Mufti Menk – Tests and Sacrifice

			Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah in a meadow who want to stay in who wanna study he want to Bella
Himanshu Liam fusina. Amin say it Anna Lena Manya de la oficina mobile Allahu Allah hi Deanna. Wash
hadoo Allah Allah Allah Allahu Allahu la sharika wash. Mohammed Abdullah he rasuluh Mr. Mamata clean
water sudo bin al amin, Allah de Boer, Isa Illa marry one Swati one lady takana Allah Maha jetty La
Ilaha
		

			Illa Herrick sallallahu wasallam. Mr. Baraka, Allah, Allah, Allah, he was happy he ultramarine a
mother, my beloved brothers and sisters in Islam.
		

			It is indeed a very great day, the day of Friday, within the days of the month of Hajj, where the
pilgrims who have intended to make Hajj this year, some of them have left and some of them shall
leave shortly. We asked the almighty to grant us all goodness and ease. Brothers and sisters, it is
important that I remind myself and yourselves to be conscious of Allah subhanho wa Taala. It is only
through the consciousness of Allah subhanho wa Taala that we will be saved from the calamities of
this world and the next, more importantly the calamities of the grave. and thereafter we ask the
almighty to grant us ease the day he takes us away.
		

			Brothers and sisters we have been created in this world, not so that we can achieve whatever we
want, and we desire in this world but so that we follow the plan of Allah subhanho wa Taala in a way
that when we arrive in Paradise, we will then be able to achieve whatever we desire. So anyone who
follows his or her whims and fancies in this world, shall perhaps be prohibited from achieving what
they desire in paradise. That is, if they make it there, may Allah grant us paradise I mean,
		

			but it is important for us to know that those who block themselves from following their desires,
whims and fancies that are in contradiction to what Allah subhanho wa Taala has revealed or sent
down. For them, there is good news that they will be granted the eternal bliss and goodness. So to
control yourself for a few years in this temporary world, is in fact, the duty that Allah has placed
upon us. It is part of the test that Allah subhanho wa Taala has chosen for us to go through He made
us and He created us. And he says very clearly that he has tested us in order for us to worship Him
alone, and for us to pass that particular test by his will. wama holla.
		

			He says, I have not created mankind nor Jin kind except that they may worship Me, which means we owe
our worship to Allah alone, we will worship Him, none but him nobody with him, neither a stick nor a
stone nor a human being nor a saint nor a grave. We worship Allah alone, we worship Allah alone,
that is the test. And from this, we realize that if that is the main test, then shamans plan would
be such that he would come to try and deviate us in this particular matter, primarily. And this is
why it is very important for us to check our lives on a daily basis. Who am I worshiping? Do I
worship my maker alone? Or do I worship the other creatures of Allah? Do I worship my wealth? Do I
		

			worship my children, my family members? Whom do I worship? worship is solely and only for the one
who made me the one who made you May He grant us goodness and forgiveness. May He grant us
steadfastness as well.
		

			In life, Allah subhanho wa Taala has made it very clear to us that we will not get everything we
want. If I wish for something. Allah did not guarantee that I will have it in this world. Part of my
faith is to surrender to the decree of the Almighty when he has chosen something for me or against
me. And I need to know Allah Tada, which means the decree of Allah subhanho wa Taala is part of my
Eman part of my faith. If, for example, something happens around me that I did not want to happen.
The test is how do I react to it? How do I feel about it? Am I in contentment with
		

			Allah subhanho wa Taala Do I understand that it is an opportunity for me to gain closeness to Allah
subhanho wa Taala I can give you a few typical examples point number one, sometimes a person would
like to earn so much in terms of wealth, and Mashallah they find a job and they begin to work. And
after some time they lose that job, and they lose a lot of money. Sometimes they suffer loss because
something burnt down or because accidentally or through an accident, someone passed away. That was
no coincidence that was in the plan of Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, Allah subhanho wa Taala did not
guarantee that because you have such a high qualification, you are definitely going to be a wealthy
		

			person. Some people have high qualifications, they cannot find jobs. Some people have a lot of
money, they have no happiness. Some people have a lot of wealth, but they don't have health. Some
people have beautiful homes, but their children perhaps may be disobedient. All these tests from
Allah subhanho wa Taala should make us better people. One of the plans of Allah is that these tests
will draw us closer to Allah subhanho wa Taala not further away. But sometimes people suffered a
loss, say an examination you are trying to achieve from so long, and you sit the exam once, twice,
thrice and you keep on failing. Remember that is Allah subhanho wa Taala plan for you work as hard
		

			as you can leave the rest in the hands of Allah subhanho wa Taala sometimes we lose our job because
we are Muslim. Sometimes people look at us with the eye of prejudice because perhaps our name is
Islamic or the way we dress is Muslim, or the fact that they know we are Muslim. How do we react to
that? Do we become hooligans? Do we behave in a way that is not befitting Islam and the Muslims? Or
do we surrender to the decree of Allah subhanho wa Taala and try to do something positive in order
to try to do something positive in order to change the mindset of people as best as we can regarding
Islam and the Muslim so that the same will not be repeated with our brothers and sisters. Sometimes
		

			we react spontaneously we become angry and agitated to the degree that we don't realize the way we
react to something Allah has chosen to put in our lives is very unbefitting of a Muslim, and it does
more harm than good. So we need to come ourselves we need to make sure we ponder with sound
intellect, go back to the sooner of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and learn from his Sunnah.
How come he was how he reacted to things that happened. He lost his children. How did he react? He
lost property what how did he react? He had people who came to fight him How did he react? May Allah
subhanahu Allah grant us all steadfastness and goodness. So it's important for us to realize that in
		

			life, the more Allah loves you, the greater he shall test you as the hadith of Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam, he says, in the law, either I have bad Danny but Allah, when Allah loves a
worshiper, he tests him and he tests him more because everyone will agree. My Liberty law, the
greater the test, or the greater reward is with the greater test. When Allah has chosen so many
tests for you. You need to know that is preparing your paradise for as long as you react to those
tests in a way that will please Allah subhanho wa Taala This is why when Muhammad sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam lost his son Ibrahim, whilst he was in his hands and he says we will not utter words of
		

			displeasure, but we say to Allah is what he has taken. And for him was what he gave us in the first
place. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us a lesson from that.
		

			Brothers and sisters in this life, some people want to marry a particular person and they close
their eyes on that particular person to the degree that if they don't marry them, they become
depressed and they lose the world, but they don't realize Subhan Allah perhaps Allah has not planned
that for you. Perhaps your test is to surrender to the decree of Allah subhanho wa Taala you may not
have exactly what you want, but Allah knows that you will get what you want in the era, if you have
surrendered to the decree of Allah subhanho wa Taala in this particular dunya we have so many issues
of people who are unhappy in this world yet they are Muslim in the two do not come together. If you
		

			are a Muslim, you are happy if you are unhappy there is something wrong with your Eman because
Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam speaks to us and he says so beautifully in a hadith that we
should be knowing of by heart. I Japan the Umbrella Movement for in mahou Kula hula how amazing are
the affairs of a true believer, for indeed all his affairs are good. They are
		

			Good. If something good happens to him he is thankful. So it's good for him and if something evil
befalls him or if he does not get exactly what he wants, as he wants it, he bears patience, he
understands it's the test of Allah, and he understands the nature of this world, this dunya its
nature is that I am never ever going to get every single thing I want. From 100 things I might get
10 things I might get 20 things I think Allah, the other 80 and perhaps multiplied so much, I will
get in the in the alpha in the hereafter in Paradise, but I need to surrender to what Allah has not
given me in this word, surrender to his decree in order for me to get to the alpha. This is
		

			something of utmost importance because too many people are suffering because he man is weak. We
don't understand the plan of Allah subhanho wa Taala with us, and sometimes we don't even understand
how to react to what's happening around us. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant a sound knowledge May
he make us from those who love one another for the sake of Allah subhanho wa Taala today, we want
people to think exactly how we think otherwise this man is not a Muslim, this man is a deviant this
man is this this man is that but no two people think alike that we don't understand. Yes, we should
discuss when it comes to bringing people to towards what is right towards what Allah has revealed.
		

			We discuss inshallah, based on sound knowledge and at the same time realizing and understanding the
gift of Allah to have allowed such a discussion. But if we were taught to just label and stay far
away from this man because he his eyes are slightly different from mine. In that particular case, we
will only be spreading complete and utter destruction in the oma because we will be splitting
ourselves into small little groups not understanding that we are part of one major oma, we will
always discuss matters with knowledge and sound knowledge and we will always try to bring ourselves
together, bearing in mind that difference of opinion has been there from the time of the Sahaba of
		

			the law and home all the way down. May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless us, it is important that I
spend a few moments
		

			to make mention of the sacrifice in Islam.
		

			When we say sacrifice one of the prime issues that come to our minds, the sacrifice of Ibrahim
alayhi salatu was Salam of his son Ishmael May peace be upon them all and upon us. I mean,
		

			if we take a look at what happened according to the narrations, the historic narrations and some of
the hadith of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam. It was a dream and instruction to a Nabhi of
Allah subhanho wa Taala Ibrahim Alayhi. Salatu was salam to do something that pleases Allah,
although it did not make sense to this man, but he knew it was coming from Allah. So whether it made
sense or not was besides the point I have to get this fulfilled because it is why it is revelation.
It is from Allah. It is an instruction of my maker, here it is, and I will get this fulfilled. He
was instructed to sacrifice his son. The upbringing of that particular son was such that when he
		

			spoke to the Son, the son says,
		

			to my father, do as you have been instructed, said he dooney
		

			Allahu Meena saw meaning, you will find me being from amongst those who are patient. This was the
upbringing of the child. May Allah subhanho wa Taala help us to give our children similar upbringing
that when the decree of Allah is mentioned to them, they do not find it difficult to surrender to it
today. We don't read salah and we expect our children to read Salah we don't dress appropriately and
we are saddened when our children dress more indecently than us. So there are two ways inshallah to
solve that matter. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant us solution to that. So Ibrahim alayhi salatu
was Salam when he went to fulfill the instruction of Allah subhanho wa Taala shaytan came to him.
		

			When a man came to him. He pelted the devil on three occasions according to some narrations. And
later on, he fulfilled the sacrifice what we learned is so much from it. One is, every one of us is
taught to engage in that sacrifice in one way or another, by the will of Allah subhanho wa Taala not
because it's all about a festival of meat, and it's all about enjoying eating. It's not only that
Suhana love, the celebration is upon the obedience of Allah subhanho wa Taala and upon putting a
knife between you and that which comes in the path of earning the pleasure of Allah subhanho wa
Taala let me give you an example. What is the point of someone sacrificing Iran at the time of
		

			Ebola, yet they have not put a knife to the adultery that they are committing for the
		

			last 10 years, what's the point? What is your sacrifice? What have you put to an end in order to
achieve the pleasure of Allah subhanho wa Taala from the sin that you are committing a person lies
every day and yet they want to slaughter animals and say enjoy the meat but brother your sacrifice
is to cut your lives. Some people speak rough to their family members, they have no way of
communication. They speak to their wives or sometimes to their husbands or their children or parents
or in laws in such a rough way that they can only be pleasing the devil yet they will come to you at
the time of evil of hi eat Mubarak, Mubarak Subhana Allah, it is not only about greeting people, no,
		

			it is a bigger, much bigger issue. It is development of yourself you celebrate upon the fact that
you have put a knife to that which was displeasing Allah subhanho wa Taala or when it came to the
instruction of Allah subhanho wa Taala you made sure that come what may you adopt that instruction?
May Allah subhanahu wa taala grant us goodness, we have people who cannot give up *, but
when it comes to sacrificing they are quick to put the knife on the rim and say you know what? We
sent 20 animals to Bangladesh and we sent 50 animals to India and we sent another 500 to Africa
Mashallah. That is very, very good. But what did you do about that animal within you? You have not
		

			yet slaughtered it?
		

			What about the * inside that you are so hooked to cut it out? My brothers and sisters cut
it out and see how you will enjoy the sacrifice of Eagle of ha you are sacrificing something for the
pleasure of Allah subhanho wa Taala
		

			people have so much some people have really this
		

			connection to false wealth that is not theirs. So they want to usurp wealth, through robbery or
deception. And they get happy about it brother, I am a very rich man. How did you get your money if
you did it? Allah Allah, Allah, Allah, we are happy for you. If not put a knife to it, that money
will not come about with any form of goodness, if we're not prepared to put a knife to it, then
Subhan Allah, how will we earn the pleasure of Allah subhanho wa Taala. So this is one angle of
looking at that sacrifice, the angle of what am I prepared to sacrifice to end the pleasure of Allah
subhanho wa Taala. On one hand, Ibrahim alayhi salam, he was instructed to do something that did not
		

			make sense to him. No. Will it ever make sense to any one of us imagine, sacrifice your son? can it
make sense to you? No. Did it make sense to him? No. But it definitely was never a point of question
because he knew the source of the instruction. Once Allah said do this, he said, Nah, nah, we have
heard it and we have obeyed it. Whereas we have light items to fulfill. No one has asked us to
sacrifice our children or to do something barbaric in order to achieve the pleasure of Allah. No,
but it is the small things in our life that we are not even prepared to look into. How then are we
going to be able to sacrifice them? cut them out for the sake of Allah subhanho wa Taala. So I hope
		

			these few words of motivation can help myself and yourselves. Firstly, look into ourselves, where am
I going wrong? How do I work? How do I address my colleagues? For example, some of us we cannot read
Salah. For what reason because we are lazy we want to sleep. Or we say the timing is strange. Some
of us don't want to dress appropriately. Some of us have haram relations with the opposite * in a
way that we know it's detrimental for us, for our families for our well being but we cannot put an
end to it. And yet we every year we witness this evil of how what is it all about? It is all about
sacrifice. It is all about cutting out that which displeases Allah subhanho wa Taala and forcing
		

			yourself to do that which pleases Allah such as your Salah, your truthfulness, your dress code Come
on, we can do much better with our dress code, the way we come across one another. When we enter the
house of Allah my brothers and sisters, we need to learn something, we smile at one another for the
sake of Allah because I share a Shahada with you, I don't need to come into the house of Allah and
look at people in such a way that my eyes are telling them. What are you doing here brother? You are
not even supposed to be here. If that is the case, where is my Eman? What is the Brotherhood Subhan
Allah, what is the sisterhood all about? We need to make sure people feel like part of one family
		

			that is what the oma is all about. We will have differences and we will always have differences. But
my brothers and sisters remember those differences to be discussed with knowledge and to be
discussed in a way that it is felt that my intention deep down is not to condemn people but rather
to educate them to come closer to what is right. And to do so it might take long. It's a lot of
effort and energy required dedication and strategy. So
		

			much but we are impatient my brothers and sisters, it's either my way or the highway as they say.
May Allah subhanho wa Taala protect us, brothers and sisters. Two things were mentioned in today's
talk and I hope we can remember this number one, it is important for us to realize the tests of
Allah subhanho wa Taala we will never get what we want in this world because Allah has kept a
paradise where we will be getting what we want expect testing your life. One day your health will
fail. One day you will suffer loss in your wealth. One day you will suffer the loss of life of those
around you whom you love most because everyone needs to go one day you will become old and you won't
		

			be able to walk anymore. One day you will have to prepare for dying because you are so close to
death. You may look back in your life and regret when I had energy. I used it for adultery. I used
it for *. When I could see I used to watch dirty things. When I could type I used to type
the dirtiest of things now that I'm old. What do I do remember, if you have got to old age, you are
so lucky that the doors of Toba are still open but a loser is the one who gets right to death and
still hasn't turned to Allah subhanho wa Taala. So my brothers and sisters, we ask Allah subhanho wa
Taala to help us through our tests, and to make us from those whom when the tests come in our
		

			direction, we can accept them with open arms, asking Allah to help us through them and asking him
never to test us with tests that will be too difficult for us to pass. The second point I made
mention of is to learn from the sacrifice of Ibrahim alayhi salatu salam that if he could put a
knife to something in order to please Allah subhanho wa Taala it was replaced with a ram as we know,
we should learn that what we have been asked to do is far easier. It is far lighter, yet we find
ourselves dilly dallying, we find ourselves dwindling. We cannot even sacrifice minor things in
order to please Allah subhanho wa Taala I hope and I pray we can become better people. And I hope
		

			and I pray we can become assets to our communities, our societies, starting with our own families
and family members. May Allah subhanho wa Taala bless us. akuto Cali hada was not
		

			even Muslim enough. No Java, don't carry