Transcript
This transcript was auto-generated using AI and may contain misspellings. Allah commands us for our own benefit, our own success, and he commands us, O believers, O you who believe, be conscious of Allah, be mindful of Allah as He deserves, as is His right upon you. Fulfill that right, be conscious of Allah as He deserves and do not die except in a state of worship, in a state of submission to Him. May Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala allow us to live sincerely upon Islam and to die upon Iman. Allahumma ameen. It is the last Jumu'ah, the last Friday and the last day of this year. And for many people, no doubt this year and the year before brought about many trials and tribulations in new forms. And of course the trial and tribulation that has been relatable and relevant to all people and impactful on all people around the world. We saw no doubt the excelling of online resources for the benefit of mankind and particularly those who are looking for resources, those who are looking for that which is beneficial. We saw during this time, no doubt, a lot of discussions on the purpose of life, on sickness, on how fragile we are, on humility, on the fact that something we cannot see with the naked eye has in a way impacted all of mankind. It is truly a reminder for us to go back to Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala for all matters. And of course during these two years, we experienced loss, loss that is foretold in the Quran. We are reminded in advance that the purpose of this world is not permanence. We are not here forever. And nothing that you have remains forever. And so we ask Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala to have mercy on those who passed away due to this pandemic and during these two years we ask Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala to grant patience and the reward of that patience to their family members.
And we ask Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala to alleviate all of our affairs, to relieve us and to grant us the strength and the wisdom and the optimism to pass the trials and tribulations that come to us. Allahuma Ameen. It's interesting that when we reflect on change, we find that according to a number of studies, one of the tricks of shaytan from our perspective is that people will procrastinate change for a particular moment in the future. Specified or maybe even unspecified. That deep down, the thought does not take place perhaps consciously but deep down, maybe one day I'll become better, maybe one day I'll change. But it's not today. And we put it off as though a future version of ourselves is someone else according to some studies and that is one of the reasons we procrastinate. We don't realize we are shifting that harm, potential risk and danger to ourselves, not another entity. And more importantly, that we assume there is a future for us, a future opportunity in this world. So when we look to change as Muslims, we certainly do not look for change starting with a future date in terms of getting closer to Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala. You don't wait until a new Islamic year, a new Gregorian year, another Ramadan. We always try to change in the moment. And one of the traps of shaitan is certainly for us to think that, no I will change and I need to set up everything first in order to change at another date and time. And you wait and you wait and you wait and what happens? Because the azeemah was not strong enough and you were willing to procrastinate when that date and that time finally arrived. Perhaps you started, perhaps the habit was there, perhaps like many people there are new year resolutions and goals. And memberships in gyms increase and people start to change in different things.
And then a few weeks later we see the real effects of procrastination. We see the real effects of not really wanting to change. May Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala protect us, may Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala forgive us. And so rather than just talking about new beginnings and new years and changes, I would rather emphasize one thing in particular, just one lesson. And that is that if you want to change for another year, another month, another hour, and today, you need to take a role model. So that you can emulate this role model when you change. And of course, there is no greater role model than Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala reminds us in the Quran, لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرُجُوا اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرُ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا There is certainly for you, all of mankind, and especially for those who know Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and claim to love him and follow him, there is certainly for you in the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, a clear example, the ultimate example, the greatest example, for the one who looks forward to, the one who hopes for, the one who is concerned about meeting Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala and the one who cares about life after death. وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا And the one who remembers Allah often. And of course, the context here, the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam remembering Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala regularly, consistently. Interestingly here, لِمَن كَانَ يَرُجُ اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرُ If you claim that you love Allah, we all claim we love our Creator. If you claim that you love Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala and that your heart really is seeking paradise forever, and that is your real concern, your real ham, your real worry, constantly on your mind, constantly working for it,
then you link this to what Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala said, that you take Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam as a role model. There is no greater way to please Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala and reach that high level of Jannah that you seek without taking Prophet Muhammad Alaihi Wasallam as a role model. And then in this day and age, we all have role models. We have people we look up to, we have people we respect. There are people that are emulated because of their status or their financial state or because of their fame, their political positions, their religion, their ethnicity, because they're celebrities or sports players, whatever it may be. Everyone looks up to someone for a reason. And as Muslims, we already know, we claim that we love Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam. We claim, we take him as a role model. We claim that we love him more than our families, that we love him more than our children, more than our jobs, more than everything of the dunya. We claim. But are we following that claim up with action? Are we really emulating the life of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and loving him enough to demonstrate that claim in everyday experiences, in everyday habits, in everyday lifestyles? As a high school student, a college student, university student, as a working professional, as a father or mother raising your children, do you see the example of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam as a role model in your everyday life? This is the question we should be asking. For there is no greater path to progress and growth and new beginnings, whether it's a new year or a new day or a new hour. There's no way to become a better person without knowing how to become a better person, without knowing who to emulate. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala testifies to his character, وَإِنَّكَ لَعَنَا خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ You are of exalted moral character. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala allow us to follow in his footsteps.
When you purify your character with all people, especially those who have insulted you, those who are harsh with you, those who are a source of a pain point for you, know that your status in the sight of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala will rise. And Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala will make you a role model for others. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala will make you a good example for other people as well by virtue of your good character. From the Islamic perspective, we can say, for the sake of time, that we can look at new beginnings from at least three angles amongst hundreds of others. Number one, new beginnings in terms of hardships and in times of hardships, in times of calamities. A lot of Muslims misunderstand the saying, and the saying of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَاهَا That Allah will not give a soul a burden that it cannot bear, it cannot handle. And then they ask, well, why am I not handling it? Why am I so sad? Why am I not passing this test? Why did I do the wrong thing? Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala is not saying, you will pass every test. No, that is your responsibility. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala is telling us so that we have some resilience, psychological motivation, that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala will never give you something you cannot pass as a test. But it doesn't mean that you will. You have to choose to pass. And He Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala gives us all the resources that we need. Because the objective of this world with our free will is the test itself, is the reaction. The test that comes your way was not by your choice. Your choice is in how you respond to it. Will you turn to the tools that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala provided? Will you turn to the shifa of the Quran? Will you turn to dua and dhikr? Spill out your heart, Ya Allah, I am weak so help me. Ya Allah, I am struggling so make me stronger. Do we turn to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, resorting to those tools, to those cures, to the solutions that we need?
Or do we find ourselves more distant from Allah and then wondering why am I not passing this test? Certainly we can pass these tests. And 2020, 2021 were a test for all people in somewhat a relevant way. Something we can all relate to. Not just the individual test but the global experience as well. And of course as many of us know, a lot of people had to start shifting their attention to being independent in ibadat at home. Especially during Ramadan, especially last year. A lot of people had to figure out how to start these new habits in the home if they were not there before. What did we do up to this point? The last day of this year, almost year 2022 and still referencing COVID-19. Did we pass the test with optimism? Did we work hard? Did we strive? The test is not over yet. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala provides for us many tools and many resources to resort to amongst them. Amongst them two in particular, gratitude and tawakkur. To be grateful to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala and to rely upon Allah fully and to be content with every outcome. Are we truly grateful and are we truly trusting in Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala? And Allah is sufficient for us as a disposer of affairs, as the one who takes care of all matters for us. The believers who are grateful in this world are emphasizing constantly the things that they are grateful for. And even when you are not experiencing a life of relative ease, your idea of gratitude, hamd and shukr is not about living an easy life materialistically. It's not that you're not going through hardships in your relationship or in your health or in your job or your finances. That's not what hamd and shukr relies upon. Gratitude to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala is to use the blessings that he gave you in the best manner possible. Through times of ease and times of difficulty.
Because if you only worship Allah when things are relatively easy and you stop when things are difficult, you are not grateful. And if you worship Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala when things are difficult and you turn to him, and when things are easy you become distant, you are not truly grateful. The one who is experiencing and exemplifying gratitude is the one who uses all of their blessings constantly to thank Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. To thank him for creating us, to thank him for guiding us, to thank him for the blessings that we cannot count. We are more in need of what the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam did when he was praying and his feet were swelling up in qiyamul layl and Aisha in the very famous hadith. Aisha radiallahu anha says, Ya Rasulallah, why are you doing this? To paraphrase, why are you doing this? Qiyamul layl and your feet are swelling, all of this pain, all of this juhud, why are you doing all of this? When Allah has already forgiven all of your past and your future, meaning you are not really in need of this for let's say an act of worship or for your sins to be erased. So why are you doing this? And he said the famous words, the words that we need to live by, Afala akunu abdan shakuran, shall I not be a grateful servant? Are we really grateful to Allah? And do we push ourselves to worship him out of gratitude? Or do we wait until there's a pandemic, until there's a hardship, until someone passes away? Or do we wait until things are relatively easy and then we turn back to him? What are we waiting for? So gratitude is consistent and the people who express gratitude in this world are the people who will enter Jannah by the mercy of Allah and say, Alhamdulillah alladhi adhhaba annal hazan, praise be to the one who removed hardship and distress from our path. The trials of this world are over and the hardship of the next life we are protected from. May Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala make us amongst the people of gratitude in this life and allow us to express gratitude in Jannah. Allahuma ameen. So number one, new beginnings in times of hardship. New beginnings when you fall short with Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Look at the example of the Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam who made istighfar throughout the day. He was not in need of it. We are more in need of it than he is. In Islam there is no hopelessness. No matter how many sins you've committed in the past or this year or the year before or for the last 30 years. We know that someone who comes to the masjid today as many have entered this masjid before and said, I'm ready to become a Muslim. Will Allah forgive my sins? Yes. Allah will forgive all of your sins of your past. All of the shirk and all of the kufr completely forgiven. What about everything less than that? How can we possibly read the Quran and listen to the hundreds of ahadith about the mercy of Allah and then ever think or wonder, Is there hope for me? Yes, there is hope for you. And Allah promises you that. Do not allow the devil, do not allow the shaitan or even people to trick you into thinking that there is no hope for you. Oftentimes people don't change for the better because they failed many times. Oftentimes they have low confidence levels so they think there is no hope for me. I'm stuck in this vicious cycle. I'm stuck with a bad habit. I'm stuck not able to fulfill this religious obligation. But wallahi that is not true. The reality is if you wanted to, you could change. You may have to take different measures. You may have to try a different strategy. But the most important thing is that you don't give up on sincerely turning back to Allah every time you fall short. Whether it's a new year or a new day or a new week. May Allah keep us consistent. A young man comes to the masjid and he says, I've committed so many sins. Is there any hope for me? Because I feel like there is no way I can get out of this situation. Is there any hope for me? Who can stop you from the mercy of Allah? Who can prevent you from Allah's mercy?
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala reminds us so that we do not forget. So that it is not vague. And ultimately, once again, there is always hope in Islam. So long as your heart is beating, you can turn to Allah. If you cannot guarantee that your heart is going to be beating tomorrow, then turn to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala today, in the moment. Number three, new beginnings with regards to perspectives. About life, the purpose in this world, about our experiences. If you set your expectations right, in terms of dunya and what you're here for, you'll be less disappointed. But if you expect this world to be all about materialism, all about chasing a temporary high, all about chasing a temporary moment of the fulfillment of desires, all about chasing comfort and convenience, when reality hits, it's going to be even more painful. The reality of dunya is that it's down here. It's the lowly, close life. It's the temporary world. If you're looking for perfection, you're looking for Jannah, so work for paradise. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make us from amongst the people of Jannah. Allahumma ameen. Remember that this world and the sight of Allah, it's not worth the wing of a mosquito. It's not worth the wing of a mosquito. So don't let it affect you so much. Don't let it bring you down so much. Don't let it stop you from making it to paradise, where you'll have eternal bliss, the bliss that you are looking for. And remember that the greatest reward you can attain in this world when you do go through a test, is in that first strike of calamity. Innamal sabruu AAinda awwali sadmatin As the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, that the greatest reward for your sabr is in the first moment of calamity, the first strike. What did you respond with? How did you think about Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's decree? Allah allowing things to happen in this world. For wisdoms we cannot understand. You may hate something that came into your life. You may really hate it. I don't want this situation. I don't want these circumstances. Fa'asaa an takrahu shay'an wa huwa khayrun lakum It may be that it's good for you.
We know this and we teach our children. I know you don't like X, Y, and Z. I know you don't like going to school. I know you don't like this experience or staying away from that or eating your vegetables, whatever it may be. We give them these examples all the time and they are maybe insignificant in our eyes but they are significant in the reality of this world. That we may hate things but we don't see behind the scenes. They may be good for us. And you may love something. Fa'asaa an tuhibbu shay'an wa huwa sharrun lakum You might really want something in your life and work for it and hope that it's permanent. But then it's taken from you as a test. Perhaps there's something better for you out there. You may love something and it's harmful for you. Perhaps you don't see how harmful it is long term. But Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la is aware. Ultimately who do you trust? If you cannot see behind the scenes and you cannot see the future, who do you trust? Wallahu ya'lamu antum la ta'alimun Allah knows and you know not. Put your trust in Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la. The one who is always planning good for you. The one who is always decreeing good for his servants, good for his righteous slaves. May Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la make us from amongst them. Remember the example of the Prophet peace be upon him. The most beloved to Allah. And yet we see that the messengers are the most tested of people. The most tested of people. If you feel confined due to the pandemic at times, if you feel like there are restrictions here and there, always look at the silver linings. Change your perspective that there's some khair in it. Because complaining about it doesn't change it. All you can really do when the test comes to you is perceive things in a certain way and then take action in a certain way. When you perceive, you perceive with a reminder and a recognition that this world is temporary. And when you respond with action, you're responding with what's best in that situation. For yourself, your family, your community, and the world. We have to keep moving forward. We have to stay productive. How much time did we waste due to this pandemic and during this pandemic?
And how much productivity did we attain? May Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la keep us productive at all times and places. The best time to experience a new beginning as a Muslim is certainly not another day or another year or another month. It's always in that moment in which you were reminded. It's always in the moment in which something good crossed your mind or a reminder or a nasih and advice from somebody else. New beginnings for Muslims in general start with every reflection and every reminder. And if you've made many mistakes in your past, whether it's the past year or the past 50 years or the past few hours, but you are still alive today, there's still hope for you today. So take action while you can. Take action while your heart is still beating. And may Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la accept from us. Remember that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, Innamal a'malu bilkhawateem. Verily, deeds are judged by their conclusions. You cannot guarantee that your conclusion is in another year or 10 years. So make every day as though it is your conclusion, as though it is your final opportunity and you will have less regrets. May Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la forgive us, elevate our ranks, relieve us of our hardships and relieve us of this pandemic. And may Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la grant us gratitude and optimism regardless of which trial or tribulation we face. Ask Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la for forgiveness, for He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Ever Merciful. Maqulu qawli hadha wa istaghfiru wa liulakum faistaghfiru. Innahu huwa alghafuru raheem. Alhamdulillah. Wasalatu wasalamu ala rasulillah wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa man wala. We ask Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la to make us from amongst those who are always looking forward to the khair of the day and the khair, the goodness of the next year and the goodness of the next month and the goodness of the next hour and not wasting any time hoping
for a future that is not guaranteed. Remember once again just to summarize new beginnings in times of hardships. Look at the example of the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam and the companions who are learning from him on how to perceive and how to respond to hardships. Number two, new beginnings when you fall short with regards to Allah's rights, Allah's commands. When you fall short, when you commit sins, what do you do? How often do you go back to Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la in the moment sincerely vowing to not return to that sin again? And number three, new beginnings with regards to perspectives and the right expectation of this life. Once again, Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam is a role model, the ultimate role model for all of humanity and our role model alayhis salatu wasalam. And Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la ends the ayah about taking him as a role model with wa dhakarallaha kathiran. Remembering Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la often, regularly, we know how he Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam spent his day and his night. We know the type of dua and dhikr he used to make. We know his character and how he used to treat people from all backgrounds, Muslims and non-Muslims, family, friends, and community members. And we look at the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam in his exemplification of dhikr, just this one act of worship, and frequently we remind ourselves and remind one another with dhikrullah, remember Allah, and we start saying SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, La ilaha illallah, Allahu Akbar. And it is liberating, no doubt, to us to do that. It is beneficial for us to do that. It is a forgiveness of sins. It is a protection against sinfulness. It is the planting of trees and gardens in Jannah, no doubt. But make sure, as you are increasing in your dhikr through every day and every new beginning and every new year, that you make sure your heart is present too. That when you say Alhamdulillah when you first wake up, when you say it, you really mean it. When you say Alhamdulillah when you finish eating, that you really mean it. That there are people who don't have a fraction of this blessing, Allahumma lakal hamd. That when you make dhikr in general, your heart is present as much as possible.
Contemplate. And when you take the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam as a role model, ask yourself, when you go through certain experiences at your workplace or at school or university, if the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was watching you or he were, let's say, following you, would he approve of your actions? Would he find what you're doing to be so pleasing to him as a follower of the Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam? The way that you interact with your classmates, your honesty and your integrity, would the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam smile and approve of that? The way you deal with your teachers, your professors, the way that you deal with your colleagues at work or online as well, the way you interact with people, the websites you visit, the things that you listen to. If the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam was next to you, would he smile in approval that you're following my sunnah 1400 years later in the best manner you possibly can? If the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam saw you speaking to your spouse, your wife, your husband, would he Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam approve of that? Would he smile and say this is a relationship that is following in my sunnah? The way that you speak to your parents, the way that you speak to your children as well, would he Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam approve of that? We ask Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala to make us amongst the people of Ihsan. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala is always watching. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala is always present. Al Hayyu Al Qayyum. Remember, remember, remember in every instance, in every situation that if you really love Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala and you really want to meet Allah in a good state and you really want paradise, your actions have to reflect that desire and that claim. And that requires us to constantly reflect on where we are, on what we've done, on what we've said, and when we make mistakes that we rectify them, that we correct them, and that we treat all people in the way that the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would treat them as well. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala forgive us and elevate our ranks. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala make us from the true followers of Prophet Muhammad Alaihi Wasallam, those who really take him as a role model, those who look up to him and those who love him, and may Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala guide us and guide others through us and forgive
us for all of our sins, the major and the minor, the sins that we remember and the sins that we forgot. May Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala allow us to take every day as a new opportunity and a new beginning, and may Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala grant us the good of the upcoming year and protect us from any evil and harm. Allahumma ghfiril mu'mineena wal mu'minat, wal muslimeena wal muslimat, al ahya'i minhum wal amwat. Allahumma salli wa sallim wa barik ala nabiyyina Muhammadin fil awwaleen, wa fil aakhireen, wa fil malail a'la ila yawm al deen. Allahumma ansur al Islam wa a'iz al muslimeen. Allahumma ansur al muslimeen al mustad'afeen fi kulli makan. Allahumma farrij al karba an al muslimeen fi kulli makan, fi kulli makan, fi kulli makan. Ya daal jalali wal ikram. Allahumma arzuqna husna al khatima, wa ja'al khaira ayaamina yawmana alqaak. Rabbana aatina fil dunya hasana, wa fil aakhira hasana, wa qina a'adhaab al naar, wa aqim banquetan wa anat takrim, atiuba allatihim, biidahi.
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