Hosai Mojaddidi – An Agenda to Change Our Condition (Session 2)
AI: Summary ©
The importance of pursuing proper conduct and avoiding disrespectful behavior is emphasized in the five pillars of a book called "Art to Change." The importance of managing one's time for activities that result in litanies and embarrassment is also emphasized. The importance of reducing digestion and seeking asylum with Allah is also discussed. The speaker provides guidance on various treatment methods for illness, avoiding mistakes, and being mindful of one's actions. The importance of creating a short list of topics to focus on and avoiding negative consequences is also emphasized.
AI: Summary ©
Bismillah R Rahman r Rahim Al hamdu lillah wa Salatu was Salam
ala escheated MBI even more studied, say that I will mode No.
Have you been on Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam? What
are the Eddie was some of your sudden for Sleeman Kathira so
Rahmani calm hora de la you're going to get to
I hope everyone is doing well and inshallah you all had a Blessed
Eid celebration with your families and your loved ones in sha Allah
Hamdulillah. Last time we were together, we covered a text, and
I'm going to just reference it for those who are possibly joining us
for the first time, the text is called agenda to change our
condition. I'll go ahead and hold it up for you so you can see it
yourself. This is written by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Imams, they
check it. And there are so many gems in this book, Mashallah. And
I encourage everyone who is tuning in last time to get the book for
themselves, because it really is a transformative text, as the title
reflects, you know, anyone who reads this from beginning to end
should really walk away with a much clearer understanding about
how to transform their themselves and hopefully for the better,
obviously, and really set themselves on a successful
spiritual path. So there's so much content in this book, but I'm
choosing for the sake of our discussion and purpose to look to
the appendix section at the back of the book. So if you have the
book you can follow along. But Appendix A is is called are titled
foundations of the spiritual path by see the ultimate zero. And this
is advice. It's an se ha. And I personally benefit tremendously
every time I read it, I go back over the list, and I think of more
things, so it's one of those lists, that's really, mashallah,
it just, it bears a lot of fruit. So I think that this is the state
we're all in, we're all in need of guidance, we're in need of
Naseeha. May Allah protect and preserve all of our scholars past
and present for what they've blessed us with. But this advice
is really timeless, I mean, to think that he passed in 1493. But
this advice speaks so rings, so true to us today, I think, just
really speaks volumes about how insightful he was, and how well he
knew the human condition and human beings and human behavior. So I
really wanted to go back to this text, because we only partially
covered the advice that he gave us. So I'm going to go ahead and
screenshare excuse me,
mute myself here, I'm gonna go ahead and screenshare Inshallah,
so that you can follow along, because I did put together just a
quick summary, sort of a slideshow, I guess, of the points
that he makes. So that as we're talking about it, you have
something to follow. So let me go ahead and do the screenshare
Inshallah, and we will bring this up
this
one, excuse me,
share it, and then present. Alright, Bismillah. So here's the
presentation, that again, just follow along, I'll try to go over
what we already covered as quick as possible so that those who are
tuning in can follow along as well. So
this advice that he's giving is really about the spiritual path,
all of us in sha Allah, we all are on a spiritual path of our own, or
we want to be on one and obviously we want to succeed. So he's giving
us advice on how to be successful on our spiritual path. And he
starts off by giving us a list of the five foundations of the
spiritual path which are covered here. Now, again, if you're tuning
in, and you weren't with us last time, for the sake of time, I'm
going to ask that you go and watch that session to get more in depth
commentary on these points. Because I'm just going to show you
the slides but we're going to move on so that we continue from last
the where we left off, but what he's what I appreciated so much
and I shared this last time as well, is that the structure that
he has this advice is working, you know, backwards in a way he starts
off with giving you the foundation of the spiritual path, but then he
sort of you know, deconstructs it and
way where you understand how you build this path. And so he, he, he
goes into several different areas. But I'll go ahead and move along
so that you can see. So he gives us these five foundations. And
then he says that these foundations are predicated on
these other qualities. So in order to get to, to the, you know, the
slide that we just looked at, you have to have these five qualities
first. And then he, again, continuing in this building phase,
where he's showing you how to get here, he says that in order to get
to those five qualities, there's a certain conduct that's required of
you. And so he lists those out for us. And this is, I believe, where
we left off on this particular slide, and we went and covered it.
But the next slide is related to this, obviously, as we're
continuing all of them build on each other. So I'm gonna go ahead
and start today's discussion on this slide, which are the five
pitfalls of the soul. So as you know, he lists that in the
previous slide that these foundations of proper conduct
right are listed here. Well, there's pitfalls that are
associated with them. And so you know, things that we have to look
out for and be vigilant. So this is where this next set of five
comes into play. So he lists here that in our pursuit of knowledge,
right, as we want to increase our knowledge of illustrata, and
that's part of our path, we have to be aware that there are
pitfalls to that. And he lists here that specifically pursuing
your knowledge or academic knowledge, spiritual knowledge,
that one can fall into company, with the image, the immature,
right, so you can meet people along the way, that are perhaps
not at the same level of maturity as you are, or they in some way or
another can take you down, whether it's age, or, you know, their
understanding devotional practices,
or, because they themselves lack, you know, maybe moral, you know,
the virtue, so they don't really have their unprincipled. They're
ungrounded themselves. So this is part of the reality of a lot of
people who are seeking spiritual knowledge or otherwise. And if you
look, in our modern context, this is certainly true in any type of
schooling, right, a lot of serious students, some of their struggles,
doesn't really have anything to do with the knowledge, you know,
acquiring the knowledge, it has to do with the social aspect, there's
other distractions that can get that can pull them away, they can,
you know, take their focus away. So a lot of college students, or
even high school students, without really, throughout our lives, we
find that, that people struggle in this way, because there's so many
other people that share are on the same path with them, but may not
be at the same level of maturity. And so, you have to be vigilant
about this, when you are seeking knowledge, who are you going to
learn from? And are you doing this, you know, with a group and
have you vetted that group of people are there people that you
have to be careful of, because perhaps, they you know, have those
domineering and strong personality types that, that do tend to sort
of take over and there are and this is why Self knowledge is
important and knowing, you know, how different personalities work
with one another, these are all really important knowledges but
something to just be cautious of that this is a potential pitfall
because you could be really sincere in your desire to know
also how to data, but if you're not paying attention to the
company that you keep, it could contribute to you not doing very
well especially if you are on a very serious or rigorous path
right. So, he mentions that then he talks about
another pitfall because you know, proper conduct, which again, in
the previous slide, he listed the second
foundation of proper conduct, he said was accompanying a spiritual
guide and having a fraternity to gain insight. So, having, you
know, someone to look up to or having a Gemma that you belong to.
It also comes with some pitfalls which he lists as the pitfall of
spiritual company is arrogance, deception and meddling in the
affairs of others. And this
is really important because, you know, if we look at, I'm just
looking at my own experience, I've heard from several people that
they have felt, as, you know, arrogance coming from religious
people, you know, from people who are, who look outwardly religious
and have knowledge that they felt arrogance from them. And so
sometimes, you know, you can fall into that if you're not cautious
that self righteousness can enter the heart and you suddenly feel
you're more superior because you have more Quran memorized, or
you've worked, you know, you you dress modestly as more than other
people or you are fluent in Arabic, or, you know, it could be
a range of things. But if, if you're not cautious of the, you
know, what are the conversations that you're having in those in
those Gemma, you know, is it a lot of just, everybody's praising one
another? And, you know, you feeling really puffed up every
time you leave those gatherings? Or are they gatherings that really
do the opposite, and they leave you feeling humbled about how
little you know. And so we have to be careful. And you certainly see
this not necessarily always in religious context. But even in
academia, this is certainly an issue that a lot of people, once
they, you know, get a degree or are in a program, they can have a
more elitist attitude, and suddenly, you know, just think of
themselves as better than so these are all spiritual pitfalls that we
can fall into if we're not vigilant. So just pointing these
really important things out the second.
So the third foundation of proper conduct that he lists is
abandoning dispensations and excuses for one's own protection.
And so you know, this is again, there are he has listed here, the
pitfalls of foregoing dispensations and excuses is self
pity. So falling into, you know, just a feeling of that you there's
exceptions to the rule, a lot of times, you know, this, the novice
is very indulgent. So it can certainly make a person feel that,
that they, you know, that they're an exception to certain rules. And
so, that's also one of the dangers, we have to be very
careful not to, to take, take our faith seriously, and not to look
for those excuses or loopholes or whatever, just because we feel
that we may or may need, you know, an exception for whatever the
issue is. The next rule or
foundation or proper conduct TELUS is managing one's time for
litanies that results in the in presence of the heart. So
obviously, it's very important that we establish an override or
we're then into, to make that a practice, daily practice because
it was the practice of the problems I saw and he did
protective was he had, you know, he was very disciplined his
schedule, his life was scheduled around prayer around worshipping
Allah at every different point doors, there was always a
remembrance of Allah happening. And so we should be in the
practice of that as well. But the pitfalls that he mentions here are
that
the pitfall of managing time for liberties is spectacle and
ritualized devotion. So that you start to maybe seek attention, it
becomes more performative, right? And so and also, you, you fall
into doing things almost mechanically or robotically,
because it's something that you're just you've habituated to. So the
presence may be lacking, you're not really focusing anymore, but
it's just now something you have to do, or because you've
habituated to. And of course, forming good habits is very
important. But mindfulness is also important. We can't just mentally
check out when we're praying or doing Likud. And so if we're,
we're not aware of our mindfulness, this is one of the
pitfalls of falling, taking on those practices. Without that,
that awareness of what we're doing and how we're doing it.
And then, he says, The Last foundation of proper conduct, he
says, guarding against the ego, to free it of whims and save it from
destructive tendencies. And so one of the pitfalls is guarding
against egos, complacency due to its excellence and probity. So,
you know, if you start to think that you are doing really well, or
because you're consistent in a practice, this can lead to
complacency and again, that sense that that I that notion that
you're you're you're doing really well and so there's a delusion
there because the believer never said
Is FIDE with with what they do like the true seeker and the true
believer always feels inadequate, there's always a sense of
inadequacy, no matter how much you learn how much you do, how much
you've done, it's never seems enough, and you always feel that
you should be doing more. And so one of the pitfalls of, again, the
soul, is that you would start to think of yourself as being better
than or safe in that regard. So these are things that he's pointed
out, again, really a lot of food for thought if we if we take each
one of these and just apply it to our own selves, you know, all of
us can do that. Where are we? With regards to all of these pitfalls?
have we fallen short? Are we in? Have we are we in one right now?
And how can we emerge from that, but you know, the starting point
is to become aware of the pitfalls. So you know, once you're
on a spiritual path, if you just think it's onward and upward, and
you're not paying attention to the fact that bliss is always in
pursuit, and he's, he doesn't rest from what His aim is, which is to
destroy us spiritually, he doesn't take rest. This is a 24 hour
constant, you know, thing for him. So we have to be vigilant. And
that's why mashallah, this, this type of Naseeha is so useful,
because as I mentioned in the beginning, it's still relevant to
all of us. It's timeless advice, I think, throughout, you know, until
we leave this world, this would be useful to anybody who read it, who
read it, a believer who read it
so much all again, there's so much,
so much information here. So let's look at what he shares next.
So he says now, so he goes from, you know, the pitfalls to the five
foundations of treatment of illnesses of the soul. So now, you
know, if you find yourself having maybe fallen, as we just
discussed, then how can we emerge? How can we get ourselves out of
those illnesses. So he focuses first on relieving digestion by
reducing the amount of food. And this is, you know, if you, if
you've studied any of these works, and many of the great
scholars of the past, there's a lot of emphasis on food, and
spiritual habit. And you know, not only how much you're eating, the
quality of what you're eating, we believe in that we do believe that
it affects your state, if you're obviously eating anything from the
Haram, it would affect your spiritual state. Likewise, if you
are over indulging, or excessive and your consumption of food, it's
going to affect you spiritually, in many ways, primarily, you know,
sloth sloth is associated with overconsumption of food, you just
find that and it's, it makes sense, because, physically,
physiologically, you know, the, as we know, just basic information
about digestion, that when you're consuming foods, especially if
they're different types of qualities of food, the food is
heavy, and it can, you know, weigh you down, and your energy same
goes directly to, you know, breaking all that food down. So
that's why after a big meal, you know, how many people feel
suddenly, you know, like, they want to jump up and go and pray
20, rock cat, it's very difficult after you eat a large meal, to
feel that sense of that burst of energy, it's usually the opposite.
And so you this is just basic knowledge, that food would make a
person feel, especially if they're eating a lot or heavy foods, that
they would feel spiritually, ill because of that, so that's the
first line that he attacks or that he offers the first advice that he
offers, which is to, to reduce the amount of food that you're eating.
And then he says, to seek asylum with Allah from harm at the time
of its occurrence. So you know, we have to be in that mindset of
seeking refuge with ALLAH SubhanA with that, first that when when
something happens, whatever, it is a tribulation personal,
cause personal circumstance or even on a large scale, like what
we're dealing with now, that our heart mind soul body, it just
immediately defaults to going to a loss of how the first instead of
turning to other people panicking, you know, just having that calm
sense of trust in Allah and getting in that practice, and it's
not you know, it's something that of course, we have to
All work on because it's, it's not always easy. It's not always the
first thing that comes to mind. But if you, you know, the more and
more you read, I was speaking to someone earlier today about her
own personal, you know, struggles she's going through a very big
calamity right now. And I just reminded her that this is why we
have stories of people of the past, you know, the prophets of
the same
letters, we have those stories to look at how they responded, and to
take from their example. And of course, the buffalo story in and
of itself is enough, but you can look back to all of these
incredible figures of the past and see how whatever their
circumstance was, we do have answers in terms of how to
properly respond. And we can gain strength from their examples on
how they lie that we have all of those examples. But just you know,
it's something that we have to work on and, and invest in
thinking about and learning how to do.
The next advice here he has for treating the soul illnesses of the
soul, is shunning places, this
no one fears.
misdeeds will occur is, although we're in quarantine right now. And
we might physically not be able to go to places that are sinful.
Because of the modern, you know, the technology that we have access
to places can come to us just in the palm of our hand, we have
these devices and machines that can transport us to several
different places, depending on where we want to go. And so I
think this is really quite relevant now. Because you see a
lot of people, maybe, as I said, not physically, or interpreting
something like that as meaning to say, you know, I'm walking
somewhere, I'm deliberately moving my physical body from this place
to displace. But there are a lot of places that, that, again, we
can go to mentally, visually, that are harmful. And so we have to
really look at what we're doing right now with our time, because a
lot of sinful behavior is happening, even though people are
in their homes, and they aren't physically going somewhere. And
it's because their eyes are seeing things that they shouldn't see
their ears are listening to things they shouldn't be listening to.
And so in many ways, you know, those are still
places that we choose to go to, right. I mean, if you're watching
certain television or films that are inappropriate, or as I said,
social media, the internet, there's a plethora of
opportunities to engage in very, very harmful and sinful things. So
really being cautious about what you're doing with your time. And
what you choose to engage in and, and making sure that if there are
places where you, your guard is down, and you're, you know, you're
more likely to fall into sinful behavior, that you practice that
you know that you restraint and you you prevent yourself from even
opening those doors. So that's the third treatment that he has there.
The fourth treatment is continual repentance, coupled with prayers
upon the prophesy said, I'm in solitude and society.
This is important because we are in a time of immense, you know,
just there's a lot of darkness in our world today. And we need
light, and what better light than the problem so I said, I'm, and of
course, Toba. Toba is like, oh, but you racist since Toba? Those
black spots that we all accumulate every day because of the sins that
we commit. It we need a way to erase those sins and hamdulillah
Allah has given us a way very easy way really, if you think about how
merciful all US pat that it is and how many Hadith and how many eyes
and the Quran. He's constantly reminding us that no matter what
we've done, how much we've done it, that he that the doors of Toba
are always open and it really is just a matter of true sincere
repentance and remorse. And then words you're just articulating
words when you make Toba. Of course, they should be in the
heart. But it's really such a simple thing that was part of the
asks of us after we've, you know, gone astray and done. Things that
we shouldn't ever do all the biller. May Allah forgive us that
he's willing to erase all of it just based on words that we say.
So this is the Mercy of Allah
somehow better, but you know, doing that as a daily practice.
And then of course, the silhouette on the prophesy said I'm doing us
together is how we remove so much of our past misdeeds and all that
darkness, as we mentioned, but also open up our heart for
openings for light. You know, I mean, so many people I know in my
life and as well as my own experience of when you're in this
constant state of remembrance of almost pop out, or in silhouette
of the process that things will happen. And it's just amazing,
you'll start to see vision dreams, many people I've spoken to, the
more that they
say there's a what that Subhanallah, all of a sudden,
they're having openings. And these are people. I mean, I remember I
once gave a head up. And we talked about the importance of silhouette
and seeing the process seminar dreams, and there were a mall
sisters, and one of the sisters was really sad because she was,
you know, she lamented that she had never seen the problems. I
said, I'm in her dreams, and she really wanted to see him. And so
we just talked about, you know, satellite, and how often are you,
it's one thing to wish to see the problems I sent him, but to
remember him often to seeing, you know, say praises upon him is a
different form of reverence and, and love that we need to be in the
regular practice of. So when we talked about, you know, how often
are we doing silhouette, she admitted that that wasn't
something that she was doing enough. And so she started to do
that. And I believe it was that night Subhanallah, you know, and
we a lot knows best, but she called me the next day after this
halacha because we talked about the importance of celluloid. And
she said that Subhanallah she spent all night after the head of
just doing a lot of subtle work. And then she saw a dream of him.
And it was the first time ever and so she was so excited the next day
to tell me that Allah had was so immensely generous with her
because, you know, she just in one night Subhan Allah, He fulfilled
that wish for her. So a lot can do anything as we know, but we have
to be in the practice of these things to remedy the spiritual
illnesses in our heart, but also to open up experiences for
ourselves. You know, sometimes people don't realize that it's,
you know, I've heard from, for example, many people who, who have
a hard time getting themselves to start a practice, whether it's
their five daily prayers or reading Quran or doing something
consistently, because they feel that they don't have the feeling
in their heart to do those things like the horseshoe, or that, you
know, sincerity, that that burst of emotion that they're all
seeking, we're all always seeking, right? Because they don't feel it.
It's hard for them to actually get up and to do it. And they're
waiting for that feeling to be the catalyst for them to do those
things. Well, those feelings, you know, are gifts, immense gifts,
but they're the fruits of your labor, you're gonna get Inshallah,
those feelings increase, the more you work towards it, but you can't
expect it right off the bat. I mean, of course, Allah again, can
do as He wills. So maybe for some people, that's their experience
that with very little effort, they have these amazing spiritual
openings. But for most of us, you know, we have to kind of realize
that our efforts will be rewarded with the more we display our
sincerity and how do we display our sincerity, it's with
consistency. So you know, just to be consistent in our practice will
inshallah open up those openings for us in sha Allah as Allah
wills, you know, he again, does as he was. So that was the fourth
advice that he offered to treat the illnesses of the soul. And
then he talks about the fifth one, accompanying a guide to Allah or
to the pharaoh of Allah. Unfortunately, such a person no
longer exists. So Allah, I mean, he's talking again, 1493 is when
he passed, I'm not sure when exactly he wrote this advice, but
it was around that time, several centuries ago, and he's saying
that back then, these amazing spiritual guides didn't exist. So
what can we say about our state today? You know, Allah knows, of
course, sometimes our scholars would, let's say these things just
really as a as a statement, you know, of the state and the
condition of the OMA. And so we have to seek Allah's forgiveness
and pray that Allah brings people like that in our lives, people who
remind us of Allah who you know, and there are people out there
there are certainly people out there who, mashallah just by
looking at upon them.
As soon as they speak a few words once the man you can feel your
Eman increase, and Allah has given that ability to serve people
Mashallah. So, you know, asking us patho, to bring people like that
in our lives. So from that I he, again, we're just following the
text. And it's everything that I'm presenting is written exactly as
he's written it here, this next section are he followed up that
section about the illnesses, with advice that he inserted from
another famous scholar, I will have some shared it. And he, he
says here, and he shares this advice. And, again, it's all
related, because we're looking at, you know, spiritual illness, and
how can we protect ourselves from those things? Well, he's just
sharing this further counsel, and he says, this is these are
advices. So let's start with the first four, there's, there's more
that follow. He says, First, don't set foot in a place unless you
expect to divine recompense.
Subhanallah that's really profound. Because we have options
we have freewill, we have the ability to go right, left, you
know, forward backwards. Allah has given us the ability and the, you
know, the mental,
or the intellect to be able to discern what is beneficial and
what's not. But to make it a rule sort of, you know, it's just don't
ever go somewhere unless you expect the reward for being there.
That's immense discipline, right. And that's showing you the level
of awareness these people had about their movements, about their
words about every, every moment of their lives. Subhan Allah, may,
may Allah give us that type of awareness, but to have this as a,
as an advice that you live by, that unless I know that I'm going
to be rewarded, I won't go there. And of course, there's ample
opportunity for reward because Allah so generous, you can go
anywhere, unless obviously, it's a haram place, but somewhere, you
know, that there's many places we can go where there is an abundance
of reward. So that's the level of awareness and thinking
contemplation that we all should be in the practice of of
maximizing the reward because actions are judged by intentions.
So inshallah if you go with the intention to please Allah subhanaw
taala, that would be the first step, right? Before you even think
of going somewhere that it's your purifying your Nia that inshallah
you're gonna go and take care of whatever it is whether you go to
the store, or the post office, or you're visiting someone, that
you're very clear on your intention, and that you're very
clear on how you're going to go about your you know, that that
process like, what's your plan of action, for example, something
that I think is lost on so many people today, and May Allah guide
us, but it is absolutely
a foundational principle of our faith, in terms of interacting
with other people is lowering the gaze, you know, how many people
think about that before they even step outside of the house, that I
have to intend to make that intention that Allah I'm gonna go
and take care of what I need to take care of, but I'm going to
consciously be aware of myself and lower my gaze because I anticipate
seeing things that I shouldn't be looking at, especially in this
season that we're in. I mean, I live in California, the weather is
warm. And this is why summer is usually not my, my least favorite
season. Because I you know, there's just so many so much that
we're not that it's hard, you know, everywhere you look
SubhanAllah. And for women as well as men, we all have to be very
vigilant about these things, because it seems to be getting
worse and worse and worse. I remember, just the other day,
yesterday, maybe or the day before, there was a big news story
on the cover of one of these websites, about this woman who
suffered a lot she went to,
I think it was in Southern California, she was at a beach.
And she was practically all the villa just she was practically
naked, she was wearing very little. And there was a family who
apparently called the police on this woman.
And she was the police came and had to argue back and forth with
her and the party that she was with they were all very angry,
because they felt totally justified, that she wasn't doing
anything wrong that she was not naked were as you know, she was
she was you know, from the small glimpse that I saw it was enough
to say oh, the villa this woman is completely naked. But you know,
there's that's what we're up against. It's getting worse and
worse. People are very free carefree with their bodies. And so
whether you're at
The Beach or you're at a shopping mall or at a store or just driving
by you might see things that we shouldn't be looking at. So but
how many of us have the presence of mind to make that intention
before we leave the house, like Yola, I'm going to do my best to
lower my gaze and be in that practice so that I don't bring on
that harm to myself, right? So it's really a matter of having
such discipline and awareness. But, you know, in this particular
point, that the advice, I just find it perfectly round, because
tells you again, how ahead, these people were, where they made these
rules for themselves, like, unless I know there's a reward, I'm not
going there. So you know, shall we learn from that, the next advice
is to never sit in a place unless you feel safe from sin. So it's
one thing that you don't enter a place unless you expect a reward,
but also, that you refuse to participate or go somewhere.
If you unless you feel safe from sin. So think about
professionally, how many I remember I used to work, you know,
for for Corporation, before I started teaching, and they would
have Christmas parties, and there was always a lot of pressure, you
know, from fellow employees to come because it was going to be so
fun. But Hamdulillah, I was young, you know, I was in my 20s. But I
had to make those very clear boundaries for my coworkers, that
I don't drink alcohol, and I'm sorry, but I cannot be in an
environment where I know that there's going to be a lot of
alcohol, you know, there I never be, it's just it was very
uncomfortable. And I think, you know, they, they understood it,
and they respected it. There was you know, always those little, you
know, teasing comments here and there, and even afterwards about
how much I would miss out on all the fun, but they respected my
decision. And so we have to as Muslims be principled people and
be confident, and never lack that courage to speak up about our
beliefs that are and to feel shy about that. But it is a problem
that you're seeing that we're seeing more and more people are
afraid to, you know, they don't want to rock the boat or offend
people, they don't want to come across as too religious or extreme
or fundamental. So they tend to make those excuses and it's hard i
I've certainly been in environments myself with family
where it's very difficult because you know that there might be
certain things and it's out of your control. But you know, this
is just showing you the level of discipline that these people had.
And May Allah guide us to have that strong conviction so that we
can also apply these, this advice in in, of course, the best way
possible. But it's certainly something to think about moving
forward. How are we, as you know, how are we going to do this, you
know, are we going to be able to
when things open up, you know, I'm still I'm kind of in the
quarantine mindset that right now, we're safe from a lot of these
things, because we were not really socializing. But perhaps that's
what we need to be doing is thinking in taking ourselves into
account about past behaviors past mistakes, how can I improve,
because that's what the point of the all this is, right? It's all
advice to help us better ourselves on the spiritual path. So the best
thing to do is to listen to these points, and then to go back on
oneself and say, well, there there was that time, or I have done this
in the past, how can I change that moving forward? So that's where I
think we should all be this is all we're all in the same situation of
really taking ourselves into account a reflection, hopefully,
that's what we're doing anyway. But I've been really thinking
about moving forward when things open up again. And we're able to
visit people and we're able to socialize and do things like we
did before, are we just gonna go back to how things were and, and
just, you know, status quo, whatever it is, I'll just go along
with it, or are we going to maybe take things a little bit more
seriously and, and create those boundaries, you know, from just
just be more open and honest with people. So something to think
about, but again, I'm just appreciating Michelle the level of
the scholars because they were just so strong, you know, to have
this deep conviction to be able to do these things is certainly not
easy. So the third advice that I would have to share that He has
for us is do not accompany anyone unless you find him or her
supporting your duty
As to Allah
subhanaw taala. And the next one is is similar, right do not select
anyone as a friend unless he or she has increased your certainty.
So really, this is about the company that we keep, you know, if
you are, you know, sharing time and being influenced by people who
really don't respect your religious values,
then it's going to affect you eventually. This is why people who
are disciplined in their faith, the more and more they hang out
with people who have weaker faith, you find them changing, right. And
so we have to, you know, look at the company, we keep and try to
surround ourselves with people who increase our belief or increase
our certainty with a law, and that we, you know, those intimate
people that we bring close in those inner circles, that they are
those people that they're the people who, as you know, the
advice says, they increase our certainty, that inner inner circle
should be those people. We have acquaintances, there's family,
there's friends, there's extended people in our lives that we may
have to meet periodically, but what when we assign the label a
friend or confidant to someone, they should be people that, again,
remind us of our law that increase us in our iman, that they support
us when it's time to pray, that they're not the ones going on. And
really, can you do that later, you know, stuff. And while there are
people who who would get annoyed if being around, you know, a
religious family member, I've had those experiences personally, and
I know of others who've had as well, that, you know, if your
religiosity doesn't match, the people that you're with, it can
make them uncomfortable. And they may indirectly or directly, expect
you to tone it down, dial it down a little bit, you know, whether
it's directly telling you to not do something, or to not make a big
deal out about something, or just kind of passively aggressively
making comments, you may start to find yourself being influenced by
that. So being very vigilant about the company that you keep, and the
influences that are around you. And making sure that those people
again, share your faith and respect your faith and also
increase your faith and those are really the primary qualities you
want to look for. So Masha Allah, he continues to, to give even more
advice that he's listed here, about the you know, the people
that that are in our lives that we should all think about again,
first, whoever directs you to the ephemeral cheats you the ephemeral
is what's you know, temporary, it's not lasting. So, this is
linear, right, the dunya is not going to last and the dunya is
very intoxicating, and very tempting. But if we have people in
our lives that are always reminding us of the dunya, and
pushing us towards, towards it towards the dunya and away from
Allah, no matter how close they are, no matter how much they claim
to love us, and, and how much we love them. They are in many ways
cheating us because this dunya, as we said, is fleeting, it's going
it's dying, it's not going to last. And so for us to put all of
our focus and time and energy on that and become heedless of Allah
subhanaw taala it's clearly we're on the losing end of that. And the
opposite would be true that the one who is reminding you of the
next life and to work towards that life and to not fall into this
dunya and temptation and your desires, that they're actually
your greatest ally and greatest friend, even if sometimes, you
know, it's it's a bitter pill to swallow. So, I'm gonna see how
sometimes people give you advice or you know, they may be a little
hard but if you really analyze their words and look at which is
which of the two is looking out for my soul, right? One may be
wanting me to have fun and to enjoy life and to you know,
to ride this this wave with them this wave of life but the other
one is looking out for my soul for my eternity and if they're telling
me not to go to this place or not to go to that place because it's
haram even though I my knifes might not like that, to be
reminded, I have to appreciate that that person is looking out
for my soul and that's a true friend. So you know, just very
simple reminder, but it's also profound because we tend to blur
the lines sometimes when it comes
So how we define friendships and we forget that the true friend,
the true companion in this world is the one who is looking out for
your akhira not just who's your ride or die, or you know, the
person you can have fun with.
Know that I mean, they're, they're, you know, they might be
good for those things. But in terms of true friendship, the true
friend is the one who's always trying to prevent you from
slipping for it with Allah Subhan, Allah,
whoever directs you to activity exhaust you. So this is actually
it was sort of, I separated the three, but it was in one
statement. So he's making distinctions for us so that we can
see different categories of people, there are going to be
those people who again, pull us towards, that do things right to
be out and about, and I think for for youth, this is certainly true.
I remember, you know, if you look back into your earlier years, your
teen years are your 20s and maybe early 30s.
That's sort of the prime of life. And there's the zest for life that
a lot of people feel and so everybody wants to do things and
have experiences and travel, and do fun things. And let's jump out
of a plane and, you know, kind of throw caution to the wind and just
be free spirited. And so there's a lot of, you know, push to do those
things. Because you've tasted freedom you're out of you know,
your parents home, you have maybe your own financial freedom to do
things the way you want to do, you're in a relationship, whatever
the case may be, there's a sense of I can do whatever I want, let's
just go and explore. But it can be exhausting. And so he's just
making that distinction that people who direct you to always do
things with them, they can exhaust you, people who direct you to the
femoral to you. And then the last point he says is, whoever directs
you to Allah is one that counsels you, this is a dnn se, ha, right?
This is what we want, we want those types of friends and those
types of people in our lives, who are always reminding us of Allah
subhanaw taala. So when you're in a group setting, you know,
sometimes it's all fun and games, and people can get really silly,
but you want to look out for where's that friend, who, whenever
they speak, it's sort of like Pin drop silence, they always have
wisdom to share. They're maybe not the ones goofing off and dancing
or acting silly or Altavilla participating in the, you know,
that gossipy corner over there, you know, they're not those
people, they're the people who are, hey, what time is it has
Maghrib come in, or, Hey, you know, we should go, we should
check out this, this, you know, talk or, or let's listen to this
awesome newness sheet that came out instead of, you know, the
other type of music that may not have any benefit to it. So there
are those people who are always kind of trying to redirect people
back to Allah. And when conversations get out of hand,
even they may have really thoughtful things to talk about,
maybe not always necessarily religious topics, but at least
thoughtful, responsible, worthy, it's not idle talk, you know, you
want to think about those people. And that's those are the people
you gravitate towards. And if they if there aren't any of those
people, you should be that person, you should be the one who is, you
know, thinking about these things ahead of time. And so I've, you
know, I've counseled people who have sort of social anxiety
sometimes, and they they're afraid of Miss speaking or not really
having much to say or being put on the spot. So my advice is always
to, you know, to arm yourself with different topics that you can talk
about, why are you waiting always, for someone to invite you into a
conversation? Whereas if you're taking initiative, and being
proactive, you come up with topics that are going to be important,
you know, whether it's incidences of social anxiety or others like
I've heard from many people were like, well, what do you do when
you're with family and friends, but then they always gossip and
they're always talking about haram and, or doing things that they
shouldn't be doing. And you don't want to you know, cause fitna and
you know, have a big blowout, what do you how do you deal with that
situation? Same advice, same advice be proactive, you know,
come up with a short list of topics that maybe interests
everybody there, it could be a political topic, it could be
scientific, you know, people like science people like to know facts
that they you know, that that they never heard before. But be
creative be think about these things and work so that ahead of
time so that when you're in those situations, you don't find
yourself suddenly do
Doing something you shouldn't be doing. So, you know, again, if you
can't, if you don't grab, those people aren't around in those
circles and be that person for everybody else inshallah. But I
like the way that he just sort of distinguished these different
group categories, so that we can really think about the company
that we keep and realize where where are those beneficial people
in my life that remind me of a lot, and to appreciate them more,
inshallah. And then he says,
Make mindfulness of a larger abode. And the delight of your ego
will do you no harm, as long as it is not content with device, nor
persistent sin, and you do not lose your awareness of Allah in
private. So if you are aware of Allah subhanho data, and try to be
at all times, then you can enjoy life, basically, as long as you
don't fall into, you know, a vise, and then harmful habits or things
that you shouldn't be doing sinful behavior, and that you don't
forget a lot. So, you know, it's, we don't have to look at being
religious as being completely void of, you know, life, I think a lot
of people unfortunately have that, that image that if you're
always aware of Allah, or just the last part of that you kind of lose
your, you know, life does that spirit of life, because you're so
serious all the time, you're brooding, you're just constantly,
you know, reflecting and so you can't be too yeah, you can, some
of the most amazing people that I know, are fun loving, and, and
very, you know, energetic people, but Subhanallah, they love a lot.
And they always infused the remembrance of Allah and their
discussions, they find ways to bring faith into into the
discussion, but in an animated, and, and relevant and fun way, as
opposed to being just, you know, very serious, and again, and too
intense. So this is how we do it, you know, have that awareness of
Allah and your ego can enjoy, you know, again, the delights of this,
whatever this dunya has to offer, without harming you, because as
long as you follow the guidelines here, that it's not content with
advice, so you don't fall into bad habits, you certainly abstain from
sinful behavior, and you do not lose your awareness of a lot in
private, that's also a very important distinction. Because,
you know, if you're in public, and you you make a lot of these
claims, and you're very, you know, overtly
you're very forthcoming with your reflections about God, when you're
around people, then you want to make sure that's consistent what
happens when those people leave? Are you still thinking about a
law? Or do you completely turn it into a different person entirely,
and now, it's just like, you know, you do whatever you want, and it's
all about your whims and desires. So there's, that's the the test,
the test of sincerity is, is it? You know, are you sustaining that
same or maintaining that same state of awareness, even in
private? Or is it just, you know, a public thing, because maybe
there's an image that you're putting out? So that's how we know
whether or not we're sincere. So let's see here, I want to see how
much time I have.
Okay, so I'm going to stop here, because there's more slides, and
there's more discussions to have, Inshallah, and I really want to
hear from all of you to see if there are any questions. I tried
to do this last time. So let me see on my page, if there are any
questions, and then I'll see on the YouTube page, I, we have just
about five minutes left.
So Bismillah let me see, I'm gonna go back to the MCC page. Just bear
with me for just a moment. Because sometimes the questions come, like
last time I tried to answer your questions, but Subhanallah I saw
them pop up. As soon as I logged off, I felt so bad. So I'm really
sorry for anybody who asked
questions. For people who are asking I see some questions about
the text. I'll put it up again. So here is the text that I'm using
this as agenda to change our condition. So
I hope that's clear. It's
even I'm sorry Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Imams a check it who put this
together you can get it from Sun dolla.
Okay, so that's the text. And the section that I was reading is the
zero section, the appendix A
in the back of the book, so
Oh, it's
there's a lot of text here, mashallah a lot of great
information. So we'll continue this in two weeks when we resume
in sha Allah. And we'll continue to read. And there's more advice.
And like I said, this book, I really encourage all of you to
have it. Because there's just so much amazing content that's quite
relevant. And if you're a parent, especially, it's useful for
ourselves as parents first and foremost, but in trying to help
our children pave their own spiritual path, this is a
wonderful tool, it just outlines so much that will help you and
help them so definitely worth getting. So inshallah I am on the
Facebook page, I only saw questions about the text. I don't
know if there's any other questions, but let me look at the
YouTube page. Sorry, because there's much off technology right?
We can broadcast on multiple platforms here so it's a good
opportunity for us to see
let's see, Mashallah.
Any other questions? So again, if you guys have questions, this is
the time because I am going to give it a couple of minutes in
case it takes a few you know, a little bit to load but I don't
want to have have happened what happened last time where I was
like I saw the questions afterwards and I felt really bad
so go ahead and wait just a couple minutes but if there are no
further questions and we will inshallah continue the discussion
next time we meet now for those who again are possibly joining for
the first time these sessions will be broadcast here same time seven
to 8pm every other Thursday so we don't meet every week this is a bi
monthly or bi weekly halacha and hamdulillah it's open I know that
there are it's it was you know initially when we were on site
anyway it was for sisters but 100 Allah it's open to really anybody
who wants to tune in I don't mind if brothers are watching have no
issue whatsoever. It's an open discussion for all of us
inshallah. So feel free to share it with other people if they feel
like they want to tune in from the ladder more than welcome. So okay,
I'm going to check one more time and just see if there are any
questions and then we will end because I don't think there are I
haven't seen anything pop up yet.
But I thank all of you for tuning in Mashallah. Thank you for the
lovely comments. I see some of your very nice comments just like
them off at a you guys are very generous Mashallah. Okay, so I
think we are good
for as I said, we'll continue the discussion next time.
So
yeah, I don't see any more questions. Okay. So we will
continue the discussion and we'll read continue to read from again
this text agenda to change our condition Inshallah, please get
this text. If you don't have it, and benefit from it, and if you
have any questions, we can inshallah address it for future
sessions. But thank you so much for joining. We'll go ahead and
end in Doha. Inshallah, and I look forward to seeing you guys in
future broadcasts. So Hanukkah Lahoma or Bahamas Hamza Kosha. My
La ilaha illa Anthony Saphira Kawana to buoy Lake Bismillah R
Rahman r Rahim. Al Asad inland Santa Fe hawser. In Alladhina
amanu Juan Saudi Haiti with us we will have the water so the sub
Saharan did I just like go ahead and again, everybody inshallah
Have a wonderful evening. It's the night of Juma remember us in your
dogs in sha Allah and this is the primetime we talked about Salawat
to do your satellite in sha Allah tonight tomorrow. As we know
there's more reward on for Salawat on the day of Gemma, and right of
Jamaat certainly so Insha Allah, may Allah increase all of you and
may He bless all of us in sha Allah with visions of our beloved
Salallahu Salam Inshallah, that's my hope for all of you. So just
like come off and and have a wonderful evening, Santa Monica or
LA Hilbert again