# Messenger Audio 15.1 (26-Nov-1982) {% embed url="" %} (0:01) But then, like, when it comes a time in your life where you really accept that, you know, because, like, (0:09) I went through the life that I went through, and all the things that I did do, but then I wouldn't reject no more, (0:15) because now I'm where I'm at now. And a lot of times, like before, y'all know, I used to go to events, (0:22) and people would go to talk about the virus. I used to get silly, or stupid, or dumb, because I didn't know anything about the virus. (0:28) But now I know debate, and how to deal with that, because if I did, I'd be questioned. (0:35) That's the line, and I don't have to refer back to the virus as what would be most important to me, (0:44) because I don't look at the virus, and then there'll be a lot of people looking on, and be just whipped a lot, (0:55) because I don't know the other stuff. And that's why a lot of times I think, well, as I know, (1:02) too, there are people who feel like they've got things to take care of, which, you know, I've got things to take care of, (1:07) too, but, like, you teachers are like nine, ten, I always focus on, like, less than nine to ten, (1:13) or less than nine to ten. And a lot of people are trying, you know, like, 24 hours a day, (1:19) they're trying 12 hours a week, and 11, 11 and a half hours a week. You all are going back to this world of 30 minutes (1:26) to try to check out nine, and that ain't going to get you anywhere. You know, and, um, (1:32) the thing of it is, is where people must, when you reach a certain peak, you must stop striving. (1:38) Like, when you hear, like, a football team, when you hear a word, you must say peak. (1:43) And you strive for perfection, but you just can't put it on hold. You know, like, people need to, um, (1:48) you just can't put it on hold. And, you know, well, I'm going to knock out this degree at school, (1:56) but then I'm coming back to study, you know, for a lot, whereas he was working at home for a lot, (2:01) and then allow, or give you the degree. Because it can happen so many times, like you said, (2:05) people have this private miracle within themselves, and you see, if you be all the way with God, (2:12) then they can't ever be, because I, you know, situations I've been in, I've seen it happen. (2:17) People tell you, you know, you can't have this job. And then they just told me, (2:21) and then boom, I got the job. You know, you don't have to be looking to get a job, (2:25) because I don't know. They don't know. They probably go home crazy and crumpled. (2:29) But after people like me, you know better, whereas I knew what was going on, you know. (2:35) But you must stick with God first. And that's where most people, I don't think, (2:40) understand what the mission is. They want to, you know, follow their opinions, (2:45) and then follow what God tells them what will happen next. (2:53) That's beautiful. I just saw the capes over there. (3:01) You can't have any of them. (3:05) I can or cannot? (3:06) You cannot. (3:06) You cannot. (3:14) My most recent recollection of miracles that happened to us individually is, (3:19) which has been my favorite, I get it sometimes in the past when I talk to Jehan, (3:25) that I don't care that you didn't come today, God understands. (3:27) He only smiles at me every time I miss him. (3:31) So these are the personal miracles that we all have. (3:33) You can see the projections. (3:36) So let us, we're going to resume next week with Latifa. (3:39) So now we'll do some verses. So make a note of them. (3:42) And we're going to pray Isha until they have the key and the case. (3:47) Al Fatiha. (3:49) Bismillah. (4:50) Somebody, please. (4:52) Those who received previous gifts and fully uphold it will believe in this. (4:59) And for those who disbelieve, they are deluded. (5:03) O children of Israel, remember the blessings I bestowed upon you (5:08) and that I set you apart from all the people. (5:11) Be aware of the days when no one can benefit another. (5:16) No ransom will be accepted. (5:19) No intercession will be mutual. (5:21) And no one can receive help. (5:29) Verse 19 is a real, I would say, in my opinion, a real problem. (5:36) It's a real difficult for an individual to be kept down. (5:41) You know, you feel that you have to be honest with other people. (5:44) You know, you feel that just because other people are not here, (5:51) you're going to be asked to say things or whatever they do. (5:55) So this is what we're for. (5:57) We need this to be connected and it's so true. (6:00) And it's also stated that Allah has said, (6:03) whenever, you know, we die or whenever a person gives it to us, (6:08) Allah also tells us that those who give it are the only ones who (6:13) will appreciate it anyway. (6:16) And then those who do give, (6:18) you may hear that the person who is talking to them or whatever, (6:21) it's the spirit that, you know, talks through them to you (6:26) that means to give. (6:27) And it's something that they've been asking for, (6:29) for you or that's supposed to go in their life. (6:32) And so a lot, this is what it means to me, (6:35) by my understanding, as people who keep truth in it. (6:39) Because a lot of times I find myself when I've been going down, (6:41) I say things and I don't realize I didn't say them. (6:45) But then, you know, then it came out within that person, (6:48) you know, something to make that person go, (6:50) wow, you know, okay. (6:52) You know, something that they need. (6:54) So it's saying that we say these truths to them. (6:57) Otherwise, you know, you're going to be blind or you're not coming, (7:00) you're nothing different. (7:01) We come with the Quran, we come with it. (7:05) And no fabrications or projections or omniscience. (7:10) We got it. (7:11) They know it but they're not. (7:14) And it's a good, it's a good, (7:16) it's a reason for the people to believe. (7:19) Because it really gives me, because, you know, (7:22) a lot of times in these last, you know, 100 nights, (7:37) the last week, also it's saying that we, (7:40) I know this is kind of saying a lot, but this verse, you know, (7:44) tells it right. (7:45) And a lot of times it's also saying that we have responsibility. (7:53) And those of you who don't know, you know, (7:56) they probably make sure to read it. (7:58) But we're not asking it for them. (8:01) You know, we're asking it for ourselves. (8:04) We know what we deserve. (8:05) We're perfect guys. (8:17) Perfect religions. (8:19) We're just perfect. (8:21) I mean, you know, you just need to submit to it. (8:24) It's just perfect. (8:25) And it just lets you know that it's not a part of nothing, (8:28) that it's not a lie given to you. (8:30) And it also says that the Son of Man was one thing too, (8:35) that the children of Israel had their own special blessings, (8:38) and they were so great and so special that they shouldn't forget them. (8:43) You know, because a lot had destroyed them up on them, (8:46) but yet they still forgot them. (8:48) And if something's lost to you guys, it's going to hurt. (8:51) The day of 1982, he had a soldier come in. (8:59) And the Qur'an is just something for God to protect us from, (9:02) because it's coming to him. (9:09) This is how he's helping us. (9:15) So, to me, that's not something that I would say will help. (9:20) No, it doesn't help. (9:30) What's right and significant is it says, (9:32) we are doomed from the beginning to accept you (9:35) unless you follow the teachings of the Lord. (9:38) So God's guidance is a perfect guidance. (9:40) And this is significant in that the Jewish scriptures (9:44) and the Christian scriptures were plagued with some kind of distortion. (9:50) But this we know with physical evidence that this is from God. (9:56) And God's guidance is the perfect guidance. (9:58) It's what we take. (10:01) This is why we are Muslims, (10:03) that we have a scripture that we know comes from God. (10:07) And we don't want to take any chance. (10:10) We don't want to hang our salvation on people's distorted messages. (10:19) And this verse is confirmed by 121. (10:23) It says, those who receive previous scriptures and truly uphold them (10:28) will believe in this. (10:31) They have no problem whatsoever accepting the worship of God alone. (10:40) As for those who disbelieve, they are the losers. (10:44) That's their problem. (10:45) But if you show them the Quran, what's wrong with them? (10:48) It tells you, don't commit murder, don't commit adultery, (10:51) don't lie, don't cheat, worship God alone. (10:56) So if they have any objection to it, they are the losers. (11:04) I mean, what in the world are the reasons to object to the Quran? (11:08) Not accepting it. (11:14) Prejudice or flawed-mindedness. (11:19) We look at everything and we accept what is true, (11:23) we read the Psalms, we write it, the Old Testament, the New Testament. (11:30) So why? (11:31) We accept whatever is right with them. (11:37) So why any Christian would look at the Quran? (11:41) Why should they find any objection to it? (11:47) Certainly, all the Arabs are awful people. (11:51) I know this Arab who's a television person. (11:53) What does this have to do with the Quran? (11:56) It could be just the Egyptian presence, after all. (12:01) As a matter of fact, the Quran is supposed to be surrounded by all kinds of fences (12:06) that you're supposed to break and accept the Quran for the purposes of (12:11) what is allowed to them. (12:15) You trust it. (12:19) You trust in a terrorist, for example, or whatever. (12:24) That or Khomeini. (12:26) I mean, there are so many decisions that make the people of Islamist bad. (12:31) I mean, who has to live and study and look at it, read it, (12:35) before the cup goes up, (12:37) and then they hear that Khomeini is killing people and idolatry and all that. (12:44) They don't like to study it. (12:45) If you could deny it as much as I have by the Arabs, it would be amazing. (12:49) Yeah, that's a good example. (12:52) You know, originally when I went to Morocco the first time, (12:55) I really hated Islam. (12:56) These people and their religion, you know, they've done so much bad to me. (12:59) Right, and all they've done is they're Muslims. (13:02) So you think this is what it is. (13:04) This is Islam, huh? (13:06) But you have to look at it like that to understand. (13:09) So without being deterred by anything, yes. (13:16) Okay, Abraham is on the floor. (13:30) When Abraham was put to the test by his Lord, (13:34) through certain commandments, he carried them out. (13:40) God then said, I am appointing you an imam for the people. (13:44) He said, will this include my descendants? (13:47) God said, my promise does not include the wicked. (13:51) We then designated the shrine of Mecca as a focal point for the people (13:56) and a sacred sanctuary. (13:58) You shall use this abode of Abraham as a place of worship. (14:01) We directed Abraham and Ishmael to sanctify my shrine for those who encircle it, (14:07) retreat in it, bow and prostrate. (14:11) Abraham said, my Lord, make this a peaceful land and provide its people with fruits. (14:16) Provide for those who believe in God in the last day. (14:20) God said, I also provide for the disbelievers. (14:23) I will let them enjoy for a while and commit them to the retribution of hell (14:28) and a miserable destiny. (14:31) As Abraham raised the foundation of the shrine together with Ishmael, (14:36) they prayed, our Lord, accept from us, for you are the hearer, the omniscient. (14:42) Our Lord, make us Muslim to you. (14:45) And from our descendants, let there be a Muslim nation submitting to you. (14:52) Teach us how to practice our religious duties and redeem us. (14:57) You are the redeemer and the merciful. (15:02) Our Lord, and raise among them a messenger who would recite to them your revelations (15:07) and teach them the scripture and wisdom and sanctify them. (15:11) You are the almighty, the wise. (15:15) Thus, who would then forsake the religion of Abraham and accept those who call themselves? (15:20) We have chosen him in this life and in the hereafter we will be with the righteous. (15:25) When his Lord said to him, submit, he said, I submit to the Lord of the universe. (15:33) Moreover, Abraham exhorted his children to submit to God (15:37) and so did Jacob, saying, O my children, God has pointed out the religion for you. (15:43) You shall not die except as Muslims, submitters. (15:46) Had you witnessed Jacob on his deathbed? (15:50) He said to his children, what will you worship after me? (15:53) They said, we will continue to worship your God (15:56) and the God of your fathers Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac, the one God. (16:01) To him we are Muslims, submitters. (16:04) This is a community from the past. (16:07) They are responsible for their own works. (16:09) You are responsible for your works. (16:11) And you are not answerable for anything they do. (16:14) Really heavy stuff. (16:17) This is, this is the history of Abraham and the naming of Islam. (16:27) As, that Abraham was the first to call the religion of God, Islam, submissive. (16:34) Or use that word. (16:36) Because when God said to him, submit, he said, I submit, I am a submitter. (16:42) So it was the first use of the word Islam by a human being. (16:48) And he taught his children this. (16:53) So the Koran tells us over and over again that Abraham is the founder of the religion of Islam. (17:01) It's not Muhammad. (17:02) He brought us the Koran that Islam existed long before Muhammad. (17:11) And I think it's because the name Islam itself, people think of a name of a religion as something that's different from another religion. (17:22) Like there's different religions with different names. (17:26) But as far as it becoming a name per se of a religion, it is the religion itself. (17:32) Submission to God is the only and all of religion. (17:37) Whatever name gets in different times and places based on some external category. (17:44) They became Muslims to distinguish them from Christians. (17:47) Even though the Christians were taught Islam. (17:50) Jesus taught them Islam. (17:52) Moses taught the children of Israel Islam. (17:55) He didn't teach them Judaism. (17:57) Christ didn't teach the Jews or the people of Palestine Christianity. (18:04) He was teaching them Islam. (18:06) And I think this is one of the, it's always a confusion to us now today. (18:11) So that when we say Muslims, people kind of categorize us as something different. (18:18) They show us somehow as something different. (18:20) And we miss the point. (18:21) That's what every true believer, whatever line he's following. (18:29) Whether he's following directly from the Torah, from the Gospels or some other message from some other part of the world. (18:37) To the message he was taught. (18:39) The people he was teaching Islam. (18:45) And it tells us earlier on here about the shrine. (18:53) Where is the right to say Muslim? (18:58) Because I hear everybody say different people out there. (19:01) Am I saying it wrong or am I saying it right? (19:03) You're saying it right. (19:05) Okay, is it alright to say Muslim? (19:08) Yes. (19:10) This is the people who say Muslim. (19:13) Jesus loved people. (19:14) He says there's God's name on their foreheads. (19:17) Just don't say Muhammad. (19:22) I've looked it up. (19:24) I've looked it up in the history of Islam. (19:27) And it's either Muslim, and again that's like the American British English school. (19:34) Or you can say Muslim, and you add the I-N. (19:39) Just Anglo-sized. (19:42) That's all it is. (19:43) Muslim is the Anglo-sized Muslim. (19:44) Because I was, you know, teaching all that way. (19:47) So you can write that way. (19:52) Muslim is the correct word. (19:54) Because I know a lot of times with the black Muslim says you can't. (19:58) Muslim, they say Muslim, but then they say it with slang. (20:01) They say Muslim is more like, you know, slang words. (20:05) You know, cheat. (20:06) So I say Muslim. (20:08) So it's more like this. (20:13) Some newspaper editors refused to use the word Muslim. (20:17) You see, when I'm used to Muslim, I start trying to keep it together. (20:23) It's Muslim. (20:24) It's not Muslim. (20:25) It's Muslim. (20:26) Literally. (20:27) And so I'm just trying to make sure you know that. (20:29) I always would have said Muslim anyway. (20:37) That's the only way I ever heard it. (20:42) It really doesn't matter as long as you know the non-Muslim means. (20:58) And this is a heavy part of what I've observed because (21:01) there are many Christian churches and there are Jewish synagogues where there are many Muslims. (21:06) They go. (21:08) And the only one who's obliged to that is a Muslim. (21:13) If they want to follow the Jewish religion, Muslims will follow whatever religion they want. (21:17) If they want to follow the Jewish laws, the Bible laws, the Sabbath, etc., etc. (21:25) And as we read in the beginning of this surah that a Christian or a Jew or a Buddhist or a Catholic or whatever, (21:32) anyone who submits to God, to one God, leads a righteous life. (21:40) He'll make it to heaven. (21:42) The advantage that we have having the final scripture is that we know exactly what to do to grow and develop our souls. (21:52) The person who reaches submission for Islam by instinct will be guided and helped, (21:59) but will not have the most effective way of doing it. (22:03) It's like if you live in the West, then you go by instinct and look for your house. (22:10) You start going to the East and then you turn right and go South. (22:16) Then you go East again and then you go South and you turn to the right and by accident you come to your house. (22:23) That's the way you go. (22:26) But we have directions. (22:28) So you turn right and you go West. (22:32) So it will be a lot of waste of time. (22:35) If one doesn't have five prayers in the fasting of Ramadan, these are specific prescriptions of God given. (22:46) That's why in the next surah we will see that the Christian Jews or specifically the Christians and Jews (22:54) who end up submitting to God, they will be instinctively guided to do good things, (23:01) but they are not as efficient. (23:05) And they will be watched for whatever they do. (23:09) So nothing stops the final scripture without the specific message on how to go and do it. (23:18) Okay, I'll go back to verse 124. (23:26) At first, Abraham was put to the test. (23:32) I expect that this is referring to, well, he went through the test over time, the first saying, (23:40) thinking maybe the sun was God, the moon and the stars. (23:43) He kept looking until he realized that there was something leaked and all of these things. (23:47) So the God he knew existed wasn't one of those things out there he was seeing. (23:53) So he realized that those were manifestations. (23:57) But he was kind of looking around in the universe to see, looking for God because he knew there was only one. (24:04) He didn't yet have his idea developed. (24:08) Because at that time he rejected the idol worshipping of his father and all the people. (24:14) And then over time, he was, I mean, even though he did this, (24:21) he didn't really become directly a messenger in terms of getting all of these, (24:28) like the building of the shrine and establishing the practice (24:32) until after his sons Ishmael and Isaac were born. (24:35) He was finally tested because, I mean, he waited an incredibly long time, (24:39) about 80 years or 90 years before he even had a kid, (24:43) after all of these things that, you know, these developments, (24:47) and believing in God all along. (24:50) And like he must have been almost 100 years old before he would have been getting these direct revelations (24:56) because he was passed on to us. (24:59) So, I mean, that's a lot of testing the guy's got to go through. (25:04) I mean, you know, his sons and then almost trying to sacrifice Ishmael. (25:08) I think that was the big test. (25:12) The sacrifice of... (25:23) Yeah, it's not really a matter of patience, it's a matter of knowledge. (25:27) He knows, I mean, you know now that God is one, it doesn't matter what happens. (25:31) You're going to believe that God is one. (25:33) You know that God is one and He's the only one who loves the universe. (25:37) It's a matter of knowledge. (25:39) Once you have that knowledge, it's not going to change. (25:42) It doesn't matter what happens in your life. (25:46) So, this is Abraham. (25:48) When he was young, a young boy, he thought that worshiping the Savior with his own hands was stupid (25:54) and that God must be in charge of this universe, the sun, the moon, the stars, the earth. (26:00) And so he reached that knowledge as a young person and he's just not really established in his mind. (26:09) So, that's why. (26:11) And he's very patient. (26:14) And as a believer, you might call him impatient. (26:25) But he wasn't, he didn't expect anything. (26:30) You don't expect anything. (26:32) You know God is going to do worship and you're not expecting anything. (26:37) Abraham didn't expect anything. (26:44) So, there was nothing to be patient for. (26:46) There was a lot to do. (26:50) He was well taken care of, like every believer. (26:56) He was doing fine. (26:58) Except for lack of children. (27:02) Until he was 86 years old. (27:06) And he had asthma. (27:10) Yeah. (27:10) And he had the first asthma. (27:12) He was somewhere between 10 and 40 years old. (27:20) And then the beginning, the first salat, zakat, pilgrimage, and all these duties, we see them here in verse 128. (27:34) You can see the footnote down there, 2-128. (27:39) Since many Muslims entertain the erroneous idea that Muhammad was the source of religious practices in Islam, (27:46) then there's salat, zakat, fasting, and pilgrimage. (27:49) However, the Quran teaches us that all religious duties were revealed to us through Abraham. (27:55) And these are all the verses here. (27:59) So, this is the beginning of the religious practices. (28:03) Abraham was the first and last recipient of religious duties. (28:15) There were other, I mean, specific duties. (28:18) There were things that were instituted later on as a result of acts of the people, like the salat, and the dietary regulations. (28:28) They were instituted as a punishment. (28:34) Like the dietary regulations specifically were done as a punishment. (28:38) Because they started to say, don't eat this and don't eat that. (28:43) As we'll see in the next surah. (28:45) In Surah Rizq, Allah says, all food was forbidden to the children of Israel until they started to say, don't eat this and don't eat that. (28:54) Somebody called me from New York yesterday, Pakistan, just to ask if halal meat is available in Tucson. (29:02) They want to come to Tucson. (29:04) The whole Indo-Pakistani culture is very strict as far as foods and prohibitions are concerned. (29:11) And God tells us in Surah 16 that when you do this, God made them the poorest people on earth. (29:17) In India, because of that. (29:19) And God says because of that. (29:21) And the example I give in the appendix is that when you invite some friends and spend the whole day cooking sumptuous meals, (29:31) and then when they come, they raise their noses. (29:34) They tend their noses up at your food. (29:35) How would you feel? (29:37) In the same way, God gives them cattle and goats and sheep and they tend their noses up. (29:43) He says, no, we're going to eat this. (29:45) We're humane. (29:46) They might be, I would say. (30:12) Well, what happens if he can't go through that life as a chicken? (30:18) Well, if he gets eaten as an egg, that's a quick life. (30:21) And then he comes back probably as a chicken. (30:23) He's a good chicken. (30:25) If he's a good monkey, maybe he gets to be a goat. (30:28) If he's a good goat, then maybe after about 14 times he can be a human. (30:32) Then he's got to watch it. (30:35) But I mean, if he gets that as an egg, he's got to keep being an egg so he doesn't get that and gets to be a chicken. (30:44) He should be eaten as an egg. (30:45) That's a short life. (30:48) When people are Hindus, they call you that. (30:50) Kathleen is an expert on the Hindus. (30:53) Do these Hindus recall you today? (30:55) No. (30:57) Well, the Pakistani Muslims have more taboos than the Indians. (31:00) They all come from the same place. (31:02) Well, I'm talking about the whole culture. (31:03) I mean, even when the Hindus became Muslims in Pakistan, they still have so many taboos. (31:10) It's a little bit like a lot of shrimp is haram. (31:14) What do the shrimp do? (31:17) Well, this is shrimp. (31:22) Is that so? (31:26) Is that so? (31:28) There are some regulations. (31:34) I like shrimp. (31:36) I'd love cockroaches in the sea. (31:40) There's going to be more shrimp for eggs. (31:43) Lobster, too. (31:44) Do they eat lobster? (31:50) These are some of the most delicious things that God created. (32:00) Can you imagine when you cook something fantastic, and you go get the recipe and everything, (32:05) and then the people come in your house and turn their noses up? (32:10) How would you feel about it? (32:12) So God says, I'm going to stick with the dietary regulations on the children of Israel, (32:18) because they started to say, don't eat this and don't eat that. (32:24) And they also say that he makes the people who turn their noses up, he makes them poor. (32:33) So Abraham was the first and last recipient of religious duties, actions. (32:43) That's a card. I'm sorry about that. (32:46) Well, there's so much to cover in this, I don't think we're even going to be able to cover it all. (32:54) Okay, it tells us the history of the Shrine of Mecca, (32:58) that this was established by Abraham with Ishmael, (33:03) as a focal point and a point toward which the people would do their salat. (33:11) I don't know if this salat was already established before the Shrine or not. (33:16) It doesn't say that, but it says it's a focal point. (33:18) No, the Shrine was built first. (33:21) Because as they were raising the foundation, they said, teach us the religious practice of the Shrine. (33:26) My Shrine is for those who encircle it, retreat in it, and bow and prostrate. (33:33) And it tells us this is a focal point. (33:35) It's the method of prayer. (33:36) Yeah. (33:42) And... (33:42) The words used are recorded. (33:46) They're very specific words. (33:49) Now, this place, Mecca, I mean, is that little dry and desolate spot that you could find out here. (34:00) And... (34:02) It's really interesting. It's something that I thought about, you know, why this particular spot. (34:08) I think maybe it's kind of a reinforcement, the way I've thought about it, (34:13) that possibly choosing such a desolate place is because there's no objects around to become idols, (34:20) like, you know, beautiful mountains, it doesn't look like cashmere or anything like that, (34:25) where people might worship Christ rather than remember that that's true. (34:29) So it's just bare bones, you know, it's not, so you don't, you're not worshiping a building or anything like that. (34:36) It's also hard to get in there or to cross the river. (34:40) Well... (34:40) To pass a test to go there. (34:42) Yeah, to go there. (34:43) But it's a focal point. (34:45) To make the pilgrimage is really difficult. (34:48) So it's a test just to make the pilgrimage. (34:51) Oh, yeah, when you make the pilgrimage, I mean, as far as moving toward it, (34:55) why a place is chosen, that they can't find an excuse to look at that place or object in it. (35:03) But, I don't know, I'm just speculating on that. (35:08) But he said, make it a peaceful land and provide the people to go there. (35:16) There's another church, I can't remember which one, that says, that we established in the valley, (35:21) and he says, for the people to come there and provide. (35:24) So they were actually on a caravan route. (35:27) So the people came through there and they stopped it, and made the stop, going north and south on the route. (35:33) I guess it's for Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, I'm not aware of it. (35:40) Well, Abraham... (35:41) The trade route coming from India, I think. (35:43) Abraham's prayer was never turned down, except for when he asked forgiveness for his father. (35:47) But everything he asked for, was so answered, that, for example, when he said, provide them with all fruits, (35:55) this is an Arab surah, all kinds of fruits. (35:59) But this prayer, now, the land where he made this prayer, that he intended, is the richest land on earth. (36:06) With the oil and the money pouring in from everywhere in the world. (36:13) And it is the richest land in the world, on the per capita, per square inch basis. (36:20) And you find all kinds of fruits, any time you go there, because it's centrally located between the northern and southern hemispheres. (36:27) So you find mangoes in the wintertime, because they come from Australia, from the south. (36:32) And you find the oranges at the same time, coming from the north, from Egypt and Spain. (36:37) So even till today, at that time. (36:40) Especially now, when you go, I mean, when you go to Saudi Arabia now, you find all kinds of fruits. (36:46) At the same time, the summer fruits, the winter fruits. (36:49) And the wealth is there. (36:53) So that's Abraham's prayer for you. (36:56) They gave him water right away. (36:57) Of course. (36:58) All the caravans had to come there, if they wanted to go north. (37:02) They became rich. Abraham's family became rich. (37:04) Because the caravans would go there and buy the water from the harbor in Ishmael. (37:18) Yeah, do you see that stuff on the news now? (37:20) That's from south of Egypt, that they're seeing all these underwater rivers from satellites? (37:26) Yes, I do. (37:29) New satellites. (37:31) Well, I think they've known it for a few months, but they're just recording it now. (37:34) Well, we've known about it for years. (37:36) But this is the first time that they may be seeing it. (37:40) Yeah. (37:42) You can see, even the Landsat couldn't see it. (37:44) This one can see underneath the sand. (37:47) So it's real news. (37:51) There's a lot of water down there. (37:52) Even all that dry sand, there's a lot of water. (37:56) Vermilion seeps into the soil. (37:59) And there are layers of rocks under the shelter doors and closures. (38:16) That varies, 25, 20 feet or so. (38:19) Yeah, they say about 15 feet is where the satellite pictures were showing from. (38:23) But it was very recent. (38:26) They are, I think. (38:27) They have them in one place. (38:29) This stuff is a whole new batch. (38:34) They call it the new batch. (38:37) From one of these rivers. (38:39) Well, there's a system that goes into Libya from that same area (38:43) that they've been wasting that water by trying to make some farms way out in the middle of the desert. (38:51) Yeah. (38:51) When they could be transporting that water up to Kofi, (38:55) people actually got out of Kofi. (39:00) There's so much water there that can do that. (39:10) He said, make this a peaceful land and provide its people with fruit. (39:16) Provide for those who believe in God in the last days. (39:19) Now, Abraham is being restrictive. (39:23) He's saying provide for the believers. (39:24) And God says, I'll provide for both the believers and the unbelievers. (39:30) And God tells us elsewhere in the Koran also that, you know, (39:34) everybody should always be on his or her side, whether they believe or not. (39:39) The test requires that everybody is guaranteed to believe or have to believe. (39:45) And he gives, sometimes it seems that he gives the unbelievers a lot more than he's giving the believers (39:51) because that's all they're going to get. (39:53) He's going to get them financially. (39:55) But if he gave the believers too much, (39:58) if he'd give everybody houses with loads of gold, (40:03) except that more people might fall into unbelief, (40:06) they would forget. (40:09) I mean, they would just be enjoying the material luxuries that they had (40:14) and they would forget about developing their souls. (40:16) As soon as one gets unemployed or something, (40:19) in the moment of desperation, (40:20) he's going to become an unbeliever, become a millionaire. (40:24) Too much temptation. (40:26) When we're restricted, the more that we see, we're still getting things. (40:31) So we realize that, you know, he's telling us the truth. (40:37) I always knew, where am I going to get the money to pay the rent next month, (40:42) or next week, whenever it's coming. (40:45) And yet we always seem to have it. (40:47) You never know where it's coming from. (40:49) You worry about it. (40:50) But if you become a believer, you just stop worrying (40:53) because, I mean, just from past experience, it still keeps coming. (41:06) I get that some people would say, (41:12) well, if you're such a believer, how come you're so poor or something? (41:17) That's not important. (41:19) How much do you have in your past work of the hereafter that counts? (41:26) He provides for both the disbelievers as well. (41:29) He says, let them enjoy for a while, then they get the restitution they need. (41:35) Sometimes you're poor because you're a believer. (41:39) Sometimes because God loves you. (41:41) If God wants to direct you in a certain direction, (41:47) so you're going in the wrong direction this way, (41:51) and God throws a block in front of you, (41:54) and you pretend it's this way, (41:56) and he throws another block there, so you go this way, (41:58) until he guides you to the right path. (42:01) Because the majority of people, when they find they don't need anything, (42:04) they will not think about that. (42:06) Too much can be too distracting, too. (42:10) You worry about, you've got a big house, (42:13) you've got to worry about all the paperwork, (42:17) because people can burn their eyes. (42:20) It doesn't affect what happens outside. (42:26) Usually it affects the person. (42:33) There's too much money to worry about. (42:36) There's just a high blood pressure and oxygen. (42:39) Worrying about it affects us all. (42:45) There's no connection between happiness and money. (42:59) It says 128 teaches our religious duties. (43:09) I think we've discussed this quite a bit. (43:12) It says in 130, it says, (43:22) that those who forsake the religion of Abraham, (43:26) thus, who would forsake the religion of Abraham (43:30) except those who fool themselves. (43:36) And that's another important thing to keep reminding us (43:42) that this is a religion of God. (43:48) We're tracing the name and submission back to Abraham (43:53) when he was founded. (43:55) Even there were prophets before Abraham, (43:57) like Adam and Eve, too, (43:59) but they didn't establish practices (44:02) for the story to come down to. (44:07) Of their tests and their beliefs, (44:10) and the destruction of these beliefs, (44:13) it was with Abraham that we get these practices (44:17) that make us more systematic. (44:24) But the people were also primitive earlier. (44:27) Before Abraham, all that was required was to believe in God, (44:32) and to be honest in your feelings, (44:34) and not to cheat and betray, (44:36) and not hire robberies, forbidden, etc. (44:41) That's all. (44:42) There were no specific practices. (44:44) Abraham was the first one, (44:46) because the society became a little more sophisticated. (44:50) By the time Muhammad came, (44:51) it became a lot more sophisticated. (44:57) Now we have a mathematical structure in the Quran, (45:01) because we're really sophisticated. (45:03) This is the computer age. (45:09) So you can see the development of religion. (45:12) Actually, we're no longer in the era of faith. (45:17) We don't need faith anymore. (45:23) We entered the era of physicalism, (45:30) which increases the responsibility of the people. (45:38) Who would forsake the religion of Abraham? (45:46) When the Lord said to him, (45:48) Submit, he said, (45:49) I submit to the Lord of the universe. (45:56) Then it goes on from there. (46:00) He told his children to submit. (46:02) He taught his children submission. (46:09) This is telling us that he's passing on (46:12) all of these things that he was taught (46:14) through his children. (46:23) They were submitters. (46:29) This is the history of the beginning, (46:32) because this is a community from the past. (46:35) You're responsible for your works. (46:38) They're responsible for their works. (46:42) We don't really worry. (46:43) I think this is another case. (46:45) I'm talking about the verses (46:48) that make up the lot on the top. (46:52) If they're responsible for their works, (46:56) then what we need to worry about (46:58) is our time and our contemporary. (47:01) I think this kind of reinforces that argument. (47:11) You're not answerable for anything you do. (47:14) Also, you can relate that to (47:17) the Christian concept of original sin. (47:21) You're somehow putting guilty about it. (47:25) We may do the same things that he did, (47:29) but we're responsible because we did, (47:31) not because he did. (47:36) I guess other people got more than that. (48:00) It's not specific to Muhammad. (48:03) It's the descendants that he raises (48:06) among every people, (48:07) so every generation. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://rashad-khalifa-audios-and-videos.gitbook.io/rashad-khalifa-audios-and-videos/messenger-audios/messenger-audio-15.1-26-nov-1982.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.