Mufti Menk – The Strong Believer

			Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato.
		

			smilla rahmanir rahim al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil alameen wa Salatu was Salam O Allah Muhammad Abdullah
Al Hashimi al pollachi. While earlier
		

			we praise Allah subhanho wa Taala we send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad sallallahu alayhi
wa sallam, his entire household all his companions May Allah bless them and may He bless every
single one of us, brothers and sisters in Islam. Ramadan is fast approaching, this is the last
Friday before the month of Ramadan. We have been speaking about this beautiful month and how to
welcome this month in a way that we can maximize the benefits from this beautiful month of Ramadan.
Remember, the numbers of the month of Ramadan that we will be allowed to witness is fixed in our
lives. So some of us may be 3040 5060 depending on the age that Allah allows us to get to. And every
		

			time Ramadan comes you can strike it off. It's one less every time one comes, you can strike it off.
It's one less it may be the last one. And it may be such that we may not see the end of it. It's
happening and it has happened. And it does happen to people healthier than myself and yourselves. So
we ask Allah Subhana Allah to Allah to bless us this afternoon I want to go through one hadith of
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, when he speaks about Eman from a different angle altogether,
he man meaning the belief, the faith the conviction we have in Allah subhanho wa Taala
		

			it is a hadith narrated by Abu huraira the Allahu anhu found in Sahih Muslim, where the Prophet
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam makes it quite clear by saying,
		

			you hiren have been in Allah him in a minute.
		

			He says a strong woman is far better and more loved by Allah subhanho wa Taala, then he who is weak?
What does this mean? Two things come to mind. One is physical strength, where you have a person more
powerful, you know, muscular and so on, healthier, that's one thing that comes to mind. And the
other thing that comes to mind is a person whose conviction in Allah is far greater. A person whose
belief in Allah is solid, a person who is convinced as to the power of Allah Subhana Allah to Allah
in the biggest possible way. So the second meaning is what is meant in this particular Hadith
primarily, that a person who lays his trust in Allah, He knows his limits, he understands faith, he
		

			understands what is required of him, and he knows Allah is going to test him. And he is hoping that
the tests are made easy, but he is waiting for the tests one after the other, knowing that as life
progresses, I will have to go through challenges in life. And these challenges will be made easy if
we have conviction and faith in Allah subhanho wa Taala. The reason why we say this, Allah says in
the Quran, while I never know one outcome, even if we stop there, it's just the beginning of a long
verse in Surah. Allah, Allah says, We will indeed, most definitely be testing every single one of
you. That's the beginning of the verse, the rest of the verse, he says, what type of tests you will
		

			have problems, issues, financial issues, loss of life, loss of produce, you know, perhaps health and
so so many different things are made mention of in various places in the forum, and in the student
of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam. So, when Allah promises, he's going to test you the only
person who can pass the test properly, is he who is waiting for them understands their nature, and
knows that it's part of life. Nobody, not a single person can actually sit back and say in my life,
I'm never going to have problems. Soon as you think that you will start sneezing. When you sneeze,
you realize that I'm so weak, my immune system is starting to fail. So never ever think you're not
		

			going to be tested. If you understand this, you get to a new level, what is the level start thanking
Allah regarding the tests that he has placed in your life, knowing that it could have been far
worse? So you think Allah imagine someone suffers an accident? May Allah protect us? And then there
comes a stage when you say, yeah, Allah, I think you things could have been much worse. They could
have been this and that person loses a limb and you think Allah, Allah, I haven't lost more than one
limb that is a new level. That is the strength of Eman. Such a person is more loved by Allah because
he understands the plan of Allah. How can I learn love you, he loves you when you understand his
		

			plan and you're working towards his pleasure. He loves you more and more. So this hadith makes it
very clear and movement on the movement was 11 is solid
		

			He's conviction in Allah is proper. He knows the tests, he understands the challenges, they will be
things in his life that will be dangling in front of him because they are prohibited, he will stay
away from them. And they will be things that occur in his life that are such a big challenge that as
much as he wanted something, listen very carefully because the rest of the week is going to be
connected to this. As much as he so desperately wanted something for himself. Allah did not want it
for him.
		

			Amazing. Sometimes we all want good health, we want profit in business, we want to have the family,
we want so many things in life. If Allah doesn't want it for me or you, there is nobody who can give
it to me or to you. So if we become depressed because we could not achieve something that we worked
tirelessly to try and achieve, then we have not understood our last plan because Allah says you
fulfill your role, we will decide whether we want to give it to you or not amazing. And this is why
if we take a look at this Hadith, the Prophet sallallahu wasallam says, this movement who is
stronger is far better and more loved by Allah far better, in what sense? in every sense, he leads a
		

			happier life, he's got a healthier life, he's less depressed than others, he would not be depressed,
he would understand this is the system of Allah. Ultimately, the life of this dunya is full of
obstacles. It's really like a triathlon or maybe a triathlon might be the wrong word. But it is a
challenge. You need to go through the race, or go through the various obstacles in a way that you
come out of it a champion, it's not going to be easy. Ask those who run the race, for example, the
marathon 77 kilometers, 90 kilometers, they struggle, they prepare for a long time and during the
race, they are suffering. They really feel we lacking water, we need energy drink, we need help. We
		

			need this, we need that. But they so excited because they did better than the previous time.
		

			It's not all about winning. Sometimes it's about doing better than before. But in life, we only have
one, one chance that's a chance from Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, what a powerful way that Allah
has given us such guidance that Alhamdulillah we improve as time passes. And this is why good news
to you. If you're feeling like a better person today than you were yesterday. Even if it was one
inch that you've moved forward, good news to you, your score is far better. And if you are aiming
tomorrow to be achieving that which is far greater than today, in terms of your link with Allah,
good news to you work towards it, strive and struggle hard so that you can achieve it.
		

			This is life. And this is why a person who continues doing small deeds, little deeds, small deeds,
but regularly the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu wasallam says that person and those deeds are more
loved by Allah than one who works so hard one night and after that he forgets a lot. You know, when
we when we are feeling a little bit pious sometimes and we have maybe a little obstacle in our
lives, we sit with the Quran, we sit with Salah, we take our time we spend the whole night in a bed
soon as our problem is over. We tend to forget, forget that just yesterday we were busy crying to
Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, Allah says, the better person and the better deeds are those that are
		

			done regularly, even if they are a little look at the Prophet Yunus May peace be upon him, when he
called out to Allah from the belly of the whale in the darkness of the depth of the ocean. It is
reported that his voice was recognized by the angels because every day at that time, he used to call
out to Allah anyway through Vicar and just be so Allah says, Allah Allah, Who can Amina being then
I'd be happy about Tony
		

			had he not been from amongst those who regularly declared our praise? Perhaps he would have remained
in the belly of the whale until Allah had willed until the end of time. So this is Allah saying, if
you do a deed that is regular and you have continuity with it, it's far better than just dashing in
you know month of Ramadan we have pious everything is okay it's play. after Ramadan. We back in the
clubs we back for example, without gambling without alcohol with our bad habits. If that's the case,
we need much improvement by the will of Allah. Let it be Ramadan with a difference and this is why
the Hadith says such a person is better than one who is weak, weak in Eman, any small thing happens
		

			we become depressed. You know in life we will suffer in so many different ways health will begin to
fail. Even if you're the healthiest, strongest person there comes a time in your life when your
bones begin to ache. It's the plan of action
		

			You cannot become depressed. There comes a time in life when you find that you are now for example,
on a regular basis in need of a jab, it can happen. And someone might tell you this is going to be
for the rest of your life. It's a test. If you take it with a smile and you thank Allah that still
such medication is available, you lead a much happier life, the quality of your life will improve so
much that you are smiling yet others who have a lesser problem, a smaller difficulty are far more
depressed and they don't even know which way to hit. And this is why this hadith makes it extremely
clear. Now let's take the physical aspect of it very important. Do you know that from this hadith
		

			because of the power of the wording of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam. We also learned that the
person who is physically fit is far more loved by Allah subhanho wa Taala than he or she who
intentionally drains their body down to the degree that they are physically very unfit, something
interesting. So for myself and yourself to take interest in the type of food you eat, at the
exercise on a daily basis, the fact that my body is in order my mind shall then inshallah be in
order to my spirituality will be in order. This Hadith says that Allah loves you more if you take
care of these things, because naturally, you are a cleaner mind You are a more you know, a more
		

			spiritual person because your concentration is on something that it is supposed to be upon, and not
on something that it's not supposed to be upon. For example, a person who's definitely not
interested in their healthy eat as they please they've never exercised and they cannot even read
Salah properly or when they are in Salah for example, their mind is elsewhere because it's not
healthy. And it begins to wonder this way or that way. So this hadith is so powerful. We've covered
both aspects strength of Eman of a movement and strength of a movement physically as well. I hope
and pray. We are coming through this month of Ramadan we become conscious of our food. Let's
		

			remember something and I'm going to say it loud and clear. The issue of savories in Ramadan it's not
as soon as to start with it's not Haram. But remember it's very unhealthy to break your fast with
fried savory is extremely unhealthy. Let alone far from the sooner we need to open the fast with
dates with fiber perhaps with a bit of yogurt, a little bit of brown bread and so on. Follow the
sooner see how healthy you feel your fries and your savings can come later on perhaps remember one
thing, do not let your bad eating habits make you a person who becomes lazy to fulfill turn away.
Allah subhanho wa Taala protect us something we can definitely take heed and inshallah if we look at
		

			the sooner of the food and what type of food we are supposed to be eating, it will definitely help
us It will enhance our health we feel so good and and hamdulillah we will be proud of being part of
the oma of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wasallam such a great oma that has been taught every aspect of
its existence, how to develop it may Allah subhanho wa Taala bless us all.
		

			So moving on through the Hadith, the Prophet sallallahu Sallam says we're frequently in hype, there
is goodness in both, which means we are not denying the fact that someone who's physically weak
might be able to benefit themselves or others as well. There may be benefit but there is greater
benefit in he who is strong in she or in he or she whose Eman is solid. We can encourage others we
are a beacon of light. People see you they smile they forget their problems because they know this
person is so positive they have this
		

			something that surrounds them that makes us feel so good when they when we are in their company. If
this is how we are good news, may Allah subhanho wa Taala make more of us like this. Instead of
being a person, the minute someone sees you, if you depressed, the minute they look at you, they
start thinking of 1020 problems they don't even have and so on. And when we open our mouths, we talk
to them as though the world is coming to an end and everybody is doomed. If that's the case, we are
at loss and so are those around us. May Allah protect us. Then the huddle says is Allah and work
hard to achieve what is beneficial to you work very hard. This means without hard work, you won't be
		

			able to achieve things. You want to clean your heart you need to work very hard to eradicate the bad
qualities of the heart. Every time you see someone asked yourself if I have even feeling against
this brother or sister of mine, why is it the case? Let me fight myself to eradicate those bad
feelings. You can do it. We are part of a family my brothers and sisters. We must never forget that
shavon makes us forget it temporarily. So we look at someone and we have an ill feeling that in
feeling is more harmful to us than it is against the others. Just yesterday I said something that
was powerful and I'd like to repeat
		

			To hold a grudge in your heart against someone else is similar to drinking poison, and expecting the
next man to drop. This is what it is to hold a grudge in your heart is similar to drinking poison
yourself, and you expecting it to affect the other man or the other woman negatively. So don't hold
the grudge. The moral of it is the harm is greater to you and your health to hold things in your
heart, let go of it, take it out, release it be a happy person, smile, carry on. That's life. Life
is too short to be holding these things. So the heartbeat says work hard to achieve that which will
benefit you in the process, there will be certain obstacles, those obstacles we need to understand
		

			them, recognize them and look at the best way of handling them. Not every time is it going to be
beneficial to us in terms of our health, our spirituality, perhaps our families, perhaps our
communities to react in a typical way, when a problem faces us. Sometimes we need to sit down and
think and think very deep and so on. And thereafter we will come up with something that will bring a
smile to our faces. May Allah Subhana Allah Allah grant us a smile even in our hearts. So my
brothers and sisters, the Hadith says work hard to achieve what you believe is beneficial to you.
Whether it is your salary, a business deal, your health, we are family, we need to work hard, we
		

			work so hard, over and above that the spirituality is obviously something we need to work hard
towards developing, it's not just going to come like that. We need to make an effort to come to the
masjid and effort to fulfill the past properly and effort to read the Torah we correctly an effort
to accommodate and tolerate and so on an effort not to be an obstacle in the lives of others. Today,
it's important for us to become tolerant, tolerant of people perhaps who might hold a slightly
different view regarding this or regarding that some minor items when we become tolerant and we
become people who understand the limits of Allah, those are the only limits that would govern
		

			exactly what we you know, would consider a parameter. In that particular case we will need a much
more beautiful life. And this is Islam. This is what the piece is all about. This is what Islam
stands for. This is how we will achieve peace. Work hard to achieve what you want. And then the
Hadith says is studying the learning while attaches. Always seek the help of Allah when you want to
achieve things start off in the name of Allah don't think yourself as some big person who does not
need the help of Allah to achieve things. Like I said, the minute we think I'm the healthiest person
and I've kept myself and you know, I and I have done this and I have done that. And we take a lot
		

			out of the equation, we start sneezing and sneezing is just a sign that Allah is showing you hang on
your health is in our hands. Yes, we may have made it easy for you to look after yourself. But don't
become too haughty to think that it's just you it's also us in fact it is only as long as we've just
made it easy for you to do things. Now Allah protect us all and grant us good health and May He
grant us good sustenance happy homes and inshallah happy community.
		

			So the Hadith then acknowledges the fact that sometimes people might start losing hope you working
so hard to achieve something a business deal or position, or for example, some goodness solution to
some problem, you working so hard, it's just not coming. So that's why the Hadeeth continues to say
well attaches. Don't give up hope. Don't give up hope no matter what do not give up hope. Do not
give up. Continue working towards that direction of goodness, no matter what. Do not let the
negativity of others make you a negative person. You are positive, continue with that positivity. It
will help you it will wake other people up through the process as well. Slowly but surely you will
		

			affect the lives of so many people. And you won't even know it. Sometimes you might only find out in
the afternoon. And yet if you were to blow out your own candle, because now you're worried that this
candle is lit for so long, and nobody's really benefiting from it. What would happen, you would not
see the path anymore. Your life would be in darkness. And so the lives of so many other people be in
the same so that it says try your best to not give up. When you want to achieve something good. Work
hard. Realize that sometimes you might not achieve what you want. Ultimately, you may die not having
achieved what you want. So the last part of the Hadith, beautifully worded. The Prophet sallallahu
		

			Sallam says we're in a Slava cache, when something negative affects you and harms you when something
negatives comes in your direction. What should you do? It's part of my Eman. I need to know how to
react.
		

			Cool. You need to say but the Allahu amercia file. This is the decree of Allah and whatever Allah
has willed has happened. I tried my best
		

			I did whatever I could, in my capacity that Allah has given me, I've been continuing to try. And yet
I have, for example, not achieved this or something bad has come in my path, I need to say this is
the decree of Allah, whatever he has intended, whatever he wished, and whenever he would have
ultimately happened, that is a sign of the strength of the man. And the last portion of the Hadith
is, I would say, the most powerful lesson for all of us. It says, well, Ah, cool, low, fat in low.
def Devo, Baba shavon. Never, ever use the word. If this had happened, then that would not have
happened after something has happened. Because that opens the door of shape and what a powerful
		

			narration. So when something evil has come in your direction, you've tried your best, and you were
moving in a specific way. And then calamity struck, disaster struck some negativity struck. You need
to turn to ally and say Allah, that was your decree, it was that deal. I surrender to it. I've
learned lesson from it. And this has happened and that has happened. But I'm never going to say if
this didn't happen this way, then that would have happened that way. And if this and if that don't
say if that's what the Hadith says, because if opens the door of the devil, it does not close you
blame this one you blame that one you become depressed once again, going back right to the beginning
		

			of the circuit, what's the point? So this is why Allah subhanho wa Taala open our doors, I end with
an example Rasulullah Salallahu Salam son, Ibrahim, may Allah bless them all and bless us as well.
Young infant passed away in the hands of Muhammad Sallallahu sallam, and everybody knew that the man
in whose house he was being fostered was a blacksmith who used to blow into the smoke or into the
oil and a lot of smoke used to, you know, be billowing from the home and so on. Nobody ever blamed
that man to say if this man had not been a blacksmith, this child would not have passed away.
Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam did not entertain that discussion, nor did any one of the Sahaba because
		

			the young infant passed away it was the decree of Allah subhanho wa Taala lots of lessons for us to
be learned. May Allah bless us beautiful month of Ramadan ahead of us We ask Allah subhanho wa Taala
to grant His goodness inshallah after his Salah. I will be making one or two announcements, and I
hope we could listen to them attentively. Wa Salatu was salam o Baraka, Allah.