Welcome to a Mindful Ramadan 2022 – Leaving a legacy. This year, our goal is to inspire each of you to choose how you want to be remembered and ignite your passion for contribution, whether at home or on a global scale.

Our guest today has a rich education in pharmacology. He has earned a PhD in molecular pharmacology from the University of Houston, Texas, and has conducted PhD research for Texas medical center. He is a professor in pharmacology with teaching and research experience in pharmacology, clinical pharmacology and therapeutics and pharma coconuts. He has two patents in wound healing and 20 publications in international journals. We’re excited to have Dr. Eyad today.

What Drives You To Spend So Much Time Doing Dawah?

The driving force or the motivation for me has been two things: pain and love.

From a psychological perspective, the two things that motivate us the most are seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. While doing dawah, we are seeking the pleasure of Allah and avoiding the pain of seeing oppression.

However, the most important thing to remember while giving dawah is not to get caught up with perfectionism.

Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. People get caught up with being perfect – whether they want to perfect their prayer, or want to write a book – they are so caught up with perfection that they never take action.

Allah says, “If you are grateful, I will increase you in blessings.”

When somebody says something out of his heart, a light will get it through and influence the other party. When we give dawah, we must make sure that we speak from the heart, for it to penetrate people’s hearts.

The Importance Of Sincerity In Islam:

Many people work hard and strive but only few make a mark and are remembered for generations to come. The difference between the two is sincerity. There are people who could spend years doing dawah or giving in charity or indulging in ibadah, but if there is no sincerity in their hearts, they will be held accountable and can even be thrown in Hellfire as reported by our Prophet (pbuh).
Our good deeds are like precious gems. Imagine carrying a tray filled with diamonds, sapphires, pearls and rubies. If you are to carry them and walk, you would be very careful and make sure you don’t drop it down or stumble over it. You must treat your good deeds with even more care and concern. The shaitan is constantly waiting to grab these precious deeds or make you stumble over and drop them, therefore, you must take more care and concern, and guard them.

The Importance Of Leaving A Legacy:

When we usually talk about leaving a legacy, we associate it with the rich and famous. As Muslims, our focus should be our akhirah and how we appear in the eyes of Allah. We must not let our ego take over us. When we want to call others towards Islam, we must do so for the sake of Allah and not to fulfil our ego. Whoever does the righteous deeds it’s for himself.

The Connection With The Quran:

All of us are tested with some kind of hardship, whether it’s losss of health, loss of wealth, family issues, etc. Some people actually lose their faith and become angry at Allah. They stop praying but others use their hardship to come closer to Allah.

The connection with the Quran really lets you be strong. When we know that we are slaves of Allah, we do not question His hikmah. We will not be upset with His destiny. We will not ask why, we will ask what is the wisdom behind this test and what we should do to overcome it.

There are many people facing calamities. There are calamities in marriages, with children, with finances, etc., and they are really drowning. How can you be patient and enjoy the calamity?

Always prepare yourself with this mindset – When somebody wrongs you or says something wrong, how can you respond from the Quran? Build your connection with the Quran and make it so strong that you speak the words of the Quran even in your day-to-day dealings and conversations.

How Do We Help Someone Who Is Beginning To Lose Faith In Allah Due To Their Difficulties?

When I encountered a brother in prison who started questioning Allah’s decree because he was facing trials and tribulations even though he was a good Muslim, I gave him the example of a table with weak legs. I told him if the base is not strong, the entire table will fall. I prepared 12 lessons to strengthen his base, and he regained his faith in Allah Alhamdulillah.

This example taught me that even people with the strongest of faith need to be reminded of Allah and the basics of Islam, the Qadr and hikmah, examples from the Prophet’s time, etc., in order to restore their faith time and again. You have to raise your faith with strong pillars. If you have to turn your pain into power, you need to have complete faith in Allah and trust Him blindly.

When you lost your 12-year-old daughter, how were you able to withstand this test and use your faith and love of Allah to pass this test? We’ve had many families lose their loved ones during this pandemic and your insight would be of tremendous help to help them heal and overcome their pain and trauma.

The loss of my father, having to wrongly go to prison, reminding others prisoners about Allah’s hikmah and love is what helped me to accept Allah’s decree. Many times, people think that Allah doesn’t love them which is why He is punishing them but that’s far from the truth. Every single person is tested in one way or another. If you submit to Allah, trust His power and wisdom, you will know that Allah will test you only to the extent to which you can handle it. Even when you are being tested, He is with you. He never forsakes or abandons you.

It was the 27th of Ramadan when my daughter was diagnosed with cancer. I was immediately reminded of the hadith where our Prophet (PBUH) said each person is destined to reach a certain level of Jannah, and if you haven’t reached that level yet, Allah will give you trials or make you patient to raise you to that rank. Do not have a moment’s hesitation about Allah’s mercy. Each trial comes with results that are nothing less than miraculous.

How do you want to be remembered? What is your legacy?

I would love to be remembered for “The journey of certainty” series because this is the project of my life. I would like to combine scientific success with religious success. I would also want to love Allah and encourage others to be encouraged by pain to love Allah. I want to make people love Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) in times of ease and hardship. This is the legacy I would like to leave behind.