Talk delivered in Manila, Philippines on respecting all human beings and extending the respect to all life given by the Almighty
Mufti Menk – Building Bridges with Humankind
AI: Summary ©
AI: Transcript ©
Bismillah al Rahman al Rahim In the name of Allah subhanho wa Taala Most Gracious, Most Merciful All praise is indeed due to Allah subhanho wa Taala blessings and salutations upon all those who have come from the beginning right up to the end who was sent by the almighty to guide us to show us the goodness, we asked the almighty to bless every one of them to grant them every form of blessings and on top of that, to bless every one of us who are gathered here today, and we asked the almighty Oh, that sounds much better Mashallah.
We asked the almighty to bless those who brought this microphone to me as well, Mashallah.
My brothers and sisters, it's indeed a blessed day when we speak about building bridges in the Philippines. I was told that here in the Philippines, we go beyond building bridges, because we actually build the Skyway.
And what happens is that skyway links one place to another directly how many of us are linked to one another directly. So let's take a page from that and try and learn a lesson, we asked the almighty to make us from those who can communicate or indeed, communication with one another is something that will definitely help you and I and humanity at large, and it will make the world a much better place. Those who dislike one another, a lot of the times it's connected to lack of communication, we have not interacted we have not spoken to each other. So there is always this feeling that the other is so different than I will never be able to get along with them. And yet that is false. The
Almighty has kept us such that the root is all one listen to what he says.
I have created you from a single male and female. That's what the Almighty saying, Oh people I have created you from a single male and female.
And I have created you as
peoples and tribes in order that you may recognize one another. The diversity that the Almighty has chosen for us is in order for us to recognize one another, not in order for us to become racist, or tribalist, or in order for us to be harmful or to harm the other who might be different from us or think lo of him or her. So much so that the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him reiterated this he confirmed it by saying those who treat others differently because of their race are actually a strain. Those who treat others differently because of their color. Because of where they come from our strain law from Delhi Albion Allah Jamil one Alia Germany and Allah Allah, Allah Allah, Allah
Allah as was in love with taqwa there is no virtue of an Arab over a non Arab, or a non Arab over an Arab or a white over a black, except by piety, God consciousness and that is known solely by the Almighty. So you and I
needs to learn a lesson that those who are from the north or the south or the east or the west, not only of our country, but of the globe. They are my brothers and sisters, we come from one source we come from Adam and Adam was from dust, dust, meaning he was created from the soil. And just like he was created from the soil, every single one of us was created from the soil as well as
my brothers and sisters. We should go back
to where we came from, because without looking at where we came from, we will not realize and understand the connection that we have with one another. Building Bridges is only possible when we realize that Adam May peace be upon him was a common father to every one of us. He may peace be upon her in the Arabic language Hawa Elena salatu wa sallam, she was indeed our common mother. And if you realize that you will come to realize that indeed we are so closely connected. It's only as time has passed, we've become oblivious of this.
Take a look at the origin when Adam alayhis salam was created what happened. He had several children according to one of the narrations he gave, or he had children, his wife
Birth 20 times. Wow, that's quite a bit Mashallah 20 times each time she had twins, one male, one female, they were connected in a beautiful way. But unfortunately the devil came to came and asked him to harm his brother Abel, I'm sure we've all heard this. It's in the Old Testament, as well as the Quran.
And Allah subhanho wa Taala speaks about it, what's
called
a hardy man, a new company,
called
recites, but then the story of the children of Adam, when they have dedicated their sacrifices for the almighty one was accepted, and the other was not accepted. So the one whom it was rejected from told the other, I'm going to kill you. That's what is mentioned about the children of Adam Campbell, meaning Abel and Cain in some kind of love. And so Allah subhanho wa Taala says, the one says to the other, I'm going to kill you because he became jealous he was possessed by the devil.
And from this, we learned that those who want to harm the children of Adam, they are possessed by the devil, they are following a satanic path apart. That is not the path of goodness, because from the beginning, the Almighty says that this son of Adam, when he stretched his hand out to harm his brother, he was already going against the command of the Almighty. So let's continue with those verses. When the Brotherhood this he was shocked, because these were the first of the species of mankind. He was shocked and surprised. What is my brother going to do to me? And why many people when they're being harmed, they don't know. Why are they harming me? You know, the prophet peace be
upon him says one of the signs of the ending of times these people will be killing each other without knowing why they are doing that. The one who is being murdered won't know why did this happen? And the one who did he act or committed the crime won't even know why am I committing it what law he We have arrived at a stage where across the globe, the value of life has become so cheap, that Japan a lot today we are standing here in order to try and retain that value, to make it known to one and all that life is absolutely sacred, no matter whose It is, it is a brother of yours, a sister of yours, so much so that the creatures of the Almighty, the life given to them is
absolutely sacred as well. Even if there are animals or birds, we are not supposed to go out and harm destructively. Similarly, when it comes to other life, such as trees and plantation, the ecosystem, we as believers should not harm or damage the ecosystem. We are not allowed to destroy the forests, the deforestation that takes place without reason is something that is not godly, because we are destroying what the Almighty has placed for our own benefit. So my brothers and sisters, the son of Adam, when he stretched his hand to harm his brother, his brother was surprised. And his brother says, law
una de
campo
de la gente bodoland. in me, LA, Bella me, if you are going to stretch your hand to harm me, I am not going to stretch my hand to harm you because I feel the Lord of the worlds. My brothers and sisters from this, I learned that if I were being harmed by someone, I need to make sure that I fear the Lord of the worlds my reaction and retaliation should not be making the problem bigger by reacting in a harmful way. We need to know this. Yes, to begin with, it was wrong to harm anyway. So if we are taught that, to defend yourself is permissible, but in a way that would not result in greater chaos. What I need to know is to harm someone
at from the beginning is even more dangerous. It's more wrong. So he says, I fear the LORD, therefore I'm not going to harm you. So
I feel the Lord therefore I'm not going to harm you What a powerful message. Those who harm others. They do not fear the Lord.
This is proven from the verse that I've just read to you. Now, thereafter, the story continues, the devil possessed, came so much that he executed the plan. And then the Almighty says, For us behind
me, he became from among those who regretted it, you see what the devil makes us do, he makes us harm one another. And this harm starts off by a statement by saying something, this is why I want you to promise me my brothers and sisters, if you really want to build bridges, you need to protect your tongue, from vulgar words, harmful words, abusive words, those words that cause hurt, you need to protect yourself from all of that, in terms of words, only after that, which is good that which is upright that which is filled with care and love, and then you won't be able to build the bridges in the correct way. And in fact, if we were to protect ourselves from harmful words, and only after
words that are good, we will definitely save ourselves from violence, because violence is the next stage, maybe Almighty grant us protection.
This man became regretful of what he did, and that's what Satan does. What he does is he makes us do something bad. And then we regret to say I shouldn't have done that. Well, too late. The Almighty says, min agony, because of that action of Cain we have prescribed from the beginning,
catchable Bunny,
Johnny,
Johnny,
we have prescribed upon the children of Jacob from the beginning, that if you have armed if you have harmed another taken the life of another, if you have taken the life of another unjustly in Jesus, though you have destroyed entire humanity, because that life is sacred. The Almighty has given the light Who am I to take it away? The Almighty God is all powerful, you can take away those whom He wills and he does people die you and I know why don't you bear patience. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us pass our tests. My brothers and sisters, then the Almighty says immediately after that, whoever has saved a single life is equivalent to the one who has saved entire humanity, because it
shows that you can. It shows that you care if I save one life.
And a lot if not saved the life of a Muslim. No, he uses the term life, any life Muslim, non Muslim, whoever it is tall and short, black and white, from the east or the west, the north or the south, that becomes irrelevant.
When it comes to saving lives, it is indeed the duty of every one of us to save entire humanity by saving every single life that we have been given the opportunity to save. May Allah grant us an understanding. So my brothers and sisters, look at what Allah is saying whoever saves a life is as good as saving entire humanity. Let me take you to a story that I love repeating and I've been repeating it for the last five years or more. The story of a man mentioned by the prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, wherein he says there was a man in the desert on a very hot day walking and he was absolutely firstly in search of water. And he found the well. And as he found that well, he
decided to go down into it because there was something wrong with the bucket or the bucket was not there. When he went down into the well. He drank as much water as he needed and he came up. When he came up. He saw a dog, he saw a dog that was panting profusely when first it was so thirsty, it started licking the dust in search of water. So he says to himself, like a banana harden can mean a lot machine it can mean me. He's looking at the dog. And he says, You know, I think this dog is as thirsty as I was before I went into the well. But obviously he thinks to himself, that dog is not going to be able to go down into the world and it's not going to be able to bring water or drink for
itself because of how the well is so he decided out of compassion for a dog out of compassion for our dog. He decided, you know what? I'm going to go down and I am going to go and
fetch water but because I don't have a cup or a bucket or a utensil to bring up the water, I'm going to use my shoe and fill it with water. Wow. Take a look at your shoes my brothers and sisters, would you fill your shoes with water? I don't even think you will do it for a human being May Allah forgive us, Allah forgive us, our our shoes have become too precious for us. Don't worry, the Mall of Asia is around the corner, you can buy yourself another pair by the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala. This dog was then Subhana Allah, Queens, in terms of its test by a man who filled his own shoe came up, got close to the dog, and you and I know when it comes to Islam, and when it comes to
our rules and regulations. The relationship we have with the dog is governed by some rules, some regulations, perhaps. So it's not easy for anyone to just, you know, make friends with dogs here but a stray dog something that perhaps one might argue may be diseased possible. But the man says no, I need to help this dog. Do you know what the prophet Muhammad says? The Almighty love this man's compassion towards a creature of the Almighty so much that he was forgiven and granted the place in paradise?
granted the place in paradise. Now the question I have for you, my brothers and sisters.
This was a bridge that was built between mankind and the other species, the other creatures of the Almighty, in this case a dog. What do you think the reward would be for a person who reached out to a fellow human being human being, not belonging to your faith, not belonging to your race, nothing playing in your direction, but you reached out to someone who was a creature of the Almighty of the same species. And this is why the verse that I commenced with the Almighty says in
the most honored from amongst you in the eyes of the Almighty is the one who is most conscious of the Almighty himself. Because the Almighty is the one who made all of you, I need to be most conscious of my maker. So if you really have consciousness of the Almighty, you will be conscious of the fact that all the others on Earth are creatures of the same old monkey, just like you think I'm special, that you all are special.
And if you think that as a believer,
the rest of the people are your enemies, you are actually wrong. Your duty and mine is to showcase what you believe in a way that people realize, number one, this person is really upright, this person really teaches and promotes that which is good. And number two, perhaps they may want to join you if they do. It's in the hands of the Almighty. If they don't, they are still your brothers and sisters in humanity. Remember that they still come from the same source. So as much as you will propagate the goodness that you have, you need to realize and understand guidance is in the hands of the Almighty, what you may term as guidance, perhaps another might not see the light. But their
answer is with the almighty the maker. He has kept a bit of judgment to judge the people. But unfortunately, we tend to judge people on a daily basis when Allah says Maliki I mean he, he is the Owner of the Day of Judgment, who the one who made you, He's the owner of the judgment. Why should I have a little Day of Judgment every day when I'm judging this one judging that one claiming that that one is in health and this one is in heaven when I am not even the owner of heaven or *, maybe Almighty grant this whole gentleman and paradise I mean, so my brothers and sisters, the Almighty tells us the most honor from amongst you are those who are most conscious of the Almighty.
And he says this at the end of the verse where he speaks of the origin of man, and the fact that you have been created in a diverse way from one source so that you can recognize one another. Again, another point that I constantly repeat is
one of the blessings of the Almighty is he has made us diverse, different sizes, shapes, races, nationalities, etc, etc. Because if we were all the same, and we all looked exactly identical, and that is very impossible for the Almighty. We will not be able to recognize one another or identify one another. Imagine everyone looks the same. You would not know who is standing in front of you here right now. You wouldn't know. I will probably have a number a long number you know, maybe a few letters and
Just like the number of blades of a motor vehicle, May Allah forgive us. But it's a fact. Then I take you to another beautiful verse of the Quran surah from the sun, the chapter named after the women, Allah subhanho wa Taala starts off by reminding us Oh, man. And it's not just all Muslims. The address is all mankind. Yeah.
Oh man. And he's reminding us about something absolutely important
in the bank.
Watch
what
he says ob boo, be conscious of your maker in the corner.
Means the one who made you, the one who nourishes, cherishes, provides protects yours, the one in whose hands lies every aspect of existence, be conscious of him. interpolant be conscious of your maker
has created you from a single male, single soul, and from that soul He has created its spouse, and from the two of them, He has called a multitude of you to spread the entire Earth. So be conscious of your makeup. I want to pause there for a moment because it goes to show that those who are truly conscious of their makeup are truly conscious of the
origin of every one of the same species, the common origin, if you are constantly thinking of the common origin of men, you are truly conscious of your makeup. And if you look at this verse, the opening verse of the chapter of the women, the Almighty says two times, be conscious of your makeup, be conscious of the Almighty.
And you know what he says there often will
be conscious of your mode whose name you use, when you swear an oath. When you swear an oath, whose name do you use? You use the name of your maker? Have you ever thought, why do I use the name of my mentor when I when I want people to believe me? Because I'm telling them, I care for you enough to tell the truth here because we are both from the same maker. So I won't lie to you right now. Wow. That's why we take an oath in the name of the one who made us. When we say what law? What makes it so big for me to be able to believe the person I swear by God, I swear by the Almighty, I swear by Allah. Why do we use that the Almighty says Be conscious of the one whose name you use when you take
an oath for one another to believe you and be conscious of your relatives
means relatives? Why does the law say relatives because just before that, we spoke about the fact that you are all related. So be conscious of your relatives, those who are closer and then those who are distant, so panela.
So if you are not conscious of your relations, and the fact that you all come from one male and one female, you cannot be truly conscious of the Almighty, you have not developed an understanding. When we look at those who don't believe for example, do we look at them with an eye of hatred or with an eye that some kind of love this person is a potential believer and I am going to make sure that I showcase this religion or the belief that I have in a way that they understand that indeed it comes from the Almighty, that which comes from the Almighty is filled with love, not hate that which comes from the Almighty is filled with justice, not injustice, that which comes from the Almighty is
filled with good news, not one bad that which comes from the Almighty is filled with contentment, and it is never ever a means of destruction within the human being. You can recognize the message that is from the almighty from a message that is from the devil. May Allah subhanho wa Taala projectors. It does not need a rocket scientist to know that the soft words are the words of beauty from the Almighty and the hard harsh words are not from the Almighty. Where do we get this from? Look at what the almighty tells the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him for being
mean
Moomin howling. It is because of the mercy of the Almighty that you are so lenient towards those around you. Have you been hard hearted and harsh, they would have dismissed from around you.
When you are hard hearted and harsh, people don't want to listen to you. People don't want to look at you. People don't want to know you because your message is wrong. It does not inspire men to do good. When you are harsh and hard. Even in your own relations in your home, you need to build bridges by protecting yourself from being hard and harsh. Oh, my mothers and fathers who are sitting here today and those who may listen to this later on. Remember, if you want to have the greatest impact in your own house with your children and relatives, you need to eradicate the harshness and the hard heartedness that may be overtaking you. You need to be polite you need to become you need
to be a person who says good, beautiful, loving, kind words filled with calmness and goodness. And this is what the almighty teaches us. So my brothers and sisters, let's not be deceived. Allah says
that if you were from among those who are hard hearted and harsh, they would have dispersed from amongst you, but a sign of the mercy of the Almighty is that you are lenient. How many of us show leniency. I think some people believe that when you are religious, you have to be harsh. So if someone greets you just looked at them.
Because I'm religious, that is the furthest away from religion. You never ever turn your cheek away. Look at what the almighty warns us.
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don't ever turn your cheek away from people in arrogance, and don't walk on earth in an arrogant way. That's the advice and Superman that the almighty tells us when you are really religious and godly and close to the Almighty, you are humble you have a good expression on your face to begin with. When people look at you, they feel calm, they feel a sense of ease. You don't have to grow. If you're a believer, you become more conscious of the expression on your face. So if you would like to build bridges make that expression a good expression.
How many times people look at us and we are looking a bit sad or we are preoccupied with something a lot of the cases with our phones and they just look at us and they think Wow, what a hard person what a harsh person. If you were to look up and just smile, even if you have the Filipino braces, it's fine you know Subhanallah you can just smile it still looks okay doesn't it? Mashallah tabarrok Allah by the way I learned about it in the Philippines Mashallah when I saw a lot of people with these braces, but mine for medical reasons and hamdulillah Allah grounders goodness at ease, it shows you that I love you right? Mashallah.
So, if you were to smile, even if you didn't have teeth at all, I think he would break the ice, you would build bridges just by a smile. So the Prophet Muhammad says, peace be upon him to pursue McAfee when he as he cassata to smile at the face of another is actually an act of charity. Wow, why he wants you to build the bridges. He wants you to love one another to show one another. The goodness you have. If we are the same of the same faith, we still need to get along with our differences. Because sometimes within Muslims themselves, we have differences. But those differences should never ever make you be vulgar, harmful, hurtful or violent. The same applies with humanity,
we will have differences just like I have the right to be what I believe I shouldn't be the rest of the people I must understand, have exactly the same right. And if I don't understand it, I have not understood the Almighty's plan, and they will choose and that's why Allah says
me, there is no compulsion when it comes to entry into the faith. You cannot force someone to believe what you believe. That is the verse of the Almighty, He has the right you have the right, the Almighty will decide on the Day of Judgment, who was right and who was wrong. You continue believing and doing good and learning and preaching and propagating. And they will do exactly the same. And you know what, you need to get along with each other because you are on earth by the choice of the Almighty and not by your choice. I'm not here because I want to be here. I'm here because the almighty placed me on earth and the same with you. And the same with those who you may
not agree with, but never ever should. Any difference within the human brain make you become vulgar.
hurtful. I told you moments ago that is not the sign of a believer. Listen to the Prophet peace be upon him. He says, a true believer is never valga a true believer never utters deceitful words. never lie never answers that which is hurtful, harmful, that which will cause of problem No.
We don't slander, we don't even backbite. That's what the Almighty says, they will mighty says don't even speak behind someone's back in a way that if they were present, they would not like it. Or if they heard about it, they wouldn't like it.
Imagine, that's the extent to which our faith goals. And we are here today to build bridges, every quality I mentioned. If we were to take him, we would build skyways upon skyways. So Panama, bridges upon bridges, because we love one another. Seeing that we come from one mother and one Father.
Yes, we will have differences. And it's normal to have differences. But the winner is he or she who knows how to manage the difference? Who knows how to handle it, you don't need to become vulgar and abusive, and you never ever need to become violent. You never need to take the life of another away, no matter how much you disagree with them. What did you learn from the story of Abel and Cain that I mentioned earlier? What did you learn from that? If you did not learn a lesson, then? Why was it mentioned in the Quran? Is it there for no reason?
It is there for a reason. Take a look at the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, and how he stressed good test to your neighbors, even if they're not Muslim. He says you have to be kind to your neighbor.
Man in Canada, you know, Billahi min. Ash.
Whoever believes in the Almighty. And the last day, the day of judgment should never harm their neighbor. Wow. When the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was asked about the neighbors. He explained whether they were Muslim or not, wow.
Some of us harm our neighbors who are our family members, we have no respect for ourselves. That is why we don't respect others. Those who don't respect others. In actual fact, they have not recognized who they are. They don't know. They don't understand where they come from, and the common source that everyone comes from.
So if you truly believe in Allah, and you truly believe in the Day of Judgment, you will never harm your neighbor, and who is your neighbor, it's not just the one who lives next to you. But perhaps even further than that, the one whom you interact with is also a neighbor, the one whom you work with perhaps sitting next to you, perhaps those who are next to you, in your suburb, in your city, in your country. And in that way, we reach out to the whole globe. We're all part and parcel of one big family.
And in no ways Am I saying you must give up what you believe no.
In no ways Am I saying that you must compromise your faith. No, you will still pray, the way you were taught you will dress the way you were taught you will eat according to the restrictions and whatever you are supposed to be doing. That is in terms of your dietary restrictions, and you will continue but you will respect the rights of others. And you will understand that the only way we will grow as a nation is when there is peace, stability, security, goodness, calmness. And if I want I can fulfill my duty to the almighty by conveying the message to others that I feel is the right message in several ways, not just in one way. Sometimes just your honesty, your uprightness in
business dealings, your character and conduct. Sometimes just that much is enough for people to know you're on the right path. That's why Islam has stressed so much the issue of character and conduct. Let me explain. The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was seated with his companions one day and they asked him home messenger peace be upon him on messenger we would like to know the characteristics of those who will be going into paradise. What are the characteristics of theirs? What are the qualities that would have taken them to paradise? He says two things.
The consciousness of the Almighty and the greatness of character and conduct. Wow.
Did you hear that? You're conscious of your maker who made every one of you and your character and conduct is absolutely amazing. When you pass people greet them, acknowledge a greeting
smile at them and make them feel like we are part of a being family that is how you will build the bridge. And that is how you will build the bridge to heaven to * windows. Because Jelena will never be achieved by arrogance lightening gentleman can have it can be Miss Carla hubbardton. In Canada in cable, he will not enter Paradise in whose heart is a mustard seeds weight word of arrogance. Never. If you're arrogant,
the moment he says, well, arrogant people are not allowed in heaven. So sort yourself out first cantante arrogance Humble yourself, no matter what you have your authority, your popularity, your money, your position, your faith, whatever it is, don't let it make you arrogant. Understand that the others are in need of your good character and behavior, just like you are in need of their good character and behavior.
We need to build a nation we are on earth to build not to destroy, yet we are destroying because we've lost the way we've lost the path. And for this reason, we are standing here today to say my brothers and sisters, every one of us has a duty to build,
not to destroy, every one of us has a duty to build relationships, to build infrastructure, to build our nations, to develop ourselves to be able to evolve to come out of the darkness we were in and to come to the light. And that is the reason why we will continue speaking about building bridges. What we see happening across the globe, in the name of religion is actually not religious at all. religion does not teach you the killing of innocent people, no matter who is doing that killing we who belong to God Almighty are against it.
religion does not teach you
to harm others,
to steal from them, to deceive them to cheat on the religious it is something that is against the teachings of the Almighty. So we need to wake up, we need to understand it's my duty to positively contribute to humanity.
To the creation of the Almighty, I recall another narration of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him regarding a woman who was punished by the almighty because she was cruel to a cancer
to a can't imagine a cancer.
How many of us are cruel to other human beings?
Maybe Almighty grant us a deep understanding.
So here we are my brothers and sisters, we're all part and parcel of one huge unit. And we will promise that we are going to make sure every one of us plays our role, we need to play our role and the message should spread far and wide.
Some people think that you know in the name of religion, I need to shove this religion down the throats of everyone else, or I need to spread it with the sword that was never ever the teaching of Islam. It was never the teaching of Islam. And it was never the teaching of faith. Those who do that in the name of faith are actually losing the path and the way but rather, take a look at the example of this part of the world. Look at Indonesia, for example. Look at so many other countries where Islam has spread, did it spread with the soul? No, it didn't.
It's still spreads with the goodness of character goodness of conduct the propagation in a positive way, not in a negative way. Maybe Almighty grandpa's understanding. This is why
the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him
was on a very high level of character and conduct in fact the highest when his wife Aisha, on the one hand, was asked about his character. She says kinda Lupo.
His character was just embodiment of the Quran. That's what it was. His character was an embodiment of the Quran, which means you felt the spirituality as he walked, as he spoke, as he communicated, you felt that this person is indeed the Messenger of Allah. You know, there was a Jewish rabbi at the time of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. And he was known as Abdullah bin Salam. He says, I had read the scriptures about this messenger who was going to come and I knew the science from our scriptures. And when he came into Medina, and the people said, there is a messenger there is a man claiming to be a messenger of God. I knew the science so I went in look, and there were people
surrounding him crowding him and I tiptoed and looked at the top. I looked at his face, and I saw
immediately I knew this is not the face of Allah.
This is not the face of a lion. And the first words I heard him say
ob,
ob
spread, geese spread Salaam, my brothers and sisters Salaam in every religion, it is used to greet another.
In Islam, it's a little bit longer. But in other religions the term peace is used shalom is used. Why do we say the term peace, but we live a war? May Allah forgive us
Assalamu alaikum made peace be upon you, that is actually a prayer. So the Prophet Mohammed is saying spread peace, not only the greeting, but being genuine about it, what's the point of me saying Peace be upon you, but there is no peace, neither in you know from you, nor around you.
I need to do something to change that. So Abdullah bin Salam says, I heard the first word Oh, people spread the Salaam and feed the poor, feed the needy, feed the food to those around you. Wow.
That's an instruction from the messenger, how many of us are ready to feed others?
How many of us are ready to feed others wholeheartedly, openly
or single our hammer, that message has to come and own people maintain your family relations. And you know what, you will get to a point where you will realize that you are related to people you did not really know you were related to because you now found out. And that's why as a Muslim, it's my duty to find out who my closest relatives are, and how the circle becomes bigger and bigger. And it's best to know generations of your relatives, so that you understand and realize, this is my family. This is a big family and be connected to half the world
in a way that I know, and the other half in a way that I learned but I didn't know what that means is we come from one route. In fact, according to our structures, the Prophet Noah May peace be upon him. When he was when these people, the Almighty caused the flooding to happen, and everything and everyone was destroyed besides those in the ark. That's what we believe. And then the Almighty says, What?
from the people who are in the heart with the Prophet nor he was the only one who actually had children and offspring thereafter.
According to that verse, we're on the children of Noah, as well.
Were all the children of Noah, the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him? No. He said, I'm in the Arabic language. We're all his children.
Subhan Allah?
Doesn't that take us quite a few generations closer. We were meeting an alga now we know we mitigate Noah. Imagine if your brother or sister or one mother, one father did something wrong? What would you do?
Many of us have family members who are not Muslims, many of us will not Muslims at a certain stage.
It's not a matter of nature of my brothers and sisters that is far beyond, it's a matter of good concern. It's a matter of reaching out, it's a matter of understanding, so much so that when your parents are not Muslim, the poor tells you continue being kind to them fulfilling their rights and serving them. For as long as they don't instruct you to do something evil or something against what the Almighty says you must listen to what they have to say.
What I was saying
before Meanwhile,
the Almighty has instructed you to be praying to your parents. And then later on in the verses, he says even if they will not push, you continue being kind to them. Wow. That's why it is because the almighty chooses who your parents are, and you don't choose them. So they were chosen as a test for you and I even right now.
So my brothers and sisters, let's understand this. The Almighty speaking about your parents, your brothers and sisters fall in the same bracket, where you are kind to them you will fulfill their rights, your neighbors to fulfill their rights.
When you work for people, they may be Muslim, they may not be Muslim, when people work for you. They may be Muslim, they may not be Muslim. You have to fulfill all of their rights, you will be kind
where is the sense gone of those who claim that the religion teaches you to harm
people of other faiths and inclinations, or races, when you and I know that for centuries we've been working together, we have been nations together. At the time of the death of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. They looked for his armor, it was with a Jewish man, because of a business deal that was done. So panela a Jewish man, try saying that today, some kind of law. Well, it's a fact it's a reality. There was a business deal that was done between the Jewish man and the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, just prior to his death, subtle Allahu alayhi wa sallam, and when they look for his armor, it was with this man.
Amazing.
We think we know better than the messengers. We allow people to contaminate our minds with an ideology that is not religious, not from Allah, it is not godly, it is not heavenly. It speaks for itself that it is brutal, it is unacceptable, it is divisive.
It is my duty and yours, to continue to spread goodness, even in the face of negativity. Even if people think you are a vehicle of evil, you will continue spreading goodness until they will have to nod their heads and acknowledge that indeed, they are speaking the goodness and the truth. They will have to nod their heads, we have a statement in the Arabic language. That true virtue is that which even the enemies have to acknowledge someone who really doesn't like you. We know that Islamophobia is real. We know that it's happening across the globe, people ask, Well, what should we be doing about it? My brothers and sisters, keep building bridges, keep building bridges. And if someone has
blown up a bridge with dynamite, you build it again. And you make sure that you build that bridge again and again. And you make sure that a day or you will see that a day will come when people will appreciate your work and what you've done. Some people don't appreciate it immediately. But when they see the destruction of the bridges being blown apart, they will realize that those who are building these bridges are indeed noble evil, they are indeed the ones who understand what the Almighty has sent us on Earth.
So this is my message for you, my brothers and sisters.
I have enjoyed my few moments with you here. And I hope that you will have actually taken a little bit, inshallah, that you will be able to spread far and wide. I know it was quite somebody I know. They will know jokes that are usually crack. But at the same time, when you're building bridges, it's hard work. It's very hard work. And therefore it was quite serious. I pray that we can carry this message. I've been on a building bridges tour through a lot of countries across the globe. And we continue building bridges even in the face of those who think that we are not good. We will continue until they nod their heads as I said, may Allah bless you all. May He bless us, May He
grant us goodness, may we be able to build these bridges. May we understand the origin and the root of every one of us the respect of all creatures of the Almighty. And may we be from among those who can make a difference on the globe, a positive difference that which will definitely leave a mark and the legacy for those who follow to be able to look at us and say indeed our predecessors have done a good job. May Allah bless you all. Thank you so much Zakouma located Assalamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh