Navaid Aziz – Heart Of A Believer Nrc 2011

			Alhamdulillah Nakamoto who wants to know who and istockphoto when I was a Billahi min surely
unforeseen el amin say Dr. Medina Maja de la Fernando de la la woman you detail who further hi
Deanna? What a shadow Allah Allah Allah Allahu la sharika wa shadow under Mohammed Abdullah who are
solo sallallahu alayhi wa early he was talking he was seldom at the Sleeman kathira Ubud. My dear
brothers and sisters of salaam aleikum wa rahmatullah wa barakato. I really don't like sitting down
when I speak, I believe it drains a person's energy, and they're unable to convey the message
effectively when they do so. So I want to start off talking to about a portion of time, and that is
		

			four seconds. What does four seconds actually mean to you, as an individual?
		

			Four seconds is the amount of time that every individual has, before they make an assessment of
another person. In this four seconds, you are ready to decide, will I be willing to listen to what
you have to say? Or will I be, you know, politically correct, and nice and kind, and listen to you,
but inside I don't really want to listen to you. That is approximately how long every individual
has. Now, the reason why I mentioned this is this has a direct relationship to one's character, the
way one's character is will define will another person listen to us or not? Now, one of the
beautiful things about Islam is that when a most a person becomes a practicing Muslim, they become
		

			someone who wants to dedicate themselves to this religion, one of the very first things they do is
educate themselves about this religion. Now, like the shape was speaking before, there are certain
things that are fundamental to this religion. And one of the most fundamental things about this
religion of Islam is our character. If we were to go back in history, go back to around the year
240. In the Hadith, of the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam, we come to a great scholar by the
name of Mr mathematic, Mohammed Rahim, Allahu taala. The scholars mentioned that there were
approximately 5000 people that used to attend his gatherings, when he would give a lecture,
		

			approximately 5000 people in Baghdad would attend his gatherings. Now from those 5000 people, only
500 of them would be writing down, meaning they would be writing down what he would say. And the
rest of them, were just looking at his character and learning from the way that he conducted
himself. And this is something truly amazing, because these were not young children that were
sitting at his feet. But these were the future scholars of Islam. They wanted to see how this great
individual, this great person conducted himself, so that similarly they could conduct themselves in
that way.
		

			And then you look, where did this tradition start from? That we start about learning about luck, it
came from the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself, and the famous hadith of gibreel, when
jabril came to see the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, where he came in these
beautiful white garments, and he had this nice black hair, and you could not see any remnants of
travel on him. He came and he said, by the Messenger of Allah sallallahu, and he was send them
politely putting his knees by his knees, and asking him questions. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam concluded this hadith by saying, this angel he came to you to teach your religion. And one of
		

			the very first things that we learned from this hadith is that the way a person dresses is that when
he goes out in public, he should be wearing presentable clothes, he shouldn't come out, you know, in
the clothes that he slept in. Unfortunately, like a lot of the brothers have a habit of doing I
know, in my local Masjid, that you know, when I give a lecture, I can tell you know, brothers who
literally just woke up fresh produce a lot of budget, and they came to the machine they're wearing
like their track pants, and you know, like these t shirts, I was like, you know, just take five
minutes to get ready and you know, be presentable. So all these things, they make a big difference
		

			in our lives. And that is what I want to talk about with you today, the importance of a HELOC, the
importance of a HELOC. So let's start off by discussing what are some of the virtues of a HELOC. So
I'm going to give two virtues myself and then they want to open up the floor to you guys, so you
guys can give me some feedback. What are the virtues of a clock? One of the first virtues of having
good character was the drive the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, the Messenger of Allah
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he used to make dua to Allah subhanho wa Taala. He used to make dua, Oh
Allah, perfect my character, just that you have perfected my creation, meaning that Allah subhanaw
		

			taala fashion just in a particular way. And just like he fashion this perfectly, we ask Allah
subhanaw taala
		

			to perfect our characters as well. So this is one of the first virtues of good character was that
this was something the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself used to ask Allah
subhanho wa Taala for a second virtue of good character. It was the advice of the Prophet sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam, to his companions, when the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam sent
more either bingeable to Yemen, he told him what, three things, he told me three things. The first
thing he mentioned was to fear Allah subhanho wa Taala, wherever he is, Fear Allah, wherever you
are. Number two, was follow a bad deed with a good deed, so that it may wipe it out. And the third
		

			thing he mentioned, and treat people nicely, we'll call it can never be horsnell khalaq that treat
the people nicely. So this was the advice of a companion, that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam was not going to see again, his farewell advice was summarized in these three
lines, and the last of them being treat people nicely have good character with them. So I want to
take a moment here to hear from you. What are some of the other virtues of good character? It can be
something related to the deen it can be something related to the dunya? What are some of the virtues
of good character?
		

			Who's gonna raise their hand? And you know, start off the discussion? Go for it.
		

			Okay, how so?
		

			Okay, good starting point. Who else? What are some of the virtues of good character?
		

			This may be a manifestation of why a lot of Muslims have bad luck. This Navy? I'm not saying we do.
But I'm saying it maybe.
		

			What are some of the other virtues think about it? When a person is good? What do they get? Or what
is the benefit of being good?
		

			Go for it.
		

			Excellent, good point. So birds of a feather flock together.
		

			And the point being that a person who has good luck and good character will attract such people as
well. I mean, very rarely will you find this person who has the amazing of luck and is surrounded by
terrible people, because their time eventually comes either he becomes a bad person or they become
good people, but it doesn't work that one person is good in the group and everyone else is bad. So
good points, you will attract like people, what else? What are some of the other virtues?
		

			People
		

			that is a virtue, but what is the virtue of being patients? That being patient? Like why would you
be patient?
		

			Go ahead, patient and
		

			say something happened.
		

			Okay, so good character brings about good outcomes, right? good character brings about good
outcomes. And I will generalize this statement even further is that you'll see one of the greatest
aspects of leadership and what makes a leader good is the way he conducts himself with other people.
And that is why you see all of the all of all the descriptions, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam could have been given in the Koran. How does Allah subhanaw taala describe him, he
describes him as what in neck Allah, Allah, Allah can have him that Oh, you messenger of Allah, or
indeed have an exalted standard of character. And this was a characteristic that stuck out. And this
		

			ties us into another virtue, that it was the methodology, the way of the Messenger of Allah
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, that he would be well mannered with people. Now let's just get one
more, and then I'll give you some more for myself in shaba. Because you guys don't seem to talk it
if today. Well, let's just get one more person in Sharla. For the sake of Allah, go ahead.
		

			Excellent. I was actually going to conclude my talk with that. So you just took my conclusion away.
But good character is good data. So I'll give you my conclusion right now, but I won't conclude.
		

			I was actually on an airplane. When the attacks in Norway happened. I was on the airplane when the
attacks in Norway happened. And I was watching the news live as all of it was happening. And one of
the very first reports they gave was Muslim strike again, you know, terrorism attacks happen in
Norway. And that was fine a lot. You know, this is so crazy because it's like every other month,
some crazy Muslim is doing something
		

			Now the sad thing was, I fell to the propaganda of the media, you know, as it was myself, I fell for
it. Now as time goes on, we later come to see that it has nothing to do with Islam had nothing to do
with Muslims. In fact, it was someone that hated Islam, and the Muslims, and he was responsible for
it. But one important lesson that it taught me was that as Muslims, we do have a bullseye on us,
that people are out to target the Muslims, the media is out there to do that. And now there needs to
be a counter reaction to this. One of the typical counter reactions to this is that we will go in
front of embassies will burn down their flags will cause riots will do all sorts of other things.
		

			But there's a more practical and a more effective way. And that is just practicing your religion,
practicing the very fundamentals that Allah subhanho wa Taala taught you to be kind to be forgive,
to forgive, to be tolerant towards people.
		

			And other important virtue that God character brings about is that it is the way people will treat
you. A lot of the people think that this is a Hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, but
rather it was just a saying of our predecessors, they used to say committed Dino to done, the way
that you treat people is the way that you yourself will be treated. And I assure you, all of you
have felt this in your life, that when you are generous and kind towards people, you will see that
they reciprocate this generosity and kindness towards you. And at times when you're arrogant and
stuck up, Allah subhanho wa Taala will send a person who's arrogant and stuck up to you as well. So
		

			when you're well mannered people will be well mannered towards you, and when you're ill mannered
people will be ill mannered towards you, as well. Another benefit of virtue of good character is the
love of Allah subhanho wa Taala. And his paradise the love of Allah subhanho wa Taala and his
paradise.
		

			There's a set of verses in Surah limra and the third chapter of the Quran, which are some of the
most beautiful verses that you may ever come across. Allah subhanaw taala revealed this these verses
during one of the battles during one of the battles and when Allah subhanho wa Taala sent down these
verses, there was a companion who had dates in his hand. He had data scientists, three of them.
		

			And he looked at these dates, and he said, If I live long enough to finish eating these dates, I
would have lived too long of a life. He threw the dates behind him, and he went onto the battlefield
and he died. Now these verses that Allah subhanaw taala revealed were the following. Allah subhanaw
taala says about the Billahi min ash shaytani r rajim.
		

			Was
		

			Isla Pharaoh Chimera become weijun what jannetty Naruto has to walk out the door I did little motor
planning. I levena young officer rah rah, one count the mean
		

			theanine in
		

			Walla who you hate Bowl masini Allah subhanho wa Taala he says in these beautiful verses, and hastin
towards the forgiveness of your Lord, and a paradise, a paradise, whose expanse is the size of the
heavens and the earth, prepared for people who are conscious of Allah subhanho wa Taala. Those who
give when times are prosperous, and those who give when times are adverse, and those who forgive
people and pardon them and control their anger. And indeed Allah loves all people who do a son who
do righteousness towards other people. So from the virtues of good luck is that Allah subhana wa
tada has prepared a paradise for those people who practice good character. And it is from the love
		

			of Allah subhanho wa Taala that when Allah subhanho wa Taala loves someone, he will give them good
character. And likewise one of the ways of receiving the love of Allah subhanho wa Taala is having
good character as well.
		

			So now let's talk about what are some of the virtuous characteristics we need to have as Muslims,
some of the virtuous characteristics that we need to have as Muslims. Going back to this very set of
verses, Allah subhanho wa Taala he mentioned something very, very particular, which I believe we
have become negligent of and that is being tolerant with people. Allah subhanho wa Taala mentioned
		

			Are Finn and the nurse that those people who are pardoning and being are tolerant towards people.
And when I look back in history, I found two amazing examples of this. One of them was from the
Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself.
		

			That if you look back at the opening of Mecca, when the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam went back to Makkah to recapture it. Look at the series of events that happened at this time,
the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Not only was he himself persecuted, not only
were his companions persecuted, but likewise they were exiled from their very hometown from Makkah,
they were exiled, they were told to leave and to get out of here. And now as the Muslim community
grew, they got stronger. They're coming back to take this sacred land, known as Mecca. And as the
Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and his companions. They came in in helmets they came
		

			in and armor and with artillery, they entered Makkah, in a state of humbleness and humility. Imam Al
Bukhari Rahim Allah He mentioned that as the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam entered
Makkah, he was on his horse and his head was bowed down.
		

			And as the people were watching this, you have 10,000 Muslims coming into America all at one time.
They're starting to wonder what is going to happen with us. You know, the people that we persecuted
the people that we killed, are they going to seek their revenge today? So as the Messenger of Allah
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is coming in, they start asking, you are the noble, the son of the
noble, what are you going to do with us? A person they want us to convince us to call a madman, they
once used to call a destroyer of homes they once called a soothsayer in a magician. They're now
calling him the noble the son of the noble lie what fear does to people.
		

			Time continues, he finally gets the Kaaba, and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
gets down from his horse. And he sees that the people are petrified. And hear the message of a loss
of a loved one to send them is in a state of strength, not in a state of weakness. If he wanted to
slaughter and kill, he could have done it. But he tells the people at that time, I say to you, just
like Yusuf Alayhi Salam said to his brothers, letter three baalei como Leone, young Pharaoh Allahu
la Combe wa who are hamara he mean, that no blame and no approach be upon you today. May Allah
forgive you, for Indeed Allah subhanho wa Taala is the Most Merciful of all those that show mercy
		

			pardoning people. Now, I want you to think about that. And I want you to think about a time perhaps
you were in the tube, perhaps you're on the bus, someone accidentally shoulder bumped?
		

			How did you react to that? In a lot of the times he turned around, and, you know, the very least we
do is we give them this evil stare, like, What's your problem? You want to take this outside? That's
what we're thinking. And that's something as small as an accidental shoulder bump. Now, how would
you react? Someone who persecute you, kicks you out of your house? Do you think you'd be able to
forgive them? Would you be able to pardon them? That's what true character is about how you react in
those times of tribulation. So now if you're reacting like that with a shoulder bump, I want you to
think about what you would possibly do in that state. You know, male office panels Allah forgive us.
		

			A second example that I find
		

			was the example of Imam Shafi Rahim Allah. Imam Shafi Rahim Allah one of the great imams of Islam.
		

			He was known to be a debater. He likes to discuss issues. And if you lead if you read some of his
discussions, you know, he was like a cut throat type person, that you don't mess with him because he
tears you apart. Now, one of the individuals when the mama Sheffield himolla passed away, he gave a
eulogy. He gave a description of the amount of Shakira Hema, Hola. He said, Mr. Shafi and I Rahim
Allah, we differed in many, many issues. And there was a time where I would get up and leave out of
a state of anger. I would get up and leave out of a state of anger. And I would not speak to him for
a few days, because of how angry I used to get. And after a couple of days would go by Imam Shafi
		

			Rahim Allah, He used to come to my house, and he used to say that just because we differ on a few
issues, it does not mean that we cannot have united hearts and to me this is the essence of unity.
You know, a lot of times, scholars and speakers they speak about this concept of unity. Unity is not
conformity of the mind unity.
		

			does not mean we will all agree in the way that we think and the way that we speak and the way in
the thoughts that we have. But true unity is unity of the hearts, that intellectually you have the
ability to differ. But you realize that Allah has created a bond, bigger than our thoughts, bigger
than anything we could ever create. And that is the bond of brotherhood. So one of the first things
you need to introduce into ourselves or we need to introduce into ourselves is this concept of
tolerance. This concept of pardoning the concept of forgiveness, for the sake of Allah subhana wa,
tada
		

			a second characteristic Allahu Allahu Allah, that he was generous, like the wind, he was generous,
like the wind. Now, what does that term actually mean? I want you guys to think about that. And
let's see who the the key or the intelligent person is amongst us. When someone is generous, like
the wind, what does that actually mean?
		

			How is that a praiseworthy description of the Messenger of Allah?
		

			Go for it.
		

			Excellent. So very quick. When the wind comes, it comes very quickly, it doesn't take a long time
for it to come. So when it's time to be generous, the Messenger of Allah Azza wa sallam was very
generous. But there's something more to it than just that. What else?
		

			Never ending? Is the wind continuous here in London.
		

			mean it stops and goes on? What I mean? I see where you're coming from that in the greater scheme of
things, the wind is always going to be there. So generosity of the Messenger of Allah Azza wa sallam
is never ending in that aspect. Anyone else?
		

			The wind brings the clouds, this brings the rain. So how do you tie that in with the Messenger of
Allah?
		

			As we're fasting, it's okay, you're excused and shall go for it.
		

			Excellent. That's what I was looking for. It does not discriminate against people. You know, when we
think of charity, when we give her the cat is like, okay, we're gonna send our charity and there's a
cat back home, or we're only going to give it to like the poor people of one community. But the
charity and the generosity of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, it knew no
boundaries, anyone that came for anything, asking the Messenger of Allah, he would give it to them.
And this is a very important point and factor over here is when we talk about good character, what
does it actually mean? good character can be summarized in one sentence. It is to be in the service
		

			of Allah subhanho wa Taala during the night, and it is to be in the service of the people during the
day. This is the definition of good character. And that is why when you see when the Messenger of
Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam described his message, he said in the brief to you tell me Mama
caramel o'clock, there Indeed, I was sent as a messenger from a law, to perfect morality to perfect
good conduct. And this is good conduct with a law and good conduct with the people. And that is why
you will see his secret to success was the very fact that he used to worship a lot during the nights
for a prolonged period of time. And during the day, he was always in the service of the people
		

			always willing to help them out. So generosity of the Messenger of Allah, it knew no limits, just
like the wind, the wind benefits the young and the old, the poor and the rich, the black and the
white, you know, the good looking the not so good looking all of them.
		

			So that is what the generosity of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was. And this
is important, particularly in this month, because the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
he commanded us. He commanded us, that save yourselves from the Hellfire, even if it is with half of
a date, meaning half of the date can save you from the persecution and punishment of the hellfire.
If you gave it with a noble intention of feeding a poor person, someone who does not have food, even
a half of a date can protect you from the hellfire. So how about if you give something greater?
		

			I want to go back into the Hydra that the companions made from Mecca to Medina.
		

			When the companions made hija, from Mecca to Medina, the first thing the Messenger of Allah
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did was that he paired them up. He took one of them or hydrocodone. And
he paired them with one of the answer to one of the companions from Makkah and took one of the
companions from Medina. And he said, You guys are now brothers. And there's this beautiful story of
how one of the companions from Mecca.
		

			mouth was paired with one of the companions of Medina, Saudi Arabia, or their loved one home. Hmm.
		

			So, now, he's introduced to Saudi Arabia.
		

			He is told by the Messenger of Allah, you guys are now brothers. These people have never met before.
They know nothing about each other. They have no idea what this relationship is going to be like.
But I want you to see the reaction of Saudi Arabia towards Abdullah. Now.
		

			He tells me now
		

			that I have two houses. One of them is yours.
		

			I have two businesses.
		

			Take anyone that pleases you.
		

			Now, think for a second, this is someone that you've never met, you know nothing about, you have no
idea what they're going to do to your property, no idea what they're going to do to your business.
Would you really trust them with this? Now, if you look at the economic state of Medina, at that
time as well, it becomes very important. Medina was not very cultured at that time, meaning wasn't
very strong in business. And the lights are dimming
		

			a lot.
		

			And then there was light again, how
		

			are you good to go? Okay. So I've mainly been often Saudi Arabia, some people that have never met
before, some people that have never met before. And he says, look, take half, take my two houses,
take one of them, I have two businesses, take one of them. So this is generosity, or from the side
of Saudi Arabia, he's showing this act of generosity, this act of courtesy, top of mind even off,
and this is something tremendous within of itself. I'm literally speaking, I came from Canada, you
know, you may or may not know anything about me. If I ask you for your house, and I asked you for
one of your businesses, are you going to give it to me?
		

			You're honest about it, at least
		

			you're honest about it. And that's the reality of it, that we're no longer willing to give no longer
willing to sacrifice. But for the the point or the
		

			operative no more than in this story is the way that other people have reacted. He didn't say, okay,
you know, what, give me the bigger of the two houses and give me the better of the two businesses.
He says Jazakallah who could just show me where the marketplaces let me do business for myself. I
will fend for myself. So he goes to the marketplace and the story continues.
		

			Now he left his family behind. And he does business for a couple of days. And then one day he meets
the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam again,
		

			and he has these yellow stains on on a white garment. How many people know what healthy is hardly
in? What's it called? An English? Does anyone remember?
		

			turmeric powder? Excellent. So sir.
		

			Isn't that what I said?
		

			Okay, not tamarind? No. Turmeric. Yes.
		

			So he has these stains on his clothes.
		

			And the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam he asks in the abdomen, what are these stains
on your clothes? And he said yes to the law. I got married.
		

			Now, I want you to think about this for a second. You know, what was up their mind doing that would
cause him to have these yellow stains on his on this white garment. This is like an interesting
point of fifth that you learn that the companions are the law. I know they knew how to party.
		

			Honestly, like he was party, he was celebrating his walima and that's how it got on him. You know,
in our own costumes in our own backgrounds. We have different ways of celebrating our weddings. And
you know, even till this day, they use the this turmeric powder, and predominantly now it's for the
women, but back then used to throw it on the bride as well. So, he tells the Messenger of Allah
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
		

			that I got married the Messenger of Allah, He asks him, yeah, man, you know, what did you give her
as a dowry? What did you give her as a wedding present? And he mentioned that he gave her a small
nugget of gold. And this is such an amazing story. Because
		

			now he came into Medina with absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing. So how did you get married with
a nugget of gold? And the story we learn to find out is that he was given food that day, which was
dried yogurt. He took that dried yogurt went to the market.
		

			and sold it for fresh butter, he gets this fresh butter divided into two, he now sells that fresh
butter. And that is how he got that coin of gold. And this is the the effect of having tawakkol in
Allah subhanaw taala not being greedy towards the wealth of others, Allah subhanho wa Taala will
bless your wealth for you. So learn to give an Allah subhana wa tada will give you much, much, much
more, and you will actually be content. The third and last point I want to mention in terms of
things that we need to change in ourselves, is being concerned with our own selves. We live in a
culture and in a time where there is this gross infatuation with what other people are doing. So
		

			right now someone may be on their very phone. They're checking Twitter updates. You know, one of
their friends is in the bathroom reading a book. And for some reason that's interesting in our
lives. I mean, it's true. I mean, I'm sure you've all seen status updates, you know, I just arrived
home. Now, you know, what do you want me to do?
		

			But we have this gross infatuation, where we are over concerned with the lives of others. But you
see, this goes against the prophetic methodology, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam
he told us, mean personal Islam and Marie Turku melayani, that from the best of one's Islam, one of
the best things that you can do as a Muslim, is just be concerned with your own self, do not be
concerned with the business of others. Now, how does this actually benefit you? This means that when
you're walking on the street,
		

			you're not looking around at every Tom, Dick, and Harry, you're not looking around at what this
world has to offer. But rather, you're always looking at yourself. And you'll see this brings about
many, many benefits from the benefits of this is that if you're a person who is busy with himself,
this will naturally help you lower your gaze. Then when a person is thinking about themselves, where
does their gaze usually go as they're walking? It's usually down. Right? So that naturally helps you
lower your gaze and helps you not look at the opposite gender.
		

			Another benefit of being concerned with your own self is that it prevents talking about other
individuals. And when you can reduce the amount of conversation you have about other individuals.
This is one of the ways that you will learn to save yourselves from the Hellfire, that the Messenger
of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam told us that there will be a group of people, that they will
say something about another individual that they will think is insignificant and minute, but in the
sight of Allah subhanho wa Taala It is so great, that it will cause them to be thrown into the
hellfire.
		

			And then we have the example of a woman that was with the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam. And she described another woman from the unserved not by something she said. But she just
went like this, meaning that she was a very short individual, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu
alayhi wa sallam told her that you have done something you have said something that is so evil, and
so vise, it would turn the watchers, the oceans in this world black. That's how evil it was. So
another benefit of being concerned with yourself is that you reduce the amount of sins that your
tongue commits, that you only be talking about yourself, obviously, you know, not praising and
		

			glorifying yourself, but in a way that you don't speak about others. And actually want you to think
about this for a second. Next time you're having a conversation with your friend.
		

			Didn't mean right now.
		

			Next time you have a conversation with your friend, see how much of your conversation is actually
about other people. And you'll see the vast majority of our conversations are usually about other
people. Hey, did you see Fatima's hijab at the event? Wasn't it so nice? Or did you see the film
that brother was wearing and how it was in Ireland, you know, no offense to anyone that's doing the
film. But it's like the vast majority of conversations, that's what it's about. It's about other
people. So reduce the amount of sins that we commit. And a third benefit in being concerned with
yourself is how Allah subhanaw taala will raise the ranks of people through this.
		

			Mr. Malik Rahim, Allahu taala.
		

			He says, from the people of Medina, there are people who are used to hold in very high esteem. And I
used to always wonder that what was it that caused their status to be elevated to such a degree that
people considered them noble they treated them well.
		

			They treated them nice.
		

			And then I noticed that as time went on, they lost this elevation. This is aura that they used to
have. And I found out what's changed at that time was that they started to concern themselves with
the affairs of other people. That before they started to concern themselves with the affairs of
other people, they used to be noble in the sight of Mr. Malik Rahim Allah. But once they started to
dwelve, into the affairs of others, they fell in that rank, they fell in that status. So a person
who is always concerned with himself, Allah subhanho, wa Taala, will elevate his status for him.
		

			So now, those are three important characteristics that I believe we need to change, self reflection,
being concerned with yourself, being generous, and being forgiving, and forgiving. These are three
things that you can leave with today. Make it your goal, to change this within yourself, to be more
generous, to be more pardoning and forgiving, and to be a person who's only concerned with their own
affairs. Because there will come a time where you will stand in front of Allah. It's not going to be
this room, it's not going to be every Muslim, but you are alone as an individual will stand in front
of Allah, you will stand in front of God Himself. And you will be asked about the deeds that you
		

			committed. And if you're unable to answer that on that day,
		

			what are you going to do?
		

			Hope rollers Parliament forgiveness allows pardoning and forgiving, but how much will you seek that
pardoning and forgiving, so don't put yourself in that situation where you're going to be in a state
of regret that day, prevented that state from coming? And this leads us into our topic of
discussion. What are things that we can do as Muslims as individuals that can have us have or make
us have better luck and better character, and I want to summarize this into two points within the
hits Allah.
		

			The first point is having an interactive theology and interactive creed and interactive
understanding of faith. I remember as a young boy, we were taught the
		

			six calibers, did anyone learn the six calibers as a young child? Anyone go to a Saturday or Sunday
school? No, not too many people. So we were taught the six calibers. And literally, we were given a
sheet of paper. And we're just told, repeated and repeated and repeated in Arabic, we had no idea
what it meant. And eventually I went to Medina, I learned Arabic. And I'm like, Oh, that's what that
word meant, oh, this is what it means, and became like an enlightening moment for me. And I thought
to myself supine Allah only if I was taught what these words actually mean, as a young child,
perhaps that would have been a better child. But those words, and what I want to share with you are
		

			the pillars of a man. You know, we are told that a man consists of six things. It is to believe in
Allah, to believe in the angels to believe in the books. They believe in the prophets to believe in
the last day, and to believe in predestiny, the good and the bad of it. These are their kind of
Eman. And I'm sure that every one of us in this room knows what these terms are, and they know what
they mean. But what ends up happening is, it remains very theoretical. It's not something that we
interact with on a daily basis. It's not something that's ingrained in our minds that we need to be
conscious of. And I believe this will be the catalyst in changing one's character truly, that if a
		

			person understands what these six pillars of Eman truly are, this is what will help change your
character.
		

			The first of them belief in Allah subhanho wa Taala. What does this instill inside of you? When I
mentioned the term Allah? Does this move you and shake you on the inside? More than likely it
doesn't. But let me help you with that. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was one
day in the marketplace.
		

			And the companions are around the Messenger of Allah. And they see this woman running around from
side to side in the marketplace.
		

			And each time she would pass by a young child, she would pick up that child and embrace it. And
tears would come out of her eyes, and then she would let it go.
		

			And this continued several times, until she found the child that she herself had lost and she
embraced this
		

			trialed and she held this child and those tears of anguish and despair. They now turn into tears of
joy.
		

			The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he turns to his companions. And he says, Do you
see this woman?
		

			Do you think that she would ever throw her child into the fire? Do you think she would ever throw
her child into the fire?
		

			They said colossal Allah, that Yasuda she would never do that she would not be able to do so. That's
how much love a mother has for its child. And then the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa
sallam, he says something so profound. He says, Allahu Akbar Hamodia a bad he may have the heebie
wanted to hear that Allah subhanho wa Taala is more compassionate, more merciful and more loving
towards his slaves than this woman is towards her child.
		

			And that is our relationship with Allah subhanho wa Taala that we are those dis obedient, those ill
mannered children.
		

			And that Allah subhanho wa Taala will continue to forgive us will continue to love us, no matter
what our state is.
		

			When you move on to the angels, how does this affect your personality? How does this affect your
mind?
		

			The brother mentioned the example of clouds, and I'm going to tie it in right now. No clouds truly
are an amazing thing. I was once in a city known as Edmonton, as the most northern major city in all
of Canada. And I was about to deliver a course there. And two weeks before I was about to deliver
that course. They sent me a newspaper clipping that newspaper clipping said Edmonton second coldest
city in the world, minus 53 degrees. So I thought to myself Subhanallah, you know, how am I going to
travel to the city and survive? And that's coming from someone who lives at like minus 35. Montreal
is like minus 35 sometimes. So that minus 53. That's crazy. That's insanity. But when I actually got
		

			to Edmonton, that is when I truly saw insanity. I saw madness, I could not believe what I was
seeing. It got so called the pipes that run underground that carry our water.
		

			They froze. So you could not go to the bathroom because you couldn't flush it. You want to make
we'll do is like drops of ice. They're coming down and it's freezing. That's what's happening. So I
asked them, you know, how do people get water when this happens? Then they said, you know, why don't
we show you. So they took me to the town center. And there's like a building called City Hall there.
And people would carry big water containers like these 20 liter jugs that you know they carry in
offices, we press the blue button, you get cold water, you press the red button, you get hot water,
those big containers.
		

			They will take those containers, fill them up with 2030 litres, then they would suffer in carrying
them back to the car. And then you'd see some old people that didn't have cars, they would have to
walk on the street. And as they're walking on the street, they're climbing up these buildings that
are three four or five storeys high, no elevators, the climbing up the stairs. And I thought
Subhanallah how difficult it is just to carry 20 or 30 liters of water.
		

			But let's tie that into the angels.
		

			The angels transport millions, if not billions, litres of water. How? Through the clouds. Allah
subhanho wa Taala he created water in such a way that it evaporates, it goes into the clouds, he
wants to grant that sustenance to someone in London. He brings us cloud from Scotland sends it to
London, and the rain comes down with the help of the angels. And thus you see the effect that angels
have in our lives. They are the angels of Allah, the these these people or this creation that bring
glad tidings. Think about an instance that perhaps you're walking down some steps
		

			and somehow or another you managed to slip but you retain your balance.
		

			Or think about maybe a time where you were driving and you weren't paying attention on the road. Yet
somehow or another you were diverted from having a major catastrophe and a major accident. What
happened? Allah subhanaw taala had sent an angel to help you just like he sent the angels in the
Battle of butter in the Battle of 101 micrometer is ramita Joaquin de la harana that you are not the
one who are casting the stones. It was the angels that Allah subhanho wa Taala had sent and thus the
angels are there to protect the believers.
		

			So they are there to help and to preserve and to protect. But what else are the angels, therefore,
they're there to write down each and every single thing that we say. Now y'all filmin, Colin Illa de
hiraki bonneted, that an individual does not speak a single word, except that an angel is there to
write down what it says. So now when you can understand this concept that each and every word that
you utter, an angel is writing it down, and is going to present it to Allah. Do you want an angel to
show curse words to Allah that you spoke? Do you want the angels to show, you know, immoral things
that you used to say in this world? Obviously not. So it helps you control your tongue as well.
		

			Then let's move on to the Day of Judgment, the day of judgment, does it inspire hope? Or does it
inspire fear.
		

			And I believe in the vast majority of people, it probably inspires fear. But it's also a moment of
hope. And let's see why.
		

			It's a moment of fear, firstly, because that is the day we will be held accountable for everything
that we did, for everything that we said, for the way that we treated people. And it is a scary
place to be. Because we know we have done in justices in this world, we have done things we would
not tell other people, and we're not proud to show to others. Yet on that day, Allah subhanho wa
Taala will expose it to you, he will tell you what you did, and will ask you why you did it. And
that is something to be very afraid of. And that is why thoughts of the Day of Judgment should
prevent you from doing injustices towards others. But how is the day of judgment to bring hope. The
		

			Day of Judgment also inspires hope into a person, that anything that you lost, anything that someone
took away from you unjustly, you will be compensated in full on the Day of Judgment. So someone
stole something from you, someone said something bad about you, you're angry and upset, but in this
world, learn to forgive it. Because on the Day of Judgment, that is when you will truly get your
compensation. So inspires hope in an individual as well. That, you know, we're not as doomed as we
thought as we might be. Because just like we dealt in justices in justices were done to us as well.
And perhaps we did a few less in justices. And we received a few more in justices, that Allah
		

			subhanho wa Taala will forgive us and entrance into paradise. Then think about
		

			destiny. You know, this is related to that very concept, that when you look at life as a whole, you
see destiny as a beautiful thing. Because you realize that Allah subhanho wa Taala created you, he
sustains you, he knows what's best for you, and He will only allow it to happen, that which is best
for you. Whether you realize it right now right now or not, that when you die, you will see that
Allah had this greater plan for you in life, and everything falls in its place. And a person who
understands destiny will always be content, the world could be falling apart. But he knows that
Allah is ultimately in control. And he's not going to do any injustice is towards his creation. So
		

			he's content with that matter. Then you look at the messengers, what is belief in the messengers
until belief in the messengers brings about looking at your conduct? How used to find a Salaam was
with his brothers, how are you buddy Sam dealt with his trials, how he sallallahu Sallam was with
his people, all of these prophets and messengers, they had this noble character, and it teaches and
inspires us to be exactly like them. So you see my brothers and sisters, that when you take
something as simple, just as the pillars of faith that we all know, and you learn to interact with
them, you become conscious of them in your daily life. It is a first step in reef formation. It is a
		

			first step in refining our character.
		

			And the last point I want to conclude with Bismillah atana that will help us change our character.
As a doula of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam,
		

			you'll see that life and change are very difficult things, to change habits to change friends, to
change your environment, are very difficult things. And shaytaan will not want you to change for the
better.
		

			Now someone is great as the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He used to say the
following do us so frequently, that a young eight year old boy
		

			learned it. Honestly pneumatic rhodiola one he says I learned the following dr from the Messenger of
Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, due to how frequently he used to repeat it. due to how frequently
he used to repeat it. He used to say
		

			a llama inni obika menial HMI while hazard and HMI while hazard while adze while caisson while
bocalee while giovane wadala Danny was Alberta region, eight things
		

			I want you to notice with these eight things are the first of them, and HMI one version and hum is
to be worried about the future. So he's saying Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You from being worried
about the future. Well husband, it is to grieve over the past and seek refuge in You from grieving
over the past. While adze while person as is to have incapability meaning to not be capable of doing
something that all I seek refuge in You from not been capable of doing things while person and I
seek refuge in You from being lazy, alliedsignal Castle, while bookly while jubran and boho to be
stingy, someone who withholds not only with his money, but with his time and with his effort. So I
		

			seek refuge in being someone who will withhold and is miserly and jubelin is to be a coward. He used
to seek refuge in being a coward. Well, dada Dane was called buttery JOHN BOEHNER, Dane is to be
overpowered by debt, and evolve a theory job is to be overpowered by men. Now I'm going to repeat
these eight things one more time. And I want you to tell me what is the theme that ties all of these
eight things together? I'll hum one version, it is to be worried about the future and to grieve over
the past, while adze will castle It is to be incapable of doing something and to be lazy. When
Bulkeley will jubelin. To be stingy, to be miserly, and to be a coward. And then to be overpowered
		

			by debt, and to be overpowered by people. How do these eight things tie together? What is it that
unifies these eight things? And anybody tell me?
		

			Go for it.
		

			Excellent. But what how is it related to yourself?
		

			You can control it.
		

			Possibly our brother over here that had his hand up.
		

			It's all part of your character.
		

			Maybe that might be it, but I'm looking for something greater?
		

			And I'll give you a clue. I'll give you a hint. How does shaytan use these things against you? Go
ahead.
		

			Okay, that's part of it. It prevents you from being dependent upon Allah. And what else?
		

			Almost Go ahead.
		

			It builds anxiety. The first part of the drive is definitely about that.
		

			Excellent. It prevents you from taking action. It prevents you from doing things it prevents you
from change. All of these things will prevent you from taking action, that in the first two, you're
either busy thinking about what may happen in the future, or you're grieving over what happened in
the past, as in capability that you don't have the ability to do it. I'll castle is to be lazy. And
then Albacore is to be stingy with your time, while jubelin is to be a coward, that you're not ready
to face the people. Well, dollar Dane is to be overpowered by debt than when people are in debt.
There j is just in the state of being a whirlpool of negative thoughts, and then being overpowered
		

			by men, that sometimes people will overpower you and you're unable to stand up for change. And the
Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he became productive, he brought his actions about,
through making dua to Allah, that Oh, Allah protected me from all of these things. I seek refuge in
You from all of these things. Now, I want to tie all of this back in that the point of the lectures
you're hearing today is not for the sake of being entertained. It's not for the sake of finding
something to do before you break your fast. But the point of these lectures is to bring about change
in your life, to change the character that you have to change the individual that you are, because
		

			you came into this month of Ramadan with a message from Allah
		

			quotevalet camassia kuchibhotla leadin amicably calm, Landa contract akun that you were sent fasting
you were sent this month of Ramadan and hopes that once this month of Ramadan comes to an end, you
are people of taqwa, people who are conscious of Allah subhanho wa Taala. So it is not befitting
that you leave Ramadan, just as you entered this beautiful month, some sort of change has to take
place. And this is what I want to conclude with, that you as an individual, are walking ambassador
for Islam, that it is no longer befitting that a Muslim has evil or ill moral luck, that he cannot
be, you know, a degenerate individual, but he is someone who is refined in his character, someone
		

			who brings about positive change. Someone who teaches people were true Islam is all about being in
the service of the people during the day, and being in the service of Allah subhanho wa Taala during
the night, the key to success that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had. Now I
want to summarize my whole lecture Bismillahi tada for you in two minutes within the atana we
started off discussing some of the virtues and benefits of good character. We said it was a duel
that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to make that Allah refine his
character, just as he refined his physical appearance. We said that it was the advice the Messenger
		

			of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam gave to why they've been Jebel as he went to Yemen, to treat
the people in kindness. We said that from the virtues of good character is that you will be
surrounded by people with good character. And likewise people will deal with you in good character.
So those are some of the virtues. Then we talked about three aspects of character that we want to
change within ourselves, the first of them being that we be people who are generous, that Allah
subhanaw taala has blessed us with so much in this blessed month, you want to learn to be generous.
The second thing is that you be pardoning and forgiving. And then the third of them being is that we
		

			be people who restrict ourselves to our own selves, meaning not constantly being concerned with the
affairs of other people and looking at other people. And then I concluded my lecture with two
things. How do we go about bringing this change, understanding the pillars of Eman and the effect
that it has on your personality, and your depth and love as a Muslim? And the second thing, the do
the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam used to make so frequently that an eight year old boy was
able to learn it and that being Allahumma inni I also became an HMI when husband when he will castle
will bocalee will jubelin wadala Danny was on buttery jazz. I pray that Allah subhana wa tada makes
		

			us people of taqwa at the end of this month and makes us better Muslims than we were before we came
into this month and makes us people who have this beautiful block and can be true ambassadors of
this beautiful religion of Islam and makes us people who are forgiven through this month. Rafa
Dhawan and Al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil alameen wa sallahu wa sallam robotic identity Anna Mohammed while
he was such a big mine subclinical llamo become the shadow Allah and as the Furukawa tubo Lake wa
Salaam Alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh