Mufti Menk – Islam and Muslims

			Salam Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
		

			smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillah wa salatu salam ala rasulillah who Allah Allah He was happy he
woman wala we praise Allah Subhana Allah to Allah we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his entire household all his companions May Allah subhanho wa Taala
bless them all, I mean, my brothers and sisters, in the Arabic language, there is a root word made
up of three letters seen lamb and mean, sadly, man or settler, man, if you notice the term Islam and
Muslims sounds quite similar because it also has those three letters. So for us to take a look at
Islam and us being Muslims, it's important for us to go back to the root and see what it is that
		

			Allah subhanho wa Taala wants from us being the root of these three letters. So if you look at those
three letters, initially, you would find something interesting the term salema means to be saved.
For example, in the Hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he says, Al Muslim owner, o l
Muslim woman, Salim al Muslim moon, I mean, listen, EYDA Muslim is he whom all the other Muslims are
safeguarded or saved from the evil of his tongue and his hand. So if you're a true Muslim, all the
other Muslim men should never ever suffer from your tongue or from your hand. So that is the term to
be safeguarded. And the idea is for us as Muslim men to be safeguarded. Not only should we be
		

			looking out for our brothers and sisters, but even Allah subhanho wa Taala would safeguard us being
from among those who have submitted unto Allah Subhana Allah to Allah. If you look at the term
salam, it means peace, so you would achieve peace look, that term Salam also has the same three
letters. So if I were to follow Allah instruction, I am meant to be achieving peace. And at the same
time, I'm meant to be ensuring that the others are at peace from my home. And this is why selama you
suddenly move which also has the three letters means to greet with sallam, when I see you, it's my
duty to ensure that I greet you with the greeting of peace that is also made by selam if I say
		

			assalamu Aleikum, I'm referring to something very important and that is a prayer for you. I pray
that Peace be upon you. When someone says May peace be upon you. Isn't that a prayer for them? So we
asking Allah can Peace be upon you, peace be upon you in what aspect of your life in every single
angle or aspect of your life, so from me, there will be peace. My prayer is even if you have other
problems you are facing in your life that have perhaps usurped or taken away the peace in your life.
By Me greeting you. I'm actually saying Allah help this man to achieve peace Subhana Allah.
		

			This is why the Hadith speaks about the importance of going out and greeting people greet one
another. If Shu Salaam, spread the Salam spread the greeting, spread the peace, because we all be
praying for one another. Today, we have a small crisis whereby I have a small misunderstanding with
you and I curse you and you curse me and we are supposed to be called muslimeen where is Islam?
Where is Salam? Where is the peace? Where is everything gone? Let's change that when we say Assalamu
alaykum my matter with you is resolved it means Hey, peace be upon you forget about what just
happened. Now, Allah subhanho wa Taala help us all. So, this is the salom in terms of Assalamu
		

			alaikum as in the greeting, it has a very, very deep rooted meaning to it, but inshallah we will
proceed with some of the other meanings when it comes to
		

			Salaam connected to Islam. Islam is the name of a religion. We all know that Islam. Why? Because it
is supposed to be giving you and I peace, everyone says Islam is from Salaam, it's from peace, okay?
And at the same time, people are not at peace. So what is the problem? There is a problem because
the name of the religion is peace and all you see around you is war, everywhere you go, there is
war, people are fighting each other. So many things in the name of Islam things are happening.
Because if you go back to the same route, you will find there is something else that is derived from
it. It is called at least Islam is Islam means to submit to submit to what to Allah, the One Who
		

			made you. So if you want to achieve that peace, there is an ingredient if you don't follow that you
won't achieve the peace. You know, if someone wants to make a biscuit or a cake or someone wants to,
for example, achieve something you have a concoction whereby you might be manufacturing something
for resale that people are going to be using. You need to follow a specified method of making or
manufacturing that item or it will flop. So we say for example, I'm a Muslim, but the method to
achieve that
		

			selam that piece we're not following it. So this is why Islam is also derived from the same Salaam
to say you want peace, you greeting each other are you genuine there's one way of doing it, you
submit and surrender to the law and the instruction of the one who made you. So if I submit to
Allah, I will automatically be able to lead the life that is a straight as a pin. So Pamela, I was
just thinking of a pin I saw this morning that was not so straight May Allah subhanho wa Taala help
us The world is changing my brothers and sisters, it's important for for us to ensure that we lead a
straight life as straight as possible for the sake of Allah. Wherever we have faltered the same.
		

			Islam teaches us something else. Guess what that is a beautiful link with Allah and a beautiful
relationship where we can wipe out the bad we've done by means of Toba by means of repentance by
means of is still far to seek the forgiveness of Allah. So if for example, I have done the little a
little bit I have swayed in my line with Allah subhanho wa Taala. All I need to do is quickly come
back to the path so that I enjoy the Salaam, the peace so that I'm Muslim, I am from among those who
has submitted surrender so that when I greet you with Sam, it's not just a fake greeting. It is a
genuine feeling when I say a salaam aleikum to you, it's a feeling from my heart, my brother, I love
		

			you, you are my family. You are part and parcel of this broad oma belonging to Allah subhanho wa
Taala. We are the followers of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam Hence, I pray for you because
the Hadith says let me know I had to come to you he barely fit him if he would enough say none of
you can call yourself true believers, until you really love for your brother, what you love for
yourself. Now, it's not easy for me to give you my motor vehicle in my house and everything else.
No, but at least I love that you may have something better than me perhaps or if you have something
you love it for me the minimum would mean or would be and I don't want to harm you, because whatever
		

			you have is either better than what I have or not better or equivalent. So if it is equivalent
Alhamdulillah we are at par, if it is not I have make dua that you have it I feel that you should be
getting something better. So this is why I reach out to you in terms of so many deeds, goodness, if
someone is really poor, the charities, the Zika and so on, if not and they have issues and problems
I am taught as a Muslim part of my Salaam and my Islam and my Islam is for me to be able to feel the
pain you are going through and the joyous moments you have I must share them as well. To feel
happiness at the loss of another makes you a person who is not an ideal Muslim, to feel sadness at
		

			the profit or the gain or the goodness of another is also the same whereby we cannot call ourselves
true meaning so the Hadith says you will not be a true believer until you love for your brother what
you love for yourself. So if I am telling you a salaam aleikum, I agree with you. It's a prayer for
you to say, Look, man, all forms of Peace be upon you. That's what I want for you. That's what I
want for you As salam that Elif, and lamb in the Arabic language has diverse meaning. Some of the
meanings include to add every aspect of the word that's about to be uttered the noun that is
following the elephant lamp at times, it means we want to add every aspect of that word in what I'm
		

			about to say. So if I say a Salaam I'm talking about all forms of peace, now if I want that inner
peace, I need to surrender to Allah. If I want to surrender to Allah, I need to know a little bit
about Allah subhanho wa Taala. In the Arabic language we say ma Hua maluma mina de Nabi Dora, that
minimum which I definitely need to know from the religion in order for me to continue as part and
parcel of this Muslim oma, so I need to know allies one, I need to know his names and qualities he
nobody shares them at all. He is alone, Iran, the acts of worship solely and only to him and the
rest of us, we enjoy your relationship because we are the creatures of the same creator. So when I
		

			see an animal, even though a dog in the pig happened to be animals that may be considered
differently in the Sharia. We, as Muslim men are taught that we should believe that those are also
creatures of the same creator, they have rights over us. It doesn't mean that because there's a pig
that might be crossing, you know, the road that I can hurt it harm it, damage it caused pain and
suffering to it, not at all. Perhaps I won't consume it, I won't buy and sell it and so on. There
are rules and regulations, but to harm a creature of Allah no matter what it is, even if we are
sacrificing or should I say for purposes of consumption, when there is a slaughter of an animal
		

			happening, it needs to happen in the most humane way. That is Salaam. That is Islam, that is Islam,
that is everything to do with peace and to do with submission unto Allah Subhana hearts these are
the creatures of Allah subhanho wa Taala. How can I as a Muslim, inflict or cause harm to the
		

			creature of the same creator, may Allah subhanho wa Taala help us understand that. So, if that is
the case with animals, what about fellow human beings, if you look at a non Muslim for example, the
time that they will look at you and see that you are in peace, you are at peace, you are within a
religion of peace, they will automatically feel within them, if Allah wills that you know what I
really have learned from this I have seen the peace, the calm the contentment, and I would like to
inch closer by the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala that is called Dawa, that we're meaning to call
others to enjoy the peace that you have. But how will we be able to call others when we haven't
		

			learned about it when we don't know about it ourselves. So this is why part and parcel of submission
to Allah is to learn the deen to learn the religion to learn the Quran. If you are true Muslim in
myself included, we should be making an effort to learn
		

			we should be making an effort to getting closer to Allah. Today, the world has turned the other way
around. Because we make a great effort to earn a salary at the end of the month, we will not miss a
day at work. And if we do, it's a major issue we will find excuse notes, we will earn a salary we
will be upset if our salary is decreased. We would perhaps want promotion after promotion. We work
from eight to five every day during the weekdays perhaps and even on a Saturday. A lot of us we rest
only one day, maybe in the week. And at the same time. What did we achieve in return? If you look
carefully, you've only only built a little bit of your world that you might live in for a few more
		

			years. What if your eyes closed today? What did you do? The answer is we could do better. I've done
very little, myself included. We can all do better. My brothers and sisters we can and we should
spend a little bit more time in the house of Allah find your salam, find your peace, find people
greeting you. This is why we've always said this is not my house, not yours. It's the house of
Allah. People come in, they should be feeling comfortable, they should be feeling good. We look at
others. Let's not make people feel uncomfortable in the house of Allah subhanho wa Taala they are
more than welcome. When we look at them with a smile, we greet them genuinely Assalamualaikum my
		

			brother, and while a como Salah, the minute you start speaking about details that make a person feel
a little bit negative, or a bit uneasy that they don't want to come back there. We are guilty of not
being the ideal Muslims. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us May He grant us an opening. So my
brothers and sisters, this is the salon. This is the piece, we need to learn it, we need to put it
into practice because what's the point of knowing Islam teaches me to stay away from alcohol to stay
away from adultery, from gambling, from *, from drugs, and so on and so forth. Islam
teaches me to ensure that the relationship with the opposite * is within specific limits and so on
		

			in order for me to be able to enjoy the peace, that's what it is, in order for me to be able to
enjoy the peace. Take a look at those who've let themselves loose. They are the most depressed on
Earth, but they're doing what they want. They are clubbing every weekend, they perhaps go gambling,
they have their drugs, they've got no power, or should I say they have no intention to give up bad
habits knowing that, for example, just an example, you know, with all due respect, but we have to
talk about it in order to prop the people forward. For example, the bad habit of smoking, to say the
least some of us have never thought of quitting. In fact, we increase and every time the salary
		

			comes, you say wow, I can buy a few more. You know, for what May Allah help us to cut out bad
habits. And I'm just speaking about a bad habit. It's one that's quite common. People don't think
about it as a bad habit. Sometimes, as Muslims, I'm supposed to be at peace. My body is supposed to
be at peace from my soul and my intention and my brain. Everything should be in sync because the
body is not mine. Did you ever think when you look at yourself in the mirror, that one day my soul
and body will be separated, they're going to take this if I'm lucky, they're going to bury me in a
proper grave. If not, I might die perhaps in the oceans where nobody might ever see me again. They
		

			may throw me on, you know, over
		

			and into the sea and so on. I might May Allah forgive us. I don't even want to go through some of
what can happen or cannot. So if we're fortunate, we're going to be buried.
		

			Have you thought of it? That this body here that I'm I wash my hands every morning I make whoo
Michelle, I put a bit of cream. If there's a little crack here, I'm so so upset and so on the same
body, what did you do about it? What do you know your link with it? Your true link with it is
actually very, very small. It's only for a few years while you're here. Allah has given it to you as
a uniform. Once you graduate from this life of this college known as life, you actually have to
leave that uniform here and you go back without a uniform you're given another one may Allah
subhanho wa Taala help us all. But what we do, we lead our lives in a way that we take to ourselves.
		

			For example, May Allah forgive those who may have done it during ignorance. Definitely Allah
forgives. Remember this, but don't make it a habit to do things to your body that are not
permissible. It's not yours. It's Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, we turn to Allah How will we achieve
the Salaam and the peace
		

			If we have not submitted, I know what's right and wrong, but I never followed it. And then when we
preach it, it is very, very difficult for people to digest from us something we are saying when they
look at us, and they see we're not practicing what we preach ourselves. So let's make it our habit
before we remind others, ask yourself, have I, you know, followed this, and this is why most of the
speakers who actually remind us about what's right and wrong, they will usually say, this reminder
is for me, as well as for yourselves. Because it is it's for all of us, I can do better and so can
you. We're all human beings, we have weaknesses, perhaps on different levels. But in order to
		

			achieve the peace, we have to submit, we have to learn, submit, and then convey to others. So that
it becomes something everyone speaks about. I was making mention of how when a person lets
themselves loose, you know what happens? They are clubbing in the evening, they are drinking all
night, they are gambling, they perhaps on drugs, they think they're enjoying, they're dancing, they
have relations with the opposite *, adultery, or fornication, whatever else it is. And guess what,
in no time they are the most depressed people ever. They start hallucinating, they start seeing
things, they start hearing things they they have a life that is, you know, they've lost their
		

			wealth, they've lost their families, they've lost everything, and they have no rules and
regulations. So it's quite clear for us to realize that when Allah has stipulated rules and
regulations, it's for you to lead a happy life with a smile. You've never ever compromised your
brain through intoxicants. You've never ever had a nightlife where you lost yourself, you may want
to have clean fun, for example, go out to a restaurant, you know, somewhere and perhaps with your
family, ensuring that everything is permissible and halaal in the surroundings, and as best as you
can, you've made it a clean evening whereby you enjoy it. But it does not mean in order to enjoy,
		

			you need to do dirty things, you need to do that which will displays a lot because that is
temporary, and that is from the devil and you will never be able to achieve the Sallam that the
entire Islam is based upon.
		

			So my brothers and sisters, this is a beautiful method of looking at the faith and the religion that
we have known as Islam, and how we will achieve the salame or the peace that it has in its own
meaning. And this is why if you read books, as to the meaning of Islam, they will tell you Islam,
two things, it means peace and submission. I'm sure you may have seen this. And the idea is to
achieve peace through submission. How can you submit when you don't know what to submit to
Subhanallah so you need to learn and when you learn, you put into practice and when you put into
practice, you will want to see others achieving and receiving that goodness and sharing it with you.
		

			Because you realize the more people I take with me into the speech, the greater the chances of
eternal peace. This is why Allah says in the Quran.
		

			The here tomiyama yellowkorner who Salah
		

			they are greeting on the day that they meet with him will be Salah peace. This is the eternal peace,
you lived peace you lived submission you lived in goodness, today you are from among those who
deserves complete and eternal peace. Imagine when Allah says Salaam to those who whom he has chosen
for paradise mela makers from amongst them, that's the day you can be happy to say hey, I've
succeeded that handler for now we're all in one struggle, and we all trying to achieve the closeness
to Allah. And this is why we say my brothers and sisters never lose hope. A lot of us may have led
our lives in a way that we feel is not ideal. It's never too late. For as long as you're breathing,
		

			you're alive, you can make a change to that you can quit your ways and habits, you will still
achieve peace. This is why for example, if you look at the rules and regulations of Islam, they
include financial or economic rules and regulations, which will ensure that you don't suffer you
don't struggle. If you stay away from interest you stay away from so many different things. The
Hadith speaks about how important it is to budget according to your income and to downgrade your
life. If you cannot afford things without batting an eyelid. You must downgrade you know people at
one stage in this country were billionaires in Zimbabwe dollar terms maybe trillionaires or perhaps
		

			gazillionaires, whatever it was, but at the same time, within moments, everything came crashing. So
if we did not downgrade our lives, perhaps we would then suffer lack of solemn lack of peace. Why?
Because we didn't learn how to be Muslim and how to be Muslim meaning to submit to Allah and how to
be a person who has to protect everyone else as well. May Allah Subhana Allah to Allah grant us
goodness. So this is why we say the rules and regulations pertaining to interest pertaining to how
to deal with one another. All of that included will come about with this beautiful inner and outer
peace. May Allah help us the last point I want to raise today is my brothers and sisters. We have a
		

			duty on our shoulders. Regarding the non Muslims who are around us. We have a very big duty on our
shoulders. What is it? These people are not yet Muslim. They are potential Muslims. They are people
		

			Some of them hate Islam solely because they have misinformation they are seeing and being bombarded
by the media seeing things that are negative. We are those who are chosen to live in their midst. We
are meant to showcase Islam minimum by being proper Muslim. That's what it is. Imagine you see a
Muslim who said but I think some Muslims drink and some of them don't drink tea. But how do you
think that because I see a lot of them drinking. That's not supposed to be the case. But some
Muslims are this and some Muslims are that no, let us live Islam let us improve our character. Let
us understand the Hadith says Allah healer and yet the Allahu Baqarah jhulan wa hidden highroller
		

			caminho Medina, if Allah has chosen you to guide one person one, it's better for you than the most
expensive of the valuable items of this world. At that time it was the red camera Subhan Allah so
imagine let's try and you know, these the people around us, it's important for them to see the
correct Islam. When we have goodness when we are upright when our dealings are upright. The way we
speak is upright, we are involved in prayer and we do not consider it a burden. Let's be honest, the
five daily prayers A lot of us consider it a burden. We think a no man it's time for us. Now what
should I do? Especially the federal one at a time for fun? What should I do you know what I need to
		

			scratch it? May Allah strengthen us, may Allah make us from those who are strong. Imagine if your
children or if the non Muslims look at you or me and they start thinking to themselves if they see
us negative and they say that these people they are lazy to read their own prayers. Why should I be
a Muslim? I've come across non Muslims who say Islam is very good, but you guys cannot even follow
your own rules and regulations. inshallah we can make a change to that. May Allah grant us peace in
this world in the next And may Allah subhanho wa Taala truly make us from among those who achieve
the eternal peace on that particular day. May He grant us Jenna Jenna is also known as the abode of
		

			peace was Allahu wa Sallim wa barik ala nabina Muhammad