Mufti Menk – Why am I a Muslim

			Salam Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
		

			Bismillah Alhamdulillah wa Salatu was Salam ala Abdullah Heba, rasool Allah, Muhammad wa ala alihi
wa sahbihi wa Germain,
		

			my brothers and sisters,
		

			a question
		

			that we may be asked, Why are you a Muslim? Why is it that you have chosen the faith of Islam? Many
people born Muslim have probably not even thought about it. But the day may come when someone might
ask you,
		

			and you might not have thought of the deep reasoning, and so you may not have at times perhaps, due
to lack of knowledge, a convincing response.
		

			And if you have embraced the fold of Islam later on in life, mashallah, congratulations, may Allah
bless and grant goodness not just to you, but to all of us. And may Allah bless humanity at large
and guide us all, I mean,
		

			but
		

			we need to know when we say
		

			it Graha fidi, repeating the verse of the Quran the words of Allah, there is no compulsion. Indeed,
in the religion, what does it mean? It means no one can force you to enter the fold of Islam.
		

			Once you enter the fold of Islam, you have adopted something through your own freewill that you have
chosen as your faith.
		

			And there is a set of rules and regulations that are unaltered, not changed. You have no right to
come and start changing things in chopping, and still call it Islam.
		

			Islam is a religion that has been set by Allah, the Creator, the maker, and the messenger peace be
upon him related to us. Those rules and regulations collectively are known as Islam. But if I come
and I say, I'm a Muslim, I am required to follow that set of rules and regulations. If I think that
no, I don't agree with x y Zed, then is it fair to call yourself a Muslim? That's a question because
people come and try and change things and bring that which goes against the Quran and the Sunnah of
the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. And they say no, but I am Muslim, by the way, by the way, by
what way?
		

			You'd rather be honest and say, Look, do you know what? I don't agree? And that's it? Yes, if there
is a question in your mind, and you're inquisitive, it happens to everyone with ignorance, that
sometimes you are a Muslim, but there are few concepts you may not have grasp so well. So all you
need is enlightenment. And all you need is a little bit of knowledge, and you will get the answers.
So that doesn't make you a non Muslim simply because you haven't understood a thing or two, or you
haven't grasped some aspects and concepts of Islam. But as time goes on, and you learn and you
continue to ask and you find out and you begin to grasp it better, you become consolidated in your
		

			faith. And this is why it's important to have knowledge. Yes, the pillars of Islam. Those are known
as you were entering the fold of Islam or if you were a born Muslim, as you grew older, and you
became a teenager, you became an adult, it was your duty to start finding out even prior to that
actually. So the pillars No compromise. When it comes to the in depth teachings, you may not
understand some of the concepts because not everyone is that knowledgeable. So Allah says Fasano
levy Vickery in cold tumbler, lotta lamona bien bien de was Zombot if you're unaware of Revelation,
if you don't know and you're ignorant, and you don't understand, perhaps ask those with knowledge,
		

			ask those who know.
		

			They will respond to you with evidence and at the same time, it will enlighten you from the
ignorance that you had of the Revelation.
		

			But if I were asked, Why am I a Muslim? That's a very good question. Why am I a Muslim? I am a
Muslim because I believe I was created by a maker. And I believe that maker is the only one who
deserves any act of worship. I want to have a direct relationship with my maker. That's why I'm a
Muslim. I don't want to go via a stick or a stone or a tree or a grave or another person. I want to
go me and Allah, me and my maker who made me and made entire creation. That's why I'm a Muslim.
		

			Because Islam teaches submission to the make
		

			alone, no one else. I go to Allah. Yes. I have learned what Revelation has brought through the
messengers. I respect and honor the messengers, all of them. That's why I'm a Muslim. I believe
Allah Almighty, the maker, the creator of entire creation, would never leave us
		

			would never leave us without a message as to why he made us as to what he wants from us. I believe
I'm a Muslim, because I'm so sophisticated that when I die, I cannot just disappear into thin air. I
have to go back to the one who had me before I was even born. That's why I'm a Muslim. I believe in
the afterlife. I believe in accountability. That's why I'm a Muslim. I respect all the messengers I
believe that Adam May peace be upon him was the first of my species. That's why I'm a Muslim. I
believe that Eve or Hawa, may peace be upon her was the first female from the species. I believe
Allah created us male and female. That's why I'm a Muslim.
		

			I believe that Allah taught Adam and Adam taught his children and the children taught their
children. And I believe that from among them, they were missing just 1000s of them. Those I know
those I don't know all of them taught one thing to worship your maker alone. That's it. What did
they teach one thing? Who do you worship? Not a single messenger said, worship someone or something
besides your maker. All of them said, worship your maker alone, Jesus may peace be upon him a great
Messenger of Allah, we respect him, we will never have a single negative thought about him, his
mother, the Virgin Mary, may peace be upon her. Amazing, very respectful, we will never utter a word
		

			about him. We will be in the deepest of pain and sadness, if anyone were to blaspheme them, or to
utter utterances that were belittling to Jesus may peace be upon him or them or his mother, the
Virgin Mary May peace be upon him. The same applies to the Prophet Moses May peace be upon him. And
Aaron are Harun Musa alayhis salam, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon all of them, Noah or
Abraham or Ishmael or Isaac or whoever else it may be. That's the English language, the English
names but the Arabic is Huck is my Abraham Yaqoob use of whoever else they were, we respect all of
them loop Allah is Salam, the Prophet, Lord may peace be upon him, we respect him. And we believe
		

			the Almighty sent the best of the time, to the people, those who were the most befitting, he would
not be sending people who contradicted the very message that they brought on, already do an OHA leaf
comb, ILA and her Kumano I think it was the prophet tribe may peace be upon him saying, I'm not
going to go against that which I have told you not to do. You find me doing it. But I told you, you
don't do it. I mean, come on. May Allah Almighty grant us ease and goodness. So I believe that the
almighty who made me is the only one who's owed worship. And I will always respect all of the
messengers I followed, Nabi Muhammad, may peace be upon him, I believe he was the highest, the best
		

			of creation, the most noble of all prophets. And I do believe that every word that was revealed by
the Almighty, To the Messengers is the truth.
		

			That's why I'm a Muslim.
		

			I believe that I will surrender to the Almighty, He has supreme control of entire existence that
way. That's why I'm a Muslim. And I believe he's allowed me a certain leeway. He's given me certain
energies, certain understanding, certain control over certain aspects through his permission. And
then he's tested me to say, I'm going to give you a brain, I'm going to give you energy I'm going to
give you ability I'm going to give you understanding. And let's see, if as you go on to the earth
for a few decades, perhaps in the case of the majority, are you going to utilize what we've given
you in order
		

			to come back to us in worship us alone and understand that we are or I am your Lord
		

			Subhanallah or are you just going to go and do as you please knowing that oppression is not allowed
you know, there is a Hadith Bootsy Abadi in the haram to Luma Allah NFC, what you're allowed to buy
in a coma haram and Fela Tavella mu Oh, my worshippers, I have prohibited oppression for myself, and
I have prohibited oppression amongst yourselves. So Do not oppress one another don't do wrong. Now a
man comes and says I don't believe in anything I just came on to the earth. I'm a Muslim because I
believe I'm too sophisticated for that type of statement.
		

			I just came, you just came did you arrive at this mosque? This Masjid today just by chance or did
you make an effort to get here?
		

			If you made an effort, it's proven evidence that there is a Lord who created you. Because nothing
just happened coincidentally, for you to come to the masjid is far greater a chance to happen
coincidentally than entire creation to just occur. Coincidentally, if you understood what I just
said, which one is easier, it's easier for me to just go to the mosque and say it happened. Okay.
Then entire creation is much more difficult meaning it is Allah Almighty Who creates
		

			to I'm looking at you today I have a feeling I'd like to spend more time with you. I don't have the
time. Something is wrong. Will I ever get it? Yes, I will wait. On the other side, I can sit with
you forever. SubhanAllah. So relax. I want things I need things. You cannot have everything you want
here on Earth. But Allah promises you and all the rules and regulations he made a just and fair in
order to instill discipline in mankind so that you lead the best of lives. When Allah tells you we
have predestined things, do you know what he says? Li Kala, some
		

			Kumala the frog aubema Come, don't become arrogant because Allah gave you something. It was
predestined as a test for you. That's what it was. You became loaded, wealthy, you have everything
you are the most good looking, you have power, authority, whatever you may have, hang on, relax.
There is someone above you who's just testing you with all of this. That's your maker. Allah says
when you get don't become arrogant. Remember, it's a test. And when you lose, don't lose faith.
Allah says don't become too saddened by what you've lost. Don't become too sad, why? These are the
days of the world. What's the worst thing that can happen to you and I people will say death. That's
		

			actually not the worst thing. It might just be one of the best things that ever occurred. But you
don't know. Man is so weak that we don't even know what lies beyond our planet, except that which we
have seen. And we're discovering more and more on a daily basis, but man knows that there is
something and I don't know what exactly it is. And yet he says if I haven't seen my maker, I don't
believe in him. But he knows he hasn't yet seen all the planets, but bottom of his heart. We're
going to see them one day. Well, I'm gonna see my maker one day to Subhanallah the one who made all
of this Rabbana Mafalda.
		

			O our Lord, Oh Allah, Oh maker, or maker of entire creation, you have not created all of this for
nothing in vain just to pass time. It's created for a purpose for a reason. That's why I'm a Muslim.
I want to go back to Allah, I want to lead a life of discipline. I don't want to intoxicate my mind
in any way, because it's a gift that distinguishes myself from animal, I will not have a single
intoxicant. Because I don't want to tamper with that brain that has distinguished me. I'm a Muslim.
Therefore, I'd like to lead a life of discipline. I'd like to be sober. I'd like to be a person who
has morals and values. That's why I'm a Muslim. I want to respect everyone on Earth. That's why I'm
		

			a Muslim. I want to stand for justice. That's why I'm a Muslim. I want to be fair, whether it's
against myself, my parents, whoever else it may be, that's why I'm a Muslim. These are the teachings
of the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
		

			And I do know that anything that was uttered in the Quran, anything that the Prophet Muhammad peace,
be upon him, taught authentically cannot be wrong. Even if science says something else, science will
change over time, it will come back to what Allah and it has already in so many things come back and
confirmed what Allah and His Messenger SallAllahu Sallam have said, it has already come back. So
beyond your understanding and mind 100 years, 200 1000 years from today, people will discover that
oh, this was actually the truth. I will not allow myself to die in disbelief simply because I did
not grasp one concept of that. I will rather surrender and say if Allah has said it, I believe it.
		

			That's it.
		

			May Allah Almighty grant us ease. So my brothers, my sisters, like I say, you need to ask yourself,
Why am I a Muslim and the day are proper, solid answers, you will study the other faiths. I am a
Muslim because I do believe with all due respect to the other faiths, there have been tremendous
temporary things in the revelations of the other faiths and I've studied a lot tremendous. Look at
how many versions they have some of the Testaments mind boggling look at how changed things are mind
boggling. Look at how things were prohibited they became permissible Islam is one faith there will
always be people from among the Muslims who will consider the prohibited prohibited right up to the
		

			end and the permissible permissible right up to the end non tampered in an Act known as Zelle
Nicaragua in Hola Hola, half Yvonne, we have revealed this and we will protect it one might ask why
didn't Allah choose to protect the pre
		

			Use ones, I'm not Allah. But Allah chose to protect the final one for reasons known to him.
		

			And Allah says, We know, it's, it's a completion of the message. That's what it is. If you look at
the commandments of Allah subhanho, wa Taala
		

			they're all the same. Look at the fates. May Allah Almighty grant a strength. So I'm a Muslim,
because I'm totally, totally convinced after deep study, totally convinced that you know what, when
I put my head down on the ground, and I say, Oh, you who made me, You are the greatest, I am so
reassured to say, when I closed my eyes, it's going to be the happiest day ever. I'm going to return
to my maker. And I know he's merciful. He's kind, He's forgiving. He is amazing. I can't wait to get
back to him. Rob Bell, Allah, my Lord is the highest. I can't wait. I have no doubt. The minute you
start taking names, you put your head on the ground and you're thinking of another person you're
		

			thinking of, of an article, an artifact, you're thinking of a building, you're thinking of something
made a tree or a stone or the oceans or something else. You know what? You risking something that
only will come once? I'd rather say, Oh, you who made me, I worship you alone. No risks involved?
Zero. So there's no risk when it comes to Islam.
		

			Worshiping Allah, that's what it is. And yes, discipline, I believe all these rules. Yes, there are
tough, tough, some of them are tough, but they are only there in order to be able to lead a
beautiful life of justice and goodness, and to succeed truly to be contented and happy when Allah
says don't look, don't look doesn't mean No, why should I not? Look I'm looking, when you will pay a
price for it. That's what it is. If Allah says, Do this, and you don't want Allah says don't consume
in toxicology. Say why you shouldn't let me try it out. I'm the adventurous type. You know, okay,
you're gonna pay a price for it. I am a Muslim. I won't even do that. Yesterday. Someone asked me
		

			filling out a form. Have you have you? Do you drink? Water? Yes.
		

			No, do you drink? I said no, never. I don't even know what it tastes like.
		

			I don't believe you. I said, Well, if you don't, it's your problem. It's not mine. I'm a Muslim.
I've never touched it and inshallah I will never. That's what it is. May Allah protect all of us?
May Allah grant strength to the youngsters, young and old who are challenged with addictions. May
Allah take you out of the mess, be strong. We need you. You are part of us. Work on your weakness.
Cut it out, no matter what it is your bad habits. We need you cut them out, come back and inshallah
see the strength of the ummah. May Allah strengthen all of us. I wish we had a little bit more time
but in sha Allah, I pray that whatever I've said is of benefit to myself and yourselves are Kulu
		

			Kohli ha ha SallAllahu ala Nabina Muhammad