Omar Suleiman – Qur’an 30 for 30 Season 2 – Juz’ 25 with Sarah Sultan
AI: Summary ©
The speakers discuss the challenges of avoiding jealousy and the importance of learning to sit with discomfort. They emphasize the need to acknowledge one's values and find a way to settle for them. The speakers also provide practical tips for dealing with discomfort and encourage people to bring their emotions to the fore. They stress the importance of trusting one's values and finding ways to bring them to their hearts.
AI: Summary ©
Cats everyone welcome back to on 3430 100 loss lotto Some are so low it will suck me here will Manuela handed it over I mean Shahab doll and I have been having some issues I've been I was I told him I really wanted what he's wearing. I know he sports it better than I ever would but the man Masha Allah, I want I want one, you know, like I'm just saying I want one. So But anyway, we were we were having an argument so we decided to bring a counselor
to help us out.
We're almost at the homestretch of Ramadan is 25th We're almost there and we just want to make sure we don't we don't get into it prior to eat.
So welcome to the Welcome to the show sister SATA have the law on a serious note sister SATA is no stranger at home the law to anyone that follows Europeans work. In fact, in the comment section, we had several episodes where what are you bringing SR status on so it's at a point now where there's protests if you don't show up hamdulillah is one of the authors of the trauma collection and so many other good works and having to learn as a regular on so much of our programs with very beneficial insights. So welcome back sister Sana to second website and I've been so enjoying following color on 3430 this this and I'm well done. I'm done. It's a It's wonderful to be here at *
Monica Lewinsky so we had a correction session that we're going to do right now I'm going to correct myself and check out the other one and he said he wanted to correct himself on a serious note from a previous episode but I'm gonna start
and it fits perfectly from the meeting Mohammed slice I'm serious. So just so everyone knows what I'm planning to do this year and shows that after the series is over, after the week after inshallah, probably I'll do a you know, q&a, clarifications, certain things, you know, in the episode that maybe need a little bit more elaboration. So I'll do like maybe one session insha Allah, but one of them that's going to come up.
Sr. sada Egyptian background, what do you call milk and Adobe? Levin, Levin, only half Egyptian, but love
half a gyptian side of us as 11, which is one of the times that foots hot actually lines up with mostly ledger. So like the first time it actually lines up with the Egyptian dialect here. So for those of you that are not familiar with the Xiaomi dialect, the Palestinians in the Sham call milk Habib, and Levin is yogurt. So I keep on messing up and I hear it myself when I'm listening to an episode I'm calling Leben. yogurt drink.
So if you're hearing me say yogurt drink, it's not literally that container of lemon, lemon is milk, and I messed up and I will do a clarification session so I had to get that off my chest. The muscles are right. Laverne is milk. It's not yogurt drink. That's a Xiaomi intervention innovation, though, from the drinks of the profit slice alum. So I asked one of my teachers said like what do I do? He said, Well, the profit slice and I'm you know, they used to do a milk based drinks so it was Leben per se but but sometimes it often truly was like 11 ish, a milk drink type yogurt drink type, but anyway, that's an excuse. I'll have to correct it and shall So from now on, if I mess up and I say
11 as yogurt drink, you can correct me inshallah, Tada. It is milk and the muscles are right. And I admit my, my fault in that regard.
So all the Egyptians should feel vindicated now about their dialect. We do.
On a serious note, you had you'd said right before we got started that you wanted to talk about something just in a previous episode, you just wanted to make a slight correction hamdulillah zacco here. It was a speaking about profit units on a Salaam I think it was a session that we had with sister Aisha prime Mila preserver, I translated a portion of a verse and the translation was incorrect because it could imply something that is not befitting when it comes to the understanding of the prophets. When I was talking about the Prophet Yunus and the chapter so fat, I use another verse as well to speak about the Prophet Yunus when he was leaving his people and I use the verse in
the chapter of India, where last month I said,
with a noona is that the Mojave been Mojave been for one and Len naka de la la he can add I think automatic La La Elia in a unit she said last month, Allah said and the pretty the Companion of the the fish when he left off angrily, but then I translated I said and he thought that Allah would not overpower him. Right That's an incorrect translation. Incorrect. A Len naka de Yanni nobody Allah He Oh knocklyon e right? Because other as a mama she has been translated, you know, by little coordinating. I saw the examples. It has a number a number of meanings, but none of them could really be in this particular context overpower because it's not befitting for a prophet to think
that God would not overpower him. Rather, it was when he left angrily. He thought that he did. He fulfilled his mission. Right. He didn't think that anything would
What happened to him in regards to not fulfilling the mission but it was never that Allah subhana wa he thought that last month Allah would not overpower him pastor would come that would never be coming of a prophet. And that's not one last point Allah would predestined, so just wanted to correct that translation. When it comes to know that Allah He, it's rather didn't think that there would not be any decree upon him. Right, he thought that he fulfilled his mission.
And I'm not gonna say who but but one of the Messiah texted you, and then you said, I really want to set the law, I think there's something on a light note, which is that every time someone comes on put on 30 for 30, we noticed that even within our own European community and have the love of the scholars and teachers have been following some last plans that reward all of them, that are watching and that are keeping us on our on our toes and shallots out to make sure we are
you know, delivering to the best of our abilities like lukashenka Bella for wanting to to share that inshallah for the record. Oh, wait, one more. One other mistake Nigeria just
in just for the record, that's why I think Mashallah, all of you that are in organizations, Islamic organizations or any kind of teamwork, you know, this tenacity is very, very important. You know, and those of you that may be giving comments, and giving advice, you know, some kind of like, you know, Michelle, let's read, you know, with the with the team again, and that's the word I want to capitalize on is the team. The presence is felt Mashallah when you have people that look out for each other, and they give the advice, and that's something that is very, very important as Muslims in general, but if you're working together for a common cause, don't ever hesitate to give advice to
your brothers just because you know, as long as it's in good faith and sha Allah, the right intention, it's only going to be reward for everyone inshallah. Tada, so Mashallah
Shafi Mize was good and plug the fundraiser now, so support your game last night. I don't know you
Zakah l'affaire Chicago
Bismillah we had a lengthy introduction today but let's let's go ahead and get started with the nighttime article Alfie Kohn. So we are now even Khadija is like get it over with I'm getting tired in the back over here. Hurry up and get started. So we are now in Hamlet, a lot of I mean, in just 25 min. Las panatela. Grant us a good ending to the Sorbonne alumna I mean, and just 25 is makin or and it is still part of Chelsea that goes into sort of the Shura Zohar of Doohan, Joshua. It has the same theme as we've spoken about previously, that emphasizes the afterlife and emphasizes the purpose of life. And it actually is the reason why some of the written that mentioned that there is
such a punishing tone from Allah subhanho data to the Meccans in particular at this point, is because the people in Mecca were overtaken by a famine. And they asked the Prophet slice alum because this was sort of in the middle stage of his Mecca. If he truly is a prophet, to pray to Allah, that Allah lift the famine, and so the prophets I send them after being requested of that. And he made the drought with the famine be lifted, and it was lifted on the people of Mecca, they simply increase in their tolian they increased in their rebelliousness towards a lot and in their impression of the Prophet sallallahu. It was set up so it was set down sort of to zoetrope in
particular, their intimate say, was sat down. Now in response to that, and the three soldiers that come together to Hannah Jaffa sat down in the same in the same sequence as an answer to the drought of the profit slice and I'm an answer to the drought, the profit slice I'm being answered, which was a clear sign of his prophethood and hence a very harsh revelation of much warning to the people. However, there's one theme I'm going to spend a little bit of time on inshallah tada and inshallah, I'm going to keep my part short, because we had hamdulillah. We have sister sada, and we have Sheikh Abdullah, of course, and the introduction was a little longer today, but it's actually just one
theme I want you to isolate and Charlottetown pay attention that really does fit the spirit of the Prophet, slice alum and is one of the most relevant issues of our time. And that is the theme of envy and jealousy, envy and jealousy. So let's paratype dimensions in verse 31. We'll call do Lola nosey the hardened Quran Allah rajadamnern patania Albion they said, How come this Quran was not sent to one of the two great men of the two great cities. And this is as the firstly Ron mentioned, you know how to learn as an island Well, he didn't molera mean me Mecca Oh heavy No, I'm a third coffee when I was five had this quarter and been revealed to and what he did and mahira and Chef
Homer Hussein, we talked about how he didn't know what he is or the amount of time and also had this been revealed on what he did in Molina of Mecca, or have Have you been ignored of five we would have been okay, but why him right?
And so the the envy that they had of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam being at the root of this at some point that as they were considering this message and understanding the merits of this message but fine, Why him? Why did Allah choose him how to love Chosen One of us? Maybe we would not have had this type of a resistance to the message. So you find the jealousy of Abuja with his tribe of venerable Marxism and, and and by the way it will even reveal is also from the same tribe, as Abuja help. So you have the jealousy of the tribe against bento, Hashem, right bento, Hashem can produce a profit, and then we're left behind. And then you have the individual jealousy like I
should have been the leader, I should have been the one to be a prophet. And the last times I says, Do you get to distribute the mercy of your Lord? Do you get to distribute the revelation, you don't make those types of decisions. So the arrogance that was produced by that envy, and that produced a rebelliousness and an opposition to what they knew of being the truth, and so panela they could have been people of Geneva, they could have been companions of the Prophet slicin them and competed with other companions and played and good, but instead because of their envy, what ended up happening to them, they ended up losing out on being Sahaba and they ended up in the process being complete
losers, right complete losers in this life and in the Hereafter. And there's a parallel before I get to the other CRR implication of that to the shape bonds at least it releases objection to Why are the money has Salaam over me, it believes was already elevated above the rest of the gym. So in his rank, in his rank, and in his in his area where he could have Excel the Excel to the maximum of rising above the gym to even be in the company of the angels. But somehow Allah He is envy drove him to what his pride his envy drove him to what to become an enemy of a loss upon times become the worst enemy of Allah subhanaw taala had at least done such that admiring Instagram, he would have
maintained his rank and he would have even ascended in his rank, because it would have been another sign of obedience to Allah subhanho wa Taala but we see what happened to him as a result of that. So the topic of envy comes up here and particularly their degrading of the profit slice out of them and what that led them to now the really interesting things to Pamela is the other side of this and I'm actually going to end with this and I'll just share this I and then we'll move on because I'm really excited are two more eyes and so they're really excited to hear the the the input, but the last dozen sorts of short I Sam jurors, when are best off Allah who risk earlier Eva de la hopefully when
I can university will be partnering nyesha in the Hobi Reba the hobby Ron Basia if allow her to grant ample wealth to his servants they might go about. They may go about transgressing in the land, but instead he sends down in proportion, whatever he wills of his sustenance and surely Allah subhanaw taala is well acquainted and all seen. He's well aware he's clubby and he's bossy and he's all seeing when it comes to the matters that relate to servants and otherwise. And hobbiton and urato. The Allahu anhu says this verse was revealed about us the poor Muslims, who looked at the wealth of some of the disbelievers in Medina, Betancourt Eva, being you know, one of the tribes,
they're the wealthy tribes there in Makkah, looking to some of the rich of some of the tribes like Ben and Muslim and others, but we were looking at some of those that had so much wealth and that can feel like an injustice, right? Like why does that person have so much good when they're such bad people? And why am I deprived when I am a good person when I'm believing and following the path. And somehow Allah this, this is according to hubub it'll be a lot of time and a response from the last pound to Allah not a condemnation, but Allah knows where he puts his rissalah where he puts his message and Allah knows where he puts his money and his wealth and Allah knows where he distributes
power. And Allah subhana wa tada knows what he's doing. And he's well acquainted and well aware, and it is ultimately for our own good. And so the poor believers were comforted by that and in fact, they sought out how to compete for good deeds, right when they complain to the prophets lie some about the rich Sahaba taking all of the good deeds in regards to their Salah, but at the same time, human being so sometimes, you know, that sense can overcome a person and then a loss. pantai says Finally, responding to Abuja, and this is also you know, this is now a jatiya risk 49 look in, until as ease of carrying taste this punishment you are a person who has a disease who is studying who is
mighty and who is noble. Why did that I come down to Panama one time the prophets I seldom met Abuja had in Abuja, * stops the prophets lie somebody says hey, you know, I am as easel kidding. So I look at the arrogance, you know, just stops the profits like someone says, you know who I am, I'm the most powerful person on this earth. I am the one who is mighty I am the one who is known.
And Allah Subhana, which Allah causes him to be killed at better humiliated, and he is reviled he is, he is admonished with his own words panela his own words, look, go ahead taste the punishment of the Fire. You are Aziz al Karim, aren't you? You are this person who says that you are mighty and noble. So Tapella, the tie in here of envy, right is just very powerful, the envy of those without Prophethood of the Prophet slice on them, and what that led to their destruction and a loss of 100, comforting the companions not to look to those or feel jealousy towards those who had wealth, but instead understand that the apportioning of Allah subhanaw taala was perfect. And with that,
inshallah Tada, sister saw, if you have any reflections, and then we'll move on to shift a little bit,
just second last night on for the beautiful reminder, or Selma, you know, a couple of thoughts came to mind as you were speaking about that. And the first one being, like, the understanding of who Allah subhana wa, tada is, is so essential when we're working on jealousy, because jealousy is a very normal human emotion, to struggle with that.
But knowing that unless patata is the most wise that almost has, that is the most just and so that wherever he is spreading, you know, risk in whatever form it is, you know, looking at the risk in our own lives, not just materially but also emotionally, and socially, and relationally, and all of these things. And then, you know, realizing that goodness comes from a less path data, and it often comes in forms that we don't recognize. And so we look at what we think is goodness in other people's lives and think about what's lacking and ours. And that's what amplifies jealousy. So really knowing unless we have data, and knowing, you know, the the goodness, that that, that he
provides, in the end, the that he's the most just and the most wise really, is really tremendously powerful. And then the other, you know, then the other thought that that came to mind is something that a lot of people have been bringing up lately is the the jealousy that comes with social media consumption, right. And so just one thing to keep in mind, especially with these last few days, is limiting our access to consumption that's going to yield jealous feelings within us. Because again, natural human emotion but it's such a Steeler of joy to pauma. And so just trying to be very careful about what we're taking in. And are we looking at those like the promises send them says like, look
at those below you in terms of like material, material wealth, so that you don't belittle the blessings of unless you have data and so you know, are we are we reflecting on it that way? And are we limiting our consumption of media that might be yielding jealous feelings?
Bartok along speaking, excellent. Asha, fidella.
Bismillah Salatu, salam, ala rasulillah, while he or Sufi woman won a battle.
So when mentioning that Subhan, Allah, you know, the, we're talking about, you know, of those mushy corn, that's, we're very arrogant, when you see a Buddha and the Buddha have, you know, and there's a chapter devoted towards speaking about him Tibetan, or Billa, having water, you know, that he was very ridiculing of the prophet SAW Salem in the message. That is because, you know, the people that did not watch for last month are voluntarily just believed in Him, they would look at the signs that Allah subhanaw taala has put in front of them. But the response to those signs is that which was not be fitting to them in this life and in the next life. And that's why even when speaking about
jealousy, and these emotions, they are natural that we may have them. But there is a level of responsibility that we as human beings have, when that sign that we may see ma from someone that could breed that jealousy, that natural response that we may have, what do we do with it? Do we allow it to continue on? And if it becomes a problem? Do we seek the proper means in order to alleviate or relinquish that ailment that may take place internally, whether it's psychologically or spiritually, and even those intertwine within one another? So I want to talk about a verse in the Quran. And it's in the end of the chapter 50 lessons, one of my favorite verses from Hanalei in
regards to just reminding me of this, the simplicity of the communication of Allah subhanho wa Taala, but also the how it's complex at the same time, what do I mean by that?
You know, last year, so Pamela should get the fuck me. He mentioned he talked about the IRS of a lawsuit kind of went down and it was very, very profound, because I like what he said that Allah speaks to you through his eyes and he mentioned the statement of others led him along to honor that, when Allah subhanho wa Taala speaks, you do the work in unison, but then he also speaks to you from that which is a freaky tabula store that which is in the Quran, but also with the signs and on board that what you see that what you see in front of you
A lot is speaking to you, a lot is speaking to you and telling you the the manifestation or how his names and attributes are put forth in front of you. So when you have a child, one of the names amongst many of the names is one of the names of months, many of the names is unhappy unresolved, because the provider, His provision will never be overpowered by anyone or anything else when he wants it to happen, you will confer your coin. Right when Jesus was born, we believe Jesus was born, and the woman of his mother Mary, and Allah said be in it is and Jesus was born out of the Senate. So when looking at this, all of these are signs. All of these are signs of the greatness of Allah
from different aspects of our of His Majesty and His greatness and his honor, these names and attributes, which are very, very beautiful that we should learn, and should try to understand in our lives, and then also with science for us as human beings. So lots of $100 says in the beautiful verse when he's speaking
to the Prophet sallallahu wasallam and he's telling him to tell the machete Kuhn, the people that voluntarily disbelieved and Allah subhanho wa Taala and did not acknowledge those sciences. It should be acknowledged. He says, After argument, I'm sure Jim, our agent in Canada in the law, he's the microphone to me, man about the amendment who official cocking by this is verse number 52. Last month, Allah says, say, Have you considered if the Koran is from a lot and you disbelieved in it would, who would be more astray than the one who is in the stream extreme dissension?
When you look at the signs and you realize that there is a creator, there is a maker there is a sustainable Holic, Ruskin, whatever, he has authority over everything. What's most important for the human being, is that when you see these characteristics of God or you see the actions of God of lordship, what responses that engender, what does it bring forth from you and that is the level of responsibility for the human being, when you see and realize that what is beyond my capabilities has been given to me or that sustains me from the air from the sun all of these elements of creation within the ecosystems that we see is there for you Abdullah it's there to provide for you sis to
sustain you at the same time. So that allows it kinda without it, you know, he told the process I'm going to ask this question. If you think that this is from Allah subhanaw taala if you consider that this Quran is from Allah, he just believed in it what do you think what would happen? Then Allah subhanaw taala continues on and he brings a beautiful verse of panela after those that disbelief after seeing those abou loves Abu John's right after seeing those signs from the loss of kinda without and you voluntarily disbelieved in that you have it in your heart, but you didn't make choice because of something that you wanted to obtain and maintain within your status your
reputation that was much more beneficial to aspects of the dunya This is why last week's about the doing so many times
of this worldly mesmerizing life is a little more it is deceitful it is as full of deception. Allah says after that century, he is enough FLP Wolfie unforeseen had a in an unknown Huck. I'd say it's a Bane Allahu, Allahu Allah. Allah says here, we will surely so there are signs. So Li him I add now we will show them our science in two things. Phil flt Wolfie unfussy him. And alpha FF is like the horizons or anything that some scholars mentioned, that takes place within the cosmos within our elements. The Cosmos unit alpha, as they say is you could say its horizons. But when we say anything, that the horizon captures what we can see within our within ourselves and outside of
ourselves, particularly outside of ourselves, some scholars mentioned in this case, so when looking at the Horizon, we look at the sun and we see how it, it rises, and we see how it declines. We see what takes place on the earth. And that's why some of the scholars, they say that Phil rflp, they talked about, some scholars say that it was a the conquest of the different areas around Mecca, Wolfie unboosted calm and in yourselves was the conquest of Mecca. Some scholars say it was brother. But in any case, if we want to generalize it, we say everything external, everything outside of you, is the alpha. So looking at everything that takes place, as was mentioned, the ecosystems how the
seasons change, and you have no ultimate control over it. But it's going to happen beyond your control and beyond whatever you wish and whatever you want. It's going to take place, there has to be an ultimate maker for it. There has to be Asana, there has to be a creator, there has to be a sustainer
that is Allah subhanho wa Taala. So Allah says we're going to continuously show them our science, and then feed unprosecuted in your own cells. And when we talk about yourself
Many of us may think of the anatomy and the physiology, you know, the organs in your body, your eyes, and then the What the What does that organ do? But it's much more than that. As you see, Michelle, we have a therapist with us today, your psycho psychologically, what takes place in your heart? How does that affect your mind? You know, these things that take place, from the intangible aspects of our physical self, Allah is telling you to ponder over that as well. ponder over all of these things. And that's why I love saying we're going to show them all of this over and over and over again, until the truth comes clear to them. And that's true. Some scholars say, the prophets of
Allah and it was the core of Islam, the meaning is one, it is, as they say, it effort to know what it is something that is maybe different in which we understand it. But it's all generally the same thing. Meaning that this truth of Islam, the truth of a law being one, the truth of him being the ultimate creator, and acknowledging what the Creator is brought in front of you should bring forth something in yourself. If you have that feeling, just as I did, before I became a Muslim, I had those questions, is this really the right thing to do? I see all these signs in front of me, and I know it has a deity, but my responsibility, have I fulfilled that ultimate responsibility, which was
for me to acknowledge them in my life, and acknowledge the promise, a lot of it was some. So this is the ultimate call that was being given to those polytheists at that time, but in general is for all of creation to remember the signs and to answer that communication that Allah is giving you through these signs. And as a result, in gratitude, and insurance and thankfulness of Allah subhana wa, tada to him, and to all the creation, Allah knows best.
Zakouma have beautiful reflections, sister solid,
does that allow you down for her that beautiful reflection, to have the life and cut ties so beautifully into what I'm hoping to discuss? You know, Subhanallah, the idea of being able to embrace and accept a less Pat data as the one true deity as the source of truth, as the one stable entity in our lives is at the core of, of what I'm hoping to discuss today.
Which is, you know, that sometimes we struggle to embrace and accept the truth. Sometimes there are pieces of ourselves, you know, like chifa, shikamaru, was discussing jealousy sometimes there are pieces of us that struggle, our egos our desires for temporary gratification. And so I wanted to talk about the verse in incidents and jatiya where Allah had data says, Have you seen to the prophets, I send them those who have taken their own desires as their God. And so Allah left them to stray knowingly sealed their hearing and hearts and place the cover on their site, who then can guide them after Allah? Will you all not then be mindful? Right? And so you know, this, I wanted to
focus on this first part of this, this incredible verse, you know, Fri eight m, and it the other 11?
Excuse me? How? And so, you know, this idea of Have you seen those who have taken their own desires as their God? And so when we ask ourselves, the idea of, you know, what's more important in our own lives? Is it that we prioritize almost passata or that we prioritize our wants and desires? If we were to ask any of ourselves this, you know, we would, we would say that we prioritize Allah that Allah Subhana Allah is first and foremost. But a lot of times our actions can really struggle to catch up with that value with that prioritization. And so I know that, you know, during the Ramadan, we all hope for this sense of upliftment, right, this spiritual emotional upliftment as we strive to
increase our worship during this month, but what about when that doesn't happen? Right? What happens when it's really hard? What happens when we just don't feel it? When worship feels like a mountain that has to be climbed rather than a path that's filled with Serenity? Most of our wants are typically neutral, they're not positive or negative, right? But what happens when our desires don't align with what's pleasing to us, Pat data. And this is a struggle that every single one of us faces, and we face it very often, and that's okay. Right? We're not held accountable and handler for our feelings, right? We're held accountable for our actions. And that's why the reward for not
choosing to take our wants as God's for us is so incredible, right? in sort of the measure of Allah, Allah tells us that as for those who were in awe of standing before their Lord and restrain themselves from evil desires, paradise will certainly be their home. Right.
And so this idea of being able to restrain ourselves from our evil desires
of being able to, to control our actions despite these our desires, which means that we naturally feel the want, the feeling is fine. But what we do with it will determine things right. And so feeling something having that desire is not the same as acting upon it. And so that that feeling of something wanting something and not acting upon it can actually be a path toward Jenna for us. Because when we do that, we are choosing Allah subhanaw taala standard over our own. We're proclaiming that almost pantalla is our our rub right there he is our Lord, that he is an holonet that he is our Creator, but he has allowed him he's the one who knows everything and we don't, that
he is unhappy, the one who guides us and leads us to the right path that he is unhappy, right, the one who is love truth, the one whose essence is wisdom, justice and rightness. Right and so with this mindset, we can acknowledge that sometimes when we want something, right sometimes even when that thing feels right, that our emotions are not facts, right and this is why the Prophet Muhammad Salah Musa always repeat this dot yamo, calm alcocer because we already know right? Were asking Allah to have that old Turner of hearts, keep my heart firm on your on your religion on your faith, right. And so our input our emotions, they play an important role in our lives, it was important to
pay attention to them write their signals, but they are not decision makers. Emotions are transient, they change constantly. But what is not transient?
Excuse me. But what is not transient? What is always permanent, what is always stable, is what Ls pathauto has told us is the rope of Ls patata. It's his promise, His truth, and the command that He has given us. Right? So so how do we do this? How do we, when we are struggling? How do we push through when our feelings are not aligned with what we know to be pleasing to Allah data when our desires are not aligned with that. And so there are three factors that I think are really important for us to consider. The first is reminding ourselves of our purpose and our values. The second is knowing for certain having that certainty, that the long term benefit of doing this of worshiping
Allah of choosing sometimes what's the harder path, knowing that the long term benefit that comes with it is the best for us, right? Because it's much easier to choose what's best for us when we're fully certain that goodness is coming. And then the third is learning to sit with discomfort. And this is such an important skill and one that we don't often hone, right, as human beings, we naturally try to escape discomfort, right. But most things that are worthwhile are not easy, right? Whether it's choosing a healthy meal over one that looks more appealing, choosing to work out when you're not feeling it. Waking up for fidget when you're exhausted, apologizing to someone, you've
wronged learning a new skill, I mean, the list goes on and on and on, of all of these things that are really worthwhile in our lives, but take effort, and that are a lot of times difficult. And a lot of times something that we don't necessarily feel inclined to do. Right? Which is why sometimes our feelings are you know, that's not our decision maker, right? Until for our purpose and value, you know, asking ourselves, are you living your purpose? Are you living your values, right, because we live in a world that constantly presses us to make decisions that are not our own, right. And authenticity is like this collection of choices that we have to make every single day to live our
values and our purpose. And when we don't do that, what happens is something called cognitive dissonance, which is when your values don't align with your actions, you feel a sense of discomfort, you feel anxiety, you feel sadness, you feel that that pit in your stomach, right. And so when you're confronted with situations that contradict your beliefs, and your ideals, then what we do as human beings is we try to find a way to resolve the contradiction, to get away from that sense of discomfort. And so when our wants, or our actions or desires contradict our faith, then how do we deal with that? We either change the behavior, or we change the values, right? And so, a lot of
times, the easier path is to you know, just change your values, right? Just Just let go of the things that we know to be important. Because in that moment, that instant gratification of alleviating that negative feeling that discomfort feels better. But if we choose to prioritize our values, right, and that comes with the second step of like, knowing that goodness is coming, right, we seek the sense of upliftment in our worship, like I was saying, you know, and it's something that we all want to attain, but it's really important to realize that that is not the ultimate goal. Our ultimate goal is the
Is the pleasure of Allah Patta the worship of Allah had data, hoping to see the to see the face of Allah had that and I asked you that everybody you know here and listening has that opportunity Aloma me and right. But the ultimate goal is submission to Allah, even when it's hard, right? Especially when it's hard. And so being able to truly trust that almost a panel data is the one who knows what's best for us that our perception of reality is limited. But unless patita sees every single facet, right, that's societal standards of happiness and living your best life, and then things like that, that those things are constantly changing. But that the true freedom, true feeling of that
void and yearning that we all have within us, is on holding on to the rope of Allah, that that is constantly stable, even when we don't feel it in the moment. And even when our perception of what's best for us, differs from what we know truly to be what's best for us in the eyes of almost pack data, right? Because we've all probably made those decisions sometimes that we've regretted right? They felt right in the moment, right. But in the end, we regretted them. But worshipping Allah data is something that will never lead to a sense of regret. And because it's dictated by the one who knows everything, right, we all have these things that we want. But unless path data shows us what
we need.
And so the final point that I that I wanted to talk about with regards to this idea about being able to manage our desires, rather than being from amongst those who take their desires as their god right, is about discomfort, and sitting with the fact that okay, I want this, I want to do this, this instant gratification is so difficult to resist, how do I resist it? Right. And I once heard a story shared by a rabbi about lobsters, and how lobsters are very soft animals, but they live inside a rigid shell. And as they grow, the shell remains the same. And so they become very uncomfortable, they find the shell very confining. And so they cast off their shell, and they produce a new one.
And so, you know, the what happens to this lobster is its signal for growth was discomfort. And that's something that's really important for us to realize is a lot of times, moments of discomfort, and challenges are also times of growth. And there are opportunities for us to growth, just to grow. discomfort isn't necessarily negative, it can actually be something positive, depending on how we push forward and whether we are pushing forward toward our true purpose. And so I want to leave you with two final tips, practical tips
about how to help us sit with this discomfort. And the first one is to realize that distress, discomfort, pain, it's, it's all temporary, right? But the joy of choosing the Hereafter is everlasting. Right. And so if we think about the example of hunger, which is very appropriate for, for Ramadan, you know, it's a very powerful example, because, you know, you can get very hungry, and you've all probably experienced this, this, anybody who is able to fast that if you can't get to food for a while, you know, the hunger doesn't continue to grow and grow and grow and grow. At some point through the day, like it gets really hard, and then all of a sudden, it kind of plateaus,
right? And then it might even start to go down. discomfort is the same, right tolerating, and when you're working towards something worthwhile when you're doing something hard, it's important to realize that discomfort doesn't last forever. This pain, emotional pain, physical pain, any type of pain, it doesn't last forever, right? And so we remind ourselves that, you know, the struggle is temporary, but the reward is eternal.
And then there's a powerful exercise that I want it to end with, which is something used in therapy, for tolerating, tolerating discomfort,
which is using imagery. So I want you to think of something that you might be struggling with, that you know, would really be the best for you to begin working on that it might be hard, it might be uncomfortable, right? It might be if you're trying to pray your prayers this month. If you're trying to wear hijab, if you're trying to be patient with someone in your life or trying to give up a negative habit. Whatever way you're striving to worship Allah subhanaw taala, but you're really struggling with it. Just put that in your mind. And then using imagery, right, whenever it's time to do that thing to pray to walk out of your house in hijab, do not yell when you're frustrated, etc,
right?
walk yourself through imagining something really profound, right? And I'm going to go through it just in a second, right?
Because it triggers a different response in your mind, your brain and your and your body. Right. And you can choose any visualization you'd like. But I'm choosing one based on a saying by Mr. Bessel, the law article, where he said that very good deeds bring brightness upon the face, a light in the heart and expansive provision, strengthen the body and love in the hearts of the creation. And so, whenever you're picturing yourself, to win this act of worship, that you're really battling within yourself, because that's really, really hard, right? When you notice yourself battling these wants, and you are reminding yourself that you are choosing unless path data as your God and not your
desires, picture yourself engaging in this act of worship that you're striving toward. And while you're picturing yourself engaging in this act of worship, imagine the light radiating from your face. Imagine your heart being showered with light. Imagine the strength entering your body, picture the angel on your right shoulder actively writing down every single deed and knowing that this deed is being multiplied tremendously as you engage in this, and as you strive toward this, right, and see how this shifts your ability to work toward this goal, inshallah. And I asked all those pancetta to make us from amongst those who are able to live our values through our words and actions, who are
guided toward a path that brings us closer to Him and to align what's pleasing to us with what's pleasing to Him, chamalla me
a very powerful exercise. Khadija loves it, she's like, this is great.
As a two year old, she's like, I can get this I can get on board with this. But the verse is verse 23, from certain shafia what you just covered, and I think somehow a lot, you know, it actually fits that we were talking about we started off talking about people who were seeing the divine through their desires and not the opposite, right, like so they wanted the divine to acquiesce to their desire. So I will appreciate the religion as long as it gives me what I want. And then here you're seeing Subhanallah like Allah calling it out for what it is, I'm going to tell her that So wait, you want the religion to follow your desires, so then your God is your desires? It's not It's not the
idol. It's what the idol gives you access to. It's not what what else you're worshiping besides Allah. It is what that gives you access to have your desires to dictate your own terms on God and how you want to live in that regard, as a panelist with a Jaffa is people being brought to their knees literally, on the day of judgment,
enforced submission, right, like all that they oppressed and rebelled in person, you know, like, okay, now you're brought to your knees.
And the believer is brought to their knees in submission in this life instead. And in that verse is, you know, you're talking about imagery. What is the law say right after it Monica De La Hoya, Allah mentions the ceiling of the hearts, the ceiling of the eyes, the ceiling of the ears, and just go about your your straight ways, right. But a lot of times I lets them in those three ways and then the opposite of that what you were talking about the empowerment of submission, but a person feels the expanse in submission, not suffocating in submission, but liberated and expanded in submission to Allah subhanaw taala So does that qualify for those beautiful reflections
does that come up say it on
online but a kick up and it's all the time that we're at time so I'm going to go ahead and close it off for the for everyone else but SR sada is going to help me and should have delegate over our our beef so that we can we can end on with on a strong with each other insha Allah but we appreciate you sister Sana and Shaykh Abdullah as always, and the ASL interpreter as always knows pantai bless you and bless all the volunteers and those behind the scenes and bless all the friends reminded everyone please tune in inshallah Tata to the nightly drop now the chicks with him on honey is doing so we have like the night of the reflection at 1pm
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the mission of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was to impart knowledge, to speak truth and dispel falsehood, to bring hope in times of darkness, to build a confident people to bring us together with compassion, and its strength. And most of all, to instill everlasting faith in every aspect of our lives, so that we can have stronger conviction, fuller hearts and a well defined purpose. This is what motivates us every day to inspire a world
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