Living is about making choices- the choice to be a ‘victim’ of circumstances or to do something about circumstances and be their ‘master’. We are free to choose – to be ‘victims’ or ‘masters’ – but the choices have different payoffs. Both stances are subject to the same givens of society, environment, organization etc. But have very different implications in terms of our development and happiness. ‘Victims’ complain about adversity, think of excuses, blame others, lose hope and perish. ‘Victims’ can be individuals, groups, communities or nations. The ‘victim stance’ is the same – complain and blame others. ‘Victims’ search for scapegoats; for someone to blame. They invent conspiracy theories. They have a ‘siege’ mentality, complaining that the only reason they are in a mess is because everyone in the world is out to get them. They don’t stop to think that no matter who they blame, their problems still exist and that it is they and not whoever they blame, that is suffering. Problems need solutions. Not scapegoats. These are the chains in the mind, which must be broken if we want to progress.
‘Masters’ on the other hand are people who when faced with difficulty and adversity, first look at themselves to see how and why they came to be in that situation, own their responsibility and then look for solutions to resolve that situation. They have the courage to try new ways and so they win even if they fail. “Masters’ recognize that whatever happens to them is at least in part, if not wholly, a result of the choices that they made, consciously or unconsciously. The result of what they chose to do or chose not to do. Consequently, if we recognize that we created the problem, then it follows logically that we can also create its solution. A ‘master’ never says, ‘I can’t’. She/he says, ‘I haven’t found a solution yet!’ – and in that, is a world of difference. The key question to ask therefore is, ‘What do I need to do to be a ‘Master’? What is the investment that I need to succeed? Free fall and flight feel the same in the beginning. But it is the end which spells the difference between life and death. One lands safely. The other crashes and burns. Ignoring the law of aerodynamics does not change the law or its result.
Take the story of Yusuf (AS) which has a political angle to it which is almost never mentioned. Let me delve into that for a bit. His story is about how to live in a society with norms and values totally foreign and even antagonistic to your own, but to become hugely influential without changing your own ethics and values in any way. Yusuf (AS) went from being a slave and a prisoner, to becoming the Prime Minister in the government of the Pharoah Sesostris I of Egypt. Sesostris I, was the ruler of Egypt when Yusuf (AS) was sold as a slave in about 1681 B.C. He decided to appoint Yusuf (AS) as the vizier to superintend the gathering of the grain during the seven years of plenty and gave him extraordinary powers to do it. ‘You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.’ (Gen. 41:40). The point that I want to make is that when Yusuf (AS) gained his freedom, he didn’t leave Egypt and return to Shaam, where he had come from but offered his services to the king of Egypt despite the differences in their beliefs. As a result he was able to change the lives of his family and his people who came to live in Egypt. He could do this for one reason alone: contribution. He showed the Pharaoh how he could be critically useful to Egypt. The result was massive power. Power comes with territory. Contribution defines territory. You want power, contribute. As much as you contribute, will you become powerful.
As of the last data available, Muslim representation in the USA is less than 2%. This small percentage means that, currently and in the foreseeable future, the Muslim voting bloc is likely to have minimal influence on policy matters. Despite this, the fairness of the system ensures that Muslims, like any other community, can become part of the governing structure—from schools and towns to state and federal levels. The most effective way to amplify the Muslim voice and viewpoint in the broader public space is to serve in public offices. If the goal of the Muslim community is to make its perspective heard, then the primary aim should be to elect more Muslims at all levels of governance. Given that it is not common for us to take this route, we must encourage those who do and go out of our way to support them both morally, and more importantly, materially. In one word, PARTICIPATE.
Do you want to be Winners or Losers? Winning and losing is about making choices. All choices have consequences. Not acting is also a choice and has consequences. It is not only about doing something. It is about doing the right thing at the right time. For that we need to anticipate, plan, prepare, and act. We must deal with uncertainty and be prepared for multiple likely scenarios. We must not only know how to win but what to do after we win. Our history is littered with the corpses of winners who didn’t know what to do on the morning after. So, their gains went to those who had a plan and simply came in and took over the gains. I was in Kruger Park where I saw a hyena on an Impala kill. I told my friends in the Landcruiser to look for the leopard. They didn’t understand and looked at me, puzzled. I told them, ‘The hyena can’t catch an Impala. But a leopard can. So, the hyena follows a hunting leopard and then rushes in to take over the kill. Sure enough, we found a female leopard on a branch hopefully learning one of the most valuable lessons of life – what to do with your wins. You can’t learn it after winning. You must learn it before the challenge and have a plan ready.
I love statistics. Here are some about Think Tanks or Global Policy Institutes.
https://www.statista.com/chart/15057/countries-with-the-largest-number-of-think-tanks
I quote from the article which I have referred in the text of this Khutba, “Every year, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania conduct an extensive analysis of Think Tanks around the world, publishing a report listing and ranking nearly 6,500 of them. On a country-by-country basis, the U.S. has by far the most with 1,872, followed by 512 in China and 444 in the UK. Other countries listed in the chart are India, Germany, France, Argentina, Japan, Russia, and Canada. The research also ranked global Think Tanks by influence. In addition to having the most of any country, the U.S. is also home to some of the world’s most influential Think Tanks. Out of the top 10, five are U.S. based with The Brookings Institute in first place, followed by the French Institute of International Relations.”
Ask how many scenario planning Think Tanks are in the Muslim world? Ask how many are among American Muslims? Ask if ICNA, ISNA, AMJA or other such organizations have Think Tanks. Ask why not? Remember, the one who gets the kill is the one who plans. Not the one who took the risk and made the kill. Without your own plan, you are working for someone else, though you may not know it. Experience doesn’t come with the passing of time. It comes with what you do with what happened to you. It is not about simply getting old. It is about learning, conceptualizing life lessons, then leveraging them to get value added results. Allahﷻ made the world. He made the rules. He sent a teacher. It is for us to learn and follow him. Which brings me to the question, ‘Are you a free person or are there chains in your mind?’ Check list!!
Do you mow your lawn regularly to ensure that it always looks neat? Do you have a good relationship with your neighbors? Do you attend Townhall meetings? Do you know the names of public officials in your town? Do you happily pay for public facilities, donate to public spaces like parks, volunteer for neighborhood watch, first-aid first responders for the fire service and police? Do you volunteer to coach sports teams at schools or for any other service, especially if your children are not studying in that school? Do you volunteer as a foster parent? What is your reaction to jury duty?
Do you like it or do you try to get out of it? Do you register and vote? Do you donate to soup kitchens and homeless shelters? Do you drive and park your car responsibly? Let me leave you to add to this list. I believe you get the drift. I hope you understand why I call this my Checklist of Freedom. In one-line, free people do all these things willingly and proudly with a sense of duty. People with enslaved minds try to avoid them until they are forced and then do them moaning, groaning and complaining.
Most of us ordinary Muslims come from a history of Empire or Colonialism. In both, we were ‘slaves’, who had no say in decisions that affected us. We received government largesse or suffered oppression, but we had no way of influencing either except rebellion. That came at a heavy cost, so we learnt to keep our heads down and bear difficulties and believe in a distorted version of Sabr (Patience) which has nothing to do with the Islamic reality. We were taught that to have Sabr is to suffer in silence and beg Allahﷻ to change our world. The Qur’an tells us to make the maximum effort and then to make dua and rely on Allahﷻ alone. Rasoolullahﷺ exemplified this. Until we learn to follow the complete method, we cannot expect success.
Let me share with you three secrets of success. One, our mind is like a fertile field. It doesn’t care what you plant in it, but it will return to you whatever you plant. That is why what you read and watch and who you listen to are so important. They are the signposts of the direction your life is taking you. If you are going in the right direction, continue. But if not, you must change direction. To go in the direction of a particular destination but to expect to reach a destination on the opposite side is a sign of insanity.
Two, attitude comes before success in the dictionary and in life. Therefore, remind yourself that present circumstances do not decide if you will succeed or fail. They only decide where you need to start. The race doesn’t end when you fall. It ends when you fail to rise. Check why you fell and don’t fall again for the same reason. We are talking about resilience. Not stubbornness. Resilient people succeed. Stubborn people perish, sometimes gloriously.
Three, faith. To use my favorite quote by Barbara Winters, “When you come to the end of the light of all that you know and are about to step off into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things will happen. There will be something firm to stand on or you will be taught how to fly.”
So, let us choose our goals wisely, make the maximum effort intelligently and when all the work is done, stand in the night and beg Allahﷻ for success. Remember, it doesn’t matter whether you lose or win. What matters is what you stand for. Remember, that in a world and life where you can be anything, be kind first. Then be anything else you like because kindness adds value to everything we do.
As Imam Bukhari reminded us: “Rasoolullahﷺ said: “Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it. Whenever it is taken from something, it leaves it tarnished.”
You want to change the world? Then be kind, be honorable, work for the pleasure of Allahﷻ alone and remember that one day we will all be called to account. Remember that we are never alone and Allahﷻ is always with us. So, take courage from that to face whatever hardship we face, because we know that it comes only by Allahﷻ’s permission and that the one who permitted it is Ar-Rahman nir Raheem. Face the world as Ibrahim (AS) did, sitting trussed up in the cup of the trebuchet. As Musa (AS) did with the sea in front of him and the army of the Pharoah behind him. And as Rasoolullahﷺ did in the cave. With tranquility in the heart and a smile on the lips, knowing that they were not alone and that Allahﷻ was with them. That is how our prophets were and that is how we should be.
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