madeenahsh
03-25-2006, 01:06 PM
Delusion is the Cause of Weakness
Written by Shaykh Soud ash-Shuraim
Taken from: A Khutbah delivered in Makkah
All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and be dutiful to Him. Take refuge with Him in times of ease and difficulty. For, none that fears Him fails and none that hopes in Him is disappointed and none that seek protection with Him is disgraced. Allaah says:
“And whoever fears Allaah - He will make for him a way out, and He will provide for him from where he does not expect.” (65:2-3)
Fellow Muslims! Allaah says:
“Allaah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me not associating anything with Me.” (24:25)
Allaah indeed fulfils His promise and He fulfilled for His Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) what He promised him. It is from here that this religion was borne by men and leaders whom the Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had taught not to fear anything but Allaah and not to humble themselves in front of anyone but Allaah. He also taught them that it was Allaah Who created all things and that it is He alone Who possesses the causes of fear and security. Allaah says:
“That is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not but fear Me if you are [indeed] believers.” (3:175)
Dear brethren! The Muslim world is today undergoing a difficult and painful situation. The attacks are waged against it continuously like volcanoes so much so that it finds no where to take shelter from the aggressive tyrant and international terrorism. It faces attacks upon attacks. There is no doubt that the combination of all these afflictions is the cause of delusion that is rife among its ranks so much so that the weak is seen as strong, the near is seen as far, the place of security is seen as that of fear and the place of refuge is seen as that of death.
Fellow Muslims! We are living in an age where the Islaamic Ummah is afflicted with disunity and clash of desires. We are in an age where the Ummah is prevented from knowing the actual position, actions and the advantages of their enemy by ignorance and suppression to the extent that it surrenders to the occupier under false impression that it is faced by an unconquerable power and that this power dominates all continents and that all these continents are incapable of defending themselves against this power. But in the eyes of an un-deluded person, the slightest movement here or there can shake that so-called super-power if it doesn't even destroy it.
Every movement in the world frightens it and every thing that happens in the Islaamic or Arab world causes convulsion in that oppressive power that spread its wings across weak parts of the Islaamic world. In spite of all this, we believe that delusion has prevented the majority of the Muslims from recognising this fact. If we take a keen look, we will realise that this power of evil has a greater sense of weakness than we have but at the same time, it exerts all efforts to conceal its weakness. But there is no screen thicker than delusion.
During each incidence, you see leaders of this evil power screaming and raving and creating delusions in order to avoid their reality being known. Mere attention from those deluded could have revealed to them the reality of the so-called super-power.
Brethren in faith! All mankind are the same as regards the possibility of being afflicted with calamity irrespective of religion or race. It is only that when Muslims are afflicted they fall into both edges of goodness and tranquillity if they are conscious of Allaah's command. Their affairs are therefore always good. If they are blessed with happiness and they thank Allaah for it, that is good for them and if they are afflicted with hardship and they bear it with patience, it is also good for them and this is for none but the Muslim Ummah. It is in the light of this that Allaah says:
“Then will We treat the Muslims like the criminals? What is [the matter] with you? How do you judge?” (68:35-36)
Allaah also says:
“Or should We treat those who believe and do the righteous deeds like corrupters in the earth? Or should We treat those who fear Allaah like the wicked?” (38:28-29)
The pains of killings that the Muslims experience in this age and which they are yet to find a cure for should make them realise that they are in dire need of reforming themselves. These pains should also realise that there are things that they should always bear in mind. Some of these things are:
One: Being contented with Allaah and His decree; believing that whatever the Ummah attained and whatever it misses have all been predestined, that bravery, valour and victory cannot come except with affliction and hardship; that ease always come after difficulty and that no difficulty shall overcome two blessings.
Two: This Ummah should work diligently to unite its ranks and jointly follow the only source of its religion which is the Qur’aan and the Sunnah if it really wants salvation. It should be resolute in rejecting the slogans of partisanship. It should be ready to admit its mistakes and acts of negligence in their duties towards Allaah and in its sidelining the everlasting law of Allaah in its practical life.
Three: The Muslims should realise that mere lamentation and condemnation are useless. We should look for a hired mourner unto who cries and slaps her own cheek so that the world can know how great our calamities are, neither do we need to cry for crying does not bring the dead back to life. Work, sincerity and following the Sunnah of Allaah's Messenger (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) are rather the key to success. Allaah says:
“And say: ‘Do [as you will], for Allaah will see your deeds, [so will] His Messenger and the believers’.” (9:105)
Four: The Muslims need to seek for the reward of their patience from Allaah. They need to know that they will be rewarded if they are patient and hardworking. The Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Allaah will write for a Muslim for each hardship or discomfort that he suffers –even for a thorn that injured him.” (Saheeh Muslim)
It is a consciousness such as this like that brings about the much-needed bravery, valour and submission to the decrees of Allaah. It is also helps to realise that glory belongs to Allaah alone. Allaah says:
“Those to whom people [i.e. hypocrite] said, Indeed, the people had gathered against you, so fear them. But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, Sufficient for us is Allaah, and [He is] the Best Disposer of affairs. So they returned with favour from Allaah and bounty, no harm having touched them. And they pursued the pleasure of Allaah and Allaah is the Possessor of great bounty.” (3:173-174)
It is through this consciousness that those who fervently defend their religion voice their opposition against the powers of evil and injustice telling them:
“Say: ‘Never will we be struck except by what Allaah has decreed for us; He is our Protector.’ And upon Allaah let the believers rely.” (9:51)
And telling them:
“Say: ‘Do you await for us except one of the two best things [martyrdom or victory?’.”
They will say this because of their conviction that what is with Allaah is better for them, as opposing the enemies of Islaam who are the powers of evil and injustice. If these powers of evil gain victory against the Muslims or defeated by the Muslims, they are still in-between two punishments: that of this world and that of the Hereafter. Allaah says that the believers will tell them:
“While we await for you that Allaah will affect you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting.” (9:52)
The way of making war victories and defeats in turns is an inevitable divine way. Allaah says:
“If a wound should touch you – there has already touched the [opposing] people a wound similar to it. And these days [of varying conditions] We alternate among the people so that Allaah may make evident those who believe and [may] take to Himself among you martyrs – and Allaah does not like the wrong-doers – and that Allaah may purify the believers [through trials] and destroy the disbelievers.” (3:140-141)
Taking some Muslims as martyrs is a blessing from Allaah, for it is not a loss. It is rather an honour. That is why ‘Umar answered Abu Sufyaan –before he embraced Islaam– when he told him during the battle of Uhud: “This is reciprocation for the day of Badr. Wars are won in turns.” ‘Umar replied to him: “They are not equal, for our martyrs will be in Paradise and your dead will be in Hell.”
Five: The Muslims should understand it very well that the criminals think alike and that the policy of Pharaoh is rekindled between now and then and that the disbelievers and the transgressors, however much they claim to be advocates of reform and freedom, are in actual sense, causers of destruction. They work for their personal interests and their bestial lusts. Allaah describes them so when He says:
“Indeed, those who disbelieve – it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them – they will not believe.” (2:6)
Until He says:
“And when it said to them: ‘Do not cause corruption on the earth’, they say: ‘We are but reformers.’ Unquestionably, it is they who are corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.” (2:11-12)
Dear Muslims! The reality testifies to this. We are therefore asking: where is the freedom that the powers that be claim that it was bringing to Iraq and occupied Palestine? What kind of prosperity that they want the people of Iraq and Palestine to derive from bombers and artillery fires? What kind of happy life they claim to bring to these people that will only be achieved upon the ruins of their lives, properties and on the ruins of their mosques?
What we are very sure of is that the natural human reason has not yet turned upside to a point where destruction is called reform, where murder is called giving life, where anarchy is called order and where injustice is called justice. All wise people agree that this is the mentality of Pharaoh which Allaah speaks about is His Book where He says:
“Pharaoh said: ‘I do not show except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the way of right conduct’.” (40:29)
Is it then logical that killing four people is a crime and killing an entire nation is not significant? Is it logical to question the will of nations and international community when they condemn the killing of armless people and occupying their land and killing children and old people? Is it reasonable to use veto against condemning these atrocious acts? Where are the so-called human rights? Where is the freedom unto which these fellows call? Should talks about rights, compassion and justice be made in supporting the lovers of dogs and other domestic animals alone? Are dogs more important than a toddler or more important than the entire Muslim world?
The matter has reached a situation whereby it is only the fool who attempt to achieve his rights through the so-called international justice or mercy and it is only the miserable one who begs these unfair and brute powers for his rights and beseeches them with tears. The matter has reached a point where these unjust and oppressive powers mention nothing about justice and human rights except if they talk with their rivals in military strength. But all of them in their perverted mentality regard those who are expelled from their lands as terrorists who have no right and they regard the thief who usurped other people's land and rights as the real landowner that should be respected. Had there remained in their hearts an atom weight of mercy and justice, they would not have treated the dispossessed as the usurper.
Dear Muslims! In the light of the above, the deluded ones should be convinced that they could never recover their usurped rights through with the support of these evil powers for it was they who caused the loss of those rights in the first place. These powers are the real obstacles to recovering those rights, and this is where the disaster lies. Allaah says:
“Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land. [It is but] a small enjoyment; then their [final] refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.” (3:196-197)
Fellow Muslims! Know that Allaah has decreed that glory, honour and prevalence. The Muslims are those who shall prevail by the virtue of their religion and values even if they are temporarily defeated militarily or subdued by occupying forces. Allaah says:
“So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.” (3:139)
When Abu Sufyaan said on the day of Uhud: “Ubal [1] is exalted.” The Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said to his companions: “Won’t you reply to him?” The companions said: “What shall we say?” He (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Say: ‘Allaah is Most Great and Most Exalted’.” Aboo Sufyaan then said: “We have al-‘Uzza and you have none.” The Messenger of Allaah (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Won’t you reply to him?” The companions said: “What shall we say?” He (sall-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Say: ‘Allaah is our Lord and Helper and you have no helper’.” By the grace of Allaah, the victory shall come to the nation of Islaam even if it is late because of a divine wisdom that necessitates so, for Allaah's promise shall inevitably come to pass. Allaah says:
“And Our word [i.e. decree] has already preceded for our servants, the Messengers, [that] indeed, they would be those given victory and [that] indeed, our soldiers [i.e. the believers] will be those who overcome.” (37:171-173)
Dear brethren! Our only responsibility is to fulfil the requirements of Allaah's victory, for people that know none but Allaah can never be overcome by those who do not know Allaah, and people who know nothing but truth can never be defeated by those who know nothing but falsehood. Allaah says:
“Indeed, the ones who oppose Allaah and His Messenger – those will be among the most humbled. Allaah has written [i.e. decreed]: ‘I will surely overcome I and My Messengers.’ Indeed, Allaah is Powerful and Exalted in might.” (58:20-21)
Footnote:
[1] This is one of the idols that the Quraysh used to worship in the pre-Islaamic era
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