Become an Overcomer

In life only overcomers are rewarded. Allahﷻ is the only one who rewards effort, but not this world. In this world you get rewarded for results only. Allahﷻ said about effort in Dunya and Aakhira: وَأَن لَّيْسَ لِلْإِنسَـٰنِ إِلَّا مَا سَعَىٰ Najm 53: 39   And that man can have nothing but what he does (good… Continue reading Become an Overcomer

Laws must be obeyed

There is a misunderstanding among some people that it is not necessary for a Muslim living in a land which has a non-Muslim government, to obey the laws of the land, because these are “man-made” and not Divine and because the country is not an Islamic Khilafa. That belief is totally false. The first thing… Continue reading Laws must be obeyed

Success is inevitable…if….

Allahﷻ sent us Islam to make us successful in this life and the Hereafter. In this and subsequent lectures, I want to share with you some key lessons for us to follow to become successful. It is only at the finish line that you know who won the race. Not before. This life is a… Continue reading Success is inevitable…if….

Grow your investments

As you are aware we have started our After School program and have received a wonderful response. That shows that you are concerned about your children. This is an excellent thing, given that our children are our investments in this life and the Aakhira. Therefore, let me speak to you about some essentials to raising… Continue reading Grow your investments

The Connection

The message of Islam is to remind all mankind that we have a Rabb to whom we are directly connected without the need for any intermediaries, agents, intercessors, or facilitators. When we speak, He hears us. When we ask, He gives us. He created us, sustains us, protects us, tests us, helps us, rewards us,… Continue reading The Connection

Change your glasses

In my Halaqa last week someone challenged me about the prohibition of interest-based finance and said, “There is no alternative, so what can we do? Without interest-based finance Muslims can never have a big business or industry.” I asked him, “No alternative to what? No alternative to making money, buying a house or whatever? Or… Continue reading Change your glasses

Change the way we relate

As I mentioned in my last Khutba, ‘Living in the Revolution’, there are three things that we must change to survive and thrive in the AI Revolution. Change the way we connect with Allahﷻ and Rasoolullahﷺ, change the way we teach, and change the way we relate with one another.   I have taught and… Continue reading Change the way we relate

Change the way we educate

As I mentioned in my last Khutba, ‘Living in the Revolution’, there are three things that we must change in our approach to life to leverage the benefits of technology and counter its ill effects. Change the way we connect with Allahﷻ and Rasoolullahﷺ, change the way we teach, and change the way we relate… Continue reading Change the way we educate

Change the way to connect

 As I mentioned in my last Khutba, ‘Living in the Revolution’, there are three things that we must change in our approach to life to leverage the benefits of technology and counter its ill effects. Change the way we connect with Allahﷻ and Rasoolullahﷺ, change the way we teach, and change the way we relate… Continue reading Change the way to connect

Gratitude is to acknowledge the truth

We live in a world where we seem to be surrounded by bad news. That leads to us feeling stressed, depressed, threatened, and hopeless about the future. Many people seem to feel that we are living at the end of times, and in a world and society that is terrible to live in. If you… Continue reading Gratitude is to acknowledge the truth

Living in a Revolution

I spoke to you about the Industrial Revolution and how it was far more than the invention of the assembly line. It profoundly changed our values, culture, and behavior. It changed how we saw ourselves, how we measured our effort, what we gave significance to, what we ignored, how we taught and learnt – including… Continue reading Living in a Revolution

Allah’s blessing is Rasoolullahﷺ

What is the first thought that comes into your mind when you think of Rasoolullahﷺ? For me it is someone to run to if I need anything. Someone who will intercede for me when I meet Allahﷻ. Someone who I love more than I can say and who I yearn to meet. May Allahﷻ grant… Continue reading Allah’s blessing is Rasoolullahﷺ

Enter Islam completely

Allah told us why He created us and said: وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ Zariyaat 51: 56   And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). In order that we can live our lives in a state of worshipping Allah, He sent Islam and told us to follow… Continue reading Enter Islam completely

Commencement advice to students – Part 2

We continue from where we ended last Friday about the things to keep in mind as you negotiate college life. I dealt with four things last week; Factor Allahﷻ into the equation, always be thankful, forgive others, and seek forgiveness. Today let us look at six more to complete the ten. 5.  Never compromise your legacy. Never lose… Continue reading Commencement advice to students – Part 2

Commencement advice to students – 1

As the academic year starts again and as our children are about to go off to university, I thought it would be good to share some thoughts to help them to be focused and grounded. I hope this will be good advice for all of us wherever we may be. To the students I say,… Continue reading Commencement advice to students – 1

Allahu Akbar

They asked Rasoolullahﷺ, ‘Who is Allahﷻ?’ And Allahﷻ answered: قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ Ikhlaas 112: 1-4      Say (O Muhammadﷺ): He is Allah, (the) One. Allah-us-Samad (Free from all needs, whose creatures need Him). He begets not, nor was He begotten; And there is… Continue reading Allahu Akbar

Albuquerque – the way forward

It is the purpose of the Juma Khutba for the Khateeb to speak about current critical issues and help to put them in perspective to chart a course going forward. Today the most critical issue in America is the tragic series of murders in Albuquerque and the even more tragic haste with which this is… Continue reading Albuquerque – the way forward

Root cause Analysis #1

The purpose of Islam is to solve the problems of this world in a way that gives us success in this world and the next. I want to emphasize this because often we fall into the either/or trap when it comes to the practice of Islam. Not surprising because we have all been raised in… Continue reading Root cause Analysis #1

The Reality behind the Apparent

 One of the most important lessons we learn from the Qur’an is that appearances don’t indicate reality. Something may appear to be the epitome of success but may hide failure and vice versa. The criterion of success and failure is faith in Allah and obedience to Him. Tawakkul means to trust that Allah knows what… Continue reading The Reality behind the Apparent

Trap of minimalist thinking

“Strive for perfection in everything you do. Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it.” Sir Henry Royce of Rolls Royce. Among the RR legends is one when Charles Rolls met Henry Royce in his workshop where he had designed a car. Charles Rolls looked at the… Continue reading Trap of minimalist thinking

Obedience is the result of Yaqeen – part 2

Islam is about knowing Allah. Not just knowing about Allah. But knowing Allah at the deepest, most intimate level of our beings. Last week we spoke about the young Ibrahim asking Allah to show him how He brings the dead back alive. The purpose of the stories is to help us to realize the truth… Continue reading Obedience is the result of Yaqeen – part 2

Obedience is the result of Yaqeen – Part 1

We spoke last week about the essence of Islam, which is to submit our will to the Will of Allah. Ibrahim epitomizes that. Allah said about him: إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥٓ أَسْلِمْ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ Baqara 2: 13    When his Rabb said to him, Submit (be a Muslim)! He said, I have submitted myself… Continue reading Obedience is the result of Yaqeen – Part 1

Sacrifice – Eid ul Adha – 2022

اللهُ أَكْبَرُ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إلَهَ إلَّا اللهُ وَاَللهُ أَكْبَرُ اللهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلهِ الْحَمْدُ We know the story of Eid ul Adha. Ibrahim (AS) went to sacrifice his son. Allah substituted him with a ram. Muslims commemorate this sacrifice annually in honor of Ibrahim (AS)’s Uboodiyat and as our own solidarity with that. But is… Continue reading Sacrifice – Eid ul Adha – 2022

Rights of Rasoolullahﷺ – part 9

The 7th right of Rasoolullahﷺ is that his judgment must be accepted in all matters without any resistance in the heart. وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤْمِنٍ وَلَا مُؤْمِنَةٍ إِذَا قَضَى اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَمْرًا أَن يَكُونَ لَهُمُ الْخِيَرَةُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمْ وَمَن يَعْصِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا مُّبِينًا Al-Ahzaab 33:36 No believer, neither man nor woman, has a… Continue reading Rights of Rasoolullahﷺ – part 9

Responding to attacks on Rasoolullahﷺ

Once again, the Muslim world is reeling from the grief and anger of attacks on the beloved of Allahﷻ and of the Muslims, wherever they may be, Muhammadﷺ the Last and Final Messengerﷺ of Allahﷻ, after whom there is none other. This is not the first time it happened, and I can probably safely say… Continue reading Responding to attacks on Rasoolullahﷺ

Rights of Rasoolullahﷺ – part 8

Nusrat: To help him in every way: To help his Deen and Message Let me begin by asking myself and you, a question. It is a question that I ask my corporate clients when I do my Vision & Values Workshop. Why do you exist? And that leads to another question: What would be lost… Continue reading Rights of Rasoolullahﷺ – part 8

Rights of Rasoolullahﷺ – part 7

 Ahl-ul-Bayt: To honor and respect Rasoolullahﷺ  and his family Who are the Ahl-ul-Bayt of Rasoolullahﷺ? The family of Rasoolullahﷺ are all his wives, all his children, Banu Hashim, Banu ‘Abd al-Muttalib and their freed slaves. This is the view of all scholars of Islam from the earliest times, starting with the Sahaba. https://islamqa.info/en/10055 Allah addressed the… Continue reading Rights of Rasoolullahﷺ – part 7

Forgiveness – the binder of the Ummah

My brothers and sisters, if I were to try to answer the impossible question, ‘What is the greatest quality of Rasoolullahﷺ’s character which is evidence of his Divine mission, that he is the Messenger of Allah?’ I would say it is his forgiving nature. His ability to forgive anyone, no matter how much that person… Continue reading Forgiveness – the binder of the Ummah

Rights of Rasoolullahﷺ – part 6

Muhabbat: To love him above all things and everyone else Ittiba (emulation) is the result of love. We emulate those we love. Our appearance, our manners, our dealings, our lives, and our culture, reflects the ways, values, and culture of those we love. We do it because we believe it adds value to us. We… Continue reading Rights of Rasoolullahﷺ – part 6

Rights of Rasoolullahﷺ – part 5

Since we are re-starting our series of Khutab on the rights of Rasoolullahﷺ after a break of six weeks during and after Ramadan, let me quickly recap what those rights are. The reason rights are important is because it is obligatory to fulfill them, and we will be questioned about them. When those are the… Continue reading Rights of Rasoolullahﷺ – part 5

Ramadan is over – Now what

Ramadan came to make us Muttaqoon (People of Taqwa who are concerned about the pleasure of Allahﷻ). Did we succeed? Mikel Harry of Motorola, author of the 6 Sigma Quality Standard said, “If you want to see what someone values, see what they measure.” We say, “Time is money.” But we happily waste time but… Continue reading Ramadan is over – Now what