Sikander Hashmi – Inner Peace Through Gratefulness KMA Friday Message

Sikander Hashmi
Share Page

AI: Summary ©

The rise in hospitalization rates and deaths due to COVID-19 in Ontario, Canada is part of Allah's control and public health officials should take reasonable measures. Many public gatherings have caused delays in the Thanksgiving long weekend, but it is not unusual for groups to gather. The importance of praise for Allah's accomplishments and the use of planting healthy vegetables with nutrition and benefit is emphasized. The focus on materialism is discussed, and the importance of value and appreciation for what one has is emphasized. The ultimate way to show gratitude towards Allah Subhanahu Wa wa wa wa wa wa is through increasing the obedience towards Allah and showing gratitude through extra prayers and gratitude through physicalular support and prayers. The worker will be asked about the blessings of Allah and showing gratitude through extra prayers and gratitude through physicalular support.

AI: Summary ©

00:00:20 --> 00:00:21
			Respected elders,
		
00:00:22 --> 00:00:23
			dear brothers and sisters,
		
00:00:24 --> 00:00:25
			my young friends,
		
00:00:25 --> 00:00:25
			Assalamu
		
00:00:29 --> 00:00:31
			alaikum. We begin by praising Allah, subhanahu, mu
		
00:00:31 --> 00:00:32
			ta'ala,
		
00:00:34 --> 00:00:35
			our creator,
		
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38
			our nourisher, our sustainer, our protector,
		
00:00:39 --> 00:00:41
			the Lord of the entire universe and everything
		
00:00:41 --> 00:00:42
			that it contains.
		
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45
			And we begin by sending peace and salutations
		
00:00:46 --> 00:00:47
			upon his beloved messenger,
		
00:00:48 --> 00:00:50
			Mohammed, the son of Abdullah.
		
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56
			My brothers and sisters,
		
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59
			I hope and pray that you and your
		
00:00:59 --> 00:00:59
			families
		
00:01:00 --> 00:01:01
			are doing well by the mercy and grace
		
00:01:01 --> 00:01:02
			of Allah
		
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06
			As you likely know,
		
00:01:07 --> 00:01:09
			the number of COVID 19
		
00:01:10 --> 00:01:10
			infections
		
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13
			in the city and in the province
		
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16
			here in Ontario, but also in Quebec,
		
00:01:16 --> 00:01:17
			have increased greatly.
		
00:01:18 --> 00:01:19
			And now,
		
00:01:20 --> 00:01:21
			maybe a few weeks ago, a couple of
		
00:01:21 --> 00:01:24
			weeks ago, I had mentioned that,
		
00:01:26 --> 00:01:26
			the hospitalization
		
00:01:27 --> 00:01:29
			rates had been stable up until that point.
		
00:01:29 --> 00:01:30
			But now
		
00:01:30 --> 00:01:31
			the local hospitalization,
		
00:01:33 --> 00:01:35
			rates and the death rates are also on
		
00:01:35 --> 00:01:36
			the rise.
		
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40
			Now, of course, all matters are in Allah's
		
00:01:40 --> 00:01:40
			control,
		
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43
			but it is part of our belief and
		
00:01:43 --> 00:01:43
			understanding
		
00:01:44 --> 00:01:45
			in the in
		
00:01:45 --> 00:01:46
			the reliance of Allah
		
00:01:47 --> 00:01:48
			reliance on Allah
		
00:01:49 --> 00:01:51
			that we take reasonable means
		
00:01:52 --> 00:01:53
			along with placing our trust and faith in
		
00:01:53 --> 00:01:54
			Allah.
		
00:01:55 --> 00:01:57
			Therefore, I would like to kindly ask you
		
00:01:57 --> 00:01:58
			to please
		
00:01:59 --> 00:02:01
			try to follow all public health guidelines
		
00:02:01 --> 00:02:03
			and there have also been a number of
		
00:02:03 --> 00:02:04
			outbreaks
		
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07
			at schools, including at an Islamic school as
		
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10
			well, resulting in a number of students and
		
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12
			teachers and families having to self isolate.
		
00:02:13 --> 00:02:14
			So I want to say that our duas
		
00:02:14 --> 00:02:16
			are with you, all of you. May Allah
		
00:02:18 --> 00:02:20
			keep you and all of us safe and
		
00:02:20 --> 00:02:21
			cure those who have been afflicted.
		
00:02:23 --> 00:02:25
			At this pain at this point, I would
		
00:02:25 --> 00:02:26
			say
		
00:02:26 --> 00:02:29
			don't wait for an outbreak to be declared
		
00:02:29 --> 00:02:32
			or for a confirmation of a positive case
		
00:02:32 --> 00:02:32
			somewhere.
		
00:02:33 --> 00:02:35
			Just assume that in every public place,
		
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37
			there likely are people who have the illness,
		
00:02:37 --> 00:02:39
			but perhaps they don't know about it. Because
		
00:02:39 --> 00:02:42
			at this point, contract trace contact tracing is
		
00:02:42 --> 00:02:44
			very difficult for public health
		
00:02:44 --> 00:02:45
			officials
		
00:02:45 --> 00:02:48
			and, they are not able to even the
		
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50
			results are coming in days, even a week
		
00:02:50 --> 00:02:53
			after a person is tested. By then, they
		
00:02:53 --> 00:02:54
			have met, you know, many people,
		
00:02:55 --> 00:02:57
			and probably have exposed others possibly,
		
00:02:58 --> 00:03:00
			and contact tracing, like I said, is extremely
		
00:03:00 --> 00:03:02
			difficult to get in touch with all of
		
00:03:02 --> 00:03:04
			those people, especially as the case counts increase.
		
00:03:05 --> 00:03:06
			So at this point, I think it is
		
00:03:06 --> 00:03:08
			safe to just assume
		
00:03:08 --> 00:03:10
			that in every public place, there are likely
		
00:03:10 --> 00:03:12
			people who have the illness. Maybe they don't
		
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13
			know about it,
		
00:03:13 --> 00:03:14
			and therefore,
		
00:03:15 --> 00:03:17
			behave accordingly by taking precautions when you go
		
00:03:17 --> 00:03:19
			to any public place.
		
00:03:19 --> 00:03:21
			The confirmation of cases in a location or
		
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23
			even an outbreak, in my opinion, are not
		
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26
			unexpected anymore in any place. So when a
		
00:03:26 --> 00:03:28
			school or or a masjid or any location
		
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30
			gets listed as, you know, having an outbreak
		
00:03:30 --> 00:03:33
			or having a positive case, it's something that
		
00:03:33 --> 00:03:34
			should be expected that it it can happen
		
00:03:34 --> 00:03:36
			really anywhere. It doesn't have to do with
		
00:03:36 --> 00:03:38
			the people who are there or their behavior
		
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39
			or anything like that necessarily.
		
00:03:40 --> 00:03:42
			Of course, there are some instances of private
		
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43
			gatherings, private parties,
		
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46
			weddings, things, perhaps, gatherings that shouldn't have been
		
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48
			happening or perhaps even were allowed to happen.
		
00:03:49 --> 00:03:51
			But, you know, there have been cases coming
		
00:03:51 --> 00:03:54
			out of there. Now that, of course, could
		
00:03:54 --> 00:03:55
			be due to the the the lack of
		
00:03:55 --> 00:03:57
			care perhaps by the people there. Allah knows
		
00:03:57 --> 00:03:59
			best, but nonetheless, we're not looking to put
		
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02
			blame. All we're saying is that, expect,
		
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05
			the unexpected and, just take precautions
		
00:04:05 --> 00:04:07
			as you move about and go about your
		
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08
			daily lives. Protect,
		
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11
			me and you and all of us. Now
		
00:04:12 --> 00:04:14
			this weekend, of course, is a long weekend.
		
00:04:15 --> 00:04:17
			Remember the days when, long weekend would bring
		
00:04:17 --> 00:04:18
			excitement?
		
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20
			Travel plans and many other things, perhaps not
		
00:04:20 --> 00:04:21
			so much anymore.
		
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24
			And, of course, it's a long weekend for
		
00:04:24 --> 00:04:27
			Thanksgiving, the Thanksgiving holiday, and the concern is
		
00:04:27 --> 00:04:29
			that people will gather as they're used to
		
00:04:29 --> 00:04:32
			doing. So normally, in the Thanksgiving long weekend
		
00:04:32 --> 00:04:34
			here in the in Canada and Western countries,
		
00:04:34 --> 00:04:35
			you know, people have large,
		
00:04:36 --> 00:04:36
			dinners,
		
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41
			specifically for Thanksgiving, but maybe Muslims and other
		
00:04:41 --> 00:04:43
			people of other faiths who are not celebrating
		
00:04:43 --> 00:04:45
			may still gather with family normally because it's,
		
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47
			long it's a long weekend. So the concern
		
00:04:47 --> 00:04:50
			is that that will continue to happen as
		
00:04:50 --> 00:04:51
			it used to in the past before the
		
00:04:51 --> 00:04:52
			pandemic.
		
00:04:52 --> 00:04:53
			Now
		
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55
			the, local tradition,
		
00:04:56 --> 00:04:59
			is to offer thanks after the harvest. So
		
00:04:59 --> 00:05:01
			as you see, the fall is here. Autumn
		
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02
			is here. Normally, this would be the time
		
00:05:02 --> 00:05:05
			when many of the farmers would be, doing
		
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07
			the harvest or would be gathering all of
		
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08
			their crops and their their fruits and some
		
00:05:08 --> 00:05:09
			vegetables.
		
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11
			So this would be, a time when they
		
00:05:11 --> 00:05:14
			would gather, to give thanks. Now for the
		
00:05:14 --> 00:05:14
			believers,
		
00:05:15 --> 00:05:15
			giving thanks
		
00:05:16 --> 00:05:19
			to and praising Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is
		
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21
			something that is regular. Now there's a difference
		
00:05:21 --> 00:05:21
			between,
		
00:05:22 --> 00:05:25
			shukr and hamd. Right? So we praise Allah
		
00:05:25 --> 00:05:26
			subhanahu wa ta'ala,
		
00:05:27 --> 00:05:28
			Yani, when you say
		
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30
			because Allah
		
00:05:31 --> 00:05:32
			is deserving of all praise.
		
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35
			Regardless of any gift that he may have
		
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36
			given us, just
		
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38
			he in and of in and of himself,
		
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39
			Allah
		
00:05:40 --> 00:05:43
			his being is worthy of praise. And Shukr
		
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46
			is normally done in return for something. Right?
		
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48
			So hamt and shukr were close. I mean,
		
00:05:48 --> 00:05:52
			they're often translated as thanks, praise, but, shukr
		
00:05:52 --> 00:05:54
			would be, you know, in return for the
		
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57
			blessings that we have received, whereas hamt is,
		
00:05:57 --> 00:06:00
			regardless of the blessings that are received, ham
		
00:06:00 --> 00:06:01
			is something which is due to Allah
		
00:06:03 --> 00:06:04
			simply due to this,
		
00:06:05 --> 00:06:07
			to to his great being.
		
00:06:09 --> 00:06:09
			Now,
		
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12
			the prophet salaamahu alaihi wasallam has told us
		
00:06:12 --> 00:06:15
			that thanking Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for
		
00:06:16 --> 00:06:18
			his blessings is something that is should be
		
00:06:18 --> 00:06:19
			regular for the believers.
		
00:06:20 --> 00:06:22
			The prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam said,
		
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32
			That Allah is pleased with his slave, with
		
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33
			his servant who says,
		
00:06:34 --> 00:06:37
			when he takes a morsel of food and,
		
00:06:38 --> 00:06:39
			thanks Allah
		
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40
			praises Allah
		
00:06:41 --> 00:06:44
			when he drinks a sip of water. So
		
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46
			this is something which a believer should be
		
00:06:46 --> 00:06:50
			doing regularly even with every morsel and every
		
00:06:50 --> 00:06:52
			drink of water that we get that we
		
00:06:52 --> 00:06:53
			praise Allah
		
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55
			and the word that is used here is
		
00:06:55 --> 00:06:55
			hammed.
		
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58
			But of course we will talk also about
		
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01
			forms of shukr as well. So for Muslims
		
00:07:01 --> 00:07:04
			Thanksgiving for food is something or remembering Allah
		
00:07:05 --> 00:07:06
			and praising Allah
		
00:07:07 --> 00:07:09
			is something that is to be done at
		
00:07:09 --> 00:07:12
			every meal and ideally at every bite. Right?
		
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14
			So every time that we partake in the
		
00:07:14 --> 00:07:17
			blessings of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, particularly when
		
00:07:17 --> 00:07:18
			it comes to food and drink,
		
00:07:19 --> 00:07:19
			we express,
		
00:07:20 --> 00:07:21
			or at least feel appreciation
		
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24
			and praise for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, express
		
00:07:24 --> 00:07:25
			it or at least feel it in our
		
00:07:25 --> 00:07:27
			hearts. Now
		
00:07:27 --> 00:07:29
			in, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala,
		
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32
			in fact, goes one step further,
		
00:07:32 --> 00:07:34
			and he tells us that the crops
		
00:07:34 --> 00:07:35
			and the harvest,
		
00:07:36 --> 00:07:38
			should make us think and reflect.
		
00:07:38 --> 00:07:40
			Like, you'll notice, like, you go to the
		
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41
			supermarket. The other day, I was at the
		
00:07:41 --> 00:07:43
			supermarket and there was apples for 44¢ a
		
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45
			pound. When was the last time you saw
		
00:07:45 --> 00:07:47
			apples for 44¢ a pound? But, of course,
		
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49
			it's the time of harvest. This is when
		
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50
			the apples are being picked from the trees
		
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52
			and there's an abundance of, fruits,
		
00:07:53 --> 00:07:56
			So, you know, this is, this is something
		
00:07:56 --> 00:07:57
			that when we see even if you're not
		
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59
			most of us are probably not farmers. You're
		
00:07:59 --> 00:08:01
			not actually, you know, doing the harvest. Maybe
		
00:08:01 --> 00:08:03
			you are in your garden or something. But
		
00:08:03 --> 00:08:05
			nonetheless, the the crops and the harvest should
		
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07
			make us think and reflect as well. Allah
		
00:08:07 --> 00:08:09
			subhanahu wa ta'ala tells us,
		
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24
			That he is the one who produces for
		
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26
			you various crops. And, of course, the ones
		
00:08:26 --> 00:08:27
			that I mentioned are those that were familiar
		
00:08:27 --> 00:08:29
			especially to when the to the people of
		
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31
			Arabia when the Quran is being revealed. So
		
00:08:31 --> 00:08:34
			cropped olives and palm trees, grape wines. But
		
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35
			Allah mentions
		
00:08:36 --> 00:08:38
			and every type of fruit. And he says
		
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40
			that surely and this is a sign for
		
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41
			those who reflect.
		
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43
			So while we are eating,
		
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45
			don't don't just be focused on just eating,
		
00:08:45 --> 00:08:47
			eating, eating, and enjoying the food, but also
		
00:08:47 --> 00:08:48
			praise Allah
		
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52
			Thank Allah and reflect because in this, there
		
00:08:52 --> 00:08:52
			are signs
		
00:08:53 --> 00:08:54
			of the greatness of Allah
		
00:08:55 --> 00:08:58
			There are signs, many great lessons and signs
		
00:08:58 --> 00:09:00
			even in the fruits and the crops, and
		
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01
			the vegetables,
		
00:09:01 --> 00:09:03
			the food that we enjoy. So use that
		
00:09:03 --> 00:09:06
			as a means to reflect upon the greatness
		
00:09:06 --> 00:09:09
			of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. When you look
		
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10
			at them, you said delicious,
		
00:09:11 --> 00:09:13
			you know, fruits and healthy vegetables with so
		
00:09:13 --> 00:09:16
			much nutrition and benefit. Who's making them and
		
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18
			who has designed them? And I'm amazed. I
		
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19
			think I mentioned this before too, especially when
		
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21
			I look at the watermelon. Like,
		
00:09:22 --> 00:09:24
			you know, you've got this fruit which is
		
00:09:24 --> 00:09:26
			filled with, like, mostly water. Right? And it's
		
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28
			just like sucking up water. Now it grows
		
00:09:28 --> 00:09:30
			from one seed, of course, and then it's
		
00:09:30 --> 00:09:31
			like sucking up all this water and just
		
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33
			storing it. And who knows where it grew
		
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35
			and where it came from, but now all
		
00:09:35 --> 00:09:37
			this water comes to your table and you
		
00:09:37 --> 00:09:38
			cut it and you eat that fruit and
		
00:09:38 --> 00:09:40
			not only is does it have all this
		
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41
			water that he's that it sucked in, but
		
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43
			it also has, you know, nutrition and also
		
00:09:43 --> 00:09:44
			has sweetness
		
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46
			and the color and the subhanallah. You know?
		
00:09:46 --> 00:09:48
			And that's just one fruit. So, you know,
		
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51
			who's making these fruits and who's designed them?
		
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53
			The seeds, the soil, the fact that the
		
00:09:53 --> 00:09:55
			seed can just stay dry for years. And
		
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57
			then when you plant it in, it has
		
00:09:57 --> 00:09:59
			the right conditions, it knows when to sprout.
		
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00
			You leave it in the wrong conditions, it's
		
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02
			never gonna sprout. But you put it we
		
00:10:02 --> 00:10:04
			give it the right conditions of the soil,
		
00:10:04 --> 00:10:06
			the the mix of soil, water,
		
00:10:07 --> 00:10:09
			sunlight, and then, subhanallah, when the right conditions
		
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11
			are met, it starts sprouting and from that
		
00:10:11 --> 00:10:13
			little seed comes out the plant and then
		
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15
			from that comes so many other, other fruits
		
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16
			as well.
		
00:10:16 --> 00:10:18
			So so many units that come out of
		
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19
			1 one seed or out of 1 plant.
		
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22
			You know, so where did this all all
		
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23
			this come from and the things that it
		
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25
			needs to grow, where did those come from?
		
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26
			So just using opportunities,
		
00:10:27 --> 00:10:29
			every opportunity that we find to reflect upon
		
00:10:29 --> 00:10:31
			the greatness and the creation of Allah
		
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34
			and how beautifully he has designed all of
		
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35
			these things,
		
00:10:36 --> 00:10:40
			for our, Allah has designed for our benefit.
		
00:10:41 --> 00:10:42
			Now,
		
00:10:42 --> 00:10:44
			of course, we know that nothing happens on
		
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45
			its own. So if it was created, it
		
00:10:45 --> 00:10:48
			must have a creator, and the creator is
		
00:10:48 --> 00:10:50
			the one who has blessed us in literally
		
00:10:50 --> 00:10:53
			countless of ways. Now our nature our human
		
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55
			nature, as we probably know, is that when
		
00:10:55 --> 00:10:56
			things are going good,
		
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58
			we forget about the source of the blessings
		
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59
			we enjoy.
		
00:10:59 --> 00:11:01
			Right? Or even that there are perhaps that
		
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03
			there are even blessings upon us. We take
		
00:11:03 --> 00:11:05
			it for granted. That is just human nature.
		
00:11:05 --> 00:11:07
			Right? That when things are going well, you
		
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09
			forget about who has put the blessings upon
		
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11
			us, who has sent us the blessings.
		
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12
			And,
		
00:11:12 --> 00:11:15
			we even forget that there are blessings. Right?
		
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17
			We just start taking for granted whether it's,
		
00:11:17 --> 00:11:19
			you know, us enjoying our health or our
		
00:11:19 --> 00:11:21
			free time, the food that we are eating
		
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22
			and enjoying,
		
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25
			having a shelter, over our heads, our clothing,
		
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26
			our cars, our wealth,
		
00:11:27 --> 00:11:29
			luxuries, our safety and security is, subhanallah, I
		
00:11:29 --> 00:11:31
			mean, there's just so many things,
		
00:11:31 --> 00:11:33
			that truly it is impossible,
		
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35
			to count them as Allah tells
		
00:11:35 --> 00:11:36
			us
		
00:11:38 --> 00:11:40
			that if you try to count, enumerate, and
		
00:11:40 --> 00:11:43
			truly appreciate all of the blessings of Allah
		
00:11:43 --> 00:11:45
			Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, you would not be able
		
00:11:45 --> 00:11:45
			to do that.
		
00:11:47 --> 00:11:49
			Even, you know, just thinking this morning, laying
		
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50
			in a warm bed,
		
00:11:50 --> 00:11:51
			that is a great blessing of Allah Subhanahu
		
00:11:51 --> 00:11:53
			Wa Ta'ala. How many times have you when
		
00:11:53 --> 00:11:55
			you're cold when it's cold outside, you know,
		
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56
			there was a frost last night, you know,
		
00:11:56 --> 00:11:59
			it's it's getting a bit colder and, you're
		
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00
			laying in bed and the bed is warm
		
00:12:00 --> 00:12:02
			and you have a nice blanket, you know,
		
00:12:02 --> 00:12:04
			that cozy feeling. Okay. That is a great
		
00:12:04 --> 00:12:06
			blessing of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. And how
		
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07
			many times, you know, have we actually considered
		
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09
			that to be a blessing and and thank
		
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for that. Now when
		
00:12:11 --> 00:12:13
			we think of blessings, it's important to think
		
00:12:13 --> 00:12:16
			about what Allah has given us
		
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18
			and not others who are blessed more than
		
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19
			us.
		
00:12:20 --> 00:12:22
			When you think of blessings, it's important to
		
00:12:22 --> 00:12:24
			think about what Allah has blessed us with,
		
00:12:25 --> 00:12:27
			not to start thinking about what Allah has
		
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28
			given others.
		
00:12:29 --> 00:12:31
			Those who have been blessed more than us
		
00:12:31 --> 00:12:31
			because the prophet
		
00:12:33 --> 00:12:33
			has told us
		
00:12:38 --> 00:12:41
			that look at those below you, meaning those
		
00:12:41 --> 00:12:43
			who have been given less than you, do
		
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45
			not look at those above you.
		
00:12:46 --> 00:12:46
			Why?
		
00:12:49 --> 00:12:51
			For it is the best way not to
		
00:12:51 --> 00:12:53
			belittle the favors of Allah.
		
00:12:54 --> 00:12:55
			It is the best way to not
		
00:12:55 --> 00:12:58
			belittle the favors of Allah. What is the
		
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00
			prescription? Look at those or look at those
		
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02
			below you, meaning those who have been blessed
		
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04
			with less than you. Do not look at
		
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05
			those who are above you, who are better
		
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07
			off than you. For it is the best
		
00:13:07 --> 00:13:10
			way not to belittle the favors of Allah
		
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12
			Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. Implying that what? If you
		
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14
			do that, you're gonna end up potentially
		
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17
			belittling the favors of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
		
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19
			You know, if you, you know, you're because
		
00:13:19 --> 00:13:21
			you're always focused on that which you do
		
00:13:21 --> 00:13:24
			not have, not realizing what you actually have.
		
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26
			Meaning, what Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala has actually
		
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27
			blessed you with. Now if you own a
		
00:13:27 --> 00:13:30
			car, be grateful. Right? If you own a
		
00:13:30 --> 00:13:31
			car
		
00:13:31 --> 00:13:34
			that isn't regularly going to the mechanic, then
		
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37
			be extra grateful. Right? If you eat daily,
		
00:13:37 --> 00:13:39
			be grateful. If you walk into a store
		
00:13:39 --> 00:13:42
			for groceries without having to consider which store
		
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43
			it is and how much the things cost,
		
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44
			then you just go and you buy whichever
		
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45
			whatever you want,
		
00:13:46 --> 00:13:48
			Be extra grateful. Right? Because not everyone is
		
00:13:48 --> 00:13:50
			able to do that. If you eat,
		
00:13:50 --> 00:13:53
			be grateful. If you are able to or
		
00:13:53 --> 00:13:56
			if you are regularly eating out, be extra
		
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58
			grateful because, of course, it's more expensive to
		
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59
			go and eat out. If you have a
		
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00
			roof over your head,
		
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02
			be grateful.
		
00:14:02 --> 00:14:04
			But if you own that roof, then be
		
00:14:04 --> 00:14:05
			extra grateful.
		
00:14:05 --> 00:14:08
			Anas radiAllahu anhu reported that the messenger of
		
00:14:08 --> 00:14:11
			Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam would say when
		
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13
			he retired to his bed, So meaning before
		
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14
			going to sleep, the prophet
		
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17
			would make the za'a would say,
		
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21
			The
		
00:14:24 --> 00:14:26
			all praise is due to Allah who has
		
00:14:26 --> 00:14:28
			fed us, given us drink,
		
00:14:29 --> 00:14:31
			sufficed us, and sheltered us. And then he
		
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32
			would say,
		
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37
			that how many are those who do not
		
00:14:37 --> 00:14:40
			have enough and have no shelter?
		
00:14:48 --> 00:14:50
			How many are those who do not have
		
00:14:50 --> 00:14:54
			enough and have no shelter? So here, prophet
		
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58
			would have a regular practice of praising Allah
		
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00
			Subhanahu wa ta'ala, expressing gratitude to Allah Subhanahu
		
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01
			wa ta'ala,
		
00:15:01 --> 00:15:04
			but also thinking of those who have less.
		
00:15:05 --> 00:15:07
			Thinking of those who had less and who
		
00:15:07 --> 00:15:10
			did not have enough to suffice them. Allah
		
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11
			bring ease to all of those who are
		
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12
			living in hardship.
		
00:15:13 --> 00:15:15
			My brothers and sisters, we live in a
		
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17
			society that is focused on materialism.
		
00:15:19 --> 00:15:20
			I think there's no doubt about that. We
		
00:15:20 --> 00:15:22
			live in a society that is focused on
		
00:15:22 --> 00:15:26
			materialism. The focus is, of course, on on
		
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27
			selling things,
		
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29
			of course, because that runs the economy. Right?
		
00:15:29 --> 00:15:31
			And trade in business is good. There's nothing
		
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32
			wrong with that from Islamic point of view.
		
00:15:32 --> 00:15:35
			The problem is is that it is,
		
00:15:36 --> 00:15:36
			that that,
		
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40
			that that trade and that sale
		
00:15:40 --> 00:15:43
			relies on convincing people
		
00:15:43 --> 00:15:47
			relies on convincing people, not just convincing because,
		
00:15:47 --> 00:15:47
			you know,
		
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49
			honest marketing is fine. There's nothing wrong with
		
00:15:49 --> 00:15:53
			that. But on creating desires within people to
		
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54
			want more,
		
00:15:54 --> 00:15:57
			feeding greed in people so that it pushes
		
00:15:57 --> 00:16:00
			sales so that the economy can run. Right?
		
00:16:00 --> 00:16:03
			So the whole model is based on creating
		
00:16:03 --> 00:16:06
			that desire, fueling that desire of having more
		
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08
			and more and more. So it's focused on
		
00:16:08 --> 00:16:11
			materialism. Now what ends up happening and, you
		
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13
			know, you can observe this perhaps amongst yourself
		
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14
			or, you know,
		
00:16:14 --> 00:16:17
			yourself primarily, but maybe you'll see it generally
		
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19
			in society, is that people are so focused
		
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21
			on what they want
		
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24
			that they often forget
		
00:16:24 --> 00:16:27
			to value and appreciate what they currently have.
		
00:16:27 --> 00:16:30
			They're constantly focused on wanting more. Everyone's always
		
00:16:30 --> 00:16:33
			pushing you. Society is telling you that you
		
00:16:33 --> 00:16:35
			need to have more. You need to do
		
00:16:35 --> 00:16:37
			better. You need to have more things and
		
00:16:37 --> 00:16:39
			live even a better life. So you fall
		
00:16:39 --> 00:16:42
			so focused on what you want that you
		
00:16:42 --> 00:16:42
			end up
		
00:16:43 --> 00:16:45
			forgetting and, and and forgetting to value and
		
00:16:45 --> 00:16:47
			appreciate what you actually currently have been blessed.
		
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50
			That by, from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. So
		
00:16:50 --> 00:16:52
			always looking at and desiring things that are
		
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54
			better. Don't realize what you've been blessed with.
		
00:16:55 --> 00:16:57
			And somehow what ends up happening is that,
		
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59
			yes, this is a serious problem to the
		
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01
			point where people will end up losing sleep
		
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03
			and end up losing their peace,
		
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04
			like inner peace
		
00:17:05 --> 00:17:07
			over getting more and better.
		
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09
			Right? And they try so hard to try
		
00:17:09 --> 00:17:11
			to gain more and gain gain more and
		
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13
			get ahead in terms of the dunya. Now,
		
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15
			of course, legitimate needs from the left. No
		
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18
			problem. Right? You go, you'll strive to feed
		
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19
			your family, to take care of your family,
		
00:17:19 --> 00:17:21
			to have a place to live, you know,
		
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23
			and and and to to to fulfill your
		
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25
			responsibilities. And there's nothing wrong with doing that.
		
00:17:25 --> 00:17:28
			Right? But losing sleep and peace over just
		
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29
			trying
		
00:17:29 --> 00:17:32
			to get ahead in terms of beyond what
		
00:17:32 --> 00:17:33
			is necessary
		
00:17:33 --> 00:17:36
			and try so hard and that and and
		
00:17:36 --> 00:17:38
			if then it doesn't work, you end up
		
00:17:38 --> 00:17:40
			feeling sad and feeling depressed.
		
00:17:40 --> 00:17:42
			I tried so hard. Right? I'm trying to
		
00:17:42 --> 00:17:44
			score this investment. I'm trying to find this
		
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45
			property. I'm trying to do this. I'm trying
		
00:17:45 --> 00:17:47
			to do that. And you're trying so hard
		
00:17:47 --> 00:17:49
			and it's not working and you keep pushing
		
00:17:49 --> 00:17:51
			and you keep trying harder and harder and
		
00:17:51 --> 00:17:53
			harder to build a better life. Remember, I'm
		
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55
			talking about that which is beyond the needs
		
00:17:55 --> 00:17:57
			and beyond what is necessary.
		
00:17:57 --> 00:17:59
			You know, whereas the reality is
		
00:18:00 --> 00:18:03
			that the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam said that
		
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06
			that everything has a reality.
		
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12
			And servant will not reach the reality of
		
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13
			faith, the
		
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15
			of iman of faith
		
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16
			until
		
00:18:23 --> 00:18:26
			until they know that what struck them. Right?
		
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27
			Or you can also translate as, you know,
		
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29
			as what they they achieved or what they
		
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30
			gained
		
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31
			could never miss them.
		
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33
			And that
		
00:18:33 --> 00:18:36
			what misses them or that what missed them
		
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37
			could have never struck them or could have
		
00:18:37 --> 00:18:40
			never come to them. Right? So this is
		
00:18:40 --> 00:18:43
			the reality of iman that whatever we gain,
		
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45
			we, you know or that strikes us, whether
		
00:18:45 --> 00:18:47
			it's positive or negative. Right? If it's positive,
		
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49
			we feel like we achieved it through our
		
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50
			own efforts,
		
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52
			you know, and if if it strikes us,
		
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54
			then perhaps we're looking to blame someone or
		
00:18:54 --> 00:18:57
			something. But the reality is is that whatever
		
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58
			comes to us
		
00:18:58 --> 00:19:00
			could have never missed us,
		
00:19:00 --> 00:19:02
			and whatever misses us could have never come
		
00:19:02 --> 00:19:04
			to us. Okay? So you lose out on
		
00:19:04 --> 00:19:06
			a deal. You lose out on something. Right?
		
00:19:06 --> 00:19:08
			You you feel like you lost an opportunity.
		
00:19:09 --> 00:19:11
			Right? Don't use don't make it feel you
		
00:19:11 --> 00:19:13
			pull you down or make you feel sad
		
00:19:13 --> 00:19:13
			or depressed.
		
00:19:14 --> 00:19:16
			Right? Similarly, something strikes you that you didn't
		
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17
			want.
		
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18
			Right?
		
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20
			Know and have faith that this is how
		
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21
			it was meant to be. Now, of course,
		
00:19:21 --> 00:19:24
			we learn lessons, right, from what happens. We
		
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25
			try to do better in terms of our
		
00:19:25 --> 00:19:27
			own actions and in terms of, you know,
		
00:19:27 --> 00:19:29
			our approach. So certainly, we can learn lessons.
		
00:19:30 --> 00:19:33
			But don't, you know, let it, you know,
		
00:19:33 --> 00:19:33
			lose,
		
00:19:34 --> 00:19:37
			or don't let it cause you to lose
		
00:19:37 --> 00:19:39
			sleep and to lose your inner peace because
		
00:19:39 --> 00:19:41
			the believer knows that whatever has come to
		
00:19:41 --> 00:19:43
			me is from the that is good. It's
		
00:19:43 --> 00:19:45
			the blessings of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. Even
		
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47
			if I made an effort, Allah is the
		
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48
			one who blessed me. And if I made
		
00:19:48 --> 00:19:50
			an effort and it didn't happen, it's because
		
00:19:50 --> 00:19:52
			it wasn't meant for me. Perhaps there was
		
00:19:52 --> 00:19:55
			something better for me. Right? For, or, perhaps
		
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56
			Allah has planned something better for me or
		
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58
			perhaps it wasn't good for me. So don't
		
00:19:58 --> 00:20:00
			let it get you down and pull you
		
00:20:00 --> 00:20:02
			down because whatever is meant for you will
		
00:20:02 --> 00:20:04
			come to you. Of course, you try to
		
00:20:04 --> 00:20:06
			make your effort reasonably, but whatever is meant
		
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07
			for you, whatever is written for you in
		
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09
			terms of risk and in terms of sustenance
		
00:20:09 --> 00:20:11
			and everything that is going good in terms
		
00:20:11 --> 00:20:13
			of Allah's blessings, they will come to you
		
00:20:13 --> 00:20:15
			because Allah has willed it so. And whatever
		
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17
			has misses you, whatever misses you, whatever opportunity
		
00:20:17 --> 00:20:19
			you're not able to avail of,
		
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21
			that is because it was not meant for
		
00:20:21 --> 00:20:23
			you and it would have never come to
		
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24
			you. And also this is a very, very
		
00:20:24 --> 00:20:26
			important part of having,
		
00:20:26 --> 00:20:28
			a a complete faith,
		
00:20:28 --> 00:20:30
			And, of course, it's one thing to to
		
00:20:30 --> 00:20:32
			know it or to say it or to
		
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34
			understand it. It's another to actually believe it.
		
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36
			When that situation happens
		
00:20:37 --> 00:20:39
			when that situation happens to us, it is
		
00:20:39 --> 00:20:42
			important to have this as a foundational belief
		
00:20:43 --> 00:20:47
			which translates into or affects or impacts positively
		
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49
			how we think
		
00:20:49 --> 00:20:52
			and how we approach situations and and and
		
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53
			our attitudes. Right? If you just know it,
		
00:20:53 --> 00:20:55
			we say, yes. Yes. I know that. But
		
00:20:55 --> 00:20:57
			then when the time comes, it doesn't actually
		
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59
			change our behavior. It doesn't impact our behavior.
		
00:20:59 --> 00:21:02
			Then that means the the complete impact is
		
00:21:02 --> 00:21:05
			not there, right, as it should be.
		
00:21:05 --> 00:21:05
			Now,
		
00:21:06 --> 00:21:08
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tells us, as I
		
00:21:08 --> 00:21:10
			mentioned, that if you tried to count Allah's
		
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11
			blessings, you would never be able to number
		
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12
			them and,
		
00:21:12 --> 00:21:15
			so, you know, if if if we are
		
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16
			not able to,
		
00:21:16 --> 00:21:19
			enumerate all of the blessings of Allah,
		
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22
			we are also not able to give proper
		
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23
			thanks to Allah
		
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24
			for his blessings.
		
00:21:25 --> 00:21:27
			Think about it. How are you gonna give
		
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27
			full thanks
		
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30
			and show full appreciation for all the blessings
		
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32
			when you are not even able to recognize
		
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34
			all the blessings, when you're not able to
		
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35
			count all of the blessings of Allah Subhanahu
		
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37
			Wa Ta'ala. Now Mu'adhu
		
00:21:38 --> 00:21:40
			said that the messenger of Allah salallahu alayhi
		
00:21:40 --> 00:21:42
			wa sallam took his hand and he said,
		
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50
			Omarad, by Allah, I love you. By Allah,
		
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51
			I love you. Then the prophet
		
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53
			said to him,
		
00:21:56 --> 00:21:58
			that I advise you, oh, Mu'az,
		
00:22:02 --> 00:22:05
			that do not fail following every prayer to
		
00:22:05 --> 00:22:08
			say. Do not fail. Do not forget
		
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11
			to that following every prayer that you say,
		
00:22:16 --> 00:22:18
			That oh, Allah help me to remember you,
		
00:22:18 --> 00:22:21
			thank you, and worship you properly.
		
00:22:21 --> 00:22:23
			Right? So this is the golden advice of
		
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24
			the prophet
		
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26
			that
		
00:22:27 --> 00:22:29
			do not forget, do not fail
		
00:22:29 --> 00:22:31
			to say following every prayer.
		
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37
			Essentially, asking Allah's
		
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39
			assistance
		
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41
			and even showing neediness when it comes to
		
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42
			the remembrance of Allah
		
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44
			The thanking,
		
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46
			or showing gratitude to Allah
		
00:22:47 --> 00:22:50
			and the proper worship of Allah subhanahu
		
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51
			wa ta'ala.
		
00:22:51 --> 00:22:54
			Now, you know, how should we be, thanking
		
00:22:54 --> 00:22:56
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala properly,
		
00:22:56 --> 00:22:58
			or how should we be trying to even
		
00:22:58 --> 00:23:00
			though we cannot do it fully? But what
		
00:23:00 --> 00:23:01
			should be our,
		
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02
			effort,
		
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06
			You know, for collective,
		
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08
			communal thanks,
		
00:23:08 --> 00:23:10
			Allah has given us 2 occasions.
		
00:23:16 --> 00:23:18
			Allah tells us, you know, after the verses
		
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19
			of fasting that
		
00:23:20 --> 00:23:23
			one of the, objectives of, of of the
		
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24
			the end of Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr
		
00:23:24 --> 00:23:26
			is that you'll glorify Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
		
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28
			for having guided you and so that you
		
00:23:28 --> 00:23:30
			may be grateful to him. So,
		
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34
			as well, the celebrations that we have are
		
00:23:34 --> 00:23:36
			a means of showing gratitude,
		
00:23:36 --> 00:23:38
			to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Now we do
		
00:23:38 --> 00:23:40
			not have an established tradition
		
00:23:40 --> 00:23:43
			of offering collective thanks through a particular holiday
		
00:23:43 --> 00:23:46
			or a particular meal or an event. Now
		
00:23:46 --> 00:23:49
			individually, the scholars tell us that there that,
		
00:23:49 --> 00:23:52
			Shukr is made up of 3 elements, which
		
00:23:52 --> 00:23:55
			is gratitude of the heart, gratitude of the
		
00:23:55 --> 00:23:58
			tongue, and gratitude of the physical faculties. Right?
		
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00
			So in the heart, we believe and we
		
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01
			recognize.
		
00:24:01 --> 00:24:03
			We sense the value of the blessings of
		
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07
			And we fully acknowledge and appreciate and believe
		
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10
			that he is the one who has bestowed
		
00:24:10 --> 00:24:12
			the he is the only one who has
		
00:24:12 --> 00:24:15
			bestowed these these great great blessings upon us.
		
00:24:15 --> 00:24:18
			And this is the obligatory or the basic
		
00:24:18 --> 00:24:20
			where minimum form of, of shipper towards Allah
		
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21
			subhanahu
		
00:24:21 --> 00:24:24
			wa ta'ala and truly believing if you have
		
00:24:24 --> 00:24:27
			made an effort, they are not the result
		
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28
			of your efforts. They are not the result
		
00:24:28 --> 00:24:30
			of your hard work. Because guess what? You
		
00:24:30 --> 00:24:32
			could have made the same effort and not
		
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33
			have anything to show for.
		
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39
			Right? So the fact that you made an
		
00:24:39 --> 00:24:42
			effort and you ended up with a positive
		
00:24:42 --> 00:24:45
			result and received this goodness is actually a
		
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47
			blessing from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:24:47 --> 00:24:50
			From the tongue acknowledging it and expressing it
		
00:24:50 --> 00:24:53
			verbally. Right? After believing it in the heart,
		
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54
			expressing it verbally,
		
00:24:55 --> 00:24:58
			and and, you know, verbally with our words
		
00:24:58 --> 00:24:58
			showing a great,
		
00:24:59 --> 00:25:02
			expressing thanks to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala,
		
00:25:02 --> 00:25:05
			attributing our success, our achievements, our progress, everything
		
00:25:05 --> 00:25:08
			to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. Right? So if
		
00:25:08 --> 00:25:10
			you achieve something, you know, you get a
		
00:25:10 --> 00:25:11
			medal, you get a promotion, you know, you
		
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12
			get a bonus,
		
00:25:12 --> 00:25:14
			people praise you for some good work, attribute
		
00:25:14 --> 00:25:16
			that success and that positivity
		
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18
			to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala,
		
00:25:19 --> 00:25:19
			verbally.
		
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21
			Make dua to Allah
		
00:25:22 --> 00:25:25
			talk to Allah, thank him for, recognize and
		
00:25:25 --> 00:25:27
			thank him for the blessings and the gifts
		
00:25:27 --> 00:25:29
			that he has given you. And finally, using
		
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30
			the physical faculties
		
00:25:30 --> 00:25:32
			in the obedience of Allah
		
00:25:33 --> 00:25:36
			and keeping them from committing acts of disobedience
		
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37
			that Allah has forbidden.
		
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39
			Right? Because on the one hand, Allah is
		
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41
			blessing us, but if we use those same
		
00:25:41 --> 00:25:44
			blessings to disobey Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala,
		
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45
			then, you know,
		
00:25:46 --> 00:25:48
			seriously, like, is that something that
		
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50
			is is that that anyone would like and
		
00:25:50 --> 00:25:52
			especially Allah Azza Wa Jal that, you know,
		
00:25:52 --> 00:25:55
			you take blessings. Imagine yourself. You give, you
		
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55
			know,
		
00:25:56 --> 00:25:58
			something to someone that happens to parents all
		
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59
			the time. You know, you you feed your
		
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00
			children, you take care of them, and then
		
00:26:00 --> 00:26:02
			they turn away around and they disobey you.
		
00:26:02 --> 00:26:04
			How does that make you feel? Right? It's
		
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05
			not a positive feeling. It's not something that,
		
00:26:05 --> 00:26:07
			you know, is is is good and that
		
00:26:07 --> 00:26:09
			is expected. So, of course, it is even
		
00:26:09 --> 00:26:11
			more serious and more greater when it comes
		
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12
			to Allah subhanahu
		
00:26:12 --> 00:26:14
			wa ta'ala. And the prophet sallallahu alaihi wa
		
00:26:14 --> 00:26:16
			sallam will show that ultimate,
		
00:26:17 --> 00:26:17
			of physical
		
00:26:18 --> 00:26:18
			striving,
		
00:26:19 --> 00:26:22
			of showing gratitude by standing in prayer. Right?
		
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24
			So the prophet, sallallahu alaihi wasallam, be standing
		
00:26:24 --> 00:26:26
			at night in prayer. Feet are swelling. His
		
00:26:26 --> 00:26:29
			blessed feet are swelling and cracking.
		
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30
			And Aisha radiAllahu
		
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33
			anha asked him that, oh, prophet of Allah,
		
00:26:33 --> 00:26:35
			why do you go, why do you undergo
		
00:26:35 --> 00:26:38
			so much hardship despite the fact that Allah
		
00:26:38 --> 00:26:40
			has pardoned you for your earlier and later,
		
00:26:40 --> 00:26:42
			mistakes and sins? And the prophet, sallallahu alaihi,
		
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44
			was sort of response.
		
00:26:46 --> 00:26:48
			Should I not prove myself to be a
		
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49
			thankful servant?
		
00:26:50 --> 00:26:52
			Should I not prove myself to be a
		
00:26:52 --> 00:26:54
			thankful servant? So this was you know, this
		
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56
			is the ultimate way of showing gratitude to
		
00:26:56 --> 00:26:59
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is by increasing our
		
00:26:59 --> 00:27:02
			obedience towards Allah, particularly prayers,
		
00:27:03 --> 00:27:06
			and, you know, show expressing gratitude to Allah
		
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08
			through extra prayers,
		
00:27:08 --> 00:27:10
			and, of course, the prophet
		
00:27:11 --> 00:27:13
			and the Sahaba radiAllahu anhu, they would also
		
00:27:13 --> 00:27:16
			prostrate in in in gratitude as well.
		
00:27:17 --> 00:27:20
			Right? They would hear about a pleasant matter.
		
00:27:20 --> 00:27:22
			If there was some relief, a major victory,
		
00:27:22 --> 00:27:25
			they would drop into sujood into prostration
		
00:27:25 --> 00:27:29
			to physically show gratitude and and express gratitude
		
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30
			towards Allah
		
00:27:34 --> 00:27:36
			Now one of the first things that we'll
		
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37
			be asked about
		
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40
			will be about the blessings of Allah
		
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42
			On the day of judgement, on the day
		
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43
			of resurrection, the prophet
		
00:27:45 --> 00:27:45
			told us that
		
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58
			that the really, the first thing the servant
		
00:27:58 --> 00:28:00
			will be asked about on the day of
		
00:28:00 --> 00:28:00
			resurrection
		
00:28:01 --> 00:28:03
			will be the blessings, his blessings. It will
		
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05
			be said to him, have we not given
		
00:28:05 --> 00:28:07
			you health in your body and nourished you
		
00:28:07 --> 00:28:10
			with cool water to drink? So this is
		
00:28:10 --> 00:28:12
			one of the first things that we'll be
		
00:28:12 --> 00:28:12
			asked about,
		
00:28:13 --> 00:28:15
			the blessings of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Now
		
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16
			you might be thinking, okay, I think I
		
00:28:16 --> 00:28:18
			heard of of a hadith before. The hadith
		
00:28:18 --> 00:28:20
			that talks about the first thing that a
		
00:28:20 --> 00:28:22
			person will be asked about is their prayers.
		
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24
			So there's I thought of that as well.
		
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26
			So I looked it up, and there's a
		
00:28:26 --> 00:28:28
			slight difference in the wording. So in the
		
00:28:28 --> 00:28:28
			whole
		
00:28:29 --> 00:28:31
			with regards to prayers. So the first thing
		
00:28:31 --> 00:28:33
			that a person will be held to account
		
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34
			for.
		
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36
			A purse the first thing a person will
		
00:28:36 --> 00:28:38
			be account could help to account for or
		
00:28:38 --> 00:28:40
			or judged for will be the prayers.
		
00:28:43 --> 00:28:44
			The really first thing the servant will be
		
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46
			asked about on the day of resurrection
		
00:28:47 --> 00:28:49
			will be, the blessings Allah,
		
00:28:50 --> 00:28:52
			knows best. Now we don't want to be
		
00:28:52 --> 00:28:54
			like those who Allah describes,
		
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55
			and says that
		
00:28:58 --> 00:29:00
			that they are aware of Allah's favors, but
		
00:29:00 --> 00:29:02
			still they deny them. Right? So that, you
		
00:29:02 --> 00:29:04
			know, we we deny the the blessings of
		
00:29:04 --> 00:29:07
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. We don't recognize that
		
00:29:07 --> 00:29:09
			Allah is the one who has blessed us.
		
00:29:09 --> 00:29:11
			But then when a problem arises, something unexpected
		
00:29:11 --> 00:29:13
			happens, then we turn to Allah
		
00:29:13 --> 00:29:16
			and many times we end up complaining. But
		
00:29:16 --> 00:29:18
			remember, the little secret that Allah, subhanahu wa
		
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20
			ta'ala, tells us in the Quran
		
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21
			that,
		
00:29:25 --> 00:29:27
			Right? That if you give thanks, if you
		
00:29:27 --> 00:29:28
			so express shukr to Allah,
		
00:29:29 --> 00:29:31
			I will give you more.
		
00:29:32 --> 00:29:32
			I will
		
00:29:33 --> 00:29:35
			give you more. Right? So the the key
		
00:29:35 --> 00:29:37
			to getting more, asking for more from Allah
		
00:29:37 --> 00:29:39
			subhanahu wa ta'ala is not to whine and
		
00:29:39 --> 00:29:42
			to complain. Right? Although it is okay to
		
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43
			express our dissatisfaction
		
00:29:43 --> 00:29:45
			or, you know, our unhappiness to Allah subhanahu
		
00:29:45 --> 00:29:48
			wa ta'ala. But the better way is thank
		
00:29:48 --> 00:29:50
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and Allah
		
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53
			tells us that he will increase us. So,
		
00:29:53 --> 00:29:55
			sisters, let us take the time to reflect
		
00:29:55 --> 00:29:56
			on gratitude, on thankfulness.
		
00:29:57 --> 00:29:59
			How can you make, how can you how
		
00:29:59 --> 00:30:01
			can we all make our hearts thankful,
		
00:30:01 --> 00:30:04
			our tongues thankful and grateful? And importantly, how
		
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05
			can we be become
		
00:30:06 --> 00:30:08
			a people whose actions are those of those
		
00:30:08 --> 00:30:10
			who are truly grateful to Allah, subhanahu wa
		
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11
			ta'ala.
		
00:30:12 --> 00:30:14
			Guide us to become,
		
00:30:14 --> 00:30:17
			from his most grateful servants who express,
		
00:30:17 --> 00:30:20
			gratitude through every action and through every moment
		
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21
			of their lives.
		
00:30:22 --> 00:30:26
			We have, some sad news, that, our, brother,
		
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26
			Muhammad's,
		
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28
			mother passed away in Egypt.
		
00:30:30 --> 00:30:32
			I will make dua, for her and all
		
00:30:32 --> 00:30:34
			of those who have passed away.
		
00:31:22 --> 00:31:24
			We thank you for all of your blessings,
		
00:31:24 --> 00:31:26
			you Allah. Oh, Allah, you have blessed us
		
00:31:26 --> 00:31:28
			with so much. Oh, Allah, perhaps we are
		
00:31:28 --> 00:31:29
			the most blessed people on the face of
		
00:31:29 --> 00:31:31
			this earth at this time. Oh, Allah, we
		
00:31:31 --> 00:31:34
			thank you for all of your blessings. Oh,
		
00:31:34 --> 00:31:36
			Allah, we can never give you enough thanks
		
00:31:36 --> 00:31:37
			for all of that you have blessed us
		
00:31:37 --> 00:31:40
			with. Oh, Allah, please make us from, from
		
00:31:40 --> 00:31:41
			the shayateen.
		
00:31:42 --> 00:31:44
			Oh, Allah, please protect us and forgive us.
		
00:31:45 --> 00:31:45
			Oh, Allah, please,
		
00:31:46 --> 00:31:48
			protect us and forgive us for our shortcomings
		
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49
			and our lack of faithfulness.
		
00:31:50 --> 00:31:52
			Oh, Allah, we thank you for your for
		
00:31:52 --> 00:31:54
			the health that you have given us, for
		
00:31:54 --> 00:31:55
			the wealth that you have given us, the
		
00:31:55 --> 00:31:56
			safety, the security,
		
00:31:57 --> 00:31:57
			our families,
		
00:31:58 --> 00:32:00
			our, the the nourishment you have given us,
		
00:32:00 --> 00:32:02
			oh, Allah, all the opportunities that you have
		
00:32:02 --> 00:32:04
			given us, oh, and every good that you
		
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05
			have given us, we thank you for it
		
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06
			with from the bottom of our hearts, You
		
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07
			Rabbani.
		
00:32:07 --> 00:32:09
			Oh, Allah, please cure all of our brothers
		
00:32:09 --> 00:32:11
			and sisters who are ill, oh, Allah, especially
		
00:32:11 --> 00:32:15
			our dear elder, brother, Uda Sathar was diagnosed
		
00:32:15 --> 00:32:17
			with cancer as well as brother Mohammad Al
		
00:32:17 --> 00:32:20
			Zaftar, especially our elder sister suffering from illness
		
00:32:20 --> 00:32:22
			and pain, and our brothers and sisters,
		
00:32:22 --> 00:32:23
			who are suffering from long term pain and
		
00:32:23 --> 00:32:24
			injuries
		
00:32:24 --> 00:32:27
			and who are, recovering from major surgeries,
		
00:32:27 --> 00:32:29
			sister who is suffering from cancer,
		
00:32:29 --> 00:32:31
			our brother, with unexplained,
		
00:32:31 --> 00:32:34
			symptoms, our friends and relatives diagnosed with COVID
		
00:32:34 --> 00:32:37
			19 and with other illnesses, oh, Allah,
		
00:32:37 --> 00:32:39
			please, grant them a speedy recovery.
		
00:32:43 --> 00:32:43
			Oh,
		
00:32:52 --> 00:32:54
			Allah, you are the protector and the healer.
		
00:32:54 --> 00:32:56
			Oh, Allah, please grant them all a speedy
		
00:32:56 --> 00:32:59
			recovery and protect us all and them all
		
00:32:59 --> 00:33:00
			from all types of illnesses and pain and
		
00:33:00 --> 00:33:02
			suffering and grant them state of peace,
		
00:33:03 --> 00:33:05
			Oh, Allah, please grant relief to all of
		
00:33:05 --> 00:33:07
			those who are in pain, mental pain,
		
00:33:07 --> 00:33:10
			psychological pain, grief, stress, anxiety.
		
00:33:11 --> 00:33:13
			Oh, Allah, please really place all of those,
		
00:33:13 --> 00:33:15
			painful feelings with happiness and peace and joy.