Leaving the Garden: Reflections on My Time at Al-Maqasid

“Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveler.”
— Hadith, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī

At the end of this month, I’ll be concluding two deeply formative years at Al-Maqasid, the Islamic seminary and spiritual community founded by Shaykh Yahya Rhodus. Nestled in the hills of eastern Pennsylvania, Al-Maqasid has provided me with something rare and essential: a life shaped by prayer, study, rhythm, community, guidance, and reflection — what many today search for (and often never find) in a disoriented world.

When I arrived, I did not know what to expect. A little less than a year before my arrival at Al-Maqasid, I was still living as a priest-monk in a quiet monastery in California. But by Allah… I found myself here in this oasis in the farms and countryside. My quest had always been for the Real — al-Ḥaqq — that which endures, that which is truly worthy of devotion. This is why I came here — no plans. No provisions. No permanent address. Just a longing to follow the Lord in His providence.

At Al-Maqasid, I found a living embodiment of that quest. The days were structured around the five daily prayers, Qur’anic recitation, Arabic language, and traditional Islamic sciences. I essentially came to learn Arabic, first and foremost. But while I came here for one specific reason, I received something (in my mind) even more precious. More than anything, I encountered a community rooted in sincerity (ikhlāṣ), humility, and spiritual refinement. Shaykh Yahya himself is a rare presence — quiet, grounded, and deeply principled. He teaches not only with his words but through comportment.

As the Qur’an says:

“Indeed, in the Messenger of God you have a beautiful example.”(Qur’an 33:21)

This verse shaped much of our study — reminding us that the path is not merely doctrinal, but lived. We follow in the example of the Prophet ﷺ. I learned in a deep way that Islam is not simply a religion of law or belief, but a path of ihsān — doing what is beautiful.

“God is Beautiful and loves beauty.”(Hadith, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim)

The emphasis on inner purification (tazkiyat al-nafs) and remembrance (dhikr) became part of my daily life. And over time, I began to see how these practices connected not just to worship, but to human well-being and healing — something I had long wrestled with both personally and pastorally in my time of priestly ministry.

Now, as I return to Pittsburgh, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude and clarity as my “post monastic” path unfolds. I look forward to living once again in the familiar neighborhoods of my hometown where I will enter into a Masters program of clinical psychology and counseling, and where I will continue formal Islamic studies with a focus on spiritual and depth-oriented therapy.

In the Qur’an, God says:

“And in yourselves — do you not see?”(Qur’an 51:21)

This verse, simple but profound, reminds me that the path to truth is not always purely external. Sometimes, it requires a careful turning inward — into the psyche, the heart, the unconscious. My time at Al-Maqasid has equipped me to walk that inward path with deeper trust, and I now feel called to bring that orientation into the therapeutic context.

Sometimes we are called to walk through the fire of inner trials in order for Allah to bring us out again on the other side into the Light.

My time at Al-Maqasid has been marked by much outer baraka and grace… and much inner wrestling — with myself, my past, my position in this world… in this deen…

I believe our time demands bridge-builders — those who can hold space between traditional religious wisdom and the insights of psychology, between spiritual yearning and emotional suffering. Liaisons between differing faith communities. Differing identities. My aim is not to dilute Islam — far from it. Rather, I wish to bring the power of this incredible deen into spaces of healing. As the Qur’an says:

“We did not send you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to all the worlds.”(Qur’an 21:107)

To Shaykh Yahya — may Allah increase him — I owe more than words can capture. He is a beautiful soul. His way of walking through the world, his adab, his calm authority, is a model of silent dignity.

To the teachers and students of Al-Maqasid: thank you. Your generosity, presence, true friendship and right example have profoundly shaped my life in ways I will be reflecting on for years to come.

May Allah preserve and increase the good of this institute, and may its light continue to touch those in need.

I’m not leaving because I’ve outgrown Al-Maqasid. If anything, I often felt I fell short of the high standard this place represents. But the time has come to apply what I’ve received in a new setting. As the Prophet ﷺ said, “Convey from me, even if only one verse.” What I take with me is not a break from this beautiful tradition, but a step toward living it out in a different way.

I’m returning to the city, to the work, to where people are hurting and searching. I love being among “the people”. With all of their messiness, their suffering, their questions, their yearnings. The Islamic Center of Pittsburgh is right in the middle of this beautiful “messiness”, and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting ‘back to work’. That said… the beauty and brotherhood of Al-Maqasid will stay with me — in the memory of early mornings, in the rhythm of prayer, in the habit of dhikr, in the laughter of my brothers, and the kind smiles of my teachers. What I learned here, I intend to carry with integrity. Inshallah.

May Allah preserve Al-Maqasid. May it continue to be a lighthouse for those tossed by the ocean of this dunya.

Inshallah, I will be back.

اللّهُمَّ علِّمْهُم ما يَنْفَعُهُمْ وَنَفَعْهُمْ بما علَّمْتَهُمْ وزِدْهُم علمًا.

“O Allah, teach them what will benefit them, and benefit them with what You have taught them, and increase them in knowledge.”

May Allah bless all teachers with wisdom, patience, and the reward for their hard work.

Glory to God for all things.

If you like this content, please consider a small donation via PayPal or Venmo. I am currently planning my move back to Pittsburgh to *continue* my studies in Arabic, Islam, and psychology, and any donation — however small! — will greatly help me to continue my work and my sustenance. Please feel free to reach me at saidheagy@gmail.com.

Thank you, and may God reward you! Glory to God for all things!