Friday Reminder from Arcadia in Zimbabwe.
Local issues discussed in a simple way.
Mufti Menk – Testing One Two
AI: Summary ©
The importance of acceptance and justice in life is emphasized in Islamist and Christian discussion. forgiveness is a test and one has better deeds than another. knowing one's own values and avoiding negative impacts of past experiences is also emphasized. The segment discusses the challenges faced by Muslims in their lives, including poor living conditions, high inflation, and economic and political challenges. The importance of showing gratitude and attitude towards others is emphasized, and the need for a positive attitude towards oneself is emphasized.
AI: Summary ©
Salam Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh
smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillah wa Salatu was Salam ala rasulillah Ivana Lee was happy.
We praise Allah subhanho wa Taala we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, his household his companions May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless them all. May Allah bless you all and your offspring May Allah bless us as an oma And may Allah bless humanity at large and guide us all to the straight path. Make it easy for us to tread upon this beautiful path and make it easy for our offspring those who are to come up to the end of time. May Allah subhanahu wa Jalla make it easy for one and all. My brothers and sisters in Islam.
Every time we speak about the purpose that Allah created us, every time we speak about Why did my maker make me What was the reason? So many people answer in different ways. Some people say he made us so that you can come on earth and enjoy so that when you die, you will enjoy even more. Well, those are not really believers. Because enjoyment correct, but not beyond limits. I cannot enjoy harming you, I cannot enjoy stealing from you. I cannot enjoy swearing you I cannot enjoy hurting you. There is something very interesting. If I do that, surely
you have the right to justice. You have the right to justice. And if you do not get justice in this world, I promise you, the Almighty will give you that justice at some stage and He will give it to you in the hereafter if it be extended to that point. My brothers and sisters, let's realize we as Muslims say that we were created in order to be tested by Allah Subhana Allah Allah.
Allah, Allah Allah
Ali Abu
Salam Allah, it is he This is in Surah
verse number two, Allah subhanho wa Taala says, It is he who created death and life in order to test you, what is the test? I want to know the question. If I want to test you, you say okay test me what is the question? So I will ask you a question and you reply the question and then I will take it to say you are right or you are wrong, and you get your results. So Allah says I created death and life in order to test you. Oh Allah, what do you want to test us about? What is the question? Uh, you come from Allah, Who from amongst you has the best deeds. All of us seated in this Masjid today, men and women who from amongst us has the best deeds. That's why we were made. Now it might sound absurd
to some who don't understand who don't believe who have never thought about it. But when you think about it, my brothers and sisters, people like you, more handsome than you and I prettier than you and I should I say, wealthier than you and I.
What happened to them?
They came, they lived for a few years. They died. They were motionless. They were buried, we buried them. And they continued, where did they go? What was their purpose on Earth. Some of them committed sin upon sin and did not repent. Some of them committed sin upon sin and change their lives. Some of them did not commit sin from the beginning or when I say did not commit sin, I'm talking of major,
minor sin there is none from amongst us who can be protected from it could lobelia dhammapada the Hadith says every human being makes mistakes or sins
in a boon and the best of those who constantly make sense are those who constantly repent. You see, the Prophet sallallahu Sallam did not say couldn't do Bani Adam.
He did not say that.
How the una he did not use that word. He used the word pa in the Arabic language, the linguistics of that terminology is such that it refers to someone habitually doing something.
One is a person who made a mistake and one is
a person who makes a lot of mistakes. But one many then the Hadith says so what happens to the person who makes many mistakes well
in the best from amongst those
make many mistakes are those who repent, so no matter what you've done, no matter how many mistakes you made, la Takapuna Rahmatullah Hina, La Jolla, Villanova Jamia, don't lose hope in the mercy of Allah for Indeed Allah will forgive all of your senses. Continue to seek the forgiveness of Allah esto Villa tubo la when we sit in Salah one of the sooner to us to make Allahumma inni vallentuna FSI lumen kathira
avidly ma Virata Melinda Kawakami in, Rahim, Allah, I have wronged myself a great wronging I have wronged myself in a big way.
And there is none to forgive sins besides you.
So forgive me a forgiveness from you, and have mercy on me.
For indeed men can forgive sins besides you, Allahu Akbar. So we were created in order
to be tested, the test is who has better deeds, you know what that means? My brothers, my sisters, it means that
every single moment in your life
you are being watched?
What are you doing? Every moment?
You have been being watched? What are you doing?
The right answer will be in front of you the wrong answer will be in front of you. What did you choose from the two? Sometimes there is a multiple choice of 10 answers, you know, which is the best answer, you know, which is another acceptable answer. And you know, which is a wrong answer. And you know, which is an evil answer. It's up to you to choose.
Every minute, including today, every minute including today.
We are being watched.
Allah is putting in front of us things.
The more things he puts, the more chances you have to answer correctly. So your tests you can prove I have better deeds. What did I tell you? I said in this Masjid, my brothers, my sisters, who from amongst us has the best of deeds. He's the winner, right?
I don't know. I can only try. You don't know you can only try. And the beauty is Allah says when you seek forgiveness, we wipe out the wrong answers. Imagine there is dangling, I'm going to give you an example. A bottle of alcohol is dangling. You are stressed and depressed. You look at this pub in front of you. And you see people drinking cold beers. And you think to yourself a I'm stressed let me just have a little bit. You understand the test. It's a test. You see a cold beer and the guys are drinking and laughing. You are depressed. You've got a problem back at home, a problem with your children a problem with your cash a problem at the job problem with your parents a problem with the
council and a problem with the police. And you thinking yourself this
one little glass not going to do too much of damage. It can only do good thing. Ally's telling you, Leah boo.
We put it in front of you to test you what what are you going to do? You answer the question correctly. You say Oh Allah, you told me not to go there. I won't go there. I'm going to walk straight and I'm going to carry on Allah will help you. Sometimes Allah might put another problem because now you have a cash problem. And there's a $20 sticking out from uncle's pocket at the back. Now what happens you say I just need my routine. Oh Allah, thank you for blessing me with 20.
That's not a blessing. There is a robbery. So
it's a test. If you can stay away from that 20 you might struggle a little bit but trust me, when you get to the Acura, you're going to go to gentlemen, because you had better deeds that was your test. You become sick. And people tell you you know, I went to that younger you know what I he just jumped a little bit three four times. He got five, six bones. And he started calling on the spirits. I walked out of there with no back problem. You look at him and you think ah but my back is aching. It's alarming your backache to test you you know the answer? Should you go there should you not go there you know the answer. But because you want to fail the test, you end up going your back is
right but you failed the test. You got the $20 but you failed the test. You drank the beer but you failed the test. You felt okay for a while. After that. more problems come and guess what? You get depressed you get stressed you get sued.
cycle, because you don't have belief but a believer, bigger problems will come he gets happier and happier, more content closer to Allah, my brothers, my sisters, when your problem drives you to the pub, and it drives you to drugs and drives you to gambling and drives you to adultery, you need to know there is something wrong with your man. When your problem brings you to the masjid, you are a movement.
When your problem makes you soft, and makes you ask for forgiveness, you are not me because Allah said when he loves you, he puts a problem in your life.
Why? People say that does not make sense. If it makes sense. You did not think about it. When you have a problem, how many of us became good Muslims because we have problems.
A guy walking around with his jeans halfway down his backsides and he's moving with his hairstyle this way. That way, suddenly, he's diagnosed cancer. Next thing his beard starts protruding. After a while he's wearing a bit of better clothing. Then you see him in the first stuff, what happened? He was diagnosed. That's the reason what turned him Allah tested him. That's what happened. But when you have a test, whether it is financial and all the other things I mentioned earlier on, if that drives you towards harm, you are failing upon failure. That's what's happening. So if someone says Why are you alive here, I'm alive to save myself from what Allah told me to save myself from. That's
why I was created until death. Because those who committed adultery when they want their deathbeds, if they could talk to you, they will tell you something, I did it, don't do it. Say Uncle, you enjoyed your days now leave me alone. Allah forgive us. That's the attitude. We are young, we are energetic. We want to go and commit the sin. That's what we want. But think of it one day, you're going to be old, you won't be able to walk, you won't be able to talk properly, you will need to have to work and you're going to think when I was 20, when I was 25 3040. I used to commit sin upon sin. I didn't know who Allah was. Now I'm at an age where what law what law here I'm telling you
guys, I'm at an age where I'm thinking to myself, I should have used my images properly. Life was so short, what did I gain from that? Nothing. Zero. I gained nothing will law he the note that a person gains on their faces when they have saved themselves from a sin for the sake of Allah is something you will feel in your own heart to begin with. It's a no you feel close to Allah, you want to read the Quran, Allah He all of us seated here, without exception, myself included. We can do more regarding our connection with the Quran
because we don't read enough, am I right
there that heads are nodding, Mashallah.
We need to read more come five minutes early, pick up one must have read one line, one verse, put it back Subhanallah do it with your heart, what will happen? Your life will change. That's what will happen.
Your life will change.
He hated Islam. He hated Muhammad Sallallahu sallam. How many verses did he read that changed? Totally. His life was totally transformed. Do we even read the verses trying to understand the meaning. And the joshy the nexus of Amazonia he heard a few verses he started crying.
We are Muslims. We heard the whole Quran so many times have we cried.
Have we cried
a lot talks about an A joshy.
And a lot talks about the Christian priests who heard the verses
of the Quran
being recited and Allah says
what either SMU
Nina.
When they hear what was revealed to the messenger, you see their eyes filled with tears because of their recognition of the truth. That's why
my brothers and sisters do not think that the difficulties in your life are a punishment from Allah. If they are drawing you closer to Allah, they are not a punishment if they are drawing you away from Allah
They are a punishment.
When you have a problem and the first thing you say is in Allah who were in a Rajon, you're a believer.
When you have a problem, what are you taught to say, in law?
Or in the LA Roger, what does it mean? massive accident, someone died, something bad happened, a loss. a robber came and attacked and stole something. first words, we belong to Allah, we are all going to return to Allah anyway. Subhan Allah, that's what it means. We belong to Allah. When something bad happens, you remind yourself, I belong to Allah. It's okay. It's okay.
So, people might say, why is all the suffering Allah He everywhere on the globe, people are struggling. People are suffering. If they're not struggling and suffering, they are working very hard. In order to survive, life is becoming tough. No matter where you go. Go to America, it's becoming tough.
Choose a country life is becoming tough.
No matter where it's not here. Every place has a different challenge.
We are blessed here in Zimbabwe. Our challenges are of an economic nature perhaps. Anything else?
Anything else? If I had to give everyone a million bucks in this room, what would happen? We are living in the best place on Earth.
Unfortunately, I don't have those millions to give
me Allah subhanho wa Taala places inshallah will come. That was quite a loud inshallah. Mashallah, that's good. But the point I'm raising is very pertinent. It's important to say, look, we have a problem of an economic nature. We have fresh air. We have mangoes and lemons and apples in our gardens. People won't believe you. We have anything you need. tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers.
What else?
Yes, cauliflower. What else? Someone said portals
hamdulillah we have everything you can think of. You go to some countries, they can't even dream of that. Another thing is we have the space. You know the density of the population. Subhan. Allah, we have enough land people's houses, okay. Go to some first world countries, people cannot live in more than a small room.
And it's a very advanced country. Space is so expensive. You own a property and I still don't know how it works. You own a property? What is it? It's a flat on the 30th floor. So how many people are owning this in this property flats, they will tell you there are 1000 flats here 1000 people only, but the space of it, it goes upwards. It doesn't go
horizontally, it goes vertically. So if something happens to that building,
what happened to your flat? I don't want to thank
Allah forgive us. I don't want to think because it disappears. That's what happens. It's gone.
Subhana Allah, what a gift we have.
Your house broke down, you still have your land? Don't you? Put another one? Yeah, you can put up a tent. But I can imagine 1000 people which tend to trigger the Buddha, Allah have mercy on humanity. So all I'm trying to raise here is
the gift that Each place has, and the challenges that Each place has. People say, I need to go, well, it's not wrong or haram to go somewhere. But ask yourself, why don't you go here?
What do you have here?
What don't you have here?
And you answer a lot of questions before making a decision.
That's something important. Because I know of people who've left, they're crying, they want to come back.
I know of people who've left and they've done well.
So it all depends if Allah has blessed you with something. I gave an example to a brother of mine recently, my brother in Islam, obviously, and a friend. I told him, I said, my brother, you want to shift out? How's your business? He says, it's okay. Not as good as it used to be. I said, that is such a perfect answer. Everyone is going to tell you it's not as good as it used to be in the whole world. In the whole world, they're going to tell you that
if you give a beggar 50 cents, and he tells you thank you very much. I'm going to buy to Africa.
Are those and I'm going to eat this evening with my whole family. May God bless you what's gonna happen to you? You're gonna be happy, isn't it? How much did you give him? 50 cents. You might take out an extra bond note, sorry, no dollars, but you might take out an extra bond note and give it to him and say I have this as well.
Because you were happy with what he said. But if you give a beggar 50 cents, and it tells you too little, and he walks to another car to pick. What are you going to do? You're never going to give him anything again. Right? ungrateful.
Allah is giving us our 50 cents here, buy our two avocados and feed the family and thank Allah, he's going to give you more. Love you Shakira.
As he then Allah says, if you are grateful, if you show gratitude, I will give you more.
And if you don't show gratitude, you are ungrateful. My punishment is severe. See, see the parallel here?
Thank Allah, how do you think Allah do good deeds help others? You got 50 cents by your two avocados? Send a small piece of avocado to your neighbor. I'm giving you an example. I'm giving you a very low example but it's practical. You know what I mean? It fits in each person's life in their own context.
Reach out to others. make someone's life easier Allah makes your life easy. Think about yourself alone. That's it you will be alone you die alone.
This is a lot less plan. You want the help of Allah Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam says, Well, can Allahu Allah God.
He you want Allah help. Allah will help those. Allah continues to help those who are helping others Subhanallah many of us we think I'm a poor man. How can I help others? Help others with a smile with good attitude? With good greeting? Imagine a person is depressed. His wife is giving him hassles or her husband giving her hassles Okay, let's stick to a man Okay, so the wife is giving hassles the children giving hassles the parents the in laws everywhere problem financial problem. The house they cut off the electricity, they cut the water off, he couldn't pay he walked out there is a case against him this this happening is that happening? And suddenly he meets a brother Salah Monaco so
nice to see you my brother. I'm so happy to see and he's like, Hey, I think this guy's got the wrong champion.
Right? But you say Mashallah salaam aleikum and you smiling my brother? embrace the man tell him hamdulillah so good to see you. What a lovely day. You know what happens? he feels like he's part of a big family known as the oma. His burden is less Allah will make your bed and less as well. What did it cost you? Not even a piece of avocado? Not even that piece? You could eat it yourself? It costed you nothing. You just needed good attitude you need to smile at the people and this is why you see someone gate them smiling. Well lucky today we have an attitude what's the attitude? No one greets there's no greeting
Not at all. I think in this machine it's a bit different. Isn't it? Great each other Salaam Alaikum How are you my brother? You don't have to ask a Can you give us $2 from me you know because then people might not greet you. We don't need that. But just Salaam Alaikum How are you my brother is everything okay? I hope you're happy so good to see you. Mashallah, etc etc. You don't need to add words that are hurtful or words that put pressure on someone or lack rights Where did you know you don't need to say that? May Allah subhanho wa Taala forgive us Don't worry did he pinch your money? The answer is no Leave him alone
Subhana Allah He must have somehow something you know people say you're looking well you're looking well Mashallah. That's good. That's good Mashallah.
You can tell people you're looking well, Mashallah. It's good to see you. Let's increase these words. You know why your deeds become better? You are happy for the happiness of others. When you see someone said don't ignore him. Go up greetings.
Salaam Alaikum. My brother, how are you? Nice to see you, my brother. Sometimes you might not know the person. What's your name? My brother. Hey, good to see you. I see you every week here. It's good to get to know one another. That's why we are part of an omen learn to love Why do we find small matters to differ and to create this unity amongst us find 1000s of things to bring us together. When I was young, we were taught
and you know Subhanallah they are saying sometimes there are signs you can see that this person here definitely is coming to the masjid. Sometimes there's no sign. I don't know. I have to greet Salaam Alaikum. We were taught anyone who greets you even if he appears to be a non Muslim for you. You need to treat him as a Muslim because he's offered you the greeting
Salam Alaikum Yeah, this guy's just like he just wants to say because he loved it, you know, especially when they don't say properly that he does not like they say Salaam Alaikum.
So what is a Muslim? rip reply, smile. salam wa Taala? How are you so good to see you, my brother, etc? Well, even if he's not a Muslim, what is he going to think he's going to say these guys, they've got this bond, they are connected to each other. They are serious. Let me be a part of this Subhanallah brotherhood.
don't discount people, no matter who they are. A person walking. A person who is who has a lovely vehicle, a person who doesn't. All of them are your brothers. And they are your sisters in Islam. When you greet, greet, genuinely make sure you reach out to people with your expressions, please, my brothers and sisters have a good expression, make people feel that they are part of the family because they are today we have so many things that depress us, I told you the economic challenges we are going through even if you sit for half an hour with the person, not from this country to explain to them what's going on. They will not understand the need to come and live here for minimum three
months before they really understand the magnitude of what's going on.
But you can offer a smile Subhanallah you can offer a good word.
This is why I started off by saying my brothers, my sisters.
When Allah says He created you to test you, he knows what he's talking about. He said it in more than one place in the Quran that I created you to test you who from amongst you has the best deeds. So my job is to make sure that I try my best in the difficulties that I have to be the best possible person I can.
And Allah says he will dangle in front of you Haram in order to see if you're going to swerve away from it, he will dangle it. So you will see something in front of you totally Haram. It's so easy to do it. But allies watching if you do it, the only thing that happens is you are now jeopardizing the chances of you entering paradise. That's all.
Don't do it. And if you have done it in the past, like I said, seek the forgiveness of Allah, He tells you for as long as you're breathing, you know what I will wipe out whatever you've done in the past whatever it is, and wipe it out. seek the forgiveness turn to Allah. As we are growing. As we are aging. Voila, here we are about becoming closer to our graves. people our age and younger than us have gone in a healthier state suddenly, May Allah forgive us. May Allah make it easy for us the day he takes us away. My brothers, my sisters, really and truly speaking. I chose today to speak about what I've just said and you've heard it because we're all struggling everyone in a different
way and to different levels. Don't become despondent, Allah loves you. Allah knows Allah is watching. Trust me, things will become easy. You have to have the hope. You have to have the belief you have to know deep down, things are going to become easy, but those things will only become easy when you become closer to Allah.
So learn to get closer to Allah, the first thing that will happen Allah will give you contentment, Allah will give you happiness. Allah will give you such a beautiful feeling within that you will be going through a more difficult patch than a lot of other people but you can still smile. When they see you they won't believe the type of difficulty you are going through.
May Allah bless you all and May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant every one of us goodness akuto Kali hada sallallahu wasallam Allah Amina Mohammed