Understanding Tests vs Punishment

Those Who Depend on Allah

Opening

When Allah has given you the capacity to pick up your phone and look for jobs online from your phone, but you say no I rely on Allah. That is false reliance.

The hadith says tie your camel then say I rely on Allah. Bismillah walhamdulillah wa salatu was salamu ala rasulullahi wa ala alihi wa ashabihi ajma'een. We praise Allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala upon all conditions. We send blessings and salutations upon Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) his household his companions. We ask Allah to bless them to bless all those who struggled and strove over the generations in a way that today we are where we are.

We've taken the goodness from them. They indeed deserve our prayer for blessings. May Allah bless them. Bless every one of us bless our offspring those to come up to the end and may Allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala grant us all every form of goodness. Ameen.

The Nature of Life and Death

My brothers and sisters you and I know that we were created by a creator and You and I know that life will not last forever. You and I know that we are going to die one day whether we like to talk about it or not. It's a reality. That's definitely going to come.

It's going to happen. You know, you're going to go and you don't know when I know I'm going to go I don't know when. Now when I came on to the earth it's something amazing and unique just like when you came on to the earth. Our parents were looking forward to having us those of you who don't have children. May Allah bless you with offspring who will be the coolness of your eyes say ameen.

The excitement within parents of the good news of having a child or being expecting a child is such that it cannot be described. It needs to be felt. It needs to be felt in most cases, especially the first child. You're expecting this first child.

There was a lot of excitement. There is a little bit of uncertainty. Normally the mothers will tell you do you know when I was expecting I didn't know I just hoped in the mercy of Allah I just knew that so many others have been through this so I can also do it. But as your belly begins to grow and as the fetus begins to grow within you as much as you're happy that the fetus is okay, and it's growing and it's beginning to kick and it's painful and it's hurtful and becoming heavy and my back is sore and I cannot sleep anymore, but there's excitement to say mashallah. I'm going to be a mother.

There is an underlying fear. What is the fear? How is this going to come out subhanallah? You see what's going to happen here. I wonder. Subhanallah. That is quite normal to be worried to be concerned. How is the labor going to be but guess what? Because you know of so many others who've gone through it, you know within yourself.

I'm going to cope. I'm going to manage some. Keep on thinking I can't do it If you keep on thinking you cannot do it. You will still do it, but you're going to struggle because you didn't have that iman. You didn't have that conviction we who believe we know that's the plan of Allah. Allah will help you. Allah has chosen that way and that path whether it's through cesarean section or a normal birth. You and I know that it has to happen and Allah will facilitate it and as painful as it may be. The moment you see the bundle, it's called a bundle of joy. Subhanallah, you tend to forget things. I remember telling my wife or asking her is it true that as soon as the baby comes onto you you forget everything? She says temporarily. Now Allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala grant us ease I don't know if that's the same answer around here with some of our moms, which means yes, you are happy. You are excited. It is a sense of relief mashallah. But as the child grows she says I'll never forget what I went through no way. And you know what the second time there is a similar fear the third time. There is a similar fear with the excitement.

So what will help you there is something that will help you if you don't have it. You will struggle. What is it the conviction the iman the reliance upon Allah. Allah made me. Billions of people have been born exactly the same way. I'm going to do it by the help of Allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala if you rely on Allah that is the most powerful act of ibadah.

The Foundation of True Reliance

"Indeed you should lay your trust and reliance totally and wholly upon Allah if you are a true believer, or if you are true believers.

If you're true believers you need to rely wholly totally on Allah, I've only shown you the beginning of man's life the life on earth. When you came onto the earth for example your own parents had to rely on Allah if they didn't they would struggle with anxiety they would struggle with depression and depression is not always caused by lack of reliance in Allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala, but at times that is a contributing factor. We need to understand you don't have to add worries that you don't need to add in your life or upon your brain your mind and your system and even your heart. You rely upon Allah. He will definitely take care of you if Allah can take care of the smallest of creatures. Don't you think you're bigger than that?

There is nothing that moves on earth except that Allah has guaranteed its sustenance. Nothing that moves on earth except that Allah has guaranteed to provide it what it needs. Subhanallah this includes the ants the ants that you and I don't even see. And the little mosquitoes subhanallah that irritate you and I if that sustenance is written in your blood. Subhanallah, there's nothing you're going to do about it.

It's going to come and get its portion. So eat less sweets mashallah. May Allah grant us goodness. Allah says in the rest of that verse that Allah knows its place that it's going to come through and where it's going to leave from everything your birth and death is determined by Allah. Everything is already prescribed predestined by Allah you rely on Allah.

Allah says he will provide for every single one all his creatures what they need the problem with us. We become depressed because we have what we need but we want beyond what we need. There is a difference between what you need and what you want. What you want Allah didn't guarantee he's going to give you what you need Allah will give it to you subhanallah. It's amazing.

Understanding Needs vs Wants

So, what do you actually need you don't need the luxuries you don't need so much and whatever else. You probably need a little bit of food to survive some clothing to cover yourself a little place that you can actually sleep. Even if it happens to be under a tree if that's what Allah has written. He's provided you what you need. But what you want Allah still says I will give you as much as I would like to give you you work hard I will still provide you know what to show you that I will actually give you more than not only what you deserve but more than what you need and then it's a test to see will you share with others? Will you talk to others? Will you communicate with others? Will you help others not only financially and materialistically even by speaking to them?

Sometimes talking to someone is more valuable than a million pounds because you've spoken to them. You've moved them. You've changed their lives people say you know what you've changed my life. Well, I tell you what you need to start changing the lives of others in whatever way possible. Sometimes within our own homes we don't even talk to each other because we forget that reaching out to people primarily starts with speaking to them. Subhanallah.

So if you rely upon Allah and you understand that Allah created you number one. He will provide for you. He will definitely give you there's no way that Allah can forget you when he's provided for the ants. When he listens to the discussion of the flies amazing subhanallah. So look at what Allah says if you are true believers you rely on Allah correctly. Your reliance should be fully on Allah.

You shouldn't be worried take cognizance of the fact that Allah is in charge. I always say when things happen your way say alhamdulillah. When they don't happen your way say alhamdulillah twice because they are happening according to your boss who is Allah your maker.

Examples of Divine Protection

I was reading an article of a sister 1979 having arrived some of you might have seen this having arrived from Syria into America and she had a little delay because she refused to take off her scarf in order to take a photograph and what happened they missed the connecting flight. And as they missed the connecting flight, they later discovered that that flight was involved in a crash and everyone died. How many of us have been saved by being delayed we get angry sometimes agitated because of something that went wrong according to us, but according to Allah nothing ever went wrong subhanallah.

Someone can bash your motor vehicle completely you walk out with a smile. Yes. It doesn't mean you say it's okay. It's okay. Sometimes it's not okay. No, we can get out with a smile and still claim what we have to and still say you were wrong. Yes, I know you were wrong, but it's called an accident. No one did it

purposely but we come out of the vehicle as though they did it intentionally. Come on subhanallah may Allah grant us ease and guide us.

Don't be angry when things don't happen your way because in that case something is wrong with your belief in Allah. It's not strong enough. You need to believe that Allah was in charge if you plan to do something you desperately wanted to marry someone you wanted a specific business you wanted to buy a specific house. You wanted to do something you needed a specific dress. You wanted to attend a specific function and it did not happen your way. Thank Allah double because it happened his way and he took over he saved you from something and even if you don't realize what he did for you at the time the fact that you're happy with what Allah decided for you would actually earn you closeness to Allah. Allah decided it for you so don't worry you've lost out on nothing.

The Difference Between Laziness and True Reliance

The only time you blame yourself is when Allah has given you the capacity the ability to do something that is beneficial for you or to protect yourself from some harm and you sat back and said well if it's decreed let it happen. Like the lazy lot of today who sit at home and make dua.

Oh Allah. I've been reading five salah a day I'm getting up for tahajjud. Oh Allah. Help me. Help me. I need sustenance. Oh Allah I need a minimum of a thousand pounds a week that makes it fifty two thousand pounds a year. Not a bad salary actually. So Oh Allah Give me a thousand pounds a week and you're sitting and you just your hands are raised and your hands are raised and you're pious. That pious is mistranslated. It's got to do with pies. Maybe meat pies subhanallah. Because you cannot sit in your room when Allah has given you the capacity to pick up your phone and look for jobs online from your phone, but you say no I rely on Allah that is false reliance.

The hadith says:

Tie your camel then say I rely on Allah.

(Sunan at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2517)

Allah gave you the capacity. You cannot leave your motor vehicle open with all your pounds dangling from here and there and everything else. You know, that's valuable in your vehicle and you say I rely on Allah and Allah alone. He's going to take care of my car. Well, I tell you what when you come back everything will be stolen from the car and your car will be gone as well. Why you were foolish?

So this is why we say when Allah gave you the capacity to do something do it use your brain use your energy. That's why the hadith says:

Always work hard to achieve what is beneficial for you and seek the help of Allah and never give up.

(Sahih Muslim Hadith 2664)

Did you hear that work hard to achieve what is beneficial for you and seek the help of Allah and never give up. Subhanallah, that's called proper reliance on Allah. I locked my car I did whatever I could still someone bashed broke the window and stole something. I say alhamdulillah. I'm okay Allah didn't want me to perhaps make use of something that was stolen maybe to stolen from me. So this is all the help of Allah you need to understand how Allah works. If you believe you definitely will be a happy person always you'll be content.

Amazing are the affairs of a true believer, indeed all his affairs are good.

(Sahih Muslim Hadith 2999)

The affairs of a true believer are amazing. Why are they amazing when good comes in his or her direction? He's happy. She's happy and thanks Allah I'm thankful to Allah. How do you show gratitude to Allah by the way? Not just by saying oh Allah. I'm grateful and then we sin against Allah day and night. Even if you didn't say oh Allah, I'm grateful, but you fulfilled your salah. You feel you tried your best to obey what Allah has instructed you you tried your best to abstain from prohibition. Because Allah has provided for you in that case. It's true gratitude unto Allah true gratitude is when you are trying to get closer and closer and closer to your maker.

Allah's Love and Care

And I'd like to believe that every single one of us without exception within us we have it that we want to get closer and closer to Allah as time passes, don't we? Anyone who doesn't want to get closer to Allah as time passes, please show us your hand. Nobody mashallah, that's what I expected because it goes to show deep down we love Allah and guess what I have good news for you today Allah loves you, too subhanallah. We're seated here. We want to hear a motivation. We want to feel like we're believers Muslimin we're good.

Alhamdulillah. We're trying I know that Allah loves us because he's provided for us much more than we actually need much more than we deserve at times if you take a look at how strong we are myself included. We need a lot of attention. We need so much of help. We need to improve ourselves from so many different angles and you know what Allah still provides and he still gives and he gives you more and he gives you more and he gives you this happiness and that happiness. May he never make us from those who transgress as a result of the gifts that he gives us. But still he keeps giving us even though we transgress look at how merciful Allah is. How can you not rely on Allah? How can you not trust Allah when Allah has promised you things and Allah has delivered those on those promises? Allah says I'll take care of you Allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala tells us don't doubt people don't doubt people don't suspect for nothing.

Understanding Tests vs Punishment

But if you think the bad is always a punishment, it's not it's not you know, we have tsunamis. We have natural disasters. We have death. We have so many other things disease sickness. A lot of these things are actually a blessing from Allah. Yes, it can be a punishment. It's all got to do with your own condition. Someone said oh look at Allah punishing the people of Indonesia because of what they've been doing and I got up and I said it's my duty to tell you that that is not necessarily a punishment. What about those who died while they were in sujood? What about those who died while they were trying to read Quran? What about those who were decent people who died and they were martyred or perhaps killed in that natural disaster? Can you ever say that it was the punishment of Allah? No, it was not. It was the mercy of Allah upon them. They died in a good condition how many of us would like to die in sujood. I would like to die in sujood. Yes.

So if Allah took you away in sujood, no matter how he took you away, but isn't it a blessing of Allah? You'll be resurrected perhaps in a similar way and people say that guy was punished you see because he died natural disaster. You don't know it was the mercy of Allah. But if someone was in the disobedience of Allah at the time that's between them and Allah may Allahsubhanahu wa'ta'ala not do that to us. So it could be the same disaster could be a punishment for some and the mercy for others depending on how you are and those who have survived it depends on the condition of your heart. Those who have survived it depends on the condition of your heart subhanallah. If you're a happy person if you're if you're always happy and you make the most of what's left with you. Then you're definitely a believer you believe in Allah. It's definitely a means of closeness to Allah how many of us when we've had disease and sickness have we become better Muslims? Wow. So isn't that sign of the mercy of Allahsubhanahu wa'ta'ala. It softened us it made us fulfill salah and how many of us once we get cured we're back with our old ways and habits. Allahu Akbar may that not happen to us may we always be from those whom when we're cured we change our lives as well and not just sickness people cry for things to Allah. Oh Allah. I need a child I need a child and masha'Allah after eight years ten years twelve years fourteen years.

I know eighteen years I've known of one case they they were blessed with a child subhanallah may Allah bless all of us with children. I mean even if you're not married just say I mean. You might be laughing why I can tell you why when you say oh Allah grant me with good offspring who will be the coolness of my eyes? It's like a full package it means firstly in order to get that I need a husband right so that's included in it. Okay, and I need it's like if you if you don't have a job and you say well I'll help me to buy a lovely expensive car just an example right it means you firstly gonna have to get a job and earn the money or something's gonna have to happen for the money to come to you right so in the same way when you say oh Allah grant me pious offspring it means oh Allah get me the best spouse and thereafter with us give us the good offspring so it's an all-inclusive two-in-one like the shampoo organics masha'Allah. Okay may Allahsubhanahu wa'ta'ala grant us ease.

Allah's Truthful Promises

So my brothers and sisters rely on Allah. I want to give you one example I didn't realize that I've already

just got eight minutes left, but I think I'm gonna overshoot today. It's not like we come to Cardiff every day. You know they've got a long break. The reason why there's a very long break is there's two Salah's there and the timing is a little bit awkward people are saying Why is the break so long I can tell you because we don't want to go out for a Salah come back and then go back for another Salah and the timing is so short rather have that little break you can have a snack. We can do a few other things read the next Salah, and then come back. That's why it's a little bit longer so bear with us be happy inshallah be happy Allah grant us ease. May Allah open our doors.

I'll give you an example you see Allah's promise is true.

Oh people Allah's promise to you is absolutely true.

Who can there be more truthful than Allah regarding his speech regarding what he has said regarding his promise.

When Allah promises us Jannah and Paradise and goodness. He says this is a promise that you can ask Allah about you can hold him responsible to the promise he's made.

Allah said whoever seeks forgiveness I will forgive them if you have sought forgiveness and you go on the day of judgment you can ask Allah. Oh Allah I sought forgiveness my forgiveness you won't even need to ask Allah. Do you know why it will definitely be that your sin is wiped out don't lose hope. Don't let Shaitaan trap you to make you believe otherwise.

Now let me tell you Allah promised you. Unfortunately sometimes man is such we're ready to believe another person but we're not ready to believe Allah give you an example beautiful example. Okay, so you're looking for a job and suddenly you find a job and they tell you listen You're gonna be paid you're gonna be paid how much what's a good salary per week? Let's see. What's a good salary.

Can someone say yes? 150 son, I think you're a bit too young mashallah. Okay, say 500 pounds a week. It's a good salary. Okay, someone's offering you 5,000 pounds a week and they tell you we pay you monthly. So what's that? How many weeks four weeks 20,000 20,000 a month? Oh subhanallah And what's the job? It's simple. You can just work at home. It's just online. You got to do XY and Z That's it when you're done. You're okay So you're working online a few hours and what's happening every day

you're excited the fact that you got the job was so beautiful. You put your signature on there or even if you just took the word for it.

You're so excited. Finally and ultimately someone has promised you that after 30 days where you're gonna get 20,000 in your bank account. Wow, wouldn't you be excited? I think I would right. So now what happens when 20 days pass you're so excited because you can start smelling the pounds mashallah, right? 25 days you can start smelling the perfumes you're gonna be buying with those pounds mashallah, right? 28 days and you're so excited. You're starting to plan your outing and how you're gonna take your family and what you're gonna hope it's halal inshallah. But whatever else you're gonna be doing you start planning everything you're excited because someone's promised you you work 28 days 30 days I'm gonna give you the salary and you work hard and you're dedicated and you wouldn't like to lose the job and you don't want someone else to take over from you and you don't want someone else to prove that they're better than you so that you can be replaced. You don't want any of that you work so hard and exactly 30 days later a few hours delay and you're getting excited. You want to think of whether I should call management. My money's not reflecting and I need and I've got this commitment and that commitment and suddenly you get an SMS 20,000 in the bank and you say wow mashallah now we can do it. What happened? What happened? You worked hard for 30 whole days believing another human that he's going to give you some reward after your job. But when Allah promises you that after you work, I'm going to give you you don't believe Allah. You don't believe Allah. Allah says we promise you If you believe and you do good deeds, we're going to give you a good life. If you try to discipline yourself We'll give you a good life.

Remember happiness in this world is not connected to that which is temporary. It's not connected to that which is haram that which is prohibited because it will only give you moments of pleasure. But long term it's going to come back to haunt you may Allah not do that to us unless you've repented. Sometimes even if you've repented from a worldly perspective, it could come back to haunt you. How many people have tattooed themselves and later repented to Allah the sin is totally forgiven. But if it's a permanent tattoo, guess what happens as forgiven as you are as sinless as you are as spotless as you are. You're still going to be having a big tattoo somewhere because it was permanent tattoo. You did at the time when you were sinning. It doesn't mean you're not forgiven. Someone might say we'll remove it. No, sometimes it's more harmful to remove that if you can remove something. That's not really permanent then let it be but if it's a big one. You you will have to live with it. Even though in the eyes of Allah, you're a clean worshipper of Allah, but you had to live with a mistake. You made the same applies.

Sometimes we pay for things on a worldly basis, but in the eyes of Allah, we don't. Allah says you know what I've forgiven you. So when Allah's promised you Jannah if you do X Y & Z rely on Allah believe him have hope as you grow older and as you become Subhanallah as you grow older and as you become terminally ill perhaps may Allah grant us all cure. But there is only one way to survive that having hope in the mercy of Allah. You've been through a divorce. You've been through so much you someone's diagnosed you with something. You don't know what's going to happen. You can either be cured or you can either lose your life either way I have a hope in the mercy of Allah.

The Ultimate Hope

Ultimately. I'm going to die. I want Jannah I have hope in the mercy of Allah that I'm definitely going to Jannah and inshallah. We meet each other there say I mean in the company of Muhammadsallallahu alaihi wasallam. I'm convinced. I'm totally convinced because I'm not going to enter Jannah through my deeds. It's just my trial but the mercy of Allah is what will get us into Jannah.

It's the mercy of Allah It's not my deeds. Allah doesn't need anything. You know what Allahsubhanahu wa'ta'ala says:

O son of Adam if all of you were together upon the highest level of piety and the person who's the most pious ever all of you on that level. It wouldn't increase in my kingdom even a droplet nothing nothing increased and if all of you were as sinful as the most sinful person on earth it wouldn't decrease from my kingdom even a droplet nothing.

(Sahih Muslim Hadith 2577)

It's Allah. Rely on Allah. He loves us. He made us. Are you trying? Yes, I am. The magicians at the time of Moses, Musaalayhis salam, one sajda after which they were executed. How many sujood did they fulfill? One. That one sajdaAllah forgave them and granted them Jannah. How many sujood have you and I done? Don't you have hope in the mercy of Allah? Don't you have hope in the mercy of Allah keep trying when you falter don't lose hope Shaitan makes you lose hope seek forgiveness again and again and again subhanAllah. But when Allah promises you mashallah tabarakallah you need to make sure that you believe that promise of Allah. Allah is the most merciful from this day we should change the way we look at things. We need to look at things positively not everything is negative. Yes, if you have a tough situation at home. You should do something about it in a good way, but don't become despondent.

Don't lose hope in the mercy of Allah. Allah knows he's going to give you and that's why one of my favorite verses in the Quran is in surat ad-duhaAllah says:

Very soon your Rabb, your Lord shall give you so much until you become satisfied. That will be in the dunya and the akhirah or just in the akhirah just in the hereafter.

So what? I know I'm going to get it from Allah.

The Analogy of the Womb

I want to end with a last thing. My brothers and sisters the uncertainty that I mentioned right at the beginning when a child was being born I'd like to look at it from a different angle. Say they were twins within the womb. As the womb is stretching and as the little fetus or both of them are growing. When