Asalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu my brothers and sisters in Islam.
I want to apologize if anything sounds offensive in all this. I only want that my brothers and sisters should get to the right track. There's no point reading all of this if you will not learn anything from it so please go in with an open mind and bear with me. If there's anything that you don't already do or didn't know of please try to incorporate it in your life somehow. I'm a nobody but if you want to talk about anything like discuss something feel free to send me a message. But again I'm not really good for advice, I can say things like this which are on a broad scale. If you think there's any useful information please spread it with others around you like friends, family, ask your local imam about it and they will be able to give much better advice in-shaa-allah.
The advice below isn't just for muslims ofc, non-muslims can benefit from it too and hopefully it brings them closer to Islam in the process.
Start:
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem,
Watch these two videos if you haven't already and come back here.
Steve Jobs 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech
There was an image on r/Izlam someone made about two people digging for diamonds. There was a big diamond if they followed Shariah and nothing by following the rest of the world or whatever but it's relevant.
Note: message at end for people who can't make big/drastic changes in their life.
If you've watched the videos completely or just until you got an idea of what's being said in them, for anyone that has even the most basic knowledge of Islam you'll know that Allah already gave us that advice and information since the Qur'an was revealed to the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam.
I won't be able to cover everything involved but just to give an idea:
Stanford commencement speech - patience and perseverance. Just to give the simplest example:
Surah Al-'Asr - 103
By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss, Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
It's been said that when you work towards the Akhira Allah will give you Dunya as well. So let's look at how this simple surah applies to this rock floating around in a sea of nothingness.
By time, Indeed, mankind is in loss.
This might be familiar to a lot of us. Have you ever told yourself
"When I have such and such then I'll do that thing I've always wanted to do"
"I can't right now but one day I'll do it"
"I'm not ready"
Etc etc.
You may have heard this quote: "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans" - John Lennon
For the people who've been saying that for the past few years, how many of you have looked back at all the time you've lost and said "if only I started it back then, I'd be where I wanted to be today" or similar?
If you find yourself in that position, first of all don't worry about it:
If anything befalls you, do not say "if only I had done such and such" rather say "Qaddara Allahu wa ma sha'a fa'ala" (Allah has decreed and whatever He wills, He does). For (saying) 'if' opens (the door) to the deeds of Satan. Sunan Ibn Majah, vol 1 book 1 hadith 79, grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Once you accept that and don't let it get to you, start doing it now. Shaytaan wants you to spiral into depression or regret and waste even more time. Don't wait any longer. You won't even get a second of your time back so no point crying over that, focus on what you do have.
Next part of the surah
Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other patience.
Allah doesn't say anything like: - except the ones that spend years preparing - only those who have money - those who have property, servants
All that's mentioned here is 1) Stick to Islam, pray, fast, salah, etc. Dunya benefits - you stick to a proper schedule. Go to sleep after Isha, wake up for fajr. Get your work done in the morning hours because
Allah made the early hours blessed for my Ummah. I don't have a source for this one, I've heard it a-lot but you know what, it makes sense.
And made your sleep for rest, And made the night as a covering, And made the day as a means of subsistence. Surah an-Naba, 78:9-11
Another translation for ayah 11 is "...the day for seeking livelihood". The day starts at Fajr.
2) Do righteous deeds. No need to get into this, we've been told so many times how when you do something good Allah will help you in all other affairs.
3) Follow the truth - learn knowledge that is beneficial for you. Don't fall for any lies other people tell you, for example, don't run after the things everyone else wants just because they made some money or something. Stick to what is right and keep doing it because it will eventually pay off much more. Advise others to follow it as well, as muslims we have an important rule to keep our Ummah strong and united. "No Muslim gets left behind"
4) Be patient. Help each other in difficult times. And no matter what, don't give up just because things aren't going how you planned or progressing as quickly as you planned.
I remember watching a video where a man explained how he got into creating video games, back before I disliked games and was interested in doing it myself.
He said in the first year he barely earned a living. After the second year he started to barely make minimum wage. After 3-4 years is when he began earning enough, and later he started earning handsome money. I don't remember the exact time frame but it followed that pattern.
About the second video - They want you to be poor
Most of us have this mentality where we say "I can't spend money there because I won't have enough for rent" or whatever else. We can't spend in charity because I might not have enough by the end of the month.
Shaytaan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and all-Knowing. Surah al-Baqarah, 2:268
This next piece of advice is very very important. Don't waste money on things you don't need. This includes things that do not benefit you physically, mentally, spiritually, etc. This applies to EVERYONE. Yes you can spend on whatever you want, it's your money after all, you don't have to worry about it until you get to the grave. Surah at-Takaathur.
^ - everything belongs to Allah. From a single speck of dust floating in the air to something unseen near the edge of our universe.
I can't force you to do anything but here's the advice. Stop buying potato chips and sodas and chocolates and ice creams and movie tickets and whatever else you don't need to survive. You will not die if you don't have a PlayStation 9000 or an Xbox 64. You will not freeze to death of you don't wear a 500 dollar jacket because of a name and chose a 20 dollar jacket instead.
If you have the money to spare then spend it on charity. If you still want to ~buy those things~ waste it then who am I to stop you? I did my duty which was just to warn you.
As for people you constantly worry about their finances, definitely don't waste money on those things. Just try it out for a month and see how much you can save. Before buying something just ask yourself "do I really need this?". Don't give into social pressure, especially in places like Pakistan where branded foreign goods are worshipped:
And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allah. They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying. Surah al-An'am, 6:116
Don't get me wrong, it doesn't mean you buy really cheap stuff either that'll fall apart within a month so you end up spending a lot more in the long run. Spend wisely on necessities, don't waste money on anything that isn't required.
Note for the people who can't make any radical changes to their lives anymore. Supporting a family so you can't quit your day job to work on a business venture you've always dreamed of getting into, etc.
There are so many reasons why things end up the way they do. For many of us there are outside forces that have huge effects on the outcome of things so I'm not saying this without accepting that there's a lot that goes into it. But this is a message we muslims NEED to understand. All of the problems we face today are our own fault. If not us, then our parents, or their parents, and so on.
And whatever strikes you of disaster - it is for what your hands have earned; But He pardons much. Surah ash-Shura, 42:30
That's the beauty of Islam. No matter what, everything can change from a single point onwards. Allah does not hold a grudge, Allah does not care what you did in the past. Once you realise that "yes, I did something wrong" and seek forgiveness for it, and actively try to make a positive change then Allah will not only forgive you for that thing but forgive so many more sins because of it. Alhamdulillah.
In the case where it was your parents that began the series of events that led you down this path you're on, we get a lot of our parents traits subconsciously. Take some time to really look deep, make sure you're 100% objective. If you find flaws accept that only the Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam was perfect. We will make mistakes, Allah knows that. Seek forgiveness for the flaws and actions done because of them, make the intention that you will try to change, and watch how your life will change for the better.
So that brings us to the final question. "What's next?"
The answer is simple. Do better with your kids. Learn Islam and teach them to be who you wish you were. Start acting like, if you can't be, the Muslim you want your kids to be when they grow up. They will subconsciously pick up on your habits and it will become a part of who they are. The things about moving away from family and being your own person are all... I don't want I say anything bad, it's just wrong. We're social creatures, children are a part of who we are whether we like them or not.
Let them take risks, tell them to believe in Allah and never lose hope. Instill that want and need to do good so that when your time comes and you go back to Allah, there should be a constant shower of good deeds from sadaqah jariah.
I'm open to thoughts and suggestions. More importantly I want to find ways to spread the message more to the youth since they will inherit this world after us.
[link] [comments]
from Islam http://bit.ly/2vzXgzK
Post A Comment:
0 comments so far,add yours