Hamza Yusuf Quotes

The weak are dominated by their ego, the wise dominate their ego, and the intelligent are in a constant struggle against their ego.

Practice makes permanent, not perfect. If you practice the wrong thing, you make the wrong act permanent.

Allah knows exactly what to give you to help you return to Him. The events in your life are purposeful, appropriate & non-random.

Religion is here to unite us. It's not here to divide us. If it's dividing us, it's not God's religion, it's something else.

Perhaps, a sin that humbles you is better than a good deed that makes you arrogant.

Intelligent people surround themselves with people who challenge them, not yes people.

Why do we need to justify God's existence? He exists. We need to justify our own existence.

Everyone’s a believer when things are going fine. The real faith is when one becomes patient with tribulations.

Opinion is not knowledge. You're entitled to your own opinion but you're not entitled to your own facts.

You will find yourself in the Quran, I guarantee you.

My experience on this planet is that if you treat people with respect, they tend to treat you with respect.

People of the world will reject your reminders, because it reminds them that this world is temporary.

Islam is based on naql (texts) and ‘aql (intellect). Some people just have the texts – we call them naql-heads.

Call on your Lord when your heart is brittle, that is a time when it's in pieces and the Light of Allah can fill the gaps. That is why Allāh is with the broken hearted.

In our inherent contradictions as humans, and in order to validate our own pain, we deny the pain of others. But it is in acknowledging the pain of others that we achieve fully our humanity.

If Islam is not making you happy, then something is wrong with your Islam

If you don't wake up for Fajr, then don't wake up at all

People can't think when their minds are clouded with fear.

For young people, if someone tells you: you are the future - say No! I'm the present. You have things to do right now.

If you are looking for happiness in this world (dunya), you're in the wrong place.

The fear tactic is a tactic that's used by people who want to maintain control, and it's very effective.

And that is the secret of this world. If you remove love of dunya from your heart, the dunya is yours for the taking. You can have the dunya because it's in your hand and not in your heart

Force yourself to be humble, until it becomes second nature. Then it will be an unconscious activity.

There are irrational fears. If you see a woman wearing a hijab and fear is your first thought, something's really wrong.

Muslims are peace-loving people generally. Among the young, yes, there are some militant attitudes. But a lot of it arises out of chivalry.

You cannot honour the prophet by dishonouring his teaching.

I don't have any control over what other people do, and they don't represent me or my faith.

Reality of things is hidden in the realm of the unseen

Whatever is for the sake of Allah will go on and continue. Whatever is for other than Allah, it will end and be severed

When paying charity, one should smile and be humble, allowing the hand of the indigent to be above the giver's hand.

A democracy is predicated on an educated citizenry. You cannot have a democracy with people that are more interested in what Nicole Kidman is doing or whoever the latest fashion model is.

We are in a waking dream... We see worlds where others scheme.

I can't - and won't - impose my beliefs on others, either verbally or otherwise. I'm not going to judge people.

Desire is an attempt to feel the void.

There's a statement in the Quran: There should be "absolutely no compulsion in religion."

There are 20,000 Muslim physicians in the United States, Americans putting their lives in the hands of Muslims every day.

America has an immense amount of power, but it doesn't use it in any benevolent way. It uses it to maintain a status quo.

I'm amazed at the courage of the journalists on the frontlines in Iraq, but we need intellectual courage in our community.

Knowledge is taken from breath, not lives in a book

Muhammad Ali put an end to the idea that you can't be an American and a Muslim.

Without discipline, Religion would be impossible

After that one fitnah, every time it calms down in one place, it starts somewhere else.

I don't have the power to issue papal decrees.

I definitely have sympathy for people who are struggling. I've met with young Muslims who have told me about their struggles.

America is about choices, including those to live certain lifestyles.

People have to be exposed to Muslims, just experience Muslims; talk to them. Reach out, read about Islam, try to find out about it.

If you had one word to describe the root of all this rage, it's humiliation.

I know that people can live celibate lives, I did it myself for many years.

The acquisition of knowledge - knowledge of both the world and of their own religion - will inoculate young people against extremist ideologies.

Isn’t it interesting, that a black man, who is a Muslim, and has the name ‘Muhammad’, is the most beloved athlete in the world?