Perceptions of half full or half empty cup

Focus On What You Have to Appreciate Your Full Cup

February 24, 2025 February 28, 2025

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From the Realities of Mawlana (Q) as taught by Shaykh Nurjan Mirahmadi

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen, was salaatu was salaamu ‘alaa Ashrafil Mursaleen, Sayyidina wa Mawlana Muhammadul Mustafa ﷺ. Madad ya Sayyidi ya Rasulul Kareem, Ya Habibul ‘Azeem, unzur halana wa ishfa’lana, ‘abidona bi madadikum wa nazarekum.

Atiullah wa atiur Rasul wa Ulil amre minkum. Always a reminder for myself ana abdukal ‘ajeez, wa dayeef, wa miskin, wa zhalim, wa jahl, and but for the grace of Allah (AJ) that we are still in existence.

﴾ياأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُواللَّه وَأَطِيعُوٱلرَّسُولَ وَأُوْلِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ…﴿٥٩

4:59 – “Ya ayyu hal latheena amanoo Atiullaha wa atiur Rasula wa Ulil amre minkum…” (Surat An-Nisa)

“O You who have believed, Obey Allah, Obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you…” (The Women, 4:59)

Allah’s (AJ) Immense Mercy in the Month of Sha’ban

That alhamdulillah, for this holy month of Sha’ban, the month of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ and from Allah (AJ) wanting to be known, “Subhana man huwal Khaliq anNur.” In Rajab, that that light becomes known by the reality of Muhammadun Rasulallah ﷺ.

سُبْحَانَ مَنْ هُوَ الْخَالِقَ النُّورْ

“Subhana man huwal Khaliq anNur”

“Glory to Him who is the Creator, the Light”

Then the holy month of Sha’ban and all the holy souls that are born within this holy month and Nifs e Sha’ban, the midpoint of the month, the 15th which is the 14th night; the celebration in which the Shab al Bara’ah, the Night of Forgiveness, the nights of written destinies and immense lights, the spiritual new year in which Allah (AJ) writes the destiny for that year of its good and bad and comings and goings. Alhamdulillah, to have been allowed to enter into this month that Allah (AJ) gave us the life in which to enter into this holy month. We pray that Allah (AJ) write for us from His immense rahmah and mercy for the sake of our love for Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ goodness and to take away all badness from our character and all badness from our destiny based on our character. That Allah’s (AJ) rahmah (mercy) and the intercession of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ to dress us and to bless us.

Our Perception of How Full Our Cup is Based on Our Struggle of Submission

So, alhamdulillah, for this immensely holy month and the holy weekend that we are starting with the birth of Imam al-Hussain (as), Imam Zainul Abideen (as) and Imam Abbas (as) and this immense light and blessings. Always a reminder for myself that the importance of how we see our life so that to recognize our blessings. So many talks, so many realities but some of the basics and the basic characteristics can make us to lose sight of a greater picture. The expression that either the cup is half full or some may see the cup as half empty. In our lives and in our understanding, that when we look at the world as a cup that’s half empty, it’s based on our expectations.

That when we struggle with our expectations and we struggle with our desire and our whole entrance into Islam and the way of Allah (AJ), the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ was our path to become nothing and submit to our Lord, Allah (AJ) Almighty. That Allah’s (AJ) Will must be done. If Allah’s (AJ) Will is my goal, then seeing my life as a continuous cup that’s half empty and the reality of that struggle is the struggle with submission to Allah (AJ). So, the character is then something of an issue. So, when we believe that everything is a cup half empty and then people have to recognize how we carry that through in everything that we do.

Appreciate What You Have, Not What You Lack

That when we don’t get the time that we want to spend with somebody and we complain. We don’t get the raise that we wanted and we complain. We don’t get the opportunities that we wanted and we complain. We don’t – whatever it is – it carries through in every aspect of our life. So, then people have to think on a daily basis of every issue that they’re concerned of and are we a person that sees it as a cup half empty? It means that my cup should have been full and I’m really saying that, ‘I’m upset with Allah (AJ) that it’s only at the halfway point.’ Tariqah (spiritual path) comes for us to make our tafakkur, make our contemplation because we’re talking all these holy nights.

What’s the benefit of holy nights when people are absorbed within themselves? They forget the path of submission and submit to Allah (AJ). Their hearts become locked and they put their desire before the path of submission. For this heavenly path, always a reminder for ourself, it’s to see everything as half full. That whatever Allah (AJ) has given to me, it could have been less, much less. So, the path of nazar bar qadam, to keep my eyes upon my feet because instead of focusing on not having shoes, there are those whom have no feet.

Allah (AJ) is With Those Whom Are Patient and Thankful (Holy Qu’ran, 2:153)

It means that everything could be down. The time that you don’t think you have with somebody, well, Allah (AJ) could take them completely away and you’d have no time at all with that person. The job that you didn’t get a raise, Allah (AJ) could have just not given you the job at all. It wouldn’t be even a matter of a raise, it would be a matter of you not having any income or sustenance. So, everything for Allah (AJ) is a path in which to be thankful. It means that when Allah (AJ) describes that He is with the sabireen (patient).

﴾١٥٣‎﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ

2:153 – “Yaaa ayyuhal laazeena aamanus ta’eenoo bissabri was Salaah; innal laaha ma’as-saabireen” (Surah Al-Baqarah)

“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (The Cow, 2:153) ‎

That He wants for His servants to have patience and continuously thanking, ‘Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah, Ya Rabbi, alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah.’

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَالشُّكْرُ لِلَّهِ

“Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah”

“All praise is (due) to Allah (AJ) and all thanks be to Allah (AJ)”

Because it takes away from us – my willing or pushing for Allah (AJ) to submit to me and to remind myself that alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah. That Allah (AJ) has given everything to me and I have to be content with what I have, the cup that I have. It’s half full because it could have been half of that too.

Being Thankful To Allah (AJ) Invites More Blessings (Holy Qur’an, 14:7)

Our concept of what full is, is what shaitan is playing with us. He makes the cup look very long and says, ‘Look, it’s half full or it’s half empty,’ but in reality you could cut that cup and say, ‘Look it’s full! What I got is a lot better than if Allah (AJ) took it down’. By alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah, Allah (AJ), inshaAllah, to keep it at that. ‘Ya Rabbi, thank You for what You have given. Whatever I’m desiring, what You have given to me, thank You, ya Rabbi. Don’t let it to be lessened. In Your oceans of ni’mat (blessings) and barakah, Your oceans of blessings that expand what You want to give and don’t contract and take that away’. Allah’s (AJ) promise is be a shakireen (grateful) means that, ‘To thank Me, thank Me and I give you more’.

﴾لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ﴿٧

14:7 – “…La in shakartum la azeedanakum…” (Surat Ibrahim)

“…If you are grateful and thank Me, I will give you more (favours)…” (Abraham, 14:7)

Shaitan Blocks Gratitude By Having Us Perceive an Empty Cup

But shaitan‘s goal is to block that. How can somebody thank Allah (AJ) when they’re so busy thinking, ‘The cup is empty. Like, You didn’t put enough in it, ya Rabbi. It’s empty. It’s empty?’ They’re a complete opposite of thanking Allah (AJ) but it’s trying to get Allah (AJ) to force…you’re trying to force the hand with Allah (AJ) that, ‘You didn’t answer my prayer,’ that as if You didn’t submit to me. The path is based on and depending upon what you want and how much you want it. It’s even more dangerous because the more you want it, the more Allah (AJ) is watching.

That this path and our life and our existence is not about Allah (AJ) listening to us and following what we want, but our life was to submit to Allah (AJ) and to be from sabireen and to have patience. ‘Ya Rabbi, alhamdulillah for the time that I have, for the family that I have, for the rizq (sustenance) that I have. Not all of what I want more of, but from what I have, that don’t take it away. Don’t make difficulty to come so that misfortune becomes my awakening and to awaken my eyes. I don’t need to see misfortune for my eyes to be awake’.

Meditation Fosters Gratitude to Remind Us the Cup is Full

So, the tariqah (spiritual path) has a deep way of tafakkur (contemplation). It means the people whom are in meditation, they have to meditate on a daily basis. That whatever it is that we are asking for and whatever opening people are asking for, whatever concerns people are having; in their meditation, they have to realize that this issue that we’re continuously thinking about, we have to always remember the cup is full, half full. You can even cut the top part off and say, ‘It’s actually full. Ya Rabbi, shukr (gratitude) for whatever You have sent to me’.

As a result, shaitan (satan) doesn’t play with us to be distracted with, ‘I didn’t get what I wanted.’ Then, therefore, the bad character enters and the ni’mat (blessing) and what Allah (AJ) has given will be completely overlooked. That’s the danger that shaitan puts upon people for their path towards submission; something so subtle that they forget to realize. We said that all the things that people want, how often people go completely with love and ishq and everything that, ‘Ya Rabbi, I can’t imagine You gave me the tariqah (spiritual path)’ because everybody’s got all sorts of wishes and desires.

Our Greatest Gift Is Tariqah, But Shaitan Distracts With Complaints

But in reality, Allah (AJ) says, ‘I gave you the greatest gift imaginable. I gave you from the secret of the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. I put you on this path like gold bricks into the reality and the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ’. In reality, nothing should be asked above that. But we are not and this is the role of shaitan (satan) is to distract us from this great accomplishment and to have so many reasons for prayers and complaints and issues and, ‘I didn’t get this. This didn’t happen. Shaykh, I keep praying. This is not opening.’ But the greatest opening has occurred is that Allah (AJ) led us on the tariqah (spiritual path), let us to hear about the love of Prophet ﷺ, to sit in the company of awliyaullah (saints) and to consume their knowledges. That is the great accomplishment in faith. That out of seven to eight billion people upon this Earth, I don’t think but a few hundred thousand are in tariqah.

So, that becomes less than one percent whom Allah (AJ) have given this golden reality of the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. Shaitan‘s role and he does it very well is to completely block all of these issues and everyone has. If you let them, they’ll come into your office and talk a half hour about their problems. ‘This didn’t come. This didn’t come. This I want. This I want. This I want. I want this. I want this. I want this. I want this. I want this. I want this.’ This is the work of shaitan. This is how shaitan operates.

Always Express Gratitude With Immense Love Towards Allah (AJ)

The shaykhs have to teach people: this is how shaitan plays with us, to make us want so many things and be distracted with so many things. So many things didn’t come, but the greatest realization is that He gave me a path towards the love of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. The family that I do have, I must cherish it. The time I have with loved ones, I must cherish it because Allah (AJ) can take that time away too. If you thought it was two days, Allah (AJ) make it one day, Allah (AJ) make it no days.

So, it means everything in life is about an immense shukr (gratitude), immense love and contentment with our Lord. ‘Ya Rabbi, alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah. That from whatever You’re giving…’ and that’s why we said the du’a (supplication), “Wa ufawwidu amri ilAllah, innAllaha basirun bil ‘ibad.”

﴾وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمْرِي إِلَى اللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ ﴿٤٤…

40:44 – “…wa ufawwidu amreee ilal laah; innallaaha baseerum bil’ibaad” (Surat Al-Ghafir)

“….I entrust My affair I commit to Allah: for Allah is Seeing/watches over (His) Servants.” (The Forgiver, 40:44)

Relief Comes When We Humbly Remain Thankful

It’s the du’a (supplication) with an adab (manners) that says, ‘Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah’. But “Wa ufawwidu amri ilAllah,” that for verily Allah (AJ) sees His servant. So, with the adab that you’re saying thankfulness and gratefulness, but verily You see my condition. So, the one whom condition is coming short or in difficulty, they keep asking that Allah (AJ) sees my condition. It’s for Allah (AJ) to feel that pity and remorse that, ‘This is a servant in which is continuously thankful. As a result of being thankful, I will open and give and relieve a difficulty’.

But when the servant is in a competition that, ‘You’re not listening,’ astaghfirullah (I seek forgiveness from Allah (AJ)), ‘You’re not giving what I’m asking,’ you draw farther from that goal because Allah (AJ) doesn’t submit. Allah (AJ) is not intimidated. Allah’s (AJ) not threatened. Allah’s (AJ) not challenged. Just make ourself like we’re hitting our head against the wall. Some may try to do for a while and then eventually run away or fade away.

Trust Allah (AJ), the Best of Planners (Holy Qur’an, 8:30)

We pray that Allah (AJ) give us a deeper understanding about the cup is full and to be thankful for what we have, focus on what we have. That which we want that not to put into the heart. “Wa ufawwidu amri ilAllah, innAllaha basirun bil ‘ibad.” (Holy Qur’an, 40:44) That, ‘You see my condition, ya Rabbi. Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah’. It’s for Allah (AJ) to determine what is needed in that family, what is needed in their sustenance, what’s needed in their work. Somebody may even complain, ‘Oh Shaykh, I’m applying, applying, applying, I don’t even get a credit card’. I think maybe Allah (AJ) knows that if you got a credit card, you would probably max it out and have no control over yourself because Allah (AJ) is the best of planners.

﴾وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّـهُ ۖ وَاللَّـهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ ﴿٣٠

8:30 – “… wa yamkuroona wa yamkurul laahu, Wallaahu khairul maakireen” (Surat Al-Anfal)

“…But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.” (The Spoils of War, 8:30)

He knows when the servant is not meant to receive something or is meant to receive. If they are meant to receive it, there’s nothing on this Earth that can stop them from receiving Allah’s (AJ) gift. If they’re not meant to receive it and that’s in everything and in every aspect of our life and our faith and Allah (AJ) describe, ‘You can go to everyone on Earth and if you’re not meant to receive it, you will not receive it’.

﴾١٠٧‎﴿ وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ وَإِن يُرِدْكَ بِخَيْرٍ فَلَا رَادَّ لِفَضْلِهِ ۚ يُصِيبُ بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

10:107 – “Wa iny yamsaskal laahu bidurrin falaa kaashifa lahoo illaa hoo;wa iny yuridka bikhairin falaa raaadda lifadlih; yuseebu bihee many yashaaa’u min ‘ibaadih; wa huwal Ghafoorur Raheem” (Surah Yunus)

“And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him; and if He intends for you good, then there is no repeller of His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful” (Jonah, 10:107)

Our Greatest Difficulty Towards Patience is Our Own Entitled Expectations

Then people start to listen to shaitan (satan) and they go here and there. They try to make alternative sort of manipulations of the way. But taslim (submission) and faith is the one whom relies on Allah (AJ), takes a path of sabr and patience and goes about their ‘ibadah and their worshipness. Awliyaullah teach that if you’re capable of having sabr (patience) means you’re capable of forgetting of what you were asking. Forget what you asked for so that Allah (AJ) can graciously surprise the servant.

Because we said the greatest difficulty to sabr (patience) is what people want, anticipation and what their perception of what they should be doing, should be receiving or what their value, what they should have. When we can lose what we expected, we’re happy with whatever Allah (AJ) sends to us.

Subhana rabbika rabbal ‘izzati ‘amma yasifoon, wa salaamun ‘alal mursaleen, walhamdulillahi rabbil ‘aalameen. Bi hurmati Muhammad al-Mustafa wa bi siri Surat al-Fatiha.

Special thanks to our transcribers for their help with transcribing this suhbah.

Original Date of Suhbah: February 23, 2023

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