Islamic Etiquette #32 – Seeking Knowledge
Date:
Channel: Ali Albarghouthi
File Size: 70.11MB
AI Generated Summary ©
The speakers stress the importance of finding happiness and knowing one's meaning of " knowing" in life, as well as avoiding being socialized with others. They also emphasize the importance of personalized guidance and maintaining healthy boundaries in virtual settings, as it is crucial for one's health and productivity. The speakers stress the need for guidance and acknowledgement of potential danger of "immediate harm" in learning and encouraging pursue education in the future, as it is crucial for one's health and productivity.AI Generated Transcript ©
Hello Catherine Sharma
started Sharla in a few seconds
exactly it's
smilo hamdu Lillah wa Salatu was Salam ala rasulillah. Asahi were seldom at 111. To one a stain on a star funeral we seek Allah's help and assistance and we praise Him soprano with the hyena. And we asked him to rectify our intention and our deeds, and reform our hearts so that they are the hearts that please Allah subhanho wa Taala in this dunya and we are here all the type of hearts that will save us that type of hearts that appreciate the blessings of Allah and His revelation and they don't deviate from Allah His message. And from the son of his prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam we asked him to pan over to Allah to bless us and bless our efforts or work
to allow us to strive for a six panel dialer, to give us the strength and wisdom and guidance to be able to do this and to continue to do it, and to hold our faith so it does not shake and does not waver and that our intention remains pure. We send Salam Salam upon His Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, we ask Allah to bless his companions and reward them, and their followers and their followers and to make them among their followers, I mean of anatomy.
So inshallah we continue with our series.
And inshallah, today, we're dealing, let's say mainly with two things, although there are other things being included in them, because it doesn't divide neatly into one separate doing a few separate topics, but they're intermingled throughout when we discuss them. So you'll find a little bit of this here, and then we move on, and then it comes back again. So now inshallah we'll do let's see, mainly with two things, inshallah, we'll talk about seeking knowledge, the author is going to recommend, and also about solitude, and Ursula will understand what that means in Sharla. And how important is solitude is for the believer. Right? So let's, let's just delve into it directly and
see what the author says, He says, of him a lot. And once joy is in solitude with the aim, so it kind of combines those two things that we talked about, he says, one's happiness is where are you going to locate your happiness he's saying, is in solitude with, with knowledge. And he says, and their religion will be safe when they are alone.
This is a panelized very apt if you're under lockdown, and you don't get to see people and enjoy their company. This is really very apt, because it does deal with this idea of being alone.
Typically, right? The idea of being alone is to be lonely. If you think about it, right? we equate being alone with being lonely. Unless, you know, nowadays, we have you have your phone, so it never really disconnected. But if you disconnect yourself from that phone, and you're alone, you begin to feel lonely. Now he's saying hear about him a lot. That No, he says, when you're alone, right, you're alone, you're by yourself. There's no other human being around. And of course, you don't have your phone with you. But you're not alone. Meaning you have your books with you, you have knowledge with you. It says you're not really alone.
In fact, you'll be happiest when you do this. And then he says also, solitude has also an additional benefit, which is what that you will be safe, safe from sin. So first of all,
highlight the difference between being alone and lonely.
Right, because sometimes to panela you could be around people, but feel lonely.
And you could be by yourself but not feel lonely. And so it does have to do more with your heart and mind rather than the people that you have around you like primarily. So if you're around people who you don't enjoy their company and their conversation, you could feel very alone though you are around people. So what he's saying here is that you actually will find your happiness is saying, if you are seeking knowledge, if you are a person of knowledge if when you are alone, you start to study and research and learn because that is going to satisfy you.
And
a Lazo agenda, you know, you know it's described in the Quran knowledge is described as higher,
as higher
or as as as something that enlivens.
Why does it? Why does knowledge enlightenment?
Right, specifically what we're talking here about knowledge about Allah zildjian knowledge out his prophets a lot It was in the white is to live in the heart
more than anything else why? And why does it bring happiness to the heart? Because what do you know when you learn these things?
You learn about a lot.
So the more that you learn about Allah, the closer that you get to him, and when you get close to Allah, you find satisfaction and happiness.
And then you find what you're looking for.
And once you reach that you don't feel the need to keep looking. Because that is the answer of all answers. And when you find a lot, and you're satisfied and happy and content with a lot, you've actually reached the answer of all answers. And that's what fully brings joy to you. So even if you're alone, but you're sitting with your books, or listening to your lectures or reading your Koran, but you're alone, or you're not interacting with a lot of people around, you're not going to feel so estranged.
And isolated because you are connected. And who are you connected to? you're connected to Allah subhanho wa Taala. So that's further on. Okay. We're down the road, the author will be talking about PMO Lee, in a secure portion of pm late
night prayer. Now in nine prayer, you're alone. When you're standing in Salah, you're alone, but it infuses the rest of your existence with meaning.
Because you are alone with Allah azza wa jal.
And so when he's saying here, yes, via law, he's not really asking you to be alone. Because you are with someone and you are with a law zoning. So for no famously, I've lived in Nevada Rahim Allah.
He used to spend extended time after teaching attending salah and all of that, he'll be home. So they asked him at the store. Don't you feel lonely?
Right, when there's no one around? Why don't you spend time with us? So he said, Rahim, Allah He said, Why would I spend time with you? If I sit with you, meaning with people in general, you backbite and you gossip and you
engage in sin. But when I'm in my house, and I'm studying, I'm spending time with the Sahaba and the tabea, Ian and so on, with the prophets of Allah azza wa jal, how could I ever be lonely when they spend time with them.
So this is just to what to highlight, that even when you're alone, and even when your home allows it, it had given you a treasure that if you engage, if you open your heart, if you start learning, that it will satisfy you, beyond the satisfaction that you would find mingling with people, although mingling with people, socially is what necessary.
But there is a higher degree and level of happiness, which is that when you
let's call it an own sybilla, because there is ons and happiness, entertainment that you have, when you socialize with people when you are around people. And there is
happiness that you find when you converse with Allah zoji.
And the two are not the same.
So just imagine, you know, the height of happiness that you can reach when you're around other people.
This is the height. And now this is not the creative being this is the creator.
Company is different.
The company is different and the effect is different. And the level of satisfaction and happiness being close to Allah can never be compared with that, that you're going to gain from people, even if that person is the love of your life, your husband, your daughter, your daughter, your son and whatever, because they're eventually are created being they give you happiness. Yes, indeed. But the happiness available when you're alone with Allah azza wa jal is magnitudes higher. That is when it's open when it's available when you allow yourself to bring it into your life. So he said that n gives you life Why does it give you a life? Because Allah azza wa jal is in the knowledge of Allah who he
is where the prophets of Allah azza wa jal are in that and he says also that your religion will be safe when you're alone.
Because as some of the
One of the setup maybe it wasn't enough. So harbor said, Well, how do you see to NASA illness what corrupts people except people. Of course we know about the shape on. But it's taken here, what he's highlighting here the influence of people on people, that who corrupts you, the shadow needs tools, right?
Your thoughts on on on his own he whispers to you. But then who is going to be the tools of the shavon that will convince you where they will aid you in committing that sin, all you need people. And then people also adopt the role of the sheath on themselves, they begin to whisper. So when you're alone,
and you're in your center, and you are in your bed, and you are reading and you are studying and you are you're safe from potential harm from people, either you harm them, or they harm you. So either when you meet them, you start gossiping and backbiting and condemning and ridiculing and wasting time, and may be more inclined to do hold on, or they will do the same when you are there. So you earn sins either way, either by you introducing it, or they introduce it and you accept it unless your company is righteous. Unless you are vigilant and you are firm about avoiding sin. Again, we'll see inshallah later on examples of how others or others company could corrupt and can harm. It could
benefit but it also could corrupt and it could harm but we're just focusing on the author is saying, so is socialization better or solitude?
I mean, isn't being a social person around people all the time? Is that better?
Or disengaging from people and being alone? Is that better? Which one is better?
In general, and shut alone? This is really an important question should also help you remember the answer? Because it will serve you now but it will serve you later. Whenever that question comes up. Do I engage in this? Do I mind? Should I involve myself in dialogue? Should I
organize this effort? Should I visit these people is always going to come up? And the answer to it insha Allah simply is this. Whenever socialization is more beneficial, that's what you should do. And whenever solitude is more beneficial, that's what you should do.
Okay, so just remember that.
And I know it sounds easy. In application, it gets complicated, but at least to remember it, that's pretty easy. Whenever social socialization is more beneficial, then that's what you're supposed to do. And whenever solitude is more beneficial, that's what you are supposed to do. So if you socialize, and the end of it is that you're inviting people to Islam,
you're spreading good command and good and forbidding evil,
helping others or you need to socialize, okay, it's an human needs. So you need to socialize, you need to talk you need to share your story.
Consult others with your dilemmas, your pain, you need to do that. And that's most beneficial for you, then you need to do that that's more beneficial. But when it stops being that meaning you receive no benefit from it, and you're giving no benefit to others to it. Either it is harmful or a complete waste of time. And solitude becomes the wisest decision. If when you're alone. You're more obedient to Allah.
Some of us have had a lot we have a challenge. The challenge is that when we're alone, we disobey Allah. Good, there is no protection. In that case, solitude does not work for you and in being alone.
Or when people are alone, sometimes, right? They are victims to the whispers of the shaytaan. Because they were alone, they have no defenses around them. So the shaitaan start whispering and they listen, and they engage and not necessarily about harm, but just bad thoughts, and depressing thoughts. So they feel better around people, but not so much when they are alone. For you and me if that's our situation, then solitude is not for us. But if when you're alone, you can engage in a bother,
do something religiously very useful, study, memorize, or in worldly terms, you also do something that is very useful more than when you socialize outside, then we say that solitude is better than solitude is better than. So, what we need inshallah we can take from that. Then I will go and show and share with you some Hadith about solitude. And where you can find it in the Hadith is that we need at least selective solitude.
Right selective solitude. What do I mean what do I mean by selective
solitude as human beings, we need other people.
Just what we need is for us to be selective with who we bring close to us.
So that we're not bringing harm to ourselves in our families to our heart and mind. So I bring certain people but not everybody.
Not everybody, if they're going to bring me harm, then I need to maintain some distance from them. If they're bad friends and the author later I'll later on we'll talk about examples. But if their company is bad, I maintain distance. But selective solitude also means that you need some alone time.
Everybody,
you need some alone time when you're alone with a lot
alone with your thoughts inside out. You need that alone time. Because when you're alone, you can think about who you are. Your relationship with Allah, once you've done that is right. Once you've done that is wrong to ask Allah for forgiveness, to stay away. Sometimes Sometimes we are weak. And if I'm around people, I'm gonna gossip. So I stay back, so that I don't engage in that sin. Or when I'm with that person, I'm going to commit certain sins I know about for sure. So I stay away from them. So then I don't commit those sins. So we need selective solitude. I don't need to be a monk on top of a mountain. At the same time, I can be a person who's only worshiping Allah, if I'm around
other people. But when I'm alone, I do none of it.
That I need to reserve some of my data when I'm alone. at home. No one sees me except I and Allah. So did you know you must have that hidden a bad that no one knows about it except you and a lot? Right? Why would the benefit of that is why? Because there's less likely that you're going to be doing it out of here. No one sees you No one knows about it. So some praise for solitude that comes from some of the Hadith with the as the Prophet sallallahu Sallam who are the best of people.
He says more men on uj do feasability law he be men, he when he says a woman who strives or fights for the sake of a lot with his self with his life and his money.
Then they asked him then who he says a lot to send them what to do. Don't be shy be mushy Abby. Yeah, we were the owner, Simon shortly. And he says that a person who's worshipping Allah in a valley in one of those valleys, okay, worshiping Allah, and saving people from his harm.
So notice here, you know, the two levels of the prophets a lot he was setting up. And that really corresponds to what we said about socialization and solitude, who is the first person
who is the first person, he said, the best person is a person who strives for the sake of Allah, with his self, and with his money, meaning he's out there. He's fighting, his striving is giving the truth, he's receiving blows and insults and attacks, and it keeps striving. This is a person who is strong enough to be able to be out there and introduce change, receive har and yet continue to be patient. You can, you know, this could be our this could be raising children, this could be anything, right? giving power to your neighbors, building a mess, did all of these things, because that person has the ability either to do it all the time, or selectively?
Who is the second person? He says that he's a person who worships Allah in one of those valleys? No one knows about him, meaning he's alone.
Of course, he doesn't worship Allah out of ignorance. He knows enough to worship Allah.
So he has knowledge. So that's why I say that this is really important. It says you don't withdraw away from people. Okay, while you're ignorant because if you do that the shaytan intervenes, because the shaitaan knows, you don't have basis to know right from wrong. No, you need to keep learning Islam. Whether you're going to be in solitude, whether you're going to be with people who continuously need to be learning Islam, so they should be fine doesn't tempt you like yet tempted What? monks before us, because they favored solitude, but look what happened to them. So Islam does not push you to such an extreme. Islam demands that you learn your religion so that shaytan does not
tend to
slow you down. So I mean, surely he's in that valley worshipping a lot protecting people from his harm, because he's not there. So he just stays, worships Allah charming. No one, by the way, that intention of harming no one. That's a bad day, by the way, and sadhaka
right, you remember it because they
Sahabi asked the Prophet sallallahu wasallam if you know a person
cannot do this, what can he do? He told them to do this, this this, he cannot do this good. What can he do? It takes him a lower level, a lower level at the end of the day. He says he protects people stays away from harming people, because this is sadaqa.
So sometimes you want to say something harsh to someone. Sometimes you want to hurt someone. Sometimes you just feel mean, you're in a foul mood today, you're ready to fight with anybody, but you hold yourself that your harm back. You don't want people to feel bad. Do that for a lot. Because this is soda and this is a burger.
You don't have something good to say don't say anything bad and harmful and sinful. That in itself is a better than in itself also can call it select selective solitude. So okay, I'm not gonna harm you if I can't help you. Not gonna harm you. Okay, so either anessa inshallah, he's not harming people. He says, This is the best people another headache in Allah how you will add that to angiography. Allah, God loves the sleeve. Meaning a human being who is Turkey has duck or runny.
And he doesn't mean rich. Meaning has money rich here.
But his heart is rich. And it's rich with a lot of love and depending on him, doesn't need people, right? I'll have fee. Okay. I like anonymous.
So he has three qualities in the law, your head will adapt. Allah loves a person who is
rich in heart. And on anonymous. People don't know.
He doesn't seek fame he doesn't run out after it doesn't tell people Hey, see me.
See me Look at me.
And by the way, you know, understand social media is built on what this is. This is why it is so corrupting. Right? Even though I'm reaching you through social media, and But anyway, this is why it's so corrupting because social media is about watch me love me and like me, promote me. Right? That's what it's about. So he's saying know that a lot of times you'll have someone who's anonymous. He doesn't seek thing and he's could be thrust on him but he doesn't want it runs away from it. So that's about about anonymity and about solitude as well.
Another heads up Pamela, this again, really out for us to date. He says Why don't you don't join us a few Beatty. It says a man or woman stays at home and does not back pipe back by people for whom a bomb you know, a lie. Okay, so it doesn't it says it does not bad by people or bring to them anger or sin.
So he sits home so that he doesn't back by people and so that he does not bring to them and anger does not make them angry and does not lead them to sin says For who Allah you know Allah, he has a guarantee from Allah was an authentic hadith he has a guarantee from Allah zody What is that guarantee? It's as if allowed me there's an obligation on himself that if you do this, I'm going to reward you with what had it says another narration Jenna, can it be this is one of the guarantees that are given to all of us.
Right? If you if you strive in Allah sake you have a guarantee that Allah will guide you. If you are sincere, Allah will guide you and forgive you. This is another guarantee
that is when you stay home
with the intention of
I'm not gonna back by default people I'm not gonna injure people attack them, harm them sad and then anger them or bring this into them. So I'm restraining if they have any harm, I'm keeping it away from them is if you do that, your bomb you know Allah He to Allah, meaning that you will receive guarantee from Allah so just for Jenna. And
another one. He says a min Naja when the Astra sort of lies a lot. He said a minute ago. What is salvation? How do we save ourselves? He said Emily Calacanis Cerner, control your tongue.
Alia Sokka betook. And let your house continue. What can a healthy attic and cry over your sin?
So in the assets of civil liability law do send them and by the way, these things never mean that a Muslim is passive meaning you just stay home and lead the world outside burn that
does not mean that what it means is that you need as we said those moments, those hours, when you are inside your home with you are you are with yourself with your data with your heart, you need this to be able to do anything good on the outside.
But if as they said, if you are defeated on the inside, you already are defeated on the outside.
Okay, if we if any one of us if all of us are defeated here
is how will you be able to convince anybody else? Okay to win, to do it to the feed the shaytaan internally and to defeat the truth on externally if the first battle which is an obligation on all of us, which is here is lost.
So that's he said, Emily Kelly, Kelly cernak look at how you know simple
these things are meaning that that is they are within reach.
And if somebody asks us today, how can I save myself? He says, okay, Emily, Calacanis Anna, control your tongue. Isn't it your tongue in mind? It's not somebody else's dumb it's my tongue. Can you not control your tongue?
Well, it is it's under your control but subpanel law, we may have not learned how to control it. And included in the tongue is what you write. So in luckily Kenny cernak have control over your tongue when he asaka betook lets your house containing
and moments that it needs to contain you let it continue at moments when if you leave there is sin let it continue.
But a time when you have to go to the salon no go to the salon at a time when you have to go visit your parents or help other people go out and do this. But at times what it needs to continue about it continue what gala healthy as a cry over your sin, meaning remember it ask Allah for forgiveness. And you may reach a stage where you actually cry over it out of regret asking Allah for forgiveness. And those are the things that allows them to love loves. The last thing Heidi they want to share with you is your neuropsychological and said to the effect of the meaning is that
and the geography fitna How do you, our cinema to fit in? How do you save yourself at times of fitna as a loser will be stay at home. This is the time of big fitness and big turmoil. When there's just it's massive fitness outside. Right? It says okay, you stay home, you protect yourself from evil when that happens.
So this isn't, shall I, you know, focus on solitude. But we explained what we mean by solid. It doesn't mean that you stay away from salah and the masjid, from visiting your parents from shopping when you need to shop for your essentials from going to work. That's not what we mean by solitude, solitude is go deep do all of these necessities and the obligations and the recommended acts that Allah loves. But then also take time for yourself, take time for your own a better reflection and contemplation and stay away from what harms you. That's what we mean. Then he said, then you will be safe, you continue that is if you do that you will be safe from it was said and he said I'll explain
that. And from the harm of a companion, and from an ugly slanderer. And from the envious mean, these are the types of people that you will be saved from when you stay away. When you practice more solitude when you're selective. When it comes to how you spend your time and who you spend it with.
Then you're going to gain these things, what do you gain? He says you'll be safe from Tila will call it was said that he said this is taken from the Hadith directly taken from the Hadith, what he said so the LA audio Salaam in the LA County hella consolata de la upon one of them Allah hates for you three things. The first which we want to focus on p la vaca it was said and he said
What does that mean? It means gossip in general. So when you meet people, you know what he said, you know what she said you know what happened to them? Either it is gossip, either it is lies, either it is secrets that should not be shared, or it is actual information, but it's not useful.
Right? It's not useful.
So he's saying that you'll be safe from that because as soon Suppan a lot it's the habit of a lot of us today. As soon as you meet another person. What we end up talking about is other people
you know what was said to him you know what he did you know what happened to her you know what to happen to her kids, you know, the latest scandal, the latest gossip, the latest secret, and if not, it's not hot, um, you'll be talking about, you know, the latest thing with the stock market. You know what that leader said, you know,
The, the prime minister said you know what
happened in that game. And these things are not telling us not to talk to other people. But
some of some of us, we don't need all of that information.
It's not beneficial. And it's distracting. And it's wasteful. Okay? If you need it, it's helpful when you need it. And you like politics, talk about it, you like sports, talk about it as long as it's held up. But it's saying that you may not be interested in these things. And in your mind, you count the ability to focus on better and more productive things. But because you go and visit and socialize, they talk about and it becomes your interest
becomes something you focus on.
And how many times I personally have experienced this. It's something I don't know anything about, let's say, or I know, but I'm really not interested in it. I go and I have a conversation with so and so.
And the issue is that it's not that it isn't. And they talk about this.
And because they talked about it, I start thinking about it. And the next time I see it online, the next time I see it, when I'm reading a newspaper, or what have you, I'll read about it just because somebody else talked about it. It's not necessarily bad.
But you kind of want to wonder sometimes, do I need all of that information? Or can I even be more selective with it? Right below it. So this is a double con. Okay, it can have a negative and it does have a negative connotation to it or a negative interpretation, which is what gossip backbiting or speech that you do not need simply is wasteful. So he said, you'll be protected from that when you don't engage people. So often, you redact from the harm of a companion.
or study if the friend or the one who's sitting next to you,
you'll be protected from their harm. And there's a famous example of the profits of a lot he was in the method or Jenny society. One day, Lisa Sue, the example of the good companion and the example of the bat companion. So he said, the example of the good companion is like one of the one who sells perfumes.
Okay. He said, so a lot of you were similar in that chapter. I mean, whoa, wait, man, you the white man, did you mean holy ham for you. But if you go in your companion as someone who sells perfume, what are the possibilities?
Either you buy from him,
or he gives you a gift, here's some perfume, okay, or just a sample on your body? Or the third is what? You smell something beautiful.
So panelo, and I thought about it, if you're sitting next to a scholar, these are the three possibilities by the way.
Either you buy from him, which is that you ask him a question and he gives you the answer.
Or what he gives you a gift. And then he reminds you
he gives you a new one or some gems to predations in the Koran as soon as he didn't ask he gave it to you. Or the third is what you smell something nice from him. You notice him saying something beautiful, doing something beautiful following us. And now you learn that being kind being patient, you learn that from them. Right? So this is the good companion. It says one method will jettison,
say a sea.
Okay, is like a blacksmith.
The bad companions, like a blacksmith, who is you know, has a furnace and he's putting the metals in and it's hot. So you sitting next to him. So what are the consequences? He said some a lot. He was in them, either. what he's doing in his profession burns your clothes.
Or you will have smell something fell, coming smoke that will disturb you. Same thing. So when you're with your bad companion, what happens? Either he gives you one of the sense,
right? You accept it. Or at least if not, you just notice something ugly coming out of them. ugly word and ugly app. And it disturbs you. That's the foul smell.
So with so he's saying he says if you're not very selective in selecting your companions, this is what's going to happen. So choose the best companions and if it comes that the only possibility or what is available are companions that will take you away from a loved one, you don't need that. Then you stay away from them.
Right. So that is included in kind of the solitude so you're selective, very selective about who you choose as a person who will
influence your mind and influence your heart. Because the thing that he will be thinking about for the next hour or for the next day is largely determined by your companion. And what that companion is talking about, and what is important to them. Right.
So he said he continues he says, so be like a houses rug, or the rug of your house, explain that image. So be like the rug of your house, for it conceals your flaws and protects you from every misguided corruptor.
Okay, so that image there is an image that is taken from ahaadeeth.
Last Will will use what does that mean? It is it's taken from you know, when you have like
a horse or a camel and they put the saddle on, but under the saddle, they put a kind of a cloth. That's the his.
So it goes the cloth, and then the saddle on top, that cloth stays in its place throughout the journey. So when he says Be like that cloth in your home, meaning that stay home as much as you can.
If there is fitness outside
and to protect yourself from fitna, and when there is nothing useful to do outside, stay home. And, you know, just it's worth noting in sha Allah that staying home today is not like staying home before, because you stay home today. But you still have the internet and you still have your phone. And you still can go on social media. So he doesn't mean stay home yet. You're still on social media. That's not what he's talking about. Because you're still with people. And he's saying stay home and do something useful, study, learn, memorize, or do something useful. But that's how he's saying, do something useful while at home. But if you're just basically staying home playing games,
that's no difference that being outside, because both of them just kind of waste time, right? So consider that when we saying stay home or solitude. We mean like the way that they understood it before which is that it you're
separating yourself from distractions from people and focusing on something that is internal, private, intimate, and learning your religion. Those are the hours that we are talking about, right?
So some disconnection from people. That's that's what it means to
stay home.
So we say what you will play protect yourself from?
Yeah, so be like, all right inside your house for it conceals your flaws. If you have a flaw, right, if you have a shortcoming, the more that you mix with people, the more that you will, they know about it, but if you keep yourself in sha Allah, and you work on yourself at home, then people will know less about your business and about your mistakes. That's what he means. And you protect yourself from every misguided corruptor. So, again, it's added protection when you do that. Going back now to mountain knowledge and mixing it with solitude, he says the best companions are books that benefit you with knowledge and manners, like a mind guided to the truth.
Meaning that these books, when they are smart, and intelligent and wise, they are teaching all of that they will guide you to the truth. So they are saying is they can be your best companion.
These books can be your best companions, and we can add to them today, lectures we can you can be home and you can listen to lectures, recorded live, whatever it is, but you are actually running something very valuable. Even your it's a panel and this is an AMA from Allah. So we did that we don't think a lot as legit enough for you know,
people and you can probably remember this
if you needed to learn something, you have to travel, like literally travel, not just go to the message tribe to the message, you know, travel to another city to be able to meet so and so and learn from them something.
Now it's upon a lot. I mean, so many people have lectures, and you know, courses and online, so you don't even need to travel. You can sit there and you can see them and you can listen to them and you can benefit from their wisdom while at home.
And so Pamela that's the treasure that Allah had enabled even though the internet and social media has allowed also for in an influx of
corruption and wastefulness. But at the same time, there is that other side there that you can learn something very valuable if you choose to, but it is a challenge. Because quantity wise the corruption is greater. The waste of time is greater but you still can find something to police allows it in all of that and you can use it to your benefit. So it says the
Best companion is a book and think about it's a panel law. You cannot.
You're not around the prophets on the law to send them today.
But you can feel like you're around him.
How?
Because if you read his biography,
there'll be as if you were living with him. So a lot.
That's why it's really important to know his life, you will feel it, as if you were with him in Mecca. As if you are with him when he is being challenged and oppressed and attacked, you will relive these events, and they will mean something to you.
So when you are engaged in the study of the biography of the prophets law, you send them and you living it with him. Somebody comes at that moment and tells you Oh, come on, let's out. I want to go to the mall. I'm feeling bored and tired. You say, No, I'm actually doing something really interesting here. I can feel it.
And I can feel it. And I can, I can feel his struggle, and I can feel what he did. And it means something to me, this is entertaining.
So you don't need to run away from it to be entertained, you already are being entertained. Or if you read his words, we all say okay, we want to follow the prophet SAW you said them he was wise, he was eloquent. But do you actually believe it? based on experience? Not because you've heard it, but actually, I have experienced it? Do you know that? So when you read the Hadith, and then you come to a hadith that really speaks to you, then you will understand what his words mean?
Then when they will matter, and then you would want to read more. And if now somebody tells us comes and tells you.
Let's go out,
you know, you'll see, then I'm doing really something special here. Okay, I'm too consumed and too interested. I don't have time for this.
So you don't have to run away from it. Right? A lot of times we found ourselves maybe forcing ourselves to have to read the Quran and read the Hadith and read the biography. No, when you find joy in it, and you live it, then that becomes your joy.
That becomes your happiness. So he says selecting the book, and reading that book, because it conveys knowledge that is the best companion. And they say about books Subhan Allah that a book does not back bite you. When you leave it, a book, it does not get angry with you. Okay, a book does not betray you. And whenever you want, the counsel of the book, the book is available does not tell you that I'm busy. And whenever you want to learn something, the book is there to teach you. Right. So it's a panel line in terms of friends, maybe we can start thinking in sha Allah as far as companions and friends as books, being a companion of ours as well, and a friend of ours as well and try to
select the best of books because it's like also selecting the best of companions now.
And he then goes on him Allah and he says, and mix if you mix, meaning if you have to, if you want to socialize, and mix if you mix with every aidid and guided from among the scholars who are pious and worshipers of Allah.
Oh, of course, it doesn't mean
you only can mix the scholars, he's just giving you in sha Allah
the best. And of course, anyone who is like them. So if you want to mix, mix with those who have knowledge, maybe they'll be able to benefit you with that this knowledge, and also our pious and our worshipers of Allah as well. Now, what does he say and mix if you should mix because you will have to?
Okay, it's recommended that you get married, it's recommended that you have kids that you're already socializing.
You have to work right you have to go and buy necessities you're socializing. So there are aspects to it that are compulsory, you have to go to the masjid, you're socializing, you're going to hedge. You're gonna have to socialize again, one away from people. And it's a necessity in all of us. This is why he says if you have to, eventually you have to, but then he is what is be selected. Okay. So if and whenever, as we said solitude does protect you from harm. This is praised when it takes away from obligations know
what it takes away from recommended acts without any added benefit to you then no. Right. And that's why there's a Hadith of the Prophet sallallahu wasallam so that we understand this. Well. There's a heading for profits a lot he was sending them where he said that I would go and offer help.
To my brother and fulfill his needs or help him with his need until it is solved, is more beloved to me than Attica for entire month in this mystery,
which is the mystery of the Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam. So at the calf, which is a bather, it's basically it's defined as being in solitude.
In the masjid of Rasulullah, sallAllahu. It was in you know what, what's better than that, except that other mystery, mystery could Haram in Mecca. This is the only one that is better.
But a whole month Attica in the mystery of Rasulullah, sallAllahu was selling them not many of us get to do that. Yet he sets a little audio system that I go and help my brother until his need is satisfied. His problem is solved is more beloved to me than ethika for a whole month. So here understand it in sha Allah, it doesn't mean that Attica is not good.
It doesn't mean that don't do a T calf No, no, it doesn't need that. But when there is a conflict between the two I either do a T calf or help go and help. But when you finish helping, what do you do, you go back to your a bad and you go back to your connection to Allah as a soldier, because that is what enables you to help and to do it for Allah sake, and to do it with a man and if plus. So you person, a Muslim has a balance. He has a foot among people and a foot inside his home, where he is alone.
With a loss of this one we is alone with a lot of soldier
now
and you can take and shot a lot
from that when he's because he said
from among the scholars who have Taqwa and who are worshipers of Allah azza wa jal, which is that
whatever we wanna learn, whatever our intention to learn inshallah now and in the future, a knowledge must lead to more taqwa and worship of Allah. So it's not theoretical knowledge.
mean exists to learn something for the sake of learning and saying that I've learned it.
You learn it because it needs to materialize in terms of taqwa, more taqwa and more fear of Allah and love of Allah and more a better, that is why we learn.
If I Why am I learning the Quran just so that they say I've memorized it, or I've read the entirety of C so that I would say to myself, hey, I'm proud of myself, I read the entirety of see that okay, what did you do with the things that you've learned from all of that? Did it bring you closer to Allah? Did you do something extra? Did it soften your heart? What did it do? If you gained nothing from it, then you have to revisit why you have learned and what you have learned. So that's why you said that, a Buddha in that
I don't know humbler was just remembered this.
They asked him once, if we want to ask.
So and so if you want to ask somebody a question, Who should we ask?
And he said, so and so.
They said, he does not have a lot of knowledge. And he has knowledge. It's like not the top. He has knowledge. But he's not way there at the top.
He says he has to put
and what do you want from knowledge except the whole meaning that this person has the tempo, which is the outcome of knowledge? What else are you learning for?
So if you just are learning just to be like an academic, meaning, I know plenty of things, but I'm not really doing things with them, then you've missed you've missed the weight. So that's why you say no, this person already had understood what the purpose of knowledge is, and he's doing it. And because he's doing it and he has stopover a lot as origin. He's worthy of being asked.
He is worthy of being asked. He's not ignorant. He has enough knowledge. But he had turned whatever he knows into taqwa. Whereas the problem is that if he asked somebody who has a lot of information, but no death wha is that they may have the right. They may have the right answer. But they also could be misguided, right? Because they don't have the tough one that is the natural and should be the natural outcome of what we were.
He said, this will be in sha Allah. The last that we've said today and he said he will benefit you who who is that the good companion, the scholar
or the person who has knowledge or
worshipper of Allah, He will benefit you with knowledge and advise you against following your desire. So keep this his company, and you will receive guidance from his guidance. And you will be well, if this is the benefit that you get from that person, what are you what is your beget, he will benefit you with his knowledge.
He'll benefit you with his knowledge and advise you against following your desire, meaning he will be a person, like a mirror for you, you will learn from him.
Okay. But also at the same time, if you see something that you need to fix, he'll tell you, he'll be honest with you. It says there's so two benefits or double benefits here. One you learn from them. That's why you say they say inshallah tried to keep the company of those who know more than you.
It doesn't mean that, okay, this is the only yardstick that I'm using all my friends have to pass this test. And all of them have to know more than I do. Otherwise, I'm not befriending them. You also have friends for other reasons, you know, common interests, you find them interesting. And as long as they're not sinful, and they don't drag you towards sin, they can be your friends, inshallah. But they're saying, among your friends, or among the people that you keep their company, make some those who have more knowledge than you. Because when you're next to them, they'll give you something, you'll benefit you'll learn, you'll be motivated to learn more. And also, if they see you
doing something wrong, they'll advise you against it, hey, this is wrong. This is not the sooner don't follow your desire, but you can ask questions, and they will give you the answer, meaning you are receiving a religious benefit, which is the greatest benefit. People had a lot. Today mostly
benefit, befriend people, and you know, stay near close to them because of the demeanor.
And this person, you know, has connections, I'm going to be his friend, this person can promote me, so I'll act nice around him, I'll pretend to be his friend, this person can invite me here, this person has money. So we'd be friend or we take brothers and sisters based on dounia. Or this, this so on. So it's my is from my village, from my tribe from my family. So it's just basically worldly connections. Very few people, you know, be friend and keep others close to them because of Allah, as we say, at least in part, seek those who remind you a lot and at least have them to be among your friends, among your companions, select them Sharla
is like I was saying here it says this is a true brother is like a patch that you put on your clothes, whenever there is a cut covers it, that's another benefit. And the author doesn't talk about it. But that's another benefit. That is you can have some type of people who when they discover a mistake that you have the cover it up they fix it. The soil, right that's that's one advice is if you see somebody who's doing a mistake, your brother and your sister, and you tell them fix this mistake, what is this like? It's like you taking a needle and a thread and fixing that cut in their clothes. And so that it looks like new again, they're not exposed, is if you let them go
out like that their skin is exposed. And if you leave a person, let them proceed with their sin and their mistake, they are exposed, people can see that their flaws, so you can see them.
Right or like a patch of clothing on top. And you can see your brother You don't let others know about their mistake. Right? That is a true brother or a true friend. There are other companions who do the opposite. do the opposite. When they find that there's a cut.
They make it bigger.
And when they find that there is a cut, they tell other people Hey, you know what? So and so was wearing today, you know what he told me about himself and about his family about his kids. You know, what I found inside his home, you know, what he buys and resells. And there's also other types of companions. So a true brother and a true friend helps you a Jew doesn't eight against you. Right?
And you know why? Why does he do that it comes you know, if you're selecting a companion based on taqwa and Allah, they'll protect you because of their tough one. And if you choose a companion,
that is that lacks these things, then of course, he is going to expose all your secrets because there is no deterrent. There's no motivation to protect you and respect you. Unless maybe they have manners manners could help but so you want to have someone who will protect you because of his and her good manners. And also because their relationship with Allah xojo demands it and requires that's the
companion and someone who can teach you something, someone who will be honest and tell you, oh, this is wrong, what you've done here is wrong. And this it will Doom you if you continue to do this, and I'm telling you this because I like
Willow. inshallah. So
let me see in sha Allah, we have some questions.
So, someone is saying here, this pandemic is a blessing in ways that we are forced to see, to go into solitude, exactly. To experience solitude again and to reassess our connections with people and how dependent we are on
human connection. And why that what does that say about our connection to Allah azza wa jal where I can only be happy when I'm around people, and I cannot be happy when I'm alone. That says something about the weakness of connection that we have with Allah xuejun. Right, I can wait until I'm around other people but not I can wait till I run away from my son, I'll run away from my fault. I'm just say something about how we, you and I are, are in our connection with Allah zodion. So it does actually provide a very valuable opportunity to reassess, you know, what makes us happy? And the strength of our connection with Allah azza wa jal?
How do we strike the right balance between solitude and mixing with others would benefit any questions that I can walk myself through
that there are benefits in sha Allah, it's not going to be the same for every, for every person, the balance, it's not going to be the same for every person. Okay. So some people will mingle more. And some people need more solitude. Some people don't have a lot to offer, they can give Dawa, they don't have a lot of knowledge.
They know that if they go outside, and they mingle with them from far away with this or with that, they will commit a lot of sin. So it's better for them to withdraw a bit. Okay? They knew that if you go they go into the hour, they will not have patience, and they don't have the knowledge for Dallas. So they can give doubt. So they need to withdraw more than others.
Some, on the other hand, have the patience, they have the knowledge, if they stayed back, no one is going to teach the people, no one is going to defend Islam. No one is going to you know, command good, then they need to be out there. But even those who are out there, they need their moments. Rasulullah lies a lot he was in them and the companions, they had to have these moments of solitude when they are with Allah as though that otherwise striving on the outside outside your house becomes impossible.
Because you need that energy and that energy only comes when you have that connection with Allah zodion. Right.
So, um, the balance, you know, so let's say for instance, the balance is here for someone. For others, it's closer to here. And for others, it's closer to there, depending on knowledge, depending on activity, depending on patients, depending on where do they find themselves more obedient to Allah and most beneficial. That's where it is. So if you if you,
you're here, and you'll find that I'm not doing very well, they need me closer to the middle, or closer to this other end. If you find yourself here, but you're not doing very well. Then you need to move closer to the middle or closer to that end, you'll try and you'll figure out in shallow It is best low Adam. So I hope that helped inshallah.
Well, the idea of solitude tend to hinder us from knowing and understanding issues of the day, that may be important to Muslims in our daily interactions with others. It depends in sha Allah on what is it that you need to know, and how much of it that you need to know versus right, other things that are more pressing. So you know,
if you're an economist, I understand that you would know or need to know details about the economy. If you're a political scientist, I understand that you need to do that in detail. But think about the average person, how much information they have about the elections in the United States, how much information they have about maybe vaccines and the anti vaccines and
that just the sheer volume of information they have about things that do not really matter. Or in the matter. It did not don't matter to that extent. I don't need to know these or that much detail about them, versus how we are ignorant when it comes to basics in Islam. I'm not talking about you know
specialization and Islam basics, basics in the Koran you know some of the ideas that we read, we don't understand, we just read that some of the eyes or the thicker that we read, we don't know what they mean, we just read them some of the basics. So we're missing the basics, but we know a lot about
trivial matters. So there is this inflation of knowledge, inflation of knowledge,
inflation of information, but it's kind of misdirected.
So you think about it in sha Allah, as you gain more balance in filtering information, what am I doing with this? Like, how much of it is beneficial? And how much of it is not? Right. And if it continues to be beneficial, you know, Hamdulillah, keep reading, keep learning. When you reach the stage, where you say that said, there's nothing more than I need to know, move on to something else that is more beneficial. So we're talking really about priorities? So you consider what is your priority in life? My priority, let's say, for instance, is there are certain things that basic Islamic things, I need to learn what that takes precedence. And then there are other things I need
to know about what's happening to Muslims, absolutely. Go ahead and learn them. But again, assess as you're learning as you go in and receiving information, how much of it is is enough? And how much of it is beginning to be a waste of my time, and I can invest it somewhere else. The line is not always clear. But you asked a lot as it did. And they want you to just to think about it.
Yeah, I mean,
before all of this, right, the internet, a person's knowledge, right of what is happening in the world was far more limited.
Right before the internet, if you can just imagine it right? If you can, if not experienced that time. I know, we still have TVs, I know we still have radios. But if even before the internet, a person's knowledge, the sheer information that we had, about what is happening in the world, and the detail that it comes in, was nothing like what we have today, yet we continue to live. And we continue to you know, to understand the world around us, but not with that much detail, which doesn't add much to our lives. And if you go before TV, and if you go before radio,
people didn't know much about the world that they live in enough to that extent. And yet they continue to be good Muslims, they continue to help each other they continue to build societies and civilizations. So it's not built on or dependent on knowing so much about the world today. You can know enough insha Allah, but I'm afraid that that should get the sheer amount of information had become so overwhelming that it's distracting. And we can't filter and we don't know what's right and what's wrong anymore, by the way, and we can't focus on the beneficial. So just keep that in mind in sha Allah. We're not telling people retweet, we're telling redirect, redirect, this is beneficial
learning. But there are other things that we have neglected.
Okay, something about Hajin obrah I was advised not to pray regular prayer for bullhorn and Muslim and Asia during Hajj and Umrah This is if you're a traveler, right? So if you are a traveler, you do not create the regular Sooners because you're shortening the salah and combining the Salah. So when you shorten the salah and when you combine the Salah you don't pray the Sooners so this is because you're traveling It does not have to do with particular oma and Hajj is because you're traveling right? So this is a long run and you can still pray even when you're traveling and you're shortening the Salah you still can pray in short a lunch recommended sooner to the to like as of before a
legislator and then would you continue to pray that in Sharla
How can we advise children on having friends when nowadays it's hard to find good companions?
I know that especially as young people we need friends more than adults but even adults need friends. And I know that it is scarce today it's only scarce today. You read in books have been written 200 300 500 years ago and they're complaining about the inability to find good friends. So this is not something new. We need to do in sha Allah at least and this is you know, the only thing I can offer inshallah is to ask Allah for them.
To ask Allah for good trends and for good companions and keep asking a lot for yourself and for your kids and for your kids to ask for that and inshallah know to keep trying and to keep striving
Meaning you strive and you try to find a good family, you try to find good kids like minded people in sha Allah who could be your friends and friends to you for your kids. And also maybe online communities in sha Allah and absence of any physical community that can satisfy our needs, online communities, people that you can trust you like have the same interest the same mind is yours the same
focus inshallah and at least they can be something rather than nothing for you and if you trust them in sha Allah for your kids as well so just keep making the other laws have been granted and maybe in that absence
try also to connect with your kids
on a more personal level, maybe inshallah you could be a satisfy some of that need, you can be fully their friend but satisfy some of that need inshallah and
Allah Allah that's what that's what I can can see about it and she was just keep making up for it in sha Allah and if you find a good family
I had this idea what I'm calling it clusters it doesn't matter where you live but clusters of family but especially in the West
some people are completely reliant or domestic needs to do this the Islamic school needs to do that. No, we're responsible also. And if you can find a good family and another good family form form a cluster, a small cluster where we meet together, study together, eat together or our children play together, if they are inshallah
people that you are comfortable with. This way inshallah this cluster could be something that could help everybody and as one family becomes strong, the other one also gained strength as well and we begin to reinforce and help each other inshallah so that's another idea. Try to locate families and maybe maybe help
now, so I missed the other part of the question. So yeah, the prophet SAW you send them did pray when he's traveling sooner during federal and sooner during with the winter as soon so those who pray whether you're traveling or not, but yeah, doesn't matter. But when you're traveling,
and you're shortening the Salah, and shortening and combining or only shortening right. So it's not similar to previous sooner except the ones we said it's not similar to previous one. Right. So the synovial sooner before also, after Magritte after Isha not sooner to pray the sooner the only exception would be federal insha Allah and
No.
Okay, sons, can we pray no laughing Of course during Hajj an omen if you're going to Hajj and Umrah just sooner like that nothing. Absolutely you can inshallah
Yeah, but then did see here's the difference because they I think that's the confusion
is that I'm praying method like like what they call it mood lock and nothing just nothing right? Just like soon as like that. Now the particular students so say if I'm doing this, why am I not doing that? is saying because that is recommended? Right? So when you don't do it, as some scholars maybe even have said, if we don't do it, there's a blemish on you because you've not done it. Right. But the other one that is the absolute or the general natural or sooner you're volunteering there's nothing on you at all, if you don't do it. So this is completely up to you.
So because it is completely up to you you can do it or not you can do it or you cannot do it you can proceed you cannot proceed if you feel like if you go ahead that on the other hand, the one that is before or after the horse after method after Isha. If we say still do it it could be a burden that's one
second we already shorten the obligation is something some of us will have said if I were to pray that sooner after Isha after Mother's Day before before and after bohart It's better than I actually pray the entire obligation not shorten it isn't it the same because Allah made it easy here He also made it easy over there as well. If you said no I want to do more. Especially that I'm in Makkah and Medina I just want to pray voluntary Salah just on my own from my own so go ahead and do it because you volunteered.
That's the difference or lon? I hope that's satisfying. Okay.
What's the opinion on children needing lots of friends and company versus morning solitude etc. Like advice for adults or is it recommended for both adults and children etc. It's not
It's not the same for children, as an adults, children will need some interaction and some socialization. And if not, they will like a basic skill as they growing up. They need moments of solitude, of course, and they always have them right. Even when they go to public school, they come back and they sit and study by themselves. Right. So they have those moments. So if you're doing homeschooling let's say, you will notice in Charlotte, I think you saw those who do homeschooling realize that, yes, I'm teaching them at home, but they still need to socialize. So sometimes if they have a lot of siblings, that could be sufficient. But sometimes you organize what playdates or
sleepovers with other children as well so that they can interact with other children. So you need to have a balance, balance where you teach the children that they Yes, there is socialization, you need to learn how to do it, that will teach you etiquette and kindness and patience, and forgiveness. Otherwise, how would you learn all of that sharing, so you need socialization, to be able to learn all of that, but also at the same time, you have to teach them what it means to be solid in solitude, and in solitude means what? away from their phones, away from their iPads away from social media away from TV, sitting with them for an hour, not as punishment, but sitting with an answer,
that they could learn it and be alone with Allah, be alone with their Sadat just moments when they're quiet, right. And the best in a way, inshallah to teach that is to model that model is that you would show them that before your Salah, and that's, you know, Subhanallah one of the blessings of having a child is that you grow up when you have a child, because you notice that you are responsible now, before your Salah, before before then maybe when you pray, you couldn't wait to finish and you left. Now you know that someone is watching. So now you need to do better. So before you sit down, you take your will do and you do it with concentration, and you sit and you pray your
sooner and your kid sees you. So it's an experience, right? It's not just Salah, it's an experience. So before you sign up, you're getting ready for it in your so now you're taking time with it. After you're so now you're sitting with your car. That's a woman that when your child sees it, he'll copy. And if you tell them to do it, he'll know what to do, because he has seen you doing.
Those are the moments of solitude or they see you pray at night. That's even more and more beautiful. They see that my father, my mother, they wake up and they're praying at night. And now they're doing it and they were alone with Allah azza wa jal. And after that you tell them, son, daughter, whenever you need something, wake up at this time and ask Allah it stays with them.
Whenever you need something, wake up at this time and ask a lot. And they will see you doing it. And they will do as you do. So you teach them that Solitude by doing it, and then by enforce all of that by explaining why it's important for us to be alone with a lot of times and achieve this balance in our life where I can be alone. I don't feel anxious when I'm alone. I'm not so impatient that I need to run to my phone, I can be alone. And I also can be around people. And I've learned how to do this and I wouldn't have to do that alone.
Somebody asked me a question last
last night, but I don't see them here and they haven't asked the question. So if they are not here, inshallah, it doesn't make sense to answer the question. So, either ask it in Sharla on YouTube, before I say before I conclude or inshallah, maybe next week. Okay, inshallah. So you've just opened the low here, I hope inshallah, that
we'll be able inshallah, to explain, at least a reminder of the importance of knowledge, and the rider in sha Allah about why it's important to select our friends and select our company, and also dedicate some time during the night or day to be alone with ourselves and alone with a lot as urgent. And indeed, the one who is alone with allies never alone, is really never alone. And the one who is distant from him, is alone, no matter how many people he has around him, Subhan Allah. So we ask a lot as though he didn't know never to leave us to ourselves, and to make us of those who are close to him and to be among those who was very close to us. We asked him to pan our data to be in
our hearts to enrich us with email and taqwa and gratitude and tawakkol on him subhana wa Tada. We asked him subhana wa to Allah to elevate our rank in the Quran in the dunya, to make us among the noble among the followers of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam among the people who enjoy the best of character in this dunya and in the accurate among the people who strive for his seat among the people. I mean, you're not but I mean among the people will forgive others will give them advice or patient when they receive harm, who
strive
to pee the people of gender and afraid of Hellfire will ask him to pan over to Allah to grant us the best of this life and in the Hereafter. Ask him subhana wa Taala to forgive us all of our sins and the sins of our spouses, the sins of our children, the sins of our parents, to forgive our parents and teachers and those who have taught us something good in this life. Ask him subhana wa tada to grant us your dose of Allah and to protect us on our loved ones from hellfire. braskem subhana wa Taala to bless though Mohammed solo Allah He will send them to bring us all back to the truth to open our eyes so that we can see it to give us the will to follow it and the will to avoid
falsehood. Ask him subhana wa tada to bring us back to what pleases Him subpoena what Donna Baraka lo fuchal May Allah bless you reward you keep the information and the knowledge that you have received entrenched in your minds and hearts allow us all to follow it and to teach it radical low fee fi can we conclude by saying szczepanik llama will be handing the Chateau de la ilaha illa and Mr. Furukawa to La hamdulillahi Rabbil alameen Salam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh