Episode 20: Dream of your Country 20 years from now – Part 1

 

In the name of Allah the All-Merciful, the Ever- Merciful; may the peace and blessings of Allah be on the Prophet (SAWS[1]).  We will continue together with Sunaa’ al-Hayah (Life Makers) after finishing the first phase which was about releasing the ties that hold us down and also overcoming the obstacles.  We tested ourselves and found out that we are in fact capable of changing and working.  Hence, we began the second phase and we called it the ‘revival.’  This phase is like a plane taking off.  During take off, a plane needs to use all its power and gain speed to be able to take off.  All of its engines need to be pushed to maximum power, burning large amounts of fuel.  It needs to accelerate over a long distance on the runway in order to be able to take off.  Seat belts need to be fastened, and all passengers should be focused and excited for they are about to embark on something of great magnitude. Consequently, taking off is in fact the hardest part of flying.

 

We do not want an ordinary take off with little improvement from our current state; we want the plane to soar at a high altitude.  A plane from Jeddah to New York does not fly at a mere 15 thousand feet but instead at 35 thousand feet.  If the plane flies at a low altitude, it will run out of fuel due to strong headwinds.  Consequently, we do not want an ordinary revival, we want a massive one which will ultimately require us to sacrifice all we have and give it a strong push.  This is a revival which we should all live for and make our life’s dream.  Our nation will be revived and we will meet Allah, the Glorious, and tell Him “Oh Allah, we were all partners in this revival effort.”

 

This is why we seek revival in all fields:

 

1.      We want to get rid of the humiliation to move to prosperity.

2.      We want to change from a weak economy and an increasing unemployment rate to economic revival.

3.      We want to change from weakness, cultural ignorance, and cultural slavery to having our own culture and authority.

4.      We want to change from decadent and tasteless art to refined art.

5.      We want to move from having bad health and widespread disease to strong mental and physical health.

 

This does not mean that everything we have is bad, for we have many good things in our countries.  We possess many traits which should be preserved and developed.  The revival we are striving for has a frame, which is worshipping Allah (SWT).  We are embarking on this revival for the sake of Allah (SWT), the Glorious and Exalted. We are not on this road for the sake of competing with other nations, our intention and loyalty is solely to Allah, the Exalted. 

 

Last week we started by discussing what we need the most; determination and ways to develop it.  The marathon project; training for two weeks with the goal of walking 42 kilometers in one week (or more), originated from recognizing the need to develop our determination.

 

What I would like to talk about the most, is the beautiful feedback I got from people.  We heard from thousands of people, who affirmed that the marathon project was not just exhausting physical exercise, but proof that we are ready to start working on the revival.  If you visit the website, you will be able to read more on the feedback we received, especially from the youth, about how they felt while walking, the ideas that came to them, and how much Dhikr (remembrance of Allah (SWT)) they performed.  For example:

1.      Sunaa’ al-Hayah youth from Menufeya in Egypt walked from Shebeen El-Koum to Tanta.

2.      Youth from Cairo walked from Haram Pyramids to Helwan.

3.      More youth from Cairo walked from Dar al-Ishara to the Cairo-Alex desert road.

4.      Yemeni youth from the Ikhla’ center for Qur’an memorization spent two hours memorizing Qur’an after praying Fajr (dawn prayer) then they walked for three hours reciting what they had memorized.

5.      There were youth from Algeria, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon, Bahrain, Morocco, Yemen, Emirates, England, France, Germany, Holland, and Finland.

6.      In Algeria, a group selected 10 starting points where they all started walking from, on a specific day, and they all met at one end-point.

7.      In Lebanon, a group of youth from Sahet al-Nour in Tripoli agreed with another group from Sahet al-Shuhada in Beirut to start walking, until they met at a predetermined destination, to get to know one another.

8.      Syrian youth wore a uniform with the motto ‘Together We Make Life’ printed on it after contacting a charitable organization to sponsor the marathon.  They started walking from Khaled Ibnul-Walid Street and covered the whole 42 kilometers that day.

9.      A group of young and elderly ladies covered the entire 42 kilometers in one day.

10.  In spite of the incredible heat in countries like Qatar and Bahrain, young men and women joined the marathon project as well.

 

At the same time, I reproach those who did not walk and I ask them, didn’t we genuinely and seriously embark on this together? We want to carry out a revival that requires ten times the effort expended in the last phase, unusual effort, so why didn’t you walk with us? This marathon is very much like the story of Talut (Saul) and Jalut (Goliath), in Surat al-Baqara in the Holy Qur’an where Allah says what can be translated as, “He said, ‘Verily! Allah will try you by a river.  So whoever drinks thereof, he is not of me, and whoever tastes it not, he is of me, except him who takes (thereof) in the hollow of his hand…Yet they drank thereof, all, except a few of them.” (TMQ, 2:249)[2].  The story tells us that this was a test since they were very thirsty and it would be logical for them to drink, however, the order from Allah (SWT) not to drink was a test of their commitment and dedication.  This is why, when they stood in front of Jalut (Goliath), later in the same ayah, Allah  says what can be translated as them saying, “They said, ‘We have no power this day against Jalut (Goliath) and his hosts.’  But those who knew with certainty that they were going to meet Allah, said, ‘How often a small group overcame a mighty host by Allah’s Leave?’” (TMQ, 2:249).     This group did not drink from the river, for their dedication was stronger and Allah (SWT) made them victorious.  Then, I tell those who did not join the marathon to start walking; the project is not over yet since the new project complements the marathon.   I would like to read to those who did not walk with us, as well as to those who did, this very touching message to show them the true quality of this nation and how great our youth is.

 

Sarah Adel, a Palestinian sister sent me the following letter:

 

“My brother in Allah, Amr Khaled, peace be upon you.  I would like to tell you, dear brother, that I was able to achieve the marathon by walking 42 kilometers all praise to Allah in about a day and a half but, brother, I did it alone.  I live in Palestine and there is not a stretch safe enough that would cover 42 kilometers, due to the circumstances resulting from the occupation and the insecurity we deal with daily.  Even if there were, I would be afraid to walk alone. Therefore, after watching the episode on dedication and willpower, I decided that I must walk but where, at home, and I am not sure if you will accept me doing it that way or not.  However, all praise to Allah, the house has a long hallway which I measured to be 15 meters, and I decided to walk this hallway while recording the number of laps.  In one day I did 2,100 laps.

 

It took me a long time to finish the marathon, as I walked at a rate of 4 kilometers an hour. The hardest parts were the first kilometer and the last ten, where I was so exhausted I could barely feel my feet.  However, I continued to do Dhikr, and say Astghfar Allah (seeking forgiveness from Allah), and supplicate, which ultimately led me to persist.  This experience was a physical exercise which led me to feel a glimpse of the pain the companions of the Prophet (SAWS) used to feel.  The pain is still there, however, the joy of finishing the marathon for the sake of Allah (SWT) made me forget it.

 

I completed the marathon and memorized the 99 beautiful names of Allah (SWT) since I walked past and forth a painting on the wall with all the names written on it. All praise be to Allah (SWT) for He helped me.  While walking, I got an idea of a poem in English which, Allah willing, I plan to post on the website.

 

Dear brother in Allah, finally, I cannot describe how happy I am to have achieved a higher spiritual level and contemplation; I even cried a lot at night.  I would say Subhan Allah wa Bihamdihi, Subhan Allah Al-Azeem (In the name of Allah, Glory be to Him.  Glory be to Allah, the Most Great).  At the end, I have a question for you, am I with you in the marathon? Am I on the plane? Do you accept me with you or not?”

 

I will not comment and tell you how great this girl is, but I cannot help but tell her that the revival we seek will enable you to walk and we will change the circumstances which prevented you from walking.  I would like to tell you that you are the first to board the plane with us.

 

 

 

 

Muhammad Ziad sent us a letter similar to Sarah's, where he says:

 

“I had a leg injury and was ordered by the doctor not to walk and to use only one leg and crutches.  In two years, I have not been able to walk more than 100 meters a day, and all praise to Allah, after the episode I walked for an hour and a half daily using one leg and the crutches.  I have walked ten kilometers until now and plan to finish the 42 kilometers in two or three days maximum.  I ask you all to pray for me to meet this goal.”

 

Follow these models; do you now see that the nation of Muhammad (SAWS) is still full of goodness? Do you see the examples of these amazing boys and girls of our nation? The words of the Prophet (SAWS) remain so true, when he says, “Goodness remains in me and in my nation till the Day of Judgment.”  These role models serve as evidence that willpower can evolve and develop.

 

Now, let us begin with our revival.  Just like that? Yes, and we will be able to do it, Allah (SWT) willing.  How do we begin? I have really exhausted myself thinking of the starting point.  I have never worked so hard in my life as I did in Sunaa’ al-Hayah; we are about to embark on a great project, the revival of a nation.  At first, I thought of dedicating a number of projects to work on each week; like when we discussed unemployment, then another project, etc.  However, I discovered that this was a big mistake, for this revival is not mine alone, but it belongs to all of us.  The motto of the program is ‘Together we make life’ and this is not an empty slogan, since we succeeded in the first phase mainly because we worked together.  The projects were a success because it was a team effort, therefore, I, alone, cannot think about this revival since it belongs to all of us; so let us think together of the shape our project should take.

 

When I thought of coming and speaking to you about doing prespecified projects, I remembered the Prophet (SAWS) on the day of the Battle of Badr when he paused and asked people for their opinions and advice.  You, Prophet of Allah (SAWS) would seek our advice! Abu-Bakr (RA), Omar (RA), and others spoke their mind about what they think is in the best interest of the Muslims.  Then the Prophet (SAWS) asked them to sit down because he wanted the opinion of al-Ansar (people of Madinah), for it was their town and they need to get a chance to speak their mind as well.  Saad Ibn-Moaaz got up and said, “Looks like you want our opinion O Messenger of Allah.”  The Prophet (SAWS) told him “Yes.” Saad then said, “Go on, O Messenger of Allah, make peace and enemies with whoever you wish, take from our money as much as you want and leave us whatever you want.”  The Prophet (SAWS) then smiled with optimism.

 

Although he was the Prophet of Allah (SAWS) as well as the head of state, he still waited for the opinions of people and respected them so that when they join the Battle of Badr, they would really feel it to be their battle since they were the decision makers.

 

Therefore, I realized that the project must be ours, for the revival will be ours until we reach the goal and vision we want.  Do you remember the episode where we talked about dreams and how the beginning of every success story starts with a dream that fills your heart and senses until you are able to visualise it.  Medically speaking, your subconscious does not differentiate between reality and imagination.  Hence, if you convince your subconscious of an imaginary idea, it will become a reality waiting to be fulfilled.  If you wish to succeed, imagine that your idea is real; an actual picture.  The Prophet (SAWS) used to do this with his companions, when he spoke to them on many occasions about paradise, to the point that they made great sacrifices; which ultimately transported them from a generation of sheep farmers to a generation that nurtured nations.

 

The project is to imagine how our countries will be like in 20 years time; this is how the dream starts.  How do you imagine Cairo to be in 20 years time?  How do you imagine Damascus? How do you imagine Baghdad?  How do you imagine Jerusalem, al-Doha, or Jeddah after 20 years?  The beginning of the revival is a dream that fills our hearts and encompasses our feelings.  We will write it down for it to become something concrete.  The problem with the revival is that if we just talk about it, it becomes empty words that cannot be realized.   We want to feel it by writing down our ideas and dreams on paper; we want you to send them to us.  We want all your dreams boys, girls, scholars, businessmen, working women, and children.

 

We all know our present situation.  We are weak and divided.  We do not have any food.  We are not capable of farming our own land and guarding our countries.  We import food and medicine.  We have many problems.   We all know where we stand right now, but we want to find out where we want to be, so let us dream of that situation.  I want you to dream with me, young people, of what you want your Ummah to be like after 20 years.  Do not ever question the possibility of fulfilling your dream!  I am going to give you realistic examples to show that every success in this life starts with a dream.

 

1.      The Suez Canal: Would anyone have imagined connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean? The distance between the two bodies of water is about 101 km, so who, 150 years ago, would have believed that to be possible.  One person dreamt of that; he dreamt of cutting short the trip around Africa.  However, there was a financial problem, yet money would be the last consideration.  What is important is the dream and the idea.  He brought a map and studied it until the dream filled his conscious.  Certainly, people made fun of him when he proposed his idea of connecting the two seas together.  The idea of digging a canal that is 101 km was strange 150 years ago.

 

Egypt now benefits from the wealth generated by the Suez Canal because of one person’s dream, and Israel is now digging a canal from the Red Sea to Gaza to replace the Suez Canal.  They dream and we do not dream.  They started putting out bids, claiming that they want to eliminate the tunnels that are used for arms trafficking. If that were the case, why is a canal that has a width of 25 meters needed! If the reason were to eliminate the trafficking of arms then the canal need only be one meter wide! The dream is what motivates people and provides them with the energy to turn it into a reality.

 

2.      The High Dam: The goal of the project of the High Dam was to save water and increase the production threefold.  The dream of the High Dam filled the minds of the Egyptians, and resounded in the country's folklore.  They thought of borrowing money from the World Bank but were declined because the benefit that Egypt would gain was enormous.  Then the result was nationalization of the Suez Canal.  This caused the tripartite attack on Egypt in 1956 (England, France and Israel), but the Egyptians did not despair and they were ready to sacrifice the utmost to fulfill their dream, because that dream became their dream.

 

Life is full of examples that start with dreams that fill peoples’ minds until they are fulfilled.

 

3.      The Two Islamic Holy Sites (al-Haramain al-Sharefain): fifty years ago they looked completely different from the way they look now.  Someone dreamt that one way to get people closer to Allah (SWT) is to facilitate performing the rituals in the Holy Sites of Makkah and Madinah and helping people enjoy the closeness to Allah (SWT).  It would strengthen the love of Allah (SWT) for the whole Ummah, but how was it achieved? It was a dream and there is a huge difference between the way these places looked before renovation and they way they look now.

 

4.      Downtown Beirut: After the civil war, this area was completely destroyed and turned into a dump.  Whoever owned a store in that area would sell it for as low as one thousand dollars because the area was useless.  People started to look for other areas to rebuild, but someone dreamt of rebuilding that particular area until it became completely renovated.  A store there is worth millions of dollars now.

 

5.      Education in China: The number of illiterate people in China was in the millions.  Then, some teacher wanted to change that situation.  He dreamt of eliminating illiteracy in China within two months because he knew that there would not be any progress as long as the current situation remained.  He thought of an idea, and the dream filled his mind.  He then tested it on a small village; he gathered some students from school, and asked each student to teach 20 people from that village during the summer vacation.  In return, they would be exempt from paying school fees for the following school year.  By the end of the summer, illiteracy was eliminated in that village.  The teacher then proposed this idea to the government, and it was implemented throughout China.  It became possible to eliminate illiteracy during the two months of the summer vacation.

 

They were not the first to initiate this idea because the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) did it before.  He had the seventy prisoners of war from the Battle of Badr each teach ten Muslims, as a price for their freedom.  Most of the Muslims in Madinah were illiterate, and we are the Ummah of Iqra’ (read), so the Prophet (SAWS) eliminated the illiteracy of 700 companions in a week.  Among those was Zayd Ibn-Thabit, the Companion who compiled the Qur’an later on.

 

6.      The World Cup: This great idea was initiated by a French lawyer who wanted to unite people from different countries and strengthen their relations, by gathering them together in one place.  We should have been the ones to come up with such an idea because Allah says what can be translated as, “O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another.” (TMQ, 49:13).  His idea was a social one but the best way to realize it was through sports.  His goal was to gather people from around the globe in a way that would unite the different cultures.  He was a simple lawyer with no money, yet he pursued his idea.  He died and his idea is still being implemented to our very day.

 

7.      There was a Japanese man called Toyota whose father owned a small store.  Once, there was an exhibition for some huge American machines.  Toyota used to visit the exhibition everyday to look at these machines for hours.  The owner of the exposition noticed his presence.  He asked him how old he was, and he answered that he was 22 years old.  He asked him about his father’s job, and Toyota told him that they had a small warehouse.  Then, he asked him why he visited the exposition so often and told him that if he stayed there for a hundred years, he would not learn a thing because the Japanese would never be able to manufacture such machinery. 

 

Toyota was very upset and asked the man, “How can you be Japanese and think in that apathetic way?”  He then added, “I promise you that in 20 years I will own the largest car manufacturing factory, and I will display my cars in your exhibition.”  He started the Toyota Company, and in 10 to 15 years, Toyota's car sales exceeded those of the largest three car manufacturing companies in the United States.  The three companies collectively manufactured 9 million cars a year and by the year 1990, Toyota alone manufactured 11 million cars.  The whole thing started with a dream.

 

The revival starts with a dream that fills people’s very essence and dominates their feelings until they are ready to sacrifice and die for its sake.  When a dream fills the minds of people, who are considered negative and care only about their offspring, that dream becomes more precious to them than their children.

 

The problem is that people think that it is not possible to make a change and that there is no way that things can change, but when they discover that the situation can actually transform, they respond.  The United States realized a far reaching dream by going to the moon.  Imagine a person dreaming of going to the moon.  What will people call him? Crazy, of course!  They came up with this dream of going to the moon when they realized that the American people were turning lazy after becoming affluent.  They came up with a dream that would absorb people’s energy.  What were their feelings after going to the moon?

 

8.      One day, there was a dream that did not cross anybody’s mind.  In the house of al-Arqam Ibn Abu al-Arqam, there were only forty Companions hiding in a small house, and they represented the whole Muslim population on earth in the small city of Makkah, that is surrounded by mountains.  Allah revealed to them the ayah in which he says when can be translated as, “And We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for al-Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” (TMQ, 21:107).   Imagine the feelings of the forty Companions at that moment.  How did Ammar Ibn Yasser and Bilal feel as they were being tortured in the desert, when they heard the ayah telling them that they are the hope of humanity?  What were their feelings? That ayah was revealed in Makkah at that time to draw their attention to the hope that they must strive for, to motivate them to dream.

 

Send us your dreams, then.  This may be on an individual basis, but there is a better and more effective way: discuss your dreams in groups composed of young people in the mosque, members of the same family or neighbours living in the same building, etc.  Let us bring forth our dreams.  We want to exploit our energies; we want participation from innovators, talented people, and Muslims living abroad.  We want all of you to send us your dreams; whether you are Muslims or Christians.  We want you to participate.  We will not accept the dreams without the participation of our Christian brothers who live in our countries.  We also look forward to receiving responses from the Muslims who have immigrated to the West and do not plan to return.  Send us your dreams of England, France, Germany, and other countries after 20 years.  What is important is that we dream together and come up with one collective dream.

 

There are two conditions for this dream:

 

1.      Do not dream about something that is not useful for the revival of our countries like submarines that fly or streets in the air

2.      We do not want very general ideas, such as: we want to see progress in education; you need to give details.

 

What do you want the mosques to be like, and what are the numbers of people you want to see there.  What about the women's section, will its size be the same or will it change? Do you want education to be free or not, and if not, who will pay for it? What do you dream about tourism? Do not say that tourism is rejected, because it is beneficial in that it represents our countries, our civilizations, our religion and to the whole world.  What form should it take? Think.

 

If you cannot dream, listen to the story of the horse:

 

There was a man who owned an old horse he used to depend on for all his work.  The horse became old in its final days.  One of these days, the horse fell into a well.  Its owner tried to pull the horse out of the well for a whole day, but failed after several trials.  He started to lose hope because the machines that are used to pull the horse out were more expensive than the price of the old horse.  The man decided, despite his love for the horse, to gather the people from his village and throw dirt on the horse to bury him and spare him the torture because he was surely destined to die.

 

The villagers started throwing the dirt while the horse screamed and cried.  It caused the man great pain to hear his horse screaming, so he asked his neighbours to throw the dirt from a distance because he did not want to see his horse dying.  After a while, they couldn’t hear the horse.  The man thought that the horse had died from the trauma.  He looked down at the horse and found that whenever people threw dirt on his back, he shook his back for it to fall under its feet helping it raise itself.  This made their hope rise, and they continued throwing the dirt until the horse was able to get out of the well.

 

Lots of dirt has been thrown on us.  Crying is futile.  We should stop crying.  Let us get up and do something about it.  It is not possible that the horse will have better wisdom than you, son of Adam (AS), who Allah (SWT) made the angels prostrate to, to honor your intellect.  Today’s episode is the central point of the second stage.  We have to do something; we are all partners.  The governments cannot be responsible for everything, we have to do some work; you are capable of bringing forth great ideas.   Remember, Allah (SWT) told the Prophet (SAWS) what can be translated as, “You will enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah wills, with mind secure, heads shaved, hair cut short, and without fear.” (TMQ, 48:27).  He told the Muslims that at a time when it was hard for them to believe it, but Allah (SWT) has promised them something and gave them a complete dream.  He talked about the minute details of how their hair would look like, and Allah’s promise was realized.

 

 Another example is Allah saying what can be translated as, “When there comes the help of Allah (to you, O Muhammad against your enemies) and the conquest (of Makkah).  And you see that the people enter Allah’s religion (Islam) in crowds.” (TMQ, 110:1-2).  The words ‘and you see’ made the Muslims at that time feel as if they were witnessing the event.

 

Some people can say that these are the promises of Allah (SWT) to his Prophet (SAWS), but who can say that our dreams will be fulfilled? We also have promises that the revival of the Muslims will be achieved, and what an honor for us if this revival were achieved through us.  Allah says what can be translated as, “Allah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the land, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam).  And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me.” (TMQ, 24:55). 

 

Then this is not a dream, but a reality.  That is why, when I tell you to dream about your country after 20 years, it is a reality and not a dream, because Allah (SWT) promised, and it is up to us to dream and work.  We have to purify our intentions for the sake of Allah (SWT), and not destroy any land or become anybody’s enemy.  Our goal is to spread mercy.  Allah says what can be translated as, “And We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for al-Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists).” (TMQ, 21:107).  Our goal is to receive the reward of this revival.  Make you role model, Amr Ibnul-Jamuh.   He was lame, but he did not want to miss an opportunity to participate with the Muslims.  He told the Messenger of Allah (SAWS), “Let me go to the battle with you, I want to enter paradise with this injured leg.”

 

We hope that businessmen and university professors will participate with us to come up with one dream and, by Allah’s will, we will succeed.  We have a great hope in succeeding.  Do all that you can and we will await your responses to announce our revival together.  We will see you next week.  Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you all .