Quran Talk

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If I went back two hundred years and I explained to the people back then that life has gotten so easy in our time that we literally have to pay money to go to a facility to lift heavy objects only to put them back where you got them and to run on a machine that doesn’t take you anywhere they would think that we have all gone crazy

The reason is because in the past doing hard labor was part of life

Let’s suspend disbelief for one second and imagine that reincarnation was real, then statistically there is a +90% chance that in all your past lives you were a farmer.

This is what makes people who believe reincarnation so comical is that they were

never a farmer in their past lives instead they were some knight or king/queen or general - a very prestigious historical figure, but in reality, most likely they were farmers, they never traveled more than 25 miles from where they were born in their whole life. They probably lost children due to illness or disease, they were probably illiterate, probably got up before dawn every morning and worked all day till sunset and then went to bed only to do the same thing again the next day and the day after that.

Life back then was intrinsically hard, and the ones who survived had the same genes of their ancestors but as time progressed things shifted

When in the past 90% of the population were famers now only 2% of the population are farmers

Rather than doing physically demanding work for a job we now predominately do mentally demanding work

And as a society, we quickly came to realize that because our lives have gotten so less physically demanding our health has taken a major impact

We now sit more than ever, we sit in our cars as we commute to work, we sit in front of a computer for many hours during the day and then we sit and watch Netflix or YouTube

Because of this gap we understood that in order to stay physically fit and healthy we needed to create ARTIFICIAL physical hardship. We started exercising, going to the gym, running, we sign up for exercise classes (yoga, pilates, cardio kickboxing). We go on hikes (not to tend to our flock or to savage for food) but for leisure.

And in return, our health and vitality improved, because our physiology was designed to need stress. If our muscles are not used they atrophy, we get weak, we get prone to injury and our health and overall wellness deteriorates.

To someone 200 years ago this would seem

Now what is interesting is that this change in lifestyle didn’t just impact our physical lives it also affected our mental ones as well.

And for some reason despite realizing that we require physical stresses in order to keep our bodies healthy, we somehow came to believe that by eliminating any mental hardships that somehow this will not have a strain on our mental resilience

Today we have life easier than ever

Anything we want we can pretty much have instantly. Walk into a grocery and year-round you can choose from any variety of fresh meats, fruits, grains etc. Don’t feel like cooking probably within a five-mile radius of where you are there are a whole list of options of different restaurants and food styles you could select to. Spend five minutes and instantly there will be a team of trained professionals ready to serve you.

The concept of being bored is no longer possible. We have such an abundance of entertainment that if you spent your whole life just watching Netflix or YouTube you would never even dent a fraction of one percent of the content that is continuously being produced for your personal entertainment.

While this is a HUGE blessing there is no doubt that this life of ease and abundance, if not handled correctly, will have severe consequences on our mental resilience - NO DIFFERENT THAN THE CHANGE IN PHYSICAL WORK has had

DOWNSIDE OF LACK OF MENTAL RESILIENCE

What happens to a society that has begotten soft on mental resilience?

"History is filled with the sound of silken slippers going downstairs and wooden shoes coming up." —Voltaire

This has to do with the physical demand, but what about the mental toll of living too comfortable of a life?

Cyrus didn’t want to move the capital from Pasargadae to Susa because he thought that it would make his people soft

Under Cyrus' son Cambyses II, Susa became a center of political power as one of 4 capitals of the Achaemenid Persian empire, while reducing the significance of Pasargadae as the capital of Persis. Following Cambyses' brief rule, Darius the Great began a major building program in Susa and Persepolis. During this time he describes his new capital in the DSf inscription:

"History is filled with the sound of silken slippers going downstairs and wooden shoes coming up." —Voltaire

History is filled with societies who complain more despite having more, being overtaken by societies who complain less despite having less – QuranTalk

This is counterintuitive but complaining is inversely proportional to how much we have

[14:7] Your Lord has decreed: "The more you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.

[42:27] If GOD increased the provision for His servants, they would transgress on earth. This is why He sends it precisely measured to whomever He wills. He is fully Cognizant and Seer of His servants.

[43:33] If it were not that all the people might become one (disbelieving)

congregation, we would have granted everyone who disbelieves in the Most Gracious mansions with silver roofs, and stairs upon which they could climb.

[16:112] GOD cites the example of a community that used to be secure and prosperous, with provisions coming to it from everywhere. But then, it turned unappreciative of GOD's blessings. Consequently, GOD caused them to taste the hardships of starvation and insecurity. Such is the requital for what they did.

Mo Money Mo Problems - Puff Daddy aka P.Diddy

PESSIMISM

Today despite having so much, society seems to have ever so much more to complain about

WHY????

Complaining is tempting because it feels good, but like many other things that are enjoyable—such as smoking or eating a whole chocolate cake for breakfast— complaining isn’t good for you.

Research shows that most people complain once a minute during a typical conversation.

Neurons that fire together wire together

Reinforce find things to complain about. Make more connections and focus on more on what is wrong.

While it’s not an exaggeration to say that complaining leads to brain damage, it doesn’t stop there.

When you complain, your body releases the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol shifts you into fight-or-flight mode, directing oxygen, blood, and energy away from everything but the systems that are essential to immediate survival. One effect of cortisol, for example, is to raise your blood pressure and blood sugar so that you’ll be prepared to either escape or defend yourself. All the extra cortisol released by frequent complaining impairs your immune system and makes you more susceptible to high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. It even makes the brain more vulnerable to strokes.

Complaining is contagious - it affects the people around us

• me complaining about kids when she was first born - wife saying why are you ruining this for me. Like someone you go out to eat with and only points out the bad things or similar to a movie

What we complain about is proportionate to our expectations Happiness = Expectations - Reality

When our expectations that everything has to work out our way on our terms by our expectations then we are setting our selves up for disappointment

My threshold for boredom -

People who think that they are being persecuted and marginalized when they have so much more freedom and opportunity than any other generation in history

Do bad things and atrocities occur - sure but these are not the norm

We have a limited amount of time in our day and what we choose to focus on will affect not just our mood but our overall destiny, because what we do every day eventually effects our actions in our life.

Good thoughts, good actions, good deeds Bad thoughts, bad actions, bad deeds

Chip on their shoulder

[63:4] When you see them, you may be impressed by their looks. And when they speak, you may listen to their eloquence. They are like standing logs. They think that every call is intended against them. These are the real enemies; beware of them. GOD condemns them; they have deviated.

Limited capacity throughout our day what we want to focus on = can choose to focus on the good or the bad

Focus on the good or the bad? Can fix as many wrongs, but not dwell only on the bad and neglect the good

Like the famous Harvard experiment with the passing of the basketball and that 50% of the people missed the moon walking gorilla

The reality is that life is getting exponentially better in every respect in aggregate but our threshold of expectations is growing at a faster clip

Think of the idea of travel....

They were risking their lives, they would be gone sometimes for years at at time away from their families

Now a person is stuck behind a light or the person infront of them cuts them off or their GPS isn’t working and they go nuts

If you make more than $33k/ year you are in the top 1% of the world If you adjust for cost of living globally let’s say it is $60k

Invisibilia Podcast - The Fifth Vital Sign - Pain

Girls who pain receptors would make anything touching their bodies feel excruciatingly painful

Like being in a silent room and then the sound of one's heart sounds like a cacophony

HOW TO FOSTER MENTAL RESILIENCE

Embrace the pain - Increase our thresholds

With pain there is gain

[94:5] With pain there is gain.

Deprivation

Fasting

Walking vs. driving

Cold showers

Achievement without struggle is rarely satisfying - lifting light weights

Iran - daily blackouts for hours at a time

Meditation

people prefer to shock themselves rather than be in a quite room by themselves for 15 minutes

Reduce stimulation - Boredom

Creating artificial scenarios to mentally challenge one self (seems crazy) why would anyone do that? Just like ti would be crazy for the person 200 years ago for us to go to the gym

Do something hard

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard," - JFK

Get too soft and your body recalibrated to the new threshold of pain

Marriage is on a decline = tinder, bumble app

Can’t matin a relationship

Someone who is unappreciative - does not acknowledge the benefits of things does not see the value in things

A cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing

[3:140] If you suffer hardship, the enemy also suffers the same hardship. We alternate the days of victory and defeat among the people. GOD thus distinguishes the true believers, and blesses some of you with martyrdom. GOD dislikes injustice. [3:141] GOD thus toughens those who believe and humiliates the disbelievers.

“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult life” Bruce Lee - Zig Zigler not sure

Radio Lab - Bliss - Aleksander Gamme

Antartica 3 month hike on skies to the south pole and back by himself Every 200km he would burry something in the snow

Last cache

mentos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC8gJ0_9o4M

Subscribe to the podcast and notes: https://qurantalk.podbean.com/

Quran translation on iOS: https://apple.co/2C1YGXj

Additional Resources: http://www.masjidtucson.org

Contact: qurantalk (at) gmail (dot) com

What causes a nation to fail?

There are lots of theories

Maybe it is disease?

When the Europeans arrived, carrying germs which thrived in dense, semi-urban populations, the indigenous people of the Americas were effectively doomed. They had never experienced smallpox, measles or flu before, and the viruses tore through the continent, killing an estimated 90% of Native Americans.

Maybe it is poor financial planning like Communist Russia

Maybe it is a revolution like Iran in 1978

One of the theories I particularly like states that: when the complexity of operating a society outstrips its utility then it is destined to fail… 

There are endless books and theories to what causes a nation to fail, but these are all by products of one single criteria that God tells us in the Quran:

[16:112] GOD cites the example of a community that used to be secure and prosperous, with provisions coming to it from everywhere. But then, it turned unappreciative of GOD's blessings. Consequently, GOD caused them to taste the hardships of starvation and insecurity. Such is the requital for what they did.  

[14:7] Your Lord has decreed: "The more you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.

Word: رَغَدًا (raghadan)

Root: ر غ د

to be abound in a good thing; (eat) freely and plentifully and with ease; live in ease and affluence; be amble and pleasant (in life); freely; plentifully; with ease

This root and this word occurs only 3 times in the Quran, one of those times was in 16:112 as we just read 

(2) Adam in Paradise 

[2:35] We said, "O Adam, live with your wife in Paradise, and eat therefrom generously, as you please, but do not approach this tree, lest you sin.”

[20:116] Recall that we said to the angels, "Fall prostrate before Adam." They fell prostrate, except Satan; he refused. [20:117] We then said, "O Adam, this is an enemy of you and your wife. Do not let him evict you from Paradise, lest you become miserable. [20:118] "You are guaranteed never to hunger therein, nor go unsheltered. [20:119] "Nor will you thirst therein, nor suffer from any heat."

[7:17] "I will come to them from before them, and from behind them, and from their right, and from their left, and You will find that most of them are unappreciative."

[20:120] But the devil whispered to him, saying, "O Adam, let me show you the tree of eternity and unending kingship." [20:121] They ate from it, whereupon their bodies became visible to them, and they tried to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Adam thus disobeyed his Lord, and fell.

(2) Children of Israel

Word: رَغَدًا (raghadan)

Lack of Confidence in God: They Refuse to Enter Jerusalem

[2:58] Recall that we said, "Enter this town, where you will find as many provisions as you like. Just enter the gate humbly, and treat the people nicely. We will then forgive your sins, and increase the reward for the pious." [2:59] But the wicked among them carried out commands other than the commands given to them. Consequently, we sent down upon the transgressors condemnation from the sky, due to their wickedness.

So much of what we have we did zero work for:

[56:57] We have created you, if you could only believe! [56:58] Have you noted the semen that you produce? [56:59] Did you create it, or did we? [56:60] We have predetermined death for you. Nothing can stop us— [56:61] from substituting new generations in your place, and establishing what you do not know. [56:62] You know about the first creation. Do you not remember?

[56:63] Have you noted the crops you reap? [56:64] Did you grow them, or did we? [56:65] If we will, we can turn it into hay. Then you will lament: [56:66] "We lost. [56:67] "We are deprived."

[56:68] Have you noted the water you drink? [56:69] Did you send it down from the clouds, or did we? [56:70] If we will, we can make it salty. You should be thankful.

[56:71] Have you noted the fire you ignite? [56:72] Did you initiate its tree, or did we? [56:73] We rendered it a reminder, and a useful tool for the users. [56:74] You shall glorify the name of your Lord, the Great. 

Psalm 8:4 What is man that you are mindful of him   

There is no appreciative without believing and glorifying God alone

Appreciation comes from worshipping God alone

[68:17] We have tested them like we tested the owners of the garden who swore that they will harvest it in the morning. [68:18] They were so absolutely sure. [68:19] A passing (storm) from your Lord passed by it while they were asleep. [68:20] By morning, it was barren. [68:21] They called on each other in the morning. [68:22] "Let us harvest the crop." [68:23] On their way, they confided to each other. [68:24] That from then on, none of them would be poor. [68:25] They were so absolutely sure of their harvest. [68:26] But when they saw it, they said, "We were so wrong! [68:27] "Now, we have nothing! [68:28] The righteous among them said, "If only you had glorified (God)!"

Remembering God Every Chance We Get

[18:23] You shall not say that you will do anything in the future, [18:24] without saying, "GOD willing." If you forget to do this, you must immediately remember your Lord and say, "May my Lord guide me to do better next time.” 

It doesn’t matter how clever you are or how hard you work if we are not acknowledging that all our blessings come from God then we are destined to fail.

Example of the two men and their gardens

[18:32] Cite for them the example of two men: we gave one of them two gardens of grapes, surrounded by date palms, and placed other crops between them. [18:33] Both gardens produced their crops on time, and generously, for we caused a river to run through them.

[18:34] Once, after harvesting, he boastfully told his friend: "I am far more prosperous than you, and I command more respect from the people."  

[18:35] When he entered his garden, he wronged his soul by saying, "I do not think that this will ever end. [18:36] "Moreover, I think this is it; I do not think that the Hour (the Hereafter) will ever come to pass. Even if I am returned to my Lord, I will (clever enough to) possess an even better one over there.”

[18:37] His friend said to him, as he debated with him, "Have you disbelieved in the One who created you from dust, then from a tiny drop, then perfected you into a man? [18:38] "As for me, GOD is my Lord, and I will never set up any other god besides my Lord. [18:39] "When you entered your garden, you should have said, 'This is what GOD has given me (Mã Shã Allãh). No one possesses power except GOD (Lã Quwwata Ellã Bellãh).' You may see that I possess less money and less children than you. [18:40] "My Lord may grant me better than your garden. He may send a violent storm from the sky that wipes out your garden, leaving it completely barren. [18:41] "Or, its water may sink deeper, out of your reach."

[18:42] Indeed, his crops were wiped out, and he ended up sorrowful, lamenting what he had spent on it in vain, as his property lay barren. He finally said, "I wish I never set up my property as a god beside my Lord." [18:43] No force on earth could have helped him against GOD, nor was it possible for him to receive any help. [18:44] That is because the only true Lord and master is GOD; He provides the best recompense, and with Him is the best destiny.

[18:45] Cite for them the example of this life as water that we send down from the sky to produce plants of the earth, then they turn into hay that is blown away by the wind. GOD is able to do all things.

If we are unappreciative we will lose everything as it is God who causes the provisions to be sent or turned to hay 

If we think it is us who is doing this then we are worshiping our selves

How can we tell when as a society we are turning unappreciative?  

[34:15] Sheba's homeland used to be a marvel, with two gardens on the right and the left. Eat from your Lord's provisions, and be appreciative of Him—good land, and a forgiving Lord. [34:16] They turned away and, consequently, we poured upon them a disastrous flood, and we substituted their two gardens into two gardens of bad tasting fruits, thorny plants, and a skimpy harvest. [34:17] We thus requited them for their disbelief. Do we not requite only the disbelievers?

[34:18] We placed between them and the communities that we blessed other oases, and we secured the journey between them: "Travel therein days and nights in complete security." [34:19] But they (turned unappreciative and) challenged: "Our Lord, we do not care if You increase the distance of our journeys (without any stations)." They thus wronged their own souls. Consequently, we made them history, and scattered them into small communities throughout the land. This should provide lessons for those who are steadfast, appreciative.   

[34:20] Satan found them readily fulfilling his expectations. They followed him, except a few believers.

Entitlement 

Just because God has blessed us tremendously does not mean we “deserve” any of this.

Once we think we deserve something we no longer become appreciative we think it is owed to us 

[41:50] And when we bless him after suffering some adversity, he says, "This belongs to me. I do not believe that the Hour will ever come to pass. Even if I am returned to my Lord, I will find at Him better things." Most certainly, we will inform the disbelievers of all their works, and will commit them to severe retribution.  

Children of Israel

[7:131] When good omens came their way, they said, "We have deserved this," but when a hardship afflicted them, they blamed Moses and those with him. In fact, their omens are decided only by GOD, but most of them do not know. 

[11:9] Whenever we bless the human being with mercy from us, then remove it, he turns despondent, unappreciative. [11:10] Whenever we bless him, after adversity had afflicted him, he says, "All adversity has gone away from me;" he becomes excited, proud. [11:11] As for those who steadfastly persevere, and lead a righteous life, they deserve forgiveness and a generous recompense.

[19:77] Have you noted the one who rejected our revelations then said, "I will be given wealth and children"?! [19:78] Has he seen the future? Has he taken such a pledge from the Most Gracious?”

Entitlement is the opposite of gratitude 

Entitlement - I deserve these eyes, I deserve this clean bill of health 

God owes us nothing and we owe Him everything 

If I believe it is owed to me then I don’t believe I have to work for it

Thinking nothing is their fault and everything is owed to them

[10:12] When adversity touches the human being, he implores us while lying down, or sitting, or standing up. But as soon as we relieve his adversity, he goes on as if he never implored us to relieve any hardship! The works of the transgressors are thus adorned in their eyes. 

becomes accustomed to something habituation   

Children of Israel Rebel

[2:61] Recall that you said, "O Moses, we can no longer tolerate one kind of food. Call upon your Lord to produce for us such earthly crops as beans, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions." He said, "Do you wish to substitute that which is inferior for that which is good? Go down to Egypt, where you can find what you asked for." They have incurred condemnation, humiliation, and disgrace, and brought upon themselves wrath from GOD. This is because they rejected GOD's revelations, and killed the prophets unjustly. This is because they disobeyed and transgressed. 

How can we tell that we have progressed from feeling entitled to feeling appreciative?

When we replace a sense of entitlement and exception that things are owed to me, to a life of service and gratitude and understanding how can I serve others based on the provisions and blessings that God has given me

When we are young we are self-centered this makes sense as in our youth we are trying to figure out who we are why are we here

But if we never grow out of that phase then we will never grow to understand how we can serve others…

Example of Moses -

When he was a baby he cried for milk when he refused any nursing mother aside from his own mother.

[28:22] As he traveled towards Midyan, he said, "May my Lord guide me in the right path." [28:23] When he reached Midyan's water, he found a crowd of people watering, and noticed two women waiting on the side. He said, "What is it that you need?" They said, "We are not able to water, until the crowd disperses, and our father is an old man." [28:24] He watered for them, then turned to the shade, saying, "My Lord, whatever provision You send to me, I am in dire need for it." [28:25] Soon, one of the two women approached him, shyly, and said, "My father invites you to pay you for watering for us." When he met him, and told him his story, he said, "Have no fear. You have been saved from the oppressive people." 

Believing Nations Prosper

[10:98] Any community that believes will surely be rewarded for believing. For example, the people of Jonah: when they believed, we relieved the humiliating retribution they had been suffering in this world, and we made them prosperous. [10:99] Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed.* Do you want to force the people to become believers?

A society that believes in God will want to help out others in need.

Appreciative means grateful, helpful, charitable

Unappreciative ungrateful, self centered, selfish, stingy greedy

Done by choice not by force

Don’t attempt to outsource your righteous deeds for others to perform on your behalf

Subscribe to the podcast and show notes: https://qurantalk.podbean.com/

Quran translation on iOS: https://apple.co/2C1YGXj

Additional Resources: http://www.masjidtucson.org

Contact: qurantalk (at) gmail (dot) com

What about when the right path is almost impossible to find?

So I have been watching a Netflix series called Ozark and the premise of the show is how one family keeps getting further and further away from righteousness and how they keep thinking that if they just do one more bad deed they will be able to get back to their normal lives.

In one of the episodes of Ozark, one of the main characters made the following quote that really resonated with me.

“evil comes when the righteous path is so hidden it looks like there is only one way out.”

What do you do when you reach a crossroads and you are being tested and you know the right path but it is too hard to make the right decision?

Scent of a women - I’ve been to the crossroads

The question is what should we do when temptation is too high.

[29:2] Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe," without being put to the test? [29:3] We have tested those before them, for GOD must distinguish those who are truthful, and He must expose the liars.

God's Tests Are Never Unreasonable [4:66] Had we decreed for them: "You must offer your lives," or "Give up your homes," they would not have done it, except for a few of them. (Even if such a command was issued,) had they done what they were commanded to do, it would have been better for them, and would prove the strength of their faith.

In consumer electronics and specifically semiconductors there are different grades of product quality. And each grade was more expensive. 

• Commercial: 0 °C to 70 °C - test at 25C

The higher the test the higher the cause 

[6:132] Everyone will attain a rank commensurate with their deeds. Your Lord is never unaware of anything they do.

1. know what the right path is but too hard

The right path is so blocked that it is almost impossible to see

The worst thing that can happen to someone is when they can’t differentiate right from wrong. And this occurs when we persist in sins knowingly.

Cognitive dissonance - people like to think that they are good righteous, virtuous, but when their actions do not align this causes discomfort and they have a choice

1. They can continue to try to improve and do better

Better to sin out of weakness and admit it is a sin rather than lie to one’s self and deny it is sinful or worst yet call it righteous

[35:8] Note the one whose evil work is adorned in his eyes, until he thinks that it is righteous. GOD thus sends astray whoever wills (to go astray), and He guides whoever wills (to be guided). Therefore, do not grieve over them. GOD is fully aware of everything they do.

(3) The Hypocrites

[2:8] Then there are those who say, "We believe in GOD and the Last Day," while they are not believers. [2:9] In trying to deceive GOD and those who believe, they only deceive themselves without perceiving. [2:10] In their minds there is a disease. Consequently, GOD augments their disease. They have incurred a painful retribution for their lying. [2:11] When they are told, "Do not commit evil," they say, "But we are righteous!" [2:12] In fact, they are evildoers, but they do not perceive.

[6:43] If only they implored when our test afflicted them! Instead, their hearts were hardened, and the devil adorned their works in their eyes.

[2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided.

[3:135] If they fall in sin or wrong their souls, they remember God and ask forgiveness for their sins - and who forgives the sins except God - and they do not persist in sins, knowingly.

Joseph being tempted 

[12:23] The lady of the house where he lived tried to seduce him. She closed the doors and said, "I am all yours." He said, "May GOD protect me. He is my Lord, who gave me a good home. The transgressors never succeed."

[12:24] She almost succumbed to him, and he almost succumbed to her, if it were not that he saw a proof from his Lord. We thus diverted evil and sin away from him, for he was one of our devoted servants. 

This revelation is not about an ordinary guy, it is about Joseph who was blessed with wisdom and knowledge. Joseph knew what is right and what is wrong but with all knowing, he was about to fail, but he was saved. How? Joseph was saved because he implored to God.

God save him by showing a proof from his lord, a mercy, how about us? Do we implore to God?

Or can we see a proof from the God when we are at a crossroad and temptation is too high? 

[17:73] They almost diverted you from the revelations we have given you. They wanted you to fabricate something else, in order to consider you a friend. [17:74] If it were not that we strengthened you, you almost leaned towards them just a little bit. [17:75] Had you done that, we would have doubled the retribution for you in this life, and after death, and you would have found no one to help you against us.

When we sin we are actively trying to block out God’s light

[74:38] Every soul is trapped by its sins. [74:39] Except for those on the right.

[6:122] Is one who was dead and we granted him life, and provided him with light that enables him to move among the people, equal to one in total darkness from which he can never exit? The works of the disbelievers are thus adorned in their eyes.

Light is what lets us know what is right and wrong so that we can get back on the right path

Trees move in the direction of the light

Kudzu plant will slowly grow over existing structures like trees and will block all sunlight from approaching the object and eventually kill the tree

All paths lead back to God so we can submit willingly or unwillingly but ultimately we will be returned to God and either be rewarded with Paradise or see the retribution of Hell

[13:15] To GOD prostrates everyone in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the mornings and the evenings.

What do we need to see something? 3 things:

1. We need eyes and a brain

God's light is the same. We can see God's light with our hearts as long as we are not strayers and want to see God's signs by imploring to Him.

What is God’s light and what it does? 

There is only one verse in Quran that talks about Light Upon Light and that is when God explains.

God 

[24:35] GOD is the light of the heavens and the earth. The allegory of His light is that of a concave mirror behind a lamp that is placed inside a glass container. The glass container is like a bright, pearl-like star. The fuel thereof is supplied from a blessed oil-producing tree, that is neither eastern, nor western. Its oil is almost self-radiating; needs no fire to ignite it. Light upon light. GOD guides to His light whomever He wills. GOD thus cites the parables for the people. GOD is fully aware of all things.

What does God's light do? It provides guidance. 

When in the Contact Prayer, we say "Guide us to the right path the path of those whom You blessed; not of those who have deserved wrath, nor of the strayers.

We are asking God to turn on his light. It helps us to see the whole thing, our innermost egos and the consequences of our actions. 

It is interesting to mention that there is only one verse that talks about darkness upon darkness and this verse is in the same chapter of Light Upon Light, 5 verses below. There is something very unique about it that I have to share with you.

[24:40] Another allegory is that of being in total darkness in the midst of a violent ocean, with waves upon waves, in addition to thick fog. Darkness upon darkness—if he looked at his own hand, he could barely see it. Whomever GOD deprives of light, will have no light.

God talks about Darkness upon Darkness... the strange part is , in the same verse, God says "if he looked at his own hand, he could barely see it."; What does “barely” mean? You can barely see if there is tiny light otherwise you could see nothing. What does a tiny light is doing in the middle of Darkness Upon Darkness.

Do you know what is called that tiny light in total darkness?

HOPE

Never despair of God’s mercy. No matter what the odds are.

God's Infinite Mercy 

[39:53] Proclaim: "O My servants who exceeded the limits, never despair of GOD's mercy. For GOD forgives all sins. He is the Forgiver, Most Merciful."

It tells me no matter how darn the situation is, darkness upon darkness, there is always hope, a tiny shred of light, never despair.

[9:118] Also (redeemed were) the three who stayed behind. The spacious earth became so straitened for them, that they almost gave up all hope for themselves. Finally, they realized that there was no escape from God, except to Him. He then redeemed them that they may repent. God is the Redeemer, Most Merciful.

When is the best time to plant a tree 40 years ago when is the next best day today

[65:2] ...Anyone who reverences GOD, He will create an exit for him.  [65:3] And will provide for him whence he never expected. Anyone who trusts in GOD, He suffices him. GOD's commands are done. GOD has decreed for everything its fate.

[65:4] ...Anyone who reverences GOD, He makes everything easy for him.

[65:7]...GOD will provide ease after difficulty.

If you think that there isn't a way, rest assured that with God there is always a way.

In the heart to the Sahara desert is the Ubari sand sea

Swallows that left Nigeria have travelled 1 and a half thousand miles so far on their way to Europe

Luckily in the Ubari Sand Sea there is an oasis called Umm Al-maa

In the midst of the desert ancient ground water swells to the surface

And at first glance it looks like just what the swallows need for hydration in order to make their trip

But they must be careful because this oasis is poisonous

evaporation over the years has caused this oasis to be saltier than the sea and if that isn’t bad enough the place is infested with vast swarms of flies

But this plague is the swallows salvation because the flies are filled with fresh water that have been filtered from the brine

The birds get all the water and food they need from the flies bodies 

[2:214] Do you expect to enter Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were tested with hardship and adversity, and were shaken up, until the messenger and those who believed with him said, "Where is GOD's victory?" GOD's victory is near.

[2:286] GOD never burdens a soul beyond its means: to its credit is what it earns, and against it is what it commits. "Our Lord, do not condemn us if we forget or make mistakes. Our Lord, and protect us from blaspheming against You, like those before us have done. Our Lord, protect us from sinning until it becomes too late for us to repent. Pardon us and forgive us. You are our Lord and Master. Grant us victory over the disbelieving people."

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Mary

[3:42] The angels said, "O Mary, GOD has chosen you and purified you. He has chosen you from all the women. [3:43] "O Mary, you shall submit to your Lord, and prostrate and bow down with those who bow down.” 

[3:45] The angels said, "O Mary, GOD gives you good news: a Word from Him whose name is 'The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary.' He will be prominent in this life and in the Hereafter, and one of those closest to Me. [3:46] "He will speak to the people from the crib, as well as an adult; he will be one of the righteous.”

[19:23] The birth process came to her by the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "(I am so ashamed;) I wish I were dead before this happened, and completely forgotten."

[2:216] Fighting may be imposed on you, even though you dislike it. But you may dislike something which is good for you, and you may like something which is bad for you. GOD knows while you do not know.

[10:61] You do not get into any situation, nor do you recite any Quran, nor do you do anything, without us being witnesses thereof as you do it. Not even an atom's weight is out of your Lord's control, be it in the heavens or the earth. Nor is there anything smaller than an atom, or larger, that is not recorded in a profound record.

When faced with hardship do you believe: “this is happening to me” or “is this happening for me?”

Sura 18 - There is a good reason for everything

the people who own a boat;

the parents of the child;

the treasure for the orphans 

Job 3 1-7

1. After a while, Job opened his mouth to speak. He cursed the day he had been born. 2 He said, 3 “May the day I was born be wiped out. May the night be wiped away when people said, ‘A boy is born!’ 4 May that day turn into darkness. May God in heaven not care about it. May no light shine on it. 5 May gloom and total darkness take it back. May a cloud settle over it. May blackness cover it up. 6 May deep darkness take over the night I was born. May it not be included among the days of the year. May it never appear in any of the months. 7 May no children ever have been born on that night. May no shout of joy be heard in it.

Job 38:4 -7

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?

[21:83] And Job implored his Lord: "Adversity has befallen me, and, of all the merciful ones, You are the Most Merciful." [21:84] We responded to him, relieved his adversity, and restored his family for him, even twice as much. That was a mercy from us, and a reminder for the worshipers.

Example of Joseph -

• Left for dead by his brothers

Even if what happens is a consequence of our actions, God can use this for our good if we trust in Him. Tough Love

If we trust in God he can transform any situation

God who designed a system where:

coal can be transformed into diamonds,

sand into pearls,

and a caterpillar into a butterfly

can transform any situation in our lives as well. 

God who can take the most putrid water and transform it to clean fresh nourishing and delicious for us to drink can also take any situation in our life that the devil has made for our bad into being for our good

[56:68] Have you noted the water you drink? [56:69] Did you send it down from the clouds, or did we? [56:70] If we will, we can make it salty. You should be thankful.

[15:22] ... and cause water to come down from the sky for you to drink. Otherwise, you could not keep it palatable.

Joseph extended stay in prison

[12:36] Two young men were in the prison with him. One of them said, "I saw (in my dream) that I was making wine," and the other said, "I saw myself carrying bread on my head, from which the birds were eating. Inform us of the interpretation of these dreams. We see that you are righteous."

[12:41] "O my prison mates, one of you will be the wine butler for his lord, while the other will be crucified— the birds will eat from his head. This settles the matter about which you have inquired." [12:42] He then said to the one to be saved "Remember me at your lord."* Thus, the devil caused him to forget his Lord, and, consequently, he remained in prison a few more years.

Imagine trying to crack an egg prematurely to help the chick before it was ready to get out on it’s own

[32:21] We let them taste the smaller retribution (of this world), before they incur the greater retribution (of the Hereafter), that they may (take a hint and) reform.

How much worse would it be to spend an eternity in Hell rather than waking up and taking a hint now?

[4:147] What will GOD gain from punishing you, if you became appreciative and believed? GOD is Appreciative, Omniscient.

There is a season for everything - 

Sometimes a season for abundance and sometimes a season for scarcity 

The King's Dream [12:43] The king said, "I saw seven fat cows being devoured by seven skinny cows, and seven green spikes (of wheat), and others shriveled. O my elders, advise me regarding my dream, if you know how to interpret the dreams." [12:44] They said, "Nonsense dreams. When it comes to the interpretation of dreams, we are not knowledgeable." [12:45] The one who was saved (from the prison) said, now that he finally remembered, "I can tell you its interpretation, so send me (to Joseph)."

Joseph Interprets the King's Dream [12:46] "Joseph my friend, inform us about seven fat cows being devoured by seven skinny cows, and seven green spikes, and others shriveled. I wish to go back with some information for the people." [12:47] He said, "What you cultivate during the next seven years, when the time of harvest comes, leave the grains in their spikes, except for what you eat. [12:48] "After that, seven years of drought will come, which will consume most of what you stored for them. [12:49] "After that, a year will come that brings relief for the people, and they will, once again, press juice."

[3:140] If you suffer hardship, the enemy also suffers the same hardship. We alternate the days of victory and defeat among the people. GOD thus distinguishes the true believers, and blesses some of you with martyrdom. GOD dislikes injustice. [3:141] GOD thus toughens those who believe and humiliates the disbelievers.

[17:10] As for those who disbelieve in the Hereafter, we have prepared for them a painful retribution. [17:11] The human being often prays for something that may hurt him, thinking that he is praying for something good. The human being is impatient.

Things are happening for a purpose  – Trust the process 

[2:249] When Saul took command of the troops, he said, "GOD is putting you to the test by means of a stream. Anyone who drinks from it does not belong with me—only those who do not taste it belong with me—unless it is just a single sip." They drank from it, except a few of them. When he crossed it with those who believed, they said, "Now we lack the strength to face Goliath and his troops." Those who were conscious of meeting GOD said, "Many a small army defeated a large army by GOD's leave. GOD is with those who steadfastly persevere.”

[33:12] The hypocrites and those with doubts in their hearts said, "What GOD and His messenger promised us was no more than an illusion!" [33:13] A group of them said, "O people of Yathrib, you cannot attain victory; go back." Others made up excuses to the prophet: "Our homes are vulnerable," when they were not vulnerable. They just wanted to flee. [33:14] Had the enemy invaded and asked them to join, they would have joined the enemy without hesitation.

[33:22] When the true believers saw the parties (ready to attack), they said, "This is what GOD and His messenger have promised us, and GOD and His messenger are truthful." This (dangerous situation) only strengthened their faith and augmented their submission.

If we never move past from “Why is this happening to me” to “This is happing for me” then we could turn into hypocrites

[29:2] Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe," without being put to the test?

[29:10] Among the people there are those who say, "We believe in GOD," but as soon as they suffer any hardship because of GOD, they equate the people's persecution with GOD's retribution. But if blessings from your Lord come your way, they say, "We were with you." Is GOD not fully aware of the people's innermost thoughts? [29:11] GOD will most certainly distinguish those who believe, and He will most certainly expose the hypocrites.

[3:165] Now that you have suffered a setback, and even though you inflicted twice as much suffering (upon your enemy), you said, "Why did this happen to us?" Say, "This is a consequence of your own deeds." GOD is Omnipotent. [3:166] What afflicted you the day the two armies clashed was in accordance with GOD's will, and to distinguish the believers. [3:167] And to expose the hypocrites who were told, "Come fight in the cause of GOD, or contribute." They said, "If we knew how to fight, we would have joined you." They were closer to disbelief then than they were to belief. They uttered with their mouths what was not in their hearts. GOD knows what they conceal. [3:168] They said of their kinsmen, as they stayed behind, "Had they obeyed us, they would not have been killed." Say, "Then prevent your own death, if you are truthful."

Difference between a Submitter or Weak Believer and a Hypocrite

Difference between a Hypocrite and a weak believer is the weak believer knows what is right and what is wrong, but lacks the strength to go for the right path. The hypocrite on the other hand will change the definition of the right path to match their desires.

[9:118] Also (redeemed were) the three who stayed behind. The spacious earth became so straitened for them, that they almost gave up all hope for themselves. Finally, they realized that there was no escape from GOD, except to Him. He then redeemed them that they may repent. GOD is the Redeemer, Most Merciful.

[3:154] After the setback, He sent down upon you peaceful slumber that pacified some of you. Others among you were selfishly concerned about themselves. They harbored thoughts about GOD that were not right— the same thoughts they had harbored during the days of ignorance. Thus, they said, "Is anything up to us?" Say, "Everything is up to GOD." They concealed inside themselves what they did not reveal to you. They said, "If it was up to us, none of us would have been killed in this battle." Say, "Had you stayed in your homes, those destined to be killed would have crawled into their death beds." GOD thus puts you to the test to bring out your true convictions, and to test what is in your hearts. GOD is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.

Lot less concern on the outcome and more concern for the process

Marcus Lemonis - The Profit: people, process; profit

Can’t control the winds but we can adjust our sails 

We can’t control the outcome we can only control our input

Can you go through the experience and feel good about your decision?

Sow the seeds to gain the harvest

The farmer who trusts in God knows the process. They know that if they plant the right seeds and do the righteous works that they will reap the benefits regardless of the short term outcome or temporary “season”

Accumulation of what you do everyday

Accumulation of thousands of small decisions to push the lever to the other track 

Slight gradual change to big momentous shift

Stone cutter quote - “When nothing seems to help, I go back and look at the stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it — but all that had gone before.”

[10:61] You do not get into any situation, nor do you recite any Quran, nor do you do anything, without us being witnesses thereof as you do it. Not even an atom's weight is out of your Lord's control, be it in the heavens or the earth. Nor is there anything smaller than an atom, or larger, that is not recorded in a profound record.

Boy named sue - Johnny Cash

Well my daddy left home when I was three

And he didn't leave much to Ma and me

Just this old guitar and an empty bottle of booze

Now, I don't blame him 'cause he run and hid

But the meanest thing that he ever did

Was before he left, he went and named me "Sue"

Well, he must o' thought that is quite a joke

And it got a lot of laughs from a' lots of folk

It seems I had to fight my whole life through

Some gal would giggle and I'd get red

And some guy'd laugh and I'd bust his head

I tell ya, life ain't easy for a boy named "Sue"

…

He stood there lookin' at me and I saw him smile

And he said, "Son, this world is rough

And if a man's gonna make it, he's gotta be tough

And I know I wouldn't be there to help you along

So I give you that name and I said goodbye

I knew you'd have to get tough or die

And it's the name that helped to make you strong"

He said, "Now you just fought one hell of a fight

And I know you hate me, and you got the right

To kill me now, and I wouldn't blame you if you do

But you ought to thank me, before I die

For the gravel in your guts and the spit in your eye

'Cause I'm the person that named you "Sue"

What could I do, what could I do

I got all choked up and I threw down my gun

Called him my Pa, and he called me his son

And I come away with a different point of view

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F$%! the poor video

Three kinds of people

1. the ones who are indifferent

2. The ones who only react when they are offended

3. The ones who give to charity in either situation

[7:176] Had we willed, we could have elevated him therewith, but he insisted on sticking to the ground, and pursued his own opinions. Thus, he is like the dog; whether you pet him or scold him, he pants. Such is the example of people who reject our proofs. Narrate these narrations, that they may reflect.

It is good to speak up, but it shouldn’t be the only time we react is to an external stimulus

This is the difference between a thermometer and a thermostat

• Thermometer only reacts to the external environment

If we are only going through life reacting to events then we are just being a thermometer

This isn’t bad, but it shouldn’t be our end destination. Think of these moments as our call to action.

David vs. Goliath

Example of Moses

• Kills a man

Rather than just getting mad at the person who is saying these terrible things about the poor. Go and give to the poor.

[2:274] Those who give to charity night and day, secretly and publicly, receive their recompense from their Lord; they will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.

[3:92] You cannot attain righteousness until you give to charity from the possessions you love. Whatever you give to charity, GOD is fully aware thereof.

[25:63] The worshipers of the Most Gracious are those who tread the earth gently, and when the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace.

[84:19] You will move from stage to stage.

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

[3:175] It is the devil's system to instill fear into his subjects. Do not fear them and fear Me instead, if you are believers.

The devil wants to fear, to incite, to get you outraged

But fear and outrage are not virtues

The question is what do you do when you experience them?

7 stages of grief

• Shock & Denial

Why so angry?

Same thing we go from fear to love of God.

[72:13] " `When we heard the guidance, we believed therein. Anyone who believes in his Lord will never fear any injustice, nor any affliction.

Injustice only exists if you don’t believe in a Hereafter

[4:79] Anything good that happens to you is from GOD, and anything bad that happens to you is from you. We have sent you as a messenger to the people, and GOD suffices as witness.

It is easier to destroy than to build

************************************

Why do people like spicy food?

Believed to originally be because to mask the taste of food particularly meat that was not fresh.

Found that in climates the more hot the more the use of spices in their recipes

But this for the most part no longer applies as we have plenty of access to fresh meat by means of refrigeration yet I don’t think there is a decline in human desire towards spicy food

With the exception of the tree shrews, I don’t think there is any other mammal that has a fondness of spicy food

https://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/man-is-the-only-animal-to-find-pleasure-in-the-pain-of-peppers

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/21peppers.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2&ref=science

https://www.thrillist.com/health/nation/what-makes-some-people-like-spicy-food-and-others-hate-it

And the only reason that tree shrews like particular chili peppers is because they have a mutation that lowers the sensitivity to the compound that gives spicy food that burning sensation in all other mammals.

Dr. Paul Bloom: “How Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We Like,”

• First we do it because we see other people doing it

This shows how we can train ourselves to like unpalatable things

This can be true for much of what we do.

Outrage associate the feeling with excitement

Animals, for the most part, don’t get angry (monkey grapes and cucumbers experiment)

Outrage is a learned behavior

Entice / provoke - devils tool

[17:64] "You may entice them with your voice, and mobilize all your forces and all your men against them, and share in their money and children, and promise them. Anything the devil promises is no more than an illusion.

How cheap is your happiness?

When we get angry and stay in a state of anger we are showing that we are doubting God’s promise…

[4:85] Whoever mediates a good deed receives a share of the credit thereof, and whoever mediates an evil work, incurs a share thereof. GOD controls all things.

Outrage has a social contagion effect

Pepsi commercial - Kendall Jenner

https://player.fm/series/what-really-happened-1638434/kendall-jenner-the-anatomy-of-an-advertising-disaster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dA5Yq1DLSmQ

How anger affects judgment - we make worse decisions

The average person didn’t think it was that bad

• between 18 - 29 years old 50% said it gave them a positive view of Pepsi, 26% less positive. 24% neutral

Experiment with music

Gave people a list of songs in one group they were told certain songs were liked more than the other and the other group was told the opposite

Netflix got rid of the star review system with a simple thumbs up or down. The reason is that everyone says they like movies like Shindler’s list and not Adam Sandler movies, but their viewing habits show otherwise.

We weigh negative critiques more than positive.

If someone tells you the food at somewhere is bad who is more likely not to go there? The one who went there and experienced that bad food or the one who never went there?

Need 10 positive reviews for each negative review

What message are we putting out to the world?

[9:15] He will also remove the rage from the believers' hearts. GOD redeems whomever He wills. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.

[5:2] O you who believe, do not violate the rites instituted by GOD, nor the Sacred Months, nor the animals to be offered, nor the garlands marking them, nor the people who head for the Sacred Shrine (Ka'bah) seeking blessings from their Lord and approval. Once you complete the pilgrimage, you may hunt.* Do not be provoked into aggression by your hatred of people who once prevented you from going to the Sacred Masjid. You shall cooperate in matters of righteousness and piety; do not cooperate in matters that are sinful and evil. You shall observe GOD. GOD is strict in enforcing retribution.

We have limited time and limited brain capacity are you going to focus on the things that make you mad or the the things to be grateful for? 

If you look at the world from a perspective of gratitude, looking to see joy and happiness, the brain will translate that joy and happiness into chemistry, such as a dopamine release from feeling pleasure.

Molecules of emotion  - peptides and receptors - feedback loop 

Happiness: Now and Forever* [10:62] Absolutely, GOD's allies have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve. [10:63] They are those who believe and lead a righteous life. [10:64] For them, joy and happiness in this world, as well as in the Hereafter. This is GOD's unchangeable law. Such is the greatest triumph.

Every time you focus on gratitude, you’re helping combat depression and anxiety by minimizing your cortisol production. 

https://qz.com/1463947/the-science-behind-the-health-benefits-of-a-daily-gratitude-practice/

Boredom is when our attention has been so dulled that we need some external stimuli to keep our mind occupied -

sensationalization of our external stimuli dulls our senses -

need outrage to keep us entertained

We would rather electrocute ourselves than spend time in our own thoughts. This was demonstrated in a controversial 2014 study in which 67 per cent of male participants and 25 per cent of female participants opted to give themselves unpleasant electric shocks rather than spend 15 minutes in peaceful contemplation.

Meditation is the act of getting back to baseline and being aware of your thoughts your surroundings being present - put things in perspective

Which friend would you value more?

Friend #1

• If you go out to eat they cover the bill

Friend #2

• They always want to pick what to watch

Why do we have more favor towards our children rather than our parents?

It doesn’t make sense our parents raised us,

• they took care of us,

yet our children do the opposite

• They complain,

Not all of us are parents but all of us were children

Cake Mix

https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/pop-culture/article/cake-mix-history

When they first introduced cake mix in the 1930s it wasn’t a success until the 1950’s

The reason was that prior to 1950’s all one needed to do was just add water,

There was no sense of ownership or accomplishment - can’t take credit

In the 1950s they changed it where you would need to add eggs / sometimes butter and all of a sudden it was a big success?

You would think adding steps would be worse, but it made people’s love of the product more

Ikea Effect – Dan Ariely

The more effort we put into something the more we like it

Paper Origami experiment

Split up into two groups: Builder and Buyers

The builders would make the origami and the buyers would value the work

Builders value their work as more valuable then buyers

But builders also thought that other people would love their work more than they actually did

When they re-did the experiment and gave more difficult instructions regarding how to make the origami (so they took out some of the detail) the builders liked their work even more and the buyers valued it even less

This only holds true if the builder has something to show for in their endeavor - if they are left with a disappointed crumpled paper then this does not hold true.

Or if you cook dinner you think it taste better than others

Or if you make art

The effort we put into it is a big portion of how much we value it

Example of Adam and Eve - they were in Paradise they had everything it was just given to them, yet they gave it all up because they didn’t value what they had.

Abraham

[37:95] He said, "How can you worship what you carve? [37:96] "When GOD has created you, and everything you make!”

[26:69] Narrate to them Abraham's history. [26:70] He said to his father and his people, "What is this you are worshiping?" [26:71] They said, "We worship statues; we are totally devoted to them." [26:72] He said, "Can they hear you when you implore? [26:73] "Can they benefit you, or harm you?" [26:74] They said, "No; but we found our parents doing this."

[26:75] He said, "Do you see these idols that you worship. [26:76] "You and your ancestors. [26:77] "I am against them, for I am devoted only to the Lord of the universe. [26:78] "The One who created me, and guided me. [26:79] "The One who feeds me and waters me. [26:80] "And when I get sick, He heals me. [26:81] "The One who puts me to death, then brings me back to life. [26:82] "The One who hopefully will forgive my sins on the Day of Judgment.

[9:24] Proclaim: "If your parents, your children, your siblings, your spouses, your family, the money you have earned, a business you worry about, and the homes you cherish are more beloved to you than GOD and His messenger, and the striving in His cause, then just wait until GOD brings His judgment." GOD does not guide the wicked people.

[30:7] They care only about things of this world that are visible to them, while being totally oblivious to the Hereafter.

So we are here to learn appreciation for God and all that He has given us

[90:4] We created the human being to work hard (to redeem himself).*

This is the reason I believe God has set up rules and commandments for us to follow so we can earn our appreciation

• Getting up for Salat and performing it 5 times a day

We are working hard to foster the love with God that He deserves

The reason we are unappreciative is because we don’t value what we have not earned.

• Go to a restaurant and get a food that is slightly off and we complain

• Make a meal ourselves that at best could be considered so-so and we think it is the most delicious meal - and we contemplate opening a restaurant.

• Go give someone a $1000 and see how much they value that money versus the person who earned $1000

I would say that it is even worse than just being unappreciative. We think that we are entitled to this and even more:

[18:36] “Moreover, I think this is it; I do not think that the Hour (the Hereafter) will ever come to pass. Even if I am returned to my Lord, I will (be clever enough to) possess an even better one over there.”

[41:49] The human being never tires of imploring for good things. And when adversity befalls him, he turns despondent, desperate. [41:50] And when we bless him after suffering some adversity, he says, "This belongs to me. I do not believe that the Hour will ever come to pass. Even if I am returned to my Lord, I will find at Him better things." Most certainly, we will inform the disbelievers of all their works, and will commit them to severe retribution. [41:51] When we bless the human being, he turns away, and drifts farther and farther away, and when he suffers any affliction, he implores loudly.

Importance of give from the things you earn…

[2:267] O you who believe, you shall give to charity from the good things you earn, and from what we have produced for you from the earth. Do not pick out the bad therein to give away, when you yourselves do not accept it unless your eyes are closed. You should know that GOD is Rich, Praiseworthy.

[3:92] You cannot attain righteousness until you give to charity from the possessions you love. Whatever you give to charity, GOD is fully aware thereof.

Supply and demand

• The more the supply the less the value proportional to demand

[17:20] For each one of them we provide; we provide those and these from your Lord's bounties. Your Lord's bounties are inexhaustible.

[15:21] There is nothing that we do not own infinite amounts thereof. But we send it down in precise measure.

[6:147] If they disbelieve you, then say, "Your Lord possesses infinite mercy, but His retribution is unavoidable for the guilty people.”

[8:29] O you who believe, if you reverence GOD, He will enlighten you, remit your sins, and forgive you. GOD possesses infinite grace.

God intentionally made Himself scarce here on Earth to only be found by those who seek Him - Artificial Scarcity

[2:115] To GOD belongs the east and the west; wherever you go there will be the presence of GOD. GOD is Omnipresent, Omniscient.

[2:186] When My servants ask you about Me, I am always near. I answer their prayers when they pray to Me. The people shall respond to Me and believe in Me, in order to be guided.

The reality is that if God gave us everything we would transgress?

[42:27] If GOD increased the provision for His servants, they would transgress on earth. This is why He sends it precisely measured to whomever He wills. He is fully Cognizant and Seer of His servants.

[43:33] If it were not that all the people might become one (disbelieving) congregation, we would have granted everyone who disbelieves in the Most Gracious mansions with silver roofs, and stairs upon which they could climb.

The reason we are here is because we are profoundly unappreciative

God is Most Rich - Free of Need

[6:14] Say, "Shall I accept other than GOD as a Lord and Master, when He is the Initiator of the heavens and the earth, and He feeds but is not fed?" Say, "I am commanded to be the most devoted submitter, and, 'Do not be an idol worshiper.' “

[39:7] If you disbelieve, GOD does not need anyone. But He dislikes to see His servants make the wrong decision. If you decide to be appreciative, He is pleased for you. No soul bears the sins of any other soul. Ultimately, to your Lord is your return, then He will inform you of everything you had done. He is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.

God puts us in situations where we need Him and this is for our own good

[39:8] When the human being is afflicted, he implores his Lord, sincerely devoted to Him. But as soon as He blesses him, he forgets his previous imploring, sets up idols to rank with GOD and to divert others from His path. Say, "Enjoy your disbelief temporarily; you have incurred the hellfire."

[39:9] Is it not better to be one of those who meditate in the night, prostrating and staying up, being aware of the Hereafter, and seeking the mercy of their Lord?

[6:41] The fact is: only Him you implore, and He answers your prayer, if He so wills, and you forget your idols. [6:42] We have sent (messengers) to communities before you, and we put them to the test through adversity and hardship, that they may implore. [6:43] If only they implored when our test afflicted them! Instead, their hearts were hardened, and the devil adorned their works in their eyes.

[30:33] When adversity afflicts the people, they turn to their Lord, totally devoting themselves to Him. But then, as soon as He showers them with mercy, some of them revert to idol worship.* [30:34] Let them be unappreciative of what we have given them. Enjoy temporarily; you will surely find out.

*30:33 A common example is the classified advertisements we note in the newspapers, placed by people thanking St. Jude for healing them. Before undergoing surgery, they sincerely implore God to heal them. But as soon as the surgery succeeds, they thank St. Jude!!!

God utilizes another form of psychology: It hurts more to lose something than it feels good to gain

For example the pain of losing a dollar is always more than the joy one gets from losing a dollar

God gave us so much upfront and if we turn unappreciative He will take it away

- hearing, eyesight, bodies, families, friends, home, security etc.

At the same time if we haven’t earned something we value it less so I think this is why God deprives us of some things that we may become appreciative

Example of the people of Sheba

Marib Dam

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marib_Dam

[34:15] Sheba's homeland used to be a marvel, with two gardens on the right and the left. Eat from your Lord's provisions, and be appreciative of Him—good land, and a forgiving Lord. [34:16] They turned away and, consequently, we poured upon them a disastrous flood, and we substituted their two gardens into two gardens of bad tasting fruits, thorny plants, and a skimpy harvest. [34:17] We thus requited them for their disbelief. Do we not requite only the disbelievers? [34:18] We placed between them and the communities that we blessed other oases, and we secured the journey between them: "Travel therein days and nights in complete security." [34:19] But they (turned unappreciative and) challenged: "Our Lord, we do not care if You increase the distance of our journeys (without any stations)." They thus wronged their own souls. Consequently, we made them history, and scattered them into small communities throughout the land. This should provide lessons for those who are steadfast, appreciative.

A mighty flood caused the dam of Marib to burst. This dam was located some 60 miles east of San’aa. The dam was about 5 miles long and 120ft high. The Sabean owed all their prosperity to it. Heavy flood and rain caused the dam to burst and undate the whole area causing widespread ruin. A land full of beautiful gardens, streams and great works of art were turned into vast waste. It was destroyed around the first century AD. 

VIDEO: ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS : Ancient Persia and Arabian Peninsula @ 30min 25 seconds

https://youtu.be/0kenrpQS7qA?t=30m25s

I had surgery for hernia - couldn’t laugh / couldn’t go to the bathroom 

VIDEO: Boy Receives Enchroma Glasses From Father || ViralHog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jHDyhJdDb8

Podcast Story

• Person is 75 years old then starts having stomach problems

[14:7] Your Lord has decreed: "The more you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.

[22:73] O people, here is a parable that you must ponder carefully: the idols you set up beside GOD can never create a fly, even if they banded together to do so. Furthermore, if the fly steals anything from them, they cannot recover it; weak is the pursuer and the pursued. [22:74] They do not value GOD as He should be valued. GOD is the Most Powerful, the Almighty.

What we want to earn the most is God’s approval

[9:72] GOD promises the believing men and the believing women gardens with flowing streams, wherein they abide forever, and magnificent mansions in the gardens of Eden. And GOD's blessings and approval are even greater. This is the greatest triumph.

[25:77] Say, "You attain value at my Lord only through your worship. But if you disbelieve, you incur the inevitable consequences."

[3:174] They have deserved GOD's blessings and grace. No harm ever touches them, for they have attained GOD's approval. GOD possesses infinite grace.

Animals and Birds: Submitting Creatures

[6:38] All the creatures on earth, and all the birds that fly with wings, are communities like you. We did not leave anything out of this book. To their Lord, all these creatures will be summoned.

List of animals mentioned in the Quran:

Elephant, Zebra, Lion, Fly, Mosquito, Raven, Camel, Sheep, goats, cattle, birds, dog, pig, ape, monkey, Cow, fish, serpent, donkey, locusts, butterfly, lice, frogs, horses, mules, quails, snake, wolf, Hoopoe, Spider, Ant, Bee,

Eusocial - (of an animal species, especially an insect) showing an advanced level of social organization, in which a single female or caste produces the offspring and nonreproductive individuals cooperate in caring for the young.

Ants, Bees, Termites

• Ant roles

David and Solomon

[27:15] We endowed David and Solomon with knowledge, and they said, "Praise GOD for blessing us more than many of His believing servants." [27:16] Solomon was David's heir. He said, "O people, we have been endowed with understanding the language of the birds, and all kinds of things have been bestowed upon us. This is indeed a real blessing." [27:17] Mobilized in the service of Solomon were his obedient soldiers of jinns and humans, as well as the birds; all at his disposal. [27:18] When they approached the valley of the ants, one ant said, "O you ants, go into your homes, lest you get crushed by Solomon and his soldiers, without perceiving.” [27:19] He smiled and laughed at her statement, and said, "My Lord, direct me to be appreciative of the blessings You have bestowed upon me and my parents, and to do the righteous works that please You. Admit me by Your mercy into the company of Your righteous servants.”

• Ant Colony

• As the ant colony matures they are not as quick to go to battle and wage war against competing colonies

• Bees vs. Wasp

• A single wasp can take on hundreds of bees killing unto 30 in a single attack

Operate as a single organism

• Termite Mounds

[34:14] When the appointed time for his death came, they had no clue that he had died. Not until one of the animals (a creature of the earth) tried to eat his staff, and he fell down, that the jinns realized that he was dead. They thus realized that if they really knew the unseen, they would have stopped working so hard as soon as he died.

Never would the heart be so selfish to keep all the blood for itself

Operate by choice not by force

Disbelievers use force and intimidation / believers use logic and reason

• Pharaoh and Moses and Believing Egyptian

[20:47] "Go to him and say, 'We are two messengers from your Lord. Let the Children of Israel go. You must refrain from persecuting them. We bring a sign from your Lord, and peace is the lot of those who heed the guidance.

[20:69] "Throw what you hold in your right hand, and it will swallow what they fabricated. What they fabricated is no more than the scheming of a magician. The magician's work will not succeed." [20:70] The magicians fell prostrate, saying, "We believe in the Lord of Aaron and Moses." [20:71] He said, "Did you believe in him without my permission? He must be your chief; the one who taught you magic. I will surely sever your hands and feet on alternate sides. I will crucify you on the palm trunks. You will find out which of us can inflict the worst retribution, and who outlasts whom.”

• Are you going to force us

[7:88] The arrogant leaders among his people said, "We will evict you, O Shu'aib, together with those who believed with you, from our town, unless you revert to our religion." He said, "Are you going to force us? [7:89] "We would be blaspheming against GOD if we reverted to your religion after GOD has saved us from it. How could we revert back to it against the will of GOD our Lord? Our Lord's knowledge encompasses all things. We have put our trust in GOD. Our Lord, grant us a decisive victory over our people. You are the best supporter."

• Cain and Able

The First Murder* [5:27] Recite for them the true history of Adam's two sons. They made an offering, and it was accepted from one of them, but not from the other. He said, "I will surely kill you." He said, "GOD accepts only from the righteous. [5:28] "If you extend your hand to kill me, I am not extending my hand to kill you. For I reverence GOD, Lord of the universe. [5:29] "I want you, not me, to bear my sin and your sin, then you end up with the dwellers of Hell. Such is the requital for the transgressors." [5:30] His ego provoked him into killing his brother. He killed him, and ended up with the losers. [5:31] GOD then sent a raven to scratch the soil, to teach him how to bury his brother's corpse. He said, "Woe to me; I failed to be as intelligent as this raven, and bury my brother's corpse." He became ridden with remorse.

• Abraham and father (stone you)

[19:45] "O my father, I fear lest you incur retribution from the Most Gracious, then become an ally of the devil." [19:46] He said, "Have you forsaken my gods, O Abraham? Unless you stop, I will stone you. Leave me alone." [19:47] He said, "Peace be upon you. I will implore my Lord to forgive you; He has been Most Kind to me.

Socialist vs Libertarian

• God doesn’t force He exhorts and encourages

Disbelievers Compared to Several Animals in Quran

Spider

• Spidergoat

[29:41] The allegory of those who accept other masters beside GOD is that of the spider and her home; the flimsiest of all homes is the home of the spider, if they only knew.*

Locusts

[54:7] With their eyes humiliated, they come out of the graves like scattered locusts.

Locusts are just grasshoppers but when their population gets to be too dense a physiological response happens and they begin to swarm

Billions can gather forming swarms 40 miles wide. And they will consume all vegetation in their sight. An adult locusts can eat its own body weight every day. So a billion of these can eat hundreds of tons of vegetation each day.

When they swarm they are known to affect 1/5th of the earth’s surface from Africa through Asia and will affect 1 in 10 people’s livelyhood in the world.

Monkey and Pigs

[5:60] Say, "Let me tell you who are worse in the sight of GOD: those who are condemned by GOD after incurring His wrath until He made them (as despicable as) monkeys and pigs, and the idol worshipers. These are far worse, and farther from the right path."

Butterfly

One of natures great unsolved mysteries

Every year millions of monarch butterflies travel as far as 3,100 miles to the same place every year - migrating from Canada in the summer to Mexico in the winter

They travel on average of 74 miles a day

And to think that this creature the weighs less than a paperclip can make this amazing journey

But this isn’t the most amazing thing.

The generation that made the migration is known as the Methuselah generation and live only 8 months, but the round trip journey happens once a year

1. They will breed and their offspring lives for only about 4 - 5 weeks

2. Then that offspring will breed and they too will live for about 4 - 5 weeks,

3. Then that offspring will breed and they too will live for about 4 - 5 weeks at which point they are back in Canada for the summer

4. Then the Methuselah generation is born in the summer of Canada and will migrate all the way back south to Mexico a trip that their great-great grandparents had done before them.

So the migration is done by butterflies that have never made the migration before and have never been to the location.

Bird Murmuration

School of fish

These animals each single to one another their behavior and the remainder follow suit going along with the herd.

How do we operate in our own community

[31:18] "You shall not treat the people with arrogance, nor shall you roam the earth proudly. GOD does not like the arrogant showoffs. [31:19] "Walk humbly and lower your voice—the ugliest voice is the donkey's voice."

[90:10] Did we not show him the two paths? [90:11] He should choose the difficult path. [90:12] Which one is the difficult path? [90:13] The freeing of slaves. [90:14] Feeding, during the time of hardship. [90:15] Orphans who are related. [90:16] Or the poor who is in need. [90:17] And being one of those who believe, and exhorting one another to be steadfast, and exhorting one another to be kind. [90:18] These have deserved happiness.

[17:53] Tell My servants to treat each other in the best possible manner, for the devil will always try to drive a wedge among them. Surely, the devil is man's most ardent enemy.

Sura 49 is entitled The Walls

Reconcile The Believers

[49:9] If two groups of believers fought with each other, you shall reconcile them. If one group aggresses against the other, you shall fight the aggressing group until they submit to GOD's command. Once they submit, you shall reconcile the two groups equitably. You shall maintain justice; GOD loves those who are just.

The Real Family

[49:10] The believers are members of one family; you shall keep the peace within your family and reverence GOD, that you may attain mercy.

Believers Set the Example

[49:11] O you who believe, no people shall ridicule other people, for they may be better than they. Nor shall any women ridicule other women, for they may be better than they. Nor shall you mock one another, or make fun of your names. Evil indeed is the reversion to wickedness after attaining faith. Anyone who does not repent after this, these are the transgressors.

Suspicion Is Sinful

[49:12] O you who believe, you shall avoid any suspicion, for even a little bit of suspicion is sinful. You shall not spy on one another, nor shall you backbite one another; this is as abominable as eating the flesh of your dead brother. You certainly abhor this. You shall observe GOD. GOD is Redeemer, Most Merciful. The

Only Criterion For Distinguishing Among The People

[49:13] O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.

Sectarianism

Believers are United

[3:103] You shall hold fast to the rope of GOD, all of you, and do not be divided. Recall GOD's blessings upon you—you used to be enemies and He reconciled your hearts. By His grace, you became brethren. You were at the brink of a pit of fire, and He saved you therefrom. GOD thus explains His revelations for you, that you may be guided. [3:104] Let there be a community of you who invite to what is good, advocate righteousness, and forbid evil. These are the winners. [3:105] Do not be like those who became divided and disputed, despite the clear proofs that were given to them. For these have incurred a terrible retribution.

Religious Sects Condemned

[6:159] Those who divide themselves into sects do not belong with you. Their judgment rests with GOD, then He will inform them of everything they had done.

Sectarianism Condemned

[30:32] (Do not fall in idol worship,) like those who divide their religion into sects; each party rejoicing with what they have.

Basic Law Regulating Relations With Unbelievers

[60:8] GOD does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not fight you because of religion, and do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. GOD loves the equitable. [60:9] GOD enjoins you only from befriending those who fight you because of religion, evict you from your homes, and band together with others to banish you. You shall not befriend them. Those who befriend them are the transgressors.

[5:57] O you who believe, do not befriend those among the recipients of previous scripture who mock and ridicule your religion, nor shall you befriend the disbelievers. You shall reverence GOD, if you are really believers.

[60:13] O you who believe, do not befriend people with whom GOD is angry, and who are hopelessly stuck in disbelief; they are just as hopeless as the disbelievers who are already in the graves.

How to Deal with Hypocrites

How to Deal With the Hypocrites

[4:88] Why should you divide yourselves into two groups regarding hypocrites (among you)? GOD is the one who condemned them because of their own behavior. Do you want to guide those who are sent astray by GOD? Whomever GOD sends astray, you can never find a way to guide them.

[6:125] Whomever GOD wills to guide, He renders his chest wide open to Submission. And whomever He wills to send astray, He renders his chest intolerant and straitened, like one who climbs towards the sky. GOD thus places a curse upon those who refuse to believe.

Eagles and crows

The Hypocrites Drop Out [22:53] He thus sets up the devil's scheme as a test for those who harbor doubts in their hearts, and those whose hearts are hardened. The wicked must remain with the opposition.

When to draw the line?

[9:17] The idol worshipers are not to frequent the masjids of GOD, while confessing their disbelief. These have nullified their works, and they will abide forever in Hell. [9:18] The only people to frequent GOD's masjids are those who believe in GOD and the Last Day, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and do not fear except GOD. These will surely be among the guided ones.

[9:107] There are those who abuse the masjid by practicing idol worship, dividing the believers, and providing comfort to those who oppose GOD and His messenger. They solemnly swear: "Our intentions are honorable!" GOD bears witness that they are liars.

Aaron and the Children of Israel

[20:92] (Moses) said, "O Aaron, what is it that prevented you, when you saw them go astray, [20:93] "from following my orders? Have you rebelled against me?" [20:94] He said, "O son of my mother, do not pull me by my beard and my head. I was afraid that you might say, 'You have divided the Children of Israel, and disobeyed my orders.' “

[7:150] When Moses returned to his people, angry and disappointed, he said, "What a terrible thing you have done in my absence! Could you not wait for the commandments of your Lord?" He threw down the tablets, and took hold of his brother's head, pulling him towards himself. (Aaron) said, "Son of my mother, the people took advantage of my weakness, and almost killed me. Let not my enemies rejoice, and do not count me with the transgressing people.”

Baboons

In the 1980’s there were a couple of researchers studying a baboon troop in Kenya. 

The troop consisted of 62 baboons and had a traditional hierarchy with the alpha males on top and the matriarchs. The alphas were aggressive and harsh and fought to maintain their dominance.

One day the troop found a location that a local resort would use to dump their garbage.

This being a resort the garbage was full of food that the baboons took a real liking to so the troop spent their days living next to this location feasting on the garbage during the day each time there was a new delivery and sleeping and lounging the rest of the time.

In traditional hierarchical fashion the alphas got the choice selection of the food upon delivery.

One day the truck dumped meat and since this was a prize food to have access to the ones who ate the bulk of the meat were the alphas

It ends up the meat was contaminated and caused an outbreak of tuberculosis among the baboons.

This caused the alphas to die leaving only about half the males who were the least aggressive of the bunch along with the females and the young.

So what happened to this group?

Ends up that with the aggressive alpha males removed from the group the group was a lot more friendly to one another. Mutual grooming was more common among the group, less of a hierarchy, less fighting and here is the real interesting thing

As new males joined the group the quickly learned that if they tried to be aggressive or bullying that it wasn’t tolerated that they would be shunned, so for over 20 years this culture persisted despite only a single male from the original group surviving.

What kind of people is your community attracting?

Is your community drawing in sociopaths or people who are kind and humble 

Are you creating fertile soil for people who are kind and humble or violent and belligerent? 

If our community is a microcosm of society and if we can’t maintain the peace here what hope is there for a society of submitters

If we don’t apply God’s laws we get chaos

[8:73] Those who disbelieved are allies of one another. Unless you keep these commandments, there will be chaos on earth, and terrible corruption.

[56:90] And if he is one of the right— [56:91] peace is the lot of those on the right.

What kind of home are we making at our Masjids?

[33:34] Remember what is being recited in your homes of GOD's revelations and the wisdom inherent therein. GOD is Sublime, Cognizant.

Spectrum - Tolerance vs. Intolerance 

• “Anything goes” vs. “Only what I say goes”

• Everyone is going to claim they are following the Quran

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Additional Resources: http://www.masjidtucson.org

Contact: qurantalk (at) gmail (dot) com

If you could have a super power what would it be?

Would you want to fly like Superman - faster than a speeding bullet

Or teleportation like Nightcrawler

Would you want to be super smart like professor Xavier

Or have rehealing process like Wolverine or an adamantium skeleton

As you are thinking which superpower you would want to have pay attention to your thought process?

What are you thinking as you are assessing any one of these superpowers?

Are you thinking that maybe if you had the ability to fly that you would never have to pay for a plane ticket again or commute to work

Are you thinking that maybe if you had super strength you could be a professional athlete, join the Olympics, impress people at the gym?

Or if you were super smart you could be the world’s best investor or be the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg and imagine how much money you could make?

So did you think of what superpower you want and did you pay attention to what made you want to select that superpower?

If so, now ask yourself did the reason you want that superpower was so you could benefit others or so you could benefit yourself?

If it was to benefit yourself then I am sorry to tell you this but that would make you more akin to being a supervillain and not a superhero. 

A supervillain is someone who has superpowers that they utilize to benefit themselves

A superhero on the other hand has superpowers and their being revolves around using these superpowers to help others 

What is funny is you can ask hundreds of people this question and rarely will you hear someone say they would use their superpower to fight crime. 

People like to think that when they watch a movie like Schindler’s List that they would be Schindler

But realistically they are much more likely to be one of the Nazi’s or the many who didn’t fight the status quo and quietly went along hoping they wouldn’t be drawn to attention 

God has given each of us God-given

[2:3] who believe in the unseen, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat)*, and from our provisions to them, they give to charity.

Moses had strength

Moses Commits Manslaughter

[28:15] Once he entered the city unexpectedly, without being recognized by the people. He found two men fighting; one was (a Hebrew) from his people, and the other was (an Egyptian) from his enemies. The one from his people called on him for help against his enemy. Moses punched him, killing him. He said, "This is the work of the devil; he is a real enemy, and a profound misleader."

[28:16] He said, "My Lord, I have wronged my soul. Please forgive me," and He forgave him. He is the Forgiver, Most Merciful. [28:17] He said, "My Lord, in return for Your blessings upon me, I will never be a supporter of the guilty ones." [28:18] In the morning, he was in the city, afraid and watchful. The one who sought his help yesterday, asked for his help again. Moses said to him, "You are really a troublemaker."

Moses' Crime Exposed

[28:19] Before he attempted to strike their common enemy, he said, "O Moses, do you want to kill me, as you killed the other man yesterday? Obviously, you wish to be a tyrant on earth; you do not wish to be righteous." [28:20] A man came running from the other side of the city, saying, "O Moses, the people are plotting to kill you. You better leave immediately. I am giving you good advice." [28:21] He fled the city, afraid and watchful. He said, "My Lord, save me from the oppressive people.”

[28:22] As he traveled towards Midyan, he said, "May my Lord guide me in the right path." [28:23] When he reached Midyan's water, he found a crowd of people watering, and noticed two women waiting on the side. He said, "What is it that you need?" They said, "We are not able to water, until the crowd disperses, and our father is an old man." [28:24] He watered for them, then turned to the shade, saying, "My Lord, whatever provision You send to me, I am in dire need for it.”

Sir Nicholas Winton from London (late 20’s)  WWII

• Prague saved 669 children

[59:9] As for those who provided them with a home and a refuge, and were believers before them, they love those who immigrated to them, and find no hesitation in their hearts in helping them. In fact, they readily give them priority over themselves, even when they themselves need what they give away. Indeed, those who overcome their natural stinginess are the successful ones.

Golden Gate bridge suicide if just one person smiles at me I will not kill myself

https://www.calfussman.com/podcasts/2018/8/28/kevin-hines-whatever-your-difficulties-never-count-yourself-out-never-never-never

[57:11] Who would like to loan God a loan of righteousness, to have it multiplied for him manifold, and end up with a generous recompense?

Would you prefer to meet the person who will give you money or an opportunity to do charity? 

One is for the pleasures of this world the other is for the Hereafter

Solomon - Who is Doing Who A Favor - What is our Priority

[38:32] He then said, "I enjoyed the material things more than I enjoyed worshiping my Lord, until the sun was gone.*

Qãroon

[28:76] Qãroon (the slave driver) was one of Moses' people who betrayed them and oppressed them. We gave him so many treasures that the keys thereof were almost too heavy for the strongest band. His people said to him, "Do not be so arrogant; GOD does not love those who are arrogant.

[28:77] "Use the provisions bestowed upon you by GOD to seek the abode of the Hereafter, without neglecting your share in this world. Be charitable, as GOD has been charitable towards you. Do not keep on corrupting the earth. GOD does not love the corruptors."

[2:195] You shall spend in the cause of GOD; do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction. You shall be charitable; GOD loves the charitable.

Everything we have is because God has lent it to us. There is nothing in this world that we will bring with us to the Hereafter. Everything we have will be inherited by others after we pass.

[28:78] He said, "I attained all this because of my own cleverness." Did he not realize that GOD had annihilated before him generations that were much stronger than he, and greater in number? The (annihilated) transgressors were not asked about their crimes.

Reflections

[56:57] We have created you, if you could only believe! [56:58] Have you noted the semen that you produce? [56:59] Did you create it, or did we? [56:60] We have predetermined death for you. Nothing can stop us— [56:61] from substituting new generations in your place, and establishing what you do not know. [56:62] You know about the first creation. Do you not remember? [56:63] Have you noted the crops you reap? [56:64] Did you grow them, or did we? [56:65] If we will, we can turn it into hay. Then you will lament: [56:66] "We lost. [56:67] "We are deprived." [56:68] Have you noted the water you drink? [56:69] Did you send it down from the clouds, or did we? [56:70] If we will, we can make it salty. You should be thankful. [56:71] Have you noted the fire you ignite? [56:72] Did you initiate its tree, or did we? [56:73] We rendered it a reminder, and a useful tool for the users. [56:74] You shall glorify the name of your Lord, the Great.

[28:79] One day, he came out to his people in full splendor. Those who preferred this worldly life said, "Oh, we wish that we possess what Qãroon has attained. Indeed, he is very fortunate."

The Real Wealth

[28:80] As for those who were blessed with knowledge, they said, "Woe to you, GOD's recompense is far better for those who believe and lead a righteous life." None attains this except the steadfast.

The Tyrants' Inevitable Fate

[28:81] We then caused the earth to swallow him and his mansion. No army could have helped him against GOD; he was not destined to be a winner. [28:82] Those who were envious of him the day before said, "Now we realize that GOD is the One who provides for whomever He chooses from among His servants, and withholds. If it were not for GOD's grace towards us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us too. We now realize that the disbelievers never succeed.”

Qaroon was selfish - only think about himself how his blessings could benefit himself at the expense of others

Qaroon was vain - he exalted himself he boasted about his provisions

Story of Sindhutai Sapkal

More likely do more for yourself or for others purpose greater than one self

[23:57] Surely, those who are reverently conscious of their Lord, [23:58] And who believe in the revelations of their Lord, [23:59] And who never set up any idols beside their Lord, [23:60] As they give their charities, their hearts are fully reverent. For they recognize that they will be summoned before their Lord, [23:61] They are eager to do righteous works; they compete in doing them.

[90:11] He should choose the difficult path. [90:12] Which one is the difficult path? [90:13] The freeing of slaves. [90:14] Feeding, during the time of hardship. [90:15] Orphans who are related. [90:16] Or the poor who is in need. [90:17] And being one of those who believe, and exhorting one another to be steadfast, and exhorting one another to be kind. [90:18] These have deserved happiness.

What do you think the proper response should be for people who wish us ill? People who want to see us abandon God and our religion. People that want to see us disbelieve?

[2:109] Many followers of the scripture would rather see you revert to disbelief, now that you have believed. This is due to jealousy on their part, after the truth has become evident to them. You shall pardon them, and leave them alone, until GOD issues His judgment. GOD is Omnipotent.

[2:110] You shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat). Any good you send forth on behalf of your souls, you will find it at GOD. GOD is seer of everything you do.

Don’t Get Mad, Get Even

Don’t Get Mad, Get More Righteous

[15:94] Therefore, carry out the orders given to you, and disregard the idol worshipers. [15:95] We will spare you the mockers, [15:96] who set up another god beside GOD. They will surely find out. [15:97] We know full well that you may be annoyed by their utterances. [15:98] You shall sing the praises of your Lord, and be with the prostrators. [15:99] And worship your Lord, in order to attain certainty.*

If you want to get vengeance become a better person

If you spend the energy to get the revenge on improving your soul the rewards will be far better:

[2:245] Who would lend GOD a loan of righteousness, to have it repaid to them multiplied manifold? GOD is the One who provides and withholds, and to Him you will be returned.

[2:261] The example of those who spend their monies in the cause of GOD is that of a grain that produces seven spikes, with a hundred grains in each spike. GOD multiplies this manifold for whomever He wills. GOD is Bounteous, Knower.

Think about all the time we spend mulling over in our heads about how we were wronged, I can’t believe they did that, how can I retaliate…If instead we spend that time making our selves a better person not only will we be better off spiritually but also emotionally and mentally

[13:22] They steadfastly persevere in seeking their Lord, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), spend from our provisions to them secretly and publicly, and counter evil with good. These have deserved the best abode.

[28:54] To these we grant twice the reward, because they steadfastly persevere. They counter evil works with good works, and from our provisions to them, they give. [28:55] When they come across vain talk, they disregard it and say, "We are responsible for our deeds, and you are responsible for your deeds. Peace be upon you. We do not wish to behave like the ignorant ones.”

[3:134] who give to charity during the good times, as well as the bad times. They are suppressors of anger, and pardoners of the people. GOD loves the charitable.

When we hold on to anger and resentment, we are only hurting ourselves.

holding onto anger is like holding a hot coal with the intention of throwing it at someone else.

[23:96] Therefore, counter their evil works with goodness; we are fully aware of their claims.

To Be Protected From Satan

[23:97] Say, "My Lord, I seek refuge in You from the whispers of the devils. [23:98] "And I seek refuge in You, my Lord, lest they come near me.”

Submitters

[41:33] Who can utter better words than one who invites to GOD, works righteousness, and says, "I am one of the submitters"? [41:34] Not equal is the good response and the bad response. You shall resort to the nicest possible response. Thus, the one who used to be your enemy, may become your best friend. [41:35] None can attain this except those who steadfastly persevere. None can attain this except those who are extremely fortunate.

Example of Joseph and his brothers or the governor's wife

When the Devil Entices You

[41:36] When the devil whispers an idea to you, you shall seek refuge in GOD. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

[7:198] When you invite them to the guidance, they do not hear. And you see them looking at you, but they do not see. [7:199] You shall resort to pardon, advocate tolerance, and disregard the ignorant.

[7:200] When the devil whispers to you any whisper, seek refuge in GOD; He is Hearer, Omniscient. [7:201] Those who are righteous, whenever the devil approaches them with an idea, they remember, whereupon they become seers. [7:202] Their brethren ceaselessly entice them to go astray.

Don’t pray that it is easier pray to be better

Do Not Use Bad Language

[4:148] GOD does not like the utterance of bad language, unless one is treated with gross injustice. GOD is Hearer, Knower. [4:149] If you work righteousness—either declared or concealed—or pardon a transgression, GOD is Pardoner, Omnipotent.

• Joseph sold to slavery - did better

[4:146] Only those who repent, reform, hold fast to GOD, and devote their religion absolutely to GOD alone, will be counted with the believers. GOD will bless the believers with a great recompense.

[4:147] What will GOD gain from punishing you, if you became appreciative and believed? GOD is Appreciative, Omniscient.

We can stand up for our rights

This isn’t if we get slapped on one cheek we give the other

Submitters are not cowards

The examples given are people who are not using physical force against us, God tells us that in such scenarios we can defend ourselves

God tells us that aggression is only permitted against the aggressors and that oppression is worse than murder

Divine Help for the Oppressed

[22:60] It is decreed that if one avenges an injustice that was inflicted upon him, equitably, then is persecuted because of this, GOD will surely support him. GOD is Pardoner, Forgiving.

You Shall Be Prepared: A Divine Commandment

[8:60] You shall prepare for them all the power you can muster, and all the equipment you can mobilize, that you may frighten the enemies of GOD, your enemies, as well as others who are not known to you; GOD knows them. Whatever you spend in the cause of GOD will be repaid to you generously, without the least injustice. [8:61] If they resort to peace, so shall you, and put your trust in GOD. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.

But there is a difference between knowing you can retaliate and wanting to and choosing not to and cowering because we are scared to stand up for our rights

Don’t turn your shortcomings into virtues

Traits of the Believers

[42:37] They avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive. [42:38] They respond to their Lord by observing the Contact Prayers (Salat). Their affairs are decided after due consultation among themselves, and from our provisions to them they give (to charity). [42:39] When gross injustice befalls them, they stand up for their rights. [42:40] Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by GOD. He does not love the unjust. [42:41] Certainly, those who stand up for their rights, when injustice befalls them, are not committing any error. [42:42] The wrong ones are those who treat the people unjustly, and resort to aggression without provocation. These have incurred a painful retribution. [42:43] Resorting to patience and forgiveness reflects a true strength of character.

How to Spread God's Message

[16:125] You shall invite to the path of your Lord with wisdom and kind enlightenment, and debate with them in the best possible manner. Your Lord knows best who has strayed from His path, and He knows best who are the guided ones. [16:126] And if you punish, you shall inflict an equivalent punishment. But if you resort to patience (instead of revenge), it would be better for the patient ones. [16:127] You shall resort to patience—and your patience is attainable only with GOD's help. Do not grieve over them, and do not be annoyed by their schemes. [16:128] GOD is with those who lead a righteous life, and those who are charitable.

Righteousness is the solution to all our problems

[74:56] They cannot take heed against GOD's will. He is the source of righteousness; He is the source of forgiveness.

Don’t Turn God’s Blessing into Idols 

God gave each of us so many blessings 

[16:18] If you count God's blessings, you cannot possibly encompass them. God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

[14:34] And He gives you all kinds of things that you implore Him for. If you count God's blessings, you can never encompass them. Indeed, the human being is transgressing, unappreciative.  

When God blesses us we have a tendency to turn those blessings into idols that actually repulse us from God and from acting in a way that is pleasing to him

[41:50] And when we bless him after suffering some adversity, he says, "This belongs to me. I do not believe that the Hour will ever come to pass. Even if I am returned to my Lord, I will find at Him better things." Most certainly, we will inform the disbelievers of all their works, and will commit them to severe retribution.

[17:83] When we bless the human being, he becomes preoccupied and heedless. But when adversity strikes him, he turns despondent.

Exodus 12:31-36

The Exodus Begins 31Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. 32Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also.” 33 And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, carrying it on their shoulders in kneading bowls wrapped in clothing. 35 Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing. 36 And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.

[20:87] They said, "We did not break our agreement with you on purpose. But we were loaded down with jewelry, and decided to throw our loads in. This is what the Samarian suggested." [20:88] He produced for them a sculpted calf, complete with a calf's sound. They said, "This is your god, and the god of Moses." Thus, he forgot. [20:89] Could they not see that it neither responded to them, nor possessed any power to harm them, or benefit them

When we become slaves to these blessings we are making these blessings into our idols 

When we idolize something we are slaves to that thing

Slave to our children

• Our spouses

[2:61] Recall that you said, "O Moses, we can no longer tolerate one kind of food. Call upon your Lord to produce for us such earthly crops as beans, cucumbers, garlic, lentils, and onions." He said, "Do you wish to substitute that which is inferior for that which is good? Go down to Egypt, where you can find what you asked for." They have incurred condemnation, humiliation, and disgrace, and brought upon themselves wrath from GOD. This is because they rejected GOD's revelations, and killed the prophets unjustly. This is because they disobeyed and transgressed.

[14:7] Your Lord has decreed: "The more you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.

Whatever occupies our mind most of the day becomes our idol

[33:41] O you who believe, you shall remember GOD frequently. [33:42] You shall glorify Him day and night.

Those who make this world a priority are like those who only drink salt water. It will never quench their thirst and it will only make them more thirsty

But those who make the hereafter their priority this is like drinking fresh water. Not only are you going to feel full but your body and soul will actually be hydrated.

[24:39] As for those who disbelieve, their works are like a mirage in the desert. A thirsty person thinks that it is water. But when he reaches it, he finds that it is nothing, and he finds God there instead, to requite him fully for his works. God is the most efficient reckoner.

[13:14] Imploring Him is the only legitimate supplication, while the idols they implore beside Him, cannot ever respond. Thus, they are like those who stretch their hands to the water, but nothing reaches their mouths. The supplications of the disbelievers are in vain.

Idolizing Our Children

Our Children Can be Idols

[7:189] He created you from one person (Adam). Subsequently, He gives every man a mate to find tranquility with her. She then carries a light load that she can hardly notice. As the load gets heavier, they implore GOD their Lord: "If You give us a good baby, we will be appreciative." [7:190] But when He gives them a good baby, they turn His gift into an idol that rivals Him. GOD be exalted, far above any partnership. [7:191] Is it not a fact that they are idolizing idols who create nothing, and are themselves created?

[64:14] O you who believe, your spouses and your children can be your enemies; beware. If you pardon, forget, and forgive, then God is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

[9:85] Do not be impressed by their money or their children; God causes these to be sources of misery for them in this world, and their souls depart as disbelievers.

[25:73] When reminded of their Lord's revelations, they never react to them as if they were deaf and blind. [25:74] And they say, "Our Lord, let our spouses and children be a source of joy for us, and keep us in the forefront of the righteous."

Property as an Idol* 

[18:32] Cite for them the example of two men: we gave one of them two gardens of grapes, surrounded by date palms, and placed other crops between them. Footnote [18:33] Both gardens produced their crops on time, and generously, for we caused a river to run through them. [18:34] Once, after harvesting, he boastfully told his friend: "I am far more prosperous than you, and I command more respect from the people." [18:35] When he entered his garden, he wronged his soul by saying, "I do not think that this will ever end. [18:36] "Moreover, I think this is it; I do not think that the Hour (the Hereafter) will ever come to pass. Even if I am returned to my Lord, I will (be clever enough to) possess an even better one over there." [18:37] His friend said to him, as he debated with him, "Have you disbelieved in the One who created you from dust, then from a tiny drop, then perfected you into a man? [18:38] "As for me, GOD is my Lord, and I will never set up any other god besides my Lord. 

Important Commandment 

[18:39] "When you entered your garden, you should have said, 'This is what GOD has given me. No one possesses power except GOD.' You may see that I possess less money and less children than you. [18:40] "My Lord may grant me better than your garden. He may send a violent storm from the sky that wipes out your garden, leaving it completely barren. [18:41] "Or, its water may sink deeper, out of your reach." [18:42] Indeed, his crops were wiped out, and he ended up sorrowful, lamenting what he had spent on it in vain, as his property lay barren. He finally said, "I wish I never set up my property as a god beside my Lord." [18:43] No force on earth could have helped him against GOD, nor was it possible for him to receive any help. [18:44] That is because the only true Lord and master is GOD; He provides the best recompense, and with Him is the best destiny. 

[18:45] Cite for them the example of this life as water that we send down from the sky to produce plants of the earth, then they turn into hay that is blown away by the wind. GOD is able to do all things. 

Rearranging Our Priorities 

[18:46] Money and children are the joys of this life, but the righteous works provide an eternal recompense from your Lord, and a far better hope.

[68:17] We have tested them like we tested the owners of the garden who swore that they will harvest it in the morning. [68:18] They were so absolutely sure. [68:19] A passing (storm) from your Lord passed by it while they were asleep. [68:20] By morning, it was barren. [68:21] They called on each other in the morning. [68:22] "Let us harvest the crop." [68:23] On their way, they confided to each other. [68:24] That from then on, none of them would be poor. [68:25] They were so absolutely sure of their harvest. [68:26] But when they saw it, they said, "We were so wrong! [68:27] "Now, we have nothing!" They

Should Have Said: "God Willing."

[68:28] The righteous among them said, "If only you had glorified (God)!" [68:29] They said, "Glory be to our Lord. We have transgressed." [68:30] They started to blame each other. [68:31] They said, "Woe to us. We sinned. [68:32] "May our Lord grant us a better one. We repent to our Lord." [68:33] Such was the requital. But the retribution of the Hereafter is far worse, if they only knew.

If you take the instruction regarding your salvation from anyone other than God then that source becomes your god. 

[6:121] Do not eat from that upon which the name of GOD has not been mentioned, for it is an abomination. The devils inspire their allies to argue with you; if you obey them, you will be idol worshipers.*

[36:60] Did I not covenant with you, O Children of Adam, that you shall not worship the devil? That he is your most ardent enemy? [36:61] And that you shall worship Me alone? This is the right path.

[9:24] Proclaim: "If your parents, your children, your siblings, your spouses, your family, the money you have earned, a business you worry about, and the homes you cherish are more beloved to you than GOD and His messenger, and the striving in His cause, then just wait until GOD brings His judgment." GOD does not guide the wicked people.

Ego as a god

[25:43] Have you seen the one whose god is his own ego? Will you be his advocate?