Mufti Menk – Ramadan 2015 – Deeds of Paradise

			Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.
		

			smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil alameen wa Salatu was Salam ala l mursaleen. Nabina
Muhammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa v momento de San elijo Medina.
		

			We praise Allah subhanho wa Taala we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam, his entire household, all his companions, we ask Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, to bless
them all and to bless every single one of us, to grant us goodness and forgiveness. To help us to
make the most of this beautiful month of Ramadan, we ask Allah subhanahu wa Jalla to grant us the
softening of the hearts and at the same time we ask Allah Subhana Allah to Allah to grant us
permanent positive change, and not just change that will be felt only in the month of Ramadan. And
once the month of Ramadan leaves, we to abandon the obedience of Allah Subhana Allah Jalla my
		

			brothers and sisters, it's important for us to know that the struggle is for paradise. What I want
what you want, we're supposed to be focused on one thing that is genuine. If you pause for a moment
and think about the beauty of this world, it is so fake, if you were to look at it, everything we
have here will be left behind exactly here.
		

			Ask yourself what do I have my perfumes my watches, my phones, my cars, you know the spouse, I have
the children whatever else you have, to be honest, you met whatever you had and have here. And when
you leave you leave alone singular one. So all your material items will be left behind. Yes, your
family members may join you by the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala. But there are two there are
certain conditions. And that is we all need to be heading in the right direction. If a person is
heading towards paradise, and the other one is heading towards Hellfire, how do we expect to meet in
the hereafter. This is why if you'd like to meet your family members, you need to start doing good
		

			deeds. And you need to realize the rat race that we are in right now in order to lead a better life
is actually far less important than the real race for gentlemen and for paradise.
		

			If I were to die here, and now true success is if Allah were to tell me for you is gentlemen, even
if I had nothing in this world, and the biggest failure is a person who's had everything in this
world completely. They've had good health, they've had wealth, they've had family members, they've
had happiness, they've had peace they've had so much, but the moment they die, they find out that
they actually have not succeeded in earning gender. So with this in mind, I want to spend the next
few minutes reminding us that my brothers and sisters increase your good deeds because you never
know which deal it is that will actually help you gain entry into paradise. I want to start off by
		

			giving you a very interesting example that we all know the Prophet sallallahu Sallam said, There was
once a man, he was sinful man, and he saw a dog. And he noticed the dog was extremely thirsty, and
was actually rubbing its nose into the dust. And he realized that this dog is thirsty. So he decided
to take his own leather sock, literally a boot that he wrote the type of boots they wore at the
time. And he decided to release it into the well fill it up with water and come back. And this dog
that is actually considered a dirty animal. He decided to quench the thirst of the dog because of
the mercy he felt for a creature of the same creator. You know what that means? The one who made me
		

			made everything else, even though I'm not allowed to consume a dog. I have rules and regulations
when it comes to my relationship with the dog and the cleanliness and purity big rules, big
regulations. But he felt that this is a creature of the same maker. And this, this creature is
struggling. I have the ability to do something for it, and perhaps it might quench his thirst. And
the Hadith says the man achieved paradise through the one deed. When Allah saw the deed he said for
you is genuine. It's the compassion. It's the feeling today as we speak.
		

			About 100 people have just been gunned down in Nigeria while they were in domestic May Allah
subhanho wa Taala safe goddess in the name of Islam, in the name of the Quran, in the name of the
tsunami Humberto Salaam, yet that type of behavior is the furthest away from Islam, from Allah from
Rasulullah salah and from any one of us who are saying Muslim
		

			If compassion towards a dog would actually make a person earn paradise, what do you think will be
the value of one who is compassionate towards fellow human beings who do not share the same faith?
So Pamela, if I were to see a non Muslim, My duty is to try my best to reach out to this person so
that they can see the beauty of the faith we belong to all of us without a single exception.
		

			Some way up the ladder, our forefathers were not Muslim, someone made an effort and Alhamdulillah we
think a lot that they entered the fold of Islam. If the attitude of Islam was such that we were
meant to gun down people we disagreed with completely Muslim, non Muslim, whoever else, then we
would have not been Muslim in today. I don't even think we would have existed. Common logic, common
sense. May Allah protect us from deviant ideology? May Allah subhanho wa Taala protect us from this
type of unacceptable thinking that is creeping into the frustrated youth of the oma no matter how
deep your frustrations are. My brothers and sisters, remember, every time when you see a dog,
		

			remember that you are meant to be compassionate towards the dog. What about fellow human beings?
		

			This is your gentleman. This is your paradise reach out to people in a beautiful way, go and feed
going close Muslim, non Muslim, whoever else it is, when an enemy of yours realizes that your
character and conduct goes far beyond this, they would soften up at a certain stage by the will of
Allah. Even if they haven't softened up your duty was fulfilled between you and a Muslim, Hannah
Montana, you need to notice you need to realize people look at you they should see the calmness of a
believer in your face, they should see it in your movement, they should see it in your character.
And this is why let's go to the one of the most powerful deeds that will take people into gentlemen,
		

			the prophet peace be upon him was asked a simple question which are the deeds that will make people
in paradise. Very simple. He said two things that were law he was the consciousness of Allah and
good character conduct. So if you are conscious of Allah, I'd like to spend a minute explaining the
consciousness of Allah subhanho wa Taala you would be fulfilling your Salah, you would be a person
who understands the value of the Shahada. You know what is the Shahada? When I say la ilaha illAllah
Muhammad Rasulullah there is none worthy of worship besides Allah, and Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam is
his final messenger. It is the most powerful statement in existence. It is a statement that will
		

			result in the entry into paradise of people who have files filled with sin, perhaps each file from
the east to the west as per one of the narrations of Muhammad Sallallahu sallam, he says a man will
come on the Day of Judgment with 99 files full of sin, each file from the east to the west, and you
will be asked Are these your deeds he will not be able to deny anything. So Allah subhanho wa Taala
will ask the angels to place the deeds on the scale. And obviously these are all bad deeds. And
suddenly from one of those files, a little card will actually fall out. And that card will have said
La ilaha illAllah Muhammad Rasulullah this man has uttered this declaration of faith once in his
		

			life correctly, properly, with conviction believed in Allah subhanho wa Taala. And Allah will say,
put that on the other side of the scale and you know what it will tip the scale Subhana Allah and
the man will be granted gentlemen, it is known as the Hadith of the card. Look at the amount of
Mercy of Allah subhanho wa Taala we feel hopeful because of these type of narrations. Otherwise, if
you were to listen to the punishment and the Roth and jahannam and and Hellfire and the blaze that
it has, perhaps shavon might make us lose hope momentarily, but it's definitely the balance of the
forum, the balance of revelation that makes us feel this hope and we continue struggling and going
		

			on and on trying to please Allah subhanho wa Taala May Allah help us so this is the power of the
Shahada, Allah He the consciousness of Allah subhanho wa Taala would entail that you abstain from
prohibition as best as possible as far as possible. Wherever you have faulted. Your consciousness of
Allah makes you repent very quickly today. Look, we are seated here. Allah He we are getting to the
most blessed moments ever. You have a month of Ramadan, you have the second half of Ramadan, you
have a day of a Friday you have almost midday you are sitting here with the Imam we are sitting and
listening to the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala his words are reminded all of us want to leave this
		

			place feeling good feeling plugged in with Allah subhanho wa Taala the hearts are softened. This is
a time of acceptance of job. If you don't seize this moment to turn to Allah. You've wasted it.
		

			You've wasted it. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us feel the love feel this
		

			Spirituality for you the bond, my brothers and sisters, we are all part of one on one. We are all
brothers and sisters say what you would like. We are all brothers and sisters under the banner of La
ilaha illAllah Muhammad Rasulullah sallallahu Sallam the best from amongst us is he or she who feels
that under Shahada, even though we may have our little differences? Remember this? If you want to
know how clean your heart is, ask yourself, what is the feeling I have in my heart for the others
who share the panel of La ilaha illAllah with me? So Pamela, that answer would actually tell you
exactly where you stand in the eyes of Allah subhanho wa Taala because that declaration is a banner
		

			of Allah, not yours, not mine shape man comes in to make us separate ourselves to make us hate
ourselves because of one or two differences, not realizing that the spouses who get along like a
house on fire would also have differences if we were to hate each other because of the fact that I
am a tea man and she's a coffee man, we are foolish, or she's a coffee woman. Sorry.
		

			But this is what happens. We can never ever
		

			let shapen creep in to make us hate one another after we've declared the Shahada. Yes, we will
discuss our differences we will educate one another we will help each other eradicate perhaps
shield, eradicate, eradicate innovation, eradicate anything that may be wrong. But all that is part
and parcel of helping one another. It's not a war that I need to declare with you solely because
you've made a mistake, or you might be ignorant. In fact, it is a challenge. It is an opportunity
that Allah has placed for me to be able to reach out to you to educate you and vice versa. It's an
opportunity. It's a challenge. And remember this when you make an effort to educate someone that is
		

			your ticket to paradise, because to learn knowledge, to put it into practice and to convey to others
is definitely one of the ways of earning gentlemen. It is paradise. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help
us the Sahaba Viola Hanuman, they struggled, they strove over the centuries, we found the deen
coming to us in a way that today we are sitting here in this beautiful machine, one of the most
beautiful machines that perhaps we've seen, Mashallah,
		

			whose effort was this, it's the effort of a chain of people, you may never know them. But we need to
say Oh Allah bless them all. Today we are sitting here, eating from the fruit of a tree that we did
not really SOS Anima Some of us are bashing the tree down, trying to cut it down. And yet the tree
refuses to be chopped down. It continues growing continues bearing fruit and you continue eating
from the fruit, not realizing that your actions are actually against the tree. But it's so merciful.
It keeps on giving you some kind of love. Look at how many of us are not proud of the deeds we've
done. We've committed sin we've gambled, perhaps drunk, perhaps alcohol, intoxicants, adultery,
		

			fornication, whatnot, you name it, it's there. Through the mercy of Allah, he still keeps on giving
us fresh air to breathe. He gives us eyes to see he gives us so much some kind of love. He's given
us children and families and so much amazing. We still happen to concentrate on the little bit that
we don't have, and we still happen to be ungrateful to Allah subhana wa Tada. So going back to the
narration of takala. The next thing that the prophets of Allah Salam says his personal follow. In
one narration, he says the heaviest thing on the scales of the day of judgment will be good
character and conduct. You know what that is? It's your relationship with fellow human beings, your
		

			relationship with the rest of creation. There are two things mentioned in the study.
		

			People will be earning Jelena because of the relation with Allah and the relation with the rest of
the creatures of the same Allah. Amazing. Look at the brothers and sisters around you and ask
yourself, what's my link with them? You know, what's your lead? He who made you made them? That's
what it is. You are brothers and sisters. If you don't feel that there's something wrong with you.
Take a look at the others that go far on the streets. What's your link with them? those who
disbelieve those who hate Islam, those who have fought Islam, what's unique with them, who made you
made them? We are all a test for one another, reach out positively. Brothers and sisters we are
		

			living at a time when technology is at a peak. When people are highly educated, you have double
doctorates and you have PhD is like, you know, being dished out No Man's business Subhanallah but we
have so much of intolerance. Because we've allowed Shaban to overtake us.
		

			We have so much of hatred in us. We need to deal with this. Let's go back to basics. Let's look at
Muhammad salatu salam treatment of the hypocrites whom he was issued a list with to say these people
are hypocrites. Some of the companions said can we execute them? And he said never. That's not what
Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam was sent when he was sent as a mercy to entire creation. sallallahu
alayhi wasallam but here we are today. It's the opposite in one family. We are 10 pieces in one
community. We have five groups in one
		

			musti we have the window group and the non window group. You know what that is from Allah, Allah
subhanho wa Taala Forgive us, the fan and the icon group and the ones who don't want it. We are
fighting debating over five minutes more that the Imam is taking with Allah subhanho wa Taala and
that's it. The Masjid is almost broken to pieces. This is a reality. Look at how shake hands crept
in. And look at how he's distancing us from gentlemen. So the deeds of Paradise my brothers and
sisters, we need to understand develop your character, speak to people with respect, learn to
fulfill what you have promised. Learn to have mercy on people, those whom you may not like what they
		

			look like, tell yourself this is a test from Allah subhanho wa Taala Who am I not to like what Allah
has created?
		

			Who am I to have this feeling that I am better if Allah once he can change you here and now to
become lower than them in every aspect of the term low? May Allah forgive us. It's the mercy of
Allah that has made us sit here today. It is the mercy of Allah that we are listening to this. It's
the mercy of Allah that it's the month of Ramadan. We're talking about how to end gentlemen and
Subhanallah I've just stopped at one point and that is character and conduct because it is so vast
It is so great. It encompasses absolutely everything cleanse your heart removed from it hatred,
jealousy, envy, removed from it pride. The Hadith says those who have a droplet or a mustard seeds
		

			wait with of pride in their hearts will not enter gender, they will not enter Paradise. There is no
place in paradise where that is but a warning. For whom, for those who have a heart to say
cleansings please take out that hatred take out jealousy, you look at people learn to love them.
sort out your matter when you have a big issue. Tell yourself this is my opportunity to earn
gentlemen Let me try and reach out to people. Yes, if you've tried your best and still you are not
achieving you leave the rest in the hands of Allah. You don't need to become dirty and ugly about
it. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us love one another.
		

			Then he was asked what deeds will make people burn or be thrown into Hellfire? I need to know that
you need to know that. He said and family will follow you. I'm going to mention two organs he says
not the deeds, the organs, the mouth, the private parts. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us look at
your mouth, what you say how you utter things, what you utter will actually result in your entry in
general or otherwise. Look at how Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us through the blessed admiration of
amatola. In one of the most melodious narrations, he says Kelly Mehta and ecfe attorney Alan Lee
Sally, the key law attorney feeling nice and happy batan Isla Manny Subhana Allah He will be happy
		

			so behind Allah allowed in the last narration of so he had Buhari with the profits or loss
allowances, they are two words that are so loved by Allah subhanho wa Taala. So light on the tongue,
and so heavy on the scales, they happen to be the declaration of the praise of Allah using the words
Subhana Allah He will be de Subhana Allah Hill Alvin, pretty heavy on the scale. Simple. What am I
saying? I'm declaring the praise of Allah Glory be to You or a lot, All praise is due to you or
Allah subhanho wa Taala and you are the greatest That's what I'm saying.
		

			So to use your tongue to praise Allah is a means of your entry into gentlemen use it my brothers and
sisters, I want to ask you to do one thing we are in Ramadan. We are we are in this beautiful day
Friday, this beautiful moment.
		

			become conscious of how many times you praise Allah in the day, whether it's in English or Arabic,
or whatever it is. Ask yourself How many times did I praise Allah? Oh Allah I praise you. Praise be
to you, Oh Allah, Glory be to You or Allah, you are the greatest Oh Allah, I love you, Oh Allah, I
want you to love me to Allah. Keep on speaking to Allah through the day, make it your habit. You
will enter Paradise with simple ease by the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala because these words are
heavy on the scale, you're talking to Allah, you praising him, he knows your struggle, not a single
one of us can say we do not have any struggles. We all have challenges everyone. Sometimes it's your
		

			health, it's your world with your family, whatever else it is, but Allah knows it but you're still
praising Allah praise Him. A lot of us pay lip service to the praise of Allah. We haven't really
thought of what we've added. We say Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah so many times, at the
end of the day, you don't even know what you said. Now Allah forgive us. It's like I usually say the
people who say they say it so fast that after a while it sounds like stuck for life.
		

			Allah forgive us really
		

			And that's an insult to Allah. I'd rather say Oh ALLAH forgive me, Oh Allah, I love you, I try the
same thing, my own language that I understand there's nothing wrong with it, the value and merit of
the Arabic language is in its place. Definitely. We don't want to undermine that. But if it's going
to result in lack of concentration, perhaps you want to test it out in another language that you
know, and you understand so that it may impact on you in a greater way. Somehow Now,
		

			don't get me wrong, we're not undermining the words of Allah subhanho wa Taala at all, but we are
offering some words for those who are weak perhaps to get to that level before they can actually
benefit from it. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us so these are the words of gentlemen, this is
what will get you to paradise my brothers and sisters good words taken. Take a look at what Allah
has bestowed upon you be thankful to Allah subhanho wa Taala look at the month of Ramadan. Do you
know what we're taught?
		

			We are taught that Allah subhanho wa Taala does not want from you the fact that you stay away from
food and drink and permissible intimacy with your spouse. That's not what he wants from you. I don't
know. He requires you to achieve piety through the fast such that he says if you are not going to be
bothered about what comes out of your mouth during the fast then you've wasted your time staying
away from food and drink Melania data Zoo he will be he will gel fillet Salli ala Hajj attorney, fee
and yada, yada, whoever is not going to abstain from foul language, false witness and so on. from
bad things, vulgar words coming out of their mouth during the fast then Allah has no need of the
		

			fact that they've stayed away from their food and drink through the day they wasted their time. What
does this mean? This means that I'm a man we are meant to be disciplining ourselves, even when it
comes to the way we speak. Choose the best words when you talk to your wife. When you talk to your
husband, your parents, your children, choose beautiful words when you speak to those whom you have
employed. Or those who are your employers choose the best words when you speak to clients. When you
speak to those who don't like you choose beautiful words. That's a movement that is paradise in the
making my brothers and sisters now Allah subhanho wa Taala help us I think I just touched on the
		

			topic, the time is up. But at the same time, I hope I've introduced it to to myself and yourself to
make us more interested in the middle deeds that we see through the day and night. So Panama so many
things that we could do to earn the pleasure of Allah. Do not belittle a small deed even if it means
giving milk to a cat. Allah subhanho wa Taala help us I hope that doesn't start off a huge argument
in the home because sometimes there is a stray cat that we are trying to get rid of. And someone
might just use this as evidence to say you know what, bring it on. Now Allah subhanho wa Taala
forgive us. Remember, it's more important for you to maintain peace in the home and for you to
		

			arrive at a common understanding and for you to be able to compromise when it comes to matters that
are not strictly halal and haram. Yes, if it is strictly halal and haram, you may want to stick to
the opinion and educate others regarding it in the most beautiful manner. But when it comes to
matters that you're allowed to compromise upon or regarding, trust me to give up your opinion
sometimes is an act of worship. May Allah Subhana Allah forgive us all Salatu was Salam ala nabina
Muhammad