How To Be A Superhero

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If you could have a super power what would it be?

Would you want to fly like Superman - faster than a speeding bullet

Or teleportation like Nightcrawler

Would you want to be super smart like professor Xavier

Or have rehealing process like Wolverine or an adamantium skeleton

As you are thinking which superpower you would want to have pay attention to your thought process?

What are you thinking as you are assessing any one of these superpowers?

Are you thinking that maybe if you had the ability to fly that you would never have to pay for a plane ticket again or commute to work

Are you thinking that maybe if you had super strength you could be a professional athlete, join the Olympics, impress people at the gym?

Or if you were super smart you could be the world’s best investor or be the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg and imagine how much money you could make?

So did you think of what superpower you want and did you pay attention to what made you want to select that superpower?

If so, now ask yourself did the reason you want that superpower was so you could benefit others or so you could benefit yourself?

If it was to benefit yourself then I am sorry to tell you this but that would make you more akin to being a supervillain and not a superhero. 

A supervillain is someone who has superpowers that they utilize to benefit themselves

A superhero on the other hand has superpowers and their being revolves around using these superpowers to help others 

What is funny is you can ask hundreds of people this question and rarely will you hear someone say they would use their superpower to fight crime. 

People like to think that when they watch a movie like Schindler’s List that they would be Schindler

But realistically they are much more likely to be one of the Nazi’s or the many who didn’t fight the status quo and quietly went along hoping they wouldn’t be drawn to attention 

God has given each of us God-given

[2:3] who believe in the unseen, observe the Contact Prayers (Salat)*, and from our provisions to them, they give to charity.

Moses had strength

Moses Commits Manslaughter

[28:15] Once he entered the city unexpectedly, without being recognized by the people. He found two men fighting; one was (a Hebrew) from his people, and the other was (an Egyptian) from his enemies. The one from his people called on him for help against his enemy. Moses punched him, killing him. He said, "This is the work of the devil; he is a real enemy, and a profound misleader."

[28:16] He said, "My Lord, I have wronged my soul. Please forgive me," and He forgave him. He is the Forgiver, Most Merciful. [28:17] He said, "My Lord, in return for Your blessings upon me, I will never be a supporter of the guilty ones." [28:18] In the morning, he was in the city, afraid and watchful. The one who sought his help yesterday, asked for his help again. Moses said to him, "You are really a troublemaker."

Moses' Crime Exposed

[28:19] Before he attempted to strike their common enemy, he said, "O Moses, do you want to kill me, as you killed the other man yesterday? Obviously, you wish to be a tyrant on earth; you do not wish to be righteous." [28:20] A man came running from the other side of the city, saying, "O Moses, the people are plotting to kill you. You better leave immediately. I am giving you good advice." [28:21] He fled the city, afraid and watchful. He said, "My Lord, save me from the oppressive people.”

[28:22] As he traveled towards Midyan, he said, "May my Lord guide me in the right path." [28:23] When he reached Midyan's water, he found a crowd of people watering, and noticed two women waiting on the side. He said, "What is it that you need?" They said, "We are not able to water, until the crowd disperses, and our father is an old man." [28:24] He watered for them, then turned to the shade, saying, "My Lord, whatever provision You send to me, I am in dire need for it.”

Sir Nicholas Winton from London (late 20’s)  WWII

• • Prague saved 669 children
  • On a ski vacation to Switzerland
  • 1938 violence against Jews was escalating went to Prague Czechoslovakia to see if there is anything he could do to help
  • For almost 50 years he hardly told anyone about what he had accomplished
  • For almost 50 years the children didn’t know who saved them or how
  • October 1st 1938 Nazi’s march into Czechoslovakia
  • Prague the Czech capital was flooded with people trying to escape
  • A fortunate few were able to send their children abroad
  • Back in London Winton was a successful stock broker with a passion for sports
  • Winton went to go visit the camps in Czech where people were displaced and it was cold some 150k people
  • Winton wanted to see how he could at least get the children out of there
  • He had no experience in this work
  • No country would take any of the children and started to pressure the British government to accept the children - they agreed only if he could find families willing to take the children - so he started making advertisements with the children to get family to accept them
  • First 20 children left Prague March 14 1939
  • Next Day German troops occupied Prague with Hitler himself riding through the streets triumphant
  • 1988 the BBC heard about his story and had him be part of a program
  • So what did he do for the last 50 years?
  • Building homes for the elderly and helping mentally handicapped people
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0aoifNziKQ
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbSldmUmRA

[59:9] As for those who provided them with a home and a refuge, and were believers before them, they love those who immigrated to them, and find no hesitation in their hearts in helping them. In fact, they readily give them priority over themselves, even when they themselves need what they give away. Indeed, those who overcome their natural stinginess are the successful ones.

Golden Gate bridge suicide if just one person smiles at me I will not kill myself

https://www.calfussman.com/podcasts/2018/8/28/kevin-hines-whatever-your-difficulties-never-count-yourself-out-never-never-never

[57:11] Who would like to loan God a loan of righteousness, to have it multiplied for him manifold, and end up with a generous recompense?

Would you prefer to meet the person who will give you money or an opportunity to do charity? 

One is for the pleasures of this world the other is for the Hereafter

Solomon - Who is Doing Who A Favor - What is our Priority

[38:32] He then said, "I enjoyed the material things more than I enjoyed worshiping my Lord, until the sun was gone.*

 

Qãroon

[28:76] Qãroon (the slave driver) was one of Moses' people who betrayed them and oppressed them. We gave him so many treasures that the keys thereof were almost too heavy for the strongest band. His people said to him, "Do not be so arrogant; GOD does not love those who are arrogant.

[28:77] "Use the provisions bestowed upon you by GOD to seek the abode of the Hereafter, without neglecting your share in this world. Be charitable, as GOD has been charitable towards you. Do not keep on corrupting the earth. GOD does not love the corruptors."

[2:195] You shall spend in the cause of GOD; do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction. You shall be charitable; GOD loves the charitable.

Everything we have is because God has lent it to us. There is nothing in this world that we will bring with us to the Hereafter. Everything we have will be inherited by others after we pass.

[28:78] He said, "I attained all this because of my own cleverness." Did he not realize that GOD had annihilated before him generations that were much stronger than he, and greater in number? The (annihilated) transgressors were not asked about their crimes.

Reflections

[56:57] We have created you, if you could only believe! [56:58] Have you noted the semen that you produce? [56:59] Did you create it, or did we? [56:60] We have predetermined death for you. Nothing can stop us— [56:61] from substituting new generations in your place, and establishing what you do not know. [56:62] You know about the first creation. Do you not remember? [56:63] Have you noted the crops you reap? [56:64] Did you grow them, or did we? [56:65] If we will, we can turn it into hay. Then you will lament: [56:66] "We lost. [56:67] "We are deprived." [56:68] Have you noted the water you drink? [56:69] Did you send it down from the clouds, or did we? [56:70] If we will, we can make it salty. You should be thankful. [56:71] Have you noted the fire you ignite? [56:72] Did you initiate its tree, or did we? [56:73] We rendered it a reminder, and a useful tool for the users. [56:74] You shall glorify the name of your Lord, the Great.

[28:79] One day, he came out to his people in full splendor. Those who preferred this worldly life said, "Oh, we wish that we possess what Qãroon has attained. Indeed, he is very fortunate."

The Real Wealth

[28:80] As for those who were blessed with knowledge, they said, "Woe to you, GOD's recompense is far better for those who believe and lead a righteous life." None attains this except the steadfast.

The Tyrants' Inevitable Fate

[28:81] We then caused the earth to swallow him and his mansion. No army could have helped him against GOD; he was not destined to be a winner. [28:82] Those who were envious of him the day before said, "Now we realize that GOD is the One who provides for whomever He chooses from among His servants, and withholds. If it were not for GOD's grace towards us, He could have caused the earth to swallow us too. We now realize that the disbelievers never succeed.”

Qaroon was selfish - only think about himself how his blessings could benefit himself at the expense of others

Qaroon was vain - he exalted himself he boasted about his provisions

Story of Sindhutai Sapkal

More likely do more for yourself or for others purpose greater than one self

[23:57] Surely, those who are reverently conscious of their Lord, [23:58] And who believe in the revelations of their Lord, [23:59] And who never set up any idols beside their Lord, [23:60] As they give their charities, their hearts are fully reverent. For they recognize that they will be summoned before their Lord, [23:61] They are eager to do righteous works; they compete in doing them.

[90:11] He should choose the difficult path. [90:12] Which one is the difficult path? [90:13] The freeing of slaves. [90:14] Feeding, during the time of hardship. [90:15] Orphans who are related. [90:16] Or the poor who is in need. [90:17] And being one of those who believe, and exhorting one another to be steadfast, and exhorting one another to be kind. [90:18] These have deserved happiness.