Sikander Hashmi – Bless Your Sale KMA Friday Message
AI: Summary ©
The speakers emphasize the benefits of shopping online and finding good deals, including increasing wealth, happiness, and benefits. They stress the importance of seeking forgiveness and increasing in Istaghfar to increase in blessings and goodness. The speakers emphasize the importance of being flexible and truthful in shopping, avoiding distraction from prayers, and not under basking others and under visaing. They also emphasize the importance of faith and not stepping in until it is clear.
AI: Summary ©
Respected
elders, dear brothers and sisters, my young friends,
Before I continue for the brothers in the
main hall, please do consider coming forward and
filling the gaps.
Because as the brothers continue to come in,
they will think that there's no space here
and
we'll be out of space soon.
My brothers and sisters,
last week we discussed spending
and saving that is encouraged
and that is pleasing to Allah
Today,
I'd like to touch
briefly
upon
Baraka
and especially
Baraka
in our
transactions.
As we have discussed, this is
the times and these are the times and
days of
shopping, of finding good deals.
And there's nothing wrong with doing that, especially
if it helps you
purchase and acquire the goods and services that
you need
at a better price.
Why pay more when you don't need to?
And a careless attitude
leads
to ungratefulness of Allah
Meaning being careless with the niyama of Allah
So if you are able to find something
that you need, that your family needs, and
you're able to find it for less,
which means you end up saving money, which
you can use for other things, which you
could donate in the cause of Allah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala,
then that is a worthy
endeavor, and that is something that we should
consider doing within appropriate limits, of course.
When we talk about Baraka,
this refers to
blessings,
increase,
and growth.
Increase
and growth. And also refers to happiness as
well.
Essentially,
the establishment
of divine blessings or divine goodness in something.
And this baraka or this divine goodness
is not something that can really be
sensed
or maybe sense is not the right word,
but cannot be really,
you know, measured
and calculated.
It can't be outwardly quantified,
nor is it limited
by anything.
Rather,
it's an unexplainable
increase
and benefit from Allah
Having more barakah in one's wealth
does not mean necessarily that the dollar amount
in your bank account will suddenly increase.
Of course, Allah
can do that as well if he wishes
to.
Or if someone has barakah in their time,
it doesn't mean that, of course, you know,
their clock is gonna have 25 hours or
26 hours in a day instead of
24.
The increase
in benefit
derived
from a particular amount
of whether it is wealth
or
time or effort,
which ends up reaching
further
and lasting longer.
That is how we can try to understand
the effects
of Baraka.
So 2 people have the same amount of
time. They have the same amount of wealth.
Or they put in the same amount of
effort. But one person gains more.
One person is able to take it further.
One person is able to
get more out of that effort,
more benefit.
Right? Out of that same amount of wealth,
that same amount of time, this is a
sign that perhaps Allah
has blessed that person.
Now Baraka in anything can increase and decrease
depending
on the good and the bad actions that
one does.
Because this is something which comes from Allah
It comes from Allah
There's no set formula.
But
the goal is to keep Allah
at the forefront of our needs.
At the forefront of our decision making. At
the forefront
of our choices.
And everything that we do. Now the scholars
mentioned, you know, certain things
that can help in bringing
Baraka from Allah
And
of course,
first and foremost, is to have taqwa of
Allah
Is to have consciousness
and mindfulness of Allah
having
trust in Allah
that Allah is going to take care
of my needs. Allah
is sufficient
for me
to take care of my affairs.
Gratefulness to Allah
If a person is grateful to Allah,
Allah
increases them in blessings and goodness.
That's the secret formula. You be grateful to
Allah, and Allah will increase his blessings upon
you, Insha Allah.
Seeking forgiveness from Allah
Right? All of these things which you think
about. Right? They're not directly related
to having some more of something.
They're not directly related to having more of
something. When a person has
reliance on Allah
or a person is grateful to Allah,
How is that directly linked to having
more of something?
Right? The only link there is is that
one is turning more and more to Allah
And thus, Allah
decides to bless that person if he so
wills. So
seeking forgiveness and increasing in Istaghfar.
Increasing
in Istaghfar
opens the doors
to risk and opens the door of Barakah
from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Recitation of Quran.
The book of Allah
is filled with barakah.
It is
a Mubarak book. It is filled
with Baraka. It is filled with blessings.
So to recite the book of Allah
especially in a home.
A home in which the book of Allah
is recited and especially is recited regularly
will be a blessed home
You know, giving in charity. Right? Again, a
person is spending.
How does that
equal to having more? Because one spends in
the path of Allah
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has promised that Allah
will spend upon that person.
Has told us that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala
will spend upon
the one who spends
in the path of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
Not being greedy.
Not being greedy. Right? Goes against conventional wisdom.
You think that the person is greedy will
end up having more. And perhaps it will
appear that they have more. But the person
who goes against greediness,
the person who is more charitable,
the person who is more giving,
the person who hoards less,
that person perhaps will attract more.
Blessing from Allah
Wa Ta'ala. And will end up being able
to take whatever they have been blessed with
further, Insha'Allah.
And also, of course, having a halal income.
Having a halal source,
seeking a halal source of nourishment and a
halal source of
income will lead to more barakah as well
inshallah. Now let's talk briefly about shopping.
So when we enter
into the mall, into the store,
whether it is physical or virtual. Right? I
was just listening on the radio on the
news this morning.
They're saying that people are tired of online
shopping. This is human nature. First, we say
we wanna do everything online. Allah says, okay.
Here's the pandemic. Do everything online. Now it's
too much online. Now we wanna go in
person.
So now people are going. They want to
go into person now to shop more than
online. We will still be shopping online, of
course, but many people wanna have that experience
of being able to shop in person. So
whether it is physical or whether it is
virtual,
let us try to ensure my brothers and
sisters that we enter into that store, into
that state
of shopping
in a state of mindfulness and taqwa.
So that we are careful about what is
pleasing to Allah
and what is displeasing
to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
Abu Huraira radiAllahu anhu relates that the messenger
of Allah salallahu alayhi wasalam said, that the
most beloved of places to
That the most beloved of places to Allah
are the masajid.
Or the houses of worship of Allah
And
the most hated of places to Allah
are the markets.
Right? And we can say, of course, there
are worse places than markets,
but we can understand it in the sense
that of places which are permissible to go
to.
Right? Because it is not outrightly, you know,
haram to go to the market.
But out of the places where a person
can go to or needs to go to,
the markets are the most despised by Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. The scholars give various, you
know, explanations
and understandings of that. Right? With regards to
the distraction.
How people get distracted when they are in
the marketplace. Distracted from Allah
How there are, you know, various types of
sins that occur in the marketplace.
Nonetheless, we understand that the are the best
places and the markets are the places where
we want to go the least. Unless, of
course, we have a need at which we
have to fulfill. When we enter, we also
want to enter by remembering Allah
And we learn from a narration which the
majority of scholars have accepted.
Some have mentioned maybe some issue with its
chain of narration. Nonetheless,
Rasulullah
is reported to have said that
that the one the person whoever enters the
marketplace
and says,
What will happen? Allah shall record a 1,000,000
good deeds for them.
Wipe a 1,000,000 evil deeds away from them,
and raise a 1,000,000 ranks for them. It
is a very simple formula.
Right? At the very least, it is the
remembrance of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
So just make it a habit. You know,
in the best case scenario, inshallah, you will
receive this reward or even more. Worst case
scenario, it is the remembrance of Allah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala. And, you know, you will get
rewarded for that as well. So there's no
worst in this really. It's only benefit
So this is something that we can keep
in mind that when we step in to
a state of shopping, whether it's virtual or
physical, we remember Allah
and this could be a good way to
do it.
Secondly, my brothers and sisters, it is to
ensure that we do not get distracted from
our prayers. You see, Jabin Abna Abu Luhradiallahu
Anhu reported that we were praying with the
prophet
as a caravan arrived.
So they were praying, a caravan arrived carrying
food.
So
they turned their attention to it. K. So
they're with
but his caravan arrived.
So everyone turned their attention
until none or most people turned their attention
to the caravan
until
none remained with Rasulullah
except for 12 people, except for 12
men.
Thus the verse was revealed,
From the end of Surah Al Jumah, that
when they saw trade or diversion,
they rushed to it and left you,
oh Messenger of Allah, standing. So this is
something that Allah has
noted, and it serves as a reminder for
us that, yes, you know, trade is something
which is encouraged. Allah
has made halal.
If you're dealing in halal things in a
halal manner, and it's good, and there's nothing
wrong with it for your needs. However,
it should definitely not be a distraction from
the remembrance of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, particularly
the obligatory remembrance which is the prayer.
Now being honest and being truthful
is also a really important part
of
attracting barakah or maintaining barakah in our transactions.
Hakim ibn Hazam
reported that Rasulullah he salallahu alaihi wasallam said
that both parties in a biz business transaction
have the right to annul it as long
as they have not separated.
Same person is buying something.
Each party has
the right to annul that transaction as long
as they have not separated. And then said,
That if they are truthful
and clear with one another,
there is blessing in their transaction. There is
blessing in their transaction. However, if they lie
and conceal something,
the blessing of their transaction will be eliminated.
Right? And this may seem like, you know,
like we know this.
Of course, we should be honest and we
should be truthful. Right? But think. You know,
think. Sometimes,
we we we, you know, sometimes employ methods
which may not always be very truthful or
be very honest.
Okay? Let's say you're trying to book a
car
and you search for coupon codes, a rental
car,
and you find, an employee discount card,
a code
for some place where you're supposed to be
an employer or you're supposed to be an
alumni,
and you plug in that code saying, well,
no one's gonna check. First of all, there's
a big chance that perhaps they will end
up checking. K. Then you're gonna be stuck
at the counter embarrassed, okay, without, you know,
being able to show proof for what you
claimed.
But secondly,
ask yourself that am I actually being truthful
and honest if I end up using a
code which is supposed to be only be
used by
employees of a certain company or certain alumni.
Right? And that's just one small example.
Right? So when we are engaged in a
transaction, we want to make sure that we
are not cheating anyone, but also that we
are not conniving or coming up with some
sort of plot to gain, alright, some sort
of technique to gain a few dollars or
save a few dollars. And on the other
hand, we may risk losing the barakah in
that transaction.
Right? So let's be try to be careful
about that, Insha'Allah. You know, there's this also
this thing. Well, you know, there's a return
policy. Costco has a very good return policy
or this store or that store. So I
need something for a brief period of time.
I'm gonna buy it. I'm gonna use it,
and then I'm just gonna return it.
Right?
Is that a way to attract barakah in
our life,
in our transactions?
Right? Is that something that a person is
being honest or truthful? Yes. The return policy
is there.
Right? In case you don't want it anymore,
you decided, you tried it out, you were
gonna keep it, you know, whatever it is.
But to buy it
purposely with this intention that you're going to
return it and that you have no intention
of keeping it, you're just gonna use it
for free for a few days and return
it.
You wouldn't want that happening to you.
You wouldn't want anyone doing that with something
that you're selling. So why are you gonna
do that to others? Right? So my brothers
and sisters, let us try to be upright
and honest and truthful in all of our
transactions. Also important is not to undermine others,
especially when there are good deals
or there's limited supply. Someone is trying to
buy something. Someone is, you know, trying to
in the process of purchasing or acquiring something.
Ibra Umar
reported, the prophet
said
that there is no undermining the sales of
one another nor undermining the marriages of one
another. Meaning that if someone is engaged
whether
in a marriage proposal or whether in a
business transaction,
it is inappropriate for a believer to step
in when that process is still underway.
If a person has turned away, they have
taken the item out of their cart, and
they have put it back on the shelf,
and then you go get it. No problem.
Okay? But in some places, it happens. Not
so much in Canada, but in the US.
I've heard stories from my relatives.
People will rush to buy the item, put
it in their cart, and others will come
and take it out of their cart
because the discounts are so huge.
So the same thing, that's a bit of
an extreme example, but nonetheless,
keep in mind that if someone is engaged
in a transaction
or in a marriage proposal,
do not step in until
it is clear.
And honestly, my brothers and sisters, the best
trade
is what Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala describes in
his book. Because Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala knows,
our nature. Of course, he created us. Right?
We like to have something in return. Right?
There's many people who are going to be
very transactional.
It is better that we worship Allah
out of love for Allah.
Out of love for Allah, Allah will give
us whatever he has promised, insha Allah. You
know? But many times we need encouragement or
we are very transactional. So Allah
tells us about a trade.
Surely those who recite the book of Allah
establish prayer and donate from what we have
provided for them secretly
and openly
can hope for an exchange for a trade
that will never fail.
Right? Future, negative.
Right? Will never fail.
So that he will reward them in full
and increase them out of his grace. He
is truly all forgiving, most appreciative. So if
you want the most barakah,
if you want the most barakah, the most
bang for your buck,
the best place
to trade or to invest in is with
Allah
because the return that Allah will give you,
no one could ever match that return.
No one could ever match that return, and
it will only increase and increase.
Allah
also says,
Oh believers,
shall I guide you? Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
is asking.
Shall I guide you to a tijara, to
an exchange that will save you from a
painful punishment?
Who's gonna say no? Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala
himself is saying, asking,
It is to have faith in Allah and
his messenger,
and strive in the cause of Allah with
your wealth
and your lives.
To struggle,
to feel something.
Not just as an afterthought.
Right? It is
to
struggle, to exert effort, so we feel something.
Allah
says, that is best for you if only
you knew.
He will forgive your sins
and admit you into gardens under which rivers
flow
and house you in splendid homes in the
gardens of eternity.
That is the ultimate triumph.
Yes. We feel good when we find a
great deal on Black Friday. But the ultimate
triumph is this what Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala
is describing.
And he will also give you another favor
that you long for,
help from Allah
and an imminent victory.
So give good news, oh prophet, to the
believers.
May Allah
make us from among such people. May Allah
make us those who have barakah in all
their affairs
and all of their,
dealings in every moment of their lives. My
brothers and sisters, let us be mindful of
our prayers. Be honest and truthful
in our transactions.
And remember Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is in
injunctions
at all times. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
bless us in our families, our homes, our
wealth,
all of our dealings. May Allah
guide us and protect us from all which
is displeasing to him. Ameen
Let us make dua for those who are
ill, who are needy in pain.
Oh, Allah, we ask you to cure all
of those who are ill.
Oh, Allah, all of our brothers and sisters
who are not able to join us. Oh
Allah. All of those who are in hospital
at this moment. Oh Allah. All of those
who are at home at this moment. Oh
Allah who are in pain, in distress. Oh
Allah. Please remove their pain. Oh Allah. Please
remove their distress and replace it with joy
and happiness.
Oh Allah, grant relief to all of our
brothers and sisters in faith and humanity who
are suffering whether it is poverty, whether it
is war, oh Allah, whether it is disabilities,
whether it is domestic violence, oh Allah, whether
it is any other issue that they're facing,
oh, Allah, please grant relief to them all.
Oh, Allah, please shower your mercy and forgiveness
upon all of those who have returned to
you.