Shaykh Abdul Aziz Ahmed Fredericks on The Momentous Event and Three Timeless New Year Resolutions

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah wa shukrulillah, we were able to attend a majlis ta'lim organized by the Madina Institute of Malaysia and the Muslim Society at the International Medical University of Kuala Lumpur. The majlis fittingly called The Momentous Event was held on a special date, 12th Rabiul Awal 1436 Hijri. Shaykh Abdul Aziz Fredericks gave a tafsir of Surah Al-Fil and Al-Quraish. Concluding his talk, Shaykh Abdul Aziz mentioned a few points which recapped the lessons from the surah. He said the momentous event was not about the episode of Al-Fil. The birth of the Prophet was in fact THE momentous event and that Allah protected the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam even before he was born so people knew about the coming of the Prophet salallah alaihi wasalam. More importantly we have to ask ourselves - what is our relationship with Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam because the level of our tawfik is the level of our connection to Prophet Muhammad salallah alaihi wasalam.      

Shaykh Abdul Aziz Fredericks
Kuala Lumpur, 3rd Jan 2015

Courtesy of the organizers, we were allowed to have a short interview with Shaykh Abdul Aziz after the talk. Below is his reply to one of our questions on three timeless new year resolutions a Muslim should make.

Firstly, one must understand what time is. Being in the UK, we have the solar new year, the lunar new year, the Chinese new year and the Persians new year. These are connected with one another. In the tafsir of surah [Al Quraish] we learned about summer and winter and the importance of time. If you resolve to understand time then you will always be resolved. You will always have a positive resolution.

Secondly, you should not look back because if you keep looking back, it can hold you back. You need to have a higher aspiration to aim to go forward in your life. Whatever happened in the past, you can't really change but what you can change is the future.

Thirdly, be kind to people. Have a good relationship with people around you. Try to improve your relationship constantly. You can always be nicer and be better. When you do that you will be happier as well.