Tafseer Surat AlKahf #10

All right.

So today inshallah we will conclude

the citation and explanation,

comment, or our commentary

upon the story or on the story of the men, two men and two gardens, that talks about wealth, it focuses on the concept of wealth and materialism, and how people how us, or we, or we view money, how we view wealth and how we deal with it in life and what we relate it to and what we associate it with. And that is something that is crucial and critical for every human being, if you have a healthy understanding, or a healthy outlook,

towards wealth and to towards materialistic possessions,

you will be much more successful in life you will be, it'll be less likely for you to get depressed, or to become very arrogant, it will be less likely for you to lose friends or to mistreat people,

you're more likely to be a stronger Muslim, you're more likely Inshallah, to achieve more in life and to actually be more generous to others. Because having a healthy perspective on money on wealth and what it means for you in life, what it does for you, and what why you have it, and why others don't, and what your what message, what cause it serves within your life, it's something that is very, very important that all all human beings throughout history have always we always struggled with this as a race. As arrays of creatures we've always struggled with, with understanding what we're supposed to do with with all this wealth, and how that relates or how that correlates with our

self image, how it correlates with our self value, and with our feelings of success and failure.

And that's the importance of course of talking about money. I mean, I don't need to even spend any time talking about how the whole world one way or another is run based on based on money, it's all comes back to you. You can do all the calculations, you want to talk about all the different elements that played into this major event. But then it kind of fizzles down to who made money, or who profited from this and how it worked. And as Muslims, it's important that we understand, understand what Allah subhanaw taala wants us to do with wealth. It is one of the four elements that the Buddha talks about, that are used to build individuals and to build communities. It's one of the

four elements that are needed. In order for us to be able to build something that is sustainable, and prosperous, we need them we need to have wealth, it's not something that we do not want to have, or we shy away from where we look at in a dim light, or it's frowned down upon No, not at all, money is not seen like that. However, however, if you do have or if we do have a an ill understanding of both, and materialism and positions, then then that could that could be our demise, or it can cause us to go astray. Now the ayat that we recited so far, I'm talking about the comment that were commenting on that story. And, and there are many of them, probably the longest commentary within

the whole, the whole SUTA. It talked about a number of different elements, I want to talk about the last one just so that we can just make it so I can connect to it. We're going to read today to what you read last time, give the example of bliss. And Adam, he musta

said I'm Adam,

when he was confronted with with his mistake Damali salaam was quick to repent and quick to regret what He did, however, bliss, but he was given by Allah subhanaw taala the wealth that he had, it wasn't money, he was already living in Ghana. The wealth that he had possessed was the Grace of Allah subhana wa Taala the Mercy of Allah that was bestowed upon him the status that he had, he had a status that no other Jinn had. And the way he read what he had, meaning that he understood it, what it represented for him was was was a big mistake, meaning he misunderstood, he misinterpreted what the blessing of Allah subhanaw taala was for him and in his life. And that is, that is why this

story is here. Because when it talks about wealth, and when this story is talking about, well, he's not just talking about cash. It's not just talking about a number in your bank account. It's everything that you own.

Any family is an example of both having a big family, a supportive family being from a big family and is a form of Well, that's why in this story itself, he told him if I have more children than you do, or have more people to support me than you do, right? Having a lot of knowledge is a form of both having any degrees and certificates and there's a lot of different forms of wealth, possessions. Now you say well, you know, knowledge is not because knowledge is going to come later. Knowledge and information is something different. Now isn't knowing things a different thing. Having a lot of knowledge means possession, possessing a lot of information that's also something that you

have or you don't have. Now what

does for you. That's what knowledge is what it does for you how that helps you, you know, become someone better. That's what knowledge is. But in its in its own essence, it's still something that you have or you don't have all these things that you have, how do you view them? What? What type of what level of importance do you give them? What do they serve for you in your life? What are you? What are you hoping to get from them? What are you what's depending upon them within your own life and all that is what the I have talked about. Emily's not Allah. What happened for him is that he misinterpreted but Allah Subhan, ALLAH given him, give them high status and given an importance

subhanaw taala gave him a lot. He misunderstood that he took that to be something that caused him to look down on others as

a lot of instances and a lot of, a lot of times, if you have a lot of money, or you're very successful, you may look down on those who are not. Or you may feel that you're you know, your superior to someone who lives a much more simple lifestyle does not have as much own as much in life is that not one of not one of the problems, it is one of the problems. Now this the story itself, talked about it first. Now remember when we talked about the man who spoke to his friend, and I talked to you, I told you that when this man walked into his his gender or volume, oddly enough si entered with being in this state of oppressing himself by saying something to his friend, he said

four things to himself right. Now, I deliberately didn't talk too much about what he first said, because I want to talk about it now. So I can connect to the story and the commentary for you. See, what he first said, was what he said to his friend, that was the biggest problem. He told them, I am, I have more money than you. And I have more a bigger family than you. So what he meant was I was more successful than you. Right. And that's something you don't say to a friend. And that is a extremely arrogant statement. That's an extremely arrogant statement to say to anyone, even if you believe that you wouldn't say it. Even if you looked at someone and you believe that in your heart,

you may say that to your wife, when you're between you and her, but you wouldn't tell it to his face. Right? may say to a friend, but I tell it to someone's face is a level of arrogance that is appalling. That's just too hurtful. Now he did talk to himself, he talked about a number of things and the commentary, the verses talked about kind of drew parallels to these things that he said, and we studied them. But that first statement, I didn't take too much time because I was going to hope I would talk about it. Now. See, that is the equivalent of what Iblees did. See, he looked down on his friend because his friend didn't have as much money didn't have as much social support or status.

And he believed that he was better than him because of that. It believes the exact same thing. That's why the story is here. That's why the stories in the commentary upon upon the concept of wealth or within the aisle, commenting on wealth. Why? Because bliss believed he was better than

him. He took he made a comparison. He said, Well, I've been alive way longer than he has. I've been worshipping God for him for a very long time. Allah subhanaw taala gave me status. They didn't give him he hasn't done anything yet. He added to that. He said, Well, you know, I made a fire he's made of soil, or elements of the Earth, you're just drawing in comparison. And every time he compared he came to the conclusion, well, I'm just better. I am just better in every in every sense of the,

of the word. And he's and he and it caused him to directly disobey Allah subhana wa, tada, which was the problem. He disobeyed Allah subhanaw taala out front, because he actually believed that he was better. Just like the guy in the first story. The first man told his friend, I better that I have more money than you, I have more support than you. What he meant was I'm just I'm just better than you. So do not give me any advice, because probably they were your hobby, or they were talking. And then when you try and tell him no, no, my point is proper. Or my point is correct. And he's telling no is not correct. Why? Because I'm better than you. You don't get to tell me what's correct. I'll

tell you what's correct. Because I know more because I have more, because I've achieved more because you don't amount to anything I'm on to a lot. Understanding. This is a this is a thought process. Very rarely in life does what?

When someone says something or does something very rarely is that the problem. There's always a thought process that led to that, that if you're smart enough, you can go back and then find where the actual problem lies. That's why when you when someone says something offensive, or when your child does something wrong, before you fix that problem, take a moment and then go back a few steps. Find out what caused that to happen in the first place. And if you do that, well, you'll fix problems, you actually fix problems. And they do that a lot in business. Today, when they teach management. This is something that I've come across. I've always known that you've studied this in

psychology a lot in psychiatry, you find that there's a strong, but then you find it also in management, that if you see something you see a phenomenon at work. So if they're wasting time, if the employees are not doing their job, right, then you can immediately say, Well, you can put up a sign saying no more. Don't waste time anymore. You can just deal with that problem. Or you can search you can go back a few steps finding out why. Why is it that they're wasting time? How much time are they waste?

When are they wasting it? Where are they wasting it doing it, you keep on and you search and you have to find out what the cause what the root is, and then you'll find what it is. And then if you fix that problem, then that goes away on its own. And that's how that's how a lot of things happen. So an algorithm can come out sooner for I'm better than you I have more money, I have more power and more status, I have more people, right? That is a that is a manifestation of a root problem. Right? that wealth is a part of that. One of the key elements of that of that presentation, you presented like that. But you want to fix that problem. Change the way you understand money.

And you're saying why this story is important. It's telling you that a lot of the Messiah, a lot of the challenges and misfortunes and hardships that happen in life to people and to communities. The root the root cause is a ill understanding of what money is, if you can fix that if you can get them to see money differently. A lot of these problems will disappear. In bliss is the example. He was arrogant. Now why was he arrogant? He said this dumb. That's not the problem. The problem is arrogance. Well, why is he arrogant is going back one more step. The reason is that he misunderstood what Allah subhanaw taala gave him he viewed it improperly. He didn't understand what what Allah

subhanaw taala meant when he told them, come be with him. And he thought that he was telling him you're better than others. He thought that he was giving him a green card, a green light just to look down on other other creations. No, not at all.

I gave you something very, very thankful. Use it for hire so that you can be rewarded for it. I suppose it's fair for us it well, I'm giving you I'm giving you a chance for greatness and opportunity to achieve a lot. But it's also a two edged sword. You can misuse it and then you can fall endlessly as well. So Allah subhanaw taala gives you something. It's a dangerous thing. Here, here's Rolf Oh, now this is a problem. If I misuse this, I mess up horribly. But if I use it, well, then the sky is the limit, actually. It's unlimited. And the limit is for those. That's the limit. Once you're given I'll give you an example.

The

Muslim poor Muslims came to the Prophet saw less than the poor Sahaba who didn't have much money for calling Allah Subhana Allah do thorough the people who had money, they they beat us with everything. So when I've been publicly yelled, Rasulillah they have, you know, they're getting more hasna they have wealth, and they're spending it on everyone. And we're not making as many of you want to do something called De Luca Mallamma, who hired him in my life, I don't have I tell you something that is better than what they do. So he gave him some advice, and I'm calling it we'll do what I call you Salatin. Subhan Allah said nothing was seen when Hamdulillah He said nothing was ever seen. When

Allahu Akbar Obama said I seen when in Allah who had who will actually get ahead of you he or you need to who Allah coalition and

so he told them what you should do if you if you feel like the people who have wealth, have beaten you are gaining any big advantage

by doing more hesitant because they're wealthy, well then do this after each other. And you'll and you'll catch up and Chola Subhanallah hamdulillah so they did they came back a week later for quality Allah so Allah sent me I was horrible, and I'm worried for some

people with money now they're doing it to

nothing, they're doing that as well. You know, it's not working for God, Allah it's like a fumble Mahi. De he mean your shirt, Allah Who that that is the Yanni the bounty of Allah subhanaw taala. He gives what he wants to whom he wants, you don't have as much money, have the good intention, but I can help you like this. Because what they were given can also cause them to be extremely punished as well. They can misuse it they can make, they can make a horrible mistake with what they've got. And then the punishment will be much bigger as well. Way bigger, they can fall endlessly again, as well. So this is this is the example that I'm trying to give you that the beauty of what we're still

studying right now we're reading is that it's trying to fix the cod the root problems, but it's so much commentary. The root problem for a lot of different issues is how we view money. And I know I've said the same sentence five, six times now but I need everyone to think about this for a while. How do you view it? What do you hope to gain from it? Why do you want so much what are you going to do? Why do you want to do what you want to do with it you have to think about these things. Never ever be simplistic when dealing with wealth. When you have money never deal with it. simplistically, just do it. If you want to do think think while you're doing what you're doing. Think why you want a

bigger house think why you want better furniture think why better car think make sure you're doing for the right reason. Make sure that make sure you understand why he gave you money, what you're doing with it and that there's it's being put to good use as well, that you understand that this is something Allah subhanaw taala gave us to help build the community to help build a society that you live in to help build a family a strong family is there to help build the family is not there to keep people quiet. It's not there to gain status. It's not there for you know for purely for luxury.

purely for leisure, no, it has to be used for something, we need it of course we need it, to clothe ourselves to get to give our children opportunity to help them to get them married, to make a place to for us to live, so we can live comfortably and to be able to function do our jobs. We have money so that we can help build our societies and we have to pump money into it. Things don't happen with no money, you need money to get things done, you want to see a better or you want a better future for Muslims, or put your hand in your pocket. I know that one of the problems that Muslim institutions have today is that they have their hands in Muslims pocket all the dogs baguettes all

the time, and then nothing happens. Always fundraising fundraising, I hate the word I know. I now officially hate the word fundraising. When I hear it, I cringe I walk away. I don't whenever they hear the word. I feel like something just as bad feeling because it's always a it's always the same thing all the time. Well, why? Why do we need to do this? Why do institutions need to always do that? Because I think Muslims, they don't understand why wealth exists to begin with. You shouldn't people shouldn't be coming asking you for their money, you shouldn't be carrying your money. You're asking, Okay, what can I do, where give me a place where I can put this where can be of good where

can be a benefit for the Muslim community telling me how I can help 100 I have more than what I need right now. Even with my savings, I have Hamdulillah, I have more to give, I want to give how show me someone who needs who needs help. Show me somewhere I can help. You don't have to fix the whole Muslim world problems with the $5,000 that you have anyone to give away or the $500 or $5, you can do it. You can help one person two people that's good. It's a buck, if you can help one person in life, if you can take someone who doesn't have a job doesn't have a house is not functioning properly and help them to do that, then you've actually you are gonna hear her message me. If you

can give life sometimes giving life is not just for doctors. And sometimes you can offer life to someone who doesn't really living a life. And then it's like you did it for everyone. Look, look in your vicinity. And then that's why wealth is there. This is the reason we have it.

View it like that. And suddenly everything changes, then suddenly you feel the responsibility, you don't feel the superiority, you feel the pressure, you don't feel any the greed. You know, you're not always you're always wanting more. However, you're trying to find the proper channels for what you have right now.

Know what you see, the Quran doesn't tell you improve your you know, your economic well being improve your financial status, that happens naturally. This is a natural disposition of every single living thing. It's a part of evolution, it's who you are as, as a creature, you're a mammal, we're mammals, that's what we want to do, we always want to improve our well being we always want, you don't need to be told that however, we need to be reminded of why you're doing it, what you're trying to achieve with it, where you're going with it. What you're going to do when you've already achieved something more than what you need, what do you do with the rest of it? And then what and

why? And what does that represent? And are you better or are you not or

it's the root problem or the root cause for a lot of problems in the world today. And that's why there's so much commentary on this story in the Sudan I just wanted to make sure before we moved on, or we finished today that I conveyed that message in Charlotte properly to think about insha Allah look at it.

The fact that the example that Allah subhanaw taala drew when he talked about it was a bliss should be enough.

The fact that when he talked about money and the view of wealth, he brought in the example of bliss, then we should all you know have our guards up because he's telling you look this is the worst thing. The worst thing there's no one worse than a bliss and that's why wasn't materialistic possession but it was something he was given. And wealth is the thing that we all hope to be given at one point or another in our lives. Okay, we continue inshallah from a number if it's your hope. I hope that was that was helpful. Okay. I start from Iowa number 52. Sort of guff. I will be he Nina che on your body

Bismillah

Rahim.

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on the day when it said or when he says now do call upon show aka your Lavina Zang tomb, my associates whom you claimed I had. So Allah subhanaw taala will call upon the people who associated others with him. Now, again, you have to understand this in the context of what we're talking about here is not talking about

I'm not talking about idols, the associate here is something different. The associated here thing here is the wealth that you were given, it is the status that you you had, because what is associated with Allah subhanaw taala is everything you think grants you independence from him subhanaw taala or everything that you depend upon fully, that's an associate with Allah subhanaw taala whether you have a symbol to worship it openly, publicly and literally or you don't doesn't make really much of a difference. If there's anything in your heart or your mind that you depend upon besides him. Subhana wa Tada. So if you look at if you feel right now that Hamdulillah you are

safe and you feel good. And I asked well why do you feel safe right now and hamdulillah which is a good feeling, and you say you I feel safe because I'm close to Allah subhanaw taala and I know whatever he says my way I'll be able to overcome whatever difficulty comes my way he will grant me the strength to overcome it so Hamdulillah I feel good. Or the real reason that you feel you know safe is that because a certain number is exists right now in your bank account or you own enough things or or your family now is safe or your you know your daughter is married or your son is finally Janya finished university or whatever, whatever it is that you are associating full safety

and security upon that the associate whether you openly say it or not, doesn't make a difference. That is what it is. Because the full Terkel only happens upon Allah subhanaw taala if you're doing Tilak Quran something else does the associate. Now in the Quran, there are different I talk about something like that just so that you can see that there's examples. Many taka ILAHA and Ramadan explained the similar ions sorted through Javea, you see the person who claimed his lord or took his Lord to be his self with desires or his whims. No one in history has ever worshipped his self desires. It's never happened. It's never happened. There is no I looked up, I looked it up actually

wanted to make sure that my claim was was proper. As I went, I looked I looked at I bought a book that talked about different religions, written by an English person, man, I came up with the professor's name. And I looked at is there a face that worshipped self desires that I would be quiet? If there's not not one? Not one claim that to be something that's worthy of worship? So then what Who is he talking about? subhanaw? taala? He's talking about some. Yeah, so someone who believes that to be the most important thing? That is that is the one thing that he will never say no to. That is the holy or sacred part of his existence? That's That's the God that you believe in?

Yes.

And movement in Europe? I still have no

pleasure. Yeah, they didn't worship pleasure. See, that's just

Yeah, so the thing is, when you have to be objective to what religions say about themselves, so they never actually, they never actually said that they worship the pleasure at all, regardless of the of these details.

Allah subhanaw taala considered this person to have associated someone with him. Now who he considered the associate was, or self desires, even though none of us ever think that that's possible. And I'm telling you, if you depend upon anyone besides Him fully subhanaw taala. Right. I'm not saying that having money in the bank shouldn't make you feel good. Or you shouldn't make you feel happier, optimistic. But do you depend upon that? Do you believe that that is why you are safe and secure? You believe that this is what's going to save you? What do you believe? Again, it's all about a root problem of how you view it. What are you seeing what do you see when you see it? How

does your brain process what you have, if you fully depend on it, if it is the reason

that you feel that you're independent and strong and secure, and that's someone you associated with Oh, my apple will now understand the Ellison today again. And the Day when He calls when he says Call upon your associates, the ones that you claimed you had been said of means I'm doing dunlea You claim that you had associates that were better than me, we would save you show me how you both will save you today. Please show me show me how you're going to do anything for you have nothing of it. You have none left, you don't even have clothing. I've always wondered, why do we come up without clothing?

Right, like why would we come up without clothing? It's, you know, it's no one wants to? It's embarrassing to be naked. And when you tell this to a kid, he's like, Oh, we're all gonna be naked. Like they think it's funny. But you know, it's a very scary day and you don't have time to think about it. But why are we why are we not global? Why? Because sometimes you may even think your value is based on your clothing. If you're wearing certain trademarks or you're being them, none of this none of this

So this is all goodwill stuff.

But if you're wearing, if you're wearing expensive clothing, and you have on a watch, and you may, some people may feel this gives you value. Well, even that is taken away, nothing's left. Nothing. Golf doesn't exist anymore. The thing that you depended upon that made you feel worthy of giving yourself value that gives you that security, that safety that you just gone for them, so they call upon them.

They thought they're all thought that day.

I'm pretty sure people on that day will walk around wondering if there's still banks taking they're looking for their cards, asking their wives if their cards are still there, going looking for something that they hid maybe on their the ground somewhere and see if it's still there. First, they'll seek out I'm pretty sure they'll seek out some some form of will to see if they still have something left.

For them yesterday Boulogne and no one replied, nothing replies, you don't find anything, nothing is left takes a moment. You know, people will deny it for a while takes a moment to actually come to the conclusion that really nothing's left. Really the business that I built. It took me 50 years to build this business. My children and my grandchildren carried on for another 1000 years. And now there's nothing left of it. Nothing doesn't exist anymore. All the wealth that was accumulated all the money, the

real estate that we bought with it, everything solid gone.

I don't even have clothing. I have a wardrobe 50 suits. Each suit was more expensive than you know, an average person in third world person's house. And I started my suit where I had more students than people had nieghbors food in their homes. No, no, no, you have nothing to wear. For them, they call upon them for them yesterday Boulogne and they will get no response when you're being in a home MobiCom and even made between them. And their associates MobiCom obika, from the from the root word WABA, which is Holika, meaning something that failed,

something that left you and failed,

which is a bit of a specific concept, meaning something that you used to have, and now you don't have and because you don't have it, you failed.

Understanding the idea. So don't just feel your resizes because I just thought that you are now losing or in a state of failure. No, it's something you're you're in a state of flow because something left you because you don't have anything anymore. That's the concept of mobility. That's where you live. The they would call it a runaway slave, someone who ran away, because he would run away and then his master would be at loss because now he was it was property to him. I know it sounds but that's that's how the word was used. So Alaba como because it means that we put between them, we made between these people and their associates, which is wealth in this with this case, or

in this example, because of the context, we put between them a place of complete failure, which is of course jahannam. But the reason that is there is because that other thing left mean that the reason that they're at last Yeoman piano is because the wealth is not there anymore. That's why because they they built their self image, they depended fully on that. And now it's gone. So between them and their associates as well, because a place of failure, which is where the left and you have them removed and and the oppressors, the criminals, the ones who broke the laws of Allah subhanaw taala will see the Hellfire for one knew and know whom, okay, who her and they said to themselves,

we are probably going there. Well, that was shame work at work, it means that they're going to fall into it and be a part of it.

So you can fall into something and get out of it. You jump into a puddle, or fall into a puddle you get up walk, I mean, you fell into it and you stayed.

So walk is different than what God welcomes you when you when you fall into something and then you become a part of it. You no longer leave. So they look at me see the whole affair on that day, from a new animal welfare and they believe or they they have, they say to themselves, it's very likely that this is where we're going to go. What I'm here to do anonymously for and did not find any alternative pathway sort of is for you to send something that's going in one direction into alternative directions, sort of a che and on had Fe so he's going something's going towards a certain goal and then you send it in a different direction. Well, I need you to anonymously find

they looked for alternative pathways. They're thinking to themselves, is there any way that we don't go here? What can we do right now? And you think about that. That's always how, you know, those who hold on to wealth are those people who are rig towards that materialistic position positions always think there's a way out. I've always found this part of the eye interesting. Because the wording here is very specific. You don't find similar wordings in the Quran talking about someone who seemed to handle them. And I found that to be very, very strong when it made you to anonymously but they couldn't find a way out they couldn't find alternative because you tell someone oh you can't just

kind of yet can be done.

You know a person who's who depends on his mind like no there's always a way there's money there's there's always a way to do it I'll find someone someone to pay off someone to it'll always if you have money things will always work on the Day of Judgment they'll look around for an alternative and there will be when you can't pay anyone off and even if you had money now you don't have any but they still think that way. Is there some way to get out of here? Can we talk to someone can someone talk to for us can we intervene?

You know, wealth is also a network networking skills, right? A part of wealth is who you know, if you have enough papers to pull from people then you can get what you need. If you have weight, you can throw your weight around and see see if you can get what you want. When you do and animals suffer they could not find an alternative pathway from where they were headed. So Allah Subhanallah Donna Silla alright, we recite the afternoon well oh god you're so rough Nephi the kneeling nurse seeming coolly methyl we'll

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Well, according Ruffner, now Allah subhanho wa Taala is

to play around with words a bit here, use the same word that was used at the end of the before. So there I am, before I said mostly for immediately the word after off now, they were looking for alternative paths. On the Day of Judgment, they looked at a side note and they they had a high likelihood of falling into it and they kind of knew in their hearts that this is probably we're going to go up to what we've done. And they didn't find an alternative pathway they were hoping they would find a different way but they didn't. So Allah subhanaw taala immediately to comment on that moment, and indeed will occur sort of offline indeed we had made many pathways and we have explained

many alternatives via the Quran in this in this Quran. Me there was always Elena alternative

but you didn't take it there were there was always an alternative pathway in this Quran didn't know it's for all human beings mean Colima fell in Evan McCauley Method, Method exam is example. But here it means in every field, not really in every example. But in every field mean in every profession and every problem of life. And everything, every scenario where things happen. We have given many different scenarios, we've given different pathways, you've already a different way to look at things we told you that you don't have to look at, like look at it like that, look at it differently. And there's more than one way to look at it differently properly even. It's not just

one way to look at it properly. But you chose to see it like that you chose you you're the one who Miss Miss misread what we gave you. You're the one who misinterpreted what we offered you you only saw it one way so you'll only get one way you're multi ama but you don't say that there was no alternative pathway in this course. We saw ruff now we have made many alternative pathways. We've opened many doors for you in every field.

In this Quran, everything he talked about everything that you knew he needs to talk about subhanaw taala he opened every door he explained every concept for human beings there's nothing Why would you say no look for the alternative pathway on your milk Yama, look for it now. If you feel now that the way that you're living isn't the proper way if you feel today, that the way you're functioning is not the right way to function. And you feel today that you're not fulfilled or you're not happy or the way that you are money is a problem for you or wealth is a problem for you or social status or accomplishment or these are things are problems for you then now is the time for you to look look

for alternative pathways because the Quran provides them by the Day of Judgment once you've made your choice that's it there's no alternative way. There's no different directions only one is the one that you chose. However you live in dunya you will walk Yeoman pm as simple as that if you chose a pathway now you will find that your milk Emma waiting for you. But don't say there was never an alternative. Understand the play on words here immediately also Pamela called Serafina. Now we did we did we open many different alternatives. We made sure that you had a variety of options. And we explained to you in many different ways from different angles. If you understand this when you will

go back and kind of think about sort of guff a bit like I told you. So to kind of talk

Up to

the idea, that concept of the idea of the dean in the story. And it looked at that in the commentary from five different angles, it looked at all all the elements of what it is what it means to have an idea what is needed to maintain it and how you're supposed to deal with it. There was like a page and a half where we talked about the commentary, go back and look at it different ways, look at the same idea. And then when it came to the story of both within the story, it looked at the problem from two three different angles. And then the commentary looked at the problem for more angles, joined with a look, there's all these different ways to look at things. You can understand it as a

responsibility, you can take it as something that Allah subhanaw taala offered you in order for you to read Jana, you can understand that this the cycle of life isn't just a cycle, one day you're up and you have everything then you turn into, into dried up put in you, you fly into the into the air and there's nothing as if nothing happened, you're gonna It's a cycle of life, there's nothing personal here, there's nothing for you to do become arrogant. There's different ways to look at this in order for you to achieve your goal. But you looked at it like that, and then you only get one way and that's why I think it's very interesting that he used that wording and then immediately will not

put yourself off now he used the same word again, we had made the alternative paths available in this Quran in every field equally method in every scenario in every field. What kind of insert October sheet in general, but the human being has always been the thing accelerating the thing, the creation, the

SE not the big most the creation that did the most gender explained to them in a second. He's an Excel sheet of everything we made everything he made some minor Wattana the thing that argues the most the thing that debates the most holds on to an idea even though it may know is wrong, wasn't a human being. I'll remind you of the three of the three words that are using the Quran for for debate or argument. There is mera mera is when you're talking with someone, you're having a conversation with someone you're conversing on something that is utterly useless. It's just it's just small talk. There's nothing here, you're just talking about something that's completely unimportant, right?

Sometimes that's all right. It's not not all Milan, Valhalla just transparent, transparent or superficial. Small talk is a part of life. We do it all the time.

And then those who are we're having a discussion. But we're not trying to prove as a point, we're just discussing something like you haven't, you're asking about something or thinking you think you have an idea. And I'm talking about that idea. We don't really have a point that we're arguing, we're just no discussion of who you are, can turn into a you dull. If later on, you find out that you take this position, and I take this position, gee, dad is when I have a position and I'm defending it, and you have a position or you're defending this. Now we're trying to defend our positions. I'm trying to show you your mistakes and your position you're doing trying to do the same

to me, that's called you that that human being has been the thing on earth, the creation that did the most you don't always arguing, or we debate Yes.

Che in Foucault, when you judge will, who will understand if you like them, and

you can understand more than one way? Again,

it's not the thing that we do the most as people. The thing that we're doing was not to get that out, but where they were showing me other creations that do gender more than us, that argue more than us that differ more than us that debate more than us. No, we're the ones that do it the most. So that's a bit low. And that's the proper way of understanding it. But it could be the other way, but I find it not to be proper.

Now, why is that a problem? Because juggler like I told you, it didn't say accent or shaking, who are the thing that like that likes to discuss the most No, converse, the most said, yada, yada, it means there has to be a point, there has to be a position that you've taken, you've taken a position and you want to defend it. Right. And we do that the most. Why here because this is the perfect place for it to be the perfect story for this to come in. Right. All it takes is someone to suddenly become a bit more wealthy, or a bit more famous to suddenly now

defend all his opinions. Same person who probably a year ago, didn't know what he was doing with his life, didn't know where they were going with their life felt completely vulnerable and scared. Needed needed. Answers needed help. Now they hit the jackpot, suddenly now their opinions are concrete. And they will sit around and tell everyone that they're wrong and that they are right. What happened is yesterday, you didn't know what you were doing. Now I have money behind me. Money gives me the ability to tell other people that they're wrong. And I'm right because I made money. I'm not saying that you don't benefit from this success stories of people who did it. That's

actually something you should do you go look for people who are successful. Ask them, What did you do try to learn how to do the same. That's a good idea. But for your wealth and status and strength to turn you into someone who's always debating and always arguing in complete conviction that you're right, just because you have that that's the problem. Instead of rushing into the lender human being, I'll give you an example. There's a nice Hadith the Prophet alayhi salam came to came to validly my 91

Since that night,

I think sort of Sam would not wake up the Muslims probably I'm late, but he woke up his family members. Not all the time. But you know, occasionally he would like to them to participate in the job of the family. So when it came around three o'clock or something or two o'clock and he knocked on the door of

any oven automated, I like to follow you and Elaine, why don't you get up and prays for late so I know you didn't you know is human just like all of us so he said yeah, let's do it Allah and the state governor state governor well a nice title and you will believe it. Yeah, and if Allah wants us He will make us up but he doesn't just stay as the same

as what he said he didn't you know, he didn't say just like a look at how

this played it out. Suddenly just yellow so let's say we're gonna wake up we wake up we don't wake up you don't make an effort or anything it's just whatever So the Prophet was like close the door he walked out and finally was it and I could hear him going like this What kind of incident workshop actually in general and the human being thing he does the most is argue Yeah, and if I you argue I got my week you do something good for you. You argue telling me I'm weak. What are you doing what are you defending each other You're sleeping get up and break stuff like that? Of course that was his family. He didn't do it for two months and by the way he didn't wake up people are waking up all

the Muslim knocking on the door he woke up his daughter says daughter he woke up his son in law is actually a is a standard law it was his cousin it was he was a son it was you know it was the world to the Prophet sublicensing was as close as those can be and you know he does it to people who eat cares about and it was my family feeling tired that night so

don't argue when you when you're caught making a mistake?

I know we tired try it if you haven't been caught lately if when you're caught if you said you were still alive

just a little bit more

you could have just said you'd like a look at it also Allah get up Allah Yeah, you could just you didn't have to you know explain to him is currently I

plan on things he didn't really know. Sometimes we go too deep into stuff. Sometimes we there's no reason to always make an argument out of out of simple things. But if you're taught and you're making a mistake, you'll find that the first thing that comes to mind is I want to defend it or find some way to justify it so that I'm not missing even though you know you made a mistake like right now

maybe I should talk about another part

consider not pointing out your brother's mistakes all the time. However, consider not always pointing out when someone makes a mistake it hurts it's not nice you don't like it either. No one does no one likes to be have their missteps and mistakes pointed out every time they make one. No one likes that. Don't do it. Like this is not nice. You know when you when you think of giving an answer Yeah, maybe maybe think of a good way to do it. Think think of a way that doesn't. You don't you don't have to make the person in front of you feel vulnerable and feel like he just missed up. It's not nice. It's not something you'll see how it's an art. It's an art it's it's a beautiful part

of the DNA is too high as the classiest thing that we have in our in our whole faith. Do it well do it, do it with the proper intention, do it with the proper way make sure that the person in front of you actually benefits from it doesn't feel doesn't feel bad about himself after you've given you know, see how it's not nice. Now I think we have to look at it from both ways. Don't be the first person to point out a mistake to someone is not a nice people. People don't like you after a while. If you do that three times, four times, five times they will just naturally dodge you. Try not to because they know if you come up to them, you're coming up to tell them they did something wrong.

You don't want to hear it like that. Maybe it's the end of the day. It's like 11 o'clock. I'm tired. I've been making mistakes all day long. I don't need you to point out one more. I just Just let me go home. I mean, it's not doesn't feel right. Yeah, I need but on the same way. On the same note. If you do make a mistake and it is pointed out Don't be someone who defends it. Right. It's again, coming from the same root problem how we used to have it's normal for you to make mistakes. It's very normal. We're all humans we make them all the time it was pointed out just take a look at John extend one okay, and he did it but the human beings always been quick, quick to rebuttal even if

even if he's knows that they're doing anything to defend their dignity if they feel insulted. Yeah, you're right.

Yeah, that is that is that is the truth. All right. Well, now I'm Anna Anna saying you know is

so

what was going on here? This is gonna be looked at as a question or could be looked at as something that's being denied.

And what, explain it as if it's a question that I explained as if it's a denial and then you'll see you'll see the difference. And what caused the human being not many with to hold someone back to hold someone back from doing something or or prevent them from doing something? Well, not an unnecessary what prevented people from an openness and Umino to believe Of course they believe

When Allah subhanaw taala believe in Islam to be to be functioning Muslims, if Gera Holman who then when guidance came to them when guidance was given to them if Jehovah were still the viewer of the home, and for them with him and also repent to Allah subhanho wa Taala to find repentance, to ask for forgiveness, to fix their mistakes is still far as a concept of someone who when they do something wrong, they immediately ask Allah subhanaw taala to forgive what they did wrong and they regret it they understand that they made a mistake. So what causes people what caused people were prevented people from believing in Allah once they got guidance and asking for repentance for the

mistakes that they made? It learned to home sooner or willing were the only waiting for the norm of the people before so soon. What do you sunnah in the Quran never, never never refers to the Sunnah of the Prophet. So I said, I'm certain that means the norm or the way Allah subhanaw taala deals with things or the laws of Allah subhanaw taala Divine laws, this is what he does, when you do this is what's going to happen. So assume that you know what I mean? Allah, what do you mean, the early people, the early ages, or the early tribes or the early groups, and what happened to them? So it was a willing sunnah to know when he was that when they disobeyed Allah subhanaw taala, openly for

long enough, they weren't punished in this life before the hereafter that was the son of William, I mean, we that's not what happens to us.

For us, you disobey Allah subhanaw taala openly for as long as you are you want to, but you're not punished. Now. The punishment doesn't come in groups. There's no group punishment that comes to people in this life, the punishment happens in the hereafter. So as soon as you are willing, is the group punishment that would have happened to communities that decided to disobey Allah subhanaw taala openly. So what God's people are what prevented people from believing in Allah when they got guidance, and performing repentance and asking for forgiveness for their mistakes? Were they only waiting? Were they waiting for the norm of the of the early tribes? Oh, yeah, to whom when either

bucola or for punishment to come before them cobalamin come to come right into front of their faces me to come to them. So what was it?

Now another way of understanding this is, and then the only thing, the only thing that cause people not to believe or prevented people from belief and prevent repentance was that they were waiting for,

for punishment. Now, the second way doesn't make sense to me. I don't think anyone's refusing, refusing relief, because they're waiting for punishment. I think it's, I think the question here, it makes more sense from a linguistic point of view. And what is it that causes people?

Let's answer the question for,

for sitting.

Scholars have this you have understood it both ways. Let's try and answer the question. So what is it that causes people or prevents people from believing in Allah and repenting when they're given guidance, or the only waiting only to be either punished like the early like the early ages, or to actually have punishment come to them their own new type of punishment? So what is it that this causes them not to believe?

What is the reason? You see this is this is why I think this is

a key idea. And the commentary, a lot of it is just self desires itself is massage. So yeah, it's personal interest. It's self interest. It's group interest, meaning,

what causes us sometimes to refuse a divine message, a message of selflessness, a message of this pure goodness, and righteousness is personal interest that doesn't fall in the same doesn't work. It's not going in the same direction, it doesn't serve me, this actually is problematic for me, what you're seeing right now is going to cause me not to be able, because when it's not going to tells you that second is, don't just keep on accumulating wealth. That's not a good thing. Don't do that. That's not what you're supposed to be doing. You're saving up for something, that's fine, you're keeping some money in the bank, everyone should have some wealth Elvis Sahaba did, but you're just

trying to accumulate more and more money, trying to hit numbers that are completely useless for you as a person, you're never gonna need that much money.

And there's no Hawk of the Quran in it. I mean, there's no right for the poor or the needy within it either. Now, that's not within ourselves in personal interest. Our self interest is just everything for us, and nothing for everyone else. personal interest is everything's for me, and nothing's for you. Right? So when something comes your way and tells you no, that's not how it is. That's not what the point of this the point of this money is that I gave you a didn't give that person, use what you need, and then help them, help them with the money that you have. Look at the community around you see what they need, and then help them and then offer that. Look what you don't look at what you

don't need. Use what you use, you use what you want, build your family, and then what you whatever that you're not need of then use that for others as well. That's not self serving. That doesn't work with like personal interest. That's what causes people not to believe.

That is what causes people not to believe. Because it's contrary it's contradictory to their self interest. When Islam tells you you have to love your brother. You have to love your Muslim brother. You don't want to you want to love everyone. It's not fun to love everyone. It's fun. It's much more fun to have pretty This isn't how

Problems with others. It's not random. Love everyone. Yes, it's dark culture that tells us it's not in our interest, it really isn't our interest. Exactly. You have that little bit to somebody else. Sure, much more to learn how to do. But from a personal personal point of view, like on a personal level for each and every one of us, it's not tells you a lot of things that you're not happy with. That doesn't serve your personal interests. As far as you can tell me when you're looking at it, you don't doesn't feel like this is self serving. You don't feel selfish when you're doing it. You're feeling selfless. When you're told that you're not supposed to. You're supposed to have good things

to take care of your parents, and be nice to them in order what they say to you. That is not self serving, that hurts that stings. When you're told that when Muslims are all people are equal. When someone tells you everyone is equal, no one is better than anyone. The only way to know you're better than someone's of Allah Subhanallah tells you that you have more luck when you don't know that. That's not self serving, either. I would like to think that I'm better than everyone. A lot of things that you're told in Islam

and you're told, suddenly pray to Allah subhanaw taala take time out of your day and then talk to Allah subhanaw taala that's not self serving. You don't feel like anything's happening to you. You're not getting fulfillment immediately. He's not giving us apologize something right then and there. So you don't feel like self serving. It's themselves you to do a lot of things that are not selfish. They're actually the opposite of selfish. They are so if you of course we understand it properly. It is the ultimate selfishness, right? Because you're getting genuine at the end.

It's the ultimate selfishness because you gonna get agenda. It's just not right now. Just right now everything is going to be selfless is going to be serving others is going to be we don't like them. Well, my madness. What do you think cause people not to accept this and sit around waiting for the sunnah to oh we waiting for, for what happened to the early ages or to happen to them or waiting for punishment to come right to them? What do you think caused them to do this even though they saw you would see every regroup that disobeyed Allah subhanaw taala was destroyed? Why wouldn't we believe? And say, why wouldn't we believe does and you were given guidance, and you were given a chance to

repent after listening that that they saw Jahannam and they didn't find muscle if they couldn't find a way away. An alternative pathway, you would think I would love to have an alternative pathway. Okay, here, it's tough an unbeliever know why? What's causing you not to do this? What's the root cause? There's no concept of the root cause we're talking about money, while the madness he's leaving it up to you. You think about it, you will tell me what do you think it is self interest always been self interest? It's always been personal interest. Wait for the

loan?

Right, I'll quickly just in the last two minutes.

It's kind of reiterate one more point.

know, I've always found that the commentary I took sort of calf, I think that's one of the reasons that Allah subhanaw taala, asked or requested through the prophet. So the lesson and for us to read it every week. Because when it comes to this story, when it comes to the story of the two men and the wealth, well, if you read it a million times, every time you read it, you'll learn something new. If you're looking for the right things, meaning if you're actually trying to find through this through these verses, and through this story, something that will help you understand materialism and wealth and possessions properly.

Because this is specifically opens, opens up the door for us all to think and ask the question. Think about it. What causes what prevents people from faith? And from repentance? When they get guidance? Is it that they're just waiting to be punished? Like the early ages are waiting for punishment to come to them? What is it? What is it that's preventing them? Because we think what is preventing, really? So what is the problem here? Because when you start thinking about that, not only do you learn about learn about the problems of those who didn't believe you also learned about yourself, way more than anything else, you learn about our own problems, what causes us not to be

better Muslims, what causes us not to have stronger faith in Allah subhanaw taala what causes us not to repent more to Allah subhanaw taala and to point our own mistakes a bit more? What's causing you to do the same? Because whenever you read and you don't read it so that you can judge upon others is for us to grow from. So what is it that we take from this? So what prevents you? What prevents you from being a better Muslim having stronger faith? Or doing more repentance? Are you waiting for punishment? Are you waiting for what happened to those before you to happen to you or for punishment to come your way was causing you take time and think about it. And you're gonna find very clearly,

very simply, it's just a form of personal interest. It's just a form of it in one way or another. Something that you're not doing that Allah subhanaw taala asked you to do and you're not doing it. Because very simply very, very, basically, very purely. It's because it's now you don't believe it to be in your best interest. You don't feel that you're serving you. You're not getting anything out of it. That's what you think now, if you're to fix that understanding, if you if you change that conviction, you'll do it. And the truth is, well, I don't have to lie to myself do I have to make as if it is in my best interest even though

It isn't No, it is in your best interest. You just didn't see it yet. So the example I'm giving you, you look at, well, lots of pilots out there like when I was the brother was telling us it is your best interest to give money. You're saying getting money that's not doesn't help doesn't serve me, I don't want to take a 2.5% out of my money every single year. I work hard for my money. I don't feel like this is serving me is not helping me. You don't see it serving right now. Because the way you are viewing it is wrong. Actually, this is something that is not only serving your community now that will cause your mind to have more value anyway. But it's also something that's going to

selfishly serve you on the Day of Judgment, meaning you will sell booze the benefit from what you just did and go to Jana. So it is in your best interest, but you just didn't see it. So if we talk about personal interest, what we're talking about is the problem is not just the fact that we don't like doing anything that's not self serving. Sometimes we don't even know what self serving

sometimes we don't even know what is actually self serving. And this is the point or this is the problem. But I think I think there's the question here that's a good way place to stop and disorder. It was a question. Think about it. You all think about what's causing us not to be better Muslims and you'll find the look for the root causes don't look for look for what's that look for a problem of perception. Look of a problem of perspective. You're not gonna look back like I should have done that.

Muhammad Ali, he was