Mufti Menk – Overcoming Oppression through Obedience

			Salam Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatu
		

			smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillah wa salatu salam ala rasulillah why Allah Allah He was happy he
woman is dead a Buddha who were bad. We praise Allah Subhana Allah to Allah We thank him upon all
conditions we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, all his
companions his entire household May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless them all and May Allah Subhana
Allah Allah bless us all. And may Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us the best of the month of Ramadan
that is about to come. I mean,
		

			my beloved brothers and sisters in Islam, Allah subhanho wa Taala makes mention of various stories
in the Quran regarding the previous nations and regarding the prophets. May Allah peace and
blessings be upon them.
		

			These stories are
		

			made mainly to derive lesson from to be able to understand the challenges that they faced so that if
we were to face similar challenges, we would be able to know how to deal with them. We take the cue
from Revelation, we ask Allah Subhana Allah to Allah to guide us to this beautiful revelation for
Indeed, there is no substitute to the revelation that Allah subhanho wa Taala has sent down.
		

			One of the stories that is repeated the most in the Quran is that of Musa alayhi salatu was Salam.
If you were to open the pages of the Quran, you would notice so many stories of Musa alayhis salatu
salam. And in these stories, there are definitely lessons. Today I'd like to draw a very important
lesson from a little bit of what happened during the life of Musa alayhis Salatu was Salam that
Allah subhanho wa Taala makes mention of you. And I know that if I have a piece of paper in my hand,
and you were to ask me what is in your hand, I would say it is a piece of paper.
		

			If I had a bottle of water in my hand, and you were to ask me, What is it in your hand, you would
say or I would say for example, it is a bottle of water.
		

			But if you had something that was more valuable, it would not be a bottle or a piece of paper. If
you had a sophisticated mobile phone in your hand, and I asked you, what is it you have in your
hand? You will say it is my mobile device? Or it is my phone? What happened? That a changed into a
mine? Have you noticed that? The reason is, it becomes a value to us. The same applies if you were
to ask a child, what is in your hand, he would say it is my toy.
		

			Because he has an attachment to it. So if it was something even more valuable, we would probably say
a little bit more about it. If I were to ask you, and you have a sophisticated gadget in your hand,
what is it you have in your hand, you would say this is my gadget. This is what I do with it. This
is what it is for, and you would carry on with greater detail because the last thing you would want
me to say is give it to me, I want it. If it was a piece of paper or a bottle of water, you wouldn't
mind but the minute you say my It is like you are telling me Look, if you're going to ask me for it,
it's going to be a difficult one.
		

			If I were to be seen in a motor vehicle, and you were to ask me, What car is this, for example, I
might just give you the name of the vehicle because you didn't ask me exactly who that car belongs
to, for example, or it wasn't in my hand so to speak. But you know that it's a value, nobody would
say Give it to me. So when Musa alayhi salatu was Salam was asked by Allah subhanho wa Taala a
simple question. What am gabbiani nikaya Moosa? What is it in your right hand? Oh, Moses, may peace
be upon him. It was easy for him to say it's a stick. Allah knows that it's a stick. But he says he
saw Yeah, it is my stick. Why? I've had it for a long, long time. And I've been using it for so many
		

			things. And let me tell you what I've been using it for, although Allah didn't ask, this is
		

			who should be on me when he
		

			he's showing his attachment to this particular stick to this stick that he had for a very long time.
He says Do you know what? I lean on it sometimes I've been leaning on it. And at the same time, I
try my best to herd or assist in the herding of the sheep by drawing the leaves and everything else
from the trees for these particular sheep. We're using the same stick and I have several other
things that I do with the same stick. So it's like showing a powerful attachment to something
material. It is
		

			Something material in order to achieve success in this world, we have to divorce ourselves from the
love of materialism beyond the point. What is that point? That point is the command of Allah. I'm
allowed to like my clothes and my house and my this and my family members and my wife and whoever
else, but when it comes to the displeasure of Allah, there is a line that is placed there. Allah
comes first and everything else comes after Allah subhanho wa Taala. So exactly as Musa alayhi
salatu wa sallam responded, showing his total contact with this particular item, have sentimental
value to him. That would be very difficult for him to part with. Allah says, a low key high. Moosa,
		

			throw it down, throw it away, put it down. Oh, Moses Musa alayhis salatu salam, which means the
success of this man was connected to the following of Allah's instruction. And that instruction was
that which you love the most? We want you to put it away, we will for our sake, we have instructed
you, we want you to put it away. He didn't try to explain he didn't try to justify he already did
whatever he wanted to prior to the instruction. When a large command comes every other command
becomes worthless and valueless. When Allah instructs you with something, your destruction is in
disobeying that instruction of Allah. When Allah subhanho wa Taala has ordained something your
		

			success lies in adopting it a s a p, as soon as possible. Musa alayhis salatu wa sallam,
immediately, immediately. Allah didn't say he waited for a time and then he threw the stick. Or he
thought for a moment and then through the stick, Allah says, For al Qaeda, immediately he threw it
down immediately he threw it down. This is the success of a human being. This is the success even of
a Muslim. When the instruction of Allah comes that comes first before everything else, then Allah
subhanho wa Taala says, Now you and I know when we are tested by Allah subhanho wa Taala. For
something a lot of the times we fail because we are human beings. As we fail, we will begin to see
		

			punishment of Allah, very close to us it will become closer and closer. But when we adopt the
command of Allah say we repent for the evil that we have been doing in we have been doing we will
find that Allah subhanho wa Taala as much as we expect him to convert that into gold, perhaps he
will test us with an even bigger test. Look at Musa alayhis salam, he put the stick down.
		

			One would have thought it would turn into gold I adopted the instruction of Allah I gave something
for the sake of Allah that was so close to me, because I adopted the instruction of Allah in order
to please Allah subhanho wa Taala so when Allah said this thing you love so much, I want you to do
something for my sake, throw it down, he threw it down. But obviously like I said, the weakness of
ourselves we would think Mashallah, that's the end of the test. That was only the beginning. Allah
subhanho wa Taala says, We converted it into Guess what? Guess what? Listen to what Allah says.
		

			Either here,
		

			he put it down and suddenly it was a serpent a snake that was actually moving. It was a moving
snake. This was my stick loved to me. I adopted a lot instruction now look at what's gone on. A lot
of us would think I adopted a lot instruction, I've been fulfilling Salah I've been keeping my fast
I've been being truthful. I've not been harming fellow human beings and so on and look at me, I'm
still struggling. That's not a sign of the love, or the anger of Allah. It's a test. It's a test for
you because you were born in order to be tested one after the other. The prophets of Allah have been
tested the most more than anyone else. The tests were for the prophets of Allah. So you and I are
		

			nobodies when it comes to comparing ourselves to the prophets of Allah subhanho wa Taala don't
expect not to be tested. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had every taste you have had an
even more and Musashi salatu salam, just look at what's going on in his life. So pan Allah, so Allah
subhanho wa Taala says, thereafter it became a snake in another place, I lost his Phantom
		

			pebble when he saw it, when he saw the snake as though it had life in it as though it was something
alive moving. He immediately turned around and he ran without looking back. That means it was
serious. You know, they say if a dog is chasing you a little puppy, you can still look back every
now and again to see how far you've gone. But wait until a lion chases you. You will run without
looking back. Because you know, the moment I turned back, I'm losing a few seconds. So when Allah
says he ran without turning back, trust me, it was something simple
		

			Yes, it was something serious. There was fear. There was something coming in his direction a snake.
May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us ease May Allah grant us protection. Remember this was fear
instilled by whom something that was very close to him at one stage, his own stick.
		

			His stick was close to him all these years that he had it suddenly, it turned into a snake, not an
ordinary snake, a venomous, poisonous snake that was so scary, it was big, it actually came towards
him and he ran. And men, Allah is the only one who can convert fear to peace. Allah is the only one
who can convert fear to the sense of security and stability and serenity. So Allah says, yeah Moosa
bobbin wala. In another place, Allah says, Yeah, musala of almost do not fear, turn around faces,
don't fear. So this is the challenge that we have in our lives. We have so many challenges, we have
so many tests, we have things that we need to leave for the sake of Allah, we need to leave false
		

			hood we need to leave adultery we need to leave for all form of sin for example, those who might be
having bad habits, we need to quit these for the sake of Allah and don't expect that when you quit
that automatically everything will become okay. No, you will have another test perhaps bigger than
that one. Because now Allah wants to test you, you have lost one thing, now you lose another and the
third and then Allah is the only one who can give you contentment in your heart. So Allah subhanho
wa Taala says clearly almost turn around, face it and guess what we want you to tackle it, we want
you to hold it. Imagine someone telling you hold the snake, take it, hold it again. Subhan Allah, so
		

			Allah is teaching us all a lesson the story is not there for no reason. When you have challenges in
life, stand up and face them, you will have to face them, there is not going to be another way is
telling biLlahi while attaches is telling Billa he will not die just seek the help of Allah and do
not become helpless. Do not become a person who loses hope, no matter how big the challenge are.
None of us here have been chased by a humongous Python or a snake or a cobra or some form of a
snake. And we have been running away from it in the way that Musa alayhis salatu salam was running
away from this serpent. Our problems have been lesser than that. And Allah says, turn around, face
		

			it. And you know what, when he faced it, he actually went to tackle it, the bull by the horns so to
speak, he got hold of it. And Allah subhanho wa Taala turned it back into the stick it was there we
are. That still wasn't the end. Imagine Allah subhanho wa Taala says thereafter that oh Musa Okay,
we would think I passed my test and hamdulillah one thing happened I threw the stick I pleased
Allah. Then I started running away because of what happened in Allah told me turn around, I turned
around, it was so difficult. Sometimes you feel like quitting. But Allah says, you need to think if
the law of Allah is going to be flaunted, there is no use quitting How can a person quit, you need
		

			to face it, tackle the bull by the horns by the help of Allah, a time will come when you will see
the success because the true story was only beginning. Allah has a bigger picture that needs to come
in play. It started off like this. So then Allah says, another sign Allah gave him was the hand I'm
not going to go into that. But Allah after that says, I want you to go somewhere. I have chosen you
and I want you to go somewhere. Where do you want me to go, oh, Allah, I want you to go to the
pharaoh with the message for him to quit his bad ways and habits, face him, challenge him, tell him
Do whatever you have to according to our instructions, you are definitely not only in our guidance
		

			and with revelation, but you are helped by us directly. So go and challenge him, go and face him. He
immediately says Oh Allah, I need the help of my brother. Allah says, I will give you the help. This
shows us that in life when we have challenges, there will always be people who come to the
assistance of those who are truthful, they will always be people who will assist sent by Allah
subhanho wa Taala. And this, remember, you may not see the result immediately with Mussolini salatu
salam, he says, Oh Allah, I fear because there was something that happened in the past. And I fear
that this Pharaoh is going to harm me. Allah says he won't harm you, nothing can happen we are with
		

			you. He will never be able to harm you. So Musa la Salatu was Salam with the help of his brother, he
went and he faced the pharaoh Subhana Allah, look at how Allah subhanho wa Taala started, you will
never be able to face your challenges in life. If you are clinging to materialism. If you are
clinging to that which is material you need to cling to the law of Allah that is when you will
achieve success. You need to cling to the
		

			that which Allah has decided and dictated, that is when you will achieve success no matter how you
look at things. Remember it is Allah Subhana Allah Allah what Allah ultimately who will cause your
success or your downfall? May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us success. I mean, so my beloved
brothers and sisters, when he went to the pharaoh he was instructed to speak to him when he spoke to
him guess what happened?
		

			immediately as the Pharaoh was known to be a tyrant, he was known by everyone on earth at the time,
or in his surroundings at the time as a person whom you don't mess with. You don't mess with. Why
because he is the biggest he used to call himself the God. He used to ask his people. Yeah. Mullah
Omar Aileen Tula, come in Isla invoiceberry all my people I don't know of a god besides me, for all
you guys. Basically, that's what he was saying. There's no God for you besides me, I'm the big boss,
you are getting money from me. You are getting help from me, you are getting assistance from me.
Remember, if you go against me, all that is going to stop and I'm going to punish you. So when one
		

			person went against him and faced him, immediately, he says, I will punish you, I will destroy you.
I will fix you. I will show you that's what he told me Salah is Salatu was Salam. And he reminded
him He says, You know what, oh, Moses, you at a certain time, murdered someone.
		

			That's what he says. So the pharaoh says you are a criminal. You are one of those who are
ungrateful. There was a time when you met someone. So Musa alayhis Salatu was Salam says, file to
		

			me, no bow on me. I did it at a time when I was not, you know, when I was away or not a stray in the
sense of prophethood and so on. But when I fell for a weakness, so musala is Salatu was Salam had
done this, but he admitted Okay, this happened, what about you, you have done 1000 things you have
actually killed 1000s upon 1000s, one after the other, and you are trying to come and tell me that I
made one mistake in my life therefore, you are more superior than I am. That is absolutely
irrational. So this is mu Salli salatu wa salam, O Allah gave him the help to tell him Do you know
what they will pick on you for a certain thing, but you need to inform them what they have done, and
		

			they cannot say that because you have murdered one person amongst our people, we have now enslaved
the entire bundle. That is not the reason. And is that a gift that you are trying to tell me that I
saved you one day therefore, you are now supposed to be my slave, not when it comes to what is right
and wrong. No matter what a person has done for you in the past. When it comes to right and wrong.
You side with what is right, what was what is wrong, no matter what they have done to you in terms
of materialistic assistance. Remember, that is a test from Allah. The day that the litmus test
comes, you need to pass it You do not fail it by siding, for example, with an oppressor when you
		

			know that the only connection between you and that oppressor is money. May Allah subhanho wa Taala
says goddess or it may be power May Allah subhanahu wa jal as if goddess, that's a powerful lesson
we learn from Musa alayhis Salatu was Salam. So immediately Allah subhanho wa Taala tells him to
respond by making mention of what he has done one after the other. He was quiet he had no response
but it softened him.
		

			Why did it soften Him because He then asked call of Iran Omar bola me. Okay. I want to know who is
		

			up to now he didn't want to talk. But when one thing came, another thing came when he started
becoming arrogant and haughty. And so what happened is, he then softened at a certain point and he
says, tell me more about Rabbil alameen who is he who is herbal alameen then musala his salatu wa
sallam began and he explained and the story continues in such a beautiful way. The lesson of it is
many, many years later, many many years later, after the pharaoh did one thing after another. It was
seeming at some times that he may have the upper hand and it was seeming at other times that he was
perhaps losing ground. Allah sent one punishment after another after another plagues of so many
		

			sorts, so much of sickness that had come down, one after the other, but the pharaoh did not learn
his lesson. Until right at the end. Allah subhanho wa Taala says that Musa alayhis salatu salam who
was not a person who
		

			Correct others, but there was a point where he was fed up. When he was fed up. He raised his hands.
Do you know what he says? Or Ban otomi sila Amani Moishe Duda Anna poo beam, min
		

			le M. O Allah extinguish their wealth because it is the wealth that got to the head that made them
do what they have done or Allah extinguish their wealth by not miss Annamalai him and Oh Allah
harden their hearts, I don't want them now it's over. They've made me suffer enough to many years
have gone by, or Allah extinguished their wealth hardened their hearts, because they are not going
to believe until they see severe severe punishment, or Allah I want you to punish them in this way.
This is shocking. Why is it shocking? A prophet of Allah, all of us are taught that the prophets
were soft, and they were people who, you know, took the bashing, and they were people, but they came
		

			a point when they also got fed up. They came a point when they also prayed, they came a point when
they also said when they also made the dua. That was the turning point, Allah says, By the UI, but
that what to manifest.
		

			Your da is answered, we have given it to you but be patient be steadfast. It's just a matter of
time, be patient. It is reported that years later, some narration say 40 years later, when Musa
alayhis salatu salam was instructed to head towards the sea. And the pharaoh followed, thinking that
he was the big boss, and the people felt that we were now at a point where we have lost totally. And
this is the plan of Allah. When you feel that you have now lost completely, that's when the help of
Allah comes, remember, because that's when you either pass your test or you fail. If that
helplessness makes you do something wrong, you have always failed. But if that helplessness makes
		

			you become steadfast no matter what, then you will be successful. So Allah subhanho wa Taala says
immediately that you know what, take that stick of yours, the same stick that turned into a snake
and you are running away from and this happened and that happened, and just be the water, touch it
with the water or touch the water with it and see what happens. He touched the water and Subhanallah
the highways were made through the sea. And amazingly they were saved. And at the same time. It was
a day when the Pharaoh and his student he was so great. The people felt that this Pharaoh is
actually not dead. He's going to come back one day. So one of the reasons for the see spitting him
		

			out was because the people needed to see that this man is motionless, lifeless, a man who owned
everything a man who claim to be God, today, he has no life. He has absolutely no movement, nothing.
It's a lesson for all of us to say no matter what you have, your money won't help you, your children
won't help you your surroundings won't help you. The only thing that will help you your good deeds
and your repentance to Allah, what a powerful lesson. And Allah will test us again and again. And I
want to end the same way I started. These tests are for us to learn a lesson from these stories or
for us to learn a lesson from and indeed every one of us is going to be tested, squeezed literally
		

			choked, until you feel wow what is going on. But remember, Allah in natural history, Allah promises
that indeed, the help of Allah is very near May Allah subhanahu wa Jalla grant us or victory wa
Salatu was Salam ala nabina Muhammad