Khawatir

When Companionship Became a Community – Part 2

From first principles to floor plans: practicing suhba (companionship) here and now.

Oct 30 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

6

4

When Companionship Became a Community – Part 1

Suhba (companionship) as formation: the Prophetic architecture of belonging.

Oct 15 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

8

2

September 2025

Friendship: Deep, Not Wide

A story of nearly 20 years of friendship—imperfect, unlikely, and maybe, just maybe, for the sake of Allah.

Sep 30 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

18

3

The Trials of Transition: What We Leave, What We Carry

To leave is to lose, but also to trust that Allah writes more than we can see.

Sep 15 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

24

August 2025

The Chatbox Can Listen, But It Can’t Care

Why AI Can’t Replace the Sacred Bonds of Human Companionship

Aug 30 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

18

From Good to Great: Why You Can’t Bypass the First Step

“Bury your existence in the earth of obscurity, for whatever sprouts forth, without having first been buried, flowers imperfectly.” – IbnAtaillah…

Aug 15 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

17

5

July 2025

Cultivating Community: The Juice Is Worth the Squeeze

What we long for is real—connection, safety, meaning—but the fruit only grows where hearts show up and hands keep tending the tree.

Jul 30 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

14

Humility: A Non-Hajj Story

The disappointment of being rejected from performing Hajj with a beloved teacher forced me to explore humility in the company of another.

Jul 15 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

16

3

June 2025

Ruminations: Grief, Mentor Matrix, + Therapy

“When are you going to write again?” was the final question my therapist asked me, and I knew he got me.

Jun 23 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

8

April 2025

Trepidation

The house gleamed, but his heart trembled. What burden was hiding beneath the surface of a simple Suhba?

Published on The Guest House • Apr 24

Performing Love: Why Nice Guys Finish Last

Love without disciplined principles is just emotional indulgence dressed up as care.

Apr 16 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

36

7

February 2025

Ruminations: Race, Travel, + Ramadan

What does it mean to be a "strong Black man," rooted in faith, standing in the river of history, navigating a spiritual journey to serve others?

Feb 28 • 

Abdul-Malik Merchant

20

2