Faith Outreach Burnout May Be Inevitable

I think the problems go back pretty far. But, in Chicago we could talk to anybody about Faith. We used to do outreach (being Da'ees) and try to bring people to Al-Islam. People had respect. But we really didn't realize that was what it was and came to expect everyone would be like this no matter where we went. That when I or we would say something about Faith there would be a mutual respect even though didn't really realize that was what it was.

So when you get to Colorado there is not the same Spirit or respect. There was a lot of Meth use. Heroin use. Etc. The thing about Heroin users is that they will make you believe that you are actually getting through to them...as long as it takes. But as soon as they can they will relapse and use Heroin again. All that work for nothing. They would tell you what you wanted to hear till they could get to a point when they could use again. Upon seeing this I understood a couple of things: 1. It is more developed a problem and requires not only Faith but Hardcore Drug Counselors (and a team of other professionals) to do outreach in some communities; 2. The burden of the cleanup is far too much, and many who do outreach about Faith would probably end up withdrawing from the work. It is like being overworked. Colorado was the first place that I didn't really sense any respect for Faith and the Laws of God. They really weren't very responsive. Very "Ho Hum." about it.

But the drug issue is progressing. It then shifted to Heroin and Opioids. Then to Fentanyl. Now to Tranq and Fentanyl. And there is supposedly something else out there now.

It is too much work for Faith leaders and in a lot of cases it (all that work) can also prove to be Sisyphean.

And that just means Faith Outreach is going to suffer burnout on it. And the legalization of some previously illegal drugs while having an upside is at the root cause of the Outreach burnout due to weed being a gateway drug to harder and hardcore drug use. And get this they are currently deliberating on making Psychedelics legal to treat something...I can't remember exactly what.

And that just means further burnout for Faith Outreach.

I think burnout on Faith Outreach could be one indicator of decay, deterioration, erosion, etc. of morals and values in the country.

Applying Lessons from a Handful Of Anbiya (epbut) And Expanding On the How We Ask Allah in Tawakkul

 

Bismi Allahi Al Rahmani Al Raheemi

ASA WR WB to Believing Muslim Friends.

Please click to enlarge these graphics. All of them are self explanatory and a few I will add a caption to. This is basically pertaining to applying what we are getting from the lessons of the Anbiya (Prophets) (epbut) to possibly improve our asks of Allah (swt) for what we need.

...until they change what is with and within themselves and their homes and their communities.

Look at what Allah (swt) takes note of.

Charity begins at home, and spreads out. And we certainly should not forget members of the House of Allah. Even more so that those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor in these places will be ignored in their own times of need. Outside of giving in the home and the House of Allah (swt) make safety a priority and be very careful of giving directly to people on the street because they may have a trauma; a mental instability; may set you up; may follow you home; or may assault you, etc. But, give to charitable organizations that will make your donations reach those in need in your community.

I would like to reference a previous blog post here but feel free to read the rest of this blog's message and then come back to this referenced blog post: "There Are A Few Controversial Hadiths" Although not all of the Hadiths are controversial there are some that are.

https://muhakeem1abdullah1.blogspot.com/2022/11/there-are-few-controversial-hadiths.html

Spread the Salaams not curses.

When I look at Surahtul Jumuah there is nothing about this saying to me to ask Allah for a bag of money to fall out of the sky. He said when the prayer has finished then disperse ye through the land and seek of Allah's bounties and remember Allah much that you might be successful

Nabi Yusuf (as) was not teaching us to ask Allah for a bag of money to fall out of the sky. Nabi Yusuf (epbuh) taught to live in Optimus. To save and Store the excesses in Maximus while maintaining Optimus. This to draw on in periods of Minimus in order to maintain Optimus. But that also from the Stores Nabi Yusuf (epbuh) set up a Trade Market. But also from the Stores Nabi Yusuf (as) gave in Charity.

Are we rehearsing this sign above of what Nabi Yusuf (as) did and are we broadcasting it so that we are all on the same page and it is commonly understood? So, by this and what I just posted of a portion from Surahtul Jumuah and the others above there is more to Tawakkul. There is more to how to ask Allah (swt) for what we need.

Jazakum Allahu Khayran.

When it comes to Dunya versus Akhira

Aoudhubillahi min al shaitanir rajeem.

Bismi Allahi Al Rahmani Al Raheemi

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajeun

Ash Shahadu an La Ilaha illa Allah

Wa ash shahadu an Muhammedan Abdul Allah Wa Rasul Allah

As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh my dear respected (believing Muslim friends) brothers and sisters in Al Islam

Hasbuna Lahu Wa Nimal Wakil

When it comes to Dunya versus Akhira, I look at it like the old adage, "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket." Or the analogy (which Allah (swt) has asked us not to do analogies, but) of having one foot in the Dunya and the other foot in the Akhira. Why should the Muslim attempt to stand that way?

My thoughts are that our efforts each day should be 50% for managing affairs of this life and 50% for managing affairs for the next life. When we look at Surah 7 Ayah 169, the last sentence of the Ayah says, "But best for the righteous is the home in the Hereafter. Will ye not understand?" If I just say this to a believing Muslim but I understand what Allah (swt) has said in other places of the Quranul Kareem would I actually be showing care and concern for that believing Muslim? That sentence in isolation would make a person shirk their responsibilities and abandon any previous engagements or obligations. Because that sentence by itself is saying put all of your eggs in the Akhira basket, and since we cannot determine when our life in the Dunya will end some may neglect their duties to take care of themselves properly in this life. And that, in fact, fulfilling obligations and engagements are indeed Commands from Allah (swt0 and thus acts of ibadah (worship) to Him. This then makes managing our affairs of this life properly to be good deeds on our Scales for the next life. Please enlarge the graphic below with the architectural building for evidence (Ayats).

Money is not only required for a lavish or opulent lifestyle. Money is required for a modest or moderate lifestyle as well. Money is required just to maintain whatever quality of life the person has. That would be maintenance without making improvements...it takes money to do that. It takes money to heal properly...to adopt dietary practices that would be a healing for a person that has illnesses. Let's say that I want to plant some herbs in my garden. That takes money: to buy the house with enough lot size to plant an herb garden. But you also need to exercise and sometimes some illnesses must be sweated out of the body. It takes money to get the exercise equipment and or sauna put into the house that you purchased with enough lot size to put in a medicinal herb garden. I cannot clap my hands and make that appear and none of that is lavish or opulence.

Allah (swt) has said that if we are weak and oppressed to move ourselves away from oppression. But we also must not move somewhere where we are substituting one oppression for another. Furthermore He (swt) said that if they do not do this He'll throw them in Hell for not moving away from oppression. So there is a duty to not be poor, weak and oppressed in the land. In addition Allah (swt) said that there will be a people being marched into Hellfire and He will order them to be stopped and will ask them, "What was the matter with you that ye did not help each other?" Hell, for not being of help to one another. Well actually, He said that they were Zalimun but in addition they did not help one another. Sometimes there are some of us that need to either heal or get free from oppression, poverty and/or weakness.

So when it comes to Akhira versus Dunya we have a duty to be of help to one another's understanding. We have a duty to remind each other of the Holy Verses to be of help to one another. We have a duty to traffic and trade by mutual goodwill between one another. If you are giving some of that money to Armani, Tiffany, Cartier, Bugatti, Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Ferrari, etc. that is your freedom of choice. We should not compel others unless we want to be compelled ourselves. Thus, we have to leave people their freedom with their own resources so long as they are not harming innocent others. We don't want to cultivate compulsion like we do not want to cultivate possessions by evil principalities.

We know what Allah (swt) is saying, however, in these Ayat below. The duty is there. The sentence is clear. The person is free to do what they desire for themselves but Allah's position on it won't change. Sure there is no compulsion on the rich to be helpful and that same leniency must be shown the poor. If we are hands off when it is beneficial to them then must be hands off when harmful for the poor, oppressed and weak Muslim. The case of the Wrongfully Imprisoned Cat (which does not include those rightfully imprisoned amongst creatures and humans) is an example of oppression through negligence. Without the Dunya how else to stack good deeds to return to the Akhira? Without money how to give in Charity to those who need? Click to enlarge any of these graphics if they are difficult to read.

[7:168]

We broke them up into sections on this earth. There are among them some that are the righteous, and some that are the opposite. We have tried them with both prosperity and adversity: In order that they might turn (to us).

[7:169]

After them succeeded an (evil) generation: They inherited the Book, but they chose (for themselves) the vanities of this world, saying (for excuse): "(Everything) will be forgiven us." (Even so), if similar vanities came their way, they would (again) seize them. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them, that they would not ascribe to God anything but the truth? and they study what is in the Book. But best for the righteous is the home in the Hereafter. Will ye not understand?

The First Three Sunnahs of Nabi Muhammad (epbuh) Were Arguably: 1. Read; 2. Read; and 3. Read

Bismi Allahi Al Rahmani Al Raheemi
ASA WR WB to believing Muslim friends
Allahumma Salli Ala Wa Barak Ala Sayyidi Nabi Muhammad

Through my observation of this Hadith it appears arguably that the first 3 Sunnahs of Nabi Muhammad (saws) were to:

1. Read (Iqra)
2. Read (Iqra)
3. Read (Iqra)
4. Prayer and Meditation upon the Words of Allah

It is easy to observe that Iqra was repeated by the ArchAngel Gabriel (as) because Nabi Muhammad (saws) kept responding that "I do not know how to read." But in terms of our interpretations of his Sunnahs (much like the Hadith in which the reply was "Your Mother." thrice) it seems that the first 3 rules or Sunnahs of the Nabi (saws) are: Read, Read and Read.

Abu Huraira (ra) reported: A man asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, “Who is most deserving of my good company?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man asked, “Then who?” The Prophet said “Your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said, “Your father.”

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5626, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2548

(The Book of Revelation)

No. 3- Narrated 'Aisha (ra) (the mother of the faithful believers): The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah's Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family. He used to take with him the journey food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food likewise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, "I do not know how to read.

The Prophet added, "The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read, and I replied, 'I do not know how to read.' Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it anymore. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, 'I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?' Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, 'Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous." (96.1, 96.2, 96.3) Then Allah's Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, "Cover me! Cover me!" They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, "I fear that something may happen to me." Khadija replied, "Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your Kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones."

Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin 'Abdul 'Uzza, who, during the PreIslamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, "Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!" Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" Allah's Apostle described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, "This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Allah's Apostle asked, "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly." But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while.

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari while talking about the period of pause in revelation reporting the speech of the Prophet "While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira' sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, 'Wrap me (in blankets).' And then Allah revealed the following Holy Verses (of Quran):

'O you (i.e. Muhammad)! wrapped up in garments!' Arise and warn (the people against Allah's Punishment) up to 'and desert the idols.' (74.1-5) After this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly."

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3

Can you imagine fasting Ramadan and not have an Eid Feast with Sweets (Dates, Desserts).

 

Bismi Allahi Al Rahmani Al Raheemi

ASA WR WB to believing Muslim friends

Allahumma Salli Ala Wa Barak Ala Sayyidi Muhammad

Look at the Mercy of Allah (swt) through Nabi Muhammad (saws). Can you imagine fasting Ramadan and not have an Eid Feast with Sweets (Dates, Desserts). Allah (swt) and Nabi Muhammad (saws) are teaching us something through this.

They are teaching a principle from Pavlovian Conditioning. It is positive reinforcement for positive behavior and negative reinforcement for negative behavior. Although there is the factor of patience (Sabrat), tolerance and clemency or (Halimat) with Negative Reinforcement.

Nabi Sulaimon (epbuh) was before Pavlov and Pavlov obviously got inspiration for Pavlovian Conditioning from Nabi Sulaimon (as) who once said in a Proverb "If you continue to reward good with evil, then evil will never leave your house."

My point is: The Hadith about having the Feast after Eid Salaat is clearly to reinforce your motivation to perform the Fasting of Saumul Ramadan. Without proper reinforcement people would not be motivated to even prepare food or even clean their homes on normal days outside of Ramdan. They would lose the Faith to do them. It is similar to the Hadith making sure you pay your workers before their sweat has dried. We have been instructed to encourage what is good and to discourage what is evil.

The virtues of eating something sweet (dates, etc.) with the meals during Ramadan. No one has ever really explained this. But it is obviously to make the experience a pleasant and satisfying remembrance when you recall it in your mind. It is a satisfying goal to reach each day.

The virtues of not making up fasts on the Days of the 2 Eids. No one has ever really explained this. But it is obviously to reserve the Day for the Eid Feast Meals. The person has to reconcile with that there was a Reward experienced in life for the Journey and other Rewards from Allah that are "pending". It (the Eid Feast) is also an effort to replenish the body after the long journey of fasting Saumul Ramadan.

Fasting on the 2 Eids is prohibited in Islam. Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (ra) reported Allah's Messenger (saws) as saying, "No fast is to be observed on the two days, al-Fitr and al-Adha."

There is another virtue for fasting. Alqama narrated that the Nabi Muhammad (saws) is reported by Abdullah (ra) to have said: "He who can afford to marry should marry, because it will help him refrain from looking at other women, and save his private parts from committing illegal sexual relations; and he who cannot afford to marry is advised to fast, as fasting will diminish his sexual desire."

{I will add more to this as I look for more hadiths on virtues of sweets. I will also cite the Ayats mentioned above later. Insha Allah.}

Holy Quran Surahtul Ali Imran Ayah 151

 

Aoudhubillahi min al shaitanir rajeem.
Ash Shahadu an La Ilaha illa Allah
Wa ash shahadu an Muhammedan Abdul Allah Wa Rasul Allah
Hasbuna Lahu Wa Nimal Wakil

Bismi Allahi Al Rahmani Al Raheemi

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajeun

As Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuh my dear respected brothers and sisters in Al Islam

Beware of Zalim. This blog post is about Surhatul Ali Imran Ayat 151 and the other notes are references for it. This is not to incite violence nor mockery, but to reflect upon terminology. The interchange of 3 different terms in the verse, and how 2 linked to Mushrikun. Then expounded with other references to Shirk and Zalim for the consequence of Zalim mentioned in 3:151.