Take Ownership of Your Destiny
The weekly Friday reminder or khutbah begins in Arabic for one minute before Ustadh Michael Wolfender translates to English means of character perfection. Brother Michael starts with four passages from the Qur’an describing man’s behavior and our fate based on actions.
Brother Michael begins with referencing from Surah Al-Fajr that blessings include tests from Allah. Al-Fajr (The Dawn 89: 15 – 20): “Now, whenever a human being is tested by their Lord through ˹His˺ generosity and blessings, they boast, “My Lord has ˹deservedly˺ honoured me!” But when He tests them by limiting their provision, they protest, “My Lord has ˹undeservedly˺ humiliated me!” Absolutely not! In fact, you are not ˹even˺ gracious to the orphan, nor do you urge one another to feed the poor. And you devour ˹others’˺ inheritance greedily.”
That is, man is quick to complain when evidently blessings are limited. Rather, among the elements of success are worshipping Allah, thanking Him and demonstrating this with good deeds.
In the first five ayah of Surah Al-’Adiyat, Allah describes how humans use horses to harm others. This, along with any measure of disloyalty to our Master, coupled with intense love of materialism is a path towards self-destruction. In particular, Brother MIchael refers to: Al-‘Adiyat (The Courser 100:6): “Surely humankind is ungrateful to their Lord” with disloyalty, arrogance and disobedience.”
Surah Al-’Asr references the easy formula humans dig themselves into – complaining when in loss, feeling special when blessed, harming others or not helping others when enjoying blessings from Allah. And Allah also provides the solution in Surah Al-’Asr: believe, do good deeds, encourage each other to truth and patience.
Al-’Asr (103 The Declining Day): “By the ˹passage of˺ time! Surely humanity is in ˹grave˺ loss, except those who have faith, do good, and urge each other to the truth, and urge each other to perseverance.”
Take ownership of your destiny. Allah has created a palace for everyone in Paradise. Importance in the eyes of Allah is your heart being connected to Him. We have been provided the answers to pass the test that is each of our lives. Brother Michael recites the beginning of Surah Al-Insan (The Man 76: 1 – 3): “Is there not a period of time when each human is nothing yet worth mentioning? ˹For˺ indeed, We ˹alone˺ created humans from a drop of mixed fluids, ˹in order˺ to test them, so We made them hear and see. We already showed them the Way, whether they ˹choose to˺ be grateful or ungrateful.”
The disbeliever is ungrateful, as Allah indicates He has provided the answers to passing the test of this life. Half of Surah Al-Insan describes paradise as the reward for winning. Paradise is where Allah serves the winners and He has promised this bounty for everyone. For example, in paradise, branches lower to provide fruit. Allah wishes to serve in Paradise all of the humans He has created.