it to you, they’re definitely thinking it, and if you’re okay with that and you feel nothing, we ask Allah to return your modesty and decency to you.

Regarding the Ayah:
(يَعْلَمُ خَآئِنَةَ ٱلْأَعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِى ٱلصُّدُورُ)
"He knows the treachery of the eyes and whatever is concealed by hearts."

Ibn 'Abbas explains that this verse is regarding a man who is sitting in a gathering and a woman passes by them so he looks at her. When his companions look towards him, he lowers his gaze, and when he sees that they are mindless of him, he steals another look at her, and when they look at him again, he lowers his gaze, and Allah عَزَّ وَجَلَّ knows that he would like to see her 'Awrah.

So do not be surprised at such comments, for this is known. The only difference is that people have abandoned lowering the gaze and lost the decency and shyness to keep such comments to themselves. We have even seen such comments from Kafir men regarding their wish to see what's under the veil of a Muslimah.

As a Muslimah, your first level of protection and Hijab is to remain in your home, unseen and hidden from the eyes of men totally. Only when you have a need or reason are you permitted to appear before them in full Shari' Hijab (Niqab/gloves/Jilbab). The influencer sisters need to realize when posting their pictures, these are the type of thoughts you are permitting and facilitating for others to have of you 24/7. While you're sleeping, eating, walking, whatever— there's someone out there who is looking at your photos and thinking such things, and if that doesn't bother you, you need to ask yourself if you truly possess modesty or not.

And the husbands of these women, what can one even say to them? They themselves are men who know the minds of other men, yet they stand behind the camera like slaves and snap these pictures of their wives themselves, and follow their page and like their pictures. They see the comments from other males and they have not an ounce of care in the world that other men are complimenting their wife and expressing their attraction towards her. But when a sincere brother messages him advising him regarding his open display of his wife, he breaks loose on him and holds a grudge against him for that. What little honor such men possess, and how little modesty their women have!

And an advice to the many brothers who are absolutely careless regarding looking at Niqabi women on social media and in real life:

Regarding the Ayah: (وََخُلِقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ ضَعِيفًا)

"and man was created weak." [An Nisaa]

Taawus said, "In the matter of women, man is not weaker in any matter than he is in the matter of women." [Tafseer at Tabari]

and he said, "When he looks at women, he is not able to be patient."

Imam al-Ramli ash-Shaafa‘i said:

"It is haraam to look at a woman in niqab of whom nothing can be seen except her eyes, especially if she is beautiful. How much fitnah may be caused by looking at a woman’s eyes.

[Nihaayat al-Muhtaaj, 6/188]

A poet once said:

"If a person keeps looking at the eyes of pretty women,
then he will be in danger.

He will please his eyes with that which hurts his heart,
no welcome to a joy that results in harm."

To get a proper and honest answer for any question, it's necessary that you give context to the Shaykh, and explain in detail about the types of images you're asking regarding. This question was posed regarding sisters who are wearing Shari' Niqab (meaning full Niqab and gloves) and his stance was still so disapproving, and he stipulated (aside from that she should be covered head to toe) that there shouldn't be any Fitnah or even close to it. When he was told of those who wear half Niqabs and show their hands, you can imagine what his opinion was, and it's obvious what it was because he believes the face and hands to be 'Awrah anyways.

The only reason we have to constantly clarify and explain is because a few people who are led by their desires still seek to twist his words and try to find a loophole to make it seem like he permits or approves of what these "Niqabi" influencers do. This doesn't even apply to the influencers, that's out of the question, it's about Niqab/Abayah selling business pages! That's something that one might actually need to post pictures in Niqab for (to advertise and model the product), but he still said even if she's fully covered head to toe, he doesn't approve and said use dummies. Influencers are totally out of the question here.

The fact that the topic of "Should a Niqabi be a social media model/influencer," is still needing to be addressed, with people of Manhaj of all people, is really a shame.

Even to those who cite a "difference of opinion," as to the obligation of showing the face, is there a difference of opinion for a woman portraying herself to the world - including Muslim and Kafir men - specifically to be seen? Since anyone who uploads a picture to Instagram or social media and says, "I don't want to be seen," is a liar.

Name even a single precedence where the women of Sahābah would model themselves to people, Muslim and Kafir, for the sake of Da'wah, let alone for the sake of business?! On top of that, which Mahram would even allow this for his women?!

That goes without saying, from the necessary implications of wearing a Niqāb (Khimār) is to hide that which is of beauty to the woman and not be seen.

In a day and age, where perverted individuals get aroused by toes, what have you, of those who then tilt their heads, put their hands in certain positions, and essentially model in these photoshoots?! These same people then have the nerve to write inspirational Islamic captions under there pictures, and all these ignorant women write idiotic comments of support, wa Allahul Musta'aan.

To seductively pose would be impermissible if done for free, imagine if done for the sake of business or promoting a business!

May Allah guide us and protect us from using the Deen to suit our whims and desires, and reward those striving to make this matter clear for those who are sincere.