Gratitude: Using Our Blessings For Positive Change | Friday Khutbah | Nouman Ali Khan

Summary

The speaker reflects on the concept of gratitude (shukur) in Islam, emphasizing its significance beyond passive acknowledgment. Gratitude, as described in the Quran, involves active engagement and contribution to society. The speaker highlights the importance of being grateful through actions, using the examples of prophets who utilized their resources to build and develop. The message calls for a mindset shift among Muslims, encouraging proactive efforts in personal and communal growth, empowerment, and resilience.

Takeaways

• 🙏 Gratitude in Islam: The speaker emphasizes the importance of gratitude ('shukur') in Islam, noting that it is deeply embedded in the concept of 'hamd' (praise and gratitude) and frequently mentioned in the Quran.
• 📖 Shukur Beyond Reaction: Gratitude is not merely a passive reaction to good events but also an active, continuous practice of acknowledging and thanking Allah, even in challenging times.
• 🏗️ Active Gratitude: The speaker encourages a proactive approach to gratitude, suggesting that true gratitude involves using one's resources and opportunities to create and contribute positively to the community and society.
• 💡 Wisdom of 40: Turning 40 is highlighted as a significant age of maturity in Islamic and sociological contexts, marking a time when individuals often gain clarity and stability in life, enabling them to focus on more profound and meaningful pursuits.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Parental Gratitude: The Quranic advice to be grateful to both Allah and one's parents is stressed, underscoring the importance of honoring and appreciating the foundational relationships in one's life.
• 🔄 Generational Teaching: The speaker discusses the legacy of gratitude and wisdom passed down through generations, citing the story of Prophet Luqman advising his son on the importance of gratitude.
• 🚀 Building with Gratitude: Drawing from the examples of prophets like Dawood and Suleiman, the speaker explains how their acts of gratitude were manifested through the active development and use of their God-given resources and talents.
• 📊 Expanding Impact: The notion of expanding one's positive impact, such as growing a small business into a large enterprise, is linked to the broader concept of gratitude, where success is not just for personal gain but for contributing to a greater good.
• 🌍 Global Vision: The importance of thinking beyond immediate, personal or local contexts is highlighted, encouraging a broader, more visionary approach to how gratitude can drive large-scale, positive change in the world.
• 💪 Empowerment through Gratitude: The speaker advocates for a mindset that embraces growth and empowerment, leveraging gratitude as a driving force to overcome challenges, build strength, and make meaningful contributions to society.

Q & A

What is the main concept discussed in the script?

The main concept discussed in the script is 'shukur' or gratitude, which is emphasized as a key element in the Quran.

How does the speaker relate the concept of 'hamd' to 'shukur'?

The speaker explains that 'hamd' (praise) encompasses 'shukur' (gratitude), with 'shukur' being a subset of 'hamd'. Both terms are interconnected, with 'hamd' including praise and a particular kind of gratitude.

What does the speaker say about the importance of gratitude in the Quran?

The speaker notes that gratitude is extensively mentioned in the Quran and is a crucial concept. Gratitude to Allah and to one's parents is repeatedly emphasized.

What is the significance of the age 40 in the context of the script?

Age 40 is highlighted as a point of full maturity in the Quran and Arabic literature, where individuals have typically settled in life and can focus on more significant matters, such as spiritual and personal growth.

How does the speaker describe the difference between passive and active gratitude?

Passive gratitude is seen as a reaction to good events, while active gratitude involves proactive efforts and actions to utilize and expand one's resources and opportunities for greater benefit.

What example does the speaker use to illustrate active gratitude?

The speaker uses the example of a restaurant owner who, instead of being content with a single successful restaurant, should strive to expand and create more opportunities, which demonstrates active gratitude.

What is the relevance of the prophets Dawud (David) and Sulaiman (Solomon) in the discussion of gratitude?

Both prophets are cited as examples of using their resources and abilities to actively demonstrate gratitude through their actions and accomplishments, which had long-lasting impacts beyond their lifetimes.

What lesson does the speaker draw from the story of Dhul-Qarnayn?

The speaker highlights Dhul-Qarnayn's humility and recognition that his achievements were a mercy from Allah, and despite his impressive accomplishments, he acknowledged their temporary nature and Allah's ultimate control.

Why does the speaker emphasize the need for Muslims to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset?

The speaker believes that adopting an entrepreneurial mindset, focusing on building and expanding businesses, can empower the Muslim community economically and socially, allowing them to have a more significant influence and contribute positively to society.

What is the ultimate message the speaker wants to convey about gratitude?

The speaker wants to convey that true gratitude goes beyond words and reactions; it involves taking proactive actions, utilizing one's resources fully, and striving for continuous improvement and contribution to the greater good.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Understanding Gratitude in Islam

This paragraph introduces the concept of shukur (gratitude) in Islam. The speaker emphasizes the importance of gratitude towards Allah, which is embedded in the phrase 'alhamdulillah' that Muslims frequently recite. It explains that shukur is a subset of hamd, which also includes praise, and discusses the significance of being grateful to Allah and one's parents. The speaker highlights that wisdom and gratitude are central themes in the Quran, particularly in the story of Luqman, who advises his son to be grateful to Allah as a fundamental aspect of wisdom.

05:02

👨‍🎓 The Significance of Reaching Age 40 in Islam

This paragraph explores the significance of reaching the age of 40, a milestone of full maturity in Islamic and sociological contexts. It describes the transition from the turbulent twenties and thirties, characterized by establishing careers and families, to a more settled and reflective period in one's forties. The speaker explains that at this age, a person should make a dua (prayer) to Allah for empowerment to be grateful for the blessings received. The paragraph also compares this stage to a business that has moved from maintenance to growth, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and reflection at this mature stage of life.

10:04

🛠️ Gratitude Through Action: The Example of Prophets

The paragraph discusses how prophets, particularly Dawood (David) and Sulaiman (Solomon), demonstrated gratitude through action. Unlike other prophets who often faced political and social weakness, Dawood and Sulaiman were in positions of power and used their resources to build and create, as instructed by Allah. This active form of gratitude involved precise engineering and significant construction projects, symbolizing that true gratitude goes beyond words and includes productive and beneficial actions. The speaker emphasizes that this proactive gratitude is essential and contrasts it with the more passive form of simply expressing thanks.

15:06

🏢 Building and Expanding as Acts of Gratitude

This paragraph uses the analogy of a restaurant to illustrate the idea of gratitude through expansion and improvement. It suggests that simply being content with what one has can limit potential growth and influence. The speaker argues that expanding a business, like a restaurant, can lead to greater positive impacts, such as increased charity and ethical employment. The paragraph criticizes the passive attitude of being satisfied with the status quo and encourages thinking big and using one's resources to their fullest potential as a form of shukur (gratitude).

20:07

📈 Gratitude and Prosperity: A Broader Perspective

This paragraph addresses the misconception that striving for prosperity is purely materialistic. It explains that Islam encourages using one's abilities and resources to their maximum potential to benefit society. The speaker distinguishes this from the 'Prosperity Gospel' and emphasizes that the focus is on maximizing the benefits of one's resources rather than personal wealth. The paragraph highlights the story of Dhul-Qarnayn, who attributed his accomplishments to Allah's mercy and recognized the temporary nature of worldly achievements. It calls for a balanced approach, planning for the future while acknowledging the impermanence of life.

25:08

💪 Empowerment Through Gratitude and Community Strength

The final paragraph focuses on empowerment through gratitude and the importance of a strong community. It compares the Muslim ummah (community) to a single body, stressing that mental and emotional readiness are crucial for overcoming weakness. The speaker encourages investing in and nurturing the younger generation, teaching them independence and vision. This mutual benefit between elders and youth is presented as a form of shukur. The paragraph concludes with a prayer for a community inspired by the principles of gratitude and empowerment taught in the Quran.

Keywords

💡Shukur

Shukur refers to gratitude in Arabic and is a central theme of the video. It emphasizes being grateful to Allah for His blessings. The concept is deeply embedded in Islamic teachings, with shukur being more than just a passive reaction but an active, ongoing practice. The speaker highlights that shukur is embedded in the word 'alhamdulillah', which Muslims recite frequently.

💡Alhamdulillah

'Alhamdulillah' means 'praise be to Allah' and is a common phrase used by Muslims to express gratitude. In the video, the speaker explains that the meanings of shukur are embedded in 'alhamdulillah', showing that gratitude and praise are interconnected in Islamic practice.

💡Gratitude

Gratitude is a key concept discussed in the video, both as a reaction to good things happening and as an ongoing practice. The speaker explains that true gratitude in Islam involves not just words but actions, such as using one's resources and capabilities to benefit others and serve Allah's purposes.

💡Dua

Dua means supplication or prayer in Islam. The video mentions a specific dua made by a person upon reaching the age of 40, asking Allah for the strength to be grateful. This emphasizes the importance of consciously asking for divine help in practicing gratitude.

💡Wisdom

Wisdom, particularly as given to Prophet Luqman, is discussed in the context of teaching gratitude. The speaker notes that all the wisdom Luqman imparted to his son boils down to being grateful to Allah, illustrating the central role of gratitude in a wise and pious life.

💡Empowerment

Empowerment in the video is linked to the dua asking Allah to empower one to be grateful. It implies enabling oneself to act in ways that show gratitude, such as using one's resources effectively and contributing to society, rather than merely expressing gratitude verbally.

💡Age of 40

The age of 40 is highlighted as a significant milestone in a person's life, marking a time of maturity and clarity. The speaker explains that at this age, people are expected to reflect more deeply on their lives and responsibilities, including their practice of gratitude.

💡Active Gratitude

Active gratitude involves taking concrete actions to show appreciation for Allah's blessings. The speaker contrasts this with passive gratitude, which is simply reacting to good events. Active gratitude includes building, developing, and using one's resources for greater good.

💡Prophet Dawud

Prophet Dawud (David) is used as an example of active gratitude in the video. Allah commands Dawud and his family to perform acts of gratitude by using their skills and resources to produce useful items, illustrating that true gratitude involves proactive and productive efforts.

💡Economic Empowerment

Economic empowerment is discussed as a form of gratitude. The speaker encourages Muslims to use their entrepreneurial opportunities and resources to build businesses and contribute to society, framing economic success as a way to demonstrate gratitude to Allah.

Highlights

Gratitude (shukur) is more than a reaction; it involves active engagement and producing benefits beyond oneself.

Gratitude in the Quran is embedded in the word 'hamd,' encompassing both praise and a specific kind of gratitude.

The Quran emphasizes that gratitude is not only shown by words but through actions that produce tangible results.

Shukur is part of hamd, which includes praise and a particular kind of gratitude beyond just saying 'alhamdulillah.'

Gratitude to Allah is not passive; it requires proactive efforts to utilize resources and opportunities effectively.

Reaching the age of 40 in the Quran signifies maturity, clarity, and a time to focus on more significant life goals.

Prophets Dawud (David) and Sulayman (Solomon) were instructed by Allah to demonstrate gratitude through engineering and precise work.

Allah's instructions to Prophet Dawud's family involved precise engineering and production, showing gratitude through tangible outcomes.

Gratitude includes creating long-lasting, beneficial outcomes that outlive one's own life, similar to the invention of the wheel.

Economic empowerment and entrepreneurship are ways to demonstrate gratitude to Allah by creating jobs and ethical businesses.

The Quran encourages expanding businesses and opportunities, not for personal luxury, but for broader societal benefits.

Developing a vision for building and expanding beneficial projects is a form of active gratitude.

Active gratitude involves making full use of resources to produce maximum benefit and enhance societal welfare.

Gratitude is demonstrated by investing in youth, nurturing them, and providing them with opportunities for growth and independence.

The mindset of gratitude should be about empowering oneself and others to create lasting, positive impacts in the community.

Transcripts

allahar

alhamdulillah alhamdulillah

alhamdulillah

sh

m

sub

it's an honor to be here and I pray that

this is of some benefit to myself and to

all of you today insh I hope to share

some Reflections on a concept that may

be very familiar to all of us if not

most of us and that's the concept of

shukur of gratitude that Allah mentions

exhaustively in the Quran in fact the

meanings of shukur or gratitude is

already embedded embedded inside the

word ham when we recite the fa which is

the most common thing common part of the

Quran that a Muslim recites when we say

alhamdulillah the meanings of shukar are

part of the meanings of ham ham is a

shukur is a subset of ham ham is more

than that it includes praise also and

includes a very particular kind of

gratitude but Shar is certainly a part

of that shukar is something that you may

be familiar with as something we have to

do to Allah showing gratitude to Allah

being Greatful for Allah and Allah will

put that next to himself and both of our

parents and

be grateful to me and be grateful to

both of your parents so this is a

concept that occurs across the Quran in

fact one of the most famous places in

the Quran where a father is ensuring

good upbringing for his son the height

of wisdom Allah says you

know right that Allah gave lman wisdom

and the summary of all of the wisdom

Allah gave Lan was be grateful to Allah

to understand that you must become a

grateful person to Allah so you read

every other wisdom thatman gave to his

son inah from Ayah number 12 onwards all

of them go back to shukur every one of

them is a manifestation of shukar but

the reason I wanted to dedicate today's

to this concept is because we think of

gratitude as something passive we think

of it as something good happened and we

say alhamdulillah or we thank Allah

right so we think of it as a reaction

gratitude is actually a reaction to

something that has happened

but the Quran is actually giving two

sides of shukar one of them we are

familiar with the other one that's

mentioned also in Allah's book we don't

often talk about and I think it's

important especially given the times we

live in that we should highlight this

dimension of the sh of Allah also I'll

start by a Dua that Allah mentions that

a man reaching the age of

40 he makes a Dua to Allah 40 40 is an

important age in Quran and in Arabic

literature also because 40 is an age

when a person has reached in a sense

full maturity if you look at it from a

sociological perspective many people are

trying to find themselves in college or

getting their getting their bearings

together early on in their 20s right

they're then if some of some a young man

gets married you know and they have a

child in their 20s they're just between

fixing up their career securing some

savings taking care of the baby they're

juggling all these things and they're

kind of it's a bumpy ride right and the

in 30s things things start to settle

down a little bit you know you start to

figure out some things and by 40 you

have some level of clarity socially

speaking economically speaking there's a

there's a settlement that happens in

life right so now that in a sense

matters of Life are settled things are

sort of put in place now it's time to

think about more important things now

you're not distracted right so it's the

same way that in a in in in the in the

world of of business you can have

day-to-day tasks right somebody opens up

a restaurant they got to fix the

countertop they got to fix the chair

they got to fix this the menu the the

the cook this that the other and they're

just running all over the place right

and when they're doing that they're just

trying to manage they're just trying to

run the thing before it falls apart

maintain if if you will they're just

working on maintenance but when the

restaurant it's been a few years it's

established it's settled things are in

place now you can think about growing

the business now you can think about

bigger things we restaurant owners might

even start thinking about retirement

right I want to get out of this now do

other things with my life etc etc right

so there's a there's a turbulent time in

one's life and then there's a settlement

and after settlement you think your

horizons get bigger you can't even think

about bigger things until things settle

down somewhat right then until then you

can't even imagine that scenario so what

Allah mentions as is kind of that

standard age of things have been settled

the kids have grown they're grown enough

that they're independent themselves the

the Ambitions I had in life the worries

I had many of them are now taken care of

right so it's just now I need to this is

the last episode of my youth and I I I

use the word youth knowingly I know we

like how is a 40-year-old young well

you're young enough to stand straight up

you're not on a cane right you don't

need assistance to go to the bathroom

you your body is fully functional you're

capable in fact in many ways you're more

capable now

maybe if not physically but you're more

capable now socially intellectually

psychologically in terms of maturity in

terms of experience you're more capable

now than you ever were before and you

look back at your 20s and you say man I

was so stupid why did I do that if I

just if I could just talk to my

25-year-old self and just give him a

good old slap things would turn out

different you you could do that you

could look back and say that right so

now you're at a certain age now what

does Allah say about that age he says

the person reaches 40 years the mature

believer reaches 40 years and he makes a

Dua my master Empower me was actually

modern Arabic means to spread

something right but means to actually

Empower someone to enable someone to

give someone strength to do what to be

grateful to the blessing you gave

me that's the Dua you're making I need

to look I need to become grateful now so

the question then is what is this

gratitude what's he talking about what's

this person talking about when he

says you find that the words in the

Quran are never accidental it's Allah

speaks very deliberately and very

precisely so these words this Dua in its

exact wording is again mentioned

by is mentioned by none other

than and he says

in the story of the he mentions these

exact words so the question is why is

Allah making me say du and he's teaching

me in my 40s to make a Dua that he is

echoing from thousands of years before

the coming of the Quran on the tongue of

a great

prophet the thing you should note about

Botham and da is that they are

exceptional prophets why are they

exceptional because most prophets in

their careers were in a position of

political economic social weakness and

their enemies were in a position of

power that is the story of most of the

prophets n is in a position of weakness

he's being mocked he's being ridiculed

he's being attacked and the people that

are kuf are in a position of power in

the beginning of the S of the Prophet

sallallahu alaihi wasallam our messenger

is be is among the actually right that's

why he's being told

right and he's in that position and the

people around him

are these are the Riff Raff of society

around him they're not the Millionaires

and the billionaires you know there's no

Jeff basos next to the prophet sallai

wasallam there's there's no governor

next to the prophet and even one

influential person comes in like or

another it's a huge boost to Islam

because the majority of those types of

people are on the other side right just

it's kind of like nowadays when we feel

Muslims feel socially weak one celebrity

becomes Muslim and we're like oh my God

this is so you know do you know he

became you know who's Muslim that you

know and we have a collection of famous

people that are Muslim like we got one

oh we got another one right because and

that's that itself is a demonstration of

weakness right like the other

civilizations that are in a position of

winning they don't say you know who else

is Christian let me show you they won't

do that they won't do that right so it's

it's a demonstration of our weakness

anyway

the thing I wanted to get to is

something about both

and they are in a position of power and

in that position of power Allah one

place in the Quran inah Sab describes

some of what they were doing so Allah

says he says he tells Dam he tells his

family meaning Alam his offspring he

tells

I need you to work on creating precise

sheets of metal in Arabic is to spread

something

like right is to spread something so you

know when you're when you're working

with Metals you have to have very

precise measurements you can think

nowadays of like car manufacturing and

the parts have to be precisely cut and

molded to exact measurements in in

engineering right or in like parts of a

plane or something like that so Allah is

giving him instructions you have to be

very prec precise in your

engineering and make sure the links in

the chain are all precisely measured

that's what Allah is telling him he's

giving him engineering Precision is what

Allah is giving him and then he

says and then Allah tells them I am

watching over what you're doing I'm

watching over what you're doing and then

after that Allah mentions the power

Allah gave to Sanam over the winds but

I'll go forward and tell you something

remarkable Allah says yeah the jins were

working

for they used to make for work for him

creating for him weapons of war so they

used to build you know uh uh you could

say they were doing the metal work and

they were the the the the blacksmiths

they were making the axes and the Spears

and the swords and all that kind of

stuff and the armor

also filled large you know uh pots you

know those large kettles that have

molten metal inside them Allah is

describing the factory actually in the

Quran where all of this work is going on

but here's why I brought all that up I

started this talking about gratitude

being something passive being something

that you something good happens to you

and you show gr gratefulness to Allah in

fact we even say something bad happens

to you find the good in it and be

grateful to Allah that's what we say

Allah then says to both to Da and his

family now the Next Generation he says

to them

he says family of David family of D do

sh it's in the same Ayah where the

factory was being

described family of da do

Shar they're not Allah is not telling

them to sit there and say alhamdulillah

that's already understood he's not

telling them to say shuk he's telling

them to do Shar so what in the world is

doing shukar I I mean when we think of

do shukar we say alhamdulillah we say

something but Allah is telling him to do

something not say something to do

something and then he says he ends by

saying and how few of my slaves tend to

be well and grateful like deeply

grateful is so extremely grateful or

truly grateful how few turn out that way

in other words gratitude to Allah is

more than lip service gratitude to Allah

is more than a

reaction Allah is inspiring both of

these prophets to produce something to

take the resources that they have melt

them make them into precise Cuts turn

them into something else build and build

and build and that building that act of

building and developing that act that is

going to go far beyond their lifetimes

because once the you know once a factory

is built the factory owner can die the

factory will keep going once the car

manufacturer has designed the engine

once the engine has been designed it

will be enhancements to it but the

engine's already there the car industry

will go on the inventor will not remain

but the invention will remain that's the

history of the world there's a reason we

have the wheel the guy who figured it

out is not here but we're all using it

Allah is telling both of these prophets

whatever resources are at your disposal

when you make full use of them when you

make full of full use of them and they

know everything they're building

everything they're they're amassing

they're doing it for a greater service

they're not doing it for themselves then

this is actually

Shar this this that's actually you're

doing

suar so we have this passive concept of

shukar which is hey let's just say one

of you in this community owns a small

restaurant let's just say I'll give you

a restaurant I'm in the restaurant mood

so I'll give you a restaurant example

this small restaurant you all right and

you're like it it brings enough money it

pays the bill alhamdulillah somebody

comes to you says hey I think you can

improve the quality of this place I

think you can expand it I think you can

brand it better I think you can Branch

out I think you can open up multiple

chains you can become a friend you know

this can become 50 restaurants in 5

years that can happen you have the

quality you could no no I just want to

be grateful for what I have

alhamdulillah Allah has given enough no

no no don't bother me with these things

I don't want d

but imagine for a moment if there are 50

restaurants and then one day there are

500 restaurants and there are 5,000 just

imagine just use your imagination a

little bit think big one day when it's

5,000 or 50,000 restaurants isn't that

competing with

McDonalds isn't that funding going to

help in influence foreign

policy isn't that going to influence how

a campaign is going to run and a a

political campaign is going to run isn't

that going to replace the need for

standing inside outside of an outside of

an embassy and yelling and screaming and

then laughing sitting inside is that not

going to replace it is that when you're

when you're building something if you're

building it for yourself if you want to

build yourself a nicer house with a

bigger you know bigger restaurant you're

going to get a nicer car it's still a

car it's still got an engine it's still

got a seat it's still still got a

steering wheel it's just a nicer

steering wheel it's just it's just a

little cushier seat but you're still

sitting on it you can't you know you

can't cut it open and feel the material

inside it's still the same but if you

have a vision to build something big and

expand it now imagine just for just for

that take that one example for a moment

of the restaurants if somebody own five

if a Muslim own 5,000 restaurants how

much more sodak are they able to give

how much more zakat are they giving how

many more people have Halal jobs because

of them how many more people are now

being influenced by an an ethical

business that is not involved in bribery

it's not involved in buying off

politicians it's not involved in you you

know you know usurping the the

infrastructure of a community I was

watching a a recent exposing documentary

on Dollar Generals in this country

wherever they go they destroy local

businesses there are actually food

shortages in the United States where

there's a Dollar General because the

local Mom and Pop shop that's trying to

sell some vegetables can't survive

anymore so now people have to drive 15

20 miles to buy basic fruits and

vegetables because a Dollar General

exists and now people are being

malnourished in this country because of

big business because a big business now

imagine if Muslims understood that we

are just just the Muslims in the United

States even for starters we're in a

country that is built on

entrepreneurship the entire thing it's

built on entrepreneurship there's old

money and there's new money we all know

that and if we understood that this

resource and this opportunity that Allah

has given us we have to put it to work

to show sh to Allah we would be part of

an economic engine we would be part of a

Mach we would be Machinery by ourselves

that is difficult to mess with it's

difficult to mess with this is something

Allah taught us in the Quran you can't

just be grateful you have to do

grateful you have to do grateful and we

have to develop that empowering

mentality if young people sitting here

that are going to University the east

coast of the United States where where

you guys live the east coast is the is

the Hub of universities in this country

there are more universties here than

probably anywhere else in the world the

concentration of Education here but most

most people that are trying to get an

education yeah just trying to get a job

just trying to get a you're you're

trying to make somebody else Rich which

is great start off that way I'm happy

for you get a job gain the experience

learn from people that know more than

you but if your entire aspirations end

with you yeah well by the time I'm this

old I want to have this by the time I'm

that old I want to have this and I have

want to have these Investments the

you're not thinking bigger learn to

think bigger learn to think with Shook

and what does Allah do if you show

gratitude if you if you we you and I

become people of Shar not just by words

but by actions what does Allah do what

is Allah's

promise if you can show gratitude I

promise you I swear by it I will enhance

you and enhance you and continue to

enhance you continue to increase you you

and the stuff you own you and your

knowledge you and your sin it you and

your you and your resources all of it

will continue to increase it'll continue

to expand but understand after all of

that as I conclude this after all of

that you might say oh this was a this

was a like this might as well been a jo

jo steam talk because they're all about

Prosperity Gospel they they just want

people to become rich Jesus wants you to

get that new Mercedes he wants you to

open up that new restaurant cuz he wants

good Christians to prosper right and it

was like this like this the Muslim

version of he wants good Christians to

prosper he want I want Muslims no I

don't care about your Prosperity I'll be

honest with you this is not about your

Prosperity this is about the n and the

am that Allah gave a human being the

ability they Allah gave a human being

the money that Allah gave a human being

the resources the opportunity that Allah

gave a human being to put that to 100%

maximum use to produce the most amount

of benefit to produce the most amount of

benefit and while doing all of that Not

For a Moment do you think yo you know

what I did 5,000 restaurant no no no

shut up no you did nothing I did

nothing you and I can't accomplish what

accomplished he's he's to me he he

should be studied very carefully

especially by youth when he goes and

travels the world and establishes Empire

in different societies at the end of it

all at the end of it all what's his

final statement and some people confus

say oh he might have been Alexander the

Great let me help you with that

confusion he was not Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great thought Alexander

was

great

and at the end of his entire career what

does he

say this everything I've been able to

accomplish is a from my study Alexander

you'll find he's really obsessed not

with God but with

himself that's not

Alexander but whoever he is one thing we

know he accomplishes the most amazing

things and at the end of all of that

what does he say this is a from my this

is an act of loving Mercy after he

Engineers the wall that prevents Y and

Ma from coming he

said and as amazing as that

accomplishment is to build such a dam

with literally no time because the

raiding Army is coming literally with

people that have no background in

construction and he's getting them to

teaching them and building at the same

time so imagine the the laboratory

project is the final product that's what

he's doing and after that incredible

accomplishment he

says and I know as much as this is

impressive and this is a from Allah when

its time comes Allah will crush this to

nothing also so some of you might be

nealis and you might have this you know

you know you know fatalistic view

fatalistic view of life life why do you

want me to build 5,000 restaurants and

expand and own a university and start

hospitals why do you want me to do that

it's all going to become nothing in the

end Allah will destroy

everything all the buildings will be

crushed everything will be mud on

Judgment Day yeah that's Judgment Day

that's not now now Allah said do this

why is Allah making Dam build a factory

and putting the jins to work why isn't

he telling you why are you even

bothering judgment days coming just sit

down and just do in in a Corner why is

he telling him to do it why is building

a wall he could just say let him come

Judgment Day is coming anyway you'll be

Shahid it's

okay why our mentality sometimes our

passive mentality don't do don't build

don't expand and because it's the more

spiritual thing to do our spirituality

goes against the spirituality of the

Quran itself we need a we need to

cleanse from our corrupted thinking

which we think is spiritual in nature

it's not it's not these are influences

that are not from the book of Allah

these are other influences our book

everything is in balance work really

hard to build knowing it's temporary and

what when it comes and when it goes

that's in the hands of Allah like my own

life just because I'm planning for the

next 50 years doesn't mean I know I will

live the next 50 years I can plan for

the next 50 years and be aware I could

be dead in an hour or less I could do

both at the same time that's what Allah

expects this is the mentality that

expects and this is a mindset that can

take any Nation any people from a

position of weakness to a position of

great strength from a position of great

strength I'll the last thing I'll share

with you today because this is about

really it is about empowerment through

gratitude that's that's what the message

of this is I want to share one thing

with

you wasallam compared

the the the entire um was compared to

one body now tell me if a person is sick

one body is sick right and they're they

have a stomach problem or they have a

lot of allergies or whatever they have

or they're very weak and you say how do

I improve this person how do I improve

them and you say you should eat healthy

ah what's the point you should exercise

no no what's the point is your life is

temporary what are you going to

do the body is sick but before the body

is sick you know what's sick the

person's mind they're not willing to

make any take any steps to fix what's

actually wrong and Once the mind is set

Once the mind is in the right place the

person is still sick they're still sick

but when their mentality and their

emotions and their intentions and their

motivation changes inside then they

still if they die today they die healthy

because their mind and their heart is in

the right place once their mind and

heart is in the right place it's not

like tomorrow they'll be healthy but

tomorrow they'll be 0.1% healthier and

the day after they'll be 0.2% healthier

and if they stay at it they're going to

see a 10% Improvement in 10 years and a

20% Improvement in 20 they'll see an

improvement they'll see things changing

won't they now think about the fact that

the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam

compared the entire umah to a single

body we want change now at anything you

change in the body immediately the body

reacts to it but any any change you

build bring into your body physically

emotionally psychologically socially any

change you bring that was planned and

built and developed

stays it stays and any change you try to

bring simultaneously collapses it's it's

unnatural with that mentality when the

um when especially the youth are

frustrated why are Muslims in a position

of weakness we are 20% or more of the

population of the world why are we So

Silent why are we not heard why is it

that we cried about Philistine for 70

years nobody was listening and one girl

on Tik Tok from Wyoming because she

happens to be an American and she

happens to be white is crying about the

atrocity and all of a sudden it's a

world

issue oh they they're talking oh they're

talking about it now it matters you we

were talking about it for a long time

who was listening why why are our voices

so mute So Unworthy to be heard in the

world and you can be frustrated about

that and cry about that and bang podiums

about that but until we decide that we

acknowledge we're in a position of

sickness and weakness and it takes time

and mindset to build yourself to a

position of

strength if you're not strong enough to

fight a bully and you're too skinny and

they're two feet taller than you and

they're much bigger than you then you

better go

trained this it's going to take a while

but you better be ready for that you

better build yourself up and that's the

mentality socially economically

spiritually educationally that the

Muslim mind has to to develop that you

are the seeds of especially the young

people sitting here you're the seeds of

that and the elders that are sitting

here you especially like myself those of

us that are above 40 we are now turning

to Allah saying yaah Allah Empower me to

be grateful you know what that means

just like d andam were putting money or

putting resources into building weapons

these youth investing in them building

them you know nurturing them even

employing them teaching them investment

teaching them Independence giving them

Vision that becomes your

responsibility that that's your

gratitude that's what you have to share

may Allah make us a community where the

elders benefit the youth and the youth

benefit the elders may Allah make us a

community that is truly inspired by the

principles of sh that Allah has taught

us so beautifully in his book