Niche Hero Leadership Seminar - July 5-10, 2010; Toronto, Canada
Friday
Muhammad Alshareef: Niche Hero ~ The Leadership Attitude: You are the Uncle
In this video, Muhammad Alshareef helps us realize our responsibility to pave the path for those who will come after us. To learn more about his Leadership certification, visit: http://www.NicheHeroLeadership.com
Uncle Muhammad, I know it sounds strange but it does makes me more aware of the responsibility that is upon me without choice. Signing off, uncle Ahmed
Salam alaikom, thank you for the video and important message. It's scary to think of the big responsibility we have to our community, you're absolutely right about this focus we have on education. It's so much more difficult to learn how to better the community and to even know what it is that needs to be done. May Allah bless the Muslim communities with more strong leaders, and may I be from among them, ameen. Jazak Allah khair! pray for me :)
Assalamo elaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu...Jazakallahu khairan katheera ...its very important to remind us of our responsibilty which Allah has given us as we will be answerable for our duties on the day of Judgement...niche hero is a good series for becoming aware of our leadership responsibilities...May Allah give us strength to act upon it and may He accept from you for your efforts in His path. assalamo elaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu
Assalamualaikum Shaikh, Jazak Allahu khair for the reminder. Yes, I have realised that I am an uncle and that I have a responsibility for the later generation. I was reminded of a hadith (paraphrasing) whose rough meaning was that if one knew that the day of judgement was tomorrow and one were to plant a (palm)tree, one should still go ahead and do it.
Even though a palm tree takes tens of years of grow and bear fruit, we should do what we are capable of and leave the result to Allah. Wallahu Aalam.
You know what you don't understand Muhammad? That the problem with the current generation focusing on thier careers is not the problem. The problem is when they don't focus on thier careers as a service to Allah. The beautiful nostalgic "uncles" you refer to, who by and large lacked a lot of islamic knowledge, were indeed full time (one could say over-time and underpaid immigrant) engineers, doctors, and professors, some resturant owners, and PhDs who worked hard. The same uncles told thier kids to grow up and get a job and go to college. Do you prefer an ummah without skills and out of work?
Who do you think worked for this deen in this country? Who do you think 'funded' the masjids and islamic schools you are talking about? - The uncles, who were... complainers? whiners? running seminars? No! it was the uncles that were working overtime at jobs, as immigrants, and turned around and gave a good loan to Allah by putting money down on the table for the masjids, and stop complaining shut thier mouth and went to work. They all focused on thier careers like no one else's buisness! - was that a crime? wallahi no it was not for those that showed up at the fundraisers and built some schools & masjids for this ummah. Did Uthman rA quit his job after becoming muslim?
Your going to blame the next generation for going to school? - I'm sorry but some of those within the next generation doesn't deem it fit for muslims to charge money in order to earn a living for thier community roles; thus they need a source of money beyond working for deen- which is a profit that isn't primarily wordly. This is what Islam teaches too. Islam tells you to work, and in this country that means go to school <- deal with it shiekh. Sheikh Muhammad how do you earn a living for your family? Don't you work a job? What do you do? You're going to blame youth of the next generation for wanting to go to school and become doctors? - it's going to take 10 years yes, but that individual is an asset for this ummah for the next 30 years if he has 'iman in Allah.
The beautiful thing about this ummah's true leaders is that they showed up to work at the same time thier were in their leadership posts. Our prophet pbuh, Abu Bakr as khalifah and Umar, all worked jobs beyond being a community and religious leader and didnt get pay for thier leadership and religious roles. I hope this sunnah is the sunnah of the leaders of this ummah for the future, as was the case for our beloved 'uncles' in the past and present who kicked off a lot (sure they had thier faults and so do we) in this country and didn't just talk about it. In other words this ummah doesn't need Joel Olstein eating the church's contributions and feeling fine with that and living like a millionare. It needs real leaders like Umar and Abu Bakr (rA), and our prophet pbuh, and even our own uncles, who worked hard to earn a living beyond thier role in the religion: all in service to Allah as he has told us to go to work.
Oh May Allah Bless and SAVE this umma. The content of the video goes hand and hand with what Rasul allah and the sahaba and the tabeu'n where doing in raising future umma's chidren; its take a village to bring up a child. My children you can work and learn and do good deeds.Islam is not a religion its a Way of Life; Do not associate anithing with your worship to allah, be Sincere in your actions (all of them even toward a child that you are the uncle...)your intentions should must be for allah ONLYYYY, be carreful of what you wish for you may become a doctor have all the wheath of the world and live a miserable life. Be always mindful of almaighty and hope and fear Allah Almighty in the same time equaly, love for other what you love for yourself, be steadfast; learn and teach life is a balance otherwise you will be just another looser, make your journey meaningful; being an uncle is just another form of saying prepare your luggages for akhira fill them up with good deeds your going to school can also be one of those good deeds, if you know how. Let the brother teach you you seem to me, that you need to understand more about the Beauty of Islam and being a Muslim. Be a true Leader through the way you talke you speak you dress, you study; Whith Allah almighty always in your mind and help the youngsters and you will see, Fear allah and you will find Him near you.
Salams, a young brother I know is a full time M D, takes the time to be a father to his 3 children and husband to his wife, He teaches a Sunday school class, teaches a class for new Muslims, does occasional Khutbas, is a good son to his Parents and visits occasionally, helps his siblings whenever necessary, and still takes time to study Quran, and read Islamic books. Sometimes, I wonder if he knows whether he is coming or going,but may Allah bless him, he is to me a great Uncle of today.
i hear in this video a mocking tone to those who go to school. Is it a shame to go to school and focus on your career? Is it? This video laughs at those of the next generation who are "focusing on there career" and those who "go to school" as fools who have forgotten the community. Where as this is a massively un-islamic idea, since our greatest leaders from the earliest and current generations worked hard to earn a living and served the community.
aswrwb: this video is just 3 minute long but it covers every thing from a to z which awakens us by reminding our responsibilities on us and to what responsibilities we have on our kids. Wonderful job br.shareef...Allah may rewrd you for this righteous effort in this dunya and akhira....aameen..ali
@ wasat, you misunderstood. Sheikh Muhammad was saying (from what I understood)rather than JUST focusing on school, we must also focus on our (Islamic) community and make sure we're not neglecting it-- because the next generation will suffer. He was not mocking anyone, whatsoever.
Another motivation for building masjids and islamic centers was the desire for company. Our generation doesn't have that same desire as we are surrounded by people we can relate to, and we can often relate to non-muslims just as well as we can with muslims. The NEXT generation will be even more integrated into society, and less inclined than even us to socialize solely with other muslims. In that way, "the uncles" were lucky--- they were strangers who sought the company of other strangers. Once you start becoming like everyone else-- you lose your identity.
The great focus on education was natural for our parents. I feel they may have assumed that our morals would come naturally, as their own parents assumed because they lived in all-muslim countries, and so focused little on religion. As a medical student myself, I know for a fact that I will NOT encourage my kids to pursue this field. It's very tough and not intellectually, but spiritually. If they insist, I wouldn't forbid them, but I really really aim to focus first on deen. I want my kids to learn the religion better than I did, and at an earlier age. I wanna excuse my sons from school to attend jumma, teach my kids about the sahaba better than what they learn about george washington, etc etc. With a strong foundation, they can pursue ANY field they want and master it fisabilillah. I didnt have that strong foundation entering med school, like many of my muslim colleagues and have as a result often found myself wavering.
Asalamu aliakum, Well I had been reflecting on it for a while but after watching this video--- I did it.'Dear Little Auntie" blog was born. InshaAllah hope to talk 'to this new generation' and help them learn their deen. Jazak Allah for the final push to making it and for these awesome videos.
I totally agree with wasat about this video. If we all become Shaiks who will contribute to the skills needed to run the economy. Everyone cannot just start an Institute like AlMaghrib.
Uncle Muhammad, I know it sounds strange but it does makes me more aware of the responsibility that is upon me without choice. Signing off, uncle Ahmed
ReplyDeleteSalam alaikom, thank you for the video and important message. It's scary to think of the big responsibility we have to our community, you're absolutely right about this focus we have on education. It's so much more difficult to learn how to better the community and to even know what it is that needs to be done. May Allah bless the Muslim communities with more strong leaders, and may I be from among them, ameen. Jazak Allah khair! pray for me :)
ReplyDeleteAssalamo elaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu...Jazakallahu khairan katheera ...its very important to remind us of our responsibilty which Allah has given us as we will be answerable for our duties on the day of Judgement...niche hero is a good series for becoming aware of our leadership responsibilities...May Allah give us strength to act upon it and may He accept from you for your efforts in His path. assalamo elaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu
ReplyDeleteAssalamualaikum Shaikh,
ReplyDeleteJazak Allahu khair for the reminder. Yes, I have realised that I am an uncle and that I have a responsibility for the later generation. I was reminded of a hadith (paraphrasing) whose rough meaning was that if one knew that the day of judgement was tomorrow and one were to plant a (palm)tree, one should still go ahead and do it.
Even though a palm tree takes tens of years of grow and bear fruit, we should do what we are capable of and leave the result to Allah. Wallahu Aalam.
Assalamualaikum
salam,
ReplyDeleteYou know what you don't understand Muhammad? That the problem with the current generation focusing on thier careers is not the problem. The problem is when they don't focus on thier careers as a service to Allah. The beautiful nostalgic "uncles" you refer to, who by and large lacked a lot of islamic knowledge, were indeed full time (one could say over-time and underpaid immigrant) engineers, doctors, and professors, some resturant owners, and PhDs who worked hard. The same uncles told thier kids to grow up and get a job and go to college. Do you prefer an ummah without skills and out of work?
Who do you think worked for this deen in this country? Who do you think 'funded' the masjids and islamic schools you are talking about? - The uncles, who were... complainers? whiners? running seminars? No! it was the uncles that were working overtime at jobs, as immigrants, and turned around and gave a good loan to Allah by putting money down on the table for the masjids, and stop complaining shut thier mouth and went to work. They all focused on thier careers like no one else's buisness! - was that a crime? wallahi no it was not for those that showed up at the fundraisers and built some schools & masjids for this ummah. Did Uthman rA quit his job after becoming muslim?
Your going to blame the next generation for going to school? - I'm sorry but some of those within the next generation doesn't deem it fit for muslims to charge money in order to earn a living for thier community roles; thus they need a source of money beyond working for deen- which is a profit that isn't primarily wordly. This is what Islam teaches too. Islam tells you to work, and in this country that means go to school <- deal with it shiekh. Sheikh Muhammad how do you earn a living for your family? Don't you work a job? What do you do? You're going to blame youth of the next generation for wanting to go to school and become doctors? - it's going to take 10 years yes, but that individual is an asset for this ummah for the next 30 years if he has 'iman in Allah.
The beautiful thing about this ummah's true leaders is that they showed up to work at the same time thier were in their leadership posts. Our prophet pbuh, Abu Bakr as khalifah and Umar, all worked jobs beyond being a community and religious leader and didnt get pay for thier leadership and religious roles. I hope this sunnah is the sunnah of the leaders of this ummah for the future, as was the case for our beloved 'uncles' in the past and present who kicked off a lot (sure they had thier faults and so do we) in this country and didn't just talk about it. In other words this ummah doesn't need Joel Olstein eating the church's contributions and feeling fine with that and living like a millionare. It needs real leaders like Umar and Abu Bakr (rA), and our prophet pbuh, and even our own uncles, who worked hard to earn a living beyond thier role in the religion: all in service to Allah as he has told us to go to work.
salam
As-Salamu `alaykum wa Rahmatu Allahi wa Barakatuhu,
ReplyDeleteCleverly said, and so true.
Jazak Allahu khayran for your unique way of saying things, in sha' Allah we will all benefit from it.
Diana
As-Salamu `alaykum wa Rahmatu Allahi wa Barakatuhu,
ReplyDeletewasat... you misunderstood the objective of this video.
Also, you're afraid that the video is telling people not to work and earn a living, this is not true, so no need to worry.
I listened to this and I'm still going to go to work tomorrow, only now I want to go to work and help the community out more.
peace,
Diana
Oh May Allah Bless and SAVE this umma.
ReplyDeleteThe content of the video goes hand and hand with what Rasul allah and the sahaba and the tabeu'n where doing in raising future umma's chidren; its take a village to bring up a child. My children you can work and learn and do good deeds.Islam is not a religion its a Way of Life; Do not associate anithing with your worship to allah, be Sincere in your actions (all of them even toward a child that you are the uncle...)your intentions should must be for allah ONLYYYY, be carreful of what you wish for you may become a doctor have all the wheath of the world and live a miserable life. Be always mindful of almaighty and hope and fear Allah Almighty in the same time equaly, love for other what you love for yourself, be steadfast; learn and teach life is a balance otherwise you will be just another looser, make your journey meaningful; being an uncle is just another form of saying prepare your luggages for akhira fill them up with good deeds your going to school can also be one of those good deeds, if you know how. Let the brother teach you you seem to me, that you need to understand more about the Beauty of Islam and being a Muslim. Be a true Leader through the way you talke you speak you dress, you study; Whith Allah almighty always in your mind and help the youngsters and you will see, Fear allah and you will find Him near you.
Salams, a young brother I know is a full time M D, takes the time to be a father to his 3 children and husband to his wife, He teaches a Sunday school class, teaches a class for new Muslims, does occasional Khutbas, is a good son to his Parents and visits occasionally, helps his siblings whenever necessary, and still takes time to study Quran, and read Islamic books. Sometimes, I wonder if he knows whether he is coming or going,but may Allah bless him, he is to me a great Uncle of today.
ReplyDelete@ Diana,
ReplyDeletei hear in this video a mocking tone to those who go to school. Is it a shame to go to school and focus on your career? Is it? This video laughs at those of the next generation who are "focusing on there career" and those who "go to school" as fools who have forgotten the community. Where as this is a massively un-islamic idea, since our greatest leaders from the earliest and current generations worked hard to earn a living and served the community.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteaswrwb: this video is just 3 minute long but it covers every thing
ReplyDeletefrom a to z which awakens us by reminding our responsibilities on us
and to what responsibilities we have on our kids. Wonderful job
br.shareef...Allah may rewrd you for this righteous effort in this
dunya and akhira....aameen..ali
@ wasat, you misunderstood. Sheikh Muhammad was saying (from what I understood)rather than JUST focusing on school, we must also focus on our (Islamic) community and make sure we're not neglecting it-- because the next generation will suffer. He was not mocking anyone, whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteAs the saying goes:
ReplyDeleteWe blame all our woes on the past generation and hope that the next one will clear everything up.
An excellent video highlighting a major issue.
May Allah reward Sh Muhammad.
Another motivation for building masjids and islamic centers was the desire for company. Our generation doesn't have that same desire as we are surrounded by people we can relate to, and we can often relate to non-muslims just as well as we can with muslims. The NEXT generation will be even more integrated into society, and less inclined than even us to socialize solely with other muslims. In that way, "the uncles" were lucky--- they were strangers who sought the company of other strangers.
ReplyDeleteOnce you start becoming like everyone else-- you lose your identity.
The great focus on education was natural for our parents. I feel they may have assumed that our morals would come naturally, as their own parents assumed because they lived in all-muslim countries, and so focused little on religion. As a medical student myself, I know for a fact that I will NOT encourage my kids to pursue this field. It's very tough and not intellectually, but spiritually. If they insist, I wouldn't forbid them, but I really really aim to focus first on deen. I want my kids to learn the religion better than I did, and at an earlier age. I wanna excuse my sons from school to attend jumma, teach my kids about the sahaba better than what they learn about george washington, etc etc. With a strong foundation, they can pursue ANY field they want and master it fisabilillah. I didnt have that strong foundation entering med school, like many of my muslim colleagues and have as a result often found myself wavering.
Asalamu aliakum,
ReplyDeleteWell I had been reflecting on it for a while but after watching this video--- I did it.'Dear Little Auntie" blog was born. InshaAllah hope to talk 'to this new generation' and help them learn their deen. Jazak Allah for the final push to making it and for these awesome videos.
I totally agree with wasat about this video. If we all become Shaiks who will contribute to the skills needed to run the economy. Everyone cannot just start an Institute like AlMaghrib.
ReplyDeleteAmway anyone?
ReplyDelete