Abdur-Raheem McCarthy – Ramadan a life changing expereince
AI: Summary ©
The importance of changing behavior and actions to achieve goals is emphasized, along with the training process for Muslims to become stronger and more confident. The training is designed to help individuals become more aware of their decisions and impact their world. The importance of praying and fasting, setting clear goals, and surrounding oneself with people with a similar vision and belief is emphasized. The speaker also emphasizes the need to work for change and strive for change throughout the year, even during difficult times.
AI: Summary ©
My dear brothers and sisters,
I want to start today's Hello.
By asking a question.
Everyone reflect on the answer and answer within yourselves.
How many Ramadan's Have you fasted?
And when you don't get the age gaps between us, some of us might answer 10 Ramadan's 20 3040 or even more, Mashallah.
But the real significant and important question that we need to ask ourselves
is what is the change
that all of these Romo bonds has had on us? What change?
How has these Roma bonds all of these Roma bonds that I've fasted? How have they helped me to become a better Muslim?
How have they helped me to change to become a better person?
Because the sad reality is, is that most Muslims do not truly benefit from Ramadan.
So he it's correct, there could be some reward some sins forgiven.
But what's really significant is that Ramadan causes a change in our life. And that's why the Scholars they said that one of the signs that you're Ramadan has been accepted from Allah and that your Ramadan has been a success is that you continue to improve and continue to act upon what you were doing in Ramadan, A, that there was positive change in Ramadan.
We often get asked,
how can we change we know we need to change to become better Muslims to become better individuals. In all other aspects in life, we should constantly try to improve and become better as Muslims.
But where does it start? Who's out I want to change I want to be better what do I do? Allah subhanho wa Taala made it clear in the Quran. In Allahu Allah, Allah, you don't want to be a gold, how do you lay it all muddy and foresee him that indeed a law does not change the situation of people until they change the situation of themselves first, it has to start from within the chain starts with you.
And Allah subhanho wa Taala told us in some sort of law, young Sudoko that you support Allah Allah will support you.
When you strive for Allah subhanho wa Taala
something amazing happens. And we'll share with you an amazing ayat about this at the end of the whole bunch, hallo, Tana.
Ramadan is the perfect opportunity for each one of us to sit and reflect
and look at his situation, where am I? And where do I need to go? And no one knows you better than you know yourself.
Ramadan is the unique imperfect opportunity for change.
When you look at the opportunities that we have, in Ramadan, we're entering into a spiritual bootcamp
a training session a 29 or 30 day training session. All of the major and successful companies around the world they make sure that their employees go through continuous training all throughout the year, whether it be 100 hours a year or 200 or 200 hours a year in Ramadan.
You you're going through a 720 hour training session.
And people might ask how is that in 24 hours a day? I'm training in Ramadan? Yes, because everything you do.
You're focusing on your body and how to benefit from Ramadan. Even when you sleep Subhan Allah, the teachings of Islam teaches that even our sleep is a bad if you have the proper intention. When you go to sleep, it's a bad day. That's what most of the Allah Who and he used to say that he would have the NIA for is known for his sleep at this evil no multi come after Almighty that I have the need to get the reward from my sleep. Just as I have the intention to get the reward from when I get up. And in Ramadan. The sleep that we sleep because we want to be able to fast and have strength during our fast and we want to be able to read the Quran and make sure we pray together we we need to have the
strength to be able to do it. So even our sleep is training us
to put benefit in Baraka in the sleep that we have
hamdulillah
when you look at Ramadan,
Ramadan
and we said it was a bootcamp or a training session, what's meant by that? The companies that send you to train? What is the objective, and this is very famous a company might send you out
to another country for 30 days to train. What is the objective of your company when you come back? Do they want you to be the same employee they left after they spent the money in the ticket and the accommodation and pay for the course. And they send you overseas and you come back and you're the same employee. It was useless. The same thing, aroma bond, Allah subhanaw taala is giving us this training session in order for us to change it to become better. When you look at Ramadan. One of the things that it's training us to do when it comes to change. We're making the NEA to do something and we do it every single day. The NEA too fast the NEA to get up for school, the NEA to go to the
masjid five times a day, the intention to make sure we break our fast on time that we do this, we do that. And then we leave this and we leave that all of these things, we intend to do them in Ramadan. And we do them.
Whereas many of the things we claim that we want to do outside of Ramadan, we never do them. So Ramadan is teaching us to have strong determination. And this is what Islam wants from the Muslim is to be strong,
to be determined and strong when he makes his decisions. Allah subhanho wa Taala told us for you the Assumpta for talking about Allah, that if you make a decision to rely upon Allah just do it Start.
The prophet that is Salatu was Salam from the DUA that he used to make Allahumma in the US and Luca to fill m&e was out Luca Azima too rushed. He would say, Oh Allah, I asked you steadfastness and all of my offense, and as you determination to show me to the right path, you have to have the desire and then ask ALLAH SubhanA wa Tada to help you be determinated and Ramadan is teaching that you can do it. And that's one of the things Ramadan is training us to do is to leave your comfort zone to leave the things that you've been you become accustomed to. In Ramadan.
You leave food and drink, who doesn't love to eat and drink some of us too much unfortunately. But in Ramadan, we prove to ourselves that we can leave this and this is something amazing about Ramadan. When we talk about leaving that which is haram. And now people always say make dua for me. Yes, yes, I want to make Toba but I'm finding difficulty Subhanallah Ramadan, you're leaving that which is halal.
You will live in that which is halal for your Ramadan. And that proves to you that you can leave that which is haram outside of Ramadan as well it would come to the left.
And many of the Haram things we will leave it in Ramadan, that also proves to you that you can leave it outside of Ramadan.
I remember in Ireland, my jujitsu coach who was a non Muslim, when he learned about Ramadan and what we do when we're fasting for 19 hours a day of Ramadan, and in Ireland.
And he heard the how we fast know what we do. And he would see sometimes it would work out as we're fasting. He said this is amazing.
He said it's amazing. He said it proves to you that you can do anything that you want. This is the this is the power of Ramadan. It proves to you that you are a champion. You can do anything. You left food and water for 19 hours or 16 hours here wherever whatever country you're in, you can it shows you the capability that you have as a human being. And this should transform into your religious affairs and into your worldly affairs as well. How much positive change you can make in your life.
Ramadan is teaching us
to organize our time
many times outside of the Ramallah people complain when they want to practice their religion. They're too busy with work too busy with family too busy with this. So they don't find time
to devote themselves religiously. Ramadan teaches us and trains us that we have the ability to do it and Hamdulillah we focus on our a bother on our prayers on our fasting on an army citation of the Quran on giving sadaqa and doing this good deed and that good deed.
At the same time we find time for our social obligations for our family and for our friends and for our community. At the same time we go to work every day like we do outside of Ramadan. This teaches is that if we really have the Azeema we have the determination that we can organize our times even outside of Ramadan as well.
Ramadan trains us to leave the bad habits that we have.
Whether it be talking ill about others saying bad things about others using bad language. You looking at that which is haram listening to that which is haram in Ramadan, we leave it says stop for lung fasting.
This is training you that you can do at any time throughout the year as well.
Many of our brothers who have been afflicted with smoking and they want to quit there was a make dua I want to quit. He said I can't I'm addicted and Ramadan he leaves for 16 hours a day and Hamdulillah you left it for more than half of the day that proves to you that you can do it all of the time when hamdulillah
Ramadan is a training session My dear brothers and sisters, a blessing from Allah subhanho wa Taala
you're never going to find a better opportunity than Ramadan. If you really want to change to be better in all aspects of your life. You're not going to find a better time that Ramadan. Everyone is fasting. Everyone is reading more Quran. Everyone is giving sadaqa around you everyone is going to the masjid everyone is praying Tada we're the shale thing had been shackled. The doors of Jana have been open and the doors of the Hellfire have been closed. All of this is happening along the lawn. Therefore you will never find a better opportunity to change then in Ramadan. If you want to make Toba, you want to repent to Allah. This is the month of October. This is the best opportunity that
you ever have. You will never have an environment to make Toba like you will in Ramadan. If you want to have other people who you have problems with forgive you. Their hearts are clean in Ramadan. This is the opportunity. If you want to resolve conflicts that you have, this is the time to do it.
When you look at making Toba and repenting to Allah subhana wa Tada
Ramadan is a unique opportunity
and from the blessings of Allah subhanho wa taala. He gave us an opportunity an amazing opportunity.
And this opportunity is not just in Ramadan.
It's anytime during the year when you truly repent to Allah subhanho wa Taala however, there's something unique in Ramadan. There's something unique about this opportunity and something special that happens only in Ramadan.
And Surah Al Furqan Allah subhanho wa Taala said inland Medina taboo what ermine who are Amina Iman and Solihull, except for those who repent. And they have true Iman.
And they do good deeds. These are the three conditions, what's going to happen when these three conditions are met. And before I mentioned the rest of the I, I want you to reflect on what the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said about Ramadan, and how we get a great reward for fasting and praying in Ramadan. He said that whoever does it, imagine with the seven, whoever does it, through his Eman and through his app decides that he wants to reward anyone who wants something in life. What do they do, they work for it and they strive for it. So these are the conditions in order for you to have your sins forgiven in Ramadan. As mentioned the Hadith of the Prophet sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam that you fast and you pray out of Eman out of your faith and out of it Sam wanting the reward and striving for it during the month.
And this verse is sorted for con Inlet in a taboo Well, no, I mean, I'm gonna slowly half except for those who make Toba, they repent so a lot. And they have Iman and they do good deeds. And this is the month of Eman. This is the month of Eman and the month of good deeds, the environment that you're in. Now, you're never gonna find this opportunity to make Toba like this. This is the perfect time. What happens is that people will make Toba Allah subhanaw taala said for all you but did Allah who say he antium has a net that Allah will turn all of their bad deeds into good deeds Subhanallah all of the sins that we've done throughout the years, if we truly repent to Allah subhanho wa Taala
Allah will turn them all into good deeds for us. May Allah subhanho wa Taala make us all from those who repent to Him in this blessed month, and make us from those who Allah accepts the Toba from them era Bill Alameen.
Wa My dear brothers and sisters, the question comes when someone wants to change, what are the practical steps that I need to take and the many things that we need to do.
But today I want to mention four or five things that if we do them, at least it's going to help us start and to get on the path.
The first thing is you have to want it. It has to come from within. In Allahu Allah you will know you don't want to be a foaming hut.
You'll lay it all maybe unfussy him that indeed a law does not change the situation of the people until they change the situation of their selves and has to start from within. You have to start, you have to want it, you have to have that burning desire to change to become better.
And then you have to set clear objectives, clear goals, what is it that you want to accomplish? And I'm talking and always say, in my lectures in my code buzz that we want from this ummah, from our OMA from our nation of Muslims. We don't want just veteran Muslims who religiously we want better Muslims at all, all aspects of life,
and your careers and your family lives and your health and everything. So no matter what it is that you want to do you want to change. It's the same steps, it starts from within, and then you have clear goals and objectives. How am I going to do it? What is my plan? Put the map in front of you? How what is it that I want to do? And how am I going to do it to reach my objectives?
Once you have the plan, you have the desire from within, then you need to just start, stop waiting.
Stop doing the test suite. I'll do it later. I'll do it next month after Ramadan, the last 10 days we have to realize that this time may never come.
Allah said in the verse, The Assumpta talk about Allah, that if you make the decision, put your trust in the Lord just do it just start.
The Prophet alayhi salatu salam he told us was the aim below, well attaches seek Allah's assistance and don't give up. Work for it, strive for it just start.
Always tell the brothers that perhaps one of the greatest slogans for any company and the days that we live in, is what Nike says, when they say just do it.
You want to get in shape, just do it just start, you want to become a better Muslim, just start just do it. And this is what these ads and these Hadith I'm talking about. I'm mentioning, it's what it's talking about, just do it just start. This is the third step.
After that, you have to surround yourself with those who are on the same mission as you those who have the same objectives of you. Those who want to reach Jannah. If you want to be on the straight path, you want to learn to forgive you, you want to stay firm on that path. You have to surround yourself with those who are in the same mission with the same objectives. And that's why we read every Friday and sort of tell Kath, Was there enough second malady you know, you're doing one out of bombilla that you will as she you read doing our job, to make yourself patient with those who make dua to Allah and that indeed, they want to countenance of a law.
You have to have your friends close to you those who are on the same mission. If you want to get in shape. You want to be have better health, you have to surround yourself with those who have the same objectives in the same vision as you as well.
BarakAllahu li Walakum through Quran he was sunnah whenever we can be mafi Hema minute it will hikma a Kulu holy ha That was stuck for Allah he will come for stock Pharaoh who in a hula hula for Rahim.
Bismillah R Kapur wa Salatu was Salam ala Nabina Mustafa abide by the Brothers and Sisters in Islam.
When the Prophet alayhi salatu salam informed us that the we have three main opportunities in Ramadan to have all of our sins forgiven.
Each one of the Hadith starts off with the same thing.
Whoever VAs the month of Ramadan, whoever
prays the month of Ramadan means that Tada we pray the congregation prayers. He prays during the month of Ramadan with the congregation and whoever muncom A little cuddle. Whoever
prays the night of later Kadri standing in prayer during the night of later codon, three opportunities, what happens? But what do you have to do to get this opportunity? First of all, he said we'll figure out how to cut them in them b that is all of his sins will be forgiven. But before that, what does it say in the Hadith that whoever does this Eman and where does happen? He doesn't do his Eman. His faith into his desire of wanting to reward from Allah subhanho wa Taala what happens in return? And what is this hadith teaching us? This hadith is training us that if you want something that you have to go out you have to strive for it. That he said
it's not just a money, false hopes. I hope Allah forgives me if you have to go and work for it. You have to make sure you get up and you pray you pray with the Imam until he finishes you come for the pm you pray as much as you can you strive during the last 10 nights to make sure you're praying during laser cut that you have to work for it. And this is training us to work and
To strive for change in all aspects of our life throughout the year as well.
Ramadan is an opportunity and opportunity for change. And that's why the Prophet alayhi salatu salam told us and the Hadith mon Halima Haider who are called Hurin that whoever is not successful in getting the head the good that comes in this month than he is truly the one who has lost
and he told us another Hadith Ali salatu salam lovely month Imran Ducati Ramadan Allah milk fella, who that may he be humiliated, may he be humiliated, the one who Ramadan enters and his sins are not forgiven. Why because he didn't take the advantage of the opportunity that he had to change it to have his sins forgiven.
If we really want to change and we want to be better as Muslims and better in all aspects of our life, we have to strive and we have to start with pure intention for Allah subhanho wa taala, even our worldly affairs,
even in your worldly affairs, when you want to become better, and you want the Lord to be pleased with you. I want to be an engineer or a doctor. And I want the Lord to be pleased me because I perfect what I do as a Muslim. Look at the reward that you'll be getting. I want to be a better Muslim. I want to set a better example for my Alma for this great religion that I follow.
And you strive for it. What's gonna happen when you strive for it? And I promised in the beginning for those of you who are paying attention, that our mission is
what we get in return when we strive for Allah subhanaw taala
Allah told us
and look at this beautiful eyes Subhan Allah. When Latina Jaya had Rufina Lana, the unknown Solana we're in Allah Allah Allah man machine. We're in Allah, Lemma and machine in
that those who strive for us, Allah says, Indeed, surely, I will guide him to my weights. You want to follow the straight path strive for Allah and Allah will show you to the straight path. And what does the law say in the end of the verse, What in Allah Lemma and machine and indeed, Allah will be with the doers of good, Allah will be there for you. Allah will assist you, Allah will help you. All you have to do is start have the intention. And then strive for Allah subhanaw Wattana to change it to become better. And Allah subhanho wa Taala will assist you and he will be there for you. May Allah subhana wa Tada make us all from those who strive for positive change and all the aspects of
our life during this blessed month in May He make us from those who take advantage of this opportunity. Because my dear brothers the reality is how many of our brothers and sisters who are fasting with us last year, they're not here this year. So the opportunity is here. We still have half of the month to go. So let's make the best of it.