The Sweetness of Surrendering | Mufti Menk | Juz 2 Qur’an 30 for 30 S7 | Ramadan Series

The Sweetness of Surrendering to Allah

There comes a point when I don't care why, the fact that Allah told me, I'm going to do it. That's called Islam. You're a Muslim, you have surrendered.

Now you begin to taste the sweetness of anything and everything that happens in your life. Like we're talking about the deepness of seeking forgiveness from Allah, like don't get lost in the ritual and just let me fast from the morning to the evening, like I got it done. No, this is like a deep exercise of seeking forgiveness.

The first day of Ramadan, it may not hit you, but that seventh day of Ramadan, that twelfth day of Ramadan, it hits you. You may not even care about it being fun anymore because you really want the soul to be enriched and that's your main concern.

Welcome to Qur'an 30 for 30

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, dear brothers and sisters.

Welcome back to Quran 30 for 30. We are on Juz 2 now and as we are really beginning Ramadan, we ask Allah to bless you all in your journey towards Him. We pray that you are enjoying and engaging with the Names of Allah series and getting to connect with those names.

It's going to be a beautiful journey with those names. We also want to remind you as you get started to check out all that Yaqeen has for this month and to donate. You can actually plug in your donations for the entire month and we encourage that.

So if you've been with us before, insha Allah ta'ala you commit at least what you've committed before and more bi-idhnillahi ta'ala. And if you're joining us for the first time, this is your opportunity. We have so much that we're going to be announcing this month bi-idhnillahi ta'ala of what's coming up bi-idhnillahi ta'ala.

Meeting with Mufti Menk

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen. We are joined by Mufti Menk, masha Allah, a dear brother, a dear friend, someone that's inspired so many people. Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen.

And you know, masha Allah, every time you meet us, you meet us with a lot of love. May Allah grant us love such that we can go into Jannah and love each other for his sake. Ameen, Ameen.

Ameen. How are you? Very well. Alhamdulillah.

Masha Allah. Good to be in good company. Shaykh, who's the African king? You or Shaykh Abdullah Dura? Abdullah Dura.

Okay. That's like a rapid fire question. He didn't even like it.

I'm about to ask him a real controversial question. All right, go ahead. Which Jollof is better?

Okay. So the Jollof, I've answered it before. Whichever country you're in at that time.

So the Jollof in that country is better. But if you're offering me the Jollof of Nigeria in Ghana, that's not good enough. Because the Nigerians know how to cook it in Nigeria and the Ghanaians know how to make it in Ghana.

In Ghana. The minute you're elsewhere, it's controversial. You know what? That's a diplomatic answer.

It's a good answer. But if you're in London, do you want Nigerian Jollof or do you want Ghanaian Jollof? There is a special London Jollof, which is made by... If you are in Lahore, do you want Nigerian Jollof or Ghanaian Jollof? Pakistani Jollof. Allahumma barik.

It's called biryani. It's called biryani. So biryani is just a spinoff of Jollof.

It's a spinoff. Or maybe Jollof is a spinoff of the biryani. Shaykh, you know how to negotiate all things.

You've got to find a way to pin it down. Who plays ping pong better, me or Shaykh Abdullah Abdul Rahman? I haven't seen you guys play, but I think you're taller, so you probably played better. He's got a point, Shaykh.

He's got a point. Yes. He has a point.

You know, Shaykh, you and I are like wired together, man, because I was going to ask him the same question about Jollof. Oh, really? Yeah. We've been vibing too much now over these last few years.

Beautiful thing. Beautiful thing. Allahumma barik fiqh.

Favorite Names of Allah in Ramadan

Mufti Menk, it's a blessing, seriously. And to get into the actual topic, before we get to the juz, Shaykh, question for you. Yes.

At this moment. Yes. What is your favorite name of Allah?

I think when it comes to the month of Ramadan, generally, all the names that are connected to the forgiveness of Allah, I really take great time to go through them, to use them, to call out to Allah, to try and understand them, ponder over them.

It brings me great comfort because one of the most important achievements from Ramadan is forgiveness. With the taqwa that you achieve, it's also a month of forgiveness and freedom from hell. At-Tawwab, Al-Ghaffar, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem, Al-Wadood.

These are some amazing names to ponder over in the month of Ramadan. I do that a lot because we all want forgiveness. You know, no one is sinless.

The Humility of Public Figures

And subhan Allah, that's Allah. Shaykh, I'll go a little deeper and more personal. I just have to.

People see us. Yes. And they go overboard with their praise. They go overboard with their criticism. They go overboard with their praise. Yes.

Some people put us on a pedestal. Some people put us under their feet in the dirt. Yes.

And only Allah azza wa jal knows who we truly are. Someone in your position, how does that affect your calling out to Allah azza wa jal for forgiveness?

You know, I consider it a humongous responsibility when you call people towards Allah. Because people mirror that message on you.

And we are not on a level of perfection at all. Very far from it. And the balance between the praise and the hate, if I can word the second of it that way, is a good balance.

Because while people are praising you, there are people who are actively out there to ensure that you fall. And you're the tightrope in the center asking Allah to help you, to protect you, to forgive you, to cover you, to use you and to continue to use you. And that keeps you humble.

So, in a way, if there was no balance and we only had people who praised, perhaps it would have been worse. And if we had only people who hated, people would be discouraged. But because we have that balance, it's all about balance.

You know, when we talk about the balance of Islam, the balance of Allah Almighty's system on earth, that's what it is. So, we have to remain grounded and keep reminding ourselves we can be replaced. We are not perfect.

People see the good and sometimes they don't see the other side of us. Not to say we're evil, but the little sins that sometimes, you know, we are human. We should always be very grateful to Allah and thank Allah.

Seek forgiveness of Allah and ask Him to continue to use us. I ask Him every day, O Allah, use me to serve Your cause and continue to use us and keep us humble and steadfast.