Tonight’s lecture in Singapore, June 2013.
Mufti Menk – Islam, The Life
AI: Summary ©
The speakers discuss the difficulties of achieving Islam, including regulations and rules, privacy concerns, and personal privacy. They emphasize the importance of learning to improve one's Islam and finding one's true intentions to achieve success. The speakers stress the need for effort and dedication to achieve success, finding a way to become a strong person, and embracing one's own success to achieve goals. They also offer advice on finding the joy in experiencing the goddamn feeling and enrolling in groups.
AI: Summary ©
Amina Shyvana Raji Bismillah
levena Mano
long how long sullo Walla
Walla Taku kalevi. Nepal knows me
wila tunku kalevi Nakano, Sameer
is
in Nashua, Juan
de la Hinson.
Walla
Walla
ijebu
yikun.
What
the Nevada
law how shady
was coo
coo
coo
coo
coo
coo
coo
coo
coo
coo
coo
coo
Salama aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato
smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil alameen wa sallahu wa salam ala Muhammad Sallallahu ala nabina Muhammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa. We praise Allah Subhana Allah Allah sent complete blessings and salutations to Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, we ask Allah to bless him and his entire household, all his companions, the one who was sent to us as a mercy in order to remove us from the darkness and to bring us to the light We ask Allah Subhana Allah to Allah to bless us as well together with him. And we ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to give us all every reason to smile brothers and sisters in Islam. I am humbled by this overwhelming response and attendance this
evening here in this beautiful country of Singapore.
I know we are sitting very close to the Malaysian border. And I learned something very interesting by some of the signs that were or that are posted up here for the drivers fill their tanks more than three quarters before they cross
first time in my life seeing it and I think this is the only country that will have it. Mashallah beautiful they think of everything. And I'd like to hope and think that it is in order to protect the interests of the country. What beautiful thinking even though it might be difficult, the reason why I want to say this, many people think Islam is a difficult religion, it has lots of rules and regulations. I say try coming to Singapore.
Yet it is considered a first world country so many rules you cannot chew gum you cannot do this you cannot work in public in this way. You cannot talk this way you cannot act this way. You cannot work this way. You cannot stand here. You cannot have the tank of your car less than three quarters. I've never heard that. So Mashallah These rules are there not to make your life difficult but in order to have a holistic protection of yourself and in order for you and and the various citizens and the people who live in this country to be able to enjoy the life in a way
That their interests are protected so that they do not trample upon that of others the rights of others. So Mashallah, I've given you an example and that would probably explain to you how and why it's such a beautiful country where everything works like clockwork too many rules and regulations. So Islam is such a beautiful way of life. It works like clockwork too many rules and regulations. Allahu Akbar let's thank Allah for giving us so many rules and regulations. At least we can chew gum as Muslims but we just need to make sure the ingredients is correct if you are in this country make sure you're in the right place as well. Yes, it's a fact of life. So this evenings topic as has been
given to me to speak on
perhaps we could lower the sound system slightly perhaps just my idea I don't know if you agree with that. I don't want to be fined for saying that.
Perhaps we could lower it slightly not higher. I think it's getting a little bit more feedback. And they say if you don't speak you don't get Mashallah and let's not have it too low because then we would be less than three quarter tank
Islam is the way of life I think that is standoff completely
we can try again. It was correct when I started Shabaab
Mashallah
tank is lower than three.
Okay.
In my country, I come from Zimbabwe, a beautiful place really beautiful and we may not be as gifted as you are in certain things. So whilst I'm speaking if my voice goes it is actually a power cut. Which means the electricity has gone but the weather is far better than yours by the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala the heat and humidity that you face you need to get used to eat amazing
Allah protect us. My mind is with the sound if you don't mind Shabaab it's a little bit too low.
I think I should have just kept quiet and let it go.
And I don't mind you know, stopping or saying something that I need to be done because I'm going to be here for the next 45 minutes to an hour. Why should I unless given me a mouth and respectful way of coming across so inshallah we can do that and we can use that inshallah for the will of Allah can we all hear right at the back? Can we hear inshallah
Okay, so then we need to go upwards, my brother, we can go back to where it was right up shala full tank.
But the question I have is, how did you say no, if you did not hear me.
Allah bless us all. We thank Allah for this. So we will be speaking in sha Allah of the way of life, Islam, and I started off by telling you something more serious. Let's go back to it. And that is do not think Islam is not a good religion, just because it has a lot of rules and regulations, it governs the way you will dress it governs the way you will walk and talk who you will talk to and how you will speak Yes, it does. And Subhanallah It is amazing how these things come and they return to us to benefit us long term. Whereas if we do not look at these rules and regulations, sometimes what may happen is we find that long term our life is affected negatively. And this is the sad part
of it. We thank Allah subhanho wa Taala for blessing us in every single way. Firstly, the question we have, and that is a question I've been asked to address. What is a Muslims obligation in this world? before I get to that, what is the obligation of a human being in this world? A human being should be asking questions Where am I? Where was I? Where am I heading? Why am I here? These are questions you are supposed to be asking yourself and you should not rest until you find answers for this. And inshallah, if you are a Muslim, it means you have surrendered. That is the meaning of the term Islam, to surrender, to surrender, to surrender to the ingredients that will result in your
eternal peace, both
outward and inward. And both in this world as well as the next amazing so you are a Muslim. Ask yourself, Am I a Muslim? because Islam or being a Muslim means one who has surrendered? If someone tells you stand you stand, sit, you sit, do this, you do that Subhana Allah So ask yourself when my maker tells me to stand am I standing? If I am, I'm a Muslim. If he tells me do not sleep at this time, am I sleeping?
Some hannula Malaysian clock should I say a Singapore clock has just been put in front of me Mashallah. It tells me Be careful. You have a time limit, Mashallah, don't worry, my brother, I've come with my own clock, I'm already 10 minutes 1314 1516. I also learned from Singapore from Panama.
If you are a person who has surrendered to Allah subhanho wa Taala, then you have the right to call yourself a Muslim, in the true sense of the term, but a lot of us, myself included, we have so much room for improvement. No matter what level you are on, we can find ourselves becoming better people and learning properly what Islam is all about.
Because for your information, we have a misunderstanding. And that misunderstanding is that Islam is all about, or is only about praying five times a day, Islam is only about paying your Zakah and Islam is only about reciting the Quran and perhaps engaging in decay. And it has nothing to do with your interaction with the rest of mankind, or even with the rest of the globe. That is a very warped understanding of Islam. Because Islam is a way of life that governs your interaction with those you are neighbors with as well as Muslim or non Muslim. it governs the interaction with your parents, Muslim or non Muslim. it governs the way you will interact with anyone you come across whether you
work with them, or you've just seen them on the street. It really governs absolutely every aspect of your life. That is what Islam is.
So for me to think for a moment that Islam is only connected to a five daily prayers, so I am here for fudger but I steal the money or I usurp the wealth of those whom I interact with, I keep them in business. That's not a good Muslim. I am here for four I read my sooner I read extra prayers, but I speak roughly to my spouse, that's not Islam. That's only a part of it.
I might read my answer, and I might take my time to read the long surah. And I might be reading the Quran between Lahore and Asad or at any time of the day or night, but I am a person who cannot respect or speak well to my parents who are not Muslim, then I only follow the part of Islam. I don't really know i think that this is Islam, but Islam is much more holistic than what I think.
So if I think that I'm a Muslim, so I should not be contributing positively to my country, then I have actually lost the whole idea.
you contribute positively to your nation, even if it is a non Muslim nation, by your positive contribution and we talk of positive contribution, you will be able to highlight the beauty of the faith that you belong to the dedicated pneus people will see that if I have a school teacher as a civil servant, he or she works dedicatedly because he or she is a Muslim to begin with.
I have any other person operating in any other department of work, arrives at work early or on time and leaves not before the prescribed time they are now learning from Islam. That is why you have Salah at specific times. In masala Taka
mini Nikita
indeed Salah is prescribed upon the believers upon specific times. There are many benefits of it being on specific times. One of them is for us to learn punctuality even in the other things we do in our lives. So a person whose Salah is not in order, most probably they will pitch up to work five minutes late, sometimes a little bit more late. Sometimes they will not be sick, but they will come up with fraudulent sick notes in order to say I was unwell if you are a true Muslim that will never ever happen. Amazing look at how Islam is the way of life.
If you are a true Muslim, you will be a person who is dedicated to the goodness and well being of all those around you in such a way that by looking at you have already introduced them to Islam and Islam. It is such a beautiful, irresistible way of life. That if you are to behave in a way that it has taught you and mean, we will automatically be an asset to the globe at large.
We will be the most sought after people. Not because we've done something bad or wrong, but because we are the ones who fulfill the role of a proper human being in a way that makes people proud. Your boss, your manager, your school teacher, the police force anyone else who is higher than you would look at you as a person who is an asset. A person who is really someone with dealing with a person who is sought after we'd rather have this woman this man they don't drink they are not in involved.
When, for example, gambling, and they are not in any form of drugs, they don't cheat or deceive. And they are definitely not going to waste this time at their workplace, attracting the opposite *. And that's it. Because this is what's happening in a lot of workplaces. People are there morning, afternoon evening smiling only because the girl that works on that desk there, I'm trying to attract her attention. If that is the case, can we call ourselves proper muslimeen? Have we followed the have we followed the rules that are supposed to be governing the way we operate? The answer is no, we have a lot to improve. Islam is the way of life such that you appreciate what is legitimate for
you and legal. Your spouse you appreciate so much that you spend time with them in a way that when you leave the home, they cannot wait for you to return.
Not the other way around. You know, as soon as you arrive home, they say I wish this guy was late. And second thing I when is he going to leave? They might pretend there is a phone call for you to leave urgently. And they tell you You know what, I've got a bread that I need to buy, please can you go out dish out and buy it but don't buy it from the 711 down the road? We need you to go to that shop there which is about 10 kilometers away. Why? Just get rid of you, man?
Ask yourself tonight a question? Am I a person who leads a life in a way that those around me feel that my presence is something good for them?
ask yourself that question, especially your family, your children, your parents, and so on spouse, those whom you work with, do they look at you as a person who when you are not there, they feel the pinch.
Not that when you are there, you begin to pinch now
we are Muslims, we are supposed to be people who are missed dearly. That is the way of life we should be leading. So I may not in 45 minutes be able to tell you every single aspect of Islam, but I can make you ask questions to yourself and you have the intellect given by Allah to answer the question and to know where you are going wrong. Why is it that people don't like you? Why is it that people are irritated with you? Are you a person who does not have the etiquette of speaking
to those around you? So you don't even give importance to your own spouse, your children, your family members? If that's the case, why call yourself a Muslim? Why don't you say I'm trying to be a Muslim? Allahu Akbar.
And then we complain that we don't have peace in our lives. We say you know what, I'm feeling so suicidal. I'm feeling so you know, bad I'm so low. It's either because we have not lived our lives submitting in the manner we should or someone else has not submitted the way they should.
Because Allah tells you, if you are to submit, you will achieve peace. Look at the letters that were written by Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam people at his instruction to the leaders of the globe. The first thing he said
is slim, the slum
surrender,
and you will be at peace Hara Allahu Akbar, what type of peace it means here we have a set of rules and regulations. We have a beautiful constitution, in the Quran, which governs the life from the creator of that life, saying that if you are to surrender to it, you will achieve peace as the slum. Remember those words, surrender, and you will achieve peace, you will be at peace. That message is for all of us, that encapsulates the entire message of Islam. That's what it does.
If someone were to tell you go to that country, and when you do business there, you will definitely make a profit, you will enjoy dealing in that country. It would mean their rules and regulations are so beautiful, they will have so many rules, which will govern the way you live and the way others live in such a way that you don't trample on their rights, but more importantly, they do not trample on yours. So, if you look at and I want to go back, because this is a beautiful country really go back to the laws of this country. If you look at them, you cannot say to yourself, everyone should implement it by but I should be above it.
Because that would mean you are selfish, then the circle cannot be completed unless and until you are a person who is also part and parcel of it.
So why is it that we look at Islam as a way of life and we tell ourselves these people are not good Muslims, but ourselves. We are not that great.
If you want Islam to grow, let it grow within yourself to start with a lot of us if we were to have an apparatus that could see, you know, some form of an X ray that could look into our systems to see what percentage of Islam we are actually fulfilling, we would probably find that we have a lot of room for improvement, may Allah protect us, then we are complaining, why is it that Islam is looked down upon on the globe, my brother, my sister, you are a part of the solution to that. So am I,
I need to improve myself and live the religion properly so that people can see my name is Muslim, I appear to be a Muslim, and yet, I am the best person at this workplace, not because I'm saying it out of pride, but because I am so honored to be a part and parcel of not only this particular business place, but more than that part and parcel of Islam and the deal the religion that was sent by Allah subhanho wa Taala
amazing.
Look at this. So what is your duty you might ask as a Muslim, it is to live Islam as best as you can to improve on a daily basis, from the position you are at right now to something more if you are not reading the Quran every day, please, my brothers and sisters start increasing the recitation of the Quran inshallah, on a daily basis, if you are eating five minutes a day, then inshallah, what you could do is increase it to 10 minutes, that is how you will be improving, that is your duty. And if you are reading 10 minutes a day, then inshallah you may continue further to 15 minutes to 20 minutes to more than that by the word of Allah subhanho wa Taala. If you are reading without
understanding, it is your duty to improve, start reading the meanings of at least a single verse a day.
Start reading the meanings of at least a single verse a day, and you will find amazing solutions in your life. Because the words of Allah so beautiful, so beautiful, that when you read them, they will have within them solutions to crises that you are facing today in your life. And you might say, How did he know that I had this challenge in my life? Well, he always knew that you are going to be facing these challenges. So he had the solutions for those challenges within His revelation. But were you ever bothered to open the book of Revelation, and to try and understand it?
Allah created us. And he knows that every single one of us will be going through a certain set of problems. If I were to write down the types of problems that human beings face, I would be able to come up with a list that would include almost everything. Because I'm a human and so are you the type of problems I face, you probably would as well. And the type of problems you've encountered in other people's lives, I would have encountered as well. So if I were to tell you people are cheating on their spouses, that's one big problem. It's global. And it's not only an Islamic thing, which means, in fact, Muslims, if they follow Islam, that wouldn't even be a problem.
If I were to tell you people are not fulfilling their duties in their workplace, or parent child relation, we have issues or Muslim, non Muslim relation or not only Muslim, non Muslim, but different faiths are not getting along with each other. different sects of Islam are not prepared to tolerate each other, just because of two or five differences. Don't we have the crisis? Where are we? Where is Islam?
May Allah protect us? May Allah grant us knowledge in a way that we can rise above a lot of issues through knowledge, and not through ignorance.
So this is the deal, my duty to become a better person as the days pass. So I need to ask myself, in order to answer this question, what is the duty of the Muslim I need to ask myself? Am I a Muslim? Number one, do I surrender?
How can I improve my life today? How can I improve myself just like when you have a salary, my brothers and sisters, you want an increment by the end of the year, if you don't get that 2% 5% these are small percentages in countries that Mashallah have a good economy. But where the economy is dwindling and crashing, people want 20% 50% when we were living in the days of
the difficulty, the economic crisis of Zimbabwe, which has made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records, you would find people asking for an increment of 1,000,000,000%. Do you know that and it's not a joke, because of the economy crashing so badly, that it was actually reversing in a way that I think the world had not
I've seen before that I stand to be corrected. But people enjoy life, why they made the most of that opportunity in order to start barter trading and perhaps dealing in different ways. Everyone makes a plan for life. Why don't we make a plan for the life after as well.
Today, if you were to have a salary and that salary is not increasing for the last 10 years, you would probably look for a better job, even if your job is quite good. You would say, you know what, these people I have no promotion, I have no acknowledgement, and I have no increment. You're upset. How then do we expect the life after death to be a beautiful life when we are not prepared to increase the goodness we have, and to deposit that amount in the bank of Allah subhanho wa Taala, I am not prepared to improve on my Salah. I am not prepared to improve on my dress, my brothers and sisters, we are sometimes becoming worse as time passes. You know, I normally tell people look at
your dress, every one of us we have room to improve it, every one of us look at your dress, you have room to improve it, how are you going to improve it? Whatever you do, one of two things is your duty.
Firstly, not to go back on your achievement. So if you stay where you are, because you are putting up with the pressure of society, community, your peers, and what have you, you are achieving a lot just by remaining where you are.
So let me try and say that in a different wording.
If your surroundings are such that they want you to go back on your achievement of dress code, and you are remaining afloat, that itself is an achievement. So like a person who doesn't really know how to swim well, but they can float, you will tell them brother for as long as you are moving in whatever way you are moving and remaining afloat, you are okay.
Secondly,
ask yourself, How can I improve so if you are a person who is progressing, in that case, you are a good Muslim, you are a really good Muslim, even if that progress happens to be an inch at a time, you are really a good Muslim, thank Allah that has given you an opportunity to look into and introspect into yourself, and to be able to become a better person, a lot of us here, almost all of us would know what is halaal. And what is haram, what is required, and what is prohibited, we would know the basics. So what is left, what is left is two things, to put it into practice conveyed to others, and perhaps to swim a little bit deeper, to listen to what is a little bit more, what else
can I put into practice here to make myself a better person, this is what it is.
But we hardly know the deal. And we are looking at each other with the eye of hatred. I hate this person. I hate that person. Why? Because you know, they're not the proper people, these people watch out, be careful for them. And you don't even know much You haven't even put into practice anything. You don't even realize that the non Muslims who are around you, they are going to get hold of you in the life after death to complain that you were the neighbor, but you never ever introduced them to the goodness not even by your character, you lead your life. You see, there are two things. Those people who do not invite others to Islam, even through their character, that is one thing.
But what is worse than that those who chase away others from Islam through their smelly behavior. Yes, that is worse. So ask yourself as another duty of yours as a Muslim? Have I introduced Islam to others? Have I made it beautiful so my children can follow? Have I made it beautiful so that those around me can be encouraged to be good muslimeen
and then the other question you ask yourself, have I done things in my life or Here and Now am I doing things that makes people look at me and hate this religion that I follow? If that is the case, we have tons and tons to improve? Allah forgive us and may gunda steadfastness and strength
because many of us neither do we promote the deen nor do we do anything actively for ourselves. But over and above that we do things that discourage others. You know, if you haven't promoted the deen, you are wrong. But if you have demoted it, you are even more wrong. This is what we are saying. So ask yourself some of these questions and inshallah you will be able to achieve a lot out of this. Because look at us seated here. I'm sure from amongst us, they are professionals. There are people who live their lives in a beautiful way. Share that goodness
with others, no matter what field you are in, it's your duty. To make it clear that your religion plays a big role in who you are today. People look at you as the CEO, as a manager, as a top worker, as a person who is a teacher, for example, someone who's the head of a school, someone who might be involved in one way or another. I'm trying to just mention some. They look up to you and sometimes they are not Muslim. And you've never ever made it clear that you are a Muslim. Is that fair? Islam is part of what brought you up to where you are. It is the reason why you are sitting here this evening, in the house of Allah subhanho wa Taala. If we were able to see the unseen my brothers and
sisters right now we would see the angels surrounding us, we would see the mercy of Allah descending upon us, we will see the love of Allah descend upon us, because we are here for his sake in his house, and we have been told by Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, whenever people gather to remember Allah in one way or another, the angels around them, and the mercy descends upon them, the Peace and blessings descend upon them. melas peace and blessings be upon us.
We have a spirituality right now. That is more than electrifying.
As soon as you leave, you won't feel that spirituality anymore. It will begin to dwindle. Depending on how seriously you took this particular gathering. May Allah subhanho wa Taala count as goodness, may the mercy and blessings be upon us at all times, may we be protected. My brothers and sisters, these beautiful moments are such that if we go home without asking ourselves questions we have lost. Tell yourself, do I read my Salah?
That is a very important question. But more than that, do I lead a holistic Islamic life? Or do I think that the minute I pray, then I don't need to worry about anything else. If that's the case, your knowledge is actually misinformation. And it is not your knowledge.
If you were to look at the Hadith of the Prophet, sallAllahu, alayhi wasallam, I'm sure a lot of us would have come across it, where he makes mention of the one who is at greatest loss on the Day of Judgment. He says it is he who prayed a lot, who gave much in charity, who did a lot of good deeds. But he stole the wealth of this one. He slandered that one, he wronged that one, he oppressed this one. And so his prayer is gone.
given as a gift to that one as a compensation, his good deeds are gone to that one. And all his deeds are depleted because they are taken as payment for those whom he has wronged.
What do we learn from that Hadith? Those are powerful words, we learn that Islam has much more in it than standing for prayer, although the prayer makes up a pillar that holds it up.
So don't think I'm saying prayer is not important. It is a pillar. But the brickwork is made up of so much more than just that prayer.
Now comes the question. So how do I attain knowledge? I want to learn, I want to know more. I am feeling that I am a person who really wants to know more about this religion, and about my duties unto Allah. So I've asked myself the question, I've answered whatever I can, the simple questions What about the more complex ones where an effort is required. Without an effort you will not achieve? Just like effort is required to work to earn, you will need an effort in order to earn the life after death as well. What is the effort, time and effort required, you will have to fight your whims and fancies and desires to attend talks like this, which will only motivate you, they might
not be an in depth, dissemination of deep knowledge, but they will definitely be a motivation. I go away feeling good feeling that I am a person who still there is a lot of hope about there is a lot of hope for
and you smile at your self and your link with your maker. And you have a concern within your heart to increase that link by learning more. So now you enroll for a course, you begin to start studying in a way that you can end up not only with a certificate on paper, but the certificate which is stamped and engraved in your heart.
What is the point of a person who has a PhD on paper but they
Job is something else altogether. I came across a man in business shrewd businessman. And he told me, I specialized, I'm a doctor, and a specialist. So he says, but now I've given up that field completely. And I'm into business. I told him why he told me, this is a true story. Back at home, I met someone who told me this, he says, because I can make more money through business.
I think that is quite serious.
If the whole world is running after money, because you could make money through a deal, none of us would be in the fields that we are. Yet we require a whole spectrum of different professions, in order not to depend on others for that. Today, in this country, for example, they would promote certain professions that there is a shortage of, and they might even give you a scholarship and sponsor you to go and study that field. Because they want to have the citizens of this country, cover those posts. You follow what I'm saying?
So if I am so concerned, and I understand so deeply about this world, that my certificate is extremely important, how much are you prepared
to sacrifice in order to study and get a certificate engraved onto your hearts to say this person knows they have knowledge, they made an effort to go out and learn when they look at you. And they will acknowledge that this person is a respected, reputable person, can I tell you knowledge, true knowledge of the faith comes with humbleness and humility.
If you want to recognize those with knowledge, you will see them leading a very humble life, you will see them really people of sound character and conduct, you will see them reach out to as many people as possible, you will see them Subhana Allah and you will feel like I want to study I want to learn, I want something to happen. But that windy path of knowledge is sometimes scattered with a lot of difficulties and issues, discouragement from the devil. in different ways. People will tell you don't go and study this, you know, don't do this, don't do that. So you need to know how to rise up to a belief to Satan, to the devil.
You need to know how to tackle him in a way that he does not overcome you. And that you can get away with goodness and not become a person who drowns in evil. Something important, interesting.
So every time the devil comes to you to distract you, you need to understand the distraction. That's how you will attain knowledge. When you want to memorize the Quran, for example, I think the devil will come to you so many times, to say this teacher is too hard. This place this thing is taking too long, this thing is impossible. If you cannot rise to that devil, perhaps you are never meant to be a person who memorize the Quran, you too weak. But if you rose to him, like the others have one day you will be a champion, you know, sitting and listening to various sports people and how they achieve.
I've said this before for some of you who might be following some of the lectures and I'm going to say it again. Take a look at any field swimming, namely some of the top swimmers in the world. You know, you might name one or two, the top players of tennis in the world, the top golfers, the top runners who bought from one end to the other. Name them. So Panama.
What is what is it that they have in common? They have achieved? What did they achieve? They got gold. They got gold. They made it first top of the globe. How did they achieve? Can I tell you?
Can I tell you
dedication and perseverance. They took it serious they kept on practicing day and night until they started dreaming of winning the championships.
That's the dedication, perseverance. They wanted to get gold. My brothers and sisters Don't you want the price of the life after and don't you want goodness in this world persevere and make an effort every single day practice and continue going further you will get the gold it is far easier to get the gold of the era than it is to get the gold of the dunya
nobody told you to keep on running the 100 meters morning, afternoon, evening, and so on. Stop eating all these types of food only have this much one law he they forced themselves to stay away from food that Islam has made halaal for us to eat. So the amount of food that we are not allowed to eat as Muslim is far less than the amount of food that those in those fields have stayed away from
on their own in order to be fit, so that they can run from one end to another, all they can achieve in terms of sport, yet we say Islam is hard to follow, but we wouldn't mind staying away from that which we would, which would be much more than what Islam has asked you to stay away from just to be able to achieve a middle of this dunya.
So don't blame the religion. It's the dedication. Are you dedicated enough? My brothers and sisters, you will find goodness, today there is an increase in cancer on the globe. May Allah protect those who have good health? And may Allah grant cure to those who have ill health? I mean,
there is a growth there is in the number.
There are so many reasons why people are saying it's because of eating habits. It's because of radiation of mobile phones. It's because of genetically modified foods. It's because of this and that we don't know we really don't know what is the reason but we do know there is an increment in these diseases, respiratory diseases, diseases of the digestive system and so on. Islam governs your diet.
And yet, we are sometimes not prepared to follow that
dietary restriction
until the house goes then we say no, I'm staying away from this But brother, Allah told you from a long long time, smoking is not for you. You know some strange reason I don't know the law of smoking in this country. But I look at faces and I can tell that the bulk of whom and seated with today do not smoke Mashallah Alhamdulillah
now, the laughs told me that you are wrong.
I hope I'm right. And I think I am.
So it took the law of the land, to force us not to smoke. But when Allah told us is harmful, anything that's harmful for your health quit, we will not really get ready to quit.
Allahu Akbar, the minute there was a monetary fine $500 to be seen smoking there. So we get it up far away. Not even in our pockets, not even by chance. But by mistake. Imagine if we were to be fined for not getting up for Salatin. I think to be honest, the mustard would be the richest place on Earth.
$500 for not coming for Salah.
But really, Allah says Hang on, if you haven't come, we won't even find you if you start coming. Amazing. Imagine someone says if you've been caught with all your traffic fines, the minute you start dedicating yourself not to go beyond the limit and you prove your point. We will squash all those fines. I think we would all want to live in that country.
Allah squashes up all those fines that are on our shoulders. My brothers and sisters knowledge will not be able to be achieved without dedication, without sacrifice, without perseverance. And without putting into practice what you learn.
continue asking questions you know there was a time when people told you don't ask. In Islam you ask you ask your questions you will inshallah receive some form of a satisfactory answer. The most that you will be told is Allah knows best Subhan Allah, that is the limit. There are certain things that Allah definitely knows best, certain things that Allah has kept such that maybe you might not find the answer immediately. But that doesn't mean that you abandon what Allah has decreed. No, he is your maker. Your best option is to follow you will find a lot of peace and comfort and goodness. And as I said, the path of knowledge is filled with hurdles.
What are those hurdles,
people might discourage you, the devil might come and not want you to be there. Sometimes your own family members will say, hey, relax, you are becoming a little bit hardcore. Sometimes maybe it's because of the way you react with them. When you have knowledge become humble. Like you have turned to Allah 40 years down your age, it took you 40 years to see the light. Why is it that you want to shove that light down the throat of someone else in four minutes? What hypocrisy is then work hard on them as well show them the beauty that you saw. And this is something I've learned when a person has turned to religion later on in their lives. Sometimes they want to force the rest of the people
around them to follow the religion in four minutes, but they forget that it took them 40 years to come to that faith. Allahu Akbar. It is something it is a sacrifice. You are impatient with people that impatience might drive them further away from the religion. You thought you were getting closer to it. So don't be impatient. Take your time. Great.
They might only see the light after you have died. It's possible. So be patient and understand that all the people around you are a gift to you so that you can call them towards goodness. Imagine if there was no one around you. How who would you call to goodness? And imagine if everyone around you was upon greater goodness than you, who would you call towards goodness.
So Allah has kept people around you who have never seen the light or don't want to see the light. And he has kept people around myself and yourselves who perhaps need a reminder now and again. And perhaps we might have to work on them for 10 years. Every minute of that work of ours is an act of worship.
Allah gave you the opportunity. So the longer it takes for you to have shown someone the right path, the greater your reward.
If you look at it from one angle
I hope you've understood what I just said.
You know, today we have
say car racing Mashallah I see beautiful cars in the city. When we have car racing, there is a specific place. They have obstacles that they place. The racing track is windy, so the driver needs to be tested how he turns the corners, how he straightens how he goes over the bumps, depending if it's a rally, they might make him go through terrain, which requires a four by four. They might make him do this and do that at the end of the day. You have all the obstacles and above that you came first. You made it top 10 top five you enjoyed going through the obstacles because you wanted to make it tops you wanted to come out at the top. You enjoyed it. Brothers and sisters do you believe
45 minutes do you allow me to carry on
Mashallah.
So you enjoyed it because you want to do achieve it was your passion in the same way or even in a greater way. become passionate about your faith, you will achieve obstacles turn the corner properly, you have terrain get on to your four by four continue, you have this obstacle that obstacle people look at you just because you started wearing proper clothing and they look give you a discouraging look well get onto your four by four and start moving inshallah that's just terrain it's just a matter of time before you know it you will be sailing right at the top of that whole department and everyone will say wow Is it the scarf that made the sister go right up maybe we
should start learning it
because this Mashallah, so this is just a glimpse into trying to learn more putting into practice being dedicated and looking at the positives so that we are not discouraged. you achieve a lot my brothers and sisters all of us Mashallah we've achieved that's why we are seated here today. We have achieved a lot in life, Masha, Allah, will Allah accepted, we hope Mashallah we have a lot of hope in the mercy of Allah, we've heard about his mercy and how kind he is how forgiving he is, how ready he is to look at the good and to forgive and forgive the bad May Allah grant the goodness to us, may He forgive us.
But never be satisfied with the condition that you are in. Always look for an upgrade no matter what, Allah protect us.
So we've spoken about how to become a strong person tackling challenges, taking opportunities for self improvement, like I said, introspect. Benefit yourself, be of benefit to those around you. And inshallah, you will lead the change by the will of Allah very positively.
You know, as the world is progressing, and people are now
this is something amazing. People are now in touch with others across the globe, you cannot fool people anymore. You know, someone tells you that person said this, in two minutes, you can clarify it directly from the horse's mouth.
Someone says, This is what happened in five minutes, you will be able to tell whether it's right or wrong, or depending on how dedicated you are to find out the truth.
If you just listen to any news channel, a lot of the news channels are serving an agenda. A lot of them, they belong to certain people. So will they sometimes speak against themselves? Well, I asked the same question to you.
So sometimes we would be foolish to believe a thief that he has not stolen.
You know, when you catch a thief, he's got the loot in his hand and he tells you I've never stolen in my life, and you're looking at his hand looking at him. And he tells you I've never stolen in my life. And your property is in his hand and you are actually looking at it. Why? Because he's a thief. That's the reason.
So you would be foolish to think oh, maybe that belongs to someone else. Wow, look at this car. It has the same number plate is mine.
I'm surprised. Oh my brother, please pray that I get my car back. He tells you No, this is mine. I used your number plate because it was a good car, one line, you're foolish. Nobody would do that. So why then, do we think that through negativity, we can have a positive change, that doesn't happen.
We are so negative sometimes and we want ourselves to change. That won't happen. Your change will come with hope. It will come with the correct amount of concern and fear. But it will come with
the hope that you instill in others as well. life becomes more meaningful when you understand where you are heading with a smile and with the concern, asking yourself how am I prepared for that day? Amazing, you'll enjoy you ask yourself every day How am I prepared for the day I meet my maker today I help the poor person today I smiled at a few people made them feel good and comfortable. Mashallah, today, for example, I reached out to x, y and Zed. Today I did this and did that Mashallah, these are ways of preparing today I fulfilled my prayers. Against all odds, I got up at such an awkward hour, which I would have considered awkward, but now it's no longer awkward because
I enjoy doing it because that is part of my preparation. It's like a doctor on call. A doctor has such a high respect in society, really. And really, we reach out to the doctors who are seated here this afternoon or this evening, Mashallah. The doctors have a higher respect. One of the reasons is, someone drops here now you will have 20 or 30 doctors rushed to their assistance, and none of them will ethically tell you, brother before I look at you just take out $50 and pay to me, then I have a peep because it is an emergency. They forget about everything. And they will go out of their way to say you know what?
This is an emergency, we will help they've reached out.
They have a respect because they have what is known as
being on standby or on call for an emergency. So two in the morning, someone phones them, they know the phone must be on and I need to rush. As soon as the call comes in. They're gone. What happened to the bidding? It is forsaken. For what? For purposes of my job.
And yet Allah says that
Boom.
Boom.
In surah, Allah describes the successful believers, and he says they forsake their beds, they are on call at all times, their sides, abandon their beddings in order to stand up in prayer to Allah hoping for goodness and fearing anything that might be negative.
Yes, how many of us are ready to be on call for the sake of Allah, you will achieve respect in this world and the next. May Allah grant us that respect.
And this is why we need to lay our trust in Allah. Sometimes in life, my brothers and sisters, you are doing the right thing. But the challenges are such that you are losing hope. Really, we have a problem My health is failing Allah grant us Oh, good health. You find person saying my health is failing. My marriage is breaking. My children are hassling me. My I'm lost. I've just lost a job. I need to make payments. I'm in debt. I this and I that and I am suffering this way in that way. Do what you have to enlist your trust in Allah. Really Work hard. ask Allah forgiveness constantly. Allah forgive me, for what I've done, knowingly and unknowingly. A lot of the times we commit sin.
We don't even know that we've committed the sin because we've taken it for granted. This is why Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam teaches us to say, Oh Allah, forgive me for sins I've committed that I don't even realize and I don't even know that I've committed sometimes we've forgotten about sins because of our memory. So we ask Allah to forgive us, but at the same time, rise to the beautiful occasions, lay your trust in Allah.
Allah will resolve your matters. He did not guarantee you that in this world you will have what you want how you want when you want? No, but he says if you work thoroughly, that day will come when you get what you want, how you want when you want in the era in Paradise, and we constantly say, paradise would lose its value. If you were to have everything you desired in this world, what was the point of going to the hereafter?
My brothers and sisters, I have addressed almost every pointer that I've had in my synopsis that I was
Given I hope and I pray we've benefited I've tried to word it as relatively as possible. I've tried to keep it as digestible as possible and we hope and pray that just like we like the food of this world you know you come to this part of the world. I know in Malaysia they call it they say maca. maca means
it means to eat. That's what they call it. I think a lot of us will probably understand the language as well. McCann this time when I flew down. I told some of my friends you need to change the name of your country to mechanic Stan.
mechanic Stan, why everywhere you go food, food food, Mashallah. Just like we enjoy that food, I hope and I pray, we've enjoyed the spiritual food that we've had this evening. And I hope we don't stop here. And we don't just leave it here. But we take it further. Let's start enrolling. Let's start seeing let's start dedicating let's start learning. Let's start putting into practice. Let's start helping one another. Let's start acknowledging the different levels of the people around us knowing that if one person has a weakness in one aspect of their lives, perhaps we have 10 weaknesses in other aspects of our lives. So let's stop this notion of looking down and others just
because of one weakness they have, we might not like the deed, but the person is definitely a brother or a sister of ours. So with this message of love and peace, I end up saying, my brothers and sisters, let's love each other for the sake of Allah. Let's let this be an oma full of love and goodness full of smiles and the feeling that you feel with one another of connection and let it not be a feeling of divorce. A feeling where you look at one another and because you see them practicing the deen you're going to go away from them or you see them not practicing the deen. So you think very low of them. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us goodness, may he use us in a positive way to
contribute positively to our brothers and sisters, my brothers and sisters I love you for the sake of Allah subhanho wa Taala and I'm sure the feeling is mutual. And I really am humbled once again by this beautiful gathering of brothers and sisters Mashallah I end up saying inshallah we hope to meet again batch tomorrow, perhaps On another occasion, if not here, then in the hereafter in paradise May Allah unite us until we meet again, are sallallahu wasallam albaraka Allah Nabina Muhammad wa salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato Subhana Allah He will be handy satanic Allahumma behenic the shadow Allah Allah Allah and
one or two Hoylake