Sikander Hashmi – Balancing Blessings & Moral Challenges KMA Friday Message
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AI: Transcript ©
Respected elders, dear brothers and sisters, my young
friends,
If I ask you to make a list
of things
that are good in this country that we
call home.
If I ask you to make a list
of things that are good in Canada
versus most other places in the world,
there's a pretty good chance
that this country would have a longer list.
Alhamdulillah, we are blessed by Allah
to live in a land that provides
safety.
Indeed, many Muslims
and others
from areas of war and conflict
and poverty
have been welcomed to this land.
We enjoy tremendous religious freedoms
even unlike some Muslim majority countries.
We are able to establish
Masajid
and Islamic education.
We are able to give dawah. We are
able to dress as we like and so
on. Alhamdulillah.
Of course, then there are opportunities for work
and education
and living a fairly
peaceful and comfortable life
more than most other places, Alhamdulillah.
And to be frank, that's why most of
us or our parents and grandparents
chose to come here.
So my brothers and sisters, 1st and foremost,
we must always be grateful to Allah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala
for these great blessings
that
many people around the world,
including many of our brothers and sisters,
are deprived of. And we ask Allah
to make it easy for them and to
count us for amongst the grateful. I mean,
if the brothers, I can please ask you
to come forward and fill in all the
gaps. Today is a PD day. We will
have a larger crowd with younger children, especially.
And it is hot outside, so we like
to fit in as many people inside as
possible.
And, hopefully, we can get this place cooled
up a bit as well.
So first and foremost, we must be grateful
to Allah
And if we are grateful to Allah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala
as
he tells us in the Quran,
then insha'Allah, he will increase his blessings upon
us.
This is a key secret that Allah
has shared with us. That if
you are grateful,
I will increase
the blessings upon you.
Secondly, we should also be thankful to the
people who have a part
in delivering these blessings of Allah Subhanahu Wa
Ta'ala.
Because the blessings of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala,
yes, they come from Allah
but Allah
chooses people who are going to be means
for delivering these blessings
in this world.
So we should always be thankful to the
people as well because the prophet
has said as we know
that whoever does not thank people has not
thanked Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. So part of
our gratefulness towards Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is
of course to show gratefulness to Allah
but also then to give thanks to those
who do good.
However, my brothers and sisters and my young
friends, these benefits that we have discussed
also come with some challenges.
And this reminds us
that no place
on earth
is going to be perfect
because it is not Jannah.
This dunya is not Jannah,
and only Jannah will be perfect
without any problems.
Right? As long as we are in this
world,
it is a place of challenges and struggles
regardless of where we are, some more, some
more, some less, some in different ways, but
there will always be challenges and struggles because
it is not Jannah. And we are dealing
with human beings who are not angels, and
human beings by nature are imperfect.
So there are always going to be challenges
and struggles, and only Jannah is perfect. We
ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to make us
from amongst the people of Jannah. Ameen. Ameen.
Now one of the challenges that we face,
my brothers and sisters,
is with regards to our deen.
Because
the laws and the culture of this land
are not based upon the Quran and the
sunnah of Rasulullah
There are a number of activities
and beliefs
that are seen as being okay
and are even promoted
even though they have been prohibited by Allah
and his messenger
And I'll give you some examples very quickly.
So for example,
the consumption of alcohol,
the drinking of alcohol, and the consumption of
drugs
and gambling.
All of these things are clearly
haram according to Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala. Allah
tells us in Surah Al Baqarah, he refers
referring to the prophet
That they ask you, oh prophet, about
intoxicants
and gambling,
say that there is great evil in both
as well as some benefit for people, but
the evil
outweighs the benefit. So Allah
makes it very clear that, yes, there are
some benefits
perhaps perceived or real in alcohol in, you
know, in in toxicants and in gambling, but
the evil inside of them is much greater.
And, therefore, Allah
has clear categorically
made these things Haram.
Yet we know that alcohol is drunk in
large quantities.
It is sold. It is consumed. It is
celebrated. It is part of the culture.
Drugs
have become legalized and are becoming more and
more legalized, and gambling is done openly. Any
store you go to, you see that there's
lottery and there's casinos around and people are
engaging in gambling.
That's one example or a few examples.
Also, Allah and his messenger
have given us
dress codes
and instructed us to lower our gaze
so that we don't look at that which
is prohibited.
Yet we find that here, of course, there
is almost no dress code, and it is
almost unavoidable
to see something which is haram, especially
in the summertime. But remember that the prophet
has told us that the first
in unintentional
gaze or look is forbid is forgiven.
Even though it is prohibited, if someone mistakenly
sees something which is Haram and they were
not intending to, and they don't take any
enjoyment in it, and they turn away immediately,
then the first glance is is forgiven by
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala because it was unintentional
and you did not have control over it.
We are accountable for that which we do
intentionally
and that we do
because we have a choice.
K.
Another example. We know Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala
has forbidden pork.
Clearly, it is sold, it is eaten in
great quantities. You go to many restaurants, you
will try to order something which is halal,
but there will also be pork being, you
know, processed or being cooked in the same
restaurant. Right? We know that reba which is
the trade of money for money, is categorically
haram,
but the entire economy is based on riba,
and it is nearly impossible
to do business without it.
We know that living together
as
a husband and wife
do without being married is haram.
And we know that having such relationship
without being married is is called and is
a major sin in Islam, yet it is
something which is very common here. We also
know that living together as married couples do
for men with men and for women with
women is categorically haram,
and to have such relationships
is forbidden by Allah
yet it is legal and it is promoted.
The Quran tells us about the people of
prophet Luther Alaihi Salam, and they were told
very clearly
That you come to men with lust instead
of women. You are certainly transgressors.
So the reason was very clearly given by
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
Also,
that why do you lust after fellow men
out of all the creatures of the universe?
Leaving
the wives that your lord has created for
you, meaning from the females, and in fact,
you are a transgressing people. So Allah
tells us very, very clearly as to what
their struggle was, what they were engaged in,
and
sadly, we know that they did not heed
the warnings
and the great a great punishment of Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala came upon them even the
wife of prophet Lut alaihi salam. She's the
wife of a prophet, But she was not
spared. Why? Because she had supported
these individuals,
those people in doing these forbidden acts.
Now it is important to note my brothers
and sisters and especially for my young friends
that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala does not wrong
anyone.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is most just and
most fair. There can be no person, no
entity that is more fair and just than
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
So if they were punished by Allah
and we know that they were, it is
because
they were doing these acts voluntarily
when they had the ability
and the choice not to do it. And
they were given ample warnings, but they did
not heed those warnings. And they continued
in this path of disobedience
as the people of other prophets did as
well in other wrongs and the punishment of
Allah
came to them as well.
Now Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has another another
example. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has forbidden
the changing of his creation.
What he has what has he forbidden? He
has forbidden the changing of his creation. If
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has created a person
in a certain way, it is forbidden
categorically
for them to mutilate themselves
and to physically bring changes
or, like, permanent changes to their body. Unless,
of course, there's a medical abnormality, there's a
a valid reason.
Yet, people make permanent changes to their bodies
simply based on their feelings and their desires,
and it is also something which is promoted
here.
So,
by now, we have discussed
a number of
examples
of things which are forbidden by Allah and
his messenger, sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, yet they
are prevalent here. And we know, my brothers
and sisters and my young friends, that whatever
has been made haram by Allah Subhanahu wa
ta'ala, whatever Allah
has has forbidden
as part of his guidance.
It is for our own benefit
and it is for the benefit of humanity
because he
is our creator, our designer, and he knows
us best even better than we know ourselves.
So if we follow the guidance of Allah
and his messenger sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, and
we do the things that we are supposed
to do, and we avoid the things that
we are not supposed to do, in the
end, we as individuals, as communities, as societies,
as humanity will benefit and will stay away
from trouble.
And if we engage in these things that
we are not supposed to, and if we
avoid the things that we are supposed to
do, then we are going to harm no
one but ourselves as individuals, as families, as
communities, as societies,
and as humanity. May Allah
protect us and forgive us all.
Now,
indeed, my brothers and sisters,
many people
are tempted
to commit these actions that we have discussed
that we know are forbidden.
But I want you to know that just
the thought
or the feeling,
the emotion,
the temptation
to commit
these forbidden actions
does not make such people
as in in themselves
as being, like, haram or forbidden or dirty
or evil.
Because anyone can be tempted by shaitan or
by their nafs
for various reasons to commit haram and to
do things which Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has
forbidden. So just because someone has these thoughts
and sometimes they could be compulsive thoughts and
very strong feelings and emotions, it does not
make that person a bad person.
As long as those feelings and emotions are
coming naturally to them and they're not able
to stop them and they have no control
over them.
It is only when a person
does these actions
voluntarily and acts upon these temptations and feelings,
that is when they will be held accountable
by Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala for these actions.
And this is the beautiful part. If they
resist the temptation
and they don't act upon such thoughts, then
they will actually be rewarded by Allah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala.
And this is from the mercy of Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, the great and and wonderful
mercy of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala that
we are not accountable
for thoughts and feelings and emotions that come
to us naturally.
Right? And in fact, in the beginning,
it is revealed in the Quran that the
Sahaba were told that they are accountable for
thoughts and feelings.
So they were really concerned. There's they thought
this was so heavy and so difficult for
them that even if a thought comes and
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will ask them about
the thought over which they have no control.
So they went to the prophet sallallahu alaihi
wa sallam, you know, with this concern, not
complaining, but with this concern, like, they got
us this is too much. We we won't
we're afraid. We won't be able to handle
this.
And Rasulullah
Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam told them, just accept. Say,
Don't be like the previous nations, the of
the book who said that we have listened
and we do the opposite and we disobey.
Just say
as we we read it, it's part of
the verse.
And then Allah revealed
So no soul
shall bear the burden
of that which it does not have authority
over.
You're only accountable for that which
over which you have control. Right? To summarize.
So
it is mercy from it is from the
mercy of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala that we
are not held accountable for such thoughts and
feelings and emotions. It does not make us
a bad person if we face such
thoughts and emotions and feelings. And if we
are able to resist these urges and we
do not act upon them, indeed, we will
be rewarded by Allah instead.
May Allah grant us all strength, Ameen.
So now we know, my brothers and sisters
and my young friends, that there are many
benefits
and great blessings
in our country.
But then there's also things which are forbidden
that are being that are happening and that
are being promoted. So how do we deal
with this? How do we reconcile this?
So a few points,
Insha'Allah. First of all,
let us try to do the good that
we are able to do. K. Forget about
the the the Haram and the forbidden for
a second. K.
Do the good that you are able to
do and take full advantage of it.
So be regular in coming to the masjid
because
there's no restriction on you coming to the
masjid especially with your family, I as in
even some Muslim countries, Muslim majority countries. So
come to the masjid regularly, bring your family,
and become attached to the masjid as an
example.
Offer your salah properly.
There's no restriction upon offering your salah.
Wake up at night, offer tahajid prayer. There's
no restriction. No policeman's gonna come to your
door and say why are you offering salah
at 2 AM?
Take full advantage of the blessings of Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. Study the book of Allah.
Study the deen of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
Dress according to the Islamic guidelines and the
Islamic dress code. Offer salah at school because
it is your right and you have been
given space and you have been accommodated to
do so.
Establish and establish schools.
Study. Take advantage of the the opportunities and
study well. Educate yourself.
Invite people to Allah
with wisdom.
Maximize the blessings that we have, contribute positively
to society.
Be someone who comes in this country, who
lives in this country, sees the good things,
and tries to make it better,
not tries to hurt it or just, you
know, takes advantages and doesn't give back. So
be a positive contributor to society
and live your deen to the fullest
as much as it is allowed to to
to the enjoy the blessings of Allah
So that's number 1.
Number 2,
protect yourself
from doing that which is prohibited by Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala
and supporting that which is prohibited by Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. And by the way, this
is also a a
a a difference, maybe a a
a nuance that perhaps we don't pick up,
that many of our neighbors,
our coworkers, our fellow citizens,
such great people,
but they do not see a problem
in supporting something
even though they don't agree with it.
So they won't agree with something, but they'll
still support it. They'll still celebrate it, and
they won't they don't they won't get why
others are not doing the same. Right? Maybe
it's because, you know, they,
they don't take the religion maybe as seriously
or in the same way as we do
as an example or or whatever the reason
may be. And not everyone is like that.
There are people who who take this seriously
too, but, you know, this is a general
attitude, a general perspective
that we find.
But we know that for us, Allah
has said,
said very clearly and cooperate
in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate
in in,
in sin and aggression. So
Allah has told us very clearly, what are
the things we can support and what are
the things we cannot support? So if someone
is some is doing something good, k, it
doesn't have to be a Muslim, could be
anyone, they're doing something good, we can certainly
support support it and celebrate them and celebrate
their work
in a halal way.
But if someone is doing something which has
been prohibited by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala,
we cannot, in good conscience,
support that and celebrate that which we believe
is morally wrong. Since Allah
has prohibited
prohibited it for us. So, for example,
as Muslims, we cannot participate
or,
in or promote an alcohol celebration, as an
example, an alcohol festival. You can't go there
because you believe it is wrong. It is
something which is haram
or a gambling celebration.
You can't go and support it as a
Muslim. Right? Or a celebration of relationships with
our which are prohibited by Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala. You can't, in good conscience, go and
support it and celebrate it. Now if we
are called
upon to support something like this, maybe because
people are not aware, they don't know about
our position, or they're not aware of this,
then we can respectfully say that I don't
mean to be rude with a smile.
I don't mean to be rude or disrespectful
or hateful,
but I'm sorry. I cannot support or celebrate
the celebration
due to my faith.
I'm sorry about that. I don't mean to
be hateful or disrespectful or rude, but I
cannot participate in this due to my beliefs
and due to my values.
So that's number 2. Number 3, my brothers
and sisters, my young friends, understand
that many people who are doing haram,
doing the things which are forbidden, they don't
know any better,
or they have been tempted by shaitan
and have fallen into his trap. Right? And
that is his mission.
Allah tells us, he only incites you to
commit evil and indecency
and to claim against Allah what you do
not know. So this is part of shaitan's
job, to try to distract people and try
to get them entangled in and get them
to enjoy things which are evil and indecent.
So
we detest the sin, the action.
Why? Because it is disobedience of Allah Subhanahu
wa ta'ala.
But we should not hate
them as individuals.
There's a difference between the 2. The action
is bad.
100%.
But we do not hate the individuals.
Do not be rude and do not be
mean. Do not be unjust to people who
are engaged in such activities
because what we want most is for the
person to be saved from shaitan
and from that which is bad for them.
That is what we want.
So the issue is not with the person
in and of themselves, but it is with
the action that they are doing. So bullying
or spreading hate
against people
is wrong and is harmful, and it does
not help in stopping the haram, especially if
they are already struggling with such thoughts and
feelings, and there's a good chance it will
actually lead to a person
doing even more. K? So bullying and spreading
hatred
is wrong and it will not get us
anywhere. It will not bring about any positivity.
Being kind and offering guidance,
so kind and offering guidance is better instead.
Number 4,
we invite to the way of Allah with
wisdom.
Tells
us, invite to the way of your lord
with wisdom. So if we decide to talk
about such matters, we must do so wisely
without getting angry and in a way that
makes sense to the person that we are
speaking to, that makes sense to the listener.
If we do not feel confident in doing
so, then we should learn from those who
know until we feel confident, and we ask
Allah
to help us. Number 5, my brothers and
sisters, my young friends,
finally,
know that the prophet
has told us that a time will come
when it will be very difficult to follow
the religion of Allah
and his guidance properly.
This has been prophesized. We know that a
time will come when it will be very
difficult.
But
there will be a huge reward for those
who try to do so as much as
possible.
See, the prophet
has told us
that that there shall come upon the people
a time in which the one who is
patient upon his religion will be like the
one who is holding on to burn burning
charcoal.
The one
who is patient upon his religion
will be like the one holding on to
burning charcoal. That has that is how difficult
it is going to be as an example.
It's not easy. If you go or if
you have a barbecue or something, you know,
you pick up a charcoal that's hot, don't
do it. It's gonna burn your hand. Right?
You can see how difficult that is. So
there will come a day, a time when
following the deen of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala
will become difficult like that. The prophet
has told us. And also the prophet told
us that
that Islam began as something strange,
and it will return to be being something
strange.
So blessed are the strangers. Meaning that when
Islam first came, it seemed very strange to
people. The people of Mecca, they thought it
was very, very strange and very odd because
they were so used to evil and the
disobedience of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
Then as Islam spread and people accepted Islam,
it it became normal and became accepted.
But it will go back
to being something strange once again
due to the great amount of evil and
misguidance.
So give good news, give glad glad tidings
to the strangers, meaning the Muslims who continue
to stand firm and they've continued to try
to live by the guidance of Allah and
his messenger and
some of the the scholars of Hadith, they
interpret this good news as good news of
Jannah, Insha'Allah.
Also know that the more difficult something is
is, like, the more difficult it is to
do something good, then the greater the reward,
inshallah, from Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. So we
actually have an opportunity here to maximize our
rewards by trying to stay firm upon the
deen of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. We ask
Allah Azzavajal to bless this land with more
goodness, to protect it and all of us
and our future generations from all types of
haram and misguidance. We ask Allah
to make us a means of spreading goodness
and khair and kindness and guidance here and
everywhere we go. Amin.
We'll take a