What Do You Consider Normal?

My dear brothers and sisters, first of all, I want to say thank you for welcoming me in your Masjid. I have been here before, but this is the first time I'm delivering a dumar clip. But it's very nice to be here and enough, I want to share a little bit of what I've been doing this past month, the previous month, I was actually in Lebanon, I had the opportunity to go visit some of the Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon to provide some winter aid. So these refugee camps just to give you a little bit of background, they've been there for a very long time. And I spoke to some of the refugees that have been there for over 10 years. And subhanAllah, the situation that I saw, the

Libya conditions that I saw in the refugee camps were horrible Subhanallah, I don't really have the words to describe it. By our standards, it would be unlivable conditions. And it was really hard to understand how people are surviving in those conditions. A lot of times when we think about refugees, in a refugee camp, we think of a temporary situation. But these are people, our brothers and sisters that have been there for a very long time. And, and this is, you know, this is an indefinite stay for them. And so there are many things that I that I saw, there are many, many things that I thought about many things that stood out to me. But one particular matter that stood

out to me that I want to share with you today is actually the the resilience of the human spirits, and the resilience of our brothers and sisters in Islam. Now, a lot of us, I would imagine that were put through a difficulty, sometimes it feels like we will not be able to make it through, we will not be able to persevere, we won't see the end of it. And the reality is that the human spirit loves power data has granted human spirit, an incredible amount of resilience, we have this innate ability to adapt, even in very, very difficult situations. So with whatever I saw all the pain and suffering that I saw, I paid special attention to the kids. And when I saw with the kids were kids that were

smiling, kids that were laughing and joking and playing. And I realized that this is the human spirit that human beings we part of our nature is that we adapt even to very difficult situations. And I know most of us if not all of us have experienced this as well. I'll give a example that perhaps some it's something you can relate to every year when Ramadan is approaching. Some of us we think to ourselves, this year is going to be particularly hard like I don't know if I can do it this year. I know this year, it's going to be hard now is going along. It's closing in the homos not too far away right now. We start to think you know, 30 days, how am I going to do it? I have worked this

year I school this year, I have a lot of things going on my kids, whatever it may be. And we have a lot of apprehension, maybe some anxiety going into the month of Ramadan. But every year, what do we experience? We experience that as Ramadan comes in, we adapt. And yes, the first day may be difficult. The first week may be difficult, you know, we're dealing with some of us are dealing with those caffeine headaches, right? It's switching our eating schedule. But as a few days go by, we adapt. And not only do we adapt, and not only do we put up with it, we persevere. We begin to enjoy it, we begin to understand that our soul actually needed the month of Ramadan. And so that is an

example that we can all most of us can relate to, of how the human spirit adapts. And this is why our scholars say when Allah was peddling to Allah says, Now you can even whoa Nuff said in the WUSA, Allah doesn't burden a soul with more than they can handle. One of the meanings of this is the legislation of the law, the laws and the rules of the lungs kind of a dialogue that sometimes we may look at them. And we may think that they are too difficult that I don't know if I can do it. You know what I said that the following matters are obligated upon me. Can I do it? The following thing I'm not allowed to do they're how they're impermissible. The big H word right? How long? We think to

ourselves, like you know, living 2021 2022 notes Allah living in 2022 in this modern world, like how can I deal with these issues? Maybe back in the day people were able to do these things wherever they may be, that are deemed requires a bus but today, and 2022 How can I do it? And so Allah who's kind of data reminds us that a lot does not burden a soul with more than they can handle meeting one of the meanings is this is the ruling that the laws of the data that they are something that if it was legislated it

that the human spirit can handle it not only can the humans

handle it, but we need it. And as I said, a good example of that is the month of Ramadan. So this is a change in our perspective, when we look at the laws of Allah who's kind of a Tada look at our faith, because we can look at it as a burden. And we can look at it as a difficulty. And that's not to say that matters, certain issues in our DNA are not difficult, of course, we find certain things to be difficult. Getting up for Vegeta in the morning can be difficult. As I said, fasting, the month of Ramadan can be difficult, but we find that it is through that difficulty at times that we attained spirituality. And then if it was taken away, if it was taken out of our lives, which feel

that something is missing.

That's the good, that's the good of adapting

the ugly side of that, for lack of a better term that I can think of right now. And the ugly side of that is that human beings can also adapt to that. Man, if we are surrounded by enough bad if we're surrounded with enough things that are not

normal in Islam, if they become normalized around us, we begin to think that they are normal as well.

And we see an example of this in the tsunami, I send them an example of wealth, famous Hadith of the Prophet send them where he said that if the child of Adam was given the valley full of gold.

Now apart from that, it does not heavy but commentary on the body, the human being the son of Adam, the other one adapt to it. And so then return the idea, my son says that they would ask for a second value of gold.

And then even two valuable valleys full of gold that we would adopt.

And then the percent of said that they would ask for a third one. And so what is happening in this ID, what the prophets I send them is telling us is that if we're not careful, we can be consumed by what surrounds us. And I have visited certain cities in the world. I mean, I've traveled quite a bit. Now. I was I was raised in Marin was born here, but I was raised in Maryland, I've been to some very beautiful city cities like LA, where there's lots of glitz and glamour. I've been in Dubai, right, lots of glitz and glamour. And I'll be real with you. It's kind of nice being there. Anything so fancy and nice. And there's a lot of nice things there. But one of the things that I experienced

being there was how when you first get to a place like that, let's take, you know, the United Arab Emirates, Dubai, for example. You see nice cars and things like this, or whatever. And it's cool to see that, you know, in the beginning, but when you stay in that environment for a while, what happens to us that we use, it becomes normalized. And we're no longer impressed by that. And sometimes what can happen in our lives is that the same thing we are we may make your offer something for a very long time in our lives, and a lot granted to us.

And it becomes normalized that we're like, what's the next biggest thing? What else can I get? Right? I know people in my generation growing up, they had a dream car. I had this car like like the greatest. I used to dream and dream of an entry here. I mean, if I had that car, that's it. That's an ultimate car. But I was you know, you get older you browse luggage, the opportunity to get that card, it doesn't stop there. We adapt, we want more, right that has become normalized for us. Likewise, sins since system sins, sins can become normalized for us, things that our soul is actually supposed to recognize. And we know that actually, Allah has given us this innate ability to

recognize for the most part, good as good and bad as bad. The prophets on why send them he said good new mo Lutheran University PA, every new word child is born upon their nature, there was this nature, the nature is goodness, and we as Muslims, we believe the natural state of human beings is good. You don't believe that people are by nature evil we believe that people are by nature, good. And it is their influences on the outside. That may take them in a different direction.

But the nature of human being is good. And so we recognize that human soul can recognize goodness as goodness and even falsehood as salsa. And this is why when the prophets of why signum was asked to mention or or was asked what Islam was, what sin was the prophets of Allah to send them he said my hand up is something that he says that which disturbs you that's what bothers you like in your heart in your chest know that this is wrong.

Well, what is this talking about? This is talking about a

That's the spirit the soul, that is upon goodness. And so it's very dangerous when our hearts get corrupted. Because the heart in the end of the day is where everything stems from the Prophet, some of love, it was ended, he said other individuals that they want to have either solar head, solar hell doesn't kill you. He says, certainly in the body, there's a piece of meat piece of flesh

that the body would be okay with as well. But he the person that first said that just couldn't do. He said, however, if it is ruined, if it is corrupted, and the rest of the body corrupted as well, I know what he had. Certainly this is the heart.

And the point here is take care of your heart.

Pay attention to what is influencing your heart, pay attention to what is becoming normalized in your heart, because the heart is where everything stems from. And this is why when we live in a society where certain matters become normalized, it is dangerous for our own faith, it is dangerous for our spirituality, because when the heart can no longer distinguish good from God, it becomes problematic, it becomes dangerous for us, because part of it is really feeling something when we do something wrong. And this doesn't mean by the way my brother does, it doesn't mean that we're all supposed to be perfect when none of us commit sins, and so on and so forth. That's not the point

here. We all commit sins. We are we are not perfect. In our media. Still love is kind of like data. But

do we make an effort to recognize good as good and bad, as bad? You know, the Prophet said that he said, one of the statements of the previous prophets that came to us is, is either love the stay first now merchants, if you feel no is headed says, if you feel no shame

that us like, what's that mean? It means that if the soul feels no shame, in the disobedience of Allah who's kind of a data, then what is going to stop this soul from doing something which is bad.

If we don't feel something on the inside, it doesn't matter what people say to us. It doesn't matter, somebody comes and says, Well,

it doesn't matter. What matters? Is our soul, our heart? And does it feel this connection to Allah? Does it feel that this is right, this is wrong.

And that is why there's a famous Hadith. Some scholars call it the hadith of America, when I look up the hadith of enjoying the good, encouraging the good, and discouraging the bad, were the prophets of Allah. And he was saying them, he said, men, men, kumara confederated, who did it. He said, Whoever amongst you, meeting us sees anything bad, they should change it with their with their hands, meaning they should physically put a stop to it.

But then it goes on to say

that if you're not able to

really signings, then you should change it with your tongue, maybe we should see something bad happening, which is something wrong happening. If we have the ability to stop it, physically, we should stop it. But as life tells us, and as we know, we don't always have the ability to physically stop something that was said, if you're not able to, then at least speak out against, say, You know what, this is wrong. This is not right.

Within the skull there, and if you're not able to do that, even you let's be real here, sometimes, especially living as a minority in a society, we don't always have the ability to stop it physically, we don't even have the ability sometimes to speak out against the profits of Lysenko and setvalue lightyear who they can be, they should change it with their heart.

Now, what is the meaning of that? How do you change something with your heart? How do you stop something with your heart? What that means is my brothers and sisters is that in your heart in our hearts, if we can do nothing else in our hearts, we should recognize that this is wrong.

This is bad.

And then I sort of said that he got a nun that is the weakest state of faith, meaning what that is the bare minimum that we have to do that is a requirement and this is a command from percent of that is a requirement for us. We're not required to physically stop evil if we're not able to. We're not we're not even required to speak out against it. We're not able to for whatever reason where you don't have the ability to say you know what, this is wrong and so on and so forth.

But what we are all required to do, myself included, is to recognize in our hearts that this is.

And that is the least of our feet. It's my brothers and sisters, one of the responsibilities we have

living in a society where the majority of society doesn't live exactly.

Right. And one of the beautiful aspects of American society is that we do have are supposed to have freedom of religion, right freedom of your way of life, you can live your life. And look, as long as you're not forcing someone to live the way you're living or forcing someone to believe what you believe, as long as your beliefs are not harming someone else. Right, you're free to believe wherever you want. It's our we live in a society today, people believe that the earth is flat, and you know, lots of lots of things out there. But you know what, that's fine, you believe whatever you want to believe that's fine. As long as you're not making me believe it. As long as you're not

harmony with your beliefs, that's fine.

But in this society, as I said, especially being a minority, this is something that we need to be mindful of, for ourselves, first and foremost, and for our kids as well. Because our kids, first teacher, and birth teacher of children or their parents, and if a parent cannot recognize good, as good and bad is bad, then what morals are we going to teach our children? And once again, I want to reiterate, this doesn't mean that we have to always do what is right, because sometimes we're not able to. But there is a difference between saying, I can't do this, because of whatever reason, let me give you let me give you a very potent, very strong example that maybe a little bit stronger my

first visit to your budget, but I'm gonna say it anyway.

Getting up for failure. Right? Someone says, You know what, I can't get a provision.

Why? Well, you know what, I, it's too hard for me, or I got stuff going on, whatever, whatever reason, like, I can't get that person a

person, because you don't get a perspective, you should not get a perspective. There's a difference between both people, the first person even though they're not doing it themselves, they recognize that it is an obligation upon us as believers to wake up in the morning, even though they themselves are falling short. Right. And as you said, that's fine, because we're human beings, not that it's okay to miss budget. But we all as I said, we all have our shortcomings.

But do we recognize that this is an obligation from Allah versus the person who says, You know what?

To show me the Quran, or we have to get it for free. And they begin to rationalize their disobedience to make excuses. They try to change right? From wrong. There's a difference between the two. And so the very least that is an obligation upon us is to recognize good as good and bad as bad how they had a lot. Was the flu in

hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen wa salatu salam ala Shepard,

our Savior, what have you.

But you may.

Now, how do we do that? Right. So we spoke about normalization, we spoke about how when things become normal in society, they can have an effect on us, they can have an effect even upon our hearts. And we said that is the most dangerous aspect is when our hearts can no longer tell, good as good and bad as bad. So what do we do? Well, I want to congratulate you give you glad tidings because one of the things we can do to counter this is what you are doing right now. And that is congregating with your brothers and sisters. The Masjid my brothers and sisters is actually an essential part of our faith. There are certain acts of worship that are tied to the mission. And

that is why the mission is such an important Institute in our faith, because it allows us to congregate to be with one another to support one another. Because when we are by ourselves, it can be hard sometimes, especially when the majority of society is going one way. And we're saying you know what? No, that's not okay. When you're by yourselves, it can be hard. And so we need each other support. And this is why the prophets attend to me actually urged us to stick with one another. He said I they call me JAMA, he said, I urge you to stick to the congregation, what Yaker will work on and I warn you of being by yourself.

And then percent describe the influence of the ship on the initial bottom without affecting the ship on my wife for a second this ship is with a person who is by themselves. Well who I mean it may have if and when there are two people together, he's a little bit further waving his influence is less because there's not two of you. You can encourage one another to do good. You can encourage one another without judgment. Right? Without using bad and harsh language and that's in show

to perhaps a clip, though, for another time, in lesson for another time, and how we encourage one another to do what is right, because that is actually a big issue as well. And unfortunately, that's one of the tricks of the ship is where the shipper will say, You know what, go ahead, encourage the good, encourage one another to do good. But the method through which we'll do it is bad. And the lesson fails. Right? That's, as I said, perhaps a topic for another time. But the point is, when we are with one another, we can encourage one another to do good. You can be there as support for one another. And also, we have to ask ourselves, who we surround ourselves, who has an influence on my

heart? This is a question that we should all be asking ourselves. And unfortunately, or fortunately, I don't know, really, in this day and age, what that was down to a lot of people, for the most part is social media. A lot of our lives are spent on social media. And we surround ourselves on social media with certain people, certain ideas, certain ideologies, and so on and so forth. And that studies are showing this now has an incredible impact on us on an emotional and psychological interest as believers on a spiritual level, definitely. And so one of the things that I recommend for myself and for all of you two days, is I go home today, and take a look at your social media and

ask yourself, What am I exposed to online? Am I exposed to ideas

that are helping my faith that are strengthening my faith that are bringing me closer to a lot of data that are good for my spirituality? Or am I exposing myself by putting myself in a position where a lot of these ideas are actually taking me away from our data, you know, as parents, and I would assume we do have quite a few parents in the room and I parent myself, as a parent, we often talk to our kids about peer pressure. Or we tell our kids, don't let someone pressure you into doing something you don't want to do that, you know, we told you is wrong.

Unfortunately, sometimes we as parents, as adults, don't realize that we can be just as susceptible, if not more, in certain cases, just as susceptible to peer pressure as children. Because a lot of times as parents, we don't we not put that guard up. Because we're like, I got it. I'm a grown up. I've lived for 40 years of my life, and I know what's what. So you know what I can handle all this, but the heart my brothers and sisters, I love the heart changes, the heart can flip. This is why you die that the prophets otherwise and it would make very often is your unlimited widow. It would say oh Turner Oh changer of the hearts, keep my heart firm upon your deem a part of your way of life.

And this is why my brothers and sisters and I'll end with this in every single setup and every single prayer in every aka we say it Dino sit off and

guide us to the straight path. Not because we're misguided or for any reason like that. It's because it is about the longevity of our faith. It's not just about believing one time, or being upon that which is good, one time. Because the heart is as we said, susceptible, the heart can be influenced. And so when we pray our prayers, we really should be thinking about that. It's not just something we say in our salon. And you know, really part of the challenge of our faith today. One of the big challenges is that our faith doesn't become just ritualistic. It's just rituals that we're walking through every day. Right? We just got pray and you know, recite these verses and move on. And it's

just because that can be a big downfall. And I've seen the effects of that on on the younger generation that you know, if it's just rituals and what makes our faith different than any other faith. We just have a bunch of ritual and all the other things that have rituals to win and one of the meanings of those rituals. So hopefully one thing that we can take away for today is if you didn't sit out in the stuffing, and we ask Allah who's kind of like to guide our hearts and keep our hearts firm last month was kind of like to Allah Allah who didn't have a hot cold looking at diva Well, I don't even think about the snapper less loves to show us throughs as true and allow us and

give us the ability to follow it. We ask lots of data to allow us to see false as awesome also and give us the ability to stay away from it.