Spiritual Advice In Light of COVID-19 Shutdown

Fire ohanian

in Fei,

Fei,

Li

Salam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah wa salatu salam ala rasulillah while the early he was happy woman Wilder Hummingbird Alhamdulillah I returned from my trip, but I returned to a state of to be honest sadness and trepidation at what we are going to be facing ahead. But the purpose of today's reminder is not to be sad nor to be scared, what are the what is no don't worry and don't be sad, when to mother alone and you shall be victorious. If you have a man. This is what Allah subhanho wa Taala reminds us of the purpose today is really just a brief reminder of many we're going to be giving reminders to ourselves over and over again, that we

need to have a hope we need to put our trust in Allah subhana wa tada and that we shall overcome. We shall come through the stage we shall go through the following weeks and months with whatever it takes, we shall turn to Allah subhana wa tada and we shall inshallah tada when in this world, and definitely in the next world, we have to realize dear Muslims, dear brothers and sisters that most likely and I will lie, I pray that I am wrong. And I pray that I'm proven wrong immediately. But most likely, we will be facing what is perhaps the greatest test of our generation of our lives, maybe even of our century. With the test that we're about to face, it is unprecedented. From all

that we have seen. So panela, who could have predicted two months ago that things like this would be happening even one week ago, who could have predicted and day by day rather hour by hour, things are changing, and updates are being given and will lie I pray the time wrong. I sincerely pray that we find a solution immediately to this problem, and that life resumes back to normal. But we also have to be realistic. And we also have to be pragmatic and see what the experts are saying. And as more and more experts get involved. We are hearing that this might even take weeks months, maybe even more than a year and the situation might get much much worse before it becomes better. And again I

ask Allah subhana wa tada to really prove me wrong. I want a solution immediately. But at the same time, we need to tie our camel and we need to know the dangers. Now we need to be prepared spiritually, psychologically, emotionally, logistically, financially, and we don't want to be tested. Our Prophet sallallahu Sallam said the famous Hadith letter to men notified I do what Allah has alfia don't desire to meet the enemy don't wish to face tragedy head on and ask Allah subhanho wa Taala to avert the calamity away for from you for either lucky to move home hospital, but if the opportunity is there, meaning that if you must meet them, and you are required to face your enemy,

and you have to there is no alternative than in that case for Spiro westbow. To Be patient and be firm and put your trust in Allah subhanho wa Taala we don't want to be tested. My dear brothers and sisters, we ask Allah for our fear. But if we are going to be tested and if Allah chooses to test us, then we have to have your clean that Allah is putting us in the test, knowing that we can pass that test knowing that he will also give us the man, the suburb, the class, the firmness, the courage and all that we need to pass this test. Realize dear Muslims law you can live long enough sin Illa Allah is not going to put us in a burden unless we are capable of passing that burden and

carrying that burden. Now is the time that it is time to earn Jenna It is time to earn our delta jet in general, and SubhanAllah. We used to read these verses in the Quran I used to I confess I used to read these verses. And I would think oh these are not going to apply to me. These verses used to apply to the Sahaba they used to apply to them What had you done and the answer they're not going to apply to me. The verses sort of tell Bukhara where Allah subhana wa tada says what enabled in one condition in mineral hope you will jewelry will Nepal submitted and while you were unfussy with them or not, whatever shade is celebrating and arena either asaba Tomasi bots when Apollo two in the law

he was in LA he Roger own Allah tells us in the Quran, we are going to test you have a certainty we are going to test you what an avenue one nutcombe be Shay in minute hopefully with some things that will make you scared you're going to be terrified there's going to be uncertainty Be sure you may know cofee while jewelry there might be hunger why Napoles imminent and why the one unforce and you're going to also have to be tested with a diminishment

In the money that you have with a calamity that is financial, and maybe even a calamity that will take lives on why they went unforeseen with thermal rot, with vegetations and with fruits and produce. A lot of zoology is telling us I'm going to test you some of you will indeed be scared, some of you will indeed be hungry. Some of you will lose finances, some of you will lose loved ones, maybe even your own lives. Some of you will lose your investments and your stocks which will be diminished. And then Allah says what best shade is sabido in soybean, but beat give glad tidings give glad tidings be happy and rejoice. Out of all of these calamities, Allah is saying rejoice be

happy. Bashir means something to make you happy who is going to be happy, those that are patient in all of these Colombia calamities, those that turn to Allah subhanho wa Taala were Bashir disobedient, Allah Dena either asaba to masiva those who when a calamity comes upon them when a calamity befalls them. They say in the law he was in LA he Roger on to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. Dear Muslims, I asked Allah for alfia you ask Allah for alpha, I asked a lot to give me a new alpha and alpha means to avert a calamity. apphia means that no harm comes to us. The uncle of the Prophet sallallahu Sallam said, O Messenger of Allah Teach me that I should say so. The

Prophet sallallahu Sallam said ask Allah for alpha and I Buster the alarm set by one something more than this. And the profitsystem said there is nothing better than afia There is nothing better than not being tested. So we asked Allah for afia ness, Allahu lafiya memorize this draft of the series we're going to be giving as this series on dogs, we're going to be starting those in Sharla as well. So for today, memorize this draft Allahumma in the local mafia, oh a lot. I asked for your advice here. And once again, what is our fear to be removed from testing to be safe from testing to not have a test is itself a blessing from Allah subhanho wa Taala. But dear Muslims, if Allah azza wa

jal is going to test us then we need to be prepared for that test. We don't want to be tested, but as our Prophet Sall Allahu Allah who was seldom said, but if you are indeed tested, then be firm, be patient and turn to Allah subhanho wa Taala. So, brief reminders to myself and all of you and there will be a lot of repetition from previous lectures and there will be repetition in future lectures and in this repetition, we will drive the point home in this repetition we will in Sharla with to Allah better ourselves because there is no easy solution. Today's brief reminder will be inshallah seven pointers first and foremost. During this time, we prepare ourselves by renewing our Eman in

Allah subhanho wa Taala. by strengthening our Eman by fortifying our Eman Allah azza wa jal reminds us in the Quran, Maria final law will be identical in Chicago to what I meant to what will Allah gain by punishing you if you are thankful to Allah? And if you believe in Allah Subhana Allah to Allah, so we renew our email. What does it mean to renew our email, renewing our email means to strengthen our demand to increase our email. And this is done by contemplation and by every single action of worship. Every action increases our email, whether it is Vicar whether it is delivered to Iran, whether it is sign up whether it is contemplating, we think about the purpose of life and

creation. This is all of it a part of increasing our Eman and renewing our faith. Point number two of the things that we need to do is repentance to Allah subhanho wa Taala realize dear Muslims, and it is not politically correct to say this anymore, but it is a fact that is undeniable that Eliza gel sends down tribulations upon those who do not repent to him. Allah subhana wa tada sends down the horrible facade to feel better he will barely be Marcus COVID ad nurse Allah Georgia says in the Quran, evil and chaos spreads in the lands and in the oceans because of the sins that people have done. It is not politically correct to say this people don't like talking about this, but it is a

theological reality. And we asked the last refuge we seek Allah's refuge Subhana Allah, for how long we were in heedlessness for how long was this dunya immersed in the pleasures and Shahada. For how long was this arrogance of godlessness of atheism being shown for how long was far harsher becoming the norm across this globe. And so it is indeed possible. In fact, the Koran tells us that these types of issues and punishments they come to remind us that this is not the way that is beloved to Allah subhana wa tada and that we turn away and so the second point here is repentance to Allah, repentance. Now, we cannot control what is happening around us, but we can control our own lives and

the lives of our loved ones and families. So turn to Allah subhana wa

Allah, Allah promises in the Quran that those who do not repent to Allah they're going to be the ones that will face the punishment. Somebody can be a tool for them either boo jahannam if you don't repent, then they either will come, which means if you do repent, then inshallah hota either we will guarantee ourselves that at least in the app here, we will not be punished and inshallah in this world as well. So repent to Allah when repentance is done by leaving the sin by feeling remorseful for our lifestyles and evils by asking a less forgiveness and by turning over a new leaf, so point number two repentance to Allah subhana wa Tada. Point number three, a softening of the heart, making

our hearts soft. Allah says in the Quran lm yet needed livina Armando antosha kulu boom de la hasn't the time come? Hasn't the time come that the people of Eman allow their hearts to become soft in the remembrance of Allah subhana wa Tada. And Allah says in the Quran that the punishment came down. So Makkah says overcoming Baghdadi that your hearts became hard. And because of that, Allah subhana wa tada sent a punishment down. So the punishment is linked directly to the hardening of the heart. And what is the hardening of the heart? The hardening of the heart is a sense of callousness of not caring, why am I here? What is the purpose of life and death, the softness of the heart is to be

aware of who you are, why you're here, who created you to be aware of this world and the next world. So point number two, or point number three is the softening of the heart. This leads me to my next point, and that is, this should lead us directly to the issue of awareness of death, being aware that indeed, life is not permanent, that there is something called the act here. And again, these are things that is politically incorrect to say, people don't talk about death, even though death is an inevitable reality. Death is the end for all of us, there is no escape. At times of crises like these, we are reminded of our mortality. And I'm not asking me and you to be reminded of our

mortality to become morbid, to become global, to become gloomy, and to become dreary. No, the purpose of reminding ourselves of the inevitability of death is so that we live the better life there we remind ourselves of the end, so that the journey that will eventually come there, all of us will come to that journey's end, so that the journey becomes more meaningful and more noble. Our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam reminded us a clue medically had similar that increased the frequency of remembering that which will destroy all pleasures increase the frequency of reminding yourself of death, and the purposes that we think, what have I done with my life? What have I

accomplished with this time that I have been on this earth? And what do I hope to accomplish before I meet Allah subhana wa Tada. So we remind ourselves of our mortality and the mortality of all the people around us, one marginality, by sharing my political hold, Allah says in the Quran, I have not given a more to life to any human being before you admit to for homosexuality don't, if you are a pseudo law are going to die, then do they think that they're going to live forever. And so we remind ourselves of the mortality of this world, we remind ourselves of why we are here, so that insha Allah who tada we then prepare a better life and we live a better life. And so also, by the way, and

again, I'm reminding myself and all of your things that might not necessarily be the most popular to do, but we do them so that we live better lives. Dear Muslims, our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, Let no person go to sleep for three days without having his will prepared without having his will prepared. And dear Muslims again, it's not something that is nice to say, but somebody needs to remind me and you that we all should have our wills or we will see yours prepared, we should all be ready to meet whether it is going to happen tomorrow or inshallah A long time ago we will ask Allah for a long life full of Iman and taqwa. But eventually this life will come to an

end. So all of us, all of us be prepared, and especially given all that is happening, may I strongly, strongly suggest In fact, may I remind you that our Prophet system himself said it is not allowed for a Muslim to let three nights pass and he wants to make a will, except that he writes that will or she writes that will and so write a will and make sure that it is something that is going to be following the commandments of Allah subhanho wa Taala The next point that I want to remind myself in all of you is sincere dua to Allah subhana wa Tada. And this is something that is very, very explicit in the Quran, that Allah is or just says in the Quran, fellow Allah is a home

batswana tell Balraj Oh, why didn't they beg and plead us into up Why didn't they come to us into our when our punishment came down? It is the son of Allah subhana wa tada that the person

purpose of these, the purpose of these trials and tribulations is that we turn to Allah. And I have said this before, and I'll say it again. If you live the life of heedlessness before, don't feel guilty, that this calamity is causing you to become religious. On the contrary, the purpose of a calamity is to make you religious, the purpose of a trial and tribulation is to bring out that demand that was latent, that was stored inside of you, dear Muslim, if you are feeling religious now, and you want to turn to Allah now, and you find a sense of desperation, now, you know what that means? It means deep down inside, you really had a man, deep down inside it was there, and that's

why it is coming out. That is the purpose of the trial and tribulation, allow that amount to grow, let it come out and make dua to Allah to avert calamity from you and me from your loved ones and my loved ones make sincere dua to Allah subhana wa tada to protect all of us. So, this is the next point and that is to make dua to Allah subhanho wa Taala. The next point after this one, I forgot what number it is five or six, the next point after this one is, we remind ourselves that it is a time to be charitable and merciful to the creation, if things are going to proceed as people are predicting, then in all likelihood, we are going to see very, very economically challenging times

people's that is all of our sustenance in all likelihood will be pinched. And that is when real generosity is shown real charity and Khurram is shown, this is when we will be tested. Do you truly believe that when you give something to someone else for the sake of Allah, you will get more back in this world do you and I really, really believe that our Profit System gave a custom to Allah while law he your money does not go down when you give it to charity? Do you really believe that because now I and you will be tested. Now there will be people that need and we might have a little bit of surplus. And perhaps we're going to feel Oh, I need to protect it. And again, be reasonable.

But indeed, we are going to be tested in all likelihood all of us. And so this is the time when our compassion, our mercy, our charity is going to be demonstrated, do your Muslims remind you and me of the famous Hadith of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam hammelmann Phil audibly your hammock Memphis, Mr. show compassion to those in this earth, the one in the heavens will show compassion to you. We will be tested with compassion, there will be people that will need our help. May I suggest myself and all of you reach out to those who are elderly who are alone, who don't have family reach out to those who might need more people to be around them, and they don't have them. And you have

the opportunity. You know, you know, there are specific age groups where the risk is much higher. If you belong to an age group that the risk is much lower and you have the capacity the means to go shopping for those that are elderly, and they're not allowed to leave, then go ahead and do that that's going to be a charity. Charity doesn't have to be writing a check. It doesn't have to be giving your money to somebody else. Charity could be an optimistic word could be an enthusiasm and cheering up of somebody. Charity could be spending your time your gasoline your car to help somebody do a chore. As long as it is reasonable. We don't want anybody to take any unreasonable risks, but

still helping others out within reason within precaution. That is indeed a sign of a man. The next point I wanted to say. And again, I've lost track of how many 123456 now or seven actually right now is that it does look like it does look like that we will be

told to remain long periods inside of our houses. In fact, the things are getting from bad to worse not day by day, but hour by hour. And we're being told that you know, the Oh Lulu should stay home and even all of us if there's no need that we shouldn't be going outside. And this means that we will be cooped up in our houses and with our families. And this means we're going to have to have patience as we're already seeing amongst family members. We're gonna have to control our tongue but you know what? Find the blessing in that we now have family time, we now have time for tarbiyah of the family to develop the bonds of love. We have time to set role model examples about Salah

establish the salah in your houses, pray Salah together at least one or two prayers, do some Koran together. Try to do certain family activities together so that in sha Allah tada you're going to be able to get those bonds of love get that that community that communal feeling because we've had a lot before this timeframe. You know, we barely got a chance to sit with our families we will be here and there and busy. And perhaps this is a blessing in disguise that for the next few weeks, few months, maybe even year today I read an article a year and a half some of the experts are predicting 18 months of analog, the subtle loss to them or atrophy but if that is the case, then

Maybe there is also the silver lining the hidden blessing. And that is that we will be that the the family that learns to live together, cope together, establish those blends of bonds of love, despite the fact there's going to be irritations, there's going to be nuisance, there's going to be screaming, that's human nature. But in all of that, insha, Allah, those bonds and those memories that will be established, they will last us through an entire lifetime. So use that family time with wisdom, see what you can do make sure there is communal activities of salah and other things that are being done. And these are my spiritual advice. Now, I want to also I want to also tell you a

little bit about some necessary precautions that we need to do that are not spiritual, these are logistical precautions and taking logistical precautions. I said they are not spiritual, let me cancel that. No, it is spiritual, dear Muslims, every one of you knows the Hadith of the Prophet system of the man who came and said, O Messenger of Allah, should I when I go to sleep, let my camera loose and trust a law or should I tie my Camel Up, you all know the Hadith he said, tie your camel and then put your trust in a law tying your camel doesn't go against a man. It is a part of a man. So now that we are facing this tragedy, now that we have this global catastrophe, the likes of

which we used to read about in history books. Well, I was talking to a friend of mine today over the phone. And I said to him, you know, this reminds me of reading the the study of Yvan cathedra, the theory of poverty where we would read that, and in the year such and such a great calamity came and the people abandon the massage. And then they did this and they did that. And it is as if you would read these mythological historical tales. And lo and behold, Allah has willed that we are living it in our own lifetimes. I would never have imagined we see a day when the massages themselves are shut down because we ourselves are shutting them down. Dare I say that in all likelihood, it has never

happened, the history of Islam, that so many massages have been shut down voluntarily across the globe, this might be the first time that we are seeing this and so Subhanallah The situation is indeed dire. But we turn to Allah and we take reasonable precautions. Now what are those precautions here? Let me say and if you've been hearing me in this semester than before, for the last few months for the last few years, what I'm about to say will come as no shock to you, dear Muslims, listen to the experts when they tell you about their areas of expertise. I speak to you as somebody who has spent the last three decades almost of my life almost three decades have gone by and every single

day as far as I can remember, I have been studying Islam full time I have dedicated my life to this religion and ask Allah for acceptance and ask Allah to accept from me and to forgive the mistakes. And I speak to you as somebody who has been studying Islam full time. Listen to me when I say do not go to the FDA for medical advice. We are not the people you need to go to to tell you about the specifics of logistics of how to prepare dear Muslims, our Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said it isn't Bahati until Allah will be already doing the outcome, you know the affairs of your religion better than I do. He is the Rasulullah sallallahu sallam, and he is telling a group of experts about

agriculture, you know, agricultural techniques better than I do, dear Muslims, what we are facing now there's an element of religion, there's always an element of religion and everything. But the bulk of what we need to do logistically is not going to be found from people of knowledge. It's not going to be found in our classical textbooks of 15 of theology. This is something that our medical experts are going to be far more knowledgeable about what to do, what not to do, what precautions to take, then people that have studied 10 years in a seminary 20 years and a madrasa, go to the oral Mr. For their expertise and go to the medical experts for their expertise. And therefore dear

Muslims and again, I must bring this up, I must say this again that please do not raise the people have Islamic knowledge above their role. Indeed, it is true that the Prophet system praise the odema has been the inheritors of the Prophet and that means the role of the prophet of spiritual guidance will collectively be from the Islamic Ummah, that is true. We all agree with that. And I ask Allah to make me even just related to that category of how to be happy, but that is the role of spiritual guidance as for logistics, go to the experts and I am not an expert in epidemics diseases in the spread of Coronavirus in how viruses spread. And if you find that rude ama are divided about the

best way forward in terms of logistics, then go to the opinion that the experts are sticking with Yes, don't jump over the roadmap completely. But when

You find your odermatt divided you find two opinions. And the issue that they're differing over is related to modern issues, whether it is medicine, whether it is anything, then follow the opinion that matches the expertise, advice, and don't just become blind and say, oh, because the chef I love said it, I'm going to follow him. Just like if you had a medical issue that really affected your life, you wouldn't just go to a chef and get it as advice you would first and foremost go to the doctor and then vet what the doctor says if it's a really controversial issue is this highlight is this how long and you'd get the opinions of aroma and you will especially go to those odema that are

more familiar with medicine and you would go to those doctors that are more familiar with Islamic sciences. So dear Muslims the whole purpose of all of those last few minutes is so that I bring up once again this issue of shutting the massage it down. Dear Muslims, I don't want to say this but I will be honest with you. All of today. I have literally been crying to Allah subhana wa tada I swear to you, this is not an exaggeration, I was literally my heart is is like it is I have never felt this way. I was just crying in my room and crying in my cars, thinking that the massages of Allah subhanho wa Taala are shut around the world. This is because of sins that we have done. There's no

question about this. Allah knows how sad This is just the thought of not coming to the masjid for weeks and four months the thought of not praying for the thought of not coming here. It is something that is truly terrifying. And it is something that makes me feel empty and guilty and sad. I don't say this out of any pleasure or pride. And yet still I say I fully agree with the logistical advice from the experts that we do need to shut down any public place, we do need to minimize any public interaction. Now I know that some of you know that some of them are have allowed messages to be open. But dear Muslims, open your eyes and look around you. The Council's over over a dozen Muslim

lands from Saudi Arabia to Kuwait to United Arab Emirates. The other two to to Malaysia, to Turkey to it The list goes on and on here in America, the fifth Council of America and Amgen, the Islamic Medical Association, they've all basically said the same thing, which is that if the situation gets to that dire level, then yes, we should shut down the Juma and the German army. And dear Muslims in most cities, I'm not speaking about the globe. But in most major cities in America and in England, and in Canada and other places, the situation has indeed become dire. Now let every community leaders say what they need to say, I am speaking about Dallas, Texas, I'm speaking about the

community that I live in. And we have asked the experts and we've asked the people in our communities and the experts that know this issue. And to a man all of them to a man or a woman, all of them they have said that we really should minimize any interaction and it is best to shut down these congregational prayers that we are having. It is not an easy decision. It is not something that we like to do and Allah knows my heart is greatly troubled. But dear Muslims, we cannot use a simplistic emotional response. We cannot use a misunderstanding of theology to go against that which we know to be true. Indeed, we put our trust in Allah subhana wa Tada. But we tie our camel some of

you say, oh, our Prophet system would stand up to pray when he became when he became flustered or anxious. Yes, stand up to pray. I'm not telling you not to do that. Go stand up to pray. Some of some of us have said some people have said that. It's never been shown that you know, in the past, Muslims closed their massages. Well, maybe you are correct that to this level that has never happened, by the way in regional places is sometimes because of a great fear, obviously, in regional places. Yes, there have been times when massage would have stopped for specific fears. But I agree with you, as at a global scale, we might be quite literally seeing for the very first time in over a

dozen Muslim lands and over a dozen non Muslim lands, hundreds of 1000s of massages, shut down for the average Muslim need to come this might be the first time but do you think that this decision is coming out of nothing? I asked you by ally asked you a simple question. If there was a question that you were told the engineers and the RND and the architects or the the local city council said, Oh, this Masjid its pillars are about to collapse. Its pillars are going to fall down. It was constructed incorrectly. If you were told that, would you say no, we must pray in this message and allow one sister praying this message? No, you would say okay, this message is a dangerous place not

because of anything evil with the messages, but circumstances are like this. So the point is that the situation that we are in right now, this situation is a situation in which we now are far more familiar with the cause.

of how this disease is transmitted. We are familiar with how this Coronavirus goes from person to person. And we know what our past scholars did not know we know more about science and medicine than people did in the past. Therefore we are required by Allah to take that knowledge into account when we derive our rulings. Dear Muslims, our massages, we thank the law are places where people are packed together of all ethnicities and all backgrounds. But in these times that blessing is the exact ambience that these viruses need to spread from person to person. There are hundreds of people of all different backgrounds of all different nationalities of all different traveling places coming

together, packed standing next to each other for lengthy periods of time. And every single medical expert is saying that this is the number one preventative measure and that is to stop the transmission or the potential transmission by practicing social isolation by putting in you know, barriers physical space between you and other people. Mashallah, dear Muslims, we're a friendly bunch. We thank Allah for that. Is it possible for me or you to come to the masjid and not shake people's hands? There's going to be 100 people, 1000 people, is it possible to come and not hug? And and no, it's not possible really. And even if we tried to do it, it would not happen. And therefore

medical experts are unanimous that we really should shut down these areas until this disease passes by now, the claim that the claim that the shopping malls are open and other places are open, and therefore we should keep the messages open. Firstly, by the way, this is changing day by day and hour by hour today, it was announced that all restaurants should be shut down. Tomorrow, another issue is going to come out so things are moving in that direction. Secondly, two wrongs don't make a right just because other places are open. They they are dangerous places we know this. Thirdly, those other places are generally speaking, there's more ambience and air you can keep a distance

whereas in our massages, it is literally line by line row by row pack to capacity. Fourthly, as well, we need to be aware there's levels of necessity, we can't expect hospitals to shut down we can't expect places that sell food to shut down or else all of us would be in serious trouble. These are places where we need to go to purchase items. And the masjid is indeed a very, very important place. Our heart wants to be in the masjid. But there is a dangerous threat like the building were to be falling down, we would not enter so to if the massages are places where potentially there is indeed the potential for virus to spread, we should be cautious for the time being as long as as it

needs to. And again, we say this, I say this with a huge loss with a huge sense of grief with a huge sense of emptiness. It was such a shock to me to hear today that a country like Saudi Arabia where I've lived more than a decade of my life has shut down every single Masjid without exception other than Makkah and Medina and then to hear that a dozen other Muslim lands have have followed suit in this will lie it is something that makes the heart terrified. Indeed this is a this is a potential punishment from Allah subhanho wa Taala. For what we have done that we are being deprived of our own massages, but this means that we need to increase our him increase our Toba increase our turning to

Allah subhana wa Tada. This means that we need to make our homes into places of Vicar into places that accommodate his Sunnah into places where Allah subhana wa tada His name is mentioned where the Quran tilawat is raised. If we do not did not appreciate the messages in the past, after this is over insha Allah who to either every one of us will appreciate them as massages for as long as we live. Nonetheless, dear Muslims, I was feeling extremely, extremely distressed at the closing of especially our east Plano Islamic center. And I spoke with the board about a technical just a technicality that perhaps we can work around that at least for Joomla at least for Joomla if we have

a symbolic a symbolic Joomla and this I'm only telling you this so that you realize we're all feeling I am feeling all of us religious you know, especially as the Imam that started the shift myself I know we're all feeling especially hurt psychologically and spiritually. So, I requested from the board that at least for Joomla, if the four of us and that is because the minimum you need is three, you need the minimum for Joomla need is three and that is half is the job and staffed by Jude and Amanda Diem and myself if the four of us we come for Juma and we stand apart from each other and just symbolically just give a hold of us for the Baraka that something is done. Now please

this is only being done as a token symbolism. We cannot and we will not open there's not even the board members are going to be coming to this. I told them I just want to talk in Java so that we feel because technically from a UK perspective, by definition, the

The Jamia Masjid is the mestu where the Juma takes place and I really felt that if this goes for a long time, how can we have a Masjid without even the van being raised and the Salah being done at least once in a while. So just for the Baraka, I'm just telling you this so that we understand just for the Baraka, not for anyone else, not even the staff of the masjid, not even the board members, they were going to be coming just the four of us, one of us will give the hood but that will be broadcast live, and three of us will be standing literally at one side of the masjid not even set up to one another physically we'll just wave to each other and we'll go separate ways this is how

cautious we are being just to keep the symbolism of the masjid alive. Needless to say this might continue for many, many weeks, we might need to prepare a contingency plan for Ramadan that will inshallah have to either be spoken about but we will continue to update you and we have set up a mini studio by the way, I'm not sitting in the masala you might think of setting them as Sunday, we have set up a mini studio, so that it looks like I'm in the muslin. I'm in a room all by myself. Nobody else is here, the cameras in front of me. That's how the level of caution that we are doing amongst ourselves. Can you imagine if we opened the door to a 2000 people or 500 people it would not

serve the purpose. And as we are aware, you know, there was a religious gathering by the way in Indonesia, look this up or Malaysia excuse me a religious gathering where people came from all over the world and they spend some time together for the sake of Islam there Nia was good. Because of that religious gathering one person had the virus now 45 people according to what I read the other day have that virus from that one person because of a religious gathering, we tie our camel we do not act foolishly and coming together ignoring what every expert is saying is acting foolishly and our religion is not a foolish religion. It is not a religion of superstition, it is a religion of

knowledge and Allah tells us to act with knowledge and the people of knowledge are telling us that the number one mechanism to spread this virus is by person to person contact and that is why we are taking these precautions. It is still too early to say about Ramadan but inshallah tada if worst case scenario we will be giving you every single day without exception religious you know reminders to myself and all of you, we're going to try our best to keep a virtual messages as much as we can. On a daily basis, there's going to be an entire schedule, I think you have been told as well about this, that every one of us is going to be doing certain projects and things every single day so that

we keep that attachment because now is the time for that attachment. Now is the time to especially to turn back to Allah subhanho wa Taala. So inshallah to Allah with that, I want to open the floor for q&a, I have my iPad in front of me, which has a number of questions that people have sent in, and feel free to send in other questions. And this is how we're going to be doing this from now on, by the way, a live q&a that we're going to be updating and whenever you want to ask questions, you're going to be able to ask them and inshallah I will try to answer them one by one inshallah. So first question, can we do jumar in our home with a few neighbors?

Are there any guidelines are we allowed to pray Juma in small groups, system system massages are closed, this defeats the purpose. Agreed, agreed. It is better to have small gatherings and large ones. But what is going to happen if you advertise you're having a Juma in your house, your 510 15 neighbors are going to come number one, number two, from a technical perspective Joomla is done in the gem jam and the message of the job I'm not saying is not allowed elsewhere. Sometimes you have to do this. I don't encourage this as of yet. And this is not the default. The default is that Joomla is done in the masjid. And the large community comes if the Juma is not done in the masjid,

then you pray for her as at home.

Question is that traveling in and out of a place does the headache apply? So we follow the medical experts and the medical experts have basically divided the world into two or three broad categories. There's the epicenter of you know where all this is happening, where there's complete shutdown, those places we really should try our best to not go to or to not to leave from for there. By the way, our scholars say that if there is a legitimate reason for you to leave those areas and the government's allow you legitimate reason, for example, you went on a trip then everything happened and the government is not declaring your zone to be a disaster. One zone. The Red Zone might be a

gray area that you know only necessary travel. Our scholars say if it isn't what is forbidden is you flee from the plague out of fear of the plague if the area is the area of plague now that is only in the one province and some other places in the world. Otherwise generally speaking state to state city to city is pretty much the same in all of America over here. So generally speaking, I speak from within the American paradigm that as far as I know

No, there is no one city that has been declared a disaster area compared to other cities. Therefore, within this, this country America, as far as I know this can change day to day and hour to hour, there is no disaster area per se, in which we really should require ourselves to remain if there is a need that you're far away and your family is elsewhere, then yes, you may incur a loss to either travel or have them travel so that you were all together insha Allah who to either question that. Do you think this is one of the signs of the end of times?

Alone Allah knows best, Allah knows best. Don't want to say any more than this. But regardless, we need to turn to Allah subhana wa tada regardless, we need to turn to Allah subhana wa Taala and we ask Allah for for for for afia question is that some of the members of my family are feeling very anxious and others are feeling very sad. What is to be done?

This is something that is explicit in the order on what to do when a condition in mental health we are going to test you some of you are going to be anxious and scared. Some of you are going to feel that and allows the widget in the same series of verses he tells us what to do what to do. Was there a new slavery was? Was there a new the slavery was cida seek help through patience and through prayer, patience and prayer are the two ways we seek the help of Allah subhanho wa Taala. So and inshallah over the course of the next few weeks, we will be doing a number of lectures in series about what does it mean to seek help through patience and through prayer. Question that

Do you have any charity that you suggest to us that we can help the people affected by Coronavirus? I don't know any specific charity? I'm sure there are. But I would say that your best charity begins at home Look around you in your own communities who in your extended families? And may I suggest that I suggest to the Board of epic and the Board of all of the massage at the same thing. May I suggest that people that are elderly or particularly vulnerable, they sign up on a community board that the board is aware of they sign up they say look, we are an elderly couple we're in our 60s or 70s we don't have any family. Can you assign somebody to help us this is the best charity that

you're spending of your time and of your energy, you're shopping for other people you're giving them whatever needs to be done. And I'm sure you will find local causes as well. And of course, I'm not negating any other cause but feel free to give to any cause, as well. Question over here that she could have this virus is man made does that change how we approach the spiritual aspect? Not at all? Not at all. Firstly, I am not in a position to comment on whether it is man made or not I'm not an expert, but as an intelligent listener to the world around me as an intelligent listener to the experts. It does appear to be a natural permutation unnatural mutation of the virus that has already

happened SARS, and you know the the other influences that have happened in the past, but even if even if there is a calamity that is man made look at the civil wars in Syria in Burma and other places these are man made calamities, does that change the spiritual component? Not at all. So, it doesn't change at all the issue of human and the theology aspect question here is that if we are establishing Salah in our houses, should we raise the event it is not required to raise the man but it is good it is Mr. hub you should raise the alarm but it is not required. So it's not mandatory to raise the alarm. But yes, it is good to raise the alarm anytime you are praying and it is especially

now that the messages are closed, may I encourage all of you to raise the alarm in your own houses have your children say the event you know make them learn the event this is a good time to increase all of our knowledge. Question is that

can you give us talk on a regular basis? Yes, that is exactly the point I will be giving you talks on regular bases. Tomorrow there will be a talk about the field of epidemics and plagues and the history of epidemic epidemics and plague just a reminder on the more academic level that will be tomorrow inshallah you should get an email a live talk with a live q&a and then it's going to be posted online. So yes, and not just myself, all of the Imams and all of the the the the religious clergy here who said by God, Mom, Nadeem, you know, half his agenda is continuing his quote on online martial arts about Nikola myself, all of us as a team. We're going to be continuing to give

you programs and continuing to help all of us through this difficult timeframe. question here is that are you going to relay the Jumeirah live and if so Can people listened from their houses and follow?

Yes, Joomla will be done live in sha Allah. They're working on the the aspect and inshallah it will be done live. However, the Joomla that will

Be Done live. You will listen to it at home as a reminder, and you will then pray to her you will not pray tomorrow. You must be in the masjid listening to the Hatim you cannot pray you know two miles away five miles away that's not going to be Juma. You're not going to be behind the Imam. But you may listen for spiritual benefit and in case you are not able to listen live, it will be put on YouTube and you will listen to the whole when it is uploaded there. Insha Allah who data

chef, even though East cleaner is cold closed, there is another question in our community that is having Juma and we went last week, can we continue doing this? Look, you're asking a logistical medical position issue. I am not a medical expert. 50 wise, you may pray somewhere else. But every single expert I look up to every single person who has specialized in this is telling you do not go into crowds. So religiously speaking from a technical standpoint, it might be permissible to praise them while elsewhere. But the least that can be said you're acting foolishly, it is against the goals of the shediac to act foolishly, it is against the goals of the Sharia, to walk into a place

that is going to be dangerous. And when you have 1000s of people sitting together in this time of plague, and we know how this plague spreads, then you're acting foolishly. And the Sharia does not want you to act foolishly. And so my religious opinion based upon what I know is that you should not go to another Joomla that defeats the purpose of all that is taking place. And the last panel without it knows best

question is that? Why is the mesh to the closed? Isn't it enough to cancel the congregation? I the board can answer that question. But what is the purpose of the machine being open to people are going to be coming in and out and the purpose is crowd control. So let the board officially answer. That's not my position to answer officially. But I will say that it makes complete sense to me. Because if you were to open the gym, let's say and you have 50 people coming in out of the gym, that defeats the purpose. I mean, dear Muslims study up on this, people that don't display any symptoms can give this virus to somebody for whom it will affect 80% of the people who have the virus 80%

will have no to mild symptoms, just a slight cough or slight flu and life will go on. However, in the small percentage upon whom it will be lethal or fatal, then that 80% might potentially give it to that two or 3% that will potentially pass away. So we just need to and there is no cure, and nothing can be done. Now, we already have had Muslims across the globe, you know, and we all every life is precious, but especially we need to be careful that in our own community in Dallas and other places people have fallen sick from our community, and Muslims have passed away in other cities, which means it's within our community. So if we are going to have Muslims coming in and out of an

area, it defeats the purpose. That's all though I will say with this regard.

Shift shift, should we encourage local businesses? I mean, this is a logistical question. And from a fitclick perspective, I will say you may you may help people out by continuing when we obviously we are I went to go shopping today for stuff we need food and stuff from it you have to go or just take adequate precautions from a filter perspective. There's nothing wrong with helping local businesses and and maintaining because they have to pay staff they have to do whatever it needs to be done. But you take reasonable precautions. There's nothing wrong with listening to this generic advice of supporting your local businesses. question here is that if my message is still open, does that mean

I am required to go listen dear Muslims, this is a city by city fatwah. It's a region by region photo. I know for a fact there are certain countries where the Coronavirus as far as they know has not even entered those countries for those countries. How can you Why not be wajib? Of course it is why you have to go to Joomla until their own rula and their own experts say Hey, hold on a sec. You know this is now spreading the community and it is becoming rampant. I am speaking to you from the North American scene in general and especially the Dallas and the Plano area where we have been told our president has said Try not to have gatherings and more than 10 The government has said I

shouldn't say the president because maybe his advice isn't the most sound but the CDC and that is a body that I respect the CDC and the Surgeon General and experts have said do not have gatherings of more than 10 people, you know as much as possible. And in all likelihood, this is going to become enforced. I mean, I just came back from and as many of you probably aware I was overseas when this band came and I wasn't towards going to get this bad. We had a trip to Andalusia to Spain and I went when things were relatively good like 10 days ago and when I was there everything day by day is changing until

Finally, you know, three days before we got the news that they might shut Europe down. Everybody's panicking and whatnot, things are changing too fast to make a generic response. But I will tell you I was in Spain

three days ago, two days ago, and the government there announced a complete shutdown. I have been to Spain five times or four times before I have seen Madrid, I have seen Seville I have seen these cities bustling with tourists from around the world. And with my own eyes, Madrid was dead empty. It was like a scene out of some type of apocalyptic horror movie where everybody's gone with my own eyes. I saw this not a single person, the street except the odd person who might have some type of emergency or something. It felt surreal, as if I'm in a dream. This is in Madrid, one of the capitals of the world. That's what they're doing. And it's not even as bad as in Italy or in the one

province. What do you think is going to be in other places so dear Muslim, act wisely? If you're asking from America and especially from Dallas, No, do not go to your messages, even if it is insistent or offering Juma you have an excuse in the eyes of Allah subhana wa Taala plenty of Roma have said now if you have two opinions like I told you, and one group seems to be more in tune with the experts of Rama follow the aroma that are in tune with the experts because this is an area where fifth and where logic and and modern science combined. So listen to the fuqaha who are following what the experts in science are saying and a lot of xojo knows best.

If somebody dies in this Coronavirus

timeframe will they be considered Shaheed? Yes inshallah they will be yes inshallah they will be and ask Allah for afia for myself and my loved ones and for all of you, we we don't want to be tested but those of us that are tested, we need to look forward to a law that that is the death of a Shaheed our Prophet says that, um said that whoever lives in a land where the play comes and he expects that whatever happens happens by the will of Allah and he expects that, you know, it's Allah, Allah meaning he doesn't become a coward. He doesn't run away, it's happening. It's happening. What can he do, then if he dies our process? Some said he shall get the reward of a

Shaheed. Question over here is that and inshallah we'll finish up because we don't want to go too long, another three, four minutes and then we're done in shallotte question over here. How should the body of the disease be washed if they have passed away with Coronavirus?

How should the body of the disease be washed? Okay. So, once again, what did I say the middle of this lecture wherever there is an intermixing between Islamic law and between modern science listen to both and then form the position go to those Roma who know modern science and go to those experts and health experts who are also aware of the Sharia. I am not a medical expert, I do not know whether a dead corpse can give out Coronavirus on its own the virus will live or not, I'll give you generic guidelines. Then if I find out I will tell you I heard from a CDC or whatnot or or heard from a reputable source that etc etc. To the best of my knowledge and I read this today, the CDC has

indeed released that as far as they are aware, the the corpse cannot in and of itself transfer the virus nonetheless, they required they required everybody to take the regular precautions of masks and gloves and disposable you know the the coroner's know what I'm talking about those that watch the body there is a requirement that you must be dressed with the the the safety dress code and other than that, that it is not in and of itself contagious. Now, if that is true, and if the people of that city are able to give a listen then also is obligatory However, if either of these two is not their meaning number one, they discovered that the disease is transferable from a corpse or

number two in some cities, they might not have the people with the equipment or whatnot in either of these two cases our books or films are explicit and that is to your mum is done on the diseased so wearing the extra gloves and everything you just do to your mum and you wipe the head and the hands and that is it. And the moment no in other say if in case even their mom cannot be done for whatever reason, then the body is buried as is and the record requirement is that for whatever reason. So if it gets that bad that you cannot even touch for example, it might be in a certain place that the people don't have the equipment, they don't have gloves and whatnot and there is a fear. I'm not

talking about Coronavirus. There is a fear that some virus or plague will transfer to them from the deceased body in this case than in the zipper bag. However it is it will be placed in the harbor and there is no problem over there that Allah azza wa jal does not require and put us on the bridge.

More than what is can that we can bear will law hate your Muslims our Sharia is easy, and it is sensible our Sharia is not difficult nor is it foolish, nor is it something that is unrealistic. The more you study Islam, you realize that the laws of a law and the laws of nature go hand in hand, they are not contradictory. We tie our capital and our put our trust in Allah subhanho wa Taala.

Question over here? Is that balancing between helping others and staying safe? Is it okay to knowingly risk ourselves, you risk yourself as much as you are comfortable and as much as is reasonable, and everybody's comfort level, and everybody's reasonability varies. If you're in the medical field, you obviously you are and you're you're at the forefront of of dealing with patients. Obviously, by virtue of your profession, you must be exposed to more issues than everybody else. And that's the job you've chosen. That's the reward you shall get from a lot subhana wa Tada. Otherwise, try your best to be cautious in this regard. Final question, somebody is saying that he's worried

about me, I just came from Spain, that I'm very concerned for your health, can you please, you know, can you know, la our field fears by getting tested for Corona. So the government stopped us when we came in. And they had a survey from all of the passengers and they gave us the pamphlets and everything. And I myself was was was as cautious as possible. When I was in Spain, I did not intermingle with any crowds that I was there, I did not I tried my best to not touch anything, or anyone and wash my hands. And the government did not require any tests where there were too many people coming in from the airport. But they told us to self monitor ourselves for a week or two. And

to put ourselves in as much isolation which I have been doing. Even today, a brother came in to my house for some issue, and I refuse to shake his Look, I'm sorry, I can't shake your hand, you know, just Salaam and you stay there and whatnot. So I'm trying my best to be self imposed.

reasonable precautions, and that's what actually the government policy is right now, that those who returned from Europe, any place in Europe, they should just, that's not other than Italy. Italy is a different ruling, if you come back from the otherwise the government is simply saying, you know, take general precautions and just wait because the symptoms, they show up anywhere between three days to five days to a week or two. So just be precautious for those days, and then after that inshallah you're you're absolutely fine if nothing has happened, that is nothing over there. So we I take reason I took reasonable precautions. And to me this is the essence of Islam and Eman. I'm

concluding and wrapping up today's lecture. But this is just the beginning. It's not the end. It is the beginning of in all likelihood, many, many weeks, months, maybe even a year or more of a different mechanism. And we will call and we shall persevere and we shall turn to Allah subhana wa Tada. We will be tested in ways we never even imagined we will be tested in ways where our minds did not even go possible. Well, I could never have imagined that the world is going to shut down as massage that a time will come when I'm not going to be doing Joomla and Java 10 and Ramadan and whatnot in the congregation.

But a large ordeal is testing and he shall give us the mechanism to overcome those tests and we shall come out stronger, more faithful, more appreciative for the blessings of Allah subhanho wa Taala and if Allah chooses other than this, that we don't come out of this, then inshallah will come out winners in the hero and that is the ultimate ultimate goal to come out winners in the aka May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant me and you and my loved ones in your loved ones apphia May Allah avert from all of us a calamity May Allah subhana wa tada send Salam down to the oma and to the entire world. May Allah subhanho wa Taala grant all of us a peacefulness and a security and a safety that

we need. May Allah strengthen our Eman make our results firm. May Allah azza wa jal allow us to be role models for the people around us who don't know our faith. May this calamity be the hidden disguise in the treasure that we've been waiting for? that people see the beauty of our faith? May Allah subhanho wa Taala allow us to come out of this bit better and more stronger and more faithful and role models are of our religion. were accurate that one added hamdu Lillahi Rabbil alameen wa sallahu wa sallam about a karate Mohammed in early he was a big marine was Salam aleikum wa rahmatullah he will cattle

in a feed

Li

Li

Li