Serving Self or Community? Amu Fikry

Tonight we had Amu Fikry Fahymy speak the Young Adults lecture about faith eman.

During the Q and A session two important questions or topics were asked regarding volunteering for the Sake of Allah, finding a balance, the reward, self vs community needs and feeling overwhelmed.

When the recording is posted ill email it because I didn't take notes so this is not his exact wording but his advice is important for all those who work endless hours for His Sake to hear !

Here is an idea of what he and the crowd said:

Sometimes when you are volunteering for His Sake in the community you don't get to enjoy the lecture or event yourself, you may feel like you are missing out on the reward or knowledge that is taught.

Is it better to focus on your own Ibdah or the community? Which is rewarded more? For an example in Ramadan the volunteers are so busy taking caring of the worshippers, the masjid, mainitang peace and order they may not get the full benefit or reward

His answer 

You have to give everything equal rights, your body has a right over you, your family, your self etc

As for the reward it is better to provide to your community 

Because when you are just focused on your own Ibadah, you just attend a lecture for your own self that's only one person benefiting vs when you are the one organizing or coordinating a lecture or event for 50 plus people all 50 who came and learned you will get the reward, you are helping and benefiting a ummah not just your self

Another question was asked about feeling overwhelmed with the amount of volunteering that needs to be done for the community

He advised that we take the asbab the means, so put in the efforts and see how easy Allah will make the tasks with His Baraka, how He will give you more time with baraka

He also recommend to distribute tasks and follow up every two weeks, build new leaders

After this lecture I came across the following ayas which truly is a Sign of how true His words are about the Jamaaa ( community) vs self... Look how Allah uses the word together and He follows these ayas with an amazing descpriton of those whose face will shine on the Day of Judgement 

 

 

And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.

 

 

And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be the successful.

 

But as for those whose faces will turn white, [they will be] within the mercy of Allah . They will abide therein eternally

 

 

Sent from my iPad