Lecture at the event in Davao Philippines
Mufti Menk – Challenges of the Chosen
AI: Summary ©
The speaker discusses the challenges faced by Muslims, including unexpected events and tough challenges, but also the importance of finding one's success and worth. They emphasize the need for people to use their behavior and not give up on their health and wealth, but also the importance of finding one's value and beliefs through adjusting behavior and respecting boundaries. The speaker also mentions the need to adjust one's values and beliefs through trusting others and respecting boundaries.
AI: Transcript ©
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smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillah wa salatu salam ala rasulillah Ali he was happy.
We praise Allah subhanho wa Taala we thank him among all conditions, we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, we ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to bless his entire household without exception. And we ask Allah Subhana Allah, Allah to bless every single one of the companions of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam without exception. And we ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to bless every single one of us and our offspring, those to come up to the end, may Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us goodness, May He grant us ease. May He grant us the ability to serve him in the correct way. I mean, my beloved brothers and sisters, you and I know that in life,
we face difficulties. From the time we were born, we came to this earth crying, we came to this earth crying where we were not crying, we were made to cry, it is considered normal and natural to immediately break into a yell as you are born.
Because your lungs inflate, and because the rest of your organs come into play for the first time it happens. So suddenly, I would like to think that it also depicts that you will be crying all the way up to the end up to the last of your life. The nature of this life is that you will never get exactly what you wish and you want but rather you will get what the Almighty Allah subhana wa Taala wants to give you so let's get this understood. I am going through a lot of difficulties and challenges in my own life. And it's normal and natural and you are going through a lot of difficulties and challenges in your lives. It is normal and natural. Do not think for a moment that
there is a single one of us or there was a single one of us in the past, in the present or in the future there would be not a single one of us would have a life that has no challenges, no difficulties, no hardship, this is all from Allah subhanho wa Taala it is the nature of this life. This life is known as a life for testing and it dilla is supposed to come to you. Allah has kept it for a short period of time between 60 and 70 years as the Hadith the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says Armando Mati Medina see Tina Illa Sabri the lifespan of the people of my own month between 60 and 70 years, if you have lived for beyond 70 Allah who you are living on bonus time from
Allah subhanho wa Taala. And if you have passed away before that, then Allah has already shown that death knows no age. Death knows no age, it has taken those prior to birth upon birth immediately after birth and later on.
Those in their teens in their 20s in their 30s. Like I said, death knows no age. But when we die, we are ultimately going to a much better place than we were in or we are in right now. We need to understand this death is a door that every single person will have to go through an motiva Boo.
Boo, that is a door and every single person has to cross the door, we are standing in one line, and we are going through the door, one after the other, what is on the other side of the door, we're lucky there is a better life, there is something eternal, there is something long lasting, your problems in this world can never ever last forever. So much. So Allah loves us so much, that when it comes to pain, beyond the specific level of pain, men becomes unconscious. Do you know that because Allah does not want you to taste that pain. And beyond a certain level, Allah just takes your soul away to say, I don't want you to taste more than that. If for example, you are injured in a very
severe and serious way you pass out as they say, which means you faint, or you become unconscious. And while you're unconscious, people are dealing with you, perhaps people put you on a life support machine people put you on something else, all this is the mercy of Allah subhanho wa Taala he does not want you to feel beyond a certain threshold of pain. May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless us all. And after some time, he says no, I will take the soul away. I don't want it to taste beyond this particular pain. I'd rather take the soul away going to were going to the eternal life, the eternal life. It's up to us to prepare from now where we would like to go. So what exactly are we speaking
about this evening, we're speaking about the challenges of the chosen. What are the challenges, everything that we consider an obstacle in life is a challenge. Everything that we consider a difficulty in life is a challenge. If your loved one has passed away, it is a challenge. If people spread rumor about you, it is a challenge. If you are suffering in terms of economic or financial hardship, it is a challenge. If you are suffering in your marriage, it is a challenge. If you do not have children, it is a challenge. If you do have children, but they are only male, it is a challenge. If you do have children, but they are only female, it is a challenge. If you have
children, both male and female, looking after them is a challenge. If your children are unruly, it is a challenge for you to be able to make decisions in life is a great challenge. People will fight you that is a challenge. As you progress in life, people become jealous of you. It is a challenge. Everything I have just made mention of I'm sure all of us fit in some way, if not in one thing in many things. And I can go on and on. Let me mention a few more. If you don't have hair on your head, it's a challenge. Ask those who are bald, they have struggled in order to try and get the hair back onto the head.
tapanuli see, we are laughing because we know what it feels like yes, if you have pimples on your face, it's a challenge. If you are a little bit heavy, it's a challenge. If you are very light, it's a challenge. These are challenges that people face. Obviously these are lights, the ones I mentioned. Now, they are not actually so important. But some people make him very important because it is materialistic life that drives us today. If you ask a young person, what is your challenge, he or she will tell you I don't have the latest iPhone. Well, that is a very minor challenge. But they have been trained to think in a material way. Some of us the challenges we don't own a house, we
don't have security for our spouses, for example. We don't own a motor vehicle, trust me, my brothers and sisters, the majority of the world does not own a house. The majority of people on earth do not own homes, they live from the point of life up to the point of death in rented property. Remember, they have also lived sometimes the quality of their life is better than those who own a house. So that is not something that is a real problem as in regarding your survival. Yes, it is a challenge because challenges differ from person to person. When it comes to speaking the truth. The challenge is people do not accept the truth. When it comes to falsehood. People talk
against us that is a challenge. So I'm giving you so many of these examples and you will hear more through this evening's talk of mine. The reason is, I want to give myself and yourselves a lot of comfort by going through the lives of those who are the best of creation chosen by Allah subhanho wa Taala to carry the message of Allah subhanho wa Taala to the rest of not only mankind but even Jin kind and some of the other creatures of Allah subhanho wa Taala they went through challenges and difficulties one law he far greater than that which you and I have ever gone through.
So let's ask ourselves a question Who are the chosen now that we know what the challenges are who are the chosen when we say the term chosen, obviously we are all chosen to be here right now by Allah subhanho wa Taala we made the effort. So the term chosen differs depending on the context in which you are using that term. If you are using it connected to this speech tonight or this function Mashallah we are chosen, I see Alhamdulillah the whole is absolutely full. We thank Allah subhanho wa Taala. And I'd like to thank you and all those who are listening online as well for making the effort to try and listen to a good word. I'm sure our intention is we want to come here to listen to
a message that will inspire us from Allah subhanho wa Taala from Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam delivered to us in a way that is palatable to us that we can digest. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us? May he improve our attentions, may he make us from those who are sincere to him at all times. So those who are chosen Yes, there are people who are chosen to lead and others are chosen to be led. There are people who are chosen in positions of leadership politically, some are chosen in positions of leadership religiously, some are chosen in positions of leadership financially, they have been given more by Allah subhanho wa Taala. Have you seen a person who works
so many hours in the day two shifts, sometimes or three shifts sometimes, and yet the person does not earn more than a few pesos in the day. And sometimes another man he comes in, he makes one phone call. And he's already made 5 million pesos. Why one phone call, this is from Allah subhanho wa Taala. Sometimes he who has graduated from studying for a lifelong 25 3040 years, and then they graduate with a PhD, they become doctors and lawyers and accountants, sometimes those people can be poorer than a person who did not go beyond grade seven. And we have seen it because Allah is proving to you and to me that finance has nothing to do with education. It has to do with whether Allah has
given you or not, yes, you must make an effort you must try. But at the end of the day, Allah might give someone who didn't even go to school, take a look at the richest of the globe, a lot of them did not really pass when they study. They went to all level a level perhaps according to the British system, and they did not really go beyond that they went into trade. I know of a story of a man who started off by selling tomatoes on the road. And today he is a multi millionaire on the globe. SubhanAllah How did he start by selling tomatoes and cabbages a vegetable vendor, and he used to push wheelbarrows on the street, and he became a person who owns so many buildings, and he owns at
least Subhanallah such a huge amount that he is recognized as one of the wealthy people may Allah subhanho wa Taala help us these are the challenges we face. Some of the chosen people, like I said in the context of what you are speaking about. So today, I'd like to tell you that the chosen we are speaking about are those whom Allah speaks about in the Quran as the chosen.
Allah subhanho wa Taala says, we're in
Mustafa in and
he speaks of the prophets, the messengers, and he says, according to us or by us, they are the ones who are indeed the chosen, or the most profane. Those who are chosen by Allah subhanho wa Taala, the best he speaks of some of the messengers and here it's just referring to two of the messengers. This surah has in it made mention of so many of the other messengers chosen by Allah subhanho wa Taala. Guess what?
Every one of them, including Adam alayhis salam, the first of our species has been through difficulty upon difficulty upon difficulty, Allah is telling you and I, that if I love those so much and they have been through hardship, you need to know You must expect even more but out of my love, I give those whom I love greater hardship than the others.
What does that mean? Why does Allah say when I love someone, I test him. You know what the hadith of Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam says, it says in Allah, Allah, Bab bad but then it Allah. When Allah loves a worship, he tastes it. He puts challenges, things don't go according to your liking. Allah loves you. This is why we say my brothers and sisters when things do not happen according to your liking. Do not think that it is the punishment of Allah rather, it is a test of Allah. It may be a gift and it may be a punishment, but if you consider it a test, you will be able to pass if you
Sit for example something otherwise how are you going to pass that test? So why does Allah say when he loves you he tests you let me explain. My brothers and sisters a simple common logical point. When your life is smooth, your salary is in its millions, you have the best of homes, you have a lovely wife and beautiful children. You have a lovely car and a nice house and you are you are, you know, flowing beautifully the food that you want is there you have so many people working for you ensuring that everything is in order. Sometimes your life is too comfortable. So you forget Allah.
So you forget Allah, there are a lot of people who have forgotten Allah. And Allah says those people Missoula, heaven as
the hypocrites, they forget Allah so Allah says, Okay, we're going to forget you too. Okay? Forget you, meaning we know about you, we are taking account, but we will not come to your assistance neither in this world nor in the hereafter because you chose a life that was far from your own maker yet when you were made Initially, the covenant and the pledge was that you worship the one who made you alone, until the position of death. Why are Buddha Rebecca
Candiotti in worship, you're up what is the meaning of Rob? Rob? The Creator nourisher cherishes sustainer provide a protector, the one in whose hands is absolute control of every aspect of your existence, your cure and everything else, that is the term have been made up of three letters in the Arabic language, bah, bah, bah, three letters. It means the one who, who made you in the first place and provided for you everything you have, when you go to prostration what we call sujood. What do we say
Subhana. Allah be Allah Allah, we are declaring the praise of my hub, what is my rub, oh you who made me who is providing for me, you are the highest, I am declaring your praise. Now my head is on the ground, I am the lowest, you are the highest.
The most beautiful position for anyone to be in whether it comes to medical purposes or spiritual purposes or just to feel good, you go into prostration for the right reasons. And you will see it is the only position where the mind or the brain is lower than the heart. So the blood gush to that brain is absolutely amazing. It is much more than if you were standing like I am doing right now. So don't rush when it comes to suju Did you know that the postures of prayer are so powerful even to stretch your nerves and your and the rest of your muscles and so on. Although the intention is to worship Allah, this is just a side bonus.
If someone's intention is I'm going to need Salah so that I can stretch my back. They will not get the reward of Salah they will get a reward of stretching their back. But you need to have Allah subhanho wa Taala in mind I am going to read Salah for Allah whatever he has provided me as a result is a bonus when you say a salam o aleikum wa rahmatullah and you turn your head all the way to the right shoulder and the left shoulder correctly, you have actually exercised your entire spine SubhanAllah.
And when you look down when you are standing in prayer, people say why should I look down? What is the Haram in the masjid that I should not look below that I don't need to lower my gaze. Let me look wherever I want. The truth is I was reading an article two days ago about the benefits to your eyes, for focusing upon certain positions. And we do it so many times a day. It's amazing, you're standing The distance is more you are focused, you go to record the distance is less you are focused. You go for example, you are sitting in the sitting position, the focus is upon a different level. These are all gifts from Allah subhanho wa Taala. So we will worship Allah right up to the point of death.
That is the meaning of the verse that I recited earlier worship, you're up, you're up meaning the one who made you worship Him until the point of death. when death comes to you, then you will get the result of your final test. May Allah subhanahu wa taala help us all achieve the best result. Remember, it is solely and only achieved by worshiping your maker alone, as per the instruction of the messenger who was sent to us to teach us how to worship Allah subhanho wa Taala. So let's take a look at these chosen people. Who is the best of creation if I were to ask you right now allows creatures of follow healthy wakamaru Zhu Li Who is he the best of creation. Tell me what's his name.
Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam amazing
Guess what? He had challenges upon challenges from before his birth.
He was born, his father had already passed away. People would say orphan orphan, Allah He that's the most love to Allah. This is a point of consolation to all those who are orphans to say, you know what, the one who Allah says is the best of creation was actually an orphan. Allah shows that you know what we will look after you
you know when we get married, Mashallah May Allah grant the spouses who will be the coolness of our eyes and children who will be the offspring coolness of our eyes as well. When we get married, you know what happens? We say, oh, Allah, give me a life so that I can have children, then you have children or like, give me a life so that at least I can see my children grow up, then your children grow up, oh, Allah, give me a life so that I can get my children married and settled. All My Children are settled, give me a life that I can see my grandchildren.
When you all like give me a life that I can see my grandchildren getting married, it doesn't stop. Allah says we will take you and we want. Because if we asked you when to go, nobody would want to go, but we know you have to go May Allah subhana wa Jalla make it easy. So sometimes we say well, I don't take me away, because I don't want my children to be orphaned. But you don't know maybe if you are gone, they might have a better life. Allahu Akbar. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us a good life. How many orphans Do you know I know who have a good life. They were looked after by someone life didn't stop for them. Yes, some of them do face challenges that is a duty upon us and our
coffee Lily at makaha teen even Jana, myself and the one who looks after the orphans will be like this in paradise. To be orphaned is a challenge but to look after the orphans is a greater challenge. And the messenger peace be upon him says if you are there to actually help those who are in this difficulty, I will be with you in Paradise, why I have been sent to help people in difficulty on
me, we have not sent you all Muhammad peace be upon him except as a means of mercy for all the worlds for all existence, you are a means and a point of mercy for all of them. So whatever you teach, whatever you do, they will be achieving mercy if they follow this example that you have laid in the instructions of ours that you have conveyed to them. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us follow these instructions.
Point of mercy to the animals.
Being kind towards animals. If you see a dog that is dying, and you see a cat that is dying of thirst Did you know that perhaps you can earn paradise through looking after or through quenching the thirst of a dog or a cat even though a dog is a dirty animal? It's in the hadith of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, but we as muslimeen are taught to prioritize. It is a word that some people have forgotten. prioritization means if I see a dog drowning, and I see a human being drowning, I will have an intention to save both, but I will start with one, which one
some of the married men might say with the goal
that Allah forgive us, let that not happen.
I've heard that once I asked this question. And some men said with the dog with the dog stuff, Allah forgive us. I hope you understood what was being implied. But I don't want to say because it's wrong.
The reality is we will start with the human being, even if they are not Muslim, even if they are Hindus, even if they are atheists, no matter what we have a duty unto fellow human beings. Allah subhana wa Jalla speaks about it in the Quran.
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whoever saves a soul, Allah didn't say Muslim. Allah didn't say someone who's your brother, your neighbor, maybe even someone who you don't agree with on so many things, he's drowning. You go and you save this person. Allah says it is as though you have saved entire humanity, because you have set down a brilliant example. And you have now stood up to the challenge that was faced by both of you for that person. It was a challenge. They were drowning.
It reminds me today when someone is drowning in this thing, how we take out our phones and say, Wait, hang on, hang on. Let me take a photo. I can put it on Instagram. That's the attitude we have today. My brothers and sisters throw your phone out and dive in go and go and help. We will have 50 people taking photos and at the end they drown and you say I actually got it on camera. They died. I got it on camera. What were you doing videoing them going help them lockable. May Allah grant a sanity, sometimes we lose our brains because we want to do something without prioritization
That's why I use the word to prioritize, because it's important to know how to prioritize my brothers and sisters. So you saved one life. What does Allah do for you? Perhaps, Allah might grant you gentlemen, as a result.
You know, I usually look at the Battle of battle. And I take a look at the captives, the prisoners of war, those who are enemies and competence against the messenger and against the Muslim mean, and those who are actually taken captive, the Prophet sallallahu Sallam treated them with utmost respect. He fed them and close them. And he ensured that he gave them the opportunity to earn their freedom. A lot of them were told,
if any one of you can read or write now, you know, at that time, reading and writing was the in thing, meaning very few people read and wrote, they had memories. They, they actually memorized everything, so much so that if they saw a camel, they would know that camels lineage back to seven generations, they would be able to tell you the lineage of the camel, I challenge you and myself
to rattle out the names of your seven fathers. Anyone? Can you put up your hand if you know your name, and seven of your forefathers? Put up your hand stand up? We want to hear it?
I don't see a single hand May Allah subhanho wa Taala. Okay, I see one or two hands, let's give you the benefit of the doubt the point is made Subhana Allah that the bulk of us we don't even know our own lineage, our own family, our own and yet, how are you going to maintain relations with people whom you are supposed to maintain relations with when you do not know that they are related to you? Allah says to us regarding though in our hand those who are related to you, they have rights over you and you have rights. Your family members, how will you fulfill those rights when you don't even know who you are related to? May Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us? May he make us from among those
who understand so the point being raised is they used to know the generations of the camels with us. We don't they few of them used to read and write the Prophet peace be upon him looked at them. They were facing a challenge. The Muslim men were facing a challenge what was the challenge? They were many of the Muslim in who unlimited. Unlimited does not mean an educated the Prophet sallallahu Sallam was Unlimited, but he was the most highly educated, there is a difference between the two. Some people think that unlimited means illiterate, illiterate perhaps is the wrong term. Unlimited means unable to read or write. Allah says, who will let
me know soon.
Yet Lu la Akbar, Allah says it is he who sent the messenger in the midst of the unlimited one of them who is unlimited just like them, but he was reciting what the verses of Allah beings he was highly educated. Whatever we have today, he knew he was educated by Allah subhanho wa Taala.
So he had the highest qualification ever, but he was unlimited for reasons best known to Allah. Nobody would be able to come and say he copied it from someone Well, he couldn't read.
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you did not use to recite, oh, Mohammed salatu salam from the book, nor could you write, they cannot come in with doubts saying you copied it because you cannot read you cannot write you just you did not use to recite before this. When we reveal to you you began to recite. Anyway, getting back to my point. The Prophet sallallahu wasallam tells these captives if any one of you teaches 10 of us how to read and write, we will free you. We will grant you freedom.
Now, take a moment to understand the statement. According to the co founder of the disbelievers, for example, at that particular time, those were mushrikeen they were idle worshippers they were polytheists. According to them, they used to say mahiya illa hyah tuna dounia Anna Mouton.
We have nothing besides this world, die and life, which means we are alive now and we will die and that's it. Enjoy. You know nowadays people say YOLO you've heard it, isn't it? You only live once. YOLO that's what they say. You only live once. What does that mean? It is sometimes calling you towards misbehavior telling you that you know what do as you please You only live once you're not going to get another opportunity. Islam says you you actually don't live once you live twice. You living now and there is a life
is the life of eternity that is going to come later in that life you will do as you wish, like Allah subhanho wa Taala says
una de hawala, Dena z. For those who are in Paradise, they will have whatever they wish in general in Paradise, and we have something extra for them.
Do you know what is the extra that Allah is speaking about? The meeting with Allah subhanho wa Taala to see Allah Wouldn't you like to see he who made you I would love to meet with my maker Subhana Allah. When Allah says, Well, if you work hard, you will be able to meet your maker indeed May Allah grant us that day and May Allah make us happy the day we receive our books, May Allah give it give our books to us on the right hand, and May Allah subhanho wa Taala In fact, take us two gentlemen without even reckoning because there will be people who will be entering paradise without reckoning. So they were told, if you teach 10 people to read or write, we will give you your paradise, what is
their paradise, this world?
this worldly life is the paradise of those machines.
They will totally have you are now captive right? If you teach 10 people some form of goodness to read and write, we will give you your paradise the question I have is for 10
of the Muslim 18 to teach 10 of the Muslim in something not related directly to the dean but only to read and write something secular to be honest with you, they would achieve their freedom from captivity in this world.
Surely, for you and I who are believers, when we teach and reach out to others, teaching them the deen and the goodness and helping them through their challenges. Don't you think that the mercy of Allah dictates that we will also be granted freedom from that Hellfire and entry into what we would term our own paradise. I'm quite sure that that will happen by the mercy of Allah. This is why my brothers and sisters reach out to others. Reach out to everyone as best as you can. Do you know what it's called? It's called solder cotton jariya it's called a charity that will continue. That is the only charity that will continue earning you reward clocking good mileage for you. Even after you
have died. You help people they were empowered. They continued and they were their challenges. Were for example, faced in a way that the suffering was alleviated because of you. Allah will reward you forever.
Manson assume nothing has an atom follow
me Anamika Ella yo mukhiya Mati Lyon kusudama coming to Judy Michigan, whoever sets a good example whoever does something really good and others emulate that brilliant example of this. Allah says they will get a full reward not only for themselves, but everyone else who follows that good example up to the day of judgment and you will not be reduced in any way whatsoever when you do business. someone tells you look I have products if you become my salesman, I will give you what percentage do they normally say what is a good percentage? Say any any figure that's a decent percentage to be given? 10% 10% we will give you a lie if it's a million pesos you have 100,000 Mashallah, I think
it's a decent deal. But Allah says no, we will give you 100% of what they have got. 100% we will give it to you No problem. The problem my mothers and sisters, my brothers and fathers who are here this evening, we are lazy. Sometimes we are lacking, we lose hope.
So Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam born an orphan. How many of us who panela have looked after orphans if you have, you have helped yourself before anyone else.
When we give a charity to a beggar, or to a poor person, or we help someone in their suffering one lie more than you have helped them mend their problems in this world. They have actually helped you mend your problems of the hereafter. This is why the Prophet peace be upon him says manifest Muslim in kobata minco be dunya nefesh Allah microbiome in kiama. And in another narration, he says the dunya will.
Whoever helps someone in this life by alleviating their suffering or contributing towards assisting them in their challenges allow will help alleviate their suffering on the Day of Judgment. And in another narration in this world and the next allow will help you in whatever way. So Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam as he grew older, he had so many different challenges. He went to body to benissa he was sent to Halima the morgue, they are the woman who breastfed him and after some time, she came back with the same young
Boy, they did not used to take orphaned children. You know, at that time, the challenge was,
they used to send their children to the rural areas, those which were distant from the cities, because they wanted their children to grow up with manners and powerful language, they were fearful that if they grow up in the city, perhaps they might pick up some bad habits.
So the people from the towns or the rural areas would come up and they would get a wage, a salary, the salary would actually then pay them for doing what for looking after and taking care of the infants from a very early age. They didn't want to take him because he was an orphan. But Allah subhanho wa Taala had a plan, there was a special woman who had to take him.
And then when he went, after some time, there was an incident that occurred, she came back with the child who said, You know what, I don't want to look after this child anymore. Because Allah wanted the child to come back. We look at issues in life, and we start thinking to ourselves, or this is a very big problem, but you don't know it is actually not a problem. It is the mercy of Allah was
to him boosh, a
first part of the verse, Allah says,
perhaps you dislike something, but it's good for you.
Perhaps you dislike something it's good for you?
You know, I will never forget, we had disasters in this part of the world, regarding aircraft that will last
and I'm sure you know, may Allah Subhana Allah, Allah have mercy on those who passed away. And the great challenge for those who have remained because obviously, some of them do not have closure yet. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help them in every single way, and maybe not test us with tests that are too big for us to actually go through. But the point I want to raise is, I read a story of a man who was so upset because he missed his flight. He was angry and shouting and so on and so forth. And guess what happened when he heard what happened? He was the most thankful person ever, ever. Why? Because he missed his flight. And the flight disappeared. May Allah forgive us and them as well.
Like I'm saying, this is a true example in our lives. Sometimes Allah did not want you there. Allah protected you from something you don't know. You know, sometimes you are not welcome somewhere. So you don't go and you don't go thinking oh, you know, now I have a problem here or there. I'm not welcome. But Allah says, hang on what was happening in that home or in that place was something we did not want you to participate in at that particular time. When the time is right. You will go back Don't worry.
Like what happened to Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam another challenge. He was driven out of his house. How many of you were driven out of your homes? You know, we talked about bollock Islam, we talk about people who have entered the fold of Islam. Everyone faces different challenges. Some families are open minded, they will embrace you. Some are not some will harass you and trouble you don't worry. Go back and read the stories. The challenges of the chosen will lie those messengers and their followers the Sahaba the companions who are the best, like the Hadith says,
Allah subhanho wa Taala looked at all the souls and he saw the best and he chose it for Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he looked at the souls he chose the messengers. He looked at the souls he chose the companions of the messenger May peace be upon them all. These are chosen people Allah chose Allahu Yes, Buffy.
It is Allah who has chosen from the angels whom he wants to be messengers with whatever task he wants to hand over to them. And it is Allah who has chosen from mankind, the messengers who he wants to carry his message. So they went through difficulties problems, they were driven out of their homes. Look at bill Alec Naropa the Allahu kebab, Nora, take a look at these names, every one of them go and listen to the stories of the companions of Muhammad Sallallahu sallam, and before you read or listen to their stories. You need to ask yourself, are they better than me? Or am I better than them? The answer is definitely in the eyes of Allah, they were better
but will lie he they went through so much of hardship. They went through so much of difficulty. They will never depressed. Do you know why the Prophet peace be upon him in life he made the powerful statement. You know what happened in life the Prophet peace be upon him was actually pelted by the children. He was made to bleed sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he was scoffed at mocked at. This is a point of consolation for those whom that happens to on the globe today. If you have Islamic identity
They will be the ignorant few. And that number seems to be growing, who will laugh at you, they will look at you, they will not want you to dress appropriately. They will not want you to fulfill your prayer. They will not want you to eat halal. They will not want you to do anything that happens to be in the pleasure of Allah. Do you know what it happened to people before you as well? They told me
that if you are to disbelieve in Mohammed, we will leave you and voila, he there is an option of doing that if your life is at stake. But he chose not to do it. He kept on saying I wish my maker alone one only one. My God. I don't want to worship these idols. I won't. I hadn't. I'm sure you've heard that statement. He kept on saying those were challenges they went through far bigger than any Ballack Islam can ever go through. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us sometimes not only Ballack Islam, but Islam here, for those who don't know, refers to those who have reverted to Islam and are facing challenges. Sometimes we face challenges from the Muslims themselves. They are racist, they
are nepotistic. Sometimes they will never ever accept you because they are weak. They don't know Islam, they are ignorant, they still need to refine their own Islam, I have known of many reverts will lie, they are more powerful ever than the Muslims that I have known what generations Muslims Why? Because some have been overtaken by arrogance, whereas those who have humbled themselves to be Wallahi Let's listen to this, to be strong to face the challenges of your whole family going against you because you declare that you want to worship Allah alone. And now your own Muslims are troubling you.
So Allah subhanho wa Taala has indeed kept it as a test for us Do not be the means and the source of the troubles of other people will lie if that is the case you have failed, do not be the source of the grievance of others. If that is the case you have failed. Be a person who is the source of facilitating goodness for others be a person who is the source of peace and tolerance and stability and that which will be creating goodness for everyone else. Rather than being known as a person who was tough and rough, you will die leaving behind the legacy my brothers and sisters, what is your legacy? Is your legacy that you made life tough for those who entered the fold of Islam? Is your
legacy that you were a racist? Is your legacy that you were a person who defied the law of Allah yet you call yourself a Muslim? If that was the case, you are part of the problem, not a part of the solution. When you die, people will think Allah Oh Allah, I thank you for taking this person away. Allah forgive us.
Do you really want to be a person whom when you die? Your family will say ally, thank you. I was waiting for this day for 10 years. But at least it came now. No, we want to be a person when we die. People will remember us. You know there is a poet who once said a couplet Oh, son of Adam, when you came to this world, you came crying, and those around you were smiling in happiness. Do you agree? When you came to this world you came crying and those around you are smiling and happiness. So live your life in such a way that when you leave this world, you will leave this world smiling and those around you will be crying at the loss?
Did you hear that? That's how I need to lead my life. When I go people must miss me to say Mashallah he did good work. May Allah accept it. The same applies to every one of us.
So they were facing challenges one after the other. Do not be the source of the grievance of someone because Allah will test you with something bigger.
Allah is the boss of everyone. Allah is the Creator. He knows when you oppress, it becomes even greater oppression against you don't think you can run away once the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was faced with one of his companions who was beating up the worker of his you know those who work for us. Sometimes we treat them rough, we treat them badly. We disrespect them. We don't talk to them with dignity. So he was treating his worker badly he was beating him and the Prophet sallallahu Sallam tapped him on his shoulder and said, Do you know that Allah has greater control over you than you have over this particular person? And he was so shocked and he was so frightened.
He says, on messenger I have freed him for the sake of Allah, hoping that inshallah he will achieve freedom. Yet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself will lie he like I said, they will never depressed Do you know why? They knew that this world is all about tests in five. Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam says Oh Allah, Oh Allah. If you are happy with me, there's nothing else I want. If you are not upset with me, everything else is okay. I don't mind for as long as you are happy with me.
Subhan Allah, amazing,
Allah, you are happy with me, then everything else this challenge is nothing. I'm going to go back to you anyway. I want to tell you, Allah has to test you because this life is an examination. How can you go to school and you enter and every day you tell the teacher, please don't test me. Please don't test me. I have to test you.
You go to the college, you want a certificate because you want to graduate, but you don't want the examination come examination. Everyone's going in the hall. And you say, I don't want to exam I don't want to be tested. I don't want the examination. I'm walking out How can you do that? You cannot, it is foolish. It is unacceptable. If you take a look at it, you have to have the test. So this life is like a big school. And every day we have different tests and you have to write the exam. And the bigger the examination, the greater the certificate. Remember that when Allah tested you, the one you love the most has gone passed away sabado sabado sabado you have a PhD.
Someone you have a PhD in what in relations with Allah Subhana Horta. But if you had no somebody who failed the examination, you had an opportunity. This is why you cannot say Oh Allah, don't test me because you have to be tested. But you say Oh Allah, do not test me with tests that will be too difficult for me to pass. Now you can leave Allah.
Allah does not burden a soul with that, more than the soul can shoulder.
That's Allah subhanho wa Taala. Don't worry. Take it in your stride. Stand up, seek the help of Allah, you will continue those from amongst us been through divorce, don't let it become ugly. The mudslinging after divorce is not necessary. It's a test when people ask you what went wrong said you know what? We were two different people. We were two good people we didn't get along Alhamdulillah maybe she might get along with you. That's what the Sahaba used to do. Do you know that?
They used to say, Look, she didn't get along with me. But I think maybe she will get along with you. They did not use to go out and expose and make people embarrassed and so on. Because you want to expose someone in this world Allah might expose you when the Day of Judgment is there in front of the whole of creation. You don't want that to happen. This is why the Hadith says men cetera Muslim, et cetera, hula hoops.
Whoever covers the faults of a fellow believer Allah will cover their faults in this world and in the next, you want a lot to cover your false
cover the faults of others. say good things about people. Look at Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
He said good things about people. He always spoke highly of people. He tried his best and that is why he achieved you ask yourself one man in the middle of the desert where there was no phones, no internet, no microphone, nothing, no telephone, zero. But today he has a following of 2 billion people, 2 billion following the number of likes, on his posts, 2 billion
2 billion likes on his post without even having Instagram.
How it's because his character, his conduct, his purity, the fact that he was assisted by a lot directly the best of creation, if we follow Him will lie. the bare minimum is that we will be able to achieve the pleasure of Allah subhanho wa Taala how many people are famous on Earth, but in reality, they are not even known in the heavens, because they don't do good deeds, and how many people they are not known on Earth. But in reality, they are so famous in the skies and in the heavens, because every day the angels are taking their good deeds up every day. So panela You don't have to be a famous person to be a person who's going to go to Paradise. Sometimes a person you
never knew would be probably higher than all of us put together and they were inconspicuously on Earth.
So I was making mention of a very important point and I want to repeat it to be content when your challenge comes to you be happy, happy in the sense that Oh Allah, I have a difficulty it's a very great difficulty. For example, I have a health matter for example, I'm just giving you an example. I have a health mental Yala, it's very great problem. I know all I helped me through my problem. I'm not questioning you. I know that you have chosen this for me but helped me through the matter. Questioning Allah subhanho wa Taala does not help the chosen never questioned the law. Why did you do this? They knew that there is something better in it, they knew that
how do we learn from them?
by questioning Allah you will never find the solution. Nobody ever who has questioned the law has found the solution to their problem not once. Never show me anyone who said Why me and suddenly the solution came okay not you. Not you someone else. Did it ever happen? No. It was you Yes, he chose you. He knows why sit and think perhaps get counseling, get guidance as to why and you will know so I was speaking right at the beginning about a very interesting point that sometimes when we are wealthy and life is all smooth, we forget a lot. We forget
Allah, Allah, we are in the clubs, we are committing adultery, we are, you know, drowned in all this dirty music that's available on earth and so on and our life is in the fast lane. And Allah loves you.
Allah loves you for some other reason for some other reason, and he wants you to come. So what he does, he taps you what is the tapping, he takes away something you really love or he gives you a test a challenge. So suddenly, you drop and you had a minor heart attack. You had a minor heart attack and what happened?
Allah, Allah, Allah kill me gusta la la la la la la shodhana Muhammad Rasul Allah, you see, sometimes when, when the plane is flying, you know, people when they go on the aircraft, they're all excited and they happy and a lot of people they they don't dress properly because they think we're on a journey on a holiday. Let's do what we want. And suddenly, there is turbulence on air in the air.
And the plane is moving and shaking and dropping from side to side. Even those who are not dressed properly they do Allah Allah, Allah Allah, Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah, they are declaring the praise of Allah Allah. Allah, Allah my children, my children, Yama, Yama, Siva y why the sincerity levels are so high my brothers and sisters, because you desperately need Allah don't you?
Wasn't that a gift of Allah subhanho wa Taala for you. It was a gift of Allah for you to say I love you so much come close to me Come Come and you call out to Allah Allah says Wow, this is beautiful for the first time you are actually crying to me yet you are the strong man. You are a powerful person you never thought of me today you thought of me Mashallah, you know what? Because of your sickness you came to me because all the doctors told you we can do nothing. Now you are trying to meet the head to the every night. I love it so much. I want to keep you like that for 20 more years.
You happy no No, no, no no no chronic yo yo la la grande Michio. I will continue with this even after I'm cured and you know what? Suddenly Allah says okay, after two three years, right? We are giving you the cure. So your cure Oh, Mashallah, my results were clear. Guess what, following morning, we don't even get that for salata.
Why? Because you forgot Allah once again. Don't treat Allah like that. In Allah if Allah is Kofi Szigeti. If you get close to Allah days of ease during times of ease, Allah will come close to you during times of difficulty.
So you need to know when or when you are trying to Allah Allah loves if your heart is soft, maybe he wants to keep you like that. Now you can go back and say well love Don't keep me like that. Yeah, Allah, I dedicate my life to you. I would continue Yala. My brothers and sisters, how many of us when we are sick, we say, Oh Allah, I will give this whole I will give so much to charity. I'm going to build a Masjid. I'm going to do this Yama kill me.
You know what the Hadith says about people who vow? Listen, very interesting. Some people say Oh Allah, if you kill me, I will read to Ricardo Salah Allah if you kill me, I will read 10 Quran. You know, some people say that they make a vow. The Hadith says, Don't make those vows. They are macro macro, meaning it's not good to make a vow Why? It is extracting an act of worship from a stingy person.
In number two minute,
it is extracting an act of worship from a person who does not want to worship Allah. Allah is not a baby, he's not a child, with a lot for the child. You say, Come here, come, come, come if you come, I will give you a suite. Right? That's what you tell the child.
So if the child doesn't come, you don't want to give the suite. Does that mean if Allah does not cure you, you don't want to worship Allah? Is that what it means? How can you say that? So if you do make a promise, you must fulfill it. But from the beginning, don't make these promises. Just call out to Allah make dua supplicate ask Allah you don't need to promise him big, big things. say Oh Allah, I've changed my life. Grant me happiness.
Allah I'm here for Umrah or Hajj Forgive me, Grant me cure grant me alleviation in the challenge that I have your life going through very big problems. You helped me a lot, but stop saying if you help me I will go for heart. No, you go for Hajj, and make dua that Allah help you. That's the better way of doing things. These are the ways to face the challenges that we have. And this is what was taught by Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. So you know when we see Muhammad Sallallahu sallam, he was an orphan. After that, he was married. He was a widower as well. He lost his wife, Khadija
initially
so no one from amongst us who's a widower can say that, oh, people don't know what I'm going through. No, the best went through the same problem. How did he deal with it? He spoke good about her.
ahead, and he spoke good about her all the time. And he prayed for supplicated, asking Allah to forgive her.
Similarly, if you have lost your children in your life, you've lost your children, the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him the chosen one. He lost all of his children, all of them in his lifetime. Besides one.
The males in infancy and childhood, the females when they grew up, he lost them, all of them passed away during his life. Besides one, Fatima, viola, she lived a little while late, the rest of them, they passed away. How did he look? He was a human being. He had his son Ibrahim, and Ibrahim, the son of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
His soul was be departing the body and the Prophet sallallahu sallam. He had a tear in his eye and he cried, and the Sahaba looking at him, and he made a powerful statement. He says, In nama Hiya, Mattoon. Jalla Hala houfy body Rama. Indeed, this is the mercy of a lion not crying, because I'm questioning Allah. I'm not crying because I don't agree with what Allah did. But I'm crying because it's a mercy in my heart towards the child that Allah has placed. But I know that this child belongs to Allah.
And Allah only lent the child to us for a short space of time. When you say my wife, my son, my daughter, my father, that word mine does not depict complete ownership. Complete ownership only belongs to Allah.
Allah allows you to use the word mine to depict temporary and limited ownership.
Temporary and limited link, not even ownership.
My son, Allah says, Well, he is my creature before that I gave him to you. And guess what? I'm going to take him back after two years, he's going to come back to me. Allah knows. So when he does go, you cannot say Oh Allah, you are not merciful. How can you take my son away? Allah says, I know what his mercy I gave him to you in the first place. I know what is going on. I want to grant him goodness and I want his taking away to be a means of your entry into paradise. So you just need to bear patience. Look at what the Chosun said when he was faced with the same challenge. He said, What did he say? He said in LA LA Hema, Allahu la Lucia in India who be agile in masama. Indeed, for
Allah belongs whatever he took away, it was always his from the very beginning. And indeed, everything that Allah has created, he has created it with a time tag.
When Allah made you timetec take a look at the old people, those who are older. Do you know what you will find that they were young as well? Tell them Do you have any photos when you were young? I went to see they would smile, they will open the album, they will show you I was at Walla he they were more handsome than you.
Who you know, my mom, she was a looker in her days. That's what people will say, What did you just say? She was a looker in what? In her days? What's the meaning of in her days? Are you trying to say now is not her days? That's what you're saying? Isn't it? So whose days are they? Well, she will tell you, my daughter. I was more energetic than you are. I perhaps I don't think any mother would tell her daughter that I was prettier than you. But at the same time, I was given and blessed with so much I just want to remind you that a day will come when you too will not be able to walk.
So use your faculty of walking or the legs that you have in the right direction. If returning comes and Kabbalah comes the Hadith speaks about five opportunities that you must make use of before they are overtaken by five conditions. And then you regret your youth, your young age, your health, your wealth, your time. And at the same time, your entire life. You need to use these things. Why do you have them Allah says I will definitely take them away all of them. I'm going to take your young age away, I'm going to take your wealth away. I'm going to take your health away, I'm going to take your free time away and I'm going to take your life away ultimately. So while you have it, use it
correctly.
rise to the challenges Muhammad peace be upon him. The enemies came for him. How many of us enemies come for us? Yes they do. We have challenges in our own little problems in our own circles, we have challenges.
Don't let that make you distinct from Allah subhanho wa Taala get close to Allah Alhamdulillah he Allah.
Allah he mean Holly and inna
We think Allah upon all conditions or allow what you put in my direction I thank you for it. And I seek your protection from the condition of the people of Hellfire, which means don't make me fail my test. Oh Allah, Allah helped me through my test. My mothers and sisters we are going through challenges my fathers and brothers who are here. We are going through difficulties I'm sure some of you are ill May Allah grant you cure. Some of you are diagnosed with terminal diseases, sicknesses. May Allah grant you his miracle. May Allah grant you cure. Don't lose hope in the mercy of Allah, the prophet muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. People spread rumors about him. Do you know that
they spread rumors about eyeshadow? She was the chosen known as a Siddiqa to Binti Siddiq about the Allahumma
the truthful, the daughter of the truthful and people accused her of adultery. Do you know that? She is one of the purest of women to exist. Allah speaks about her chastity in the Quran. Allah speaks about her innocence in order to know that is it Sharia law, our mothers, one of our mothers?
She went through the challenge, people accused her so when people accuse you and I Who are we who are we? They will accuse, they will spread rumors, they will say false things. Do you know what they said about Muhammad peace be upon him, the challenges he faced, they said you are after money, that's all. Then they said he's after women. That's it. Then they said he's after power. That's it. Then they said he's a madman. Then they said he is a magician. Then they said he's crazy. And they said so many things. And they came to him. And they told him you know what you want marriage, we will marry you with the most beautiful of our human you choose and decide. If you want power, we
make you our leader, if you want Well, we will give you our riches. But we want you to stop calling towards the worship of one God. You know what he said at the end of that statement?
Are you over?
He says, Well law he if you put the sun in my right hand in the moon in my left hand and asked me to stop seeing what I am seeing right now, I will never stop. Because that is not what I am after.
They lived in their glories for a short period of time. And guess what happened? A few years later, Allah granted the Muslim in victory. He came back to face some of the same people. And this is when he said yeah, my
mother doesn't know Nephilim because
oh, people have crush you who killed us. You drove us out of our homes, you who did so much harm to us. You built armies and made them to come to us in order to fight us you who intended to harm us today. We are victorious over you. You are all standing here. What do you think I'm going to do to you? He says
obviously they look at the men. He has power. He has authority. He is the victor today. You cannot talk because why? What are you going to tell him?
Some of them were hoping that he's a good man. They know goodness from him. Do you know what he says? I will tell you today what the Prophet Joseph May peace be upon him told his brothers law three ballet Coolio. No retribution against you today is horrible. And due to law, you can go today you are all free. You're free. I'm not going to take revenge. Nothing. Guess what? These were non Muslims, enemies of Islam who had fought and killed and the Prophet Muhammad. Towards the end of his life. He forgave them without retribution, revenge and without any form of penalization
Subhanallah Where is that practice of Muhammad Sallallahu sallam. As a result, so many of them they entered Islam. Just because they said I can't believe it. This man actually forgave all of us, were actually forgiven.
And they started bearing witness one after the other. This is a gift of Allah subhanho wa Taala. My brothers and sisters, the Islam that some deviant people seem to be promoting today
is a cult of killing, intolerance, chaos, destruction of infrastructure, and the murder and mass massacre of Muslims and non Muslims so sporadically that the innocent are losing their lives. I bear witness that that is not Islam.
And I'm sure you bear witness that that has nothing to do with Islam. I gave you an example of how the Chosun have faced the challenges. They face these challenges with clemency, with tolerance with good words with reaching
out to people with solutions to the crises that people were facing such that even the most ardent of enemies, they decided to accept Islam seeing that it is indeed the solution to our problems. Take a look at Omar Abdullah.
He was a man who was feared in Mecca. The challenge was there were very few muslimeen who were being persecuted. Omar went out to persecute he went out to commit murder. He went out to assassinate Muhammad peace be upon him. But Allah intended that with the good character of his own sister and his brother in law and so on. In a few moments, his heart was turned Allahumma yamaka liben kulu kulu bana Allah T. O Allah, in whose hands lies the turning of our hearts, turn our hearts towards the deen and not away from it. I mean,
my brothers and sisters like this, there are so many examples. I've only touched on the life of the chosen, Muhammad peace be upon him the challenges only some of them that he faced. I want you to go through the Sierra, the life of Muhammad, the autobiography of the greatest of creation, go through his life. Go through the challenges and everything you read, ask yourself, tell yourself what are the challenges I am going through one lucky you will find that the challenges you are going through are nothing compared to what he went through. yet. He was a happy man he was so content he went right up to the end Subhana Allah He went through what is known as sakara to load the pens of death.
He says Allah in lil mo de la sakara.
He spoke about how indeed death is very difficult. It has lots of pens, the pens the pain, the final payment Subhan Allah He was sweating, dabbing himself with water or asking his wife to dab him with water and so on. And Subhana Allah yet he left with a smile. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us not once did he say Why me? Not once.
So my brothers and sisters in Islam, may Allah subhanho wa Taala help us in the challenges we are facing. I made mention of accusation people are going through the divorces that people are going through the marital crisis that people are going through the wars that people are going through the economic challenges that people are going through I know we are going through hardship and difficulty my brothers and sisters sometimes it is not because we don't have what we need. It is because we don't have what we want.
There's a difference between the two, Allah gave you exactly how much you need, but you want more than that. You can have a phone, but maybe it has to be an HTC and you want the latest iPhone. So because you can't afford the disparity, you are depressed and you are saying Allah grant me wealth lavaca Allah says, I know I've given you something that you need. But now you want something. Don't blame Allah, Allah might not give it to you learn to adjust your life. If hardship comes in your direction. Those who want to live a life beyond their salaries, those who don't know how to budget, those who don't know how to work out the income and the expenditure. They may be depressed not
because Allah subhanho wa Taala tested them with a difficult test, but because they are failing to understand the plan of Allah, Allah wants you to adjust your life. Maybe move out of your house, the rent is too high, go into a one bedroom place which the rent is affordable in.
So don't blame Allah for your walls. A lot of people are struggling and they complain about the burning economy or difficulties in economy. Yet Allah has given them enough, but only for their luxuries. They don't have enough money. We used to go on holiday twice a year someone tells me now I don't have money. I don't know what law holiday is a luxury. Some people have spent their whole lives they don't even know what the meaning of the term holiday is. And they are happier than you and I.
So this is why we need to ask Allah subhanho wa Taala help adjust your life Think about your problems and ask yourself
have those whom Allah have has chosen? not been through bigger than this? Why is it that I can't go through? Why is it I'm finding it difficult? Sometimes we need a bit of guidance. May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless us all. I've definitely overshot my time, but I'm sure it was worth it. It's not like I'm living in devil No Is it like I'm going to come back here every single week or every month, but inshallah I hope to be meeting you again. And I hope and pray that Allah subhanho wa Taala bring us back here. And Allah has mercy on every single one of us work in the right direction for the positive development, not only of the oma of Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam
But remember to reach out to others because everyone you reach out to is a potential Muslim, no matter who it is, even if they are the enemies of Islam, they are all potential muslimeen and we ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to accept from us the little sacrifice that we've made. So Allahu wa Sallim wa barik ala nabina Muhammad soprano supanova Hamdi Suhana Coloma behenic Chateau La Ilaha Illa. anta Mr. Furukawa