BECOMING BETTER

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BECOMING BETTER MUSLIMS
whats with the colors?
A PRESENTATION BY SALIM YUSUFALI
al-hasnain youth conference 2002
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How to become a better Muslim
But why
pray more
shelter an orphan
fast more
be good to your parents
go to mosque
go for Hajj
dont lie
recite lots of quran
did we mention stealing?
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WHY ARE YOU HERE?
WHY WERE YOU CREATED?
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF LIFE?
B U T W H Y ? 3rd Annual Al-Hasanain (a) Youth
Conference Salim S. Yusufali yusufali_at_cs.stanford.
edu September, 2002
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Mumin Meets Martin

• Adapted from Even Angels Ask by Jeffrey Lang
• Martin"I don't think that the two major
  religions in America make much sense.
• "I don't think that ANY religion makes much
  sense. For example, from your religion's
  viewpoint, what is the purpose of life? Why did
  God create us to SUFFER here on earth?
• Mumin (Thinking back to Sunday School Lessons)
  UmmI believe He created us to test us."

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Mumin is Struggling

• Adapted from Even Angels Ask by Jeffrey Lang
• Martin "So your religion rejects the omniscience
  (Allah has all knowledge) of God, for otherwise,
  what could He possibly learn from testing us that
  He does not already know?
• "No, thats not quite itYes!! We are created
  toworship Him!"
• (With a smile of victory) "Then you must believe
  that God has needs and weaknesses, for why else
  would He demand our worship? When a human demands
  our devotion, we label him a tyrant or a
  psychopath. Do you hold that God has character
  flaws?"

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SORRY. You Lose. Try Again.

• Go back to the basics and ask WHY?
• Ameer al-Mumineen, Imam Ali (a), says
• Allahs mercy is uponthe one knows
• where he is from,
• where he is now,
• and where he is going!

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WHERE ARE WE FROM?

• Allah (swt) created us for a purpose
• Do you suppose that We have created you in vain?
  (Quran 23115)
• I created jinns and humankind only so that they
  may worship me. (Quran 5156)
• BUT WHY DOES ALLAH WANT OUR WORSHIP?
• What is worship (ibadah)?
• How do we worship Allah?
• Why should we worship Allah?

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WHERE ARE WE FROM?What is worship?

• Worship of Allah involves
• BELIEF that we are absolutely,
  100 creatures that are
  grateful
  and dependent upon a
  Creator who controls all
  aspects of
  our life, but who gave us FREEDOM
  in this world to
  fulfill a RESPONSIBILITY
• PRACTICE living our lives in
  accordance to our beliefs

Belief Practice
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WHERE ARE WE FROM?How do we worship Allah?
Imam al-Husayn (a) explains the verse I created
jinn and humankind only so that they worship Me
(Quran 5156) as I created jinn and humankind
only so that they know
and understand
Me ? True worship of Allah (swt)
gaining
knowledge of Allah (swt)
Knowledge of Allah
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WHERE ARE WE FROM?How do we worship Allah?

• How to gain knowledge of Allah (swt)
• Reflect upon His most perfect Names
• Following the guidance (Quran, Prophet, Ahlul
  -Bayt) He has given us and understand where we
  are (more later)
• Practice those acts of worship which he has
  prescribed that will help us to believe in Him

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WHERE ARE WE FROM?Why do we worship Allah?

• Worship does not benefit Him.
• Allah (swt) tells us in the Quran
• He who PURIFIES his soul/spirit/self is
  SUCCESSFUL (Surat al-Shams)
• (The one who is successful) remembers the name of
  his Lord and says his prayers. (Surat al-Aala)
• Worshipping Allah (swt) leads us to
• Self purification,
• Success,
• Fulfilling the GOAL OF LIFE (more later)

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THE WHOLE works

• No picking, no choosing
• Belief in Allah
• Belief in the oneness of Allah
• Belief in the Quran and its rules
• Belief in Prophet and Imams
• Pray, fast, give charity etc
• Be a good person

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WHERE ARE WE NOW?

• At least 10 times a day, we say to Allah
• GUIDE us to/along the straight path AL-SIRAT
  AL-MUSTAQEEM (Surat al-Fatiha)
• QUESTIONS
• What is Al-Sirat al-Mustaqeem?
• What forms of guidance of Allah (swt)
  can we enjoy?
• If we are free to walk along the
  Path, what
  is our responsibility?
• What is the eventual destination of the Straight
  Path (that is, WHERE ARE WE GOING?)

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WHERE ARE WE NOW?What is the Straight Path?
The shortest distance between two points is a
straight line. (Your math teacher Common Sense)

• Al-Sirat al-Mustaqeem is that particular way of
  life that makes the most sense and that takes us
  most directly from where we came and where we are
  going
• As we walk upon it, our belief and practice get
  stronger and stronger UNTIL
• Took a wrong turn? Al-Tawbah is the solution.

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WHERE ARE WE NOW? What is Guidance?

• Allah (swt) has answered and will answer our
  prayer from within and without
• Inner guidance aql (intellect)
  ability to think and come to
  conclusions
• Outer guidance Guides and examples
  in the form of prophets and Imams (a)
• Imam Ali (a) says
• I am al-Sirat al-Mustaqeem.

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WHERE ARE WE NOW? What are our responsibilities?

• Allah (swt) says
• Surely we have guided human being to the path.
  It is up to him whether he will be grateful or
  disbelieving (Quran 763).
• With freedom comes responsibilities
• Fulfilling the purpose of our existence
• Fulfilling the trust put on us
• Establishing justice
• Working towards the perfection of this society
• To be human
• Be grateful to God and serve Him

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WHERE ARE WE GOING?

• The average life span in the United States in
  1990 was about 75 years (National Institute on
  Aging).
• Everyone shall have a taste of death. (Quran
  3185)
• The hereafter (al-aakhirah) is a REALITY that has
  already been created. Allah (swt) has described
  two extremes
• JAHANNAM (Hell)
• AL-JANNAT (Garden of Heaven)
• What is the goal of life?

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WHERE ARE WE GOING? Jahannam (Hell) (Allah
forbid!)

• As for those who disbelieve, garments of fire
  will be cut out for them boiling fluid will be
  poured down on their heads. With it shall be
  melted what is in their bellies as well as their
  skin. And for them are whips of iron. Every time
  they wish to run away in anguish, they will be
  forced back in, being told, "Taste the doom of
  burning!" (Quran 2220-22)
• Eventual destination of one who steps off of
  al-Sirat al-Mustaqeem in this life. Al-Rahman
  gives what is requested
• Inspires fear and a longing to escape from such a
  punishment enough fear to prevent one from
  doing certain things in life, even if one would
  otherwise want those things
• Is the purpose of life to ESCAPE from Jahannam?

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WHERE ARE WE GOING? Al-Jannat (Garden of Heaven)
(inshaAllah!)

• Allah will admit those who believe and do good
  deeds to Gardens beneath which rivers flow.
  There, they shall be adorned with bracelets of
  gold and pearls, and their garments there will be
  of silk. (Quran 2223)
• Eventual destination of one who walks along
  al-Sirat al-Mustaqeem in this life. The reward
  given by Al-Raheem.
• Inspires desire to gain such pleasures the more
  worship we do, the better the rewards
• Enough to prevent one from doing certain things
  in life, even if one would otherwise want those
  things
• Is the purpose of life to gain ENTRANCE into
  Al-Jannat?

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WHERE ARE WE GOING? The Purpose of Life

• Worship of the elite is done not solely out of
  fear of hell or desire for heaven
• Allah is worshipped because He deserves to be
  worshipped whatever is with Allah is BETTER
  than what we can get anywhere else
• Imam Ali (a) said
• I have not seen anything except that I saw Allah
  with it, before it, and in it.

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WHERE ARE WE GOING? The Purpose of Life

• Peace of paradise not restricted from those who
  live in this world
• Allah (swt) says
• The one who is among those who are near to Allah
  (al-muqarrabeen) is happiness, bounty, and a
  garden of delight (Quran 5688)
• Indeed in the remembrance of Allah lies the
  tranquility of the heart (Quran 1328)
• Imam Ali (a) says of the Ahl al-Bayt (a)
• Our bodies are in this world, but our hearts are
  in the gardens.
• Story of Prophet (s) and companions who feared
  being hypocrites

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WHERE ARE WE GOING? The Purpose of Life
What does the Quran say? Surely we belong to
Allah, and to Him is our return.(Quran
2156) And to Allah is your eventual destination
(Quran 3518) O human being, it is to your
Lord that all your efforts are directed, and you
will meet Him (Quran 846). ? The goal of life
is ALLAH (swt).
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WHERE ARE WE GOING? The Purpose of Life

• What does human nature (Fitrah) tell us?
• Human being always craves MORE.
• More beauty
• More power
• More knowledge
• What is the extent of this search and desire?
  PERFECTION.
• Where can the Ultimate Perfection be found?
• ? The goal of life is ALLAH (swt).

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WHERE ARE WE GOING? The Purpose of Life

• Since Allah is the goal of life
• Increasing Belief/Faith Practice is what we do
  along the way
• Gain a perfect understanding of Tawheed and put
  that understanding into practice
• We work towards human perfection by yearning
  towards the Most Perfect, and attaining all that
  the soul can aspire to
• Perfect balance of powers and instincts
  individual justice
• When we ask, Allah will help us attain this goal

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OKAYSO,Whats next?

Remember Allah during salat
Read and reflect on the Quran
Fast, and be a guest of Allah
Give charity and be purified
Establish a just society
Become better Muslims!