Abdal-Hamid Kishk - Abu Yazeed and the Pope

The following was a video that I found while surfing the internet. I am not sure if it is about a true incident, but I was so fascinated with it.

What drew me to it even though I did not understand most of what was said was the voice of Abdal-Hamid Kishk. I felt as if it pulled at my heart. I like this video because of the subtitles.

Abdal-Hamid Kishk was born on March 10, 1933 and died December 6, 1996. He was an Egyptian preacher, scholar of Islam, activist, and author.

Abdal-Hamid Kishk was born in Shibrakheet, a small village near Alexandria, Egypt. His father died before Abd al-Hamid reached schooling age. He joined one of the schools of Azhar and by the age of 8 he had memorized the Quran. It was at this time that he was inflicted by an illness which took his sight. 

However, rather than demoralize him, the loss of his sight encouraged him to learn more and persevere further. He graduated as a scholar from the faculty of Usoul al Din in Azhar and was appointed as an Imam, giving khutbas throughout Egypt.

According to Kishk, the greater jihad is a continuous struggle aimed at subduing one’s baser nature and attuning oneself to Allah’s moral standards. It is the basis for personal moral development, creating pious and philanthropic activism, promoting justice and prosperity in society, while combating ignorance, injustice and oppression. 

As a result of this greater jihad, says Kishk, Islam "heals those societies which follows its guidance and are built on consciences which have been awakened and hearts which have been illuminated by the light of belief.