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Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.
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Bismillah R Rahman Rahim In the name of Allah subhanho wa Taala, the Most Gracious, the Most
Merciful Alhamdulillah Allah, Allah mean All praise is indeed due to the Almighty, the Most
Merciful, the Lord of the worlds was Salatu was salam, ala MV mursaleen Nabina Muhammad Allah, Allah
Allah He was happy he went Tabby, Norman tambien, BSN and Elijah Medina were bad. We send blessings
and salutations upon all those who were sent by the almighty to us to remove us from darkness
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and to show us the light.
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We send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam the final of all those
messengers, we ask Allah subhanho wa Taala, to bless him, his household, all those who have
struggled and stroll through the years, in order to bring the goodness to us such that today. We are
here with such great concern for the entire globe in order to see the peaceful coexistence amongst
ourselves while we exchange ideas. And we learn from each other. My brothers and sisters, we also
ask the almighty to bless every one of us and all those inhabitants of the earth. We ask the
almighty to have mercy on every one of us and grant us goodness, I mean,
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I am very honored to be delivering this opening speech at this almanor International tolerance
convention here in Dubai.
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In this year, 2019, the year of tolerance.
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My brothers and sisters, if you were to look at the meaning of the term tolerance, you will find
variations various dictionaries, and various people have explained it in so many different ways.
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But what's important to know is if we go back right to the beginning of the creation of man, we will
be able to understand
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through the importance of tolerance, its meaning.
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Let me take you back to the origin as mentioned in the scriptures.
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In surah, surah, Allah subhanho wa Taala says in the Quran,
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in Paul Aparna
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Oh people, Allah is addressing hold the people, reminding them of something absolutely important. He
says, Oh people, I have created you.
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I have created you from a single male and female, I want you to stop there for a moment before we
even proceed further. Do you see those seated next to you? Do you see those whom you interact with
on a daily basis? Do you ever think within your mind those whom you differ with those who are of a
different race, different nationality? different parts of the world, different culture? Those who
like you, those who don't like you, those who agree with you? Don't those who don't agree with you?
Do you realize that you actually have one common father?
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Do you realize, I promise, as much as we think we are religious or we are intelligent, we always
need reminders. When you look at someone you totally disagree with pause for a moment, tell
yourself, my father, and this person's father is actually the same man, my mother, and this person's
mother is actually the same woman.
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And what I mean by this is going back to the origin, the root, imagine, our great, great, great, and
so on. Grandfather is one man. His name was Adam, and our great great great great grandmother, one
woman Her name was Hawa or Eve May peace be upon them. When we forget this, we actually become so
intolerant of each other. So if we realize that we're all from one source, there is something
important that we will come to learn.
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We will come to learn that every one of us has the equal right to exist on Earth. The Almighty
created us he wanted us here. We will differ as to what the purpose of our existence on earth is.
Among the children of Adam. There was difference as well. We as Muslims believe
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in
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lania
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we believe that the Almighty has created us in order to worship him to obey His instruction to stay
away from his prohibitions. That's what we believe. But do we realize that there are others who are
entitled to be on the earth? Who actually could differ with that? And they would still have the
right to exist on earth just like we do. The unfortunate thing is, yes, we are passionate about what
we believe. But we cannot be
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crossing a limit, where we become intolerant of those who perhaps think otherwise, they think
differently from us. They are our brothers and sisters. This is why the best meaning that I've seen
of tolerance is the willingness or the ability to peacefully coexist with those who differ with you,
those who differ completely, are you willing to coexist? Are you willing to respect their right to
have a different opinion from yours, without wanting to punch them in the face because of the
opinion they hold, without wanting to hurt them, without swearing or insulting them, without
usurping any of their rights, because they hold a different opinion. So let's go back, the children
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of Adam, may peace be upon him. Allah Almighty makes mention of the story of some of them, two of
them being Abel and Cain. And this is mentioned even in the other testaments, in the other
scriptures, scriptures of other faiths.
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Allah subhanho wa Taala says, There was jealousy between the two of them for a reason.
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And the one became intolerant of the virtue that the almighty bestowed upon the other. If you take a
look at Cain or carbene, he became intolerant him through jealousy of the virtue that was bestowed
upon her bill, also known as Abel.
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And what did he say to him? He says,
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I'm going to kill you.
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May Allah protect us, the old monkeys mentioned this in Scripture, not for nothing for us to learn a
lesson that Allah Almighty will grant virtue to some over the others, Allah will give a different
understanding to every individual. I was created by the same Almighty that created you. And you and
I were created by the same maker who created those who don't like us or those who we might not agree
with at all. Does that mean that they don't have a right to disagree? Yes, we believe we are right,
guess what they believe they are right to.
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So what should we do, we should continue to propagate because propagation is something that is our
duty, just like they would believe that they should also propagate because it is their duty, and
this is where the discussion comes up. And this is where we are supposed to apply the same intellect
given by the almighty knowing that every human beings level of understanding is different.
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Allah subhanho wa Taala says,
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while
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feeling
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jemmy
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if your Lord wished, he would have guided every single person on earth, every one of them would be
guided. So you cannot impose guidance that you believe is the guidance on anyone. You cannot impose
it on anyone. So Hannah law, you will continue to discuss look at what Allah subhanho wa Taala tells
the messenger peace be upon him.
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Ma Sunni in and Bella the duty of the messenger is none other than conveying the message. So in
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indeed, you Your duty is to convey the message Our duty is to take account if Allah wanted, he could
have
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destroyed those who we differed with but he didn't. Why should we do that? So Han Allah, Allah
created them just like He created us. So if we go back to what happened between the children of Adam
alayhis salam, one of them said to the other, I'm going to kill you because he became intolerant and
that caused disaster. The disaster was that he did commit that murder so little lamb Allah forbid
Allah protect all of us. I mean,
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And so the almighty makes mention of several factors regarding that story. One of them is where Abel
told his brother, you know what, if you're going to come and harm me, I'm not going to harm you.
You're my brother, don't do this. Don't do this. You know, the virtue that the Almighty is bestowed
upon me is something that he gave me. Why are you becoming jealous of what the Almighty gave me?
Today we have jealousy over small matters, if it is unchecked, and if it is let loose, it will grow
into something so big that it will result in not only death, but possibly mass death, and possibly
destruction. Why out of something small, may Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us the ability to be
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tolerant of each other. And this is why to be happy, at the happiness of another is part of faith,
to be sad at the loss of another part of faith. This is all what the Almighty has taught us. So
Allah says,
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For us by hermina.
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The mean, in other words, just a little bit later, Allah says meenal ha serien.
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Allah says this man became from among those who regretted,
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Well, some people don't even regret their bad deeds. So to regret your bad deed is a good sign. And
Allah says he became from among the losers because he killed his brother, look at where that
intolerance got to. So that was a story, the first story that we can actually learn from the effect
of intolerance. Going back to its definition, the willingness and the ability to peacefully coexist.
And that would mean with those whom you differ with, when I'm totally different from you do I think
for a moment, and this is a difficulty, especially when we become religious, when we become people
who are, you know, very close to Scripture, in any religion, and sometimes, even ideologically, when
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we believe we are very intelligent, and we have the right way, we tend to forget that others could
be more intelligent, or equally intelligent, and their intellect might lead them to something else,
what do I do, if I am weak, and I'm a coward, I might want to harm them and attack them. But if I am
strong, and if I display that level of intellect, I will engage them in discussion to prove certain
factors and who knows, they might prove to me that they are right, and I am wrong.
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How many of us, we thought we were so correct. There came a time when someone engaged us and they
explained to us and they prove to us with evidence, and we had to surrender to say, you know what, I
was wrong. You are right.
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never feel or never allow yourself to become so proud and arrogant that you deny the truth. This is
why when the Prophet peace be upon him was explaining to his companions liat, Jonathan canopy TLB
Miss Carla buttermilk, deli min kibble. He who has an atom's weight, with of pride in his heart does
not qualify to enter Paradise, the companions asked, Well, we love our clothing and our convenience
and our homes, etc, etc. The Prophet peace be upon him said that is not what is being referred to.
Rather what was being referred to is battle happy, or humbleness. When you reject the truth, and you
despise people, it shows that you have smacks of arrogance and pride. And those who have that type
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of pride will not have a space in Paradise, according to the Hadith. So, let's not despise people,
because when we start using words that are hurtful and hateful, what does it do? It shows that we
have not learned the tolerance No matter how much you differ with someone, no matter how absurd
their opinions are, be respectful, and you shall learn. In fact, if you are respectful, you will
teach others and people will see the goodness in you. You have actually respected yourself, you have
actually lifted yourself. You have served humanity at large and you have taught humankind what it is
like to differ with respect. The difficulty is when we see people who do something that is totally
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absurd according to us, we become vulgar. We use bad words swear words, hurtful words, hateful
words, yes, you will differ. We have differences even in our own families.
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If you are a true Muslim, or a true believer, or if you are concerned about humanity at large and
the peace on earth, you will be respected
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In the way you deal with that difference,
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may the almighty grant us ease This matter is absolutely important. It is so important because on
the globe, at the moment, we are in desperate need of the voice of reason. We are in desperate need
of a balanced voice that does not take away from us our religion, nor does it take away from anyone
else their right to believe in whatever they feel is correct. But rather, it gives us that mutual
respect, which results in the peaceful coexistence that we are talking about today.
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My brothers and sisters, many people think tolerance means I'm going to give up my faith I'll
tolerate so I don't have to do what Allah has said, I don't have to dress in a specific way, I don't
have to pray in a specific way. I don't have to do X, Y and Zed that the Almighty has instructed.
That is a misconception completely. Tolerance has nothing to do with giving up your opinion. It has
more to do with
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respecting the same rights that others have of not giving up their opinions. Amazing.
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Amazing.
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In the same way I feel my opinion is sacred, I feel intelligent. I feel Wow, I'm clever. Everyone
else feels the same. As much as I am passionate about Islam. There are people who are passionate
about Christianity. There are people who are passionate about Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, whatever
other ism, even atheism, I can believe that I am correct. And I do I do believe that I am absolutely
correct. But guess what? Don't they have a right to believe as human beings in whatever they
consider to be the most correct?
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So Han Allah.
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When I discuss this some time back with a group of youngsters who were quite religious, they told me
No, they don't have the right. I said, What are you talking about? They don't have the right, you
mean that the almighty only asked you to survive? That's it. And you're the only one who is entitled
to be living and everyone else should be dead? Is that what it is? That is absolute absolutely
unacceptable. Everyone has the right to live, everyone has the right to believe whatever they feel
is correct. That's why I am here. Because someone has given me the right to believe that whatever I
feel firmly is correct is correct. So para la. If that was not the case, I wouldn't even be here
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today. It's a very, very important point. I am passionate about Islam, I would desperately like to
see people understand the goodness of Islam, see the light within Islam, perhaps come towards the
fold of Islam, maybe if Allah guides them even into the fold of Islam, but I need to know that that
is a struggle that will continue and it it needs to be done in a very respectful way. There will be
people who agree with me, there will be people who disagree with me, they will be people who
couldn't be bothered at all, and they will be people who will fight me as a result, how do I react?
How do I retaliate? I need to make sure that I can peacefully coexist with all these differences of
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opinion. I remember, when I became part of an interfaith committee at one stage, people told me that
you are losing your faith. And I said absolutely not. You don't even know what we're discussing. We
want to understand each other, we want to be able to discuss what we believe so that we can respect
each other, and so that we can actually perhaps learn from each other. And guess what many people
who did not know much about Islam, learned that it is actually a religion that has heavenly
teachings that has superb teachings filled with not only excellence in the worship of the Almighty,
but even in our interaction with humankind and the other creatures of the Almighty. They did not
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have that opportunity before. So when we participate in interfaith committees and dialogues and
conferences, never is it to give up your faith, as some people might presume. But rather, it is to
be able to coexist peacefully, and exchange notes to understand each other without giving up a
single droplet of what I believe.
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So panela It's amazing. It doesn't mean that, you know, because I interacted with people of other
faiths that I have suddenly given up my own faith, no, rather I have shown them how beautiful the
faith is, and they would show me as well, perhaps, what they may have that I may not have known
before. There are so many teachings of these heavenly faiths that are so common yet we don't know it
is ignorance, my brothers and
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systems that results in hate that would actually then result in fighting and possibly even killing
May the almighty protect us from ignorance. So let's educate ourselves, let's become people who are
willing
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to peacefully coexist. That is the entire meaning of tolerance.
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I draw your attention to something else.
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Every one of us at some stage, and I've said this so many times, whether it was within ourselves,
for those who have reverted to Islam, whether it was our parents, or grandparents or great
grandparents, or some way up that ladder, there will not Muslims, they will not Muslims, someone
somewhere somehow happened, to be speaking to them, or dealing with them, or associating with them
or interacting with them in such a beautiful way that they decided they want to be Muslim. That's
why we're Muslim Subhan Allah,
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had they been taught not to interact not to associate not to deal with to fight to be at war with
had they been taught that you're the only people who have the right to exist on Earth, if that was
the case, our forefathers would have been wiped out from the earth. So it's common logic, we need to
appreciate that someone somewhere somehow has actually had that concern, to be able to interact in
such a positive way that we are where we are today. Take a look at the Java. Take a look at
Indonesia, and that part of the world where it is said that, and they are the most populous Muslim
nations on the globe. It is said that Islam has spread. They're not even through the act of
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propagation of Islam, but rather through businessmen and traders and people who dealt with them.
When they were honest, when they dealt with them in such a beautiful way, there was a little flicker
of a candle within the heart that became brighter and brighter, such that they wanted to know more
about what is making us such good people. And then they entered the fold of Islam imagine.
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So that's part of the beauty of the tolerant religion of Islam. I'd like to think that religion has
partly been hijacked by those who don't understand scriptures, those who have misinterpreted it
intentionally, to suit their own agendas of creating disaster on the globe, in the name of the Most
Merciful, I always say, those who kill in the name of religion, have perhaps never considered the
fact that the almighty calls himself the Most Merciful, the most magnificent Bismillah.
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Every time we start, we say in the Name of Allah, the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful or the Most
Merciful, the Most Merciful One in a specialized way, and one in a very, very broad way. The owner
of mercy, the one who called himself the, the Most Merciful. Do you really think that he would ask
you to wipe people out? out of that mercy Subhana, Allah Subhana Allah, you are killing in the name
of the giver of the life, if he wanted, he could have taken that life away himself. And secondly,
you are killing in the name of the Most Merciful? Where is the mercy? Where is the understanding of
the beautiful faith? Subhan Allah. So we go back to the issue of tolerance, to willingly
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coexist with those whom you differ with Subhana Allah, you're ready, you're ready. Let's go back to
the first verse that I recited here. And I said, I'm going to come back to it remember, or people,
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we have created a new form a single male and female and thereafter, we have made you spread as
different peoples and tribes. Why? Why is there black and white and yellow, and brown? Why are there
different races, ethnicities, different sizes, different understandings? Allah says, Lita,
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one word in order that you can recognize each other, you are different, not so that you can
discriminate against each other. That's not the reason.
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Allah didn't say so that one can consider himself higher or bigger than the other. No, Allah
subhanho wa Taala says in order that you recognize one another, they say Who is this man? He's an
Indian. Who is this man, he's this he's that he is an African or he comes from this place or that
place. It does not mean that the almighty wants you to discriminate not at all rather, you recognize
each
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Each person, each person comes in front of the Almighty on the day of judgment on his own.
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Remember, if you think a certain nationality is bad, a certain race is bad, a certain ethnicity is
bad, you're so wrong, because every race and every nationality and every ethnicity has in it good
and bad. So you would be totally uneducated. If you thought that a nationality in its entirety is
bad, just because of the acts of a few. We as Muslims, are trying to combat this type of ideology
where people on the globe who have become Islamophobic think that because of the acts of a small
percentage of people who are Muslim, or who claim, connection to the faith, because of their
actions, we're all suddenly termed as guilty. We're all termed as those who have absolutely no right
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to exist, those who are intolerant, terrorists, whatever else, all these words are used against us.
And why are these words used against us because of a few, a small number who have actually
perpetrated heinous crimes in the name of this beautiful faith that we're speaking about the faith
of mercy, the fate of tolerance and goodness Subhana Allah, may Allah subhanho wa Taala, grant us
ease. So the almighty addresses mankind at large, reminding us of the fact that you come from a
common forefather. You're all brothers and sisters. In the same way, I believe I have a right to
exist on Earth, I promise you, anyone who was born on Earth has the equal right, same, right? You
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were born on Earth. They were born on Earth, you have the same rights, you have a right to your
opinion, you have a right to your what you believe is correct. You can believe what you think. And
you know what, keep on educating yourself. I know, one might say, well, as a Muslim, I believe that
I'm 100%, correct? Yes, I do. I actually do as well. But you know, what? Do you realize that people
of other faiths and even those who don't have a faith, they too would perhaps believe? Or they have
the right to believe that they are 100%? Correct. And I have the right to believe that perhaps they
are wrong, and they have the right to believe that perhaps I am wrong. These are all rights. This is
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what makes humankind Why should we think because this person doesn't think like me, I must eradicate
them, I must drop them off. I must hate them. I must perhaps not live with them, not talk to them,
no.
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Learn to greet people. The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him taught us about greeting, not because
of any reason. Besides, its great importance and the benefit of it. I recall myself in my travels,
many times people look at me, and perhaps things go through their minds. The moment you break into a
smile, and you greet them. I swear 99% of the time, it changes the attitude completely. Wow. They
realize okay, this is a human being okay. He's my he actually agreed to this account, Allah Subhana
Allah. Wow. And then they will come and say, Oh, I like your dress. Well, thank you. I just needed
you to talk to me. That's all. I'm also a human. We all like it. Subhana Allah, we like to be spoken
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to. If someone praises you, you're walking and you're tired and someone says, Sorry, sir. Sorry,
sir. Sorry, sorry. I like the way you're dressed. What will happen? No matter how upset you are,
you're gonna look smile and say, thank you. Thank you. You know, that's how the world's become the
problem with us. We are sad. We show that sadness on our faces. So we make everyone else said no,
Mohammed, peace be upon him taught us the opposite. You're supposed to smile, even if there is
sadness in your heart, try and break to a smile. Imagine that the person that is spoken about in the
Hadith of the Prophet or seldom, why is it considered a sadaqa? Why is it considered a charity to be
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able to peacefully coexist with the others not just coexistence, but help them benefit them without
them realizing that you've benefited them when you have an expression on your face that is
constantly pleasant.
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And I want to pause for a moment to to actually let you in on something very, very interesting. My
brothers, my sisters, promise yourself and your life will change. Promise yourself What? Promise
yourself to constantly try and have a good expression on your face. I swear, my brothers and sisters
you will not regret your life will change. Promise yourself to try and have a good expression on
your face. You know go and think what I've just said many of us we
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actually a very, very sad looking throughout the day every day, promise yourself to try. Try to have
a slight smile plastered on your face, as though it's part of your makeups of Allah and see what
happens. You will change not only your life, but I promise you, you will change the globe, everyone
around you will have a totally different perception, they will want to know what is the driving
force behind you being so happy all the time. If you could tell them I'm actually sad to the new but
I'm just smiling Subhanallah that smile is contagious. Other people will smile, we will all smile,
we break the ice between us and others. If I believe I'm on the right path, whenever Am I going to
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get the opportunity to discuss that with those who differ with me? When and there are so many who
believe they may be on the right person, they probably are not. We myself included need correction
because that is the condition of humankind. None of us is perfect. If I'm making a mistake. And I'm
not prepared to talk to anyone. And I'm not prepared to interact or to listen to any other opinion.
When am I going to realize my mistake? I won't. I need to listen, I need to think I need to be able
to open my heart. And I need to know for me as a Muslim. My guidance comes from Revelation Yes. If
whatever is being said,
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something is proven that I have done or said something wrong, I need to acknowledge that I'm wrong.
And that's what makes me even more tolerant.
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I was tolerant of somebody's opinion. And I got to learn that guess what mine was wrong and theirs
was right.
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I promise you it has happened to me, where I firmly believe that something was absolutely right. And
later on, someone came to me and they explained to me Look, you made a mistake. This is what you
said and this is what you did, etc. and Subhanallah I thank the almighty for giving me the
opportunity to listen to it, to be able to acknowledge to be able to understand my brothers and
sisters.
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I want to go back to a verse that I recited earlier, where the Almighty says to the Muslims, and to
all of us. Obviously it's a verse in the Quran, so the Muslims would believe it. Others may not
believe it. What do we believe? We believe we were created in order to worship the almighty in order
to fulfill his instruction and stay away from his prohibition that will result in our peace and
comfort in this world and the success in the next. That's what I believe. That's what we all
believe. So the almighty told me told you I've sent you on earth in order to worship me. He didn't
say, I sent you on earth to kill those whom you differ with. I sent you on earth to fight those whom
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you disagree with. I sent you on where to spit on others. I sent you on earth to destroy No, I sent
you on earth to build I sent you on earth to worship. I think you had to try to spread the goodness
if Allah wanted, they would have been no muddy, misguided, I read that verse for you. But because he
wanted to test us as to how patient we are with others, he created differences. Are you prepared to
be different? Are you prepared to listen to someone and to discuss in a dignified manner in a
respectful manner? I've known within Muslims within Muslims of intolerance with in a sect itself of
intolerance. Just because someone has a different opinion. How I'm not saying give up your opinion,
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but I am saying be tolerant of others. They have a right to exist remember that they have a right to
exist, it's up to you. So panorama, if you look at the Quran, Allah subhanho wa Taala speaks about
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the messages, the places of worship, churches, synagogues, etc. And Allah says, while I will
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be back
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masajid
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Coffee has more caffeine
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00:34:59
than Hajj Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us about how had it not been that people had to check one
another. And, you know, I cannot just attack you because I know that I'm responsible, someone else
will probably attack me and it's a vicious cycle. So Allah says had it not been for that system of
the Almighty places of worship would have been destroyed by mankind themselves. My brothers and
sisters the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon
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him has told us that even at the time of war, make sure you know that the places of worship are safe
havens. Today, people go into a place of worship and commit murder.
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People go into a place of worship and commit murder. Yes, we know what has just happened in New
Zealand.
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But I'm talking about even beyond that, as Muslims, sometimes people think because these people are
Christian, they have no right to worship. So they end up going into the church and wanting to
eliminate the people who believe in a different faith, not realizing the Prophet Muhammad peace be
upon him, himself said, Whoever enters that place of worship is actually safe, you have no right to
harm them, even at the time of war. How's that? So panela, those who enter the monastery are safe.
Those who enter the church are safe. Those who enter the synagogue, I say, This isn't the time of
war.
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And yet there are people who believe that this beautiful religion of tolerance has stopped with a
lot of teachings that are intolerant, no, not at all those misunderstandings and misinterpretations,
may the almighty grant of goodness and ease. So my brothers and sisters, it's very, very important
for us. To continue discussing this topic, we need to clarify the doubts that we have from those who
have knowledge, we have three full days in Sharla, where we will be discussing various aspects of
tolerance. And the idea, like I say, is not to water down your faith. That is a mistake that people
think I recall.
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People who told me that, you know, whenever you want to engage someone, and you're talking to them
so nicely, come on, you're showing that Islam is weak. That's not true. Actually, the strength of
Islam is in this beautiful characteristic that we have that of tolerance, that of goodness, that of
reaching out to people.
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So my brothers and sisters,
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I pray that the almighty benefit us and I pray that the almighty Grant has a good understanding. And
I would not like misunderstanding because like I said, if you sit and ponder over for a moment,
where you came from, and where the person you totally disagree with came from, you will realize you
are one family.
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And you know what, if you were traveling on an aircraft or in a ship, or perhaps if you were moving
in any place and suddenly there was a disaster that struck beat a natural disaster or any other type
of a disaster, what would happen? People would strive to save one another. They would strive
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if I felt right now here may Allah forbid,
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without knowing me, people will run to my assistance male and female.
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If an accident happened on a road that is very, very
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you know, that has little traffic, a deserted road somewhere and an accident happened. And later on
a car came past of people who really different from you. They were a different race, different
religion, different inclination, different ideas, different everything. But I promise you that
humanity sets in, they will stop and help you. They won't ask you. Sorry, tell me. What religion are
you? Oh, you this religion. You can die goodbye. They won't say that. Islam teaches you never to say
that. It's humanity that talks in Cairo, nursing and nursing, the most beneficial of people that
Hadith the Prophet Muhammad says, peace be upon him. The best people is the one who benefits most
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the rest of the people. How do I benefit the rest of the people?
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Subhana Allah, the best of you are those who have the best character. So now comes a man. And he
says, You know what?
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Well, I'm going to go around slapping people because they need to be tolerant of me. I believe that
I must slap people. So I'm going to go and I'm going to slap that man and that man and that man and
that woman and that woman, and I'll slap them as I'm walking out. And if they want to do anything to
me, I'm going to say you're supposed to be tolerant. Don't you know? You're tolerant, you're
supposed to be tolerant.
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Can I tell you that proves to us that there is a line. When we speak of freedom when we speak of
tolerance. We are not speaking of the usurping of rights of another you steal someone's property.
You cannot come and say sorry, at the police station. There's
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Supposed to be tolerant? Come on, I stole that was just my weakness. You know recently, I read an
article where a thief actually said that since I was born, it was in my genes to steal, so don't
blame me. While I read this a few days ago, a thief was caught. He said, since I was born, it was in
my jeans to steal.
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So he must have stolen a pair of jeans as well.
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He says it was in my jeans to steal. So I stole Why are you punishing me hang on, hang on, you
cannot use the term tolerance, to perpetrate crime and to claim that you're not going to be dealt
with. That's not tolerance. So as much as you are free, you are not free to damage someone to hurt
someone to take the rights of someone else, there is a line.
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May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us understanding the same applies to insult. While we are free to
talk, we are free to say things we are free to express ourselves, we must be respectful, because the
moment we begin to say things that that are hurtful, hateful, insulting,
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we will be taken to task and we have to be taken to task Someone has to stop you. Because if they
don't, it's going to create chaos and disaster across the globe. Hence, we check each other number
one, we remind each other Listen, my brother, please don't do this. This is wrong, this is not
allowed. You cannot come in and steal or damage. You know, I have the right to drive on the road.
Once I have a license and the car and everything is registered, and it's okay, I'm good to go. I
have a license to drive on the road, but I don't have a license to bump into someone else. If I bump
into someone else I'm going to pay, I have to pay, I cannot say Sorry, sorry. This is the year of
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tolerance. So you got to tolerate my bashing. That's foolish.
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I have a license to drive. But I don't have a license to break the law.
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In terms of speed limit in terms of seatbelt, in terms of so many other things. If I broken the law,
I will pay. So this goes to clarify the issue of injustice, oppression, and the violation of the
rights of others. That is not included in the term tolerance where we cannot use tolerance in order
to perpetrate these crimes. May the almighty grant us goodness. The last part of what I'd like to
say this evening, is connected to
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the issue of
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hatred. Yes, I will hate things. Sometimes I hate certain behavior. We all hate criminals, or should
I say crime? Let me read it again. We all hate the crime. But there is a normal level that Muslims
are taught and trained. As much as we hate a crime, we need to have hope that perhaps the criminal
will regret he will feel the sense of remorse and change his life. Yes, the punishment of this world
will be meted out, say for example, a man committed murder.
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We hate murder, we don't accept it, we won't allow it, we will try our best to protect everyone from
it. But if someone has committed murder, while the law is dealing with them,
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a true heart that is filled with compassion should actually be praying within it, that the person
feels the remorse, that the person perhaps turns to the Almighty, that the person regrets seeks
forgiveness, that is a separate matter from the justice of the world.
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I remember there was a perpetration of a crime not too long ago in New Zealand. And I remember
putting out a little note saying you know what?
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We should be praying for this person to see the light and people thought I'm saying forgive him,
forgive him completely. I have no right to tell people to forgive someone when the crime has been
committed against them. But I do have a right to say, pray for the man. If he realizes and he
regrets and he shows remorse. Surely one part of his dealing has been sorted out, that when the
almighty perhaps there is hope for his hereafter what will happen on earth he will face justice. May
Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us an understanding. So we will inshallah be going into greater detail
of this, of what I've said this evening, and many other aspects of the issue of tolerance in the
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next three days. I pray that the almighty grant acceptance, and I pray that we've benefited from
what I've said in a nutshell, we need to learn that the right we have to hold an opinion the right
we have to be firmly upon our faith. We need to understand others have a similar right we will
differ. We will discuss we will exchange nodes we will propagate we will continue praying
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We will hope and where we are wrong. We will also change ourselves May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant
us a broad understanding of Buddha sallallahu wasallam obala Carla and Amina Mohammed
