Messenger Audio 15.1 (26-Nov-1982)

(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.