Never Give Up by - Mufti Ismail Menk

Never Give Up by - Mufti Ismail Menk 

Salam Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh “Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim”, my beloved brothers and sisters, it's great to be talking to you and as you know we all have examinations in life different types of examinations and each one has to try very hard as you know in a setup where there is a school or a university at the end of every semester or term you would have some examinations in order to qualify you to get to the next level and as you progress in life.

The examinations become more and more difficult and you would know that without working we don't achieve you know the common Arabic saying“Man Jadda Wajada” he whoever works very hard will definitely see the fruit of that particular working so just like we have people who failed because they did not work hard or they did not understand that the examination would become more and more difficult as time passes.

We also have an issue with the dean whereas we progress in life we will have more and more tests and they become more and more difficult until we meet with Allah Subhanahu wata'ala and this is why the prophet Sallallahu Sallam was told be appealing worship your up until death overtakes you worship until the end right up to the end keep on worshipping continue do not stop do not pause do not lose hope, in fact, progress and become stronger and stronger.

If you take a look at some of the other verses of the Quran Allah Subhanahu WA Ta'ala makes mention of  "Fa idhaa faraghta fansab. Wa Ilah rabbka farghab" you know what Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam delivering the message it was not easy and it was difficult he faced so many challenges he continued and he persevered 23 whole years of Nobova and Allah Subhanahu WA Ta'ala says when you have subhanAllah subhanAllah you know the achievement that Allah Subhanahu WA Ta'ala granted him.

Allah Subhanahu WA Ta'ala will grant each person achievement according to his will obviously but also connected to the effort that that particular person makes we were to give up suddenly we would never be able to achieve even Jannah imagine a person read sulla for 70 years and suddenly the last year just before they die they give up their salah, they throw in the blanket And say that's it.

   
Such a person has been mentioned in the hadith of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam where a person could be worshipping Allah for so many years and right at the end they turn so they are cast into hell fire and a person could be disobedient for so many years and right at the end, they worship. Allah Subhanahu wata'ala turned back to him so they will be from amongst those who go to paradise.

So its important for us to know that to give up you don't know how close you are to the end imagine a person digging a tunnel for example and right when they are near the end they suddenly give up thinking that you know what I don't know how long this is going to carry on for had they carried on for a minute longer they would have broken through so with us we need to continue to fulfil your Salah progress develop don't think for a moment that life is going to become any easier the only thing that will happen is with the development of the link with Allah Subhanahu wata'ala we become more content we understand the nature of the world we understand the nature of the tests of Allah Subhanahu wata'ala so we enjoy going through them in the sense that we are content we are happy with the degree of Allah Subhanahu wata'ala

So my brothers and sisters not only do I say work hard to achieve here in the Duniya and may Allah bless you and grant you success in these examinations but even in the "Akhirah" you ask Allah to bless you to open your doors to prepare for the  "Akhirah" it's not an easy task but with the hope in the mercy of Allah Subhanahu wata'ala things will be made easy and at the same time with the constant preparation without giving up hope never ever giving up never say no never just throw in the towel by the will of Allah Subhanahu wata'ala we will achieve and we will achieve great heights or sal Allahu Wa Sallim Wa Barik Ala Nabina Muhammad Salam Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah