ZamZamAcademy

Don't Compare Yourself to Others

Mufti Abdur-Rahman discusses the issue of not being able to apologies for ones mistake or finding it below themselves to take the first step to seek forgiveness. The speaker has found this to be a cause of many relationships having issues.

Summary: • extreme greed with no contentment, no satisfaction and no shukr to Allah. It is a blameworthy desire. • Dedicating most of our time and effort to our work and / or comparing ourselves to others is a result of avid greed. • It is a state of our heart and mind and can be never-ending. • Opposite is contentment: Qan’at. • How to achieve qana’t; o Moderation in spending (which is half of our livelihood - Hadith). o Sustenance is decreed ACCORDING TO OUR EFFORTS AND HARD WORK. o Realise the honour in being self-sufficient as opposed to degrading and humiliating ourselves to achieve our desires. o Reflect on the lives of the Prophets. o Give shukr to Allah. o Be happy with what we have. o Be realistic and identify those things that are beneficial, and those things that are harmful. • Greed is a form of psychological slavery; it overcomes us, and we become a slave to it. • Contentment brings dignity and true freedom. • Satisfaction is when we do things purely for Allah. • There will always be someone (including a family) who condemn people who are content because those who are content do not conform with society’s expectations. • Comparing ourselves to others will bring chronic stress and depression. • Powerful reminder - Surah Taha [20:131]. However, when it comes to religious practice and piety, we should look at people who are above us to inspire and motivate us to do better for the Hereafter.

Infertility is a medical condition that can touch every aspect of your life -- from the way you feel about yourself, to your relationship with your partner, to your overall perspective on living. It can also be particularly stressful in that it creates a great deal of uncertainty and emotional upheaval in a couple's day-to-day world. If you've been struggling with infertility, you're probably no stranger to stress. The following talk covers the topic of dealing with infertility.

"If when given something, the giving expands you, and if when deprived of something, the deprivation contracts you, then take that as proof of your immaturity and the insincerity of your servanthood" [Hikam 147, Page 198] The above aphorism serving as a litmus test to see how sincere and focused one remains towards Allah Most High in the two different states.

"There are two graces from which no being can be separated and that are inevitable for every creature: the grace of existence, and the grace of sustenance".

"Sometimes He opens the door of obedience for you but not the door of acceptance; or sometimes He condemns you to sin, and it turns out to be a cause of arriving to Him." [HIKAM 95] The following lecture has two main discussions. The first discusses good deeds/acts of devotion and its components. Starting from the intention of the act to actually carrying out the deed and the final stage of whether it is accepted in the court of Allah Most High or not. Factors which render deeds to remain unaccepted are mentioned. The second part, the Shaykh explains how in fact a sin/act of disobedience can become the means of a person returning and gaining closeness to Allah Most High. Cited is the following prophetic narration: "Many a times there is sin (carried out) which (in fact) is the means of the person entering Jannah" to which the companions in astonishment reply as to how...

Do you find comfort in voicing your complaints? Have you turned it into a habit? In this talk, Mufti Abdur-Rahman speaks about how constantly complaining about our situations could lead to potentially polluting our atmosphere. Instead of burying ourselves in this pit, he guides us to go to the only One who has the power to help us get out of our situations.

The sacrifice of an animal has always been a recognised form of worship in many religions, but in the ‘Shariah’ (Islamic sacred law) of The Last and Final Messenger of Allah Ta’ala (Peace be upon him) the sacrifice of an animal has been recognised as a form of ibadah (worship) during the three days of the month Zul Hijjah, namely the 10th, 11th, and 12th.

"When He gives, He shows you His kindness; when He deprives, He shows you His power. And in all that, He is making Himself known to you and coming to you with His gentleness". [Hikam 93] The lecture expounds the fact of Allah Most High being all inclusive in His divine names and attributes. He is both the Benevolent, The Kind and The Majestic as well as being the The Mighty, The Dominant and The With-holder. It is for the seeker to contemplate this reality so that appreciation and gratitude towards their Lord remains unchanged in times of both difficulty and goodness.