Sikander Hashmi – Friday Message Faith in the Midst of Financial Uncertainty
AI: Summary ©
AI: Transcript ©
Respected elders, dear brothers and sisters,
my young friends,
We begin by praising Allah
the lord of the universe,
our
our lord, our sustainer,
our creator,
our ultimate protector,
our ultimate
provider.
We begin by sending peace and salutations
upon his beloved messenger, Mohammed, the son of
Abdullah
I hope and pray that you and your
family are doing well under the circumstances
and enjoying the warmer weather
and the flowers
and the the the, the plants that are
starting to,
show up and give us hope.
As we get closer to the month of
Ramadan,
we are seeing
some positive signs,
locally at least.
But my brothers and sisters, it is important
to continue doing what we have been doing
physically
and spiritually.
The gates of mercy are about to be
opened in a week, Insha'Allah.
So let us keep trying hard and keep
being positive
and cautiously optimistic, Insha'Allah.
You see, once again, this is a reminder
to us
that no one no one, absolutely no one
can dictate anything to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
And he, subhanahu wa ta'ala,
is the one who dictates and decrees.
See, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says regarding himself
that
that he cannot be questioned about what he
does,
but they will all be questioned.
Allah
cannot be questioned. No one can question Allah
about what he does and what he decrees,
but it's the other way around. But they
will all, meaning all of us, every single
human being,
will be questioned by Allah My brothers and
sisters, you know, a month, 2 months ago,
none of us knew.
Nobody knew that we would still be or
that, first of all, that we would be
in the situation that we are in today
and that we would still be in the
situation
a month later
with only a week to go. So, yeah,
I mean, when this started, right, we never
we didn't know that we would still be
in the situation with only a week to
go till the blessed month of Ramadan.
And, you know, as time goes on, subhanAllah,
the impacts
of the shutdown,
and this crisis continue to multiply as well.
And
while the government has been helping and, you
know, we should be very
grateful to Allah and thankful to all of
those who have been helping
because, subhanAllah, what, you know, we are being
offered in terms of assistance and the facilities
that are available to us,
this is
available in very few countries around the world.
So we should count ourselves as being blessed
by Allah
We should be grateful to Allah
and we should be thankful to those who
are offering the assistance.
But the reality is that there's only so
much that the government can do,
And
it is better for us, you know, that
if that we recognize the reality and prepare
for it mentally. So sometimes there are things
which,
potentially, we are facing,
and sometimes, you know, we think perhaps it
is better that if we don't know about
it until it happens.
But the reality is that it is better
for us to recognize
the reality and prepare for it mentally.
And the reality is that the cost
of this crisis
will likely be very high in terms of
finances, in terms of mental well-being,
effects on relationships and homes, subhanAllah, in many
other ways. May Allah
protect us all.
As far as finances are concerned today, there
are likely 3 types of people.
So first, those who income those whose incomes
have dropped severely and significantly.
Secondly, those whose incomes have been impacted,
but they're still able to manage. And thirdly,
those whose incomes have not been impacted or
perhaps have even gone up.
The reality, though, my brothers and sisters, is
that regardless of the situation,
almost everyone
is facing some level of financial uncertainty and
anxiety.
SubhanAllah, I remember reading from someone who
has been living in poverty
for some time,
And they wrote that they are already used
to rationing and being careful with their money,
but that this is probably a challenge for
many people who are new to this, who
are not used to doing this. And, my
brothers and sisters, this is a reminder once
again
of how little control we have.
You know, we like to think that we
earn from our own effort and our skills
that we studied,
that we made the effort, that we established
our businesses,
that we improved our skills and got the
jobs that we have or that we had.
But in reality,
it is only Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala who
makes it happen,
and he can change it in a moment
if he wishes. Allah
says,
Do they not know that Allah gives abundant
or limited provisions
to whoever he
wills.
Surely in this are signs for people who
believe.
So this too is a sign of Allah
a sign for the believers
that Allah
gives abundantly to some and limits provisions for
others. And he
knows best as to why he chooses to
do that.
And we learn from other sources from other
in other places,
from prophetic guidance,
that sometimes Allah
perhaps restricts
risk and sustenance
for a person
because what we what they would have done
otherwise,
if Allah
had opened
his sustenance for them, would have been more
harmful to them. So Allah
controls it at the source, restricts it at
the source so that they don't end up
harming themselves.
SubhanAllah.
Now it may be tempting at this time,
my brothers and sisters,
to resort
to perhaps unethical
or dishonest behavior. So let us remember that
the prophet
said that
that the one who cheats
is not from us is not from amongst
us. So cheating, my brothers and sisters, we
already know this. But just as a reminder
for myself and for us all, that cheating
is something
which is impermissible
and is extremely displeasing to Allah
Let us remember then, my brothers and sisters,
that whether
it's making a false declaration on a forum
to get government support that we don't qualify
for
or whether it's monopolistic behavior
that takes advantage of people's desperation and their
needs,
The benefit of earning from haram
means
the benefit of earning from impermissible and haram
means are short lived because haram earnings, impermissible
earnings,
will perish
sooner or later,
and there will be accountability.
And so, it is not worth it. It's
just not worth it.
Now you may really find yourself in a
dire situation.
And in that case, it is better to
seek halal help instead of resorting to haram.
Of course, if you qualify for a government
program, for government assistance,
for a benefit that is being provided to
everyone,
and you qualify,
and you make a correct and truthful
declaration and that it and the application is
approved, then, alhamdulillah, you are fully allowed to
take advantage of that assistance or that benefit.
But once you seek help, especially from others,
after all halal options have been exhausted,
for example, cutting costs,
using one's savings,
selling unnecessary items,
downgrading,
using one's skills to earn a halal income
even if it means stepping away from one's
usual usual profession or trade.
Sometimes
we find ourselves in a difficult situation,
and we don't want to
take upon
halal ways
which we are not used to for gaining
halal sustenance and income, and this should not
be the case. Before we ask others, we
should be willing to do everything possible, everything
that is permissible, everything that is allowed legally
and Islamically
to
bring in a halal income. And if a
person is not able to do that or
if that is not enough for them, then
certainly it is permissible for them to seek
assistance.
Most investments have also been hit hard. And
once again, it's a reminder, my brothers and
sisters, that our wealth truly is that which
we have already used in a halal manner
or that we have given in charity.
Once again, it's a reminder that our wealth
truly is that which we have already used
in a halal manner or that we have
given in charity.
The rest is just with us temporarily and
must go one day. It must go one
day, sooner or later, so don't lament
its loss too much.
Mutarif
reported on the authority of his father
that I came to the messenger of Allah
as he was reciting
So he was reciting the prophet was reciting
meaning that abundance diverts you, distracts you. So
the prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said that
Adam
that the son of Adam, meaning the human
being claims
my wealth my wealth. My
wealth. My wealth. My wealth. My wealth.
And the
prophet
said,
He said
that, oh, son of Adam,
is there anything as your belonging
except that which you consumed
or which you utilized or which you wore
and then it was worn out or you
gave us charity and sent it forward? Is
there anything as your belonging except that? So
that which you have consumed, that was yours.
Which utilized,
that was yours. Which you wore, and then
it was worn out, meaning clothing, that was
yours. Or you gave us charity and sent
it forward. That is yours. Apart from that,
nothing else is actually yours.
Now brothers and sisters, let us think of
all the days that Allah provided for us
and kept blessing us, and indeed he continues
to do so in many different ways.
Now for a few days,
Allah may have decided to test us. So
while it may be very hard, let us
accept this test with an open heart and
realize that just as the provisions
without difficulty were a test,
provisions with difficulty
are also attest.
When we are blessed and Allah
opens the gates of his mercy, his blessings,
his Rahmah,
his provisions for us, that is also a
test from Allah
And Allah may have decided that now is
the time to test us the other way
with some difficulty.
So let us continue
to move forward with hope and with taqwa,
Exercise taqwa, piety, and mindfulness of Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala. Increase your, especially your istighfar.
And insha'allah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will open
doors and provide from unimaginable
places. It may not happen right away, but
our response to it at this moment is
what matters most.
There's a beautiful, very powerful hadith,
meaning
the words of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala related
through the prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam
in which Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says,
oh my servants. It's a longer hadith, but
I'll just give you two lines.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says,
oh my servants. So he's talking to us.
All of you are hungry. All of you
are hungry except those whom I have fed
or except those whom I feed.
So seek food from me and I shall
feed you.
Seek food from me and I shall feed
you.
Oh, my servants, all of you are unclothed.
All of you are unclothed except those whom
I have clothed.
So
seek clothing from me, and I shall clothe
you.
Now brothers and sisters,
let us also reflect upon what lessons can
be learned
with with regards to our spending choices
and our habits. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tells
us in
Surah
Allah
says, there is no moving creature on earth.
There is no moving creature on earth whose
provision is not guaranteed by Allah, whose provision
is not upon Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And
he knows where it lives and where it
is laid to rest.
All is written in a perfect record, subhanallah.
There is no moving creature on earth whose
provision is not guaranteed by Allah, and he
knows where it lives and where it is
laid to rest. All is written in a
perfect record. And, subhanallah, some of the scholars,
you know, we we read the example of
a a tiny ant
found on the heights of the mountains
all the way on top
with no visible
source of sustenance, but Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala
is sustaining that ant as well.
Every single living creature, Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala,
has arranged the sustenance, and Allah Subhanahu wa
ta'ala is providing that sustenance. But one reflection,
one thought that came to mind, subhanallah,
that perhaps
Allah is providing for us because, certainly, the
the words of Allah are
100%
true. So perhaps Allah
is providing for us what is destined for
us and how much is best for us,
but we perhaps have decided to overspend and
stretch ourselves thin. So the risk of Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala is there
as Allah has decreed in the amount that
Allah has willed that perhaps we have gone
beyond.
Perhaps we have overspent
or taken upon
too much debt upon ourselves,
taken upon too many responsibilities
or or too many expenditures
so that that risk that Allah
has written for us that is best for
us is actually appearing not to be enough
for us. Or perhaps
we have become
a means
of usurping
the risk of the sustenance that was destined
for others and then leaving them hungry as
a result. Allah
knows best. That may Allah
forgive us for our shortcomings. May Allah
open the doors of halal sustenance for us
all.
My brothers and sisters,
along with the dhikr of Allah Subhanahu Wa
Ta'ala, along with the taqwa of Allah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala, along with trying to do our
best to manage our finances and our situation,
let us also give in charity
regularly even if it is a little bit
as we learn from the prophet
that the most beloved of actions for Allah
are those that are regular.
Right? Or those that are regular.
It's even if
even if they are a little bit. So
let us try to give regularly in charity,
insha'Allah,
even if it is a little bit, insha'Allah.
Allah will
open doors for you and will remove hardships,
Insha Allahu ta'ala. Once again, we ask Allah
subhanahu ta'ala to open the floodgates of Halal
sustenance for all of his servants, for all
of his creation.
May Allah subhanahu ta'ala make this time easy
for us all, especially
especially those who are truly struggling.
There are brothers and sisters, perhaps even in
our own communities,
that are truly struggling, but perhaps they don't
want to show it to others. So be
on the lookout for one another, care for
one another, make du'a for one another that
Allah
opens
this door these doors of mercy and and
and halal sustenance
for all of those who are struggling.
My brothers and sisters, next week at this
time, we will most likely be fasting. Many
of us, those who are able to do
so, we'll be fasting on the 1st day
of Ramadan. And, of course, all of us,
including those who are not able to fast,
will be trying to do our utmost to
take advantage
of most likely which will be the 1st
day of the blessed month. My brothers and
sisters, let us think of Ramadan as a
lifeline during this crisis.
A lifeline during this crisis, an opportunity to
climb out of this challenging situation and to
get closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And
not just for Ramadan, but for good. Inshallah.
You know? I often like to say that
the month of Ramadan comes and you've probably
heard me say this before, and may
Allah enable me to act upon what I
say as well, that, you know, when the
month of Ramadan comes,
it is an opportunity to get ahead. But
it's important
that we don't back up. Because if a
person goes forward in the month of Ramadan,
but then backs up just as much or
even more after Ramadan is over,
then are they really progressing?
Are they getting anywhere?
Are they getting closer to Allah Subhanahu Wa
Ta'ala?
Naturally, when Ramadan is over, there will be
some
backing up perhaps. There will there may be
some, you know, elements of of of weakness
that comes in, some sin that comes into
our lives.
But overall,
year to year, year after year, we should
be aiming to use Ramadan as a stepping
stone to get closer and closer to Allah
subhanahu wa ta'ala and not just an an
opportunity of just 30, 29 days to move
forward and then to come back. This should
not be our approach. Our intention and our
vision should be that every Ramadan is better
than the previous one as much as possible.
At the end, Allah is the one who
gives. Allah
is the one who guides. Allah
who who is the one who enables us
to do good. But our intention and our
desire should be that, yeah, Allah, every every
Ramadan, I want to get closer to you.
I want to improve and get better every
Ramadan
so that over my lifetime of 30, 40,
50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 years,
every single Ramadan is is one that brings
me closer to you,
So that at the end, whenever you have
destined my last Ramadan to be, that is
my best Ramadan
in which I am the closest to you,
and that stage of my life is the
best stage of life for me, meaning the
one in which I am the most spiritual,
the most closest to you, and feeling your
love, your mercy, and your closeness.
So my brothers and sisters, there is no
question that this Ramadan
will probably be like none other that most
of us have ever witnessed.
But, again, in that, 2 of my brothers
and sisters will be a lesson and a
hidden mercy for us. Insha'Allah, we should always
think positively about Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala. We
should always have good hopes with Allah Subhanahu
wa
ta'ala. That does not mean that we should
be reckless. It does not mean that we
should be careless in our relationship with Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. We should love Allah. We
should have hope in the mercy of Allah
Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala while trying to do everything
right to the best of our ability,
while trying to improve ourselves. So have good
hopes from Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Have hope in the mercy of Allah Subhanahu
wa ta'ala. Be positive, and
we will be discussing,
Ramadan in the words of Allah Subhanahu wa
ta'ala, insha'Allah, tomorrow, Saturday night,
at 8:15 PM insha'Allah after salatulmagrib.
So please do join us at kanada muslims.ca/live
or on the KMA, kanada Muslims YouTube channel.
Inshallah.
Ramadan. We ask Allah
to grant to take us
to the month of Ramadan and give us
an opportunity to witness it. Insha'Allah,
the prophet
said regarding the month of Ramadan when it
came, that attack from Ramadan,
that there has come to you Ramadan
a blessed month
a blessed
month.
That in which Allah
has enjoined
for you the fasting.
And the prophet
went on to say, during which the gates
of Jannah, of Rahma, of of heaven are
opened and the gates of the hellfire are
closed and the rebellious devils are chained up,
and in it, there is a night which
is better than a 1000 months. A night
which is better than a 1000 months, of
course, referring to,
and whoever is deprived of its goodness,
whoever is
deprived of his of its goodness,
that whoever indeed is deprived of its goodness
is indeed deprived. So my brothers and sisters,
let us prepare mentally,
physically,
spiritually so that we make the best of
Ramadan to ensure that we are not deprived
of its goodness so that we are in
the best state to welcome the month of
Ramadan so that we are in in with
the purest of hearts,
having forgiven others, having clear hearts towards others,
having positive thoughts, positive feelings,
as we get ready to welcome this special
guest of the month of Ramadan.
Before I end, my brothers and sisters, I'd
like to once
again share 2 more quick powerful duas with
you, Insha'Allah,
and, I will post them online as well
on, on Facebook and on WhatsApp, Insha'Allah.
And please remind me if I forget, Ibn
Abbas
reported that the prophet
would say
at a time of distress. So when the
prophet
was distressed, he would say,
That there is no god but Allah, the
all knowing, the forbearing.
There is no god but Allah, lord of
the great throne.
There is no god but Allah, lord of
the heavens, the earth, and the noble throne.
So the prophet
would recite this when he was in distress.
So my brothers and sisters, if we find
ourselves distressed, especially during this situation, let us
resort to this practice of the prophet sallallahu
alaihi wasallam.
So that was the first one. Secondly, the
prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam,
it is related by Anas
that if any distress befell the prophet
he would say,
That oh living, oh sustaining,
meaning Allah
in your mercy, I seek relief.
I will end as I usually do along
with this reminder. Allah
says,
and whoever is mindful of Allah, he will
make a way out for them.
And he will provide from them for them
from sources that they could never imagine.
And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then
he alone is sufficient for them.
Certainly, Allah achieves his will.
Allah has already set a destiny for everything.
So
we ask Allah,
oh, Allah, all praise is for you. We
thank you with our hearts, oh, Allah. We
thank you with our minds. Oh, Allah. We
thank you with our tongues. Oh, Allah. We
thank you with every limb of our bodies
for all of your blessings and favors.
Oh, Allah. We can never thank you enough
for all of your flavors and your favors
and your blessings.
Oh, Allah. Please count us from amongst the
grateful from the shakirim.
Oh, Allah, we have wronged ourselves.
Oh, Allah, we have wronged ourselves.
And if you do not forgive us, if
you do not have mercy for us, then
indeed, we will be from amongst the losers.
So, oh, Allah, please forgive us. Oh, Allah,
please have mercy upon
us. Oh, Allah, we are your weak sending
servants.
Oh, Allah, we are weak.
Oh, Allah, we have thought we thought that
we were strong, but, Yeah, Allah, we are
indeed weak, You Rabbi Alameen. Oh, Allah, indeed,
we have sinned. Oh, Allah, indeed, we have
gone against your commands and the guidance of
your beloved messenger, sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. So,
Allah, please forgive us and guide us, You
Rabbi Alameen. Oh Allah please make us the
way you want us to be.
Oh Allah please grant us another opportunity to
witness the blessed month of Ramadan.
Oh Allah make it the best Ramadan for
us.
Oh Allah please grant us strength and bring
us closer to you.
Oh, Allah, please guide us to that which
pleases you most and grant us the best
return to you whenever it has been decreed
for us.
Oh, Allah, please open the gates of halal
sustenance for us and for all of your
faithful servants in your creation.
Oh, Allah. Oh, Allah. You are the most
merciful. Oh, Allah. You are the cure. Oh,
Allah. Please cure all of our brothers and
sisters who are ill. Oh, Allah. Especially our
elder sister who has cancer. Oh, Allah. Our
brother our brother Sa'ud Alam who is undergoing
cancer treatment. Oh, Allah, our brother doctor Habib
ur Rahman who is in advanced stages of
colon cancer. Oh, Allah, our brother and sister
who are suffering from long term pain and
injuries locally in our community, You Rabbil Alameen,
and all of those who are ill, who
are at risk of becoming ill. Oh, Allah,
you are the protector. Oh, Allah, you are
the healer. Oh, Allah, you are the one
who grants cures. Oh, Allah, please grant them
a speedy recovery and protect them from all
illnesses and pain and suffering.
Oh, Allah, protect us and all of our
fellow human beings, especially the health professionals, the
first responders, the store workers, the aid workers,
oh, Allah, all others who are going out
on the front lines to serve us. Oh,
Allah, please protect them.
Oh, Allah, please grant relief to all of
those who are in pain. Oh, Allah, all
of those who are in grief, facing stress
and anxiety. Oh, Allah, please replace all of
that with happiness and peace
and joy and health.
Allah bless you my brothers and sisters. May
Allah
protect you and your loved ones.
For your love and your for your support
and for joining us. May Allah
accept our gathering. Please go ahead and pray
for raka of the Hurrah at home, Insha'Allah.
Or if there are 4, at least 4
Islamically mature males, you can have your own
if you wish, but you do not have
to. Instructions in our website at canonmuslims.ca.
Insha'Allah, see you tonight for Children's Circle at
8:15 PM.
Inshallah. Getting ready for Ramadan.
Tomorrow, Saturday at, inshallah, 8:15. Also, we will
be having our second set session of refresh
for Ramadan. Once again, kanana muslims dotca/live
is where you can find information on all
of our programming.
Bless you all.