They're Watching Your World | Barzakh | Other Side Ep.2 | Dr. Omar Suleiman | Ramadan Series

Summary

Highlights

• The video opens with a metaphor of a stadium filled with spectators, illustrating how we're watched in our daily lives. 🤩
• It discusses the superior sensory perceptions of animals compared to humans, highlighting our limited understanding. 🌐
• There’s a fascinating take on how animals like roosters and donkeys have interactions with the spiritual world by seeing angels or shaytan. 🐓
• The Prophet's teachings about how our intentions can be perceived as smells by angels is an intriguing perspective. 🤔
• It's a profound reminder that our deeds are presented to our relatives who have passed, impacting their perception of us. 📜

Key Takeaways

• We're always on stage, being watched by an unseen audience that includes angels, jinn, and our loved ones who have passed away. 👀
• Our soul emits a fragrance based on our intentions, which celestial beings can detect. 🌸
• The narrative reminds us that our deeds have consequences beyond this life and are observed by the unseen realm. 🔄
• Living conscientiously and maintaining good intentions is essential, as everything we do is being recorded and remembered. ✍️
• Our actions can bring joy or shame to our deceased relatives, as they are aware of what we do. 💭

Overview

Chapters

• 00:00 - 01:00: Introduction to the Crowd's Influence The chapter titled "Introduction to the Crowd's Influence" explores the dynamic interaction between a sporting event and the audience. With energetic descriptions such as a player scoring a point and the audience's exuberant reaction, the scene is set in a stadium packed with spectators. The focus is on how the crowd reacts passionately, either cheering or booing, in response to the actions and decisions of the players during the game. This introduction aims to delve into the powerful influence and effect a crowd can have during such competitive events.
• 01:00 - 02:00: Craving Attention and Being Seen The chapter explores the universal desire for attention and validation, highlighted by moments of public recognition such as a last-minute buzzer-beating shot in a game. It relates this craving to various scenarios, from childhood dreams of fame to the addictive nature of social media, where likes and comments serve as sources of validation. This common thread reflects a societal preoccupation with being seen and acknowledged.
• 02:00 - 03:00: The Unseen Audience in the World The chapter "The Unseen Audience in the World" delves into the human desire to be acknowledged and the universal yearning to be seen, heard, and understood. It challenges the reader to consider the perspective that they are already in the presence of an unparalleled audience — the entire world. The narrative suggests a profound and constant awareness from everything around us, creating a sense of being perpetually observed and connected to the universe in a way that surpasses any physical audience or social media following.
• 03:00 - 04:00: Limitations of Human Perception This chapter explores the concept of human perception and its limitations. It delves into the philosophical idea that humans are at the center of their own universe, with their life being analogous to a stage. Despite having a vast 'audience' comprising myriad creatures and experiences beyond immediate perception, humans cannot fully sense or understand this commentary due to the intrinsic limitations of being human. The chapter underscores the notion that while humans might feel they are in control, much lies beyond their perception due to their existence in the material world, referred to as 'dunya'.
• 04:00 - 05:00: Spiritual Implications of Limited Senses The chapter discusses the limitations of human perception compared to other creatures in nature. It begins by exploring how eagles possess far superior vision than humans, being able to spot a rabbit from a distance of three kilometers. The text continues by describing bees' ability to see ultraviolet light, which allows them to perceive patterns on flowers invisible to us. Additionally, it highlights how cats can see in much lower light levels than humans, and sharks can detect minimal scent traces, drawing attention to the profound spiritual implications of these differences in sensory capability.
• 05:00 - 06:00: Unseen Interaction with Souls The chapter titled 'Unseen Interaction with Souls' discusses the unique sensory perceptions of creatures and the Islamic teachings related to them. It begins by asking readers to envision perceiving the world as certain animals do, referencing a hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) that attributes specific spiritual experiences to animals. For example, when a rooster crows, it is believed to have seen an angel, and thus, believers are encouraged to ask for Allah's favor. Conversely, when a donkey brays, it is interpreted as the animal sighting the shaytan (devil), prompting believers to seek refuge in Allah. The chapter emphasizes the mercy of Allah in sparing human beings from hearing the punishment of the grave, unlike other creatures.
• 06:00 - 07:00: Perception of Good and Bad Intentions The chapter delves into the challenges of dealing with the cries and screams in our everyday lives, emphasizing the distress it would cause if we could hear the cries of the dead. It discusses the mercy of Allah in shielding us from such experiences, and explores the concept of perception and the overwhelming nature of being able to perceive even more of our environment, such as particles in the air, implying that such perceptions would hinder normal social interactions.
• 07:00 - 08:00: Angelic and Demonic Observers The chapter discusses the concept that humans are given perfect senses by Allah to get to know Him and perceive the world at precise resolutions. It highlights a teaching of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on being as shy of Allah as one would be of a righteous person from their community. The idea is that whether or not one is in the presence of others, they should be conscious of their actions as if they are always observed by someone righteous who influences them to maintain their best conduct.
• 08:00 - 09:00: Spiritual Algorithms and Intentions The chapter titled 'Spiritual Algorithms and Intentions' focuses on the importance of recognizing Allah as the ultimate audience of one's actions. It discusses the concept of living one's life as if on a stage, where the audience should always be connected back to Allah. This approach highlights that what's truly on display is not physical attributes or abilities, but the soul and its inclinations. The chapter emphasizes the spiritual orientation and integrity in one's intentions and actions.
• 09:00 - 10:00: Universal Interaction with Human Souls This chapter explores the unseen spiritual interactions between humans and other entities such as angels, devils, and jinn. Angels support and cheer for humans, offering prayers of forgiveness, whereas devils try to disrupt them. It also mentions jinn, including the mischievous shayateen, who converses around humans, unnoticed by them. An excerpt from Islamic scripture highlights that these entities see us from places unknown to us.
• 10:00 - 11:00: Impact of Deeds on the Earth and Heavens The chapter discusses the unseen influence of devils and angels on individuals. It emphasizes the importance of being aware of these spiritual forces that impact humans from where they cannot be seen. The devils exploit the level of access granted to them by individuals, creating a constant internal struggle. The chapter advises individuals to diminish the influence of devils by seeking closeness to Allah, which in turn enhances the ability to hear and respond to the angels' promptings. It references a state of being called 'muhaddath', where an individual is as if spoken to by the angels, highlighting the spiritual elevation and connection that can be achieved.
• 11:00 - 12:00: Witnessing Oppression and Trials The chapter explores the spiritual journey of individuals, using the example of Umar (radiAllahu ta'ala Anhu) to illustrate a heightened awareness and resistance to the whispers of Shaytan (devils or temptations). It discusses the concept of 'mtuwaswas', where people are constantly subjected to these whispers and how their spiritual 'algorithm' changes based on their actions and intentions. By seeking closeness to Allah, a person's perceptions are transformed, allowing them to perceive divine guidance more clearly. The narrative extends to the idea that the entire world, from the largest creatures like elephants to the smallest like ants, even sea life, participate in a universal chorus of forgiveness, highlighting the interconnectedness of creation in the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
• 12:00 - 13:00: Deeds Presented to the Deceased This chapter discusses the concept of the perception of Allah's pleasure and displeasure. It begins with a reflection on how humans cannot perceive when creatures glorify Allah or seek forgiveness on behalf of people, as mentioned in a Quranic verse. It highlights the idea that sins can make the natural world, including animals and insects, naturally averse to a person. However, it warns against assuming every instance of dislike from animals is due to one's sins. The chapter alludes to the life in Barzakh, which is an intermediate state after death, suggesting that these spiritual dynamics continue beyond the visible world.
• 13:00 - 14:00: Reflection on the Present and Afterlife This chapter discusses the concept of the soul and the unseen elements interacting with it. It highlights the notion that the soul emits a smell which can be perceived by other creatures in the spiritual realm. The conversation includes a quote from Sufyaan Rahimahullah who explained how angels can discern a person's intentions through the smell emitted by their soul, associating good intentions with the smell of musk.

They're Watching Your World | Barzakh | Other Side Ep.2 | Dr. Omar Suleiman | Ramadan Series Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 (graphics thumping) (graphics whooshing) (solemn music) (ball tapping) - He shoots. He scores. (ball thumping) (audience cheering) and the crowd goes wild. Have you ever seen thousands of people packed into a stadium for a big game? Think about how the crowd watches intently, cheering and booing in response to every move of the players on the field or on the court.
• 00:30 - 01:00 And when something remarkable happens like that last minute buzzer beating shot, they erupt in elation, chanting your name. (ball tapping) It's every kid's dream, right? Whether you're shooting imaginary game-winning shots in an empty gym, or wishing you were rich and famous, or growing up addicted to social media, watching your post rack up likes and comments for validation, it's always somehow about attention.
• 01:00 - 01:30 We're wired to crave it. Think about this common theme in therapy. I want to be seen, I want to be heard. I want to be felt, but by who, and how? What if I told you that you already have an audience that no stadium, no movie screen, no social media following could ever rival. Everything is watching you. Above you, around you,
• 01:30 - 02:00 below you, beyond you. Your soul commands an audience of millions and billions of creatures, and your whole world is actually just a stage. (solemn music) Perhaps you can't perceive the commentary because you can't see your audience, and that's because you're human and you're still in dunya.
• 02:00 - 02:30 Our perception as human beings is actually very limited compared to the creation around us. Think about an eagle that can see eight times better than us, meaning they could see a rabbit from three kilometers away. You have bees that can see an ultraviolet light, which means they can see patterns on flowers that we don't even know exist. You have cats that can see in light levels six times lower than what humans can even detect. And then you have sharks that can smell a single drop
• 02:30 - 03:00 of blood in 25 gallons of water. What if we could see, smell and hear like those creatures? And think about when the Prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam says, "When you listen to the crowing of the rooster, ask Allah for his favor as that rooster just saw an angel. And when you listen to the braying of the donkey, seek refuge in Allah from the shaytan, for that donkey has just seen a shaytan." He also said that," All of these creatures hear the punishment of the grave, except for us." Allah spares us out of mercy.
• 03:00 - 03:30 I want you to think about how hard it is to function now when we hear the cries of the dying through our screams. Imagine if we could hear the cries of the actual dead from the cemeteries. Think about if we could hear our own family and friends who have passed away, maybe shouting from their graves, we would be completely paralyzed. And that mercy of Allah isn't even just for the barzakh. Would we really be able to sit in a social setting if Allah increased our vision to be able to see the particles floating in the air
• 03:30 - 04:00 every time someone sneezes, or the dust mites all around us crawling like insects. So Allah gives us the perfect senses to get to know Him and at perfect resolutions. And that's why the Prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam said, Ou seeka an tastahee min Allahi ta'ala kama tastahee min al-rajuli al-salihi min qoumika Be shy of Allah like you would from a righteous person, from your people. You can see people. And you know how differently you would act if a righteous person was with you 24/7 watching you
• 04:00 - 04:30 with a camera, or especially in physical presence. But Allah, Who is greater than any righteous man, sees you all the time. And so as you think about the audience of your stage, don't forget the greatest of your unseen audience- Allah. Everyone else in the crowd should be connected back to Allah in order for them to matter to you. Now, what's on display in this great spectacle is not your body or your athletic abilities, it's your soul and what it inclines towards.
• 04:30 - 05:00 In the crowd, there are angels that are watching you and cheering you on, alongside devils that are heckling you. You might even have a fan among the angels, but their tears are not just shouting and clapping, but they chant du'as of forgiveness for you instead. (Omar speaking Arabic) But they're also the creatures of the jinn, amongst them, the shayateen. Some of them have loud conversations right next to you that you can't hear at all. And Allah says: Innahu yaraakum huwa wa qabeeluhu min haytha la tarawnahum
• 05:00 - 05:30 "Surely he and his troops see you from where you cannot see them." And those devils aren't just heckling you from the outside. They flow through you based on how much access you allow them. It's a relentless battle for you. And you have to learn to tune out the noise every day. See, the more you seek Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, the volume of the shaytan goes down and you can hear the angels prompting you instead. SubhanAllah, imagine being muhaddath, one who is as if he is spoken to by the angels,
• 05:30 - 06:00 like Umar, radiAllahu ta'ala Anhu, whereas most people are mtuwaswas, which means they're constantly subjected to the whispers of shaytan. 'Cause just like your social media algorithm changes in accordance with your desires, so does your soul algorithm. So if you're seeking Allah, you'll start seeing and hearing accordingly and vice versa. And then you'll come to realize it's not just angels and devils. The entire world from the elephants and ants on land, to the fish in the sea are chanting your forgiveness
• 06:00 - 06:30 when you're seeking Allah's pleasure. But as Allah says: La tafqahawna tasbeehahum "You don't perceive how they glorify Allah, or perhaps how they seek forgiveness for you." On the other hand, you also can't really tell how everything from the angels to the insects can become naturally averse to you because of a sin you've committed or intend to commit. That doesn't mean that every animal that doesn't like you hates you on the basis of your sins. All of this just means that just like how in the barzakh
• 06:30 - 07:00 everyone can see your soul beyond your body, there are already unseen elements in this world interacting with your soul as the primary version of you. So for example, your soul has a smell that it emits to other creatures. Sufyaan Rahimahullah was asked, how did the angels know if a person has a bad or a good intention? And he replied saying that, "When a person intends to do good, the angels perceive the smell of musk coming out of him. Whereas if he intends to do evil,
• 07:00 - 07:30 they smell this wretched odor coming out of him." Even the earth itself, Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala says: Fa ma bakat 'alaihimu as-samaa' wal-ardh that,"There are those who have no heaven or earth to cry for them." Ibn Abbas radiallahu anhu said, "That for the believer, the heavens and the earth weep because of the good influences they would leave behind." He said: Tabki al-ardu 'ala al-mu'mini arba'een sabaahan "The Earth would weep over a believer for 40 days." On the other hand, the Prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam,
• 07:30 - 08:00 when describing the foul stench from the place of the earth of the evil person when he dies, literally took a cloth and put it over his nose to describe how bad that soul would smell. But "The fragrance of the believer would spark the curiosity even of the angels in the heavens." They would say, where is that beautiful smell coming from? And yes, they too all witnessed the oppression on earth. Was it not that when Ibrahim 'Alayhi Salaam was thrown in the fire, that the angels waited desperately
• 08:00 - 08:30 for the command to put the fire out, and that even the frogs tried to carry water in their mouths to extinguish that fire. But Allah had a plan, telling the fire itself to be cool and peaceful for Ibrahim. Did the messenger of Allah SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam, not say that the angels have their wings spread over Al-Sham? Which is the area of the world most noted for oppression right now. And to the angels, we are not just numbers. SubhanAllah, I think of this narration
• 08:30 - 09:00 of Imam Ahmed Rahimahullah, when he was being tortured. There was a man who said, "I thought about Imam Ahmed, his patience as he was being whipped and how he showed all this strength in spite of his physical weakness. Then I wept. And then that night I saw in my sleep as if a voice was calling out to me saying, if only you could see the angels in the skies boasting about him while he was being beaten. I said, and did the angels know of Ahmed's beatings? The voice responded. There wasn't a single angel in the heavens except
• 09:00 - 09:30 that it has witnessed over him while he was being beaten." How many angels witnessed the burning of the young Hafidh of Qur'an named Shaban in Gaza? They know what we're going through, everyone around us does. But do you know who also gets our news? Our loved ones in the barzakh. Sadaq ibn Sulayman Al-Ja'fari said that, "I once did something detestable, which I came to regret after the death of my father, I committed a sin.
• 09:30 - 10:00 And then I saw my dead father in a dream where he said to me, my son, I could not have been happier when we considered your deeds to be those of the righteous. However, I was highly ashamed of you on one occasion, so do not disgrace me again in front of the other believers who are also dead. His neighbor said that every day after that, we would hear Sadaqah making du'a from his home every single night in his qiyam. O Rectifier of the righteous, O Guide of the misguided, and O Merciful to the sinners,
• 10:00 - 10:30 grant me a beautiful return to you from which I never returned back to what caused me shame." And one narration by Anas radiAllahu ta'ala Anhu, the Prophet Sallallahu alayhi wa salam said, "Your deeds are presented to your close relatives who have passed away. If your deeds are good, they celebrate. And if they're not good, they say: Allahumma la tumit-hum hatta tahdiyahum kama hadaytana O Allah, do not cause them to die until you have guided them just as you had guided us." This is the wish of the righteous before us,
• 10:30 - 11:00 and our news reaches them without the propaganda of the devils. And I wonder, I wonder how the news of the free Palestine and Al-Aqsa will be received by all of the shuhadaa before In sha Allah. I wonder how happy Khadija radiAllahu Anha was to hear about Fath e Makkah. And I also wonder how the Prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam feels about our efforts or lack thereof today? It's narrated that Abbad ibn Abbad once visited Ibrahim ibn Salih Rahimahullah while he was the amir of Falestine.
• 11:00 - 11:30 And Ibrahim said to him, advise me. So Abbad said to him, "Your deeds are presented to the dead, and amongst them, the Prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam." On that alone, Ibrahim wept until his beard was soaked with his tears. I wonder what it was like when Ibrahim died, and maybe he met the Prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam, himself? See, entering the barzakh is like going backstage after it's all over, or meeting the spectators and hearing what they were saying about you all along.
• 11:30 - 12:00 But you don't wanna wait till then to figure it out. Ask yourself now, who are you to all of those who are watching you? What does the Prophet SallAllahu 'Alaihi Wasallam think about you right now? What does he think about the state of our ummah? Is it the angels who boast about you, or the devils who boast about what they've done to you? And what do the dead say about you? What have your loved ones who have preceeded you into the barzakh heard about your deeds? Do they have a different opinion about you than all of those around you now?
• 12:00 - 12:30 What's your reputation in a realm you have yet to enter? La'ali a'mal salihan fi ma tarakt Kalla innaha kalimatun huwa qa'iluha wa min wa raa'ihim
• 12:30 - 13:00 barzakhun ila yawmi yub'athun (graphics thudding) (graphics whooshing) Closed captioning provided by MUHSEN (www.muhsen.org)