^{There were an estimated 350,000 Muslim inmates in
Federal State, and local US prisons in 2006.}

A brother who also happens to be a great friend of mine told me he has starting getting involved with dawah in the prisons. I was happy about that as not only is it one of the most rewarding and impactful activities one can engage in, but also because there's not a lot of right-minded brothers doing it!

It's one of the segments of the community some of us often forget, or try to anyway. Prison dawah like any dawah takes a lot of courage and its not for everyone. I'll never forget the emotions I felt the first time I went in. I'm not going to get into them here, but lets just say it was intense. But like anything done more than once it always gets easier. You will see some move-faking, con-artists and some people who will probably never be reformed. But those few serious, sincere, and dedicated brothers need us.

Here is a sample of a letter I wrote to one of the brothers in reply to the many they had wrote to me.

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In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah.
May the peace mercy and blessings of Allah be upon His final messenger Muhammad.

As Salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

I pray that this letter reaches you while all is well with you and the brothers.

I thought I would take this opportunity to send my first letter to the brothers. After all you have written me so many times I figure that I am in debt. Please accept my apology for not writing sooner and more often. You guys are very important to me so don’t let my slowness in reply to lead you thinking otherwise.

Lately, I have been taking some much needed time away from some of my many duties at the masjid and have been delegating them out. I realized that I have been teaching and focusing on everyone except my own boy. He is at a delicate age and at a very special age (7). This is around the age that Ibrahim (alayhe salaam) took his son Ismaeel to start walking with him and instructing him in the ways of knowledge (Prophethood, etc). This is when they can start to discern so I’ve been paying more attention to him hoping to get the best out of these few days we have together while he still listens to me! – ha!

I do expect to resume my Visits in the coming days, insha Allah. I hope that you, and the brothers are continuing your studies. I am always so impressed when I come in and find that you have so many important questions due to your reading and reflecting upon the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhe wa sellem). Always remember that Iman- faith cannot grow without knowledge, and knowledge will not stay with you without acting upon it; and your acting upon knowledge will not benefit you unless you have Ikhlaas- sincerity of intention for Allah. You brothers are progressing nicely which shows your dedication and sincerity. I ask Allah to increase it and bless it for you and me.

Brother, I know that life in there can be hard. You have a lot to deal with mentally as well as trying to stay on top of your deen. I admire the strength and patience that you all have. I hope that when times get rough that you keep in mind the wisdom of Allah. He knows what circumstance is best for us at a particular time. Part of our belief is being pleased with the qadr / decree of Allah. I know that it is very easy to say but it is difficult to do. Allah decreed this struggle for you for a great wisdom. However, Allah has blessed us who believe with a beautiful equation: The more difficult the struggle, the greater the reward.

Please let all the brothers know that I will be trying to write more often. If you all have anything that you wish to discuss please don’t hesitate to holler at a brother. Insha Allah, you will find me a trustworthy friend.

Wa salaam,

Abul Hasan