1979 of course the Soviet Union invaded
uh Afghanistan. At that point overnight
millions of people went across the
border from Afghanistan to Pakistan.
They moved and created refugee camps
started living in tents in this region
which has pashon people.
>> Father said I'm going and I'm going to
come back. And I just remember telling
him hey like from the shop please get me
a biscuit. Like as a kid thinking he's
going to come back but he didn't come
back for 3 years. You know we had never
seen a tap before you know like a tap
water.
>> Yeah. You know, it was all like you had
to put from the well and everything.
First time when I we went to Bahrain
airport and I saw an elevator,
>> I literally freaked out because I saw
somebody go in the elevator, the
elevator come back and the person wasn't
there anymore and I freaked out. Would
you believe my iman got way stronger
when I went to Las Vegas
>> because I would see the lifestyle that
people had in the strip area, gambling
and alcohol and everything and I would
look at them and I would say this is
exactly what I don't want to turn out
like. He basically came up to us and uh
he was like saying a couple stuff not
not in a bad way but he was just saying
his opinion and I said Sean you're wrong
you know like check your facts.
>> Building a fight is one thing but like
when you're talking about Islam it's
like it's very dear to billions of
people like in their heart just check
your facts like a lot of stuff you're
saying is not right.
>> What do you think about Muslims?
>> I love them to death and they're the
closest things to Christians we got.
>> And Dewey Cooper
>> who took a shahada too. I did my shahada
maybe seven eight weeks ago. I'm
officially Muslim now.
>> Congratulations.
>> In case you guys didn't know,
>> Arman Saruk and
>> Armanuk.
>> Yeah, he actually told me
>> he trains with you also.
>> I've had Americans or Europeans,
whoever, Christians, non-Muslims, come
to me and tell me, I didn't know you
guys love Jesus.
>> Matter of fact, yes. Believe in Jesus.
What? What are you? You're a Jehovah's
Witness. [laughter]
And I said, no, I'm a Muslim. She said,
Muslim? One day you're going to have to
answer to what you did on this planet
Earth. And you better be prepared for
that day because answers are all in
Islam. Get to know your dean. Study it.
Practice it. Really feel it cuz it
changed my life.
>> We truly believe in Allah. This is the
the
show. Asalamikum. Greetings in peace.
Welcome to the Dean Show. I got two very
special guests in the Dean Show studio.
This is incredible journey that they
undertook from Afghanistan to Pakistan
to refugee camps to London and then to
America to the UFC, PFL and a lot more
to discuss
with the two brothers Jav and Fared.
>> Yes,
it's a pleasure again finally to see you
in person. I know we've spoken before,
but uh mashallah, I'm so grateful we're
here at the Dean Center. It's an amazing
facility and I can't wait for it to be
open.
>> Thank you. Alhamdulillah, Jed, thank you
for uh for those that don't know, we'll
get into after we introduce your
brother, an incredible um story I want
you to share, but tell this is your
brother now.
>> Yes. Yes. My brother
>> the Basharat brothers.
>> Yes. Yes.
>> On the Dean Show.
>> Yes.
>> That's right. That's right. [laughter]
Pleasure. Pleasure to be here.
Alhamdulillah.
>> Uh UFC undefeated. Yes.
>> 17 and
>> 16 and it should be 17 and one.
>> It's 17 now, right?
>> No, it should be 17 and one, but 16 and
two cuz one fight was a shady one. Uh
the decision,
>> but I mean it's an incredible journey
from refugee camps, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, London, and now we're here.
>> Yeah.
>> Alhamdulillah.
>> So for those that don't know, we'll play
this clip.
>> [music]
>> He's not going to have an easy way out.
But at the same time, guys, you don't
need to stoop to to his level.
>> And it was very interesting how we first
met because that clip went viral. you
had at a crucial time in your life.
You're preparing for a match and what
happened from there? The person called
you a terrorist.
>> Yeah. This person
>> and you're watching the clock and you
took care of business at the end.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, at the weigh-ins,
uh I don't know if people don't know the
story, but he had missed weight by over
like three pounds
and the matchmaker came up to me saying,
"Hey, your opponent missed weight." and
he was so happy that he miss he missed
it only by£3 cuz the commission could
allow the fight to go on and I remember
taking offense to that. So he tried to
come shake my hand and I didn't want to
shake his hand because I was like you
disrespected me by missing weight and
then celebrating like you made weight
you know
>> and he obviously didn't like that and he
his true character came out and he
called me a terrorist you know cuz I'm
from Afghanistan obviously
>> and I just remember thinking what this
is coming from his mouth you know like
how am I I'm the terrorist okay and then
the fight happened and I remember just
trying to make a a point out of it The
first 30 seconds I realized that he was
not on my level. So I just kind of
dragged the fight on for 14 minutes.
>> What's interesting is the night before
the fight I told him, Jawed, look, when
you get a chance to finish this fight,
finish the fight. Take the opportunity.
Don't drag it out. And I was like, okay,
okay, I'll take care of it. And then
fight day, he did exactly what I told
him not to do. And he just dragged the
beating out, you know, and then waited
for the last moment to finish him.
>> Younger brother.
>> Yes, my younger brother.
>> Okay. That's why he he didn't listen.
>> Yeah. [laughter]
Yeah. Yeah.
>> Yeah. Older brother's going to do what
he's going to do.
>> It worked out perfectly.
>> I was in control of my emotions. I just
I had that pre-planned, but of course if
if I felt like it was any danger, I
would have probably finished it sooner,
but I didn't feel too much danger from
him. So, I just dragged it on for 14
minutes. And I remember if you watch the
fight back, which I recommend people
watch it cuz like I keep looking at the
clock like and even when I watch it
back, it's so funny because I remember
the moments now. I keep looking at the
clock just to to see if I'm not gonna
run out of time because I wanted to
eventually submit him, you know,
>> because there's no like the the biggest
shame for for him to do is to submit,
you know, and
>> that was very satisfying for me.
>> There's a lot of journeys here. I mean,
let's start with the first one,
Afghanistan. People here heard me
mention refugee camps. I mean, you guys
uh there was a lot there's a lot of
history there in Afghanistan. Uh tell us
of that beginning journey. Where would
you like to begin?
with Afghanistan. Uh how the whole
migration and everything the refugee
situation started was 1979 of course
Soviet Union invaded uh Afghanistan. At
that point overnight millions of people
went across the border from Afghanistan
to Pakistan.
They moved and created refugee camps,
started living in tents in this region
which has pushon people you know
peshawar these areas. Millions of people
just started homes there put put up
tents and my father was in 1979 was
about 16 17. He him and his family um
they all migrated and the year was the
war was probably 10 years long you know
so over 10 years they created a life
they created homes in those refugee
camps and communities and once the war
was the Soviet war was done then then
there was a civil war and it become
became complicated at which point all
the refugees were kind of moving back
and forth across the mountains life in
Afghanistan life in Pakistan and just
like this and um and then eventually in
the '9s, mid mid and late '9s when we
were born. At that time we were in
Afghanistan, but we were still kind of
back and forth between Afghanistan and
Pakistan, you know.
>> Yeah.
>> Mhm.
>> And then eventually we when we were in
Pakistan uh my father had gotten asylum
to England to the UK and then after a
couple years he was he managed to bring
us all over there with him. So he he was
there for three years first whilst we
were we remained in um back home and in
Pakistan and then after three years he
came back and we all went back to London
together.
>> What memories do you have of your
childhood of Afghanistan?
>> Is it so memories I have a lot I don't
know it's so weird cuz even my mom is
sometimes surprised that like cuz how
young I was and how clearly I can
remember certain things but I remember
one uh specific memory that I have. But
I remember when my dad was going to
leave to England,
when my father was going to go to leave
to England and he uh obviously as a kid
you don't know where England is any
anything. And I just remember telling
him, "Hey, like from the shop, please
get me a biscuit." Like as a kid,
thinking he's going to come back, but he
didn't come back for 3 years, you know?
>> Wait, wait, back it up now. So, repeat
that again. What happened? You were a
kid. You were a child
>> and you were telling your father to get
you a biscuit.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Cuz my father said, "I'm
going and I'm going to come back."
Okay. And
>> your father, he's supposed to go get
some food, a biscuit.
>> No, my father was was was going to catch
a plane to the UK.
>> Oh, okay. Okay.
>> Obviously, I'm a kid. I don't
understand. Nowadays, probably kids
understand like growing up in America
what a plane is and all that. But when I
was back home, I didn't understand any
of that. Like there's even another life
>> other than this, you know.
>> Um,
>> so as he was going, I remember my memory
was, "Hey, like when you go to the shop,
please get me a biscuit." cuz I thought
he was going to the shop.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, and then Yeah. And and he
didn't come back. And my mom was trying
to explain to me like, "Oh, what's
happening?" And he'll come back. And
then when we speak on the phone to him
like once a month cuz phones weren't You
had to You had to buy the cards,
remember?
>> Yes.
>> They were the cards and then scratch
cards. Yeah. Exactly. And we barely had
a phone at the time in the refugee camp
in Pakistan. So we had to like really
organize to be able to speak, you know.
>> So you were separated from your father
for how long?
>> Three years. Three years.
>> Three years. When as soon as I was born,
I think I was two months and then my
father left and then three years later
he came back.
>> And then so how did you guys end up? He
he left so he can pave the way for you
guys to go to London.
>> Exactly.
>> That's right. He went to London and uh
created a asylum seeking um case
basically. He said he started working
>> and he said I have a family. I want to
bring them over. He had to sign all the
documents and when I think when he
finally got the green light three years
later he came back and we all went
together.
>> So he comes back and now the next
journey starts.
>> Yeah.
>> Journey to London. You guys are on a
plane. Yeah.
>> Talk to us about that.
>> First time.
>> No, first I just I remember I think we
had a layover in Bahrain.
>> Yeah, it was
>> and an aeroplane. I'd barely been in a
car in my whole life and now I'm like in
airplanes. I had no clue what was going
on.
>> Barely been in the car.
Not really. We didn't have cars or like
we didn't you know you have to
understand we came from a village.
>> So tap a tap we had never seen a tap
before you know like a tap water.
>> Yeah.
>> You know it was all like you have to put
from the well and everything.
>> Um so putting that into perspective like
first time when I we went to Bahrain
airport and I saw elevator.
>> Yeah. I saw an elevator. Listen. And I
literally freaked out because I saw
somebody go in the elevator. The
elevator come back and the person wasn't
there anymore. And I freaked out and my
father's like, "No, don't worry. They
went to a different floor." I thought
they just disappeared. You know, magic.
>> Magic. That's
>> You know what also is interesting
actually, Eddie?
>> Now, come to think of it, I remember uh
when we first get got to England and you
know the bathroom locks, you know, the
the lock.
>> I remember putting the lock and I I was
stuck and I start crying my eyes out.
I'm 5 years old. I'm crying my eyes out,
banging the door. I'm telling my dad,
I'm stuck. I'm stuck. like, "Let me." He
goes, "No, don't worry. Just pull the
thing where you pulled it. Pull it the
opposite direction." And then I unlocked
it and I felt so stupid like I thought I
trapped myself. I've never seen a lock
before. Yeah.
>> Wow. You know,
>> so you guys arrive now and you start to
discover a whole new world.
>> Yeah.
>> And you're getting freaked out by
elevators. You got
>> you got running tap water.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Blessings that we take for granted here.
>> Absolutely.
>> Absolutely. And
you know, look, this when we first went
to London,
you know, undoubtedly we were not the a
wealthy family. We were definitely poor.
But subhan Allah, our parents did such a
great job of not making us realize at
the time. We were never lacking
anything. Alhamdulillah, we always had
food, always had a warm bed. And um
honestly, most a lot of my memories of
as a child were so we had I have such
fond memories. Most of my memories in
early UK was playing in the park with my
brothers, me, Jaw, and we have an older
brother, Tik and and that's it. Those
are some of my earliest memories. And
>> I think our father made a um made a lot
of effort, you know, to try to take
advantage of all the opportunities in in
the UK.
>> Yeah. Subhan Allah. I come to think of
it, I never ever felt that we were like
poor, you know. There was never a time
where I felt like, oh, I'm going to go
to bed hungry. Of course, I couldn't
have what I wanted, you know, as much.
Like, if I wanted an extra piece of
chicken leg, you know, and it wasn't
available, it wasn't available. But I
was never I never felt like, oh man, we
don't have this and we don't have that.
So, they did an amazing job.
>> Very fortunate.
>> Alhamdulillah. And also, one thing since
we are on the Dean show as well, um I
want to reiterate like how much they put
in our mind who God was. You know
>> your parents?
>> My parents. Yeah. Always every he said
they would always say everything is from
Allah. When things get hard is from
Allah. When things get easy is from
Allah. Everything. So that I think
programming in a way you know like in my
head I always had reliance on Allah. You
know even when I would like have doubts
I would always like look at okay why am
I here? Okay, I'm here because there's a
creator and I'm here to fulfill his
purpose of worshiping him, you know, and
that I promise you that only comes from
my parents. And that is the biggest
blessing that
>> I can speak for myself that I've got in
my whole life
>> cuz they never ever made me even want to
doubt.
>> Mhm.
>> So you guys were your whole life you
were establishing salah.
>> Yeah. From a young age.
>> Absolutely. Alhamdulillah. You know
what's interesting is uh alhamdulillah
our household is such a strong Afghan
household. We're pushon ethnically
>> pon
>> pashon. So in our house even though we
were in England my father said when you
step in these doors into our home you're
in Afghanistan. You must speak pashto.
We eat on the floor with our hands.
>> When it's time to pray you must pray.
>> Um
>> so wear Afghan clothes at home. We
weren't allowed to wear our English like
not English t-shirt and trousers allowed
to wear that
>> to the extent where I was still
struggling with English until probably
like year four, year five, like fourth
grade, fifth grade because I used to
speak like at home it was pto pasto is
all we spoke. My dad like no you you're
not allowed to speak English at home.
>> You go to school you speak English you
come home you have to speak presto.
>> I'll give you an even better example. It
was to an extent where when we went back
to Afghanistan uh in like 2008,
everybody in the village were like,
"Man, you guys are [snorts] so old
school." Like, you know, cuz we kept our
tradition almost better than they did,
you know. They were like shocked.
They're like, "Wait,
>> you don't do this, you don't do that."
You know?
>> Yeah.
>> And it was interesting, you know, and I
was like
>> I told my father like, "Hey, look, we're
not that bad." You know, cuz he always
used to give us a hard time. You guys
are too naughty. You guys are this.
>> Yeah.
>> But yeah. No. [clears throat]
So then you you finally go back to
Afghanistan. How was it now going back
after spending time in the so-called
modern world? You go back
[clears throat] to Afghanistan. How was
how was it coming back?
>> I think first time we went back was
2006, right?
>> So after six years.
>> Yeah.
>> And um I I don't have too many memories
of the my first time there. Um Jaw had
has a lot more but um
>> no the 2006. No, it's true. Like when I
when we were born there, I don't have
too much memories of that. I was I was
quite young. But when 2006 when we went
back
>> um
>> honestly I think it was it's essential
uh if you have heritage from somewhere
in the east or somewhere to take your
kids back regularly because those trips
kind of really grounded us reminded us
of who we are, where we come from. to
this day it affected me in a in a
positive way you know um just to
remember where you come from what
lifestyle what what your blood is you
know
>> you know living in the west like amongst
all other westerners you know not just
Muslims and just anybody I'm not just
specifically speaking about Muslims um
you can lose your identity very easily
very easily because everywhere you do
you speak English you talk about English
programs you English football teams
thing.
>> But when you go back, you really realize
who you are. And that trip for me till
today is my favorite trip I've ever been
on
>> anywhere. And I've traveled,
alhamdulillah, I've been blessed to be
able to travel around the world.
>> Uh that trip in 2006 cuz even though I
was so young, I still take those
memories with me till today, you know.
>> Uh it's as if I I lived there almost as
if I grew up there, you know, because it
was actually we were there for a while,
right? Couple months.
>> A couple months. And u one thing I I our
father always tried to do was was he
would always tell us look the western
lifestyle has its own positives. There's
good things. Take the good from the west
take the good from the east. the east
has some, you know, like our part of the
world has some amazing um cultures like
hospitality
um and things like that, you know, um
and trips going back to Alanstein just
reminded us of who we are, the
hospitality sides of thing, the honor,
the dignity, and yeah, essential to go
back every now and then, I think.
>> I mean, we're seeing a lot of um if you
go online, you see a lot of these
YouTubers and content creators who've
taken trips to Afghanistan. Have you
seen some of these videos? And they
really um they're mind-b blown. They're
just like, "Wow, it's amazing how the
hospitality I mean totally the opposite
of what you're fed from the media."
>> Absolutely. You know, propaganda is the
media is giving you propaganda that we
are terrible people and we are this, we
are that. When you go and visit yourself
and 99% of people are blown away with
the truth,
>> the truth and you know what the truth
is? People won't have food for
themselves, but they will make sure they
have food for you.
>> I don't know how they're getting it, but
they will find a way. You know, that's
that's the type of people.
>> People won't have food for themselves,
but they'll have food for their guests
for you guys.
>> So, they will have reserves just just in
case a guest will come. That's literally
their mindset
>> and and it's genuine. It's coming like
it's not to show off or nothing.
>> They'll be offended if you don't take
it. That's how it is, you know. And and
how can you say that type of person is
bad? you can't you know
>> you know alhamdulillah like uh
there's good and bad people everywhere
but in our people for sure 100% when it
comes to dignity and honor hospitality
we are we do a very good job I must say
this
>> how would you describe for somebody
who's never been to Afghanistan and you
wanted them to come take a trip with you
let's say you have one of these UFC
fighters Sean Strickland or some of the
other guy what's it Dustin Porier you
train with Dustin Porier right
>> you know um you think they would be
willing you know, in the future. Uh
because people like that who've been to
places like Dubai, just Dubai and Bruce
Mitchell, I think it was describing, you
know, his experience in a Muslim
majority country and now you want to
take them to Afghanistan. What are some
of the things? How how would you explain
it to them, you know, from your uh
vision?
>> Honest, you know, it's interesting
because last week uh Arman Saruk and
>> Arman Suk. Yeah. He actually told me he
trains with you also.
>> Yeah. Yeah. He he actually told me he
wanted to go to Afghanistan
>> and we were just speaking about it, you
know, and uh
>> he he's actually I think he's actually
going to go, you know. I think he might
be the first one to go. He might even
get there before me, you know.
>> But um
>> I see that's what happens. Someone like
him kicks it off and you'll see other
people start going had a great time.
>> And he goes like, "How do you think?" I
said, "You you'll have a lovely time,
man." everything he likes to do,
hunting, he'll be able to do, shooting,
he'll be able to do, you know, uh seeing
the culture and the people because
getting an idea of a place and a region
just from TV,
>> it's not like even our interaction over
the phone is not the same as in person.
>> Yeah.
>> Until you meet and you put yourself in
that environment, you will not truly get
the full benefit.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, of of the the situation.
>> Yeah. with Afghanistan. Look, if I would
tell people, I think maybe I'm biased,
but I've heard it from a lot of
non-Afghans as well. Best food in the
world. Um, beautiful scenery, tallest
mountains in the world, veryospitable
people, honorable people. Um, you know,
it it makes
>> big history, great history. You know, if
you're
>> thousands of years history, um, you
could go from province to province,
you'll see something different. If you
go to the south, maybe you'll see more
more desert. You go to the north, you
see more snow cap mountains, you know,
rural. We have so much
>> have different types of animals, you
know, like Marco Polo sheep, snow
leopards, you know, like
>> you know, they're going to be hard to
get a hold of, but it's why not? People
like going on a on a on a hunt, you
know, or a hike, you know,
>> and imagine seeing one of them.
>> It's beautiful. You have to see it for
yourself. It's beautiful.
>> How are your parents now? Are they still
alive? Are they alhamdulillah? They they
still live in in London and um
you know they're proud of us of course
so proud of us but they hate it when we
fight
>> like on fight night they they can't
watch um
>> yeah difficult for them very difficult
for them
>> even even me like my father will call my
mother and my father will be the first
people messaging me after my fight
>> and it's like did you watch it no
[laughter]
>> but they somehow they know what happened
you know like yesterday they my first
messages were literally from my mom
>> second was from my
And I and I told them both, did they
watch it? They were like, no. But they
always watch it after once they know the
result, you know.
>> Mhm.
>> Yeah.
>> What what was the the hardest thing for
you guys growing up in in London?
[sighs]
>> For me, making that adjustment now, did
you guys have with so many stereotypes
and right now we're seeing a a big with
the Elon Musk and [snorts] what they're,
>> you know, the propaganda is being
spread. Was it the same thing back then
or as it is now? I I think it was worse
cuz it was right at the back of 9/11
>> and um the waves of of immigrants were
just starting out at that time. Now like
my little our little brother is 10 years
younger than me and he's from the new
generation and alhamdulillah like kids
of his generation they can walk around
proudly wearing kamises or aan clothes
or whatever and you know everyone
everybody's proud to say mashallah stuff
like that. This is the culture now. I
think 20 years ago when we were growing
up in London, it wasn't quite the
culture. It was still new. The new
generation was still like it, like I
said, it was off the back of the whole
911 and everything. People had that rage
towards Muslims and we were we didn't
have that same confidence to, you know,
be as outwardly proud of of of uh our
faith. And also all this new Tommy
Robinson and all this like you know much
stuff going on right now is uh
those guys they're very loud but it's
still very minority like it's it's not
>> what the media make it out to seem as if
like oh this is what's going on in the
streets of England and be careful doing
it. No it's not it's not that bad it's
not that bad but they are very loud
especially now everyone can be loud cuz
the more you post on social media the
more the algorithm pushes you.
>> You know what I mean? So that's why you
probably hear of it more often. Now
>> are there people in the UK that you have
interactions with, ordinary people that
stories of people who have thought one
way but then they've connected with you
guys Muslims actually made the human
connection and minds changed. I mean you
come
>> hundreds hundreds so many almost
everybody I meet
>> so many people have have taken their
shahada you know that
>> tell us about that. Yeah, so many people
be it in America or um in the UK. So
many people that we grew up with and um
you know the first form of dawa is
always your character and your actions,
your you know like how you behave. So
people see this and they go
>> they see you washing yourself five
times. They're like why are you guys
trying to be so clean before they pray?
>> Like you know they don't understand the
concept to them. you try not to cuss
respectful toward all the all these
things they see and they see the
discipline and it's admirable you know
and I think that that's what plants the
seed in their mind like why why why is
this group always so disciplined and
they have some character you know and it
starts from there and then over the
years you know so many people that I I
didn't even like speak to I just hear
five six years later oh that brother
took a shahada that sister took her
shahada for example
>> you know it's interesting because
there's actually one story like I
remember one me and one of my friends
were uh doing woodoo and we're washing
our feet in the sink. The guy comes over
once, he sees us one day doing that,
second day doing that, third day doing
that, fourth, literally he sees us doing
that for a month. Then he asked the
question like, "Hey, why are you why are
you washing your feet in the sink?" And
I almost thought like he was insulted by
it, you know, but he was genuine. He was
asking a question. This is why we have
to have patience, you know. I was
thinking, he probably thought like, "Oh,
I I'm bad man at like washing my feet,
you know." And I was like, "Look,
there's no other place I can wash my
feet. I'm just washing the sink." He
goes, "No, no, but why are you washing
it?" Said, "I'm washing because I'm
going to go pray cuz you have to wash
your feet before you pray." I said, "Not
only your feet, your forearms, your
face, your nose, mouth,
masa over your head, you know, and all
of that." And he was like, "Wow." And
then that's his first introduction to
Islam.
>> And now years later, I hear this guy is
a Muslim now. Subhan Allah.
>> Wow.
>> You know what I mean? M now I'm not
saying because of that one situation but
that was his first introduction and it
came from being patient with the guy
because when he first asked me the
question or he first asked my friend the
question sorry uh it looked like an
insult like it looked like he was
offended like why are you washing your
feet in the sink you know what I mean so
it's very important to like Farad
mentioned your your mannerisms you know
how you behave because that's so those
are the things that they pick up you
know
>> why do you think um the person who's
washing his feet, his hands, preparing
himself to stand in front of the creator
of the heavens and the earth to pray in
Afghanistan.
Uh in that culture, you have less
depression. You have uh more sanctity of
the culture. the um the all all of the
negative things that we see happening,
you know, here in London, people on
drugs, on Xanax, depression, I mean,
broken homes,
>> but holiness, this is the modern world.
But if you just take them to
Afghanistan, do you see some the the
simplest life that someone's living? All
of these statistics, if you look at the
data, right? You got more people that
have so much money, but here they're
coming from, you know, a life that you
guys at one point you were there, you
know,
>> your parents,
>> simple life,
>> but all all of these um things that are
are the people are are missing, you
know, from the tap water you were
talking about,
>> right? The simplest thing, but they're
more content, right?
>> Yes. because they take everything for
granted, you know, they they think
they're going to have hot water always,
you know, they think
>> like like hot water is a is a necessity
for them, but really and truly hot water
is not a necessity and it never was.
It's only in the last 50 years it's
become a thing, you know. Like in the
80s people couldn't like I remember
watching something and they were like
even in the 60s like warm shower wasn't
really a thing. Only the highest of the
high like the elite
>> uh could uh afford a hot shower. Now
everybody's
>> I think it also comes to ultimately it's
purpose you know why people are
interested with somebody like washing
themselves before they pray like five
times you wake up in the middle of the
your sleep to pray to God like and this
intrigues pe people because as humans
naturally it's our fra we to have a
purpose you know when you don't have a
purpose you sway away to other vices be
it drugs alcohol other stuff like that
when you have a purpose I think You have
a little bit of contentment, you know.
>> Yeah. Purpose gives you content, I
think. And there's no there's no greater
purpose than, you know, worshiping the
creator.
>> Because everything you have, you know,
you have because of Allah. And
everything you don't have, you know,
it's because of Allah. So,
>> you're content in that. You know what I
mean? And I'm not just saying you just
give up and whatever comes your way
comes your way. No, you have to work for
whatever you want. But at the same time,
you're not
tied to other people's uh
ideology, you know, for as to why why
you should have this thing and why you
should why you shouldn't have this
thing.
>> Yeah.
>> You're not living to please the people,
>> right? It's not a coincidence. Some of
the richest people are some of the most
depressed people. They have everything
they want in this dunya, yet they're
still depressed. Why? you know, if
material equated to content, contention,
happiness, you know, then they would be
the happiest people, but they're not.
>> So, uh, this common, uh, mantra that
people put out there, they say, "Oh,
they hate our way of life." And they're
pointing to people in Afghanistan to
people over here, they hate our way of
life. Have you heard this before?
>> Yeah.
>> What do you say to that?
>> What What is there to hate? But how can
you hate on somebody who who has
believes in discipline, healthy
boundaries, not abusing their body, not
abusing their mind, you know, treating
their family, protecting treating their
family well, protecting their family,
you know, advocating and pushing for
education, how can you what's there to
hate on this?
>> If if you think otherwise you are
misinformed about Islam,
>> you do not understand the true essence
of Islam. You've you've received it from
the wrong uh group or media or
propaganda. If you truly look at Islam,
it is such a clean way of living. You
have to respect it.
>> And also, it's very hypocritical if you
think about it. The freedom of speech
and freedom of to do whatever you want.
But when it's Muslims time to do what
they want, like when women want to wear
hijab, oh, we don't like their way of
life. But what happened to your freedom
of speech? What happened to your desire
to do what you want? You know, and I'm
doing I'm not telling you to put it on.
I can I just put my mine on, you know?
That's what these sisters are dealing
with, you know, and it's it's
hypocritical, you know, and that's it.
And like Farad put it too, I think the
main issue is people are misinformed
about Islam. That's the cuz if they knew
the religion,
>> there's no way they could have that
opinion.
>> It's impossible because there's always a
reasoning for everything in Islam.
>> And we'll get into that. That's what I
why I mentioned uh Sean Strickland and
others that you guys have had uh Jake
Shields and many others you have
encounters with and um it's been very
positive. People started thinking one
way because of the propaganda and now
they're snapping out of it. They're
seeing okay they're connecting with
Muslims and they're getting educated and
it's a totally different experience.
>> Yes. Yes.
>> Tell me uh so we got a journey from
Afghanistan refugee camp London and now
America. Did you guys start training
first in London? How did that journey
begin with the martial arts and then how
did you guys end up here in America?
>> So in London uh we were very young. We
started off with Taekwondo. Um,
we were playing a lot of football,
soccer you guys call it here. And
obviously he's very close to my age, so
we were like similar in size and we
would always be fighting and bickering
with each other, you know, uh, be very
competitive. And my father obviously put
us in Taekwondo and and we were we were
going through a few different martial
arts and eventually we outgrew London,
the martial arts scene in in in London,
England cuz it was a lot of traveling to
go wrestle in one place, boxing in
another, wrestling in in a different
place. Then when I got my Contender
Series fight, we came we were able to
get visas for to America. That was the
first time we left England for training,
you know. Uh I came three weeks early
just to acclimate and I met Jake Shields
through Tazim who's another good friend
of ours. Uh he's an Afghan guy. Uh and
he knew Jake and we kind of connected
and we started training and then that's
when that whole contender series thing
happened. And then after that when I got
my UFC contract we just kind of stayed
in Vegas. as well. There's no point
going back to England and do what we
what we were doing before, you know,
traveling from place to place. Whereas
in America, this is seen as a sport and
appreciated as a sport and everything is
under one roof. And we have a legend
like Jake Shields to learn from. And
Dwey Cooper.
>> Mhm.
>> Who took a shahada mah.
>> What's his name?
>> Dwey Cooper.
>> I did my shahada maybe seven, eight
weeks ago. I'm officially Muslim now.
Congratulations.
>> In case you guys didn't know. Um, and
it's so funny, guys. I've been Muslim.
You guys know that. I don't eat pork. I
don't drink alcohol. I don't smoke. I've
been Muslim. I just I was being lazy.
And uh my life has changed since I did a
shahada guy.
>> Dwey Cooper.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> He uh he also accepted Islam. Dwey
Cooper.
>> Yes. Yes.
>> Uhhuh.
>> What a guy.
>> He He was our striking He's our striking
coach in Vegas.
>> Also Francis Anganu's coach.
>> He's also Francis Agono's coach.
Accepted Islam.
>> He accepted Islam. Amazing.
>> Dwey Cooper. Franciso. Wow. I didn't
know that.
>> Such a genuine brother. Amazing. Amazing
guy.
>> Very, very good guy.
>> So, now you're in Vegas. Both of you are
living in Vegas.
>> Mhm.
>> No, we were in Vegas for a couple years
and then um after a while we decided to
move to American Top Team, South
Florida.
>> Yeah. Um
>> because uh Dewey got very busy with the
France and Ganu and stuff like that. Uh
and
we me and Farad felt like we needed
somewhere where we could just train
alone, you know. uh not alone sorry we
have all most attent like not divided
attention we have one place and we train
there and American top team provided
that and it's been a great fit since you
know
>> okay so now you're in the modern world
okay you guys are advancing you're
making some money it's like okay my
parents taught me some good stuff is it
time to put uh Islam in this prayer and
all this washing the feet you know it's
kind of in my way I got to I got got to
pray at this time at that time maybe I
can pray more I mean I can train more I
put the prayer to decide.
>> It's the opposite.
>> Can I tell you something very
interesting? Actually, when we we came
to Las Vegas first like 5 years ago
almost,
>> would you believe my iman got way
stronger when I went to Las Vegas
>> because when I left I was we I'll speak
for myself. I was always practicing
always uh always had a strong iman. When
I went to Las Vegas and I would see the
lifestyle that people had in the strip
area, gambling and alcohol and
everything, I would look at them and I
would say, "This is exactly what I don't
want to turn out like."
>> What do they call for people that don't
know? They're just hearing Vegas. That's
like sin city. Sin City.
>> That's sin city.
>> Sin City. So, ironically,
>> haram city.
>> Haram City. When I went to Haram City,
my iman got stronger because I looked at
the haram everyone was doing and I said
I was scared. I was scared to fall into
that. I said I I don't want and I went
even stronger. Try this at home.
>> Don't try this. This is very
>> No. What's interesting is What's
interesting is Farad like
you'll see a homeless person on the same
machine slot.
>> You'll see a person with a suit and a
tie on the same machine.
>> You'll see a old lady who's got in in
the last stages of her her life, you'll
see a teenager on the same machine.
>> And it's like everybody susceptible to
this. It's susceptible to this. Anyone
can fall into this. And it's like that's
when like far was saying his mind got
stronger and mine too. It got even
stronger when we came to Vegas.
>> Now your parents work is kicking in,
huh?
>> Exactly.
>> Yes. Values they instilled in us.
>> Yeah. Yeah. You know they they instilled
that character and you know um and
alhamdulillah when we went to America
just kind of continued it.
>> What advice do you have for parents now
raising kids?
>> For for me I would have to say be
involved in the kids' life. Don't
because I think a lot of first
generation parents they come over to the
west like for example from Afghanistan
in Afghanistan we have a blueprint of
everyone has a blueprint of how to raise
a kid you know for example they get to
15 16 they start working they get to 20
they you start looking to get married
and that's it they work on a
>> life's not too complicated over there
>> it's straightforward you know you have a
community everyone's doing the same
thing
>> when you come to England America Canada
Germany wherever you have to be involved
in their lives be on top of them because
it's a different lifestyle and they can
very easily fall into the wrong crowds
uh the wrong vices. So my advice would
be don't just you know our mentality a
lot is like as long as I provide for
them like for a father might think as
long as I provide for them I'm doing my
job nowadays you have to provide for
them and you have to be involved hey
where are you going okay let me put him
into that community you know because
then you have to start thinking about
when they grow up first of all it's the
character that they're raised with but
when they grow up you want them to get
married into the right family and stuff
like that and you have to be involved
and put them facilitate everything for
them it's very important involved. My my
advice would be that too, but more so uh
make sure the parents have good
knowledge of Islam cuz when you have
good knowledge of Islam, I'm not saying
you have to be a scholar or whatever,
but Islam gives you the blueprint of how
to be a good parent. It gives it to you.
So when you understand that, you will
know you'll be able to raise your child
correctly. And the other thing is be
involved. If you're not involved,
>> it's going to be hard cuz the kid's
always going to try to go the other way.
you know, is going to be influenced by
whoever, maybe the good or the bad, you
know.
>> So, those
>> um this is great advice. This is really,
really important. I mean, you guys now
you're in Haram City, you know, your
iman is going up because you're still
you didn't leave off Salah. You still,
you know, you're training, you're busy
before you left there. What else can you
tell us about that the life and your
experiences in in Vegas, two years
there? That's the first city now from
London that you're spending the most
time in adapting. How how was it
adapting in America versus London?
>> It was for us it was pretty
straightforward cuz there gym it was
even it was easy cuz in Vegas what's
there to do? Train,
gamble, home. Yeah. For us was like,
"All right, get rid of the gambling. We
don't we don't participate in gambling.
Uh train home, train home." That was
literally us for two years.
>> Just you two?
>> Yeah. Me and him were living together.
>> Okay.
>> Yeah. Yeah. It was just us. for for us
it was we were so grateful and happy
because in in the UK in London we
struggled to find good training we had
never trained with high level guys uh it
was difficult
>> like I grew up watching Jake Schills and
now he's my coach you know what I mean
so for us was like
>> and do Cooper too we have to absorb
everything we can as much as we can you
know
>> and I think we we took very good
[snorts] advantage
>> you didn't have that type of training
back in London
>> no it our training in London was very
primitive it was it was mostly me and
Jaw and just traveling around seeing
what we can get and me and him going at
it.
>> So did your level like when you came
here did it just skyrocket
>> massively in particularly with the
grappling department because UK's
grappling is not the best wrestling
grappling it's decent but in America we
came and working under Jake he took our
grappling from here to to to
>> and just also professionalism also
>> I feel like here they respect it more as
a as an art form rather than in England
it's you're just kind of jumping from
sport to sport. Mhm.
>> So tell us now I mentioned um some of
these names your interaction now people
are
>> you know seeing you pray seeing you make
woodoo I mean how have you had a pos
positive influence you've also he's he's
also at the is that the contour gym
>> extreme that's where you guys train
>> yeah we were training there and you know
a lot of guys Manel Cap Sean Strickland
a lot of guys took too much manel cap
>> he's like flyweight number one contender
Yeah.
>> What's his name?
>> Manel Cap.
>> He also accepted Islam.
>> Yeah. He's going to fight for the title
next uh in the weight division below me.
>> Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Was uh Hamza was there training at that
same time with Sean Strickland.
>> Hamzat was there. Yeah. Hamza. He came
in for a camp. I believe I remember a
couple camps.
>> Um that's one thing about extreme
control and like Las Vegas is like a
transit city. Like people always come
and go like a lot of the brothers from
Kafkas would come train do a camp and
then they would leave. Mhm.
>> Um but yeah, we we would spend a lot of
our time in extreme couture. It was very
>> Manel's name now is Musa. So just just
so he doesn't get mad. I mean
>> he goes by both.
>> He goes by Manel Caf, but he's his
Muslim name is Musa.
>> Have you seen people like let's say for
Sean for example, you've seen some
certain individuals say certain things
at one point in their life about Muslim
about Islam particularly?
>> Absolutely.
>> They have zero knowledge and then they
spend time with Muslims, other fighters
like yourselves. So me and Farad
actually had this conversation with
Sean.
>> Uh
>> he basically came up to us and uh he was
like saying a couple stuff, not not in a
bad way, but he was just saying his
opinion and I said, "Sean, you're
wrong." You know, like check your facts
basically. I kind of just gave him uh
the truth. I didn't give him any advice
or anything cuz I'm not going to go in a
back and forth debate. I don't like
doing debates, you know. I'm just going
to tell you what I know. He went home,
thought about it, and came back and he
goes, "Yeah, you know what? You are
right." You know, and I said, "Yes." So,
like, let that be a lesson. Like, don't
be I feel like a big issue, like I said,
with people who have something bad to
say about Islam. It's because they're
ignorant of Islam. They do not have the
right facts and knowledge. If they were
to search for it themselves from the
correct source, the truthful source, not
with any agendas tied to it, they would
come to the realization like, oh, they
were wrong if they had a negative
perception of it. And I'm not saying
they have to believe in Islam, but what
they think about, oh, this is bad and
that's bad. This is all propaganda, you
know,
>> propaganda.
>> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Yeah,
>> Sean said we saw him recently and he he
said to us um he goes uh he said
something like guys like I'm sorry if I
said something bad about Muslims or
something like this you know I was
trying to build a fight with Hamza
something like this and and we just kind
of said to him like look like building a
fight is one thing but like when you're
talking about Islam it's like it's very
dear to billions of people like in their
heart he goes and and just check your
facts like a lot of the stuff you're
saying is not right and and he he owned
up he said I apologize and he goes to be
fair uh you know I've been wrong about a
lot of stuff with regards to Islam or
like the Middle East and politics on
that side. What I thought three or four
years ago I was completely wrong. I was
falling into propaganda. He admitted
>> and he also said um he goes and to be
fair credit to you guys like whenever
I've met a Muslim I've I've I've they've
been good people always. I always get
along with
>> what he said. He said I've never met a
bad Muslim.
>> So So he said [clears throat] like he he
to be fair he did say like like I'll
I'll back off. I apologize guys which I
credit to him you know like man enough
to to own up.
>> So common sense should lead you to put
it together that okay I never met a a
bad Muslim. So if Muslims are good what
are they following? Islam. So what's
making them good?
>> Right. Right. And I think people are and
this is one thing I'm very happy about.
I think regular folk, regular Americans
and Europeans are starting to realize
now, you know, they're starting to in
some ways wake up and see that the media
has been lying, playing games, twisting
the truth with regards to Muslims or
people from that part of the world. My
my thing is of course I would love
everybody to be Muslim, you know, but
more so now to be realistic, I don't
even need for them to accept Islam, but
I need for them to understand that what
they're thinking of about Islam is the
wrong is the wrong thing, you know? Uh
especially when it comes to certain
topics where it's just like propaganda
just they've heard something and now
they just repeat it and believe it.
>> You know what I mean? And and that's
that's wrong because
>> anywhere if you get information, you
have to check. It's you show me a move,
you know. I have to know your
credibility. I have to see you do it and
I have to do it for myself. If it
doesn't work, then that move doesn't it
doesn't matter. You know, if you can't
do it, he can't do it and nobody has
ever done it. Then that we get rid of
that move, you know, like in jiu-jitsu.
>> Isn't that amazing how much just a
little bit of factchecking, proper
education, right conversations, and go
so so far. So, it's it's our
responsibility to
>> patience. patience. Yeah,
>> especially with these guys cuz
>> like I said, we see them as they're
attacking us, you know?
>> Yeah.
>> But sometimes it's not. They're just
ignorant. So, you need to give, you have
to be patient enough to hear what they
have to say.
>> One thing I've realized since coming to
America last 5 years, I'll say
Americans, like the regular American
person is very genuine in their heart.
The problem with I think a lot of people
is like their media have influenced them
a lot to make them believe people from
this country are certain way. people
from this belief are a certain way. But
if you act when you kind of like open
their eyes like they're very genuine.
They're like, "Oh man, I didn't know it
was like." I've had countless Americans
that have come to me. I was like, "Man,
I I didn't know this was the case in
that part of the world or I didn't know
Islam was like this." You know, we were
to told a different thing. So, America
actually very genuine.
>> Do you want to know something
interesting? When the UFC went to Qatar,
there's this UFC fighter, Cody Duran.
When the UFC went to Qatar, he was
supposed to go there and fight. And he
goes, "Man, Jav, I'm scared to go to to
the Middle East."
>> Who's that?
>> Cody Deren.
>> Cody Duran.
>> He's a teammate of ours at very
>> very good guy. Very good American guy.
>> He goes, "Man, I'm kind of scared to go
to the Middle East."
>> I said, "You're scared to go to Qatar?"
I said, "How much you how much you you
want to bet?" Like a bet. You know, not
literal bet, but I said as a speech, I
said, "How much you want to bet? and you
go there, you're going to call me and
you're going to say to me, "Uh, Jav, I
was so wrong. I'm such an idiot. I want
to move my family here and stuff like
that."
>> He wants to move his family there.
>> And then when he came back, he goes, "It
was everything like you said,
>> the safest, cleanest place. If I could
live there, I would live there." You
know, he would love to move his family
there, but
>> citizenship and whatever going to be a
problem. But yeah,
>> but do you understand like this is what
their perception? He was afraid to go
there and I was like why? Qatar is not
even a bad like country. They're not
even in war like that, you know.
>> You saw the positive uh reviews from the
U soccer event that was there.
>> The World Cup, one of the best World
Cups, you know, and and that's a perfect
example. Look at all prior to the World
Cup. Look at all the negative publicity
it was getting.
>> People were going crazy like what? We're
not allowed alcohol in the in the arena.
And the fans then after the event were
like, "Man, we actually had a great
time."
>> Yeah.
>> When we were sober and we could watch
the game for what it was, we had a great
time just communicating with people from
around the world.
>> Maybe there's something there. Maybe,
you know, maybe it's the right way to do
things.
>> And you see people like this who are
waking up because they've been now
>> um fallen for all of the U. It's a big
industry bashing Islam. It's a billion
dollar industry. And now people get
educated. They um usually know the media
lies. is fake news. But it's unfortunate
many people, you know, swallow all of
the lies when it comes to Islam.
>> But now it's it's nice to see now these
are some real stories of professional
fighters who get to connect with
Muslims, fact check, and come back say I
was wrong. And then people who visit now
visit the Muslim majority country like
Katar and be like, I want to live there.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.
>> Words.
>> Uhhuh. There's one individual here who
have a similar situation.
>> What do you think about Muslims?
>> I love them to death. And they're the
closest things to Christians we got.
>> Have you heard of this? Have you Are you
in the same weight class as him?
>> Bryce Mitchell. Yeah, we're in the same
weight division now.
>> He's also still in UFC.
>> He is. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Have you guys fought?
>> We haven't. No.
>> You might fight.
>> Possibly.
>> Yeah,
>> possibly.
>> Okay.
>> Um I I think his name's been thrown in
the in the hat once uh to fight me, but
it didn't quite work out. But he's he's
a good fighter. Very good fighter.
>> What's he ranked?
>> I'm not sure if he's ranked. I'm He's
He's close. If he's not ranked,
>> he's a good fighter. He's a good fan.
>> Did you hear his experience when he
walked into uh he was in a locker room
>> and he he was changing
>> and he uh he took his you heard the
story towel.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> And then and then the the the Muslim men
there like you know what are you doing
and
>> and then uh he was about to have a he's
explaining how he's about to get in a
brawl in the locker room but then he
came out and he he talks about how
wonderful experience and
>> and how he loves Muslims.
>> No, he's definitely a character. He's
outspoken, you know, uh but he's
genuine. You can see he's genuine, you
know. And uh
>> like that thing he said the was it the
Muslims are the closest things we have
to Christians.
>> That's because
essentially Christianity the way it
should be in Islam, the way it should be
in Judaism is submitting to one God, you
know, and I believe Islam is the one
that follows that method.
uh the best because we truly believe in
lia
>> you know
>> all the others I feel uh from my
understanding have changed you know and
and they have different
uh ideas of how they worship one god but
Islam is the easiest and best way to
worship one god
>> it's remained a authentic
>> pure monotheism absolutely you love
Jesus
>> of course so much
>> you love Jesus is
>> of course I love
>> I know this but I mean they're
[laughter] probably
Yeah.
>> Yeah. I think again misconceptions. I've
had Americans or Europeans, whoever,
Christians, non-Muslims come to me and
tell me,
>> "I didn't know you guys love Jesus."
>> Matter of fact, yes. You reminded me of
actually a conversation I had. Uh this
person was talking to me about uh how
Jesus this, Jesus that. And I remember
just telling them like what I think of
Jesus. And they were like, "Wait, you
believe in Jesus? What what are you?
You're a Jehovah's Witness." [laughter]
And and I said, "No, I'm a Muslim." She
said, "Muslim?
>> Yeah. Yeah. It was a a a man and his
wife was there." And he said, "Muslim?"
And then I was like, "Yeah." And they
were like, "What? So you believe in
Jesus and you believe he's going to he's
going to come back?" I was like, "Yeah,
I I believe over there." He goes, "The
that's in what? The the Muslim Bible." I
said, "Yeah, the Quran." So I wonder how
they're how
>> where they are now with Islam. You know
what I'm trying to say? But I remember
that was interesting. Like they were
shocked. They were like, "Wait, you like
Jesus? You like you love Jesus?" Of
course.
>> I saw you yesterday. You were with um or
when I was looking into this, I saw
Dustin Porier.
>> Yeah.
>> He was there yesterday at the uh event,
>> right? Is he's your
>> He's my teammate. Yeah.
>> He's your teammate.
>> How's he doing?
>> He's very well. He's he's retired now,
you know. Uh he's he's not really that
much in the gym, but he's still there
sometimes. But Dustin is a great guy.
He's a very very good guy. Very
respectful person, you know, and I hope
I hope uh retirement is good for him,
you know.
>> Because remember, once you lose that
thing and you don't have religion or
like some sort of purpose, anything can
happen, you know. And I've seen it
happen to everybody, not just fighters.
I've seen it happen to footballers,
mostly athletes, I've seen this happen
to, you know, where something you do
since you were 5 years old
>> and now all of a sudden you don't have
it anymore.
>> It goes back to purpose.
>> Purpose. Purpose of life.
>> You need to fill that void, you know.
>> Goes back to purpose.
>> That's the main question, huh?
>> Yeah.
>> Purpose of life.
>> There you go.
>> And people now, if you're living for a
particular job, a woman, uh, a man, uh,
UFC that passes, you don't have purpose.
>> There you go. and then you lose it.
>> That's why so many athletes struggle
post retirement because from five or 10
or 15 all the way till your athletic
prime runs out, which is probably mid
late 30s. Okay, but then what? You're
halfway through your life.
>> Yeah.
>> You know, then what? And people
struggle. They know nothing else. They
wake up in the morning and their purpose
was always go to the gym or go to the
track or go to the football pitch. But
now it's like, okay, I don't have that
anymore. What do I do?
>> Have you tried this? I I do this all the
time. You know, if I'm in the Uber, if I
meet someone who's uh 70, 80 years old,
I say, "Hey, you know, can you share
some wisdom with me? Have you figured
out the purpose of life?" You'll be
surprised how many people they they like
it really gets them thinking. They have
not thought about it.
>> Yeah. But this is a critical question.
>> It's kind of scary.
>> It's kind of scary how like they've
never really thought about it or
wondered it.
>> I'm sure they have, but they just
>> probably
>> just uh diverted
>> diverted away from the question. How
dangerous is it like you guys now, you
know, being involved with the UFC, being
involved here, you know, things open up
if you weren't grounded in the Dean, you
know, you've seen fighters, people who I
mean, they just binge drink, you know,
fight, train hard, but then it goes
destroy their body bodies with alcohol
and even drugs. And how do you do it?
>> You have to bear in mind adrenaline is
one of the highest high you can get, you
know, fighting, you know,
>> once that wears off, you're trying to
replace it. So after a fight, there's
nothing like that dip where you feel
like a superstar and then next week
you're a normal person again. You have
to go back in training and prepare for
another fight,
>> you know, that you don't know if you're
going to win or or lose.
>> So what people do is they want to
maintain that high. So they go on
benders, you know, like start drinking
for a couple of weeks, doing all sorts
of stuff. However, some people is
eating. That's that's another uh like
people think eating is is a good thing
like but is not good. too much of
anything is bad.
>> You know, like we're lucky we grew up
with the lifestyle of clean living. You
know, we don't alhamdulillah is second
nature to us now, you know, because of
our iman. We don't worry about those
stuff and that makes for such a good
lifestyle for a fighter, you know. It's
like Islam is the best base for being a
fighter, you know, and that's why so
many fighters are dominating.
>> You know what what he said? Uh Farad was
touched up on it like when I was talking
about the binge eating and he goes, it's
extreme. And this is what annoys me when
people speak about Islam as being
extreme. Islam is so mo it tells you not
to be extreme, you know. It tells you
don't be this way, don't be that. Be
moderate,
>> you know. Yeah.
>> Even something like binge eating for us
is like don't do it discouraged, you
Even even now me I uh when I went to u
alhamdulillah I was able to go to Umrah
and I went there and I saw so many
people on the floor
eating like street food
uh and going to pray and I was in like
one of the nicer hotels
and I had the buffet
>> you know in the in the in Medina they
have the buffets and stuff and eating
from the buffet every day and I would go
downstairs and those guys are eating
street food sandwiches they're sharing
with each
They're not sad, by the way. I'm not
It's not that I'm feeling sorry for
them, but I just put it. I was like, why
am I here overeating all of this food
when there's people out there, they they
literally probably spent their life
savings just so they can sleep on the
street and perform their umrah, you
know, and have a bit couple of snacks
and then go home, you know? So, even
eating, I don't even like going to
buffets anymore for that simple reason
because of like, wow, this is so
overindulgent. It's a bit extreme, so I
don't need to eat like this. So even if
I do go to buffet, I'm not trying to get
my money's worth. You know what I mean?
Usually I'll try to beat the buffet
system, you know, like all I paid this
much, I make sure I'm going to eat that
for that much worth, you know? Used to
be like a competition thing,
>> but that's such an extreme way of
thinking, you know.
>> Absolutely. How important is discipline
in your life in what you do? And just
for general, you don't have to be a a
fighter, but how important is it to have
structure and discipline in your life?
>> Yeah, absolutely. You know, discipline
It's kind of like the like the benchmark
of your day discipline like a few things
you have to do for us luckily as as
Muslims um non-negotiable five prayers
non-negotiable you have to wake up in
the middle of the night then early
afternoon late afternoon sunset and
night you must do those and those are
the pillars of your day and that gives
you discipline no matter where you are
stop pray your
>> but because you know why also cuz what
are the pillars of the prayer also it's
It's not just pray. No, you have to make
sure you have woodoo.
>> You have to make sure you've done
yourul. You have to make sure your
clothes are clean. You have to make sure
your face in the kibla. So, it's not
just pray as in pray, you know.
>> You have to follow the way of So, that's
that's discipline.
>> I feel like that's the start. Imagine
you're doing that since you were young.
>> When you're able to do it, when you're
able to uh, you know, interrupt
something as pleasurable as sleep to
wake up,
>> maybe cold water, do woodoo, pray, go
back. It's it's a mindset, you know,
when you can do something like that is
you set your day off in the right right
foot.
>> Little little victories every day. Yeah.
Like, you know, little moments of
victories every day, they amount to
something big and then changes the way
you think, you know, your mindset like
this is anything is kind of possible. I
can do it if I put my mind to it and I
and I have structure.
>> Wow. So amazing. Um this is uh an
incredible journey. Afghanistan refugee
camp, you know, now we're on the part of
uh here in Florida. What what does the
the future look like? What are you guys
um striving here now? The goals that you
guys have set, what would you like to
see? What what um what other advice can
you give for you know for the for the
young uh young ones or just people in
general who are coming up and struggling
and struggling to make salah struggling
I mean didn't come from the kind of
lifestyle that you guys came from with
no running tap water and
>> things like that where you saw an
elevator and you thought it was a magic
>> trick in front of you but you know the
kids spoiled they're they're all day
playing in the basement you know the uh
>> the Xbox on the iPhones hormones and you
know obesity is on the rise you know out
of shape out of you know overweight
>> yeah my my advice would be just do
everything in moderation
>> you know I'm not saying do not have
social media I'm not saying do not have
a phone do not play video games slowly
if you if you can better for you not too
great but moderation slowly but do not
forget the essentials of life is not
just all fun and games
>> like you think one day you're going to
have to answer to what you did on this
planet Earth and you better be prepared
for that day because that is the only
thing that's going to come and that's
the only thing that's going to be
certain.
>> Now, we're all going to fall short
sometimes here and there,
>> but at the end of the day, if you know
where you're heading and who you're
prostrating to, uh, I feel like you'll
have a successful life inshallah.
>> Absolutely. You know,
>> blanket statement. I think the answers
are all in Islam.
Get to know your dean. Study it,
practice it, really feel it cuz it
changed my life. And and alhamdulillah,
I was somebody who was raised with
Islam. But I think I feel like there's a
difference between being, you know,
Muslim and then like at some point in
your life, you know, we all go perhaps
go through moments or doubts or stuff.
But in my early 20ies, I really really
it clicked for me like why we are truly
here on this in this duny and I it just
became a part of everything I did and it
changed my life for the for the better.
>> Mhm.
>> But all the whe now I'm looking how to
be a a father, how to be a husband, how
to be a son, how to be a fighter, how to
be a human, how to be an athlete, all
the answers are in in Islam. All of
them. Just look at your deen, study it.
If you have a doubt, refer to Islam.
It's there. Yeah.
>> And also touching up on that is uh just
make sure you have knowledge in the dean
and you're
you're you're learning from correct
sources because if somebody cannot prove
some like if somebody does not have a
dile for what they're saying it's as
good as anybody else saying it. So make
sure they have a delete of what they're
saying and and a reference point so that
way you can cross reference it for
yourself and not just blind following
somebody else.
>> It was really nice having you guys here.
We had um also um Islam stop by.
Amazing. Um
>> did you guys meet him before?
>> Yeah, Islam. Amazing. You guys are very
down to earth, you know, humble guy.
Same thing. Islam, you know, spending
some time with him and here. What did
you guys think of uh the Dean Center? I
gave you guys a tour. What are you guys
hopefully going to get you guys uh
training some times here at the gym?
What what are your overall the exper
your thoughts?
>> No, it's a amazing place. Beautiful
concept. I'm really excited. I'm I'm
excited. I'm lucky I'm only 3 or 4 hour
drive. So, I'll be I'll be making
regular trips here. I think it's a
amazing concept and it's so good for the
for the community.
>> Man, for for people that don't know,
I've never seen anything like this. you
know, it's it's like a museum type
uh exhibition type like you're you're
getting knowledge and at the same time
there's a gym, there's a masid. It's
unbelievable. Honestly, I've never seen
a facility like this. I didn't know it
was even possible to make something like
this, you know. Mah, credit to you guys
and successful and have a good I I'll
try my best to come to the opening
whenever you guys
>> Thank you guys. Thank you guys for
coming out. Um it was nice to finally
meet you in person and not only you.
Yes, my brother.
>> Your your younger brother.
>> Thank you.
>> We meet again soon.
Thank you very much.