Today as I was shooting I was thinking about how to most quickly help students of archery become good archers and what came to me was that the answer to this is effectively in our deen. When we think of the great shaykhs and imams over time, the intellectual foundations, or the various contributions that Muslims but forth that have become so built into the West we see that Islam has a process that builds brilliance. The curriculum and practice of being Muslim brings out special God given gifts that only emerge through processes of struggle and knowledge acquisition. To add, those gifts are also guided by goodness. What comes from the Muslims isn't just inventions that change the course of history or that bring new levels of benefit to humanity, but that all of it really is to point back their goal in the first place which is to steer us to The One True God and magnify His glory in each generation. So yes, while we focus on Allah as our goal, we are present in the process of our religious rituals, they are the vehicles that get us there. Look at the 11 Step process that USA Archery uses. The 11 steps are just the landmarks, what about the details and transitions between those steps? But the steps give us something to focus on, and by doing that we can achieve our goals more quickly. Here they are: 1. Stance 2. Nock 3. Hook and Grip 4. Set 5. Set-Up (*Up) 6. Draw to Load 7. Anchor (*Face) 8. Transfer to Hold (*Brace) 9. Expand/Aim 10. Release/Follow Through 11. Feedback Let's take a 30,00 ft view for a second. Islam is not only a religion, but a religion based on a curriculum. We learn and we apply. As Islam grows in America like it did in other countries we need a curriculum. We need steps in a process if we're going to get anywhere. When we master processes goals are more consistently achieved. Focus on the moment and the score will take care of itself. Our deen is rich and steeped with steps, for instance Hajj has rituals. Those rituals determine if one's Hajj is valid or not. Some rituals may be omitted and can be made up in another way for the ritual to still be valid. Some rituals are absolutely mandatory otherwise the entire Hajj is invalid. We learn the steps, focus on fulfilling them, and making up any missed or invalid parts, and then, finally after doing all that - the grand finale - Trust, to leave everything up to Allah and allow the results to be utterly up to Him.

I was living life and I thought I was doing really well until those things started showing that there was a lot for me to learn. I was divorced. And what that meant was that I had to take a real deep look at myself. But I wouldn't change that for anything because what came out of it were things that really hadn't hit me about life, my family, and myself as a leader. What came up for me at the end of all of my reflections was that I wasn't doing things for Allah. I thought I was, but I didn't really have a way to get any data to measure that intention and application of sacred knowledge. In stories of the great shaykhs we often hear how when they reached a level of intellectual knowledge and even social status, they questioned their sincerity. That's a sign of sincerity, to question your sincerity. There can be no real deep contemplation and true change if one doesn't take authentic inventory of the underlying intentions and purposes that one is doing things for. So I went on a journey, and the first place I landed was in the arms of a shaykh who took me in and helped to support and guide me while I did the difficult work of personal transformation. That experience alone shifted my perspectives and renewed my commitment and how I would approach life from that point out. Anyone ever had a struggle that made them shift?

I'm still trying to figure out this platform, but in the main Skool group you're rewarded for posts and interactions, especially ones that are liked and commented on. I like that and I don't like that in ways. Ultimately I think it's a good thing for Futuwwah 5. Looking forward to the seeing the level EX-Voltron happen. Subhanallah, it already is. Walk to Allah and He'll run to you.

Allah created us to worship Him. To get to know Him ﷻ. Don't miss out on the ability to do salawaat on the Prophet ﷺ daily. At the very least, you should hear or refer to him once in your day so that you send prayers on him when you do ﷺ. This is helpful in this life, but more in the next. Have a daily litany of sending prayers on him, 10x in the morning and 10x at night is a good start. Bismillah

Futuwwah is often translated as Chivalry. As Muslims that really goes back to the source of embodying the Quran and Sunnah in the way of the righteous predecessors and it is a focus on personal transformation. Habib Muhammad al-Aydrus the author of a book on Futuwwah, The Polished Mirror says, Futuwwah is the way that the Prophet ﷺ nurtured and raised the sahabah and its essence is ukhuwwah (brotherhood). It is inside the interactions between people that we often struggle most. Shaytan is at play. But these moments are actually opportunities to heal, grow, and cultivate a brotherhood of connection and love. The essential quality of Futuwwah is to prefer others before yourself. Let's goooooo!