Mufti Menk – First steps of Appreciation

			Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.
		

			smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillah wa salatu salam ala rasulillah Muhammad, Allah Allah He was
happy to mine. We praise Allah subhanho wa Taala we thank him upon all conditions we send blessings
and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his household, all his companions, we
asked Allah to bless them all and to bless every single one of us. I mean, my brothers and sisters,
I'm sure, we are aware of a surah in the Quran known as a man named after the Most Merciful. This
surah is unique, even for those who don't know the Arabic language, in that it has in it, verses
that are repeated more than 30 times exactly the same. Allah subhanho wa Taala says, Furby IE
		

			B coma v.
		

			Which is it of the favors of your Lord? Do you deny all mankind and jinn kind? This verse is
actually referring to both mankind and Jim kind, asking them a question.
		

			This question would require us in order to answer it to look at the gifts of Allah subhanho wa Taala
upon us, because indeed, we cannot deny any of the favors of Allah, and they are so many that Allah
subhanho wa Taala says, What
		

			do I need metta law? So if you were to try and count the gifts of Allah, the need, or the gifts of
Allah subhanho wa Taala upon you, you would never be able to count all of them, you would just count
a few. And that is actually a small dot, compared to the entire amount of gifts that Allah has
bestowed upon us. So what is it? Or what is meant by this particular question that what is it or
which is it of the favors of your Lord Do you deny? It's simple for us to say we don't deny any of
the gifts of Allah subhanho wa Taala. But when Allah speaks about denial of the gifts, a question we
should ask ourselves,
		

			from amongst us, are we in denial of the gifts of Allah? subhanho wa Taala? Am I a person who denies
the gift of Allah subhanho wa Taala? So to answer the question, we need to look at how we worship
Allah subhanho wa Taala He has created us and with us, He has created so many other creatures, in
order for us to have a beautiful life, while we are here being tested by him. This is something we
need to understand my life on earth and yours is not in order to enjoy in such a way that we will
never see hardship, but to enjoy within the limits in a way that whenever we see hardship, we endure
We are from amongst those who know how to react to hardship, how to relate it to Allah how to answer
		

			the questions posed by Allah subhanho wa Taala in a way that we pass the test, not in a way that we
fail the test. So for a person to say by mouth, that I appreciate the gifts of Allah, it's not
enough. Does he worship Allah alone? That's the first question he needs to ask himself. If he
engages in polytheism, he has failed. He has not appreciated the gift of Allah. So the answer would
be this person is denying the gift of Allah, Allah created and he created absolutely everything for
us to be able to say I acknowledge you as a creator. And I acknowledge your greatness. The first
point of stopping is to ensure that you worship Allah alone and none other than Allah subhanho wa
		

			Taala, believing that he is the controller, if he can give and provide for the plants, the
vegetation, and absolutely all the other creatures of Allah, the ants and the lizards and the
snakes, and even May Allah honor us all the pig, Allah provides for that pig as bad as it may be in
terms of cleanliness, and in terms of it being considered mages, which means completely and totally
impure. That too, has been created by Allah subhanho wa Taala he provides for that creature and he
has kept it as a test for us all. If Allah wanted, they would have been nothing haram on Earth.
Everything would be permissible, okay, allowed to do, but he wanted to test us to say, I'm going to
		

			create things that will be permissible for you and I will create other things that will be
prohibited upon you so that you may abstain from the letter and you may partake of that which is the
former. So Allah subhanho wa Taala has created and he provides and in order for us to acknowledge
that we understand the greatness of Allah and we definitely appreciate the favors of Allah, we need
to worship Allah alone. Secondly, we need to understand as we are answering the question that power
		

			of the denying of the favor of Allah subhanho wa Taala would be to deny the messenger Muhammad
Sallallahu sallam, and or to deny any of the messengers of Allah subhanho wa Taala, Jesus May peace
be upon him, Abraham May peace be upon him, Moses May peace be upon him. Those are obviously the
English terms in the Arabic language, we refer to them as Sally salaamu, Sally salam, and so on. So,
to deny that these are the messengers of Allah subhanho wa Taala would be denial of the favours of
Allah. Allah subhana wa Taala in his wisdom, divine wisdom, he has sent to us reminders. He did not
need to, but he chose to, it would have been okay if he chose not to, because that is Allah it's up
		

			to him. He chose to so that we do not have an excuse to say no one reminded us, no one told us to
worship you alone. He says, I sent to you messages, all of those messages. Their message was worship
Allah alone, and we will teach you how Allah wants to be worshipped. Therefore, do not participate
in acts of worship, that were not taught by the messengers. This is part of the acceptance of the
gift of Allah. When Allah sent for us the biggest gift, obviously, the greatest gift we all have
mela, consolidate it for us, strengthen it for us, and grant us growth in it is actually a man a man
means to believe to be able to believe in one God alone, we created him alone. That is the biggest
		

			favor upon us. And the prophethood of Muhammad salatu salam being the last of all messengers, the
best of all creation. So this is the biggest favor we have the statement we utter and believe in
however, let's realize that if we are to acknowledge that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
Muhammad May peace be upon him was sent to us as a messenger and the final messenger. Part of that
acknowledgement would mean he came to teach us something, something that he knew no one else knew
something he was given by Allah, no one else knew besides Him, and Allah subhanho wa Taala
revelation given to him through the angel Gabriel. So as GPL le Salam was told it, he was actually
		

			aware of it, but some of it from Allah subhanho wa Taala. May Allah subhanahu wa taala grant us an
understanding, in order for us to acknowledge this status of prophethood we need to know that he
came to teach us something very important. What was it? It was how Allah wants to be worshipped?
That's what it was. How does Allah want you to trade your time on this earth? How does Allah
subhanho wa Taala want you to tread the earth during your short stint in this particular place? So
Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam came, and he taught us he provided a clear record of what is permissible,
what is prohibited, what Allah wants you to do the obligations and what he does not want you to do.
		

			And he taught us I have been sent by Allah to you to warn you in Ni Na Viva La combined a da Vinci
did I have come to you as a warner, there is a punishment that is coming in front of you, if you are
not going to adhere to what I have to say. He made it clear. Those who scoffed and laughed at him,
they will serve the punishment. Those who obeyed his instruction, they got closer to Allah subhanho
wa Taala. This is from the time from the beginning the time of Polish, or should I say the time of
the early Islamic period when Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam was instructed to give the message to
deliver the message. So Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came to teach us how to worship Allah.
		

			And this is why one of the biggest ways of acknowledging the favours of Allah upon us is to make
sure we adhere to what Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam taught us in terms of acts of worship. It's an
insult for Allah to have created us sin for us a messenger and
		

			not telling him what he wants from us through the messenger. How can Allah call Mohammed Salah a
messenger? Without a message? There is definitely a message so Allah would never do that. But if he
sent the messenger with the message, where are we whom the message is delivered to, from following
the son of Mohammed Salah Salem following his path. This is why my brothers and sisters if you
really want to thank Allah, one of the biggest ways of thanking Allah is to ensure that your acts of
worship are only those that Muhammad Sallallahu wasallam participated in or taught or instructed, or
he allowed, this is what it is, if we are engaging in something that we have brought about by our
		

			own whims and fancies, or sometimes what we have just watched our forefathers doing and we think
that you know what, we've watched our forefathers doing this for years and on end, let us also
participate in it. Let us also do it while ah here we are insulting Allah, we are insulting His
Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, we are not saying
		

			Full of the favors of Allah upon us because of what I've just mentioned earlier. This is why my
brothers and sisters spend your entire lifetime, purifying your acts of worship, ensuring that
firstly they are for Allah subhanho wa Taala alone. And secondly, no matter what the whole world
sees, and what they proclaim, if an act of worship is not taught or instructed by Muhammad
Sallallahu sallam, not only do we not need it, but it would be considered an innovation to
participate in it. And himself, he says, couldn't be that in Balala, every act of innovation in
worship, when we use the term leader, we are referring to something new in acts of worship, that
		

			which was not brought by Muhammad Sallallahu sallam, he says that is Bala Bala meaning it is a stray
D It is very far a stray away from the right path. You want to know what's the right path. It is a
path that Mohammed Salah Salam engaged in if he didn't, it is the wrong path when it comes to acts
of worship. So from now on anything you do in your life in terms of acts of worship, ask yourself
one question. Did my messenger The one whose intercession I would like on the Day of Judgment, the
one whom I'm so honored to be a follower of actually teach this or condone it or participate in it?
If the answer is no, you do not need it? Not at all. It is something that is an insult. People start
		

			saying things doing things that are far away from what Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam taught, they
consider them good and Allah subhanho wa Taala speaks about such people in the Quran. And this is at
the end of pseudotumor gaff where Allah subhanho wa Taala says, Well homea una
		

			mujer una zona la Vina Manasa yo homefield hayati, dounia wahoo Mia Sabu una
		

			una Sana, he speaks of a category of people and he says those who participate in so many deeds
thinking that they are doing good, but their deeds are astray. Melissa home the same word is used by
lol. This is why Mohammed salatu salam says Minami la mln Li Zhi Li a morona, for who already done
this hadith should bring about a shiver down our spines. Whoever does an act of worship that we have
not instructed, that act of worship shall be thrown back at them in sin Subhana Allah clear loud,
simple, why is it that we struggle coming to terms with this, it is very strong, it is such a
powerful message, Do not insult Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam by claiming that you know an act of
		

			worship that he did not do that will bring you closer to Allah subhanaw taala we believe he was
complete the deen the religion is complete. he recited the verses to us at the end and leave a
comment to Allah codina como
		

			la comunidad Mati warabi Tula como Islam Medina, Allah says very clearly and Mohammed Salah la sala
Marie read the verse for us this day I have perfected your religion, it is complete, it is over. It
is sealed, no extra shall be added into it in terms of acts of worship. I've taught you he actually
went to the companions and asked them a question Have I delivered the message? They said yes, he
looked up in the skies and said Allah Home Affairs had Oh Allah bear witness of Allah bear witness.
I these people are confirming that I've delivered the message
		

			Subhana Allah, where are we? Why is it we don't understand. He says this day, Allah says this day, I
have perfected your religion, and I have completed my gift. Notice the same word being used nit
Mati, my gift upon you is over it is completed. This is a gift connected to your acts of worship. As
for the rest of it, you will still continue earning you will still continue living all according to
what I have shown you I have laid the rules and regulation of trade, of worship of everything else
eating, consuming, living marriage, divorce, you name it, it is there. So panela This is the gift of
Allah upon us. He says, I have completed my gift upon you is now full, it is there. And I am I am
		

			pleased for you to adopt this submission. As a faith as a religion submission to what the term Islam
is used. Islam means to submit, submit to what to Allah and His messenger. That's it. May Allah
subhanho wa Taala help us May he bestow upon us the mind that understands the favours of Allah. What
is the point of reading so many times for B IE
		

			b comma V.
		

			Which is it of the favors of your Lord Do you deny and then we just nod our heads we say we don't
deny anything but we participate in Acts where there is Schulich or association of partnership of
Allah
		

			We participate in acts of worship that were foreign to the Sahaba of the Allahu anhu. They never
ever knew about it. They didn't teach it. They didn't participate in it. We calling it an act of
Kava Kava meaning worship that will bring you close to Allah but Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam did not
do it. How could it bring you closer to Allah when he was the closest to Allah subhanho wa Taala
simple question ask yourself, did he do it? Believe me if he did not do it, do not do it. That is
considered the true love of this beautiful messenger, the most honored the most beautiful of all
creation of Allah subhanho wa Taala, the greatest, the most noble, the one who was sent to be
		

			followed, not for us to disgrace him by engaging in Acts that he did not participate in, and then
claiming through our statements by tongue, that it's enough for me to say I love you or messenger.
And that's it. That's the statement. Proof of love is not simply in a statement. Anyone can say I
love you. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us understand the true meaning of the term love. So this
is why if we take a close look at these verses, Allah says which is it of the favors of your Lord,
do you deny? Look at the gestation period of a woman, look at how a man is born? Look at where were
you just one one year before you were born? Where were you? That's the truth. Where were you ask
		

			yourself the question you will understand the favor of Allah subhanho wa Taala upon you, when you
realize the answer to that question, then take a look at your clothing. How did Allah cause the
cotton to grow or the wool to be shaved off the sheep or whatever else it is the leather so many
other things the watches you have the phones you have, take a look at where it came from. It was dug
somewhere across the globe in the mind it then processed from one stage to another until it was
bought by a company that molded it into something and then later on they refine that molding and it
came to you in the form of a mobile phone you just look at it. You say I've got enough money I
		

			bought this latest s seven so panela here it is a seven not only dual sim but troublesome. Here it
is. And on top of that, we haven't yet read solid Wilfredo, what's the point of that? We haven't
even we haven't thought of improving our dress code. We haven't thought of it. But we're enjoying.
So where your money came from, you don't realize it's a system Allah has put in place. If Allah
wanted none of us would need each other. But he Subhana Allah Allah says, and this is something
amazing, while at
		

			home, do not forget to be virtuous to one another, do not forget the virtue of one another. So I
need to respect you, you respect me and so on. One of the reasons is, we are created in an
interdependent fashion. Although we depend on Allah to fulfill our needs, he has used some of his
creation in order to serve the other. And this is why Subhana Allah, Allah has created us in such a
beautiful way he has made it such that if I work, I will then earn and when I worked, what did I do,
I served humanity or I served one of the creatures of Allah within the limits of Allah subhanho wa
Taala I did so much someone will benefit from it, that men who employed me will probably sell a
		

			product that I was part and parcel of assisting towards its manufacture or production. And the line
continues. If Allah wanted, we would not be dependent on anyone, I will do my own thing you will do
your own thing. But part of the test is to respect one another, to be able to do business with one
another to understand what is halal and haram. To understand the favours of Allah upon you, I need
you my brother, you're a plumber, I've got a problem back at home, for example. And then this is
how, if I don't have the expertise, I benefit from you, I pay you the money comes into your hands.
This is the system of Allah subhanho wa Taala. This is the system of Allah, and for him to have
		

			created us in an interdependent way. It shows that part of worshipping Allah is to fulfill the
rights of the rest of humanity. If you do not fulfill the rights of the rest of humanity, or the
rest of the creatures of Allah, you have denied the favours of Allah upon you. They are denied
because Allah created not only you alone, one person on your own, he created entire creation with
you. What do you share in common with the tree or the plant that is outside? Do you know what you
share in common? The Creator is the same Subhan Allah Who created that created me amazing, so you
have rights and then the tree has rights. So can Allah, Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us a deep
		

			understanding, let's not be fooled by thinking that it's enough for me to say I think Allah I praise
you Allah Subhana Allah, we sit and read it 100 times 200 500 times and we say we praise Allah we
feel like saints walking out of the house of Allah but our hearts are dirty, filthy and we do not
fulfill the rights of others. We have absolutely no clue of the gift of Allah upon us. We think that
it's enough for me to just mention by tongue the praise of Allah. That's not enough.
		

			Have a person can praise Allah as much as they want. If they are associating partners with Allah,
they've wasted their time. It's reality. Allah says in Mahalia
		

			Shaka, b, y yo Madonna, Danny Kelly me.
		

			Allah will not forgive. If a person dies in the condition of association of partnership with Allah.
Allah says he does not forgive Sheikh.
		

			He will forgive all other sins, whatever he wishes. So this is not connected to the issue of Toba
and repentance. Because if a person seeks forgiveness, he will be forgiven from every sin, including
sheep. But if a person dies in the condition that they have not yet sought forgiveness, then Allah
is saying the other sins, we may forgive them. We may forgive everything, even though they haven't
asked for forgiveness. We might do that. It's up to us, if we will, but one sin we will not forgive
if a person dies in that condition without seeking out forgiveness is sheer association of
partnership. What is the reason people ask a lie so merciful? Why is he saying this? He is saying it
		

			because the entire purpose of creation is to worship Allah alone. That's what he said in the Quran.
wama Kala Cthulhu Jean
		

			inlandia badon. I have not created mankind the jinn kind except that they worship me. Yeah, boo. Me
alone. They worship me alone. So if they've faltered regarding the purpose of creation, we will not
forgive them. But if they faulted regarding everything else, and anything else, we may choose to
forgive them and still give them paradise even though they may not have deserved it. So it's the
mercy of Allah. So people want to know why doesn't ALLAH forgive Sheikh if you die in that
condition, number one, we must say if you have asked us forgiveness, prior to death, Allah will
forgive you even from ship and number two is if you die in that condition. The reason is, you have
		

			failed the core of the test, the simple straightforward initial, primary simple question, you have
responded wrongly one plus one equals two. The minute you say three, you can never ever have a
mathematics certificate no matter how simple the rest of or difficult the rest of the questions
were. The first primary question of mathematics is one plus one. That's what it is. If you cannot
get the answer as to how can you progress to multiplication, division and and everything else? You
need the simple answer. So Allah says, This is the first test. May Allah help us really my brothers
and sisters, to be truly grateful, to be thankful to appreciate his gifts upon us, he has bestowed
		

			upon us so much. Perhaps On another occasion, we may go through some of these gifts of Allah, it is
so amazing, intriguing. It is absolutely awesome to look at the faces of Allah the gifts of Allah
upon us. Look at the creation around us and thank Allah subhanho wa Taala May Allah subhanho wa
Taala bless us all. And may we be from amongst those who have learned a lesson and May Allah
subhanho wa Taala be pleased with us and may He love us too was Allahu wa salam o Baraka Allen.
Amina Mohammed