This blog was originally uploaded on the previous version of the www.sajidumar.com website on October 28, 2017.

Muḥammad al-Marwazī said:

“It was said that mud will swallow a ring so long as it remains soft.”

In other words, knowledge is best sought while one is still young.

The younger a person is, the softer and more receptive the heart and mind tend to be, largely due to the distance between them and the stains of sin. These early years represent the most fertile period for absorbing guidance, nurturing discipline, and building righteous foundations.

Many parents say, “These are the years to enjoy life.”

But as Muslims, perhaps we should instead say:

“These are the years to lay the foundations for an enjoyable life.”

May we take heed.

P.S. For those eager to travel further along this path, I invite you to read my book, The Journey to Success: The Roadmap of Ikhlās, Iḥsān, and Istiqāmah. In it, I share a framework for nurturing sincerity, striving for excellence, and holding firm with consistency; qualities that define true success in this world and the next.

Your brother

Sajid Umar

Location: 'somewhere en route to the hereafter'

09/03/1439 (AH) - 28/10/2017