London – 18/02/2019
Mufti Menk – Being Helpful and Hopeful
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AI: Transcript ©
Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.
smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillah wa Salatu was Salam ala rasulillah Allah Allah He was heavier Jemaine, we shall always praise Allah. No matter what the condition is, we will always praise Allah we do always praise Allah and we should be always praising Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his household, his companions. In fact, all those who taught us the goodness that we have today, and we ask Allah to make us part of those whom at some stage in the future, that people will be sending blessings upon because we too contributed towards their goodness at some stage, may Allah make it easy for us, and grant us all
genital for those. I mean, this evening, I'm speaking to brothers and sisters whom I believe, have contributed in a great way to alleviating the suffering of those who are suffering yet we all have our own struggles. That's the amazing, amazing way that Allah has created us there is not a single one from amongst us, who would not have faced some form of negativity or hurdle in his or her life. That's the plan of Allah subhanho wa Taala. However, I'd like to let you know that part of the plan of Allah is the more you help others, the less or the lesson your burden becomes regarding your own issues and problems. My father, may Allah subhanho wa Taala grant him a good and healthy long life
Mashallah has worked for more than five decades helping and assisting 1000s of people in rural Zimbabwe, get educated,
study, learn, empower them,
lots of business projects and so many other projects over the years, primarily the education and when we see people who then become something
Mashallah tabarka Allah on earth, not just in our country, but overseas. It brings a smile to the face. So once he was asked, you know, you have so many children of your own, how did you manage them while you were so busy in this, you know, life of yours? If you go or if you dig visited that time my home, you would hardly find my dad at home. Yes, he was there every evening. He was there sometimes for lunch. But that's it. We saw him for a short period of time, a lot placed in his life, a lot of Baraka, a lot of Baraka, all his children. He attempted to make them happy at home. And he succeeded with most of them, some of them you know how it is. We could have ways of Hannah law not
talking about myself. But Mashallah he taught them all Arabic. He taught them all the knowledge of the dean while he was busy doing a lot of work. I remember I became a half if I used to spend 15 to 20 minutes with my father every day, just after his afternoon nap. So panela and I was busy most of the afternoon preparing for it. Yes, his strictness was a different level. That was the generation panela.
But it worked. People asked him and I remember this question quite clearly on one of the radio stations Some time later. How did you manage this is I didn't. I was busy serving the underprivileged, trying to take care of them while Allah was taking care of my children. And what law he eats affect what law he eats effect I promised you can Allah houfy only labadi makanan Abu dupioni he never ever doubt that ad. Allah will continue to help a slave for as long as that person is busy helping another Subhan Allah guaranteed words of Rasulullah sallallahu sallam, I have seen it in my own life. If you are sincerely trying to help others, and each one of us busy in our own
lives, we need the doctors, the accountants, the solicitors, we need all the professionals we need everyone we need those perhaps who are just volunteers, those who might not be doing so much those who are businessmen. Subhana Allah when we have this big team, we make together what is known as the oma and you know what we would need those who are in need in order for us to be used to fulfill that need to earn the pleasure of Allah subhanho wa Taala.
We're always taught to thank Allah that the poor have been placed in front of us so that we can help them if you didn't know who was poor, how are you going to even fulfill your Zakah
Which is compulsory. So when people are facilitating this for you in a good manner, in a transparent way that you are satisfied, thank Allah and make draft for them.
They've made it easy for you why we're earning, how much are we going to spend in our lives, a million a billion, I heard one of the scholars say, on a global level, it shouldn't be banned for someone to be more than to be worth more than 1 billion. I said, you're gonna make a lot of enemies. So had Allah. But the idea was, how much are you going to use, the rest of it should be given to others. If you want to bless your children, or give them some of what Allah has blessed you with? You need to know they've come with their own share as well, that alone will give them maybe more than you. And Allah subhanho wa Taala might have written for them something totally different. Yes,
it's important to try and I know a lot of us do to settle our children, if Allah has given you and then is giving you more during your life do things.
Recently, I spoke about how we give more importance to do deeds we don't do in our lives for those who are dead and did not do in their own lives.
Do you know what that means?
I've done a bit of research, meaning a little bit of a study with some people in one community without mentioning them. But I'm sure it's quite similar in a lot of our communities. They say, Okay, I'm not speaking about what's right and wrong, what's permissible or not. But they say if you ask them, when last Have you read the whole for an, they'll say, well, when that brother died, I read the entire Koran. And when this brother died, I attended, you know, the recitation of the Quran, like I told you, I'm not discussing what's right and wrong, and what's ideal and not. But I'm saying we read Quran on behalf of the dead without even knowing, or without even having read it for
ourselves. And sometimes knowing or not knowing the controversy surrounding whether or not we can do what we want to do for a dead person. I usually tell people and I've been asked recently, can I please read Salah for the dead? And I said, Do you have a guarantee that that Salah is even going to be accepted? And how can you donate something that you don't even know was yours in the first place.
It's like telling Allah, I'm going to read this two rockets of Salah, I know it's done. So I'm going to now give it to the dead person. And Allah says, hang on, hang on, who guaranteed you that this Salah was even accepted for you to be able to donate. But yes, if you had money in your hand, it's yours. You can give it to charity and say, Oh Allah, this is on behalf of the deceased. How many of us have drilled wells on behalf of the dead today, I want to encourage you to drill wells for yourself before you die. Because that deed is plugged in totally the other one, there is still a doubt whether or not Allah will take it on behalf of that person. It's maybe that's what it is. When
you do Hajj for someone who's passed away, it's not a guarantee that it's going to be accepted unless they have written it to be done for them. Then they follow this fulfill if they haven't written it, and you're doing it just because you feel like there is a chance Allah will accept it, and there is a chance he won't. Who knows.
So this is why we say and I want to encourage you today, do whatever you can while you're alive for yourself or your family members. They are alive. I'm doing it now I'm going to read Quran there's no controversy about reading Quran. Not at all. There's no controversy about fulfilling your five daily prayers and a little bit more. So Pamela, you're soon How many of us, Allah blessed us with millions or 1000s or hundreds of 1000s. And you know what, our Salah is not in order. I guarantee you my brothers and sisters of late. I've been saying if you were to look at your condition, 30 years back 20 years back depending on your age, I swear by Allah today, you're in a much better position, but
you might have more complaints than you did a long time back.
Ask yourself where was I? Where was my father? 40 years back? What happened? What was my condition A few years ago, I probably didn't even afford eating out. And today every weekend today we learn the whole restaurant, Mashallah. Yes, that's what it is. And we're still complaining about what?
You know what if you really want the help of Allah, one quick way of doing it is to help others. Find them, look for them. Look for the best those who deserve it the most search for them. It's not going to be easy to find them. But sometimes you have organizations like these that would actually help you to the job. They'll go for you to the areas that perhaps you wouldn't even know how to get to.
May Allah make it easy for all of us while you are helping someone whether it is yourself or someone doing it on your behalf.
Allah will take care of your needs for as long as a few conditions are met. One of them is you need to be sincere. It needs to be for the sake of Allah subhanho wa Taala you need to be trying to earn the pleasure of Allah holistically in your life. Many times we get bogged down because of some weakness that we don't even feel is wrong anymore because of how often we've been doing it.
May Allah grant us an awakening. I know weaknesses, our weaknesses, we are human beings, we will fall we will falter. But a moment a true believer is the one who feels in the heart, that you know what what I've just done is wrong.
That feeling is a sign that you're a movement. And this is why when you've committed a sin, the moment you regret it, and that would normally come within moments of the sin. If you're a believer, that's a sign that you actually have a connection with Allah. If you didn't, you wouldn't have regretted anything. But when you get too used to singing, the regret becomes less the thought the idea becomes less and less. So we are here to say an encouragement for myself and yourselves, may Allah strengthen us and give us the ability
to begin with the regrets. It's one of the conditions of Toba to have regretted what you did. And then you say Oh ALLAH forgive me, oh, Allah helped me not to do it again. I don't, I will not do it again. That's the promise from me. Even if human nature made you repeat it.
But don't lose hope in the mercy of Allah, the fact that you have regretted something that already shows you have belief in Allah, you actually have a connection with Allah. And the fact that you sought forgiveness is good enough, my brothers and sisters, don't let the devil come to you and make you perpetrate an even bigger crime, which is to lose hope in the mercy of Allah or to feel that Allah is not merciful enough for me. That's a biggest sin than any other sin that you could have committed. Besides, if you were to die in the condition of shield and association of partnership of Allah.
Don't lose hope in the mercy of Allah subhanho wa Taala. My brothers and sisters,
don't ever forget
the ability of Allah. He is all able, all capable, in Allah, Allah cliche in cateel. Allah is all able or capable, there is nothing impossible for Allah. And he is all hearing he hears he responds.
When the caller calls out to him, he responds when you want something from Allah, He will give it to you definitely. He will definitely give it to you either better than what you want, or something you you may not know is better, but he knows, but he won't leave you.
No matter what you want. You've asked Allah, if it doesn't seem to be coming in your direction, you need to think Allah double. This is what a lot of people don't understand.
Because you need to know the captain of the ship is Allah. In fact, in a much higher way, that was just an example. But Allah subhanho wa Taala is higher than all of that. He is the owner. He's the one who made us he's the one whom we're going to return to Subhana Allah. Definitely. When you've called out to Allah, if you doubt Allah for a moment, again, it's a sign of weakness of Eman. Don't you need to know Allah will give me when it is correct when the time is right. If it is the right thing, you know, we read out of his car Have you heard that word before it's the car is the Hara is to seek the guidance of Allah. So you can read this, you well you should be reading these the words
that appear in the Hadith. And in those words, which are repeated often by the one who's seeking the guidance of Allah and they should be part of our daily recitals.
Part of it is Oh Allah, if you know that what I am asking you for is good for me my Deen my dunya my, my life, my livelihood, my hereafter, then make it easy for me. Let it happen for me and give me blessings in it. And if you know that it's not good for me, my religion might be in my dunya, my livelihood, my life, my hereafter my future, then keep it away from me, keep me away from it and make me happy with what you have chosen for me.
That's the part of the dua. So many of us read the dua and we say, I made the istikhara
it is positive for me, but Allah is not doing it.
What didn't you just tell Allah Well, if it's not good for me, don't do it then it's not good for you. When you start seeing the negative signs, when Allah has created a blockage, it means he's keeping it away from
from you, it was part of your draft. But unfortunately you did not look into the meaning of it. That's why part of the die is Oh Allah, if it's not good for me create a barrier, keep it away from me. So now you made a dua and you asking Allah guidance, but you have already made your mind out. This is why some of the scholars say when you are sure about something, don't make a staccato, make dua that Allah give you a Baraka. If you're sure about something, don't make a staccato, you make a staccato, meaning you seek the guidance of Allah when you're confused about something. Otherwise, you've asked someone, you've actually gone out and perhaps engaged in what we know as consultation,
you've consulted with a few who are experts who love you who care for you. And they've given you guidance in one direction, that's it.
There's no need to then do the SDR as we know it because you know what you want. You ask Allah Allah opened the doors for me here, this is what I want, give me Baraka in it. But when you don't know when you're confused, you can make that dua and if Allah facilitates it for you, Alhamdulillah it's a good sign, and it is blocked it for you, or there's negativity that comes in it, it's not good leave in cricket.
My brothers and sisters, when we call out to Allah subhanho wa Taala, he hears I want to give you an example that's come to my mind.
I was in Omaha approximately two years back in April, if I'm not mistaken.
And it's just amazing how Allah subhanho wa Taala allows us to meet people.
Sometimes you're walking,
something happens.
And you have to take a detour.
So there is a blockage, or there is someone there or there is a lot of there are a lot of people and you take you divert. And you don't know that perhaps there is someone in the other corner somewhere at the distance, who made the dua at some point that they want to meet you.
So Allah was just taking you this way, the GPS map within which you didn't know about was turning you diverting you. And you had to go until you crossed paths. And they like
my daughter has just accepted.
I just met this person, I'm going to share something like this with you. So there was a brother, who I'd addressed a few of the more intermediate, the few of those who were there in Makkah, just like I'm addressing you today. And there was a brother who really wanted to meet me and I had a message from someone to say, Please meet this brother. And so when I finished, I called his name, and I said, Brother, I'd like to see you and he was so happy and excited. And so I caught up with him. And I decided to choose a corner in the lobby of that hotel, where very few people would actually notice us for the reason that we can have a good discussion without disturbance.
I sat with him and suddenly I noticed two women walking through that section, which was strange. One was in a wheelchair, and they were not children. One was in a wheelchair, perhaps, maybe I'm just guessing. You know, women don't like you to guess their age unless you're going to say she looks 12 years old. But some heinola perhaps in her 20s or early 30s, maybe late 20s, I think.
And the other one was much older, but she was wearing one of those medical masks. So I couldn't see it. I didn't really I have a habit. I greet male female no matter who it is, you greet Santa Monica, and you walk away. They can look at you, like they've never been greeted before. Or they can think whatever they want you to do your duty and you carried on, especially when you're passing each other crossing paths.
So I noticed them coming past the one was in a wheelchair and the other one was pushing the one in the wheelchair. So I just as I'm talking to this brother, I looked to the side and I said Salaam Alaikum. And I kept on talking.
And I heard the response while a console and they carried on
a moment later.
The sister in the wheelchair, pushed herself back. And she says are you who I think you are?
So I looked and I'm thinking you know, I have had people say it's from Sharon FRC. I have had people say it's IE. So I'm like so who like you know? Meaning sorry, who? So she says you have to make a serious Oh, I've just been making to ICU and I made it to our to Allah. No. So she says that and she was so happy. She says I come from I think it was the Netherlands. Yeah. And I come from here and you know, I was really making time Look, Allah subhana wa Taala is so great. And I'm
As you know, Mashallah but I have next to Allah We came to this corner, we came to this corner to run away from what Allah had just planned that you need to get to that corner. Here what I'm saying, I have many such stories, not of myself but others. But I'm telling you this was I haven't spoken about it.
And it's a very, very interesting story. Perhaps Initially, I might have related it, but here I am. And there's a reason why I say this.
So the SR I, I am a person, I don't like to ask questions. I don't like to ask personal questions. That's it. You know why? I don't like people to ask me personal questions either. So that's it and handler, take it I greeted, Mashallah. Oh, you're from there. May Allah bless you brunch. Oh, goodness. You know, I wanted to know what's what's wrong with the system. But I just made it to add to say, may Allah grant or whatever is wrong with that, you know, it's none of my business. But I do know that she is in a, in a wheelchair, and she needs help.
So
I told her, you know, what's wrong? Have you guys just finished your ombre?
Now, why I asked her was not to be inquisitive. But because they look very sad. And I thought I had seen tears in the eyes of the older lady. And perhaps the tears may have been connected to anything, it might have been the joy of perhaps meeting someone you wanted to meet, not to say anyone great, but sometimes when people have benefited from you over the years, they get happy to see you, you know, in real life. Although like I say, it's, it's it doesn't mean that we're virtuous, but it's just that human excitement. So somehow the law I thought to myself, they might they claim for some reason, or this person, the older person at least looks quite sad. So if you don't, you're a moron.
So she said, No, I, we came in a group of, I think, 70 people, and because I'm disabled, they decided we cannot go with you for you, we will go in and you can go perhaps tomorrow, we'll get someone to take you in to push you, and so on. And they were women in a big group.
without even thinking, without even giving it a second thought I got up I said, I'll take
it didn't need I was sitting talking to a brother, which I could have spoken to him any other time. But this is something that is virtuous. And I'm relating it to you now. But these are little deeds that we would do immediately without even thinking someone an hombre. And you know what I was thinking, something strange happened during that trip.
My mom and dad were there with my brother for ombre. And I was meant to take I had, I wanted to take my mother for the towel off and do the same with her wheelchair.
And unfortunately, my brother had already done that before I arrived.
So I had felt it. For me, this was an opportunity now to push someone else. I don't mind who it is. And I know that they're disabled somehow.
And so what I did is I said, Okay, so Pamela, let's go, I'll push you. I think she thought it was a joke.
So I didn't wait for a yes or no, I got up and I started took the wheelchairs. And this brother says,
you know, we were busy talking. Can I just can I join you? You know, I said, Yeah, you can join me. So he started he came with me. And we were talking while we were walking and we lost nothing and the mothers walking with us and I'm pushing the chair.
And we went up SubhanAllah.
And I decided, you know what? We'll make it easy for them.
If you go up to a certain floor, you have electric carts, you pay a little fee. And you can have this electric car so that they can do it on their own. And they they don't need to have, you know, they don't need to be tied with us. But I can take them there please. And I thought of it while I was going up. I heard a few people talking about it. And I decided let's go out. And so had this brother. He was by the way, he's based in London, but brother
and he told me since one line I learned a lot here, man, I you know, there's so much that's happened. I said, Hey, brother, don't worry about all of that. Right now we're concentrating on what Allah will give us a reloadable Hold on, man. Come on, you know, we're gonna take this reward away. He says, Yeah, he wanted to push as well as it
was me. So the sister says, You know what my brother in law he before we left because they were traveling the two women without them hiring because they had a group. They were in in a group and the women generally are allowed to travel in that group, even though they may or may not be there according to a lot of scholars of other schools of thought. So to be honest with you, they would.
She said when we left I made a dua to Allah, Oh Allah. Help me to make this home run in the best possible way.
helped me to make this ombre in a way that would be no one would rush me and it would be, you know, memorable.
With someone now she's saying, she obviously knew someone's going to push her. Someone had to push it, you know, with someone who's very patient and so on, and someone who knows what they're doing so that it's their first time. I said, anyway, you don't have to tell me all of that. I don't fit that profile, but hamdulillah it's Allah who brought us together. The sister says, Please make it too hard for me. I said, What would you like? She says, I want to get married.
Okay, I said, may Allah grant your spouse anyway, she's been making that for a long, long time, when they had completed their tawaf and we completed it on our buggy, and it's like a golf cart, and they completed it on theirs, and then we went for the salary, we will not do any harm. So we didn't have to do the surgery, and there is no voluntary surgery. So they did the surgery while we were waiting for them, came back. We sat for a while, put her back onto the chair. We took her back to the hotel, guess what we arrived before the whole crowd.
We arrived back to the hotel completed that whole O'Mara before that crowd, all the others who didn't want to take them
had completed.
And then we got talking, then she explained to me that that's when she was young. I think about six years old. She's she, as she was walking on the streets or something, a car bashed into her. And she lost both legs. They she became paralyzed. So the legs are there, but she's paralyzed, waist down. And she says I really want to get married.
And I'm really looking for a brother, anyone if you know anyone who's going to marry me, please let me know. I've been praying for a long, long time. I told the sister Don't lose hope in the mercy of Allah, Allah subhanho wa Taala has definitely heard you and keep on trying and I will try and, and I did speak to a few brothers. But you know, it's not easy to make a decision to marry someone who is disabled, who's paralyzed waist down. Okay. Although they become very independent at a time besides one or two things, they would need a little bit of help with.
Just one
take a guess.
Oh, that would have been a miracle. He says the brother with you married her son. No, no, no, no.
But she communicated with me. I think about two or three months back and told me inshallah Monica has on this on this date. A beautiful brother and she sent me a picture of him. A beautiful, beautiful brother. Mashallah amazing reverb brother.
If I'm not mistaken, yes, he was revert. And she says, you know, Allah definitely has blessed me. It's amazing. Now the nikka has actually done, and they're waiting to do their wedding and each other, they're going to be together, what's the moral of it, that you don't underestimate it? Not at all, if Allah heard that, and this, the husband is a normal person, completely, no, nothing wrong with him. And he decided I'm marrying the sister whatever he saw in her the qualities, whatever else. And he was ready to serve for the sake of a male accepted from him and from her to, I'm sure it's a sacrifice for her, a family. And so it's not easy. You see, it's not easy for people who are
brought up within a culture to actually open their doors to people of another culture when it comes to marriage.
It's a problem we are facing every day today. One of the brothers a demand channel was asking me what's the question you get asked most.
I told him relationships straight, mostly to do with intercultural interracial marriages. That's the most is nothing more than that. And then to do with the marriage and the divorce following very closely, then after a lot of it has to do with marital problems. And I can relate the two because you know what, people end up marrying who they don't want to marry based on the pressure from families, the problem is being resolved slowly but surely. But at the same time, you have a lot of cases where people get married, and then they say, after a few years, you know, you're not the person I wanted to marry, I was actually in love with someone else. And you know, my dad was just
pushing me. Imagine how you would feel if you were told that I mean, come on, just to be honest. And those parents are the criminals, the ones who force their children they are the criminals because nobody would like to be told that you know what, I didn't want to marry you. And so many have been told that Allah forgive us. Going back to the drought.
I can I can give you many more examples of how Allah answers do as not just one but so many. And with us so much that we have we haven't even made it to our four but unless they can get over it already.
A lot of what you have we take it for granted until the day goes because Allah has given it to you. So it's amazing. You know, if someone were to oppress you hurt you harm you. The Hadith says it turkey that what and Muslim for in the hula Sabina ha verbena la hijab. Be careful of
They are made against you by the one whom you have wronged for definitely there is no barrier between that supplication and Allah.
So if someone has wronged you or you have wronged someone and the supplication goes up to Allah,
it's a matter of time before destruction comes, destruction comes in the way of the person who was the oppressor. That window period is given by Allah Almighty, in order for us to change our ways, perhaps to regret, perhaps to repent, perhaps to make amends. And I've seen that it may be a few years, but the circle closes.
I promise you it does. I've seen in my life, people who have been destroyed because they have destroyed others. So those who think they can get away with murder, those who think they can get away with oppression, they will never get away with it. It's a promise of the Almighty Allah cannot allow that to happen.
And this is why I say the prophetic way is to pray for those who hurt you because you know, you've got that prayer.
You can how the promises are made to apo goodness for the people of pontiff look at how the processors are made, do our supplication for the goodness of the likes of America. And Amazon. He could have said Allah destroy these, he says all again. Wow, big difference between what we would say and what he said. In part, if he says Oh Allah, they don't know what they're doing. guide them. They don't know what they're doing. They told me for
my people, they don't know guide them. But many of us
immediately use your love, break them, destroy them, killed him, whatever else then but make sure they don't come in front of my face again. Yes, that's what people do. See. That's unfortunate. That's very sad.
We shouldn't do that. Try the good, the good.
And when we go through our own hardship, our own difficulty, and you've made the dua like I said, it's a matter of time, because we don't get it when we wanted it. We become obsessed with Allah, Allah will give it to you at a certain time. And then again, when he knows that it's correct for you, because if he hasn't given it to you, he knows it's not good for you.
I tell you a story of a sister
many years back, and it's a true story I heard from a very reliable source.
They had flown from Syria to the States, and they were catching a connecting flight. And for some reason, they wanted
the girls to take off the hijab for the photographs. The one did the other one did, and for security purposes, by the way you would be allowed to there would be a scope of that permission. So the third one did, but the little one, according to what I heard, I'm trying to relate it as accurately as I as I heard it. She said, Look, I can't. And I'm not going to but why not? And they tried to convince her and they spoke to her. And she says no way. And they said this, and they said that. And then it got to a higher level where they almost threatened to send them back. She says I don't care. I'm not compromising this. And notice there is a leeway. Like I said there is any way to actually for
security purposes to be checked. Yes, respectfully, so, but there is a leeway. If you were told that I'd like to see your face. And that happens to be a person in authority. And you know, there are security personnel. There is permission in Islam to actually show that face because security is very important. But she says no, I'm not going to do this. And this wasn't about covering the face. This was about covering the hair.
And she says no.
And guess what happened? They had a meeting or they decided or one of the top guys decided, you know what, just let it happen. It's okay, take that picture. Take the photo as she is it's okay, it's fine. So at that juncture, they decided they're going to allow her with this job to take the picture. But because it took so long to come to the decision, they missed their connecting flight.
They missed the connecting flight as a result of this.
At that time, no mobile phones, you know, people were just told we're gonna arrive this flight this time, the father who was waiting in the other city
when they caught the next plane A
few hours later, and arrived.
They felt the emotions of those
where they had arrived and the father was saying, Ah, thank Allah you guys are safe. Why is it you know, the acne the aircraft you guys were supposed to be in. It actually blew up in midair. There was a crash and everybody died.
But luckily, it's a true story.
Saved by what?
You can say, the hijab, but saved by Allah.
So this is why sometimes we get irritated because of something but Allah knows best. I can give you an example of what happened today, I have a habit of saying Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah as many times when things don't go the way I want them to go, my sister had arrived here for a family wedding that we had yesterday and the day before. She lives up north. And so my son was with and they were traveling back. And I told him, don't worry, I'll take you to Houston.
So I drove them to Houston this afternoon. The train was I think it could two three if I'm not mistaken. And we left very early at about one something. And we arrived 15 minutes ahead of time. But the problem is I'm not from London. So I don't know when the when the navigation tells you you have arrived. That's the middle of the road, bro, I'm just looking this way. I'm looking that way. I can't see anything familiar here. I say Hang on, we probably need to go in somewhere. But there is a way of doing it. So I told my my son, why don't you type into the map? Virgin Trains Euston. He said, it says here first class vegetarian, I said, click Yes. So it decided to take us round.
As I'm following it, there must have been a car crash or whatever, there must have been. And now it's showing us you're gonna arrive at 46?
Well, because it took us down and brought us back. I don't even know. So hello. And I just said Pamela,
thank smiling, you know, and just as well, you know, my sister, my, my, my family and my my son. They think similar to my thinking handler no one was upset and I'm thinking if it was anyone else, then the world would come to an end, the world would come to an end.
And so I told him, just get the next train and inshallah things will be okay. Later on, I decided to call them you know, you got to be careful how you call because you're not allowed to touch your phone when you're driving. So I call them
and I said, What happened? Is it look the next train, this ticket is gone. Right? The next train is more than three times the price of this. So there's no point in taking it the next possible train that we could perhaps lose the least amount of money. Is that a 30?
I said, let me come and collect you. They said no, we're not going to let that happen again. Okay, that is okay. But Alhamdulillah A little while later, I called one of my cousin's telling him, you know, this is what happened.
He says we live five minutes from there 10 minutes from the case what
Allah wanted them to meet with the family, cousins,
nephews and nieces.
And they got together so after a long time, but that was the plan of Allah Subhana Allah to Allah. And I know sometimes when we've used the excuse, it's the plan of Allah, people will tell us Do you know what you're just saying? It's the plan of Allah, but you're guilty of being late.
Because we are lastminute.com people, let's be honest, you know, your husband or wife or whoever it is, and you didn't make it and you say, but now you were wasting time but it's the plan of Allah. You don't blame the plan of Allah when you are guilty. You only say the plan of allowing you know, you've done whatever was in your capacity to have achieved what you could and then you see it was the plan of Allah but still be happy. Say Al Hamdulillah twice. I always say when things happen your way Sal hamdulillah Praise be to Allah when they happen not when they don't happen your way they are happening the way of Allah so say Alhamdulillah two times. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us ease
and goodness.
So my brothers and sisters, I have a few more minutes and inshallah I want to encourage every one of us to reach out to those who are in need by the word of Allah subhanho wa Taala I know there are many aid organizations, and a lot of them are doing good work. I am one who actually supports all those who do good work, so you won't really notice me bad mouthing anyone.
That's that's a character that I've tried to develop. You won't notice me bad mouthing anyone because I believe a friend will help you or will not harm you.
That's the least if you haven't harmed me, you my friend. Sometimes I don't even need help. I just need you not to harm. You know, if you hear something bad keep quiet at least even if you don't have the courage to clarify. No problem. Don't spread it. Some handler that's the least that's true friendship. So if I'm in love, there was a time when we used to say what a true friend would clarify it and they no No, no. Times have changed. true friends are those who need the help you know how you to friend.
That's, that's the age we're at. And if you have someone who really helps you well thank Allah, they are beyond what a lot of people are.
So my brothers and sisters, I'm sure in a few moments. The
The aid organizations Muslim aid will actually be calling out to you to help to assist.
Let's remember, whatever we give a low inshallah give us even more, whatever we pledge Allah subhanho wa Taala will return for us. How much are we going to spend in our lives? If we can help others, Allah subhanho wa Taala will definitely help us. It's really been very, very great to be here this evening with all these beautiful faces. I know I've taken up a lot of your time. But I pray that we've all benefited starting with myself I could only hada Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.