Mufti Menk – Ramadan 2016 – Save Yourself Series – 12

			Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.
		

			Bismillah al Rahman al Rahim al hamdu Lillah wa salatu salam ala rasulillah Allah Allah He was happy
here.
		

			We praise Allah subhanho wa Taala we thank him upon all conditions we send blessings and salutations
upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, we ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to bless all his
companions, his entire household, may Allah bless every single one of us And may Allah subhanho wa
Taala bless our offspring those to come up to the end May Allah keep us all steadfast on this Deen I
mean, my brothers and sisters, there is a straight path that we keep asking Allah subhanho wa Taala
to keep us upon what is that path if you take a look at Surah Fatiha, it is a surah right at the
beginning of the Quran in the sequence that Allah has chosen and it is known as the opening Al
		

			Fatiha, the opening surah in that surah there is only one supplication one, there is praise of
Allah, there is a lot of praise of Allah Subhana Allah to Allah and there is one, what is the drop
in
		

			mustafi Guide us to the straight path. That straight path is absolutely important for us to remain
upon May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us the ability to remain steadfast on that beautiful path in
Swaziland on verse number 153. Allah subhanho wa Taala speaks about how there are other paths that
are offshoots of the straight path in the sense that if a person wanders off, they would actually
end up on the wrong path. So this is why Allah subhanho wa Taala says, what
		

			the most
		

			Debbie,
		

			Debbie,
		

			the instruction to Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam to tell us all that indeed, this is the
straight path, my path, the straight path, so follow it and do not follow the paths that are on the
side, lest you will be led astray from that straight path. Brothers and sisters, it's quite clear.
Allah has blessed us with the Quran and the Sunnah of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, we have
the deen in front of us, we know what is the straight path. Let us learn to walk upon and tread that
straight path. It is absolutely important May Allah subhanho wa Taala protect us from falling into
the hands of the devil. I mean, so Allah makes mention of the story of Adam and Eve is Salatu was
		

			Salam and how he committed a sin. It's not up to us to hold that against him. It was all part of the
bigger plan of Allah subhanho wa Taala to get mankind to come on to the earth initially are the
malaise salatu salam was in Paradise, there is a discussion which paradise, the debate is actually
not necessary. He was in a place that Allah subhanho wa Taala called gentlemen.
		

			And there he was tested. Now the reason why the question is whether it is the agenda we will be
going to later on or it was another agenda is because in the agenda, we are going to go there is no
restriction you do as you want. But the agenda that he was in, there was a restriction. Don't eat
from this fruit. That's it. No other restriction. Allah told him one thing Do as you wish here in
this paradise, but one thing I don't want you to do, and that is to consume from this fruit, sadly,
and unfortunately, shavon came to him and you and I know that he ate from the fruit, but listen to
what happened thereafter. Look, this is something beautiful wherever Allah has instructed me to do
		

			things and whenever he has instructed you to do things, if you make a mistake, there is a way out.
What is that way out? To seek the forgiveness of Allah follow the footsteps of Adam alayhis salam,
Allah wanted to teach those to come later that when you make a mistake, this is what you should do.
We did forgive Adam alayhis salam, Allah forgive him because of the words Allah says, But Allah
		

			ammonia, Robbie Kelly Martin fetta, Bonnie, making mention of the beautiful words that Allah
subhanho wa Taala has said, and Allah says, We forgive the Maliki salatu wa sallam, but as a result,
you know, he had to come on to the earth when a person chops his hand off. And then he realizes like
someone who tattoos you know, during the days of ignorance, a lot of the people decide tattoo is the
same thing. Let's tattoo permanent. I want it so you actually, me so foolish to actually engrave
your girlfriend's name onto your back not realizing the three weeks down the line you broke up now
What to do? Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us all. So you Don't be foolish. Don't do that. Not at
		

			all. But those who have the
		

			something of that nature, when they seek the forgiveness of Allah from those tattoos that were done
during the time of ignorance, if they were permanent, it's not going to be possible to remove those
tattoos but Allah will still forgive you. You'll have to live with that. Like I said, a person cuts
his hand. Then he says, Oh ALLAH forgive me what I did was so foolish. Allah says I forgiven you,
but now you will have to remain without that hand.
		

			I forgiven you, but now you will remain with those tattoos. And you might have to have comments from
people. Are you really Muslim and so on? where Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us all understanding
never be judgmental. My brothers and sisters, people perhaps have sought the forgiveness of Allah
and being forgiven a long time back. But sometimes there's nothing they could actually do about
changing things physically. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us a deep understanding. Something's
come up to my mind. Nowadays, we have many unwanted pregnancies and children who perhaps are born
outside of wedlock. The question is, will ALLAH forgive you for that? If you have asked Allah
		

			forgiveness, we are not encouraging it in any way foolish would be the one who thinks we are
promoting it impossible. It's wrong. It's unacceptable. But if it has happened, seek the forgiveness
of Allah, He will forgive you remember this, seek the forgiveness of Allah, He will forgive you.
You're not doomed for life. There is no sin, that Allah will not forgive besides shoot, if you die
without seeking forgiveness from Shem. That's the only time that will not be forgiven. But even if
you seek forgiveness from sheep, you will be forgiven like the companions of Muhammad sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam, they were mostly predominantly from among the machine he came before they sought
		

			forgiveness they pay they became the best of those to tread the earth after the prophets of Allah
subhanho wa Taala needless peace and blessings be upon them all. I mean, so Allah says in verse
number 23, that Adam alayhis salam and his wife, our Eve, may peace be upon her. And then both in
fact, they said a statement Bala, they said the following, and this is a beautiful day. I'm sure a
lot of us know we have by heart, it's the way to seek the forgiveness of Allah subhana wa sallam.
		

			Susana
		

			Nana
		

			Nana coonan, amin, alpha z. They said, Oh, we have wronged ourselves. We have wronged ourselves, Oh
Allah. If you don't forgive us, and if you don't have mercy on us, then we will definitely be from
among the losers. Allahu Akbar. Brothers and sisters, those words opened the door of the mercy of
Allah. Allah had mercy on them, Allah forgave them. Use the same words to seek the forgiveness of
Allah when you and I are seeking the forgiveness of Allah. Oh Allah, oh our up we have wronged
ourselves. And if you don't forgive us, and if you don't show mercy upon us, we will be the losers.
May Allah subhanho wa Taala. Forgive us all. Remember, if you want to save yourself from the
		

			punishment of this world and the next, keep seeking the forgiveness of Allah using beautiful words,
Allah will not punish you while you are seeking forgiveness. Remember that? So if ever something is
coming in your direction, something that you are scared of, perhaps a loss, perhaps some form of
fear, and you think this might be punishment? start seeking the forgiveness of Allah, Allah says one
McCann Allahu
		

			Allah will not punish them while they are seeking forgiveness of is what a beautiful lesson taught
to us by Allah subhanho wa Taala. May Allah forgive us and be genuine when you are seeking
forgiveness. Don't just say Oh Allah, forgive me, forgive me. And as soon as you see that this thing
is now going away. You go back to the club, back to the pub, back to gambling back to adultery, back
to * back to everything else. No, we seek forgiveness only for the sake of Allah. May
Allah strengthen. So then there comes a very important issue that we learn when a person commits
sin, they become shameless shameless, meaning it's something that exposes the evil side of them or
		

			the human side. In some cases, if a person may makes that sin or commits the sin out of human nature
or forgetfulness. But if they do it intentionally, they know they thought about it, they understood
the thought of the punishment of Allah and still they went to do it. Allah says, hang on, that is
actually very, very bad. May Allah Subhana Allah Allah forgive us, may he strengthen us. So when
other mother is Salatu, Salam and his wife ate from the forbidden fruit, their private parts were
shown, they were conceived in a heavenly way, in a divine way before that, but once they consumed,
Allah exposed them, so they quickly rushed, they rushed to get something to cover themselves. And
		

			later on when they came onto the earth, Allah says, look, we will give you a gift known as clothing,
and we want to explain to you why we are giving you that as a gift. So Allah explains why he's given
us clothing. If we were not given this as a gift, we would have been just like animals. Animals move
around, no clothing, no
		

			Cover, they want to urinate. They do it in front of everyone. They want to actually do something
bad, they won't even bother who's watching and who's not watching those animals. Human beings are
different. We save ourselves from the shamelessness and the embarrassment of this world in the next.
So Allah says, verse number 26 of Swords will Allah yeah Benny dhammapada
		

			Chico mauritia children of Adam, we have indeed sent to you. clothing to cover yourselves and as
adornment do things we sent you clothing to cover yourselves and as adornment? It is amazing how
Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us this is to cover yourself to cover your private paths. So panela
and as adornment which means it will look good, it'll look okay. You know you you iron your clothes.
It makes such a big difference of Han Allah. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us all get a spike
like the one I have here. Masha, Allah
		

			Subhana Allah. May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless us all. It's amazing. It's unique. That doesn't
mean that we should wear something haram something forbidden or in a haram way. Some people were in
order to expose Why is it haram? It's haram because Allah has revealed clothing in order for you to
cover not to expose. That's why it's primitive. Allah says I sent to clothing to cover I didn't send
you clothing so that you can show the world what you have. as tight as it comes as soon as it comes.
And you think wow, that's me and my shape. That shape will go one day and you won't be able to show
what you have. It's not very Allah. Allah May Allah subhanho wa Taala guide us all May Allah
		

			subhanho wa Taala bless us all with good health. I mean, what's more important is to be healthy and
to be healthy, even spiritually, extremely important. If we are healthy physically and your spirit
is dead, meaning you have no connection with Allah trust me, you are not looking forward to anything
but Doom you won't be able to save yourself my brothers and sisters and Allah subhanho wa Taala
says, immediately after that, one he basswood
		

			the clothing of piety that is better, better, what is the meaning of clothing of piety? You wear
clothing when people see you they can immediately connect you with Allah which means you have a
connection with Allah. There is immediately assign this person is really a decent person, they are
modest, they are good, they are kind, they are conscious of their maker as soon as you see someone
and you say this person Mashallah they dressed properly Alhamdulillah you know, we use the term
islamically dressed properly. islamically you might ask what are the restrictions? Well, it's quite
broad. Allah doesn't say you have to wear this color and this and this and that. He says you must
		

			wear clothing that is acceptable. It covers your body in the proper way. Male and female. A lot of
the men think you know, the issue of clothing is only for women. No, it's for men as well. If you
wear tight clothing if you want to show your chest and you want to wear the T shirt to show yourself
that is also wrong. It's not called Lippa, Su taqwa don't think because I'm a man there is no
restriction. I can have my bottoms halfway down my backside with my undies showing when I'm going to
do it that's unacceptable. Allah forgive us
		

			one young man when I told him you know your undies ashamed he said Did you see the Levi's?
		

			Are you talking about May Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us.
		

			That's not what it's supposed to be cover yourself. You will enter Paradise. You will save yourself
by covering yourself Come on. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us to fulfill this beautiful verse
that is here where Allah subhanho wa Taala opened our doors imagine
		

			also the meaning of labasa taqwa is to adorn yourself with the consciousness of Allah here we're
talking of besides clothing. My character and conduct is an extension of my clothing. Do you know
that if I'm dressed appropriately covered from head to toe, you find some women dressed head to toe
some men Mashallah they have big beards and they are dressed with a long you know, thobe and so on.
And they swear and they are dirty and vulgar and they are immoral. That is worse. That is worse.
Allah says Watch out. Let your entire clothing be that of taqwa. Protect yourself. Make sure you're
a person who is wholly dressed, not just dressed outwardly and inside, everything is bamboo. Not at
		

			all. May Allah subhanho wa Taala safeguard us. Then Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us you know, when
you are coming forth to pray for the sake of Allah, wear proper clothing, take your dressing
seriously. When when you want to prostrate for Allah, you come into the masjid dress properly, dress
smart need for who for Allah subhanho wa Taala he gave you the body he gave you everything come
properly dressed smell good Subhanallah listen to what Allah subhana wa Taala says verse number 31
		

			Yeah Benny mfu Xena Takuma
		

			msgid Oh Children of Adam. Look at how beautifully Allah dresses us. Oh Children of Adam.
		

			Take your dressing or your adornment adorn yourself correctly when you are coming to the masjid.
Masjid refers to two things. One is the houses of Allah and two is the place of prostration, also
known as messaging. So do you want to read salah and suddenly we come in our PJs and our hair is
like this and everything else is out of the way and we don't even you know, we're dressed in this in
a little three quarter and we just come to the house of Allah as though we're about to meet a
gardener outside star villa. Villa that is terrible. You're supposed to be blessed in a beautiful
way you shouldn't be embarrassed. You shouldn't be embarrassed if you were to meet an important
		

			person in that mystery for Indeed, Allah subhanho wa Taala is more important than anyone you can
meet. Allah subhanho wa Taala help us this is why it's important to take pride in your blessing. You
come to the masjid Mashallah you need to be dressed appropriately. Well, people say that while you
listen for Allah Subhana Allah Have you not heard that? Here it is. Then Allah subhanho wa Taala
says immediately after that the same verse workqueue, Masha, Allah 234, eat and drink. But don't be
wasteful.
		

			Don't be wasteful. Eat and drink. Allah has blessed you with food. And Allah has blessed you with
drink, but do not waste even if you are wealthy, even if you have a lot of food. Don't waste that
food because if you waste it, it is considered in gratitude as well. You're not grateful Allah
blessed you don't cook so much. You're two people to eat and you've cooked for 20 the rest of it
goes into the bin. Not at all. If you have cooked a lot, learn to give that to those who are needy.
You know, when you take in your plate, learn to take a little bit, finish it up. If you want to eat
a little bit more you may do so when you get off the table. You shouldn't have filled your belly
		

			right to the top. That is also a waste. You need to leave a portion for water and a portion for air.
That's the sooner of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. People say in Ramadan, we're gaining
weight. What
		

			did I just hear gaining weight? You're supposed to be losing weight. But you know what? When we see
the moon Subhanallah Have you heard the joke lately? They say someone got into the kitchen and asked
the mother in law. What would you like me to do? She says just called the mother.
		

			Which means I'd like the Margaret to start so that I can eat Allah forgive us. It was I don't think
it's a true story. Actually mothers in law are quite innocent. Alhamdulillah Allah subhanho wa Taala
bless us. So when we see the the the time has now setting it doesn't mean you need to back away as
much as you can. There is no cover for food. It doesn't mean you missed a meal. So now you've got to
eat double and triple in the evening. No cover is only for missed prayer my brothers and sisters.
Remember, you eat a little bit you think Allah don't waste this is what a lie saying, well, Allah
does not like those who are wasteful. So save yourself from being disliked by Allah by not being
		

			wasteful when it comes to consuming when it comes to food and eating and drinking. So panela as
simple as that. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant the strength. Then Allah subhanho wa Taala tells
the children of Adam something else. He says from time to time, I will send you messengers who will
read to you my verses, if you are conscious of me. And if you reform yourself correctly, when you
hear that, then there is no need for you to fear or be sad. Listen to what Allah subhanho wa Taala
says verse number 35.
		

			Yeah, Benny, Adam M.
		

			Nakamura.
		

			kumiko sooner Allah
		

			or children of Adam. Every time there is a messenger who comes to you from amongst you, reading my
verses to you, feminie de la Vela kung fu
		

			whoever becomes conscious of Allah as a result, and reforms or changes his or her bad ways or
habits, then there is no need for them to be fearful or to be sad, and we will ensure that fear or
sadness does not overtake him. So protect yourself. Save yourself from fear and sadness by listening
to the verses of Allah and letting them impact upon you correctly so that you can reform yourself
and become conscious of Allah subhanho wa Taala amazing lesson from this beautiful West. Then Allah
subhanho wa Taala speaks about the communication between the people who will be cast in Hellfire and
those in heaven. There will be a discussion between the two, one will call out to the other this one
		

			will call out to that one, what will be the discussion I'm only going to one side of it because I
want to draw a beautiful lesson how we can save ourselves from being
		

			from amongst those who will be cast into Hellfire, verse number 50
		

			and 51
		

			Allah says, one or the urban areas haben jannetty and
		

			Amina Alma
		

			Rosa pakula, the people of Hellfire will call out to the people of heaven saying, Please pour upon
us any water or any liquid that Allah has given you pour it on us, we are burning here it is, you
know, the punishment of Hellfire, pour on us any form of liquid any water that Allah has bestowed
upon you. And the answer will come from the people of heaven in a Maha Brahma humann caffine. Allah
has prohibited that upon the disbelievers. Allah has prohibited us from helping you we can't help
you, we are not allowed to pour water over you. So Allah describes Who are those who are such great
losers that they have to go into *.
		

			And let me know
		

			what
		

			to do near those who took their religion as an amusement and as a play. They did not take their
religion seriously. And they are the ones whom the world they became deceived by this worldly life.
Allah subhanho wa Taala says, this day we will forget them just like they forgot us. So don't forget
Allah. If you want to save yourself from being cast into Hellfire, don't forget Allah don't allow
this worldly life to deceive you and at the same time, take your religion seriously. May Allah
subhanho wa Taala forgive us imagine this discussion happening between these two parties, and they
cannot do anything about it. And Allah subhanho wa Taala then makes mention of the stories of some
		

			of the prophets in Serato era as well. And we hear the Prophet Noah May peace be upon him, Lu la
salatu salam hood, may peace be upon him, the prophet SAW Allah May peace be upon him. Allah makes
mention of them. And one thing that comes out quite clear is the people didn't accept the message
because they were claiming You are just a member of our community. How come suddenly you've become a
prophet. So Allah makes mention of this a few times, our IGP
		

			Pico mala
		

			comb, were you surprised that Allah sent a messenger to you from amongst you, a man from you, Allah
chose him and says, You know what you go, we're confirming that you're a prophet, we are appointing
you as a prophet, and you go and remind your people. So Allah says, Remember, the fact that we chose
these people that was in our hands, Allah is the one who decides Allahu Allah mohito January's
Allah, Allah is the one who knows best way he is going to keep that message of his. Now one might
ask how does it apply to us? It applies to us because members from our own community will get up to
remind us the verses of Allah, they will recite the verses, they will remind human beings we know
		

			those who are just like us, perhaps they are going through difficulties like us, they are humans,
they are not even messengers. In our case, they are not even perfect. They are human beings, you
know, that will ama we've spoken about them in the past as well. And I'm saying it again, they are
not prophets of Allah, the scholars are not prophets. The difference is scholars can make a few
mistakes, you might have to excuse those errors, but when they are right, and most of the time, they
would be telling you that from Allah for Allah and the Sunnah of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam, and that which is valid and upright, sometimes their human weakness might lead them to do
		

			something, it doesn't mean you discount the message. This is why it's important. And I'm going to
say something, people make a big deal of the Speaker of the scholar, wow, no big deal. I need to
meet this man, I need to shake his hand I need to have a selfie with him. One law he, it is not the
man who has brought the message that should shake you. It is the message itself that should shake
you tomorrow. If that man commits a sin, and he lets everybody down, some people will quit their
faith thinking this religious man didn't follow Islam himself, because they were clinging on to the
man. But those who are clinging on to the message, guess what? They will become strengthened, and
		

			they will carry on and they will swim even further. Because they knew the man is doing his duty.
Yes, we respect him. Yes, we honor him. But we don't have to go beyond the limits with him because
he is a mere mortal. He's a human being. He's fallible, he can make mistakes and he will make
mistakes. So remember, it's the message that is powerful, not the one who's now reciting the verses
to you. May Allah Subhana Allah forgive us. May He strengthen us. May He grant us focus mainly
protect us from the punishment of this world and the next and may He protect us all in a way that we
improve on a daily basis, rather than going back. I mean, what a beautiful lesson we have learned
		

			here.
		

			Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us that he has mentioned the stories of the previous prophets, so many
times in the Quran because he wants it to be a lesson for you when you know what they did. And when
you know what the result was thereafter, you will be able to save yourself from similar punishment
by saving yourself from similar deeds and actions. That's powerful.
		

			So many stories of the prophets we read, you know, when we are little children, the story of the
prophet Jonah, the story of the Prophet Joseph May peace be upon them. I'm just saying the English
terms, the story of the prophet Job, you've Allah is salatu salam, and so on. We know all these
stories, we've read them. Why did you read them? It's not this bedtime story or a tale. We read them
because we learned what they said. What their people said, what the response was, how Allah subhanho
wa Taala gave them some time and how after some time, Allah subhanho wa Taala punish them with what
type of punishment and why everything is written for us. Do you know why? So we can read it and tell
		

			ourselves if I want to save myself from that type of punishment. I need to also save myself from
those types of actions. Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allah subhanho wa Taala help us and grant us
ease and goodness.
		

			Then we have verse number
		

			96 of the same surah where Allah subhanho wa Taala speaks about two qualities. Eman and taqwa. These
are important qualities to save yourself from the punishment of Allah. Eman meaning belief in Allah
subhanho wa Taala taqwa meaning consciousness of Allah develop it in a way that you are becoming a
better person every day. That's how you know that I'm heading in the right direction. You don't have
to move one meter at a time. Even if you move one centimeter at a time, but you're moving in the
right direction. You know, you hit in some way. But if you're moving one meter and the next day you
actually go back to Pinilla then you're losing May Allah subhanahu wa Jalla says goddess Allah says
		

			one
		

			man
		

			left
		

			Nina sama.
		

			If the people of the towns had Eamonn and taqwa, we would have opened the doors of blessings from
the skies and from the earth. They would have been blessed in every way in their businesses in their
health in their families. They required two things they required a man and taqwa when they lacked a
man and taqwa while
		

			demo file has no
		

			zebu, but they rejected they belie they had no Eman, no taqwa. So Allah says therefore we punish
them because of what they earned. So you want to save yourself you need to develop these two things.
May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us goodness and ease and Allah subhanho wa Taala also makes
mention of something very important and I will end on this point this evening. It is actually verse
number 127 of surah
		

			Allah speaks about the pharaoh Freetown and Allah subhanho wa Taala says to us, listen carefully.
wacol Mela Amina calm if IANA Adama musataha Mahoney you have to fill out
		

			the cronies, the Chiefs who are in the Parliament of Iran or who are close to him, they told him,
you know, they were pinning him they told him Are you going to leave Moses and Aaron and all these
people may peace be upon them? Are you going to leave Moosa and Harun Allah Salaam, doing whatever
they doing? Now you're going to leave them on earth? Aren't you going to do something about it? So
he became out of control? He started saying, Yes, I'm going to fix it. I'm going to do this. I'm
going to do that. You know what, listen, women, my brothers and sisters, that company you keep can
twist your mind. If they were honest, people they would have said, Listen, don't miss, listen, stay
		

			away. Listen, watch out. Anything that happens in our lives. Watch who your advisors are. For
indeed, if they give you wrong advice, no matter how good or bad you are, you could actually make
the worst decisions ever learn from the Pharaoh. What didn't he have, but he became arrogant. Yes,
it was his fault as well. But here we are taught that those people also they spoke to him. Sometimes
you have a bad person, but he makes very good decisions because he's got some really good advisors
who tell him Hey, you know what, I suggest you apologize, I suggest you make amends. I suggest this
I suggest that and Mashallah, everything keeps flowing. And the bad person comes up with some really
		

			good things, but sometimes you have a very, very good person, and they make the worst decisions in
life and they say the worst things and it ends they end up failing not because they were bad, but
because they allowed their company to be made up of people who will advise them. Let's be careful
about this. Save yourself my brothers and sisters by having good company good friends, good
advisors. May Allah protect us all.
		

			Allahu wa Sallim wa barik ala nabina Muhammad