Importance of Community

The situation for the Muslim community in America have changed dramatically. In the past, Muslim community used to be small, you have a small masala here and there catering for the needs of few people, those are concerned to come to the masjid and Salah and so on. And that was it. We will never concern about the public image at all. You ever concerned about what people assume of you or care about what you say about you? Time has changed. People are looking at the Muslim community in a different view. And it's my responsibility and your responsibility as Muslims, the cares of the Dawa and the higher the cares of Islam, the message of Allah azza wa jal to the world that we represent

Islam and the best way possible. And that's why our massage needs to be big enough for people to see so they can come and learn from us. It is for that reason that we need to have institutions be in the light of Africa, what Allah would cater not just for the Muslim community, for those who are outside as well of the Muslim community. see Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, when he was in Metka. He didn't build any Masjid.

The moment he came to Medina, one of the first tasks and duties he did sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is building the Muslim.

And why is that? It needs to be a station. It has to be a point of reference. That's going to be your second home. So every hire that's gonna come to the community and comes out from the community should come from this place, from the house of Allah subhanho wa taala. And that's a huge responsibility.

And what is the meaning of a masjid? Unless there is a community that would again serve this, this place? And that's when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam work on the second part of the community and that is building the brotherhood among the people who are living at masjid so having a big Masjid that at a well attended by mashallah hundreds and 1000s of people that is a great name, it's a blessing. I mean, look at you in an hour like this. There are many many other people doing something else having their lunch probably taking a break from heart for more concern and you took your break from have to come to pray.

And then probably after Salah you gonna head back over there, but that's a great Nirma it's a blessing that you have a place like this to come to sacred worship Allah subhanho wa Taala but do you care about those around you?

Are we communicating and connecting with one another? How can we establish a masjid and around this masjid and inside this masjid, we build a strong and a beautiful community Ramadan is coming. I don't know many people hamdulillah now they're just kind of getting ready for Ramadan. I'll wait inshallah until I go to the masjid in Ramadan, then I start to get to know these people.

I don't want you to wait until Ramadan becomes so you start learning about the people who live with you, and those who live around you. When Ramadan comes, that committee should already been established and should be stronger in the light of Baraka, what Allah see today, most of us specifically on the environment of the 2016 election of 2016. In America, many people are very concerned about the Muslim public image. So we have launched lots of outreach programs. We do a lot of Dawa programs, we invite the non Muslims to come and visit our masajid. We invite our co workers and friends to come and learn about Islam and Muslims, which is all beautiful. It's all great. But

we fall sometimes short on inviting and taking care of ourselves as a Muslim community, first and foremost. And that is the first foundation for ourselves to care about one another. And how are we going to do this? programs and activities are not going to be sufficient

programs and activities and within the Muslim community. They're not sufficient. They're not going to bring the hearts together. They only bring people

bring in the hearts. That's the word of Allah azza wa jal. You see when Allah subhanho wa Taala spoke about the Sahaba of the Allahu Allah and him and he spoke to the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam about his mission. What was His mission delivering the Dawa? Right? guidance comes from Allah subhanho wa Taala but we are responsible to reach out to the people. Allah azza wa jal said of the prophets of Allah, Allah wa sallam were unlivable in Colombia.

And he joined their hearts. What does that mean? Allah Sternen the Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Sallam remember? It is Allah who joined the hearts of people love un* them I fell out of the Jamie on my left brain Apollo boom what I couldn't hola hola vino

heard you go and give away all the riches that you find on this earth. In order to join their hearts together you won't be able to make it. But it is Allah azza wa jal who joined the hearts of the people.

And Allah subhanho wa Taala when he spoke about the believers in Surah Tian Imran he said what Karuna Mata Allahu Allah Kuntum adda and for Allah Bellina Kulu become for us baton Bynum, Matthew Juana remember the day when you before became Muslims? You were like enemies to one another?

Your enemies fighting one another for Allah Bina Palooka. So he joined with your heart, your hearts together. He brought your hearts together for us, Baton Bennett mighty Juana, and by the grace and the blessings

of Allah azza wa jal, you become brothers and sisters. So it's by the name of Allah azza wa jal that people in a masjid become community is by the grace of Allah subhanho wa Taala people in one place, they can become a community just getting together in the masjid is not sufficient to create a community.

So it's my job and your job as individuals to create this sense of community towards one another.

It's not the responsibility of the Imam only, or the leadership of the community. It is the responsibility of each and every individual to create that sense of community. You see Rasul Allah has said, Allah says Dawa is different than ours. Today, whenever we have a project. At our project, most of us we focus on the theme, we focus on the subject we focus on basically deliver the material to the people and that's why we have a lot of printouts a lot of materials, a lot of PowerPoints and videos and so on. When the prophets of Allah Allah wa salam focus was the insan the human being,

the human being was the most the focus of our soul. Allah has sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He said, Allah subhana says about him, like a jet camera. So lumen unphysical there came to you a Messenger from amongst yourself one of you.

But what is so special about what he did to them? SallAllahu wasallam as he's an ally, humanity, how do you soon Alikum Bill McMurray in a row for Rahim as he's an ally Hema and a tomb, which means it bothers him it concerns and what concerns you if something hurts you, it would hurt him SallAllahu wasallam

if something difficult for you it becomes difficult on him for your Salah. So he's basically he's taking care of you. How do you Sinhala he's always he's always careful for the believers. He's always keen about the affairs of the believers he puts their affairs overhead Salah Simon the head of his Tala Tala was that Imani Bill many in a row for Rahim for the believers and what the believers is very compassionate is very merciful. sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, you see these qualities? These what brings people together?

Now look at let's look at each other. Do you have these qualities amongst ourselves?

doesn't really bother me when I see my brother or sister or hurt in the community? Do I care? To go out of my way to make sure that the needs of my brothers and sisters around me that are being taken care of? How much compassion do I have for the brothers and sister who come to my mother, my community? How often do I share that with them?

Now that is a big thing. And also Allah has sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he gave us a great example of his Syrah and his sunnah. I want to share with you a few of the examples of the prophets of Allah Allah wa sallam, how was he able to join the hearts of the people? So that at least we could employ that in sha Allah out there amongst ourselves bitten Allah Allah azza wa jal number one

a dua

supplication

we think a DA is not that powerful. We only ask ALLAH SubhanA wa Taala when there's a trouble most people they make drama there and when they're in troubles,

but when the handle and then in a in a normal way in the prosperous you know, times, we seem that we make dua in a very formal informal way. Like we don't really focus too much on it. Just like after Salah a few seconds, and that's it. We move on. Doha is very powerful. And Rasulullah sallallahu wasallam. He reminds me and you besides the fact that the DUA is your own connection with Allah subhanho wa taala. The benefit to this in the community Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam says that the dua of the believer villa was a booster jab. When you make dua for your brother for your sister behind their back when they don't know. That is a Monster Jam. That is an answer dua.

What does that exactly mean? That means when you make dua, you care about other people, you have them on your mind. You think about them, and you make dua for them. Imagine that they after surat al fajr When he finished Salah and you came back and you found out that one of your brothers will usually come to the masjid. He didn't show up to that Salah what would you do? We don't care much. Instead I will make dua for him. Yeah Allah may Allah make him safe and easy for him to come for Saturday soldier tomorrow.

Have you ever thought about this? You come to Serato Juma one of your brothers is missing. What happened you ask? You're very concerned. You don't know what's going on you make dua for them your Allah make the efforts easy for them so you can shell out Allah meet them and see what happened to them. You think about your brothers and your sisters. Your community is looking right now for fun. So you're gonna make dua that may Allah Subhana Allah make it easy for all of us to collect that money and make sure that we meet the goals but in the light of Baraka, what Allah you make dua for Imam, you made a dua for leaders, you make dua for your brothers and sister for the children for the

youth. For everybody in this community. People when they go to Hajj or Umrah they've been they've been overwhelmed with requests. You have to go to Hajj Rama food to be accepted, it can be accepted even when you're in the house in the masjid

When you make it to Rucker and you raise your hand and make dua for the people who are around you, that would bring the hearts closer to each of them. Because when you keep remembering that people over and over again, you will always have that soft spot for them in your heart.

That's when you start thinking about the more than you think about yourself.

And what am I getting out of this? Anyway? You don't just make that dua. You don't just make the doctors have no you're getting benefit from that and show a lot of arcotel if the brothers can move forwards I can look out for the gaps in the front because we have actually more people coming in shallow to Allah, please move forward. Don't leave any gaps as I can unlock him.

Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam informed us that when you make a DUA, and you're asking ALLAH SubhanA wa taala, for your brothers and your sisters, Allah will assign an angel for you. And that angel will always say, Well, I can be mislead. And you too, and you too similar, whatever you ask of higher for them, and the angel is making dua on your behalf to Allah subhanho wa taala. So it's a win win situation. How often do we make dua for our brothers and sisters in our communities, whether in general but even by name,

I hope in sha Allah to Allah from this moment, that in this after the suit, but after this during your suit as well, that you remember someone from your community, and you make dua for them by name, they may Allah subhana, WA Tada. Guide them, may Allah make that a first easy whatever that you have in your mind for them just make dua for them that ALLAH SubhanA wa joindre hearts together. Another way the prophets of Allah Allah wa sallam that he did in order to join these hearts together, Bill atta, generosity,

generosity, giving away so many things. The prophets of Allah Azza wa sallam he used to give so much so even for the non believers, because he didn't care about the dunya the material in his hand, he would want to win the hearts of the people SallAllahu wasallam you know, even after the Battle of after the conquest of Mecca, when they conquered Mecca, a lot of people some people they stand they stood against the prophets of Allah said and but these people now they come into Rasulullah Salallahu Salam would they intend to become a Muslims?

So as a result, the prophets of Allah Salam, he gave them so much. He gave each one of them 100 camera for people of the elders and the leaders of kurush each one of them received 100 camera. In our standards today. 100 camel is a sign of big wealth. Like it's like saying a millionaire. They used to say back then, oh Falon he has 100 Karma like he's a millionaire. So imagine he gave $1 million to four people, each one of them got a million dollar and who were they? They were the leaders who were fighting against the Prophet sallallahu wasallam some Sahaba kind of had something in their hearts against it. And when the prophets Allah Sam was told, he said to them, Walla, Indian

Dr. Rajan, I sometimes give people and I know there are other people more beloved to me than them, I give them why. Because I feel for the one that I give, I feel for them that they will judge I will hope that they're so scared afraid for the risk. In this business, I want to keep them around. And I leave those whom I love the most for the Eman and their hearts and that the work will underlie us and Allah subhanho wa taala. So I give them for Marie's for a reason. It's not because I love the more than you, but the Prophet always give sallallahu alayhi wa sallam one of the reasons of of also the the arrangement of the Arabs in that area came to the prophets of Allah salaam to give his

pledge. And he did at the same time the prophets of Allah Salah and he was checking on bitumen and even a sadaqa the Abel the camels that are were dedicated and collected for charity. He so in a valley, there's so much in there that bed when he told the prophet Sallallahu Sallam like wow, this is too much. This is a lot Can I have some?

And the prophets Allah some looked at him and he goes, it's all yours.

That man he kind of like felt the prophet is mocking him probably he goes like the referee. And the professor says it's all yours.

The man is still in disbelief. He couldn't just kind of imagine this someone can be so generous like this, like wow, he didn't even he didn't even have a second thought. Let me think about it. Let me come tomorrow. I'll think about No, he said it's all yours. So he took everything he said I left absolutely nothing in that valley.

And when he went to his people, he says Carla calm module people are slim for Allah He in NA Muhammad and yatta yatta I'm Alexion *er.

So you guys better be Muslims because Muhammad Wallah he gives so much he doesn't feel poverty.

That's the reliance on Allah azza wa jal, the telecoil dependence on Allah subhana wa taala. But why did this bring to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam the hearts of people.

That's what brought to the prophets. Allah He gave his money he gave us the riches of this world, to bring the people together to bring their hearts together. Salawat Allahu wa salam ala. How often do you give? How often you show your generosity to your brothers and sisters in your community? How often do you just give for the community to flourish and become better?

On stronger bit in the light of Baraka with Allah and when you give, you give like if you know poverty because Allah will provide inshallah Allah with Hickman wisdom that you give, you know, responsibly as well. But you have that in your heart that you give him for the sake of Allah subhanho wa Taala to bring the hearts of people together. Another way the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he was able to bring hearts together.

The commands and the instructions that he gave when he first came to Medina salaallah alayhi wa sallam to establish and building a community. You don't want to build a masjid. How can I build the people around that Masjid right now, what is the notion what is supposed to be the Prophet sallahu wa sallam he told us that in many Hadith, one of these Hadith now you may know Hadoken had died Hibbeler he might have been upset. You're not a true believer until the love for your brothers and sister what you love for yourself.

The prophets have a sense of Allah Hila, human Walla Walla, healer, human three times he is not a true believer. He is not a true believer. He is not a true believer. The Sahaba were in shock. Now they wanted to know who that person is called Amanda like money Rasul Allah, who is that person? Karla de la Manjaro. Boy,

he is the one who's neighbors and I'd say from his evil.

You know, when you park in front of someone's house for subtle Joomla, that's bad.

That's bad unless you have permission.

When you hurt people Subhanallah just because you're in a hurry. We don't care about your neighbors, or you don't even take care of your own yards, in a neighborhood that everybody's taking care of their yards. That is bad. Because now you're affecting all your neighbors and neighborhoods, we are responsible for the neighborhood system as well as Muslims.

The prophets of Allah Azza wa sallam, he said how can Muslim Muslim enhance the rights of the believer? You know, there was other believer or five. And what did he says Allah some simple things simple acts of kindness. Like what? By Allah, so Allah Allah wa sallam says era Tullamarine visiting the ill and the sick, walking in the funeral procession when someone dies. And if someone says you see our hammock Allah and when someone says Salah and you say what Allah como Salam, and when someone invites you for food, you say absolutely, if you have the time for it, you go there. All these acts are for what? They're for bringing the hearts together.

How often do we do that?

How many times do you shake hands with people in your own Masjid that you don't usually, you know, put an eye on eye with them. How often do you shake hands with people you don't know their names even.

You know, sometimes guys the community is friendly or not. If they're really very friendly with their smiles and handshakes.

Some communities very exclusive after Juma you will see that they will go with their circle.

And the owner shake hands and smile with people they know by name. That's all

other communities Marshal. They're very welcoming.

They just want to stand by the door and just keep shaking hands with people that don't even know their names, but just want to shake hands with them a smile on their faces. That's how you become friendly community. That's how you win the hearts of the people.

And as a duty for us as an action item today after Juma you make sure that you shake hands with 10 Different people you don't even know them by name and smile on their faces get to know somebody else in new inshallah in this community ben de la Aza and finally, of the ways the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam he brought hearts together. And laugh Wendell McDarrah, forgiving, forgiving those who wronged you when you're capable of doing so.

If you have the ability to retaliate and you forgive Allahu Akbar, look at the greatest example of the prophets of Allah salams forgiveness and ultimate show forgiveness happened on the same day of the conquest of Mecca. You know, all these years the prophets of Allah Allah wa sallam, he was expelled out of his own city. His fate his people were killed and up in the battles before that as well. His uncle Hamza was mutilated, or the Allahu Allah and the prophets of Allah Salam. After that he came back to Mecca with 10,000 warriors and able to conquer the land to conquer the city. He is in control of the people right now and their fate 1000s of them there in Mecca right now they're

waiting, what's going to happen to them? They know it's retaliation date.

And whatever Mohammed would do to them they deserved it. Renu it.

However, when the prophets of Allah Sam was standing in front of me, he says matter the Nephilim What do you think am I gonna do to you right now?

They said often Karimova often carry whatever that is, we know you're very generous, and it's still going to take care of your kitchen, which means we're still family regardless. But how much can you tolerate? You know people doing wrong too, especially when you're your own kid and your own family that hurts even the most?

What the profits or loss am did to them was beyond their expectation. I mean, they thought that they're going to be ransom they're gonna have to pay some that they're gonna have to be penalized for something. Instead, the Prophet sallallahu sallam said to them it Have fun to tilaka you all free go.

Like absolutely nothing. Nope.

penalties,

not even saying the bad words to them absolutely nothing. What ended up the profits or loss and he did the greatest show of forgiveness that he forgot about what they've done and the thought behind his back and he forgave them he moved on. So Allah, Allah wa salam, it is for that reason, these people they understood, at that moment, this kind of tolerance, this kind of forgiveness is divine.

That's not very natural for a human being, to be that forgiving. Subhanallah it has to be something from beyond this world. And indeed it was. That's the message of Allah azza wa jal to the world that will forgive. And we tolerate peoples and we win the hearts, Nanda battles with them. So our Dawa our activity that's going to happen to Sharla within the community and outside, we should always focus on the insan the human being, winning the hearts, not the battles, a cola COLA that was tough for Allah and all the money will come. But aside from so many other stuff through in no one of the four right.

Alhamdulillah of Milan I mean SallAllahu wasallam albaraka and Amina Muhammad wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa seldom at the Sleeman Kathira, to mama bad about Allah, my dear brothers and sisters, you know, a lot of our efforts are of our activities in our communities and masajid do not continue for a very long time. Why? Because as human beings and this is very natural to us, we attach ourselves and our hearts to the results. Before we even do anything.

Like what we do if you want to do a project, you want to make sure that there is a certain certain result that you're expecting that you will get. And if you don't get what you expected that you will get out of this program with this activity is not a successful activity. That is one of the faults of the diet to think that way.

Absolutely, we need to make the right calculations about anything that we do, whether it's an activity, a program on approach and so forth. But at the end of the day, at the end of the day, people they need to understand you are only responsible for the effort.

You're only responsible for doing the right effort. As for the results, they are in the hands of Allah subhanho wa Taala they are in the hands of Allah azza wa jal ALLAH SubhanA wa Tada says in the Quran,

where I can Allah, Allah de Maya, he told the prophet Muhammad, listen, you need to understand you don't guide the people. It is Allah who guides their hearts,

lays the alcohol down what I can Allah Allah Dima Yasha, you're not responsible to guide them in terms of you know, God in their hearts, you responsible to deliver that guidance to them.

And then they make their choices. And Allah subhana wa Omu facilitate things for them. And for you as well. So many of us in this community, sometimes I know people, they come to me and they say, oh my I've tried this, or I've tried that it's kind of frustrating. So they start kind of feeling burned out. And they quit or they take a backseat. Why? Because I can honestly couldn't do any better. You know, this is the problem. We always think that the results that we got being negative that means we failed. And that's it. I should quit. No, that is not right. You see if anyone would ever would if anyone should quit. After trying with his people given down those people should have

been home, new honey center 950 years and he kept giving dower every single day as if it's a fresh new community.

No desperation until Allah told him ya know, that's it no one's gonna believe more than those who believed already. When we got the news from Allah Allah that said it's closed right now that's when he made the DUA Tala Robbie if that's the case, destroy them.

But then on the day of judgment, He will regret that he made that dua

the heritage shefa when they go to add them to start their account, and they said no, I ate from the tree go to new and they go to No, he said, I can tell you because Allah gave me do I made against my people I should have done that. He will regret that even in that moment. After 950 years, what could you do anyway? Need to destroy those Oh my God, I believe. But even that he thought that was wrong. And it was.

So therefore, for us, we're responsible to make the effort. As for the result, they're always in the hands of Allah subhanho wa Taala look at the message of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

He spent all these years 23 years

in his mission, as a as a prophet, from here to see when he received alcohol, Mr. Baker, the harlot until he passed away sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. But then when he died, he did not see he did not see what the Ummah was capable to achieve after him. SallAllahu wasallam why? Because it wasn't for him to see the results was only for him to deliver the message. And he did Salawat Allahu wa ceremony. today. We are the carriers of this message. So let's do exactly what the Prophet sallallahu wasallam did, that we win the hearts and we join the hearts of the people together by the

dose of Allah subhanho wa Taala Allahu Allah minimum foreigner, one fan of Mr. Olympian in the country. Hakeem Allah Martin fusina Taqwa was actually on the Hermanns occur. Antonio harmala about Allah in Allah Malika saloon Allah Nibi yeah you Alladhina amanu Sallu alayhi wa sallam with us Lima Allahumma salli wa sallim wa barik ala Nabina Muhammad while earlier was a big Marian what the Allahu mancala Russia didn't have you back in well Mara was man our ally one side of Sahaba Jasmine woman who on Saturday on the deen welcome salaam

Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar a how do I learn either in long long as you had one will hum mother was all Allah Hi yah

Hi yah higher and

further comment in Salah. Comment in Salah Allahu Akbar more

in more

so starting when I started to Hong Kong Hola, but also the halal make sure the line is straight from Allah do not leave any kind of Baraka Luffy can come close to each other. Make sure the lands in front of you also for so you can have a buddy for inshallah Virgo Tana.

Allah Allahu Akbar

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