Sikander Hashmi – Actions Speak Louder Than Words KMA Friday Message
AI: Summary ©
The speakers discuss the need for volunteers to help homes along the coast of Ottawa River due to floods. They emphasize the importance of protecting neighbors and property from flood damage and political strategy to address the challenges of the crisis. The speakers emphasize the importance of humility and gratitude, acknowledging one's mistake and being mindful of words. They also stress the need for a balanced approach to small actions to avoid overwhelming people and urge people to use every opportunity for betterment and positivity to leave the rest to Allah ask for the best character and actions that touch people's hearts.
AI: Summary ©
Respected elders, dear brothers and sisters, my young
friends,
As we speak, the water is rising on
the Ottawa River
just a few kilometers from here,
and homes along the shore
are at risk of flooding.
There is an urgent need for volunteers
to help with sandbagging in West Carleton,
especially in Constance Bay and Horseshoe Bay.
So if you have an opportunity to go
and to help, you can Google West Carlton
flooding relief and find all the information
and give a hand. We ask Allah
to protect everyone,
especially our
neighbors and their properties from these floods and
from all natural disasters, I mean.
My brothers and sisters,
as we live as minorities
or as believers
living as minorities,
we find ourselves from time to time
facing challenges
after challenges.
And
our situation
sometimes
may feel like being caught in the middle
of a flood
with rising waters
around us
and being unable
to stop it and to protect our homes
and families.
In these situations,
what should give us hope and inspiration, my
brothers and sisters,
is that the prophet
and the early Muslims who were very few
in number
faced
similar challenges and obstacles.
But they were able to overcome
the animosity
and the roadblocks
that were put up by the polytheists, by
the Mushlipoon of Mecca.
And despite
these overwhelming odds,
the religion of Allah
was able to prosper,
and the believers were able
to find
freedom of religion to be able to worship
Allah
freely
and openly.
Of course, it doesn't mean that it isn't
that overcoming these challenges is an easy task
because certainly it wasn't easy.
It took effort, and it takes effort
and courage,
determination,
and faith, and, of course, time as well.
There
is a role for
political strategy.
There is a role for advocacy.
There is a role for outreach
and media
and communications
and building alliances as well. But ultimately, though,
ultimately,
it's about touching people's hearts and minds,
reaching
people's
hearts,
and positively impacting their minds,
softening their hearts in a manner
that leaves
a lasting and a positive impression
for the sake of Allah
That's what it ultimately
comes down to. The reason why I'm mentioning
this specifically is because we live in a
time
where society tells us or we are generally,
you know, taught
that in order to make gains and in
order to progress,
you have to shout and you have to
scream
and you have to fight.
And
what I want to highlight today
is that that really wasn't the way of
the prophet
Yes. When it came to dealing with specific
figures,
you know, who were,
entrenched in their animosity,
who
were,
hardened in their hatred,
then, yes, there were times when there was
some toughness that was showed.
But when it came
to the general population, when it came to
the average person,
the approach and generally, even for most people
in power as well, the approach has been
one
of softness,
one that appeals to the heart and to
the minds of people. So let's discuss a
few lessons from the Quran and the sunnah
of the prophet
that can help us in achieving this
So first and foremost,
always know that people don't really remember what
you say.
They remember what you do and how you
make them feel.
Once again,
people normally do not remember what you say.
They remember what you do and how
it makes them feel. We know that one
of the foremost
qualities of the prophet
was his good character. As Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala tells us
that and you are truly
a man of outstanding character.
Allah chose
who as
the last messenger
on this earth.
A man of outstanding
character.
And as the prophet
said himself,
in some narration
I was sent to perfect
good character.
He was known as being truthful and trustworthy.
So Allah
didn't just choose again anyone.
He didn't choose someone whose character could be
questioned,
but rather Allah
chose the best of the best, the most
noble in character,
the most perfect in dealings with people to
be the carrier of this final message from
Allah
The prophet
was calm and he would constrain his anger.
He would not have violent outbursts,
but rather he was controlled.
And if he did get angry and he
did get angry for legitimate reasons, he did
get upset for the sake of Allah
that displeasure would just show on his blessed
face. And this is a sign of strength.
What is this? This is a sign of
strength that a person is able to control
themselves and is able to restrain their anger
and keep it only
to the extent of showing displeasure on their
face and not have violent outbursts.
He was forgiving towards the ignorant, and this
is very important for us because some of
those who are hateful,
in fact, many perhaps of those who are
hateful
are actually hateful out of ignorance.
Or they are simply ignorant people who have
been used
by haters or led by haters to commit
acts of ignorance against us. There is a
famous narration of Anasublomaniq
Radiallahu Anhu who said,
That I was walking with the messenger of
Allah
and
he had put on a mantle of with
a thick border with a thick border.
And met
him and pulled the mantle so violently, so
harshly
that I saw the this violent pulling leaving
marks of the border of the mantle on
the skin of the neck of the messenger
of Allah
So a stranger essentially walks up to him,
grabs him by the collar so harshly
that is left a mark on the blessed
neck of the prophet
And
he,
he he describes that that
Then he says, then he says, the bad
one says, Yeah, Muhammad. He says, Oh, Muhammad.
He says she's grabbing a collar
and he says, Oh, Muhammad issue a command
that I should be given out of the
wealth
of Allah, which is at your disposal. The
wealth of Allah
that is with you.
Now you would imagine most of us, most
people how they would react if somebody did
this to us.
But the prophet
was special, and he has left this beautiful
example for
us.
The messenger of Allah
turned his attention to him
and he laughed or he smiled and then
ordered
for him a gift to be given to
that individual.
This is the beautiful character and the beautiful
example of the prophet
that we gain great inspiration and great strength
from. As Allah tells us in Ayah 63
of Surah Al Furqan,
amongst the qualities
of the servants of the Ar Rahman, the
servants of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
When the ignorant address them, they say words
of peace. It doesn't have to be
necessarily, but they say words of peace when
they are addressed by those who are ignorant.
And Ibn Kathir Rahimahullah, he says regarding this
ayah that if the ignorant people insult them
with bad words, they do not respond in
kind, but they forgive
and overlook and say nothing but good words.
And this is what the messenger of Allah
Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam did, that the more ignorant
the people would be, the more patient he
would be.
The more ignorant the people would be, the
more patient he would be, and he goes
on to say that this is as Allah
says in Surat Al Qasas, a number 55.
And when they hear Allah when they hear
evil or vain talk, they withdraw from it.
So taking the higher road is something that
we have been taught, to respond with that
which is better, not to respond in the
same way, to say
that which is good or remain silent. We
have many, many teachings regarding good character, especially
when it comes to dealing with others and
the way that we respond.
We are taught, of course, as essential part
of our religion to have humility, to be
humble. And one of the reasons, one of
the wisdoms we can understand is that arrogance
doesn't speak to the heart.
Does arrogance speak to arrogance speak to a
person's heart? No. Nobody likes being addressed by
someone who is arrogant. No one likes being
told what to do or being put down
by someone who is arrogant. But rather,
it turns people away, and thus, we are
instructed to have humility.
We are also instructed to have gratefulness as
the prophet
told us to the effect that whoever does
not thank people has not thanked Allah. So
to be grateful to people even for small
acts of kindness,
evil even small things that they may be
doing for us or we may think it
is their duty or their job to do
it for us. If we show appreciation,
it appeals to the heart and it is
a part of thanking Allah subhanahu. Thank thanking
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Having gentleness. As I mentioned, there might be
times when, you know, we are a bit
harsh or we need to be a little
bit harsh for some good reason, but those
times should be the exceptions not the norm.
That should be
the exception,
not the norm. Except
Instead, what ends up happening sometimes is the
harshness becomes the norm. But whenever we talk,
whenever it has to do something to do
with us, we start off
with harshness, with anger.
No. Gentleness is the norm. Harshness is the
exception
because gentleness once again appeals to the heart.
A person is more likely to listen to
someone who speaks to them gently
as opposed to someone who is harsh and
puts them down.
Harshness may satisfy us, but it usually is
not conducive
to long term positive change. And thus, you
will hardly find any example
if any at all of the prophet
being harsh with people. Allah
instructed prophets Musa in Haroon Alaihi Mas Salam
to speak gently to to
speak gently to the biggest tyrant, to
as it might be more conducive
to getting him to understand.
Allah
instructed that speak softly to
why perhaps
it will help
him, you know, be reminded
and to fear Allah
The prophet
said to say
That very gentleness
is not found in anything
but, meaning except that it beautifies it,
and it is not removed from anything
but that it disgraces it. So this is
a reminder for me and for all of
us that as we advocate and we speak
up, you know, for our rights and for
those who are oppressed, that we try to
do so in the best way possible, in
the most
measured and most gentle way possible.
And, of course, all of these things apply
to our own relationships as well. So it
is not only when we are dealing with
with, strangers or outsiders, but even when we
are dealing with one another and including when
we are at home and dealing with our
loved ones, we also try to act upon
all of these teachings.
Justice and fairness. So even with ourselves,
we are instructed that we should acknowledge when
we are in the wrong, that we should
be just even with ourselves. So when I
one of us does something wrong,
we should not be shy or afraid to
acknowledge
that. When some of our brothers and sisters
do something which is harmful and which is
wrong, we should not be ashamed in recognizing
that because a balanced approach is more appealing
to the heart and mind. If a person
is speaking to you and you see that
person as being biased,
there's a less chance that you will it
is less likely that you will be convinced
by what they are saying as opposed to
if a person
comes across as being balanced and they are
balanced and just and they are ready to
recognize their own faults and the wrongs that
are committed by their own people, that is
something that is more appealing to the heart
and mind. Secondly, to speak for those who
are wronged and who are oppressed regardless of
who they are and who the oppressor is.
Right? So to be generous and lending our
voice to others, provided it is not something
for it is not for something which is
Haram, obviously.
But to share the opportunities and the platforms
that we have
to include
others who are also wronged.
This also
appeals to a person's heart and mind and
to their sense of justice as well. And
this is what we have learned from the
example of the prophet
and the pious Muslims.
But also along with this to be firm
in our beliefs.
You see a person who's wishy washy, who
doesn't have any principles, who will say whatever
needs to be said to please people,
and they can't stand up for what they
believe in, this is a sign of weakness.
This is not being wise. This is a
sign of weakness.
So to have even
what is not when it is not convenient,
this builds respect and shows grit and determination,
which are positive qualities.
See? But this does not mean that one
should be reasonable. Of course, there are certain,
you know,
certain boundaries or or certain, you know, ways
to ensure that this is a balanced approach.
But point being, that one who is always
trying to please others
and is always willing to compromise and always
willing to bend doesn't really stand for anything
isn't really
seen as being someone who has strength and
who has positive qualities. And, again, we find
that the prophet and
the Sahaba, the early Muslims,
and of course, even current
the pious people. You know, there are certain
things that they do not compromise.
There are certain things that they will never
compromise. They stand for something, they believe in
something, and they will stand firm upon that.
The prophet
was offered wealth and power
in exchange for dropping his message of tawhid
in opposition to shirk.
Even afforded, you know, compromises, like, let's do
half half.
One day we'll worship Allah alone, one day
we'll worship the idols. Like different types of
offers. But he never flinched in the face
of that. Right? That was not something that
he ever entertained, and he never flinched in
the face of such offers.
Assisting people in their time of need.
See, Abdullah bin Salam
he says when the prophet
came to Madina, the people rushed to meet
him. And it was said the messenger of
Allah has come. The messenger of Allah has
come. The messenger of Allah has come.
Says, I came with the people to see
him. And when I saw his face clearly,
I knew that his face was not the
face of a liar.
I knew that his face was not the
face of a liar. What does this tell
us by the way? That a person who
becomes accustomed to lying, it shows.
It shows on the face. And the people
of,
of insight, they're able to recognize this. Right?
So he says, I knew that his face
was not the face of a liar. And
the first thing I heard him say when,
I heard him say was when he said,
Oh, people spread
salaam. Spread the greetings of salaam.
Feed others.
Uphold the ties of kinship
and pray during the night when people are
sleeping and you will enter paradise
with salaam with peace. May
Allah make us for among such people.
Amin. My brothers and sisters, these are small
positive actions.
But if they are done by everyone,
if everyone of us starts doing this and
everyone of us takes all of this seriously,
then, especially if we're doing it together,
then you will see the impact. You will
see the positive impact that these small steps
and these small actions will have
We find great teachings regarding feeding the hungry.
Right? Even charity being to help a person
off their mount
or onto their mount. Right? Of course, before
cars, so getting on the horse or getting
on a camel,
helping a person with that, with their luggage,
helping them get off. These were all acts
of charity which have been described by the
prophet
So try to find every opportunity.
Try to find every opportunity to be at
the service of others for the sake of
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala and
you will see many benefits come out of
that.
As I've said, there is a time for
expressing anger and being aggressive.
Sometimes, rarely, but that should not be the
norm because adding fire to an existing fire
does what?
Does it put out the fire?
No. You add fire to a fire, you
get more of a fire. Right? A greater
fire.
So instead, let us try to respond
by being different,
positively,
and by being better,
taking the higher road while being visible, and
that will
remove and demolish
the animosity and the hatred and the misunderstandings,
will leave a lasting
and positive
impression.
And
all of this, you know, all of the
efforts such as lobbying and writing and political
advocacy and all of those things, you know,
they should go hand in hand with the
beautiful teachings of Allah and his messenger
Just try,
keep trying positively
with every opportunity that you have.
Utilize that opportunity wherever you are
at work, at school, in your neighborhood, in
the store, on the road.
Use utilize every opportunity for betterment and positivity
sincerely and leave the rest to Allah
ask Allah
to grant us the best character
and to guide us to the best of
words and the best of actions
that are pleasing through him and that touch
people's hearts. May Allah make us a means
of goodness and betterment for
all.
Take
a
quick
break,
and
we
will
continue.