Life. Often described as an admixture of good and bad times.

At some point in our lives, we have inquired that if God is all Good, why all these ordeals and constant pain? And is life inherently meaningful?

In this lecture, Haj Hassanain Rajabali guides the listener on the reason for worldly problems, and how they’re a means to fulfill our purpose.

The following lessons can be derived from this eloquent speech:

• God tests us because He deems us worthy of being tested
• It is pivotal for us to know about the life of the Prophet (s) so we can learn how to be proximal to God to overcome life’s obstacles and understand the purpose and nature of life
• Fragments or ‘snippets’ of truth are often synthesized incorrectly to form one axiom to ‘get the real picture’. Oftentimes, incorrect amalgamation produces a different viewpoint or a deceptive picture. This then leads to a flawed understanding of suffering, which is essentially why so many people don’t know how to react rationally to whatever happens to them. As the Hajj says: ‘We may know the pieces of the truth, but putting the truth together is where the real trick lies. And this is where hikma (wisdom) comes in.’
• Even with belief in the Hereafter, or a lack thereof, man finds himself in a moral dilemma (a mercy, however, to the believer): Why must I do good to others? The atheist will conclude that goodness is always requited, in other words, ‘I do good to them so they will (in return) do good to me’, which incentivizes them to conduct their lives morally and deflect self-destruction. This is a manifestation of the mercy of Allah (swt), that He has endowed the human with an inherent drive to do good, in order that they may prosper and succeed in their lives. ‘The fixture here is: promote good, be the beneficiary; promote evil, die and be destroyed.’
• The Prophet (s) is venerated for his impeccable morality, that Muslim and non-Muslim thinkers alike laud him for his conduct. For this reason, we must turn to him for guidance in proper moral conduct, for he is our moral pathway and vessel of salvation.
• The problems that we face today are self-created, all because we rebuff the lessons and experiences of the vicegerents of Allah (swt) and refuse to walk in their paths and learn from their wisdom, instead turning to evil practices
• At this day and age, it is paramount that we become representatives of the religion through our moral conduct, to make the world a better place and eliminate major world problems
• Talk to God, the Grand Creator. Make it a habit to read Quran – ‘it stuns the enemy, it elevates the friend’. Go to your Lord purified, in every sense of the word – in presentation, blood, conduct, soul and mind.
• ‘Look, I’m not here to make you Muslim, I’m here to wake you up. You choose your own way. You’re smart enough. You’re sharp enough. You KNOW. You’ve been planted with some of the greatest gifts you can ever imagine. And I’m here to strike them. You strike me, too. Let’s wake each other up. There’s a purpose in this life.’
• ‘Basic observation will lead us to so much understanding.’

Verses mentioned in this lecture:

• [8:45] “O you who believe! When you meet a party, then be firm and remember Allah much, that you make be successful.”
• [14:7] “And when your Lord made it known: If you are grateful, I would certainly give to you more, and if you are ungrateful, My chastisement is truly severe.”
• [33:45] “O Prophet! surely We have sent you as a witness, and as a bearer of good news and as a warner.”
• [30:30] “Then set your face upright for religion in the right state– the nature made by Allah in which He has made men; there is no altering of Allah’s creation; that is the right religion, but most people do not know.”
• [3:134] “Those who spend (benevolently) in ease as well as in straitness, and those who restrain (their) anger and pardon men; and Allah loves the doers of good (to others).”
• [68:4] “And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime morality.”
• [33:21] “Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the latter day and remembers Allah much.”
• [17:1] “Glory be to Him Who made His servant to go on a night from the Sacred Mosque to the remote mosque of which We have blessed the precincts, so that We may show to him some of Our signs; surely He is the Hearing, the Seeing.”
• [53:3-4] “Nor does he speak out of desire. It is naught but revelation that is revealed.”
• [62:2] “He it is Who raised among the inhabitants of Mecca a Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His communications and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom, although they were before certainly in clear error.”
• [87:16-17] Nay! you prefer the life of this world, While the hereafter is better and more lasting.
• [49:12] O you who believe! avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful.
• [54:22] “And certainly We have made the Quran easy for remembrance, but is there anyone who will mind?”
• [17:82] “And We reveal of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to the believers, and it adds only to the perdition of the unjust.”
• [3:160] “If Allah assists you, then there is none that can overcome you, and if He forsakes you, who is there then that can assist you after Him? And on Allah should the believers rely.”
• [20:114] “Supremely exalted is therefore Allah, the King, the Truth, and do not make haste with the Quran before its revelation is made complete to you and say: O my Lord! increase me in knowledge.”
• [18:10] “When the youths sought refuge in the cave, they said: Our Lord! grant us mercy from Thee, and provide for us a right course in our affair.”
• [18:46] “Wealth and children are an adornment of the life of this world; and the ever-abiding, the good works, are better with your Lord in reward and better in expectation.”
• [9:33] “He it is Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions, though the polytheists may be averse.”
• [8:30] “And when those who disbelieved devised plans against you that they might confine you or slay you or drive you away; and they devised plans and Allah too had arranged a plan; and Allah is the best of planners.”

Hadiths (paraphrased and taken from orator, Haj Hassanain):

• “The strongest among you is the one who can hold back his anger.” ~ Prophet Muhammad (s)
• “How much has Allah forbidden us, compared to what He has allowed us?” ~ Imam Ali (as)
• “I am preparing to talk to the Owner of the Universe. Should I not be pale?” ~ Imam al Sajjad (as) during ablution
• “Salman is from us Ahlul Bayt.” ~ Prophet Muhammad (s)

Click here to view the video of the lecture