Abu Fawzaan AbdulBarr bn Ismail Adedokun
My fondness for the gatherings of Sunnah has remained unbridled for almost a decade with a penchant for physical in lieu of virtual appearance at these virtuous classes.
Imbibing knowledge from sundry scholars of Sunnah wherever present has always been to me only secondary to observing and taking after their beautiful conducts and demeanors. Hence, my grim determination to appear physically and build a didactic relationship with every single one of them irrespective of the brevity of our encounter.
I have learnt numerous but unique lessons from all of these scholars majority of whom are domiciled in the South Western Nigeria.
From some I have learnt firmness and resoluteness upon the truth while others have taught me meekness, gentleness and humility in my dealings with people whether young, old, rich or poor.
Some have demonstrated to me in its unalloyed form, the art of eschewing ostentation in worship and being devout and assiduous with all obligatory and supererogatory acts whether in the open or covertly.
However, my experience with Shaykh Qamarudeen Yunus (may Allah preserve him on all that's good) was an outright unique and indelible one. It was about two years ago when I visited him alongside a beloved brother at his centre at Markaz Al-Hidaayah, Lambe, Ogun state, a sojourn never to be forgotten.
I found him more humble and differently dignified from his mental personality I had previously harboured heretofore. He demonstrated tremendous meekness both with his speech and actions. I immediately became astonished at how he couldn't complete three sentences without uttering BaarokAllaahu feek (may Allah bless you)' when he addressed us.
Scarcely had the discussion proceeded when I noticed that was his usual mantra whenever he converses with anyone.
I departed the meeting pondering over this beautiful characteristic and I was forced to measure it against our righteous predecessors and behold, I found majority of them to have modelled such trait commensurately.
The distinguished Shaykh Muhammad bn AbdilWahaab - rahimahullah - would always commence his speech with RahimakAllah (May Allah have mercy on you) or ArshadakAllah (May Allah guide you) as evidenced in his Usoolu-Thalaathah, Qawaaidul-Arba'ah and a number of other books that he authored.
I have grown to love this courteous approach just like everyone is inclined to admire whoever supplicates for them and sincerely wishes good for them.
The eminent Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzaan in his Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles, defined this beautiful characteristic as an indication of gentleness which brings to propinquity, the acceptance desired from the listeners.
By the same token, it's almost impossible to have a lecture delivered by our erudite teacher, Shaykh Ibrahim AbdurRauf Abu Naasir (May Allah preserve him upon piety) which would be deficient of the supplication; "May Allah protect us".
Introspectively, I have discovered that our souls, by default, spontaneously spur our tongues to utter unrewarding phrases rather expletives and blameworthy words if left unguarded. Allah, The Mighty and Majestic says, "Indeed, the soul is a persistent enjoiner of evil, except those upon which my Lord has mercy...(Qur'an 12:53).
Therefore, one must make a conscious, determined and deliberate effort to school and guard one's speech meticulously especially in this epoch of prevalent and pervasive internet slang words and skit jargons.
The popular hadith in the authentic collection of Imam Muslim narrates that: "The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "He who believes in Allah and the Last Day must either speak good or remain silent.
This meritorious attribute exemplified by these quondam and contemporary scholars has become ingrained indelibly in my heart and manifested on my tongue whenever I behold or approach any Muslim, male or female, young or old, at near quarters or from an aloof vantage point, I'm almost always compelled to utter BaarakAllaahu feek!.
Exaggeratedly, when I encounter or descry an individual upon sunnah and the pristine Islam, practicing the religion with tremendous sedulousness and especially the Muslim sisters wearing the Islamically legislated Jilbaab and Niqab, I experience an obsessive compulsion as a matter of urgency to say "BaarakAllaahu feek" albeit at a remote distance mostly withdrawn from their sight.
Consequently, many a person who has accompanied me has inherited this quality which I consider the peak of refinement in speech.
May Allah excuse all our errors and bless us immensely in this world and the afterlife.
