الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هَدَانَا لِهَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لِنَهْتَدِيَ لَوْلَا أَنْ هَدَانَا اللَّهُ ، نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونؤمن به ونتوكل عليه، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له، ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير، ونشهد أن سيدنا ومولانا محمداً عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرًا ونذيرًا بين يدي الساعة، من يطع الله ورسوله فقد اهتدى، ومن يعصهما فإنه قد ضل، وإنه لا يضر إلا نفسه ولا يضر الله شيئًا. أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم، ومن يطع الله ورسوله فقد فاز فوزا عظيما.
قال الله تعالى في كتابه الكريم: قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا وَقَدۡ خَابَ مَن دَسَّىٰهَا
“Indeed, he succeeds who purifies his self, and he fails who stunts it.” (Ash-Shams: 9-10)
In other words, those who bury the call of their conscience, suppress their inclination towards goodness, and allows their nafs to be overtaken by desires will surely fail.
I would like to share some reflections from a journey that was both physical and spiritual. By Allah’s mercy, we were invited to the city of Fes in Morocco, known as the capital of Islamic knowledge and culture, to attend a gathering of remembrance, knowledge, and lessons with esteemed scholars and believers from across the world.
Fes is not merely a city; it is a symbol of our ummah’s endearing legacy. It is the resting place of some of the greatest luminaries and awliya’ whose contributions continue to inspire generations. It is the home of Al-Qarawiyyin, the world’s oldest university, founded by the Fatima Al-Fihri, as a centre of knowledge and guidance. It is a distant descendant of this great lady of our ummah, who extended an invitation to us – namely, Shaykh Idrees Al-Fihri, the imam of the Qarawiyyin Mosque and Vice Deen of its University.
There are many wonderful and cautionary lessons to draw from this trip but I would be remiss if I did not start at the beginning. Moulay Idrees al-akbar & Maulay Idrees al-Azhar – The titles “Akbar” (the Greater) for Mawlay Idris I and “Azhar” (the Radiant) for Mawlay Idris II distinguish their pivotal roles in Moroccan, no, in Islamic history. Mawlay Idris I, also known as Mawlay Idris the Elder, was Idris ibn Abdullah al-Kamil ibn al-Hasan al-Muthanna ibn al-Hasan al-Sibt (grandson of the Prophet) ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatima al-Zahra, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He migrated to Egypt during the caliphate of Harun al-Rashid and arrived in the city of Walila, Fes, in 169 AH (786 CE), where he established an Islamic state with the support of its people. Mawlay Idris I spread Islam and the Arabic language to the farthest regions of the Maghreb and Al-Andalus. Tragically, during the Abbasid caliphate, he was assassinated in 177 AH (which corresponds to the year 793 in the Common Era), yet his legacy endured through the establishment of the Idrisid dynasty in Fes. The aim of his mission was to unify North Africa, spread Islam, and revive the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ).
Mawlay Idris II, “Azhar,” continued his father’s work, developing Fes into a thriving capital of Islamic learning and governance. His leadership brought radiance and growth, symbolising the flourishing of Islam in the Maghreb. Together, their titles reflect their complementary roles: Mawlay Idris I as the trailblazing founder and Mawlay Idris II as the one who expanded and illuminated this foundation into a radiant civilization.
When visiting Mawlay Idris the second’s maqam I experienced an overwhelming moment, and after reading his dua I understood why. This dua was taken from his tomb, it reads as follows:
دعاء المولى إدريس الأول الأزهر
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ تَعْلَمُ أَنِّي مَا أَرَدْتُ بِبِنَاءِ هَذِهِ
الْمَدِينَةِ مُبَاهَاةً وَلَا مُكَاثَرَةً وَلَا سُمْعَةً وَلَا
شَهْوَةً، وَإِنَّمَا أَرَدْتُ أَنْ تُعْبَدَ بِهَا وَيُوَحَّدَ
اسْمُكَ فِيهَا، مَا بَقِيَتْ.
The Supplication of Mawlay Idris Al-Azhar, the Radiant
O Allah, You know that I did not intend by building this city to show off, nor for competition, nor for reputation, nor for personal desire. Rather, I intended that You be worshipped here, and that Your Name be glorified within it for as long as it remains.
اللَّهُمَّ وَفِّقْ سُكَّانَهَا وَقُطَّانَهَا
لِلْخَيْرِ وَأَعِنْهُمْ عَلَيْهِ، وَاكْفِهِمْ مُؤُونَةَ
أَعْدَائِهِمْ، وَارْزُقْهُمْ فِيهَا الْهِنَةَ وَالشِّقَاقَ
فَإِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ.
O Allah, grant the residents and inhabitants of this city success in doing good and help them in achieving it. Protect them from the harm of their enemies and provide them with peace and harmony, free from discord and conflict. Verily, You are capable of all things.
This dua tells us much about the man but more about the power of our Lord. For 1400 years Fes has an unbroken chain of reciting a hizb of the Qur’an every morning and evening in their masajid, and they have the 3rd most masajid in the world. People come from all over to study the deen at its university. The residents are not wealthy but they look after each other, and excel at doing good, I’d forgotten my phone in one of the shops and someone rushed to find me and return it to me.
Fes is without doubt blessed by Allah as a city of light and remembrance. Blessed with leaders who established the deen and spread Islam in the Maghreb with taqwa, sincerity and reliance on Allah.
أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرَّحيم
الحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.
أما بعد! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم. يا عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته
Fes is the resting place of great spiritual guides, such as: Shaykh Ali al-Jamal, Shaykh Tijaani, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Habib, whose teachings shaped the paths of scholars like shaykh Abdul Qadir As-sufi. Walking in the presence of such giants, one cannot help but feel humbled by the weight of their legacy. It is a reminder of the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:
العلماء ورثة الأنبياء
“The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets.” (Tirmidhi)
These inheritors of knowledge were not merely teachers of outward sciences; they cultivated ihsan—spiritual excellence—by teaching the purification of the heart.
At the gathering in Al-Qarawiyyin, we sat in the company of living shuyukh who reminded us of the importance of spiritual purification. Shaykh Muhammad Ya’qubi, a renowned scholar of our time, spoke about the role of tassawuf. He reminded us that the heart is the seat of true knowledge and love for Allah, and its purification is essential for any sincere believer.
These gatherings were attended by people from across the world, united by their shared love for Allah and their commitment to remembering Him.
The spiritual path is not merely for the mystics or those secluded from society. It is for all of us — for the parent raising their children, for the worker earning an honest living, for the student seeking knowledge. It is about living with purpose, striving for excellence, and always turning back to Allah.
In Fes, I met Muslims from different corners of the world, each with unique challenges. One brother, who had travelled from Budapest, described his environment as one dominated by what he summed up as “schnapps, pork, and the celebration of being white.” This stark description highlighted the immense difficulty faced by Muslims living in societies where their Deen, values, and identity are constantly under pressure. For him, this journey to Fes to remember Allah was a lifeline.
Yet, despite these challenges, this brother—and many others like him—continue to strive for their deen. They travel long distances to attend gatherings of thikr, seek knowledge, and connect with fellow believers. Their perseverance reminded me of the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:
بدأ الإسلام غريبا وسيعود غريبا كما بدأ، فطوبى للغرباء
“Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange as it began. So, glad tidings to the strangers.” (Muslim)
Being part of a thriving Muslim community is not only a blessing but also a trust. The Prophet ﷺ emphasized the importance of taking care of one another when he said:
المؤمن للمؤمن كالبنيان يشد بعضه بعضا
“The believer to another believer is like a building, each part strengthening the other.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
As we strengthen our local bonds, let us also remember our broader responsibilities to the global ummah. This means showing solidarity with those in need, whether through financial support, raising awareness, or simply offering our dua.
O Allah, guide us to Your straight path. Grant us sincerity in all that we do. Make us among those who follow the Sunnah of Your beloved Prophet ﷺ. Purify our hearts and make them steadfast in Your remembrance. Surround us with righteous companions and inspire us to seek Your pleasure in all our affairs.
إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وعن أم المومنين عائشة التي أمرنا الله في سورة النور أن ندافع عنها، وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، خُصُوصاً اِلأَنْصَارَ مِنْهُمْ وَالمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَعَنِ التَّابِعِينَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ وُلَاةَ أُمُورِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا يُرْضِيكَ وَلِاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، وَأَصْلِحْهُمْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى شُيُوخِنَا، وَعَلَى رئيسنا، وَعَلَى أَمِيرِنَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمَرَاءِ وَزُعَمَاءِ المُسْلِمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى المُسْلِمِينَ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلَامَ وَالمُسِْلمِينَ. ربنا آتنا في الدنيا حسنة وفي الآخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النار.
إِنَّ اللهَ يَامُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَّكَّرُونَ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ. وَقُومُواْ إِلَى صَلاتِكُمْ يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللهُ.
