Hamza Tzortzis – The Shepherd’s Way #10 – Achievements are Divine Gifts

			Bismillah R Rahman r Rahim Al hamdu lillah wa Salatu was Salam ala Rasulillah Assalamu alaykum
Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh brothers and sisters and friends Alhamdulillah this is the 10th and final
episode of our little hinges series, the shepherds away. And the 10th timeless leadership lesson is
achievements, or divine gifts. Brothers and sisters, this is extremely important. Any success that
we gain from our leadership, or our Dow work, or our private or public work is from Allah subhanho
wa Taala alone. Do not think this came from you do not have the urge or do not have this self
amazement. Remember our job is one of the four key spiritual diseases of the heart, self amazement,
		

			thinking that you had the intrinsic ability and power to achieve this. It was because of you. And
that's it? No. You're just an empty tool that Allah used to manifest His will and His power and His
mercy. It was because of Allah, not because of you. This was a favor upon you. It's a favor upon us
brothers and sisters. Remember, success comes from Allah. Remember we mentioned the previous
episode, what's your aim, said Alayhis Salam, he said my success comes only through Allah. In Him I
trust. And to him, I turn. And remember brothers and sisters, you do not exist in a vacuum. You're
not the only person existing, you know, on a desert island all alone. Your success. Our success is
		

			as a result of other people's successes, and even the failures, we are standing on the shoulders of
giants, we have only gained the success because we were dependent on other people's experiences,
failures or successes. And all of those things were ultimately dependent on Allah subhanho wa taala.
And there's a very beautiful verse but a very strong verse that should shake us to make us realize
this so we don't have a job. We don't have self amazement. We don't think it's because of me. Allah
says in the third chapter, in verse 188, do not think prophet that those who exalt in what they have
done and seek praise for things they have not done will escape the torment, agonizing torment awaits
		

			them. Subhanallah brothers and sisters, don't attribute success to yourself, goodness to yourself as
if you've done everything. Remember, brothers and sisters, the art of leadership is this, that you
get all the blame, and none of the praise, but at least you should get none of the praise to the
degree that the people that you are leading, that they think they achieved the success without your
help. That is true leadership, brothers and sisters, and remember brothers and sisters, is all a
blessing from Allah. It's a favor, it's not a right or something that we ultimately deserve.
Remember what Allah says in the Quran in chapter 49, verse 17, they regard the acceptance of Islam
		

			as a favor to you. Tell them Oh, Prophet, do not regard you Islam as a favor to me. Rather it is
Allah who has done you a favor by guiding you to the faith, if indeed you are faithful. And this is
chapter 14, verse 17.
		

			Brothers and sisters and friends, if demand, if faith if belief in Allah and His Messenger
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is a favor from Allah, then what about calling people to Iman, is a
compounded favor.
		

			It's not something that we deserve, or some kind of right. It's a favor and a gift from Allah. So
that should increase our gratitude, and increase our humility, and increase our praise of Allah
subhanho wa taala. And this brothers and sisters is eloquently summarized in the 100 and 10th
chapter of the book of Allah.
		

			When the victory of Allah has come, and the conquest, and you see the people entering into the
religion of Allah in multitudes, then exalt with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of him.
Indeed, he's ever Accepting of repentance.
		

			So when we have successes in the dour, when people become Muslim, we have any type of success. We
need to respond humility, because it wasn't us. We need to respond with gratitude because it was
Allah and we need to respond with praise and will respond with repentance and turning back to Allah
subhanho wa Taala as summarized in this beautiful chapter of the Quran, So brothers and sisters,
this is the end of the final
		

			Episode of the evil hedges series, the shepherds way.
		

			And this final episode was understanding the achievements or divine gifts, achievements and
successes in the dour, our divine gifts their favors. If a man is a fever, then what about coding to
Iman is a compounded fever. And remember, we stand on the shoulders of giants, our successes are as
a result of other people's successes, or even their failures and the experiences.
		

			And all of those things, including ourselves are ultimately dependent on Allah Subhana Allah to
Allah. And when success comes, it wasn't you. It wasn't me. It wasn't us. Don't have audio don't
have self amazement. It's one of the key spiritual diseases of the heart, but rather, respond with
humility, because it wasn't you respond with gratitude because it was ALLAH and praise Allah, turn
back to him, and repent to Him as eloquently summarized in the 100 and 10th chapter of the Quran,
brothers and sisters, achievements or divine gifts. Be grateful. Be humble brothers and sisters, the
deeds that we perform in the blessed days of the ledger are more rewardable than the deeds that we
		

			perform in the days during Ramadan.
		

			So please, help us as an institute, fulfill our vision of a world that receives the message of
Islam. Help us execute a strategy of us as a team growing and developing. So we can share Islam
academically and intellectually and help us as a team, develop, create and empower other leaders to
be able to share Islam, academically and intellectually and for those leaders to create other
leaders too, and so on and so on and so on. And it continues into the Day of Judgment. So imagine if
you support us today,
		

			the sadaqa jariya that you would have the perpetual reward that you would have brothers and sisters.
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