misc/Briggs

“Fight For Your Happiness or The World Will Crush You” - Mustafa Briggs 150 (4K)

This source presents an interview with Mustafa Briggs, a speaker and author focusing on Islamic history and culture. Briggs discusses the importance of prioritizing personal happiness despite life's difficulties and the reality of the evil eye in Islam. He explains his motivation for his work as a response to the need for historical understanding and a personal obligation to share knowledge. The conversation also explores the significant, yet often overlooked, presence of Islam and Muslim contributions in West Africa throughout history and into the modern era, as well as the growing influence of Islam in Western culture, particularly in cities like London. Briggs emphasizes the power of technology and social media in connecting people with shared interests and promoting a better understanding of Islam.

1hr7mins - https://youtu.be/oX29EqGcRJI?si=BopSZG1PSZvRrzjl&t=4075 - "God will rebuild you right in front of those who broke you" - May Allah protect us from evil eye, hasad, ameen!

1hr18mins - https://youtu.be/oX29EqGcRJI?si=T_FzABOndRpD4Wje&t=4712 - On forgiveness... not actively seeking revenge. Even if it feels personal, not much is personal as people deal with their own unhealed trauma.

https://chatgpt.com/c/682f9d06-2c64-8001-b7b5-c04d10c61c25

The phrase you're reflecting on—"no fear nor grief"—is a powerful reassurance from the Qur'an, found in multiple verses, including Surah Yunus (10:62):

"Unquestionably, [for] the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve."

This verse refers to the Awliyā’ Allah—the close friends or allies of Allah—who are described in the following verse (10:63) as:

"Those who believed and were conscious of Allah."

One of the reasons why I named my son Ibrahim is so that he can be awliya of Allah, khalilullah, bi'iznillah. May we be each other's means to getting closer to that station ameen.

compare contrast awliya of Allah and khalilullah like Ibrahim AS

ChatGPT said:

Great question. Comparing Awliyā’ Allah (the friends/allies of Allah) with Khalīlullāh (the intimate friend of Allah, like Ibrahim عليه السلام) helps us understand the spiritual hierarchy and the types of closeness to Allah mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah.

🟩 1. Definition & Status

Term	Meaning	Example
Awliyā’ Allah	“Friends/allies/protectees of Allah” – plural of walī	The righteous with iman + taqwa
Khalīlullāh	“The intimate, special friend of Allah”	Ibrahim (AS) and Muhammad (ﷺ) (according to Hadith)

🔸 All awliya are beloved to Allah, but not all reach the rank of khalīl.

🔸 The word khalīl denotes a unique, deeply intimate bond that surpasses ordinary friendship or loyalty.

🟦 2. Qur’anic References

Awliyā’ Allah

"Unquestionably, the awliya of Allah – no fear shall be upon them, nor shall they grieve. They are those who believed and had taqwa." — Surah Yunus 10:62–63

Khalilullah

"And Allah took Ibrahim as a Khalil (intimate friend)." — Surah An-Nisa 4:125

🟨 3. Attributes

Awliya’ Allah	Khalilullah (Ibrahim AS)
Have iman and taqwa	Had perfect iman, taqwa, and absolute submission
Can be many people	Very few – only two mentioned as khalil: Ibrahim and the Prophet Muhammad (in hadith)
Protected, guided, and honored	Chosen for special tests and direct divine communication
May rise in rank through dhikr, sabr, sincerity	Already among the ulul ‘azm (greatest of prophets)

🟥 4. Hadith Insight

From Sahih Muslim:

"Allah has taken me as a Khalil, just as He took Ibrahim as a Khalil." — Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

So only two people are explicitly referred to as khalil of Allah:

🔹 Ibrahim عليه السلام

🔹 Muhammad ﷺ

🟧 5. Summary:

	Awliyā’ Allah	Khalilullah
Rank	High	Highest among creation (next to Rasulullah)
Scope	Many believers over time	Very rare – only two explicitly named
Basis of closeness	Iman, taqwa, obedience	Deepest love and intimate closeness
Access to all?	Yes – anyone can strive to become a walī	No – it's a specific title granted by Allah

🟢 Closing Reflection:

While becoming a khalil is not in our hands, becoming a walī of Allah is possible for every sincere Muslim. The Prophet ﷺ said:

"Whoever shows enmity to a friend of Mine, I have declared war against him." — Hadith Qudsi, Sahih al-Bukhari

That’s the level of protection and honor the awliya receive. But the khalil… that’s reserved for the most exceptional, like Ibrahim (AS)—the one who submitted even to sacrificing his son.

Quiz Questions (Short Answer - 2-3 sentences)	Quiz Answer Key
Mustafa Briggs states that if he could ask the Prophet Muhammad one question, what would it be?	Mustafa Briggs states that if he could ask the Prophet Muhammad one question, it would be for the Prophet to make dua (prayer) for him to be with the Prophet in the next life and to have love for him.
Why does Mustafa Briggs emphasize the importance of fighting for happiness?	He emphasizes fighting for happiness because the world can put you in a position where it will crush you if you don't actively work to maintain your happiness.
According to Mustafa Briggs, what two main reasons explain why he does the work he does?	The two main reasons are because there is a need for his work, and because it has been made a responsibility for him to share the knowledge he has acquired.
What region of Africa does Mustafa Briggs primarily discuss in relation to the prevalence of Islam?	He primarily discusses the Sahel region, stretching from Djibouti to Nigeria and all the way to Senegal.
What statistic does Mustafa Briggs use to highlight the significant Muslim population in Nigeria?	He states that Nigeria has 100 million Muslims, which is more Muslims in one country than all the countries in the Arabian Peninsula combined.
What specific cultural phenomenon in London does Mustafa Briggs mention as an example of Islam permeating Western culture?	He mentions the introduction of Ramadan lights on Oxford Street and Regent Street alongside traditional Christmas lights.
What is the primary intention behind Mustafa Briggs' book, "Islam and the Making of the Modern World"?	The primary intention is to address the gap in Western Muslims' understanding of their history, which contributes to inferiority complexes and identity crises, and to contextualize the modern world through the lens of history and Islam's role in it.
How does Mustafa Briggs believe social media has impacted the ability to find one's "tribe"?	He believes social media has made it easier to find one's tribe because it removes the limitations of location and allows people with similar interests to connect online.
According to Mustafa Briggs, what is the difference between fear and grief, and how does living in the moment relate to them?	Fear is something that comes with thinking about the future, while grief comes with thinking about the past. Living in the moment, in God's presence, allows one to avoid both fear and grief.
What is the one human behavior that Mustafa Briggs states he cannot tolerate?	He states that rudeness is the one human behavior he cannot tolerate because there is no need for impolite or rude behavior.

What lessons can be drawn for me, a divorced Hausa dad with a 3 year old boy ibbu, whose mom is pakistani, high conflict with avpd

Drawing on the information in the sources and our conversation history, here are some lessons that might be relevant to your situation as a divorced Hausa dad with a 3-year-old boy, Ibbu, navigating a high-conflict relationship with his Pakistani mother who you describe as having AVPD:

Prioritize and Fight for Your Happiness: Mustafa Briggs repeatedly emphasizes the importance of fighting to maintain your happiness because, as he puts it, the world will steal it if you don't try and hold onto it. He states that he has been through so much in life that if he wasn't laughing and didn't prioritize his happiness, he doesn't know where he would be. The world can put you in a position where it will crush you if you don't fight to keep your happiness. In a high-conflict situation, this lesson is particularly pertinent, as such environments are inherently draining. Focusing on maintaining your own emotional well-being is not selfish; it's a necessity to prevent being crushed by the conflict and to be a stable parent for Ibbu. Having a positive mentality and clinging to things you can be grateful for are strategies he uses.
Navigate Conflict and Difficult Behavior with Boundaries and Principle: Mustafa expresses a strong aversion to rudeness and impolite behavior. He talks about cutting off relationships where he doesn't feel appreciated or comfortable. While you cannot simply "cut off" a co-parent, the principle of setting boundaries and not engaging in unproductive, rude, or petty interactions is crucial. Mustafa advises that when faced with opposition or people who don't mean well, you should retract from the situation, pray about it, leave it in Allah's hands, and do the best thing you should do in that situation. He stresses the importance of not stooping down to their level or reacting to pettiness with pettiness. This approach suggests focusing on your own conduct and relying on a higher power rather than getting drawn into the cycle of conflict.
Understanding Envy and Seeking Protection: Mustafa discusses the reality of the evil eye and envious people who may try to sabotage success. While your situation is familial rather than related to public success, the principles of dealing with negative intentions from others could apply. He mentions that the last two chapters of the Quran are for seeking refuge from the envious. His teachers taught him that prayer and sadaqa (charity) are important ways to protect oneself. Relying on faith and seeking spiritual protection from negative influences seems relevant to navigating a difficult relationship dynamic.
Forgive, But Don't Forget (Set Boundaries): Mustafa states that he doesn't hold grudges and strives to forgive for the sake of Allah, meaning he doesn't seek revenge. However, he also notes that forgiveness doesn't necessarily mean forgetting or feeling entirely free of negative feelings towards someone who has caused pain. He concludes that it's okay to keep a distance and create healthy boundaries between yourself and people who have harmed you. This balance of spiritual forgiveness (for your own peace and for Allah's sake) and practical boundary-setting is a valuable lesson for managing interactions with a high-conflict individual, especially in a co-parenting context where some interaction is necessary, but emotional entanglement in the conflict should be minimized. He also mentions that sometimes people's difficult behavior stems from their own challenges or unhealed parts, which can offer a perspective without excusing the behavior.
Prioritize Your Family (Your Son): Mustafa recently became a father and uncle and speaks about prioritizing time with his family and son. He sees putting himself first "not in a selfish way" but because he has a son and family, and his well-being benefits his "ecosystem". He talks about the unmatched happiness of childhood as based on ignorance and discovery, highlighting the preciousness of this stage for Ibbu. Your focus on your son's well-being aligns with Mustafa's perspective on prioritizing family. By managing the conflict effectively (setting boundaries, protecting your happiness), you are creating a more stable environment that ultimately benefits Ibbu, your "ecosystem".
Embrace Identity and Heritage: As a Hausa dad with a Pakistani co-parent and a son of mixed heritage, Mustafa's emphasis on the importance of understanding history and identity is relevant. He highlights how his own identity, shaped by his West African origins and Islam, influenced his path. While not directly addressing the conflict, this aspect of the conversation underscores the potential importance of exploring and preserving the cultural and religious heritage for both yourself and Ibbu, drawing from both Hausa and Pakistani roots, within the broader context of Islam which spans diverse cultures.

While the sources do not delve into the specifics of co-parenting dynamics or personality disorders, they offer principles rooted in faith, self-preservation, and managing difficult relationships that resonate with the challenges you face. Maintaining your personal peace and spiritual connection, setting clear boundaries, and prioritizing your well-being as a means to effectively parent your son seem to be key takeaways applicable to your situation.

2025-05-22 https://quranreflect.com/posts/37673 via https://hausadictionary.com/misc/Briggs (logged for future reference)

Need to find the part where the analogy of the (mentally) trapped elephant was mentioned.