Did you have any mentors growing up? Also, who do you look up to?
I had an uncle who introduced me to Said Nursī and who encouraged me to learn English. I took up English-learning from 7th grade and possibly my main mentors in life were Victorian novels.
Do you have any siblings?
I have a brother and two sisters.
Are you a hafiz?
No I am not.
What are some things you have had to unlearn?
I cannot really think of anything I have had to unlearn.
What inspires you?
The Quran, praying at the mosque, all beautiful things.
What book impacted you most?
Probably Ibn al-Jawzī’s Ṣayd al-Khāṭir (Quarry of the Mind) which completely renewed my Islam and changed the direction of my life. I have selected the most inspiring parts of this book and published them in my books The Sayings of Ibn al-Jawzi and The Way of the Spiritual Muslim.
What are the main lessons you have learned?
Please see my blog post: Advice to my younger self