00:00:00 -->
00:00:04
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, alhamdulillahi rabbil alameen,
00:00:04 -->
00:00:06
wa salatu wa salamu ala ashrafil anbiya wal
00:00:06 -->
00:00:11
mursaleen, Muhammadur Rasulullahi sallallahu alaihi wa sallam wa
00:00:11 -->
00:00:14
ala alihi wa sahbihi wa sallam, tasliman kathiran
00:00:14 -->
00:00:14
kathiran.
00:00:14 -->
00:00:17
Amma ba'du, my brothers and sisters, Allah subhana
00:00:17 -->
00:00:19
wa ta'ala jalla jalaluhu wa amma nawaluhu
00:00:19 -->
00:00:23
jalla shanhu sent us for a purpose which
00:00:23 -->
00:00:25
He declared as follows.
00:00:28 -->
00:00:31
He said, wa maa khalaqtul jinna wal insa
00:00:31 -->
00:00:33
illa liya'budoon.
00:00:33 -->
00:00:35
In surat az-Zariyat, Allah subhana wa ta
00:00:35 -->
00:00:40
'ala said, I, Allah, have not created the
00:00:40 -->
00:00:43
jinn and the humans except that they should
00:00:43 -->
00:00:44
worship Me alone.
00:00:45 -->
00:00:48
By worship, it means obey also.
00:00:49 -->
00:00:52
The foundation of ibadah, of worship, is the
00:00:52 -->
00:00:57
attitude of bondage, which is the result of
00:00:57 -->
00:01:01
a state of the heart called at-taqwa.
00:01:02 -->
00:01:05
Taqwa is to be concerned about the pleasure
00:01:05 -->
00:01:06
of Allah subhana wa ta'ala in all
00:01:06 -->
00:01:10
matters because we love Him and look forward
00:01:10 -->
00:01:11
to our return to Him.
00:01:12 -->
00:01:14
Allah subhana wa ta'ala declared and commanded,
00:01:14 -->
00:01:18
ya ayyuha alladhina amanut taqullaha haqqa tuqati wala
00:01:18 -->
00:01:21
tamutunna illa wa antum muslimoon.
00:01:21 -->
00:01:24
He said, O believers, be mindful of Allah,
00:01:24 -->
00:01:28
have taqwa of Allah in the way that
00:01:28 -->
00:01:31
is His right, haqqa tuqati, that He deserves,
00:01:31 -->
00:01:34
that is His right and do not die
00:01:34 -->
00:01:37
except in a state of full submission to
00:01:37 -->
00:01:39
Him jalla jalaluhu.
00:01:39 -->
00:01:41
I remind myself and you, the issue with
00:01:41 -->
00:01:43
rights is that if we do not fulfil
00:01:43 -->
00:01:45
them, we are liable to be questioned.
00:01:46 -->
00:01:49
The question is, how can we have taqwa
00:01:49 -->
00:01:51
of Allah subhana wa ta'ala unless we
00:01:51 -->
00:01:51
know Him?
00:01:52 -->
00:01:53
We know Allah subhana wa ta'ala in
00:01:53 -->
00:01:54
two ways.
00:01:54 -->
00:01:57
One, by reflecting on how Allah subhana wa
00:01:57 -->
00:02:00
ta'ala introduced Himself so that His awe
00:02:00 -->
00:02:03
and majesty permeates our hearts.
00:02:03 -->
00:02:07
And the nur of His khashiyah drives away
00:02:07 -->
00:02:09
all darkness.
00:02:10 -->
00:02:13
Nobody can introduce Allah subhana wa ta'ala
00:02:13 -->
00:02:17
the way He introduced Himself.
00:02:18 -->
00:02:20
I remind myself and you and I invite
00:02:20 -->
00:02:24
you and myself to reflect on the different
00:02:24 -->
00:02:26
places that Allah subhana wa ta'ala described
00:02:26 -->
00:02:29
Himself in His glory and majesty in the
00:02:29 -->
00:02:29
Quran.
00:02:30 -->
00:02:33
For example ayatul kursi, for example the last
00:02:33 -->
00:02:35
ayat of suratul hashr, for example of suratul
00:02:35 -->
00:02:38
ikhlas, for example the beginning of suratul mulk
00:02:38 -->
00:02:41
and so on and so forth, suratul rahman
00:02:41 -->
00:02:41
and so on and so forth.
00:02:42 -->
00:02:44
We are already familiar with these ayat.
00:02:44 -->
00:02:47
Let us reflect on how our Rabb jalla
00:02:47 -->
00:02:48
jalaluhu described Himself.
00:02:49 -->
00:02:51
And think about this and say that every
00:02:51 -->
00:02:53
single one of His glorious names and attributes,
00:02:53 -->
00:02:56
His asma wa sifat that He chose to
00:02:56 -->
00:03:00
mention is designed to comfort and support us
00:03:00 -->
00:03:03
that we are the slaves of the One
00:03:03 -->
00:03:05
who is ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.
00:03:05 -->
00:03:09
And He is in complete and total control
00:03:09 -->
00:03:10
of our entire lives.
00:03:11 -->
00:03:13
That is what we must reflect on and
00:03:13 -->
00:03:16
appreciate and work to strengthen our connection with
00:03:16 -->
00:03:18
Allah subhana wa ta'ala jalla jalaluhu.
00:03:19 -->
00:03:21
We also know Allah subhana wa ta'ala
00:03:21 -->
00:03:25
through our experience of His blessings in our
00:03:25 -->
00:03:25
lives.
00:03:26 -->
00:03:28
Again Allah subhana wa ta'ala mentioned His
00:03:28 -->
00:03:30
blessings on us in many places in the
00:03:30 -->
00:03:31
Quran.
00:03:32 -->
00:03:34
Please read them and reflect on them.
00:03:34 -->
00:03:37
Imagine life for insomniacs for example.
00:03:38 -->
00:03:41
Imagine living as a homeless person through the
00:03:41 -->
00:03:43
winter in the shade of a shop awning
00:03:43 -->
00:03:46
or in the New York subway tunnel.
00:03:46 -->
00:03:49
They live there because the tunnels are heated
00:03:49 -->
00:03:52
but the rails that they sleep next to
00:03:52 -->
00:03:52
are electrified.
00:03:53 -->
00:03:55
So in your sleep if you turn over
00:03:55 -->
00:03:58
and your hand or leg touches the rain,
00:03:59 -->
00:03:59
goodbye.
00:04:00 -->
00:04:03
Before they go to bed, these homeless people
00:04:03 -->
00:04:05
who live in the subways, they need dinner.
00:04:07 -->
00:04:08
Guess where they get that from?
00:04:08 -->
00:04:12
In the garbage bins of Noho and Soho
00:04:12 -->
00:04:15
and Hudson Yards and Greenwich Village and Billionaire's
00:04:15 -->
00:04:15
Row.
00:04:16 -->
00:04:20
I asked a New Yorker about this and
00:04:20 -->
00:04:21
I said, why?
00:04:22 -->
00:04:23
I said, why?
00:04:23 -->
00:04:25
He said, because the best garbage is in
00:04:25 -->
00:04:27
the most expensive districts.
00:04:28 -->
00:04:30
Now when your imagining session is over, take
00:04:30 -->
00:04:33
a look in the mirror and remind yourself
00:04:33 -->
00:04:35
and I remind myself that the only thing
00:04:35 -->
00:04:37
that separates you and me from the person
00:04:37 -->
00:04:39
eating out of the garbage bin is the
00:04:39 -->
00:04:40
mercy of Allah.
00:04:41 -->
00:04:44
There is no difference between me and that
00:04:44 -->
00:04:46
person eating out of the garbage bin except
00:04:46 -->
00:04:49
that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala chose not
00:04:49 -->
00:04:50
to put me in that position.
00:04:51 -->
00:04:53
We need to do some very serious personal
00:04:53 -->
00:04:56
reflection in our lives to see which of
00:04:56 -->
00:04:58
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's blessings we enjoy
00:04:58 -->
00:05:01
the most and what life would be without
00:05:01 -->
00:05:01
that.
00:05:02 -->
00:05:04
And then thank Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
00:05:04 -->
00:05:07
very privately, very personally and very sincerely for
00:05:07 -->
00:05:08
these blessings.
00:05:11 -->
00:05:15
My brothers and sisters, give yourself time to
00:05:15 -->
00:05:16
reflect.
00:05:17 -->
00:05:19
Time for tadabbur and tafakkur.
00:05:21 -->
00:05:25
We cannot keep leading our checklist lives on
00:05:25 -->
00:05:28
treadmills that we are terrified to get off.
00:05:28 -->
00:05:31
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala called this life
00:05:31 -->
00:05:33
nothing but deception.
00:05:34 -->
00:05:38
As technology develops, the ability to deceive develops
00:05:38 -->
00:05:39
and gets weaponized.
00:05:40 -->
00:05:43
Anyone who doesn't reflect, who doesn't think, who
00:05:43 -->
00:05:46
doesn't take charge of his own life is
00:05:46 -->
00:05:46
the victim.
00:05:48 -->
00:05:50
There are no neutral positions in this game.
00:05:51 -->
00:05:53
No spectators, no armchair critics.
00:05:53 -->
00:05:56
You are in the game.
00:05:57 -->
00:05:59
We are all in the game.
00:06:01 -->
00:06:03
I want to recite for you a poem
00:06:03 -->
00:06:06
that I wrote this morning.
00:06:07 -->
00:06:10
And the title of the poem is, We
00:06:10 -->
00:06:14
know you O Allah by your bounties uncounted.
00:06:15 -->
00:06:18
We know you O Allah by your bounties
00:06:18 -->
00:06:19
uncounted.
00:06:20 -->
00:06:22
By the rays of the sun, by the
00:06:22 -->
00:06:23
light of the moon.
00:06:24 -->
00:06:28
By the vast empty space and the stars
00:06:28 -->
00:06:29
that live therein.
00:06:30 -->
00:06:32
By the rain and the snow that helps
00:06:32 -->
00:06:33
our gardens grow.
00:06:34 -->
00:06:37
By the trees, by the fruits, by joys
00:06:37 -->
00:06:38
and sorrows.
00:06:39 -->
00:06:42
We know you O Allah by your bounties
00:06:42 -->
00:06:43
uncounted.
00:06:44 -->
00:06:46
By the flowers in spring, by the dew
00:06:46 -->
00:06:47
on the rose.
00:06:47 -->
00:06:51
By the summer, by the color of fall,
00:06:52 -->
00:06:53
the herald of winter.
00:06:54 -->
00:06:56
By the music of the brook as it
00:06:56 -->
00:06:58
plays on the rocks.
00:06:58 -->
00:07:03
By dark skies, by falling stars, by wisdom,
00:07:04 -->
00:07:04
by stupidity.
00:07:05 -->
00:07:08
We know you O Allah by your bounties
00:07:08 -->
00:07:10
uncounted.
00:07:11 -->
00:07:15
By the rain to give life, by sunshine
00:07:15 -->
00:07:15
likewise.
00:07:15 -->
00:07:19
By the dew drop on the thorn in
00:07:19 -->
00:07:20
the light of the dawn.
00:07:21 -->
00:07:23
By the fire of sunset as it lights
00:07:23 -->
00:07:24
up another land.
00:07:25 -->
00:07:27
By the bugle of the stag, by the
00:07:27 -->
00:07:28
beating of my heart.
00:07:28 -->
00:07:31
We know you O Allah by your bounties
00:07:31 -->
00:07:32
uncounted.
00:07:33 -->
00:07:36
By dreams that came true, by dreams unfulfilled.
00:07:37 -->
00:07:40
By prayers answered sometimes in unexpected ways.
00:07:41 -->
00:07:44
By prayers unanswered for which we thank you
00:07:44 -->
00:07:45
today.
00:07:45 -->
00:07:54
By parents, by siblings, by children, especially teenagers.
00:07:55 -->
00:07:59
We know you O Allah by your bounties
00:07:59 -->
00:08:00
uncounted.
00:08:00 -->
00:08:03
By the silence of the forest at the
00:08:03 -->
00:08:04
grandeur of mountains.
00:08:05 -->
00:08:08
By the depth of the ocean hiding treasures
00:08:08 -->
00:08:08
unknown.
00:08:09 -->
00:08:11
By the fish, by the birds, by the
00:08:11 -->
00:08:12
black-capped chickadee.
00:08:12 -->
00:08:15
By the cardinal in the snow, by the
00:08:15 -->
00:08:16
waiting blue heron.
00:08:16 -->
00:08:19
We know you O Allah by your bounties
00:08:19 -->
00:08:20
uncounted.
00:08:21 -->
00:08:23
By the malin as he rises on his
00:08:23 -->
00:08:24
tail and throws the hook.
00:08:25 -->
00:08:27
By the song of the loon on the
00:08:27 -->
00:08:28
night of the full moon.
00:08:29 -->
00:08:31
By the storm, by the typhoon, by COVID
00:08:31 -->
00:08:34
and still being alive.
00:08:34 -->
00:08:37
By waking every morning, by sleeping every night.
00:08:38 -->
00:08:41
We know you O Allah by your bounties
00:08:41 -->
00:08:42
uncounted.
00:08:43 -->
00:08:47
By a future that looks dark, promising dawn
00:08:47 -->
00:08:48
very bright.
00:08:50 -->
00:08:54
By our values, our compassion, our courage.
00:08:54 -->
00:08:57
By Islam, by those who lift us when
00:08:57 -->
00:09:00
we fall and fight for us when we
00:09:00 -->
00:09:00
can't.
00:09:01 -->
00:09:05
By knowing you, loving you, thanking you and
00:09:05 -->
00:09:07
worshipping only you.
00:09:07 -->
00:09:11
We know you O Allah by your bounties
00:09:11 -->
00:09:12
uncounted.
00:09:14 -->
00:09:17
My brothers and sisters, I remind myself and
00:09:17 -->
00:09:21
you that we are all in the game.
00:09:22 -->
00:09:23
You are in the game, I am in
00:09:23 -->
00:09:24
the game.
00:09:25 -->
00:09:26
The game called life.
00:09:27 -->
00:09:28
There are no spectators.
00:09:30 -->
00:09:32
We are in the game either as pawns
00:09:32 -->
00:09:35
and victims or as conscious players and masters.
00:09:35 -->
00:09:37
The choice is ours.
00:09:37 -->
00:09:39
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala defined our situation
00:09:39 -->
00:09:58
very clearly and he said Allah
00:09:58 -->
00:10:01
subhanahu wa ta'ala said every soul will
00:10:01 -->
00:10:05
taste death and you will only receive your
00:10:05 -->
00:10:07
full reward on the day of judgement.
00:10:08 -->
00:10:11
Whoever is spared from the fire and is
00:10:11 -->
00:10:15
admitted into Jannah will indeed triumph.
00:10:15 -->
00:10:18
Whereas the life of this world is no
00:10:18 -->
00:10:21
more than the delusion of enjoyment.
00:10:22 -->
00:10:24
I remind myself and you that the winner
00:10:24 -->
00:10:26
is decided only at the end of the
00:10:26 -->
00:10:27
race.
00:10:27 -->
00:10:29
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala told us about
00:10:29 -->
00:10:30
the race.
00:10:30 -->
00:10:33
The criterion of winning and the trap.
00:10:34 -->
00:10:35
The race is called life.
00:10:36 -->
00:10:38
It will end when we die which is
00:10:38 -->
00:10:40
the qiyamatu sohra, the small day of judgement
00:10:40 -->
00:10:41
for us.
00:10:42 -->
00:10:44
The criterion of winning is to be protected
00:10:44 -->
00:10:47
from Jahannam and granted entry into Jannah.
00:10:48 -->
00:10:50
Ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala this for
00:10:50 -->
00:10:51
all of us.
00:10:51 -->
00:10:53
The trap is the life of this world.
00:10:53 -->
00:10:55
We know.
00:10:55 -->
00:10:57
So now we must act.
00:10:58 -->
00:11:00
If one is not aware and falls into
00:11:00 -->
00:11:02
a trap it is understandable.
00:11:02 -->
00:11:04
But if one knows the trap, he can
00:11:04 -->
00:11:07
recognize it but still walks into it, then
00:11:07 -->
00:11:09
he is responsible for his own fate.
00:11:10 -->
00:11:11
May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala save us
00:11:11 -->
00:11:12
from ourselves.
00:11:12 -->
00:11:15
The trap is very elaborate and deceptive.
00:11:15 -->
00:11:17
It is aided by society that we have
00:11:17 -->
00:11:21
created where we constantly mention and praise and
00:11:21 -->
00:11:24
extol the trap and those who are the
00:11:24 -->
00:11:24
bait.
00:11:25 -->
00:11:28
They call them influencers, I call them bait.
00:11:28 -->
00:11:31
Because one who influences you to fall into
00:11:31 -->
00:11:33
a trap is the bait.
00:11:34 -->
00:11:36
Monitor your conversation for one day.
00:11:38 -->
00:11:45
We will answer for what we chose.
00:11:46 -->
00:11:53
Our conversations, ask yourself, what do you speak
00:11:53 -->
00:11:55
about and hear the most?
00:11:56 -->
00:11:58
What do you watch?
00:12:05 -->
00:12:07
For most of us, apart from the Quran
00:12:07 -->
00:12:10
that we listen to in Salah, there is
00:12:10 -->
00:12:12
almost no mention of Allah subhanahu wa ta
00:12:12 -->
00:12:13
'ala in our lives.
00:12:13 -->
00:12:16
The rule of life is that what you
00:12:16 -->
00:12:19
mention assumes importance and vice versa.
00:12:19 -->
00:12:22
What you don't mention goes away from our
00:12:22 -->
00:12:23
consciousness.
00:12:24 -->
00:12:26
As for Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, there
00:12:26 -->
00:12:28
is no mention of him and his life
00:12:28 -->
00:12:30
which Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala sent us
00:12:30 -->
00:12:32
as a guide, except when we listen to
00:12:32 -->
00:12:34
a khatira in the Masjid.
00:12:35 -->
00:12:37
Add up all this time.
00:12:38 -->
00:12:41
Five Salahs, take ten minutes per Salah if
00:12:41 -->
00:12:42
you like.
00:12:43 -->
00:12:44
Time yourself and see how long it takes.
00:12:45 -->
00:12:48
Take ten minutes for Salah, fifty minutes.
00:12:49 -->
00:12:50
Plus khatira, five minutes.
00:12:50 -->
00:12:53
You still have five minutes of change in
00:12:53 -->
00:12:53
one hour.
00:12:55 -->
00:12:57
When we add up the total mention of
00:12:57 -->
00:12:59
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in our lives
00:12:59 -->
00:13:01
in 24 hours, we are left with minutes,
00:13:01 -->
00:13:02
not hours.
00:13:03 -->
00:13:06
For the rest of the day, we are
00:13:06 -->
00:13:09
talking about and listening to talk about work
00:13:09 -->
00:13:11
and politics and sports and the share market
00:13:11 -->
00:13:13
and the glory of billionaires and may Allah
00:13:13 -->
00:13:13
protect us.
00:13:14 -->
00:13:16
For some of us, backbiting and slandering.
00:13:17 -->
00:13:20
Our minds, therefore, are conditioned to be in
00:13:20 -->
00:13:23
awe of money and power and those who
00:13:23 -->
00:13:25
have it and not in awe of Allah
00:13:25 -->
00:13:26
subhanahu wa ta'ala.
00:13:28 -->
00:13:29
Our role models are billionaires.
00:13:30 -->
00:13:33
We don't care or look at anything about
00:13:33 -->
00:13:35
them other than their net worth.
00:13:37 -->
00:13:39
It doesn't even matter to us that the
00:13:39 -->
00:13:42
money they have is ephemeral and illusory and
00:13:42 -->
00:13:43
not real and concrete.
00:13:46 -->
00:13:49
It is their portfolio value, subject to the
00:13:49 -->
00:13:51
rise and fall of the share market which
00:13:51 -->
00:13:53
is the biggest illusion in the world.
00:13:53 -->
00:13:57
It is based on investor sentiment and not
00:13:57 -->
00:13:59
even on asset value or the kind of
00:13:59 -->
00:14:02
business or management or sales or anything which
00:14:02 -->
00:14:03
can be seen and measured.
00:14:05 -->
00:14:07
The latest in this whole gamut of imaginary
00:14:07 -->
00:14:08
wealth is Bitcoin.
00:14:09 -->
00:14:11
A sequence of numbers which someone told you
00:14:11 -->
00:14:12
has value.
00:14:13 -->
00:14:15
Something which you can't use to buy anything
00:14:15 -->
00:14:15
useful.
00:14:16 -->
00:14:18
And which you must convert to cash before
00:14:18 -->
00:14:21
you can use it by finding someone dumber
00:14:21 -->
00:14:22
than you are to take it off your
00:14:22 -->
00:14:23
hands at a profit.
00:14:24 -->
00:14:27
Is there anything that illustrates what Allah subhanahu
00:14:27 -->
00:14:30
wa ta'ala called mata'ul ghuroor better
00:14:30 -->
00:14:30
than this?
00:14:32 -->
00:14:34
If you don't believe me, ask Warren Buffet
00:14:34 -->
00:14:36
what his opinion is about Bitcoin.
00:14:37 -->
00:14:38
He doesn't own any.
00:14:39 -->
00:14:41
That should tell us something, right?
00:14:42 -->
00:14:43
So which camp are we in?
00:14:44 -->
00:14:48
We need to assess and take action before
00:14:48 -->
00:14:50
the angels come.
00:14:51 -->
00:14:53
To know which camp you are in, ask
00:14:53 -->
00:14:55
yourself where you feel most impatient.
00:14:56 -->
00:14:59
In dhikrullah, in listening to the Quran in
00:14:59 -->
00:15:03
talawih, in a khatira or lecture on Allah
00:15:03 -->
00:15:04
subhanahu wa ta'ala or his Rasul a
00:15:04 -->
00:15:08
.s. Or watching a basketball or soccer or
00:15:08 -->
00:15:11
cricket or whatever sport you have, that much.
00:15:12 -->
00:15:14
The truth is easy to see but difficult
00:15:14 -->
00:15:14
to swallow.
00:15:15 -->
00:15:17
But on the day of judgment, it is
00:15:17 -->
00:15:19
only the truth which can save us.
00:15:20 -->
00:15:23
This is our modern culture and the result
00:15:23 -->
00:15:26
of it is stress and depression and despair
00:15:26 -->
00:15:27
and suicide.
00:15:27 -->
00:15:29
While the culture of Rasul a.s. and
00:15:29 -->
00:15:33
the sahaba found comfort and support in the
00:15:33 -->
00:15:33
dhikr of Allah.
00:15:34 -->
00:15:37
Salah was the coolness of their eyes, the
00:15:37 -->
00:15:39
Quran was their resource.
00:15:40 -->
00:15:42
And reading it and listening to it was
00:15:42 -->
00:15:42
their joy.
00:15:43 -->
00:15:45
They were connected to Allah subhanahu wa ta
00:15:45 -->
00:15:47
'ala while we have lost that connection.
00:15:47 -->
00:15:50
To lose that connection is to lose everything.
00:15:51 -->
00:15:54
As they say, if you lose everything but
00:15:54 -->
00:15:56
have Allah, what have you lost?
00:15:58 -->
00:16:01
And if you gain everything but lose Allah,
00:16:02 -->
00:16:03
what have you gained?
00:16:05 -->
00:16:07
Ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala never to
00:16:07 -->
00:16:09
allow our connection with Him to be weakened
00:16:09 -->
00:16:11
or severed.
00:16:11 -->
00:16:13
This won't happen only by wishing for it.
00:16:14 -->
00:16:17
We must work on it constantly to ensure
00:16:17 -->
00:16:19
that it always remains strong.
00:16:20 -->
00:16:22
Now if you want to know what somebody
00:16:22 -->
00:16:26
considers important, what somebody values and enjoys, see
00:16:26 -->
00:16:32
what they spend the most time on.
00:16:33 -->
00:16:35
See where they spend the maximum amount of
00:16:35 -->
00:16:36
their time.
00:16:36 -->
00:16:38
The average person, as I mentioned to you
00:16:38 -->
00:16:41
today, spends up to 6 hours a day
00:16:41 -->
00:16:42
on social media.
00:16:43 -->
00:16:46
Lionel Messi and Ronaldo spend 4-5 hours
00:16:46 -->
00:16:48
a day, 6 days a week training and
00:16:48 -->
00:16:50
practicing their game because they think it is
00:16:50 -->
00:16:51
important for them.
00:16:51 -->
00:16:52
That's how they make their millions.
00:16:54 -->
00:16:56
Kobe Bryant used to spend 6 hours a
00:16:56 -->
00:16:59
day, 6 days a week for 6 months
00:16:59 -->
00:17:01
in his off-season training.
00:17:03 -->
00:17:07
So we can safely say that these gentlemen
00:17:07 -->
00:17:13
love their game and consider it important.
00:17:13 -->
00:17:16
Now, as I mentioned before, let us see
00:17:16 -->
00:17:18
how much time we spend with Allah.
00:17:19 -->
00:17:22
Taking an average of 10 minutes per salah
00:17:22 -->
00:17:23
and a 5 minute khatira at the end
00:17:23 -->
00:17:25
of the day, you still have 5 minutes
00:17:25 -->
00:17:27
change left over from one hour.
00:17:28 -->
00:17:30
Do we think this is enough to get
00:17:30 -->
00:17:30
into Jannah?
00:17:32 -->
00:17:33
I remind myself and you that peace of
00:17:33 -->
00:17:36
mind is tawakkul, which is the reward of
00:17:36 -->
00:17:36
taqwa.
00:17:38 -->
00:17:41
When the slave knows Allah, he relies on
00:17:41 -->
00:17:44
Him and that frees him from all fear.
00:17:45 -->
00:17:49
Allah says, وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْنَهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ
00:17:49 -->
00:17:52
مِنْ هَيْثُ لَا يَهْتَسِبْ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ
00:17:52 -->
00:17:55
فَهُوَ حَزْبُهُ Allah s.w.t. says, And
00:17:55 -->
00:17:59
whoever has taqwa of Allah, He jalla jalaluhu
00:17:59 -->
00:18:02
will make a way for him to get
00:18:02 -->
00:18:03
out of every difficulty.
00:18:04 -->
00:18:07
And He will provide him from sources that
00:18:07 -->
00:18:08
he could never imagine.
00:18:09 -->
00:18:11
And whoever puts his trust in Allah, then
00:18:11 -->
00:18:13
he will be sufficient for him.
00:18:13 -->
00:18:17
Khashatullah plus shukr equals taqwa.
00:18:18 -->
00:18:21
Which is the reward, the reward of which
00:18:21 -->
00:18:22
is taqwa.
00:18:24 -->
00:18:26
Let us assess our progress in deen.
00:18:27 -->
00:18:28
Do I have khashatullah?
00:18:29 -->
00:18:34
Proof of khashatullah is obedience of Allah by
00:18:34 -->
00:18:39
following the method, the sunnah of Rasulullah s
00:18:39 -->
00:18:43
.a.w. This life is a journey and
00:18:43 -->
00:18:44
a test.
00:18:45 -->
00:18:48
We must constantly assess ourselves to see how
00:18:48 -->
00:18:50
we are doing and make course collections.
00:18:52 -->
00:18:54
It doesn't matter how wrong we may be
00:18:54 -->
00:18:57
from time to time, as long as we
00:18:57 -->
00:19:01
return to the Siratul Mustaqeem by making istighfar
00:19:01 -->
00:19:01
and tawbah.
00:19:02 -->
00:19:03
So let us take stock.
00:19:03 -->
00:19:05
It begins with knowing Allah s.w.t.
00:19:05 -->
00:19:08
and reflecting on His blessings and thanking Him
00:19:08 -->
00:19:11
for everything and loving Him until you love
00:19:11 -->
00:19:13
Him more than anyone and anything else.
00:19:14 -->
00:19:16
To love Allah s.w.t. and to
00:19:16 -->
00:19:18
love Rasulullah s.a.w. is a part
00:19:18 -->
00:19:20
and measure of our iman.
00:19:20 -->
00:19:23
It is not optional or discretionary.
00:19:23 -->
00:19:25
It is the very essence of being a
00:19:25 -->
00:19:26
Muslim.
00:19:26 -->
00:19:28
You cannot love a stranger.
00:19:28 -->
00:19:30
That is why we must know Allah s
00:19:30 -->
00:19:32
.w.t. Reflect on His glory and majesty.
00:19:33 -->
00:19:36
Remember His blessings and thank Him for them
00:19:36 -->
00:19:36
constantly.
00:19:36 -->
00:19:39
That is how we will be able to
00:19:39 -->
00:19:40
love Him jalla shanuhu.
00:19:41 -->
00:19:44
That is what differentiates us from everyone else.
00:19:46 -->
00:19:48
Because we love Allah.
00:19:54 -->
00:19:57
Allah s.w.t. said, والذين آمنوا أشدهم
00:19:57 -->
00:20:01
بالله He said, but those who believe love
00:20:01 -->
00:20:03
Allah s.w.t. more than anything else.
00:20:04 -->
00:20:06
And He said in another place in Surah
00:20:06 -->
00:20:09
Tawbah in a different tone, قُلْ إِنْ كَانَ
00:20:09 -->
00:20:14
آبَاءُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاءُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ
00:20:14 -->
00:20:20
وَأَمْوَالٌ اِقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَاتِجَارَةٌ تَقْشَوْنَا كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَاكِنُ
00:20:20 -->
00:20:26
تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَجِهَادٍ فِي
00:20:26 -->
00:20:33
سَبِيلِهِ فَتَرَبَّسُوا حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ اللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَاللَّهُ لَا
00:20:33 -->
00:20:36
يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ Allah s.w.t. said,
00:20:37 -->
00:20:41
which means say, if your fathers, your sons,
00:20:42 -->
00:20:47
meaning your sons and daughters, your brothers, meaning
00:20:47 -->
00:20:50
your brothers and sisters, your wives, meaning wives
00:20:50 -->
00:20:54
and husbands, your kindred, your family, the wealth
00:20:54 -->
00:20:57
that you have gained, the commerce in which
00:20:57 -->
00:20:59
you fear a decline and the dwellings in
00:20:59 -->
00:21:03
which you delight are dearer to you than
00:21:03 -->
00:21:05
Allah s.w.t. and His Messenger s
00:21:05 -->
00:21:07
.a.w. and striving hard and fighting in
00:21:07 -->
00:21:10
His cause, then wait until Allah s.w
00:21:10 -->
00:21:14
.t. brings about His decision of torment and
00:21:14 -->
00:21:15
punishment.
00:21:15 -->
00:21:17
And Allah s.w.t. does not guide
00:21:17 -->
00:21:20
people who are al-fasiqoon, who are rebellious
00:21:20 -->
00:21:22
and disobedient to Allah.
00:21:23 -->
00:21:27
Once the mu'min has accepted this, that the
00:21:27 -->
00:21:31
love of Allah supersedes everything and everyone else,
00:21:31 -->
00:21:33
then he submits to Allah s.w.t.
00:21:33 -->
00:21:35
with total and complete trust.
00:21:36 -->
00:21:38
Trust is the result of knowledge about the
00:21:38 -->
00:21:42
power and glory of Allah and knowing that
00:21:42 -->
00:21:45
Allah s.w.t. is in control and
00:21:45 -->
00:21:48
wishes the best for us and has the
00:21:48 -->
00:21:50
capability to deliver it.
00:21:51 -->
00:21:53
That is the essence of at-tawhid.
00:21:54 -->
00:21:56
The thought of Allah s.w.t. fills
00:21:56 -->
00:21:59
our heart with His awe and His majesty
00:22:00 -->
00:22:03
and reflecting on His bounty fills our heart
00:22:03 -->
00:22:04
with gratitude.
00:22:05 -->
00:22:06
With that we submit.
00:22:11 -->
00:22:14
Allah s.w.t. said about Ibrahim a
00:22:14 -->
00:22:16
.s. when his Rab said to him Jalla
00:22:16 -->
00:22:20
Jalaluhu submit, that is be a Muslim, he
00:22:20 -->
00:22:23
said, I have submitted myself as a Muslim
00:22:23 -->
00:22:26
to the Rab of the alameen, Rab of
00:22:26 -->
00:22:26
the worlds.
00:22:27 -->
00:22:29
This is the position, the stance and the
00:22:29 -->
00:22:31
status of the Muslim, I have submitted.
00:22:31 -->
00:22:36
Inni aslamtu, not I will submit, I have
00:22:36 -->
00:22:39
submitted and then you see the effect of
00:22:39 -->
00:22:40
tawakkul.
00:22:41 -->
00:22:44
Ibrahim a.s. made his dua when he
00:22:44 -->
00:22:48
left his infant son and his wife, our
00:22:48 -->
00:22:54
mother Haja a.s. in the barren valley
00:22:54 -->
00:22:55
of Mecca.
00:22:56 -->
00:23:00
He says Rabbana inni askantu min dhurriyati biwadin
00:23:00 -->
00:23:06
ghayri dhi zar'in inda baytika l-muharram
00:23:06 -->
00:23:11
Rabbana li yuqeemu s-salat fa ja'al
00:23:11 -->
00:23:15
af'idatan min al-nas tahwi ilayhim wa
00:23:15 -->
00:23:19
rzuqhum min al-thamarati la'allahum yashkurun.
00:23:19 -->
00:23:23
Allah said, O our Rabb, I have made
00:23:23 -->
00:23:25
some of my offspring to dwell in an
00:23:25 -->
00:23:29
uncultivable valley by your sacred house, the Kaaba
00:23:29 -->
00:23:30
at Mecca.
00:23:30 -->
00:23:37
In order, O our Rabb, that they may
00:23:37 -->
00:23:39
establish as-salat.
00:23:40 -->
00:23:45
That they may establish as-salat, iqamat-e
00:23:45 -->
00:23:45
-salat.
00:23:45 -->
00:23:50
So fill some hearts among men with love
00:23:50 -->
00:23:51
towards them.
00:23:51 -->
00:23:55
And O Allah, provide them with fruits so
00:23:55 -->
00:23:56
that they may give thanks.
00:23:59 -->
00:24:06
Now think about this dua, you don't hear
00:24:06 -->
00:24:09
any panic in it, or uncertainty or fear
00:24:09 -->
00:24:11
in the voice of Ibrahim a.s. because
00:24:11 -->
00:24:12
he knows who he is dealing with.
00:24:13 -->
00:24:15
I can imagine that he must have actually
00:24:15 -->
00:24:17
been excited and thrilled at what he had
00:24:17 -->
00:24:18
been asked to do.
00:24:20 -->
00:24:22
And that is why he has no anxiety
00:24:22 -->
00:24:23
about the safety of his family.
00:24:24 -->
00:24:26
His dua shows total trust which is why
00:24:26 -->
00:24:28
he is not even asking for safety and
00:24:28 -->
00:24:30
protection for them.
00:24:31 -->
00:24:32
He is asking Allah s.w.t. to
00:24:32 -->
00:24:33
use them for His work.
00:24:34 -->
00:24:36
To give them influence and the power of
00:24:36 -->
00:24:36
leadership.
00:24:37 -->
00:24:39
And he is asking them for tertiary benefits,
00:24:39 -->
00:24:39
fruits.
00:24:40 -->
00:24:42
He is not asking them for bread and
00:24:42 -->
00:24:42
butter.
00:24:44 -->
00:24:47
That they will survive is a given.
00:24:48 -->
00:24:49
There is no doubt about that.
00:24:49 -->
00:24:53
After all, he a.s. took them there
00:24:53 -->
00:24:55
because Allah s.w.t. told him to
00:24:55 -->
00:24:55
do that.
00:24:55 -->
00:24:56
So how can they perish?
00:24:57 -->
00:25:00
That is why when you encounter those who
00:25:00 -->
00:25:01
have tawakkul, it is as if you are
00:25:01 -->
00:25:05
watching someone who is in another world, marching
00:25:05 -->
00:25:08
to a different tune that only he or
00:25:08 -->
00:25:09
she can hear in their heart.
00:25:12 -->
00:25:16
And therefore, I remind myself and you, and
00:25:16 -->
00:25:19
I ask Allah s.w.t. to grant
00:25:19 -->
00:25:22
us the tawfiq, to seek only His pleasure,
00:25:23 -->
00:25:26
and to dedicate our lives to the only
00:25:26 -->
00:25:30
thing which matters, His obedience in the way
00:25:30 -->
00:25:36
of His Messenger Muhammad s.a.w. Wa
00:25:36 -->
00:25:38
sallallahu ala nabiyyil kareem wa ala alihi wa
00:25:38 -->
00:25:39
sahbihi ajmain.
00:25:39 -->
00:25:40
Birahmatullahi rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.
