Surah Yusuf #39 – 56-57

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Emily, Sania cocconi 400, a la salatu salam, O Allah, Allah, and the only he was a huge marine. And my bad once again everybody Somali, Ricardo today I'm going to try to talk to you guys about is number 56. And 57 of Swords use of this is actually not continuing the story. And usually Allah has taken pause from the story and made a comment. So it's as if, when someone is telling you a story, you would expect that when they finish telling you the story, then they share lessons with you like the moral of the story is XYZ, right? But Allah, Allah deems it in his wisdom, that when we reach this point, where use of honey Salaam asked to be appointed over the Ministry of Finance, and put in

charge of, you know, the farmlands and all of it, then at that point, I'll take a pause from the story and make a comment himself. So it's an interjection from a lot into the story in is number 56 and 57. He's not telling us what the king said or what use of Elisa Lam said or for Yahuwah Some said know that we've departed from all the characters that was a lot of talking, and Ally's making a comment about what has happened thus far. And he wants us to, you know, as if there's a point in the story that requires a break, and for us to ponder something before we move forward. So that this is an important consideration because Allah didn't stop at every idea, and and interjected himself even

though his own lessons are embedded embedded in every I and we've been trying to extract them as much as best that I can. But here he's very explicit and directly giving us certain lessons telling us I expect you all to ponder over this and telling us the following. So, what are these words What can I become a colonel usofa and that is how we gave stability to use of also means that is how we empowered use of or we enabled users or we settled use of in the landfill. And that is how we settled use of in the land we'll come back to that phrase, yet about what woman her height we are sure, that he can settle and establish himself in that land from from that land wherever he may

want. One reading of that is wherever we may want but the dominant reading is whatever he may want that's in the house must have also no CB Rama, Rama, Rama, Tina, Manisha and we we start we target with our special love and care whoever we want. Unless as we gave we, I mean, really the best way to describe the word no Cebu is to target or to strike because it Saba is used for an arrow hitting its target. Right. And when a calamity hits you, it's called amo Seba. And then we'll see why is because it struck you. Right so Allah uses that interesting word that we target, or we make sure that our Rama hits or comes to whoever it's meant to come come to. Right. So he says, You see, we'll be left

with the hammer Nasha we target and direct our mercy in our mind, I'll translate that much differently as we go along with our rasma to whoever we want, Manisha. Well, I know the original Marcin, and we don't waste the compensation the reward of those who excel was

the heroine and for sure the compensation of the afterlife is even better than livina armano for those who believed what can we get the hold and have demonstrated that law all along, have demonstrated, you know, consciousness of Allah all along. Okay, so that's, that's the commentary, it seems pretty straightforward. It's made up of several sentences. So we're going to go through each of them. And here I will also, you know, share with you what I found perplexing Actually, today was pretty mentally taxing for me to wrap my head around what's going on in this ayah and contemplate, you know, the meanings and the lessons inside of this ayah because, at surface level, it seems

pretty straightforward. But um, you know, take a deeper look and you start running into problems, at least problems that a lot as origin would want you to see and contemplate as you dig deeper. So inshallah we'll try to go through that exercise, what can only come a canal used to fulfill and that is how we settled use of in the land. Now the first thing I want you to know about this phrase that Allah says, that is how we settled him in the land. It's not the first time he said it. The first time Allah said that is when the the Potiphar found him and bought him in the marketplace and brought him to the home and he told his wife, honor his housing, remember that scene. So he's a kid

who's been kidnapped, who is now going to live as a slave inside this house, a servant inside this house conditions that are better than the, you know, the bullpen or whatever. They were keeping him in the animal shelter that they were keeping him in when he was a slave for trade. So it's a better condition and he's

He's saying give him respectable housing, so it's better, but it's still a slave. And he's still a kidnapped child. He's still, you know, abandoned by his brothers and separated forcefully from his family in a foreign land where he may not even speak the language, that may even be the case. So anyway, so he's in this new land, he's asleep. And when he was placed in that, a lot commented, what can only come a canal used to fulfill early, exactly the same words back then. And that is how we settled use of in the land. Now, the thing to note is a law does not repeat himself verbatim by accident. There's a reason this is what you call what I like to call in long suits like these one,

these ones, these are actually literal anchors, and are an echo. So it's an echo of something that was said already. And if you've been reading carefully, you're like, wait, Allah said that already before. So let's compare these two places because there seems to be a deliberate intent from Allah azzawajal. For us to pay attention to both of these this is not the first time you're seeing it might not. Right. So let's go back a little bit.

The first time Allah mentioned that is how we settled Youssef in the land, he was a slave, he was put in the position of a slave. The second time he said, What can only come a canal use of the he's being put in the position of governance, isn't it?

And the first time he is actually in a powerless state, but he at least he's safe. And now he's exactly opposite in a completely powerful state.

Add to that the complication that in the Quran, Allah uses the word McKenna, the same word settled him in the land, right. He uses it for the Israelites when Allah intended them to have great vast empire, the system king, he uses it for the mccanns as they are the most established entity among all the tribes of Arabia, they have them clean.

Well look at Mackinac, and FEMA in Makana, houfy economic mind mechanic and fee. He says, we gave you stability in the land, just like we give so many other nations before you they had great stability too. They were settled in the land also. So Allah uses this phrase, when people have great potential and power, and they're settled and they're established. They're not turbulent, they're, they're in a position to do things. And I talked to you about the etymology of Temkin last time Makita. And that our home, that's the Arabic term. So basically, one of its meanings is to have great potential and ability to do something. But that creates a problem. You see, we read the story

today. with hindsight, what that means is, even if I'm reading the first part of the story, what a surprise. I already know the end of the story, right? I already know how it ends, I know what's what's going to happen later on. So even though I'm reading, he's telling this, this father a dream about 11 stars, the sun and the moon, there's no surprise coming for you, because you guys have heard it since you were kids. But I want you to know that the first audience that read this, and the first time they heard, we established him in the land, they didn't know that there's a resolution coming, you understand, every Ayah was a new revelation. It's kind of like I know, it's a bad

analogy. But it's kind of like the shows where the next episode is coming out and you're waiting about what's going to happen as the federal law. But you know that anticipation because you don't know how the story is going to turn out. That's actually what was happening with the original audience. They didn't know how it ends, including the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, when condemning complete, aminophylline you were among those who are unaware to now think about it from their point of view for a moment, like that first audience that didn't know what was gonna happen. So love, basically. And then what Allah said is, I brought him in and made him into a

slave in Egypt, cut off from his father, and exiled from his homeland. And now he's going to live as a slave here. And that is how we stationed him in the land gave him stability in the land. And at that point, you're left there scratching your head, like, What? How is that stability in the land?

How does that how does that work? How in the world is that stability? At that point, at the very least common sense will make you ask that question yes or no.

Not when he's been made a governor, and he's made in charge of the finances as his name has been exonerated. And then Allah says now, and that is how we made him established in the land. You said, that makes total sense. Oh, yeah, that's how Allah did it, you get it. So in order to understand this contrast, and to make sense of it, I'm going to give you a silly analogy. Silly analogies are my way of having you remember things that are supposedly complicated, but I think we can make them pretty simple. My background you know, other than you my love of Arabic And lo of Quran studies, before this I in and even now, to some extent, I was obsessed with graphics design, digital

photography, design and that kind of thing. Right? And it's a it's a branch, it's very limited branch of art, but it is yet an art right. So you're designing a website, a banner or a brochure, whatever, I still do that kind of stuff before I was a design director at a company wants when someone is creating something artistic. It's a process right? And they have a vision in mind. Like if you're designing and like the interior design of a

room or something you're visualizing. And you put the sofa over here, and you put this over there and put this and you're going through a process, you have a vision in your head. But in order to materialize that vision, you're going through certain steps. When somebody walks in and you say, What are you doing?

Why do you Why do you use that color? What's that doing over there? That doesn't look right. They don't know that you're in a process. And they can't see the end product in their head, and you cannot show them the end product. You said, this is just my process. Just trust me, you know, I want to have input in the in the steps No, just wait, let me just finish, then you can critique the final product. But don't mess up my word. process. It's the same as somebody writing a paper, somebody is really good as a writer. They don't want you looking over their shoulder on the screen as they're typing. They're like, Can you just give me some space? I'll let you read it when I'm done. Right?

Because when they're reading it, they might edit, they might make changes as they're doing their work. That's every step of it is not the final product. You may not know the same thing with some of you that are really into cooking. Hey, why are you putting that in there? Are you putting this stop? Let me just do my thing. You try the burger when I'm done. You understand? Because when you see something in the works, it may not make sense to you. Right? So you say, as you're cooking, you're like that's how I make a delicious and you're like,

yeah, and then you cook it, you put the plate, you have a bite and then say again, that's how I make a delicious and you're like, yes, you echoed the same words. The first time you said it, you're cooking, and I walked over and I said you can put up with that smells weird. That makes me cough, you're gonna put that in there. Listen, it's gonna be amazing. And you're gonna love it Really? Okay. And then 30 minutes later, I love it. It's amazing. And you say the exact same? Why didn't I tell you, you're gonna love it? What am I trying to get out to you. In human experience, when there's a plan of something at the end, the final product, the final product looks a certain way.

But the steps to get to that final end, don't necessarily make themselves clear to an outside observer. The only they're only clear to the cook, they're only clear to the designer, they're only clear to the painter, you understand that construction process in the middle to everybody else that looks like chaos. And then at the end, you're like, Oh, that's what you were doing? Oh my God, that's amazing. Because we cannot go inside the mind of a cook or inside the mind of an artist inside the mind of a designer or whoever. And in when they are in that process, we may question their caught their judgment on step one, or two or three or four, not knowing that each of these

steps are part of a much larger plan, which is much more complex and is a testimony to how good they are at what they do. You understand? So why don't give me Why am I giving you all of this example this silly example about cooking and designing and painting or whatever else? Because Allah azza wa jal is a planner,

Eliza planner, and plans have steps. And in the earliest, most unlikely step, as someone would think a prophet of Allah and innocent child being thrown into the midst of slavery, why would Allah do this, he said, surprisingly, that is how we established him in the land.

That's how you established him in the land. I trust you out of I mean, I'll taste the end product, I guess.

And now we've gone through so many adventures with us of running around, and we get to the point where he is sitting in the throne on the throne literally, for all practical purposes, he's running the country. And Allah says, and that is how we established use of and the land, as if to say, I'll add, for me to understand you get it now.

Do you now understand how my plan works, how there are parts of my plan, that may not make any sense to you, but they are part of a much larger goal at the end, the timeline for which is not up to you. It could be a few hours from now, it could be years from now, it could be decades from now, it could be generations from now, but it was still part of my plan.

There are things that he puts in his plan that take it take into effect, we can think the kind of long term thinking allows origin has for each person's life. So that first statement is very powerful for that reason. Another thing that you notice about look at Alabama cannot use it is as if a blessing and that is how we give power to someone like yourself who was imprisoned and enslaved. And when we wanted, we would put something in the heart of a king that he couldn't go to sleep until he hears the answer that remedy that can only come from the tongue of use of an accident. When I want I can take an inmate who was in sitting in a jail cell in the corner.

One night, and the next night he's in the highest Palace in the land. I can do that. I can change somebody's work, you know worldly circumstances overnight. And I it's not just a phase that they're going through, I will establish them firm as if they always had that position. And they will always have that position McKenna, I can do that. That's what we do for you suffice on what a blessing is, Allah is in charge of completely enhancing and modifying and completely changing somebody's circumstances. And by the way, it's a two way street here less talking about from worse to better, to unimaginably better, but actually to resume and Tushar wa to the loom antosha via decal Hi, you

dignify whoever you want, you can humiliate whoever you want to tell them, we'll come into Sha one, zero, we'll come in man, Tasha, you give kingdom and governance and power to whoever you want. You snatch it away from whoever you want. You can have somebody in the Quran that has the most amazing garden and says, Man, this is gonna last me lifetimes. Even my kids are gonna enjoy this. And the next day, the gardens gone the next day, you know, and he comes back and says, What happened here? You could have people that were Oh, my God, tomorrow's harvest, we better get there early. And they leave early morning before the sun even comes up. And by the time they get to their garden, they're

like, did we take a wrong turn somewhere? another balloon? No, no, we must be lost. This can't be our place. The gardens gone, but works both ways. But here because of the story of redemption, Alize highlighting what he can take someone in the most frail, the most vulnerable, the most unsafe circumstances. By the way, if you serve, someone gets beat up in prison, if he gets jailed in prison, if he gets injured in prison, if he gets humiliated in prison. If he gets misused in prison he gets they get him to do all kinds of labor in prison. Whatever happens? Is anybody even going to check? Is any authority going to come in fight for His justice or Nothing? Nothing. He has no

rights. He has no rights. At that point, he has no no freedom, no rights, nothing. And from there to where he is in the next 24 hours, you understand? And that's a lesson and that's how I plan. Human beings can't come up with a plan like that.

Can you imagine somebody sitting in a jail cell telling them you know, tomorrow, I'm gonna be sitting next to the king. I'm gonna run this country. Yeah, yeah, finish your food.

Who's gonna believe that? Who's gonna believe that human beings are not capable of this kind of a plan that can only come from a lot and that is all encapsulated inside this mighty phrase. Look at Arnica. McCann I'll use it's also interesting. The Saga in Egypt had gallica canal use of as his as his journey in Egypt begins. And when his journey in Egypt reaches its climax, because alikum a canal use of but there's another dimension to this that I wanted to highlight before I go on. By the way, we're still on the first phrase, we had to do a few things tonight. But about this phrase, there are two.

I want to give you silly examples only because it'll help you remember. Okay. So you guys, I know if you haven't seen Kung Fu Panda, it's okay. Allah forgive you. So the thing is, before you can fight the outside enemy, and save the land from the great evil that's coming. You have to first learn kung fu yourself. You got to master it yourself. Yeah, you have to have some ability honed, before you can do the heroic job that you're meant to do. Right? The thing is, establishing someone in the sight of Allah is two dimensions. Sometimes the less stablish is you so you can learn. So you can become stronger. Which means a lot will put you in situations where the world thinks the opposite

allies put you in a terrible situation. Allies put you in humiliation Alliance put you in joblessness Alliance put you in a jail cell Alliance put you in a decrepit home, let's put you away from your family. Like you would think of it as the lat The last thing this is a good life. And Allah said early on when he was brought as a slave, we established him in the land, but he gave purpose. He said the reason why he did that starting there, he could have just brought a fellow once you can make him the kingdom Thursday, he could do that. Why start there? He starts there. Because a lot of soldier says, Well, you know i Lima, whom into really ahaadeeth. So we can teach him

interpretation of all kinds of speech. Before he gets to that role, he needs to understand how society works. He needs to understand how the politicians talk and what their inside world is like. He needs to understand how the slaves think and what their lives are like and what they eat for food. He needs to understand what the marketplace is like. He needs to understand what the conditions are inside the prison cells. He needs to understand all of these dimensions of society and understand the languages of all of those social worlds, and the psychology of all of those people and how they talk and how they think all of that is there to build him for a position. He's

going to take

Where he has to learn, he has to be empathetic with the pains of the top of society to the bottom of society. And he can actually confidently say, I am a representative of this nation, because I have literally been in every position in this nation. You understand? You know that what they say nowadays, when you have a candidate that's going for office, right, man, I went to this high school, or I used to have I used to deliver a newspaper, I used to do this or that the other and they're trying to relate to the working class, right? Or they're trying to talk about when they used to go to church, they want to relate to the church audience, they want to relate to them, because they

want to share similar experiences. It's hard for, you know, current presidents to do that, when I made my first 20 million, or stole my first 20 million, it was hard for me, like, what are they gonna relate with. But you know, politicians want, they want to present themselves as a man or a woman of the people, right?

You can think of it as every strata of society, from the criminals, from the indicted, slaves, to now the women who are known for talking and slamming somebody, to the politicians to the king, everybody is impressed with this man, and have had first hand dealings with him. He doesn't have to give an impression of himself. And not only do they have this impression of him, which makes him stable, why does that make him stable, you can take any one of those groups and turn them against him. They all vouch for him directly with first hand experience. And on the other hand, he understands how they work. He understands how they think that's a remarkable plan that Allah had

even early on. This was to empower him to do the next job. You can't do the great job until you're not built for greatness. And a love built him for greatness with these horrible what we consider horrible experiences, a lot of calls them establishing in him in the land, you don't get it. But that was part of the process. These were the ingredients necessary. These are the ingredients necessary. And that's where we're gonna lead to the second phrase of this ayah where Allah just says something remarkable, he says yet about what we mean ha haizhu Yasha.

That's the second phrase. Literally, it means he can live or he can settle down, he can settle down it from within Egypt, from within the land wherever he wants.

And that sounds like a strange phrase to see. But the first thing I want you to note about that phrase is that it is a direct contrast with his life as a slave and his life in prison. Because when you're a slave, you do not live by your will you live by the will of whoever imposes their will on you, the master you live where you where they want you to live, you dress, how you want them to dress, you sleep, when they want you to sleep, you wake up when they want you to wake up, you do what they want you to do. If you have free time, it's because they told you you can have free time you understand. And then when you're in prison, you can dress how you want sleep, how you want, eat,

how you want, you know, do what you want, you can't say I feel like French fries today, you can feel all you want, all you're going to look at is the bricks on the wall. That's all you're gonna look at. You don't have freedom, you can do what you want.

Oh, and a person in jail is thinking about, they really truly appreciate what it means to have freedom, just to be able to just sleep under a tree, just to be able to look at the sky, just that when a human being is deprived of these things, when they just can just pick up a glass of water and drink it whenever they feel like it and go. I feel like eating some chicken and they can go eat some chicken. They'll feel like it's heaven for the first time because they've been they spent 10 years in jail or 20 years in jail. It's a different world for them because it opened up. But what did Allah do for you so far, they set him he took him from those experiences of prison. And Allah says

about him, he has more freedom than even free people. He can literally say I want to live here and he can just start his home. I want to move there. No, I'm gonna I'm gonna live here this month. And that there that one, you know, even if you're free, you can drive by a mansion and look at it and go.

But says, Oh, you could do

you could look at a really nice apartment complex or loft or a building or a housing. That is nice. Wait, if the gain is that nice, how does it look behind okay?

We don't have the freedom to live wherever we want. We don't have the freedom to buy whatever we want to go wherever we want. We don't have that freedom. You know, there are some places that you there are gated communities. Right? There are some buildings that are secured you can't go there. It's high personnel authorized personnel only. Allah gave this man the kind of freedom and the highest power in the world in Egypt. He can go into any building, any mention any office, any business, any farm, any home anywhere he wants, and he is in charge wherever he goes. If he goes into the marketplace.

He can set new policies. No, this store shouldn't be here, it should be over in that corner. No, these prices are too high, you need to lower these prices. No, this is not the way you treat your employees. You need to change their wages. He literally goes wherever he wants, he settled and his word is the final authority as if it's at home is home, which is why interestingly, the word used for him is to settle in as if it's your home. Literally any part of Egypt when he goes there, he can act like it's its own his own house.

But you can move your pillows wherever you want, or your dining table wherever you want. He can literally move businesses wherever he wants, farm wherever he wants. He can literally move assets wherever he wants, policies wherever he wants. That's the kind of power Allah azza wa jal gave him. That is the kind of freedom that human beings can only dream up most human beings. And look at the contrast that Allah created, right? He's he comes from a position of not even being able to eat when it's when he wants to, food will come and before the food comes, I'll tell you what the dream means. Remember, he doesn't even eat when he wants to, to the point where the entire country is actually

surrender to his freewill. His freedom overrides the entire country. Your turbo will mean Hi, Felicia, it's incredible. That phrase, not only is it a compensation for you so funny, Sam, this is the part two of the same phrase he can settle. Or he can act like it says home wherever he wants. In wherever in the land. What Why is it Why is this important? Remember I told you earlier Allah had taught him the interpretation of all kinds of speech? Did he see corruption in Egypt when he was a slave? Did he see corruption in the marketplace? corruption among politicians? Did he see corruption among traders? Did he see corruption among different classes of society? Absolutely. Did he say

these people don't believe in the al Qaeda? Why does somebody say man, you have no belief in judgment day. You know, when people say that, you know what someone once someone would say that. They will say that because you're doing something that's unjust, and you don't think you'll ever be held for justice. So when he said I left a nation of

the religion of a people that don't believe in Allah, and they have no concept of the afterlife. What he's saying is these people, they think they can get away with anything. If they can get away with it, it's fine. Might is right. Now that he knows the inside corruption of all of society, he can go to every one of those inside corruptions, and he doesn't just have to observe that corruption. He can eradicate it. He can go there and say, No, this is my house now. And we're going to do things this way. Now, you understand? What an amazing thing to say? Because a lot didn't just say he could just move to whatever house he wants. This is not about him, getting a mansion. This is

about him first understanding how corruption in each circle of society works. Well, who are the oppressed, who are the oppressors, and he's going to go support the oppressed, and he's going to put the oppressors in line. That's what he's gonna do in every sphere of society. What an amazing position to be put in, and he could not have understood that corruption. Had he not been a slave. Had he not been in prison had he not been treated mistreated by the system had he not dealt with corrupt politicians had he not dealt with all that stuff? He would not be able to be the kind of leader I needed him to be soprano without, for for Egypt, yet about what we mean her.

That's the second phase. Now the third and fourth phase, which is where the the problem begins, at least for me, this was like this was the riddle. Allah says no, Cebu, Medina, Medina, shall we strike with our mercy I'll translate recognize mercy for now even though I believe it's loving care. That's the, you know, when I really understand what happened to me, we strike with our we target with our loving care, whoever we want. Now, this is still one I, what I told you before, is one so let's tie it all together, okay. This is how we settled him in the land part one, he could he could, he could be established wherever he wants. So he has full authority all over the land. Number two,

third phrase in the same if we strike down or retarget with our mercy without LACMA with our loving care, whoever we want. First impression you get from that is Allah has given him a hammer. Yeah. And what's the MA that Allah gave him power?

Right that Allah stablished him in the land? Isn't that obvious? That's in the ayah. Allah established him in the land, and Allah gave him power and he has the authority to make whatever changes he wants. What do you have a freedom? Are these spiritual blessings? Or are these worldly blessings? Thank you think about this. These are worthy blessings. Yes, because prison is a worldly difficulty. Slavery is a worldly difficulty. And now this position of governance and power and potential. These are all worldly blessings and allies calling these worldly blessings.

We strike down with our rock man, we target with our ACMA, whoever we want. And then he says

While I

and he says well I know the original machine and we do not waste the compensation of those who excel we do not waste the reward of those who excel Now what does that sound like? That sounds like he is being rewarded for all the good that he did. Right? Because Allah says we don't waste the reward of those who do their excellent do their very best. Yusuf Ali Salaam did his very best throughout his life he was on Watson Watson Watson Watson and Watson over and over again and now less I will not let that go to waste for all those who do accent in the specific context of use of a lie saying he did well and he was rewarded with well with really good right we would think for ourselves well, if

we do well then we will be rewarded with good too. And this life. Here's the problem. Let me introduce you now to the problem.

every prophet excelled Yes or no? No Hello Salaam excelled you? You know Eunice la Salaam excelled?

every prophet excelled? Did you have a salon get,

like, worldly blessings at the end? Or did you just have to escape? Even? Do you think it was a he was overjoyed when his son was drowning?

When he cried out to a lion says this is my family in nominally. And unless there's no who's not your family, and you have to see syndrome?

Are there stories of profits that have been killed?

Right? Did they do their best those profits? Did they have a son? Were they more singing? Yeah. Did they get worldly redemption and power and get established in the land? They can do whatever they want and have that kind of relief after all the suffering? Did they get that?

No, they didn't get that.

So the thing is, the first impression of this ayah would be that Allah rewards those who excel in this life, just like he did who use the phrase, because he did. And it's in the same ayah. But then when you study others, other stories of profits in the crime and other legacies of people who excelled. Sometimes they get something good in this life. Other times they don't. Other times the only times they get rewarded and the outside. Isn't that the case?

Aren't there plenty of wonderful people who died without enjoying any relief in this life?

Aren't there plenty of people have your son among the profits, and even after the profits, people have your son, who never got to enjoy worldly blessings the way we would think of what has been granted to us the funnies.

So, over simplistically, one could hear this read this and say, if you do really good, Allah will make your life great. How do you know that we'll look at the story of use of Elisa. Look at everything Allah gave him because he did really good if you want to let it give you a really good, you do your best and love will hook you up, man you're gonna get you're gonna have millions, you're gonna, you're gonna have the house you want, you're gonna, this world will become gentle for you. Because we have the example of who? You're so funny. That seems like a problem. It's a problem because there are plenty of other stories that contradict that exact view, isn't it?

And what's furthering that problem is then the motivation for someone to do good isn't even any more about what's going to come into your head, the motivation becomes what's going to happen in this world. How do we then under if that is a contradiction from other stories and other principles well established in the Koran well established in our religion, then how do we understand this is you understand where I was stuck, where I got stuck. So the resolution is in the wording of Allah Himself. This is one of the beauties of the Quran is Quran and Arabic and Aveda the religion are on an Arabic Quran without any crookedness without any deviation or confusion. So, let me walk you

through how I understand this phrasing.

The first thing is the first two phrases of this ioer about use of specifically understand that and I number 56. The first phrase was this is how we establish use of the land. The second phrase was you have to but what will mean how high we are shot, he can settle wherever he wants, and he can create settlement wherever he wants to, you understand those two phrases are specifically about use of now there are going to be two phrases that are less generalizing

the first generalization is new fee will be like mattina, Manisha we, we target with Obama whoever we want. When you when Alice has whoever we want, is he specific to use of anymore? No, he opened it up right? So he's making a generalization. Let me take a step back and understand a few things about no Cebu be Medina.

When is something worldly? called a Rama? Some we understand that Allah has Lama of Allah. Yeah.

But what are some cases where Allah gave something worldly to somebody and still called it What? Rock man by the way? Are there other people in the Quran that have been given worldly power?

worldly establishment even more than use of, but it's not

fair, I only had one use of it some hasn't more, you understand that? It was not for him, is it? It's not. So how is it that we understand this word Rama, one example you can think of is codenamed Sultan cough.

He when people asked him to build a dam, right, and he was able to use some of the toughest materials and build a dam, and when he was able to establish this construction monument, and this, this this marvel of construction and architecture that had never been seen before, people were so impressed with him. And he said, haha, rock motomura be this is our Rama from Iraq. This is loving care that Allah has given me. How do we understand that? What is the common thread, please listen to this carefully. And I'll start not by use of and local name, I'll start with you and me. So you understand this. There are two things that I want you to consider. The first of them is your own

talent, you have certain capabilities, you have certain potential, you're good at something.

And then the second thing is opportunity.

You could be really good at something. But you never had the opportunity to shine. Is that possible? Could it be that there is the most brilliant medical student who could never get into medical school? that possible? never had the opportunity? Could it be as one of the most star tennis players that has ever lived? Didn't couldn't afford sneakers, to go to a camp where he could play, he could have played professionals, but he's barefoot. So they didn't let him in. And he would have been the world's best tennis player. Is that possible? What I'm saying is you can have talent, but you may not have found what opportunity, you understand what I'm saying. And a lot of people have

opportunity. But even though they have opportunity, they don't have the talent. And then you have people that have the talent, and they have the opportunity and they misuse it also.

They blow it. Does that happen too? So there's talent, and there's opportunity, and then there's taking advantage of that opportunity, the willpower to take advantage of that opportunity. Aren't there plenty of really smart students that fail.

They have the talent, they have the opportunity to go to school, but they don't apply themselves. So they feel right. So now we've got these three considerations. It is a special mercy from Allah that He makes someone talented, yes or no.

It is an added mercy from a life they are talented. And he chose them specifically, not only to have talent, but to have the opportunity to do something good with their talent. Because not everybody who has talent has what opportunity. And then it's that third mercy on top of that, all of that that alone makes them have the kind of person who makes the most of that talent and makes the most of that opportunity. That's a special LACMA from a lot of someone that Allah brings all three of those things together. Now, look, does Allah make that happen for everyone? does allow me the best talent, the best opportunity and the best willpower for everybody? No, everybody's got different ranges. But

some people in humanity are given these, this the trifecta, if you will. Yeah. And those people are they accomplish special things in life. That's just the reality of it. Right? There was the right combination of talent and opportunity and willpower. All of it came together, you understand. And they're able to do remarkable things, whether it's in science, whether it's in any other field of knowledge, whether it's in sports, or whatever else. In the case of use of Islam, does he have a remarkable talent?

has given him an incredible opportunity. And has he demonstrated the most righteous will? Has he done all those three things he has, right? Unless as we say, with this kind of combination, we strike down with that we target some special people with this Rama of ours, but that's whoever we want. That's not up to you to decide yellow what what use ahead.

I want to be able to help millions.

You may have the intention. You may even have the talent, but alone might decide that you'll never get the what you might not get the opportunity. Sometimes you might have the opportunity, you might even have the will. But Allah just did not give you the talent.

He gave you the will but not the talent. I'm a good friend of mine. He's wanted to teach Arabic just wanted to teach Arabic and he was horrible at teaching, not Arabic, just teaching. But he really wanted to teach, but students would like to die of a coma in his class. I tried several times. But somebody was created for and in other things are complete genius, but really wants to teach. Allah created some people for teaching. Allah created some other people for some other things you understand.

So sometimes you may have the willpower and even the opportunity you just simply don't have the time.

for it, you're not the right fit for it.

So Allah says in the case of use of honey Salaam, all three things converged, and this is a special LACMA from him. And this kind of Rama, when you are able to make the most of the talents Allah has given you and do amazing goodness, not just for yourself, Why are you so focused on going everywhere? Because he wants to have mansions in every neighborhood? Why is he going everywhere, so he can spread more good wherever he wants? What's the Rama from Allah, the real Rama from Allah in this world, is when a law gives you talent, opportunity and willpower, you leave a legacy behind of goodness that goes beyond yourself. That's a special LACMA from Allah, He gives it to whoever he

wants. That's not you know, you can't just say I'm gonna have that, or I'm gonna have you can you can wish for you can ask Allah for it. And he might will that you might get it. But you and I don't deserve that. That's special, you understand? And by him saying whoever we want, what is he saying? It's not up to you and me.

Because if it was up to you and me, he would say, do this, this, this, and I'll give this to you also, right, meet these requirements. And I'll give you this special kind of like motto. He didn't say that in this phrase. He said, we will give this to whoever we want you to understand by understanding it this way. Looking at this idea this way, you're no longer thinking, if I do good, I'm gonna be like, use it for the song. Because if you do good, you may end up like you suffer some and for lack chosen a different path for you. It may be a different path, you understand. Now, what's the next phrase? When Leo was sitting? You see the way I explained that first phrase,

somebody might get depressed? a chunk, he gets all that Allah decides, what does he decide for me? Why should I Excel then, if I'm not gonna get the redemption story, like use of Elisa, what's the point of me doing my best, and Allah says, and by the way, the phrase ends, and we do not waste the compensation of all those who do their best. In other words, I will give special treatment to whoever I want. But that does not mean that you shouldn't do your best. Whenever you do your best. Whenever you excel, when you become people love your son, then I will never let your efforts go to waste.

Now you understand that our efforts not going to waste may not translate into some kind of worldly redemption.

And in fact, even if it was giving you something better in this world, it's never for you. In the material sense. It's only for you so you can do more good. So you can do more good. It's like the the principle in our Deen is, you know, some people, for example, a lot shows that they should have wealth, right? And what is the profit slice of them teach us about wealth manaka some elements of pocketing. Money does not go down with giving charity.

Why is that? Because when Allah has chosen this person for wealth, their ultimate goal was they will do more good with that wealth for others. Yeah. So the more good they do, the more I like gives them another opportunity to do more, and then more opportunity to do more. So it's not for themselves, it's actually for the spreading of good, you understand. So Allah says, but there may be others who even if I don't give them opportunity, even if they struggle, 950 years preaching to the same crowd and nobody listens. Even if that happens, I will not let their efforts go to waste. I will not consider them a failure.

The thing is, we want to measure success. If Allah has done good or rewarded someone, we only want to measure it in material terms that you and I can see.

Right, but that's what we want to see. So what is the law do to balance that equation? He says I expect excellence from everyone, because everyone should know Yusuf Alayhi Salam did not know all along that I'm going to give him this.

He didn't know that. But he did his best anyway.

He did his best and I decide if he gets that or not.

That's not a formula that if he did his best because he was in jail, that's why I gave him kingdom. That's not what he said. He said Manisha he didn't call that compensation. He said it was Rama. Rama means a loving an act of loving care a gift from from God from Allah, which means you didn't earn it.

That was not earned, that was granted by Allah. But then immediately after a grant, which you can't say, Hey, where's my grant? No, you, you grant is something given not earned. So now that we talked about what gifts a lug is, immediately he talks about what can you earn? Well, I want to earn it. Well, here's here's the conversation about earning. I don't waste the earnings of those who do their best. They will never go to waste. Now, did he answer will I let you see, maybe maybe he'll let you see some of the rewards of your excellence in this life. Maybe he'll let you see some rewards of it in the next life. Maybe he'll only show you the rewards in the next life. Maybe he'll show you none

of it in this life. Is that possible? Absolutely. Absolutely possible that you see no sign that you are being rewarded for what you went through in this life. It's absolutely possible. It's completely

possible, I would imagine even with ease and ease around the life that he spent so far that we know about in this in this world, there was no reward in this world. It was only suffering. There was only antagonism. That's all he saw on his Auto Salon. There are several profits. I keep mentioning the profits of the Israelites so many of them were killed. What good did they see? How do they see the you know, redemption like the kind of use of police around or what does Allah do to complete this picture? He says, Listen to this, and the next I have 57th ayah whether or not the heroine Latina Amanullah can own and the compensation of the next slide, the final end, meaning the

afterlife is better for those who've had faith and have held on to their taqwa all along. People that have held on to their taqwa, they understand. So the word compensation has come up twice. Now, I will not waste the compensation of those who excel and the compensation of those, the next life is better, as far as those who believe and have held on to their duck while along are concerned, Allah is telling us how do you become someone who excels. First of all, you believe that Allah will not waste your reward. And second of all, duck, why is the live living of our faith? Faith is something sitting inside of us. That was when you live it, right. So when you have experiences that make you

want to let go of your duck walk, you keep demonstrating the code over and over and over again, you choose to be more mindful of Allah than you are of society, you're more mindful of a lot than of your own inner emotions, you're more mindful of a love any urges, you're more mindful of the love and your greed, when you can demonstrate that over and over again, that is a sign and those are the people that get the afterlife reward, even less less telling us in desire, even if I give you something in this life, even if it gives you relief in this life, or give you some you know worldly benefits in this life that you weren't expecting, and things came your way and you were able to make

a lot more money or you ended up marrying the person you wanted to marry or whatever, like things work out for you, then that's not the reward that makes you satisfied, actually, you're still thinking that the reward that's coming in the end is better. And what I got in this life, may still turn into a trial. Whatever you think is a blessing in this life can still turn into a trial, which is why before I end today, I'm going to take a step back in the previous ayah. And share one more thing about Dharma villa.

Dharma of Allah is actually in this life, the great Rama of Allah is the opportunity to serve,

to do something with what you've been given, so that you can earn closeness to him even more. So you can have something even more, that's a special Atma from Allah, and people who who give a lie their son, Allah will give descends special from him, maybe he'll give you different kinds of opportunity to serve Him.

And that's what allows origin does when you demonstrate to Allah that you want to do good to him, or good for him. And he will open up other doors for you to do other kinds of good, but those doors may not be the doors you're expecting. They may not be the doors that you were hoping for. They may be very different doors. They may be doors that in the case of use of Islam, sometimes they may be doors to a prison cell.

They may be doors to a crazy situation with a bunch of ladies, the maybe crazy situations and doors that open up and doors that close, but they're all part of the Wrath of Allah because you have excelled.

So don't measure it in one way. But at the end of it all, when as you will be higher on we have to understand this world is not about being paid. This is not the world in which we're paid. We can enjoy good things here. Absolutely. A level sometimes reward us for certain things in certain ways. Absolutely. That will happen.

There are plenty of provisions in the Koran, and even in the sayings of the Prophet salallahu alaihe salam, like even in the words of use of new honey salam, you know, his words are so incredible. It does not become in the Hokkaido foreign your city, sama la comida. Lauren will indeed be unwilling or Bernina.

He says, make us too far to Europe, ask a lot forgiveness. He keeps on forgiving. He forgives over and over again. He'll open up the sky and make it rain for you. He'll extend your means by by children and money. I'll give you children I'll give you money.

It's amazing that new holiday Salaam is saying that because he didn't have a lot of kids and he didn't have a lot of money.

Right? And he's telling everybody else make us the var and Allah will give you these things. Did he have those things? No. And even the children that he had the child that he has lamium didn't he didn't extend his means. And yet he's saying Why? Because he knows that can happen for some of you. And if you really want worldly things the best better than worldly things and seeking this stuff out. Then whatever Allah does give you will be good for you. And even if it's a trial, that trial will be good for you.

Welcome Jonathan wager Lockman Harlan, he'll put gardens in place for you rivers in place for you, a lot will give you and give you and give you because some people only wanted to hear about what they get in this life. Allah will give in this life. Absolutely. But is it because we're doing our best. That's up to a month, you'll see we'll be left with the Hammond mission be that Medina monisha. Last thing I'll share the share with you guys is that we should not die. And I've heard people say this, and I hope they mean what they say because sometimes we make tall claims before Allah, your life You make me a millionaire, I'll give so much charity. I will use all of my money to open up orphanages

just make me a millionaire. And what does Allah do sometimes for people like that, he makes them a millionaire. And do orphanages open up.

But second, and third Ferraris are bought,

right? We make these big claims that we're gonna do this, this is for Allah. And we don't we don't live up to it when he does his part. Don't talk a big game, don't do it. Sometimes not having a lot of dunya may be a good thing.

Sometimes not having so much. Because we may not have the maturity to handle that much. Maybe Allah gave us less because at the level we are our faith, our clock is you know, if you have a point system, it's only 75 points, and the kind of worldly things you want, you will only be able to handle them properly if you have 7500. Not 75 because if you got that stuff, your stuff, what might disappear, you don't say money changes people.

Or they even say there's a weakness inside you it only came out because money is there now. But when you had lesser opportunity, maybe it was more contained. You understand. So the worst of you can come out because you got more worldly things, the ugliest of you could come out maybe allies and giving you because he's protecting you from something from yourself. That could be the case, that could absolutely be the case. You think anybody in the position of use of any saddam in that kind of power, that kind of respect, that kind of physical attractiveness is a complete package right?

complete package. You think that person like that won't be hit with fitna

they can get messed up in their head, they can shut down Welcome to the show that comes to them one way before, before you have money and wealth and this and that and the other empower, he can he has another way of coming at you. But once you have it he has a different way of coming at you.

And Allah is again describing He not only does does he have to show a sign when he had nothing, he has to show a sign a different kind of sign now that he has everything it's a different trial. But it's also a trial and it's no easier a trial and alone will not waste the compensation of the those who excel also means after Allah has given him all of this, he will still continue to excel now in a new way. Because you could come into this position of power. And you could you could lakhs Oh, I paid my I paid my dues to Allah.

Now it's time for me to chill. Now I can relax. No, he's he's not gonna relax. That's not him. And this remarkable introjection I thought is a very beautiful addition to you know, to are really a it is what it is. It's an introduction into the story Before we continue, because it's not only about the redemption of use of Islam, but the larger point how does a lot reward us and what should we be seeking from the story? Should we be seeking the kind of relief the use of for example, seeking, because the thing is, he wasn't seeking relief

he was seeking to serve. That's what he was seeking to do. When someone is seeking to serve a law, a law will make the world around you serve you.

He will put the world at your service. When young men decide to worship only Allah, he'll bend the rays of the sun so they don't strike him, strike them in a cave. Hope it's time to stop. He'll let them sleep for a couple of 100 years if he wants them to.

Because they submitted to a law alumnae the sun and the moon and the stars in the sky submit to them. That's what Allah does. That's what he's doing for us and the sun is not because he wants this is because he wants to serve. become someone who wants to serve and then see if Allah has chosen you for a special

and if not, even if he hasn't, then you're still you haven't been a loser because you're still doing your best and Allah does not reward you know waste the reward of those who excel Well no, no, no, do not sit in La Jolla. Hi, Valentina Amador, can you hold on to your eemaan hold on to your taqwa and the agenda is coming anyway. No, nothing we do is going to go to waste. Water Quality Welcome to Quran Hakeem. When Finally we are coming. If you want to kill someone, you can go to la hora cattle