Soar the Skies

As-salamu alaykum, folks. I want to share a quick message, but a very important one, with you guys. And that is don't give up on your dreams. Okay, I've received a question. I thought, "Look, let me share it with you guys." And what does Islam teach us about this? It teaches us to have big dreams, huge, massive aspirations.

But, let's take a look at this question if I if I can find it, that is. Oh. [snorts] Salam, Mufti. Hope you and your family are well. I tune into your shows regularly from Canada. I'm embarrassed to say embarrassed to say that my life is a failure. [laughter] The melodrama. I'm stuck in dead-end job, divorced, and I'm 34. Help.

Okay, first of all, there is nothing that to paint yourself as a failure with that. Just to start off with. 34 is incredibly young. I don't know why that's being said as though it's such an old age in Canada. Huge opportunities. I mean, you are amongst a small percentage of the world that has access to countless blessings on a daily basis. I mean, just to begin with.

But, what does Islam say about this? Having this mental script that you, you know, oh, I'm a failure in life. Oh, oh my god, I'm a divorcee or I'm Your success in life isn't measured by that. Change that script. Look, let's take a I I've spoken about trying to look at the Quran by seeking meaning for your daily lives, okay?

Having that interpersonal relationship. First of all, Allah says in the Quran about insan, yeah. And that khalaqnahu fi ahsani taqwim, this is this insan is something magnificent. Okay. That uh something that has been created by God.

That my own soul has gone into been infused into Adam. Now this it doesn't it's not in a physical sense, but that we have a direct connect a contact with the divine. Now just think about that to begin with. How the potential that this insan carries. Okay.

Then there's a verse. Now this verse is actually um the one I'm thinking is about Musa Alaihis Salaam and Bani Isra'il where they complaining. Okay. So they're saying, "Oh, we've always been Oh my God, negatives, negative. Uh but you know, we've been hurt before. Now we're still hurt. I mean nothing's going well." And Musa Alaihis Salaam says to to them Asa Rabbukum and yuhlik aduwakum Allah may destroy these armies, these enemies wayastakhlifakum fil ardhi and give you dominion over the earth

But in an What What meaning can we also take from that verse for our daily lives? Check this out. Asa Rabbukum ayyuhlik aduwakum that he may It's not about destroying your enemies, but your competition your rivals the blocks may dissipate and be removed and they may fail.

wayastakhlifakum fil ardhi Allah, all of a sudden the entire opportunities, the realm of opportunities is in front of you. Now Allah will see how is it that you go about with these opportunities? Do you seek that path of success? Do you actualize that potential?

Let me tell you uh share with you an example about because you may say, "Well, how how do How do I begin? What do I do?" You begin by just changing that inner story. So, there's a very famous incident of the Sira. Everybody knows it. The Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam is en route in the Hijrah, and he's caught up by Suraqa ibn Malik, who is a He's one of these hunter trackers.

He tracks people. It's a small-time job, just day-to-day living. And that's his worldview. He's got this small, narrow view. This is all I have. This is all I have. What does the Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wasallam say to him? He says, "Kayfa bika, ya Suraqa?" He says, "Ya Suraqa, I can see you. Bika.

It's as though I'm even standing there. Wa anta talbas, and you are wearing siwara Kisra, the golden bracelets of the king of the Sassanid Empire." And this Hearing this, Suraqa is just shocked that me?

I'm a a nobody. I'm a failure. I'm a failure in life. In my mid-30s, I'm a failure. He changes that script, and he goes on to become He actually receives those golden bracelets in the time of Umar ibn al-Khattab. See, you begin by just changing that script.

As the poet says that tu'tihi You know, you're an eagle, yeah. You've been created to soar the skies at this young age of 34. [laughter] The world is your oyster. That You can hear that [laughter] plane flying in the background. That's your job, to soar the skies.

Like that. That there are so many other skies for you to soar here. So, just change that, people. Change that in your script. See yourself as Wait a minute. Don't just focus Oh, I'm I'm a Oh, I've I'm in a dead-end job. Oh, I'm in a dead-end relationship.

I'm 30 Think about wow, I'm only 30. Wow, I've got so many opportunities to pursue, to develop, to apply for that job, to have this startup. See it as Wow, I could This is a new beginning. I could embark on a wonderful new relationship. People, I'll leave you with that. Take care.