Fajr Reminders - Mahmood Habib Masjid and Islamic Center

https://youtu.be/3V9Vwso6EQA

Geoff Calvin on Talent is Overrated: https://youtu.be/osdc5g7Z9Ho?si=7Hz30v7lP1pnQyeE

https://youtu.be/2MLyPUjCVao

https://youtu.be/mjtwXtZdYUw Springfield College Invocation:https://youtu.be/cu9sMtUoFGg

We are living the parable of the boiled frog. That is why we must get ourselves educated – not merely trained to make a living. Just ask yourself which books you have read in the past one year and you have the answer. Without reading and skills of reflective observation, introspection and abstract conceptualization you are totally open to being manipulated to believe and act the way those in power want you to act. Only real education can save us from being mentally enslaved and manipulated by the puppet masters for their benefit. There are two things that distinguish the enslaved from the free. The willingness to take responsibility for oneself and to focus on contribution and not consumption. In one word – Participation. Rasoolullahﷺ mentioned this in the Hadith where he defined the Ummah. Al-Nu’man ibn Bashir (RA) reported: Rasoolullahﷺ said, “The example of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.” [Muttafaqun Alaihi, Bukhari, Muslim] We Muslims as an Ummah counting backwards from post WW2 nation states to the Khilafa Rashida which was our first experience of statehood for Muslims, have lived in Empire in one form or another. One ruler with absolute power. People must obey. No participation in decision making. Change of leadership, almost always violently. Fratricide was the norm and declared legal by Suleiman Al Qanooni. Yet another reason to study history. Our history is the history of conquest and its economics – though actual conquests stopped over 300 years ago but the hangover remains. Our Muslim country economics has gone the same way – we have replaced state income from spoils of war to oil revenues. Local people never had to produce or show enterprise. They were on the dole and remain that way. Our wealthy countries are bank accounts, not economies. We compete in building structures, not minds. Ask how many of our speakers talk about conquests, wars, bravery, and how many about social work, industry, creating products or services? We live in the past, as if the present doesn’t exist. I believe that we must wake up and get out of our Empire mindset and realize that it was a glorious phase in our history, but it is over. Today we must draw inspiration from the use of knowledge, technology, systems and markets. We must learn a whole new set of skills and contribute in new ways to be viewed as productive and contributing members of society. Power and influence are derivatives of contribution, not consumption. We must actively learn from our great history by interpreting it in the modern context. It is not about regression but about progress standing on the shoulders of giants. I submit to you that most of what is happening to us today is because of our isolationist, myopic, and insular attitudes. We live as if there is nobody else in the world. Let me give you some metrics. Ask: How many of us greet people first and how many ask for a Fatwa about whether it is permissible to say wa alaikum salam to a non-Muslim who greeted you with Salam? How many of us speak the language of the country fluently enough to be able to represent ourselves in public fora? How many of us sit on school and other boards, and are in local government? How many of us volunteer in public programs for different social causes? How many of us volunteer in protests against different social evils like drugs, racism, gun violence, global warming, wars and nuclear weapons? How many of us participated in Black Lives Matter marches? How many of us participated even in the pro-Palestine protests and how many debated whether it is Halaal or Haraam to protest? How many of us vote and how many debate about voting? How many of us have local people as friends? In this country I don’t mean ABCDs or ABCAs but Caucasian, African or Native Americans. How many of us attend Jury duty and local Townhall meetings? I can add to this list but will leave you to do that. Shall I also ask, how many of us drive too fast in residential areas because we are late for Juma and park on neighbors’ lawns and block their driveways? Power and influence are the result of consistent contribution, not consumption. Nobody cares what we own. They care about what we give to those in need. Power comes with territory. Contribution defines territory. You want power? Contribute. Today almost everything that is happening to us is because we are seen as net consumers, not contributors. To give you an example, in the 2011 Motor Show in Qatar, the star attraction was the VW Tuareg with custom 22-inch wheels, roof rails, rub strips, and other details--all plated in 24 carat gold. Though the VW Tuareg is a high-performance car which won the Dakar Rally, the focus at the Motor Show was not on engineering but bling. Ask why? This is not only about rulers and other countries. Just look around you at what we do in our local society here in West Springfield and ask

https://youtu.be/O5yTmN_r6Bc

https://youtu.be/PLf8AfUlD20

Islam is the name of the relationship between our Creator, Allahﷻ and us. The Kalima Shahada is an affirmation of that relationship and the one who accepts it is a Muslim. To accept this relationship means to believe it in your heart, state that with your tongue, and act upon it with your limbs. That is the definition of Iman – Faith. Not merely to know, but to believe and submit our will and obey. That’s why the first and foremost demonstration of that is Salah which is evidence of our Iman. That is also why the first question that we will be asked in the grave will be: Who is your Rabb? The angels will not ask who the Rabb of the Universe is. They will ask, ‘Who is YOUR Rabb?’ Did we accept Allahﷻ Rabbul A'alameen as our Rabb? Rabbi Allahﷻ. Allahﷻ mentioned a differentiating characteristic of the Believers and said: وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ Baqara 2: 165 But the Believers love Allahﷻ with great intensity The question is, can you love someone you don’t know? But how can we know Allahﷻ when we can’t see Him? We know Allahﷻ by reflecting on His bounties. Allahﷻ indicated this connection with gratitude in Al Fatiha ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ Fatiha 1: 2 All praise and thanks are for Allah—Rabb of all worlds The very first thing that we must thank Allahﷻ for is for introducing Himself to us, for honoring us with His Word, for honoring us with His Messengerﷺ and for honoring us with guidance to Himself and Jannah. The biggest need of humankind is not money or political or military power or anything else but guidance to the way of justice, compassion, charity, concern for one another and when we die, Jannah. That is why Allahﷻ sent all His Messengers and Prophets who were the best of all human beings with the greatest of all gifts – guidance to the path of steadfastness. That is why Allahﷻ taught us to ask for guidance 17 times every day in Sura Al Fatiha. This is what we must thank Allahﷻ for, above all else. For guidance to Him. Sadly, for many of us, we take blessings for granted and do not express gratitude for them and spend our time complaining about any hardship that comes our way. Allahﷻ reminded us always to have an attitude of gratitude. وَءَاتَىٰكُم مِّن كُلِّ مَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُ وَإِن تَعُدُّوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَآ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ Ibrahim 14: 34 And He has granted you all that you asked Him for. If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you would never be able to number them. Indeed, humankind is truly unfair, ˹totally˺ ungrateful. The Qur’an encourages us to reflect on the creation and learn to see the Glory and Magnificence of Allahﷻ reflected in it and to thank and glorify His praise. This produces joy in the heart that is unequalled and unsurpassed. قُل لَّوْ كَانَ ٱلْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَـٰتِ رَبِّى لَنَفِدَ ٱلْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَـٰتُ رَبِّى وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِۦ مَدَدًا Kahf 18: 109 Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If the ocean were ink for ˹writing˺ the Words of my Rabb, it would certainly run out before the Words of my Rabb were finished, even if We refilled it with its equal.” Allahﷻ reminded us to be conscious of His blessings and to thank Him and said that for those who are thankful, He would increase His blessings. وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ Ibrahim 14: 7 And ˹remember˺ when your Rabb proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. But if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’” We recognize Allahﷻ by His gifts. He said about His Word, the Qur’an. ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ عَلَّمَهُ ٱلْبَيَانَ Ar-Rahman 55: 1/4 The Most Compassionate, taught the Qur’an, created humanity, ˹and˺ taught them speech. Allahﷻ drew our attention to the world around us so that we can recognize His bounties and favors upon us and thank Him for them. He said: أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِهَـٰدًا وَٱلْجِبَالَ أَوْتَادًا وَخَلَقْنَـٰكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَجَعَلْنَا نَوْمَكُمْ سُبَاتًا وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلَّيْلَ لِبَاسًا وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلنَّهَارَ مَعَاشًا وَبَنَيْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعًا شِدَادًا وَجَعَلْنَا سِرَاجًا وَهَّاجًا وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْمُعْصِرَٰتِ مَآءً ثَجَّاجًا لِّنُخْرِجَ بِهِۦ حَبًّا وَنَبَاتًا وَجَنَّـٰتٍ أَلْفَافًا Naba 78: 6 – 16 Have We not smoothed out the earth ˹like a bed˺, and ˹made˺ the mountains as ˹its˺ pegs, and created you in pairs, and made your sleep for rest, and made the night as a cover, and made the day for livelihood, and built above you seven mighty ˹heavens˺, and placed ˹in them˺ a shining lamp, and sent down from rainclouds pouring water, producing by it grain and plants, and dense orchards? The purpose of all this is to remind us that no matter what our present looks like, no matter how wealthy and powerful or poor and powerless we may be; no matter whether we are white, black or anything else, no matter whether we live in America or Brazil, no matter anything, one day we will meet

The Question of Rizq - Obtained or Ordained: https://youtu.be/UEEEvsI9xwg?si=BBRJB1jJgmAqQnWh

Video version: https://youtu.be/eELLaz2D-d8

My brothers and sisters, Allahﷺ sent his Kalaam (Word, Speech) so that we would reflect on it and change our lives to make them obedient to Him. In that lies our success both in this life and the next. Allahﷺ said in the Qur’an: لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَابًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ Anbiya 21:10 Indeed, We have sent down for you (O mankind) a Book, (the Qur'an) in which there is Dhikrukum, (your Reminder or an honor for you). Will you not then understand? We know that Allahﷺ didn’t mention anyone by name. But Allahﷺ mentioned groups of people and their qualities and He mentioned what would happen to people with those qualities. We must ask, ‘Which group do I belong to? Is that good? If not, what must I change in my life to be in the group that will go to Jannah?’ Allahﷺ gave the pen in our hands to write our destiny. We can choose where we want to go. So, choose wisely. The choice is a no-brainer, but the test is in living the kind of life that will take us to Jannah. For on the Day of Judgment, it is our actions that will speak, not our tongues. الْيَوْمَ نَخْتِمُ عَلَى أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَتُكَلِّمُنَا أَيْدِيهِمْ وَتَشْهَدُ أَرْجُلُهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ Ya Seen 36: 65. This Day, We shall seal up their mouths, and their hands will speak to Us, and their legs will bear witness to what they used to earn. An exercise in contemplation for Tazkiyyatun Nafs is to look at our right hand and imagine it speaking. What do we hear it saying? Do we like what we are hearing? If not, what do we want to do about that? Let’s do the same with our left hand and our feet, eyes, ears and whole body. What do we hear each part saying to Allahﷺ about how we used it? This is the way to approach the Qur’an. Literally as a guide to action. And act on it immediately Allahﷺ mentioned one group and their ending as a metric for us. He said: إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا لَّهُمْ دَرَجَـٰتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ Anfaal 8:2-4 The ˹true˺ believers are only those whose hearts tremble at the remembrance of Allah, whose faith increases when His revelations are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Rabb. ˹They are˺ those who establish prayer and donate from what We have provided for them. It is they who are the true believers. They will have elevated ranks, forgiveness, and an honorable provision from their Rabb. Five critical characteristics; three internal and two external. A heart that is responsive to Allahﷺ and to His Word. A heart that sees the signs of Allahﷺ in His creation and this increases its faith. And a body that submits in obedience and exerts itself in worship of Allahﷺ and in charity with the intention to please Allahﷺ alone. This is the metric to evaluate ourselves. Allahﷺ said about the value of a responsive heart on the Day of Judgment: يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ Shua’ara 26:88-89 the Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit. Only those who come before Allah with a pure heart ˹will be saved˺.” The single most reliable sign of true feeling is action. Actions are evidence. If I love my spouse, what is the sign of that? If I love my family or friends, what is the evidence of that? If I love my country, what is the evidence of that? If I claim to love reading, I will ask, ‘How many books did you read this year?’ So, if I claim that my heart shivers with the Majesty and Glory of Allahﷺ when I listen the Qur’an and see the signs of my Creator around and within me, what is the evidence of that? Not to show anyone, but to prove it to myself, because a day will come when this evidence will be in my favor or not. If I claim that my heart shivers with the Majesty of Allahﷺ but I earn and eat Haraam, is my claim true or false? If I claim that my heart shivers with the Glory of Allahﷺ, but park my car on my neighbor’s lawn, then my actions give the lie to my claim. If I claim that my heart is responsive to Allahﷺ and am kind, and compassionate, if I have the courage to stand for the truth against falsehood, then my actions prove my claim. It doesn’t matter what spin I want to put on my actions, my heart knows the truth and my Rabb knows the truth and, on that Day, only the truth will prevail. Allahﷺ mentioned two other qualities. Establishing Salah and spending in the path of Allahﷺ. Establishing Salah, not praying when we like. Spending in the path of Allahﷺ as an investment in our Aakhira, which is what it is. Not simply discharging what we consider to be a burden. Obeying joyfully. Not under duress. Let’s check our score. Are we satisfied? If not, what’s the plan to change our lifestyle so that we can pass this test of faith and gain the guarantee

The purpose of education is to civilize the individual. To connect the human being to his Creator, so that he recognizes Him, has a relationship with Him, strives to please Him, relies on His Mercy, and looks forward to His Forgiveness. The purpose of education is to give the child ethics, values, and morals which are timeless and fundamental and the confidence to live his life by those values. Without this it is not education. To learn a skill to make a living, no matter what that skill is, is ‘training’. Not ‘education’. They’re as different as chalk and cheese. Flying a plane, driving a 16-wheeler, designing software, operating on someone’s heart or brain, building a table, fixing an air conditioner or kitchen sink, and countless more are all essential skills. We need all of them. But they’re all training, not education. Education begins with ethics, morals, and values. That is the ‘WHY’, which drives the ‘HOW’ in the world. We must teach those who know ‘HOW’, to ask ‘WHY’, so that technology and resources are used for the right causes. This is what Rasoolullahﷺ did in Makkah. He changed people’s thinking and decision-making criteria. When they changed their focus from this life to the Aakhira, their speech and actions changed, and society was transformed. Just ask how our society would be different if we defined economic well-being not by the number of billionaires but the absence of poverty. That is why GDP is such a misleading number. Instead, if we look at disposable household income or buying power we will get a far more accurate picture of our society. Rasoolullahﷺ gave us proof of concept. Ours to implement it. We need education, which is relevant, current, and rooted in the foundation of Islam. Education in which those being educated are fully involved in all decision making because it is their future which is at stake. Education which prepares them for a world about which we really know nothing and so the only thing we can give them are tools and the framework of ethical and moral values to use them effectively. We must be coaches who teach them how to play the game but when they are playing, we can only watch from the sidelines and if we did a good job, then we can rejoice in seeing how well they learned the lessons and apply them to be victorious. To succeed, we need to educate ourselves and learn how to be good coaches. This is the generation gap thanks to which many parents have been reduced to being ATM machines which provide funds for what their children want to do. They can’t guide the children because they don’t understand their world, have no communication with them, and the children don’t look up to them as guides and mentors. I am not talking about showing respect. I am talking about actual respect which will make the child come to the parent as first port of call, when he/she needs guidance. Not just money. Allahﷺ defined for us the meaning of education and the way to do it. إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلًا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ A’al Imraan 3:190-191 Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the day and night there are signs for people of intelligence. ˹They are˺ those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth ˹and say, “Our Rabb! You did not create this in vain. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire. Please note that in this Ayah, Allahﷺ described people of intelligence. He said that they are those who remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth. Allahﷺ used the preposition AND. Not OR. For a person to be intelligent, he/she must recognize their Creator, have a relationship with Him and remember Him in every aspect of their lives AND research the creation of the heavens and earth. Allahﷺ also described the sequence in which this must be done. First know the Creator. Then research in the creation. When this sequence is followed, the individual spontaneously says, “Our Rabb! You have not created this without purpose. Glory be to You! Protect us from the torment of the Fire.” When we invert the sequence, we have scientists who are atheist or theologians who don’t know how the world functions. We don’t have a behavioral problem. We have a systemic problem. We don’t need tinkering. We need to redesign. A locomotive is a million times more powerful than a microlight aircraft, but it can never fly. Not because it doesn’t have enough power but because it is not designed to fly. Money and power will not help us, because we have a connection problem. Factor Allahﷺ into the equation because He is in it anyway. Then se

Video version: https://youtu.be/pEn9hJ4wTsw We hear many times that Islam is a reasonable, logical, and rational religion and that Allahﷻ has encouraged us to think and reflect. For example, Allahﷻ said: A’fa-la tadhakkaroon (don’t you think/remember). A’fa-la tatafakkaroon (don’t you reflect), A’fa-la tubsiroon (don’t you see) and so on. Allahﷻ addressed us by terms such as Ya Ulil-albaab (O people of intelligence). Ya Ulil-absaar (O people who can see) and so on. So, the Qur’an encourages rational thought. All well until this time. However, some people take this to mean that we are free to take any Ayah of the Qur’an and any Hadith of Rasoolullahﷺ and come to our own conclusions about it and legislate according to those conclusions, without any reference to, and indeed even denying, denigrating, and discounting the 14 centuries of scholarship that is behind the interpretation of the Qur’an and the laws of our Sharia. The proponents of this irrational, illogical, and dangerous philosophy are the ones that I want to address here. Let us begin with defining logic and rationality because that is the foundation of the argument. If an argument is valid, then every argument with the same form is also valid. If an argument is invalid, then every argument with the same form is also invalid. So, the first thing to ask is, ‘What is the basis of my logic?’ Fundamental Laws of Logic (Aristotle) 1. Law of Identity – If something is identified as one thing, that is what it is. TheLaw of Identity basically states that anything that has been determined to be true must be identical to itself and different from other things. E.g., if a snake is venomous, then it is not non-venomous. And someone who knows the difference between the two but is afraid of all snakes is irrational. 2. Law of Non-Contradiction – If something is one thing, it can’t be its opposite at the same time. The Law of Non-Contradiction states that if something is true it cannot NOT be true at the same time. E.g., is to look at two opposing religious beliefs and use the Law of Non-Contradiction to evaluate them. One belief is that there is a Heaven that people go to when they die. The other belief is that there is no Heaven at all. Each belief seems legitimate on their own, but when compared to each other, one of them MUST be false. If Heaven is real for one person, it MUST be real for everyone. 3. Law of Excluded Middle – Everything is one or the other and not something in the middle of those two things. A way to think about this law is regarding death. A being is either alive or dead. There isn’t another state that a living being can be in. An unconscious person is still alive. Allahﷻ challenged the disbelievers with respect to their belief in the Creator. قُل لِّمَنِ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهَآ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ قُلْ مَن رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ ٱلسَّبْعِ وَرَبُّ ٱلْعَرْشِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ قُلْ مَنۢ بِيَدِهِۦ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ يُجِيرُ وَلَا يُجَارُ عَلَيْهِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ قُلْ فَأَنَّىٰ تُسْحَرُونَ Muminoon 23: 84-89 Ask ˹them, O Prophet˺, “To whom belong the earth and all those on it, if you ˹really˺ know?” They will reply, “To Allah!” Say, “Why are you not then mindful?” ˹And˺ ask ˹them˺, “Who is the Rabb of the seven heavens and the Rabb of the Mighty Throne?” They will reply, “Allah.” Say, “Will you not then fear ˹Him˺?” Ask ˹them also,˺ “In Whose Hands is the authority over all things, protecting ˹all˺ while none can protect against Him, if you ˹really˺ know?” They will reply, “Allah.” Say, “How are you then so deluded?” وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ فَأَنَّىٰ يُؤْفَكُونَ Ankabut 29: 61 If you ask them ˹O Prophet˺ who created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon ˹for your benefit˺, they will certainly say, “Allah!” How can they then be deluded ˹from the truth˺? The question to ask those who claim to believe in Allahﷻ as the Creator is, “Why do you believe this?” Because Atheists have an answer to all the above questions which is that it is all accidental and does not point to a Creator. If you say that you believe that there is a Creator it means that by the Fundamental Laws of Logic, you can’t at the same time believe that there is NO CREATOR. So, what is your belief? Is there a Creator or not? And if there is a Creator, is it Allahﷻ. If you say, ‘Yes’, to both those questions, then the next question is, “Why do you believe this?” What is YOUR LOGIC? The ONLY POSSIBLE answer can be, “Because Rasoolullahﷺ told us.” Question: Why do you believe what he told you? Answer: Because we believe IN him (that he was the Messenger of Allahﷻ) and we believe him, that he never lied and always spoke the truth. Question: If that is your logic – that we believe what Rasoolullahﷺ told us with respect to Allahﷻ then that applies to the e

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The Qur’an commands us to be patient, to have Sabr and promises help to those who have patience. Allahﷻ taught us how to face difficulty and said: فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَعِينُوا۟ بِٱلصَّبْرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ Baqara 2: 152-3 Remember Me; I will remember you. And thank Me, and never be ungrateful. O believers! Seek comfort in patience and prayer. Allah is truly with those who are patient. The concept of Sabr or patience in Islam is very interesting. Sabr doesn’t mean to simply pray and do nothing and expect help to come from outside including from Divine intervention. Sabr means to do our best and use every means at our disposal, exert our full effort and strength and then to turn towards Allahﷻ and seek His help to enable our efforts to succeed. That is Tawakkul. I call it the Tawheed of the heart. To illustrate with an example, it is like wiring up a new house, making sure that you did everything correctly, following all protocols and safety procedures and then connecting it to the transformer and turning the switch on. It is a combination of two things. Wiring everything up correctly and then connecting to the power source. It is also about the sequence. The wiring before the connection. That is why Sabr (maximum effort) comes before Salah. And Salah is essential after making the effort so that you don’t fall into the trap of the self-made man. Living in an imaginary world where you think that your success is your own and that you don’t owe anything to anyone. That is arrogance and arrogance leads only to Jahannam. We owe our success to all those around us, who Allahﷻ put there for our benefit and inspired them with love and respect for us to take the time and trouble to invest their own time, energy, money, experience and knowledge for us to succeed. Islam tells us that we need to acknowledge that and thank them and thank Allahﷻ. An excellent book to read in this context is ‘Outliers’, by statistician Malcolm Gladwell who shows how we owe our success to our circumstances far more than we may like to think. Gratitude saves us from arrogance. عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ‏ لاَ يَشْكُرُ اللَّهَ مَنْ لاَ يَشْكُرُ النَّاسَ Abu Huraira (R) reported: Rasoolullahﷺ said, “Whoever does not thank people has not thanked Allahﷻ.” We ask but Allahﷻ gives at the right time. When we look at the wisdom of timing of Allahﷻ’s help, we see His Hand in it. The help may come through material means but Allahﷻ sends it in a way where it becomes clear that it was not material means but the command of Allahﷻ which was working. Take the case of Musa (AS). Allahﷻ could have saved him in multiple ways. But He commanded Musa (AS)’s mother to throw him into the Nile. He said: وَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنْ أَرْضِعِيهِ فَإِذَا خِفْتِ عَلَيْهِ فَأَلْقِيهِ فِى ٱلْيَمِّ وَلَا تَخَافِى وَلَا تَحْزَنِىٓ إِنَّا رَآدُّوهُ إِلَيْكِ وَجَاعِلُوهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ Qasas 28: 7 We inspired the mother of Moses: “Nurse him, but when you fear for him, put him then into the river, and do not fear or grieve. We will certainly return him to you and make him one of the messengers.” Allahﷻ told us about this whole journey where instead of hiding him or his identity, Allahﷻ caused him to be directed into the palace of Firawn, and not only literally be in his hands, but be recognized as that child of the Bani Israeel who it was predicted would destroy the Pharaonic Empire of Egypt. The Pharoah’s astrologers identified him and advised him to kill the child. The Pharoah obviously had no compunctions about killing a child since it was by his command that thousands of newborn boys of the Bani Israeel had already been killed, just to ensure that this one child didn’t survive. Now they had that very child in their hands. All that remained was one simple action and the job would be done and Musa (AS)’s story would have ended before it began. But Allahﷻ wanted to show that all worldly power and wealth mean nothing and Allahﷻ’s Will prevails. The astrologers advised the Pharoah to kill the child. But the wife of the Pharoah advised him to spare the life of the child and instead to raise him as their son, as they were childless. The Pharoah listened to his wife and the rest is history. Rameses II became the foster father and protector of Musa (AS) and paid for him to be nursed by his own mother. Naturally that meant a total transformation for the family of Musa (AS), financially and socially. Once Musa (AS) was old enough, he was raised as an Egyptian prince with access to the highest and most valuable resources of the time, learning from the best scholars and warriors destined to be a ruler after his foster father. After all Egypt was the most ancient and powerful empire of the time on earth. But Allahﷻ had something better in store for him so instead of becoming yet another ruler of an ancient dynas

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