Muslims have been an almost entirely benevolent force in the 20th century. They did not wreak the havoc the Western powers wreaked on the world. They have not come anywhere near to the environmental degradation that we've done to the planet. So I think Muslims need to be seen in the proper light. They're mostly decent, hardworking people, people with deep family values, and they want to live in peace.
Hamza YusufThere are 20,000 Muslim physicians in the United States, Americans putting their lives in the hands of Muslims every day.
Hamza YusufPeople of the world will reject your reminders, because it reminds them that this world is temporary.
Hamza YusufWhat comes to a person in his or her life, however difficult it may be, perhaps will help a person move closer to God. The response to tribulation is abr, which is patience, perseverance, steadfastness, and resolve. Allฤh loves the patient; part of the reason the tribulation comes is to draw the quality of patience out of them - He loves this quality.
Hamza YusufThe vast majority of Muslims would never accept the lawfulness of an active homosexual lifestyle. I don't see that happening. But there is also no authority in the tradition for any individual to take things into his own hands and impose their version of the religion on someone else.
Hamza YusufI definitely have sympathy for people who are struggling. I've met with young Muslims who have told me about their struggles.
Hamza YusufI don't have any control over what other people do, and they don't represent me or my faith.
Hamza YusufForce yourself to be humble, until it becomes second nature. Then it will be an unconscious activity.
Hamza YusufWe live in the age of Noah (a.s.) in the sense that a flood of distraction accosts us. It is a slow and subtle drowning. For those who notice it, they engage in the remembrance of God. The rites of worship and devotion to God's remembrance (dhikr) are planks of the ark. When Noah (a.s.) started to build his ark, his people mocked him and considered him a fool. But he kept building. He knew what was coming. And we know too.
Hamza YusufThere's a statement in the Quran: There should be "absolutely no compulsion in religion."
Hamza YusufWhy do we need to justify God's existence? He exists. We need to justify our own existence.
Hamza YusufI'm amazed at the courage of the journalists on the frontlines in Iraq, but we need intellectual courage in our community.
Hamza YusufPeople have to be exposed to Muslims, just experience Muslims; talk to them. Reach out, read about Islam, try to find out about it.
Hamza YusufReligion is here to unite us. It's not here to divide us. If it's dividing us, it's not God's religion, it's something else.
Hamza YusufThe weak are dominated by their ego, the wise dominate their ego, and the intelligent are in a constant struggle against their ego.
Hamza YusufA democracy is predicated on an educated citizenry. You cannot have a democracy with people that are more interested in what Nicole Kidman is doing or whoever the latest fashion model is.
Hamza YusufAnd that is the secret of this world. If you remove love of dunya from your heart, the dunya is yours for the taking. You can have the dunya because it's in your hand and not in your heart
Hamza YusufAllah knows exactly what to give you to help you return to Him. The events in your life are purposeful, appropriate & non-random.
Hamza YusufIn our inherent contradictions as humans, and in order to validate our own pain, we deny the pain of others. But it is in acknowledging the pain of others that we achieve fully our humanity.
Hamza YusufMuslims are peace-loving people generally. Among the young, yes, there are some militant attitudes. But a lot of it arises out of chivalry.
Hamza YusufEveryoneโs a believer when things are going fine. The real faith is when one becomes patient with tribulations.
Hamza YusufCall on your Lord when your heart is brittle, that is a time when it's in pieces and the Light of Allah can fill the gaps. That is why Allฤh is with the broken hearted.
Hamza YusufI can't - and won't - impose my beliefs on others, either verbally or otherwise. I'm not going to judge people.
Hamza YusufHypocrisy is wretched because the hypocrite says with his tongue what is not in his heart. He wrongs his tongue and oppresses his heart. But if the heart is sound, the condition of the tongue follows suit. We are commanded to be upright in speech, which is a gauge of the heart's state.
Hamza YusufGod is with the broken-hearted. When your heart breaks, itโs a good thing โ the breaking of the heart is what opens it up to the light of Allah. The dunya is designed to break your heart, to crush it.
Hamza YusufFor young people, if someone tells you: you are the future - say No! I'm the present. You have things to do right now.
Hamza YusufWhatever is for the sake of Allah will go on and continue. Whatever is for other than Allah, it will end and be severed
Hamza YusufEverything that we do has a spiritual essence. There is a spiritual dimension in everything. All of life has meaning and everything that you do in life is in preparation for your great meeting. This great meeting is your meeting with your Lord, which is absolutely inevitable.
Hamza YusufThere are irrational fears. If you see a woman wearing a hijab and fear is your first thought, something's really wrong.
Hamza YusufOpinion is not knowledge. You're entitled to your own opinion but you're not entitled to your own facts.
Hamza YusufThe fear tactic is a tactic that's used by people who want to maintain control, and it's very effective.
Hamza YusufIslam is based on naql (texts) and โaql (intellect). Some people just have the texts โ we call them naql-heads.
Hamza YusufPeople say to you, 'you've changed', or something like that, well, I hope, for the sake of God, that you have changed, because I don't want to be the same person all my life. I want to be growing, I want to be expanding. I want to be changing. Because animate things change, inanimate things don&'t change. Dead things don't change. And the heart should be alive, it should be changing, it should be moving, it should be growing, its knowledge should be expanding.
Hamza Yusuf