Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat, Oman.
8 December 2018
Mufti Menk – Islam & the Modern World. Challenges & Opportunities
AI: Summary ©
The speaker discusses the challenges and opportunities that come with Islam, including protecting the Earth and finding comfort in the spiritual experience. They emphasize finding a "we" approach to the spiritual experience and finding a way to convince people to stop harming their lives. The negative impact of materialism on people's political and political beliefs and the importance of praying for oneself and finding the right person to pray for is also discussed. The segment touches on the negative reactions of Islam's actions, including deaths of people and the loss of identities, and ends with a call for forgiveness and promise of blessings from Allah.
AI: Transcript ©
Salam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
Bismillah Alhamdulillah wa Salatu was Salam ala Abdullah he was truly Muhammad Ali he was happy.
We praise Allah Subhana Allah to Allah We thank him upon all conditions we send blessings and salutations upon the messengers that the Almighty has sent from the beginning all the way to Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam the final messenger, may Allah Subhana, Allah, Allah bless him and his household, and all those who carried the goodness up to when it has got to us May Allah bless every one of us and our offspring. Those two follow up to the end of time that Allah guide us and grant us, Goodness me. My brothers and sisters, we will be speaking about the challenges and the opportunities
when it comes to Islam in the modern world, and you and I know that we have a lot to talk about,
and a lot to discuss and a lot to do.
I'm sure you would agree with me
that we face so many challenges, more than we have been facing.
In the previous decades that we've been alive. May Allah make it easy. I will try to be as realistic as possible this evening because I want the message to come from the heart straight to the heart.
So if you look at Islam as a religion, it existed from the time of Adam. Now people might think how, because Islam is only maybe 1400 and something odd years. In actual fact, we addressed this yesterday when I said that anyone who submitted to the will and the law of the Almighty that came through any of the messages at the time of that messenger was considered the submitter, which translates in the Arabic language as a Muslim, a Muslim means a submitter, the one who has submitted. So it is beautifully put the Muslim moon, those who have submitted have started from the beginning because they submitted to the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala. Now, religion comes with
guidance, it comes with goodness, it comes with peace, it comes with tranquility, it comes with contentment. It comes with a relationship that you build with the Almighty Who created you. And the relationship that you build with the rest of the creatures of the Almighty that you will share the earth with for the short time that you are on the earth. Imagine if you were in a huge ship, and you had to get from point A to point B,
it would be in the best of your interests to ensure number one, that the ship is not destroyed
by any doing of yours or anyone elses. Number two, to have the best possible relationships and relations with those on the ship in order to avoid conflict that will result in hurt and harm. But on top of that damage to the ship that probably would sink if the people in the ship had to fight. Similarly, we are all in this huge shift known as the world. It is in the best of our interests, to protect the world to protect what the Almighty has given us to preserve it to the best of our ability and to look after one another and to look after everyone and everything that happens to be in the ship in the best possible way.
So that we don't sink, we don't create destruction, we are not a vehicle of harm. Because if that happens, we will lose focus. And we begin then
to cause discontentment, disunity, hatred, malice, jealousy and what have you, which is the opposite of what religion calls for. So when we talk of Islam in the modern world, we have to first start off with the religious aspect. What is Islam in brief, it is a religion that should bring about goodness and peace Salam actually means peace. The idea is, if you submit you will achieve peace. If you submit to the will of the Almighty, you will achieve peace. Some people may not submit to the will of the Almighty. What do I do?
If they don't submit to the will of the Almighty or if they submit to what they believe is the will of the Almighty that may be different from what I believe is the will of the Almighty. Does it mean that I have to be at war with them? The answer is not at all No way. If that is was the case we would have destroyed the earth.
And this is why those who think the difference in religion or in faith or in inclination,
calls for a war or hatred, they're actually wrong.
If I differ with you,
perhaps the best I could do for you if I'm very passionate about what I believe in, is to try and convey to you in the most convincing way. And if I were to pick up a knife or a sword or a weapon, and try to shove my belief down your throat, I would actually be so wrong, so wrong.
Though those who say Islam spread by the by the sword, they are actually wrong. If you take a look at Islam spreading right now, which sword is there? If you take a look at the largest number of people to turn to Islam, post September 11, when it became difficult for people to actually live as Muslims, and large numbers of people are entering Islam, which saw this day, it's the opposite. It's actually entering Islam, at the time of difficulty and hardship at the time when to identify yourself as a Muslim has become so difficult
to identify yourself as a Muslim people look at you, and they judge you immediately you have a hijab, they immediately believe that you're oppressed, but you're not. And you know, you're not, but they shove it down your throat, they will advertise it in the newspapers, sometimes with or without your name, that you're oppressed, you're backward, you are this you are that, you know, you're a hate monger, or whatever else it might be, and you know, you're not, and you're quite surprised that sometimes there's nothing you can do about it besides, to pray, and to keep on remaining focused, reaching out with your good.
So the Islam and the religious aspect of it is supposed to bring about goodness and peace. Like I say, Islam doesn't mean war. It means peace, he man refers to two things. belief, you believe in Allah, you believe in the maker, you believe in the hereafter you believe in the angels, you believe in the books, all of this should bring about a man it should bring about a sense of security, you should feel safe, you should feel secure. And this is why a man and a man of connecting and Islam and Salam are connected linguistically.
Because if you are to believe firmly, it will give you the the comfort, the security, you have a problem you tend to the Almighty, you are comforted. You cry tears in the middle of the night while you're praying to the Almighty, you're comforted. So Pamela, where is the comfort coming from? Where is this feeling of security coming from? Allah is the one who owns it, the Almighty owns it, he will give it to you. The calmness, the contentment, the happiness that we're searching for religion should bring it about. However,
let's admit you and I believe that we're all good people. I believe I'm a decent person, I believe I try my best to be the best possible person I could be. And I'd like to think it's the same with every single one of us.
If you ask yourself, What do I stand for? I hope the answer is I stand for goodness, I stand for goodness, I stand for purity. I stand for sincerity, genuineness, there is nothing better than a friend who is genuine. They're not there to do you down to steal from you to rob you to cheat you. However, my brothers and sisters reality is because of materialism. And because of the nature of this world, what happens is, we start competing with one another. And that competition sometimes becomes ugly. It becomes ugly, you know, at work. The typical scenario where you have a post and someone else is looking at that post vying for it sometimes through dirty means they might complain
about you and lodge a complaint that is false about you. And sometimes you might lose your job based on that which is totally false. That's part of the filth in the dirt that this materialism and the competition in it comes with.
But if you are competing to earn the pleasure of the Almighty, it softens you. It makes you the best person. It makes you a person who does good.
Not to those whom you think deserve the good. But even to those whom you know, perhaps are not interested in being good in return, or have never been good to you because
the Almighty says voila, you have been singing in another verse he says in
sinning Indeed, Allah loves those who do good
Did he say Allah loves those who reciprocate? Did you say that? No. Which means someone did good to you, you do good back to them. That's, that's okay. But that's a level lower than what a true believer and a true Muslim is supposed to be upon, I will do good to you, not because I think you deserve the good, but because I know Allah loves those who do good, there is a big difference between the two.
I want to be nice to you, I want to be kind to you, because Allah loves kindness, I don't want to be kind to you, because I think you deserve kindness. Everyone deserves kindness, because the Almighty has said that he loves those who are kind. So I'm going to be kind, even to those who are not kind to me. And this is a solution to the problems that we are facing today on the globe, there is a lot of hatred. Let's be honest, while I'm trying to be a good Muslim. On one hand, I'm faced with extremism in the name of my religion, actions that do not depict what I believe in any way or form, actions and deeds that are done in the name of a religion that I follow. Yet those actions and deeds
do not belong to my faith. This is what's going on on the globe. And on the other hand, people who hate me for no reason based on what others have done, not what I have done, and therefore, they don't even want me to do the basics of my own faith. If I were to pray, they would call me an extremist. If I were to dress modestly, they would call me an extremist. And if I were to say I worship Allah alone, they would say you're a hate preacher and a hardliner.
That's the reality. On one hand, we're facing extremism from those who claim to be Muslim, to the degree that it gets to terrorism. It's a fact we don't have to deny this, we see it glaring we are struggling, we are suffering. If you take a look at these groups, that have called themselves huge Islamic names and what they are doing, primarily they are killing Muslims. Primarily they are harming Muslims. So therefore you need to know According to them, they belong to a faith. That is not exactly what you and I belong to.
Common sense if people want to kill you because of what you believe. They don't belong to what you believe they belong to something else.
And the irony of it is true. Islam teaches you that when you differ with someone or when you meet someone who's from a totally different faith, or someone who doesn't have a faith, you should call them towards goodness.
What do you mean Oh Nabila. You are the best of nations the best of people developed for mankind.
Reject leanness you have been developed for mankind to reach out to mankind. If you're a Muslim, you reach out to people continue to remind them about what is good and to discourage them from what is bad. That's your job and continue to believe in Allah. Did he say quantum higher Mountain region? Nikita leanness? Did he say you are the best of people who have been developed to kill the rest of the people? Is that what he said? to harm them to hate them? To destroy to be destructive? Didn't I start off by saying it's all about building? It's all about growing? It's all about reaching out to people who is the giver of life? is if you and I? Or is it the almighty? The Almighty is the giver
of life. What gives me a who gave me the right to take life away in the name of the giver of life.
I'm taking life away in the name of the one who gave it so I'm installing myself saying okay, you gave this life. But guess what? I'm taking it away. Here it goes, boom, boom, boom. And I call myself a believer, I believe in who you don't even believe in God Almighty. Because if you did, you would acknowledge you gave the life I'm sure it's for a purpose. I'm going to keep trying to convince these guys to worship you alone.
That's now a believer. So you reach out to those who are your enemies. And I believe that if your actions your deeds, your words, have reduced the enmity of an enemy, you have succeeded, because to see the light is in the hands of the Almighty, but the trial is in my hands and yours through the permission of the Almighty. So if I were to see a person who hates me, hates me, and this has happened to me, people who hate you completely, and they're given an opportunity to speak to you or to interact with you or to see you for a few
seconds let those seconds change their perception of what Islam stands for what the man with a big beard stands for what a woman in hijab and niqab may stand for etc. If it is changed, just the perception, you have succeeded. How will it change, and smile I remember and I will never forget.
I landed back at home once and with me on the flight with two elderly nuns
and Subhanallah I greeted them, I helped them take their bags of the carousel on the trolley and push the trolley out. And they were shocked and more shocked than them. The public was just looking at this Islamic shares with two nuns not one, by the way. And they're walking with Him and we're talking and he's pushing their trolleys and bags. But what did I do wrong? You will find some Muslims who perhaps have never been in that situation, perhaps they've never interacted with the opposite *, perhaps they don't know what the world is all about. They will tell you.
You lost your faith you that you the disbeliever Some might say he needs to be killed. What did he do?
You know what she told me one of them? She said, it's the first time I'm interacting with a Muslim would have been
a Muslim with a beard. And I promise you,
you're a good man.
What did I do? Well, I that was from Allah, I just behave like a Muslim. I helped an elderly to elderly women. So what if they were nuns, they were dressed at least they had a little bit of the hijab that we actually believe in, right?
But you find people who believe that religion today, people believe that religion should make you hard. You look at these people and says, Can you walk out? Is that what Islam is?
They just look at him. Now. What are you looking at? And that reminds me of a story. Okay, this is on a lighter note, right? So they say there was a chef from this country that has never ever, you know, taught interaction with the opposite *. And he visited a country where everything is open, you know, Now, obviously, you have to protect yourself, you have to, I think we have more discipline sometimes than those who haven't had the opportunity to interact with the opposite * because of their cultures or because of what they believe. So they don't know. So as soon as he saw a woman who was not dressed properly at all, this is a stuff. So the driver who's his host says, what happened.
He says there's a naked woman here.
He looked down. So the driver was quiet to say you haven't yet seen anything. You know, that's normal for us. We just I didn't even notice to be honest, in where we come from. We don't even notice these things. Because it's their everyday you get on with your work and you continue, they live the way they want. Everyone else lives the way they want. And guess what, I'm glad they allow me to live the way I want. We're not gonna trample on each other's toes, we're all citizens of the same land. So we will all serve
a common cause to a certain extent, and our religions are different.
So a little while later, he says,
And the same thing happened, this man understood that you know what he's seen a woman who, according to him is not dressed properly. A little while later, it's not gonna lie. The next day, it's not gonna lie. The guy says, What's wrong with this woman?
Now, three, four days the man got used to every time I see something, I'm gonna hear this rule allowed me. So the third day, the driver noticed that this man was dozing. But, you know, because he's been with him for so many days.
He said he saw a woman who wasn't dressed properly, who saw the driver. So the premises are stuff that allow the man says When, when, when.
So
what happens here it goes to show that we have taken things we don't even know we don't even understand that we say these words without realizing that that is my sister in humanity.
Did you hear that? I may not be on that level of, you know, a dress and I may not agree with certain things but my sister in humanity,
if you're a true believer, will lie. You're supposed to pray for her.
I swear by Allah. If you really have the goodness of a man, and that of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam teachings in your heart. Number one, you say, Oh Allah guide her guide me to why me too. I'm not perfect. I've got other hidden sicknesses. Hers is open. Mine could be hypocrisy. May Allah forgive us. The first thing you got to do, pray, say a prayer. Look at the Prophet peace be upon him.
And a man called Mr. Obama a sham. He was known as Abu Jihad Abuja. He was an enemy of Islam. These people weren't mere people who walked past with that stuff in my story. No, these people were people who had harmed Islam. They had a bad intention. They wanted to murder the Prophet.
Peace be upon him and they made their intentions loud and clear. And you know what the prophet SAW Selim is recorded to have said Allah who is Islamophobia de la Marine, or La Grande strength to Islam through the acceptance of Islam of one of these two guys who were really the enemies of Islam. Wow. Enemy of Islam.
And the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is saying, Allah bring them to Islam, Khalid Milani Dinamo lira, Ravi Allahu anhu. You know what he says? You know what the prophet SAW Selim says about him, mommy through her lineage, hello, Islam, a man like Harley, he cannot be he's so intelligent. He had participated in the wars, causing the death and the killing of so many Muslims, you and I have read that perhaps.
But the prophet peace be upon him called his brother, whose name was unbelievable. And when he didn't Madeira, and says to him, where's your brother? This was now in Medina, and manohara, when he says, a man, as intelligent as Holly can never be ignorant of the fact that Islam is the true religion. Because we're worshipping Allah alone. You know, we're worshipping the maker, and that's it. We're not worshiping anything or anyone else. Whoever made me I'm worshipping Him, and we're disciplined people, and we filled with love and concern. One might say, Well, why did the wars take place? there?
Were wars that took place at the time of the professor salon. The way was he born in Makkah? Who was here for Russia?
Why did he end up in Medina? Because people drove him out of his home. So he had to come back with his people, all those who were driven out had to come back. Right. They had the right to come back, even if it was by war, because our properties were stolen, our people were killed and we were driven out of our own homes. So it's our right to come back. It's more of a struggle to get back your right.
But when it came to faith and religion, he prayed hard for the disbelievers and he always had hope.
La Khadija nakoda Kumasi
Kumasi is
Bill meaning.
Allah describes the Prophet peace be upon him and he says, a messenger has come to you from yourselves.
And Allah describes him with a few words. One of them is where Allah says he is desperately hoping for your and desperately wanting your guidance wanting you to turn one thing goodness for you is Harry's which means he desperately wants this for you the goodness and he is calm. He is a person filled with the highest level of goodness, his character and conduct was super.
He didn't want to kill people. He didn't teach to go out and kill people, yet people are killing in the name of the same Nabhi the same Prophet, who Allah describes as an orphan Rahim. Allah describes him as the one who is filled with mercy.
The one who is merciful, merciful, he is sent Allah says in the Quran on
me, oh Mohammed we have not sent you, except as a means of mercy for the entire worlds. We're all these creations that are there.
We've sent you as a mercy for Halloween, the world's
Subhan Allah, the One who was sent as a mercy and you are spreading hate in his name, spreading harm killing in his name, how?
Yet you're supposed to be reaching out to people. You're supposed to be speaking to people, convincing people being happy to serve people humanity. I've given the story in the past and I've repeated it again. And I would like to repeat it because it should be on our lips.
The story of a man who entered paradise because of a dog. He quench the thirst of a dog we spoke about it.
Who is more important? If a man could earn paradise because he was compassionate towards a dog? Don't you think you and I will achieve paradise because we were compassionate to another human being who we differed with perhaps in faith and in other matters, but they were human. With a dog we cannot consume it there are certain rules and regulations governing you know the process
to adopt the relationship with a dog, there must be a reason and the reasons I mentioned and so on. So my relationship as a Muslim with a dog is governed by rules and regulations that are a little bit more than perhaps a cat, but still compassion to a cat, or a dog would get you paradise, paradise and harming a kitten and a woman, the wrath of the Almighty, what do you think harming a human being will earn us common logic, and we are using the same faith to justify the killing the hurting? And let's not go too far. Yes, we are talking about terrorism, because that's what's happening today. We are talking about hate that is being spread in the name of Islam, within Muslim sects, they are
saying that Allah Illallah, Muhammad Rasulullah. But no, because they don't fall into my little box. They are they are not worth greeting, not worth responding to. They should be hated. And they should be people who you don't even interact with. Where did you get that from?
You probably got it from someone earlier on who's not a prophet himself. But he has misinterpreted what the prophet peace be upon him has said.
So, let's not go as far as that let's look into our own homes, and I want to bring it close because you must go home today and apply it within your own household. How many of us, our children are struggling, but we are Muslims. They are struggling because there's no communication, there's no understanding. I asked you a question. If your child came to you and told you, I want to get married.
And you say no, Mashallah, I think some people it depends, you know, we're living in an age of social media technology. So the east and the west are only a second away, not even a split second. I can speak to someone in Indonesia, and someone in America live right now. Subhan Allah, Who knows, they may be watching this as well.
So it's become so small, if someone comes to your child that I want to marry, whoo, whoo hoo.
scared to even say now because of how you asked.
But you're a father, you are the brother, you didn't do anything to get your daughter married, or your sister married? You didn't do anything. So Subhana Allah, Allah somehow connected them. I hope it's in a good way with someone but you're not facilitating it. Because you have a little ego. That's it? What's the ego? Because the person's skin color is a little bit different. So what happens?
You can't be too dark for us.
This is a reality. We're talking of us on the globe today, where is Islam and we are the Muslims, to dark racists. Allah forgive us. I mean,
there is another problem we have. We come from tribes. We come from races, we come from different backgrounds, we come from different nationalities. I swear by Allah, one of the reasons that we are backward as muslimeen is because we believe our tribe is better than the other one. Our nationality is better than the other one.
Our color is better than the other one. That is jala. That is ignorance, the height of ignorance. And I want you for a moment to think for yourself. Because we want to solve this matter. I want to help myself and you.
Close your eyes, Think for yourself, where do I come from?
What tribe do I belong to? If I do? What's my nationality? What's my race? No matter what it is?
What do I think of other tribes? Do I not think my tribe is better? Do I not think Oh, those guys are thieves. Those guys are very bad tempered. Those guys are actually deceivers. Don't ever marry in those guys. That is racism itself. But unfortunately, a lot of us do believe, oh, I've got you know, I'm a better nationality. We're higher than those guys. Those guys are lower than us. These people are above us, meaning these people are lower and this one is not good. And this one is unkind. No. In every nationality there is good and bad. In every tribe there is good and bad. In every race there is good and bad. You cannot take one brush and paint the whole lot simply because
you might have had one little experience or one of your forefathers had that experience. What is true Islam. true Islam is when you believe that our differences are there to be celebrated, and not to create hatred and enmity? Yeah, I
was
in a coma coma.
Come on people, we have created you from a single male and female. And we have made you into peoples and tribes in order that you recognize one another, not in order that you
create hate against one another. Allah says, in order that you recognize one another, for indeed the most honored in the eyes of Allah is the one who is the most conscious of his relationship with Allah. And who knows that Allah knows that best. Therefore, we will not send onto earth to judge people. And when we say judging, there are two things I need to speak about, because it's a reality we face on Earth. I mean, if my daughter is doing something wrong, and I tell her, you know what, my beloved child, this is wrong, don't do this. And if she said to me, Dad, don't judge me.
I'm told that I'm confused. I'm not judging you. I'm advising you don't confuse the two. I'm allowed to advise you, I can tell you please pray. We're supposed to be praying five times a day, you know, the benefits of prayer is this. And this, no, don't judge me. It doesn't mean I'm not praying so that I'm a bad person. I didn't say you're a bad person. I'm encouraging you to pray, because prayer is a part of your faith. It's a part of your faith, it is the key to the door of your contentment, your happiness and your success. It is the key to the door of your paradise. So pray, don't tell me, don't judge me when I'm advising you. So this on one hand, we are facing the struggle with when we
advise people and teach them, they're quick to say, Don't judge me. That's not judging. That's advice. Don't confuse the two. And on the other hand,
indeed, at times we do judge
when it comes to a case where there is a problem and you want justice, then the legal system will definitely judge based on both sides and the evidence. That is a different justice that's proper judging, in the court scenario, or in an arbitration scenario. But when it comes to you and I, you see someone with a bottle, you see someone with something else, you see someone who might not be who might be struggling, like I said earlier, we're all struggling to be the best possible person we can.
We're all struggling, I am struggling to be the best possible person I can. But in actual fact, my struggle may expose a little bit of my weakness that I'm still working on. If you were to judge me based on that weakness and sidelined me because of that, then you're not helping me in any way. And in fact, it's a weakness on your part. Because your duty is to help me imagine if we were all trying to earn some money.
And we happen to be partners in a business. If that business flourishes, we're both going to gain but if the business doesn't flourish, we're both going to lose. So in the same way, if we help each other get Jenna, it will be made easier because the Hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, do you know what he says? A darlow. Allah Hi, Erica, he, the one who shows someone goodness is equivalent in reward to the one who has done the goodness as a result of being shown it. So if I were to tell you come, let's pray. Let's go and pray. And you said, Yeah, let's go. And we both prayed together, guess what, I get a double reward, simply because I encouraged you to come. So
panela It's amazing. So I earned based on the fact that I cared for you, and I told it to you in a nice way. But if I told you, you know what, you're out, you're gonna go to *. You're gonna go to *. I'm telling you, you're going to help. And I've heard people say these guys. They're in jahannam. Already. And I say, it seems like you there you were there to see who was there and who's not.
I'm sure you've heard that one. When the old man comes out of the nightclub saying, you know, I saw your Sunday.
Uncle, what were you doing?
And he thinks and thinks he says, No, I went to check if your son was there, Capella forgive us. So this is the thing you telling everyone who's in Ghana? What are you doing? They're checking Who was there?
It's not up to you. And I, I promise you if Jenna and Johanna was in the hands of people, none of us would ever go into Jenna. But it's in the hands of someone who calls himself Rahmani Raheem are often
the one who's the most loving the most magnificent, the most forgiving, the Most Merciful.
The one who loves those who returned to him in a law you hate.
When you have Buddha upon hating, Allah loves those who constantly repent to him and those who are clean, pure, in every sense of the word. Allah loves them. If you say Allah loves those who repent
The word to word refers to the one who keeps on forgiving. And it also refers to the one who keeps on seeking forgiveness. So in the case of humankind, it's one who keeps seeking forgiveness for whatever they've done wrong. And in the case of Allah, it's the one who keeps accepting that repentance and clearing your name. If Allah says, I love those who keep repenting,
why would I repent?
Why would you repent?
When you've done something wrong, Subhan Allah.
That means Allah knows as a human being, you're probably going to falter here and there and none of us are perfect. So Allah says, Don't worry, every time anything happens, immediately turned to me, immediately repent to me, immediately. Get yourself rid yourself of the sin and the bad aftermath of that sin, come, come on to the straight path, come back, and I will accept it again and again and again. For as long as you keep asking me and you try your best. I always say Subhana Allah. We do not sin, out of defiance of Allah, and not defying Allah. It's my weakness as a human that has made me sin. So therefore when I seek the forgiveness of Allah, and I return to Allah, I'm actually
getting back to where I was knowing that I faltered, but I still love Allah. I love Allah. And I pray Allah loves me if you want the love of Allah keep turning to him. So getting back to what I was saying, the owner of mercy, the owner of forgiveness, the owner of compassion,
and much more, the one who has called himself a Rahmani r Rahim, right at the beginning of the Quran. And every time you start
doing something important, you're supposed to say Bismillah Bismillah, meaning in the name of Allah. If you were to look at the sutras of the Quran, they start off with Bismillah R Rahman r Rahim, In the name of Allah, The what? The what?
The Most Merciful, the what? The Most Merciful.
You know,
anyone who studies just that one sentence, In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the most beneficence and the one who is Entirely Merciful. So, man is a mercy that Allah has, it's a quality of mercy that Allah has that encompasses all his creatures. And our Rahim is a quality that Allah has of mercy that encompasses those who truly believe. So you have a special mercy, special Mercy of Allah.
And you're telling me they are people who call themselves religious, who are killing in the name of the most magnificent, the Most Merciful?
They are merciless, in the name of the Most Merciful does it fit? It doesn't fit. So they are wrong. It does not require a rocket scientist to know that that is sec religious. It has nothing to do with religion, it's against religion.
Religion brings about calmness, goodness, and true concern for others. When the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had the leaders of Makkah, initially, when they wanted to talk to him, he rushed towards them to answer their questions, hoping that they would actually, you know, come towards this message of Islam so much so that some of them actually said you know what, we've heard the Quran, there is a narration of how they were three of them. It's reported about Sophia Naboo, Johanna signature right.
At night when the Prophet peace be upon him was reading the Quran. You know, you've heard the recitation of the reciter, the young boy who recited May Allah bless him and his parents and all of us, I mean,
the beauty of the Quran, how melodious if you were following with the meanings on this screen. Amazing. If you hear the poem, it is unique, it is something that definitely is from the Almighty.
It has a sweetness and people read the Quran and recite it in different melodies. It comes the tone meaning comes the heart through the tone and the intonation and so on. These are the beautiful words of the Quran.
So these people tiptoeing quietly at night separately, and they listening to Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam read the book, and they were impressed. They turned back and they bumped into each other as they were going. And when they bumped into each other, the one says, What are you doing? So what are you doing here? What are you guys doing here? Well, you know, to be very honest, I was just listening to these words.
The man was reading. So yeah, well, I was too but were the leaders of Christ. How dare we listen to this? Okay, let's promise we're not going to come back tomorrow. Okay? Promise all three of us not coming back the next day they were there again,
all of them. But didn't we just promise yesterday that we're not going to come?
But that's the plan. What does it bring about? One law he brings about a calmness. I want you to go to YouTube when you have a chance. And look at search for organic recitation, the effect of Quranic recitation on non Muslims.
People did a little survey where they took headphones and they said, Can you just listen to this, you know, we're doing a survey, and they listen to it, and they don't know what it is. And then they take it back and they say, how did you feel 90% or more of them expressed their feelings of contentment, calmness, serenity, something amazing, unique, some of them stuff began to cry, just by listening to the for an amazing, amazing, that is how powerful the mercy of Allah is. That is how powerful the mercy of Allah is that as soon as you connect to the words of Allah subhanho, wa Taala, you're automatically moved by these words. And the third day, these three, they happen to bump into
each other once again, and then they had to swear oaths, and they had to do whatever they had to in order not to get back to that because it's an insult. That's why Allah subhanho wa Taala speaks about them.
And Allah says, it used to hurt the Prophet peace be upon him.
When he saw what they said about him, they called him a magician. They called him a madman, they called him names, just like we are called today. I was surprised today, I learned that someone called me classified me as a hate preacher. And I said, in actual fact, we are love preachers. But when there is a person who has so much of hatred that they cannot see your love. What should you do? You react with more and more love, until a day comes when they'll have to shake their heads and say, No, we were wrong.
But if you react to someone who's accused, you have something you are not
vindicating them.
Because you were harsh and hard and you got angry. What did you do? You've actually fallen straight into their trap. Now Allah subhanho wa Taala protect us. So in the same way the Prophet peace be upon him was accused, we would be accused, a lot of us just because we dress in what we would like to term modesty. People say, these people are extreme. That's what's so extreme. I didn't impose it on you, and I greet you so well, I help you, I reach out to you. I would and I try. And guess what, if you were drowning, I would save you because by the way, I'm a very good swimmer.
Yeah.
And if something had to happen to you, I would maybe second risk my life to ensure that you live.
And this applies. I'm talking about non Muslims, people I disagree with completely on faith.
Why would I do that? Because of the verse I read yesterday. And I repeated again today,
woman.
Whoever saves a soul is equivalent to the one who has saved or people. Allah didn't say whoever saves a Muslim. Allah didn't say whoever saves a person who thinks exactly like him or her. No, Allah says, so this is faith. This is religion, the maker the giver of life, the Most Merciful is telling you this. So the Prophet sallallahu Sallam was told by the lemma in Zulu, Li the Oppo
vivo wacking navali Minami.
We know that it hurts you what they are saying. It hurts you what they're saying, we know Allah is telling Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam that it pains you what they are saying the accusations, the statements, but we want you to know
they don't Pillai you, they actually know you're a truthful person, but because of their wrongdoing. And because of their oppression. They are just denying the truth. When someone knows two plus two equals four, and they keep saying 22. And they begin to consider those who are saying two plus two is four as wrong as extreme as everything else, then you know that they're just denying the fact they know it. They know it for a fact but they're denying it for their own agenda or for whatever other purpose or just out of spite.
Should it cue. It might hurt you. You might be pained for a while. But here's comfort and solace from Allah subhanho wa Taala telling you, don't worry, don't worry, you keep
Doing what you have to do, don't lose focus. Why should I lose my good character? Because someone else has bad behavior.
But that's what we do.
If I'm really good in character, when is it tested? It's tested when someone is bad to me. That is when your character is tested. They say you want to know a man, make an angry?
Please don't go home and try this right? But you want to know a man make him angry. If he laughs at it smiles if he's calm. He's a really, really genuine person. You know, you break the glass, and you see what the man says. Or the woman.
You break it again. See what they but please don't break it a third time. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us you might get a little more stern statement because initially and I'm sure a lot of us if it was our child who actually urinated on us.
What would we do? slap the child No, not at all is much. Oh, my baby, you finished? Are you okay? everything done. SubhanAllah It reminds me of the Hadith of the Prophet SAW Selim, a man walked into the masjid and he peed in one corner, perhaps right. According to one narration and you know what? The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. Imagine if someone had to do something of that nature. Even in your home in your house, not the house of Allah your house? How would you react? person walks into the house, he was a bit comfy in the lounge, goes into one corner and starts his business. No way. It's impossible to think about it. But he is a man.
Bobby, he walked in. And that's exactly what he did in the house of Allah.
And the Sahaba got up and wanted to shout him scream reality meaning you don't get stopped him. And the prophecy sentences lattice model. You know what, leave him Don't even stop him. Not yet. Don't let him and I tell you what I'm going to say it because it's very, very common logic. If it was our child, you can't tell them stop because when you while you're urinating, you're not going to be able to pull back and stop it and rock it and cut it, it will make you sick, which is even worse. So from the mercy of Allah that He gave to Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam he actually said let him finish his thing. And then he told them go and get some water when they all got busy to get getting
the water. He told the man you know what, this is the house of Allah.
It's not fit for this type of thing. It's for the for and it's for Salah, it's for recitation is for Vicar of Allah, the remembrance of Allah. It's for good things. It's not for this. And the man you know, he was probably fearing because of all the people trying to shout at him. And he looks at the messenger, the one who was sent as Rahman Al Ameen, the one who was sent as mercy, the one who is described as very merciful. SubhanAllah you know what he says? He says, Allah Muhammad,
Allah have mercy on me.
For him, Mohammed, and have mercy on this man, Mohammed salatu salam, wa hamana hada.
And don't have mercy on anyone else.
Don't Have mercy on anyone else. Now there's a new problem. Because the mercy of allies grant, it's great. It's not just for you. And I, like I told it, if the mercy and the agenda and whatever else was in our hands, we'll probably throw everybody in the wrong direction, including people in our own families.
Allah grant has goodness, but it's in the hands of Allah. So now he says to the man, you know, what you're trying to make narrow, something that cannot become narrow. It's too broad. What's that the mercy of Allah. So he understood that so he three or four different points that the man learned all at once.
So this is what faith is all about. When Allah subhanho wa Taala says, you don't lose and we are taught this, you don't lose your goodness based on someone else's bad.
When Allah says, if someone does bad to you, you have the right to defend yourself. And you also have the right to recompense them in a similar way. If a person slaps you, in reality, you have the right to slap them back. You have the right. But Allah says immediately after mentioning that, right, he says, while I'm
in the car, I mean, as Neil,
whoever is going to be a patience, forbearance, and whoever is going to forgive, then that's the best of affairs, the best thing you could have done, forgive. To forgive my brothers and sisters is something that we lack, we actually lack we want to hold grudges not realizing that it's a burden on you and your shoulders. Where are you going to get to by holding things forgive your parents, forgive your brothers and sisters, your folks, your children, etc, etc. Forgive them and see how you you feel. And the reason I make mention of this is on the globe. Today we're facing struggles within our own homes.
I mentioned a little bit earlier, if your child came to you and said, I want to marry someone, and you told him, how did you get to know this person? And they told you through the internet? What would your reaction be? Would you fulfill your duty as a parent to try? Try and find out? If the guy is actually a good guy? Or are you just gonna say, No, Over my dead
body,
and then the judge, okay, over your dead body, take my father away. My father is over his dead body, I'll get married to this guy, people are praying for the death of their parents. Yesterday, I read a news piece of someone in the country without mentioning names, they say, the killing of their parents because they live in too long, interfering in the lives of the let's not be parents who are such that we are a burden upon our own children. I'm not saying let them do everything in anything. No. Parents are parents, we respect them. we fulfill their rights. But sometimes we're ridiculous as parents. And this is what's creating a problem. Why am I stressing on this fact? Because I believe
extremism.
The family has a role to play
in the swaying of a child's mind.
If you are closely connected to your children, and you are interested in what they're watching, and you're interested in a nice way not to block this and block that, but to guide them to be there for them. The problem with us is we are not there for our children. We live in the same dormitory, which we call a home and the house. But in actual fact, it's just a lovely plush building with every facility, but there's no meaning in it. There's no relationship within the home. But if you have a good relationship in your house, you'll be able to nurture your children. And trust me, I wouldn't miss this in Oman, let me tell you something.
You see young children, they grow up, they greet you, the same way the father greeted you. They'll pour the coffee for you. And they'll smile at you and they'll do so much more for you. And they'll be hospitable for you. And they'll come and greet you in exactly the same way the parents are doing it. That's a good sign. I hope we could actually spread that across the globe. Subhan Allah, because children are supposed to learn from us the problem with us we don't have time for the kids. So extremism creeps in. They tend to develop ideologies based on what the same internet that we're talking about. They'll go to the biggest shake on Earth was a fraud. You know who he is.
You know, his name? Jeff Google, they know him Zhi Shan, Google, they just Google, he has some truths, and he also has some false, you have to be careful and guided. A guided research is something you need. But you can't just allow people to swim with the sharks, your children know. So teach them look, these waters are dangerous. They're sharks, you can come swim here. This is okay. But if you're not going to be plugged in with your own children, what do you expect?
So on the globe, we're facing hate in the name of the Most Merciful,
the Most Merciful. Allah loves Allah loves Allah loves and Allah loves more and more, but with us, we hate and we hate and we hate more and more based on differences. I differ with you in a small matter within my home and I don't like you. But I need to know my territory. Okay, I'm not too sure of how mother in law daughter enrolled in relationships are here in this country? Seems like perhaps they're blossoming. Mashallah. But I can talk about elsewhere? Why is there always a problem, or in most cases, a problem? And I tell you, because the lines are not drawn, the territory is not known. And people actually overlap. No one knows the authority and whose it is? Does she have authority
over me? And what is the authority because we don't talk about it, we don't discuss it. We have big issues. You know, the issues of marriage on the globe today are probably one of the greatest issues we are facing after the issue of extremism and terrorism. And I'd like to think that it's a different type of extremism.
People marry. The wedding was grand, but the marriage didn't work. In some countries, they take a bank loan in order to show that we're living up to the Joneses. So 20,000 50,000, you've taken from the bank before the norm is repaid, the marriage is over. And I'm still paying for it.
That's why keep it simple. Keep it going. Let the wedding be simple, but let the marriage be grand, big difference between a wedding and the marriage.
The problem with us who had a law we are getting married, we don't even know what fall. We don't even look at the characteristics, the qualities what the prophet SAW. Selim taught us from Allah, you're getting married, you need to look at x, y and Zed. We don't look at x, y and z. What are we looking at? Something that's not even in the alphabet. May Allah grant us ease. So the home and what happens in it the relationships they need to be based on
mutual respect. Speak with kind words don't impose what you think on everyone in your own home.
discuss matters convinced people, the same applies outside. And I have a few minutes remaining, I'd like to actually spend them talking about
reverse hate that we are facing as Muslims.
Like I said, on one hand, we have people who hijacked the name of the religion.
And they're doing actions that were being blamed for I am being blamed for the actions of people who are not even following the faith I follow. But because they claim they are. I am being blamed, you are being blamed. We are looked at with the eye of skepticism wherever we go. I mean, you travel when I travel, I'm used to it, you know?
You go to a place and so handle they just look at you. They look at you again. And then they say sorry, said you'd have to come this way. Well, I had to My name is Mr. Random by the way. No, Mr. Random means it's just a random check. Yeah, my I'm Mr. Random. Reminds me of a guy.
And this is a true story. A guy friend of mine.
I told him also how did you end up getting married? He says, You know what? I was shopkeeper at my father's business. And this girl walked in. And she came in a few times. And I was so impressed by her. But I didn't know how to start. So you know, being the little guy he was he says to her. Well, you know, what's your name? Who are you? And what are you? Are you getting married? She says no, I'm just waiting for Mr. Right.
So then she says, What's your name? By the way? He says My name is Abbas. Right.
And so he became the minister right after I was married. And I, I hope my boss hears this at a time he's gonna laugh. Mashallah, because it's true. He told her I'm a boss, right? Mashallah. So she said, Oh, wow, I finally found Mr. Right. Now, my grandpa's goodness.
My brothers and sisters, so people have hijacked
the name of the religion, yet they are not following it. And on the other hand, they are people who are islamophobes.
They look at you, and immediately they make their decision, their judgment, you are paying for the sins of others. So what should we do? What should we do?
I've already spoken a lot. And I've said we need to continue and have hope in the mercy of Allah Don't be irritated and agitated. When I am told to step aside and searched a little bit more. I make it an opportunity of Tao and reaching out. And I made sure that I smile at them. And I never get angry. I remember I was once you know, seated in a place for question for a long time. And I was so calm and cool. And they said, but you know, this is amazing. This is strange. People get upset, and they tried to say, Do you know who I am? What did you say? Do you know who I am? It means you don't know who you are yourself. So
there's no need to say that to wit with your actions. Are you really a believer? Well, you'll have to endure those who are better than you have had to endure. We spoke about the prophets yesterday they endured a lot. Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam the Prophet Jesus May peace be upon him, Moses, may peace be upon him. All these prophets, how much did they endure? Did they give up? No, they didn't look at the Prophet peace be upon him, in part, if what had happened was something very sad. They didn't obey. They didn't listen. And on top of that, they caused harm. But he kept praying for them. He kept trying for them. You know, there is a narration that says the angels of the mountains had
actually said, If you instruct us we can crush these people.
Did you hear that? If you instruct us, we can crush them. They were harming him in person. And today, people are killing in the name of the same men who said, I was sent as a mercy, not as a destroyer.
If you haven't guided them, or at least give their offspring guidance. Wow. He could have said, crush them, break them, destroy them. With a small thing happens road rage you on the road, and someone you know a person who's probably new driver's license or a little bit frightened because of a new car or whatever. And they've come in or out of the lane, and you routed them and you make such a scene out of it and you want to eat them and you come out of the car and what's wrong with you and you start sweating for what? Imagine if the angels have to say we can crush them between two cars and crush them between 20 cars, please.
That's what we would have said. Are you a true Muslim?
Are you really a believer? Are you really a calm person? If you're not work on it, because that's what Islam is supposed to bring you. There is something wrong with your prayer. Because if you pray correctly, five times a day, when you go into prostration you will be a calm person. all your worries are out. Everything is gone. I'm calm and relaxed. I get up
I will solve my matters and my problems but in a respectful way, I will differ and disagree because that's normal, but in a respectful way, I will never agree with everyone because Allah has kept me unique. My brain, my mind, my understanding what convinces me may be very different from what convinces you that doesn't mean I need to hate and fight and kill No.
May Allah subhanho wa Taala, grant us, Oh, goodness, and may He open our doors. So if you see people who have called you names, who have accused you falsely, who have judged you based on your religion without knowing what it is to prove to them, that they are wrong,
by continuing in the goodness by maintaining a very high level of character and conduct.
And I end by saying, when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam arrived
with the massive army back to Makkah, finally, in what was known as the victory of Makkah.
He could have crushed them once again, these people, he could have crushed them completely with the army and told them you know, what, just wipe them out, look at what they've done. They've killed the perpetrator they've stolen, they've driven us out of their homes out of our homes.
So he asks them a question, and I love this question because it proves those extremists and terrorists wrong.
At a time when the Prophet peace be upon him had the power to do what ever he wanted to do with these people. He asks them a question. Yeah, Mashallah. coresh
Mazda todo noona Niva become? What do you think I'm going to do to you today?
They know what they've done. They know the sins they perpetrated, they know the crimes they perpetrated what they've engaged in, they were hoping goodness, he told them is hubzu for unto Mottola.
You go today, you are all free, no retribution. I will tell you what the Prophet Joseph May peace be upon him told his brothers Yusuf Alayhi Salam lottery by Lake como yo, no retribution against you today. I can imagine the scene these people who are wondering what's going to happen, you know, people look at Muslims and think these guys are the most dangerous people on earth. And you find a calm person, so cool. He helps you and he, you know, assists you in something that no one else helped you in. And he happens to be a Muslim, it will change your perception.
So we can do this, we should do this. Look after America. Take a look at what happened. People entered Islam in droves. Today go to die if they are mostly mean what happened is the Baraka of the of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, he prayed for them. It happened not too late, not too far after. But with us. On one hand, it's a distraction from people with our own skin. And on the other hand, is hate from people who are just judging us because of the other side. So we're sandwiched in the center. And that's life.
Don't lose your faith because others are thinking you are bad. So don't give up your identity because people need that identity. And this is another important factor. What is it? If I were to give up my identity because I'm worried about how the ignorant islamophobes are going to treat me then I have not served my faith.
Sometimes people give up their dress code because they're worried they give up their Islam they give up their names you know you have a name Abu Holic for example. And
I actually asked the guy What's your name? He says clock clock I said clock he said your clock I said is that like a clock in an American accent? Or is it like clock as in you know, a place there's a place in Philippines called clock. So he says no, not clock as an American because in American accent if you say clock, please look at the clock. It means look at the clock. Okay? It's a way of talking. He says No, actually I have a proper name. It's Abdul Holic
what you have such a beautifully said nobody. If I say I'm a Holic then people will actually ask you know, they're going to look at me with whatever I said no, my brother you're making a mistake. You say I'm having to hide it and you still serve them and you still have so that they know that Abdo holux are lovely people but if you keep on hiding it they're gonna think that Abdo holux are bad and the Clarks are the good guys.
So I need to keep on being who I am my identity I don't want to change it My name so what if they believe I'm a hate preacher? I'm not and i know i'm not and I know they're making a mistake but at the same time, that must not make me hate on them. It must make me more conscious of my duty to keep on spreading this love.
And that's when we will actually be able to
serve the purpose we are here for May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless
Allah grant us goodness, I cannot believe I cannot believe that I've clocked more than an hour.
To me it feels like 20 minutes Don't you agree guys?
It's a sign of the love we have the blessings of Allah, the goodness the lovely weather the good intentions, the beautiful ambience. May Allah forgive us mela grandpa's goodness, may he open our doors may all those who are struggling and suffering in any way across the globe May the almighty grant you ease and open your doors. I mean, I could only hear that was Allah wa salam ala nabina Muhammad