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Nearly all praise is due to Allah subhanho wa Taala we praise Him and we seek his help. And we seek
refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls in the consequences of our actions. Indeed whomever Allah
subhana wa tada guides, there's no one who can misguide him, and whomever Allah subhana wa Taala
chooses to misguide, none can guide him back to the straight path. Bear with this and I testify that
there is no deity that is worthy of our worship, other than Allah subhanho wa Taala and bear witness
and I testify that Mohammed Abdullah sallallahu I think he was sending them his his final
worshippers and his most perfect messenger as to what follows Allah subhanho wa Taala has reminded
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us in the haoran Yeah, you halogen monitor Allah haka. 241, or two Mu 211. To Muslim moon. Oh you
who believe be conscious of Allah have Taqwa of Allah, as he deserves that you have Taqwa of Him and
do not die except in a state of submitting yourselves to him. And our Lord, as Joe says in the
Quran. Yeah, you hola Dena, Armando choco La La kulu Colin sajida. You Steadicam? Allah como yo
feiyr.com. One minute a la la Sula, who falcoda foster fosun alima are you believe have Taqwa of
Allah be conscious of Allah subhanho wa Taala. And say the best of all speech, if you do so he shall
set your affairs straight, and he shall forgive your sins. And whoever obeys the law and His
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Messenger has indeed achieved the ultimate success. My dear brothers and sisters, every so often,
another calamity besiegers our community? And we have to remind ourselves, what is the wisdom? What
is the purpose? Why is it that any community is tested over and over again? And in fact, this
question, even leads some people to reject faith itself. For one of the most common causes for
people leaving religiosity is the question, why is there so much suffering? Why is there so much
evil? Why are there so many calamities taking place in the world globally, internationally,
nationally? So we as believing Muslims, need to look at the Quran and the Sunnah. And we need to ask
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ourselves, what is the purpose of trials and tribulations? What is the purpose of going through one
calamity and one tragedy after another? Or to be very, very simplistic? What is the wisdom in the
existence of such pain and suffering and evil? And of course, this question, this question has been
addressed by 1000s of theologians of all different religions. And a short sermon today cannot answer
in every detail, nonetheless, to remind ourselves to bring about some consolation, to bring about
some peace to our souls. Allow me to summarize some of the main evidences some of the main responses
that we find in the Quran and the Sunnah of our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam realized,
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firstly, brothers and sisters, that what we call evil or harm or suffering, always is the exception
and not the rule.
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Think about it. Any calamity, be it a sickness, be it an earthquake, be it a tsunami, that is not
the default. It's always the exception. It's always something that occurs and happens and then is
lifted up. The default is the earth is not shaking in an earthquake. The default is most of humanity
is healthy, most of us are healthy. For most of our lives. sickness is a temporary occurrence. Any
other type of disaster, any other type of evil is not the default. Rather, the default is that there
is good. The default is that there is health. The default is that there is peace, and anything that
changes this is but a exception to the general rule. And this is a manifestation of Allah subhana wa
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tada being the man and the Rahim also realize, my dear brothers and sisters, that we need the
existence of evil in order to understand and appreciate the good. We would not understand how
blessed we are to have good health. If once in a while we didn't fall sick. We would not appreciate
the blessings have any of our blessings, if not they were taken away or shaken or at least altered
for a period of time. So in fact, every single calamity
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helps us appreciate what we have, in a manner that not nothing else would do. We would never ever
appreciate any blessing unless that blessing was somehow jolted, threatened taken away. And
therefore, even in this, there is an affirmation of the blessing rather than an affirmation of the
evil. Because the evil reinforces the blessing, the harm the suffering, the tragedy, reinforces the
default, which is the blessings that our Lord has given us, as well, my dear brothers and sisters,
every single calamity, every single suffering brings about much more good.
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And you could not have the existence of good without the existence of some evil, simple example. We
are required by our religion to be charitable and generous. We are required by the Shetty to give
our account and our sadhaka. So the question arises, if there were no orphans, if there were no
widows, if there were no poor people, how could we be giving our sadhaka and charity? How could
anybody be generous? How could anybody be kind, unless there were people who deserved that kindness,
there were people who deserve that charity. So in reality, we believe that the existence of harm and
suffering actually has a far greater wisdom, a far greater good. And that is to bring about the good
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of humanity, the good of the believers, the good of charitable, generous, loving people,
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as well, dear brothers and sisters, of the blessings of the existence of evil because we believe
that even this harm has some benefit. And in fact, we believe that benefit is more than the harm, of
the blessings of the wisdom of the existence of evil is that it allows all of us to reconnect with
our Creator, to become more spiritual. The fact of the matter is that our hearts become hard when we
are oblivious to the pain and suffering around us. The fact of the matter is that perpetual
enjoyment causes us to be disconnected from our religion from our Creator from our worship.
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So when a calamity befalls when a masiva a fitna, a disaster takes place.
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Every one of us reconnects with our Lord. And all you need to do is to see what happens in any
family, when a tragedy occurs when a death takes place, when a sickness when a child is sick,
anything what happens, the whole family comes together, the whole family comes close to the
religion, the whole family rediscovers that connection that is necessary with Allah subhana wa Tada.
And therefore, in this, there is great wisdom as well, as Abraham remarks the famous color of an
opium, as he said, that any calamity and any masiva any trial that brings you closer to Allah is not
a calamity or a trial. Rather, it is a blessing in disguise, because there is no greater blessing
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than to be connected with a law. There is no greater gift than to have a direct relationship with
the law. So anything that gives you that relationship is worth it. So any tragedy that causes you to
rediscover your faith that causes you to reconnect with a law is not really a tragedy. It is in fact
a blessing in disguise, because the good that will come out of it outweighs infinitely any harm and
tragedy that might occur. And that is why Allah subhana wa tada says in the Quran, and so that's an
anon verse 42 that we sent upon them betsa and Bara hardships and calamities. Lyla home Yato Ron,
Allah talking about a past nation, he's talking about a previous civilization that were inflicted
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with certain calamities, what was the wisdom, Allah does not take pleasure in punishment, Allah does
not take pleasure in sending down either. So why is the law sending down adapt to certain
civilizations? Allah says, Allah homea turbo rune so that they may reach out to us so that they may
invoke us. Allah says in the Quran niaf Allah will be either become in Chicago to momentum, what
will Allah gain by any type of punishment inflicted upon you? What will Allah gain by punishing you,
but as long as you are thankful and calling out to him, in other words, one of the purposes of any
type of suffering is to appreciate the blessings of Allah to be thankful and to reach out to him to
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make dua out to him to pray to Him to invoke him for our needs. So of the wisdoms and blessings of
calamities
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Is that we rediscovered the importance of spirituality? Because nothing brings about peace in our
lives, like a connection with our Creator, no pleasure, no joy is infinite, other than the joy of
understanding the purpose of one's life. And this is why calamities and trials and we'll see because
they help us in this regard of the wisdoms and the blessings, if you like, of the existence of
suffering and harm
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is that it is through passing the tests that are inflicted upon us that our ranks are raised up.
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We firmly believe in heaven and *, we believe in Paradise and we believe in levels of paradise.
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How are some people chosen to get to the highest of levels? What prefers one group over another? Our
Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, in Allahu taala, either head back home and home, when a
law loves the group of people. When a law loves the group of people, what does he do? He showered
them with blessings, send money upon them as rain, emitted out whom he tests them, he sends upon
them tests. So by passing the tests, their ranks are raised higher and higher and higher.
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So much so that the highest of all people are the most tested.
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Look at our prophets. What did our Prophet Mohammed Salah Salem say, the most tested of all humanity
are the prophets. Look at our father Abraham, Abraham. It is said that no one was tested like
Ibrahim alayhis salaam was tested one trial after another. Why? What is the wisdom of testing one of
the greatest prophets of Allah to raise his ranks higher and higher, and so that he may serve as a
role model for all future generations. That one personality who is revered by Jews and Christians
and Muslims, the Prophet Ibrahim alayhis salam, how did he get to that rank? Allah says in the
Ibrahima Ghana omoton kanita. Ibrahim was an entire oma. Allah says that Ibrahim is an Imam in the
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GI Luka nasty Mama, I'm going to make you a leader to all of mankind. How did Ibrahim become an Imam
to all of mankind by passing each and every test that Allah subhana wa tada tested him with? So of
the wisdoms of trials and tests of the wisdoms of tribulations of harm of suffering, is that we
firmly believe that by passing each and every test, our ranks rise up, our faith is reinforced. It's
like that vaccination, you start off at a low dosage, then you increase more and more, until you
become more and more immune, we as Muslims believe that our faith is tested. And we also believe no
one is tested with a test that he doesn't have the potential to pass. A law will never place on you
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a test that you cannot pass. If you fail it, this is your own failing. Now you can leave alone Epson
Illa WUSA, no soul is tested with more than what it can bear. So any trial, any calamity, and it
will Seba that afflicts me and you realize that Allah knows we have the potential, the Eman the
faith, the requirements to pass that test. If we didn't, we wouldn't be putting that test.
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So if Allah knows we have the courage and the man to pass that test, then in reality the test is not
for Allah, it is for us. Because Allah knows we can pass if we wanted to, or else we wouldn't put us
in that test. And when we pass that test, our ranks are raised up our swab our reward our ranking
gender, our standing in the eyes of Allah subhana wa tada all of it is increased. And that is why
our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam told us that those who are beloved to Allah are the most
tested by Allah subhanho wa Taala. When we are tested and we pass those tests, not only are our sins
forgiven, our faith is reinforced our Iman comes out stronger each and every test makes our faith
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even stronger in Allah subhanho wa Taala
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as well My dear brothers and sisters have the wisdoms of the existence of suffering and pain is that
in one sense, pain is indeed relative suffering is relative. Allah says in the Quran, wasa and
Takahashi and wahoo highroller it is very possible that you dislike something but that very thing is
for your own good.
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You don't know the wisdoms that Allah subhanho wa Taala has placed our example in front of Allah is
like the exam.
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Have a Baby that's being vaccinated by the parents. And the parents know that that baby is going to
suffer through the needle, the pinprick, the parents know this, but they realized that the child
needs this vaccination. What Illa his method either and to Allah belongs the most perfect example.
Just like we understand, this baby cannot be explained. The baby does not have the wisdom, but we
know surely Allah is infinitely wiser. Surely Allah is infinitely wiser. And what is our Prophet
sallallahu alayhi wa sallam say exactly this example, that when he passed by, and he saw a woman
frantically searching for her child, her baby was lost on the battlefield. And she found that baby
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and she screamed with joy. What did our Prophet says that I'm safe? Do you think this, this mother
will ever harm her child? Do you think this mother will ever throw her child into a fire? They said
no, by Allah or messenger of Allah, no mother, whatever do this. What did our process that I'm
saying, Lola has a shed, Allah has more Rama upon His servants than this lady has upon her children.
Allah loves you more than this lady loves her child. Yet still, the mother sometimes must discipline
the child. Yet still, sometimes the mother must do something she knows the child will suffer some
harm, but she knows it is for a greater good. So if we truly trust in the love of Allah, if we truly
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trust in the wisdom of Allah, if we have a man in the knowledge of Allah subhana wa Tada, then we
must also accept that will law who Yeah, demo, one two military demo, Allah knows, and you do not
know. And the story of Musa and Hadith that I've discussed on this member on this pulpit last year,
a whole series that gave on the story of Musa and how they're on what happened to them, each and
every calamity that took place. By the end of the story, we see that in fact, that calamity was not
a calamity, that calamity was a blessing in disguise, the fishermen who lost their ship, in the end
of the story, they thanked a lot for having lost their ship at that point in time, the child, every
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single story, at the end of the story, they are so grateful. And you know what, we don't even have
to quote past incidents and long folk tales of old brothers and sisters, I challenge you, each and
every one of you to look back at an incident in your own lives, to look back at a calamity at a
disaster a few years ago in your own lives. And at the time that it happens. you question yourself
how Why? What is going on? I thought I did everything right. I didn't get the job. That didn't
happen. It didn't work out. I lost something that was precious. And I didn't expect to lose this.
And you wonder why, why why? Now when you look back after so many years, you realize you know what,
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there was a wisdom that caused me to do X to do y. It caused me to fortify it caused me to become
creative. It brought about a change that I am forever grateful for and had it not been for that
calamity. I would not be standing here the man that I am today. We know this from our own personal
lives. So then why do we doubt the next time a calamity happens that there is some wisdom we don't
understand. Even if we don't know it, we believe there must be a wisdom behind it, of the wisdoms of
the existence of harm and evil as well
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is that
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we need to understand over and over again, that the purpose of this life is to be tested and tried.
This is what this life is for. Allah created us in order that we worship Him in the most in the most
perfect manner. And Allah will test us to see if we truly have that worship or not, to about a color
DB at the Hinman kohala Christian for the lady, Haleakala Mota well hayata Leah Balu Akuma eucommia
San Juan Allah, all praises due to Allah, the One in whose dominions is everything, and the one who
is all powerful, the one who has created death and life. Why, so that he may test you to see who
amongst you are the most righteous in your lives. The purpose of this life is nothing but a test for
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the next life. So How else will test take place? except through exams through trials and
tribulations? We need to continuously remind ourselves that Jenna is the next life not this one.
Paradise is awaiting not here. A lot of people ask and especially agnostics and atheists, why is
there pain? Why is there suffering? Why is there evil and the vision of the world they have? We
respond to them. You know, we believe in that vision. We believe in a world without pain. We believe
in a world without suffering. We believe in a world of Ultimate Bliss. But that world is not this
world. That world is to come and it will be given to those who truly designate who truly demonstrate
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who truly show
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They have courage and faith and conviction that they believe in the promises of a law, that they're
willing to abide by the Sunnah of the messenger of a law. Those are the people, if they live
according to that lifestyle. If they worship Allah consistently, persistently, then that world that
you're demanding of me, I will be blessed with it. But it is not this world. This is not the world
of paradise. This is the world where there is going to be death, there is going to be suffering and
pain, but that's not the default. The default is and hamdulillah it's good. But once in a while some
pain and suffering will also happen. But this is not the world of eternity. And that's why Allah
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mentions death before life, and let the hierarchal motor while hayata he created life and death.
Because this is not the eternal life. Even the agnostic and atheist must acknowledge that life comes
to an end, then what that's where religion comes into play. And that's where people of faith say,
life is simply a test. If you pass it in accordance with the with the laws of your Creator, your
life will be an everlasting life. It will be the life that you desire, the life that you envision,
but that is not this life. So of the wisdoms of trials and tests is to remind us of our own
mortality, we are not to cause we don't control anything. It is a love who controls everything.
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of the wisdoms as well have tests and trials and tribulations and this one is a little bit
philosophical a little bit profound and somewhat controversial, but Allah mentions it explicitly in
the Quran. Allah says in the Quran maharal facade you feel better he will Buhari be Marchesa, but ad
nursey Leo luthy, aka hongbao Bala de Emmylou.
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Allah has caused facade and facade means evil and pain and bloodshed and wars, Allah has caused evil
to spread throughout the season throughout the land. Why? Because of the sins men have done, be
Makassar but aid in us, what do you
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do, and so that Allah can give them a taste of what they themselves have done. In other words, we as
Muslims believe that every single suffering and pain is in fact a fraction a bit of what we
ourselves have done to harm others or to harm the environment or to harm the world around us. And
Allah is saying, He is giving us a taste of our own medicine, why Laila home your children so that
they may desist, they may cease causing that harm, and go back to correct ways go back to being
merciful and worshipping Allah subhana wa Tada. And while he brothers and sisters, it is so true.
Look at how callous and cruel so many societies have become. We spend trillions of dollars in
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weaponry to kill other people, trillions of dollars in our budget in diff, quote, unquote, defense,
which is in fact killing of others. Even as people don't have food to eat in our own societies, even
as people don't have shelter, look at the number of homeless and the cold is upon us. And we drive
by almost every intersection. And there are people begging for food, even as there's plenty of
money. And let's not just blame the government and the powers that be we as well. We are not
prioritizing where we should spend our money, our selfishness our greediness, is used for other
things, while people are suffering. So Allah is saying, this evil that you're suffering, this is a
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taste of your own greed of your own corruption of your own sad, you have demonstrated some types of
evil. So in return, I will give you a taste of a fraction bout because if a law were to deal with us
in that manner, we would not be alive, unless as in the hold on, though you after the law, NASA if a
law were to deal with people the way that they deserve Marcela kalavati Hammond does not a single
creature would remain on this earth. Allah azza wa jal is not fair with us when it comes to sins.
Allah is infinitely generous. Allah gives us infinitely more than we deserve. And he overlooks
infinitely more than what he might if he were to take into account caused us to be destroyed by so
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Allah azza wa jal is not dealing with us the way we deal with other people know he is Al Karim, he
is Alma Nyan, he is a man or ofor Rahim. This is Allah subhanho wa Taala but still have the wisdoms
that because of which harm and suffering exists is so that we may return to Allah subhana wa tada
and understand that we have not acted in accordance with our own shediac and our own faith and
brothers and sisters, what is to be done in the light of all of this evil and suffering? I have
given other hookless about this better?
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Very quick summary. First and foremost Most importantly, do not lose faith in Allah subhana wa tada
do not feel despondent and despair, always be optimistic always put one's trust in Allah subhana wa
tada as well realize that sobor and tawakkol and Eman and other all of these things are necessary to
overcome every single calamity as well when we face every calamity, we should realize that this
calamity Allah azza wa jal knows that we can pass it and that is why he is placing it on us if we
could not pass it, we would not be facing that calamity. So this gives us a sense of your clean a
sense of Toma Nina a sense of peace that Allah is not putting on us more than we can possibly pass
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we will be able to pass it if we turn to Allah subhana wa Tada. And as well, as I said, in multiple
times, one of the main wisdoms for the existence of suffering and harm is to turn to Allah subhana
wa tada to increase our prayer to increase our drop, to increase whatever we can do. And the final
point that we mentioned is that and with this, we conclude the first hogberg brothers and sisters is
that the existence of evil is not something that we cherish is not something that we're happy at No,
of the wisdoms of the existence of evil, I said this, the second point is so that we fight it with
good, so that we fight it with good, so that we take out the goodness and we use it to eliminate
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evil, even realizing that we're never going to be 100% successful. There's always going to be some
pain, some suffering, some hunger, some wars, some bloodshed, you're never going to eliminate it.
But we are not happy with status quo, and any amount of evil is too much. And so of the wisdoms and
of what we need to do is that when hatred when animosity when pain and suffering increases, we need
to stand up and take on that challenge and try to eliminate to the best extent possible any harm and
any hardship and any evil and in that in fighting against evil that is of the best ways to eliminate
evil. Our religion doesn't tell us to sit on our behinds and say Allah will take care of everything.
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No, Allah will take care of everything. If we stand up, and we fight for what we believe is justice
and truth and we do what we can to be generous and kind then and only then will Allah subhana wa
tada help us and this is the most important ways to eliminate the pain and suffering in our lives.
May Allah subhana wa tada grant us a mandated clause in this regard about a co labor co parent when
I finally what Yeah, come be mad at him that he declared Hakeem a horrible matter smartone was tough
with a lot of LGBT welcome what he said Muslim and recorded them in Philadelphia who in the hall of
photo Rahim
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hamdulillah Al Hamdulillah helwa had a had a summer the lady lamb Yellin what am youlet? Well, I'm
Nicola, who Khufu and I had about two brothers and sisters, all of us are in shock and in grief at
what has happened in California. And our thoughts and our prayers go out to those who have been
senselessly killed. And we unequivocally condemn anyone who has done this dastardly deed, regardless
of whether their motivations were personal or they're linked to any other cause. We firmly believe
as Muslims, that it is completely impermissible to take the life of another without just cause Allah
says in the Quran that we have inspired the children of Israel, we instructed the children of Israel
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00:29:22
with a commandment we're going to instruct you with as well and that is a nobleman cutter enough
sand is it enough sin for katella NASA Jamia whoever kills one human being without any justifiable
cause. It is as if he has killed all of humanity. So there are no ifs, ands and buts about it. We
unequivocally condemn any such senseless killing. We also point out that as of yet the motives of
the people that have been accused are still murky, we do not understand there are a lot of theories
going around and until more information comes out, it is best for us to keep our speculation to a
minimum. However, brothers and sisters we all know that unfortunately, whatever their motives were,
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whether it was personal, whether it was a mental issue, whether there are other causes.
Unfortunately, the American Muslim community will be taking the brunt of the backlash, that the fact
of the matter is that already news channels and already self appointed media pundits have begun
painting all of us with a broad brush of terrorism and of secret ISIS cells and whatnot. And we have
to be extra vigilant and Subhanallah brothers and sisters, we as it is have battled so many
Islamophobic attacks so many campaigns against us. We are now being used as a pawn in a far greater
game of who's going to be the president and each president is trying to jump frog over the other
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by painting us in even more sinister fashion, the fact of the matter is that there are politics
involved when it comes to smearing us Muslims. And we, there's not much we can do yet at the same
time, we have to do what we can. And of the things that we can do brothers and sisters is to make it
known that we are against any type of senseless killing. And so also put it into context. The fact
of the matter is that there have been over 360 mass shootings in this year alone. In this year
alone, over 360 times people have gone berserk with a gun. And the fact of the matter is that in
each and every one of those circumstances, their religion and other ideologies were simply
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00:31:15
dismissed, and the person is considered to be a crazed, deranged lunatic. Yet, when it is a brown
skinned person with a Muslim name. As you all know, they bring our religion into it. And of course,
this double standard is very palpable, it's very clear, when a person of the Christian faith or a
Caucasian background does something they do not bring in the faith, they do not bring in the
ethnicity, it is considered to be an aberration to the rule. Yet, when a Muslim does something we
all know all of us have to pay the price of that crime, and therefore brothers and sisters, please
do your best to be extra vigilant, we do not want any person to be hurt. Unfortunately, we're
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already heard of a number of
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verbal and even physical attacks after the the French bombings a few weeks ago or even physical and
a number of cases of sisters with hijab in particular. So please, brothers and sisters, be extra
vigilant, try your best sisters in a job not to be in a place that might bring about any, any cause.
If anybody comes up and begins a harsh conversation or you feel threatened, realize the ultimate
priority is your safety. That is the ultimate priority not to engage in dialogue, not to try to
defend anything, the ultimate priority is your physical safety. So if you feel threatened in any
manner, be have a phone accessible, do not try your best not to be in a place where you are alone,
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where somebody can come in and gang up on you. And as well sisters, perhaps at this time, it is safe
to maybe only go with your husband or other people or not go alone, because the fact of the matter
is that unfortunately, women in hijab are a primary target. Probably because the hijab is a more
identifiable marker as as being a Muslim. And we don't want anything to happen to anyone as they are
here. Here in the masjid as well, we have taken some precautions as well. And we have a police as
well that are going to be here for the next few days, just in case anything of that nature happens.
And just if the situation is not threatening, if somebody genuinely comes up to you wanting to know,
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then feel free to engage in a dialogue and give them the standard talking points. And that is that I
am not responsible for the crimes of another person with my skin color with a vaguely similar
sounding name, just like you are not responsible for their crimes of anybody of your skin color or a
vaguely similar name. It is not fair to bring me and link me to anybody else. Another talking point
is that there are good and bad peoples in every faith in every religion, just like you recognize in
your own community. There are crazy people. So Muslims are humans, and there are crazy people as
well amongst the Muslim community. Another talking point is you can talk about gun violence as well,
00:33:11 -->
00:33:51
that we also want to talk about the broader issue of gun control. Don't just concentrate on this one
issue 360 cases of of gun violence have occurred and we as a country need to take a step back and
ask ourselves, why is America the only country in the world where this takes place? Why? It's not
even as if there's a close second or third? And we're number one? No, it's literally we're the only
country in the world, even in places where there's civil war going on. Even in places where there's
actual guitar, people don't just go and shoot in a kindergarten, they don't just go into theater and
shoot people there's a civil war, they might shoot the opposing faction and innocence die in that
00:33:51 -->
00:34:31
process. But the type of deranged, Mad Men that come and shoot for some reason, it's somewhat of a
uniquely American phenomenon. So all of us collectively Muslim and and and Jews and Christians and
atheists, we all need to take a step back and ask ourselves, what is different about this land,
rather than concentrating on this one case, there is a serious problem in this land, about gun
violence. And that's a conversation that transcends any faith and religion. And brothers and sisters
in case anything happens already. I have heard a number of reports of Islamophobic statements and
issues and even in a local school, unfortunately, as well, one of the teachers did something
00:34:31 -->
00:34:43
extremely, extremely unAmerican and actually illegal, asking the children their their their
religious backgrounds and asking the Christians to raise their hands and the Muslim we have we have
all of these stories coming in. And as well.
00:34:44 -->
00:35:00
My own son too. I asked him as well what's going on in his school and he mentioned that his his
classmates are already teasing and whatnot. And my response to him was that look, even if they tease
you, please do not tease back and make any joke back at them. Because your words will be
00:35:00 -->
00:35:36
Hold against you, not theirs. Do not make any ridiculous comments, any stupid jokes. He's just a
teenager. But you need to teach your kids this the times we live in. You saw what happened with
Ahmed and his clock, right? The times we live in, teach your children. This is not the time to joke
back. Be serious and dignified in your response, defend your faith, but don't say yeah, I'm going to
go bomb to school. No, if your kids make fun of your classmates, make fun of you do not say anything
back that is going to be used against you. Because the the climate that we're living in does not
allow for any such jokes. Yes, it is true. Others might get away with such jokes, but not us
00:35:36 -->
00:36:12
anymore. And unfortunately, our children, they need to be taught this quite explicitly. But if
anything does happen over Islamophobic nature, please come to us come to me, we will take it to
care, we'll take it to the lawyers because that is the only way to fight against this evil. And that
is to do what we can within our constitutional rights. We will not tolerate bigotry and racism. The
priority is your safety. Once your safety is in check, once your safety is fine, then report to us
report to the local chapters of care. And if you don't know anybody, you can come to me directly and
they shall load data. We will deal with this and inshallah we'll continue to update you. And a final
00:36:12 -->
00:36:49
point tonight because of what's happening. And because of the situation. We have a guest Chicago
Burgess in town, good friend of mine as well. He was supposed to give a lecture about the importance
of family and raising children that's been canceled for tonight tonight at 8pm are coming together
to have a community basically a open house with regards to what we can do about fighting
Islamophobia with regards to protecting ourselves and our mosques and communities. So tonight at 8pm
will be some practical advice from the both of us about how we can best answer our colleagues and
our and our friends and to take care of our families in this difficult time that we're living in
00:36:49 -->
00:36:52
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