Gratitude & Freedom

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All praise is due to Allah the Exalted. We praise Him and we seek His help, his guidance and his forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils within ourselves and the evils of our sins. Whomsoever Allah guides, there is no misguidance for him, and whomever he rightfully causes to be led astray, there is no guidance for him. And I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone. And I bear witness that Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa salam peace be upon him, is His servant and final messenger. Allah subhanho wa Taala reminds us in the Noble Quran, what is translated as, Oh you who believe are believers, be conscious of Allah as he deserves. Be

conscious of Allah, in public and private with Muslims, non Muslims, with friends and with strangers be conscious of Allah as is his right upon you. And do not die except in a state of worship, a state of submission, a state of Islam, are you who believe be conscious of Allah, Allah, every soul, reflect on what you have sent forward for tomorrow, on what you have invested in your afterlife

and be conscious of Allah. Verily, Allah is aware of all that you do.

Last week, week and this week, and as the numbers increase, we continue to welcome our community back to the Masada to the houses of Allah. For some people, this is the first time attending a hookah in three months.

And as some people may feel elated or happy or maybe emotional reconnecting with the house of Allah, think about the many angels around the world, welcoming the believers back into the houses of Allah, making dua for them, sending or asking for forgiveness on their behalf all around the world.

And we are grateful to Allah subhana wa Taala for this blessing. There is no doubt that these are challenging times. And the last three months have been very challenging for people all around the world in many different ways. Some much more than others. Some people were tested in their faith. Some people were tested with regards to their income, their livelihood, their jobs, some people were tested with their family, and some people lost family members due to this pandemic. May Allah subhanaw taala accept our brothers and sisters as shahada, Allah Amin and some people were tested in different ways. But ultimately, what what we want to focus on with regards to the discussion on this

pandemic and welcoming our community is slowly and surely back into the houses of Allah subhanho wa Taala is the question of gratitude. What did we do during the most severe parts of this lockdown? During the most unique Ramadan of our lives, a unique you're either no doubt challenging in its own way. But we saw all around the world, the OMA learning to revive Cleon will lay in and if thought with one's family at home more than any other time in history, or rather within our lifetimes, as far as we know.

And the reason we bring this up, is because the question of our actions is a reflection of gratitude. And so our short reminder today this hot word today is about gratitude, Ashok, and also freedom and Hurriya. How are these two intertwined with one another, we will mention three different facets of gratitude and freedom. The first is the blessing of being able to worship Allah subhanaw taala freely the freedom of religion, a blessing that many people living in such a country like this do not realize they have access to and also are not grateful for what do I mean by this? We had before COVID-19 access to the houses of Allah subhanho wa Taala with no one in your way, with no

government in your way, with no society in your way. We were given access to pray and we are given access to pray, and many of us like very frank

Leon truly did not appreciate that. And I know this sounds very harsh and I speak out about myself as well. We did not fully realize the scope of this blessing for us to be able to pray in the houses of Allah whenever we wanted to. May Allah subhanho wa Taala make our hearts attached to the masjid Allah, Allah Amin.

And so on this note of religious freedom and the ability to worship Allah subhanho wa Taala there are two points The first is appreciation and sincerely and our claim so if you claim your Allah during these last three months, I just realized how good we had it. And I wish I could go back to the masjid. When many massages or all the massage the overwhelming majority of countries around the world were closed, including the Hitomi and the three holy sites for the first time. For the first time. In a long time, we have seen the possibility of Hajj being restricted to locals. And this has happened many times throughout history 40 times According to some historians, in which there was no

actual hajj for the people, or there was no public Hajj.

And so we realize the ability to pray in the masjid is a blessing many of us took for granted how many of us will stick true to the claim. Once this lockdown is slowly eased and lifted stage after stage and inshallah in coming months the situation eases and does not worsen. May Allah keep us safe and allow us to be very cautious we must remain cautious in these coming months. But as the Messiah did begin opening up and throughout the year and next year as well in sha Allah when this situation eases how many of us will come back to the masjid sincerely consistently dedicated realizing we missed out on these three months. We missed out on these three months. But perhaps before this we

missed out by choice. May Allah subhanaw taala allow us to be consistent in our claim. The sad reality is that many people during this pandemic because their jobs are now from home or maybe they have more flexibility.

Many people when the situation eases might say now I will return to the masjid as much as I can, but might find themselves distracted with worldly things as other places open as well. Many people find themselves chasing other things many people become distracted with tea genre with wealth with business at the expense of religion when they have flexibility in their schedule, while others might not have that flexibility in terms of praying in the misogyny and Allah subhanaw taala reminds us of a child who learns when he him teacher not on what I buy on decree law what you call me Salah Eater is aka your California yo woman Tafolla Buffy Hill Palooza will absorb a people who their their fear

of Allah subhanho wa Taala is so strong, that they are not distracted by lateral he him t Giada. Their business does not distract them from the worship of Allah subhanaw taala it does not distract them from their establishing of prayer from their giving of zakat, rather their fear allows them and this is the fear of the Hereafter to be consistent in their claim. May Allah subhanaw taala allow us to be consistent in our claim of loving and missing the masajid when the situation eases Allama Amin and the second point.

We recognize that when you have the ability to choose to worship Allah subhanaw taala in this country. And we have now this feeling of sadness that we did not pray in the masjid for the last three months. In many cases. There are many brothers and sisters around the world who cannot pray in their misogyny. There are many places around the world where you cannot say the shahada out loud. There are places around the world where people are being oppressed kicked out of their lands kicked out of their homes for sing La ilaha illallah and the only reason they are oppressed is because of their Islam. The only reason they are kicked out of their homes is because they c'est la ilaha illa

Allah because they desire to pray in the masjid because they desire to wear the hijab.

And Allah subhanho wa Taala reminds us about this and we have seen this throughout history as well. Allah do you know free gentlemen, Dr. In behind the hairpin Illa Yahoo, Laura Boone, Allah kicked out of their homes for that.

We've spoken to a number of brothers and sisters and we continue to hear from them in different parts of the world like East Turkistan occupied since 1949. And many people are aware of the Palestinian situation 1948 and 1967. And before that, and after that, as well. And they don't realize and they don't recognize that we have some of the worst ethnic cleansing in the world today against Muslims and millions of Muslims rounded up in concentration camps. And we have spoken I have personally spoken to some of the refugees from these camps. Some of the survivors from this reason region, it's called East Turkistan, China refers to as Xinjiang and the reason I'm bringing this up

to you today is they were crying when they would be telling us we just want to pray in the masjid. If you pray in some of these areas, you are taken away. Sisters who wear hijab automatically disappeared. Children removed from their homes of Muslim families and placed in homes of non Muslim families. This is a reality and they're crying and they're telling us on these live webinars, and they're telling us

During these calls and in our meetings, we wish we could live in a land in which we could worship without somebody stopping us. We're not even telling other people, you have to do what we're doing. We just want to worship in peace. How many of our youth and how many of our adults as well are living in lands, western lands and other places where we do have the choice, where we have the ability and the blessing of being prideful of Islam and proud that we are saying law in Allah, Allah, and yet they are ashamed. And yet they take off their hijab, and yet they stop praying and yet they change their names. Do we not realize the blessing that we have, when people are being

killed for saying law in law and we're living here in a Jannah of sorts, the ability to pray in the masjid Wallahi is a blessing that we will be asked about, they could not pray in the masjid. They are not accountable for it. We are. We are accountable, not just for praying in the masjid. Especially as brothers. We're not just accountable for that. We're accountable for teaching our children to have an honor through Islam, and to find their sense of confidence and conviction that this is the truth from Allah subhanaw taala that would liberate them and liberate the world. May Allah subhanho wa Taala allow us to be grateful for the ability to pray in the masjid and to live

upon this. May Allah protect us from not being grateful for this blessing for people who are not grateful for the blessings might lose them. May Allah subhanaw taala keep us grateful and consistent. Allama Amin. So the first point is about religious freedom, gratitude for that. Number two, we praise Allah subhanaw taala today for the blessing of health Alfia and the blessing of loved ones.

Nothing in this world is permanent. And we know this. If you have good health today, may Allah preserve it. And may Allah subhana allow us to seek the avenues and the freedom that we have to preserve our health. But we all know that it's not guaranteed just as life itself is not guaranteed tomorrow, we have lost many brothers and sisters rather they departed from this world back to Allah subhanho wa taala. Due to this pandemic, we ask Allah to accept them as shahada, as many scholars have stated, due to the sickness spreading as infectious disease, perhaps they will be classified amongst the shahada for there are 30 or 40, or 50 different types of shahada according to authentic

hadith.

And on that note, we ask Allah to grant their families patience and perseverance and the reward for their patience and perseverance and reunion and the highest levels of Jannah. When we talk about our fear,

wellbeing, when we talk about health, we recognize that in some places around the world, they are disadvantage when it comes to seeking the means to live a healthy life, a healthy lifestyle, physically, mentally, of course, religiously, as we spoke about, and this is a blessing many of us take for granted. May Allah subhanaw taala allow us to seek all the avenues of health and to protect the manner of the body that Allah subhanaw taala gave us so that we can worship Him for a lengthy lifetime and so we can worship Him with strength for Allah subhanaw taala prefers for us to seek strength over weakness. May Allah subhanaw taala grant us Aarthi Aloma Amin, there is an ayah in

Surah turnbuckle, or rather, two or three is in a passage that summarize the trials and stories we have been hearing about this pandemic all around the world for this life is a test and this pandemic is one of many trials. When Allah subhana wa Tada says,

well unblu One be shame Minato Houthi one Jewry, one oppo so in Meenal

foresee with them a lot. Well, best shooting saw beteen and levena EDA saw but mostly but Paul who Bonsu in LA he was in you know you're on your own, we will surely test you. And Allah subhanaw taala reminds us of this because this life is a test. And if you are not aware, it is a test and you expect it to be perfect. It will be difficult to cope psychologically and religiously. It will surely test you with fear different types of fear and the loss of wealth and the loss of loved ones and the loss of your agriculture meaning your food your crops.

And Allah subhanaw taala says give glad tidings to somebody and those who persevere those who are patient, persevering, enduring. Who are they? These resilient people are the people who when they are afflicted with hardship, they say in the law, we belong to Allah. We're in a in a hurry Roger, our loved ones our family members don't belong to us a harsh reality that we know of. We belong to Allah subhanaw taala and we will all return to Allah. It is inevitable. And this pandemic has reminded many human beings about their mortality. This pandemic has been a wake up call for so many people, believers and disbelievers to return back to

Allah subhanho wa Taala to return back to Allah in this life by choice, so that when you inevitably returned to him without choice, you are prepared. May Allah subhanaw taala make that moment for us a moment of celebration, Aloma, Amin, and the third and last reflection, we reflect today on the blessing of safety and security.

And yet, safety and security, as we all know, and very frankly, is not guaranteed for every person in this country and around the world. Safety and security implies that there is a general blanket safety and security. And yet, we see that there are many injustices locally and globally, depending on the region, depending on the time. For those who do not know, with regards to this country's history, in particular, today is Juneteenth June 19, a day commemorating the first or oldest celebration

with regards to the end of slavery in 1862 6364 65. And the celebration began in 66, in 1866, the end of slavery. And yet, as we see all around us, in this country, affecting Muslims and non Muslims, and with regard to the Muslim community, we see that the African American community approximately comprises 25% of Muslims in the United States. And yet one form of slavery ended and another took its place. Another that was embedded very strategically in the policies of this country, a system of corruption, a system that enables certain people to take advantage of others, a system that allows the prison industrial complex, and the military industrial complex, to kill and

to oppress large numbers of people as part of the legal system. And for those who are not aware of Allah, He the time is beyond us. It is past, we must all be aware of what's happening in this country, we must all be aware of the different types of things embedded in the system itself, that lead to corruption that lead to facade. And we are not surprised that this is the case. But as Muslims, we must work to address it. Because Muslims are not allowed to stand idly by, while any type of injustice takes place, recognizing that they have the ability to either speak up or change it to yourself. And when we see statistically, a greater proportion of oppression against the black

community, and the black community as part of the Muslim community, we cannot remain silent. When we see a statistically higher rate of oppression in terms of police brutality against the black community. We cannot remain silent when we see that the conviction for a black American compared to an equivalent crime by a white American is seven or eight or 15 times longer in prison. We cannot remain silent when we see that a man is eating ice cream in his apartments getting shot and killed. A man is driving his car doing nothing wrong shot and killed a man that's sitting in his home or sitting in his yard barbecue and his family shot and killed for being black. The same reaction by

the police would not have happened if he were white. And I'm talking here about the overwhelming majority of cases I'm not speaking to all situations. But those who are aware, those who are aware will recognize that objectively, factually, statistically, there is a problem in this country. And when there is such a problem, and we are Muslims living in this land, and we have the ability to stop Mongkut oppression or wrongdoing or evil in any of its forms. We must address it strategically without compromising our faith. We ask Allah subhana wa Tada to relieve our communities and our brothers and our sisters all around the world of oppression that is systemic oppression and all of

its forms of oppression is Lulu mat on the day of judgment and Allah has prohibited for all of his creation, and made it prohibited even on himself. Allah does not oppress and he asks us fell out of Allah who do not oppress one another. And when we see oppression, we must address it. And when we see oppression, we must be strategic. When we see oppression, we must have vision, long term, what is the end plan? What is the end goal? What is the end result? We want systemic racism to be removed from the policies not just of this country, but of all countries around the world. And Wallahi the more non Muslims see us, using our religious beliefs to drive us forward being motivated by Islam,

being motivated to eliminate harming society and injustice in society. The more they recognize that Islam is the solution to all of these problems. And we say that very frankly and very confidently. Islam is the solution to society's problems. It is a matter of us utilizing and implementing and showcasing this Islam to our friends in our peers and colleagues and others in society. For if they knew the gems and the reality of Islam, not based on the

The distorted version of Islam they see on Fox News and others if they knew Islam as it was supposed to be practiced, and it as it is supposed to be practiced by us, for we bear that responsibility than many of them were turned to Islam as well. May Allah subhanho wa Taala guide us and guide others through us and make make us amongst the people of justice in Allah who had one loss of lien Allah loves those who are just so the third point here is the reflection on gratitude for safety and security and freedom, yet recognizing that it is not a privilege given to all people in this country known around the world.

The greatest freedom after speaking about worldly examples, the greatest and ultimate form of freedom is to be liberated from worshipping or rather following submitting to shackled by one's desires one's howa and shackled by secular social trends and submitting to Allah subhanho wa taala. That is true. That is true freedom that a person relieves themselves from the expectation of the creation and submits to the expectation of the Creator.

For people who think that becoming distanced from God, or not following the rules of Islam or religion somehow makes them free. They're deluding themselves. For every person submits to something every person follows something every person has some desire, some thought, some ideology, even if it has an ideology of confusion, or assumptions or conjecture. And as Muslims we say, the greatest form of freedom is to be liberated from the expectations of the creation and to submit to the expectations of the Creator. And we ask Allah subhanaw taala to make us consistent upon that Allama Amin I want you to reflect my dear brothers and sisters, about the moment that the human beings will

depart and rise from their graves recreated for the Day of Resurrection, gathering in Autoglym. Mass of the land of gathering. May Allah Subhana Allah was on that day to be under the shade of his throne. May Allah Subhana Allah was to be amongst those who are close to Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam drinking from the house, the water reservoir, and co author and may Allah subhanaw taala allow us to enter Jannah be a lady I serve what are other imagined the first reflections for the people of paradise when they enter Paris. Today, many of us and around the country as well, especially in this state. Many people have come out of their homes to reunite and seeing one another

for the first time in person in the massage. And last week as well and in some massage, and next week and thereafter. And I want us to reflect just for a brief moment on the reunion in Jana. A much greater gathering no doubt.

The first words of the people of Ghana are words that reflect they lived the life of God in this world, a life of freedom, a life of freedom, again, from the expectations and shackles of this world dunya in all of its forms.

A person who lives free in this world submitting to Allah in the next life because they were consistent seeking the Mercy of Allah. The first words they say when they enter Jannah are words of gratitude. And there is no doubt therefore that gratitude and freedom are intertwined. The first words of the people of Jana referenced in the Quran as well. Alhamdulillah he led the solder upon the Praise be to the one who fulfilled his promise to us. Alhamdulillah he loved the Madonna and he had wama Nalina Allah Allah, Allah praise me to the one who guided us to this without him we would not be guided we will not have freedom, the freedom of Islam.

And Allah subhanaw reminds us and especially on this note Alhamdulillah hidden lady, her husband, praise me to the one who removed difficulties from our path, the difficulties of this life are gone, and the difficulties of the Hereafter are gone. And the people of Jana are in Jannah eternally, may Allah subhanho wa Taala make us amongst them. May Allah forgive us for all of our sins seek forgiveness from Allah, for he is the oft forgiving the Ever Merciful occluder pony ha That was still futile only when a confessed Pharaoh in a hall of a photo Rahim.

hamdu lillah wa Salatu was Salam ala Rasulillah while early he was a happy woman Werner in Allahu wa Mala eco Luna Allah Nabhi you are Latina Amanu Sallu alayhi wa salim otter slimmer. My dear brothers and sisters, there's no doubt that this pandemic will bring to us many unique memories. Some people will look back and remember these days some people will look back and remember this Salah where we prayed six feet apart with masks on our faces and many could not make it to the masjid and are not expected to on this particular day due to the capacity. But I want us

to reflect

on how this has allowed some people to awaken spiritually, and whether or not this has affected you positively or not, because that is a choice. Positively meaning you chose to make the decisions that would allow you to look back and not have regrets. I reacted in the right way. You cannot choose what happens to you in a dunya. But you can choose how you respond to it. And that is where the high sap comes in.

When we reflect on our mortality as human beings on the reality that we will return to Allah subhanaw taala, we recognize that we all have a higher purpose. We're not here to play games. We're not here to waste time in this world with all the distractions that we have, and now more distractions than ever from the home itself. More distractions than ever through entertainment and streaming movies and TV shows and video games and so on and so forth.

We have distractions that could distract us until the end of our lives back to back. We are not here for games. And we are here for a greater purpose. And Allah reminds us of this constantly so the one who's connected to the Quran constantly gets that prescription that reminder of a Hasidic tomb and nama hollow apna Komaba chameleon Allah told your own Do you think we created you without purpose aimlessly for sports and that to Allah you would not return. So prepare for that day of return? Let those who want to succeed in Alaska, prepare for accordingly. Let those who want to enter Jannah work for it consistently and sincerely. Let those who want to see the face of ALLAH SubhanA wa Tada

in the next life, seek the pleasure of Allah in this life. Let those who want to compete compete with either Anika familia Turner for cinematography soon. This is the time for us to move forward more productively and to empower other people in our families and communities to be more productive as well to seek solutions and strategies and efficiency in every facet of life. And as we experienced this pandemic and it's not yet lifted, so we must be cautious. We realize that nothing is permanent in this world letter kabuna Baba upon Babak, you will experience stage after stage after stage don't become attached to any stage of life for it is not guaranteed and it is not

permanent. We ask Allah subhana wa Taala to allow us to be liberated from the shackles of attachment to this world. And we ask Allah subhanaw taala to make our hearts attached to him and to the athletes. We ask Allah subhanaw taala to keep us safe and to protect our families and communities around the world and to relieve us of any type of racism and bigotry and discrimination in our hearts in our communities. And in the legal systems of the world. We ask Allah subhanaw taala to guide people to Islam and to allow them to see the truth of Islam. We ask Allah subhanaw taala to guide us and guide others through us. We ask Allah subhanaw taala to forgive us for all of our sins,

the past, present and future the ones that are public, the ones that are private, the ones that we remember, and the ones that we forgot. Stay active my brothers and sisters stay connected to Allah subhana wa Tada stay alert, stay cautious and stay grateful May Allah make us amongst us check it in Allah Amin. Allah Allah Farah didn't want me Nina wouldn't want me not one Muslim you know one Muslim at a minimum, what? Aloma fairly widely Dina, what do you want to do? Well, Idina, hola hola. yarmulke liberal colluvial Upsource third bit kuruva allergenic? Allah Medina Wildy Bina what Jana suburban the Manitoba along Moroccan alHuda what took one alpha for one cleanup. Allah Allah Allah

Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah Allah, Allah from afar and Bella I will have about your hamara Amin Allahumma Allama Surah Islam or is in Muslimeen Allah masala Reba casada Hina frequently makan Allama federate, eg Catawba Annie Muslimeen f equal Nima can be Colima can Fucoidan Lima Can ya? Yeah, they'll generally want a crumb on our banner. Tina dunya has an awful lot you're working on other than now, along Marzouk now who Snell hajima were John Hydra Yamuna, Yama and Bach will often