 It is mentioned here in Quran and present for us, as the offices. as he often does, to consider something and to reflect upon something. Allah SWT, in Surah Al-Saf, he says, Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger? Do you believe in Allah and His Messenger? When we examine this verse, we find that Allah SWT first and foremost begins by saying, That is to say, He is referring to a particular audience or recipient of this verse. And that is those who have faith, those who believe. And when, according to the commentators in the FS, most famously he says, That when Allah SWT begins or says something in the Qur'an, beginning with yani wa ladina amanu, Pay attention. Pay close attention because Allah SWT is either asking or demanding something of you or He is preventing something from you or asking you to not do something, not engage in something. And here in particular Allah SWT is inviting the believers, Allah SWT is inviting the believers to a transaction, a transaction, a tijara. A tijara unlike any other transaction because it will save you from a previous or a severe punishment. Now when we look at tijara or transactional matters or trade, commerce, One we have to pay attention and be reminded of the initial recipients of this message. That largely the community that was present were either themselves directly or indirectly involved in some sort of a trade or commerce. It was not uncommon for the community at the time to be merchants, to be involved in transaction, commercial enterprise. But that's not just a historical point of reference. Rather Allah SWT understands human nature. And at the basis of human nature is that just seek reward or benefit in that which we do. That's just human nature. To seek something of value or benefit. If I'm going to put forward effort, if I'm going to do something, Then I want something mutually, I want something that is a benefit back to me. And this may seem rather selfish, but it's human nature. And Allah SWT understands that we are human beings and we have this drive, This need to find benefit and value in that which we do. And is not passing the value judgment about that particular concept of seeking value or benefit. And so Allah SWT is framing this like a commercial transaction. And when we look at a commercial transaction, We find that a commercial transaction, if you go and you buy something from someone, from a merchant, You will often times give that person money and in exchange for money, you get goods or services. That's a basic transaction, a basic commercial transaction. And so both parties mutually benefit. So you have party A who is paying something, money in this case, And in response or in return, party B is handing over goods or services. Both parties benefit. Both parties give up something, but in return they get something. And so that's a basic human commercial transaction. And that is what tijara is. It is this commercial transaction between parties. But this is Allah SWT we are talking about. And when Allah the Lord and sustainer and ruler of humanity and the king of the day of judgment, When Allah SWT and Almighty presents for us a transaction, It is going to be a very special transaction. And so what makes this tijara unique? What makes this commercial transaction unlike any other? And let's look at that. So the first party, type party A here, Allah SWT is inviting that party or that individual And saying The party A what is demanded of that first party is that first and foremost they believe in Allah SWT. Now what's interesting is, as I said, at the very outset, at the very beginning of the verse, Allah is addressing who? The believers. Yeah, you and Alina Aamunu. So you would assume that it's almost a foregone conclusion that the person that is being invited here To this transaction is a believer. But then Allah SWT is reinforcing. That's what's being employed here, is reinforcing the idea That in order to be a party of this transaction, they must believe in Allah in his messenger. Have faith. Eman. His prophet, SAW said that. And then it continues. That they strive, that they engage in jihad with their wealth, with their wealth, material possessions, and with their person. Their selves. Now what's interesting, brothers and sisters, is when we look and examine the word jihad, We know that at its very root, the word jihad means to engage in a struggle. That is to say that it is going to be a burden. It is going to be challenging. But nonetheless we are asked to engage in this challenge. To participate. To give it our all with regards to being a party of this transaction. And we know that each and every one of us, when we look at our own lives, We know that each and every one of us has our own individual struggles. But our struggle with may not be something that you struggle with. What I am afflicted with may not be something that is an affliction for you. What is a burden to me may not be a burden to you. It is an individually based assessment. It is not, as they say, it is not objective, but rather it is subjective. Each and every one of us has our own deficiencies. And what Allah SWT is calling upon us as individuals, If we wish to participate in this very important transaction, Is that we persevere, is that we struggle to overcome those deficiencies. And so what it asks us first and foremost is to examine what it is that you struggle with. What is it that is a challenge to you. And then we can begin to look at what is a challenge. And what is of a struggle for us as a community or on a communal level. But first and foremost, this is calling upon us individually to take an assessment of what it is that we struggle with. And to then, if we wish to be a participant in this very important transaction, Is to overcome that struggle. Is to persevere against what it is that is deficient in ourselves individually. And we find ourselves in the days in which we are called upon to take an assessment of where we are. Because Ramadan serves as that yearly barometer. As that yearly opportunity where we can gauge ourselves. Where am I in a relationship with Allah. Where am I with regards to my relationship with my Lord. With his religion, with his book and with his commandments. And so that Ramadan itself, we now are weeks after the month of Ramadan An opportunity to kind of know where we stand. We know what we struggled with in Ramadan. We know what posed as a challenge for us to overcome our appetites. And so we stand equipped at this moment in time to assess ourselves. To see where we are. And so I call upon each and every one of us to take inventory of where you are. With regards to what it is that you struggle with. That poses a challenge to you. And that if you wish to participate in this transaction. That is unlike any other transaction. Then take an assessment of who you are and where you are. And then struggle and persevere against it. And remarkably enough Ramadan presented not only an opportunity for us to measure ourselves. To gauge ourselves. But also gave us the tools. The tools with which we can overcome our deficiencies. Being grateful with little. Being satisfied. Being satiated with little. Those are the tools. Those are what we need to engage in this struggle. And interestingly enough brothers and sisters, when Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala when the revelation of fasting was revealed to that community. The commandment that directly followed after that command of fasting. Was the command of jihad. There was no commandment in between fasting and jihad. Because it was understood that fasting would give us the wherewithal. The ability to struggle. To engage in that wajahida. In that struggle and that perseverance that we needed. To endure. To endure this struggle. What you are doing in that wajahida. That is better for you. In kuntum ta'ala. Only that you knew. But then Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala continues. And this is what makes this transaction unique. And different than any other transaction. Because this is a transaction that is not mutually beneficial to both parties. This is a transaction that only one party benefits. And that is us. That is the believers that are being called upon. Being invited to this transaction. Allah is in no need of our prayers. Of our faith in Him. Of our fasting. Of our charity. Of our jihad. Of our struggle. Allah doesn't need it. Allah is sufficient without it. Allah is not dependent upon this transaction. Is not going to benefit from this transaction. The only party here that benefits. Is party A. You and I. Who engage in this transaction. Who participate in this jihad. We benefit. Because Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala continues. Enumerating the benefits of this transaction to party A. To you and me. And that is That Allah will forgive us of our sins. He will forgive us of our sins. And enter us into paradise. Beneath which rivers flow. And we will dwell in that beautiful abode. Hereafter. For the afterlife. Abode. In that afterlife. That is everlasting. Never ending. Benefit. Of this paradise. And then He gives us more. Benefit of our sins. Being entered into the bliss of paradise. Of His presence. Of all of His reward and benefit. Wasn't enough. And something more. That you desire. That you crave. That you love. That He gives us the help of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. That Nasser of Allah is given to this party. Who participates in this very important jihad. And all we are called upon to do. To engage in this transaction. Is to believe. Is to have the sanctuary of faith. The yadim of faith. And to give it all to do our best. To do our best. That is all that is being demanded of us. Is to just simply do our best. To struggle with those things that challenge us. Those struggles that we face individually. And yes. As a community. And that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will continue to reward us. As part of this very important transaction. That we are being called and invited to. And so I pray that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Brothers and sisters. Gives us the ability. To think about this transaction. To be a party of this beautiful transaction. To benefit from all of this transaction. Has a little. And to benefit from it. Both ourselves individually. And collectively. And do not die except one Muslim. O people of your Lord. Who created you from a single soul. And created from it her husband. And turned from them to men like her and her wife. And fear Allah. Who will make us happy. And do not be afraid. Indeed Allah. Was upon them a little. O people of our faith. Fear Allah. And say. A word of peace. To protect you from your deeds. And to forgive you from your sins. And to whom Allah and His messengers. Have won a great victory. Indeed Allah. And all angels. To pray upon the Lord. O people of our faith. Pray upon him. And pray in his name. O Allah. Pray upon our master Muhammad. And upon the family of our master Muhammad. And peace be upon him. O Lord. Do not be afraid. We forgot. And we forgot. O Lord. Do not bear upon us. As a matter of fact. As a matter of fact. O Lord.