Taraweeh Lecture at Masjidul Quds Gatesville Cape Town
Date : 17th June 2017
Topic : Save Ourselves Part 2
Speaker : Mufti Ismail Menk
Mufti Menk – Ramadan 2017 – Save Yourself – Part 2 – Episode 23
AI: Summary ©
The speakers discuss the importance of knowing one's actions and avoiding offense. They emphasize the need for everyone to be aware of their actions and not be spied on. They also stress the importance of avoiding derogatory language and not mentioning their intentions. The speakers provide advice on how to handle difficult situations and find the right volume to speak at all times.
AI: Summary ©
Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.
Bismillah al Rahman al Rahim In the name of Allah subhanho wa Taala Most Gracious, Most Merciful. We praise Allah subhanho wa Taala we thank him upon all conditions we send blessings and salutations, upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam his household, his companions. May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless them all, may he bless every one of us, may Allah subhanho wa Taala grant His goodness in this dunya as well as the next I mean, my beloved brothers and sisters.
Sometimes when the victory of Allah subhanho wa Taala comes, it doesn't look initially like it is victory. If you take a look at the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, there was something known as the Great boycott, that boycott was in the meccan period when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was in muckety muck aroma. And the Meccans decided that we want to blockade the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam and all those who have accepted Islam, we want to blockade them in a way that they will be forced to do what we want them to do, not realizing that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was innocent. He was not guilty of any crime. All he was
doing is calling people towards the truth. Acknowledging the presence and the greatness and the worship alone of Allah subhanho wa Taala, calling towards it, telling people to quit their bad ways and habits, giving people an opportunity to recognize Allah subhanho wa Taala. This was the message of Islam because they feared losing their power. They feared losing their authority, their wealth, they were simply jealous of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam and the meaning they could not stomach that someone else would probably take over from them, and therefore they decided to boycott at that stage the meaning struggled for several years. In fact, according to some narrations it
lasted almost three years, they were in a place known as Shi Abu Talib. And in this particular place, no one was allowed to talk to them, no one was allowed to deal with them, bring them food, nothing was supposed to come in, nothing was supposed to go out. And they struggled, so much so that they used to eat the leaves of the tree, but they did not give up their struggle. As a result, after several years, Allah gave them victory, the same people, the same people who were blockaded, who had been placed in a certain position of difficulty, because of their perseverance. After some time, Allah subhanho wa Taala granted them victory. With us, we struggle we suffer a day, two days a year,
two years. And we think you know, the help of Allah is not coming to the Prophet salallahu alayhi wasallam the help came, and it would have come if Allah wanted right at the beginning. But in order to distinguish from those who were believing truthfully, and those who are false in their belief, Allah subhanho wa Taala kept it enduring for a certain period of time.
And thereafter, he gave them victory. Now the reason I make mention of this is in our lives, we go through much difficulty, we go through problems, we go through issues, my brothers and sisters, be patient, be patient and Allah subhanahu wa taala will grant you victory in an unnatural manner. sobre you need to know that victory comes to he who is the most patient, it comes with patience, if you are patient, you will be victorious. If you've given up that's the very moment that you actually have lost.
So in Surah, will fetch which is named after the victory of Makkah. The theme rotates around the day via what was the day via the Muslims decided we want to go the Muslims decided that we want to go and fulfill Amara. So as a result of that, they decided we're not taking any arms. We are not going to be fighting we are going to Makkah we want to put on the mat Kansa inside Makkah, we are in Medina, we are at war with them, but that's a holy sacred place, we will go they decided to proceed. They proceeded perhaps 1004 1500 of them. And as they got to muckety muck aroma, the surroundings there was a place known as her davia they camped and they sent a delegation in to say, listen, we
are here for this particular purpose. There was rumor that the man who had gone in with the discussion with one of their friend or their loved one, someone spread a rumor that the mccanns had killed him. So the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was very upset. And he said, Look, we are people who've come without weapons. We didn't come here to fight but if that is true, we are ready to go and fight in order in order to revenge the death of one of us. So all of them pledged allegiance to the Prophet sallallahu Sallam that we will do as you say, if you say we go we go in whatever you say we will do will give up our lives for what is just and what is true. Allah Subhana
hautala loved that pledge so much, he became pleased with them. You take a look at verse number 18 of surah two factor which is Surah number 48 of the Quran, Allah says Lakota
meaning a view by una kata Tasha de la cada robinia long one, meaning if you buy Nakata, Tasha Dora. Indeed Allah is pleased with you. Allah subhanho wa Taala is pleased with those who pledged
the allegiance to you under the tree. There is a huge tree in a day via under which this pledge happened. So Allah says Allah is pleased with you. And in another narration, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam speaks about how these blessed companions, they have a place in general for those, including the 313, who had fought in the Battle of better before the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says, One man, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah better maluma She told me
you don't know perhaps Allah has looked at the hearts of those who participated in the Battle of Babel, and he has actually forgiven them, he has become pleased with them. Subhan Allah,
this is the gift of Allah subhanho wa Taala. This is the gift of Allah subhanho wa Taala. My brothers and sisters, it's important for us to note that when ally is pleased with you, he will grant you victory at that stage, the movie co founder of Quraysh came out. And what they actually did is, when they came, they decided they want to
they decided that they would like to strike an agreement with the Muslims. Sorry, the reason why I'm delaying there is something wrong with the sound. If you notice today, it's actually taking up a lot of my throat and I'm feeling the pain while I'm talking to you. So I apologize for that. And there's something further wrong. Now the sound is coming from behind instead of the front. May Allah forgive us. Obviously, the brothers, I spend the moment to dedicate my thanks and gratitude to the brothers who are tirelessly making an effort to ensure that this program is a success. And Alhamdulillah it is a huge success. So it doesn't mean I'm upset. It doesn't mean but I'm a person, if something is
going wrong, I will stop. And I will make sure it is rectified. Rather than continuing it and believing that there was something wrong here. That's the reason why I've paused this, and I'm sure this message will remain international forever. May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless those who have really made the greatest effort possible to ensure the success of this program. We are beaming across the globe, my brothers and sisters, may Allah bless them all, and bless those who have made this possible. And may Allah grant them agenda to fill those and nothing shorter, nothing less than genda to further examine.
So let's get back to what we are saying with a bit more concentration. It seems to have been improving, Mashallah.
The issue was to do with the discussion between the co founder of Quraysh and the mccanns, sorry, the mccanns, who were the co founder of Quran and the believers, they came and told the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, we will strike a deal with you. We won't fight for 10 years, and we will do this and we will do that. They decided all the points were for them and against the Muslims. I'm not going to go through the details because I don't want to talk in detail about the Treaty of Arabia. But trust me, if you looked at the points, all of them seemed like the Muslims were at a loss, because they seemed very unfair. But the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam decided to agree,
the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam decided to take it up. And as he took it up, and he agreed,
they were now departing that area without the ombre in RAM, they will now going back to panela. Having compensated for that without the ombre,
and a lot of universes. In
fact,
indeed, we have granted you and open victory, a clear cut victory for you. And the Sahaba vilanova shot we've just lost now we couldn't go for Amara we just decided to agree on conditions that we weren't really too happy with. Had it not been for the prophet SAW Selim we would probably have disagreed, but because it was from the Prophet sallallahu wasallam we decided to remain mum and we agreed with it. Now we are coming analysis This is victory. So some of the companions including honorable Hopper, viola, and it's reported that they asked a question, a first one who is this actually victory? And so Subhana Allah, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said indeed it is a
victory. What happened? There was a moment of silence. The war had stopped for a period of not more than one and a half, two years and in that period of time, the missile
Have Islam spread far and wide Subhanallah it spread far and wide. And Allah subhanho wa Taala bless the Muslim mean because the kuffaar broke that treaty. So later on when the Muslims were in a position of strength and the treaty was broken, they marched on to Makkah Tomoko Rama, victorious. A few years later, they were the ones who had absolute control of muckety muck, Rama SubhanAllah. Imagine it was the Baraka of being humble, the Baraka of being close to Allah, brothers and sisters, when you and I face difficulty and hardship. Remember, if you are close to Allah, that is nothing Allah will recompense in the dunya and the Acura for what you've been through, he will grant you He
will give you just bear patience. Save yourselves the tension and the depression and the ill health as a result of the worry. Don't Don't worry, hand it over to Allah and Allah subhanho wa Taala will take care of it. You will develop your relationship with Allah, Nothing will go wrong. May Allah subhanahu wa taala grant us ease.
This evening, I'd like to speak of the highlights of this entire series. For me, it is Surah Surah number 49 of the Quran I call on every one of you to pick up the Quran tonight. Surah 49 open it and read the translation of Surah 200 from the beginning to the end adopted follow it Your life will change. I promise you For me it is the ultimate highlight of this particular series known as save yourself. Save yourselves. Listen to what Allah says. It starts off mentioning etiquette how to live your life how to get along with people, how do you want to have the best life Subhanallah listen to what Allah says. Allah starts off by warning us about raising the voice Yeah, I have a loving man
Amano lotto swatter calm focus on teen Abby are you who believe Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam? Yes, it is an instruction for the Sahaba of the Allahu anhu. But it is an instruction and a lesson for all of us to know the volume when we are speaking, who you are talking to, and how you should be speaking. Remember, when you raise your voice, you lose respect. People will not respect you. Why are you shouting? Why are you screaming? For what reason? Have you raised your voice? Do not do that. Learn to speak in the correct volume and voila, he you will earn the respect of people. Imagine this is talking about the volume. In
other places of the Quran. Allah speaks about what exactly you should say, even in this particular surah. Let's move to the next point.
That was verse number two of the surah verse number six of the surah. Allah warns us about believing that which we hear or see without authenticating it. Isn't that a major disaster today? Nowadays, we have videos, we watch them, we can actually see them. And it's a lie. It didn't exist, it didn't even happen. It's perhaps a voice over video shop, etc, etc. And we believe it Subhanallah Be very, very careful. Even what you see in mainstream news channels can actually be fabricated, and it can actually be wrong news. It can be something wrong. I recall watching news on a channel that people would never think would peddle lies, and they had footage of some story that was a long time back
and they sold it as though it was a current affair. May Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us and protect us. And we members of the public, we are swayed from side to side, believing this and that becoming enemies of one another based on fabrication based on tail. If shavon wants to create enmity between us, he makes us believe something that is not reality. My brothers and sisters, so we ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to make us from those who can authenticate at all times. Find out make sure you find out again and again. If you hear something, make sure you find out this is in Surah 200. Allah says, Yeah, I knew Allah Vina Amano in Kumasi, kobina fabyan to Cebu como be Johanna holla,
holla holla foul to me, oh, you who believe if a person were to come to you with a tale about someone else, by virtue of coming with that tail, he is sinful, therefore, you authenticate well before you believe that story because you will harm people without knowledge and you will become regretful of what you have done.
Now there is another interpretation of it to say if a sinful person comes to you with news, then authenticate it but I prefer the Tafseer that says if a person comes to you with a tail, he's already sinful. Therefore, authenticate everything that comes to you.
Make sure because the minute I come to you with a negative story about someone else, anti backbiting
That makes me sinful Subhan Allah, may Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us ease and goodness. So this is a very powerful point, then,
obviously we will have disputes amongst ourselves. We have disputes every day in the family, perhaps in the community, perhaps in the Ummah at large. Allah subhanho wa Taala speaks about this. And Allah says, When two groups from amongst you are fighting, make peace between them don't become happy, yes, they fighting, it's about time, they're going to hit each other. That's a good thing. You know, that's how some Muslims look at problems. But Allah says, Why
Meenie miny, Nakata
if you find two groups of minion muslimeen, fighting each other, make peace between them. And if one of them does not want to make peace, then you fight the one who is wrong until they come to the straight path back to what was right. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us to stand firm for justice. I want to address one point, when we have a problem in society community in the family, a lot of people make a statement that you know what, I am neutral, I am neutral. I want to teach you something. You can only be neutral for as long as you do not know both sides of the story. Once you know both sides of the story, it is wrong for you to remain hypocritical on the fence. You need to
know this one was right, this one was wrong. That's it. And you need to let them know. Because if we keep on saying I'm neutral, I'm neutral in all our problems. You see a thief stealing a guy's a neutral. That's it. You know, you see someone murdering another I'm neutral. You see another crime happening and neutral? What is this business of using neutrality to cover up hypocrisy? May Allah subhanho wa Taala, forgive us, you remain neutral, we will be neutral before we know both sides, you hear one side you are still neutral. You hear the other side, you have to take the side of what is right or wrong. Unless you don't understand. If you don't know and you are confused yourself. You
can say look, I'm confused. I don't want to get involved because I don't understand it. That is there. So let's remember this, the issue of neutrality was challenged even at the time of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. The hypocrites used it to con some of the people to come back from the Battle of word, because they said no, no, no, no, we can be fighting let's go back these people. It's their war. We don't know. You know, why are they fighting and they went away? May Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us a beautiful lesson. And this is why verse number 10. Allah says, You mean you're all brothers and sisters in faith. So therefore,
make amends, resolve your matters don't create bigger problems in a minute. For me obeying.
What happened Ah, Allah, Allah.
Allah says indeed, meaning all brothers, so resolve the dispute between the two of you who are brothers who are actually quarreling with one another. And the last is fear Allah so that you can achieve his mercy. You want to achieve the mercy of Allah fear Allah when you are an arbitrator.
A lot of the times when there is a powerful person and the weak person, the powerful person is wrong. If the powerful person was wrong, and the weak person was right, the general public goes to the weak person and says, nevermind, it's okay. Forgive him. We know he's wrong, it's fine. Leave it. Well, who then is going to tell the powerful person you are wrong? The entire community needs to tell him you know what you are wrong. Subhana Allah, that is how Islam works. This is what Allah says, If you want mercy, you have to stand up, no matter who is on any side. What is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. That is when you will achieve the mercy of Allah. If you're not prepared
to do that. Don't expect the mercy of Allah Subhana Allah, have you heard what I've just said? That if someone is wrong, just because they are powerful, or in authority, we go to the other side who's slightly weaker, and we keep on telling them Don't worry, we know who's right. We know who's wrong, but you see now Never mind. It's okay. It's fine. How long are we going to keep on letting this happen? If that were the case, the rich and powerful will keep on will keep on oppressing those who are weak. And I'm not saying that everyone who's rich and powerful is actually a tyrant. No, not at all. So planula is just by way of example, because it happens a lot in society and community. May
Allah subhanho wa Taala keep us strengthened. Then Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us not to mock at one another. Yeah, I knew Helen Lavina Amano LA. Yes. mill caminada kuno chi minh was number 11 of the same surah Oh, you who believe.
Do not mock at one another. Don't make a joke of one another. Don't insult one another Subhana Allah, perhaps you don't know who may be better from the two of you. They might be better than you and you're mocking at them. You are degrading them for what? And Allah says the women included the women included. We should not mock at one another instead.
to one another, and Allah subhanho wa Taala says, while telling me Zhu Li Suzaku wala Tana bezu been ordered. Don't use vulgar language, insulting, abusive language with one another and don't call each other derogatory nicknames. You know, what's a derogatory nickname, a nickname you have concocted for someone and they don't like that nickname. If someone likes it, it's okay. So if you were to call people Fatty, for example, if he likes it, it's not a bad name. But if they don't like it, it's a bad name.
I know the men don't mind being called fatty. But I don't think the women mind meaning I think the women actually do mind. May Allah subhanho wa Taala. Forgive us. May Allah subhanho wa Taala. Grant us ease and goodness. That's just one example. that came to my mind right now. But there are so many other examples. You have a name for a person, you call him something, make sure he likes the name. If he doesn't change it, call him with his proper name, call her with her proper name. So Pamela, something they like to be called with your name is Ibrahim. Instead of calling you boo, there are the call you Ibrahim in a proper way May Allah subhanho wa Taala. Grant us ease and goodness. And
may Allah make us from those who choose nice names for our children such that people don't just cut them short. You know, if you have a name that takes 16 seconds to actually pronounce. By default, the parents are guilty of having sliced that name, even before they had named the child because they didn't think Subhanallah that nobody's going to say this entire name. So keep a good name that which people will pronounce properly that it which is easy. I always say we live amongst people who are not Arabs, they don't know Arabic. So if you want to keep a name that has tough Arabic letters in it, strong ones that people are not going to pronounce the heart and the heart and the heart and so
on. You are going to make it tough for people to call your child rather use a name that is quite easy for non Arabs to pronounce. Especially when you're living among the non Arabs. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us appreciate the beauty of naming and make us from those who can give good names, I mean, make dua for your parents, by the way they've named Alhamdulillah.
So Allah subhanho wa Taala tells us about these type of names that we shouldn't be naming one another, then there is a very, very interesting and important lesson by Allah subhanho wa Taala very important lesson that Allah subhanho wa Taala has given us, Allah says, Stop suspecting and doubting For indeed, a lot of that is very, very sinful suspicion and doubt. Allah warns us in order to save yourself from destroying your marriage, destroying your relationships, destroying your families, destroying your communities, by saving yourself from doubting, and suspecting this one did black magic. This one did Yellow Magic. The other one did that this one's been doing this. This one's been
having an affair. That one's been doing this. And this one. I doubt I suspect if that's the case, you have a cancer. You have a cancer, you need chemotherapy. May Allah make it easy. I promise you, it is very difficult to help someone who suffers the disease of doubt and suspicion. So Allah says it clearly. Yeah, I Lavina Manu, Janey bucatini long enough one in about one. Oh, you who believe? Stay away from the doubting stay away from most of the doubting for Indeed, it is sinful. Now why does Allah say most of it? Because sometimes if someone says how's the weather outside you say I'm suspecting It's, uh, it's cold. You know? That type of suspicion is fine. Meaning it's not really
suspicion. It's a matter of speaking speech. So if someone says you know, what, what time are they landing say, you know what I I'm, I suspect about 330. And you look at your clock, that is fine. That's okay. That's just a type of speech. It's not actually suspicion. But here we are talking about suspicion where you doubting people and you doubting the intentions of the people. Amazing. Someone comes in does a good deed, and you doubt his intention. Why? For what? Someone comes and does something and you think of the worst thing men should think of the best someone did something you think of the best possible reason why they could have done it. May Allah subhanho wa Taala guide
us.
Then Allah says, while it just says who don't ever spy on one another, don't ever spy on one another. Why? Have you ever thought of it? Say someone spies on another? Remember, Allah knows the sins we're all involved in. He knows the depth of the sin. He is a photo Rahim He will forgive. If you spy on someone you will get such a big shock such a big shock and you're not gonna follow him. And in all honesty, that person could have come out of the sin that they may have perpetrated that you caught them engaged in but because you caught them there was now no forgiveness. No more The door is closed, yet had
that perhaps gone through on its own, the person may have come to a lecture or a lesson or some motivation, some movement in the right direction. They could have turned to Allah before you ever knew that they committed the sin and they could have become a better person than you.
Allah says, watch out, you don't spy. It's us. Everyone owes the answers to us. You don't spy on one another. You don't. Now people sometimes you can say But why? Why? Well, Allah says, Don't so save yourselves. Because there is a price you will pay when you spy. There is a price. I recall, I was once involved in an arbitration many years back, and a spouse spied on the spouse, I won't say he or she right. And what happened is the spouse then found so many things against that spouse and decided I want out that's it. So the spouse was Subhanallah, divorced, married again, someone who did worse than the first one, and the third time, a person who did worse than the first two. And then this
person comes back to me and says, You know what, I should have never spied in the first place. Because I don't know man is swimming in sin. It's only Allah who can take us out.
My brothers and sisters, imagine if people were to know your thoughts, we wouldn't be able to come out of the house.
Imagine if people were to look at your eyes and tell what you're thinking and what you've saw what you've seen whole day and what you've been into. It's between you and Allah has blessed us by keeping it hidden. Allah has favored us by keeping our thoughts inside our minds and our brains. That's a gift of Allah. Haven't you thought of it? If you have thought of something Haram, the public doesn't need to know it. Allah says Hang on. It's between you and I now deal with it quickly eradicate it and you sit down You carry on right? May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us ease.
So this is a golden piece of advice Lata just says who don't spy, spy, you pay for it. There is a price you're going to pay. You're going to find out things that will shock you and shock you in a way that you might even lose your sanity. May Allah subhanahu wa taala protect us. Then Allah says, Well Iota Baa, baa, baa, baa, do not backbite one another. Don't talk bad about someone behind their backs. This is why I've said a few times in this month. You want to change your life speak good about people behind their backs only good. Anyone. If someone talks bad about them, stop them say Look, I know this person has a lot of good, why don't you talk about the good.
If we learn to speak good about others behind their backs, we will solve a lot of our crises a lot of them may Allah subhanho wa Taala make it easy for us to speak good about others behind their backs. You have a problem with someone address it with them directly some kind of law but otherwise say nice things say good things. All of us seated here we have some goodness in us. Let's find the goodness look for it, search for it and talk about it. May Allah subhanho wa Taala make us from those who can say good things about each other behind our backs. Then Allah reminds us that we all come from the same source one mother one father was number 13 Suraj yeah I you
in
the car you
why Jana come
in Anita foo, in a coma como de la at Cancun, in a la Holleyman hobby, oh people, we have created you from a single male and the female, and we have caused the multitude of you to to disperse thereafter to spread thereafter. What jalna cashew been wakaba we have made you into various peoples and nations and tribes, in order that you recognize one another. That's the reason why we made you different so that you can recognize one another. For indeed, the closest to Allah is the one or the most honored to Allah is the one who is the most pious, the one who is most conscious of Allah is the one who's closest to Allah. It's got nothing to do with your color, your size, where you come
from your shape, etc. No closeness to Allah has to do with whether or not you are conscious of him. That's what Allah says. And then Allah ends that verse by saying he is the one who is all knowing and even have two types of knowledge. Allah knows absolutely everything. And that is the knowledge of Allah subhanho wa Taala now I pause for a moment to remind you my brothers and sisters today, you can recognize me I can recognize you, I can see you and Mashallah we have a multitude of colors and sizes and people and Mashallah diabolical. Imagine if we were all identical.
I spoken about it a few days ago, right? If we were all identical, life would be boring. So unless we did you a favor, we made you different. So that
You can recognize each other, your thumbprint, your iris, everything totally different so that you can be identified. That's all. So do not think that this difference that we have is in order for one to feel that he is superior to another, or for one to feel that he is higher than the other in any way whatsoever. No, it is solely and only for recognition purposes and to test you How are you going to handle it in your heart, knowing that you come from one mother and one Father, you have brothers and sisters May Allah subhanahu wa taala grant us the ability to eradicate racism and to fight it and to ensure that we are from among those who respect all people no matter what race they are, no
matter where they come from, no matter what they look like. We treat them fairly and equally akula kanehara masala Allahu wa Sallim wa barik ala nabina Muhammad Subhan Allah Subhana Allah Hamada Hamdi duchateau La ilaha illa Anta anastasiou kawana to be like,