InshaaAllahutaala'tonight'stopicissomethingthatIfeelverypersonallyhurtabout.

ByAllah'spermissionandHisfavorIhavehadtheopportunitytotraveltoabout80
orsocommunitiesallovertheUnitedStatesinthelast5yearsandIhavemadeabout
2weeksstopsineachcommunityalhumdulillah.AndIwastheyouththatwasraised
inNewYorkandyouknowwhenyouliveinoneplaceforalongtimeyoukindof
youdon'tknowwhatisgoingonintheworldoutsideofthatlittlebubbleofyoursyou
know.SoasItravelledalotoutside,insomewaysitwasaveryeyeopening
experienceinsomerespectsitwassomethingthatIhadneverexpectedontheother
sideittheendwasverypositive.ButattheotherhandatthesametimeIcameto
observethattherearecertainproblemsthattheMuslimcommunityhas
thatitdoesn'tmatteriftheyareinCaliforniaortheyareinBostonortheyarein
TexasortheyareinArkansas,theyarethesame.Andoneofthoseproblemsthats
probablytomeatleastthemostpressingissueofalloftheissuesistheproblemof
howrapidlywearelosingouryouth.howrapidlywearelosingconnectionwithour
kids.AndinshaaAllahutaalainthistalkthoughIwanttostartwiththeimportanceof
thistopicfromthepointofviewofAllah'sbookHimself.Iwanttosharewithyouthe
legacyofIbrahimasjusttogiveusanoverviewoftheimportanceofthismatterand
towardstheendIwillsharewithyousomethingfrommyexperienceandsomefaqs
thatIhaveonthissubjectIdonotclaimtohavesolutions.HonestlyIdonotclaimto
sayanythingthatprobablyhasn'tbeensaidbefore.Butmyhopesarereallyintheend
youcannothopetoevensolvetheproblemuntilyouareawareoftheproblem.So
thefirststepreallyiswehavetobecautiousandawareandacceptthatthereisinfact
aproblem.Andthenextstepiswehavetoputourheadstogetherandwehaveto
seekoutsolutionsofcourseinthelightofAllah'sbookandthesunnahofHis
Messenger(saw).Butthenamongourselvesthepeopleofshareconcrenedhowdo
wetakethenextstep,howdowetakeconclusions.Buttheveryfirststepforyouto
talkevenaboutmedicineisyouhavetoconvincethepatientthatheissick.Hedoesn't
thinkheissick,hedoesn'tneedanymedicinethatdoesnotmakehimconcerned
itself,findingwhatprescriptionIshouldbeonyouknow.SonowIbeganwiththese
fewayatofSurahAlBaqarahandIwantogowiththeveryquickdarsontheseayat,
areminder,bynomeansanelaboratetafseeroftheseayaat.Somebriefreminder.
Ibrahim(as)wentthroughmanymanymanytrials.WheneverHajjseasoncomes
closeyouheartheKhutbahaboutIbrahim(as).Andmanyenormousfeatshehas
accomplished.Andwhenheaccomplishedallthoseincrediblethingsattheendofall
ofthem,Allahgavehimacertificate.Andthisayahisaboutthecertificate.Allahsays
tohimtellsus
WhenHislordtestedIbrahim(as)
especiallyibrahim(as)thoroughly,
,andattheendofallthosetestshecompleted
allofthem, ,hecompletedeverylastoneofthosetests,
attheendofpassingallthosetests,AllahsaystoIbrahim(as),ThereisnodoubtIam
installingyouImamoverpeople.Iammakingyoualeaderoverpeople.Iammaking
youarolemodelforhumanity.Thisisthecertificate,thisisthehonor,thisisthe
medalofhonorthatisbeinggiventoIbrahim(as)afterhewentthroughsomevery

difficulttests.Wecan'tevenbegintoimagineahumanbeinggoingthroughthekinds
ofteststhatIbrahim(as)hadtogothrough.Likewesaysoeasilythathejumpedinto
afire,wesayitsoeasilythatheputknifetohiskid'sneck.Ourchildisholdingafork
inthehandyousayheyputitdownitisdangerous,yougetnervous.Ifyourchildis
tooclosetothestove,whathappenstoyou?Andhereyouhavethismanputtingthe
knifegoingathisownson'sneckSubhanAllah.Itiseasytosayitisverydifficultto
eventrytoputyourselfinthatposition.Thenthefactthathehastoleavehisfamilyin
amiddleofadesertcertaindeath,certaindeath.Ourfamilieswhenweleavethemfor
exampleyouhavetopickyoufamilyupattheairport,Iwastellingthistostudents
earliertoday.Yougotlatetopickthemupfromtheairport.Yougetlike20voicemails
andyouareworriedwhereareyouiseverythingokeverythingalright.Theyareinair
conditioned,wellsecured,benchedsomewheresittingintheairportfacility.Youare
losingyourlineandhereIbrahim(as)leavinghiswifeandchildinthemiddleofthe
desertwhereyoucanseetheonlythingwaitingforthemisdeath.Thatistheonly
thingwaitingforthem.AndyethewalkedawaywithtawakkulonAllah(swt).Notan
easything.Sohegoesthroughallofthesetests.Allahsaysyoupassed,youarenow
imamoverhumanity.Andyouknowthesetestslikewesaidtheyarenoteasybut
somethingweshouldknowaboutIbrahim(as)whenanythingcomestohimgoodor
badwhodoesherememberfirst?Allah(Az)thefirstthingcoemstohismindis
Allah(az).ThisiswhatwefindthemonologueofIbrahim(as)thatsomeofthe
students,wewentthroughtodayinseminar,,Heistheonewho
createdme,Ibrahim(as)saysthis,HeistheOnewhocreatedme,HeistheOnewho
guidesme.,heistheonewhogivesmetoeatheistheone
wholetsmedrink.,wheneverIhavebecomesickinthepast
heistheonewhocaresme.Soeverythingthathappensinhislife,whodoeshe
remember,Allah(swt).SoyouwouldexpectwhenAllahgiveshimthegreatestgiftof
all,greatestgiftofallinlifeofamanisthatAllahsaystohimheishappywithyou.So
AllahsaystoIbrahim(as)Ihavemadeyouimamoverpeople.Whatdoyouexpect
Ibrahim(as)tosay?YouexpecthimtosayAlhumdukyaRabbiPraisebetoyou,
gratitudebetoyou.Thishonorforme.Thishumbleslaveofyours.Insteadyoufind
theresponseofIbrahim(as),,hesaid,,whataboutmykids?And
isdifferentfrom.
meansfuturegenerationswhataboutmyimmediatechildrenandtheirchildren
andtheirchildrenandtheirchildren.Whataboutthem?Allahmadehimimamover
mankind,heisworriedabouthisfuturegeneations.Heisthinking3,4generations5
generations,10,20,30generationsinadvance.Thisistheminsetofgenius.Thisisthe
mindsetofsomeonewhotrulyunderstandstheirroleinthisworld.Youknowthe
muslimisunlikethenonmusliminmanyways.Andoneofthewayswhichweare
differentisthewaywethinkaboutthings.Wethinklongterm.AndIdon'tmeanlong
termlikethinkaboutyourfutureandgetintoamortgage.ThatisnotthelongtermI
amtalkingabout.Longterwearetalkingaboutwearegettingintothathousethat
Allahbuiltforuswhereyoudonotneedtopaythemortgage,thathouse.Youthink
thatlongterm.Wethinkgenerationsinadvance.WetheMuslim,thebelieverwillbe
like80yearsoldreadytodieanydaynowandheisstillplantingtheseedinthe

groundthatonedaythattreewillgrowandsomebodywillgetitsshade.Henotgonna
livetoseethattreebutheworriedaboutthefuture.That'showweare,sadaqajariya.
Wearecontinuouslyworriedaboutoutfuture,thatshowwearesupposetobe.But
becausewearesoengulfedinthesocietythatdoesn'tcareaboutthefuturelikeasmall
examplesocietyhowthesocietydoesn'tcareaboutourfuturebeforewegoonisthe
consumptionofriba.Someofthewealthiestpeopleinthiscountryarepeoplethat
becomerichthroughwhat?Throughribathroughinteresteconomyanditseasy,Iam
notgonnagiveyoualectureonfinancebutverysimplyspeaking,youhavelikea
DonaldTrump,thisguyoneoftherichestpeopleintheworldright?Ifhepaidallof
hisdebtsrightnow,ifhepaideverylastofhisdebtsrightnow.Guesswhat?Noteven
zero,minusinthemillions.Hepaystheminimumpaymentonthispropertyminimum
paymentonthatone,minimumonthatone,rentsallofthemoutthenrefinances,then
goestoanotherproperty.Thisguydebtupondebtupondebtupondebtmaking
minimumpaymentsonallofthemprobablylikeathreehunderedyearmortgage
beforehepayseverythingisoff.DoeshegonnadiebeforethathefiguresIamgonna
liveitup,butafterIdiethat'ssomebodyelse'sproblemwhatdoIcare.Thisisthe
mentallyofsomeonewhodoesnotbelieveintheAakhira.Liveitupwhocares,Iam
notworriedaboutthemIamworriedme.SoyouknowAlGoreiscryingaboutglobal
warmingin50years,whocaresI'mgonnadiein10,Idon'tcare.It'snotmyproblem.
Nationaldebtourchildrenwillbeindebt,whocaresaboutourchildrenwegotour
problemsnow.Sothisisasocietythehallmarkofthehumancondition
,Welovetogetthingsquickly.Wedonotthinklongterm.ButAllahconditions
usinhisbooktothinklongterm.Sowhenwecometothiscountry,Muslimsthey
cometothiscountry,alotofthemimmigrants,alotofthemindigenouswhenwe
thinktheideaoflongtermwethinkwhereismychildgonnagotoschoolwherethey
aregonnagotocollegewherewearegonnabuyahouse.Thisisalongtermforus.I
amtalkingaboutadifferentlongterm.HowwillImakesurethatmyfuturegeneration
3,4,5generationsfromnow,howdoImakesuretheywillbesayingLailahaillallah.
AndtheywillbeteachingLailahaillallahtoothers,howdoIdothat?Thatslongterm
thinking.Ifyourkidgraduatesfromschoolandgetanicedegreeandgetagreatjob
andgetmarriedinrichfamilyandthentheyloseLailahaillallahinonegeneration,have
yousucceededorfailedthinkaboutit.Whosegonnaanswerforthat.Ibrahim(as)
understandsthis.SowhenAllahsaidyouaretheImamhesaidthat'snotenough.Iam
responsibleformychildren.Andiftheydonotbecomegoodthentheirchildrenwill
beworseandtheirchildrenwillbeworseandontheDayofJudgementwhoamItied
to?Thewholegenerationoffailures.Idon'twanabeanswerableforthem.Nomatter
howmanygooddeedsapersondoes.Letsjustimagineyoudidmillionsandmillions
andmillions,mountainofgooddeeds.Ifyoudidn'traiseyourchildrenproperlyand
theylostthisdeen.WhetherinAqeedah,intheirbeliefsorintheirpractice,theylost
thisdeen.Whentheygetmarriedandhavechildrenaretheygonnateachthe
deen.No!andthenwhatabout2,3generationsfromnowaretheygonnateachthe
religion.No!Sonowyougonnahavegenerationaftergenerationbeingbornof
disbelieversthatstartedwithyourirresposibility.Right?OntheDayofJudgement
withallofyourgooddeedscanyoucompetewithallthosebaddeedsputtogether.

There'snoway.There'snoway.Thisisaveryheavyburdenplaceduponaparent.
Everyparentisanimam.Everyfatherisanimamoverpeople.TheinaamthatAllah
gavetoIbrahim(as)whoseimamshipwasheworriedaboutfirst?Forhisown
childrenhisownchildrenfirst.SoAllahresponsestohisdua..
Hesaidwhataboutmykids,AllahsaidNo!Myguaranteedoesnotextendto
wrongdoers.AllahtoldIbrahim(as)somewhereinthelineyourkidswillbe
wrongdoers.Notallofthemgonnaberighteous.Andweknowthevastmajorityof
Ibrahim(as)arewrongdoers.Arn'ttheQuraishchildrenofIbrahim(as)?Theyare.
Weren'ttheywrondoers?Sure.Sure.Andforgenerations.NowIbrahim(As)hehears
thisanswerandIamsureitwouldhavehurthim.ThatAllahsaidthatmyguaranteeis
notextendedtowrongdoers, .Whatdoeshedonext?Doeshegiveup?No!He
comesbacktoAllahcounterduayousee.NowthenextthingwereadisIbrahim(as),
skippinganayahbecausegreattimeinshaaAllah,

heisbeingassignedtobuildthehouseofAllah,asheisapproachingthehousehe
makesdua.OmyLord!Makethisapeacefulcity.and
provideitschildrenfromallkindsofprovision.Provideitspeoplefromallkindsof
fruits.Sohemade2partduasofar,hesaidmakesurethiscityissafe,and
thesecondthingthattheygetallkindsoffruits.InEnglishliteraturewecallthispeace
andprosperity,youeverheardaboutthatbefore?Peaceandprosperity.Andin
politicalscienceyoulearnthatforasocietytofunction,thefirstthingyouneedislaw
andorde,i.e.peace.Ifyouhouseisnotsafe,ifyourstoreisnotsafe,ifyourofficeis
notsafe,ifyourmoneyisnosafethenyoucan'tfunctioninthatsociety.Butevenif
youhavepeaceiftherearenojobs,iftherearenowaystomakemoney,ifthereisno
wayorunyourbusiness.Thenisthatsocietygonnasurvive?No!Soyouneedpeace
andyouneedwhat?Prosperity.Thisiswhatyoulearninpoliticalsciencenow.Look
atthegeniusofthisman'sdua.Hesaysmakeitapeacefulcityandmakesuretheyare
providedfromallkindsoffruits.Butthenheaddsalittlebitofadisclaimerintheend.
He(as)saysHesaysonly
providethechildrenofminewhobelieveinAllahandtheLastDay.Allahsaidtohim
Myguaranteedoesnotextendtowrongdoers.HerespondedOkmakethisagreat
city,makeitspeopleenjoyallkindsofprovision,makethemwelloff,Butonlymake
thebelievingoneswellof.Inotherwords,thedisbelieveing,thewrongdoingchildren,
IwouldrathertheystarveoffandtheirgenerationisdiscontinuebecauseIdon'twant
toanswerforthem.Ionlywanttoanswermybelievingchildren.Isn'tageniusinthe
dua?SubhanAllah.onlytheoneswhobelievesinAllah
andtheLastDay.Allahrespondedagain.Allahsaidbythe
waytheeventheonewhodisbelievesIwillgivehimalittletoo,Iamgonnalethim
someenjoymentalso.
ThenIamgoingtodraghiminthe
punishmentoffire
itsturnwordsfromAllah.Whatahorribleplacetogo
to.SonowIbrahim(As)firstheaskedforhischildren,Allahsaidnoteverybody,then
heaskedonlyfeedmybelievingchildren,AllahsaidNo!No!No!Iwillfeedthe
disbelievingchildrentooandIwilldragthemtotheHellFire.Ibrahim(as)'sduahas
beencounteredtwice.Doeshegiveupnow?No!Nowseethisisaconcernedfather.
Sowereadfurther.Ibrahim(as)isbuilding

thefoundationsofthehousedoeshedoitalone?Whodoeshedowith?Ismail,
Ismail!SoyouseethispartofgeniusofIbrahim(as).WhenyouaskAllahfor
somethingandthisisanadviceespeciallyforyoungerpeople.Youarenotpraying,
youarenotrememberingAllah,yoarenotconcernedabouttheobligationstoAllah,
youarenotloweringyourgaze.Yourfinalexamistomorrowandlikefiveminutes
beforeyouhaven'tstudiedyouarelike,YaAllah.....midterms.Allofasudden
yourememberAllah.RememberingAllahbyconvenience,myconvenience.Thebest
timetoaskAllahsomethingiswhenyoudosomethingthatmakesAllahhappywith
you.Itsthebesttimetoask.Youknowthebesttimetoaskiswhattime?AfterSalah!
YoujustobeyedAllahnowaskdua,oneofthebestplacetoaskAllahisthehouseof
Allah.Whenyougothereitsagreatactofobediencenowitsthebesttimetoask.The
besttimetoasktheduaisinthelastportionofthenightbecausethat'swhenyouare
showingobediencetoAllahinthebestpossibleway.Thebesttimetoaskduais
RamadhanbecauseyouareobeyingAllahatthattime.AskAllahatthattime.SoNow
Ibrahim(as)isdoingoneofthegreatestactsofobediencetoAllah.Heisbuilding
Allah'shouseonthisearthwithhisson.Thisisprobablythebesttimetoaskagain,
right?Soheasksagain.ButheknowswhatAllahhassaidnotoalreadysoheis
gonnakeepmodifyinghisdua.Becauseheisadjustingaccordingly.Sowhatduadoes
hemake?Numberonedua,,Ourlordexceptfromus.Youseeinthe
previousduaitwas"","
"Mylordmakethisapeacefulcity.
ismyLord,nowhesaidwhat?OurLord!Whodoesheinclude?Hisson,thistimeI
ambuilduingAllah'shouseIamgonnamakeduabutIamgonnaincludemysonin
thedua.Soatleastguaranteemethisboyrighthere.acceptfrombothof
us.Nodoubtyouaretheonewhohearseverythingandknows
everything,SubhanAllah.Soheensuresatleastoneson.Nextayahisthecontinuation
oftheduaswhichmeansAllahdidnotrespondwithwords.Allahresponseinsilence
andsilencemeanswhat?Acceptance.Right?SoAllahacceptedthatduasohegoes
further.Hedoesn'tstop.IfAllahaccepted,keepgoing.Our
Lord!Makebothofusincompletesubmissiontoyou,makeusMuslimbeforeyou.
Acceptusfirstincompletesubmissionbeforeyou.BythewayAllahhasalready
madehimimambecauseofwhat?Becauseofhissubmission.Hasn'thealready
submitted?SubhanAlllahwhyheaskingnowthisdua,becauseheisincludinghisson.
Makeusincompletesubmissionbeforeyou.
Andoutofourchildrennotallofourchildrenbutoutofourchildren.Becausethe
hereindicatesthefractionright?Atleastsomeofourchildrenguaranteethatthey
willbeaMuslimUmmah,anummah,agroup,anationthatonlysubmitstoyou,no
oneelse..Agroupthatonlysubmitstoyou.Ok,someofmychildren
willbewrongdoersbutatleastguaranteemesomeofthem.Don'tguaranteeme,Ok
youdidn'tguaranteemeallofthem,guaranteemesomeofthem..And
thosethatwillbeincompletesubmissiontoyouandshowusourrituals.
Webuiltyourhouse,wedon'tknowhowtopleaseyou,howtoworshipyouatthis
house.Howdowemaketawaf,howdowemakeSalah.Teachusthesethings.Show
usourrituals..Andacceptourtauba.Youknowwhenyouask
fortauba?Whenyoudoasin.Youaskfortaubawhenyoudosomethingwrong.

Whyisheaskingfortauba?.Hashedoneanythingwrong?Heisoneofthe
greatestmessengers,(as).Whattaubaishemaking?Thisisaprofound
lesson.WhenyoudosomethingforthesakeofAllahlikewejustprayed,didwe
makemistakesinourprayer?Werethereanyshortcomingsinourwudu?Werethere
shortcomingswhereourmindwamdered?What'sfordinner,theysaidthere'sgonna
bedinner.Sowhenyoucomeupfromrukuyourbellygetsalittlestretcheandyou
say'uhh'.Ihopetohaverice.That'sgoingoninyourhead.Sonowisthatthe
shortcomingcominginthesalah?Absolutely.Sojustbecauseyouprayeddoesn't
meanyouperformedthebestprayer.YoushouldaskAllah,repenttoAllahforthe
shortcomingseventhethingsyoudoforhim.HeisbuildingAllah'shouseseehis
humility,humilityofthisman.IambulidingyourhousemaybeIdidn'tputthebrick
whereIwassupposeto.MaybeImadeamistake,Ididn'tevenknowifImade.Soif
IammakingamistakethatIdon'tevenknowImadeIamstillinvadingmyfault
acceptourtauba.SubhanAllah.Andthisisanattitudewehavetolearnform
Ibrahim(as).Weaskpeopletomakeistighfaar.ManIdidn'tanythingwrongman!
WhyIammakingistighfaar?Youdoneplentywrong.Wehavedoneplentywrong.
Whetherweknowitornot..Sohemakestauba.But
thenthereisnoresponsefromAllah,whatdoesthatmeanagain?Acceptance.Sohe
keepsgoing.Hesays.HethinkscarefullyaboutwhatAllah
hastoldhim.Andhecalculateshiswords.AndhesaystoAllah,OurLord!Appoint
fromourfuturegenerationsamessengerwhoisfromamongthem.Notjusta
messengerbutamessengerwhoisfromamongthem.Thisisgenius.Ifyoujustask
foramessengerandheisformoutsidethenpeoplewillsayIdon'twanttolistento
you,youforeigner.Peopledon'tlikelisteningtoforeigners.Whenthoseofyouwho
comefromPakistanorIndia,whenyourkidsaretotallyAmericanandtheygoto
Pakistannobodylistenstothem.Theymakefunhowtheytalk.Andwhensomebody
comesfromArabworldorSudanorIndonesiaorMalaysiatheydon'tspeakany
English.TheycomehereandtheytrytomakeDawah,peoplelistentothemorno?
Theyarenotlisteningtheyarenotfamiliar.Theyareoutsiders.Soinanyregionthe
outsiderislookedataslessrelevant.Theycan'tbealeader.Theyarefromthe
outside.Sohemakesduathatthemessengershouldbefromamongthem,from
withinthem.Sothatwhenhetalkstheylisten.What'sthepointofhavingamessenger
whenpeopledonotlisten.Sonotjustamessenger,hewillread
untothemthemiraculoussigns.hewillreaduntothemsomethingthatwillmesmerise
themandbringthemclosertoyou.Sothattheystayinline,theystayMuslim.
AndhewillteachthemtheBookandhewillteachthemwisdom.
andhewillcleansethemhewillpurifythem.Thisisawellthoughtoutduaof
Ibrahim(as).Andweallknowwehavelearntthisinchildhoodtheresponseofthis
duaisthehadventofMuhammadurRasoolullah(saw).Soyouunderstandthepower
ofdua?.Ibrahim(as)madethisduawithwhatmotivewhatishismotivation?His
motivationwasmychildren.Mychildren.Whenasincerefathermakesduatohis
Lord,theLordresponse.TheduaofIbrahim(as)respondedwithgreatestresponse
humanityhaseverseen.ItistheadventofMuhammadurRasoolullah(saw).Sodo
notunderestimatethepowerofdua.Donotunderestimatethepowerofdua.The

revelationoftheQuranthatwearereadingnowtoadua.Itsaresponse,thinkabout
it,itsaresponsetoadua.Nothundereds,millions,notbillionsofpeoplethathave
saidLailahaillallahsincethecomingofMuhammad(saw),alloverthisworld,
generationaftergenerationisaresponsetoadua.OnedayevenAllahwillcleanse
them,hewillpurifythem,hewillreadtheBookuntothem.Thisisaconcernofa
fatherwhothinksahead,whothinksahead.SothisiswhatAllahtellsus,soIam
gonnaconcludethisandtalkaboutsomepracticalstepsinshaaAllah.
whoisgoingtowalkawayfromthelegacyofIbrahim?Whosegonnaturn
hisbackonlegacyofIbrahim?Whowouldbethatdumb?exceptthe
onewhoisfoolinghimself.Theonlyonetowalkawayfromthislegacyistheone
whoisfoolinghimself.
Wehave
selectedhiminthisworldandintheHereaftertrulyheisfromtherighteous(as).So
thisbriefpassageIsharedwithyoubecauseitsthepassageintheQuranabout
parenthood.Aboutconcernforthefuturegeneration.

Ibrahim(As)andYaqub(as)theygaveawill,theygavealegacytotheirchildrenwhat
wasthelegacy?
Mychildrenthere
isnodoubtaboutitItisAllahwhohaspreferredandgivenselectionofthisdeento
you.Hehaspreferreditforyou.Don'tyoudaredieexceptyouareincomplete
submissiontoAllah.Ourtimes,parentturnstothechilddon'tyoudaregetlessthan
90inmaths.Don'tyoudareevergowithyourfriends,don'tyoudaredothis,don't
youdaredothat.What'sheissayingtohischildrendon'tyoudaredieunlessyouare
incompletesubmissiontoAllah.ThisisagiftAllahhaschosenforyou.Thisis
Allah'sgiftforyou.ThisLailahaillallah.Dontyoudareloseit.Thisisanadviseof
concernedfather.Bythewaythebeautyoftheduahesaidwhichson
waswithhim?Ismail(as).Butthenextprophetmentionediswho?Yaqub(as).Yaqub
(as)isthesonofwho?Ishaaq(as),thesonwhowasnotthere.SoAllahdidn'tonly
answeredtheduaforthatsonandhisprogeny.HeansweredtheduaofIshaaq(as)
andhisprogenytoo.FromamongthemHeansweredtheprayertoo.Andeventhey
grewuptobeconcernedfathers.SoYaqub(as)isoneofthegreatestfathersin
historywhohasbeentalkedaboutasarolemodelinourBook.Solastone,
Wereyouaround?didyouallsee?Whendeathcameto

Yaqyb(as),whendeathpresenteditselftoYaqub(as).Nowimaginethisoldmanon
hisdeathbed.Andallofhissonsarearoundhim,takingcareofhim,givinghim
water,cryingandheisworriedaboutthem.Heisnotworriedaboutwhoareyou
gonnamarry,whereyougonnalive,whereyouwillgivetheproperty,makesureyou
mayyourtaxes.Noneofthatstuff,nothing,nothing.Makesureyoufinishcollege.No
concerns.OnhisdeathbedhesaysOmychildren!Mysons!

Thereisnodoubtaboutit,Allahhasselectedthedeenforyou.
Don'tyoudaredieexceptyouareMuslim,hedidn'tsaywhat
youaregonnaworshipafterIamgone?WhatareyougonnadoafterIamgone?
WhatareyougoingtoworshipafterIamgone?Andhedidn'tevensayhe
saidwhichillustratesheisquizzingthem.Whatyouaregonnado?What
formofworshipyougonnatake.Andtheyresponded

Wewillworshipyourilahandtheilahof

yourfathersIbrahim(as),Ismail(as),Ishaaq(as)andweareMuslimcompletelyto
Him.NowIamgonnaclosetheMushafinshaaAllahandsharewithpracticalrealities
incontrast.Letscompareourselvestowhatisjustbeenlearnt.Thisisastoryofold
times.Theyaregreatchildren.AttheendofthispassagedoyouknowwhatAllah
saysThat'sanationthatalreadygone,theyhavealreadypassed.
thatnation,thatgroupearnedwhattheyearned.
andyouwillgetwhatyouearned.Don'tjustthinkaboutthem,ohhh
thosewerethegoodtimes.no,no,no.Theygotwhattheygot.Youwillhavetoearn
whatyouearn.Youhavetoearnwhatyouearn.youwillnot
beinterrogatedwhattheyusedtodo.Whatyouwillbeinterrogatedabout?Whatyou
did.Allah'swordsattheendarelearnalessonandchangeyourself.Youwon'tbe
askedaboutwhetheryouknowthehistoricalnames,figuresanddatesandcanyou
nameallthesinsofYaqub(as)ornot.Whatwillyoubeasked?Whatdidyoudowith
yourchildren.Whatdidyoudo?NowInshaaAllahverybrieflyIwilltalkabouta
coupleofthingsthatareplaguingourUmmahtoday.Wehavetounderstandthe
timinginwhichwelive.Ifwewanttounderstandtheteachingsofourdeenwehaveto
understandQuranandSunnahandwealsohavetohaveagoodunderstandingof
whenweareliving,wherewearelivingmeaningwhatisaroundus.What'shappening
inthesocietyaroundus.ThatactuallyhappenstobeastatementIbrahim(as)thatwe
find.Thatamanmustknowtheagewhichhelives.There'ssomethingwesupposeto
do.There'ssomethingweareawareofoursurroundings.TheMuslimstoday,vast
majorityofthemhavelosttheirtouchtothereligion.Andtheyhavebecomemore
concernedwiththepracticesoftheirtradition,oftheirfamilythantheyarewiththe
religion.Theyaremoreconcernedwiththeculturethantheyarewiththereligion.So
whentheyareyoung,theirsonordaughterbecomesalittlebitreligiousandsaysI
wanttogetmarriedandIwantthenikahtobeintheMasjidthefathersaysareyou
crazy?Wedonotdothatinourfamily.Wewillgetahall.Andthesonsaysorthe
daughtersaysIwantthegatheringtobeseparate.Idon'twantmenandwomen
mixing.No,no,nowedonnotdothatinourculture.Thisisextremeyouareturning
intoacrazyperson.Sodon'tbecrazylikethat.That'snothowwedothingsinour
family.That'snotourtradition.Haveyouheardlikethatbefore?That'snotour
tradition.Ok.That'snotyourtradition.Ifyouareforexample,fromindopakandor
thearabsociety.Right.that'snotyourtradition.Whataboutyourfathersandtheir
fathersandtheirfathersandtheirfathers.Ifyougobacksevenoreightgenerations
yourgreatgreatgreatgreatgreatgrandfatherwouldhavesaidthesamethingthatthis
youthissaying.Sowho'struetothetradition?Whoseupholdingthetradition?And
whoisdefyingthetradition?Theseideasofwedon'tdothingsthisway,wedon'tact
likethis.ThisisthehypnosisthatthecolonisersputontheUmmahofIslam.They
cameandputtheseclothesonus,theytaughtushowtoeatwithforkandspoon.
Right?ToknowthatEnglishisalanguageofdignifiedandarabicisalanguageof
peoplewhodonotreallygetagoodeducation.Right?Theytaughtusthisstuff.And
thenwegotsohypnotisedintothinkingthisisourway.Thisisourway.Subhan
Allah.Wehavetohaveasenseofdignityforwhoweare.Forwhatourlegacyis.Our
legacyisnot50yearsold.Thisistheotherthinghappentothisummah.Thisisapart

ofourproblemtoday.Wethinkourhistory,thoseofyouwhoarefromPakistan,we
areatraditionof50yearsagoor70yearsagoorwearea100yearoldcountryorwe
are200.Nooo!Weare1400yearoldplusUmmah.Thoselineswerenotdrawnby
Muslimswhoweretheydrawnby?Bykuffaar,bytheenemiesofIslam.Don'tthink
that'sourtradition.Ourtraditionismuchbiggerthanthat.Don'tlimityourself.Now
havingsaidallofthatletscomebacktoUnitedStateswherewelive.Inourchildren.
Yesourchildrenarebeingraisedinthissociety.Theyarebeingraisedliterallyas
Americans.YoulikeBiryani,Baklawaandwhateveryoulike.TheylikePizza.You
don'tlikePizza.Right?Theylikecheeseburger.Youcan'tstandit.Andthethings
youlaghattheydon'tlaughat.Andthethingsyoueatforsweetstheyareallergicto
that.Theyhaveacandy,achocolatebarorsomething.Right.Itsadifferentculture.
Whattheyliketoeat,whattheyspeak,howtheyentertainthemselvestheyaredifferent
fromyou.Theeldersaresittingtogetherandtheyarelisteningtopoetryfromold
timesandtheygo,oooo,itsgoodstuff.Andtheyouth,O,whattheyaretalking
aboutman.Theyhavenoidea.Theyhave50centon,youknowordifferentworlds.
Twocompletelydifferentworlds.Sonowwenotonlydowehaveagenerationgap
betweenourselvesandourchildren,wehaveacontinentalgap.Right?Ourparentsare
fromdifferentcontinent,adifferentworld.Wherethingsworkentirelydifferently.But
whathashappened,andthisismyassessment,andwhathashappenediswhenwe
cometoUnitedStateswebuiltthesemasaajidsAlhumdulillah.MayAllahrewardthose
whoputevenapennyinthebuildingofthemasaajids.Becauseifitwasnotforthe
buildingofthemasaajidwewouldnotbesittingheretoday.Therewouldbenodawah
ofIslam.SoweaskAllahtorewardthepeoplewhospentevenapennyforthesake
ofAllahinbuildinghishouse.Right?SothisisagreatcontributiontothisUmmah.
Butthenwhathappenedthisproblemtoo,letstalkabouttheproblemtoo.Let'snot
onlytalkaboutthegoodletstalkaboutthebadtoo.Sowebuiltourmasaajidsand
thenrightnowwhenyouturnonsihnaat(36:06)itsAmericayouturnintoParkinglot
andyouparkthecar,nowweareinPakistanandwhenyouenterinhereitisCairoor
LahoreorHyderabadinhere.WeleftAmerica.Weareindifferentcountryhere.
Right?Andweactlikethatwaytoo.YouwouldneverdothethingsinMasjid
bathroominanyotherrandombathroom.Youwouldneverparkyourcarinanyother
parkinglotthewayyouparkitattheMasjid.BecauseyouareinPakistanwhenyou
getinhere.Right?ItsamentalityofaMuslim.Thisisanislandwhereweownthe
nostalgiafrombackhome.Anotherthingisbackhomethingsarealittlebitdifferent.
TheImamwouldcome,hewouldgiveadars(lecture)inArabi(Arabic),hewould
givealectureinUrduorinBenglaorMalayorinThaiorlikeinTurkishright?And
youwilllistenandyouwouldenjoy.Isthatgonnaworkhere?Thatsnotgonnawork
here.Andyouknowwhythebiggestproofitdoesn'tworkhere.TheShuyookhare
herethegreatscholarsareheretheyarewonderfulbutwhentheyaretalkingwhois
listening?Theeldersarelistening.Wherearetheirkids?Outsideintheparkinglot.Out
inthebasketballcourt.Itsagreatcourtbytheway.Theyareinthecourttheyarenot
here.Theyarenothere.Andmasjidaftermasjidaftermasjidthereisafightwho
shouldbetheimamofthemasjid?Shouldhebefromthiscountry,shouldhebefrom
thatcountry,shouldhebefromthatmadrassaorthatmadrassa.Shouldhebefrom

thisideologyorthatideology.Nomatterwhoyougetguesswhodoesn'tcare.Your
kids.Theydon'tcare.Theyhavebecomecareless.Sowearefightingoverthingsthat
donotmakeanysense.WehaveleftthelegacyofIbrahim(as).Wehaveleftit.His
primaryconcerniswho?Hischildren.Whatwearegonnadointhismasjidandevery
masjid,whatarewegonnadoinourmasajidthatturnsthisamagnetforyoung
people.Turnsitintoaplacewhereyoungpeopleherd,theyflocktoitinsteadofa
placewheretheyrunawayfrom.Thisisthefirstconcern.Andbythewayjusttoadd
alittlebitofironytoallofthisIbrahim(as)wasbuildingwhat?Whenheaskedforhis
futuregenerations.HeisbuildingAllah'shouse.Allah'shousehasdirectlysomething
todowithpreservingthefuturegenerations.IfyouloseconnectionwithAllah'shouse
youlosteverything.Youlosteverything.Themasaajidinthiscountryareourrefuge.
Ourrefuge.Ouryouth,nowletstalklittlebitaboutouryouthandwhattheirproblems
are.Thenumberonecatastrophyofouryouthisthattheyhavenoonetotalkto.This
isnumberonecatastrophyofouryouth.Yourchildgoestoschool,letssaytheygo
topublicschoolthatsthemajorityofMuslimstheyputtheirchildreninpublicschools
becausetheycan'taffordIslamicschoolsorwhateverreason.Right?Wedon'tblame
themforthat'stheircircumstance.Sotheyputtheirchildreninpublicschool.Byfifth
orsixthgrade,yourchildrenlearnsomeprettyfilthyvocabularyinthiscountry.Idon't
carewhichstateyouarefrom.Right?Theyareprettydirtyvocabulary.Theylearn
howtoaccessprettydirtywebsites.Theylearnhowtodownloadprettyhideous
thingsintheirPSPsandiPodvideos,iPodtouchesoriPhoneswhatever.Sotheyare
prettyadvancedataveryearlyage.Thingsyouwouldhaveneverlearntin25they
knowwhentheyare12.That'sthereality.That'swhat'sgoingontoday.So,how
manyparentshereknowwhatfacebookis?Youknowwhatfacebookis?Showhands
please.OkTwitter?Youknowwhattwitteris?Itsnotwhenyoureyebugsout.It's
somethingelse.Soyourkidsareonsocialnetworkingsites.Wherepredatorshave
accesstotalktoyourdaughter,ortoyoursonandengageinrelationshipswiththem
overtheinternetandeventuallytheymeetupwiththemandthingshappen.Thisisthe
realityofMuslimyouthtoday.Thisishappening.Weshouldn'tcloseoureyestoit.
Weneedtoopenoureyestoitandyousaytoyouself,Nah!Notmykids.No!
Pleasewakeup.Somebascsolutionbeforewetalkaboutthebiggerpicturewhatwe
needtodointhemasaajids,somebasicsolutionsdonothaveopenaccessinternetat
home.Especiallywhenyouhavechildrenundertheageof12.Donot!.Thatisthe
horribleidea.Donotgiveyourchildrenalaptop.Donotgivethemamachine,a
phonethathasanythingbutphonenumbers.Notexting.Don'tgivethemtextmessage
phones.Don'tgivetheminternetaccessphones.Youareaskingfortrouble.Youare
askingfortrouble.Youwillregretwhatyoudidlateron.Youthinkyougotthemthese
thingsbecauseyoulovethem.Youaredestroyingthem.Youaredestroyingthem.
TheyarenotsmartenoughtofigureitoutIshouldn'tbedoingthatorIshouldn'tbe
doingthis.Don'tassumetheywillmakeallthegooddecesionsbecauseyoucome
fromanicefamily.Pleasedonotfallintothattrap.ForAllah'ssaketakethosethings
away.Thereareotherwaystoentertainyourchildren.Sothisisthefirstthing.When
yourchildrenbecometeenagersbytheway,whichhappensalot,ourchildren
becometeenagers.AndasIhavetravelledalotthroughthecountryyouknowwhat

happens,lotsofparentscometomeandtheysayIhaveateenagegirlIhavea
teenageboyIwantyoutotalktohim.Thishashappenedtomehunderedsoftimes.
Literallyhunderedsoftimes.Andyouknowwhytheycometome?AndIdon'tjudge
anyone,Idon'tjudgeanyoneWallahi!Idon'tjudgeanyone.Youknowwhythey
come?Becausewhentheyareteenagerstheybecomeindependent.Andwhenthey
becomeindependenttheynolongerlistentoyou.Whentheynolongerlistentoyou,
youhavetofindsomebodythattheywilllistento,theshiphasalreadysailed.When
wasyourchance?Whenwasyourchance?Beforetheyturnedintosomeadults.That
wasyourchance.Don'tloosethatopportunity.Thethingthatwehavetolearnhereis
weareinadifferentworld.Thewayyoudealwithyourchildrenbackhomeisnotthe
wayyoudealwiththemhere.Theyaretwodifferentthings.Backhomeyoucanyelat
them,slapthemdowhateveritsallgood,thatshoweverybodydoesit.Overhereyou
yellatthemalittle,theygoandtalk,yeahmydad,he'stotalloser.Theywilltalk
aboutyoulikethat.Theywill,amongtheirfriends.Theywilltalk.Iusedtoruna
sundayschool,Iwastheheadofasundayschoolandmyprimaryjob,myprimary
jobyouknowwhatitwas?Iusedtobeaspy.Thatwasmyprimary,itwasn't
curriculumoramIteachingaqeedahorwhattextbookstoorder,nononononono,
thatwillcomelater.Letmegoaroundduringrecessandspyontheconversations
thesekidsarehaving.MymomletmebuyanNC17videogameandIamonly8.She
loves.Noshedoesn't.Ihavegrandtheftoutofwhatever85now.Right?Didyousee
thatmovie.ItisPG13.ButIamstillgottoseeit.Oritsalreadyon,Ihaveseenit.
NowIhaveaDVDathome.Thisiswhatthekidsaretalkingabout.Theyaremessing
yourkidsup.Youthinkyoulovethem.Thisislove?ThisiswhatIbrahim(As)
approveanythingneartothis?Thisisconcernforchildren?Wakeup.Reallywakeup.
Exposedourchildrentothingsinthissocietyithasgoneprogressivelyworse.In
mediaespecially.SoamoviethatwasPG1310yearsago.IsPGnow.Okthe
standardshavedropped.Theyaretalkingabout,itsnotevenme,theyaretalking
aboutit.Right?Soandforexamplehomosexualityandthesekindsoffilthythings
havenowbecomenormevenincartoons.ItisnotTomandJerryanymore.Things
havechanged.Thingshavechanged.Wehavetobeawareofwhat'sgoingon.What
ourchildrenarewatching.Thekindsoflanguagetheyareusing.Thethingstheyfind
normal.Thethingshavejustbecomepartoflife.Youknowwhenyoucomeinthe
masjidsandyouseepeoplehavingbeardsandmakingsalahandyouknowtheyare
talkinginacertainway.Doyourchildrenseemoreofthatordotheyseethereal
worldmore.Whatthechildrenseemoreiswhatthechildrendefinenormal.Soto
yourkidsintheirheadthisisn'tnormal.That'snormal.Andthat'saproblem.That's
therealproblem.Theydonotseethisisnormal.Theyseetheoutsideworldis
normal.Howdowechangethatforourchildren?Howdowemakethischange
happenforourchildren?Firstbeawareofthisproblem.Andthenletstalkabouthow
toaddressthisproblem.WhatIsaidthenumberonecatastropheforourchildren
is?Theyhavenoonetotalkto.Theyhavenoonetotalkto.Whenyourchildgoesto
publicschoolandseesaboyandagirltogetherorsomegirlcomesuptoyourboy
andsaysyouwanagotothepramorwearegettingtogetheratthisrestaurantdoyou
wanacomewithme.Youkindacute.Thishappenstoyourfifthgrader.Thishappens

toyouseventhgrader.Yourgirlyourboy.Thishappenstothem.Aretheygonna
comehomeandtalktoyouaboutit?No!.HeydadthisgirltoldmeIamcute.
What???!!!!IsthiswhywebroughtyoutoAmreeca.slapslapyouknow.The
works.Thischildknowsmyparentscan'thandlethisinformation.Sohehasgotto
talksomeoneaboutI.Guesswhoheisgonnatalkto?Heisgonnatalktohisfriends.
Andifheisgoingtoapublicschool.HisfriendsareMuslimsornonMuslims?They
arenonMuslim.SowhenhetalkstohisnonMuslimfriendswhatkindofanadvice
heisgonnaget?MuslimadviceornonMuslimadvice?NonMuslimadvice,Gofor
itman..!.Thatswhatheisgonnaget.Andnowyourchildrenareconfidingintheir
friendsandnotinyoubecauseyouaretoostrict.Youdon'ttalktothem.Youdont
openthatdoorforthem.Bcauseyouareusedtohavethatauthorityofyourfather
hadonyoubutthatwasbackhome.Thisisheremanthisisdifferent.Itdoesn'twork
likethat.Wehavetobefriendourchildren.Wehavetoletthemopenuptous.And
thisisaproblemforme.Iamafatherofthreedaughters.Right?AndIama
protectivefather.Sowhenmydaughterwasinpreschool,inpreschool.Therewasa
boythatsatnexttoherandshecamehomeandsaidhamzasatnexttometodayand
wecolouredtogether.AndIsaid,WHAT!!!!andmywifelookedatmeandsaid,
Justleave,i'lltalktoher.Youleave.BecauseifIshowangernowthenshe'llknow
mydaddoesn'tlikehearingabouthamza.Sonexttimehamzadoessomethingorsaid
somethingdoesshegonnatellme?No!SoIhaveactuallychoppedoffmyownfoot
whenIsaidthat.Ihavetolearnhowtodealwiththesethings.Ittakesalittlebitof
tactics.Ittakesalittlebitofpatiencetodealwithourchildren.Weputthem,itsnot
theirfault,weputthemhere.Weputtheminthatschool.Weputtheminthat
enviornment.Theydidn'taskforit.Weputinthere.Soiftheyareexposetobad
thingswhosefaultisit?Ours.Wehavetotakethatlittlebitofresponsibilityandnot
justohhhhowdareyousaythisorhowdidyoulearnthatword.Youputmeinthat
school.Youputmeinthatsituation.Youletmewatchthatmovie.Youdidn'task
whatfriendsIhave,wheretheyliveandwhotheirparentsareandwhatwedowhen
wegettogether.Youdidn'task.That'syourproblem.Soopenupthedoorsof
communicationforyourchildren.Openthosedoors.Openupthemnowbeforeits
toolate.Reallyopenthemnowbeforeitstoolate.Toomanyofourchildrenhave
rebelledfromtheirhomes.Toomanyofourdaughtershaverunnawaywiththeir
boyfriends.Toomany.Toomany.AndIknowitisuglytohearbutitsareality.You
havetofaceit.Toomanyofoursonshaveillicitrelationships.Youknow.Thisisa
sickreality.Wehavetodealwiththis.Adwecan'tjustcryaboutitwehavetodeal
withit.Sothisisthefirstthing,openupthedoorsofcommunicationwithyour
children.Secondthingforyourteenagechildren.IgaveyouanexampleofYaqub(as)
wesaidheisawonderfulfather.Didhissonsdosomethingreallymessedup?They
did.Whatdidtheydo?Youremember?Theytookhisson,kidnappedhim,dropped
himkinaditchinthemiddlefthewoodsandcamebackwithashirtwithfalseblood
onit.Didheknowtheywerelying?OK.Sonowhere'sasituationtherearesome
youngsons,here'safather.Thefatherknowsthereissomethinghorriblywrong.
Horriblywrong.Doeshesayyouscum,youbettergobackandgetthat....Youfind
anyofthat?Whatdoyoufind?
WhenIheartharesponseIsaywhatkind

ofdadishe?Whydidn'theyellatthem,whydidn'theyouknow.Youknowwhy?
Becauseheisageniusfather.Afterwhoreallytakescareofparentingknowswhatis
theagetoadviceyourchildrenadwhatistheagewhentheyhavebecome
independent.NomatterwhatItellthemtheyarenotgonnalisten.Thefatherknows.
Sothereisanagewheretheonlythingyoucanonlydoiswhat?
Thereis
anagethatcomeswhereallthatisleftis
.That'sit.That'sallyoucando.
Nowtheshiphassailed.Nowtheyareonthereown.Theyareonthereown.Soyour
jobisbeforetheygettothatpoint.Nowiftheygonetothatpointifyouhaveteenage
kids.Thenthebestyoucandoistrytointroducethemtobettercompany.Firstofall
givelifetotheyouthgroupsatthemasajid.Idon'tcarewhatproblemstheyhave,still,
givethemlife.Andmyadvicetoyouthgroupsingeneraliskeeptheboysandgirls
separate.Havetwoseparateyouthgroups.Don'tcombinethembecauseyouare
askingfortrouble.Ifyouareateenageboyorgirl,livinginthissocietythenyouhave
beenexposedtoenoughshamelessbombardmentofmediathatthoseideasare
constantlyrunninginyourmind.Andwhenyougetabunchof15,16,17yearold
MuslimboysandgirlstogetherandtheyarehavinganIslamicprogram,please,
please.Letsberealistic.That'snotagoodidea.Thereisnowayateenageboycantell
menothingcrossedmymindinthiswholeevent.There'snoway.There'snoway.
Youknowhowyouwerewhenyouwere16or17.Sodon'tthinkyourchildrenare
anydifferent.Somyadvicetoyouthgroupsisseparatetheboysandgirls.AndI
don'tcarewhatyouthgroupitisWallahi,Idon'tcareifitisMassYouth,cresade
youth,(50:06)oritsYM,oritsanotheryouthgroupyouguysstartedoritsMSA
whateveritmaybesupportit.Helpitout.Insteadoftellingmewhatproblemsthey
haveyouhavemoreproblems.Don'ttellmewhatproblemstheyhave.Tellmehow
canyoumakethembetter.Howcanyousupportthem.Howcanyouliventhem.
Becausethesearetherefugeforyourchildren.Yourchildrenyourteenagekidsare
notgonnagolistentoasheikh.Theyarenot.ThevastMuslimmajorityofMuslim
teenagerswon'tevenlistentome.YouthinktheyaregonnalistentomejustbecauseI
donothaveanaccent.No!Theyarenotgonnalistentome.Theyseethistheyrun.
Theyrun.Thatsthereality.Whoaretheygonnatalkto?Otherkidstheirage.Youth
groupsarethelifelineofIslamicdawahtoouryouth.Theyarethelifeline.Ifwedon't
supportthemwearelosingit.Doesn'tmatterwhotheimamis,itdoesn'tmatterhow
bigthemasjidgets.Doesn'tmatterwhatcolorcarpetfinallywonintheboardmeeting.
Noneofthatmatters.Noneofthatmatters.Theonlythingthatwillmatterisdowe
haveavehiclebywhichwearebringingtheyouthbackintoIslam.Thyarebringing
backintothemasjid.AndthenthenextadviceisforthecommunitycentresIslmaic
centersalloverthecountryandthesearemyfathersandmyunclesthesearemy
eldersmyrespectedyouknoweldersthatIloveforthesakeofAllahbecausethetime
andtheefforttheyputintobuildingandmaintainingthesemasaajidsbutmysincere
adviceisabiggerproblemthangettinganImamforthemasjidisgettingayouth
directorforthemasjid.Abrotheryouthdirectorforthebrothersandasisteryouth
directorforthesisters.Thisiscriticalinourtime.MorethananImam.Youknowyou
getanimamyousayheisaFadil,heisan'Aalim,orheisMuftiorheisMujhtahor
he'sgotadegreeinfiqhorheisthisthatortheother.Hecomesandtellsyou

somethingabouthisopinioninFiqhandguesswhatwhatmostofthecommunity
doesIdon'tlikehisopinions.Iamgonnafindanotheropinionongoogle.Whyhave
youhiredhimwithgreatresumewhenyouarenotgonnalistentothatguy.Right?Its
dementedhowwehavebecome.Wearenotfacingreality.Youthdirectorsarefar
moreimportant.YoungbrthersyoungsistersinyourowncommunityHoustons
MashaAllahhotbedoflikeenergeticreallyreallygreatpotentialyouth.Soyoutakea
bunchofyouthyoutakeabunchofsistersthatarestudyingIslam,abunchbrothers
yousayoneortwoofthemwewillpayyourcollegetuition.Wewilltakecareofyour
collegetuition.Youbecometheyouthdirectorfulltimeforourmasjid.Youmakesure
aprogramisbeingdoneeveryweek.Youmakesurethatyoutakethekidsoutsidefor
somebasketballoricecreamortriptoabeachwhateverorovernightwhatever.
Everyweeksomethingisgoingoneverytwoweekssomethingisgoingon.Youtake
careofthatwewilltakecareofyou.Becauseyouaretakingcareofthechildrenof
ourcommunity.Wehavetothinklikethis.Wehavetoinvestinpeoplenow.Wehave
toinvestinpeople.AndthereisnoshortageofremarkableyouthinHouston..Wallahi!
Thereareshortinothercommunitites.IlookaroundMasjidIdonotseeanyyoung
people,hereMashaAllah,why?Thisisagreatpotentialintheyouth.Amongthe
brothersandthesisters.Socapitalizeonit.Getoveryourfiqhdebateswhetheritis8
taraweehor20taraweeh,yourchildrendonotcare.That'sabiggerproblem.Wecan
worryaboutthoseproblemswhentimesaregood.Thesearen'tgoodtimes.So
whethereidisMon,Tue,Wed,ThuorFri.Itdoesn'tmatterourchildrenaremore
important.Theyaremoreimportant.WhethertheguyisHanafi,Shafee,Malikior
whateveryouthinkheis.That'slessimportantrightnow.Ourchildrenaremore
importantrightnow.Let'sprioritize.Let'sreallyreallyhavetherightpriorities.Ifwe
don'ttakecareofourchildren,thesedebateswilldiewithusandthenextdebatesthat
arecoming,ifwedon'ttakecareofourchildren.HasanybodyheardofIrshad
Manjhi.Right?ThereisahundredthousandIrshadManjhisbrewing.Right?Whenwe
donottakecareoftheIslamofournextgenerationthat'swhathappens.That'swhat's
next.TheyarenotjustgonnabeonCNNtheyaregonnabeboardmemebersat
masajids.IFdonottakecareofthebusinessnow.Thinkahead.Thinkahead.Iwas
tellingyouintheKhutbahofthechurchesofNewYorkcitythatdidn'tthinkahead
andwhataretheyturnedintonow?Theyarenightclubs.Churchesturnedintonight
clubs.IntheheartofNewYorkcity.Oldestcatholiccommunityisinthecountryand
still,that'swhat'shappeningwiththem.SoontheotherhandyouhavetheMasaajid,I
metthisbrother,WallahiwhenImethimIwenttothecornerandIcriedIjustcried.I
methiminLasVegas.AndIwasinLasVegasfortheQuranconference,don'tget
anyideasOK?SofewyearsagoIwasattheQuranconference,andthereisthis
elderlyfellowheisabout80someyearsoldheandhiswifeyouknowawhitecouple
blondeyouknowblueeyesreallynice,theyaresittingnexttoeachotherattheQuran
conferenceandIamsittingthereandIwascuriouswheretheycamefrom.Iwent
overandyouknowIsaidAssalamualaikum,Walaikumassalam.SoIwasreally
surprisedMuslimsMashaAllah.SoIstartedtalkingtothem.Theysaidyeahwell
whathappenedwashetoldhisnameanditwasRussianorsomekindofIslamic
descent.ButhisgreatgrandfatherwasactuallyaMuslimandtheirfamilycametothe

UnitedStatessome150yearsago.AndintwogenerationstheylostIslam.Right?And
thentheywereraisedasjustanotherChristianfamily.Andhewasdoingresearchon
hisfamilytree.Sohedugupsomestuffinhisattic(55:35)andfoundoutthathis
greatgrandfatherwasactuallyascholarofIslam.Andthenhestartedlookinginto
IslamandhefoundtruthinitandhetooktheShahadahrevivinghisgreatgrand
father'straditionandhiswifecametoIslamtooandthentheylivedinMassachusetts
somewhere.SotheydecidetheywillbuyaHumveeandtheywilltraveltheentire
countrystoppingateverymasjidtheyfind.SubhanAllah.AndtheywereinVegasat
thatpoint.SubhanAllahbutyouknowAllahguidedthesepeopleAllahhadwrittenthat
forthem.ButyouknowthatAalimthatcamewhocametotheUSdoyouthinkhe
intendedthathischildrenwillloseIslamoneday?Hedidn't.Andhedidn'tthinkthat
wasaproblemmaybe.Justwethink,youaremakingabigdealoutofnothing.Ifyou
couldjustsee50yearsinadvanceifyoucouldjustsee50yearsinadvance.Thelast
thingIwillsharewithyouinshaaAllahandwe'llopenuptosomediscussionwecan
havetogetherbiiznillah.Thisisasocialstatistic.Thissocialstatisticswasconducted
byasociologistabouttheOrthodoxJewishcommunityintheEastcoastofUnited
States.YouknowinNewYorkandlikeinMassachusettstheJewishcommunitythe
Orthodoxcommunityisverystrong.Right?SomepartsofBrooklynyoufeellikeyou
aredrivinginTelAviv.Right?That'showitfeels.Sothatsociologicalannounceswas
in60yearstherewillbenohaseedicjewsinNewYork.In60years.That'snotalong
time.Andtheyarefarmoreorganizedthanweare.Andtheyafarmoreinfrastructured
andtheShebainstitute,Iusedtoliveinforesthills,and1213blockstreetthereare
like6synagogues.Theyareveryorganized.Theyhaveinfrastructure.Right?Andthe
claimistheyarelosingtheiryouth.Andits60yearsthatwon'tbeanyleft.Theyare
gonnalosetheirOrthodoxy,theirtraditionalJudaism,theyaregonnaloseinthis
country.That'stheclaimthatisbeingmade,SubhanAllah.Andthatisacommunity
mucholderthanweareandmuchmoreorganizethanweareandmuchbetterfunded
thanwearebecauseRibaisnotaproblem.Right?ButonoursideSubhanAllahwe
aremuchlessinresources.WehaveonlyTawakkalinAllahagainIstartedwithitand
endwithit.Don'tunderestimatethepowerofdua.Donotunderestimatethepowerof
dua.Wehavetonowstartthinkingbigger.Wehavetostartthinkinghowdowesolve
thisproblem.Howdoweconnecttoourchildren.Howdoweopenthedoorsof
masaajidtomakeitforthechildrenabetterplace.Thepeoplewhoaregoingtowatch
thisonvideoinshaaAllahifyourmasjiddoesnothaveabasketballcourtgeta
basketballcourt.Aprofessionalone.Raisethefundsforthatfirstbeforethe
chandelier.Thechandeliercanwait.Itwillbeoffmostofthetimeanywaybecause
yougonnawhinethatitcoststoomuchelectricitybills.Sodon'tworryaboutthe
chandelierworrymoreaboutthebasketballcourt.Worrymoreaboutthesoccerfield.
Worrymoreaboutthesportsfacilitiesthatthekidscancomeandhangoutwith.Even
iftheydon'tcomeandpray,theyarejusthereisbetterthanbeingattheclub.Solet's
berealistic.Right?Andforthegirlshavelounges,placeswheregirlscanhangoutat
themasjid.Wheretheycanjustbebythemselves.Andtheycanjustdotheir
homeworkthere.TalktootherMuslimgirlsthere.Sothattheyarenotatthemall.
TheyarenothangingoutwithnonMuslimgirls.Theyhaveasaferefugeatthemasjid.

WehavetostartthinkinglikethisbecausethisAmerica,weneedrefuge.Thisisnot
Pakistan,becauseinPakistanyouwouldneverthinkofsomewheretoplayatthe
masjidAstaghfirullah!Howcanthatbe.Butherewehavetodrawthemin.Wehave
to.Ifwedon'twheretheygonnago?Wheretheygonnago?Sowehavetostart
thinkinginshaaAllahuta'alaamongtheselines.MayAllah(az)makeallofsincerein
ourefforts.MayAllah(az)rewardusforwhateverlittlewehavedone.MayAllah
protectusandespeciallyouryouthandourfuturegenerationsthattheymaybecome
theambassadorsofthisdeeninthislandandmakethisapermanentfixtureandmake
thislandalandofIslamwhenthetimecomesinshaaAllahuta'aala.