Suleiman Hani – Mind Over Matter

			Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah?
		

			MashAllah I love the hyped up motivational talk, especially at the end, we actually we're going to
do something similar. I won't do that just so everybody's not exhausted. However, I do want to begin
by sharing with you a story about somebody here in the United States, who struggle really left an
impact on his community and on the people who heard firsthand what he went through. This brother
will call him abou Elia. Two years into his marriage, he receives a call and he finds out his wife
passed away in a car accident. May Allah subhanaw taala have mercy on her say, I mean,
		

			she left behind her husband and their two year old daughter, Ava,
		

			he became so depressed, so devastated, could not handle this hardship, this struggle, and there's no
doubt it was painful, that he began to question his faith, he began to question the mercy of the
Creator. Why is there suffering in this world, the so called problem of suffering, that for us as
Muslims is not a problem of suffering, but the question of suffering that has answers.
		

			He became so depressed, he completely stopped praying.
		

			And eventually, as he was going through this spiral of emotions, he disconnected and disengaged from
the community, from his friends. And even from his workplace. When he would look at his two year old
daughter, if he'd started, he would start to cry thinking of his wife.
		

			So due to his emotion, and due to the clouding of His judgment, he decided that his daughter was not
allowing him to move forward, not allowing him to heal. So he called his sister living in the West
Coast. And he told her, I need you to raise my daughter, his sister did within the span of a couple
of months, this brother abou Aya, as he lost his wife very quickly, so tooted, his daughter, I
believe his life.
		

			Now, I want to pause here with a story.
		

			Because we look at the things that we go through. And you will always go through struggles in life,
there is no such thing as a life of paradise in this world. Your paradise in this world is when your
heart is connected to true tranquility. Because you know, people and I know people, and we read
about people, and we hear about the gossip of people who have billions or millions of dollars, and
they're not happy, your material, your material wealth does not dictate or reflect how happy you
really are. Yes, it helps. No doubt. Of course, you'd love to go jet skiing every day, I'd love to
have a private plane, a river of chocolate, that'd be great. But this life will have its struggles.
		

			And if you do not allow yourself to accept that this life has struggles, then it's going to
continuously disappoint you.
		

			If you want this life to be your Jana, you want a perfect spouse, a perfect house, perfect car,
perfect wealth and health and so on and so forth. What your heart is really telling you is I want
Janna, I want a life of peace, tranquility, no hardships, no struggles. And then someone says, but I
cannot, I'm not able to change. I'm going through this and that or I'm already developed in my
personality, or I'm too old and it's too late.
		

			The reality is, if you change everything in your life that is external, and you refuse to change
internally, you refuse to grow internally, you will continue to experience the same experiences, and
they will continue to perpetuate themselves again and again. And again, because you're focused on
changing the wrong thing.
		

			When you change internally, when you change your mind and the state of your thinking, you start to
grasp an elusive elucidate and exemplify one of the most powerful forces in this world. Allah
subhanaw taala gave all of us many different blessings and strengths and weaknesses and
circumstances. And there are no two people in this room, the person next to you and even your own
family, who are going through the same identical struggles and same thoughts and feelings and
emotions at every moment of your life. Everyone is going through their battles. The question is, how
will you deal with your battles? How will you deal with climbing uphill? How will you deal with
		

			changing your mind because a changed mind is one of the most powerful things you can possess. A lot
of people go through life never really knowing who they are never experiencing their potential their
talent, or knowing the legacies that they could leave behind. A lot of people in life look at famous
people or look at speakers for a glimpse or on Facebook or Instagram or Snapchat, and you see
highlights of people's lives when they're going through moments of goodness. And you see
		

			clips and snippets and glimpses. And you might think to yourself, when you see someone accomplish
something great that this person has done this very quickly and easily. The reality is you and I
give people credit for the public things that they do that they've worked hard on for years in
private. But if you live your life, always trying to be validated by others, and all you really want
is for people to accept you, for you to be cool for you to be accepted, it's going to be difficult
to truly know who you are, it's going to be difficult to unlock more of who you are. Why instead of
trying to be validated by others, why don't you unlock and unleash your potential in the world and
		

			inspire others in the process, we have so many amazing things we can do everybody in this room. And
the worst thing you can do is to think to yourself that you can't, and that you're unable to or you
have no value, to put yourself down is the worst type of criticism you can give to anyone in this
world. And the reality is, at times we are our greatest own critics. When we talk about practical
change, and progress and challenging ourselves, what are some things you and I can do realistically,
so that we make progress with this subject of mind over matter, an axiom and principle by the way,
that's used in many different areas of life, many different philosophies as well. And even within
		

			the field of medicine, mind over matter what is a practical starting point number one,
		

			if you want change, realistic change, you have to learn to practice and live by optimism. You cannot
get through this life happily and positively. Unleashing and unlocking more of your true self, if
you're not optimistic, will Allah he one of the most amazing things in this world is optimism and
pessimism spreads. It's contagious. We don't like to be around people who are pessimistic. At least
I don't. We don't like the energy and the vibe that they give. You love people who are optimistic
for a reason. But one of the things that comes up when we talk about optimism, and I'll ask this
question, I want everybody to participate. Even if you don't think you know the answer, just guess.
		

			Sometimes we hear the arguments and the question, are Muslims, realists or are Muslims optimist? How
many people here think Muslims should be realists?
		

			Like two people? Okay, how many people think Muslims should be optimists?
		

			Okay, so the reality is because some of the people who raised their hands for optimism and some of
those who raise their hands for realism, sometimes a cynical or skeptical person will say, but we
have to be grounded in reality. And that's true. That's very true. As Muslims, we are realistic
optimists. So you're all right. Hamdulillah. We are realistic, optimist. Why? stay grounded in
reality, look around at what you have and the abilities that you have and the capacity for growth.
But never ever, ever lose your optimism. Never lose sight of the positive side of things. An Oxford
study about 10 years ago, with high school and college students. They conducted the study and they
		

			concluded that the students who are going through hardship and always looking at the positive side
of things are less prone to severe depression, and more likely not just to be happy, but to be
successful in different areas of life. Do you know that there are studies countless studies showing
that optimism is not just something for you to be happy about, but it's healthy for you. It allows
you to last? In fact, a Harvard study that just concluded less than five years ago with 70,000
participants they were all women in this study 70,000 participants, they found there's no doubt
whatsoever. That people who are constantly pessimistic, had a much likelier chance of dying quickly.
		

			Why? Because stress and pessimism affects your body. It is not just an abstract concepts. It affects
your heart and it affects your body and affect your mind. Think positive, be positive. And always
reflect on the fact that Tiffa will mean and Iman, optimism is a part of faith. How do you and I
practice optimism in a real in a realistic way. Number one, believe in yourself. If you do not
believe in yourself, you will find that you are your greatest obstacle. Believe in yourself.
		

			And this is something that is easier said than done for some people, but you must learn to accept
who you are. And then make progress. Number two, stop comparing yourself to other people in a
competitive way. We all should be happy at the success of each and every person here. We all should
celebrate the achievements of everyone here, the legacies of everyone here and we work together in
that regards. We have no problem with others succeeding it does not mean you have to look down at
yourself or feel like you're missing something. In fact, you can be inspired by others, but don't
pull yourself down because of that number three
		

			When you're faced with a challenge, stop assuming the worst possible outcome. Always assume a
positive outcome always assume a positive result. This is part of good assumptions of Allah subhanho
wa Taala And number four, if you want to be optimistic reflect on Jana. Reflect on your goal. If
it's gender that you want, then read about gender listen to lectures about gender. Keep reflecting
on where you're headed. This is your destination, is it not? When you get in the car and you put
your destination your GPS? Do you find yourself going 200 miles west of your destination for no
reason whatsoever? No, if you get off track, your GPS is going to bring you back on track and that
		

			annoying voice will continue to say turn right here. Rerouting here rerouting here if it's Jannah
that you want and do not lose focus of your destination keep your eyes on the prize. I want to ask a
quick question I want to hear random answers what are some things you're looking forward to in Jana?
Anyone? Shout it out anyone
		

			hanging out with or whatever the hook Bob interesting Mashallah. Anyone else?
		

			MashAllah sackcloth hidden what else?
		

			What? Oh, peace? Yes, absolutely. I thought you meant the vegetable piece Yes.
		

			Meeting,
		

			masha Allah many family members who have passed away May Allah grant all of us in our family the
highest levels of gender what else?
		

			Not being in Vietnam. That's great. Ma sha Allah. I agree. Yes.
		

			Ma sha Allah seeing Allah PATA what else? Anyone? Happiness.
		

			Nice. Mashallah. Yes? Food. Everybody likes food.
		

			Masha, Allah who doesn't run out on Jana. So don't worry about the food, right? We have long lines
in other places. Why do I ask you this question? I will hire the guy who lost his daughter who gave
up his daughter thinking she was a source of pain for him. He went through severe depression for
several months.
		

			And one day he said he started contemplating suicide. And he got worse and worse, especially since
he was so disconnected from everyone and everything. He said, I had no link to Allah subhana wa
Tada. So I felt there was nothing left in this life. So what did he do? He said, as I was
contemplating suicide in a very serious way. I started going through the text messages from my wife
before she passed away.
		

			And as he was going through the text messages from his wife, he scrolled back several months and
months and months, he found an exchange of conversation with his wife, in which he had done some
favor for her. So she said, I don't know what I do without you. I think I would die of depression.
		

			And he responded, and he said, may Allah Subhana Allah protect us. She said something along the
lines of I think what would be even more depressing on a serious note is that if, if one of us made
it to Jana, and the other did not, and he started crying, and he had responded to her at that time,
may Allah subhanaw taala unite us in our offspring in the highest levels of Jannah. But as he's
reading in the present, realizing what he just did, realizing how devastated he was how he had given
up all sources of healing for his heart, knowing that there was a chance that he was choosing not to
be with his family and Janna knowing that his actions do have consequences. He started crying, he
		

			fell onto the ground crying, he found himself making dua while crying, and eventually he cleaned
himself up and he prayed and he prayed and he prayed. He said that Salah was the salah that changed
his life. Keep your sight on Janna, don't lose focus of where you're headed. No matter how difficult
things become, you have a greater goal, you have a greater objective. This life is a is an as a
blessing and a massive blessing that when you have the guidance of Islam as a stepping stone to
success in both worlds, whereas many people are losing out, many people don't know many people are
unaware. And it's our job not just to be optimistic, not just to grow, not just to unleash our
		

			potential in this world, but to help others as well. Optimism is power, optimism is light. The
brother called his wife and he told her I'm gonna pick up my daughter area. Now he's around his
community in the Midwest. Now he travels around the community in the Midwest, and he helps others
who are struggling, he helps those who are suffering. And the reality is each and every one of us
have different struggles. But we must build each other. We must provide that optimism to people who
don't have it. We do need to be optimistic, and it is a part of growth. Number two relentlessness.
You want success. You have to be relentless. Meaning what? Practice never giving up when you fail.
		

			When you fall short, get up and try again. There are so many examples in every one of our lives of a
moment in which you could have given up and said you know what, it's not going to work and you try
it again and you said it's not going to work and you
		

			write again and then it worked. Don't give up. And don't get in the habit of giving up. If you want
success and you want change and you want growth and you want a legacy, you have to be defiant. You
have to be relentless. You have to challenge yourself, you have to step up your game internally,
because every single person in this room has untold and unfolded legacies that are yet to come. And
I ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to make all of us amongst those who will leave behind powerful
legacies for this world. be relentless and do not give up. Number three and finally,
		

			always keep your trust in Allah. You and I should be saying every day and every morning and every
evening evening, has to be Allahu Allah Allah Allahu Allah. hito occulta horrible Asha alim. When we
say husband, Allah when our men were killed very quickly, what is this that we're supposed to
reflect on? Allah is sufficient for us. Allah is sufficient for us. And he is the best Disposer of
affairs. He will take care of you in ways other people will not. He will manage your affairs when
you struggle. He will manage your affairs when you go through pain. He will help you reach a moment
of tranquility and light and understanding and wisdom. But we must never ever let go of that trust
		

			with ALLAH SubhanA wa Tada. No matter how busy our lives become, no matter how painful our lives
become. We continue to commit and submit to Allah subhanho wa Taala for he is the one whose
blessings upon us are innumerable. We ask Allah subhana wa Tada to make us of those who are
constantly moving forward. We ask Allah subhanaw taala to make us of those who are constantly
optimistic, always looking at the positive side of things. And we ask Allah subhanaw taala as he
gathered us in this beautiful gathering to reunite all of us and our loved ones and our offspring
and our parents and our friends and our neighbors in the highest levels of Jannah was salam ala
		

			Humala Muhammad
		

			wa Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh