An Inspiration for Youths

By Yousuf Saleh - 31st July 2015

All Praise is due to Allah (swt) who is the Sustainer of all the Universe. May the peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon Muhammad (saws), his family, his companions and all those who follow him in righteousness until the day of resurrection.

Respected brothers and sisters at home, the aim of today’s khutba is to show especially to our youngsters that prosperity lies beneath constant efforts and striving. A man who was born in 1931 to a Tamil Muslim family in India in a non-Muslim Country. His father's name was Jainulabudeen, who was a Muazzin of a mosque and a boat owner, and his mother Ashiamma, a housewife and very religious woman. The man came from a very poor background and started working at an early age to supplement his family's income.

After completing school he distributed newspapers to contribute to his father's income.In his school years he had average grades but was a bright and a hardworking student who had a strong desire to learn and spend hours on his studies. Later this man became the world renowned scientist. (His prominent role in India's 1998 nuclear weapons tests established him as a national hero). The people of India call him the man “from boat to missile”the non-political man became India's 11th president. His term was 2002 to 2007. Known as the People's President.he was so popular that MTV nominated him for a Youth Icon of the Year award in 2003 and 2006. Many of you may know whom I am talking about? He is A.P.J AbulKalam. Last Monday he passed away at the age of 83.

Respected brothers and sisters at home, no one is faultless on this earth accept the Prophets. Our main ideal person is our Prophet Muhammad (saw). But if we see in anyone who achieved an extraordinary quality and which does not contradict the teachings of our Prophet, Muslims are encouraged to follow themearnestly.A.P.J Abulkalam said his mother was so pious, after finishing her five times salah she used to make long supplications with tears, and especially she used to make dua for her son. I would

like to mention some quotations from his Speeches:

He showed the key to fulfilment of the dreams. He said: “Dreams transform into thoughts and thoughts result in action. Dreams are not those which come while you are sleeping, but dreams are those when you don’t sleep before fulfilling them” He has given the importance to joy in people’s heart instead of fighting. He said: “It is very easy to defeat someone, but it is very hard to win someone” He has taught us not to become hopeless and say, “I can’t” he said: “This is my belief: that through difficulties and problems God gives us the opportunity to grow. So when your hopes and dreams and goals are dashed, search among the wreckage, you may find a golden opportunity hidden in the ruins.”

He found the beauty of religion in brotherhood. He said: “For great men, religion is a way of making friends; small people make religion a fighting tool.” He encouraged us to understand the reality of Excellency by saying: “Excellence is a continuous process and not an accident” To describe the nature of life he said: “Life is a difficult game. You can win it only by holding your birthright to be a person”. To define the reason of hardships he said “Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success.”

To show the importance of sincerity he said: “Those who cannot work with their hearts achieve but a dead, half-hearted success that raises bitterness all around.” To describe the important roles of the parents and teachers he said: “If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three keysocietal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.”

To change the future he said:” You can’t change your future, but you can change your habit, and your habit will change your future.” His message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, to have courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed. These are great qualities that the young people must work towards. This is my message to the young people. “Learning gives creativity, creativity leads to thinking, thinking provides knowledge, and knowledge makes you great”.

Respected brothers and sisters at home, and my beloved youngsters. Please reflect on these quotes of this great man to hopefully prosper in your life. Allah (swt) said in the Quran ch-13 and ve- 11 “Undoubtedly Allah does not change the condition of a nation until they change the condition within themselves”

May Allah grant us the ability to move ourselves to achieve the goddesses of both worlds.