Unite Not Divide

that Allah

in Al Hamdulillah hiya Ahmed who was studying or some of you who are study why would we lie to Allah mean surely unforeseen elements? So yeah, Marina Miyata Hila who for La mobila When my youth lil fella howdy Allah, wa shadow Allah ilaha illallah wa the hula Cherie Keller wash. How do I know Mohammed Abdullah who Rasool was of your home and being a hunter, he will call you whenever he said, but the man will also have you heard the Ummah Salah to Allah who has said Mr. Ali. Yeah, you're living in Tukwila. Allah azza wa jal says, My dear brothers and sisters, my beloved

members of my beloved community, Allah subhanho, wa taala.

In these verses,

that seldom a hottie or a person giving a sermon on Friday,

would start his hook. But without mentioning these verses.

Today,

I would like to really reflect

on the

on one of these verses that we often quote, not only that, but also try to look at it in this context. Go down that page.

And it's the first verse that is very often quoted. And it has to do with the concept of the fear of Allah subhanaw taala, or Taqwa which very often is translated as fear of Allah subhanho wa taala.

Though Taqwa is broader than that fear of Allah is indeed a central aspect of the concept of taqwa, which is the foundation of one's faith in Islam,

and is considered one of the main

pillars

of the individuals when I say pillars, meaning one of its foundational for one's relationship with Allah subhanho wa taala.

belief and practice.

You see, this concept of fear of Allah subhanaw taala and having reverence

for Allah azza wa jal

and recognizing his ultimate awesome power and supreme authority

on the individual.

This

idea

or concept that Allah azza wa jal is constantly watching us.

And that one is accountable for everything that he or she do.

Before Allah subhanho wa taala, and that there is a day of judgment.

And on that day, we won't be able to hide anything, we won't be able to pretend

we won't be able to fake it

and no one is going to get away with anything. This understanding, having this understanding

is essential for the believer.

And that is why this verse and the verses the prophesy said let me use to quote in the beginning of any speech, or sermon,

focus on this concept.

You see the fear of Allah subhanho wa Taala we must

mention that is not a negative emotion.

It's not that fear that makes you hate,

or run away from the one that you fear.

It's quite the opposite. And this is one of the mysteries of the field of Allah subhanaw taala or Taqwa

as I always say, and I'm sure that you heard this before, that when you fear anything, you run away from it when you fear Allah Subhana Allah you run towards him.

And this is why Allah azza wa jal in the Quran says feel rule in Allah, run or flee to Allah.

Because only Allah Subhana Allah can protect you from his wrath.

Right? So anyone, so you have no other choice. So it's not a negative emotion. It's not supposed to stir negative feelings towards Allah subhanaw taala but rather, is supposed to revive healthy and necessary aspects of one's relationship with Allah subhanho wa Taala

because it's helped, it's very essential and this is by the way, why IBLEES shaytaan tries to attack this tries to diminish the Taqwa of Allah azza wa jal in one's heart. And there are many things that actually do call

As one's level of Taqwa to decrease to the point where it may actually completely disappear. And that's a very dangerous state to be in.

Right? Because Taqwa is not just the result of one, knowing that Allah azza wa jal exists, because it believes shaytaan knows that Allah Subhana Allah exists. And he knows he acknowledged Allah azza wa jal, Allah azza wa jal has authority over him. Rob be he said, he addresses Allah as my Lord.

And He acknowledges that Allah azza wa jal has the ultimate power.

He couldn't keep himself

alive all this time.

He knew that immortality is in the hands of Allah Subhana Allah so he asked Allah azza wa jal to grant him immortality. So we call them learning. So he believes acknowledges this, not only that, guess what, in the Quran, the Quran, the very book that told us about the beliefs

in the Quran, Allah Subhana Allah tells us that it believes claims to fear who

to fear Allah.

The Quran says in the a half Allah, He says Rabbil Alameen.

So he claims to fear Allah subhanaw taala. Yet,

he tries to make sure that you get rid of that fear. Or that you have negative emotions towards that fear.

Or that you exist the source, you deny the existence,

of the source of that fear, or the one whom you're supposed to fear. You know, some people, they think that by denying Allah Subhana Allah, Allah is existence, Hollis is done. He's not there. So now I can live freely. They don't know that they will suffer

emotionally, spiritually, obviously, but emotionally, and that they will be miserable. And eventually, in a huge shout out to Allah subhanaw taala they will be returned.

So pretending like he doesn't exist.

Right?

Won't do them anything.

Taking out any issue that they have with themselves or with the world in which they live. Or even with some of the other of Allah Subhana Allah to Allah won't get them anywhere

yet at least tries to tackle this

and strip us from this.

Because he knows

it's essential, because he knows what Allah Azza has prepared for the believers or for them utopian. You see people of Taqwa. Right? It doesn't in the Quran, for instance, I'll just give you an example. There's a lot to be said about that. What are the qualities of the people of Taqwa is in Alladhina taco in Amazon thaw it will mean a shaytani tech guru for either home of zero.

Allah Azza does not tell us that the motorcade are those people who are sinless who do not commit any since

Allah doesn't tell us that motorcade or not those who don't have have any temptations, or any whispers or any weakness?

It doesn't doesn't say that. Allah azza wa jal does not say in the Quran, the motorcade are those people who have no lust or desires.

But Allah Subhana Allah tells us are those who if they give in

or if they are tempted, they are reminded they remember ALLAH subhanaw taala whether they actually do it or not, they are Reema Asami stage they snap out of

being lured by Emily's Vashi fun so they wake up and they come back to Allah azza wa jal at some point, whether in the stages leading to the act or even during or after the act.

They return to Allah subhanaw taala.

That's one of the essential one of the one of the qualities of the MacDuffie in Alladhina taka with Emma Stone La Mina che upon where they have whispers or the tempted by shaytaan tidak Kuru at some point they remember they reminded fayda homos Zulu and they start seeing things clearly. They come back to Allah subhanaw taala. They reverse their course.

And Allah azza wa jal accepts people

whenever they return to Allah azza wa jal. But if a person doesn't have Taqwa that doesn't happen,

right?

In the Quran, again in another eye, Allah Subhana Allah says,

After speaking about Jana it was prepared for them with Turkey and people of Taqwa of their qualities as what? Well, I think you need to finish it and

if they do some evil, that means they're what capable and susceptible to evil.

I was wanting more info some of the wrong themselves. That karula they remember ALLAH

and they know that there is no escape. So they come back they're called Allah says

thoroughly don't obey Him. So they asked Allah for forgiveness, while may have gone over Illallah and who forgive sins except Allah azza wa jal What am

I do with them? Yeah.

And they do not insist on their ways knowingly, they're not like please.

So because of this and because of many other benefits of Taqwa such as Allah easing things for them with a pin, or a tequila, Hydra Allah homak Raja we are accessing it bliss doesn't want us to have. So he's constantly going at this,

trying to desensitize us.

And that is why the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam with the reminders every in every speech that he gave, on every occasion, whenever he started from Allah Azza wa sallam, including his sermons, the promises are always started with verses that talk about Taqwa. One of which is the one that I wanted to discuss with you today.

And this is

very powerful. Allah Subhana Allah says, Yeah, are you Hello, Dina Avenue. Allah azza wa jal addresses as believers are you who believe in Allah Subhana Allah and His Prophet sallallahu either you or send them into cola. They're believers, Yet Allah reminds them to what it took Allah to begin with. You're not going to be a believer unless you have what Taqwa of Allah azza wa jal. So Allah says, Oh, you who believe it took Allah, often translated as fear Allah be mindful of Allah Subhana Allah, be mindful of his presence, maintain your reverence of Allah subhanho wa Taala

acknowledged Allah subhanaw taala to authority and power over you constantly. Remember, it took Allah but it doesn't say just stop Allah in this particular verse from Surah Al Imran sunnah three verse 102, Allah subhanaw taala says Hakata

as he should be feared,

as he's worthy to be feared subhanho wa taala. And again, that positive fear, right, the scholar said, as he should be feared, that means that he must be obeyed. And not intentionally.

This will be

he must be remembered and not forgotten.

Right.

And he must be thanked and praised subhanho wa Taala not denied.

Right. And we'll talk about it also.

When we've got but I also wish Cara further. So one of them.

Right? And this is again a constant struggle. Then Allah Azza just says what atom will tune in our two most remote

maintain your Islam, your Eman? The verse begins with saying Oh you who believe Yet Allah azza wa jal says make sure that you die in a state of Islam. You may be a believer today.

But you may not die upon Islam unless you maintain Taqwa.

This is one of the benefits of Taqwa. If you don't constantly fear Allah Subhana Allah you're mindful of Allah azza wa jal, and what Allah Allah wants from you, you keep yourself in check. You come back, you slip, you get up, you sin, you repent.

You, you drift away, you come back to Allah Subhana Allah, you're constantly in this struggle. And humans tend to do that. With the hope that you die when death finally comes upon you, you're in a state of submission to Allah. You're in a state of Islam.

Well, that's an alternate, they went to Muslim. Don't take this faith for granted. Don't take the state that you're in right now for granted.

We have, we have history. We have so many stories that we know starting with that of bliss himself, who at some point was a high ranking

servant of Allah subhanho wa taala.

Right in the ranks of the angels, as a matter of fact, the top ranking angels

when he was doomed,

so don't take that for granted. Make sure that you always ask Allah azza wa jal, right, to give you a good ending, that you always ask Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, to keep you upon this religion. Allah Houma and I'm assuming are tough and many.

May Allah Subhana Allah grant you deny that.

So in this idea that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam reminds us of Taqwa. Right? Allah azza wa jal mensen mentions this in the context of a group of verses that I would like to go over real quick and then inshallah to Allah conclude.

Allah Subhana Allah to Allah after saying to the believers saying to us, be mindful of Allah and fear him as he should be feared and die not accepting the state of Islam. Immediately after this verse, verse 103. As if it's saying that part of it

and one of the ways you can maintain your Taqwa of Allah

One of the ways you can assure that you die as a muslim

is that you follow the following commandments and that you remember this. What does Allah azza wa jal say? What does it mean to be happy? Let me I want her to

hold firmly,

all of you together to the rope of Allah.

And the rope of Allah azza wa jal is the Kalama shahada, the robe of Allah Subhana Allah to Allah is the Quran. As mentioned in the Hadith, who have Lulu Hill Mateen

the hadith of Ali, In another Hadith that is the rope of Allah Subhana Allah that Allah extends to us. This is our lifeline. One end is with Allah azza wa jal, the other end is accessible to us. So Allah Subhana Allah says what tells you the movie heavily? Let me hold on to the rope of Allah. Come around this book the Quran, not only to recite it, obviously come together to recite it. This is one of the ways we come and revolve around the Quran or hold on to the Quran.

Come together, hold on to this book together, all of you as one community. Well, I personally will be heavily Lehi Jamia one iota for Rocco, do not divide yourselves. Notice that by the way, whenever we come around the Quran, Allah brings our hearts together. In Salah when we line up, right, we're not aligning only our bodies, we're also aligning our hearts

to listen to the book of Allah subhanaw taala. When we come together in the month of Ramadan, whether we fast together or we pray together, our hearts come together. By the end of this month, we have emotional attachment towards one another, nothing happens except that we come and worship together. Look at how attached we become spiritually and emotionally to each other. Imagine if we are able to maintain that

if we were able to maintain that come apart together upon the book of Allah, imagine the amount of love, camaraderie,

connection,

care that we would have for each other.

Right now all the misunderstandings and the divisions and the conflicts

and the suspicion all of that will go will melt away.

And Allah azza wa jal then says, reminding the Sahaba reminding all of us, whether Curonian Metalla Hiya, Aliko. Remember, the favor of Allah subhanaw taala upon you, one of the greatest favors of Allah upon you, is it going to matter then you're at some point enemies

you used to fight each other, Rob each other.

You were divided.

And you will go against each other.

Right, different tribes, within the same tribe, different clans within the same clans, different families competing with each other. Everyone thinking that in order for them to win, someone else has to lose.

People exploiting each other or taking advantage of one another bring each other down.

Right, just getting caught up in this vicious cycle. Until the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came, and he introduced to them better system,

a better way of thinking, Win Win thinking

that we're all in it together.

Right?

That we have to take care of each other that even when you sacrifice your you give someone something for someone for your brother or your sister visa vie Lila, you're actually winning. Because Allah Subhana Allah will compensate you in this life before the Hereafter.

This is what the Prophet SAW Selim introduced, this is what he taught them. These were people who used to rob each other, used to do all kinds of things against each other, yet, they used to claim to have very strong tribal affiliation, or connection.

Up until that violates them or their family.

Their motto was

right, me and my brother, I guess, my my cousin, and my cousin I against a stranger.

There their model was that if you if you wronged me or my tribe, my people,

right? We're going to wrong you.

Even we're going to even commit more atrocities.

And Islam came in change this. So Allah is reminding them of that. Remember, and by the way, they did not succeed

when they were doing that

with a weak use to exploit the when the when the strong exploited the weak and took advantage of the weak, they didn't succeed. They didn't do much, but when they came together around the room of Allah subhanaw taala

they rule the world.

Yeah, so Allah Subhana Allah says, Remember this favor of Allah upon a quantum idea?

and let her been a Kenobi come, Allah brought your hearts together.

The only common interest that they had was that they make it to Africa together, that Allah Subhana Allah accepts it. For us back to him being in a matter he Aquarena and from you know by the Grace of Allah Subhana Allah you became presidents, and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to remind the Sahaba that do not forget this lateral hero body conferred on the elderly Mubarak accommodate about Don't be ungrateful and become Catholic after my departure and start fighting each other. Don't do that.

And by the way, this is not an easy task to accomplish this again, especially

in these tribal, primitive societies, it wasn't an easy thing. And Allah Subhana Allah reminded the prophets that this was the favor of Allah upon them. Part of it My dear brothers and sisters is that their concept or their understanding or their application of Taqwa was read was authentic. You know, one one brother one time made an observation he said, Isn't it very interesting how we Muslims nowadays, we have 90 90% No, maybe more than 90% We have a lot in common yet we are divided upon the very little that we have.

We have differences in

so we let that that that small amount of difference, cause us to divide.

I said, Okay. So, he said, he said, You know what that means? I said, What does it mean? He said that means that our commitment to the 90% to what is supposed to bring us together

is not genuine.

Right.

Imam Shafi at one time said to someone suppose that you and I disagreed on one master Allah on one particular topic we're not agreeing

isn't what we agree upon much more can we just come together upon what we agree upon?

And then that one portion that we disagree upon, we can just accept the fact that we can't we can't we can agree upon it.

Are we not going to get along unless we are 100% in agreement with each other on everything?

Where's Where's where's the power of our genuine and authentic and sincere commitment to the rest of the deen?

So

it's the failure of Allah subhanaw taala when the hearts come together, Allah Subhana Allah says for Elif Urbina, who will be come to us bathroom being admitted. And this is why the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam will tell people to line up in Salah and align their bodies and align their hearts so that their hearts are not what

they're not divided.

Be in alignment and remember that

these hearts came facing ALLAH SubhanA data hoping for the same thing. caring for each other. And Allah Subhana Allah blesses us.

Then Allah Subhana Allah, Allah said, may Allah Subhana Allah protect us. Allah Subhana Allah says, Welcome to my Dasha for a minute now. You were on the edge of a pit of the fire.

You're at the brink of falling into fire. So I'm caminha. Allah subhanaw taala saved you from it he pulled you away from it can barely hear you but you no longer look at him doing thus Allah Subhana Allah to Allah does make clear to you His Verses and his signs his is that you may be guided. So for those of us My dear brothers and sisters who are looking for guidance, this is where we find the guidance and the fear of Allah subhanaw taala coming together upon the role of Allah azza wa jal upon what we have in common upon what what brought us here today. Look at us. Look at the diversity the beautiful diversity that we have. What brought us here together today

ask yourself What brought you here together?

The rest assured that the same reason that brought you here brought the other person next to you and the person behind you and the person in front of you.

And that should bring our hearts together.

May Allah subhanho wa Taala unite this woman in this community. May Allah subhanaw taala spread love and peace amongst the believers. According to the lady similar to myself for Allah Allah welcome festival ferrovia Fila Camino hola photo Rahim.

hamdu Lillahi wa salam

To salam ala evadne Lydian of Stata, well that

the verses continue. There are two more verses in which Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us how we can achieve what

the above mentioned, or the previous verses we're addressing. Part of it was that Allah Subhana Allah says, there has to be a group of you

that arise from amongst the community, not everyone will be able to take the leap. But there has to be enough number of people that will come together

upon good calling and inviting other people to good so Allah azza wa jal says,

welcoming come on met, we are the owner, it'll Hi. Where Morona will my roof went down and in Mancha, what will the economy monthly, let there be?

Let there arise from amongst you, a group or a nation or a community

that invites everyone to all that which is good.

Based upon what we have, we're not telling people just follow, we're telling people follow what we're following. We're not trying to take credit ourselves. We're following what we believe to be the greatest source of guidance that Allah azza wa jal extended to humanity.

We have to commit ourselves to it, follow it, we have to invite our own fellow Muslims to it we have to invite everyone to it. But there has to be enough of us doing this.

This cannot be the work or the job or the passion of just, you know, few few individuals. Allah azza wa jal says what that could mean come on, man. Let there be a community of activists and workers and advocates.

People who are willing to struggle for this Deen

let there be a community of you that gets up that makes this the mission of the entire community. Imagine us here at Memphis Islamic center, being that community

imagine

and we're Allah who are capable,

by the Grace of Allah subhana wa Tada and by the will of Allah, we are capable to be that community, that exemplary community that calls to that which is good, yeah. Why and how, nadie Mancha, what would I come on?

And in order to maintain that, in order to achieve that and maintain that Allah Subhana Allah to Allah closes these verses by one more commandment, and I want you to really pay attention to it closely.

If you don't get anything out of this book was except this last verse.

Then hamdulillah

I've done I've done my job. Allah azza wa jal says, What at a Kunal Kalinina Tarraco. Work telefilm embody manager

will be net.

When I have to be left what will it could either be? Verse 105, Allah subhanaw taala says, Do not be like those

who became divided

and deferred, after the clear proofs and signs and teachings of Allah azza wa jal were sent to them.

And those will have great punishment.

Without going into who Allah Subhana Allah is referring to Allah is warning us Don't be you have to be different, because otherwise, you're going to meet the same fate,

you're going to have the same result. Do not be like those who divided themselves

do not be like those who allow their differences, or even their diversity. Wallahi gemera One of the things that puzzled me,

maybe because I just, you know, come from a, you know, very diverse ethnic background. But to me, I don't understand how our diversity, how this diversity that should be celebrated, that should be enjoyed.

That should be inspiring. How could this be a source of division?

Wallahi only if we allow Shere Khan to get it.

And only if we allow our ego to, to be in control.

Our diversity is beautiful.

is fascinating. It's something that we we should be proud of the most diverse community is the Muslim community.

Right? Other people come they're like, Wow, look at these people.

Right. And in spite of the little differences that we may able to notice people don't notice these things. They sit the same way. They pray the same way. They make dua they face the same. Beautiful.

I remember one of the one of the most influential

duat in the in the West Coast one time told me

you know how that first time He came to a masjid and he saw people pray and makes a joke. And they all said the salam aleikum wa rahmatullah. He said, I felt like my heart was going to burst. I've never seen anything like this.

No church has that no synagogue has that it was amazing. The Masjid was full. And I thought this is, wow, these people are fascinating. They're not dressed the same. They don't look the same, but they're all practicing the same way. He said, I was new. This is right before he accepted this that same day accepted Islam. It's like it was fascinating.

How did that happen?

How did that happen? And if we're capable of doing that, why aren't we capable of really taking it further?

And having like, you know, real, true, authentic, right, unity.

I'll conclude by saying one thing I asked my high schoolers again, who would represent different ethnic groups within the community. I asked him, I said, What do you consider to be one of the greatest challenges or issues facing the Muslim ummah or the Muslim community locally and globally?

The vast majority of them, when I asked him to give me their, their top worse issues, with the plight of the Ummah, the vast majority of them spoke about disunity.

And MyJio hamdulillah as a community compared to other communities, we were we're pretty, pretty united and

right. But they're still sensing it and feeling it.

Some of the issues that we allow to divide us as adults, so I'm just gonna say this, and I hope that that no one gets gets this the wrong way. Some of the things that we do, but they look and they sound very ridiculous to the next generation, they cannot relate to some of the issues that we're having with each other.

So make sure you're not, again, make sure that we are proactive,

that we go out of our way.

Right, to celebrate our diversity and bring each other together and embrace one another, upon this upon that ilaha illallah, Muhammad Rasool Allah, because when it's all said and done, right, in the grave, there will be three questions.

Who you Lord is, and my Lord and your Lord and the Lord have every single one of us is Allah,

and what your religion is, and that is Islam,

and who your prophet was, and that is profitable. Hamas sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, there isn't a fourth question, there will be no question about your madhhab there will be no question about your ethnicity. There will be no question about your culture. There will be no question about your race. None of these things matter.

I asked Allah Subhana Allah to Allah to purify our souls, and to bring our hearts together. I don't mean that in the kind of semi Aladdin, whatever Allah Tala Rahim Allah Minister Lokomotiva Rama TIG was the Imam of fuel rhotic was Salah Madame Equalists well only with me equilibria we'll close it with Jana when the German and now Allahu Allah has been a Kuruvilla Allah Masha Masha Milena, while it's been a poodle Vina walked into solidarity I'm Elena Robina attina, Milan Kurama, Emmeline, Marina, Alicia de la bella Phil and one in Aladdin. Amen. Well as Lila Dina Ave Robina in Nakuru for Rahim, Allah in the Lohit model with Sen. Waiter, when Han and fascia it will not carry well belly

you're able to come to Allah come to the Quran. Let's go to Allah has curriculum which guru higher than me is it one of the Corolla? He Akbar Allah