Sikander Hashmi – Shine on the Inside KMA Friday Message Aug. 23 2024

Sikander Hashmi
Share Page

AI: Summary ©

The importance of being presentable and not just boasting is emphasized in Islam, as it is crucial for everyone to be presentable. Good character and good manners are key to achieving great success in worship, and building trust and building positive deeds is crucial for achieving great success in life. It is crucial to resolving issues and building trust, and building good character is crucial to achieving great success in worship. It is crucial to building trust and being firm and polite in relationships.

AI: Summary ©

00:00:27 --> 00:00:30
			Respected elders, dear brothers and sisters, my young
		
00:00:30 --> 00:00:31
			friends, Assalamu alaikum.
		
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37
			We find ourselves on the second last
		
00:00:37 --> 00:00:39
			Friday of August, and that means
		
00:00:40 --> 00:00:41
			that back to school is coming and it
		
00:00:41 --> 00:00:43
			is coming very quickly.
		
00:00:43 --> 00:00:46
			And I know for many of my young
		
00:00:46 --> 00:00:46
			friends
		
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49
			who are in the French board, their school
		
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51
			will be starting in a few days, and
		
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53
			others will follow in the coming week.
		
00:00:54 --> 00:00:56
			My brothers and sisters, as we make preparations
		
00:00:58 --> 00:01:00
			and, you know, do back to school shopping,
		
00:01:02 --> 00:01:03
			one thing that might become apparent
		
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06
			is that many of my young friends
		
00:01:07 --> 00:01:07
			are conscious
		
00:01:08 --> 00:01:11
			about their looks, about looking good.
		
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13
			And this goes into, you know, the types
		
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16
			of clothes they want to buy, the types
		
00:01:16 --> 00:01:18
			of accessories they want to buy, the brands,
		
00:01:18 --> 00:01:20
			and so on. And this is natural.
		
00:01:20 --> 00:01:21
			Because
		
00:01:22 --> 00:01:24
			we don't want to look bad. None of
		
00:01:24 --> 00:01:25
			us want to look bad or look out
		
00:01:25 --> 00:01:26
			of place.
		
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28
			You know, we want to leave a good
		
00:01:28 --> 00:01:29
			lasting impression,
		
00:01:30 --> 00:01:31
			and it is the same for many adults
		
00:01:31 --> 00:01:32
			as well.
		
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34
			Yes, it is the same for many adults
		
00:01:35 --> 00:01:35
			as well.
		
00:01:36 --> 00:01:37
			And this
		
00:01:39 --> 00:01:40
			desire affects
		
00:01:41 --> 00:01:44
			how we all, youth, and adults,
		
00:01:44 --> 00:01:46
			how we groom ourselves,
		
00:01:46 --> 00:01:48
			you know, how we dress,
		
00:01:48 --> 00:01:49
			our hairstyles,
		
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53
			you know, hijab style, and everything else that
		
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55
			is visible about us because we want to
		
00:01:55 --> 00:01:58
			be presentable. We want people to have a
		
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00
			good impression of us. We don't want people
		
00:02:00 --> 00:02:02
			to think that, you know, we are looking
		
00:02:02 --> 00:02:02
			bad.
		
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05
			Now while looking decent
		
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06
			is permissible
		
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09
			in a in a permissible way rather is
		
00:02:09 --> 00:02:10
			good.
		
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12
			There is another aspect of ourselves
		
00:02:13 --> 00:02:15
			that can have even a greater,
		
00:02:16 --> 00:02:17
			more profound effect
		
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20
			and impact on others. And that has to
		
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22
			do with the inside. That has to do
		
00:02:22 --> 00:02:24
			with our character, our manners,
		
00:02:25 --> 00:02:26
			our behavior,
		
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28
			and how we treat others.
		
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31
			You know, nobody likes someone who is rude
		
00:02:31 --> 00:02:33
			or someone who lies
		
00:02:33 --> 00:02:34
			and is untrustworthy,
		
00:02:35 --> 00:02:37
			someone who treats them badly. You ask yourself,
		
00:02:37 --> 00:02:38
			would you like someone?
		
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40
			You know, do you like someone who is
		
00:02:40 --> 00:02:43
			rude to you? Do you like someone who
		
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45
			lies to you or who is not trustworthy?
		
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48
			Do you like someone who treats you badly?
		
00:02:49 --> 00:02:51
			You know, no matter how nicely they are
		
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54
			dressed, no matter what kind of clothes they're
		
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56
			wearing, what kind of hairstyle they have, what
		
00:02:56 --> 00:02:59
			kind of accessories they have, which brands they
		
00:02:59 --> 00:02:59
			have,
		
00:03:00 --> 00:03:00
			you
		
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03
			know, we don't like people
		
00:03:03 --> 00:03:04
			who are like that.
		
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07
			And this is especially true when we are
		
00:03:07 --> 00:03:08
			facing challenges
		
00:03:08 --> 00:03:09
			and
		
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11
			we want to bring positive change
		
00:03:12 --> 00:03:13
			to issues
		
00:03:13 --> 00:03:15
			that matter to us, whether it be on
		
00:03:15 --> 00:03:16
			campus
		
00:03:17 --> 00:03:18
			or in the workplace
		
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19
			or in school
		
00:03:20 --> 00:03:22
			or in our neighborhoods.
		
00:03:22 --> 00:03:23
			You see, before the prophet
		
00:03:25 --> 00:03:27
			Arabia was drowning
		
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30
			in the worst type of ignorance that anyone
		
00:03:30 --> 00:03:32
			can imagine. So, it was ignorance
		
00:03:32 --> 00:03:35
			but it was the worst type of ignorance.
		
00:03:35 --> 00:03:37
			It was in the they were in the
		
00:03:37 --> 00:03:38
			depths of darkness.
		
00:03:38 --> 00:03:42
			And Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala chose Sayna Muhammad
		
00:03:42 --> 00:03:42
			to
		
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45
			bring about
		
00:03:45 --> 00:03:46
			monumental,
		
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48
			phenomenal, positive change.
		
00:03:49 --> 00:03:49
			But before
		
00:03:50 --> 00:03:51
			he was given the green light
		
00:03:52 --> 00:03:54
			to start the official process
		
00:03:54 --> 00:03:57
			of bringing positive change through prophethood,
		
00:03:58 --> 00:03:59
			what was he known for?
		
00:04:00 --> 00:04:02
			What was the prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam
		
00:04:02 --> 00:04:05
			known for even before the advent of prophethood?
		
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07
			It was his character.
		
00:04:08 --> 00:04:08
			Right? And Allah
		
00:04:10 --> 00:04:12
			mentions in the Quran, Allah says in the
		
00:04:12 --> 00:04:13
			Quran referring to him,
		
00:04:16 --> 00:04:17
			And you are truly
		
00:04:18 --> 00:04:20
			a man of outstanding character.
		
00:04:22 --> 00:04:22
			Outstanding
		
00:04:23 --> 00:04:24
			great character. And likewise,
		
00:04:25 --> 00:04:25
			Allah
		
00:04:26 --> 00:04:28
			commands us by saying,
		
00:04:54 --> 00:04:57
			worship Allah alone. That's the first command, the
		
00:04:57 --> 00:04:58
			most important command.
		
00:04:59 --> 00:05:00
			Associate
		
00:05:01 --> 00:05:03
			none with him. So this is paramount.
		
00:05:03 --> 00:05:05
			But then Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says next
		
00:05:06 --> 00:05:09
			and be kind to parents, deal within
		
00:05:09 --> 00:05:12
			with Ihsan, with excellence, with goodness,
		
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14
			with your parents,
		
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15
			your relatives,
		
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17
			the orphans,
		
00:05:18 --> 00:05:18
			the poor,
		
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21
			the near and the distant neighbors,
		
00:05:22 --> 00:05:24
			those who are close to you, close friends,
		
00:05:24 --> 00:05:25
			close in relations,
		
00:05:26 --> 00:05:28
			you know, the travelers especially the needy travelers,
		
00:05:28 --> 00:05:30
			and those in your possession, meaning those who
		
00:05:30 --> 00:05:33
			you have authority over. Surely Allah subhanahu wa
		
00:05:33 --> 00:05:36
			ta'ala does not like whoever is arrogant
		
00:05:36 --> 00:05:38
			and boastful. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:05:42 --> 00:05:44
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala does not like the
		
00:05:44 --> 00:05:48
			person who is arrogant and boastful. You know,
		
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala does not like, Allah
		
00:05:49 --> 00:05:51
			subhanahu wa ta'ala does not love such a
		
00:05:51 --> 00:05:54
			person and we also as human beings, we
		
00:05:54 --> 00:05:57
			do not like people. Generally, who are arrogant
		
00:05:57 --> 00:05:58
			and who are boastful. So basically,
		
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01
			my brothers and sisters, my friends, Allah subhanahu
		
00:06:01 --> 00:06:02
			wa ta'ala is telling us that anyone
		
00:06:04 --> 00:06:05
			whose company we are in,
		
00:06:06 --> 00:06:07
			our presence
		
00:06:08 --> 00:06:10
			should not be a source of harm or
		
00:06:10 --> 00:06:12
			trouble for them.
		
00:06:12 --> 00:06:13
			Our presence
		
00:06:13 --> 00:06:16
			should not be a form of harm or
		
00:06:16 --> 00:06:19
			trouble to them but rather our presence should
		
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21
			be a form of peace
		
00:06:22 --> 00:06:24
			and mercy for them. And this is indeed
		
00:06:24 --> 00:06:26
			the example of the prophet salallahu alaihi wasallam.
		
00:06:26 --> 00:06:28
			Every one of us, every Muslim
		
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30
			should be a
		
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32
			beacon of peace and mercy
		
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35
			wherever we go. No matter where we go,
		
00:06:35 --> 00:06:37
			we should be a beacon of peace and
		
00:06:37 --> 00:06:37
			mercy
		
00:06:38 --> 00:06:41
			so that people feel peace around you. They
		
00:06:41 --> 00:06:43
			can tell when a Muslim is walking. They
		
00:06:43 --> 00:06:45
			can tell when a Muslim has entered the
		
00:06:45 --> 00:06:46
			room,
		
00:06:46 --> 00:06:48
			the classroom, the boardroom, the meeting room.
		
00:06:49 --> 00:06:51
			Right? They feel that there is an aura
		
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53
			of peace and serenity
		
00:06:54 --> 00:06:56
			and mercy emanating from this person. And this
		
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58
			was indeed the state of the Prophet sallallahu
		
00:06:58 --> 00:07:01
			alaihi wa sallam. Allah Azzawajal says,
		
00:07:05 --> 00:07:07
			Tell my servants, my believing servants
		
00:07:08 --> 00:07:10
			to say only what is best.
		
00:07:20 --> 00:07:24
			Shaitan certainly seeks to sow discord amongst them.
		
00:07:24 --> 00:07:26
			And shaitan is indeed a sworn enemy to
		
00:07:26 --> 00:07:30
			humankind. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala commands us to
		
00:07:30 --> 00:07:32
			always say that which is best and to
		
00:07:32 --> 00:07:33
			be aware
		
00:07:33 --> 00:07:37
			of shaitan's traps and shaitan's efforts to try
		
00:07:37 --> 00:07:38
			to sow discord
		
00:07:38 --> 00:07:39
			and enmity
		
00:07:39 --> 00:07:40
			and
		
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43
			fights between people. You see, we often think
		
00:07:43 --> 00:07:44
			of Islam.
		
00:07:45 --> 00:07:46
			When we think of Islam,
		
00:07:46 --> 00:07:48
			we think of often
		
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49
			ritual
		
00:07:49 --> 00:07:51
			worship. You know, what is permissible? What is
		
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54
			halal? What is haram? Many questions I'll get
		
00:07:54 --> 00:07:55
			Many times I'll get questions, you know. Is
		
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57
			it haram to do this? Is it haram
		
00:07:57 --> 00:07:59
			to do that? You know. Is it obligatory
		
00:07:59 --> 00:08:02
			for, you know, this? If a parent says
		
00:08:02 --> 00:08:03
			this, does a child have to do this?
		
00:08:03 --> 00:08:04
			You know, do I have to do that?
		
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06
			Do I So a lot of questions about
		
00:08:06 --> 00:08:08
			what we have to do and what we
		
00:08:08 --> 00:08:09
			cannot do, what we are prohibited to do
		
00:08:09 --> 00:08:11
			which is good. I'm not discouraging that.
		
00:08:12 --> 00:08:14
			But the focus many times is other things
		
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16
			which are visible and which are apparent.
		
00:08:17 --> 00:08:19
			Right? And these things are all very important
		
00:08:19 --> 00:08:21
			But the deen of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
		
00:08:21 --> 00:08:22
			is very comprehensive.
		
00:08:23 --> 00:08:24
			And the prophet has
		
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26
			also emphasized
		
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28
			great great importance
		
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31
			on good manners. He said for example
		
00:08:34 --> 00:08:35
			In another narration,
		
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37
			I was sent to perfect
		
00:08:38 --> 00:08:38
			good character.
		
00:08:39 --> 00:08:42
			Yes? Different narration, slightly different wordings, same meaning,
		
00:08:42 --> 00:08:44
			I was sent to perfect good character. And
		
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45
			there's no shortage
		
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47
			of teachings. For example,
		
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51
			the believers
		
00:08:51 --> 00:08:53
			who have the most perfect faith,
		
00:08:54 --> 00:08:56
			who have the most camel, the most complete
		
00:08:56 --> 00:08:59
			faith are those who have the best behavior,
		
00:08:59 --> 00:09:01
			those who have the best
		
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04
			character.
		
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08
			That the verily, the believer,
		
00:09:08 --> 00:09:10
			the believer may reach
		
00:09:10 --> 00:09:13
			by his good character, just by virtue of
		
00:09:13 --> 00:09:15
			his good character, the rank of one who
		
00:09:15 --> 00:09:17
			regularly fast
		
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19
			and stands for prayer at night. So this
		
00:09:19 --> 00:09:21
			is the value of good character. If a
		
00:09:21 --> 00:09:22
			person has
		
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25
			has good character towards others, first of all,
		
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27
			by the way, first of all, with Allah
		
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28
			subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:09:28 --> 00:09:31
			Good character with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in
		
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33
			our relationship with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Good
		
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35
			character towards the prophet
		
00:09:36 --> 00:09:39
			Good character towards our relationships, our people around
		
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41
			us who are important to us, who we
		
00:09:41 --> 00:09:42
			have been mandated
		
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44
			to respect and to love, and of course,
		
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46
			towards everyone else. So,
		
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48
			by having good character,
		
00:09:48 --> 00:09:51
			a person may actually reach the rank, similar
		
00:09:51 --> 00:09:53
			ranks as someone who fast regularly
		
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56
			and stands for prayer at night. So this
		
00:09:56 --> 00:09:58
			person may not be doing these things. They're
		
00:09:58 --> 00:10:00
			still a good person but they're not able
		
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02
			to exert themselves in worship. But by virtue
		
00:10:02 --> 00:10:05
			of their good character, they're able to reach
		
00:10:05 --> 00:10:06
			similar
		
00:10:06 --> 00:10:09
			heights as the people who exert themselves in
		
00:10:09 --> 00:10:11
			worship. And why? Because of their good character.
		
00:10:11 --> 00:10:12
			The prophet
		
00:10:13 --> 00:10:14
			also told us,
		
00:10:18 --> 00:10:19
			there is nothing heavier
		
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22
			than good character put in the scale of
		
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23
			a believer on the day of resurrection.
		
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25
			Because you see, on the day of resurrection
		
00:10:25 --> 00:10:27
			and the on the day of judgement, the
		
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28
			good deeds, the scholars tell us they will
		
00:10:28 --> 00:10:29
			have a weight.
		
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32
			The good deeds will have form and they
		
00:10:32 --> 00:10:34
			will have weight. The weight will be dependent
		
00:10:34 --> 00:10:37
			on the type of action and also the
		
00:10:37 --> 00:10:39
			sincerity and the perfection of the action that
		
00:10:39 --> 00:10:41
			was done. So somebody could have big actions
		
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43
			or many actions, but maybe they're not very
		
00:10:43 --> 00:10:45
			heavy. Right? It's like having a weight. You
		
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47
			know, you do weightlifting. And who does weightlifting
		
00:10:47 --> 00:10:49
			here? Guys, you do weightlifting? Okay. So you
		
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50
			have a big weight, but it doesn't weigh
		
00:10:50 --> 00:10:52
			anything. K? It weighs very little. Okay? It's
		
00:10:52 --> 00:10:54
			very light, but it's just like a big
		
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56
			piece of air. K. It's hollow. So you
		
00:10:56 --> 00:10:58
			can have actions like that that they're big
		
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59
			or there are a lot of them, but
		
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00
			they don't weigh much. And on the other
		
00:11:00 --> 00:11:02
			hand, you can have actions which are small.
		
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04
			Right? But maybe they were consistent and there's
		
00:11:04 --> 00:11:06
			many of them. And they were very sincere
		
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07
			so they're very heavy as well. Or they
		
00:11:07 --> 00:11:09
			were done with great care and attention, and
		
00:11:09 --> 00:11:11
			they're very heavy as well. So,
		
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14
			on the day of judgment there's nothing heavier
		
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15
			than good character put in the scale of
		
00:11:15 --> 00:11:18
			a believer on the day of resurrection. Okay?
		
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20
			So, the prophet was telling us that the
		
00:11:20 --> 00:11:22
			good character actions,
		
00:11:22 --> 00:11:25
			they will be heaviest on the day of
		
00:11:25 --> 00:11:27
			resurrection when they are put in the skill.
		
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30
			May Allah grant us such actions. I mean,
		
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31
			the prophet
		
00:11:33 --> 00:11:35
			he never hit anyone except when in battle.
		
00:11:36 --> 00:11:38
			He never used foul language.
		
00:11:38 --> 00:11:42
			He never lied. He never bullied people. This
		
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44
			was not from the character of the prophet
		
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47
			and the many
		
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48
			beautiful characteristics
		
00:11:49 --> 00:11:51
			that he had, they show one thing and
		
00:11:51 --> 00:11:54
			that is that he was never a burden
		
00:11:54 --> 00:11:57
			for people around him. And how could he?
		
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00
			Because after all, he was a mercy to
		
00:12:00 --> 00:12:03
			everyone, a mercy to humankind, a mercy for
		
00:12:03 --> 00:12:05
			all the creation of Allah subhanahu
		
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06
			wa ta'ala. Even at home,
		
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09
			he was never a burden upon others, you
		
00:12:09 --> 00:12:12
			know, taking care of himself, managing his own
		
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13
			affairs to the best of his ability.
		
00:12:14 --> 00:12:17
			Yes. Coming in, mending his shoes, taking care
		
00:12:17 --> 00:12:19
			of his own things. You know, so never
		
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21
			trying to be a burden on anyone else
		
00:12:21 --> 00:12:24
			but rather being a form of mercy towards
		
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26
			all around him. So we should also, my
		
00:12:26 --> 00:12:28
			brothers and sisters, aim to be a mercy
		
00:12:28 --> 00:12:31
			for those around us and not a burden
		
00:12:31 --> 00:12:32
			or a liability.
		
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33
			So that when we walk into a place,
		
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35
			people don't think and this is not to
		
00:12:35 --> 00:12:37
			please people but rather this is to please
		
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. So they don't think,
		
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40
			oh, this person.
		
00:12:40 --> 00:12:42
			Oh, Abdullah has walked into the classroom. Oh,
		
00:12:42 --> 00:12:45
			there's this Muhammad. He's come. Everyone, be careful
		
00:12:45 --> 00:12:48
			now. Okay? This should not be how people
		
00:12:48 --> 00:12:50
			are looking at us and dealing with us.
		
00:12:50 --> 00:12:52
			Rather, it should be, oh, Abdullah is here.
		
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53
			It's so great to see Abdullah back in
		
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55
			school again. Oh, Muhammad is here for the
		
00:12:55 --> 00:12:57
			meeting. Oh, now we're gonna have you know,
		
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58
			this meeting is going to go well because
		
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00
			why Muhammad is here. Yes. This should be
		
00:13:00 --> 00:13:02
			the type of character and the type of
		
00:13:02 --> 00:13:04
			demeanor we have and the reputation that we
		
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05
			have
		
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06
			based on the teachings of Allah and his
		
00:13:06 --> 00:13:09
			messenger sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. So
		
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12
			if you are my brothers and sisters, I'm
		
00:13:12 --> 00:13:14
			gonna tell you something important here.
		
00:13:14 --> 00:13:17
			If you have a positive presence in your
		
00:13:17 --> 00:13:19
			setting, if your presence
		
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20
			is positive,
		
00:13:21 --> 00:13:23
			And then if you have concerns, there's a
		
00:13:23 --> 00:13:25
			good chance that you'll be taken seriously.
		
00:13:27 --> 00:13:29
			K? And this is true about when we
		
00:13:29 --> 00:13:31
			go back to school or generally at work
		
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32
			and everywhere.
		
00:13:32 --> 00:13:34
			No? Let us pay attention to what we
		
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36
			say and how we say it. You know?
		
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38
			Let's pay attention to the words that we
		
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40
			use. You know, are we using bad language?
		
00:13:40 --> 00:13:42
			Are we gossiping about people? You know, are
		
00:13:42 --> 00:13:45
			we lying about things? Are we backbiting people
		
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47
			with our coworkers, with our classmates, with our
		
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49
			friends? You know, these things are noticed.
		
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51
			You know, the teachers when they're walking by,
		
00:13:51 --> 00:13:53
			they're listening to what people are talking about.
		
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54
			You know, when you have the water cooler,
		
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56
			others are listening to what you are talking
		
00:13:56 --> 00:13:58
			about. And of course, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala
		
00:13:58 --> 00:14:00
			is always watching, and all your deeds are
		
00:14:00 --> 00:14:02
			being recorded at all times. You know, what
		
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03
			you do
		
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05
			and how you do it. So when you're
		
00:14:05 --> 00:14:07
			upset, when things don't go your way and
		
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08
			you're frustrated,
		
00:14:08 --> 00:14:10
			you know, what kind how do you respond?
		
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12
			And we always think about how the prophet
		
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14
			sallallahu alaihi wa sallam would respond. How does
		
00:14:14 --> 00:14:16
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala like us to respond?
		
00:14:16 --> 00:14:18
			You know, do we try to be patient
		
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19
			and forbearing
		
00:14:19 --> 00:14:22
			and have kindness and forgiveness? Because indeed this
		
00:14:22 --> 00:14:25
			was the example, the character of the Prophet
		
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26
			sallallahu alaihi wasallam.
		
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30
			If we build trust
		
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32
			if we build trust,
		
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35
			there's a better chance that we will be
		
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36
			taken more seriously
		
00:14:36 --> 00:14:38
			and then it becomes much easier to have
		
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39
			a positive influence.
		
00:14:40 --> 00:14:42
			Understand this and you will be able to
		
00:14:42 --> 00:14:44
			resolve many many issues inshallah.
		
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46
			If you build trust first,
		
00:14:47 --> 00:14:49
			there's a higher chance that you will be
		
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50
			taken more seriously
		
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53
			and then it becomes easier to have a
		
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54
			positive influence
		
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56
			and get the changes
		
00:14:56 --> 00:14:58
			that you want. It's not guaranteed, it's not
		
00:14:58 --> 00:15:01
			always gonna happen but it makes it easier.
		
00:15:01 --> 00:15:03
			If there's no trust,
		
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05
			if there's an absence of trust,
		
00:15:05 --> 00:15:08
			then you can keep hammering, you can keep
		
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10
			arguing, you can keep shouting, you can keep
		
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11
			fighting,
		
00:15:11 --> 00:15:14
			but things will likely become more difficult if
		
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15
			there's an absence of trust.
		
00:15:16 --> 00:15:18
			Now this is what normally happens, you know.
		
00:15:18 --> 00:15:21
			Of course, there can be sometimes exceptional circumstances
		
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23
			that may require a different approach,
		
00:15:24 --> 00:15:26
			but those are the exceptions. Right? Maybe sometimes
		
00:15:26 --> 00:15:28
			you're dealing with someone who's very, very difficult.
		
00:15:28 --> 00:15:30
			You're dealing with someone who has a very
		
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33
			hard heart. You're dealing with someone who is,
		
00:15:33 --> 00:15:36
			you know, drowning in hatred. Right? Then it's
		
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38
			a different situation, and then maybe you come
		
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39
			and you ask seek advice on how should
		
00:15:39 --> 00:15:41
			I navigate the situation.
		
00:15:41 --> 00:15:43
			But generally, if you are able to build
		
00:15:43 --> 00:15:43
			trust,
		
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46
			things will become much more easier for you
		
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48
			when you have an issue. And if you
		
00:15:48 --> 00:15:49
			do not build trust and you have a
		
00:15:49 --> 00:15:50
			bad reputation,
		
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52
			then it becomes more difficult
		
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56
			to advocate and to get positive change. However,
		
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58
			my brothers and sisters, and this is the
		
00:15:58 --> 00:16:01
			second important thing, having good character. Right? Everything
		
00:16:01 --> 00:16:04
			that we've discussed, it does not mean that
		
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05
			we can support
		
00:16:06 --> 00:16:09
			that which is immoral or unethical or haram
		
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10
			according to Allah.
		
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13
			So, yes, we have good character. Yes, we
		
00:16:13 --> 00:16:16
			are polite. Yes, we are patient. Yes, we
		
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16
			are forbearing.
		
00:16:17 --> 00:16:19
			Yes, we speak with a smile. But at
		
00:16:19 --> 00:16:22
			the same time, the balance is it does
		
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23
			not mean that we can support
		
00:16:24 --> 00:16:27
			that which is immoral or unethical or haram
		
00:16:27 --> 00:16:30
			according to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Why? Because
		
00:16:30 --> 00:16:32
			then that would entail having bad manners towards
		
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
		
00:16:34 --> 00:16:36
			If we do that, then it means that
		
00:16:36 --> 00:16:38
			we are showing bad character and bad manners
		
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39
			towards Allah
		
00:16:39 --> 00:16:41
			wa ta'ala by not respecting
		
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43
			his decision and not respecting
		
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45
			his guidance.
		
00:16:45 --> 00:16:48
			So, we must stand for our beliefs and
		
00:16:48 --> 00:16:50
			our values but we do it with a
		
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51
			smile. Right?
		
00:16:51 --> 00:16:53
			Be firm but also be polite
		
00:16:54 --> 00:16:56
			and respectful, right? Many times, the same thing
		
00:16:56 --> 00:16:58
			can be said in an angry way, in
		
00:16:58 --> 00:17:00
			a shouting way, in a frustrated way, and
		
00:17:00 --> 00:17:02
			the same thing can be said with a
		
00:17:02 --> 00:17:04
			smile. You know, I'm very sorry but I
		
00:17:04 --> 00:17:06
			will not be able to do this. You
		
00:17:06 --> 00:17:08
			know, I'm very sorry. This is something which
		
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10
			is does not align with my my values,
		
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12
			my beliefs. So, I'm sorry, I'm not able
		
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14
			to participate in this. You know, I mean,
		
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15
			so you just see the same thing. It's
		
00:17:15 --> 00:17:18
			the same message but it's delivered nicely, politely.
		
00:17:18 --> 00:17:20
			It has a different effect. It says, no,
		
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21
			I will never accept this. You know, I
		
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23
			cannot do this. It is haram for me.
		
00:17:23 --> 00:17:25
			It has a different effect. You know, so
		
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26
			the way we say things
		
00:17:27 --> 00:17:27
			can have
		
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31
			a very consequential effect on how it is
		
00:17:31 --> 00:17:34
			interpreted and what the results are. You see
		
00:17:34 --> 00:17:36
			the finally my brothers and sisters, the prophet
		
00:17:38 --> 00:17:38
			he advised
		
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44
			what we are
		
00:17:47 --> 00:17:47
			saying
		
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50
			Have taqwa. Have fear of Allah subhanahu wa
		
00:17:50 --> 00:17:53
			ta'ala wherever you may be. No matter where
		
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55
			you are. You're alone, you're with friends, you're
		
00:17:55 --> 00:17:58
			at school, you're at home, you're online, you're
		
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00
			in your device, you're in the depths of
		
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01
			darkness, in the middle of the night, you're
		
00:18:01 --> 00:18:03
			in a closet, it doesn't matter where you
		
00:18:03 --> 00:18:06
			are. Okay? Have taqwa, have the fear of
		
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala wherever you may be.
		
00:18:08 --> 00:18:11
			And follow-up a bad deed with a good
		
00:18:11 --> 00:18:13
			deed which will wipe it out. Because none
		
00:18:13 --> 00:18:15
			of us are perfect. Everyone of us will
		
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16
			make mistakes. When you go to school, you
		
00:18:16 --> 00:18:18
			go to work, you go anywhere, we do
		
00:18:18 --> 00:18:20
			things, we talk, we make
		
00:18:20 --> 00:18:23
			mistakes. K? But if you make a mistake,
		
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24
			do tawba,
		
00:18:25 --> 00:18:28
			ask for forgiveness, repent, and follow it up
		
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29
			with a good deed. And that good deed
		
00:18:29 --> 00:18:32
			inshallah will wipe out the bad deed. And
		
00:18:32 --> 00:18:36
			finally, behave well towards people. Ask Allah subhanahu
		
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38
			wa ta'ala to enable us to excel in
		
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39
			everything
		
00:18:39 --> 00:18:41
			good, especially our character and our manners. Ask
		
00:18:41 --> 00:18:43
			Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to make us for
		
00:18:43 --> 00:18:46
			amongst those who bring peace and comfort to
		
00:18:46 --> 00:18:48
			others with our presence. Ask Allah
		
00:18:48 --> 00:18:50
			to protect us, all of our children, all
		
00:18:50 --> 00:18:52
			of our youth from being those whose presence
		
00:18:52 --> 00:18:54
			is a source of trouble and discomfort
		
00:18:55 --> 00:18:55
			to others.
		
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59
			Take a quick break and we will continue.