Isam Rajab – Working in an Islamic Organization #3
AI: Summary ©
The speakers discuss the importance of prioritizing one's time and learning to be a good worshipper. They stress the need for self development, planting seed, and not rushing to do things at once. The importance of prioritizing one's goals and negotiating with the Prophet sallama is emphasized. The speakers also emphasize the importance of seeking knowledge and building a strong shield to achieve figures. The need for guidance and praying is emphasized, along with the importance of not allowing others to interfere with one's feelings.
AI: Summary ©
Welcome back for the last session for this workshop for tonight inshallah.
Few topics to be covered, I will try to go through them as much as possible.
We don't have a lot of time. So
let's see how much can we achieve.
And
when we talk about time, this is something that we don't control.
When we say time management, the topic itself is inaccurate actually. Because time management indicates that you can manage time and this is not true.
What you can manage
is your actions,
your interaction with time, that's what you can manage time you cannot tell time to stop. Allah can but we cannot. And the laws are just did stop the time for his messengers, for you shall be known for the prophets, Allah Salam, but not for us. So that's another issue.
What you can do during time, and I cannot stress enough, the fact that doing more doesn't mean achieving more
being focused and trying to achieve, that's what matters.
Even if you do less
people feel that they are behind. So they try to do more. But actually they end up doing what less
I will share with you something practical. And this requires a pen and paper.
Everyone.
I want you to write a sentence
before you do that,
have you been in a situation? Sometimes when you try to do more than one thing at a time?
Yes, sir. No. What do we call that?
Multitasking? What do you think of multitasking?
in Makkah, there was no Jihad only in Medina.
in Makkah, there were 360 altos surrounding the cabin, it was not done. When you are focused and doing only one thing at a time and you make sure you finish it, you achieve.
You do things right. But you jump from one place to another, you want to do everything, you end up doing nothing. So she's still writing the sentence.
It's just an example.
This is what we think we are doing multitasking, let's just know, do one thing at a time. You know what this will help you doing? Or achieving priorities.
Prioritizing, doing what should be done first, before anything else.
So if you end up doing what is best, at least you did what is best, even if you didn't do anything else. So do not jump from one thing to another. No. Do one thing at a time. Again, above all, this is what this is the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
one thing at a time
don't text and drive.
That's an example.
Okay.
Our time is limited. This is one of the assets we have that we will be asked about on the Day of Judgment. So the Smart is the one who thinks about what will happen next. How can I generate has an asset even long time after my death? So think about something that will generate a sonnet for you, even after your death.
Plant a seed.
You see the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
said that combat is a fear they had to confess de la familia Risa
if the final hour were to be established, and one has a small plant a sapling,
the final hour is already established. Will this small plant grow?
Will it have time to live and bear fruits? Yes, sir. No. No. So you could think of many reasons not to plant it yet. What did the prophets Allah Salam say?
planted? Why it's the right thing.
If you do,
always do what is right, regardless of what people say
we all know the consequences of procrastination. There is a long story, one of the longest narrations in Sahil Bukhari about.
Cap probably Allah Han, his son Abdullah bin cap. He narrates the Hadith from his father, God even Sohail but the Allah one that his father didn't join the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam in the Battle of the book, although he was ready, why he just procrastinated until it was too late.
You know, this is like, what it's like being with interest.
You don't do what you're supposed to do today. Tomorrow, you will do it with interest. What's the rolling on interest in Islam?
rebar, It's haram. So if you approach time like that, you will use your time efficiently.
You received an email, I will read it later. Never ever do that.
Now you don't have time, chances are tomorrow what will happen? You will not have time, either read it or delete it.
Don't pile up tasks.
The more time you will have the busier you will get.
And this works both ways. Which means
if you don't have enough time to read other's emails, don't try also long emails. Train yourself to be to the point. This is what I do personally, I don't like giving long tops.
Cottbus or speeches, maximum like cookbooks I don't give more than 1520 minutes maximum. Why got to the point straight to the point again, largest companies and corporations around the world. They pay money to deliver their message in 30 seconds only.
So you talk and talk and talk and then what where are the actions that's what matters.
At the time of the Prophet sallallahu sallam, they talk less but they work more now Masha Allah, we can talk a lot. We talk a lot, but we achieve less. So this is what I wanted to share with you about this topic. There are many other things to share. But hopefully this would make a point. Last thing about
self development. And one important thing
is the bad
there is no better way to improve yourself than a bad
a bad that is the shield.
What shield shield against the tribulations and the difficulties that you face in your dunya you seek knowledge. You attend classes, you volunteer? Yes, but don't deceive yourself. This cannot be can never be at the expense of a batter. Not just the fall of the NFL. If you are really aspiring to achieve high then you don't live the obligations. That's out of question, but also you don't leave the Sunnah.
Example, our very gathering this one.
It's a damn time. That's it. What was the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu Sallam we used to be in dialogue in communication with the Prophet SAW Selim. Once he hears there then as if he doesn't know us. It's time for Allah. Once it is time for Allah that's it. The Satan comes to you from that door. It is for the sake of Allah. No, Allah tells you at that time he wants you to be here.
reading Quran, vicar, prayer, fasting, do enough Eva that that will be a shield for you. When everyone is asleep, you are awake, playing the piano lay.
So, this is important and it goes hand in hand with volunteering. You want to be a better volunteer you have to be a better worshipper to Allah azza wa jal. It cannot be in any other way. Don't deceive yourself. So, increase your a pattern. And one unfortunate thing that I noticed from some brothers and sisters who are involved in that was that the shape arm comes to them, telling them they are better than others. I am Nickleby who are you? You are only feature heavy
since when appearance is the main
judgment
Since when?
So don't deceive yourself. Don't let the shaytaan Rahim Allah says, perhaps Ida,
cause the one who did it to enter hellfire.
You pray during the night when everybody is asleep, but you started showing up who's better than me? Everyone is asleep, I am awake. And perhaps I'm not seeing a sin. Cause it's
the one who committed it to enter Jannah when he felt the heat of it, and he repented to Allah azza wa jal. So do not deceive yourself. Put things in the right perspective. You did volunteer Alhamdulillah does that Allah here, but that's it, don't think that you are better than others? Don't start showing off? Who are they? I am better than them. That's a killer for people who are involved in Dow and I have seen that SubhanAllah.
So anytime you have a chance to prove yourself,
go ahead. Because you don't know. Maybe this is something that will help you.
For the sake of Allah. Don't miss on anything, unless you have something better when you are focused. I know this is good, but I'm sorry. It's good for you. Not for me. I have something else. Yes, that's fine. Be focused in today via the event of Debian the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had to negotiate with the kuffaar although he's the Messenger of Allah, yet, he had to negotiate with the Quran.
Why? Because that's how life is you don't get things your way always. Especially after marriage, you will realize that
so you have to negotiate.
People think that you just tell them what you have. Take it or leave it, life doesn't work that way.
Again, you learn that from the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallahu wasallam. He compromised on certain things, but every single thing that he compromised on, it turned out to be in favor for the Muslims. Although initially Muslims, some of them were not happy with the agreement, or the law one of them.
So here, you are told whether you are a buyer or a seller that you have a business deal
between 36 and 42. Now before you see the other party's paper you didn't know. So as a buyer, you had up to 42 So if you say I bought for 40. So I save two Yes. But just because you're given all the money doesn't mean you have to spend all the money.
Remember when you are negotiating or I am on a deadline Yes, maybe the other party also on a tighter deadline.
That's important to remember, always know your area, your grounds for negotiation.
So
the fair price between 36 and 42 is 39 That's fair. That's when when if you bought for more than that the seller was better.
If you bought for less than that the buyer was better so ever bought for 36 That's amazing.
Masala, so you end up paid from your pocket, masha Allah. So I guess you are ready to volunteer since you are willing to pay from your pocket.
So this is just a reminder, these are skills that you need in your day to day life,
in your self development. So that's what I wanted to leave you with. There are a few other things but I think what was done is enough in sha Allah, I hope you heard
something beneficial. And I pray to Allah azza wa jal that we leave tonight with better understanding of religion, being better Muslims in sha Allah, may Allah azza wa jal accept from all of us. Apolo colada Salam aleikum, wa rahmatullah wa barakato.
So, we have some time left about 15 minutes if you still have any remaining questions.
Right getting over here
Alright, here's
what
happened.
And we cannot proceed to some of the second example that
we got
related to
life
as they are volunteering vary like this from the past.
So how do we get a job?
The question is about undertaking a task, but being unable to fulfill it.
You always have the temptation and the desire to volunteer.
And that reflects a good intention. No question. However, one important thing, and that's the benefit of this question, actually, something I didn't mention.
You need to learn what to say, No,
that's important.
There is always a limit.
Because you were excited, and you agreed to take that job, and there was no way to finish it. What happened? Instead of being in the level of obsession, you are in the level of what shortcoming and you deserve blame instead of price? From the beginning, you shouldn't have taken that. Now. Sometimes you couldn't have predicted that that's understandable. That our priorities, but you thought you could do it, and then you couldn't. That's really the case. What else could you do? Allah azza wa jal says, law you can live for Allah Who nevsun Illa. Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity, or people don't understand. It doesn't matter. Allah understands. If you
explain to them, this is what happened. There was no possible way for me to do it.
I really didn't know that this is going to happen. I cannot predict the future. So that's it. You are forgiven. Because Allah forgives you. So it doesn't matter what people but if you from the beginning, you knew that this would be tight. This would be difficult. And still you took it. No, it was useful from the beginning. Always leave enough time.
I learned that the hard way. I share with you and experience that I had.
Just like now, I get a lot of invitations. And I ended up rejecting more than accepting because I simply don't have enough time to answer all to entertain all the invitations. One time a brother came to me to the masjid where I lead the prayer.
And he told me that his daughter is having a wedding. It was the marriage of his daughter.
It was Tuesday.
So he told me he needed me on Thursday night. They are having the wedding right after marriage.
Now I looked at my schedule. I told him Thursday night, I'm traveling to another town and flying. Why? Because in Chicago, they're where I'm flying. They need me before one night before because I'm giving the drama.
And what happened in the past. They waited and people canceled on them last minute and they didn't have replacement. So you have to be there one night before. So I need to be there Thursday night, because I'm giving the hotbar and I'm giving a program on Saturday and Sunday. So I told him it will be really tight. Find someone else he said no, no, we want you please just couple of minutes. It's just the wedding. Nikka we, we have everything ready. We just want you to formalize it in Japan.
I said okay, but please be here. Maritime. So we play Madrid together. And I go, I do it and then I leave on my way to the airport. He said okay, Thursday, came Monday tanking, I waited. I prayed the Marine. I waited, nobody showed up. I'm looking at my watch. I need to go and catch my flight.
I waited almost until everyone just like now almost the mystery this was empty. So I had to go.
Right before I arrived at the airport, I received the phone call.
Where are you? What do you mean where I'm at the airport? How come we have an ad? I told you I need you ATM every time I'm on a tight schedule. He said now you ruined our wedding. I said you know what you are right. It's my fault. Because from the beginning, I should have said no.
That way everyone is safe. Find someone else
your excitement to do good, cannot be should never be at the expense of something else.
Have someone else, I just don't have time?
Yes, I have a desire to help. But there are limits for everything.
So I learned this the hard way. So you need to learn when to say no. Saying no doesn't mean
you're not good. You're not doing yourself or you're not willing to volunteer. No, saying no. It's just meaning that you are prioritizing. You have something else to do. That's it.
People can make demands of your time they can, but only when you respond, it becomes obligation. So one easy way is to say no.
I hope this answers the question
I've been struggling with this all day long so it's okay
to laugh Yes.
Men and women Yeah.
The problem is asking about the restrictions of
mixing with the opposite gender. You weren't present at this session.
So
identify the, the restrictions are the same. You see whether it is Dawa, or even prayer at the time of the Prophet SAW Selim did men and women pray or No,
they did. Did they even have a barrier like this? No. But still, they maintain the Islamic rulings, you maintain the Islamic rulings whether it is work environment or Dawa environment or any environment. It's the same. Don't let the shaytaan play this game that oh, it is because of its dollar for the sake of Allah. It's okay. No.
So, in principle, what I said in principle, no mixing.
You need that. You have to have a legitimate cause. Alone, you cannot be alone. What's the reason?
These are the Islamic rulings? That's what Allah azza wa jal reminded us. Lowering your gaze. You see, Islam is realistic religion. Allah azza wa jal didn't tell us to blind our eyes. No. Allah told us to lower our guests. So that means you look upon necessity, when it is needed, only. Nothing else.
So within that frame
that's the it's better.
It is said that Imam Shafi said
seeking knowledge is better than
the noir Phil,
could you explain what he meant? Yes. seeking knowledge. Imam Shafi Rahim Allah said that, but again, do not let the Shavon deceive you. Because that could be also a gateway of the shaytaan. For I'm seeking knowledge, what did he manage to handle I mean by that, when you seek knowledge, that knowledge would be beneficial to others, your natural is for you only. So which one is better when you benefit others or when you benefit only yourself
when you benefit others, but that can never be at the expense of the essential a data. So once you do the essential about the obligations, then the now I feel like the robotic then after that, yes, not before that. So you cannot say it's soon after my lip which the Prophet SAW Salem regularly, almost every single day pray that I will leave it because there is something else No, no.
After that, yes, seeking knowledge comes first.
So essentially, by that they come first, but in answer your hunger meant by that, that when you seek knowledge, you benefit others, it's always better than benefiting only yourself. That's what he meant.
How to Achieve suburb even when difficulties continue to happen.
Allah azza wa jal reminded us
at the end of Surah Al Imran Yeah, Johan levena Ave is Biru wasabia
All
suburb as scholars said, from its name, it's bitter. It's not easy, it is difficult. And Allah azza wa jal tests you more and more. So the more you are tested, you look at it as purification process.
That's what makes minerals and metals, better gold, the more heat, the more other minerals are removed and done, and the pure gold is remaining. So the same thing the Prophet SAW Selim said people are tested based on their Amen. So that's how you look at it.
Allah azza wa jal loves you. He chose you out of everyone else to be tested.
Don't say oh, why Allah tested me out of everyone else. What did I do wrong? No, actually, you could be doing something right.
Who are the people that were tested more the Prophet sallallahu wasallam.
One test, the Prophet SAW Salem phase that we may face could make us depressed. One test only out of the many tests.
Being born orphan having to bury his own mother. Just imagine at six years old, burying his own mother. How would that leave you? What kind of trauma would that leave on the young?
But we look at the life of the prophet saw Selim. Everything is fine. Why? Because he was with Allah azza wa jal. So yes, it's true that life is not easy, that life is filled with challenges, but that's the nature of life, you want life free from that you're at the wrong place, this is genuine apply.
So, anytime you face that you look at it as a filtration process purification process to make you stronger and better. Inshallah.
Okay.
Based on that system that you see here, various papers without
How do you deal with employers or bosses that are Muslims, but they are not observing the Islamic rulings pertaining to the mixing with the opposite genders?
Again,
first step is to advice because maybe they don't know how
many times we assume that people know but maybe they don't know. If they know we did remind them our duty is to remind that killed in Nama and Thermotech to the study in demosaicing. Okay, I reminded them, they still insisted, then you are at crossroads.
Is it better for you religion to stay there, or you have a better alternative? Sometimes when someone is drowning, the only thing they have is you. So you have two options. Either you drown with them, or you leave them and save yourself.
That's not the first option, but that's the last option. So it depends.
You take these steps first.
It does happen and I've seen that
anything else?
Okay, so we reach the conclusion does that allow Hara salaam alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh?
One more question. One last question. Okay.
Suddenly, it's
how do you get back on track? When you feel the weight of the spacebar? How do you build up your Eman again, when you feel you're a monster?
We always ask Allah to guide us.
And it is not being guided but continuing on that guidance. So if you fell off track, how could you go back? Again, as I said, build a strong shield, increase your data. pray to Allah to achieve miracles. pray to Allah. Ask Allah to put your pants back on track. One of the best things that is very rarely in our time having a righteous companion, a righteous friend. Look how the Prophet salallahu Salam benefited Abu Bakr
and look how Abu Jamal ruins the Caliph.
So having a good companion that could help a lot
and move you know probably you get so the believer is strong with his work.
Other so these are few practical steps that will help inshallah
alright so I'm only gonna deliver