I was fortunate enough to spend the day with Dr. Shadee El Masry in Dallas this weekend. In one of his talks he talked about friendship and being with people that you aspire to be He mentioned the stories of the Prophets Yusef and Musa, and their journey through what they learned. Isn’t that what we all do? Isn’t that the reason we are all here? To build each other up, to learn, to hold each other to a higher standard of being a Muslim man, husband, and father? Everwhere I went with Dr. Shadee Elmasry, people lined up to meet him, ask him questions, and just be around him. I don’t say this to flatter him, there is a point. Allah has given him favor among people. Allah has given him value to Men, Women, and the youth. He is valuable to the world and the people in his community.

What’s your value? Who are your friends? Who do u aspire to be? What steps are u taking to greatness and legacy? Dr Shadee is a great man. But here’s the thing, you can be great as well...

It will take discipline, a hard work ethic, and dedication. What will u be known for? Are u sitting on the bench of life watching the game? Unacceptable, we need u in the game.

Being spiritual in our desire to draw closer to Allah is a quadrant of being a real man. If a man’s heart isn’t in the right place and connected to Allah and his messenger ﷺ, how will he lead a family and community?

Keep good company and choose your friends carefully. Our worst enemy can sometimes be ourselves, life becomes even more empty when we associate with those that have zero ambition and have hearts far from Allah

Somewhere along the lines of popular culture and movies, We Men have been convinced that being a lone wolf is somehow masculine and a sign of strength. Nothing could be further from the truth. I've actually mentioned this in my upcoming book.

I'll admit it, I took the bait hook, line, and sinker. I convinced myself that IF I was a real man, I'd do everything by myself cause, that's what men do right? Well, there is some truth to that, but not that much more than the obvious. 

Men like to figure things out for ourselves. We are problem solvers. Sometimes we love to do things by ourselves. Still till this day, I still try to do everything on my own when I can. But there is a huge difference between attempting to do things by yourself and completely shutting yourselves out to the help, wisdom, and knowledge of other men.

 We Men have been taught that reaching out to other men means we are dependent on them and thus we are weak. Unfortunately, I believed this until I almost had a mental breakdown from taking everything on all by myself. 

Who told you that you have to do the lone wolf thing to be a real man? Didn't our ancestors hunt and fish together? If the hunt didn't go well for a certain hunter, didn't they all sit around the camp fire talking about how to improve their hunting weapons and techniques the next time they went out? Of course they did.

So why should we as men look at it differently today? I'm a man that has struggled with friendship my entire life up until about 10 years ago. My downfall was my expectation of others. I put my maximum effort into the friendship and didn't get much in return. Why? I'm a good friend to have, I'm dependable. The answer came over me suddenly. I wasn't choosing GOOD friends. I wasn't handing around successful men that could teach me anything.

So I went our of my lone wolf comfort zone, and slowly started to make friends with the right men. Men that won't tell me "it's OK" when I fail to work out or fail in my daily life and growth. Honestly, who needs those type of friends? I don't. 

Along the way of me getting out of my "Lone Wolf" persona, I made another mistake. I started to hang out with one type of guy. I hung out with the same type of guy I was. Athletic, loved sports, MMA, ect. I quickly realized that I was growing in only one way.

As a truck driver, I have a lot of time to contemplate on those long roads. So I asked myself one day, Why don't you have any scholarly type of friends? Why don't you have any IT type of friends? Why don't you have fill in the blank type of friends? Hey, I caught it.

After that paradigm change, I set another goal to make different types of friends. Don't laugh, but I began to think of it as a video game combat team. If any of you have played team games like Battlefield 4 or whatever, you know that you don't go out into the video game battle with all snipers. Who would do that?

You have a medic, sniper, support, and rifleman right? And then you have a helicopter pilot that can fly really good so you have gun them from the sky and jump out at your strategic location. You laughed didn't you? I applied that to real life. If I hang around a bunch of people like me, what new things can I learn? Not much.

What if I hung around good people that could teach me different things from what they have learned in life? Things that they specialize in their career's? What would happen if i befriended someone in IT? Two things, I learn what he knows and he learns what I know. See how beneficial it could be? I suck at anything related to IT. But i won't for long if I have a friend in IT. My IT friend sucks in the gym, but he wont for long if he's around me. So it's quite beneficial to be around a different set of friends. What do you get out of being a Lone Wolf? Not much. Why is it so hard for men to start and maintain friendships? Expectations and being around the wrong men. A friend that cares about you will care about your future and what you got going on in the present. Views of friendships among men have been hijacked by Hollywood.

Being a friend isn't standing by your friend as he tumbles down the tunnel of inactivity and failure. A friend will check his friend in a good, yet firm way. Remember the hunters? What if a hunter made a mistake that caused his family to go hungry? Imagine if all the men knew his mistake and lack of technique, and told him, "It's ok, you did fine, maybe next time".

You have killed the friendship right there. If you have a solution, present it to your friend or brother. He may not want to hear it. It may be sharp to his heart or feelings, but it's the right thing to do IF you are his friend

We as Muslim men have the entire world against us. We need to come together but we need to come together with purpose, intention, and a direction that comes from the Quran and the messenger of Allah ﷺ. What are you bringing to the friendship? What do you offer as a man? This is the reason why we are on a never ending quest to improve ourselves

In the journey of a man's life, the importance of having a structure plan cannot be overstated. Just as a warrior enters battle with a strategy, a man should approach life with a well thought out plan encompassing all crucial areas of his existence. This is where the concept of mapping out a life battle plan comes into play, focusing on the four essential quadrants: Physical, spiritual, intellectual, and financial. For those who seek to elevate their lives and achieve their full potential, joining a group like The War Council can be immensely beneficial Physical Quadrant: Strength and Vitality The physical aspect of life is the foundation upon which all other areas are built. A strong, healthy body allows a man to face life's challenges with vigor and resilience. By prioritizing physical health, you ensure that you have the energy and stamina to pursue your goals and dreams. Benefits of a Physical Battle Plan:

Increased Energy:

Regular exercise and a balanced diet boost energy levels, enabling you to be more productive and focused

Enhanced Confidence:

Physical fitness improves self esteem and body image, leading to greater confidence in personal and professional interactions.

Disease Prevention:

A healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of chronic illnesses, ensuring longevity and a better quality of life

Spiritual Quadrant: Inner Peace and Purpose:

The spiritual quadrant addresses the need for inner peace, purpose, and connection with Allah. For us Muslim's, this involves a deep commitment to faith, prayer, adhkar, and many other things

Benefits of a Spiritual Battle Plan:

Sense of Purpose:

Spirituality provides a sense of meaning and direction, guiding your actions and decisions.

Emotional Stability:

Regular spiritual practices like prayer and adhkar foster emotional resilience and tranquility

Community and Support:

Being part of an Islamic community offers a strong support network and a sense of belonging

Intellectual Quadrant: Knowledge and Growth

Intellectual development is about continuously expanding your knowledge and skills. A well rounded intellect allows you to navigate the complexities of life, make informed decision, and contribute meaning fully to society

Benefits of an Intellectual Battle Plan:

Enhanced Problem Solving:

A sharp mind is better equipped to tackle challenges and find innovative solutions.

Career Advancement:

Continuous learning and skill development open up new opportunities for professional growth.

Personal Fulfillment:

Intellectual pursuits being a sense of accomplishment and personal satisfaction.

Financial Quadrant: Stability and Freedom

Financial stability is crucial for achieving a secure and stress free life, for the most part. A sound financial plan ensures that you can provide for yourself and your family, invest in your future, and give back to your community

Benefits of a Financial Battle Plan:

Security:

Financial stability reduces stress and anxiety about the future.

Freedom:

Adequate financial resources provide the freedom to pursue your passions and take risks without fear

Generosity:

Financial success enables you to support charitable causes and make a positive impact on others

The War Council:

Brotherhood and Accountability

Creating a life battle plan is a powerful step, but maintaining it requires discipline and support. This is where The War Council comes into play. The War Council is a group of like minded men who come together to support each other in their persona growth and development

Benefits of Joining The War Council:

Accountability:

Regular meetings and check-ins ensure that you stay committed to your goals and make consistent progress

Support and Encouragement:

The camaraderie of the group provides motivation and encouragement, especially during challenging times

Shared Wisdom:

Members share their experiences and insights, offering valuable perspectives and advice

Mapping out a life battle plan in the four quadrants of a man's life-physical, spiritual, intellectual, and financial-lays the groundwork for a balanced and fulfilling life. By joining The War Council, you gain the support and accountability needed to stay on track and achieve your full potential. Embrace this structured approach to life, and watch as you transform into the best version of your self, ready to conquer any challenge that comes your way

Although it is the best time of year, I stay away from most Muslims at that time There is a good reason for that and your negative opinion is no worry of mine Every year it’s the same thing “Bro, are you fasting today?” “I’m so tired and thirsty today” “How many hours are you fasting in your country? “ Who cares if you’re hungry or thirsty?

Why is it even a topic of conversation how many hours you are fasting?

Isn’t it between you and Allah?

In Spartan culture, boys at the age of 7 would participate in what is called Agoge

Part of that was a 10 mile run barefooted where they would run with a mouthful of water, but could not drink any of it until they reached their 10th mile

Then they would spit it out…

Alexander, the great crossed a desert with his vast army and did not find water

Miraculously, one of his soldiers found some water and presented a helmet full of water to Alexander

In front of his army, Alexander poured the water into the sand and said, we will not be defeated by thirst or water

His men roared out cheers and went on to conquer the world

When we read about the men around Rasululah ﷺ they were not weak men

They did not ask each other if they were fasting or how many hours they were fasting

They did not complain of thirst or hunger

Why does it shock you when Muslim women ask where are all the real Muslim men at?

It’s a valid question…

The spirit and focus of Ramadan should live in a man’s heart and mind year round

Join the war council, take the challenge of manhood seriously http://strongholdofsultans.com