Who are the biggest influences in your life?

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

First and foremost, my greatest influence is the Beloved of Allah, our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. He is the very reason I strive to better myself each day. Through him, I learned how to grow, how to refine my character, and how to walk the path of purpose. He taught humanity to believe in the One True God, and he showed us how to live that belief in every aspect of life. For this reason, no one can ever come before my beloved Prophet ﷺ.

I can never do justice to the mentioning the favours the Beloved of Allah has done for us let alone mentioning his beautiful qualities both inwardly and outwardly. I wrote a piece about Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in another post named: ‘The one My Soul Knows ﷺ’.

The people mentioned below were the reasons why I even consider the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as my mentor in the first place. For I wouldn’t know him nor love him if I did not come to learn who he is and what he has done for me from these individuals. I pray I do the same for my children and the Ummah.

My Beloved Father

My second greatest influence is my beloved father. He is the one who taught me how to read the Book of Allah, the Qur’an. He taught me how to worship my Lord and how to love my Prophet ﷺ. Through him, I learned to love the family of the Prophet ﷺ the Ahlul Bayt; to honour them, learn from them, and hold them in the highest regard. He taught me to honour the Awliya of Allah wherever they may be and whoever they may be. He instilled in me a deep love for knowledge and taught me never to stop seeking it, even amidst the intensity of my motherhood journey. He became my children’s sheikh and my son pleaded to go with him to Tarim. He inspired me to travel overseas in pursuit of sacred knowledge and encouraged me to spend every penny I had for this noble cause. It was through him that I was brought to Tarim and because of him, I love it deeply. It is the only place I truly call home, the only place that calls my heart, satiates my soul, and brings me a sense of belonging beyond words.

My father taught us Aqeedah: the belief in the One True God; repeating the attributes of Allah, the proofs of His existence, and the foundations of faith tirelessly. He instilled these lessons in us over the course of ten to fifteen years. At the time, I often wondered why he insisted on teaching the same truths again and again. Only later did I come to understand the wisdom behind his persistence. We were growing up in a secular society whose undercurrent steadily erodes faith. We pray Allah enables us to hold fast to our Iman and to die upon it and allow the seeds my father planted in us to flourish such that they benefit us, our loved ones our progeny and the entire ummah. Ameen.

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

During my teenage and early adulthood, much of my guidance came from my cousin who attached me to Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and my father. In a time marked by confusion and spiritual awakening, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf became a quiet companion who traveled with me through my solitary commutes to and from university, his lectures filling the space and shaping my inner world. At the time, I could not have foreseen the lasting impact of keeping my ears tuned to his words, nor how they would continue to resonate long after I became a mother and crossed countless milestones in life.

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf has a rare ability to awaken hearts to truth without making one feel either inadequate or complacent. His approach neither overwhelms nor indulges; instead, it gently elevates.

An intellectual of profound depth who sat at the feet of great spiritual luminaries of our generation. Many of whom have since returned to Allah. After embracing Islam in his teenage years, he made the courageous decision to leave the comfort of his home in the United States and journey to the deserts of Mauritania in pursuit of knowledge. This was not knowledge confined to books, but experiential knowledge. Knowledge lived, embodied, and transmitted through action. Knowledge sought from people who had devoted their lives to serving Allah and His religion, who had refined their inner selves to such a degree that while they walk among us in body, their spirits remain deeply connected to the unseen world.

I am forever grateful to Allah for granting me access to Sheikh Hamza Yusuf during my most vulnerable years, and for allowing that connection to continue until today, alhamdulillah. His words, wisdom, and scholarship shaped my way of thinking and anchored my understanding of the world. Although I grew up in the West from the age of ten, it was voices like his and my father’s that quietly reminded me of the true purpose of this life and how to attain it.

For many years, that knowledge did not fully settle in my heart, yet I never doubted its truth, alhamdulillah. 

I truly believe my father, cousins and Sheikh Hamza Yusuf were instrumental in guiding me safely through my teenage years in a Western environment. They were my mentors before I even knew I needed one. Alhamdulillah.

Sheikh Babikr

When I came to know Sheikh Babikr and Rumi’s Cave; the spiritual centre through which he guides souls and feeds the hungry from all walks of life, it quickly became my second home. It was a place where we felt a deep sense of belonging.

I attended Rumi’s Cave long before I became a mother, first seeking nourishment for my own soul, and later bringing my children so they too could benefit. Until this day, alhamdulillah, it remains a source of light in our lives.

Though Rumi’s Cave was physically small and often cramped, its spiritual capacity was vast. Within its walls, hearts were expanded and minds awakened. It was a space that transcended its limitations, offering refuge, connection, and meaning to all who entered.

Sheikh Babikr taught us to turn to Allah for everything no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. Even when the space struggled to accommodate the growing community yet no one was ever turned away. He remained firm in his trust that Allah would provide something greater. Alhamdulillah, that du‘a was answered, and for a time we were blessed with a larger and more suitable place. Eventually, that space was taken from us by local authorities to make way for private housing. Despite this loss, Rumi’s Cave had already fulfilled its purpose: it had been a home for the homeless, a sanctuary for seekers of spiritual nourishment, and a welcoming environment for every soul that entered. It was a community rooted in sincerity and unwavering belief in Allah.

In His wisdom, Allah decreed that our time in that larger space would come to an end. Yet the work of Sheikh Babikr never ceased. Even without a physical hub, the teaching, the feeding of the homeless and the service to the poor continued uninterrupted. This continuity only further revealed the sincerity behind Sheikh Babikr’s actions, Mashallah; work done purely for the sake of Allah, not dependent on buildings or recognition.

Sheikh Babikr became a father figure to all of us; constantly reminding us of Allah, generously giving his time, and answering our questions with patience and care. Through him, we were guided to Um Mohammad, who is now our current spiritual teacher and mentor, alhamdulillah (as mentioned in my post about the female mentors in my life).

Sheikh Babikr is also a Siddiqi, sharing lineage with Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (radiyallahu ‘anhu) like us, and is a true lover of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. He practices what he teaches and oversees the spiritual affairs of the people of North West London. He is a pillar within our community; one that holds us together through sincerity, service, and steadfast faith.

Sheikh Babikr also leads the Eid prayers in North West London, and for me, Eid does not feel the same when I am unable to attend his. His gatherings nourish both body and soul, carrying a unique barakah that is deeply felt. In those moments, the ache of Ramadan’s departure is gently eased, replaced by a profound sense of contentment and gratitude. Surrounded by believers whose faces are illuminated with joy, our hearts are filled with the sweetness of having worshipped Allah together, alongside His beloved servants. It is a celebration that lingers long after the prayer has ended.

We remain forever grateful for his presence, his work, and his du‘as. May Allah bless him, protect him, grant him Jannatul Firdaws, and bestow the same upon his loved ones. Ameen.

Habib Omar Bin Hafidh

From this foundation comes another profound influence in my life: Habib Omar bin Hafidh. Our spiritual master of this time and the pole of this generation. An individual who has taught countless souls from east to west, who never rests, but remains constantly in worship of Allah and in service to His creation. When asked, “When will you rest?” he replied, “I will rest in my grave, in shaa Allah.” He embodies what it truly means to be a servant of Allah and a khalifah upon this earth. Through him, may Allah guide us closer to Himself, allowing us to taste the sweetness of conversing with our Lord.

Imam Al Haddad

Another immense influence in my life though I never met him, and though I feel I have not studied him as deeply as I should is Imam Abdullah bin Alawi Al-Haddad. Yet, in His infinite mercy, Allah has connected my heart to him. Imam Al-Haddad is an imam whose books are studied across the world, whose da‘wah Allah has filled with blessing and acceptance, making him known to many hearts across generations. He was often referred to as the Ghazali of his time.

Imam Al Haddad became blind at the age of four due to illness, yet he memorised the Qur’an at a young age and authored numerous works that continue to revive hearts centuries later. From a young age, he would pray two hundred Sunnah rak‘ahs between Dhuha and Dhuhr in the masjid. He composed beautiful poetry, much of which is still recited and sung by munshids today. His devotion to the Sunnah was so complete that towards the end of his life, he grew his hair to the same length as the Prophet ﷺ so as not to miss even that Sunnah. Though he passed away over three hundred years ago, his books continue to bring life to hearts that were once dead.

Imam Muhajir Illallah

Another towering influence in my life, one whose footsteps I deeply hope to follow is Imam Al-Muhajir ilallah Ahmad bin Isa. A descendant of the Prophet ﷺ, he migrated from Basra, Iraq, to Hadramout, Yemen, solely for the sake of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Despite possessing immense wealth, palaces, and farms, he left everything behind to spread the religion of Allah. His migration was accepted by Allah, as evidenced through his blessed progeny, who carried the deen far and wide; from South Asia to East Africa. The Ahlul Bayt of Tarim are among his descendants, individuals who have touched countless hearts and continue to spread the religion, including figures such as Habib Omar bin Hafidh. I hope, too, to migrate to Tarim for the sake of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, and I pray to be accepted through the blessings of Imam Al-Muhajir.

There are many others who have touched my heart and shaped my journey, but these are the greatest influences in my life.

In shaa Allah, I will also share the female version of the greatest influences in my life.

Until next time..

Peace be with you.