Living a Purposeful Life

Billahi min ash shaytani r rajim Bismillahi Rahmani Raheem Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

First I'd like to thank sisters of Jenna for the honor and the privilege of being able to come here and talk with you today. I've been asked to talk about living a life of purpose, living a life of purpose. In life, we all have role models. We have people we admire, people we look up to, and role models are all about good character, good conduct, there is no gender that is better than another when it comes to conduct even in the eyes of Allah in Surah 200. He says, superiority in his eyes is based on our God consciousness, on our character,

on behavior.

So men, men and women are both meant to be torchbearers, both meant to be role models of Islam, in everything we do, not only in our character, in our conduct in the utterances, the words that come out of our mouths. So Allah makes that responsibility for both men and for women, and there's so much to be done. But we can't do everything. However, we can start somewhere.

Everybody here has somebody they admire. Somebody they look up to, what is it, you see, and others that makes you wish you could be like them?

What is it you admire in others? How do we become like those we admire? Most importantly, how do we become the ones that others will admire?

We all have responsibility. Everybody here has something that they do, that they're responsible for.

And often we find there isn't enough time to do everything.

We get bogged down with routines, we wake up in the morning, we have things we do. And at the end of the day, we reflect. And often we find this still stuff we have not been able to do or accomplish. We have long to do lists, often things we really want to do. But we find that we are at the bottom of our own to do list and at the top of other people's agenda, so we have to satisfy their needs first, before we start working on ourselves.

We get overwhelmed and burnt out. There was a man who was walking in the woods one day, and he saw another man trying to cut down a huge tree. So as he kept watching this guy, he kept hacking away, hacking away hacking away at this tree. He noticed the man was not making any progress. All he saw was about just a couple inches of that tree having been cut, and this man was using an axe. He watched him hacking, hacking and still no progress. So he asked him, so what are you doing? He said, Oh, I'm trying to cut down this tree. He said, but you don't seem to be making any progress. He said, Yeah, I know. My axe is blunt. He said, so why don't you go sharpen your axe? A man said no, I

don't have time. I'm too busy for that. He continues hacking away, making absolutely no progress. A lot of us feel like this man.

A lot of us feel that we are spinning our wheels. But we're not going anywhere. We're busy. But we're not productive. We're busy. But we're ineffective. We're busy. But we're not going forward.

We need to get ourselves in order. We need to sharpen our own saws, for us to be that inspiration for others, for us to be the light for others. So we need to sharpen our saw. Sometimes we reach a stage in our lives where we want change, we want something different, something new. We feel this emptiness inside that something is missing, and that we could be more we could do more. Or sometimes we admire others, how they conduct themselves what they're doing. And we wish we could be like that. We want more meaning in our lives, more fulfillment. We want to feel that we have a greater purpose than what we are doing now. We want to be closer to Allah.

We want to have a reason to wake up in the morning.

Sometimes you want to shine but you feel your battery's running low.

You couldn't do more

But something is holding you back.

We have all had an all have dreams and expectations of things we want to be what we want to do at this stage in our lives.

Are you living your dream? Now? What you doing years ago? Is that what you're doing today?

What was your vision of what you thought you'd be doing?

Are you feeling fulfilled? With your daily actions? what you're doing? Are you content? Are you satisfied?

Are you living your best life?

Are you on track?

Or do you feel deep inside that you are worth more than what you are today?

But something is weighing you down? What is holding you back?

What is that thing that's holding you back? those goals you want to achieve? Are they not significant? Are they not meaningful?

What is holding you back? Are you your own self saboteur? Are you the one who is giving excuses as to why you cannot do and why you cannot be

as role models of the faith and promoters of Islamic values. as role models? How can we execute the trust that Allah has bestowed upon us to live a meaningful life because Allah wants us to be useful to live a life with substance and meaning. And he has placed this huge responsibility on our shoulders.

He has given us a massive responsibility. And he says in Surah, two,

four He it is Who has made you vice chairman. For He it is Who has made you vice chair and his Khalifa has his representatives, he's ambassadors.

For He it is Who has made us his representatives on this earth. What does representing Allah mean to you?

How much thought Have you given to the fact that Allah wants you to represent him as his Ambassador?

For He it is Who has made you? It's not that he think he's going to make you but he has made you his ambassadors on earth? Do you give her ever give it much thought? What does it mean to represent Allah? How does it affect the way you think?

How does representing Allah affect the way you speak? The way you talk to people?

The way Allah would?

How does it affect the way you behave with your family, friends, at school, at work? How are you representing Allah, in all your interactions, he said, he has made you He is not going to, but he has made you his representatives. Representing Allah means behaving,

behaving the way Allah would if he were here on Earth.

It is using all the gifts that he has blessed us with, to represent him well to serve Him, to be useful to ourselves and to be useful to others.

Allah has equipped us with all the tools we need to represent him. Some of us unfortunately, start looking at others and believing Allah has blessed some more than us.

Either from the background, they come from the wealth they have

their education and we say this person has a headstart, they are more privileged, Allah has blessed them more. Allah says, He has made you his representatives. And we come up with all sorts of reasons and excuses why we cannot do and why we cannot be.

I often say if Allah gives you a candle, take it and shine your light with it brightly. If he gives you a torch, do not look at the person with the floodlight. But look at what you have and believe that Allah gave you this for a reason. Because in that same verse of surah, two and he says, and he has raised you by degrees among above others, he has raised some of us above others, so that he might try us by means of what he has blessed us with. So if we do have a torch, Allah wants to try us with that torch. What do you do with it?

When will you stop looking over your shoulder and know that that was a gift from Allah, and he knows you can use it very, very well to represent him.

Have you stopped to think?

When he says by means of what he has bestowed upon you? Have you stopped to think of what it is he has bestowed upon you? How many actually reflect? What are the gifts that Allah has blessed me with? And what am I meant to use it for?

We all have opportunities. We all have opportunities to do our very best with what Allah has bestowed upon us. Unfortunately, there is so much going wrong, because a lot of us sit back and become bystanders.

Some people choose to watch as Ron goes on around them, and they do nothing else. Instead, they hate it in their hearts. your neighbor's child is on drugs, it's so easy for us to blame it on poor parenting. It's so easy for us to condemn that child and talk about what went wrong.

But you find that one stage by ignoring them, you hesitate to let your child go out and play with that child. Why? Because they could influence them, it could come home to you. Your kids end up becoming prisoners in their own home. Why? Because you were not concerned about what was going on outside your home, it becomes your problem.

Instead, we have opportunities to counsel that child to suggest rehab, there are so many alternatives and to try and cut the sources of the drugs that are affecting your neighborhood. Somebody told me you can hardly find one neighborhood today in Abuja, that there isn't a drug problem.

It is rare to find a home that has not been affected. It has reached that stage. But there's always something we can do. Sometimes we lose out on this great opportunity. Because Allah has bestowed us with the ability to do and we look at others who are using what they have been blessed with. And we admire from a distance Masha Allah Wow, the sisters really trying or this organization is trying, what are you doing?

What's holding you back?

presently, what can people say about you?

What can people say about you? You cannot afford to be good alone, or good for nothing.

Sometimes we are so humble, we do the right thing. We're a good Muslim, but we keep it to ourselves, while wrong goes on around us. I say that is not good enough. Because we are meant to act. We're meant to do more. So it's not good enough to be good alone.

And it's not good enough to be good for nothing. What are you known for? Ask yourself, what can I do to be significant to others? to someone, even if it is a child? Or in my neighborhood? Can I organize the young children to clean up? Is this something you can do? Can I counsel a teenager? How can I be a positive influence on my spouse? I had a discussion with my husband this morning, just before I came, he called and we were talking. And then I said oh I met so and so. And he said

because that person has had a reputation of questionable character. And I said, say pray for him. May Allah guide him right? Because he may have changed from what we know. He prayed for me. He said Marian, thanks for the reminder. So what kind of influence do you have on your spouse? How significant are you to a school? Do you have something you can share? And what about your friends? What kind of advice? How can you make a difference?

There is always an need out there, there is always a demand out there and you probably have what it takes. If you look deep inside

to solve problems. Think about the things that you consider to be problems out there things that are burning deep inside of you, that concern you that you're worried about. Think about those things that matter the most to you. Things you are passionate about.

There's always a need out there. There's a demand. Think about solutions. Is it something you can do alone or do you need others to support you?

If your friends are friends, the friends should have similar interests as you do. How can you involve them? Is there an organization you can partner with?

But there is always a solution and you have to see yourself as a problem solver. I love the quote that says if you're not part of the solution, you're part of

problem. I even go further I say you are a problem yourself. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. What are you doing to solve instead of complaining about the things that are going wrong?

The Prophet sallallahu wasallam said the best amongst you are those who are the most useful, the best, and the most, not just useful, but the most useful. So what are those concerns you have? And how can you be useful towards it?

as an organization in Abuja that once invited me to give a lecture. And they organized lectures a lot on marriage on personal development, growth family. And it was just two friends that started it to friends that were just chatting and sharing things to do with growth and development. And they were like, why should we keep this to ourselves? Why shouldn't we open it out, because there may be others that will benefit that we we are benefiting that we we are growing. So they establish this organization and call it ideal woman. And they are giving lectures, inviting people. They have another branch in Kaduna. I was also invited there. And they just started in their homes, just two

friends chatting. And they're making a difference. They're strengthening the bonds between spouses and families.

There was a man who set up a whatsapp group for teenagers to counsel them. Right now he has over 1600 youth, following him that he counsels and mentors gives advice, records, videos, and things and challenges that they face in their daily lives. There was a young boy,

he's 17 years old today. And while he was still in high school in secondary school, he would counsel his juniors in GS one, J. Two and J. Three, about the challenges you face at that age as a teenager, of being called antisocial of friendship, and how to select good friends

and developing your brand. Making sure you know who you are, so you can't be influenced easily with negative peer pressure.

There was a lady who went through abuse in her home, and she set up from the comfort of her home, a facebook group chat, where others who have been through similar experiences could talk, find comfort, and share advice with one another. Sisters of gender started with an idea probably from one person who shared it with another and here we are today learning growing. I've learned from my brother today.

There's a young girl who graduated from our high school. She was a head girl but she set up an opportunity on Facebook where she can highlight everyday Muslim heroes, women, girls who are making a difference. Her name is Amina Abdul Rahman. So she set up this thing called the Al Madeira initiative, and it's on Instagram. And you get to read profiles of people who are doing everyday small acts, but they are heroes and she's celebrating them.

Here we have brother Abdul Fatah who is an artist actually, who does Islamic art and calligraphy.

Sharing a gift that Allah has blessed him with and like you can see, Allah blesses people with multiple gifts. But he's making the world more beautiful by sharing a gift that Allah has blessed him with

the colors he uses. Because the lines, it moves, you were lucky. I mean it sincerely. These are gifts and this is making a difference. Some people have the gift of poetry, writing you each and every one of you have a gift. And sometimes there is a tragedy that we do not open. That gift that Allah has blessed us with.

There's a story of a man who was walking on a beach early one morning.

And this man noticed that the night before the starfish had been washed ashore from the waves. So he had to watch where he was treading.

But the sun was rising and he realized that these 1000s of starfish that had been washed ashore were going to die. But in the near distance, he noticed there was a figure, a man that kept bending down, standing up, bending down, standing up and as he got closer, he realized that this man was bending down picking up starfish and throwing them into the ocean one by one.

He got close enough, after looking at this man for a while.

He said, Sir, what are you doing?

And the man said, Oh, I'm saving the starfish. He said, but there are 1000s of them, you can't possibly make a difference.

He bent down, picked up a starfish threw it in the ocean, he said, but I made a difference to that one.

And that's what we're here for making a difference. The deeds love the most By Allah, those done regularly, even if they are small, we don't need to pick things to make a difference. We don't need to build a mosque.

We don't need to set up a huge organization, sometimes just two people is enough to make a difference. Sometimes, and often even you alone.

You alone have it in you.

Partnering is only making things stronger. The power in numbers, but you have the gift in you. And often like I said, The tragedy is we do not look deep within to see what it is that Allah wants us to do. What is that thing burning inside of you that you are yearning to do?

That when you look in the mirror at who you are today, you feel I can do more? I can be more than this. So what is holding you back?

What is that thing that you've been longing for?

What is that thing that's been burning deep inside of you?

That thing that if you do it, you don't mind if you don't get paid.

What is so good about doing what you love, what you're passionate about is the quality is always greater, and people eventually will be ready to pay for it. And then you find you're able to earn a living. But if it isn't something that you're going to make money on to it because that's what gives your life meaning. That is your true calling.

Don't wait for divine intervention to make you start something you love. You already have it Allah says he has made you. He has given you willpower. He has given you a choice to pick what it is you want to do. He has given you a conscience to know right from wrong. He has given you life. He has given you help. He has given you time. And he is right there by your side. He would never leave you to represent Him alone and not be there with you on the journey.

To wait for a sign. Don't wait for a burning bush. I remember wanting to make a decision to start something. And it took me three months I would think about this. Spend the night thinking about what I could do how I could do and I would ask my husband, I would ask some close friends. What do you think? And they all said Go for it. My husband says do it. What are you waiting for? Three months later I asked him again said what do you think I'm still thinking about this thing should I marry? You want an angel to drop from the sky slap you on the face until you start? He said that to me. And I started and I have never till today found more fulfillment, more peace from what I am doing.

That thing that I kept thinking about overthinking about second guessing myself trying to find excuses and even being negative about what would go wrong. I just started. So don't wait.

Don't wait, do your homework, do your istikhara so Allah puts his blessings in it. But like I said, Don't overthink to Shura as people who care for you. And then put your trust in Allah. Because Allah says in Surah Al Imran, when you put when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah for Allah loves those who put their trust in him.

When you've made a decision to do something, put your trust in Him. And I love the Hadith where the Prophet sallallahu wasallam said, I quote this almost at every lecture. If you put your whole trust in Allah as your team, most certainly he most certainly will satisfy your needs. As he satisfied those of the birds. They come out hungry in the morning and return satisfied to their nest.

I planted a lot of trees in my garden and it's been the biggest blessing because every evening if I'm home I sit outside, around 615 630 the birds come back and they remind me of Allah because I feel the way they are singing and chirping making so much noise. It's a huge orchestra going on in the trees. They're all coming back satisfied. And that is the fulfillment you will put your head on your pillow at the end of the day.

You feel satisfied because it completely fulfills your needs grant you peace of mind, grant you contentment.

This is what leading your life is about this is having a meaningful life.

not sitting back and watching others being the passengers of other people's but taking charge and being the driver,

being the driver

and being an inspiration because that is it. Others are watching, and what are we teaching those that are looking up to us, our siblings, our children, the children in our neighborhoods, and then the community and the woman, because each and every one of us is representing Allah as the spice gerrits. So we are part of a puzzle in this big universe of ours, and each of us has a responsibility to fulfill.

If I may just do a quick survey of your show of hands, you can raise your hands. How many here today? did not have somebody influence them in any way or motivate them? How many didn't have somebody significant in their lives, just raise your hands. If nobody influenced you. You can look around look behind you.

And not see a single hand go up this one person.

Now let me ask the next question.

How many in this room? had somebody influence them positively? Or support them? or encourage them one way or another? Or was there a cheerleader? Just raise your hands up high? You can look around?

If I were to ask that question of the people, you know, how many of them would raise their hands and say you are that person?

I think not even a quarter of the room raise their hands.

Many of us remember the teachers that influences when we when we went to school, or spiders or counselors, people that would come along or maintain our journey.

What are you two others?

I'd like you to think about the people you admire the people you consider to be role models.

What virtues or qualities or strengths of that person do you admire? Think about it. What do you look at in somebody you admire and say, Boy, I wish I had those qualities?

Then how could you improve on it? Because I always say don't go and try to be like others.

Because an imitation is always a counterfeit. Create your own regional signature and style. Look at what others are doing. Yes. Well, it seems they have and try to emulate. But don't try to be just like somebody. Only strive for originality. So when I've always looked up to and admired so much is my mother. She's been a huge inspiration in my life. Why? Because she lives in a world of possibilities. Everything is possible. You cannot tell her it cannot be done.

And she's a fighter. She's tenacious. And she taught me to stand tall and fight and making things happen.

She's a trailblazer. She started various organizations and schools and sent a certain standard.

She's also extremely creative, kind hearted, gentle, she has a clean conscience. And she doesn't have time for ego pride.

She taught us about humility, and about service. I look at her as an inspiration. But I always remember the words of my father, improve upon it and to improve upon it. Everything you see improve upon it. And that is my goal. When I picked up from my mother and other role models, I've been privileged to come across, I want to do better, I want to do more. And I want to use the one that God has blessed me with

to bring this to life. So what words or phrases would you like people to describe to you when when you

write it down? What do I want people to know me by?

If you have an image in your mind of who you want to be what you want to do, it gives you a target. The next thing is how do I bring it to life? Do I need to add skills to that thing I like so that I can be more efficient, far more

That's even better, then set a timeline, I want to achieve this by this particular time. So what's your plan of action, you need to write it down, and then convert into action. And it's not about our stuff tomorrow.

Writing as a goal,

the changes that you seek the things you longed for, will never come to life unless you take that first step. Many of us think changes are going to happen on their own.

You can't sit and do nothing and expect things to improve. You have to put in you have to be invested in yourself, you have to work towards those goals you want,

in the quotes that He also mentioned in Surah, Torah, and that won't change our conditions. Unless we change what lies within ourselves, we won't get better allow him to fill in the blanks until we take that first step towards what he wants us to be.

For the changes to happen, we have to have a purpose. And we have stopped and thought about what is their reason for existence? Why are you here? What is your purpose? What are you meant to achieve? How many have given it much thought the Prophet sallallahu wasallam said he was asked, he was asked who is the cleverest of beekeepers. And you know what he said, the one who remembers them, and is better prepared for the life after it's the one who remembers that, and is better prepared for the life after it. There is an exercise I'm going to do with you now. And I know my time is limited and about 30 minutes to wrap up.

Let's go through this journey together. you're meant to close your eyes. But I know it's quite difficult when there's a large group to do this. However, let's just go on this journey. And try and pretend as if there's no child crying, there are no people walking around, there's no distractions. Just put yourself in a zone and go on this journey with me, please.

It's the end of the day. And you're going home.

And as you get closer to the keys of your house, you get closer to your partner. You notice a large gathering

of people outside the house.

And as you step into your compound,

your blood pressure.

Because the crowd is so unusual. At the faces of the media.

Then there is a sound

that makes you uncomfortable.

In the sound of wailing, the sound of crying, and the sound of sobbing and murmuring.

As you get closer, you realize that somebody has passed away.

And there's a janai in progress.

Why didn't they wait for you?

Thank you look around and panic.

It's my children.

But no.

You see your sister holding on to them?

One is confused. That doesn't know what has happened.

The other one is in shock. is crying and sobbing uncontrollably.

When you think again, isn't your husband? No, but he's standing there looking now?

Is it your mother?

Oh my god, it's your mother.

And you run around looking for her.

When you see her holding on to a chair, sitting in a heap on the floor.

Nobody can come

as you make your way to the center of the congregation.

You now see that there's a 40 rounds in a shroud.

And then at that moment you realize that God is yours.

Your Life has come to an end

and they start to pick you up

and put you in the band and out of like bury you.

What are these things about you?

What are you?

What kind of life did you lead?

How many lives Did you touch?

What kind of child were you? What kind of daughter? What kind of son?

What kind of system? What kind of Brother

What kind of mother

What can I do?

For you?

It's time to face your makeup.

And as they cover you with sand,

you really reflect on your life.

Are you ready?

Are you ready to face your makeup? Your Life has come to an end.

For those who close their eyes, you may open your eyes.

How did that feel?

Scary? I noticed tears.

I noticed this shock when you learned that it was you?

How many of us know that we'll need to see the end of the day? Yes, raise your hand if you do?

How many are ready to face their makeup? Just raise your hands? How many confidence? I don't see more than four hands go up.

So what are you waiting for?

When you have no guarantees, what are you waiting for? assume you have six months, just six months to live a healthy life. And after that you'd like to come to an end, I'd like you to ask yourself these questions.

What are the three things that matter the most to you in your life right now, today? What matters the most to you? What are the three things that matter most to you? If you didn't bring a writing material? You can reflect on this when you go back home? And what are the three things you would like to do achieve before your six months expire?

And the last question, what are the three things you want to be remembered for? after you're gone?

What are the three things you want to be remembered for? after you're gone?

Right now, that thing that you are pursuing so desperately? That thing that you are fighting for sacrificing everything for? Is it significant? Is it what people will remember you for after you're gone?

In surah Allah reminds us that the mutual rivalry for accumulating the things in this world distract us from the most important things until we visit the grave. Right now what is that thing we are pursuing so badly? That we must have

many of you if you are asked what are the three things that matter the most to you will be the same as the results of a survey conducted of people who have a terminal illness who knew they were going to die. And they were asked what matters the most to you. The first thing they say is making peace with God.

The second thing

is making peace with their loved ones.

being at peace with their loved ones, and the third thing is leaving a lasting legacy. If those are the three most important things that matter to us, so we don't know how long we're gonna be living for. What are we doing today to make sure that like the profits are

we live our lives with minimal regrets?

What would your family say about you? Like I asked what kind of wife or husband when you what kind of mother or daughter, sister or brother

and then the people you interact with? What kind of neighbor what you what kind of employer or employee were you?

What are you going to start today? What are you going to start so that others will want to enter into

the profits a lot of southern states and he two days are equal in accomplishment is assurances.

If you choose to wake up, wake up in the morning and do exactly what you did the day before you have a routine and you don't stretch yourself and go into new territory the prophets of Allah describes that he two days are equal in accomplishment is assurances. So having that purpose gives our life meaning gives us our like accomplice or like my brother says a personal Kayla. living a life of purpose gives us a reason to wake up in the morning. But many of us go with the flow. What are we doing? We're just chilling. The province that says the intelligent person is the one who calls his own self to accounts and works for the hereafter. And the incapable is the one who follows his own

desires without no control over it. And then please forgive him after he's got himself in trouble. That's when we asked for forgiveness. You will never be remembered for things you did. Just

But you'll always be remembered for things you did too, and for others

remember these questions I ask you please constantly ask this question to yourself, how significant lie to others.

The next question

is my presence felt? Is my presence felt? Do people know I exist?

And will like absence be noticed?

Is your presence felt? Are you making a difference? Are you making the contribution to people know you eat system if you are no longer there, who will know? Who will notice your absence?

And then that last question, what is your legacy? What do you want to be remembered for after you're gone? So where do you start? What should you focus on?

There is a quote from St. Purvis that says there isn't enough time to do everything in life. But there is enough time to do the most important things.

There is enough time to do the most important things that the Prophet sallallahu wasallam advise Muslim to take advantage of five things before five others. The first one, he says is take advantage of your life before your death, your life before your death, your good health before your ill health, your good health before your ill health, your free time before your preoccupation to use before your old age, and your wealth before your property. I want to leave you with two areas that I have found to be so useful. There are so many more, I can give you five, but we're short of time, I just want to leave you with two gifts, two areas that truly can give your life more meaning and more

fulfillment. The first is spirituality.

Becoming more conscious, my father always raised us to remember everything you do spirituality, keep that close to me close to you when things are going well. And when they're not going well.

Keep him close. Don't do anything that will displease him and don't be a seasonal Muslim. Many of us have just finished Ramadan, and

the sacrifices we make during that month, how we control our utterances the extras we do and then Ramadan is over and believe me, we actually fall back to our always so easily, we find it more difficult to get up at night.

more difficulty will wake up. Why can we maintain this for

30 days, and we can't manage to even add some of those things during the week even if it's once the end stress.

Develop a strong spiritual immune system. Why this system is made up of support.

immunizing yourself is protecting yourself from so much. Just like being immunized against us against diseases. Having someone

else against the disease of the heart

is that God consciousness being aware of God and fearing offending him

himself some of the surrounding it keeps us on the straight path.

If we are conscious of it, if we are conscious of him and his injunctions, he will make sure and be representing well he will make sure that he takes care of all our needs. If we are conscious of Allah. Allah says and for everyone who is conscious of Allah, he always prepares the way out and provides for him for sources he could never imagine. If we are conscious of Allah, He will provide for us from sources we couldn't imagine.

Whatever you're grateful when ever you pay for a certain day to be responded to, but be patient because sometimes the timing people something

to you why he wants to test your patience. Why because that's not the right time. He will not grant you what he wants but be patient, he will give you something better.

So do the extra the ones you did during the month of Ramadan.

Often we find where HST or have that little rosary Tikka during the month of Ramadan

let the meaning of the Quran learn the message to us from Allah and keep him close. Don't ever involve a middleman between you and Allah Allah is sufficient for you. You don't need an intermediary. Be careful not to be one of those who is too infatuated with learning how to recite and how you pronounce and you don't learn the meanings.

Translated into your actions. Do not ever use the message, learn the meaning. But learn the pronunciation so that you are saying the right thing. Be careful focusing on having the signal.

But you're not behaving in a similar way.

Very careful.

Are you fooling people with your notes? Are you fooling people in a way that you'd be really comfortable?

When you get to know what you do behind closed doors, they wouldn't want to be in your company.

Are you more infatuated with the exterior,

giving people an impression of who you are outside. And by the time they know who you truly are, who you are behind closed doors, it's nothing to be proud of. Because you're a Muslim doesn't make you a good person.

Because you went the job doesn't make you pious. Because you grow a beard doesn't mean you don't cheat or lie. Because you grew up in a home or a

home doesn't make you better than any other person.

Some of us have quotes on the tip of our tongues, were quick to impress people with our spiritual superiority. And we're quick to judge

I often will say, How dare you start with yourself.

Because you don't know what's going on in somebody's house. And it's their relationship with their God, not their relationship with you. Whatever is in their heart You can't possibly know don't judge people already and the ones that call yourself to account before Allah calls you to account, spend your own time focusing on pulling yourself to accounts and don't keep looking outwards and judging people. If they can forgive a prostitute for saving a dog from this, then who are we to judge people and condemn them?

It's so important that your Islam is in your intentions, that we should understand that our intentions and the content of our hearts that gets translated into our actions is what makes us complete

our good intentions. Some people here may have lost their job or

something have lost a loved one. And the pain is still so deep and the shock from their accidents, something deep going through a divorce and the devastation and the depression that comes with it. Some may have a child that is on drugs.

Some may be going through financial hard times. These are all trials that many of us are going to go through. It is important that we develop a spiritual shock absorber the way we put shock absorbers in our vehicle so that it takes the shock from our bodies. We need to develop a spiritual shock absorber to help us cope with that crisis.

So that we have never been simpler, but that's fine, because I'm not mistaken Sorento bacala and most and most certainly we shall try you. Allah has already promised and more than 70 guaranteed, we shall try you by means of danger, hunger, loss of your worldly goods of life and of the fruits of your labor. But the best part, he says but give glad tidings give good news to those who are patients adversity, who when calamity befalls them. They say in that attiny when

they see vary from office to Team A very bizarre return. It is the open move the sense of blessings, the monkey the Rambo, bear sustainer and it is a walker right? So remember, he says and most certainly we shall try you having that spiritual shock absorber gives us a mechanism to cope so that we never take trials customary.

anytime something happens to

me, why don't you suggest?

Don't ever be a victim is just I was privileged enough to meet one of our students who went through a huge drive.

I have about 13 minutes to go and I'll wrap up. But this girl went through a trial. She lost her mother and her stepmother in one accident.

Then Not long after that a few weeks later, she lost her brother, who was the electric utility something to do with the generator.

From the shock of all that she lost her grandfather less than a month later.

But I've never met someone who

changed and transformed this trial from Allah into being an inspiration for others. I call them my ray of sunshine, because she never walks around like a victim. When she told me she would talk about it, but she was always smiling, always cheerful, you will never know this is what she went through. Someone really close to me, lost a child, she was pregnant. And when she came to deliver, the child passed away.

And about six months later, she lost her husband in a ghastly car accident.

I have to break the news.

And I'll never forget and I continue to pray to Allah to give me that kind of strength and faith. Because as I sat next to her, she was looking at me shaking her head is what I was about to tell her.

I said in that evaluate lady ratchet.

She got up, she went and did evolution and just started doing nothing as

I continue to pray to Allah, that when various trials come my way, that I will have that kind of trust that only unlock and fill the void in my heart that is developing a spiritual shock absorber mentally picturing things happening and preparing yourself for how you will behave so that you never go into shock.

We are often victims so when he blesses us, we don't. We don't say why. Why did you bless me with a child?

Why did you bless me with financial independence, we don't complain about the good. Don't forget to comfort yourself comes with the spiritual shock absorber is Allah words he loves most, and he will never give you a word of greater than you can handle. And he also says after hardship will come with my brothers said it is during the darkest nights that the stars shine the brightest.

And it is during the darkest hours that we are meant to shine the brightest that that's close to us. You shine your light with the cold, you shine your light with a man and trust that there is a lesson for you to learn a new grade. Just as you worked hard to pass your tests, you found it to pass your exams. Make sure you prepare yourself one last test. This is what is important. Be a source of healing for others. If you've gone through this, this is where you can be useful, you know where it hurts the most be a source of suffering.

So the first one is spirituality. Think of an activity you can do consistently even if it's once a day, or once a week, or maybe twice a month. That will strengthen your email and bring you closer to Allah. Think about something you can do. But you write it down. Put it in a reminder in your home so that you will do it regularly. So you do not forget the second gift I want to partner with you it is your mental and intellectual development.

Develop your mind and develop your talents.

Talk to others who also keep company of those who do the same.

Are you making the best use of your education?

Are you finding fulfillment costs that you studied? Are you putting it to good use? I am Doctor this promise of that.

architecting engineer that

in what we have benefited from this knowledge you have acquired. It is never too late to start afresh. I know people who love what they study, but they choose to start something else because they're passionate about it. It's never too late, too late.

Try a new course. learn a new skill.

learn something new never ever be stagnant. learn skills like crafts. I met this gentleman when I went to the UK recently for a lecture. And I love He said he studied civil engineering. However, he wasn't finding fulfillment in that. So he went online and started taking courses on interior decoration because that was something he felt he had a gift for and flipping homes when he takes an old house that has been condemned, rejected and he transforms it and brings it back to life and then sells it. So what what stood out for me is the high school he went to he brings 10 students during the holidays to join him and he teaches them the same skill that is being useful. How do you fine

tune your current skills and yourself?

How do you tune your talents? Learn organizational skills you may

Have a message, learn public speaking skills, develop yourself. Learn how to coach teenagers. Learn to be a counselor, you have a gift that Allah has given you let the world benefit from who you are as a representative of and

use the niche wisely. Sadly, many of us use social media to follow strangers to come to me about their lifestyle. And we end up wasting our lives, using the internet wisely to develop yourself, turn your phone into a classroom. Right now I have so many audible audiobooks in my phone that I listen to in my earpiece when I'm going for a walk. When I'm alone, and I grow from them. use YouTube as the teacher that is very economical compared to going to a school, when you can learn in the comfort of your home from your phone or your laptop.

My son is 21 when he learns how to record videos to do videos, film, as well as learning sound engineering all on YouTube. He's the one who does all my videos today. He's only 21. And he never learned to already learn these skills. There are ebooks available free, whatever you're passionate about, just Google it and it'll pop up. And you'll see the free ones. There are tons of online courses that will help you develop and grow take advantage of your mind and talented people benefit from it. coursera.org is a resource I think focus is simul taneous, to even right now on Coursera. To develop myself, and future, then these are all free courses, some up for if you want, but never

ever be second, make yourself an asset and let people learn from it.

Think about one thing that you can do, that you can add to what you already have, that will develop your mind and develop your talent and believe that people learn from you that people benefit from you. My brother mentioned that the only difference between us and Adam and Eve is that they don't have a nickel, they don't have a belly button, because they weren't carried in the womb.

And there is no difference between us and all those people we admire and look

at the second 24 hours and what they use it for. We have the same 24 hours in a day as everybody will admire. The difference is what they use it for. Think of your story. Think of your life as a story. That is really each and every day you turn a new page and you fill in the blank.

Some of the details are already there. The family you came from you can change that. But you can change the outcome. You can change your destiny.

How do you fill in the pages who is writing your story? Have you given that thing to somebody else so they have power? Or are you the one in charge. Don't give anybody permission to crush your dreams. Don't think your plans and your goals on paper translate them into actions as Vice Chairman as representatives of Allah that He has said he has given us what it takes to shine your light brightly for yourself. And for others. Don't let another day go by. Don't let another week go by. Don't let another month go by without bringing the story of who you are to life so that others can benefit from it. They your presence.

May your presence be felt and be your absence be noticed for your significance and for your contribution. And may the people whose lives you have touched all serve as a witness for you in the life to come something with your home. May Allah continue to roll this organization sisters of gender, disappearance of others and all their activities together to help and benefit others. Continue to strengthen you aware.

I asked you to forgive me as well disappointed