Mohammed Hussein Yaqoub.....Mahmoud al Masry...

We have an excellent Sheikh here in Egypt, that I absolutely enjoy listening to. Although we have many here.....I find that I understand Sheikh Yaqoub better than any of the others. As well, he is a very animated speaker and somehow, plays the camera on his TV shows.

On one of his recent shows......he asked everyone to hold his hand and make a pledge.....he held his hand out to the camera......he kept encouraging ppl to take his hand. And then he said...."pledge to Allah, that you are going to change something in yourself." Then he asked us...

u don't know what to change? You dont? Okay...then stand up.....walk over to the corner and think about yourself.....put your nose to the wall so nothing can distract you.....think. COME ON...THINK!! What is it about yourself that you'd really like to change? You got it now? Got it? Okay....come take my hand again......now pledge it to Allah! You promised now! You did! I held your hand, and you promised....so I expect you to keep that promise...okay?

There is another Sheikh....called Mahmoud al Masry.....who I'm not too fond of.....and rarely listen to him. But the other morning, he was on and was talking about Zulm. (injustice?)

And here's the point that he made, that I never fully realized before......he said....

There are two types of forgiveness.....forgiveness from Allah....and forgiveness from the people. If you have wronged Allah in something....then Allah has the ability to forgive you.....an example? You ate pork....then you turn and ask Allah to forgive you....well....then that's up to Allah. But the forgiveness from people? Well.....you accused someone of stealing and treated them badly...but were mistaken....and didn't apologize or anything....can Allah forgive you for that? Nope....your rights have been infringed on by a person...and that person owes you your rights back. Should you not choose to forgive them......they cannot say to themselves....well...Allah will forgive me. NOPE! That person DIRECTLY owes you your rights. And on the day of judgement....Allah will give you back your rights. Particularly by taking from your sins...and giving it to them....and then giving you back their good deeds in an equal amount. You will get your due.

I hope I was clear on this explanation......but I was listening to him and was thinking....WOW! I can't tell you how many times I've been in a situation where people have told me that Allah will forgive them for wronging someone. Or done something horrible to others and said....SAMAHNEE YA RAB! But that's not where the forgiveness is.

It makes me think clearer about how I act, and how I treat people.....and about forgiveness of course. Masha Allah......what a thought.

And then on a side issue.....I was thinking about how my husband now owes me 7 months of time.....I wonder how he looks at it...?? Does he think that Allah will forgive him for being unfair? Well...that forgiveness isn't with Allah....it's with me. And I'm not feeling too forgiving....
To forgive someone for their wrongdoing...there has to be some recompense.....or even.....you really want to feel like they are so sorry, u know?

I just don't see me waking up tomorrow and saying...OMG...I forgive him. Nawwww....that'll be a long, long, long time coming. And even then....I wouldn't count on it.

So anyways......if you have wronged someone....I would encourage you to go and talk it out with that person....and ask them to forgive you for it.....the day of judgement is around the corner.....and the trumpet blowers' lips are already pursed........ask for forgiveness......it's really so simple.....