Sikander Hashmi – A Life of Barakah KMA Friday Message
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Respected elders,
dear brothers and sisters, my young friends,
There is no question that
life is becoming more expensive.
Inflation is taking its toll.
Costs have gone up.
Just yesterday, there was a report released regarding,
rental prices,
rent for homes.
And the the average in Ottawa for a
2 bedroom home is now $25100
per month.
So
we've noticed food prices
at the pumps
and all across the board.
Now when things get tight, most people do
either one of 2 things or they do
2 things.
They
cut costs,
so look for ways to save,
and or they look to expand their income.
Right? So
spending less,
try to ensure that, you know, only they're
only spending what is necessary
or as much as they need to. Or
perhaps they try to switch jobs, find, you
know, something that pays more, get a promotion,
or perhaps a side hustle.
So these are normally the ways that people
try to weather such financial storms,
economic tough economic times,
and get through.
But there is another way, my brothers and
sisters.
There's a third way,
and they're not mutually exclusive.
Right? So a person could be doing all
3 at once
or could be doing only the 3rd
or others.
But this
special way, which is exclusive for believers,
is the way of Baraka.
And Baraka refers
to
increase
and growth,
also has a meaning of happiness attached to
it as well. And we can say that
barakah is essentially the attachment
of divine goodness to a thing. What is
barakah?
The attachment
of divine goodness with a thing.
So if it occurs
if Barakah occurs in something little,
it increases it.
And if it occurs in something
which is already
a lot in quantity or is is a
large quantity,
its benefit increases.
Right? So there is an increase
that is,
unseen,
an increase that can be,
observed, but the means
of making
it more or more beneficial
are, are not seen.
So it cannot really be sensed by people,
cannot
be outwardly qualified,
nor is it limited by anything.
Rather, there's an unexplainable
increase
and benefit
from Allah
So having barakah now barakah can apply to
every aspect of our lives. It could be
in our wealth, could be in our health,
our time,
and so on and so forth.
But having barakah in one's wealth does not
mean that the dollar amount necessarily increases. Although
Allah
can do that as well.
In time, it doesn't mean necessarily that, of
course, that the amount of hours and, you
know, the amount of hours are not gonna
change in a day.
But there's an increase
in the benefit that is derived from a
particular amount of wealth or time or effort
so that it reaches further and it lasts
longer.
Now barakah in anything, my brothers and sisters,
especially wealth, is part of
one's
destined sustenance from Allah
The risk that Allah
has written for a person.
And it can increase and decrease depending on
the good and the bad actions that one
does.
If a person is pleasing Allah
and Allah
blesses them with barakah in their wealth,
then
that same amount of wealth can go a
long way for them. On the other hand,
if they're doing something which is displeasing Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala,
then the same amount of wealth can become
very little for them. Right? It's the same
amount, but in terms of benefit that they
get, it becomes very constrained. They're not able
to get much done with it. You know,
there's unexpected expenses that start coming up. You
know, there's all these problems that start coming
up, and the barakah is drained. It's the
same amount of money. One person is living
comfortably, but on the other hand, the same
another person with the same amount
is living with a lot of difficulty
because their money is being drained
in different places. So the question is, how
can we attract
the blessings of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and
have barakah in our
lives? Right. That is the question.
So there's a few,
a a few,
methods, a few means you can say.
And at the end of the day though,
we have to remember that
blessings and come from Allah
alone. Right? So there's no set formula that
a person can follow and say, okay. I've
done x, y, and zed, and now I'm
gonna have in my wealth. I'm gonna have
in my tongue. Right? You can't do that.
Right? You follow the prescription, you do the
methods, and
Allah
wills, he will decide how much
and when.
How much of to grant and when to
grant it to you. So first and foremost,
my brothers and sisters, is piety and firm
belief in Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala because Allah
Subhanahu wa ta'ala tells us in the Quran.
Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala says if the people
of the towns
had believed
and feared Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, we would
have indeed
opened out to them all kinds of blessings,
all kinds of barakat
from the heavens
and the earth. And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
also tells us
that and for those who fear Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala who have the taqwa of Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala ever
prepares
a way out for them.
And
Allah
provides for them or for that person from
sources that he could have never ever imagined.
From sources that he could never imagined. Never
thought you could get that position. You never
thought that you would be doing a business
in a certain,
you know, in a certain area or, you
know, engaging in in a certain type of
business. You never thought that such a small
amount of money, you know, that you were
getting would actually last you,
so long and would grant you so many
benefits. Right? Or that an investment would become
so successful. But Allah
blessed it and in it grew and it
increased and you derived all types of benefit
from it. Right? So Allah
is the one who provides that and it
reminds us that at the end of the
day, Allah is
the razzak. Allah
is the one who is the provider.
Right? And
we are, you know,
fully dependent on Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
When it comes to
our sustenance, when it comes to our wealth,
so, yes, we have to make an effort.
We do need to make an effort and
that is what we are taught to do.
But at the end of the day, our
belief
must not be in the effort that we
make, but the belief must be that the
rizq was coming from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is the one
who can increase it, who can grant blessings
in who can give barakah in it, and
increase it manifold
without us even realizing it. So that's the
first thing. The second thing also, my brothers
and sisters, is putting our and it's related,
is putting our trust in Allah
because Allah
Allah
says, And if anyone puts their trust in
Allah
then Allah
is indeed sufficient for that person.
For surely Allah
will accomplish
his purpose and verily for all things Allah
has appointed a due proportion. So the rizq
that
Allah has written for you, whatever Allah
has destined for you is not, you know,
dependent or or or subjected to inflation or
other, you know, economic pressures. Whatever Allah has
written for you is written for you and
inshallah, it will come to you and whatever
barakah that Allah
is putting and can continue to put in
your wealth and your time, that also is
not dependent upon these other factors. Allah
and his blessings are fully independent.
All you need to do is have the
right belief, have the right trust in Allah
and try your reasonable best and Allah
will take care of the rest.
Thirdly, my brothers and sisters,
we know that the the book of Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala is an incredibly
incredibly
blessed book. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala says,
And this is a book which we have
sent down bringing blessings and confirm and confirming
the revelations which came before it. So read
the Quran, recite the Quran, make your
your homes,
your, even your workplaces, if possible, places of
the Quran where the words of Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala are recited and inshallah,
you will see barakah entering into your life
inshallah.
And further,
you move away from the book of Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala.
The the the the the weaker your relationship
with the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala,
the further away you will be from barakah
in your lives.
Right? It's as simple as that. So engage
and tie yourself with the book of Allah
subhanahu and
Allah
will bless you in ways that you cannot
even imagine.
Simple little things as well. Saying
Saying
before you do something. Most of the are
are of the view, they agree that it
is prescribed. It is it is desirable to
say
when starting important important things,
both whether they are acts of worship or
other things. So when you start your work,
say
When you open your store, say
When you log in to your online store,
say When you're restocking,
say When you're whenever you are engaging in
your work or any other thing which is
important in your life, say
start off with the name of Allah Subhanahu
wa ta'ala and inshallah Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala
will bless your efforts. You will make a
small effort and it will have a tremendous
impact inshallah
and you will reap the blessings and you
will reap benefits insha'allah.
Also something which is very simple. Right? Is
asking Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for forgiveness.
It's doing istafar.
Right? Seeking Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for forgiveness
as the prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam is
reported to have said, some issues with the
chain of narration perhaps of this hadith, but
does the the the, the, the meaning is
sound that if anyone continually ask Allah
for forgiveness,
Allah will appoint for them a way out
of every distress.
Allah will appoint for him a way out
of every distress.
And relieve for every anxiety.
And he will provide for him from places
where he cannot even imagine. From where he
did not even expect. So saying
something which is very simple. Doing regular istafar,
saying
engaging ourselves in the remembrance of Allah especially
seeking forgiveness. Again, something which is very simple.
It's a simple it's from the simplest of
Allah
Engage in that insha'allah. You will see Baraka
coming to all your affairs insha'allah.
Making dua for Baraka. Right? And we know
in multiple places, the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam,
you know, if you pay attention to the
duas that he would make, you know, before
eating, and so on. You know, in different
places, Allah the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam,
he asked Allah
for Baraka.
Right?
Right? You start with the name of Allah
and upon the blessings of Allah
So asking Allah
for
will bless us.
When we talk about trade and work, honesty
and trade is very important. Right? Whether we
are the providers of services or or, sellers
or whether we are the clients being honest
in our trade. The prophet
has told us that if both the buyer
and the seller, they speak the truth and
they make clear the defects of the goods,
then they would both be blessed in their
deal. They would both be blessed in their
agreement.
But if they told lies and they hid
some facts, then their bargain, their deal would
be deprived of the blessings of Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala. So be honest. Even
if it means that you're gonna take a
loss, even though it means that, you know,
it it seems that it's it's it's gonna
be bad for your for your trade and
for your business,
be honest.
And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will bless you.
Right? Tell things as they are. Point out
the defects. Be honest with people.
You will see that Allah
will bless you.
And of course, along with that, halal income
and halal
money. Work for halal even if it is
less than what you can get otherwise. Insha'Allah,
Allah
will bless you, and Allah
will reward you for every sacrifice that you
make for his pleasure.
Finally, my brothers and sisters, giving in charity.
Right? It seems counterintuitive
that you are trying to save money. You
are in difficult circumstances. You want your money
to go to to to go further and
you wanna do more things with your money,
but you're being instructed to spend in the
way of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. In a
hadith the prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam related that
Allah says,
That, oh,
son of Adam, oh, child of Adam, spend
in charity and I will spend on you.
This is a sound hadith.
Oh son of Adam, spend in charity
and I will spend on you. And the
best trade really is what Allah Subhanahu Wa
Ta'ala describes in his
book
when
he
says,
Surely, those who recite the book of Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala,
who established prayer and donate and give charity
from what we have provided for them secretly
and openly can hope for an exchange for
a trade that will never fail.
When you do trade in business, when you
make investments
in this worldly life, there's always a risk.
Right? There's always a risk. And Islamically, for,
for most transactions to be permissible, there should
be an element of risk. Right? Otherwise, if
it's guaranteed, then there that is most of
the time it's problematic.
So there is always an element of risk.
Right? You can always fail in your trade,
in your transaction in this world. But Allah
says that those who recite the book of
Allah, they establish prayer, and they give from
what Allah
has provided for them secretly and openly, they
can hope for an exchange that will never
fail.
So that he, Allah
will reward them in full and increase them
out of his grace. He is truly all
forgiving and most appreciative. So my brothers and
sisters,
you know, when we find ourselves in these
in in these times, and of course, for
most people, economic uncertainty
is on our minds, then during these times
especially, but also in good times, let us
remember these few pointers inshallah
so that we always have the right belief,
the right understanding,
the right expectations with regards to our risk
from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
and we take these few small steps.
They seem small but their effects are profound.
Their impact is profound. Inshallah, you will find
that Allah
will enable you to weather these, these economic
storms,
and Allah,
will continue to to help you, guide you,
and bless you in all of your work
and especially in your risk. May Allah subhan
we ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
to protect all of us. We ask Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala to provide us with
that is sufficient for us. We ask Allah
to grant us contentment, especially with regards to
our risk and in all of our affairs.
We ask Allah
to shower each of us in each of
our homes with with with with blessings and
contentment.
My brothers and sisters,
as you know, our effort, is ongoing to
establish,
the new Masjid,
the the,
the the new Masjid and center facility,
which as I've told you before, will be
immediately outside of this building in front of
here. It doesn't look like it's a lot
of space, but believe me, the architects have
done an amazing job. And actually, it was
the city that suggested that we put the
building up here in the front. We're actually
gonna planning to put it behind this house.
And they said, you're building this brand, the
planning department actually said, you know, you're you're
building
wonderful new building. Why are you hiding it
in the back behind this house? Put it
on the street. Put it in the front.
So they they made it work.
So the design is for the building to
be constructed in the front insha'allah. As brother
Mahmoud mentioned a couple weeks ago,
you know, a lot of work has been
happening behind the scenes.
Our award winning architect, brother Sharif, from Vancouver.
Masha'Allah Subarapala. He was here,
in September. He checked out other Masajid,
and now, the, design was approved by the
city Alhamdulillah. So there's a lot of back
and forth. There's a lot of requirements and
suggestions and feedback and all that. But alhamdulillah,
he worked through it, and it's approved now.
So now he's working with a team of
engineers, local engineers. He's in Vancouver, but there's
a local team here. He was working on
all the schematic designs that are needed for
construction. So now we are hoping to
move quickly towards construction.
Always careful about giving dates and times because
as you know, especially in the city, everything
has delayed with the LRT. Right?
So obviously, it's not at that scale, but
stuff happens all the time as you already
know. But Insha'Allah Insha'Allah we're hoping for spring
where we can actually Insha'Allah break ground and
start building, the new building Insha'Allah.
As you know, we do 2 fundraising campaigns
in a year. Once in Ramadan, once in
the fall or end of year. We rely
on community support. We do not get funding
from anywhere else. And really, the effort is
to continue to raise funds so that once
we start, we're able to get through as
much as possible so we don't have to
stop and be stuck in the middle. So
our goal inshallah for, this end of year
campaign is $250,000.
I trust
that we will be able to to reach
that goal
as we have raised reached our goals for
every single campaign up until now.
For your continued support.
Today, we are hoping to have 5 brothers
and sisters who can give a $1,000
After tax credit, it will cost you only
about $640
So please make the intention in your heart
as we recite it openly
and secretly. Allah likes that we give. So
but we don't have time. I'm not gonna
ask you to raise your hand. The machines,
the boxes will be outside
on your way out. So please do consider
it, and we always trust and and and
and, we always value and and and have
great appreciation for all of your contributions.