Last night was the Khatm Tarawii for our local masjid. We knew it would be a powerful night for us with all night Qiyam, dua, and speakers, but didn’t know how special it would really be. My cousin and I wrote up the story together (he did writing, and picture taking) and I would like for you guys to read it, its really inspiring. On one of Yusuf, Hamza & Husain Abdullah’s last stops of their 30 Masjids in 30 Days Tour, Arizona Cardinals Safety Hamza Abdullah gave a small talk at the Islamic Center of East Valley in Chandler, AZ. During this talk, he shared a story of his time at the masjid.Hamza had gone to the masjid for dhuhr prayer. While he was there, a brother in the community came to him and greeted him with the standard, “Assalamu’alaikum.” Hamza replied with, “Wa’alaikum salaam.” The man asked him what his name was, and how he was doing. He then asked him what kind of profession he has. Trying to be humble, Hamza chose not to admit that he was a professional football player, so he told him, “My father owns a business, masha’Allah.” The next day, Hamza goes again for dhuhr prayer, and again he’s greeted with, “Assalamu’alaikum.” “Wa’alaikum salaam,” Hamza replied. The man asked him where he works, and Hamza replied with, “Masha’allah, my father owns places around the country, and I travel a lot.” The next few days are the same story, with the man asking how Hamza and his family are doing. Each of these days, Hamza wore the same gray thobe to the masjid. After the fifth or sixth day, Hamza had an away game, and left town. A few days later, he returned to the masjid to do his dhuhr prayer. He was greeted, once again, by the man (who still did not know Hamza was a professional football player), but this time, the man had a brand new white thobe in his hands. The man wanted him to have it.“Want for your brother what you want for yourself,” Hamza’s mother would always tell him. In this instance, a man who had never met Hamza had shown him unconditional love as a Brother in Islam. As Hamza recollected this story, he began to shed tears.The kindness of this man’s charity, having known him for a few days, was what motivated Hamza to keep returning to the masjid. Hamza added that had he not been welcomed with such warmth, he may not have returned.“Want for your brother what you want for yourself.” When he was finished telling the story, Hamza pointed out the man from within the crowd. He then asked the Imam of the masjid, “Do you have any more spots for your hajj group?” The Imam nodded his head. Hamza then looked to the man and said, “[Brother], I love you. And when I say that, I mean, I love you…if you would accept, I would like to sponsor you a trip for hajj this year.”

Last night was the Khatm Tarawii for our local masjid. We knew it would be a powerful night for us with all night Qiyam, dua, and speakers, but didn’t know how special it would really be. My cousin and I wrote up the story together (he did writing, and picture taking) and I would like for you guys to read it, its really inspiring.

On one of Yusuf, Hamza & Husain Abdullah’s last stops of their 30 Masjids in 30 Days Tour, Arizona Cardinals Safety Hamza Abdullah gave a small talk at the Islamic Center of East Valley in Chandler, AZ. During this talk, he shared a story of his time at the masjid.

Hamza had gone to the masjid for dhuhr prayer. While he was there, a brother in the community came to him and greeted him with the standard, “Assalamu’alaikum.” Hamza replied with, “Wa’alaikum salaam.” The man asked him what his name was, and how he was doing. He then asked him what kind of profession he has. Trying to be humble, Hamza chose not to admit that he was a professional football player, so he told him, “My father owns a business, masha’Allah.” The next day, Hamza goes again for dhuhr prayer, and again he’s greeted with, “Assalamu’alaikum.” “Wa’alaikum salaam,” Hamza replied. The man asked him where he works, and Hamza replied with, “Masha’allah, my father owns places around the country, and I travel a lot.” The next few days are the same story, with the man asking how Hamza and his family are doing. Each of these days, Hamza wore the same gray thobe to the masjid.


After the fifth or sixth day, Hamza had an away game, and left town. A few days later, he returned to the masjid to do his dhuhr prayer. He was greeted, once again, by the man (who still did not know Hamza was a professional football player), but this time, the man had a brand new white thobe in his hands. The man wanted him to have it.

“Want for your brother what you want for yourself,” Hamza’s mother would always tell him. In this instance, a man who had never met Hamza had shown him unconditional love as a Brother in Islam. As Hamza recollected this story, he began to shed tears.

The kindness of this man’s charity, having known him for a few days, was what motivated Hamza to keep returning to the masjid. Hamza added that had he not been welcomed with such warmth, he may not have returned.

“Want for your brother what you want for yourself.” When he was finished telling the story, Hamza pointed out the man from within the crowd. He then asked the Imam of the masjid, “Do you have any more spots for your hajj group?” The Imam nodded his head. Hamza then looked to the man and said, “[Brother], I love you. And when I say that, I mean, I love you…if you would accept, I would like to sponsor you a trip for hajj this year.”