The Way to Real Happiness
Date:
Channel: Bilal Philips
File Size: 74.25MB
AI Generated Summary ©
The importance of positive emotions and patient behavior is crucial to reducing stress, achieving success, and achieving goals. Consistent behavior is essential for personal success and personal growth. Representatives and guidance are essential for achieving success. It is crucial to create a community to obtain good deeds and make patient and committed behavior. Visits to houses and housing association are essential for obtaining good deeds and avoiding violence. It is crucial to be a Muslim to overcome addiction and avoid violence, and to be informed of the rules of Islam to avoid double standards and violence.AI Generated Transcript ©
Dr. Abu Amina Bella Phillips, his quest to search for the truth led him from the his birthplace in Jamaica, to the streets of Toronto in Canada, where he grew up and accepted Islam in 1972.
That journey has left him right down
many paths and he's obviously now to Islamic scholarship, lectureship authorship. And I think
below Phillips Abu Amina completed his BA from the College of Islamic disciplines or Sulu Dean at the Islamic University of Medina in 1979. Thereafter,
thereafter, he went on to complete his master's in aqidah. In the University of Riyadh in 1985, he finally obtained his PhD in the University of Wales, far cry from Medina SubhanAllah. In the UK, well,
in Islamic theology in 1994, he taught Islamic education Arabic in private schools lectured in M Ed. Students in the Islamic Studies Department in various universities is founded Islamic information centers are traveling extensively across the globe imparting Islamic knowledge as dictated by the Islamic tradition.
Apparently, he likes he enjoys to play squash. And that's what he does to keep fit, teaches his children also to do martial arts, of which Be careful, because he's a black belt.
Well, he's a black belt, very accomplished, man, you know, Hamdulillah.
I think what he considers, and we'll be talking about that a little bit later on to be something which is he's very happy about is he founded an Islamic online university, which has over 20,000 students worldwide. And we're going to be talking about that he's offered, authored over 100 Islamic books, including the books we see outside the fundamentals of thought heat, which is his own favorite, apparently,
he currently relies in Doha.
And he's, in the summer 2009, established Preston International College, and Fajr international schools, in Chennai, in China in India. Needless to say, I can go on and the list of his achievements, to be honest, is quite extraordinary for you, no one single man in this day and age in this
in this age of global international capitalism.
And tonight is going to address us
and address all of us whether we are muslim or non Muslim on the way to real happiness. The title is not the way to real happiness. So if brothers and sisters you'd like to please sit down, so that we can welcome the shake. So please sit down, everybody. Calm down, sit down, get your places. I know. There's lots of people in the room.
Okay, so everybody sitting down now. So now I think we're going to welcome to the stage for the last lecture and this peace conference today, of course, will be here tomorrow as well.
The way to real happiness by Dr. Abu Amina Balau Phillips, please come to the stage now.
hamdu lillah wa Salatu was Salam ala Rasulillah. All praise is due to Allah and Allah is Peace and blessings we on the last messenger of Allah.
The topic, the way to real happiness
is one which concerns all people.
Happiness, first and foremost, is a contented state of mind.
Where a person feels peace, inner peace, even in a state of difficulty, or even in a state of torture. A person may be happy
to sacrifice himself
under circumstances that would make
Most people are unhappy. So it is rarely a state of mind.
And all people strive for it. Regardless of their backgrounds, regardless of their positions in life,
what we find is that people try to find that state, commonly today through drugs,
trying to achieve that state of happiness, feeling contented feeling pleasurable, because they're associating happiness with pleasure. But reality is that people who take drugs end up miserable. It provides a temporary release or a temporary state of pleasure. But that pleasure doesn't last, a quickly goes away. And to be able to fund it, it requires a lot of money, it leads people into all kinds of crime. And those people who have a lot of money, what do they end up doing eventually overdosing because you can only take so much of it, and it's going to overcome you.
Regardless, drugs does not provide happiness. Also, people try to find happiness through music. Music is a a means of people being emotionally motivated.
When you're down, you play your favorite song, it makes you feel up. But you can only play your favorite song so much. Eventually, you have to get on with life, you can't stay in your room playing your favorite song over and over again. So music doesn't do it either. Because we're music, truly the source of happiness, then musicians should be among the happiest people in the world. But what we find is that musicians get involved in drugs, because they're not getting the happiness through the music. So they're looking for it through the drugs, and the drugs end up in overdoses and all this kind of things. So it isn't the music, though, it seems to be at the time. Also, some people
find or think they can find happiness through sex,
sexual relations, but were that the source of happiness than the prostitutes should be our happiest people in the world. But again, we find that prostitutes are not the happiest people in the world. They're complaining there.
It's not a happy life. So it's not there either.
Other people seek it through material.
items or products or possessions. The car, the ultimate, Maserati, Ferrari.
We hear so many people with these cars, killing themselves. Committing suicide is not there in our home, you buy the biggest home you can still those people with the huge homes, castles, palaces. What happened with Princess Diana? Didn't she have the castle? The ultimate home?
Did she find happiness? No.
Orange children. Some people think they can find happiness through their children. Since they can't personally achieve certain things. They hope that through their children, they will achieve these things. But again,
children oftentimes put stress in people's lives. You know, you have to raise the kids and the problems that come with raising those kids because they don't do what you feel they should have done. So happiness we can find it there.
Money income, money. Well, according to the media money should be what can buy for us happiness. The happiest people, the person has the yacht, they can go off to the West Indies or to seashells and just you know, live that nice, comfortable, luxurious life. Or what happened to the couple that went from the UK, right? retired couple they got their yachts they're circling around the world Somali pilot pirates got them
you know, that happy happy life got hijacked. So even where you think money can do it for you.
You get hijacked money doesn't necessarily do it.
So, sports people, sometimes they focus on the emotions that are built up in sports, you know, your favorite team, right? You know, cheering for them you feel hyped up, you feel that euphoria when your team wins, but the team doesn't always win. The times when the team loses, and you feel down, you feel bad, you're crying and all this. So
it's not there in sports either. So where is it? Where will one actually find happiness? True happiness? Well, Stephen Covey identify the principle, which if a person could live it, it would, in fact, represent a state of happiness. He called it the win win.
situation
where you're winning on both sides, it's not the win loss, you don't view life from a win loss perspective. If I win, he loses. If he wins, I lose. No, if he wins, I win. If I win, he can win too.
So when one looks at things in a positive life of light all the time, that could in fact, create a state of happiness. But
reality is that
people don't function like that, unless there are other factors to motivate them.
We do see people's success
when it's at our own expense, as their success and failure, very difficult to find the positive side, unless there are some higher principles that can guide us and 1400 years ago.
in Arabia,
a man by the name of Suhaib, Eben Sudan,
who was a disciple or follower of Prophet Muhammad, may God's peace and blessings be upon him.
He quoted the prophet as saying,
The affair of the believer is amazing.
The whole of his life or her life is beneficial.
And that is only in the case of the true believer. When good times comes to him or her, he or she is grateful, and it is good for him or her. And when bad times befall him or her, he or she is patient, and it is good for him or her.
And this is only in the case of the true believer.
In this statement of the Prophet, may God's peace and blessings be upon him the last prophet of God. He identified three principles for true happiness.
The first was faith, the second, gratitude, and the third, patience, three principles, faith,
gratitude, and patients, meaning that gratitude and patients without faith, it's not going to work.
You may be happy for part of the time, but without faith, you can't keep it up.
In terms of faith,
modern research,
Western researchers looking into different groups of people analyzing their stress levels because stress which produces
depression
is one of the major diseases of our time is
according to recent statistics, more than 20 million adults suffer from depression yearly in the US alone. I don't have the figures for here in Norway, but I'm sure percentage wise to be similar.
In fact, the death rate due to suicide was double the rate of those who died from AIDS in 2000. The year 2000 In the US, the death rate for those who died from
Suicide, that is depression, stress producing these acts
was double that of those who die from AIDS. But what we hear about is AIDS and the problem of AIDS, but depression is even more. So. Also, more people die from suicide in America that actually die from Homicide, homicide, or somebody kills you. There are more people who kill themselves than are being killed. And the crime rate in the US is very high. So what we're looking at when we talk about issues of stress, and depression is something very, very serious because obviously, one cannot be happy in a state of stress and depression does work.
What they found was that religious people are happier and less stressed than non religious people. In general, when they went across all of the various groups, they came up with the statistics, it showed that higher religiousness predicts a lower risk of depression and drug abuse, fewer suicide attempts, and more reports of a sense of well being.
All of the various research that was done, showed the same conclusions that faith, practically speaking, produces a better sense of well being among people than a lack of faith.
If we look in terms of gratitude,
we find we're just looking at the research products. What has come from modern research with regards to these points that the Prophet mentioned 1400 years ago.
What they found is that people who were grateful they had higher levels of well being, they were happier, less depressed, less stressed, and more satisfied with their lives and social relationships.
Grateful people, people also had higher levels of control of their environments.
And that's really important because people who end up depressed, one of the big factors that lead people into depression is feeling a sense where you have no control over your environment, your life is just running out of control.
You're spiraling downwards, you can't stop it. So when you have the sense of control, that is going to alleviate stress. So, such people have greater and higher levels of personal growth, sense of purpose and self esteem.
So it has been shown that that state of gratitude is something which is uniquely important though, in a lot of the psychological studies, they don't put no very much stress on this at all, maybe it's not even mentioned. But modern research has shown that it has a major impact. Even more so then what are known as the Big Five. These are the big five factors, which psychology teaches as the broad personality dimension dimensions. They don't mention gratitude in it. But modern research shows different and as a result of a new trend in psychology, from the year 2000, where we had what came to be known as positive psychology, there was a positive psychology movement. No gratitude, became
the mainstream focus of their research. This was a key figure.
We find in the Quran,
where Allah states in the
14th chapter, verse seven,
if you are grateful, I will give you more.
If you are grateful. I will give you more if you're grateful to God,
grateful in your life, you will be blessed with more and actually modern research
has shown that it does have an impact on people have very positive motivational impact, because they did some studies in restaurants, where the waiter would put on the cheque
Thank you
just write personally as a thank you after the person had paid the check. And they found that there was a 60% increase in customers coming back.
They found in a jewelry store, they did a
similar test in a jewelry store where after people bought jewelry went home, the store would call up the people or email them if they gave their emails and just thanked them for having bought from their store. And they found a 70% increase in people coming back and buying from them.
So
it's this is something which is real on a spiritual level. And it's well, also on a material level.
The third principle, that of patience is something which psychology doesn't tackle as a characteristic. But it really looks at it really as a
issue of decision making, you know, whether you're patient
in making a decision or you are hasty, they look at it from that perspective.
And they have concluded they concluded that
human beings on the whole, if they look at the short term benefit, and the long term benefits, they will be hasty and choose the short term that was the norm. And of course, it's mentioned in the Quran, also where Allah says, or hillicon insaan ajuda that human beings are created in haste that is a part of their nature. But still, we are encouraged to be patient, great stress placed on patients. And some modern researchers have in fact, suggested that it should be included in the character strengths and virtues system that is called the CSV
program or CSV the system
as one of the key character strengths.
Of course, the Quran
stresses that it is critical because of the fact that our lives, our lives filled with tests, life doesn't move along a smooth pattern, there are ups and downs, that's the nature of life, it's going up and down for everybody. So what gets you through the ups and the downs? As Allah said, in the second chapter, verse 155, I will certainly test you with fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, so give glad tidings to those who are patient
and the prophets, may God's peace and blessings be upon him and said, no one has been given a greater gift than patience. So patience is key. So we have these three basic principles faith,
which modern research has
proven,
improves our state of well being, and gives us a better shot at being happy.
Gratitude also, which motivates others to do good and also
increases that person's self esteem, a sense of
self worth.
Life has a purpose
and patience, critical to deal with the stressful circumstances of life, because without patience, there is no way to handle it.
So the question then is, how do we develop these? How does one develop faith, gratitude and patience? If we were to achieve this,
first and foremost, faith
from the Islamic technical perspective
consists of belief in the heart,
I believe which is stated on the tongue one expresses that belief.
And is, is acted upon by the limb. So it's translated into action. It is not just a concept,
but a concept in action.
It begins with knowledge. As God said in the Quran, for the seventh chapter, verse 19, not know that none has the right to be worshipped, except Allah. This a person has to know this is the beginning of faith, to know to have knowledge, that none has the right to be worshipped, except Allah.
Meaning that without that knowledge,
one may have faith based on worshiping other than God, worshiping animals, trees, these are all levels of faith, and this levels of faith, even though they may be wrong, they may still have a positive impact on the person, but it won't have the full impact
unless that faith is the correct faith.
That correct faith begins with knowing that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah.
Of course, that raises another question as to what is worship.
It is also knowing that worship, from the Islamic perspective
is not merely going to a mosque, and pray.
That is an aspect of worship. But in fact, we have the whole concept of worship described in another verse in the Quran, wherein Allah said, or told the prophet to stay to people say, Indeed, my prayers, my sacrifices, my living and dying, are for Allah, the Lord of All the Worlds, meaning that living a life in which one seeks to do what is pleasing to God. This is true worship, at worship, covers all aspects of life. It's not limited to
prayer, or limited to beseeching God in times of difficulty. Everybody can do that anybody can do that. Prayer involves living the whole of one's life. From the time one gets up in the morning to the time one goes to sleep at night, doing what is in fact pleasing to God. And of course, that requires knowledge.
And for the increase of faith, because that's the question. People say, Well, okay, I believe that I want to try to do that. But my faith seems to be low. How do I increase that faith? Well, there's a very simple formula, which increases faith, and that is that faith increases by doing acts of obedience, good deeds, and it decreases by committing sins, very simple formula doesn't require a lot of psychological, you know,
psychiatric, delving things, it is clear,
you do since your faith goes down, you do good deeds, righteous deeds, your faith goes up. In fact, so those people who are involved in psychological programs to help people under stress, what are the things they tell them to do is go out and do a good deed.
I tell them go out whatever you consider to be a good deed, think what is a good deed and then help them do it.
And they found, really, that people when they went out and did good deeds, they came back
with a higher sense of
happiness or contentment in their lives. Many experiments were done the students and this consistently came out in the results.
Secondly, gratitude, gratitude, which is thankfulness or appreciation.
It is a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit that one has received, or one will receive
It is a positive emotion.
It is showing
thankfulness when people have done things for us.
This is something which can be learned.
We learn it first and foremost, by realizing that whatever good is in our lives ultimately comes from God. As stated in the Quran and the 53rd, verse of the 16th Chapter, whatever blessings you have, are from Allah.
And in order to develop
that human characteristic of gratitude, then it must be implemented practice among our fellow human beings. That is why the Prophet may God's peace and blessings be upon him and said, Whoever doesn't thank people,
does the thank Allah, that if we are to be thankful to God, it should be manifest in our being thankful to those people around us, besides the fact that being thankful to them, motivates them to want to do more good.
With at the same time, we have to recognize what good is done for us, even though we know it is ultimately coming from God.
And in order to preserve our state of gratitude, the prophet may God's peace and blessings be upon him. Further advisors, do not look to those above you. But to those below you, as it is best for you to remember God's favor on you.
Our nature is to always look at people who have more than we have.
And wish we had what they had.
And what does that dude makes you feel depressed? Why don't I have what he has? Sometimes it takes people to the point of God, this is not fair. Why should he have that? And I don't have it.
Why was she born beautiful, and I was born ugly, you know, comes down to that it's not fair, it couldn't possibly be a god. What's the fairness in it? And when we start to look at others, who in the material world seem to have more than us, so the Prophet said, Don't do that.
Don't look at those who seem to be better off than you are.
Better to look at those who are worse off, because you can always find them.
They're always people, no matter how bad your situation is, you can always find people worse off. So then what does that produce? In you a sense of gratitude? hamdulillah Hamdulillah, I'm not in that situation.
So that is what helps to preserve that sense of gratitude.
With regards to the third,
characteristic patients,
and this is a tough one.
So tough, that when a man came to the Prophet, may God's peace and blessings be upon him and asked him, What do I need to do to get to Paradise he said to him, What,
don't get angry.
That's all Don't get angry,
to have the patience to control where one stops oneself from exploding.
And of course, this is talking about anger over things that it is not necessary to be angry over. Things that can be overlooked. Of course, one should be angered. If one sees evil being done to others. In a one doesn't feel a sense of anger, this is wrong and be upset about it, then, of course, there's something wrong with one's faith. But we're talking about general circumstances where somebody just
does something to you. It could be accidental, but you're exploding. You know, you're just a time bomb waiting to explode. Just take something, any little thing pressing a button, and there you are. So the Prophet SAW salem said to this individual, don't get angry.
That patience would be enough to carry him to paradise. That's how important patience is.
So how can we develop this characteristic? It's so important and of course, the law refers to it as being
the solution for the tribe
Life.
Those are those who are blessed by Allah, those who have that sense of patience. They are the ones who are ultimately successful.
So, how do we develop it, some people just seem to be more impatient. They're just naturally patient.
Whereas the rest of us were struggling.
How to Be patient? Well, Prophet Muhammad says element said,
Maya to Sambar is a bit of a law that is, whoever
pretends to be patient.
Allah will grant him patience. Somebody might say that's hypocrisy. But even you pretending to be patient, you know, you're exploding on the inside, but on the outside patient.
hypocrisy, you're not really patient. But the point is that
this is the nature of how we can develop positive characteristics, that if we repeat this time and time again, eventually this will become a real characteristic in the sense that we're able to put whatever is churning, burning inside to put that flame out. It comes eventually, it's like, I say, practice makes perfect.
So you work on it, if the prophet may God's peace and doesn't be upon him said that this is the best way. They know that it is the best way and it does work.
Even though people might say not epoxy.
It is a means because you're doing it sincerely, for the sake of Allah, because you're striving to achieve that level of patience. If you're just doing it to show off, of course, then it is hypocrisy doesn't really benefit you. But if you're doing it really striving to achieve that state of patience in your life, to make patients one of the your your normal characteristics, then it is something pleasing to God. And you will be granted patience.
Also, being patient involves doing things consistently, because patience is not just being able to hold oneself in times of trial. It's also patience in doing what should be done to patiently persevere, to endure circumstances and keep on at it.
So patience, is involved in doing good deeds consistently. It involves patience, also, and the Prophet SAW Selim advise that the good deed done consistently is most beloved to Allah, even if it is small. So that's what we should struggle for and strive for is consistency. Better to do a little bit all the time we establish it, and we can build on top of that, then too, jump in and do everything. But then, like the match, you lighted, big flame, and then
you're out.
So better to be consistent.
Now,
what are we talking about here?
We're talking about change in our lifestyle.
To achieve these characteristics, whether it be faith, gratitude, or patience, then it involves us making significant changes in our
course of life. And this is the challenge. The challenge, which is before us tonight.
We have to ask ourselves,
why did we come here
tonight?
Did we really come here? To benefit to take something that we will leave which will change the course of our lives?
To help us really find true happiness in our lives? Or did we come here to be entertained?
You know, speakers
can become like entertainers for people. People come to lectures, after lectures after lectures after lectures. They enjoy they come feel entertained, okay. He was a funny speaker.
He made me laugh, yes.
But
we come back to the next lecture. And we're still the same way we were after the first lecture. And the third and the fourth and the fifth,
no real change.
Or we come to socialize.
Socialize.
We're looking at the reasons why people come to conferences and lectures, they come to socialize, because we're leaving a living scattered lives out there. This is the chance to come hang out
with the brothers,
or the sisters with the sisters.
Or it's a question of peer pressure.
You know, some brothers are coming. Missy, aren't you coming to the lecture? I really didn't feel like coming to the lecture when
you feel the pressure of your all your friends are going you don't want to be not there.
Or
people come to lectures for what are Romans?
Brothers get to see the sisters.
Sisters get to see the brothers.
This is some of the motivating factors. This is real. We're talking real talk here now.
Why people come here.
Some people came in if you ask them tonight, why did they come to say we came to see BP?
Who was BP? Bill Phillips
the mystery speaker
some people came just to get a boost in their Eman, you know the feel the man down. So can we come hang out with the believers we get a boost we get leave here feeling a better Muslim. But the bottom line is that if we keep coming back to the lectures and to the conferences the same way in the same state we were from the previous then we are engaging in what the psychologist called obsessive behavior.
obsessive behavior, meaning what? You keep doing the same thing, expecting different results.
This is called obsessive behavior.
We also call it banging your head against the wall.
The walls are gonna break your head.
So we have to ask ourselves seriously.
When are we going to make this change?
Why shouldn't it be tonight?
Why shouldn't we make tonight the beginning point? People say well, no change takes time. You know, it takes time Rome wasn't built in a day.
That's true. Rome wasn't built in a day. But change doesn't really take time. If you think about whatever changes you've done, or we've done in our lives.
For each instant, where we have changed, you can see a specific time, the day before we were doing this thing the day after we no longer did it. Or the day before. We weren't doing this thing the day after we started doing it.
Change actually is instantaneous.
What takes time is the decision to change. That's the one. Yeah, we can sit and think about it. Yeah, I think about it next week and after the next lecture. And that can go on
till we reach the grave.
The decision to change.
So what we need tonight
for this lecture on the way to happiness we've seen it's clear what needs to be done. We need to be committed to striving to establish real faith in our lives. Faith which is based on knowledge,
faith which is implemented in our actions.
We have to become grateful people
who are patient with the struggles of our lives.
The question is, are we ready to do this?
From tonight?
We've looked at the issues. We've looked at the way the method it's just about implementing that method.
So what I want to ask
of you tonight
is for you to put up your hand
to show your commitment before God before Allah,
that you will try to implement this knowledge in your life
and make that change. Tonight
how many people are ready to do it? This is what we'd like to see. Yeah, this is something
which is between you on the law in the end.
Because I'm not going to be here next time, I'm invited here to give a talk and say, Hey, I remember your hand was up.
I don't see any change in your life. I'm not gonna be here to do that. This is between you and Allah. But this is what makes these types of conferences worth it, that we take something practical, and we leave with it, and use it to change and to benefit our lives.
Otherwise, as I said, we're just wasting our time.
And we will be asked
about our time and how we spend it. Okay? Baraka Luffy come, I ask Allah to bless all of you, to make that commitment real.
And
to grant His mercy and His forgiveness for what has gone before.
And that he blessed us with guidance in our lives to really be on that path
to paradise where the ultimate happiness lies. For those on that path, are those who have also found happiness in this life. I mean, somehow they come around to
it
somebody come on so about a
Zavala here for your patients and
it's really nice to see so many people here. Oslo in Norway, it's the first time I've been to Oslo in Norway. Like I said, when I landed from the plane the other day, I thought I landed in paradise. When we woke up in the morning. I just saw the snow and these beautiful scenery outside but 100 I got there. Unfortunately,
I saw your ugly faces, right.
Anyway hamdulillah it's so good to see you. Oh, really? It's fantastic.
Sorry about the jokes.
It's beautiful to see all of you guys. No, really, it is so good. It's refreshing to see all of you guys. I mean, we're in Scandinavia, hon Allah.
And I hope you appreciate it. Dr. Bill Phillips is talk if you want to, you know there are some copies of that book, slightly different
title in the search for inner peace, which we do have so if somebody's not yet Muslims want to read that more thoroughly. And as understand the the whole argument with the doctor, doctors told they can get that outside in sha Allah. So we'll move swiftly over to the next the last phase of the second day, which is the question and answer sessions pertaining to the topic.
Before we move into the questions, and of course you know, the rules of other questions so you can start come you know, thinking about your questions, or if you've already got the question particularly Not Yet Muslims, brothers over here, sisters over there. Okay. You can start thinking about your questions or compose yourself. You can start standing up near the mics and just try to say who you are.
You know, where you're from, what your profession is, how many children you've got, you know,
that's, but be prepared. Okay. Before we do that before anyone leaves, we've got some new good news. Some more good news. Alhamdulillah. So, firstly, ask the my brother Norwegian brother to attend he knows what is happening next, to take shahada
Norwegian brother
Please come up I
don't
know, I'm more nervous than you
just simple that you've studied autism
feel free
to commit yourself
as one step for the next 30
seconds.
Okay. Anyway, you need this message.
This
okay we have with us brother Bossert, who has been doing some reading about Islam and he has concluded that he wants to join the faith. And that, of course, it's the first step in the journey which involves much more studying and understanding. And he is joining of course without with the step, the whole brotherhood of Islam, and he has now become a member, you know, me being first among them, relative to yourself, you know your brother in Islam. So of course, whatever
help we can provide for you any issues or questions that you have, you know that you would come back to us? So, to become a Muslim, of course, very simple. You just have to repeat after me. I will say it first in English, and then we can say it in Arabic afterwards. Okay. I bear witness, I bear witness that there is no God. That is no god worthy of worship, where they worship, but Allah but Allah, and I bear witness, bear witness that Muhammad, Muhammad is the last messenger of Allah. It's the last mich messenger of Allah
as Shadow shadow, Allah Hala ilaha illa Illa Allah illa Allah wa ash hadoo wash us Hello, we're ash How do
anna muhammadan Muhammad Rasool Allah so Allah by Africa
make it easy for you
welcome
assistance
you want to
do it from there just do it from whether
it's not giving up
so whilst all the excitement is going on down here,
we've
now the brothers like I said he's never been hugged by another man in his life.
He's got another thing coming.
So they mean well, bro
so I just like to also
you know, it was it is I don't want to distract you guys from this beautiful scene that's going on down here. There are some sisters who also want to take shahada in the balcony. So I understand that we want to get this to sisters love o'clock so
so they can come down to the microphone over here
there was some brother that came to me yesterday.
And he said there are not enough Norwegian sisters Muslim sisters so I have to marry Catholic
is happening brothers.
No excuses now. Ah Hamdulillah. So shake, father.
Okay, sisters. Can you say your names please? Mr. Hussaini and the other sister
Sarah. Sarah. Okay.
You've both studied about Islam for some time. Yes.
And nobody is forcing you to accept Islam. No. Okay.
Of course, I won't go into details about exactly why you're choosing to accept Islam I just assumed that you have enough knowledge about it to make this step. So, as you saw before, to become Muslim, now, you just have to repeat after me you can both do it at the same time together.
I bear witness, I bear witness, that there is no God. There is no God, worthy of worship, worthy of worship, but Allah but Allah, and I bear witness and I bear witness that Muhammad that Muhammad is the last messenger of Allah is the last messenger of Allah.
In Arabic as Shadow shadow Allah, Allah ilaha illa
Illa law Illa while ash hadoo
Anna anna Muhammadan
rasul Allah
Welcome to Islam sisters
right
just in the time honored fashion then brothers and sisters
Is there anybody else who wants to take Shahada? I mean, you know, you've seen the other brothers and sisters in humanity
Yeah, Zavala care. Very, very good point the brothers saying we should look after the new Muslims. What uh, you know, we got the same thing in England, going on. And some of the statistics are pretty frightening about the number of people who come into the deen of Islam, they don't get looked after
they actually apostate. I think there should be for each of the sisters, there should be a sister amongst you there who commits herself to follow up with a sister like this practice of the Prophet. May God's peace and blessings be upon him. When Muslims came to Medina that he made a brotherhood pact with the people of Medina. Similarly for our brother, who has come in, is there somebody who's responsible? Yeah, who will be his buddy. Okay, so you will be following up with him. And whatever help whatever he needs, and you channel it back through the organizations that they can make sure to help him. So similarly, do we have two sisters that are responsible for these two sisters?
That's one, two, okay. Three, even good. Masha Allah Zakharov had Shakeology for that and just reminded the new Muslims there are some new Muslim courses coming up with Hussain ye. So all of you, people who have accepted Islam and those people who've accepted Islam relatively recently, or even as with years ago, and you don't know too much, because maybe you haven't interacted with the right Muslims or read anything by then it's up to you to come to those courses. And then you can go to the stores at the back, you know, in the entrance foyer and sign up for those courses and make sure that you engage and learn as much as possible about your new way your new direction in Sharla, your
newfound direction.
Okay, so I take it from that that was just a question or observation. Look after the new Muslims. There's no other people who want to accept Islam.
Upstairs, downstairs, okay. Well, if you do you go to the microphone, here and here. And we can deal with that and Sharla.
In the meantime, so we crack on or resume the question and answer session
for the share on the topic, so do we have any questions from this? Move that hullabaloo and Shahar does, you know, people or any brothers down there? One question over here. Okay, we'll start with the brother over here. If you come to the microphone, just mentioned who you are, what your profession is, and then question I have a question from a non Muslim
How does he know that inside or in the heart that Islam is the right religion? If Is there any advice? If you have any doubts?
The question, how does a person know in his heart that Islam is the right religion? Well,
I think first, the person should be convinced that there is a right religion. That's what they need to be clear on. Because for a lot of people, the issue of is their right to religion has to be clear. So once they've accepted that, yes, there must be a right religion, that God in His wisdom didn't leave people on their own, that he did send messengers to guide them, then the simple way is to compare
to compare the religions, look at what is being taught, and then look at what is a true candidate for being the true religion, then one turns to God and ask for God's guidance. And God will make it clear and plain for them. But it's through knowledge, what we don't want people to, to join religion on the basis of emotion, where you are emotionally, you know, caught up, but it should be based on knowledge after knowledge, then you give your emotional commitment. So the advice would be to get all your questions answered all the basic questions, study some of the other religions, so it doesn't mean doesn't mean you don't come into the religion you didn't know about any other
religions. So you have an idea. And then when you're convinced in your heart, then in sha Allah, that's the time to make the move.
Is that that? Ha, yeah. Okay, good. To see if there are any non Muslims present.
Yeah, that's that's a good point. Sorry. I'm, and I've been saying that throughout the last two days, but I forgot. Check has reminded me if there's any, Not Yet Muslims, and they want to ask questions. If you feel shy, write them down, write the question down, believe me. And I mean, I have listened to Abu Amina Billa Phillips until I, well, before I embraced Islam, I was reading his books. And listening to his, they were tapes them, they weren't DVDs. They were tapes, audio tapes, I used to put them in the car and listen on journeys, and I got knowledge from that. hamdulillah so those people who want to ask questions pertaining to you know, any issue nonmuscle, please do write
your question down or come to the, you know, come to the microphones. And we have any question from sisters.
There is a question is a question about actually, which is pertaining to the topic, a lot of people are struggling with the concept of buying their own house and financing the purchase of their own house in Norway, particularly a lot of Muslims have mentioned that.
They were talking about the prohibition of riba and they wanted you to explain, share that is that I mean, is there any permissibility at all in buying a house or, you know, if you're here and you can't maybe you've got nowhere to live? A lot of people they don't they don't have welfare state system with social housing here in Norway.
More than half
of the salary goes to the Brennan's more than that, yeah, it's like London anyway. So they're asking for a bit of advice on that
hamdulillah salatu salam, ala Rasulillah. To deal with
issues of purchasing one's own home. What was done in Canada, where I grew up, was that Muslims formed an association, a housing association, where
the members of that association all contributed a certain amount monthly into a fund. And they then drew by straws who would get the first house when the amount of money reached sufficient to get a house and the person who was first in the list, they got the house, but the house remained in the name of the cooperative until everybody received their house. So what it's saying is that
This situation forced Muslims to come and to work together. You couldn't the only way to do it on your own was to go to the bank and get the mortgage. And this was haram. So the alternative is that the Muslim community work together and develop the alternatives. And that is the proper way, as opposed to just saying, Well, you know, I cannot afford it. So therefore, I'm going to the bank. No, you sacrifice, even if it means half of your salary is going to rent at the end of the year. You don't have a place but you have to know that if you're paying half of your salary, in rent, that every kronor that you pray, pay is blessed by Allah.
That's what you have to be certain of, because you're paying it to avoid
going into riba going into interest. So know that every kronor is blessed by Allah. Whereas if you do the mortgage, know that every kronor you pay is cursed by Allah.
So though you may end up with a home, but it is a cursed home, as the Prophet SAW Solomon said about the man on the journey, who Dustin is here, falls on his knees raises his hands, Praise to Allah. But promises Allah said, How is Allah going to answer his prayer? When the food that he is eating is haram. The money that is earned is haram. The flesh that is grown on his body has grown from haram. How is Allah going to answer his prayers? So that is the bottom line, we should know that even though that person was on a journey, and we know that's the best time to make dua
isn't it raises his hands, that's one of the
correct actions in making dua.
But his dua was rejected, because his food, his earnings were haram. So my advice is I said, for the community to come together, create that association. We did it in Canada, you can do it here.
But it requires effort, sacrifice, commitment, but it can be done.
And, you know, also that's gone on in Leicester, in London, in England as well, whereby they've set up cooperatives and there are many cooperatives actually all around the Western sort of Europe, area of people buying houses and helping each other to obtain like the shake is saying.
We have
one from the sisters and one from here who we're going to go to
Oh, yeah.
Sisters chomps
Go ahead.
Salam Alaikum My name Islam. I got a question from sisters. She says how can one person get better at controlling one's negative emotions when someone tries to be patient but has a problem being persisted in daily life any advice?
I germs of controlling negative emotions.
It can be discounted by positive emotions that one has to develop positive
outlooks. And that's what we spoke about. Were positivism in Islam begins with gratitude.
And it is nurtured by patience. So one has to do
good deeds, one has to be grateful, whenever good deeds is done. And at the same time, one has to be patient and make patients a part of their day to day lifestyle. When that happens, then the negative, pessimistic outlook will start to change. But one has to make that commitment and make those steps and ultimately it has to be for the sake of God for the sake of Allah, because that's what's going to keep them committed and consistent. If one is doing it just for people just to prove something to other people, then will not be able to maintain
gratitude and patience.
Throughout our lives will always falter will always end up falling apart. Because there are million and one reasons why not to be grateful. And why not to be patient.
There's another one which says, There are many people who say they love the teachings they like the teachings of Islam share. And if you ask them why they haven't become Muslims, they have no answer.
But they've heard
they've heard about the teachings of Islam, and they're just sort of waiting for a sign. Is there any advice that you would give to those people if they're in the room?
Well, I would say that
one needs to answer the question, why not?
No one needs to address and to find out what is the reason why one is hesitating. Me usually it comes down to issues of family, what are people going to say? What are my friends gonna say? That's the usual, you know, factor which will hold certain people back. And we know that happened, even the time of the Prophet may God's peace and blessings be upon him, or His own uncle Abu Talib didn't accept Islam for that same fear. So it means that it is, and it's something I've heard many, many times in many, many places. But for those of you in the audience who might have that
thought, or have that obstacle, then you have to reflect on the fact that we don't know when our time is gonna come. We don't know when we're going to die. If we have an awareness of the truth, then we need to commit ourselves to the truth, take it on, and know that God ultimately will provide will protect and will help us through the rest of our life. There are people all through the centuries, from the earliest of times who have made this choice, and they have been successful in their lives, they've gone through difficulties they have suffered, etc. But all of this is for the good. If one is sincere, it will serve to make one a stronger believer. And ultimately, when we
stand before God, on the Day of Judgment, he's not going to ask us about our family, our friends, our neighbors, etc, is going to ask us about ourselves.
Why we didn't make the choice when we could
Zacchara herscherik. And the another question from the sister or sisters
as salaam alaikum.
I have a friend that is not yet a Muslim, and she wants to become a Muslim, but there's a lot of things she doesn't want to give up like, partying, or
alcohol, but she's not addicted. She just likes alcohol.
Okay, and she wants to become a Muslim, but she doesn't want to give up that part of her life. What should I tell her? Just the alcohol? Is it or am party?
Well, I would say that
I'm sure there's a lot of Muslims here who are partying.
I won't ask you to put your hands up.
But I'm sure there are a lot who are partying so
she can come and become a Muslim and still party.
It's not to say that it's something that we're going to encourage you to keep on doing. But we believe that having become a Muslim and learned about the religion child to practice it, then the need to party will get less and less until inshallah you give it up. And even in the case of alcohol, some people might say no, how are you going to let her take shahada and she's still drinking? Well, is it better for her to take shahada and still drink? Or is it better for her not to take shahada and still drink?
Take shahada obviously. So I would say if she wants to become a Muslim, let her become a Muslim. Let her know of course she knows that alcohol is forbidden that she will have to deal with it. She has to go beyond it. But better for her to go ahead and become a Muslim, then not Zacchara hair so I think that's very clear. Thank you.
Brothers question. How is she going to make prayer if she's drunk?
No
No What? What did Allah say in the Quran?
Lata krobo Salah antem Sakara. In other words, don't come to prayer. Don't pray when you're intoxicated. So we tell her that simply as Allah said, Don't pray when you're intoxicated.
No, I'm saying we understand this brother. When I'm saying you asked, how is she going to pray when she's decayed? We tell her, don't pray when you're intoxicated. That's it.
That's the start. Yes. She could be intoxicated with the worship of Allah.
Instead of a hammer.
Pray for her to reach that time inshallah. Inshallah, may Allah make it easy for her to take that decision and soon as possible before she meets meets Allah sha Allah. Then we got another question required a nice question. What does Islam say about love?
It's very vague, I think it means I'm not sure that it probably means the love of Allah as it or love, as in women and men loving each other. Well, maybe the person who asked the question should clarify. What did you know by that question if we knew what it meant, but
because it's a big, big topic, yeah. But what we can just say in general, that,
as the Prophet SAW, Solomon said, he No, one is not a true believer, unless one loves Allah and His Messenger more than anyone or anything in this world.
That the basis of our belief is love, love of God, that the love of God should be greater than the love of the material world, and the things of this material world. Allah Shala zakat Oka and question about Hijab Halal haram sunnah.
So long one.
But hey, Job is quite simple. A job is an obligation on Muslim women.
And,
of course, it doesn't mean that if a Muslim woman doesn't worship hijab, she's no longer Muslim. But she is in sin. From the perspective of God, she is in sin, if she doesn't wear a job, a job meaning that she covers her body, the whole of her body in a loose garment, from head to toe, nothing being seen of her except her face. And hence. And we should also know, because all the time we talk about her job. We always speak about the job of women. But we should also know that there is a job of men.
The job of men not not just there's a mental job also as we know about that job. But there's the other job which is the external hedgehog, where it is prohibited for a Muslim man to wear pants, which expose his private parts.
Because at the same time we say women cover yourself. But then we're walking out to span the expanse and men. So there's no double standard in Islam. As a woman, it is not acceptable hijab, for her to wear something on her head. But she wears the top which is so tight, she may as well not be wearing any top or a bottom that is so tight, you may as well not be wearing any bottom. We don't accept that as a job. It's not a job. Similarly, for men, particularly between the navel and the knee, their garments should be so loose, that private parts are not exposed. And this is a big issue, because a lot of the Muslim communities males in the Muslim community have ignored this. And
scholars scholars will tell you and you will know that one of the
conditions for the
correctness or acceptability of Salah
is what set to rule our
covering the private parts.
So covering the private parts is no different for men than women in the sense that between the navel and knee which is the private area of the male that is supposed to be covered in a similar manner. The garment should be loose. So pants that our western style pants for Muslims is really not acceptable unless you're wearing a top which comes down to your knee or you're wearing loose pants. Like the
Shall wore
Pakistani
pants The waist is like this why'd you know it comes together? Whatever. This is a point that you need to address. Because if you're serious about the deen then we don't have a double standard. One standard of exposing our or covering our for men and another standard for women. No. We have one standard in Islam
Phillips Alhamdulillah but unfortunately that comes really drawing to us to a close for the second day because we have to be out of the building pretty soon