Unique Verses and Topics of the Quran

Salam Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Smilla Rahmanir Rahim Al hamdu Lillahi wa sallahu wa sallahu wa salam ala Mallanna BIA Banda, who are Allah Allah, he was gonna be here at mine, my brothers and sisters, when you read the Quran I'm sure you notice that some verses are very, very short and others are very long. Who knows the longest verse in the Quran? Which one? Is it? Yes.

I'll Madana al Madana in Surah Al Baqarah. Right? So mashallah, it's correct. It's correct. And you know what? There are other verses that are so short that some of them are made up of just one letter off, right? No, don't you heard those?

Amazing, so why did that happen? And how come they are very short verses one after the other, and some of them are so long. Today I'd like to explain to you something very interesting and unique about the word of Allah subhanho wa taala. So initially, Allah Almighty

revealed, first verses to Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam,

which was the first verse

say it

Ikara read that was the first verse ever revealed that already

was a pronouncement of

the prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.

So Jibreel alayhi salam, the Archangel Gabriel came down

and follow the instruction of Allah to take the word of Allah subhanho wa Taala to Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

One word read

and the word was repeated again, although it's part of the same verse, so when you look at the Quran, it just says a cara Bismillah beacon levy kala ko read in the Name of your Lord who has created but if you go back to the story and how it happened, he said read and Mohamed Salah Salem says I'm not a reader mA and a bakery in and then he said read and he says ma Anna bakery in but in the Quran. It's only once a para Bismillah beacon learning if Allah God amazing verses

at that point, Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was granted prophethood and he was later instructed to go to his people and to warn them about certain things. Now, obviously, the community was at a peak of ignorance, it was known as Elijah Helia. The period of ignorance many people when they come to the fold, and they start practicing, and you tell them Brother, how are you? Oh, sister, how are you? Say no Al Hamdulillah I thank Allah who removed me from the jaw Helia so you know, they were injured? Illya what does that mean? There was a period of ignorance in their lives, they are talking about a minor ignorance, which means not the entire nation. And not all of the

people were in ignorance, but you were in ignorance or the person you're talking to was in ignorance. It's an it's a period where you are not practicing. We just call it a period of England it's because it has some similarity to those who had forgotten about Allah or we're not even interested to know about the maker. So at that point, Nabi SallAllahu sallam was told to go to his people remember, in Jaya Helia, all of them needed help all of them needed guidance. Now, when you want to change everything about the nation and the community, you need to start somewhere. You need to start somewhere. There are certain things you need to change here and now. And then there are

other things that you need to change as soon as you can.

So if you look at verses that were initially revealed, you need to understand something the people around Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam were not all interested in listening to what he had to say. They were not interested. He called them up by the instruction of Allah, his own kith and kin, his own community, his tribesmen, his family members, and he gathered them at Mount Safa. And he warned them about something by asking them a question. You know me as the truthful, be honest, if I were to tell you there is an army behind me on the other side of the mountain that is coming to attack you Would you believe? They said, Yes, we would, we would believe so. He says, Well, I'm warning you

about a punishment that is going to overtake you if you don't worship your maker Allah

on and you don't change your ways and your habits. And most of them, most of them laughed at him. They scoffed, they passed crazy remarks. Some of those remarks are recorded. Even in the Quran, Abdullah, he said to Nabi SallAllahu, alayhi wa sallam balaka Muhammad Ali ha jamatkhana Whoa upon you, O Muhammad destruction upon you, O Muhammad sallallahu alayhi salam Is this what you gathered us for? So Allah Almighty revealed other verses,

Allah Almighty revealed other verses,

telling us about how the bad words uttered by this person against someone who is a friend of Allah would actually become the source of his Ultimate Destruction bethia Da, bing, bing

destruction Allah mentions of both hands of Abu Lahab he was a wealthy man he earned with his hands, he achieved he was a powerful man. Allah says your wealth will not help you neither now nor later, my own

man who can sub whatever he earned, and his wealth will not help him has not helped him shall not help him. These are Verses the young children of Maccha were super excited with the rhyming of these words. They were excited because, you know, children, they pick up very quick on certain things and sometimes a bit of mischief. And with that mischief, what happens? They start repeating saying things when I was little in the masjid

during taraweeh

when I was very little, let me say it that way. Okay. During taraweeh sometimes it used to prolong so much that the little kids at the back used to mess around what did we do? We had little peashooters you know, you take a pin, you take out the little refill from inside you have a small little piece of paper, you put it in there and

and you flick someone's ear, and then as they're looking back and then you just looking down like you're doing nothing, kids mischievious you wouldn't believe I did that, did you?

I'm thankful to Allah that we were just normal kids. Mashallah, today when I see them I say okay, we weren't as bad as this. But then we lived in an age where really how parents were like sort of hardcore, strict. May Allah Almighty grant us all good parents, may Allah grant goodness to all our parents, give them good health, give them long, beautiful lives and make them a beacon of light in our lives and those who passed on May Allah give them genital for those I mean,

so it's difficult because children started saying these little verses that they memorize so quickly, but Jada Bella had been one time and the people of Makkah, who were disbelievers started getting so angry and upset that you know what? This is bad. It's unacceptable, but something amazing had just happened. What was it? The uniqueness of the verses of Allah short versus one word versus sharp versus dealing with certain subjects that were those subjects that you needed to know about? Now immediately, and change your life with whatever Allah wants you to change it with? But it needs to happen now. So those were the verses initially revealed. The people of Makkah were mesmerized as

much as they didn't want to listen to him. They were those who had accepted the message from among them Abu Bakr, Radi Allahu an ally, if not be Taliban of the Allahu Anhu. The first youngster to accept Islam. Ali if not be Italia but of the Allahu Anhu the first adult male to accept Islam. Abu Bakr Siddiq Radi Allahu anhu, the first woman to accept Islam Khadija been to Hawaii leader of the Allahu anha. In fact, she was the first person to accept the message because as Nabi SallAllahu, wasallam came down, she was the first one whom he met, and so on. However, outside of that small crowd, there were a lot of people who were laughing, mocking they didn't want to hear the message.

But these are the words of ALLAH, ALLAH designed them in a way that the message would definitely get to them come what may? It's the word of Allah. To this day, the message will definitely get in sha Allah, to whom ever Allah wants it to get to hook or crook Subhanallah come, what may it we'll get there.

So,

people started talking about these lovely, beautiful, amazing words that time, the kuffaar of Makkah, and the people of the Arabian Peninsula were upon a peak of language. linguistically, they were very, very knowledgeable, although many of them were unlettered. They didn't bother about learning how to read or write because technologically

If I can say that way, it was not the in thing if I tell you when were you born? And you give me an age you tell me when you were born? I'm trying to look at some of the older people, but I see quite a few young guys when were you born? My brother? Yes.

1971 Okay. The brother was born in 1971 Okay, when you were born

Why did they not phone your folks with a video call? To let them know that you were born and show them what you look like?

It wasn't invented then. Did you hear what he said? That's the answer I wanted. They didn't because it wasn't there. And later on now it is so common that when Aki Amon moments ago said put your torches on almost everyone put their torches on right? Except those few I saw them who didn't want to waste their batteries right?

So come on who's gonna listen to this guy will do the tech be without turning it on? Who? Why should we listen to the verse of the Quran that tells us to turn on the torch. Come on, guys don't spoil the show. Come on, guys. Don't spoil the show. But I know there was something there. So.

So my brothers and sisters at that time, it was not the in thing to write and read, but it was the in thing to be eloquent eloquence was upon a very, very high level. However,

the Quran came in, more eloquent than all of these people put together to the degree that later on the Arabic language to this day, uses the Quran as a yardstick to gauge what's right and wrong linguistically for the Arabic language. Can you imagine how powerful that language is of the Quran? So they were fascinated. They were so fascinated that the leaders were worried about people starting to become Muslim, they had a meeting and said, No one must listen to these words. Work all AlLadhina kufan Only, that's my only Hi.

Fi Wi Fi healer I Lancome Tao only Bucha on, the disbelievers had said that don't listen to this Quran. And while it is being read or recited, make a lot of noise in order for you to be overpowering, in order for you to overpower to overcome in order for you to be victorious. Don't let people hear it. And don't listen to it yourself. Why? Why would someone say don't listen, and don't let others listen because they know it has a power. What that did is it made people inquisitive. It made people inquisitive. You know, when you want to tell your child or someone else don't do this, you got to explain to them beautiful reasons to say you know what, don't do this because it's bad.

It's the if you just say do not touch as soon as you turn around the child will start doing this. Right? Because why they want to defy, they want to know what's going to happen. So don't open this door. Do not open the door. And as you go away, they're going to start flicking the door and checking what's going on and so on. It happens but if you explain to them listen, there's a lion out there and it's going to bite you.

They might open the door even quicker to say you're lying.

But remember we come from Africa didn't Aki Amon say the wild Africa slum for Allah?

May Allah forgive him Allah Allah tell you.

As yesterday I said the only wild guy I know is you my brother.

But that was in the jaw. Helia you know, like we said earlier now mashallah Alhamdulillah look how Allah uses people who Allah He, Allah changes people like you can't imagine there are so many examples of people who had their own Jai Helia. And Allah took them out. A sister says, You know what I started practicing, that's Allah took you out of Something brought you somewhere, thank Allah, thank Allah, you need to be strong and steadfast. And Allah will open your doors, days like these are days when Allah expects us to be impacted in a way that change is made in our lives because we are going to be questioned about days like these and messages like these May Allah make

it easy for us. So linguistically powerful, no one wanted to listen to it. They said, don't listen to it, and so on. It made matters worse, because the leaders from among them used to tiptoe at night and go quietly to listen to Mohamed Salah Salem, when he used to recite the Quran. And because it was dark, they didn't really know who was going there. But as they were leaving, they bumped into each other. Agnes Hypno, Sheikh and the others, they bumped into each other. What are you doing? He says, No, what are you doing? And the third question, but what are both of you doing? Because each one doesn't want to tell the other what exactly they were doing one built the courage plugged into

said, You know what, let me be honest with you. I just came to listen to what this guy was saying and how he was reading. That other guy says we're to be very honest, I'm doing the same thing. And the third guy says, well, guess what? Do you blame me?

Start over Allah, the three of them. They decided no, we're not going to meet again. When when this is not going to happen again. They did it the very next day again. Why? Because the Quran has

sweetness. These words are beautiful, you know, they knew Mohamed Salah Salem, the height of eloquence, and they knew it's from Allah. And therefore what did they start doing?

They said to each other, well, after the third day, that listen, we swear we're not going to be meeting ever again here. We're not even coming here. But they promise that you know what we know we bear witness that these words have a sweetness. These words are divine and heavenly. This is not the speech of a man. This is the speech of something else all together, it is full of meaning. It's not just something that has arrived with no meaning SubhanAllah. So they bore witness as to the value of these words. These were the most eloquent of the lot, they bore witness But something else happened. They told the public listen whenever the Quran is being read, and these were the first opening

verses, first few verses in Islam that came down, Allah chose to reveal the Quran over a period of time Allah he if he wanted, he could have revealed it all at one time. But Allah says We revealed it over time, in order for it to have the greatest impact upon the ummah. That's how they needed it. As an incident occurred, Allah revealed versus another incident occurred, Allah revealed versus then when Ramadan came Gibreel alayhi salam used to come to the prophets, Allah, Allah, Allah Salam, and revise the Quran in the order of the Preserved Tablet, what we have today. So that order is the order that Allah has kept it in as Quran, but it's not the order of revelation. If you want to study

the order of revelation, you have an opportunity to do so may Allah Almighty grant us ease however, you want to worship Allah through recitation, you have to read in the recitation of the order of the Preserved Tablet, the order of the most half that we have today. So Allah Almighty revealed it in a unique way over 23 years. But they said to their people, you need to block your ears every time the Quran is read, block, put your fingers in your ears, don't listen, put your fingers in your ears, that's literally what they said. So as the Quran was being recited, they put their fingers in their ears. To this day, I don't know if some of them might have just slowly, you know, like, sort of,

let's hear what they're saying. So you know, I say, Listen, guys, everyone, close your eyes, there are a few of us who are going to open our eyes after a little while to just see what the rest are doing. You always get those right. And sometimes those few happen to be in the majority at a certain time. Yeah, the inquisitive lot. So they open when they open, guess what, by the time they got their hands to their ears, the verse was over.

Short, sharp verses now Do you know why they're short, sharp verses at the beginning in Maccha, short verses,

no known as the noon is coming out you putting your fingers on your ears, and when the verse is over, your ears closed, so now it gave you the chance to concentrate? And to think What did he just say noon? What's the meaning of noon? You don't know? It's just a word. It's just a letter that's made into a verse Who knows the meaning of it Allah alone? That's the true answer. So why was it revealed? Whatever it was height of eloquent to draw your attention? Maybe that's what it might have been? Because it did draw the attention noon off. Imagine listen to this one here.

Ha ha.

saw all the Allahu Akbar Majan. If someone told you that there is an eloquent guy coming to speak to you, and he starts off by just singing a few letters of the English language. For us, it would be shocking, especially if someone said you know what, these are divine words, you'd say what's the divinity of it? It increased the interest. They wanted to know what it's all about. Immediately after that Allah says, afternoon Allah says, well Paula me one Maya spoon, Ma, Davina Matthew, Rob bigger, be marginal. So they said he's a madman. Allah says, By the favor of Allah, you are not mad.

They hear the verse they put as the fingers go up, they are now concentrating. They put the fingers down and what was happening it gave them a chance to digest it started answering questions what type of topics were discussed in these short verses. Number one Aqeedah your belief worship one maker don't worship deities and things and people and sticks and stones and whatever else that is created that you found on Earth you worship He who made you? That's the main core topic of the verses of Makkah to purify whom you worship whom you believe in my mind.

So every other verse you find, Allah speaks about worshiping Him alone. Avoiding association of partnership with Allah. That's one topic, another topic, Heaven and Hell, Jana and Jahannam being addressed, accountability, the Day of Judgment, matters of belief, because they had to be addressed immediately.

The other things were going to be addressed later on. But you believe in Allah, you believe in the messenger, you believe in the last day accountability, so you don't wrong people. Because whatever I do, or say, I'm going to be accountable, I am accountable. And one day, I'm going to answer Allah, I'm going to meet Allah. So these were the topics discussed, amazing. The issue of the Hereafter, the issue of the previous books, the issue of the mention of belief, but short, sharp versus addressing what was happening in Makkah at the time. And slowly but surely, the verses became a little bit longer and a little bit longer. And a little bit long. Do you know why? Because people

started developing an interest in wanting to know what was being said, and more and more people were entering Islam. My brothers and sisters today were seated here. I promise you, we're living in an age where we have so many brothers and sisters who are struggling with practicing Islam. Do you think it would be good and wise for someone?

To give them a two hour lecture

regarding some deep topic of Islam, when they are just barely practicing, and they hardly know much about the faith? Or don't you think the best thing to do for those who are not practicing or finding it difficult to practice or even the non Muslims is to give them snippets? short ones, why do you think at this moment, on tick tock, and on Instagram, and so on, you have the most viewed videos are short ones that have a sharp, powerful message. Because people don't have the time. And then when you are impacted by those short ones, what do you do yourself, you go and hunt for the longer ones, because you want to know more look at the impact of the Quran. Allah use that strategy. From day

one. He started off with short, sharp things, short, sharp verses. They came in, and they one by one, the verses were just coming in Subhanallah, short sutras, they came in one by one. And then the people themselves wanted more, they want to know more, they started practicing. And this is what happens to humankind. I always tell the others in my field that when you talk to people go easy on those who are not practicing.

Give them good messages, help them to appreciate their identity. I'm seated here today, or I'm standing in front of you. We're all seated. I say something. If you feel the identity, that I'm a Muslim, I'm so happy to be in this crowd. Wallahi we've already succeeded. We've succeeded because today there is a war against your identity. They want you to be embarrassed regarding who you are.

And as liberation, I need to know who I am. And I need to be happy that listen, I'm favored by Allah. It happened to the people before us, it's going to happen to those after us. We are no new it's, we are not new to this. And you know what? Allah is going to cause us to return to him at some point. And when we return, it's now it's very soon. I mean, brothers born in 1971, I'm born a little bit after him. And subhanAllah How long do you think we have to live?

How long do you think we have to live? I don't really have much. We don't really have much. In fact, at times, people younger than you and I could actually pass on and they have. And when I go back to Allah, it's going to be the best day ever. I'm convinced that it's going to be an amazing, awesome, beautiful day. I've been preparing for the day, my whole life. Every time I sinned, I say My Lord, forgive me. I'm weak. I've sinned because of my human weakness, but not because of defiance of you. I love you. I really, really believe in you, I worship you. I put my head on the ground for you. I say You are my Lord the highest. But I committed the sin forgive me I know you're the most merciful,

most kind. So I've been preparing for what for which day and for what? For the day of judgment and for the day I'm going to meet with Allah. You want paradise seek the forgiveness of Allah. Yes, we will become stronger and stronger inshallah we abstain from sin, but as human, you will fall time and again shaytan comes in work and he works hard and he comes to you from all angles. You know, he comes to you in the form of religion sometimes and he wipes you out. May Allah protect all of us. So we turn to Allah. These verses were short, sharp, addressing matters of belief worshipping

Allah the fact that this man is a messenger, he's not a madman, he is honorable, he is great, a great person he's come to you with teachings of honesty, don't cheat in business and so on. More important than all of that is the pillars of faith. The pillars of belief, we believe in the angels we believe in hereafter. There is punishment awaiting there is good awaiting those who try. Then when we came to Madina, Munawwara

the verses changed. How did they change? Now we're entering territory where they're all Muslims, very interested in Islam in Islam already, and really wanting to practice wanting to know rules and regulations, and therefore, they became known as Madani versus Madani. So the first set of verses before he dropped any verse that was revealed before he dropped is known as mucky muck he means it's, it's revealed in Maccha it has its uniqueness, it has topics it tackles it has a certain methodology and you know what, amazingly The rhyme of some of these verses as the rhyming changes the subject being discussed also changes it's beautiful

Yeah,

uh, you handle more depth we'll come

back if I can be with the Baca PHIPA here. We're rouges affect your wallet.

Stack feet when you rob bigger, false be all one subject. Immediately after that Allah says for either nuclear off in Oh, now we're talking about blowing of the trumpet. The end, look at how it's no longer Ill Ill it's now now Oh, you saw that. The minute the rhyme, change, the subject changed. That's the Quran, the the kuffaar were mesmerized. They were shocked. They were flabbergasted. They literally did not even realize that you know what?

The power of these words going to change us forever. And that's why the bulk of them at some point later on became Muslim. They became Muslim when they started off. Yes, there was a problem, small numbers. And so But Allah's divine plan is amazing. Now, the longest verse of the Quran that I mentioned, and the youngster here, said, it's this particular verse in Surah Al Baqarah. That was revealed in Medina, it was one of the last verses revealed in the Quran.

In Medina, there were Jewish people, there were some Christians, there were others people have the book. Now you find Surah Al Baqarah. Where is it? Surah Al Baqarah. Predominantly, mostly, if not almost all revealed in Madina, Munawwara

and nice, beautiful long verses, what does it discuss?

It discusses examples of the previous prophets, because now these people are acquainted and aware of the names of the previous prophets, Moses May peace be upon him Maccha the verses of Maccha might have mentioned very little but the detail and all the stories of these prophets came in Medina. So whenever you see verses where there is an explanation of the Stories of the Prophets, close your eyes and say, I learned something this verse was revealed in Medina, someone say how do you know how do you know? We were told?

Who told you we were told if there's a story of a prophet it the verse was revealed in Medina? Are you following guys?

Are you following?

Allahu Akbar? I hope you are. Don't worry a few more minutes and I'll be gone. It's fine.

But yes, very interesting. You know, the theme of this Light upon light is the Quran. That's why we're talking about the Quran, I'm giving you something and I want to tell you something at the end. So my brothers and sisters, the topics being discussed thereafter buying and selling and trade and marriage and divorce and women and how to treat them the whole surah is called Surah of women. Imagine I had a guy tell me, okay, Allah speaks about women in the Quran. I said yes. Does he speak about men? I said, Yes, she does. Obviously he does. Why is the no Surah Surah of men so come on, you're feeling a little bit left out are you you know?

You don't need to Subhan Allah.

Allah has chosen Allah elevates Allah decides Surah of women how to treat them, how not to cheat them. Inheritance is one of the first things he mentioned in that surah.

How to Appreciate the status of a widow.

Issues of divorce. So many things Allah does all these are discussed in Medina in Madina Munawwara the verses that were revealed after hijra, because before hijra, there was a lot of difficulty hardship. They were facing persecution, Allah told them Be patient, Allah granted them a change by giving them a

Gift known as the hijra, they went to Medina, the verses came about and then when the entire Deen was complete, Allah revealed verses to say this day I've perfected your religion. This whole plan was my plan. 23 years. It started off in Makkah in a certain way, certain type of verses. And now in Medina, it's ended. And this is the last verse, the last verse, and then there was the Farewell Pilgrimage and there was the Farewell

Sermon, they call it hot button with

the Farewell Sermon, we all need to know it off by heart, we need to know the rights what Mohamed Salah Salah mentioned and it's really unique and amazing. It charts the way forward how you will talk to each other how you will deal with each other, how you fulfill each other's rights, respect each other, don't abuse each other. Look after the women look after them, whoever your family members and so on. So many rules and regulations but primarily worship Allah alone and never forget that worship you make Oh my makeup, I worship you alone, no one else and nothing else you are my maker. Worship is for you. I do sujood for you, and nobody else may Allah Almighty grant us the

purity of Tawheed I mean,

so my brothers and sisters. Now I want to end by telling you something connected.

Every one of us

has had a turning point in his or her life or shall have a turning point in his or her life. If you haven't yet had it, it needs to come sooner rather than later. Reminders come to us. And according to the verses revealed in Medina, these reminders are ticked off one by one and counted. If Allah has written for you, that you are going to get 500 reminders before the punishment comes to you. It's being ticked 123 You've been reminded reminded reminded, if you turn Alhamdulillah, you don't turn well. It's the other way around now. And where do we get this from? Know the Prophet Noah May peace be upon him called his people. He tried hard with them. He told them, he brought them forth.

He tried to explain to them now. Morning, evening, whenever and however, he tried to remind them to worship Allah to change and so on. One day, 950 years later, he says, Oh Allah, I've tried hard.

And you know what, the people are getting worse, worse 950 years.

And he says, Oh Allah, I need your help. Allah revealed that Oh, no, no May peace be upon him. Allah revealed to him to say, I want you to build an ark. And I want you to do it in a certain place that's not near the ocean or the sea, but rather in the center in the middle of the land. People laughed at him. You want to build such a big Ark? You're supposed to do it near the water. How are you going to push it there? They laughed at him. Right. But it was divined from Allah subhanho wa taala.

Lying Minami comida in

cada Amman, that verse is very scary. Allah says, oh, Noah, nobody from the people from your people is going to accept Islam besides those who've already accepted it, so no matter how much you're going to remind them now, the reminders are sealed, it's over. So now you prepare for the punishment, it's coming. And don't waste your time calling them any longer. He stopped calling them because you know what it was over.

The fear is you and I Allah sends us reminder, reminder, reminder, we are fortunate that Allah continues to remind us for a very long time, but a day comes or it may come if we delay too much that we regret.

And that's why I'm saying my brothers and sisters, the changes we need to make in our lives. Make them today. Make them today by the will of Allah subhanahu wa taala you know what you need to change you know, your bad habits you need to quit, quit them. You know, certain things you need to get done. And something's really hindering you today is the day do it. And it's okay, if someone laughs at you scoffs at you a little bit of a loss of this worldly material. It's okay, it's fine. Allah will open your doors in a way you cannot imagine just by you becoming a better person with better morals and values and Subhanallah a beautiful worship of Allah and trying to do the right thing in

sha Allah, you will see the mercy and the blessings of Allah come in your direction. Within a short span of time.

People might think, well, I changed. But Allah didn't help me. When did you change last night? Come on. Last night, in one night you want to see change. You got to be patience, man, you were a scrape for 14 years it might take about another four months, five months, maybe a little but you feel contentment from the from the very moment you decide, Oh Allah, I'm doing this for you and you alone. I'm not doing

Get for people. I'm not doing it for anyone. And this is why, in your journey getting closer to Allah do not allow people who do not know your journey to comment about you and to let it affect you negatively. No.

I know my journey, you know your journey. I know people who are far away and they've come so close, and they've done so well, that percentage wise they moved 50 60% And then I know a person who's relatively practicing, they've barely moved 1% In the last 20 years because they feel they're practicing belittle the movement of 55 60% of another person simply because they may outwardly not look exactly the way I look, Stanford Allah, that's why I say my sisters, my brothers, in your journey towards Allah. Never allow the comments of another person who does not know your journey to distract you from the movement closer to Allah.

Look at the people at the time of the Prophet sallallahu Sallam the words of the Quran impacted them they change slowly but surely and they came one by one. Allah Almighty revealed prohibitions of certain things that they were involved in so deeply in stages.

I'm not telling you that if you're drinking alcohol

then it's okay the the the prohibition of alcohol was revealed over the years so fine if you drink no, the prohibition is the prohibition it will remain prohibited Yes. But if there is a person who tells me as a as a guide or a mentor, or a father figure, that listen, I used to go out and drink pints and pints and pints and nowadays I barely drink have I done well or have I not done well? I am caught between telling him you've done well and discouraging him from what he is doing still. I have to acknowledge my brother you've come a long way but inshallah one or two more steps and you get there that's how you got to word it

while I'm acknowledging the guy says I was on cocaine and open whatever else he can mention all these funny drugs he says at the moment I'm only on weed

number one you using the word only that has a form of justification in it right? I'm only on weed brother. What do you smoke says just to eat? What do you mean just weed that just has normalized it come on guys. You can't do that my brothers I tell you give up that weed Come what may give up you know weeds are found on the ground right?

Let them stay there

May Allah Almighty forgive us I feel sorry sometimes for young people beautiful souls they get caught in bad company and they start doing we'd say No, I don't do anything haram But brother you smoke weed who said is haram What do you mean since when did we actually get to that discussion? Start with Allah you have to quit it. It's bad. It's haram actually, may Allah Almighty forgive us. Now when I say May Allah Almighty forgive us, it doesn't mean I'm doing weed.

I'm just saying May Allah forgive us because you know, we all need forgiveness for whatever it is. Nonetheless, alcohol was prohibited in stages. Initially, everyone used to drink so the Quran came in and said Latta Carabas salata, Tang Soo Cara, Don't come close to prayer while you are in intoxicated, intoxicated. So people had limited timing to drink. Then Allah says, well, they're asking you about alcohol, intoxicants and so on, say there is some good, some bad, the bad outweighs the good. So therefore, obviously, they started quitting it because if bad is more than good, then it's not a nice thing.

And the third stage was when Allah says it is from the handiwork of the devil, quit it, stay away from it. That's what Allah says. And when Allah says stay away from something, it really means it's worse than saying, this is haram. I say stay away. It's worse than saying, don't interact with this guy. You know, someone tells you how's this person is and I look at you and says Stay away. Isn't that worse than missing? Not a good guy. Or if I say, don't interact with him, which one is worse? If I say stay away, it's far worse. I've had young people come to me in fact even an older guy I remember his face also. May Allah grant him goodness, may Allah Almighty bless the brother but he

came to say look, there's an argument where in the Quran does it say alcohol is prohibited? I told him for halal and tomato and Fujitani boo. Allah says stay away from it. He says that just says stay away from it. It doesn't say It's haram. I say my brother. It's even more eloquent than saying It's haram. When it comes to Zina and adultery Allah says lotta caribou, Xena don't even go close to it. May Allah Almighty grant us goodness. So, Allah Almighty sent down these things in

stages, the prohibition of these things in stages and even when it comes to fulfillment of prayer and Salah at the beginning, it was two units, two units, two units, then it increased. And Allah Almighty made it in a certain way, then he made it compulsory. It came in stages. But one thing never ever came in stages. What was it matters of belief that came in all at once. This is belief you believe in Allah, it didn't come down in stages. So regarding your general day to day living, and you're engaging in something that Allah has prohibited, and your lack of fulfillment have a duty upon you. As much as we fully believe it, if there is a weakness in that you work on it in sha Allah

and get closer to Allah, but in your belief in Allah, it needs to be sound and intact. That's the message of the Quran. That's the message of the Quran. My belief is intact. I'm a Muslim, I have a weakness or two, I'm working on it. I'm going to quit these habits because ultimately, when I meet the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him on the day of judgment, may Allah make it happen, I will be so happy and so proud to be one of His followers that he can pick up and recognize, recognize, and how would you recognize us? When we make wudu, five times a day we pray and so on, that's Allah will give him the recognition this, this one is from me my ummah. He says, I'll recognize you by the

shining of the places that you wash so many times when you were making wudu, or what they call the ablution. May Allah Almighty grant us VIP status on the Day of Judgment. So my brothers and sisters, I want to encourage you.

I want to encourage you, that if you're working on your weaknesses,

you're doing good. Work hard, don't give up. Don't let anyone's comments make you give up. Never. In fact, they should make you go further. Similarly, if you see someone else's weakness, you have no clue what their strengths are, you have no clue how far they've come. I'm not trying to justify wrongdoing. But I am saying go easy on people because your word of discouragement could actually cause more damage than a quick word of acknowledgement. Didn't I tell you moments ago, when you see someone come forth and struggle with something you have to acknowledge the struggle and you have to pat them on the back in order to let them feel that they're doing the right thing? And they are but

because they still have a bit of that which they need to improve. You can throw in a word to say inshallah a little more and we're going to get there. Today we're living in an age of belittlement people enjoy sitting online on their phones, pick up the phone, and you know what belittlement belittle this one belittle that one, you don't know we're just picking on people's weaknesses but Allah He you don't know their strengths. And as a result, we end up discouraging each other May Allah subhanho wa Taala strengthen us through the Quran. And may Allah subhanahu wa taala grant us the goodness as an ummah as an ummah we are bleeding you and I know what's happening in Gaza, and in

Philistine

and it would be wrong for us not to make a dua for them. Oh Allah grant them victory. Oh Allah grant them victory. Oh Allah protect them. Oh Allah liberate Al Aqsa, oh Allah grant us all goodness and liberate all the lands that belong to us as an ummah. Oh Allah, the struggling people of Philistine Grantham, the best of this world and the next, oh Allah grant us justice all over the world, wherever the people are struggling in Sudan, in Afghanistan, in Syria, in Somalia, wherever they are, there are so many people across the globe you know them better than I do. And oh Allah amongst us there are people struggling with so many struggles. Oh Allah, you be there for all of us in grant

us ease Akula wa sallahu wa salam ala Nabina Muhammad was Salam alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh