Alhamdulillah, today I got to go to every class except for two. Today had a big block in the middle of the day for rest (like 6 hours!!) because truly, no one here is getting much sleep with the company of blessed knowledge. In the classes, the theme of the company we keep was echoed again, and very interesting points about reciting Qur’an that I don’t think many people know. Or at least, they were things that I didn’t know. So that is what I’ll share with you today inshAllah.
Shaykh AbdulKarim Yahya said that the company we keep, the environment, and whisperings are what distract us from the path of Allah. And company is not just physical. It can be digital, literary, visual. The books we read and the movies we watch are like sitting in the company of the author, director, and actors of the script at the state they were in when they were writing and acting it out. Subhanallah. That’s something to think about…No wonder one feels so rejuvenated after reading Al Haddad and Ghazzali–they were in blessed states! So imagine what being in the company of the Qur’an is! You are enjoying the company of Allah (swt), the Educator, the best company there is!!!
And Shaykh Mohammad Mendes in his continuation of the poem by Imam Bamba (ra) said that reciting the Qur’an protects and strengthens one’s eyesight. It allows one’s eyes to worship Allah. Even glancing at the Qur’an is a work of devotion. And the worship we do is not just for us–it’s for our ancestors and progeny. It helps them in the grave, and in the future. It lightens the punishment of the grave for your parents and forefathers, even if they aren’t Muslim. Subhanallah. It was great to hear this at a time that I’m really interested in my ancestry and how it has played into my being. I also learned that you are told to recite in Jannah and you ascend the levels of Heaven until you stop reciting, so the more Qur’an you know, inshAllah, the more you’ll ascend. So let’s not let another day go by where we don’t keep The Best Company and ascend!!!
THE SANDAL 
Another wonderful teaching! This is very interesting. We do have to watch what we put into ourselves whether it’s by our eyes, ears, mouth or the company we keep. Even what we allow to enter our homes this way is important. It’s good that you got some rest today (I hope)! It’s a retreat for your mind, body and soul. Alhamdulillah!
Yes, there is so much wisdom here among the scholars mashAllah. It’s like we are breathing knowledge, mashAllah. And this makes so much sense because the things I do watch on TV and read happen to affect me greatly. I stopped watching the news when I was 16 because I started getting depressed from it–(It all makes sense now, mashAllah. That being said, someone always gets the right information to me about what’s going on since I’m so oblivious to whatever the local news reports). And Allah is the Best of Providers.