 and brothers and sisters in Islam. I have to greet you with the greetings of Islam, As-Salamu Alaikum. Warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Now, I hope everyone's doing well. Weekend is just over for the Middle East and it just began for the people in the West. So I hope you guys are starting off your weekend in a nice way and a better way to start off your weekend than with hashtag LNT Episode 15 of Season 2. Now we did begin Season 2 just to remind you guys from the beginning of Muharram and it will run until the end of Safar. Now tonight's episode, we're talking about helping others but the effects might harm you or might affect you sometimes. So what that is, you guys are gonna have to find out but after the short break. So let's do this. Once again, we do welcome everyone joining us tonight. Now, more than 380 people have been confirmed dead and at least 540 others injured after a tsunami triggered by a magnitude of 7.5 earthquake that hit an Indonesian city just yesterday on Friday. Now waves came up to almost three meters, 10 feet, which swept through the Paolo on Suwalwi Island. Now, strong aftershocks rocked the city on Saturday where thousands collapsed alongside many hospitals, hotels and shopping centers. Now, rescue efforts are underway but it's a huge deal. I mean, if you guys seen the video, which, inshallah, will pop up in a few seconds or the footage to show you what was going on during that tsunami. But, all right, so, alhamdulillah, hopefully, inshallah, those who were rescued, inshallah, a healthy, why I blanked out, inshallah, everyone gets rescued safely. So let's leave it there. Let's go jump into tonight's topic real quickly. Now welcome back, dear viewers, to tonight's topic. Now the feeling of helping others in general, with anything, you know, has this comforting feeling to it. You know, we humans, even animals sometimes, have the urge to help others, even when we're not supposed to or we're not expected to. Now this positive vibe that we get from helping others hits you directly after, you know, just little things that you do for others, like giving up your seat for an elderly person on the bus or, you know, you being a gentleman and getting up to let a lady sit down in your seat or sparing some change that you have for the person, for the homeless person sitting on the sidewalk with his hand out or hat or so on. Now this act indeed is not confined to any religion or faith. God, the Almighty, has instilled this priceless feature, so to speak, this priceless trait in the hearts of all of his creatures. But it depends on the creature and how he takes it further as he or she or it pleases. Now this all falls under the category of kindness and generosity. But what happens if we take it up a notch and that's what we're trying to find out tonight? This time instead of just giving or helping out another person, you're actually sacrificing something from your own, maybe sometimes even your comfort for the benefit of the other, a.k.a. altruism. Let's say you're walking down a street, you know, in your cities and you find a homeless person but you look in your pocket and there's only one dollar, one buck in your pocket or two dollars, some change. Now you're hungry trying to buy a lef et falafel, you know, you try to buy a falafel, sandwich or anything to eat, you know, just to get that hunger over so you can get home and eat. Now do you give that spare change to that homeless person and then wait a few hours of hunger until you get home, eat or get some more money to go and buy? Or do you just walk by and ignore him? Now this is altruism on one level, one simple level. A higher or more intense level would be giving or would be an example of, you know, so imagine you're on the beach and someone is drowning in a far distance. Would you risk your life to save that individual? And that's what we're talking about tonight. The question for tonight, which we're asking all of you, is, is there a limit to altruism? That's a question for tonight. Is there a time where you say, you know what, no, that's enough, it's not worth it anymore. Is there a limit to altruism? That's your question for tonight. Now get your phones ready, I'm getting my phone ready as well, to dial in that number right there via WhatsApp, plus nine, six, four, seven, seven, four, zero, six, seven, 18, 36, and let us know what you guys think about tonight's question. Is there a limit to altruism? Let's take a quick break, come back to you guys very short. Welcome once again, dear viewers, for joining us tonight. Now tonight's question is very simple. Tonight's question for those who don't know what altruism means. Altruism is generosity, but taken to another, to a higher level, so to speak. It's safe to say that. So it's sacrificing sometimes something from your own self. We're not talking about cutting off your limb and giving it to someone, absolutely not. But what we're talking about is sacrificing something that might have an effect on you. You know, for example, hunger. Sacrificing the only meal you have at that moment to the person who hadn't had a meal for over a week, that's what we call altruism. It's a higher level of generosity. And that's a question for tonight. Is there a limit to altruism? The number to call in at is plus nine, six, four, seven, seven, four, zero, six, seven, 18, 36. The lines are now open to receive your phone calls, your text messages and your voice notes all via WhatsApp, so it means everything's free. You're not gonna pay anything because everyone has wifi and data. Now, going back to altruism, now we all know that altruistic behavior can be, or can be seen as a desire for a person to prosper, you know, to prosperity of another person. Not having any expectation of getting a reward from the individual that you just helped, you know, it's some level, and it is, it may indicate some level of egotism. A lot of people do generosity in a form of a favor, you know, I'm generous to you, but it's a favor, so in the near future, you don't have to pay me back. Now studies into altruistic behavior found that over the older children's actions are based on social approval, and then adolescence behavior is due to the fact that it makes them feel good about themselves. Doing something good, even as a little child, when he does something good, he feels, and that's perfect, when someone does something good, you feel good about yourself, and that's what the whole point of altruism is. It's to make the self prosper, it's to grow and make yourself, you know, it's satisfaction to the self. Now altruism can be broken down to two parts, two types, there's the biological altruism, and there's the reciprocal altruism. Now what's the difference? Now the biological altruism, it's those who are close to me are worthy of my favors, are worthy of me being extremely generous to, you know, type of people who are close, you know, your son, your father, I have the same dress shirt as him, your mother, your sisters, your relatives. You start out with them, and that's absolutely perfect. If you feel like they're, and it does, you know, generosity starts at home. You don't see a greedy person at home, but when he goes out, he helps the needy. We never see that, it has to be either both ways, or just one way, because it starts at home, and then it continues outside the home to help the others as well. The other one is the reciprocal altruism. What is that? The reciprocal altruism, from the name reciprocal, you can see that there's two parties. When someone does good to you, when someone is altruistic towards you, then they have something in mind that, you know, I need to, not I need, but they're expecting a favor in return. You know, it's inclined towards helping you in the future, that person. You know, it's basically like karma what goes around comes around. A lot of people have this idea that karma is only for a negative thing, absolutely not, it's for a positive thing. Karma, what goes around, you do goodness, goodness is coming back to you. This, basically, what reciprocal altruism means, but we just got a text message from, al-zian from Peshawar. Okay, not al-zian, just al-zian, okay, from Peshawar. He says, yeah, I think there is a limit to altruism. I think that one should not harm oneself for another. He or she may help, may help, but not may help, but not to the extent of harming the person himself. Thank you very much. Okay, I don't wanna talk about the message, but thank you very much al-zian from Peshawar. Very beautiful city, by the way, Peshawar. Yes, sorry? Okay, so yes, thank you very much, I just am for clarifying the text message. Now, unlike biological altruism, the reciprocal is trying to see if there's something in return, for example. And half of the time, if not most of the time, we do good to others. That person, we might not ever see them again. No, sometimes opening the door for someone, that's an honesty, but being nice, opening the door for someone, that doesn't mean that that person has to return the favor and opening the door for you. Altruism goes to the fact, when you're driving and you see someone, not even just your friend, someone who's walking in the rain, will you stop and pick that person up? And if they tell you that their house is far and not on your way, would you still drive them? Spend a little bit of gas, spend a little bit of time, drive someone to their home, would you do that? I would, I just wouldn't, I'm kidding. But what we're trying to say is that, just a step extra to generosity, or sometimes people drop them to the closest point to their house where they can catch a bus. Generosity, yes, it's a good step that you're dropping in something close to their house, but at the same time, taking them and saving that time and that effort of them waiting under the rain, or in snow blizzards as we have in Canada, just drive them to their home, that is called altruism. Bus stop, generosity, altruism as you drive them. This is just a prime example of what we're trying to talk about tonight. Now, what do people gain from altruism? Now, if we were to mention just a few examples, gaining we'll get to mention it later on, but if we were to mention a few examples in history of those who were altruistic, of those who were willing to put their life on the line to save others, a lot of people would try to think, I had a bait, absolutely I had a bait, but we're trying to find other people, but after this quick break. Once again, we welcome everyone joining us tonight. Now, before the break, we were trying to find through history of those who are considered altruistic. One prime example of altruism, or a person that was altruistic in his life, Martin Luther King Jr. Now, this individual who recognized the need for basic civil rights, for all people, he was willing to put his life on the line to bring justice to his people and support his belief. Then he was ultimately killed later on, but it still shows that he reached, he accomplished something. This is why our brothers from Africa, the African-Americans now have rights. Yes, Martin Luther King had a role to play in bringing the rights to the black nation into America. Now, another one, a missionary, Mother Teresa, who is known for her charity work in altruism and developing or underdeveloped countries. Now, all of these are pretty good examples of altruism, and we do salute these individuals. But at the same time, we have to look at one example through history. True story. A family of four, or five, four, very true story. A family of four, these guys, the head of the family, the father, used to work in a merchant's farm. So he would give them some money, or he would give them some wheat. So the father got the wheat, took it home for three days. There was a vow that this family had to accomplish or do if something happens. So the father brings home the flour, the mother makes the bread. The first day they're fasting. Keep in mind, this is not Ramavand. This is regular days, three day vow to fast to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. So the first day, the mother gets the bread ready. They have water. As soon as they're sitting down to break the fast, the door gets knocked. The father gets up, goes to see who's on the door. It's a needy, someone who's poor. What does the father do? He picks up the plate and reminder, there's the mother, father, and then there's the two children, two small children. So what does the dad do? He's generosity, he's generous, yes, but he wants to take it up a notch. So he picks up the whole plate and gives it to that needy. So the family of four, two parents, and the two kids, they end up just drinking water, breaking their thought with water until the next day. The next day comes, they fast again. It's time to break the fast. The door gets knocked, same with bread and water. The door gets knocked, the father gets up again, and goes to the door to see there's an orphan. At that time, any of us would get an injury. As soon as I'm gonna eat, break my fast, especially during the fast, someone gets irritated, but this, I don't know, it's what level of altruism and forbearance he had. Anyways, so he takes the plate, gives it to the orphan. The family stays with only water. They drink water the next day. The next day, they also are fasting. They come to break their fast again for the third day in a row. The door gets knocked. At this time, Ahmad Ali would get angry. Like, why is my door getting knocked every time I'm trying to eat? But yet this individual, this father, would still, no, you know what? The door got knocked, he goes again, he sees it's a captive that was just released from war. So what does the captive say? He says, I'm hungry. Same as the other ones. So the father picks up the plate again and gives it to that person. For three consecutive days, this family had only water to break and begin their fast. This is a very true story, which happened centuries ago. The father was Ali Nabi Talib. The mother was Fatima Tezzaraa and the two children were Hassan and Hussain. Where Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la mentions in chapter 76 verse eight, he says about this family, he says, and they feed for the love of Allah the needy, the orphan and the captive, the prisoner. Chapter 76 verses eight, verse eight. Some of you might thought that it's a story that happened just a few days or just a few years ago. This is a story that happened 1400 years ago, where Allah Subh'anaHu Wa Ta-A'la mentions or reveals, doesn't even, he reveals a whole verse about this family. Tell me who through history donated to these three? The needy, the orphan and the captive. No other than Ali Nabi Talib, Fatima Tezzaraa, Hassan and Hussain. Absolutely no one. But we do remind everyone to call in and send us a text message at the number shown below. We just got a text message, okay? Okay, so we have Sa'adun, Sa'adun? I don't know, but maybe Sa'adun from Iraq, very famous name in Iraq, but Sa'adun from Iraq, he says, yes, a limit exists. We do apologize for the technical difficulty and delay, but Sa'adun from Iraq says, yes, a limit exists when we Iraqis say, may I be sacrificed for you or Fidwa ar-rooh-lek, oh, this guy, okay. That is just said, because even if we love that person, we are not willing to die for them. Wow, this guy, it's a beautiful example, Sa'adun. I hope when you say to your wife, I love you, you actually do love her. But anyways, we don't thank you very much for your participating. But Iraqis, just to give a disclaimer out, they have the most romantic slurs or the most romantic sayings that the other say to you. But, as we were just mentioning, the Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, there's another verse in the Quran that Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala mentions, لَاَنْ تَنَالُ الْبِرْ حَتَّا تُنْفِقُ مِنْ مَا تُحْبُونِ You will not achieve the pleasure or the satisfaction of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala until you donate what you love the most. Now I speak for myself, I'm not speaking for the general public, but am I, or are you willing to spend the only thing you love? For example, what do people love the most right now? If you're to ask anyone right now, what is the only thing you love in this world? Some may say family, friends, technology, but many will say money. Are you willing to spend the money that you love so much in order to seek the satisfaction of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, the pleasure of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala? لَاَنْ تَنَالُ الْبِرْ حَتَّا تُنْفِقُ مَا تُحْبُونِ You will not reach the satisfaction of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala until you donate, until you give from whatever you like or from whatever you love. So to that level that altruism comes to be, we love money so much, but it's not impossible. It's not hard for us to spend like $10 from our salary each month to give it up for charity. $10, trust me, when someone's getting $2,000, $3,000, even $10, yes, it make a difference throughout the month, but trust me, you're gonna have $990, but that poor person is gonna have only $10 to spend. So imagine that little that you take away from your salary is so much to that poor person. Always keep that in mind. That's where altruism begins. But we just got a text message from, okay, Shaykh Jassim from Canada. Oh, I hope that's not my dad, but Shaykh Jassim Karbalai, or not so not Karbalai, Shaykh Jassim, not Karbalai. Shaykh Jassim from Canada. He said, we should give whatever we can, but no to the point, but not to the point of harming ourselves because the harm of oneself is haram in religion. Yes, thank you very much, Shaykh Jassim or Shaykh Nafim from Canada for joining us today. I'm letting us know what you think about tonight's question. And no, not Jassim to Italian, but this is just a comment that I got on me. But yes, undoubtably, when it comes to the Ahl al-Bayt, alayhim salam, the true embodiment of the Holy Quran, it's important to keep one thing in mind that they are our role models. The story that I mentioned earlier about ma'am Ali and lady Fatima and Hassan and Hussain, peace and blessings be upon them, yes, they were altruistic, they were hungry, they were fasting, but yet they still gave away their food. Ahl al-Bayt are there for the highest example. No one can reach what they have done. Even if we try to do it, then we'll probably do it as a test to see how much we can take. But at the same time, they're trying to show us that even if you give that little bread, which is 90% of the time thrown in a garbage and all due respect to our Islamic centers, but come on, the amount of food that's thrown after the majalis, it's a lot. What we need to do is be altruistic and give to the needy, even if they're not Muslim, so what? Give to the needy and let the needy know about who you are and about what Islam is. Now, if we were to go through history and found one person, if we're trying to look at one person who said there is no limit to altruism, you know, all of them said, all the participants said that there is a limit to altruism. But if I was to tell you there's one person that lived on this planet that said there is no limit to altruism, the person who's sister on the night of Ashura, the night after Ashura, goes up to check up on the bodies and she's trying to see where her brother is, where are the companions of her brother? She goes to see a headless body severed and then a little girl crying next to the body. Who is that person? The little girl says that is my father, Hussain. She looks where is her? She puts her hand under the body of Imam al-Hussain and says, O Allah, if this is the case, what satisfies you, then take until you are satisfied. Sorry, this is what Hussain's saying, no, Zainab. Imam al-Hussain says, if this satisfies you, O Allah, then take until you are satisfied. To the point where in the Ziyarat Al-Arba'een, we hear the Imam in the Ziyarat, we say, and he sacrificed his life for you to save your servants from the ignorance, from the yoke of ignorance and confusion, confusion of straying off, of deviation. He sacrificed everything, his life, the life of his sons, his family got, became captives and prisoners. Yet Imam al-Hussain still gave everything and gave his own life as well for the sake of humanity. This is what true altruism means and that's, I think for me, that's the limit of altruism. I don't know what else a person can do. But lastly, thank you very much for those who joined us and let us learn from these individuals to become altruistic. Thank you very much. Wassalamu alaikum, rahmatullahi wabarakatuh.