Friday Lecture 12-2-2022
You are created unique.
Edited by Faddy Shaheen
Source: Dr. A'id al-Qarni: Don't Be Sad.
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ ,نَحْمَدُهُ ,وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ , وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا ,مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ , وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ , وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوۡلࣰا سَدِیدࣰا (70) یُصۡلِحۡ لَكُمۡ أَعۡمَـٰلَكُمۡ وَیَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡۗ وَمَن یُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدۡ فَازَ فَوۡزًا عَظِیمًا (71
Dr. James Gordon Gilkee said:
"The dilemma of wanting your own identity is as ancient as the beginning of history, and it is common to all human life. Similar is the problem of not wanting to be your own self. which is the source of much personal imbalance and disturbance."
Someone else said:
"You are a unique entity among creation: nothing is exactly similar to you, nor are you exactly similar to anything, because the Creator has brought diversity to the creation."
(Certainly, your efforts and deeds are diverse [different in aims and purposes).
(Qur'an 92: 4)
Angelo Battero wrote thirteen books and thousands of articles related to the topic of child education. He once wrote: "There is none more miserable than the one who grows up not being himself, who grows up imitating others in appearance and thought."
Leading to this Ayah for thought:
He sends down water [rain] from the sky, and the valleys flow according to their measure...>
(Qur'an 13: 17)
Every person has his own idiosyncrasies, talents, and abilities, so no one should fuse his personality into that of another.
Undoubtedly, you have been created with restricted means and abilities that will help you to accomplish very specific and limited goals. It has been wisely put: Read yourself and know yourself, you will then know your mission in life. Emerson said in his essay on self-reliance:
"The time will come when the knowledge of man will reach the level where his faith will be that jealousy is ignorance and imitation is suicide. And one will accept his own self, as he is, no matter what the circumstances, because that is his lot. Also, despite the fact that the world is filled with good things, one will not accomplish anything until he plants and cares for the land that was given to him. Hidden strengths that are inside of him are new to the world, and he does not know the extent of his abilities until he tries."
Contemplate on the following verses:
And say [O' Muhammad], 'Do deeds! Allah will see your deeds, and [so will] His Messenger and the believers.
(Qur'an 9: 105)
Say: 'O' My slaves, who have transgressed against themselves [by committing evil deeds and sins]! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving. Most Merciful.
(Qur'an 39: 53)
And those who when they have committed Fahisha (illegal sexual intercourse etc.] or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins; and none can forgive sins but Allah -And do not persist in what [wrong] they have done, while they know.
(Qur'an 3: 135)
And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving. Most Merciful.
(Qur'an 4: 110)
And when My slaves ask you (O' Muhammad] concerning Me, then [answer them). I am indeed near [to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me [without any mediator or intercessor]. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.)
(Qur'an 2: 186)
Is not He [better than your gods] Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him, and Who removes the evil, and makes you inheritors of the earth, generations after generations. Is there any ilah [god] with Allah? Little is that you remember!)
(Qur'an 27: 62)
Those (ie. believers] unto whom the people (hypocrites] said. "Verily, the people [pagans] have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them. But it [only] increased them in Faith, and they said: "Allah [Alone] is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs [for us). So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty:
(Qur'an 3: 173-174)
And my affair. I leave it to Allah. Verily, Allah is the All-Seer of [His] slaves. So Allah saved him from the evils that they plotted [against him]...
(Qur'an 40: 44-45)
Most of us heard and was touched by the opening of the world cup held in Qatar by Morgan Freeman and our dear brother Ghanim Al-Muftah. The strong message was giving to the world by reciting the wisdom of Allah to all mankind:
O mankind, indeed, We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.
(Quran 49: 13)
أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Sit and ask for forgiveness than say:
الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ, وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ , وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاْ إِلَهَ إِلَّاْ اَللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَاْشَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَاً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُ
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَـٰۤىِٕكَتَهُۥ یُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِیِّۚ یَـٰۤأَیُّهَا ٱلَّذِینَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَیۡهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسۡلِیمًا
Summary of Khutbah
Be yourself! That's the best advice that anyone can give. We were created unique and special, each with our own gifts and talents. When we embrace who God created us to be, we have the confidence to pursue what sets our souls on fire. It is so important for us to listen to our inner voice instead of trying to be someone that we are not. When we stay true to ourselves, it gives us the courage to make positive changes in our lives, as well as those around us. Ultimately, being yourself is a precious gift that should be celebrated and cherished! Let's all take the time to discover who we were created to be and live life with confidence! God created us all special, so let's make the most of it!
Be Thankful, Be Blessed!
عِبَادَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
اُذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُرُوهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا
وَأَقِمِ الصّلَاة