Mufti Menk – Entering from the Wrong Door

			Salam Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
		

			smilla rahmanir rahim In the name of Allah subhanho wa Taala Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Alhamdulillah All praise is indeed due to Allah subhanho wa Taala wa Salatu was Salam ala rasulillah
Allah Allah He was happy ah main blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
his household, his companions May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless them all, may Allah bless you all,
may Allah subhanho wa Taala bless this oma and may He bless humanity at large, my beloved brothers
and sisters in Islam,
		

			it is an honor to be speaking here to you, and to all those who are viewing and listening. And
perhaps we'll do that later on. For indeed, we are speaking about our maker, the one who made us.
And we all know that He created us for a purpose. This is what makes us believers, we believe that
he has created us for a purpose for a reason. And this reason is for us to lead a life in such a way
that when we depart, when this short life actually comes to an end, we meet with him in a good
condition. That's what it is.
		

			So Allah subhanho wa Taala, has kept many challenges and difficulties in our lives. He has kept a
lot of hardship in our lives in order to test us to see I've put you in this testing ground known as
the world when you are faced with the difficult questions, difficult situations. Who do you call out
to? And what do you do? And how do you react? So one might say, Well, why does Allah subhanho wa
Taala need to test us Why? Because he decided to put us on the earth. And it was not our choice, we
did not decide to come onto the earth, because we are not the Creator, He is the Creator. And he is
the one who decided he put us in a situation. We have no say in that regard.
		

			We have no say, we came on to the earth without having a say our identity was chosen. In fact, our
complexion was chosen, the face was chosen where we were born was chosen, who we were born to was
chosen what race we would belong to chosen, everything. Every single thing is part of the test that
Allah subhanho wa Taala has kept for us. So my brothers and sisters, we need to understand that
everyone will go through questions. I always give the example of a school that if you were to enroll
in a school, the aim of enrolling into primary school is to graduate from the University later on 20
years later, 15 years later, how many years later, that's the aim, but you started off at grade one,
		

			or even earlier than that, when you enroll in the school.
		

			That's not your life. That's only a preparation for the real life. That's what it is. Your life will
only begin when you graduate. The same applies to this life. The fact that we've come in we are like
commencing our school 70 years later we graduate into the real life. And depending on how serious
you were at school,
		

			shall be where you will go later on if you did not work and you decided to dilly dally, drugs,
alcohol, the night life the dirty life, for example, filled with promiscuity, immorality, whatever
else, then where do you expect to go as you graduates. But if you were disciplined, and if you had
within you a lot of hard work that you existed at the time it was needed, then I'm sure you will be
in a better place. So when it comes to this world, don't think you're not going to be questioned,
you're not going to face situations. Even at school, they have a weekly test,
		

			which is not so difficult, then they have a monthly tests. And then they have a test every term and
the test every year. And the big tests as you complete that particular course that you're doing
right.
		

			And as you develop over the years, the tests become easier or more difficult. They become more
difficult, because you're becoming a pro. You're now learning. You're now preparing yourself for
what is to follow. They cannot keep on asking you one plus one every year. That started right at the
beginning that perhaps was before you even got into the school. So Allah subhanho wa Taala is all
wise. He knows he is all powerful. He is the mighty
		

			My brothers and sisters, many times we feel that in life, we're going through challenges that are
unfair. Many people say, why am I going through this? It's not fair. What did I do to deserve this?
The mere fact that you have come on to Earth, Allah is giving you opportunity to prove yourself to
Him just like when you know the answers to a very difficult examination or question, you would be
able to prove to the examiner that you are indeed different, you know exactly what you're supposed
to say, in order to get the correct answer. So when Allah has challenged me with something, I need
to rise to the occasion, call out to Allah subhanho wa Taala. And understand that it's my time to
		

			show to him that you know what, I'm going to try my best.
		

			And I'm going to, I'm not going to get this wrong, it's going to be correct.
		

			I'm going to go back to the Scriptures, to see how to answer this question, to see how to go through
the situation. And I will follow it to the tee. And this is the reason why Muhammad sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam, as much as he was the best of creation, the most noble of all prophets. It is the
reason why Allah chose that he goes through so many challenges, difficulties, he was born, his
father had already passed away, he was an orphan. One might say, oh, what do I do? That's a lot.
That's Allah subhanho wa Taala. He chose it, he decided it. Thereafter, he lost his mother at a very
early age. No mother, No, father, what's going to happen? Yesterday I spoke to someone saying, I'm
		

			not feeling well make do I don't die because I'm worried about my children. And I said my sister
Yes, we do. Make sure that Allah give you a cure. But I just want to draw your attention to the fact
that Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam the best of creation, the most noble of all prophets. He
lost his parents at a very early age that did not stop him from passing every test that came because
he he actually faced all these challenges as per the instruction of Allah subhanho wa Taala.
		

			So sometimes, we don't realize that
		

			when we develop a relationship with Allah subhanho wa Taala.
		

			It actually helps us through the difficulties of life.
		

			And mankind is such
		

			that sometimes he forgets his makeup.
		

			He drifts far away, he's gone, or she's gone.
		

			drunk, drowning in the luxuries of this world, not realizing this is quite temporary. Yes, as much
as you are allowed to enjoy what this world has to offer. It needs to be within such limits that you
don't compromise you here after Subhana law. It needs to be within such limits, that you don't
compromise your relationship with your maker, or bullies that he will challenge. So enjoy the world
but understand during your days of ease. Don't miss your prayers. Don't miss your connection with
Allah. Don't miss your contact with Allah call out to Allah use the various names to call out to
Allah, He loves it. When you acknowledge his power, when you acknowledge that he is the one he is
		

			the maker and therefore you will not render an act of worship for anyone or to anyone besides Him.
It's amazing.
		

			Further, oh,
		

			Indeed, Allah has so many beautiful names, amazing Names of Allah that depict his qualities.
		

			And they are actually so beautiful that he says, use them to call out to me use them to call out to
Allah subhanho wa Taala when you are sick and ill, and I've said this before, you can say Oh Allah
kiyomi nothing wrong with that. It's good. But you can actually go one step higher and say owner of
cure, cure is only in your hands. You kill me. So Pamela, what did you do you acknowledge the name
of Allah subhanho wa Taala that was well beyond
		

			someone who perhaps believes in Allah but has never thought of all these details and this is why
every name has with it some deep meaning. And if you were to look into it, you would have to live by
that for example, if I understand the name a Shafi and that is the owner of cure, the one in whose
hands lives cure as much as I will pursue medication and I will go to the doctor because I have to
do that. Allah kept it within my capacity to do that. You cannot just sit back relax and say that
you know what? Allah subhanho wa Taala he
		

			He's the cure. And Allah subhanho wa Taala is actually the one who will cure me. But I don't want to
go to the doctor.
		

			I don't want to go to the doctor. Because if Allah is going to kill me, he's going to kill me. The
same applies to the one who owns sustenance and who gives everyone sustenance, we believe that he is
the owner of sustenance, we will ask him, etc. But it does not mean that you sit back and say, well,
Allah provides, I'm just going to sit at home. This is a wall of a beautiful football every day or
whatever else or play my games. And I was shocked to learn that even adults are hooked on to
PlayStation but anyway just depicts the condition we're in right now. May Allah forgive us? And then
they say Don't worry, if Allah is going to previous written it for me, it's going to come. And then
		

			you're you suffer within your family, and you keep on playing the holy car. What's the only card?
It's a card that has holes in it? What are those holes, you're lying to yourself, you're lying to
yourself, you're actually saying Allah is going to provide therefore I justify my laziness. Not at
all. Allah will provide but he gave you the capacity or law provide for me. So Allah says, Okay, I
will make you fit. And I will give you the intellect, and I will give you the capacity to walk out
and go and try and when you try, I will actually give it to you. But now we're just not trying. It's
like a person saying, Oh life, it's written for me to go for Salatu. Juma, you will send someone to
		

			pick me up, guess what, it just requires you to make a phone call and then they will come and pick
you up. And when they do come, you just need to open your door and walk into the car. They're not
going to come and carry you out of your bed. So Allah is powerful. But remember, during the days of
ease, get close to Allah so that in the days of difficulty alone will be close to you. We develop a
relationship with Allah sometimes when we're not well, we quickly call out to Allah, oh, Allah
helped me I'm not well, I'm sick. I'm ill through His mercy. He helps us. He kills us. He grants us
he gives us but sometimes you know what happens? We don't turn to Allah until we become sick.
		

			Surely it would be more befitting for a believer to develop contact with the one who owns him
completely from now. And this is why this is my message for today to say Allah is Allah says, He is
the mighty Allah He does not need us. We need him. When we pray when we fulfill the obligations we
have unto Allah when we reach out to the rest of humanity, when we are kind to others when we
develop our character and conduct in actual fact, we are helping ourselves. In actual fact, we are
helping ourselves if we let ourselves loose and we let ourselves go and we don't mind and we are not
bothered about what pleases or displeases Allah subhanho wa Taala. When we face the evil of our own
		

			deeds, then we will cry, may Allah subhanho wa Taala not let that happen. This is why there is
something known as Toba or repenting to Allah subhanho wa Taala. And he says he forgives all sin,
Allah subhanho wa Taala forgives everything, for as long as you seek that forgiveness. So my
brothers and sisters, here we have a beautiful name of allah Subhana, Allah to Allah, the mighty.
And we know that in this world, if we had someone who was powerful,
		

			even your boss at work, or your boss in the house, I don't want to say who that is. But anyway, your
boss in the house, it's in the best of your interest to develop a good relationship with your boss,
because you need to live with them. Come on, you know, you need to have a good relationship so that
your life is smooth. So panela you would develop a good relationship. That's my boss, if they
instruct you, thank you so much. Come at four o'clock, don't be late. You're there at five to four
Subhanallah you only leave at five o'clock you leave at five past five, why you want to get a
promotion, you want to get something good. Voila, here we develop relationships with human beings in
		

			this way because we are concerned about our worldly life that's going to last a few minutes, a few
years.
		

			Don't you think? Allah is the supreme boss, when he says I want you to get up at 730 You're so
fortunate because we're in winter, right? You get up at 730 and so halala 725 Europe while my boss
said so. I don't need to wait until I'm sick. To get up for Serato for job and to repent to Allah
May Allah forgive our shortcomings I mean, but what I do need to do is to develop a link with him
during days of ease of Illallah if you are sorry, yeah, if
		

			you notice when you have difficult days, he has promised you that he will give you contentment. You
will be a happy person. You might be struggling you might have a flu, you might have a cough, you
might have an amputation of a limb you might have eyesight that's being lost. Allah grant us all
cure but you such a happy person. May Allah subhanho wa Taala open our doors. Allah subhana wa Jalla
grant us ease. This is why we say
		

			Think of it from this angle to say that Allah Subhana Allah, Allah is all powerful. He owns the
cure, he owns the solutions to the problems you are facing, and the problems that I am facing and
the problems that the entire globe is facing. One might say, Well, why doesn't he solve the problem?
It's like telling the examiner when there's a difficult question in your exam paper at your college
to say, you know the answer. The examiner says, yes, it says, Well, why don't you fill it in? Well,
then you did not pass. If you want the examiner to fill in the answer, then what was the point of
testing you walk out of the school, so panela The same applies in our lives. Allah has the solution
		

			to the problem. Sometimes he leaves it as is we see people suffering across the globe. Perhaps Allah
wants to give them gentlemen I can imagine May Allah give us all jealousy, amin loudly
		

			when we get into gender. The people who will be in gender will be those who will talk about what
happened on Earth. Do you really think that those who were in luxuries, they forgot Allah they were
far away from Allah that they would, you know, get to gender before the others? Notice I didn't say
they won't get there because there's hope in them as well. May Allah subhanho wa Taala. Grant us
well, gentlemen, but what I did say is the others may be there well before better place, higher
rank, etc, etc. Because they endured more they went through more, Allah does not allow you to taste
pain beyond a certain point. Do you know that if someone had to hurt you, you'd feel the pain. If
		

			they hurt you more and more perhaps, you stop feeling the pain at a certain point because you become
unconscious. And at a certain point, you stop feeling the pain because you pass away May Allah grant
agenda to serve those. Through Allah's mercy he just takes you away. I don't want you to endure
anymore you can go so the soul leaves the body because of so much of difficulty and hardship. My
brothers and sisters we need to know develop a link with Allah He is Al Aziz, he is the most
powerful he has beautiful names I encourage you throughout today you will be hearing a lot of talks
Masha Allah Baraka live hope to be here for most of these. But at the same time, I as I leave this
		

			particular opening talk, I'd like to encourage every one of you to go through the names of Allah
subhanho wa Taala and his qualities, to understand them, and to realize that it is Allah subhanho wa
Taala. Who owns us totally, completely. Yes, when I want something, I will try my best but I know
Allah subhanho wa Taala is the owner of the solution. And Allah is the one who will ultimately help
me so much so that when I pass away, I need to have so much hope in the mercy of Allah that I'm
definitely going to a better place. I must be convinced.
		

			Because the names of Allah include the names of the Most Merciful, the most loving the most, this
and the most, that Subhana Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most caring, these are some of the
attributes and the names of Allah subhanho wa Taala. So have full conviction. And this is why we say
go through those names and understand what Allah subhana wa Taala has bestowed upon you, and learn
them, look at them, feel the hope and go forward and at the same time, there is an element of fear
because we do know that when we falter, we don't want to displease Allah Subhana Allah to Allah.
Imagine you know you're writing the wrong answer, and you still go ahead and you're writing it and
		

			the examiner is looking at you so hon Allah, what would you do quickly cross it off and write the
correct answer. That's called Toba. Allah subhanho wa Taala granted to us I could only have a masala
Allahu wa Sallim wa barik ala nabina Muhammad wa Salam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh