Mufti Menk – Repeating the Reminder

			Salam Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
		

			smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillah wa Salatu was Salam ala rasulillah why Allah Allah He was
happy woman Voila. We praise Allah subhanho wa Taala we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his entire household and all his companions without exception. May
Allah subhanahu wa taala bless them all, and may He bless every single one of us and grant us
goodness. My brothers and sisters, the aim of the lecture or the hotbar of Juma is to remind us of
the duties that we have unto Allah subhanho wa Taala to remind us of what is right and wrong, and we
would be listening to that which we do know. But perhaps, for those who believe in those who are
		

			keen on improving, it would be a rejuvenation. It would be a reminder that would help them once
again to plug in.
		

			We see as we go out, and we are busy with whatever the world wants from us, that sometimes we begin
to become distracted from that which pleases Allah subhanho wa Taala we begin to become people who
do not
		

			take into consideration the favors of Allah subhanho wa Taala upon us, we sometimes become oblivious
of the gifts of Allah subhanho wa Taala the fact that when Allah bestows upon His servants
something, he will ask about that. So it is very important for us to come in and listen to a
reminder that would draw us closer to Allah subhanho wa Jalla and further away from shavon.
		

			A reminder that would bring us closer to the reality of death and the fact that we are all going to
meet with Allah subhanho wa Taala we are answerable for our deeds, we are answerable for the favors
that Allah has bestowed upon us. And this is why Allah subhanho wa Taala says, from Allah toasts
		

			in
		

			me, and then indeed definitely, on the day you will be asked, you will be asked about the boons or
the favors of Allah upon you when Allah gave you something he's going to ask you about it. Indeed,
he says, that when I bestow upon my worship is something I will ask them, What did you do with it?
So bearing that in mind, I wish to repeat today, a hadith that I'm sure a lot of us would know. But
the reminder benefits those who believe as Allah subhanho wa Taala says, while they kill for
		

			me, Mimi, and remind For indeed the reminding, benefits those who believe or will benefit those who
believe so if we are true believers, never feel bad when you are reminded regarding your duty unto
Allah subhanho wa Taala this hadith is a hadith narrated by napus Ravi Allahumma he says one day the
Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was advising a man and we happen to hear that advice. And
obviously when the messenger peace be upon him gives advice to one person that advice is for
everyone. It is advice that is applicable throughout the ages right up to the end of time. So what
was this advice and in a bus in the Allahumma
		

			Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam Alcala de la Julian wahoo, Ivo kidnappers, Allah and Omar says
that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was saying to a man while advising him, his attorney
comes and kubla camps
		

			sees five opportunities before they are overtaken by five conditions. sees five of the gifts that
Allah has bestowed upon you to make the most of them before they are snatched away by Allah subhanho
wa Taala. From this, we understand that whatever is mentioned in this hadith
		

			shall be taken away by Allah subhanho wa Taala Come with me, it will be taken away either by death
or by the loss of each one of them one by one. So let's listen very carefully. And let's try and
look at each one of them and ask ourselves how best have we seize these opportunities. The first
one, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says, Shabaab aka Kabbalah harmik your youth your young
age, perhaps he was a man who was young, he was healthy. So the Prophet sallallahu Sallam says you
are young, you are healthy, seize the opportunity of your health to do
		

			Something with that health, that you will be proud of the day you no longer have that health. And if
you were to look at those who are slightly older, and if you were to talk to them and ask them,
whether they are our own parents or relatives, and if you were to look at them, you would be able to
see that Allah subhanho wa Taala has definitely had his wisdom and his plans such that you age and
your youth diminishes. You can no longer do when you are 15, what you used to do when you were 20 or
25. So therefore, every one of us who is young and able, male or female, ask yourselves, what can I
do right now that I am young, and I have the ability and capacity in such a way that when I grow
		

			old, and I don't have that capacity anymore, I don't regret. So we would be fulfilling our Salah we
would be going out and assisting others we would be using the energy in a beautiful way we would
teach people goodness, we would teach them good manners and character, we would be going out and
assisting those in need in any way we can. And we would actually perhaps the females would bear the
children in that age, it's not easy to give birth when you are post 3540 than it would when you are
much younger. So to give birth to look after the children to ensure that they have a positive
upbringing to participate in their lives when they most need it while we are young.
		

			So the Prophet sallallahu wasallam says make use of your young age your youth before you grow out of
it. And then you we may have people who have already become older. The Hadith is quite clear
regarding those who may be regretting how they've used their youth. So now that I'm old now that
perhaps I cannot do what I used to do, I'm sitting and listening to this Hadith, and I have regret
in my heart. The fact that we have that regret is already a sign of closeness to Allah, it means
that we feel Had we been given another chance, perhaps we would have used our days more wisely. So
this alone, we would we would actually be coming closer to Allah subhanho wa Taala by pondering by
		

			seeking Allah forgiveness, Oh Allah, I was young, I did not make use of my days, my time as I should
have. And as I could have, forgive me for that, and grant me the best of the rest of my days, this
is what it is. But as for those who are young, speak to the older generation, talk to them, see, get
some encouragement, they will all tell you are you regret the way I use my days, I could have done
better I did so much in my life. But I am advising you, my beloved youth that you should be doing
much more than I have done for I regret. The sad reality is men doesn't want to be told the young
don't want to listen to those who are older, they feel they know better. They feel they can reinvent
		

			the wheel and do a better job not realizing they would be wasting their time and the time of others.
So it is important for us to take heed and to learn from this beginning the opening of the Hadith.
Some of the scholars make mention of the fact that the opening is with the young age because perhaps
that man was young, and perhaps he was able. So that was one of the most important factors regarding
him and I'm sure with all of us, let me take you through to another Hadith that also speaks of the
virtue of those who who are spending their youth in the obedience of Allah subhanho wa Taala there
is a hadith where the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says there will be seven types of people
		

			who will be granted a special shade on the Day of Judgment by Allah subhanho wa Taala. And he
mentioned the seven categories. One of them is Shah boon Nasha Fie Bardot. illa heeta Allah, a young
person, male or female who grows up during their youth, in the obedience of Allah, so my beloved
youth, remember, in these years that you have the strength and the ability, use that strength to
obey Allah seek forgiveness for the disobedience that may have occurred, but believe me, it's never
too late. We need to ask Allah subhanho wa Taala His forgiveness and we need to make amends by the
will of Allah subhanho wa Taala. So, that is the first of the five your youth before it is overtaken
		

			by old age before it is overtaken by inability or disability. May Allah Subhana Allah Allah grant us
goodness. Secondly, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says, So had a blessed atomic, make use
of the fact that you are healthy before you become sick and ill. Today I am healthy. I don't have a
problem with my back. For example, I don't have you know
		

			something maybe a problem with my health, my blood, something else which might be serious or not
serious while I'm healthy. I need to ask myself am I going to spend all this time when I'm able and
capable in front of the television, you know, going out fishing every weekend so panela fishing is
okay once in a while, perhaps. And that too, with the remembrance of Allah in the obedience of Allah
subhanho wa Taala do I spend my health partying going out every weekend and forgetting about Allah
subhanho wa Taala we enjoy ourselves, you know, the non Muslims have this idea that you earn
throughout the week and spend it all in the weekend. Or sometimes you earn through the month and you
		

			spend it month end or you earn through the year and you waste it at the end. At the end of the year
come December you look at how much you've saved for the year and you've blown it all literally blown
away. And then come January and you are totally broke. With a Muslim, we look at it differently. We
should be people who have planned who have understood the plan of Allah subhanho wa Taala we should
be people who realize that life is not all about holidays. Life is not all about having the fanciest
of everything. Life is not all about boasting and bragging regarding material items that Allah
subhanho wa Taala may have bestowed upon you, but rather you may make use of those material items
		

			with total humility and humbleness. A true moment the more he has in terms of material belongings,
the closer he becomes to the rest of the creation of Allah subhanho wa Taala thereby depicting the
closeness to Allah subhanho wa Taala as well. So May Allah make it easy for us. That's the second
part of the Hadith. So Haddock Abdullah sacani then the Prophet sallallahu Sallam says, seize the
opportunity of your spare time before you occupied for Agha kubla shivalik you are free, you have a
little bit of free time spare time, instead of sitting on the internet sitting on WhatsApp sitting
on BBM sitting on social media whole day whole night. And we have to give that example because at
		

			this in this day and age that is definitely a menace. It is a problem people are facing it. We have
family members we have real life people who are being ignored completely. And who is being given
preference, those whom perhaps we don't even know those whom perhaps we're not even supposed to be
knowing. May Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us. So when you have free time, remember Allah
		

			we as car
		

			my brothers and sisters I encourage you to repeat Subhana Allah and hamdulillah you know, Allah
Allahu Akbar. Now how La quwata illa Billah the remembrance of Allah the praise of Allah Glory be to
Allah. Allah is the Greatest, so many beautiful words of praising Allah,
		

			myself, as well as everyone else. I am quite sure we can do much better when it comes to the
remembrance of Allah. Many of us are guilty of not repeating the praise of Allah on a daily basis.
We don't we simply don't we forget, we might even come for Salah we might even be fulfilling our
Salah. But ask yourself a genuine question. When last Have you actually praised Allah by saying
Subhana Allah Subhana Allah Subhana Allah Al hamdu Lillah Allahu Akbar, whether it be 33 times or
how many ever times possible for you?
		

			The answer to that question is we can do better. In everyone's case myself included. remember Allah
because you have the spare time go and learn the Quran learn that which will bring you closer to
Allah subhanho wa Taala you know a person who is so dedicated in business, any moment he gets, he
will be surfing the internet looking for bargains or he will go out to earn something he won't want
to sit for a moment free. He wants to earn money with us. There are limits to everything while we
must Yes, earn whatever we can in terms of worldly, the worldly life the material items, while we
are alive and we are able and capable. It is our duty to do so but not at the expense of your
		

			hereafter. You need to strike a balance. This is why we have Salah five times a day we have so many
reminders from Allah to prepare for the day you will be meeting with Allah subhanho wa Taala by
developing the link with Allah subhanho wa Taala. So my brothers and sisters as much as we want to
earn things we also need to earn for paradise we need to earn for the hereafter imagine when you and
I meet with Allah subhanho wa Taala and he is so pleased because he shows us that every moment you
got spare you actually remembered me You went to my word, you read it, you learnt it, you try to
understand it, you put it into practice, you conveyed it to others, you improved on your prayer you
		

			improved on your understanding and you did so much today. I want to give you Jenna or paradise
without reckoning Subhana Allah May Allah do that to us.
		

			So
		

			It's important for us to use our time wisely. A day will come when you don't have the time. Many
people when they graduate, say from o level or a level or they are waiting for results, or just post
University looking for a job, they have some spare time they use that spare time to sleep sleeping
alone, I spoke to one young man, and I told him Brother, why is it that you sleep so much? He says
because I heard the chef saying that sleeping is an act of worship. So for Allah, so people are
misinterpreting the deen in order to facilitate for their weakness. Let's not do that. Yes, sleeping
is an act of worship, but oversleeping can become detrimental to the health, both physical and
		

			spiritual, of the same individual. So remember this, get up, work hard, go and do something. Think
up things. Sometimes you may not like to do something that is beneficial for you go and get it done,
because who knows you might be developing in that particular field in a way that you had never
imagined. So we ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to bestow upon us His blessings, and to grant us a deep
understanding regarding the time and how important it is to utilize it in the best way. Because if
you don't, it is wasted before you know it, your health is lost, your youth is lost and your time is
lost. Then, the fourth part of the Hadith the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says, was in a
		

			cobbler fabric,
		

			seize the opportunity of your wealth before it is overtaken by poverty. And from this, we learn very
clearly that wealth will not remain in your hands or my hands forever. It has to go it has to go. If
Allah has made you a wealthy person, remember, a day will come when you will definitely suffer a
loss. It's impossible that anyone can be only on a good weekend for the rest of their lives. That is
absolutely impossible. I have with these ears heard people say I have enough wealth to last me three
generations. And about four years down the line. They told me I've lost all my money. So Pamela, May
Allah forgive us. May Allah subhanho wa Taala. Grant us goodness and understanding. This is all the
		

			plan of Allah to show you. What he has given you, is a trust entrusted to you by him use it wisely,
no matter what you have. One might say, well, I am poor, I am not wealthy. The truth is, it's not
got to do with amounts, it's got to do with what you have Don't you have something will give from it
reach out to others from it, you have a little bit you can give a little bit. If I for example, only
have $100, I can give out $1 $5 that 5% is much more than a person who has 100 million and only
gives us 1 million for example, the percentage is far greater with the one who gave out a smaller
amount than the one who gave out a larger amount, but had even more. So remember this, people say
		

			what is my duty unto those who are suffering across the globe, after I have given my soccer.
		

			The reality is Zakah is something that already belongs to Allah, no merit of yours. There is no big
deal when you give to Allah, the Zakah that already belonged to him. The big deal is when you give
to him that which is over and above Zakat, which you yourself want to give, this is the big deal.
When Allah tells you I'm going to give you $99 or let's make it more realistic, I'm going to give
you 97 point $5 but there's $100 bill here, you need to give me the $2 50 change, and you give him
the change. Was that a big deal on your part? Nothing. You did nothing. You only gave back the
change because it was not yours in the first place. Two and a half percent of it went because Allah
		

			says that's mine Give it to me. But when you say Do you know what I want to give back 10 hold
dollars. So panela there are churches who give away 10% of their salary when muslimeen are only
asked for two and a half percent of their savings, but they find it difficult to even work that out
and give it the excuse shape and makes them use is my money is tied up will loosen it up. You know
your money will be tied up until you will be tied up in your grave. May Allah subhanho wa Taala not
let that happen. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us an understanding. So that is the fourth part
of this beautiful Hadith.
		

			The last part of the Hadith speaks about the reality that we started with.
		

			Well, hi attacker problematic. seize the opportunity of your life before you pass away before your
death overtakes you. So if we have for example, lost our wealth, we've lost our health. We've lost
our young age. We've lost so much in terms of our time, for example, and now we are sitting, Allah
says no problem. Don't worry, you still have a chance What is your chance seize the opportunity of
you being alive before you actually die. So now you will have more time to remember Allah you will
have more time to reflect over the
		

			greatness and mercy of Allah, those who are older from amongst us, I give you a piece of advice from
the advice of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and that is concentrate on the mercy of Allah.
Concentrate on the qualities of mercy and hope that Allah subhanho wa Taala has given us as a
blessing. Because if we concentrate on the punishment of Allah and the Wrath of Allah at an at an
age whereby we are now considered old, it makes us despondent. shapen may come to us and make us
feel like we've achieved nothing in life. But as you are older, have hope in the mercy of Allah
until your final breath, you must have hope you must smile, you must have conviction within you that
		

			Allah loves you. And Allah will look at your good deeds and grant you gentleness through them and
look at your bad deeds and wipe them out because you asked for forgiveness. So my brothers and
sisters We ask Allah to forgive us and we asked Allah subhanho wa Taala to make us from among those
who can use all these five opportunities in a way that we don't regret. Remember my brothers and
sisters what you have will not remain with you forever. What you are given has to go away no matter
what even your own family members, either you lose them or they will lose you but a day will come
when you will have nothing It will be you and Allah subhanho wa Taala you will be answering for how
		

			you have been using all that Allah has given you May Allah make it easy for us upon that day was
Allahu wa salam o Baraka ala nabina Muhammad