The Sunnah Guy - Film Maker

Social media can really make you feel insecure, sad and depressed thinking how bad your own life is when you compare it to others. The best way to deal with this is to take the advice of the ProphetMohammad ﷺ where he said to look at those below you and not to look at those above you. The remedy for the aches and pain in your heart lie in restricting your gaze upon the world. Because sometimes the grass seems greener because it’s fake.

The older I get the more I realise that my father never had it easy. He would keep his thoughts to himself and I would often find him alone and would wonder why he cuts himself off sometimes. The world today is cruel to men and fathers. And it’s only when you become one, you realise the true value of a present father and that respect comes pouring back into your heart and you forgive him for everything that happened in the past. Fathers aren’t perfect, they try, fighting demons within them everyday, and they deserve our respect and forgiveness.

The older I get, the busier life gets and the more I’ve learnt to protect my peace. I don’t need conflict or drama. I don’t care if I am seen as weak, neglectful or dismissive. So long as my responsibilities are taken care of, my creator is pleased with me and I haven’t wronged anyone. Then I will always prioritise that which brings me peace, over that which brings me conflict. Don’t drag me into an argument, don’t expect me to be enemies with your enemies, don’t tell me what XYZ person said. I’m good, leave me be and let me enjoy my peace. I suggest you all do the same.

The metrics of success and wealth are materialistic by nature. The glitter and marketing of this word will always make you feel deprived, empty and depressed. The chase for more consumes us and while money is a key tool to life a good, wholesome life without limits, we need to always understand the purpose of money. If you’re enslaved by the constant chase of ‘needing’ more then I realty you are poorer than you think. Because true richness is the contentment of the heart, freedoms of time and ability to do what you want, with who you want, when you want. Because what good is money, if you’re busy to enjoy the life that it’s meant to provide?

As a young man, your focus should be on building yourself first, your character, your mission, your future. Before you can lead anyone else, you need to lead yourself. Find your purpose, take ownership of your life, and build something real. The right one will come when you’re ready. Not when you’re distracted Don’t fall too early.

Remember that time you fell ill and all your problems became insignificant? Remember how you stopped complaining about petty issues because you had a fever and all you wanted was to rest and get better? Wallahi, we do not appreciate good health, we overlook it and take it for granted. Those on the hospital beds facing death would trade the whole world to be in your position right now. So thank Allah in good times before the bad times come.

Life begins when you can free yourself from the shackles of people’s opinions. You have one life in this world. Don’t live it confined within the boundaries and fears of people’s opinions. There is potential in all of us, but we limit ourselves because we fear what people will say. One day we will grow old and these same people whose opinion we feared so much will now be dead leaving us in regret, wishing we had done something when we were younger. The good news is that you have time. So wake up and life your life fearing nobody but the one who created you.

One of the hardest things in life is to let go and move on. And what’s even harder is when others move on against your will. You feel helpless and become desperate. But it will drain you to try and be part of someone’s life who doesn’t want you there. Learn to let go and understand that this is part and parcel of life. Nothing is permanent or guaranteed. Relationships are fragile, take care of the valuable ones and learn to move on from those that were never meant to stay.

Sometimes in life we need to humble ourselves and just realise that somethings are either a truth to be accepted or lessons to be learned. Not everything needs to be figured out and not everything needs a solution. Sometimes that solution is simply doing nothing, taking a step back and reflecting what lesson we can learn from this.

You never know what is around the corner. Whenever a door closes or God slows you down, don’t see it as a loss, but see it as redirection and protection. How many times have you said “At the time I didn’t like it and I didn’t understand why it happened, but years later I discovered XYZ and became XYZ” We often see our challenges and setbacks as negative. But with faith in your creator and a relationship with him, nothing is negative as he only wants goodness for you. And that goodness may only take form and become apparent to you, years into the future. So sometimes god slows you down so that the evil ahead of you can pass before you get there. Remember that your delay, could mean your protection.

It’s important that the voices around you are aiding to your growth and mental peace. They challenge you in the right way but are cooperative and pleasant to deal with. They have solutions for your problems and have an optimistic mindset. Stay away from negative people who find problems in your solutions, are not happy for your success and put you down, especially around other people.

The reality is, job security is a myth. The world we live in today is a world of opportunity. Create your own independence and build your own transferable skills and a network of people around you who can help you. It’s never been easier to become self sufficient. The accessibility of information has never been easier. So find ways never to be dependent on anyone.

I am often amazed at how people make you feel guilty for asking them to return YOUR money once the agreement of a deadline has been made. Now whenever someone asks me for money, I ask them the following: 1. Are you happy to have a written agreement with someone who we both mutually know and respect as the third party witness? 2. I will let you stipulate the return date so that you have no reason to complain after Most of the time they don’t want to do the above. If they agree to it and they abuse it, then your case is with Allah and they have disgraced their honour. Most of the time it deters time wasters or helps someone who genuinely needs it Anyways, that’s just my 2 cents.

Never ever feel bad for being a good person. But you need to have principles and boundaries if you’re getting abused. Boundaries, limits and red lines aren’t there for you to act nasty. But they’re there to stop others being nasty. Be good, keep giving, but know where to draw the line