 All praises due to Allah Ta'ala who has blessed us in many, many, many different ways. One of the greatest blessings Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala can give to a human being is the blessing of faith. And one of, if not the greatest blessing because faith is the key to salvation. And one of the greatest blessings Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala can give to a believer is the blessing of humility. Because humility is the negation of arrogance. And arrogance is the sin of shaitan. So shaitan arrogated himself. Allah Ta'ala describes his action with So when we said to the angels, prostrate yourself. And shaitan at least was not from the angels but he was in their presence when the order was given. And he was included in the order. Allah Ta'ala mentions him, kanameena jinn, he was from the jinn. Not from the angels but he was in their presence. And so Allah Ta'ala says they all prostrated themselves except shaitan. Aba'at, he refused was taqbarat and he arrogated himself with kanameena kathireen. And he was amongst those who rejected faith. So his rejection is rooted in his arrogance. His refusal is rooted in his arrogance. And his arrogance is a function of his misunderstanding. He said I'm better than Adam. He didn't understand Adam's situation. And I'm better than him. So as believers we should strive to humble ourselves so that we do not assume we're better than anyone. A prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned He said I've been ordered to instruct the people to humble themselves so that no one would take pride over anyone else. So when we become arrogant we start looking down on others and we start elevating ourselves. And this is what shaitan did. So this is a very satanic way of functioning. Allah s.w.t. mentions one of the Qunshu characteristics of the believers. That the believers are none other than those when Allah s.w.t. mentioned their hearts quiver. He describes the believers as walking homely on the earth. Yamshoona fir ardi hona. We the khatabuhum wal jahiluna qalu salama. So they walk homely on the earth. And when they're addressed by the ignorant people they don't fight them, they don't insult them and turn. They don't try to retaliate against them. They say peace with the khatabuhum wal jahiluna qalu salama. They say peace because they understand that this life is too short to be worried about tit for tat. This life is too short to be worried about petty retaliation for petty slights. We have a bigger mission. We have greater concerns. And we have to get on with our business. We have business. That's play. That's play and that's why children like to do it so much. If a child can find an avenue to get his parents or her parents caught up in a back and forth with them. A child relishes that because it's an element of control. And the child sees himself or so exerting their control. It says if they say, you know, I can make my mommy start yelling at me anytime I want. I want. Watch this. That's control. And it's very childish. An adult to think like that. Make this dude start tripping. I'll check this out. That's childish. And adults should be worried about what can I do to make this world better? What can I do to make it easier for somebody? What can I do to extend some peace into the lives of people whose hearts are being rendered asunder by all the confusion and nonsense that people have been forced to deal with on a day to day basis? Those are adult concerns and ultimately the ultimate adult concern. What can I do to work for my Akhira? Because a child isn't thinking about his Akhira. They might not even be able to conceptualize the idea of the hereafter. But an adult should be able to understand the nature of this world and the nature of this life and the nature of the life hereafter. And to understand that what I do now is critical in terms of determining where I'm going to be tomorrow. Where I'm going to be tomorrow, there's really two things at the end of the day. Either perpetual bliss or perpetual torment. And for some a limited torment. But the torment of the hellfire is so terrible a person would want to spend an instant in it. Let alone 50,000, 100,000 years. And then they're taken up because they have faith. But their faith was accompanied by sins. And they're punished by their sins and eventually saved by their faith. But after what? After they've been burned in the hellfire until they become something that resembles a lump of coal. How should Allah reward that off of all of us? One of the greatest things we can do is to humble ourselves. The messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam, reminds us Allahumma SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam, Allahumma SallAllahu Alaihi Wasallam, ma naqa sadaqatun min maa that charity will never decrease your money. And this is the key to understanding the power of humility. Why is the Hadith that culminates with And no one humbles themselves for the sake of Allah except that Allah elevates them. Why does it start off with mentioning charity will never decrease your wealth? Because it starts off by reminding us that the physical realities that we see are accompanied by a deeper metaphysical reality. And that for us to begin to grow spiritually and therefore to begin to mature as a human being because it's our spirituality that makes us uniquely human we have to begin to look beyond the physical and to begin to look to the metaphysical, those realities beyond the physical. So if we look at just the physical reality, we give our wealth we have $100, we gave $50, we have $50 left, how can that be true? How can charity not decrease my wealth? I have $100, I gave $50 in charity, I'm down to $50 now. That's a decrease, but if we look at the metaphysical we understand that that $50 remaining we mentioned is previously we can buy more with it than we would have bought with the $100. So as if we still have the $100, oh we have even more because there's barricade, there's blessing. There's blessing in the money that remains and that blessing involves a metaphysical idea something that's not rooted in this physical reality but something we know is real because we've all seen it in our lives we've all seen it in the lives of others we've seen what blessed people can do and this is what we need, we need blessed people today. We're talking about the Muslims, we need to get stronger our enemies are selling us from every angle we need more planes, more bombs if we can't get more bombs we'll blow ourselves up, but we need more physical power as if that's the key to our success we need more metaphysical power we need more people, Allah SWT describes when he says you didn't shoot when you shot with Allah who shot in other words Allah was with you and Allah caused what you did to have more effect and impact than you could have imagined those are the people we need those are the people whom Allah describes in Hadith Qudsi man aadali wal iyan faqat azan tuhub bil hawk the one who transgresses against one I have befriended one, I love I declare war against them we need more people like that we need more people like Imam Ali when he picked up the door at Haibar that after the battle 10 men couldn't budge or did he pick it up because of his physical stature Imam Ali wasn't that big he wasn't tall in statuettes like Omar radi allah wa'a'in or bad had been sawed with a sawment or some of the other really big, powerfully built companions but he had a force with him that transcends the physical and this is what we have to understand and one of the keys to getting in touch with that force is humility and one of the keys to humility is looking me not beyond this physical reality this is why and we have to orient our young people we have young people some fake muslim if you're a real man some babies and women and children I'm a real man because they don't likely possess seeking for desperate means to make up the gap they're not going to do anything for anybody strength of heart strength of spirit strength of soul those are the people that have the people that have understanding and people of understanding they know how to reach people they know how to talk to people and when we talk and communicate to people we find out we're all in the same boat those are the only victims or niches and venal club of victims there are whole people that have been wiped out there are islands in the south pacific that are under water people's homes have been engulfed as a result of global warming the people in the north the Inuits and other northern people the ice is melting their way of life their villages are falling into the ocean the bears they used to hunt in the fish and seals are disappearing whole populations are being threatened with extinction and it's all based on the same cause in this country there are people we have common cause with you want to do something go go join those veterans for peace who are chaining themselves to the fight house just today contesting against the vicious war machine that misguided Muslims only empower the only empower that's why we need these wars no, we're people of peace boom one Muslim blows himself or something up oh see I told you that's called an advanced state of idiocy if I had a stronger word I would use it that's idiocy that's immaturity that's imbecility foration Allah is now going to take care of this business Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'an we can a Muslim mu'mini that we've made it a right over ourselves we can't impose it right on Allah but He said I've made it a right over myself that I will help the believers believers Allah is not going to help people that murder babies and women we're making a lot of babies in our women do you remember the movie The Lion of the Desert in the scene where the Muslims popped out of the desert and they ambushed the Italians and one Italian survived and Omar Muqtar actually Anthony Quinn gave him the flag back and said take this to your general tell him it doesn't belong to them and one of his men said we should kill them and then Omar Muqtar says we don't kill prisoners and then his man said well they killed our prisoners and then what did he say they are not our teachers they are not our teachers they are not our teachers they torture not our teachers they kill civilians they blow up wedding parties they are not our teachers Muslims are teachers they are consensus Isma'a Isma'a are very few many and they said you don't become a true scholar till you learn the differences but one thing that the Omar has agreed on Nih-e-Rasool-Lahi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam An-Qabt-n-n-Nisa'i was of the end let the messenger of Allah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam prohibited killing women and children so where does a Muslim get off women and children who didn't even do anything to him spending the way of spending that we need people who can humble themselves young people humble yourself you don't have all the answers matter of fact you don't have any answers talking a few years ago he said you know we were running around blowing off all that steam he said someone should have taken us in an alley and spanked us we need to be taken into an alley somewhere spanked because you're but only after he realized you know what he's right she's right I need to listen to someone who's been around the block a few times before I try to come in and run the neighborhood and you know what happens when that scenario happens we just come in try to run the neighborhood didn't even talk to no one on the block didn't consult anybody you know what happens for things that might happen if we don't get control of our community we need humility and if we're humble Allah Ta'ala will elevate us this is the point charity will never decrease your wealth and Allah will only increase a servant who has the ability to pardon others with honor and no one humbles themselves for the sake of Allah except that Allah exalts them so we can take our chances we can try to exalt ourselves we can engage in desperate means and desperate measures to exalt ourselves and it's across the board it can be in our communities it can be in our marriages one wants to exalt himself wants to be the boss call all the shots not listen to the other spouse not consult so we can try to elevate ourselves but we can humble ourselves and let Allah elevate us who's going to end up in a higher position one who elevates himself based on his or her human weaknesses and frailties and ignorance a one who's elevated by Allah based on his infinite unlimited power his infinite unlimited knowledge his infinite unlimited mercy I take my chances with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala a kubu qawli hata wa s-taqfu wa l-lih wa l-akhma you said Allah Allah in the US one final point because you know I'm going in late and the time is late is to remind all the brothers and sisters that a person who is humble is with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and a person who's with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala isn't shaken by these worldly vicissitudes the ups and downs of the world a person who's with the world will be on a roller coaster if the world goes up to the top they go up to the top if the world comes cascading down they come cascading down if the world goes in a wild term they go into a wild term but a person who's with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is above all of them and again that person their position and standing with Allah is based on their humility Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala mentioned one last point this is the home of the hereafter and we made that here heavenly home for those who don't desire to exhort themselves in the earth And the end will be for the people of Taqwa. The end will be for the people of righteousness. So we don't have to panic. Allah Ta'ala said the end is for the righteous. Our challenge is the work so that we can be amongst the righteous. That's our challenge. Our challenge is not to figure out every twist and turn of the world. Our challenge is the work, the struggle, to strive so that we can be amongst the righteous. And if we're amongst the righteous, we'll be with Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. And if we're with Allah, we'll understand that the end is for the righteous. And we'll understand that all of these worldly things, if we're with Allah, they'll only increase our faith. Allah Ta'ala mentioned. And the Deenu said. Those who said the people are gathering against you fear them. That's what they're telling Muslims. Aren't you afraid? I mean all this tension, you should be afraid. And they said, they'll only increase their faith. Allah suffices us for an excellent one to put our depure, our fair to, to entrust our fair to. If we give our fair to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, we're going to be alright. Everything's going to be alright. And the believer has that stability. The believer has that inner peace. The believer has that confidence. And here she understands this is the dunya. Imam Ali, he mentioned. The one who understands the nature of this world, calamities and tribulations become easy to deal with. Because here she understands that's the nature of the world. The world is the abode of child, the abode of tribulation, the abode of calamities. And the believer's job, Allah Ta'ala tells us. Those who when they are afflicted by calamity, they say, verily we belong to Allah and unto Him we are returning. So that's just a bump in the road and our journey back to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala. But if we think this world is the end of the journey, it's not going to be a bump in the road. The road's going to be closed and blocked and barricaded with insurmountable objects. But if we understand this is just a road to Allah and Allah said there's going to be some bumps in the road. Just go around them or just very carefully go over them. Or if we're reckless, we just have a bumpy ride and get free chiropractic care. Allah mafil al muslimeen wal muslimeen wal mu'mineen wal mu'minaa. Al-mahya'im minhum walamwa'irum. Rabbana la tuzikhu albubana. Baal idha ad-dha'itana wa hablana bi'mla binkarahna indikan tawwaha. Rabbana afraq alina as-sabran wa tappiq aqdamana wa ansurna alil qawmi al-kaafireen. Rabbana afraq alina as-sabran wa tappiq aqdamana wa tawafana muslimeen. Wa aafu anna wa fiilana wa arhamna. Anta mawlana fa ansurna alil qawmi al-kaafireen. Allahumma inna la'uwubika minhal hammi wal-hazan. Wa la'uwubika minhal aji wal-kasan. Wa la'uwubika minhal jumi wal-bukhur. Wa la'uwubika minhal ghalib ad-daym al-qahru al-rijal. Wa la'uwubika minhal faqri ila ilayk wa minafrimdi ilalak wa minhal khufi ilami. Allahumma inna anna as-sabka al-huda wa atuqa wa al-gina wa al-afaf wal-maghfirah. Anta mawlana fa ansurna alil qawmi al-kaafireen. Allahumma inna arada khairan nihaatih al-umma til muhammadiyah. Fawafuqu ilakku l-lakhir. Wa min arada sharra allaha wa ilil muslimeen. Fakhufu aqadda aqadda azees al-muqtadir. Allahumma ja'a tadbiruhum tadmiruhum. Allahumma alayk bi'a ada'il islam. Anta mawlana fa ansurna alil qawmi al-kaafireen. Subhana rabbika rabbal aizati amma lausifum. Wa as-salaman alil versaneen. Wa al-hamdu lilah rabbal alameen. Aqima as-salah. Ya'hamni wa'hamdu lilah. And one of the greatest blessings Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala can give to a believer is the blessing of humility. Because humility is the negation of arrogance. And arrogance is the sin of shaitan. So shaitan arrogated himself. Allah ta'ala describes his action with pulna bil-maladika tisdubu li-adam fsajibu illa ibilis. Ada was eqbar awakan amil al-kaafireen. So when we say to the angels, prostrate yourself. And shaitan at least was not from the angels but he was in their presence when the order was given and he was included in the order. Allah ta'ala mentions him kanamin al-jinn. He was from the jinn. Not from the angels but he was in their presence. And so Allah ta'ala says they all prostrated themselves except shaitan. Aba he refused was taqbar and he arrogated himself with kanamin al-kaafireen. And he was amongst those who rejected faith. So his rejection is rooted in his arrogance. His refusal is rooted in his arrogance. And his arrogance is a function of his misunderstanding. He said I'm better than Adam. He didn't understand Adam's situation. And al-khaybo min. I'm better than him. So as believers we should strive to humble ourselves so that we do not assume we're better than anyone. A prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam mentioned qal awha wa awha wa awha wa ta'ala aleyya and tawada hatta la yathqara ahadin ala ahad. O kamal qad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. He said I've been ordered to instruct the people to humble themselves so that no one would take pride over anyone else. So that no one would take pride over anyone else. So when we become arrogant we start looking down on others and we start elevating ourselves. And this was what Shaytan did. So this is a very satanic way of functioning. Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam mentions one of the Qunshu characteristics of the believers. That the believers are none other than those when Allah has mentioned their hearts quiver. He describes the believers as walking homely on the earth. Yamshoona fir ardihauna. Wida khatabuhumul jahiluna qalu salama. So they walk homely on the earth. And when they're addressed by the ignorant people they don't fight them, they don't insult them and turn. They don't try to retaliate against them, they say peace. Wida khatabuhumul jahiluna qalu salama. Wiyaufilakum zululakum. Wamey yutra'illaha wal rasoolahu faqad faza fawzan aazima amma ba'fu fa'inna aslaqa al hadithi kitabu Allah wa khaira al hadihati muhammadin sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Washar al-Ulwar mahdatuha fa kulla mahdatin bir'a kulla bir'a tindi walala wal kulla wal alatin finna al hamdu li-lila al hamdu li-lila halaladihada walakunna linahtudia l'Allah al hamdu li-lila halaladi anzele al-abdihiil kitabu wal lam yaj'aluhu ibaja al hamdu li-lila rabbal alameen. Our praises due to Allah who has blessed us in many different ways. One of the greatest blessings Allah SWT can give to a human being is the blessing of faith. And one of, if not the greatest blessing because faith is the key to salvation.