Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib~Khutbah

[Arwa]

Causes of Marital Problems

Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib

27, Jumaadal Aakhirah 1425 (13, August 2004)


All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Allaah says,

“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Hawwâ (Eve)) and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allâh through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allâh is Ever an All-Watcher over you.”

(An-Nisaa 4:1)


Fear Allaah, dear brethren! Be conscious of Him and obey His commandments in private and in public. Allaah says,

“And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him.”

(At-Talaaq 65:4)

Dear brethren! Happiness is a necessity of the life of this world. Stability, progress and development cannot be achieved in the absence of happiness. If there is no happiness, man cannot appropriately worship his Lord. Humans have naturally be conditioned on finding solace in one another. That is why Allaah says while He reminds mankind of His favours upon them,

“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.”

(Ar-Room 30:21)

Yes! Wives in whom you find repose; this is a proof that marriage is stability and peace of mind. This also implies the importance of marriage in Islaam and the attention that Islaam pays to the family. Islaam encourages marriage and it enjoins that it should be made easy. It forbids all that could impede it. Allaah says,

“Marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.”

(An-Nisaa 4:3)

Allaah also says,

“And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the Sâlihûn (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allâh will enrich them out of His Bounty.”

(An-Noor 24:32)

Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim reported the Messenger of Allaah said, “O young people! Let those who have the ability to maintain among you marry.” Marriage is therefore the way of the Messengers and part of the guidance of the righteous.

Fellow Muslims! Islaam is greatly concerned about formation and uprightness of the family. This is because it is the foundation of the society whose different parts enforces and supports one another. It is for this reason that Prophet likened the Muslims to a structure whose different parts strengthen one another.

Islaam commands that suitable men should be married to. It forbids preventing women from marrying. It explains in the Qur’aan and in the Sunnah rights and responsibilities of the husband and the wife because stability of homes and uprightness of families cannot be attained if both the husband and the wife are not stable and successful in their marital life. As it is known that you cannot give out something you do not own, it is also impossible for parents who failed in their marital life have nothing to offer the society let alone produce righteous children who will be capable of contributing constructively to the society.

A successful marriage therefore means success of the society as family destruction means the destruction of the society. The Messenger of Allaah said, “Satan places his throne upon the water and he sends his hosts and the greatest of them in causing crises in the land will be the nearest to him in position. One of the hosts will tell Satan, ‘I did this and that’, but Satan will then him, ‘you have done nothing’. Another host will come and he will tell Satan, ‘I did not leave him [one of the human whom Satan wants to mislead] until I caused separation between him and his wife.’ Satan will then bring closer to himself and tell him, ‘yes it is you who [is closest to me in position].’” (Muslim)

If this is the stand of the accursed Satan, his mischievous followers are keen to destroy this great edifice and ruin the foundations of the society through their causing of disruptions in the families so much so that the rate of divorce and has alarmingly increased and more and more women are remaining unmarried. This is undoubtedly dangerous. For a situation like this breaks up the society, exposes children to negligence, makes the corruption widespread and creates resentment among families.

It is therefore the obligation of educators, reformers and journalists to look into this matter.

Brethren in faith! We all know that it is impossible to be perfect and that having differences is naturally human. It is impossible for the two spouses to have the same nature, character, desires and thoughts. It is enough a difference that one is male and the other is female. So it is unnatural to have differences among members of the same family. Even the household of the Prophet had its own share of differences. This is the natural. However, a home that is established upon piety and in which both the husband and the wife know their rights and obligations will never be negatively affected by these differences. The differences rather increase them in steadfastness and awareness, which lead them to correct their mistakes and block the way to further evils.

Fellow Muslims! When we take a quick look at the causes of marital problems, we will realize that they all emanate from the violation of Allaah’s commandments in many of the issues of marriage. Some marriages have become a curse and a calamity instead of becoming a source of tranquility and mercy. Allaah says,

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” (Ash-Shooraa 42:30)

There is no doubt in the fact that destruction of homes is one the greatest misfortunes.

One of the righteous predecessors said, “Whenever I disobey Allaah I see the impact of that in my mount animal and in the behaviour of my wife.”

Another said, “The sins of the righteous predecessors were few so they knew them and their causes.”

Yes! Can anyone who audaciously disobeys Allaah hope for success from Him? Can someone who disobeys Allaah wantonly expect his wife to obey him? Can a woman who is negligent in her obligations to Allaah expect her husband to fulfil her own rights? Though sins that either of the two spouses commits should not be made an excuse for maltreatment of his or her partner.

Dear brethren! There are general sins like neglecting the prayers and perpetrating forbidden things; and there are specifically related to marriage like transgression or negligence in marital rights and obligations. Differences occur between spouses in proportion to the degree of negligence.

The man who is negligent in his duties to his wife and the wife who is negligent in her duties to her husband should understand that they are disobeying Allaah. The Prophet said, “If a man invites his wife to his bed and she refuses and the man passes the night in the state of being of angry with her, the angels will continuously curse her till the morning.” (Al-Bukhaaree)

It is the duty of husband and wife to remember while they are fulfilling their marital obligations that they are performing acts of worship. The Messenger of Allaah has informed us that the Muslim would be rewarded for each morsel he puts in his wife’s mouth, though it is his obligation to spend on her.

The Messenger of Allaah is also authentically reported to have said that a man will be rewarded when he performs sexual intercourse with his wife, though he is naturally inclined to do so.

Therefore, the most important solution for those who want to lead a prosperous marital life is to fulfil the rights of Allaah, to carry out His commands and to fulfil all obligations. Let those who want to have an happy life read the saying of Allaah,

“Whoever works righteousness - whether male or female - while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision).”

(An-Nahl 16:97)

Fellow Muslims! Selecting a good spouse is the foundation of happy and harmonious life. But negligence and disobeying Allaah regarding this vital matter cause problems. An example of this is to force a woman to marry a man she does not like as way of maintaining an obsolete tradition or because of the fame or the wealth of the suitor. This is definitely wrong and forbidden. Allaah’s Messenger said, “A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission.” (A-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

However, young girl should seek to understand the opinion of their guardians and her utmost interest should be the criterion for selecting a suitor for her.

Another contravention of Islaam’s injunction regarding marriage is lie on the part of the husband or wife or their intermediary. This is betrayal the consequences of which the perpetrator will have to face in this world and the Hereafter.

Dear brethren! Another critical mistake made when selecting a suitor for girls is neglecting the religious aspects of his character and instead asking for his job, wealth and status in the society. The guardian who does this forgets that he who has betrayed Allaah and His Messenger could not be entrusted regarding his daughter. The suitor who neglects the religious aspects of his bride’s life forgets that a woman who is negligent in her duties to Allaah would never carry out her responsibility to her husband. A marital home built on materialism shall always be on the verge of destruction.

Brethren in faith! Guardians bear a part of this blame because of their indifference to the situation of the suitor and their failure to fulfil their obligations towards their daughters. There are many righteous girls who are afflicted with husbands who do not pray and who take intoxicants and commit forbidden things. This is a result of the negligence and indifference on the part of the girls’ guardians, for they did not bother to ask about the suitors’ religiosity.

Many are also is a man who insisted that his fiancé should fulfil all conditions available under the sun but gave only an insignificant consideration for her religiosity only to discover later after it was already late that the woman is not suitable to be a wife because of her lack religion and good morals.

The big question now is: what is the criterion for selecting a spouse?

This question is adequately answered by the Messenger of Allaah when he said, “When someone with whose religion and conduct you are pleased come for the hand of your daughter in marriage, marry to him. If you do not do so, there will be a great tribulation and widespread corruption on the land.” (At-Tirmidhee and Ibn Maajah)

The Messenger of Allaah also said, “A woman is married for one of the following four things: her wealth, nobility, beauty or her religiosity. Marry the one with religion, you will succeed.” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

Fellow Muslims! Can someone who opens his marital life with violation of Islaamic injunctions expect success from Allaah? What I mean by this is a lot of violations of Allaah’s commandments that are witnessed in marriage banquets like immodest dressing, mingling of men and women, taking pictures, playing of music and neglecting prayers. This is in addition to extravagant spending and ostentatious banquets.

Let all fear Allaah and carry out his responsibilities. We should not leave a chance for the mischievous.

Fellow Muslims! Understanding the causes of marital problems leads to avoiding them and warning the Muslims not fall into them, thereby giving the relatives of both the husband and the wife an opportunity to intervene into what is outside their concern. The Messenger of Allaah said, “Shunning what is not of one’s concern is an aspect of perfection of one’s religion.” Allaah has also forbidding spying on people.

It is also an act of ignorance and foolishness that one of the spouses should complain to relatives about his or her spouse. For widening the scope of disagreement and involving outsiders increase the situation in complexity. It is therefore our obligation to preserve our secrets and solve our problems by ourselves. If the situation is allowed to reach a crisis point, the mischief-makers will wade into it and the matter will become the talk of the town, which eventually leads to destruction of homes.

Dear brethren! One of the reasons of marital problems is a misconception about matrimonial life and lack of understanding the noble goals of marriage like preservation of chastity for both man and woman, living together peacefully, establishing the Muslim home, cooperating in righteousness and piety and bringing up the children upon righteous path. If the spouses keep these concepts in their minds, they will never pay attention to flimsy things. Even if some worldly mistakes happen along the way they deal with them wisely and remember Allaah’s instruction,

“And do not forget liberality between yourselves.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:237)

Also, the imperfections in either of the two spouses should be borne with tolerance. The Messenger of Allaah said, “No believing man should hate a believing woman. If he dislikes a trait in her, he will find in her other traits which he likes.” (Muslim)

Another shortsightedness is the consideration people give to beauty. The Muslim should make the goals of Sharee‘ah the basic criterion in selecting a spouse. An interesting story in this regard is what is narrated from Ash’Sha’bee that a man asked him, “I have married a woman but I later realized that there is a trace of limping in one her two legs. Can I return the woman [to her family] and reclaim my mahr?” Ash-Sha’bee answered him saying, “If you have married her to use her for racing, you may return her.”

You can also find a man who scorns his wife simply because other women are taller and more knowledgeable than her. Some men compare their wives to other women thereby causing great dissention.

Another factor that influences people’s perception of beauty are many films, magazines and periodicals with images of women and satellite channels with which we are afflicted these days. This phenomenon leads some men to dislike their wives because they have seen the pictures of whom they regard as more beautiful women.

Then is it lawful for a Muslim who believes in Allaah and the Last Day, knows that he would meet Allaah, hopes for His Paradise and is afraid of His Fire to prefer a disbelieving woman whom he saw on TV screen or in a promiscuous magazine to his Muslim and chaste wife?

There is no gainsaying in the fact that the magazines and satellite channels that show the images of men and women in a most decorative manner have opened the gates of evils. It is here that we realize the importance of Allaah’s injunction,

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts).”

(An-Noor 24:30-31)

We are also telling a woman who regards what she sees on TV screens as an embodiment of perfect life to fear Allaah and wake up from her delusions.

Things that are shown on satellite channels do not only stimulate sexual passion, they also destroy people’s morals and homes and cause a lot of mischief on the land. Allaah says,

“And when it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only peace-makers. Verily! They are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:11-12)

Fellow Muslims! One of the major causes of marital problems is the husband’s lack of playing his role as demanded by Islaam, or being negligent in the performance of that role or allowing the wife to challenging his guardianship.

Being a guardian upon the woman does not mean overpowering and an ability to treat woman unjustly. It rather means taking good care of her and carrying out one’s responsibilities towards her. Allaah explains the rights of both husband and wife in the clearest possible way when He says,

“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:228)

Allaah says, ‘to what is reasonable’ to indicate that demanding one’s right should not be by selfishness, for marriage is not a commercial companionship. It is rather a life companionship.

Even when the divorce becomes inevitable, Allaah commands that it should be carried out in the kindest manner. He says,

“Either you retain her on reasonable terms or release her with kindness.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:229)

Can you find a better way of reforming homes that these beautiful divine injunctions? Is it not appropriate for the writers and self-appointed reformists to follow the light of the Prophet, rather than waging a vicious war on hijaab and attempting to destroy homes? It is an Islaamic obligation to rein these elements of mischief in order to protect the society.

Dear brothers and sisters! Nothing can make people achieve happiness and prosperity except adherence to the correct religion, having good morals, overlooking mistakes, performance of duties and responsibilities, hoping to get the reward of all righteous deeds from Allaah and promoting societal harmony and love.

The wife should help to make her husband lower his gaze by making herself as attractive as possible to him. The husband should also be kind to his wife and satisfy her needs as much as he can.

Let all understanding that much violations breed hatred and that he who respects others get nothing in return but respect and honour and he who calls upon Allaah, never will Allaah disappoint him.

Dear brethren! The relationship between man and woman is not worldly or materialist, neither is it bestial. It is rather a spiritual honourable relationship if it is sincerely maintained. It is a relationship that transcends this mundane world to the Hereafter. Allaah says,

“'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens), which they shall enter and (also) those who acted righteously from among their fathers, and their wives, and their offspring. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): "Salâmun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you) for you persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!”

(Ar-Ra‘d 13:23-24)

[S_87]

:sl:
jazakAllah :D
some good advice there :thumbs_up

[ABDULLAH SAOOD]

Assalamoalaikum-wa-rahmatullah-hey-wabrakatu

Mashallah top khutba! I remember being in Mecca for that Jumma - I think every person who is married should read this inshallah what with Talaaq and domestic violence on the increase at a rapid pace.

[Arwa]

Assalamoalaikum-wa-rahmatullah-hey-wabrakatu

Mashallah top khutba! I remember being in Mecca for that Jumma - I think every person who is married should read this inshallah what with Talaaq and domestic violence on the increase at a rapid pace.

jazakAllah
some good advice there

wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

wow lucky masha'Allah :sister:

Yeah.. it is a top khutbah.. even for those who aren't married :sister:

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[Arwa]

Justice

Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib

19, Rabee‘uth-thaanee 1426 (28, May 2005)


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 as He should be feared that you may have success. Allaah says,

“O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will be admitted to Paradise).”

(Al-Ahzaab 33:70-71)




Return to your Lord in repentance and surrender your hearts to Him. Do not be deceived by the life of this world.

Know that hearts have a need that cannot be met except by devoting one’s attention to Allaah, loving Him and returning to Him in repentance. It is also only through observation of Allaah’s commands by shunning forbidden and ambiguous things that bodies can be protected. May Allaah bless the one who examines himself, is conscious of his Lord and prepares for his Hereafter!

Fellow Muslims! The life will be pleasant when someone have their rights in full. And there will be progress and developments in civilizations and countries if there is abundance of justice, equality and attainment of rights.

Allaah makes men’s hearts incline towards the love for justice, and human nature and wisdom loves it. It is justice that wins kings, leaders and rulers good repute and praise.

The divine messages also came to establish and promote justice. Allaah says,

“Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the ure and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice.”

(Al-Hadeed 57:25)

The great religion of Islaam came to bring people out of the injustice of various religions to the justice of Islaam, for it is with justice that the heavens and the earth were established. Also, our Lord is Just and deems himself far above being unjust. He says,

“Surely! Allaah wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a small ant).”

(An-Nisaa 4:40)

The religion of Islaam is based upon justice. Allaah says,

“And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice.”

(Al-An‘aam 6:115)

Islaam is truthful in its news and just in its rulings. It does not approve of injustice or aggression. It always stands with the truth wherever it is. Islaam commands fulfilment of promises and covenants even with non-Muslims. Allaah commands His Messenger,

“If you fear treachery from any people throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms (that there will be no more covenant between you and them). Certainly Allaah likes not the treacherous.”

(Al-Anfaal 8:58)

He also says,

“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allaah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety.”

(Al-Maaidah 5:8)

The above verse indicates that justice is mandatory in all situations even if the one involved is one’s enemy. Allaah also commands His Prophet to say,

“I am commanded to do justice among you.”

(Ash-Shooraa 42:15)

And He commands the entire mankind to uphold justice,

“Verily, Allaah enjoins justice and kindness.”

(An-Nahl 16:90)

When the Messenger of Allaah was addressing the Muslims about the seven individuals who would be sheltered under the shade of Allaah on the Day of Resurrection, the first individual he mentioned was the just ruler. The Messenger of Allaah said, “Certainly, the just ones shall stand before Allaah [on the Day of Resurrection] on the pulpit of light on the right Hand of Allaah – and both His Hands are blessed. These are the ones who are just in their decisions and in their dealings with their families and those over whom they have an authority.”

The opposite of justice is injustice and it is going to be darkness over the unjust on the Day of Resurrection.

Dear brethren! Allaah forbids injustice for Himself and makes it forbidden among His servants. For, the unjust will never prosper. Allaah says,

“Allaah does not like the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).”

(Aal ‘Imraan 3:57)

There is no doubt that the greatest injustice is to worship others beside Allaah as He says in soorah Luqmaan,

“Verily joining others in worship with Allaah is a great injustice indeed.”

(Luqmaan 31:13)

The Muslim nation deserves support and power from Allaah if it establishes justice. Shaykhul-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah said, “Allaah supports a just government even it is non-Muslim and does not support an unjust government even if it is Muslim.”

Dear brethren! Justice must be maintained in all situations. The consequences of injustice are horrible in this world and in the Hereafter. The Messenger of Allaah said, “Whoever usurps an inch of [someone’s] land wrongfully, it will be hanged on his neck on the Day of Resurrection.”

He also said, “Allaah the exalted gives respite to the wrongdoer till when He seizes him, He does not allow him to escape.”

Even the injustices suffered by animals will not go in vain. The Messenger of Allaah said, “The claimants would get their claims on the Day of Resurrection so much so that the hornless sheep would get its claim from the horned sheep.” (Muslim)

The Messenger of Allaah said, “Whoever has oppressed another person concerning his reputation or anything else, he should beg him to forgive him before the Day of Resurrection when there will be no money (to compensate for wrong deeds), but if he has good deeds, those good deeds will be taken from him according to his oppression which he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the oppressed person will be loaded on him.” (Al-Bukhaaree)

However weak the oppressed may be, Allaah will certainly help him. The Messenger of Allaah sad, “Allaah raises the invocation of the oppressed through the clouds and He opens the gates of the heavens to it, and He will say: By My Glory and Majesty, I will certainly help you even if it is after a while.” (At-Tirmidhee) Allaah says,

“Consider not that Allaah is unaware of that which the wrong-doers do.”

(Ibraaheem 14:42)

Allaah also says,

“Such is the Seizure of your Lord when He seizes the (population of) the towns while they are doing wrong. Verily, His Seizure is painful, (and) severe.”

(Hood 11:102)

Won’t the oppressor fear the Lord of the worlds? Is he not frightened by the invocation of the oppressed? Tell those who falsely accuse others and bother the believers concerning their reputation that the call of the oppressed is always accepted. Remember the day that you will be made to stand before Allaah. Allaah says,

“And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, they bear (on themselves) the crime of slander and plain sin.”

(Al-Ahzaab 33:58)

Fellow Muslims! Islaam regards justice as greatly important, and the reward of justice is abundant with Allaah. The invocation of the just is accepted and Allaah loves those who are just. The maintainer of justice shall be sheltered under the shade of Allaah on the Day of resurrection.

Justice is a quality that a ruler must possess. Allaah says,

“Verily! Allaah commands that you should render back the trusts to those to whom they are due; and that when you judge between men, you judge with justice. Verily, how excellent is the teaching which He (Allaah) gives you!”

(An-Nisaa 4:58)

Justice must be upheld in all things like decision making, division of properties, delivering judgment on individuals and groups and classifying people as regards their reliability or otherwise.

Islaam teaches that the father should treat his children equally in all aspects. An example in this regard is the story of an-Nu’maan ibn Basheer whose father gave some gifts to the exclusion of his siblings. When the Messenger of Allaah was informed of that he commanded him to take back his gift and to treat all his children equally. He told him, “Fear Allaah and treat your children equally.”

It is also incumbent upon man to treat his wives equally, and to give them equal rights regarding the number of nights he spends with each and regarding expenses and other matrimonial rights. Allaah says,

“And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan-girls then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.”

(An-Nisaa 4:3)

The Messenger of Allaah said, “When a man has two wives and he is inclined to one of them, he will come on the Day of Resurrection with a side hanging down.” (Aboo Daawood)

Justice is required in everything, in sayings and deeds. Allaah says,

“And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence), say the truth.”

(Al-An‘aam 6:152)

Being just in sayings is one of the most difficult things. If someone tries to makes himself accustomed to justice, he will succeed. If someone maintains justice and loves equality Allaah will teach him the truth and make him compassionate to others. He will also make it easy for him to follow the Sunnah and shun the path of error and desire. Allaah says,

“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allaah, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allaah is a Better Protector to both (than you). So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you avoid justice; and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allaah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.”

(An-Nisaa 4:135)

Dear brethren! Justice demands that one is sincere with oneself. It demands being conscious of Allaah and shunning of desires. Allaah says,

“O Daawood (David)! Verily! We have placed you as a successor on the earth; so judge you between men in truth (and justice) and follow not your desire - for it will mislead you from the Path of Allaah.”

(Saad 38:26)

As justice is required in treatment of wives, it is also required in one’s treatment of his employees and subjects. The Prophet said, “The Muslim is a brother of his fellow Muslim. He should not wrong him or surrender him [to the enemy].”

Dear Muslims! Fear Allaah and be conscious of Him in all that you do or leave. Know that you will stand before Him tomorrow and be recompensed for your deeds.

[Arwa]

:sl: wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

My we be among the justice.

[Arwa]

Ameen

Have you read some of his books sister, very inspiring mashallaah.

Sheikh Salih al Talib has books?!?! :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg:

Tell me more! :omg:

[Uthman]

:sl:

Good info :shade:

Sheikh Salih al Talib has books?!?! :omg: :omg: :omg: :omg:

Tell me more! :omg:

Please tell me it wasn't you who claimed to be his no.1 fan! ;D

:w:

[ABDULLAH SAOOD]

Assalamo-alaikum-warahmatullah-hi-wabrakatu

Mashallah excellent post a good reminder about a topic which is increasingly being neglected within the ummat!

[Ibn Abi Ahmed]

Ameen

Have you read some of his books sister, very inspiring mashallaah.

:sl:

Nice post sis,

:omg: :omg: :omg:

TELL ME MORE TOO :omg:

[Ibn Abi Ahmed]

:sl:

Good info :shade:

Please tell me it wasn't you who claimed to be his no.1 fan! ;D
:w:

:lol: i must agree, i doubt if even brother Zak knows this, ill make a note to ask him Inshallah :shade:

Do you know anything about this brother AS?

[Far7an]

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

All Sermons by Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib will posted in this thread InshaAllah

[Arwa]

Time is Life

Sheikh Salih al Taalib

24, Jumaadal-Ulaa 1426 (1 July, 2005)


Fellow Muslims! Fear your Lord Who knows all that is hidden, and Sufficient is He, concerning the sins of His servants, as Acquainting and Seeing. Allaah says,

“O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. (Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always), and die not except in a state of Islâm (as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh)).”

(Aal ‘Imraan 3:102)




In this world, man is between two dreaded things: his past life which he does not know what Allaah is going to do with it, and the remaining part of his life which he does not know what Allaah is going to decide on it.

The wise one then makes proper use of his life for his own benefits, fills his worldly life with righteous deeds in preparation for his hereafter and judiciously uses his free time before a time comes when he will be busy. By Him in Whose Hand is my life, there is nothing one can do after the death has come, and there is nothing after the life of this world but Paradise or Hell.

Dear Muslims! Man’s conditions in this world change between health and illness, free time and busy time, toil and rest, seriousness and indolence.

These days, the end of the academic year has created some free time. It is now common that people have their annual vacation in the summer; a situation that was unknown before but only created by the contemporary modernity that has turned man into a tool for the whole year, toiling tirelessly and frantically running after the materials of this world, far from spiritual nourishment like eemaan, which is the source of rest for the body, heart and the soul. The plague of vacations had become so widespread that it has become the sign of the summer all over the world.

In view of the reality of Islaam, its universality, its comprehensiveness and its balanced rules and just laws, it has affirmed the soul and the body’s right to have their share of rest and relaxation. The Messenger of Allaah said, “Surely, your body has a right upon you and your family has a right upon you. So give each their right.” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

The soul might become tired because of a long work. And the hearts also are tired like bodies. ‘Alee said, “Give the hearts an hour of rest every now and then, for if the heart is coerced into work it becomes blind.”

Nevertheless, this recreation should not be allowed to exceed the limits of what is permissible. It is authentically reported that the Messenger of used to make jokes but he would not say anything but the truth. He engaged ‘Aaishah in a race, played with children and encouraged playing with one’s wife. He approved that the Abyssinians should play with their javelins. He would tell his companions, “Throw [arrows], for your father was an arrow-thrower.” These are some of the allowed recreation that do not consume all the time and that do not become one’s perpetual habit.

Making oneself happy and cheerful and refreshing oneself through permitted recreational activities are some of the things that Islaam considers in its law. A permitted recreational activity is the one that does not contradict the fundamentals and laws of Islaam. It should not be a forbidden thing or lead to a forbidden thing or block the way to an obligatory deed.

Brethren in faith! Since vacations have become a reality in people’s life, the conscious Muslim should therefore always keep two things at the back of his mind:

One: That the time of vacation is a part of his life, that time is life and that vacation does not mean abandonment of works.

Two: That he is not excused from abiding by Islaamic obligations. For, man is required to use all his time in worshipping Allaah, which is the purpose for which he was created. Allaah says,

“And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).”

(Adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56)

However, this does not mean that one should spend all his time in prayer, fasting and jihad without any stop or rest. What is meant is that man should always remain in obedience to his Lord in all his situations. He should not abandon the obligation, for he is always commanded and prohibited and there is no time in his life in which he is free from Islaamic regulations and free to do all that he likes. He should always abide by obligatory, supererogatory and permitted things. At least, he is obliged to shun all forbidden things however remote or relaxed he may be.

Holiday is not a time used on the margin of life. It is rather part of man’s life that is not owned by man but by Allaah, Who created man so that he might use the time in the service of his Lord. That is why Allaah made it forbidden that man should destroy his own life or waste his time in any form and for any reason. Allaah says,

“And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allaah is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire.”

(An-Nisaa 4:29-30)

This is in spite of the fact that the suicide perpetrator killed only himself. This underlines man’s responsibility before his Creator, regarding his own life.

The Messenger of Allaah said, “The feet of the son of Adam shall not slip on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked of four things: His life as to how he spent it, his youth as how he used it, his knowledge as to what he did with it and his wealth as to where he got and how he spent it.” (At-Tirmidhee)

Travels are also part of life. And everyone shall be held accountable for how he spent the hours of his life. Based on this, we realize that the concept of time, according to Islaamic legislation, does not permit man to waste any part thereof. We also realize the greatness of time in that Allaah swears with it and with some parts of it. He says,

“By Al-'Asr (the time). Verily, man is in loss. Except those who believe (in Islaamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth (i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of good deeds (Al-Ma'ruf) which Allaah has ordained, and abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar which Allaah has forbidden), and recommend one another to patience.”

(Al-‘Asr 103:1-3)

Allaah also swears by the night when it covers and the day when it appears and with the two kinds of creation: male and female. He also affirms that people’s efforts are diverse. He swears by the sun and its brightness, and by the day, night and the soul, affirming that whoever purifies his soul has succeeded and that whoever instils it with corruption has failed. All this, indicating that time is the essence of life.

Fellow Muslims! The wise is the one who reflects over his affairs and realizes that movement of days means nearness of his death however long or short he is destined to live. He then takes the safe side, strives in his day and prepare for his morrow. The time is nothing but man’s life and his repeated breath. Time is precious. The part of it that is gone will never be retrieved.

We seriously need to be alert. Many are the heedless who have sold off their most precious possession –their time – for a pittance. The time goes and those who fail to catch up with it, their days and times will go in vain and they will incur great loss, and nothing will remain of the life but only its effects. So choose for yourself what will benefit you. That is why the prosperous ones will be told on the Day of Resurrection,

“Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!”

(Al-Haaqqah 69:24)

And the miserable ones will be told,

“That was because you had been exulting in the earth without any right (by worshipping others instead of Allaah and by committing crimes), and that you used to rejoice extremely (in your error). Enter the gates of Hell to abide therein: and (indeed) what an evil abode of the arrogant!”

(Ghaafir 40:75-76)

Dear brethren! Man has two days in which he will regret his time that he has wasted and in which he will ask to be given some respite.

One: when he dies, that is when he will say,

“My Lord! If only You would give me respite for a little while (i.e. return to the worldly life), then I should give Sadaqah (i.e. Zakât) of my wealth, and be among the righteous.”

(Al-Munaafiqoon 63:10)

And the answer to this request will be:

“And Allaah grants respite to none when his appointed time (death) comes. And Allaah is All-Aware of what you do.”

(Al-Munaafiqoon 63:11)

Two: in the Hereafter when he enters Hell. Allaah says,

“Therein they will cry: "Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do.”

And the reply will be:

"Did We not give you lives long enough, so that whosoever would receive admonition could receive it? And the warner came to you. So taste you (the evil of your deeds). For the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers) there is no helper."

(Faatir 35:37)

Fellow Muslims! Preserving time and making proper spending of one’s life need some resoluteness and strong will. As for indolence, it is a destructive and fatal disease. It reflects negatively on individuals and the society. It causes languor, poverty, moral and material backwardness and it leads to sins. Though work might be strenuous, indolence is undoubtedly destructive. If one sits down too much, he will fail to achieve his goals.

Tell those who are looking for places of fun to kill their time: ‘Do you think that life is just a pastime or do you think that death is just a fun?’

Tell those who spend their days between illusions and dreams: ‘If you are ignorant of how much of the time you waste, visit the graveyards, and seek from their inhabitants some time so that you might know that time is a precious thing that cannot be perpetually owned and a missed thing that can never be retrieved.’

Many are those who say: O Lord, send me back to the world that I may do righteous deeds that I had earlier abandoned.’ But they will be told: ‘No, life does not go back.’

Free time does not remain so for ever. It must be filled with either a good or a bad deed. He who does not occupy himself with good deed will have himself occupied with evil deed. The righteous predecessors disliked that a man should have nothing to do neither in matters of his religion or matters of his worldly life. If free time is combined with wealth and health, the danger then becomes greater if that free time is not used in good thing. The Messenger of Allaah said, “There are two blessings in which many people are deluded: health and free time.” (Al-Bukhaaree)

Brethren in Islaam! If someone has no goal to pursue, he will waste his time. The one who wanders about aimlessly bothers none but only himself. A man without a goal is like a captain-less ship tossed about by the waves. Days are records of deeds, so fill them with good deeds. Opportunities move like clouds, and languor is the habit of backward people. He who adopts the life of weakness will stumble. If procrastination and indolence are combined they generate loss. One of the righteous people cried when he was dying and when he was asked of the cause of his crying he said, “I am crying in regret of a day in which I did not fast and a night in which I did not pray.”

The reality is that whenever everyone nears his death he regrets every moment in which he had not done a good deed, regardless of whether the person was righteous or neglectful. Can’t we then catch up with what is left of our lives? You will find the earliest generations the best in terms of their keenness to preserve their time more than a stingy person would be keen to preserve his money. The harvest of their keenness was useful knowledge, righteous deeds, fighting in the way of Allaah, glory and a firm-rooted civilization of towering branches.

But when you look at the situation of the contemporary Muslims, you will besurprised to notice how they waste their lives and times in a manner that is foolish and idiotic thereby lagging behind after they had been the leaders.

Fellow Muslims! If a man’s life is blessed he attains, within a short time, uncountable favours of Allaah. Many are those who are made to succeed in achieving a lot within a short time so much so that you think that their achievements are miracles, while the reality is that they are only blessed and made successful in investing their time in useful things. The best example is the Messenger of Allaah who brought the people out of darkness to the light and changed the face of human history within a short period of twenty-three years.

Another example is ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab who worked continuously through days and nights. He would say, “If I slept in the night I would waste my life and if I slept during the day I will waste the lives of my subjects. How can I then sleep between these two periods?”

Ibn ‘Aqeel said, “I cannot waste an hour of my life. Even if my tongue stops from reading and discussing matters of knowledge, and my eyes stops from browsing books, I make use of my thoughts at my time of rest and when I am lying down. When I get up I’ll already have in my mind what needs writing down.” That is how he was able to write his book, al-Funoon, about which adh-Dhahabee said, “Nothing greater than it [in its field] has ever been authored.”

Ibn al-Qayyim said about his Shaykh, “I have seen wonders in the strength of Shaykh al-Islaam concerning his ways, his actions and his writings. In a single day, he would author what a copyist would copy for a whole week.”

Adh-Dhahabee said about him, “His writings reached about five hundred volumes.”

All this is in addition to his other activities like da’wah and jihaad.

The Messenger of Allaah said, “He who fears [sudden attack of the enemy] sets out in the night, and he who sets out in the night will arrive at the appropriate station. Behold, Allaah’s commodity [Paradise] is precious and expensive! Behold, Allaah’s commodity [Paradise] is precious and expensive!” (At-Tirmidhee)

Brethren in faith! Since we have talked about time and the importance of investing it in useful things, here is a piece of advice for those who are gambling with their lives in the ambiguities of darkness that lead to unlawful shedding of the blood of Muslims.

Dear Muslim youths! The afflictions of your Ummah are many and its wounds are still fresh. However, the most bleeding wound of the Ummah and its most painful disease is the deviant thoughts and actions of some of its youths. It greatly pains this Ummah to see some of its youths attacking the scholars, the rulers and the wise men of their society who weigh the interests of the Ummah and try to prevent the worst of the two evils with the lesser one. This is a deviation that results in killings and shedding of innocent blood among Muslims and within the vicinity of the sacred cities.

The reprovers have reproved and the sincere advisers have given their sincere advice. The scholars have explained the truth. Will you then cease?

Many of the lives that should have been used in constructing the useful society with the guidance of the scholars and upon the Sunnah of the Prophet have been wasted. This is a call from a sympathetic and sincere adviser to those who have denounced the community of the Muslims to return to the right path. Let those who have committed mistakes repent, and those who are accused surrender themselves so that they can enjoy security. It is an act of bravery to admit mistakes and face the consequences.

It is our hope that you will understand and reason and then be excused and shown mercy. If not, you need to atone for your sins. Either of the two options is however better for a Muslim than proceeding in committing mistakes. Whatever Allaah has decreed shall come to pass, and to Him belongs the control of all affairs in the beginning and in the end. We seek refuge with Him against misleading trials.

:applaud: :applaud:

[Arwa]

Another great khutba on the way! :sister: :thumbs_up

Importance of Marriage and its Etiquettes

Sheikh Salih al Talib

2, Jumaadal-Aakhirah 1426 (8, July 2005)



All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! The most truthful speech is the Book of Allaah and the best guidance is that of Muhammad. Every innovation is misguidance and every misguidance leads to Hell.

Fear Allaah and know that tomorrow, you will be made to stand in front of your Lord and be recompensed for your deeds.

“O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife (Hawwâ (Eve)) and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allâh through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allâh is Ever an All-Watcher over you.”

(An-Nisaa 4:1)




Beware of procrastination, for having deep inclination towards this world makes one forget the Hereafter, as following the desires blocks the way to the truth.

Dear brethren! Allaah has created humans upon inclinations to their natural instincts. It is also of His mercy and wisdom that He made the law of Islaam call to this and He promised prosperity and reward to those who follow the course of this nature. A manifestation of this is the relationship that takes place between man and woman through marriage.

Brethren in Islaam! No sane person will dispute the importance, virtues and benefits of marriage or dispute the fact that marriage is the natural means of achieving peace of mind, tranquility and societal stability and progress. Marriage makes life well-organized and it is from its fortress that righteous generations are produced. Allaah says,

“And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.”

(Ar-Room 30:21)

Marriage promotes purity and chastity, keeps the married person away from illegal sexual intercourse and sinful activities. It brings about blessing and makes the society live a morally secure and comfortable life. Allaah makes marriage a virtue and a way of the Prophets. He says addressing His Messenger,

“And indeed We sent Messengers before you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) and made for them wives and offspring.”

(Ar-Ra‘d 13:38)

Therefore, it is because of these great benefits that Islaam encourages marriage and encourages its facilitation. It also prohibits all that could impede or disrupt it. Allaah says,

“And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan-girls then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one or (the slaves) that your right hands possess. That is nearer to prevent you from doing injustice.”

(An-Nisaa 4:32)

The Messenger of Allaah said, “O young people! Whoever among you is able to marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.).” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

In the Qur’aan, Allaah commands that suitable suitors should be married to as He prohibits preventing women from marrying women of their choice. In the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, rights and responsibilities of the husband and the wife are explained so that a truly Muslim family that is the foundation of a strong and coherent society can be established.

Brethren in faith! It is certain that anyone who has concern for his society and Ummah and wishes his fellow Muslims well will make all efforts to promote this institution and make it successful. He will avoid all that could impede it. A concerned Muslim will also be worried about the failure of some marriages when he sees problems springing out of some homes. It is therefore necessary that a wise Muslim should adopt all useful means of making the marriage life successful.

Fellow Muslims! Speaking about marriage has many aspects. It is enough to talk about some phenomena that precede marriage and that have an undesirable impact on the course of life so that the Muslims can be sincerely admonished and the heedless will be awakened.

One: Delaying marriage until the end of studies or after getting a job and having financial capability or delaying marriage in order to avoid commitments or for any other reasons. All this is part of the evil plans of Satan by which he brainwashes humans especially the youth through the filthy films and serials that are aired on the satellite TV or published in magazines and newspapers. This has created a lot of misconceptions about marital life, corrupted the people’s morality and instilled in them mistaken ideas that opened the door to a great evil.

Delaying marriage contradicts Islaamic teachings as it contradicts the human nature. Sociologists affirmed that early marriage is the best marriage even if the financial condition is hard. They also affirmed that it is a major means of attaining stable psychological and physical health; and that the children born from early marriage are more intelligent and healthier and have less physical disabilities.

In addition to the above, early marriage makes one’s religion complete and makes one chaste. It is also established that early marriage is a major factor in many people’s success in their academic life. So when an artificial impediment is put in the way of this natural institution, the consequences will be woes upon the society.

In fact, there is no contradiction between marriage and requirements of marriage life, for that is a part of natural life that should not be linked to imaginary and artificial impediments created by the idiotic people. The Muslims’ stand concerning marriage should be reliance on Allaah and not on materials. Allaah says,

“And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and (also marry) the Sâlihûn (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allâh will enrich them out of His Bounty. And Allâh is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the people).”

(An-Noor 24:32)

The Messenger of Allaah said, “There are three persons that Allaah has taken it upon Himself to help them: the fighter in the way of Allaah, a captive who is in the process of buying his freedom and the one who wants to marry to keep himself or herself chaste.” (At-Tirmidhee and others)

If there are some stupid people who have turned their daughters into commercial commodity and ask for exorbitant mahr [bridal gift] and lay down difficult conditions for those who want to marry their daughters, there are better women elsewhere. For, there are many families who only wish to marry their daughter to someone who can make her happy and preserve her religion for her and treat her well. These families are satisfied with minimal mahr, emulating by that, the Messenger of Allaah who said, “It is a sign of blessing in a woman that proposing marriage to her and her mahr are made easy for the suitor.” (Ahmad and others)

Demanding for excessive mahr and evaluating a suitor by the amount of mahr he is able to pay is a sign of meanness, perverted thinking and stupidity. Also, burdening the suitor with exorbitant mahr and requesting him to present many gifts to relatives of the prospective groom is the peak of greed, avarice and opportunism. All this breeds ill-feeling, weighs the husband down with debts, impedes the smooth course of marriage in the society and causes many girls to remain unmarried for a long time. This is, indeed, a manifestation of preventing woman from marrying; a situation that Allaah forbids.

Also, one of the cruellest forms of preventing woman from marrying is to insist that she should marry a particular relative of hers and preventing her from marrying any other suitor even if that leads to her remaining a spinster for life. This is a major crime and an excessive act of selfishness that is a product of an obsolete norm, and it goes against the everlasting injunctions of Islaam.

It is unlawful to coerce a woman into marrying someone she does not like. Her father’s guardianship over her is only to safeguard her interest and protect her, and definitely not that of imposition or coercion. The Messenger of Allaah said, “A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission." The people asked, "O Allaah's Messenger! How can we know her permission?" He said, "Her silence (indicates her permission).” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

Shaykh al-Islaam ibn Taymiyyah said, “It is unlawful for any of the two parents to force their son into marrying someone he does not like. If he refuses to obey them in this regard he is not considered undutiful to them. If it is unlawful for anyone to force him to eat what he does not want to eat though he is capable of eating what he wants, the same thing applies to marriage, even with a greater reason. For, eating an undesirable thing is painful only for a moment but the pain of marrying an undesirable someone lasts for long.”

Forcing a woman into marrying someone she does not like because of that person’s money or his fame or his close relationship is an injustice and therefore forbidden. The guardians must understand this.

The girl should also try to understand the point of view of her guardian regarding acceptance and refusal of a proposal. In any case, interest of the girl should be the criterion.

Dear Muslims! Guardians have a great responsibility regarding the suitor who comes forward for the hand of their daughter in marriage. This is in view of the Prophet’s instruction, “Man is the guardian over his family and he will be asked as to how he discharged his responsibility towards them.” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

Also, the girl is usually dependent upon her guardian’s knowledge and advice. He should therefore fear Allaah and make all efforts to know the real situation of the suitor and his compatibility. For, many are righteous women who are afflicted with a sinful husband who does not pray or who takes intoxicants and perpetrates forbidden things or who is ill-mannered. This unfortunate situation is caused by nothing more than her guardian’s negligence and his carelessness regarding the religiosity of the husband and his being satisfied only with his appearance or because he trusted the family from which the husband comes.

Compatibility in marriage should only be in terms of religiosity and good manner. The Messenger of Allaah said, “If someone with whose religion and manners you are pleased asks for the hand of your daughter in marriage, grant it to them. If you do not do so, there will be temptation in the land and widespread corruption.” (At-Tirmidhee)

Let those whose only goal is asking for money and fame and have no regard for religiosity realise that he who betrays Allaah and His Messenger cannot be trusted to be a guardian for his own daughter. The same thing can be said to the suitor as well. For, there are many men who stipulated for his fiancée all conditions of this world but regarded the religion as the least important and soon realised that the woman is not suitable to be his wife because of her lack of religiosity and morals. The Messenger of Allaah said, “A woman is married for four things: her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a losers.” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

The suitor should realize that any woman who is careless about her responsibility to her Creator will definitely negligent in her responsibility to her husband and children. Also, the adviser or the person responsible must be duly informed of the situation of the suitor. He should fear Allaah in all that he says and in the advice he gives. Some people might be influenced by tribal zealousness or haste thereby exaggerating in praising or disparaging a suitor or a woman though they have not had sufficient knowledge of the person concerned. The Messenger of Allaah said, “The Adviser is trusted [in the matter in which his advice is sought].” (Aboo Daawood)

Fellow Muslims! Some marriage banquets are plagued with excessive spending and violations of Islaamic teachings. This trend has become so prevalent that it is regarded as an indispensable aspect of marriage. Sometimes, the banquet expenses exceed the mahr in manifold and the decision regarded this is left in the hands of women and the unwise ones. This calamity becomes graver when it is coupled with sin acts. What blessing or success should one then expect if a married life is started, from its first night, with sinful things and acts of obedience to Allaah, Who alone owns the success and Who holds the hearts of humans in His Hand and twist them as He likes?

Certainly, intermingling of men and women who are not close relatives, employing the service of musicians with their instruments, neglecting the prayers and delaying them, exposing of nakedness –especially among women who are, though dressed, are practically naked – and open and stealthy snapping of pictures and videoing are all a manifestation of showing ingratitude to Allaah, rebelling His commands and wantonness. This is to say nothing of wastefulness and showing-off that are the characteristics of the preparations and banquets. Why all this? Can parties not take place without violation of Islaamic regulations? If the unlucky fails to achieve success in their marriage, he should then know what the cause.

If sins can weaken countries and shake kingdoms, it has the greater capacity to do so with little homes. Allaah says,

“Is it then he, who laid the foundation of his building on piety to Allâh and His Good Pleasure, better, or he who laid the foundation of his building on an undetermined brink of a precipice ready to crumble down, so that it crumbled to pieces with him into the Fire of Hell?”

(At-Tawbah 9:109)

Brethren in faith! It is a manifestation of excellent upbringing and fulfillment of the trust to prepare a girl for matrimonial life and to teach her how to be responsible and how to handle the demands of life. You will surely pity a girl sent off to her new home for a matrimonial life and yet knew nothing of her rights and responsibilities, knew nothing about how to deal with her husband, his family and relatives, knew nothing about how to nurture her children and deal with them and nothing about how to manage home affairs. A situation like this has caused many cases of separation and raised the rate of divorce in the society.

It is therefore the responsibility of the parents, the teachers, the curriculum writers and the journalists to exert sincere efforts in giving boys and girls appropriate awareness. What is the benefit of long years of study if it does teach the fundamentals of life?

All youths are in dire of proper education on how to adhere by the limits of Allaah concerning marriage, worshipping Allaah through maintaining good relationship with spouse, how to cooperate with one another in righteousness and piety before marriage and how to shun selfishness. They also need to know and acknowledge the real meaning of being guardian in the law of Islaam; that it is meant to protect, nurture and to manage excellently and that it is a responsibility of which man will be held accountable in the Day of Resurrection. The Messenger of Allaah said, “All of you are guardians and responsible for your charges: a man is a guardian of his family and is responsible for his charges and a lady is a guardian in the house of her husband and is responsible for her charge.” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

If the intentions are good and the obligations are carried out, happiness and success will prevail all over the world. If one adheres to invoking Allaah and is sincere in his hope in Him, Allaah will not let him down, and will not make his efforts to go in vain.


:awesome:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Lessons from Hajj

Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib [(Dhul Hijjah 7, 1424 (January 30, 2004)]





All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions. Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah as He should be feared. Allaah says,

"O mankind! Fear your Lord and be dutiful to Him! Verily, the earthquake of the Hour (of Judgment) is a terrible thing. The Day you shall see it, every nursing mother will forget her nursling, and every pregnant one will drop her load, and you shall see mankind as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but severe will be the Torment of Allaah."

(Al-Hajj 22:1-2)

Seek nearness to Allaah with acts of worship that will make you earn His reward. Abstain from causes of Wrath and punishment.

Pilgrims to the House of Allaah! Congratulations on your arrival to the Sacred House of Allaah. Congratulations on your commencement of Hajj rites. Blessed are those who perform their Hajj seeking for Allaah's pleasure. May all of you be blessed. May Allaah shower on you His favour. May He tell you on 'Arafah day: 'Go, your sins have been forgiven.'



The Messenger of Allaah said, "He who performed Hajj and he did not engage in sexual activities nor engage in obscenities will return as [sinless] as the day his mother bore him." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)



This is a great blessing that gladdens the hearts of believers and for which they undergo great difficulties.



Dear pilgrims! You come here sincerely to answer the call of your Lord whose echo never breaks through years. Allaah says,

"And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj)."

(Al-Hajj 22:27)



You have come to this Ancient House built by two noble Prophets: Ibraaheem and Ismaa'eel, peace be upon them. It was Prophet Ibraaheem who declared Islaamic Monotheism and shunned polytheism until he was thrown in fire from which Allaah saved him. As for Prophet Ismaa'eel, he had surrendered to the will of his Lord and submitted himself for slaughtering. So Allaah saved him and elevated his position. These are two noble Prophets who gave their lives to Allaah.



Therefore, this great edifice: the Ka'bah is the epitome of Tawheed and submission to Allaah in His laws and in abiding by His commandments and prohibitions. This is the path to victory threaded by the Prophets and their followers. Allaah says,

"So shun the abomination [worshipping] of idol, and shun lying speech [false statements] worshipping none but Allaah, not associating partners [in worship] unto Him."

(Al-Hajj 22:30-31)



Fellow Muslims! Hajj is not mere performance of some rituals and visiting places. It is a school, history, memories and pure act of worship that confers on the pilgrim the light of faith and the fruits of Ibaadah. When the pilgrim walks between As-Safa and Al-Marwah and trots in the valley, he remembers his helplessness and his need of Allaah. He also realizes that his need for his Lord is like the need of Haajar, the mother of Ismaa'eel in that difficult situation when she was passionately running up and down between the two mountains seeking Allaah's relief. The pilgrim also remembers that anybody who obeys Allaah as Ibraaheem had done, Allaah will not abandon him and his family and He will not reject his supplications.



Dear Pilgrim! Since Allaah has honoured you and made it easy for you to perform this Hajj, endeavour to perform the rites of Hajj completely as an implementation of Allaah's commandment,

"And perform properly the Hajj and 'Umrah for Allaah."

(Al-Baqarah 2:196)



And in line with the Prophet's commandment, "Take your Hajj rites from me." All necessary and obligatory rites of Hajj must therefore be performed perfectly.



Also, you should ask questions about acts of worship before you start them, for many a pilgrim worship Allaah on ignorance. He neither knows nor asks. This situation weakens his Hajj rites. If he had asked before he acted, he would have been spared of troubles. Negligence in performing Hajj rites renders the Hajj flawed. So fear Allaah and perform your Hajj and 'Umrah properly.



Proper performance of Hajj necessitates shunning things that could tarnish it like argument, engaging in obscenities and behaving arrogantly towards fellow Muslims. All these things must be abstain from in order to have the Hajj accepted and have the sins forgiven. Allaah says,

"The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the well-known (lunar year) months (i.e. the 10th month, the 11th month and the first ten days of the 12th month of the Islaamic calendar, i.e. two months and ten days). So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein (by assuming Ihraam), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allaah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness). So fear Me, O men of understanding!"

(Al-Baqarah 2:197)



Dear brethren! The pilgrims should also abstain from things that contradict his goals. He should not call upon others besides Allaah and he should not proclaim anything but Islaamic monotheism and the Sunnah. No Muslim who believes in Allaah and the Last Day should harm or frighten a fellow Muslim. He should also not turn the pilgrims away from the Sunnah. Allaah says,

"And whoever inclines to do evil actions therein or to do wrong, him We shall cause to taste from a painful torment."

(Al-Hajj 22:25)



Brethren in Islaam! Hajj teaches patience, perseverance, forgiveness, tolerance, generosity and kindness. It also encourages giving guidance to the ignorant, calling to righteousness and benefiting the Muslims. All acts of righteousness are ordained for the worship of Allaah as they are meant for refinement and purification of the souls from impurities and imperfections and for liberating the minds from lusts.



During Hajj, you realize that worldly luxuries that you regard as essential are not really essential, and that they are things you can do without. You also realize that people's boasting of worldly materials is meaningless because; during Hajj you see people equal as they will be on the Day of Resurrection. This scene will make you change your perception of life and lead you into giving the life of this world its due without exaggeration or negligence.



The Muslims' congregation on this day is evidence that their unity is possible by the grace of Allaah.



Dear Muslims! Remembrance of Allaah is a conspicuous sign of Hajj. Tawheed is the proclamation of Hajj. 'Labbayk Labbayk Allaahumma labbayk, labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk, innal-hamda, wan-ni'mah laka wal-mulk, laa shareeka lak.' [I respond to Your call, O Allaah, I respond to Your call. I respond to Your call, You have no associate, I respond. Yours is the praise, favour and dominion. You have no associate.]



The Messenger of Allaah said, "Circumambulation of the House, trotting between As-Safa and Al-Marwah and throwing the pebbles [at Jamaraat] are all ordained for the remembrance of Allaah." (At-Tirmidhee)



If the verses of Hajj are properly reflected upon, one will realise that they are linked to the remembrance of Allaah. For instance, Allaah says,

"And remember Allaah during the appointed Days."

(Al-Baqarah 2:203)



He also says, "Then when you leave 'Arafat, remember Allaah (by glorifying His Praises, i.e. prayers and invocations) at the Mash'ar-il-Harâm."

(Al-Baqarah 2:198)

Allaah also says,

"So when you have accomplished your Hajj rites, remember Allaah as you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance."

(Al-Baqarah 2:200)



Dear pilgrims, remember Allaah much and glorify Him, He will elevate your ranks and forgive your sins.

Hajj is making talbiyah, glorifying Allaah, remembering Him and invoking Him. The successful is the one who beseeches his Lord submissively and shows his helplessness to Him without wasting his time in useless things.



The Messenger of Allaah has certain places in which he made much supplication. The Muslim must endeavour to emulate him: the day of 'Arafah especially just before sunset, after Fajr prayer at Muzdalifah until just before sunrise, after throwing Jamrah al-'aqabah, after throwing the pebbles at middle Jamrah on the 11th, 12th, 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. The Prophet also used to pray on the mountains of Safa and Marwah.



The Messenger of Allaah would appear to people and tell them. "Take your Hajj rites from me." He would teach the ignorant and answer the questioner. This is the Prophetic guidance for students of knowledge so that they can guide people to the straight path.



Dear brethren! Hajj is an opportunity for the scholars to teach hundreds of thousands of Muslims what is useful for them in their religion. Let those who want success adhere to the saying of the Prophet, "Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded. Strengthen yourself by worshipping Allaah in the mornings, the nights." (Al-Bukhaaree)



Brethren in faith! One of the greatest goals of Islaam is to make the Muslims united. In Al-Khayf, Mina, the Messenger of Allaah said, "May Allaah bless a person who heard my word and conveyed it [to others]. There are many carriers of knowledge who are not knowledgeable for there are many who carry knowledge to those who have more understanding. There are three things that the believer must bear in heart: performing acts of worship purely for Allaah alone, sincerely wishing the Muslim rulers well and adhering to the community of the Muslims." (Ibn Maajah)



Brethren in Islaam! These are some lessons of Hajj that the pilgrims must take into consideration so that their Hajj can be accepted and in order to attain great reward. The Messenger of Allaah said, "He who performed Hajj and did not engage in sexual activities nor engage in obscenities will return as [sinless] as the day his mother bore him." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim) He also said, "The accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise." (Muslim)

May Allaah accept your Hajj and may He forgive your sins. Allaah says,

"And remember Allaah during the appointed Days. But whosoever hastens to leave in two days, there is no sin on him and whosoever stays on, there is no sin on him, if his aim is to do good and obey Allaah(fear Him), and know that you will surely be gathered unto Him."

(Al-Baqarah 2:203)



Fellow Muslims! This is Tarwiyah day [the eight day of Dhul-Hijjah]. In the morning of this day, the pilgrim will go to Mina where he will pray Zuhr and 'Asr prayers shortened at their respective times; and Maghrib at its time and 'Ishaa shortened at its time. He will pass the night in Mina. After the sunset of the following day, he will proceed to 'Arafah where he will pray Zuhr and 'Asr shortened and combined. He will then stay on the plain of 'Arafah remembering Allaah much and showing helplessness before Him. He asks Him the good of this world and the Hereafter. He makes a lot of supplications in that great occasion, for Hajj is 'Arafah. The Messenger of Allaah said, "The best supplication is the one done on the day of 'Arafah. And the best statement uttered by me and the Prophets who were before me is: 'Laa ilaaha illallaah, wahdahoo laa shareeka lah, lahul-mulk walahul-hamd wahuwa 'alaa kulli shay'in qadeer.'



On the plain of 'Arafah, the arena of forgiveness, hearts submit to Allaah and eyes shed tears in fear of Him. The sins will then be forgiven and degrees will be elevated. On that day, Allaah will boast with the pilgrims before the eyes of the angels and He will say, "See My slaves. They came to me dust-covered and dishevelled from every deep and distant places. I make you witnesses that I have forgiven them."



It is recommended for those who are not performing Hajj to fast on the day of Arafah with a hope that Allaah may erase with that the sins of the past year and the present one. The Messenger of Allaah said, "There is no day in which Allaah liberates more people from Hell than the day of 'Arafah." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)



After sunset on the day of 'Arafah, the pilgrim leaves 'Arafah for Muzdalifah peacefully. He will pray Maghrib and 'Ishaa there combined, with Ishaa shortened. He will pass the night there. After the dawn, he prays Fajr and makes a lot of supplication and remembrance of Allaah there until it is close to sunrise. He then proceeds to Mina. Women, children and other weak people are allowed to leave Muzdalifah in the middle of the night and that is ascertained by the disappearance of the moon.



When he reaches Mina, he throws seven pebbles at the Biggest Jamarah saying 'Allaahu akbar' with each throw. He then slaughters his sacrifice if he has to do so. After that he shaves or cuts his hair, though shaving is better. He then proceeds to the Sacred House, and makes his Tawaaf al-Ifaadah if that is possible for him and he makes Sa'y between Safa and Marwah. If he is doing Qiraan or Ifraad and he has performed it and he had performed it along with his Arrival Tawaaf, he does not need to make another Sa'y.

If anyone does any of these four rites in sequences different from the one mentioned above, there is no harm in that.



The pilgrim will then go back to Mina and pass the nights of Tashreeq [11th, 12th and 13th] there. While he is in Mina, he throws the pebbles at the three Jamaraat for each of three days after the sun has passed its zenith. If he likes he stays for two of these three days and if he likes he stays for the entire three days and this is better. He will then not have to do anything but the farewell Tawaaf when he is ready to leave Makkah.



Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah in all that you do. Purify your deeds for Allaah alone and follow the Sunnah and the correct guidance. Abstain from things that could render your Hajj incomplete or invalid. Perform your Hajj in peace and tranquillity. Be compassionate with your fellow pilgrims especially in crowded places like during Tawaaf, throwing the pebbles or at the gates of the Sacred Mosque.


Source:
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Element of Steadfastness

Shaykh Saalih bin Muhammad Aal Taalib [(Rabee'uth-Thanee 13, 1424 (June 13, 2003)]





All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah as He should be feared and hold fast unto Islaam which is the most trustworthy handhold. Know that your bodies cannot bear the heat of Hell-Fire. Allaah says,

“Oh you who have believed, fear Allaah and believe in His Messenger; He will [then] give you a double portion of His mercy and make for you a light by which you will walk and forgive you; and Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

(Al-Hadeed 57:28)

Remember that you are now in the abode of action where you are tested. Allaah says,

“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.”

(Adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56)

Therefore, do good deeds in order to get reward, for there is nothing tomorrow but recompense with Paradise or punishment with Hell. O Allaah, bless the hearts that fear You and seek for Your mercy; open for us the gates of Your blessings and sustenance and forgive our sins.

Fellow Muslims! There are certainly impediments and problems that lie ahead for those who seek the way to their Lord and call to His religion and to the adherence to His straight path. It is only those whom Allaah wills that are saved from the effects of these impediments.

A keen observer of the history of Islaam will realize that there are periods in which the Muslims prevailed and periods in which they were weak and suffered loss and conquests at the hands of their enemies, as it is happening in our contemporary times. The pitiful state of the Ummah these days has reached a point where some Muslims have almost lost hope and the confused among them are asking, “Has Allaah not promised this Ummah victory and glory, and has He not promised the disbelievers defeat and humiliation? Those who ask questions like these has forgotten the saying of Allaah that goes thus:

“[He] Who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed – And He is Exalted in might, the Forgiving.”

(Al-Mulk 67:2)

This verse and similar ones clearly tell us that the abode of this world is that of tribulations for the believers, not that of reward and perpetuity. They also show that good and bad times are given in turns and that attaining success does not mean living a comfortable life but to work righteousness in times of ease and difficulty. Allaah says,

“And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you [for the cause of Allaah] and the patient, and We will test your affairs.”

(Muhammad 47:31)

Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Giving the disbelievers and the sinful people authority on the earth is to afford the friends of Allaah the opportunity to attain perfection through their Jihaad against the disbelievers, their regarding people as friends or enemies for His sake and their sacrificing their lives and strength in His cause. If He had not given authorities to His enemies over His friends and had not put His friends to trials, they would not have sincerely worshipped Him, they would not have treated people as allies and enemies for His sake, and they would not have loved and hated, and given and denied for His sake.”

Brethren in faith! If it is a pre-decree of Allaah that a Muslim generation should live a period of its life in the state of political weakness and subjugation, it is then incumbent on such a generation to cling to those things that will make it remain steadfast in its religion. This is because; Islaam in itself is a power that is capable of guaranteeing the steadfastness of its adherents. This is the time of trials in which Allaah distinguishes the wicked from the good and the truthful from the liar, for the longer the trial, the greater the number of hypocrites and the higher the possibility of their revealing what is in their hearts.

Brethren in Islaam! Among the elements of steadfastness is to renew one’s faith and to fill one’s heart with complete certainty that we are on the truth. He who has a complete faith in his religion and is convinced of the correctness of his path, such would never be swayed by tribulations or sorrows. This was the stand of the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, when he was antagonized by his close relatives and he was expelled, besieged, forsaken and an attempt was made on his life. Even a confederation was formed to fight him. But all this never prevented him from working towards achieving his goal until the religion of Allaah was brought to perfection. Some of his companions were shackled with iron chains; some had their limbs cut and some were severely persecuted. They were all touched with difficulties and calamities and they were shaken, but all that only increased them in faith and steadfastness. Allaah says about them,

“Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allaah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [to the death], and among them is he who awaits [his chance]. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitments] by any alteration.”

(Al-Ahzaab 33:23)

This is the result of faith and certainty; and this is the effect of having trust in Allaah, and that is the way followed by the righteous predecessors who follow the companions.

Let me give you the stand of Imaam Ahmad during his trial as an example. He was able to stand firm due to his deep-rooted belief in his cause. As for those who are doubtful of their cause and those who have weak faith, they are those, whenever any calamity comes upon them, start blaming their religion and they start casting doubt on its fundamentals. If only they were wise, they would have tried to review their way of practicing their religion, they would have known that the religion of Allaah is complete and that there is no real reform in any place, at any time and in any circumstances without it. Allaah says,

“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and approved for you Islaam as religion.”

(Al-Maaidah 5:3)

Allaah also says,

“And whoever desires other than Islaam as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.”

(Aal Imraan 3:85)

The problem however lies in either ignorance and inability to implement Islaam properly, or in the desire and whims that prevent the implementation of that in all aspects of life. These are the two things that make the hypocrites attack Islaam and Muslims at a time in which the Muslims are in dire need of being steadfast in their religion and upholding to their identity and unity. It is therefore a blessing of Allaah that the leaders of this country do proclaim whenever there is a calamity and crisis that the country shall always adhere to the correct religion of Islaam and refuse to compromise on its fundamentals, as they also emphasize its readiness to defend these basics with souls and valuables.

Fellow Muslims! The entire society needs to demonstrate a greater interest in affirming the fundamentals of this religion far from extremism and negligence. The proper affirmation of the meanings of faith, certainty and trust in Allaah leads to righteous deeds, allegiance to the religion of Islaam and steadfastness how severe the calamities are.

The Islaamic countries had undergone many calamities and trials like the fall of the rightly guided caliphate, the fall of Abbasid and Umayyad caliphates and other political setbacks, but all that never caused the Muslims to have doubt in the truthfulness of their religion and did never cause them to look up to the ideologies and ways of life of their enemies, which contradict their religion. They saw the truth as regards the faith, the conduct and the way of life only in the religion of Allaah. This is the real meaning of superiority that is mentioned in the Word of Allaah:

“So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.”

(Aal ‘Imraan 3:139)

This means, you will have glory and upper hand through faith and steadfastness not true conquest. Allaah says,

“Then We put you [O Muhammad], on an ordained way concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know. Indeed they will never avail you against Allaah at all. And indeed the wrongdoers are allies of one another, but Allaah is the Protector of the righteous.”

(Al-Jaathiyah 45:18-19)

Brethren in faith! Among the elements of steadfastness on the religion of Allaah is adherence to the injunctions of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah. The Messenger of Allaah said, “I am leaving two things for you, if you adhere to them you will never go astray: the Book of Allaah and my Sunnah.” Allaah says,

“And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allaah and His Messenger, if you should believe in Allaah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.”

(An-Nisaa 4:59)

This verse means that you should let the Qur’aan and the Sunnah be the judge among you. This basic principle also entails emulating the righteous predecessors of this Ummah such as the companions of the Prophet the leaders of whom are the rightly guided caliphs: Aboo Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmaan and ‘Alee and those who followed their path. The Prophet said, “Adhere to my way and the way of the righteous and the rightly guided successors after me. Hold on to that tenaciously.”

The above also implies giving support to the righteous scholars and sincere callers to the way of Allaah. The scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets they are the light in the darkness and they are the most guided people. So adhere to their company.

Among the elements of steadfastness is staying with the congregation of the Muslims and staying away from the crises. That was the Prophet’s admonition to Hudhayfah bin Al-Yamaan as reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

Verification of information, shunning rumors, guarding your utterances and keeping away from issues that are not of any concern to you are also qualities that should be adopted at all times, particularly during crises. “It is enough a sin for a man to narrate all that he hears.”

Finally, making frequent and incessant supplication to Allaah helps to remain steadfast, for man is always in need of his Lord. One of the supplications that the Messenger of Allaah used to make is, “Yaa Muqallibal-quloob, thabbit qalbee ‘alaa deenik”, meaning: “O You Who moves hearts, make my heart remain firm on Your religion.” When he was asked about this supplication, he said, “There is no man without his heart being between two of the Fingers of Allaah. So He keeps whomever He wants straight and He lets whomever He wants deviate.”

We must also do a lot of remembrance of Allaah, for the remembrance of Allaah has wonderful benefits. Allaah says,

“O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allaah that you may be successful.”

(Al-Anfaal 8:45)

Source:
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Relief through Supplication

Shaykh Saalih bin Muhammad Al Talib [(Muharram 18, 1424 (March 21, 2003)]





All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Prophet, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and be dutiful to Him. Stay away from sins. For sins destroy. Know that you have a Lord Whom you are going to meet and a house in which you are going to live after your death. Seek the pleasure of your Lord before you meet Him and properly build your house before you move into it.

Fellow Muslims! We are the ummah of Qur’aan and Sunnah, the ummah of divine guidance. We are the ummah of the right path but we did not stay on this path.

Brethren in faith! All hardships and tribulations that afflict the Muslims are just like whips that drive them back to Eemaan and Tawheed. They remind them of Allaah the Almighty; they encourage them to turn back to Him in repentance and to fear the Day of Judgement. Allaah says:

“See they not that they are tried once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine)? Yet, they turn not in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson (from it).”

(At-Tawbah 9:126)

Materialism has prevailed over the hearts of many people, and as a result they see nothing except in the light of materials. It is when man keeps away from the light of Eemaan and his relationship with Allaah becomes weak that his soul lives in spiritual isolation and his heart becomes hardened. He then lives a disturbed and fearful life. All this is a result of his abandonment of the real source of life and his forgetfulness of Allaah. He forgets that it is Allaah Who created the soul and Who knows the means by which it lives. The life is not that of the body but of the soul. Allaah says,

“Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance and disbelief) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men - like him who is in the darkness (of disbelief, polytheism and hypocrisy) from which he can never come out?”

(Al-An‘aam 6:122)

Hence, belief in Allaah is the source of security and peace. And the hearts that are devoid of Eemaan are always far from Allaah and are full of fright and confusion.

Fellow Muslims! When a man’s heart is full of Eemaan, he knows his place of refuge and the remedy for his ailments. For this life is based on toil and man is seldom free from dangers. He suffers ailments and calamities; sorrows and wars; injustice and transgression and all kinds of tribulations. However, Allaah is Ever Compassionate with His slaves. He always provides for them relief through a door of His mercy and blesses them with tranquillity and peace of mind. That door is the door of supplication to Allaah, humbling oneself before Him and putting one’s trust in Him. For supplications are the security of the frightened, the refuge of the weak and the solace of invocators. Who is He that has sought refuge with Allaah and has not been protected and who is he that has relied on Him and has not been given guidance?

Supplication is the essence of worship. Allaah says,

“And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship (i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!”

(Ghaafir 40:60)

He also says,

“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:186)

Supplication is the dearest thing to Allaah. It is the way to patience in the cause of Allaah. It is a sign of sincere dependence on Allaah and keeping away from incapacity and laziness. It is an easy-to-make act of worship and it can be done at all places and times. Allaah tells us that Prophet Ibraaheem said,

“And I shall turn away from you and from those whom you invoke besides Allaah. And I shall call on my Lord and I hope that I shall not be unblessed in my invocation to my Lord.”

(Maryam 19:48)

Many are the afflictions that have been removed by supplications! Many are the sins that have been forgiven through invocations! And many are the blessings that have been endowed through supplications! The Messenger of Allaah said, “What has been destined cannot be prevented from happening. Invocation is helpful in things that have happened and things that have not happened. Calamity and supplication sometimes meet and engage in duel till the Day of Resurrection.” (Al-Haakim)

Supplication is the worship of the Prophets. Allaah says about them,

“Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.”

(Al-Anbiyaa 21:90)

The Messenger of Allaah said, “No Muslim makes a supplication in which there is no sin or severing of the tie of kinship except that Allaah gives him by that one of three things: He gives him what he asked for immediately or He saves for him by that supplication some reward (which He gives him on the Day of Resurrection) or He saves him from a calamity which is equivalent to the supplication he made.” The companions then said: ‘We will then make more supplications.’ The Messenger of Allaah replied: “And Allaah also will give more.” (Ahmad)

When Prophet Ibraaheem called upon Allaah after he was thrown into fire, Allaah commanded the fire saying:

"O fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibraaheem (Abraham)!”

(Al-Anbiyaa 21:69)

Allaah also says about Prophet Ayyoob,

“And (remember) Ayyoob (Job), when he cried to his Lord: "Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show mercy. So We answered his call, and We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had lost) and the like thereof along with them, as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all those who worship Us.”

(Al-Anbiyaa 21:83-84)

He says about Prophet Yoonus,

“So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allaah, abstain from evil and work righteousness).”

(Al-Anbiyaa 21:88)

And about Prophet Zakariyya He says,

“And (remember) Zakariyya (Zechariah), when he cried to his Lord: "O My Lord! Leave me not single (childless), though You are the Best of the inheritors. So We answered his call, and We bestowed upon him Yahyaa (John), and cured his wife (to bear a child) for him.”

(Al-Anbiyaa 21:89-90)

O you who is afflicted with calamities! O you who has been weakened by ailments! O you who have been overwhelmed by debts! Why don’t you call upon Allaah the Self-Sufficient and the Most Gracious? O you who have been submerged by sins! Why can’t you call upon Allaah the Oft-Forgiving to forgive you? O you who lives in fear and distress! Why can’t you call upon Allaah to give you relief?

Brethren in Islaam! The nation of Islaam has experienced many crises and hardships and it was only through sincere return to Allaah that it was able overcome those hardships. Allaah says,

“Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you (O Muhammad) And We seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss in health (with calamities) so that they might humble themselves (believe with humility). When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not humble themselves (believe with humility)? But their hearts became hardened.”

(Al-An’aam 6:42)

Even some ancient polytheists would sincerely call upon Allaah alone whenever they were faced with calamities.

The Muslim nation is now in dire need of the mercy of its Lord as it is in need of His help. Let us return to Allaah, invoke His blessings and hope for His mercy.

Fellow Muslims! Supplication has its condition and manners, which every Muslim must learn in order to have his supplications answered. Foremost among these is that the intention and means of supplication should be compatible with Islaamic Monotheism. It is this condition that makes supplication an act of worship that must be solely directed to Allaah alone. Man must call, seek assistance from and seek refuge with Allaah alone. He must seek forgiveness, victory, guidance, realization of his goals and aid from Allaah alone. He should ask only Allaah for the removal of his afflictions and for security against all evils.

All these are rights of Allaah over His slaves. Man must call upon Allaah alone. For neither does slumber or sleep overtakes Him. It is He alone who hears the supplication of the supplicants wherever they are and whichever language they speak. He is never distracted by a slave whom he listens to from listening to another and He is never annoyed because of the multitude of those who call upon Him. He alone has the power to give benefit or harm.

It is therefore an act of associating partners with Him to call upon the dead, the angels, the jinn and others besides Him. He says about Himself,

“He is the Ever Living. None has the right to be worshipped but He; so invoke Him making your worship pure for Him Alone (by worshipping Him Alone, and none else, and by doing righteous deeds sincerely for Allaah’s sake only, and not to show off, and not setting up rivals with Him in worship).”

(Ghaafir 40:65)

The observer of the invocations of the Prophets will notice that Tawheed characterizes them. An example of this is the invocation made by Prophet Yoonus,

“He cried through the darkness (saying): None has the right to be worshipped but You (O, Allaah) Glorified (and Exalted) are You (above all that (evil) they associate with You). Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.”

(Al-Anbiyaa 21:87)

Allaah answered his supplication through Tawheed.

Brethren in Islaam! The supplicant should make sure that he follows the Sunnah while making the supplication. He should call upon Allaah with His sublime Names and Attributes. He should seek for His forgiveness and acknowledge His favour on him. It is good if he starts his supplication with praising Allaah as it is due and invoking His blessing on His Prophet, Muhammad –peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him. The supplicant should also not transgress while making supplication nor be in haste to have his supplication answered. He should also not despair. For the One he calls is the Graceful Lord.

Further, the supplicant must be a sincere believer. He should face the qiblah while making the supplication and should be sure that he is in the state of purity. He should raise his hands to Allaah. He should be resolute in his supplication, supplicate at the times when invocations are most likely answered and select the supplications that are authentically reported from the Prophet. He should also not forget to make a sadaqah before his supplication. If he can do all these, his supplication will never be rejected. If he however does not see a sign of the acceptance of his supplication, let him examine himself.

The Messenger of Allaah said, “O you people! Allaah is Pure and does not accept but only that which is pure. He indeed commands the believer with that which He commanded the Messengers. He says: ‘

“O (you) Messengers! Eat of the lawful foods (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables, fruits, etc.), and do righteous deeds. Verily! I am Well-Acquainted with what you do.”

(Al-Mu’minoon 23:51)

And He commands the believers saying:

“O you who believe! Eat of the lawful things that We have provided you with, and be grateful to Allaah, if it is indeed He Whom you worship.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:172)

The Messenger of Allaah then mentioned a man who was on a long journey, and he was shoeless and dust-covered. He was raising his hands to heavens saying: O my Lord! O my Lord!’ while his food, drink, dress and nourishment were all from unlawful sources. How could his supplication be answered?” (Muslim)

Brethren in faith! Listen to this call from your Lord:

“Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors. And do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope. Surely, Allaah’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers.”

(Al-A‘raaf 7:55-56)

Fellow Muslims! Whoever fears Allaah in times of ease Allaah, Allaah will stand by him in times of hardship. Allaah says about Prophet Yoonus when the whale swallowed him:

“Had he not been of them who glorify Allaah, He would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection.”

(As-Saaffaat 37:143-144)

Which means: Had it not been for the good deeds that he had done before, he would have been made to remain in the belly of the whale till the Day of Resurrection.

The Muslim must therefore remain steadfast during afflictions and return to Allaah in repentance.

Brethren in Islaam! We are also in dire need of uniting our ranks and removing our differences. For disunity is the cause of failure. Allaah says,

“O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allaah much (both with tongue and mind), so that you may be successful. And obey Allaah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allaah is with those who are patient.”

(Al-Anfaal 8:45-46)

Fellow Muslims! Let us always follow the teachings of Qur’aan and Sunnah. It is the duty of the scholars to teach people and direct them to all that can benefit them and remove their distress. They should remind people of Allaah and teach them the importance of unity and the harm of disunity.

Source:
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Muhammad : Mercy to Mankind

Shaykh Saalih Muhammad Aal Taalib [(Rabee‘ul-awwal 8, 1424 (May 9, 2003)]






All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and seek for His mercy by being dutiful to Him. Allaah says,

“O you who believe! Fear Allaah, and believe in His Messenger (Muhammad (peace be upon him)) He will give you a double portion of His Mercy, and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight), and He will forgive you. And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

(Al-Hadeed 57:28)

Brethren in faith! Fear Allaah and do not incline to this world and its adornments. For this world is a temporary abode in which both righteous and sinful have their sustenance. The Hereafter is a true appointed time in which the Lord, Who is Omnipotent, shall judge between truth and falsehood.

Fellow Muslims! In this time of despair and hardship, a time in which values and concepts have been turned upside down, a time in which the powerful suppresses the weak and the rich the poor, a time that civilizations clash, the Muslims are seriously in need of affirming their civilization that is based on noble concepts. It is through these noble concepts that the Ummah’s injuries can be healed.

The world communities have never been in a greater need to realize the defects that are in their civilizations as they are today. They need to know the defects of their systems of life. It is time for them to ask themselves the causes of their problems and the misery, which their civilizations have caused. They need to know the causes of widespread distress and anxiety that have overwhelmed their lives.

These are just some of the questions whose answer is provided by the Glorious Qur’aan. Allaah says,

“But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’aan nor acts on its teachings.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection. He will say: "O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I had sight (before)." (Allaah) will say: "Like this: Our signs came unto you, but you disregarded them (i.e. you left them, did not think deeply in them, and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected (in the Hell-fire, away from Allaah's Mercy).”

(Taa Haa 20:124-126)

Dear brother! If you reflect on the life history of the Messenger of Allaah, you will find it full of noble qualities in concept and practice. This is why the civilization of his religion is the only civilization that brought happiness to the world.

‘Aaishah narrated that she asked the Prophet, 'Have you encountered a day harder than the day (of the battle) of Uhud?" The Prophet replied, "Your tribes have troubled me a lot, and the worse trouble was the trouble on the day of 'Aqaba when I presented myself to Ibn 'Abd-Yalail bin 'Abd-Kulal and he did not respond to my demand. So I departed, overwhelmed with excessive sorrow, and proceeded on, and could not relax till I found myself at Qarnath-Tha-alib where I lifted my head towards the sky to see a cloud shading me unexpectedly. I looked up and saw Gabriel in it. He called me saying, 'Allah has heard your people's saying to you, and what they have replied back to you, Allah has sent the Angel of the Mountains to you so that you may order him to do whatever you wish to these people.' The Angel of the Mountains called and greeted me, and then said, "O Muhammad! Order what you wish. If you like, I will let Al-Akh-Shabain (i.e. two mountains) fall on them." The Prophet said, "No but I hope that Allah will let them beget children who will worship Allah Alone, and will worship none besides Him.” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

When the people of Makkah made things difficult for him, persecuted him and his companions and injured his face, he could still be heard saying while wiping blood off his face, “O Allaah! Forgive my people for they know not what they are doing.”

Fellow Muslims! It is with this mercy and compassion that the Messenger of Allaah was sent. And it is with mercy and compassion that he treated all his opponents and companions alike. Mercy is an attribute of Allaah. He is the Compassionate, the Merciful. And He is Kind with His creatures. He sent His Messenger with kindness and He says,

“And We have sent you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) not but as a mercy for all the worlds.”

(Al-Anbiyaa 21:107)

The Prophet also brought the law of Islaam based on the principle of compassion. Allaah says,

“Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad (peace be upon him)) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad (peace be upon him)) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allaah, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire); for the believers (he peace be upon him is) full of pity, kind, and merciful.”

(At-Tawbah 9:128)

The Prophet would feel seriously hurt by whatever was harmful to his nation. He was never given an option to choose between two things except that he chose the easier as long as it was not forbidden. On many occasions he had said, “Had I not found it hard for my followers or the people, I would have ordered so and so or I would have done so and so.” Sometimes, he would want to prolong prayer and yet would shorten it when he heard the crying of a baby because he understood how upset his mother would be.

Brethren in faith! Compassion is a quality of manliness. Compassion is a quality that emanates from a merciful heart. It is a quality of the Prophets and a sign of perfect Eemaan and Islaam. Allaah says,

“Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allaah. And those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves.”

(Muhammad 48:29)

Usaamah bin Zayd said, “We were with the Prophet when one of his daughters sent (a messenger) to the him requesting him to come as her child was dying (or was gasping), but the Prophet returned the messenger and told him to convey his greeting to her and say: "Whatever Allah takes is for Him and whatever He gives, is for Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world) and so she should be patient and hope for Allah's reward." She again sent for him, swearing that he should come. The Prophet got up, and so did Sad bin 'Ubada, Muadh bin Jabal, Ubai bin Ka'b, Zaid bin Thabit and some other men. The child was brought to Allah's Apostle while his breath was disturbed in his chest (the sub-narrator thinks that Usama added): as if it was a leather water-skin. On that the eyes of the Prophet started shedding tears. Sad said, "O Allah's Apostle! What is this?" He replied, "It is mercy which Allah has lodged in the hearts of His slaves, and Allah is merciful only to those of His slaves who are merciful (to others).” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

Compassion breeds love and affection among people. Compassion is a delight of the heart and the way to Paradise. The Messenger of Allaah said, “People of Paradise are three: (1) a leader who is generous, spends in charity and is guided to the right course; (2) a man who is compassionate, kind to every relative and every Muslim and (3) a poor person who is virtuous and has dependants.” (Muslim)

Compassion softens the heart and leads man to be kind to even animals and birds. Abdullaah bin Mas‘ood said, “We were with the Messenger of Allaah on a journey. While he went to ease himself, we saw a redstart[1] with two chicks and we took them. The redstart then came, spreading out her wings. When the Messenger of Allaah arrived (and saw the bird) he said, “Who bereaved this with her children? Return her chicks back to her.” (Aboo Daawood)

Abdullaah bin Ja‘far narrated that the Messenger of Allaah entered the compound of an Ansaaree man. And there here was a camel there. When the camel saw the Prophet, it longed for him, groaned and shed tears. The Messenger of Allaah approached it and wiped off its tears and it became quiet. He then said, “Who is the owner of this camel? ” Who is the owner of this camel?” A young Ansaaree man came and said, “It is me O Messenger of Allaah!” The Prophet then said, “Won’t you fear Allaah as regards this animal which Allaah put under your possession? It complained to me that you starve it and overburden it.” (Aboo Daawood)

This is the Prophet’s reaction to the maltreatment of animals. Imagine how he would have reacted to a person who harmed humans, usurped the rights of the poor and did not treat children and old people with compassion. The Prophet said, “Allaah will show mercy to those who show mercy to people. Show mercy to those who are on the earth, the One Who is in the Heaven will show mercy to you.”

The Prophet also said, “You see the believers as regards their being merciful among themselves and showing love among themselves and being kind, resembling one body, so that, if any part of the body is not well then the whole body shares the sleeplessness (insomnia) and fever with it.”

As for compassion that Islaam shows in the area legislations, that is a very long topic. All aspects of Islaamic law are rather compassionate in their goals, means and applications.

Fellow Muslims! This is the mercy with which the Messenger of Allaah was sent. Our religion is that of compassion in times of war and peace. It is a religion of kindness towards enemies and friends, animals and birds. It is a religion of compassion in worship, cooperation and judgment and in all aspects of its law.

Words are not enough to describe how compassionate the Prophet was. Compare this to the so-called civilizations that are being claimed and that are in the real sense devoid of compassion and justice. Compare it to civilizations that do not, in victory, respect any pact of kinship or covenant of protection with a believer and that strive through the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allaah does not like corruption.

The Prophet found excuse for his people though they wanted to kill him. He was compassionate to them though they were fighting him. He wanted guidance and happiness for them. In our age on the contrary, the so-called leaders of modern civilization, who have no regard for compassion, claim to be compassionate. They find excuses for aggression and concoct lies to justify wars, killings, destruction and corruption.

“And when it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only peace-makers." Verily! They are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not.”

(Al-Baqarah 2:11-12)

It is therefore an act of compassion to rein in these people. And to be severe with them is part of the mercy that Islaam spreads.

Brethren in faith! Man has not excelled above other creatures by his mere physical size or strength. There are other creatures that are greater than him in power and size. He only excelled by his heart, soul, intelligence and feelings. It is not a matter of pride that man should be stern and severe, but real pride lies in excellent characters and sublime dispositions. This is shown through qualities like gentleness, compassion, graciousness and kindness. Allaah says,

“And by the Mercy of Allaah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allaah's) Forgiveness for them; and consult them in the affairs.”

(Aal ‘Imraan 3:159)

Brethren in Islaam! Emulate the pure characters of your Prophet and hold fast onto the lofty principles of your religion.

Fellow Muslims! Compassion is a sign of humility. It also removes arrogance. Compassion means doing good to all, assisting the needy and being kind to the kith and kin. It also entails showing sympathy for the weak, the sick, the disabled and the orphans by making them happy. Compassion entails helping the wronged and reining in the devilish people. Compassion means feeling concerned about the affairs of fellow Muslims, sharing their pains and aspirations and coming to their aid. It also entails enjoining good, forbidding evil, and teaching the Muslims the goals of being compassionate. The Messenger of Allaah said, “The example of me and you is like that of a man who kindled a fire. Grasshoppers and butterflies start falling into the fire and the man continue protecting them against it. I am holding you back from falling into the fire and you are slipping off my hand.” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)


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[1] A kind of bird.



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Islam is the Extension and Completion of previous Revelations

Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib [(Muharram 7, 1425 (February 27, 2004)]





All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and be dutiful lo Him. Remember that this worldly life will come to an end and that the Hereafter is the everlasting abode. Allaah says,

"Whosoever does an evil deed, will not be requited except the like thereof; and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a true believer (in the Oneness of Allaah), such will enter Paradise, where they will be provided therein (with all things in abundance) without limit."

(Ghaafir 40:40)

Dear Muslims! In the past and before the start of the creation, there was Allaah alone and nothing was with Him. He is the First without beginning and the last without end. He is the Ascendant above Whom is nothing and He is Intimate and nothing is nearer than Him. He is the creator of the creation. He created the angels who never disobey His commands but implement them. He created the jinn and concealed them from the eyes of mankind and He created Adam with His two noble Hands. He created from Adam the rest of mankind. Allaah says,

"And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). I seek not any provision from them (i.e. provision for themselves or for My creatures) nor do I ask that they should feed Me (i.e. feed themselves or My creatures). Verily, Allaah is the All-Provider, Owner of Power, the Most Strong."

(Adh-Dhaariyaat 51:56-58)

Allaah is Self-Sufficient, may He be purified from all imperfections.

Adam is the first man and the first Prophet. Allaah commanded him with Islaamic monotheism and to purify all acts of worship for Him alone. He ordained for him His laws and He successively gave Prophethood to his progeny so that the Prophets might lead mankind and guide them to the true religion which He has chosen for them.

Mankind had been on this guidance. They were all upon the religion of Islaam and monotheism because of their continuous following of the Prophets one after another. They had been on Islaamic monotheism and worshipping Allaah alone until Satan misled them and made them deviate from the true religion and the right path. That was before Allaah sent Prophet Noah. Ibn 'Abbaas said, "There were ten generations between Adam and Noah. All of them were upon Islaam. When disagreement occurred among them as regards their religion and they abandoned obedience to their Prophets and adherence to the divine guidance, they adopted deities that they worshipped besides Allaah like Wadd, Yaghooth, Ya'ooq and Nasr. These false deities were righteous men when they were alive. Their people made their statues after their death in order to remember them and to worship Allaah more whenever they saw their statues. But when the makers of these statues died, those who came after them revered these idols until they worshipped them. It was then that Allaah sent the first Messenger, Noah, to the earth. Prophet Noah spent nine hundred and fifty years among these people calling them to Islaamic monotheism and to the worship of Allaah alone but none responded to his call but a few.

After him, Allaah sent Messengers to people and whenever a Messenger came, his people denied him. Some of these Messengers were: Hood and Saalih. Other types of polytheism like worshipping of stars then became widespread in the land until there were no more monotheists on the earth except Prophet Ibraaheem, his wife Sarah and his nephew Prophet Noah. Allaah then sent His Messenger who is leader of the monotheists the father of the Prophets and the foundation of pure faith Prophet Ibraaheem the friend of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him. So Allaah removed with him those evils. With him He obliterated idols and destroyed the tyrants. Allaah then blessed him with two noble sons who were Prophets, Ishmael and Isaac. Peace be upon them.

Ishmael rose among Jur'hum, 'Amaaleeq, Hijaaz and Yaman; and Isaac was raised up in Syria and its environs. Allaah made among the descendants of Isaac Jacob, then Joseph, Moses, Aron, Yoonus, David, Solomon, Zachariah, Yahya and Jesus, peace be upon them. Prophet Moses was sent with a book which Torah and Prophet Moses was sent with Injeel.

Since Prophets are mortal human beings and the bearers of knowledge after them were also prone to forgetfulness and error, Allaah did not guarantee the everlasting of their messages and did not guarantee the protection of their books out of a reason best known to Him.

Allaah has revealed glad tiding of the advent of a noble Prophet and the last Messenger to all previous Prophets. The message of this Prophet was to be everlasting and the Book to be revealed to him would be divinely protected. He would be the bearer of the trust that the previous Prophets have borne. Hence, if mankind adheres to the teachings of this Prophet it will attain salvation and if it denies him that means denial of the previous Prophets and Messengers. This Messenger is none other than Muhammad the son of Abdullaah, with whom Allaah sent the most complete and most comprehensive message. He called to the religion of Abraham and the religion of other Messengers before him. That is to worship Allaah alone and not to associate any partner with Him and to purify the religion for Him.

Allaah then purified the earth from idols after most people had been worshipping others besides Allaah.

Muhammad is the good news prophesied by Jesus and the previous Prophets. The malicious scholars among the people of the Book had tried to erase these prophesies from their books or to alter or to misinterpret them, though these applied to none but Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam. Then Allaah guided many Jewish rabbis and Christian priests to Islaam because they sought for nothing but the truth.

Dear brethren! When one takes a keen look at history of Prophets and Messengers from Adam to Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon them all, one will realize that their religion is one and their straight path is one. Allaah says,

"Truly, the religion with Allaah is Islaam."

(Aal 'Imraan 3:19)

All these Messengers were sent with the comprehensive religion that teaches that none should be worshipped but Allaah alone. They were also sent to people in order to guide them towards this religion, to inform them of the life after death, to tell them of resurrection, reckoning and recompense. This is the unity of messages of all Messengers. It is the meaning of the Prophet's statement, "We, the Prophets are [like] children of the same father who have with different mothers but have the same religion." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

The general rule is that the religion of all Prophets is one but their practical laws are different. Yet all of them are from Allaah. This is also the general meaning of Islaam: unity of the foundation and differences in practical laws. No Prophet ever called to anything but Tawheed. Allaah tells His Messenger Muhammad,

"And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) but We revealed to him (saying): none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allaah)) so worship Me (Alone and none else)."

(Al-Anbiyaa 21:25)

Allaah also said,

"And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allaah (Alone), and avoid all false deities."

(An-Nahl 16:36)

Allaah also never ordained that any Prophet should be worshiped besides Him. Allaah says,

"It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allaah has given the Book and Al-Hukm (the knowledge and understanding of the laws of religion) and Prophethood to say to the people: "Be my worshippers rather than Allaah's." On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbaniyun (learned men of religion who practice what they know and also preach others), because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it." Nor would he order you to take angels and Prophets for lords (gods). Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted to Allaah's Will?"

(Aal 'Imraan 3:79-80)

Allaah has also ordained for the religion of Islaam that He had ordained for the Messengers before us. He says,

"He (Allaah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islaamic Monotheism) which He ordained for Nooh (Noah), and that which We have revealed to you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) and that which We ordained for Ibraaheem (Abraham), Moosaa (Moses) and 'Eesaa (Jesus) saying you should establish religion (i.e. to do what it orders you to do practically), and make no divisions in it (religion) (i.e. various sects in religion)."

(Ash-Shooraa 42:13)

It is because of this that Prophet Jacob gathered his children before he died to be assured of the path they were going to follow after his death. Allaah says,

"Or were you witnesses when death approached Ya'qûb (Jacob)? When he said unto his sons, "What will you worship after me?" They said, "We shall worship your God – (Allaah), the God of your fathers, Ibraaheem (Abraham), Ismaa'eel (Ishmael), Ishaaq (Isaac), One God, and to Him we submit (in Islaam)."

(Al-Baqarah 2:133)

Allaah also rebuked the Jews and the Christians on their excessive veneration of their Prophets and their worshipping of other things besides Allaah and He called their act polytheism. He says,

"And the Jews say: 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allaah, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allaah. That is their saying with their mouths, resembling the saying of those who disbelieved aforetime. Allaah's Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth! They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allaah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allaah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary), while they (Jews and Christians) were commanded (in the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)) to worship none but One Ilâh (God - Allaah) Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). Praise and glory is to Him, (far above is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)."

(At-Tawbah 9:30-31)

Allaah also says,

"Surely, they have disbelieved who say: "Allaah is the Messiah ('Isâ (Jesus)) son of Maryam (Mary)." But the Messiah ('Isâ (Jesus)) said: "O Children of Israel! Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord." Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allaah, then Allaah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers."

(Al-Maaidah 5:72)

He also says,

"O people of the ure! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allaah aught but the truth. The Messiah 'Eesaa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allaah and His Word, ("Be!" - and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit created by Him; so believe in Allaah and His Messengers. Say not: "Three (trinity)!" Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allaah is (the only) One Ilâh (God), Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son."

(An-Nisaa 4:171)

It is on these ancient foundations and this belief that Islaam, the best and the last divine message was based.

As for Islaamic law, it is the most perfect divine law and the most comprehensive. It is also the law that abrogated previous laws.

After all this, is it not the time for the people of the Book to believe that the law of Islaam is the continuation of divine laws and that Islaam is the religion that Allaah chosen for all mankind from the time of Muhammad till the Last Hour? Allaah says,

"And whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers."

(Aal 'Imraan 3:85)

Is there any religion that makes belief in all divine books and in all Prophets and Messengers a pillar of its faith? Even Allaah's Messenger asserted that he and his companions had greater right to the previous Prophets than those who claimed to be their followers. He told Madeenah Jews, "We have greater right to [Prophet] Moses more than you." With this statement, he made it clear that the source of all Messengers and their messages is one and that it is the only way that leads to Allaah.

Another fact is that for the past fifteen hundred years, history has never recorded a single Muslim scholar who embraced Judaism or Christianity though it has recorded scores of Jewish rabbis and Christian priests and others who have embraced the light of Islaam, the religion that Allaah has chosen for all mankind. So Allaah gave them their reward two-fold.

We are therefore, calling on all non-Muslims, from the pulpit of the Sacred House built by Prophet Abraham and which Prophets Moses and Jesus visited for pilgrimage, to submit to Allaah in monotheism. Embrace Islaam, you will be saved. Embrace Islaam, you will have your reward twice. If you do not embrace Islaam, you will bear your own sins and the sins of those who follow you in ignorance. We are calling you to embrace the truth and to study Islaam with sincerity. Islaam is the only true religion sent with the Prophet of guidance, Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam. It is a religion that is free of innovations and imperfections. Allaah says,

"Say (O Muhammad: "O people of the ure (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just between us and you, that we worship none but Allaah (Alone), and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allaah. Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims."

(Aal 'Imraan 3:64)

Brethren in faith! One of the things that bring misery to mankind is the system of using religion on the path of some politician to suppress other nations and lord it over the followers of other religions as done by the Zionists in their exploitation of Judaism or by some governments who claim secularism with Christianity. They occupied countries under the guise of religion though they deny that. The religious scholars of those religions are duty bound to explain the truth to their governments and tell them that what they are doing is against the teachings of their religion, so that their citizens who are used in these oppressions will know the truth that their leaders are just using them as tools to promote their personal interests and goals that are contradictory to both religion and moral.

Certainly, the clergy's silence or indirect condemnation of what the political leaders are doing can cause the so-called clash of civilization. The racist wall that is being built in Palestine is an evidence of that.

Brethren in Islaam! It is compulsory that Muslims should increase in certainty about their religion. They must bear it in mind that they are upon the only true religion which is Islaam. They also need to believe that the Qur'aan is the last divinely revealed Book; that their Prophet, Muhammad is the last Messenger; that their law is the last divine law and that Allaah will accept no religion from anyone except Islaam. Nothing of all this should be compromised if lives are at stake.

We are saying all this because; we are now at a time when some defeatists among the Muslims are advocating for gap-bridging between abrogated and adulterated laws and between Islaam. We are also saying this at a time when some people of weak faith belief that the correct religion includes all faiths as if they are oblivious of the saying of Allaah that goes thus,

"And whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers."

(Aal 'Imraan 3:85)

Where did these people put the verses of the Qur'aan? Do they not read Soorahs Al-Faatihah, Al-Baqarah and Aal-'Imraan, An-Nisaa nad Al-Maaidah? If some people are calling towards religious reform, what we, as Muslims need is going back to the fundamentals of our religion. That is the reform that the Sunnah teaches us.

Fellow Muslims! Know that fasting on the tenth of Muharram expiates for the sins of two years, so fast on that day and a day before or a day after it. That is the Sunnah of your Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam, for he observed fasting on that day to show gratitude to Allaah for saving Prophet Moosaa on that day from Pharaoh and his hosts.

It is however sad, that some people who call themselves Muslims turn this day into a permanent annual anniversary in which they perform all kinds of activities that has nothing to do with religion and in which they blindly follow the erroneous element. How I wish these people correct their actions and follow the path of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wasallam.



Source:
http://www.islamiczone2.netfirms.com..._04_Taalib.htm

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[BintAbee]

:sl:

Hajj: Actualization of Tawheed

Shaykh Saalih bin Muhammad Al Talib [(Dhul-Hijjah 13, 1424 (February 14, 2003)]






All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.



Fellow Muslims! Visitors to the Sacred House of Allaah! You are today in the last days of Tashreeq. You have entered into ihraam, made talbiyah, stayed in Arafaat, passed a night at Muzdalifah, passed nights in Mina, thrown the pebbles,stood in front of the Ancient House, run between Safaa and Marwah and pereformed all other rites of hajj seeking blessings from Allaah.



Allaahu akbar, many sins have been forgiven, many requests have been granted and many invocations have been accepted. May Allaah accept acts of worship from you and us.



Indeed, performing rites of hajj is a great blessing upon which we must thank Him Who bestowed it. All praise is due to Allaah for His hidden and clear favour.

You must however know dear brethren, that real gratitude to Allaah for His favours lies in following His commandments, abstaining from His prohibitions and being afraid from His tribulations. Gratitude should be shown orally by praising Allaah, from the heart by loving Him and submitting to Him and on the limbs by surrendering to His wills. The Muslim must be grateful to Allaah at all times though that gratefulness is more emphasized in these days.

Brethren in Faith! The greatest commandment of Allaah is Tawheed (Islaamic Monotheism) and the greatest thing that He forbids is ascribing partners to Him. He has showered His blessings on us by bringing us to existence and providing for us. How can we then thank others besides Him? He says in His Glorious Book:



“O men! Call to mind the grace of Allah unto you! is there a Creator, other than Allah, to give you sustenance from heaven or earth? There is no god but He: how then are ye deluded a way from the Truth?”

(Faatir 35:3)



Hajj is a school and the best lesson lessons learnt thereof is Islaamic Monotheism. It is rather its very purpose. Jaabir who narrated the Prophet’s hajj said: “The Messenger of Allaah then proclaimed the Word of Monotheism for his hajj.” (Muslim)



Talbiyah means belief in the Oneness of Allaah and putting off one’s clothes for Ihraam means freeing oneself from everything but Allaah alone. All rites of hajj are therefore Tawheed. Allaah says,



“That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade), and mention the Name of Allaah on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah).”

(Al-Hajj 22:28)



The Messenger of Allaah also said, “The best invocation is that of the day of Arafah and the best thing that I and the Prophets before me said is the word: ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah wahdahoo laa shareeka lah, lahul-mulk walahul-hamd wahuwa alaa kulli shay’in qadeer.” Meaning: ‘No deity has the right to be worshipped but Allaah alone. He has no partner. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise and He has power over all things.”



Aaishah also said, “Indeed, throwing the pebbles at Jamaraat and running between Safaa and Marwah are only ordained for the remembrance of Allaah.” (At-Tirmidhee)



Even the Ka‘abah itself is established upon Tawheed. Allaah says,



“And (remember) when We showed Ibraaheem (Abraham) the site of the (Sacred) House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) (saying): "Associate not anything (in worship) with Me.”

(Al-Hajj 22:28)



In hajj, people of all tongues, races and colours gather in the same situation and performing the same rites. They all proclaim the statement of Monotheism and affirm that all acts of worship are sincerely for Allaah alone. They also affirm their renunciation of shirk in line with the clear statement of the Glorious Qur’aan that says,



“And a declaration from Allaah and His Messenger to mankind on the greatest day (the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah) that Allaah is free from (all) obligations to the polytheists and so is His Messenger. So if you (polytheists) repent, it is better for you, but if you turn away, then know that you cannot escape (from the Punishment of) Allaah. And give tidings (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) of a painful torment to those who disbelieve.”

(At-Tawbah 9:3)



Brethren in faith! The Muslims are in dire need of examining themselves, the way they practice their religion and their relationship with their Lord. It is high time they knew their weaknesses especially in the light of their present conditions.



Allaah has indeed created the creation purposely for His worship and He showered them with blessings so that they direct all acts of worship to Him alone. He says,



“And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).”

(Adh-Dhariyaat 51:56)



This is the greatest message with which Allaah sent Muhammad –peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him. This message, though few in words, is full of meanings.



However, Satan has made true his vow on some men and misled them. He had not only made the Christians adopt Jesus as god but also made them worship his mother and their saints and made them have wrong perception about Allaah by comparing Him to worldly kings who cannot approached for help but through intermediaries.



But Allaah bestowed His blessings on the Ummah of Muhammad by sending the Qur’aan to them, which makes it clear that Allaah is close to His slaves and that He hears their supplications and knows their conditions. He says,



“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright."

(Al-Baqarah 2:186)



The glorious Qur’aan also emphasized that invoking Allaah sincerely is an act of Islaamic Monotheism and that calling upon others besides Him is an act of shirk. Allaah says addressing His Messenger,



“Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) "I invoke only my Lord (Allâh Alone), and I associate none as partners along with Him. Say: "It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to the Right Path."

(Al-Jinn 72:20-21)



In spite of the clarity of this and similar verses, it is unfortunate that many Muslims do commit acts that negate their purports and indulge in superstitious and erroneous deeds like hallowing stones and buildings, facing the graves for their needs and seeking relief from them.



O you Muslim that testifies that there is one worthy of being worshipped but Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah! O you who believe in Allaah and the Last Day! The first thing that should command your attention is that all your imaginations and deeds should be based on the Qur’aan and in the light of Islaamic Monotheism. O you scholars and the heirs of the Prophets! When the ignorant people are excused for their ignorance, you will not be excused before your Lord for your failure to show them guidance and truth on the basis of Islaamic Monotheism. There is no doubt that the disease that weakened the ummah and turned her to an easy target for her enemy is her disunity in the very foundation of her faith. ‘Umar said: “We are a nation elevated to glory through Islaam, and if we seek glory from through other means, Allaah will humiliate us.” So when the ummah become negligent about the source of her power and directs her attention to others beside her Lord and the criteria of power become human, the most powerful contender wins the war as it is the case today.



When we however cast a deeper look at the Muslim history, we will see that the Muslims’ sources of power had never been great numbers or sophisticated weapons. None of the historical accounts had even mentioned it that the Muslims were ever greater in numbers and weapons in any war they won except in the battle of Hunayn. Even with their majority in that battle, they were defeated before they were proud of their multitude, so that Allaah might teach them the real criterion for power, which they should reckon with which is the sincere eemaan and truthful adherence to Islaam.



Brethren in faith! Indeed, Allaah will not change the condition of a nation until they themselves change their ways. The children of Israel had remained in wilderness for forty years and they did not attain victory and entered the holy land until they did what made them deserved it. Is it not time that Muslims should come out of their wilderness while they are the blessed and supported nation? Is it not time to put a stop to calamities and tribulation that afflict them and go back to their religion?



Fellow Muslims! Certainly, blessing and victory will not come without prerequisites. So make a sincere return to your Lord and reform your faith. Let everyone of us examine himself so that we could move together on the path of Allaah, for a community cannot be reformed if individuals are not reformed.



Let us correct the weakness of trust in Allaah, weakness of certainty, reliance on others besides Allaah, holding onto the slogans of the times of ignorance and affinity to other things at the expense of Islaam that is widespread among us. Let everyone of us bear it in mind that Allaah promises,



“Allaah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practice their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islaam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. But whoever disbelieved after this, they are the Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allaah).”

(An-Noor 24:55)



Brethren in faith! Allaah says,



“And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.”

(Al-An‘aam 6:59)



This and similar verses indicate that nothing happens in this universe except through Divine decree from Allaah the Omniscient, All-Wise from Whom nothing escapes in the heavens and the earth.



Fellow Muslims! Verily, Allaah hears whoever calls on Him. He is near to whoever invokes Him and He guarantees answer for those who supplicate to Him. He commands that He alone should be relied on and promises to suffice those who rely on Him. May Messengers have been afflicted with calamities but Allaah eventually removed their hardships. And His mercy comes when it is least expected but most people know not.



Dear brethren! This nation is not like other nations. It is a selected, divinely supported and blessed nation however immense its tribulation may be and however weak it may be. The Messenger of Allaah said, “My Lord says: ‘O Muhammad! I have made an irrevocable decision. I have given it to you for your nation that I will never destroy them with a general calamity and that I will not give their enemy an authority over them even if they gather from all nations until they will be destroying one another and taking one another as captives.” (Muslim)



This means that a nation whose qualities are these should not despair whatever their condition may be and should not think that it is dead. We should rather make a lot of supplications for that is the sword of a believer. Allaah says,



“Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors.”

(Al-A‘raaf 7:55)



Source:
http://www.islamiczone.netfirms.com/...d_AlTaalib.htm

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[BintAbee]

:sl:

Return of the Pilgrims

Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib

18, Dhul-Hijjah 1425 (28, January 2005)

All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon
the Messenger, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Be dutiful to Allaah as it is due by carrying out His commandments and abstaining from His prohibitions and by keeping away from all that could cause His wrath and punishment. Allaah says,

"O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will be admitted to Paradise)."
(Al-Ahzaab 33:70-71)

Dear brethren! Pilgrims to the sacred House of Allaah! Those numbered days have passed and those nights have also disappeared like dreams. Congregations of the people have thronged during the past blessed days and many tears were shed. Many returned to Allaah in repentance and many surrendered to Him in humility. All is magnified by Allaah's magnanimity in forgiving sins, answering supplications and removing difficulties. The Messenger of Allaah said,

"Whoever came to this House [the Ka'bah for Hajj] and neither spoke indecently nor acted wickedly, would return [free from sins] as when his mother gave birth to him." (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

In another hadeeth reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim, the Prophet said,

"An 'Umrah is expiation for the sins committed between it and the next, and the Hajj which is accepted will receive no other reward than Paradise."
Would that I knew those among us whose supplications and acts of worship were accepted so that we could be congratulate them!

Fellow Muslims! Though one must have trust in Allaah's forgiveness and hope in His mercy, the Muslim must always ask Allaah to accept his righteous deeds and should not be deluded by those deeds. He should rather hope in His mercy and fear Him.

Allaah describes the characteristics of the true believers as follows,

"Verily! Those who live in awe for fear of their Lord; And those who believe in
the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their
Lord; And those who join not anyone (in worship) as partners with their Lord; And those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear (whether their alms and charities have been accepted or not), because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning). It is these who race for the good deeds, and they are foremost in them (e.g. offering the compulsory Salât (prayers) in their (early) stated, fixed times and so on)."
(Al-Mu'minoon 23:57-61)

'Aaishah asked the Prophet about the meaning of this verse, 'and those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear', as to whether they are those who drink alcohol and steal.
The Messenger of Allaah answered, "No, daughter of As-Siddeeq. They are rather those who observe fasting and prayers and give in charity, yet they fear that these deeds might not be accepted from them. It is these who race for the good deeds." (At-Tirmidhee)

Brethren in faith! This is the reality of piety which Allaah mentions at the end
of the verses of Hajj when He says,

"It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allaah, but it is piety
from you that reaches Him."
(Al-Hajj 22:37)

Allaah also says about fasting,

"O you who believe! Observing fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may attain piety."
(Al-Baqarah 2:183)

Are we going to achieve piety in our future life as an extension of what we have achieved during Hajj when each pilgrim performed his rites with orderliness, adhering to the limits and specified periods, places and time, avoiding all violations of ihraam, bearing all difficulties in patience, hoping for what is with Allaah, realizing that it is possible to do away with the luxuries of this world which are discovered as not indispensable? By adhering to the specific time and place, the pilgrim realizes that desires can be put under check by the law of Allaah and that situations of life are like the situations of Hajj that should be followed according to the will of Allaah and that laxity in adhering to these limits could wipe off the positive impacts of Hajj.
This is the piety upon which the pilgrim is nurtured and which he should follow in his life until he dies. He should abide by the essence of this piety through respecting Allaah's commandments and prohibitions. The fact that there is no indecency, wickedness or argument in Hajj is also a kind of training and refinement for the pilgrim so that these might be his qualities in the rest of his life. He should be as described by the Messenger of Allaah, "The Muslim is not a curser or a slanderer or an immodest." These are some of the manifestations of piety in Hajj that a Muslim should always remember in addition to the saying of Allaah that goes thus,

"Verily, Allaah accepts only from those who are pious."
(Al-Maa'idah 5:27)

Brethren in Islaam! Visitors to the sacred House of Allaah! Now that Allaah has
made you succeed in attaining His pleasure and made it easy for you to have some of His blessings, you should then remain upright upon His command. The Muslim should endeavour not to blemish his clean record.

"And be not like her who undoes the thread which she has spun after it has become strong, by taking your oaths a means of deception."
(An-Nahl 16:92)

The greatest admonition that can be given next to piety is the one that the
Messenger of Allaah gave Sufyaan when he asked him; "Messenger of Allaah! Tell me a word in Islaam about which I will have no need to ask any other person after you." The Messenger of Allaah replied him, "Say I believe in Allaah and remain upright [upon that]." (Muslim)

Though a Muslim might be upright, he can still commit errors. That is why Allaah says,

"Therefore take Straight Path to Him (with true Faith - Islâmic Monotheism) and obedience to Him, and seek forgiveness of Him."
(Fussilat 41:6)

This is also what the Prophet alluded to when he said, "Try to be upright though you cannot attain [the highest level of] uprightness. Know that the best of all your deeds is prayer; and none keeps on preserving the ablution but the true believer." (Ahmad and Ibn Maajah)

The Messenger of Allaah also said, "Maintain moderation and justness [in your
deeds]." What is required of a Muslim is justness in uprightness. If he cannot do that he is therefore negligent.

Dear brother pilgrim! How beautiful is it to be back to your family and your
country after Hajj with perfect conduct and pleasant manners, following the truth, justice and moderation! Hajj with its rites has increased you in knowledge about Allaah and reminded you of your obligations to Him and qualities of His exclusive right to be worshipped and that none has the right to be worshipped but He alone. He is the only One unto Whom souls should submit and Whom the believer should face.

"Verily, I have turned my face towards Him Who has created the heavens and the earth Hanîfa, (Islaamic Monotheism, i.e. worshipping none but Allaah Alone), and I am not of the polytheists."
(Al-An'aam 6:79)

How will it be all right to give any of Allaah's rights like supplication, seeking
help, sincerity or vowing to others besides Him? Where is the impact of Hajj on someone who returns home after his Hajj to neglect observance of prayers, refuse to pay Zakaah, deal in usury and bribery and have no respect for what Islaam commands or prohibits?

Dear pilgrim! Adhere to the path of uprightness and good deeds, for you are not in the abode of eternity. Beware of showing-off, for many a great deed is diminished by [improper] intention and many a little deed is magnified by [proper] intention. Let your Hajj be the beginning of your new life.

"And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death)."
(Al-Hijr 15:99)

May Allaah accept your Hajj and efforts. May He let us witness many more years of these blessed days in glory, honour, righteousness and uprightness!

Dear brethren! Fear Allaah and know that the best of all speech is the Book of
Allaah and the best guidance is that of the Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him. The worst of all affairs are innovations and all innovations are erroneous and all errors lead to Hell. Adhere to the community of the Muslims for the Hand of Allaah is wit the community. The one who isolates himself, isolates himself into the Hell-Fire.

Fellow Muslims! Great righteous deeds are concluded with seeking forgiveness.
Blessed be those who find a lot of istighfaar in the record of their deeds. Among the signs of acceptance of a good deed is to follow it up with another good deed. For, he whom Allaah accepts and favours He makes him succeed in doing good deeds and protects him against evils. Endeavour to protect yourself and your good deeds. Be moderate and just, and have
glad tidings and hope. Acceptance of deeds revolves around sincerity in and
correctness of the deeds. I pray that Allaah make you succeed with Paradise and high degrees. I also beseech Him to make us among those, whom the angels will supplicate for with the saying of Allaah,

"Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allaah) and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah) (saying): "Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your Way, and save them from the torment of the blazing Fire! Our Lord! And make them enter the 'Adn (Eden) Paradise (everlasting Gardens) which you have promised them - and to the righteous among their fathers, their wives, and their offspring! Verily, You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. And save them from (the punishment, because for what they did of) the sins, and whomsoever You save from (the punishment for what he did of) the sins (i.e. pardon him) that Day, him verily, You have taken into mercy. And that is the supreme success."
(Ghaafir 40:7-9)

Source:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2543917/Re...f-the-Pilgrims

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[BintAbee]

:sl:


Welcome Ramadaan!

Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib

1, Ramadaan 1425 (15, October 2004)

All praise is due to Allaah Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah as He should be feared. Allaah says,

"O you who believe! Fear Allaah (by doing all that He has ordered and by
abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. (Obey Him, be
thankful to Him, and remember Him always), and die not except in a state of Islaam
(as Muslims (with complete submission to Allaah))."
(Aal 'Imraan 3:102)
Allaah also says,

"O mankind! Be afraid of your Lord (by keeping your duty to Him and avoiding all
evil), and fear a Day when no father can avail ought for his son, nor a son avail
ought for his father. Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true: let not then this
(worldly) present life deceive you, nor let the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you
about Allaah."
(Luqmaan 31:33)

Dear brethren! Know that however long you live, you will certainly return to
Allaah and your final destination is either Paradise or Hell.
Fellow Muslims! In the first day of Ramadaan, we congratulate ourselves and all
Muslims for living to witness this great month. We pray that Allaah make it a
blessed month for the Ummah in all parts of the world. May Allaah make it a month
of blessing, security, peace, glory and victory for the Muslims.

Brethren in faith! The Ummah receives this great visitor with happiness. O
Ramadaan! The day of your arrival is a day for which our hearts are opened. We
welcome you with joy and hope. We are happy for the return of your pure atmosphere
in which our souls swim after they have been dry and inactive. We are happy to
receive the hour of righteous deeds after we have long abandoned those deeds. May
Allaah help us to spend your days and nights in the best and the most righteous
way. Our souls have longed for you and we have been waiting for your clouds that
are full of mercy, forgiveness and blessings.

We pray to Allaah to bless the arrival of this month, to give the Muslims a great
share of its blessings. O Allaah! As you have made us witness the beginning of
Ramadaan, let us witness its end and accept the acts of worship we perform in it.

Brethren in faith! Who among the Muslims does not know the virtue of this month?
It is the leader of all months. Allaah says,

"The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur'aan, a guidance for mankind
and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)."
(Al-Baqarah 2:185)

He who fasts in this month and observes prayers during its nights, his sins will
be forgiven. There is a night in this month that is greater than a thousand
months. The Messenger of Allaah said, "Whoever observes fasting in the month of
Ramadaan with eemaan, hoping to get reward from Allaah, his past sins will be
forgiven." He also said, "Whoever observes the nights of Ramadaan in prayers and
does so with eemaan, hoping to get reward from Allaah, his past sins will be
forgiven."

And he said, "Whoever observes Laylatul-Qadr with eemaan, hoping to get reward
from Allaah, his past sins will be forgiven."

This is Ramadaan! The greatest act of worship in it is fast which Allaah makes
obligatory in order to attain piety. Allaah says,

"O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it
was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious."
(Al-Baqarah 2:183)

It is a month that the souls are purified. Piety is consciousness, pure feeling,
transparence of the soul and being conscious of Allaah. Fast develops sense of
consciousness and purifies the soul through righteous deeds. As for the reward of
the fasting Muslims, that is up to Allaah, the Most Generous. Allaah's Messenger
said, "Allaah said: 'All the deeds of Adam's sons (people) are for them, except
fasting which is for Me, and I will give the reward for it.' Fasting is a shield
or protection from the fire and from committing sins. If one of you is fasting, he
should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarrelling, and if somebody should
fight or quarrel with him, he should say, 'I am fasting.' By Him in Whose Hands my
soul is' The unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a fasting person is
better in the sight of Allah than the smell of musk. There are two pleasures for
the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast, and the other at the
time when he will meet his Lord; then he will be pleased because of his fasting."
(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

In another version, Allaah said: "He abandons his food, drink and desire for my
sake."

In a hadeeth reported by Muslim, The Messenger of Allaah said, "Observing fasting
in Ramadaan after Ramadaan erases whatever sins committed in between as long as
major sins are avoided."

As for you who have been weakened by sins, hasten to supplicate to your Lord
during the darkness of the night. Do not lose hope in the mercy of Allaah Who
says,

"And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) concerning Me, then
(answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the
invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or
intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led
aright."
(Al-Baqarah 2:186)

May he be disgraced, the one who witnessed Ramadaan and his sins are not forgiven.
This is because of the blessings and mercies that this month contains. The
Messenger of Allaah said, "When Ramadaan comes, gates of Paradise will be open,
gates of Hell will be closed and the devils will be fettered."

The month of Ramadaan is the month of night prayers and Taraaweeh. It is a month
of Remembrance of Allaah and His glorification. Spend the nights of the month in
prayers, supplications and recitation of the Qur'aan. For, many are sincere
invocations done in the middle of the night that are allowed to penetrate the
heaven and by which Allaah bless those who made them with prosperity in this world
and the Hereafter.

Ramadaan is the month of the Qur'aan. Angel Gabriel would meet the Messenger of
Allaah every night during Ramadaan and would review the Qur'aan with him. Allaah
says,

"The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed the Qur'aan, a guidance for mankind
and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)."
(Al-Baqarah 2:185)

When Ramadaan would come, the righteous predecessors would leave teaching of the
hadeeth and they would devote all their time for the Qur'aan. Their habit
testified to the fact that, until recently, there were people who completed the
recitation of the entire Qur'aan every day and there were others who completed its
recitation every three days.
So remember your Lord much in these days. Read the Qur'aan as much as possible,
for in doing so lies the purification of your souls. It gives you happiness and
let attain great rewards.

Fellow Muslims! Spending generously is closed linked to the Qur'aan. Ibn 'Abbaas
said, "The Prophet was the most generous amongst the people, and he used to be
more so in the month of Ramadan when Gabriel visited him, and Gabriel used to meet
him on every night of Ramadan till the end of the month. The Prophet used to
recite the Holy Qur'aan to Gabriel, and when Gabriel met him, he used to be more
generous than a fast wind (which causes rain and welfare)." (Al-Bukhaaree)
This is because Ramadaan is the month in which Allaah gives to His servants
generously through mercy, forgiveness, liberation from Hell and provisions. So he
who is generous to his fellow humans, Allaah will be generous to him.

In these days that many sources of generosity have dried up, who is going to be
there for the poor, the needy, the orphans and widows? Who is going to help the
calamity-stricken peoples who have been emaciated by wars? They are your brethren
in religion and they have no one to support them after Allaah but you. Let make
use of this month to renew our resolve in righteous deeds and kindness.

We are calling upon those whom Allaah blessed with wealth to remember that it is
Allaah Who gives and deprives; it is He Who elevates and downgrades. He makes you
trustees over the wealth He gave you so as to know how you are going to act. The
believer will be in the shade of his righteous deeds on the Day of Resurrection.
And whatever you spend, Allaah will replace it and He is the Best of all
providers. The wealthy person will not fail to find a needy person whom he himself
knows or known by recognized and trusted organizations.

Fellow Muslims! Fasting has wisdoms. It includes the fact that it is a lawful
deprivation, training through hunger, humbleness for Allaah; it incites
compassion, encourages charity, removes arrogance, teaches perseverance and
promotes righteous traits.

Fellow Muslims! Ramadaan is the month of conquests and victories. The more we feel
happy with its arrival the more we hope to have our situation changed to victory
and glory. For Ramadaan of this year came at a time that the Ummah is suffering
from wounds; at a time the Quds is occupied and desecrated. Ramadaan at a time
that the believers who are the inhabitants of the Quds are being killed and
expelled and their houses are been demolished and their groups are being
exterminated under the supervision of unjust oppressive people who are
perpetrating the similar acts of aggression in Iraq. Our complaint is only to
Allaah.

Therefore, the least right that these suffering brethren have upon you in this
month is that you should sincerely remember them in your supplication. You should
supplicate for them in your prostrations and regard their causes as yours, for if
one is not concerned with the affairs of the Muslims he is not of them. Allaah
says,

"It may be that Allaah will restrain the evil might of the disbelievers. And
Allaah is Stronger in Might and Stronger in punishing. "
(An-Nisaa 4:84)

Dear brethren! Ramadaan is the season for sincere return to Allaah in repentance.
Is it not the time for the Ummah to worship its Creator sincerely, to incline
towards Him, to seek for His help through recommended means and to direct its
attention to Him alone? The hopes are great and the trust in Allaah should be
perfect, for it is He alone Who is sought for help. Allaah says,

"O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it
was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious -
see V.2:2). Observing Saum (fasts)) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you
is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And
as for those who can fast with difficulty, (e.g. an old man, etc.), they have (a
choice either to fast or) to feed a Miskîn (poor person) (for every day). But
whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it
is better for you if only you know. The month of Ramadaan in which was revealed
the Qur'aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the
criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the
first night of) the month (of Ramadaan i.e. is present at his home), he must
observe Saum (fasts) that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same
number (of days which one did not observe Saum (fasts) must be made up) from other
days. Allaah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult
for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you
must magnify Allaah (i.e. to say Takbîr (Allaah Akbar; Allaah is the Most Great)
for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him."
(Al-Baqarah 2:183-185)

Brethren in Islaam! When a Muslim receives a season in which he hopes to gain, he
has to firstly, examine himself so that he might avoid things that could hinder
the acceptance of his deeds or diminish them. For, what is it the benefit of a
deed whose reward is wasted and an act in which one expects a reward but instead
gets blamed for doing it?

Learning the knowledge of the religion of Allaah, avoiding sins and things that
invalidate righteous deeds and guarding the limbs from unlawful things are some of
the things that a Muslim must do. Ibn Rajab said, "Know that one cannot seek
nearness to Allaah through abandonment of these lawful things during fasting
except after one has sought nearness to Him through abandonment of all that Allaah
forbids in all times like lying, injustice and committing aggression against
others regarding their blood, properties and honours." That is why the Messenger
of Allaah said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is
not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his
fasting.)" (Al-Bukhaaree)

Fellow Muslims! The purpose of fasting is to train the soul to obey Allaah, to
purify it with patience, to develop it with piety and to make it overcome lusts.
As the body is deprived of some permitted things during fasting, it is with
greater reason that the limbs should also be deprived of unlawful things.
The period of Ramadaan is more precious than having it being wasted in useless
night keeping, roaming about the markets or watching satellite programs that if
there was nothing undesirable in it than wasting of time, it would have been
enough to condemn it. But the channels are actually playing the role of devils in
homes.

Conclusively, many are those who treat Ramadaan as a beloved friend who visits
after a long absence. The acts of worship they perform in Ramadaan occupy their
time so much so that they hardly have time for their fellow humans. They wish that
stays forever. Conversely, there are others who regard Ramadaan as a period for
achieving their lusts. They are negligent of repentance and they commit much sins
and upon sins. They spend their Ramadaan days in loss upon loss and they fail to
prepare for their Day of Resurrection through righteous deeds in Ramadaan. O
Allaah! Help us to remember You, to thank You and to worship You in the best
manner.

Source:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2543978/Welcome-Ramadaan

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil

March 7, 2008

Sheikh aal Taalib

الوثاق المتين
Sheikh Saalih aal Talib
March 7, 2008 ~ Safar 29, 1429

All praise is due to Allah, who deserves all forms of praise. I thank Him for His abundant bounties and provision. I turn to Him in repentance and I seek His forgiveness. I bear witness that there is no God worthy of worship except Allah, who has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is His servant and messenger. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, his companions, and those who follow him in righteousness until the day of judgment.

Oh Muslims, fear Allah as He is should be feared. “O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) he has indeed achieved a great achievement.” [Surah Ahzaab: Ayaah 70-71] Oh Muslims, prepare yourselves to meet your Lord because after a short period of time your soul will be taken and this worldly life will come to an end. All humans will pass over the fire, and only the righteous will be saved. Remember those who passed away before you, and seek the ways of those who were seeking to follow the righteous path. Ponder on those who have already passed away, because you are going to join them on that day. So what is your attitude going to be when you meet your Lord?


Allah says: “O mankind! Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true. So let not this present life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allâh.” [Surah Fatir: Ayah 5] Oh servants of Allah, one of the principles of this religion which Allah the Almighty revealed in His book and the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has narrated in ahadeeth, is to enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil. Allah says “Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write whom they find written with them in the Taurât and the Injeel, - he commands them for Al-Ma‘rûf; and forbids them from Al-Munkar…” [Surah 'Araaf: Ayah 157] One of the scholars considered this to be a great part of this religion, after the observation of the five main pillars of Islam. It is this strong tie by which this religion links the fundamentals of Islam and then connects them to everyday life. By enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, we protect the rights of the Muslims. It is not an optional act, but a religious duty and a means of drawing closer to Allah the Almighty. It is an Islamic principle, no one has a choice to take it or leave it.

Allah says about the believers: “The believers, men and women, are Auliyâ’ of one another; they enjoin (on the people) Al-Ma‘rûf, and forbid (people) from Al-Munkar…” [Surah Tawbah: Ayah 70] Regarding those who have fallen astray, Allah says: “The hypocrites, men and women, are one from another, they enjoin (on the people) Al-Munkar, and forbid (people) from Al-Ma’rûf…” [Surah Tawbah: Ayah 67] It is narrated by Abu Sa’eed al Khudri (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “Whoever sees something evil should change it with his hand. If he cannot, then with his tongue; and if he cannot do even that, then in his heart. That is the weakest degree of faith.” [Saheeh Muslim] This great principle in our religion is an individual duty on every Muslim. Every person according to his position and capability should fulfill this command. It is also a duty in the Ummah to establish and train a group of people who are specialized to fulfill this properly. Allah says: “Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining Al-Ma’rûf and forbidding Al-Munkar . And it is they who are the successful.” [Surah Ale 'Imraan: Ayah 107] People who are specialized in enjoing what is good and forbidding that which is evil, prevent others who are ignorant from doing wrong actions and guide them to the straight path and true guidance in a manner that is pleasing to Allah and beneficial to the people they are dealing with.

Goodness is righteous deeds, justice, and giving people their rights, while evil is indecency, falsehood, and oppression. If we abandon this princinple of our religion, we will face problems in practicing our religion and evil will overtake goodness and ignorance will overtake righteousness. If we leave people to do whatever they like, the nation will collapse. If we leave them to fulfill their desires, they will transgress the limits of Allah the Almighty, spread corruption, and violate people’s rights while there is no one to remind them and guide them back to the truth. In this way, chaos will spread and crimes will occur, then the punishment of Allah will befall all of them. It is narrated by Abu Bakr as Siddique (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has said, “When people see an oppressor but do not prevent him from (doing evil), it is likely that Allah will punish them all.” [Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi] It is also narrated by Hudhayfa (Radiallahu Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said “By Him, in whose hand is my soul, you should enjoin good and forbid evil or else it is likely that Allah will send a punishment upon you and then you will invoke Him and you will not be answered.” [Tirmidhi]

Oh Muslims, the general image and behavior of the Ummah is not owned by individuals. It originally belongs to Allah the Almighty. After this, it belongs to the whole Ummah in general. So the individual does not hold the right to distory the image by his bad behavior in claiming he is free to do whatever he likes. We are all a part of a collective unit and we must protect each others rights. True freedom is that the individual finds a pure, safe community where his honor, religion, and life are protected. Is it not the right of the individual to breath pure air and be able to live his daily life with feelings of safety and security? The effects of the evil behavior of an individual falls on many people around him and also negatively affects the environment and pollutes the water and air. For example, if there is a black spot on a white garment, the appearance of the clothing is spoiled. So what if there are many spots and stains? This garment will be described as unclean and unusable. We should try to stop all types of disease that affect people’s throats, and physical balance and traits.

Promoting absolute freedom, without enjoining what is good and forbidding that which is evil is the philosophy of the non believers. It is the methodology of a nation that was cursed by Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala) and it is still being followed by many nations today. Allah says “Those among the Children of Israel who disbelieved were cursed by the tongue of Dawûd and ‘Īsā, son of Maryam. That was because they disobeyed and were ever transgressing beyond bounds.” [Surah Ma'idah: Ayah 78] The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said “The point of weakness that led to the downfall of the Banu Isra’eel was that one morning one of the men would forbid evil, saying stop what you are doing but it is unlawful. Then the following day he would meet him and the man’s sin would not prevent him from socializing with him as if nothing had happened the previous day. When they did this, Allah the Almighty hardened their hearts against each other.” The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) also said “Indeed, by Allah the Almighty, you should enjoin what is good, forbid what is evil , and stop the hand of the oppressor and you should urge him to follow the truth.“

Oh Muslims, indeed this nation differs from any other, because other nations were cursed as they failed to establish this vital principle. This ummah is protected as long as we enjoin good and forbid that which evil. We should understand the importance of fulfilling this duty. We should know that Allah the Almighty has sent this ummah to lead people and to be pioneers of goodness, not leaders in evil. Thus, we should not receive our instructions and guidance from any other nation. We must act upon the sources of knowledge that we have, the Quraan and the Sunnah. To do this properly, we should have knowledge of the sound creed and methodology and how to enjoin what is good and forbid evil. We should have sound creed to be directed to the right way. If people rely on their opinions and culture alone, evil will spread everywhere and people will live in chaos. Therefore, they must go back and refer to the sound sources of knowledge.

Allah says: “You are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma’rûf and forbid Al-Munkar, and you believe in Allâh…” [Surah Ale Imraan 110] We have to understand this matter in terms of the relationship between Allah the Almighty and His creation, and the purpose of creation itself. Allah says: “Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice…” [Surah Hadeed: Ayah 25] If people have correct belief in Allah the Almighty by basing their thoughts on the correct sources of knowledge this would result in enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil. May Allah enable us all to benefit from the Quran and Sunnah. I seek His forgiveness, and He is the Almighty, the Most Forgiving.

All praise is due to Allah, who deserves all forms of praise. Glory be to Him who controls all things. He grants sucess and victory to the righteous. I praise Him abundantly. Allah the Almight promised to increase the provision of the one who is thankful to Him. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah who has no partners. And I also bear witness that Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is His servant and messenger, whom He chose from mankind. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him and his family members, his companions, and all those who follow him in righteousness until the day of Judgement.

Oh Muslims, the principle of enjoining good and forbidding evil is a means of avoiding the punishment of Allah the Almighty. Allah says: “Your Lord would not destroy the (populations of) towns for their wrong-doing while their people were righteous..” The people who will be saved are the ones who enjoin good and forbid evil. Allah says: “If only there had been among the generations before you, persons having wisdom, prohibiting (others) from Al-Fasâd in the earth, (but there were none) except a few of those whom We saved from among them…” [Surah Huud: Ayah 116] Nu’maan ibn Basheer (Radiallahu Anhu) narrated that the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said “The example of the one who is adhering to the boundaries of Allah and the one who falls behind them is like the example of the group of people who casts lots to see who will take the upper floor and who will take the lower in a shed. Those who end up on the lower floor wanted to have some water, and to get the water, they had to pass by those on the upper floor. Then they said if we made a hole in our share of the shed to get the water, we will not harm those in the upper floor. If these people were able to do so, they would have destroyed themselves and everyone else with them. If they were stopped, they would all be saved.” [Bukhari]

Oh servants of Allah, willfull disobiedience and evil actions are very dangerous to both the individual and the Ummah. It is a reason for decrease in ones provision and unjust increase in market prices. It is a reason for oppressors to have control over people. The danger is much more graver if the acts of disobedience and sin are done publicly and nobody denies them. Establishment on earth or destruction is condtioned by following the religion of Islam and adhering to its principles and rules. “Those who, if We give them power in the land, enjoin Iqamat-as-Salât, pay the Zakât and they enjoin Al-Ma’rûf , and forbid Al-Munkar. And with Allâh rests the end of (all) matters.” [Surah Hajj: Ayah 41] Establishment on earth can be achieved by following Allah’s commands and the peak of that is to establish the prayer. Establishment on earth cannot be achieved by spreading corruption or new innovations. It cannot be achieved by killing Muslims, fighting those who should be secure like the civilians. Establishment on the earth has a clear methodology: it neccisitates building, not destroying, and reforming, not corrupting. It is so sad to see some people who believe that spreading corruption is a type of jihaad.

May Allah the Almighty protect those who guard security and those who guard morality.


Oh Allah, show us the truth as true, and grant us the ability to follow it. And show us the evil as wrong, and help us to avoid it.

Oh our Lord, do not misguide our hearts after You have guided us, and grant us from your mercy, You are the Oft Forgiving.
May Allah have mercy on you, you must know that Allah has ordered upon you something that He has started Himself. Allah says: “Allâh and His angels send Salât on the Prophet. O you who believe! Send your Salât on him, and greet him with the Islâmic way of greeting.” [Surah Ahzaab: Ayah 56]

Oh Allah, send your peace and blessings on your Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad, on whose face is shining, the one whose forehead is light. Oh Allah, be pleased with the rightly guides khulafa, Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, Uthmaan and ‘Ali.


Oh Allah, be pleased with us, all the Muslims. You are the Ever Living, the Eternal. And you are the Owner of glory and generousity.


Oh Allah, honor Islam and the Muslims….


Source:
http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2008/03...rbidding-evil/
(Jawhara's site :D )

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Merits of the Beloved
Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib
Rabee ath Thaani 5, 1429 ~ April 11, 2008

All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn, The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner of the Day of Recompense. [Surah Fatiha: Ayaah 1-3] We praise Him, beseech Him for help and forgiveness, and seek refuge in Him from the evil of ourselves and from our bad deeds. Indeed whoever Allah guides, he can never go astray; and whoever Allah allows to go astray, there is none to guide him. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One God who has no partners. And I testify that Muhammad is Allah’s servant and messenger. He brought all that is good and warned against all that is evil. May Allah’s peace and blessings be on him, his family, his companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness until the day of Judgment.

Fellow Muslims, fear Allah and keep in mind that He watches over you, so submit yourselves to Allah and avoid all that He forbids. Allah says “Oh you who believe! Fear Allâh and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what you do.” [Surah Hashr: Ayah 18] The fear of Allah is the means of attaining the good things of this life and overcoming its troubles. Allah says “…And whosoever fears Allâh and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out..” [Surah Talaaq: Ayah 2]


Our topic today is a topic that every Muslim likes and enjoys talking about. It is about the best character and personality which is the Prophet’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) character. We intend by talking about the Prophet’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) character to open our hearts up for the love of Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and renew our faith and sincerity to him. The Prophet’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) character has so many noble aspects and so we may not be able to include them all today.

Fellow Muslims, when we talk about the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) we seek to increase our faith in him and strengthen our love for him in addition to other things we are required to achieve as true Muslims. All this is intended to make us follow the Prophet’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) teachings, abide by what he enjoined, and avoid what he had forbidden. Though we believe that the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is a human we also believe that Allah the Almighty created him with the noblest character and the best of appearances. The Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has the noblest lineage and was raised in the best of Allah’s lands. The Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is the best person and belonged to the best of tribes which was Quraysh. Makkah, where the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam), is the most beloved place to Allah and all people. Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is Allah’s Prophet. He is the most honorable human of whom hearts are filled with love towards. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.

It is the Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) who used to have the best of appearances and the noblest character. Indeed Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is free of all imperfections. Umm Ma’bad described him saying

“A great light is shining on his face, he has a lovely countenance, the nobility of his character is clear, he is very smart, and has a good physique. He is black haired and black eyed. He appears to wear kohl on his eyes. He doesn’t have a large waist. His head is not large. He has long eyelashes. He has a soft voice. He has a long neck. He has a heavy beard. He has a long, rounded, and knitted eyebrows. He is clear. He isn’t talkative or over silent. His words flow like beads on a string. He is of a medium height, not very tall, nor very short.“

‘Ali (Radiallahu Anhu) described the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) saying

“His face was pink and rosy, and black eyed with long eyelashes. He had a flowing gait as if he was walking along a straight path. If he turned around, all his body would turn. Between his shoulders was the seal of prophethood. He was very generous. He was very courageous. He was the most truthful and honest. He was of the sweetest temper. When you see him for the first time you may fear him, and if you mix with him you would love him. If you are asked to describe him, you would say, I didn’t see anyone like him ever before and I think there is none like him.“

Abu Tufayl (Radiallahu Anhu) said:

“He had a fair and lovely countenance.“

Anas ibn Maalik (Radiallahu Anhu) said:

“He was very generous. His face was pink and rosy. He was black haired, except for a few gray hairs on his cheeks.“

Baraa’ (Radiallahu Anhu) said:

“He used to have wide shoulders and long hair. If he wore red clothing no one would see anyone more beautiful than him. His countenance had shining light as that of the moonlight.“

Jaabir (Radiallahu Anhu) said:

“The Prophet’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) laughter was just smiles. He used to appear as if he is wearing kohl while he is not. In the eve of the Battle of Badr I saw him. He was wearing a red shirt. I kept looking at him and at the moon. Actually in my eyes he was more beautiful than the moon.“

Abu Hurayrah (Radiallahu Anhu) said:

“I have never seen anything more beautiful than the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). His face was so shining as that of the sunlight. No one was more faster than the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) in walking. It would seem as though the earth was being paved for him. When walking with him we would get tired while he was okay.“

Ibn ‘Abbas (Radiallahu Anhu) said

“The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) had pearly white teeth. Whenever he spoke you would feel like light was emitting from his teeth.“

Anas (Radiallahu Anhu) said:

“I didn’t touch silk or cloth softer than the Prophet’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) skin. And I didn’t smell a fragrance nicer than that of the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam).“

When the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) came to Madeenah people came out to recieve him. Amongst the people was ‘Abdullah ibn Salaam, who came out to see the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). At that time ‘Abdullah ibn Salaam was Jewish scholar. ‘Abdullah ibn Salaam said, “When I saw the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) I realized that he would never be a liar.“

These are a few features of our Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) that prove that he had the best appearance. As far as the morals of the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) he used to have the noblest character in this regard. It is enough that Allah the Almighty testified to his morality by saying “And verily, you (O Muhammad SAW) are on an exalted (standard of) character.” [Surah Qalaam: Ayah 4] In the same context the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said “My God cared for me, and how good Allah’s care is.” This is why the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) set the best examples of nobility in all regards.

All the time you find the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) optimistic and easy. He used to be lenient with people. He never uttered a lewd word. He was never harsh, nor did he exaggerate in praising others. Never did he criticize, nor did he make fun of others, nor violate their privacy. He used to be gentle to people and overlook their mistakes. Patience was a distinctive manner of his character. Whenever the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) had to make a choice between two things, he would choose the easiest unless it was a sin. If it was a sin, the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to keep himself away from it. Never would the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) retaliate except that when Allah’s law was violated, a case in which he would be in rage for the sake of Allah.

The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) had a great kindness and generosity. He used to give in charity without fearing poverty, so the Prophet’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) generosity used to be something more flowing than a continuous stream of fresh water. The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to establisj justice all the way. The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to have the highest degree of modesty. He was the most truthful and honest. Before the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) took his mission he was known as the most truthful and honest person. The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was the bravest. He overcame all hardships and difficulties he faced and proved to be steadfast. ‘Ali (Radiallahu Anhu) said “The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was the most modest.“

Whenever the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was upset, it would show on his face. The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) would not stare at people. He was modest, soft, and humble. He used to visit the poor and sit with them. He used to mix with the people. He would come to his companions. He would hate for anyone to stand up for him in respect like the standing for kings. ‘Aysha (Radiallahu Anha) said “The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to clean his footwear, fix his torn clothes, milk his goat, and help in house burdens like anyone.” The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) would fulfill his promise and keep good relation with his relatives. The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) would have a lot of mercy and compassion towards people. In this regard, Allah the Almighty says “Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is anxious over you, for the believers (he SAW is) full of pity, kind, and merciful.” [Surah Tawbah: Ayah 128] Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) was a mercy that made all peoples heart meet on loving him. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.

Allah says “And by the Mercy of Allâh, you dealt with them gently…” [Surah Ale 'Imraan: Ayah 159] The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to be a sincere friend and would smile at others. Jaabir (Radiallahu Anhu) said “The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) never prevented me from meeting him since I accepted Islam. Nor did he meet me but that he smiled.” The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to renounce the worldly pleasures though they were accessible for him. He wasn’t attached to the pleasures of this world until death. When he died, his armor was being mortgaged with a Jew for a sum of money he borrowed to satisfy his family needs. He (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to say “Oh Allah, provide the family of Muhammad just with that which satisfies their basic needs.” [Saheeh Bukhari and Muslim] ‘Aysha (Radiallahu Anha) said “Never did the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) eat his fill for three consecutive days until he died.” She also said “The Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) did not leave property behind to be inherited.” She also said “He used to have a mattress of leather stuffed with straw to sleep on.“

The Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to set the best example of the fear of Allah. He used to stand in prayer at night. He used to shed tears out of fear of Allah. He used to keep standing in prayer until his feet were swollen. It would be said to him “Why do you exert yourself in devotion while you had your sins ,past and future, forgiven?” He used to reply “Shall I not be a grateful servant of Allah?” [Saheeh Bukhari and Muslim]

‘Abdullah ibn Masud (Radiallahu Anhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) once told him to read. Abdullah ibn Masud (Radiallahu Anhu) said the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said to me “I like listening to the Quran from others.” So ‘Abdullah ibn Masud (Radiallahu Anhu) embarked on reciting Surah Nisaa until he reached the ayah “How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad SAW) as a witness against these people?” [Ayah 41] Hereupon the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said to ‘Abdullah ibn Masud (Radiallahu Anhu) “Stop here.” ‘Abdullah ibn Masud (Radiallahu Anhu) said “When I turned my eyes up to the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) I found tears falling down his face.” [Saheeh Bukhari and Muslim] This is our beloved Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and such a few aspects of his character.

Words fail to express the nobility of the Prophet’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) character. It is the duty of Muslims to adhere to the teachings of the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and follow his guidance. Indeed the world does not know anyone like the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Indeed we inherited from the Prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) the heritage that we have to take pride in and introduce to all civilizations. Allah says “Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day and remembers Allâh much.” [Surah Ahzaab: Ayah 21]

Oh servants of Allah, I ask Allah to bless you and me with the noble Quran and to benefit us from what it includes of clear signs and judicious speech. This is what I say and I ask Allah’s forgiveness for you, me, and all Muslims. So ask Him to forgive you and seek His protection from Shaytaan, indeed He is the Most Merciful, Oft Forgiving.

All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn, The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner of the Day of Recompense. [Surah Fatiha: Ayaah 1-3] I bear witness that there is God worthy of worship except Allah, the True God who has no partner in worship. Allah is the King and the Clear Truth. And I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s servant and messenger. He is the most truthful and the most honest. May Allah’s peace and blessing be upon Muhammad, his family, companions, and all those who followed them in righteousness until the day of Judgment.

Fellow Muslims, Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) has a great position is Allah’s sight. So Allah made him the best human. Allah selected Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) from amongst all humans for His mission. It is Allah who recieved Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) in the heavens when he ascended. In this regard, you can read Allah’s statement “By the star when it goes down, (or vanishes). Your companion (Muhammad SAW) has neither gone astray nor has erred. Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed. He has been taught (this Qur’ân) by one mighty in power [Jibril].” [Surah Najm: Ayaah 1-5] In Jerusalem, Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) led all other Prophets of Allah in salaah. Then he ascended to the heavens until he reached the lote tree, a place very near to Allah the Almighty’s Throne. Above the heavens Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) met Allah and asked Him reduce the number of the obligatory prayers and Allah responded to his request. In this situation, Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said to Musa (Alayhi Salaam) “Oh Musa, I kept asking Allah to reduce the number of the obligatory daily prayers until I felt ashamed of Him.” It is Allah who cleansed Prophet Muhammad’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) heart from all that is evil, forgave his sins, and exalted his mention. Allah says “Have We not opened your breast for you (O Muhammad (SAW))? And removed from you your burden, Which weighed down your back? And have We not raised high your fame?” [Surah Sharh: Ayaah 1-4]

Allah associated His name with Muhammad’s name in the call to prayer and in the article of faith. Allah says “Believe in Allah and His messenger” in His Book repeatedly. The obedience to Allah is associated to the obedience to His messenger Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Allah says “Obey Allah and His Messenger.” Allah also says “Whoever obeys the Messenger, indeed obeys Allah.” Allah confers His peace and blessing upon Muhammad and the angels pray to Allah for same thing. Allah says: “Allâh and His angels send Salât on the Prophet.” [Surah Ahzaab: Ayah 56] Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) as a witness over all humans, as He says “O Prophet (Muhammad SAW)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, And as one who invites to Allâh by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light.” [Surah Ahzaab: Ayaah 45-46] Allah spoke gently with Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Allah says to him “May Allâh forgive you (O Muhammad SAW). Why did you grant them leave [from the fighting]…” [Surah Tawbah: Ayah 43] Allah promised to give Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) what he wants of good things until he is pleased. Allah says “And verily, your Lord will give you (all good) so that you shall be well-pleased.” [Surah Dhuha: Ayah 5] And Allah says “And verily, for you (O Muhammad SAW) will be an endless reward.” [Surah Qalam: Ayaah 3] Allah has promised to look after Muhammad and defend him. Allah says to Muhammad “Truly! We will suffice you against the scoffers.” [Surah Hijr: Ayah 95] Allah also says to Muhammad “Allâh will protect you from mankind.” [Surah Ma'idah: Ayah 67] And Allah also says “So wait patiently (O Muhammad SAW) for the Decision of your Lord, for verily, you are under Our Eyes…” [Surah Tuur: Ayah 48]

The Prophet’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) life kept the world secure against destruction and ruin. Allah the Almighty forgave Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) his past and future sins. Allah guided Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) and supported him. Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) as a mercy for the whole world. Allah says “And We have sent you (O Muhammad SAW) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamîn.” [Surah Anbiya: Ayah 107] A prophet like Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) can never be harmed by abuse or insults. The love of Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) wells up in the hearts of Muslims. Muhammad’s (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) position in Allah’s sight is very great. This is the clear truth that can never be removed by mere false accusations.

Oh Allah, fill our hearts with the love of Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Oh Allah, we turn unto you against those who abuse Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam). Oh Allah, make us follow the traditions of the Prophet (salawatullahi wa salaamuhu alayh).

Fellow Muslims, always remember that Allah has commanded you to invoke His peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam), the seal of the prophets and the mercy of Allah all mankind. Allah says: “Allâh and His angels send Salât on the Prophet. O you who believe! Send your Salât on him, and greet him with the Islâmic way of greeting.” [Surah Ahzaab: Ayah 56]

Oh Allah, confer your peace and blessings on your servant and messenger Muhammad, and be please with the four rightly guided khulafa Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, Uthmaan, and ‘Ali, as well as the Prophet’s household, all his companions, the tabi’een, and those who have followed them in doing good deeds until the day of Judgment. And be pleased with us along with them by your Grace, Bounty, and Benovelance….

Source:
http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2008/04...loved/#more-20
(Jawhara's site :D )

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

The status of the child in Islam

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

December 24, 2010 ~ Muharram 18, 1432

First Khutbah

All praise is due to Allah. All praise is due to Allah whose praise no praiser can encompass and whose bounties no counter can count and no observer can encompass. He has granted bounties to His creation. So he made them between (being) a son and a father and He is exempt in His being so He did not take a wife nor a child and he did not have a father in what has passed. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger, the noblest prophet and the noblest worshipper. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, companions and those after them and those that follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter, O Muslims: Verily the sacrificial advice is that of Taqwa, so hold onto it secretly and quietly, Allah will be with you in every condition and He will always grant you the best possessions.

“O Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you” [Nisaa; Verse 1]

O Muslims: In our houses and under the roofs of our homes are tender humans and many wings. And in the branches of our trees are soft sticks and emerging buds. Verily these buds do not flower and the flowers do not bear fruit thereafter. They are the children; fruits of the heart; parts of the liver. Our children are incapable under our ability; and poor, shadowed by our strength; and they are the future, depending on our present; and life, formed and formulated by our rearing and they are thereafter everything. They are some of the present and all of the future.

Childhood – O Muslims – is a cave by which the elderly are accommodated so they wash their worries in the innocence of their children and they exalt the beauty of life in the smiles of their children. The most eloquent expression demanding love is the stutter of a child. And the most conveying of calls recruiting love is the lisp of the young.

“Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world” [Kahf; Verse 46]

And they are favourable bounties between our hands, morning strength for us and fragrance. And surely the law of Allah came offering childhood its rights, surrounding the abstract and physical rights of the child, from the time its being formed a foetus until it reaches manhood.

The psychological and abstract care of children has been shown in the life of our prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and in his directives. For he would joke with the children, and feed the orphans and pass (his hand) over their heads and he said: “Myself and the one who cares for an orphan will be in Paradise like these two” and he said: “Whoever provides for two slave girls, he and I will enter Paradise like these two” and he showed his two fingers. And he said: “He is not of us, who does not have mercy on our young”. And he ordered children to be protected against playing when the devils are out and about, and he hastened his prayer when he heard a child’s cry, and he forbid that a female slave be separated from her child in selling.

In fact, his laws included (peace be upon him) even the children of animals. He ordered the one who took the chick of a bird to return it, and he said: “Who shocked this with (regards to) her child” just as he prohibited separating a sheep from her child.

Even he (peace be upon him) protected the rights of the foetuses even if it was illegitimate. He ordered a lady that had committed adultery to go until she delivers her child and he delayed executing the punishment due to protecting the right of the child. When she delivered her child, he ordered her to return until she completed nursing (breastfeeding) him for two years.

In fact, in the most important obligation of religion and the greatest he (peace be upon him) used to pray while carrying Umamah, the daughter of his daughter Zainab (may Allah be pleased with them both). And he used to pray while carrying Hasan, the son of his daughter Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with them both). And when he prostrated (peace be upon him) then Hasan mounted his back. He prolonged his prostration for him, and when he was asked about that, he said: “Verily this son of mine made me his mount and I disliked rushing him until he had satisfied his wish”.

His devoutness to his Lord and his standing in His presence did not prevent him from kind treatment to children and considering their feelings.

O You Muslims: Is there a need to remind about childhood and children and their rights and to create awareness about them, despite the natural disposition calling towards that, and being naturally driven and inclined as well?!

It is said with much grief-: Yes. Despite much good produced by modern civilization, however there are behavioural patterns and phenomena that are no longer hidden. We are now realising them in our societies. And they were not in them before.

Under daily life stressors, the abundance of psychiatric illnesses and the boldness to abuse psychotropic substances, you find the spring of love has decreased in the hearts of some fathers and mothers. The severity of autumn has caused the leaves of love to fall in their souls. Their humanity is alienated between their wings and the first sacrifices for that alienation are the children.

How many violated childhoods and slain innocences among the walls of the houses and schools? Children are exposed to forms of stress and physical violence. You see that five-year-old’s eyes with its pure water and its innocent glow turning towards his father approaching him. And his soft heart batters on the sight of his father, waiting for a hug or kiss from him, but the sting of fire blows him or a severe beating catches him. And the weapon of the child – and O his weapon – broken groans and rattling sighs and the helper and aider is absent.

Use – O listener – the imagination of a poet or mighty literature to describe what this child is feeling and how all the joys of life are buried in himself. And in his imagination, every beautiful thing that reaches his dreamy mind is decreased.

And there’s a child whose troubled mother does not find someone to offload her troubles on except the body of her child. And how many examples of these violations occur in our society and how many exercise this brutality in their houses and no family or neighbours know about it. The fathers have abused their children and the wives have disciplined the children of their husbands. And the children are not safe from harm even from the domestic workers. And those who live from amongst them live a distorted humanity, dressed with aggression. He has a dark future and he might take up crime and deviation so he loses himself and the society loses him.

O Muslims: Verily these manifestations are not – with the praise of Allah – widespread and common but quite a few are present. And verily from the greatest type of satisfaction is that the society deals with lifting oppression from this group, especially if the oppression is occurring among relatives.

And the oppression of relatives is the greatest torture

on the self (more) than the impact of an Indian sword

It is imperative to be alert with regard to the young who are affected by psychiatric illnesses or are involved in psychotropic substances, especially the child that is a victim and tortured. When it occurs you don’t hear him expressing and revealing what he has been afflicted with. And these assaults are digging trenches in him. And the tortured child is unable to complain but his tongue is able to say a lot. And the young do not forget. And the insults of childhood do not heal. And if sorrow does not rectify them then it is about to end in death.

And these centres and houses that aid in protecting children and educating fathers and mothers are a good phenomenon. Their organizers are doing a great good. They should be supported, communicated with and praised.

Servants of Allah: There is another page in the book of child torture. Its title: Marital Disputes. When satan is present between spouses and each one intends abuse towards the other and the eyes of the children are looking and waiting and their souls are upset and bleeding and they see verbal abuse from the father towards their mother or a psychological insult from the mother towards their father or physical assault from one of them on the other. Verily childhood – then – is in vain. And in its hours, psychological complexes grow in the dark. The child’s glow of life fades and this applies to his indifference to education. And his future becomes dim in his sight. There’s no dream that flirts with him and no hope that entices him.

The days are scarred in his eyes and the meaning of motherhood and fatherhood has deteriorated in his view. And the two parents couldn’t care less. They are competing as to who is worse and which of them is more prominent in injuring their children with no healing.

O you disputing spouses: Verily Allah – Glorified and Majestic – has laid down times when children do not enter on their parents so that their eyes do not see what they do not know about being permissible. Is it not more deserving that we avert from the sight of our children and we dismiss their knowledge regarding the negative relationship between their parents, so that they live in a clean environment and a happy psychological state.

Verily, differences have etiquettes and arguments have boundaries and there’s no victim here to overcome except the trespasser himself and his family and all of their futures.

As for after divorce and separation, then there arises the question of maintenance of the children and visiting one of the parents. And how many times in this issue are there pictures of whose ink is disheartening and of whose colours are troubling while Allah says: “No mother shall be treated unfairly on account of her child, nor father on account of his child” [Baqarah; Verse 233]

And how many a child is made to be absent from his mother while he has committed no sin except the dispute which he was not part of, but is punished for. And the prophet (peace be upon him) says: “Whoever separates a mother from her child, Allah will separate him from his beloveds on the Day of Resurrection” [Narrated by Ahmad; classified as Saheeh by al –Haakim]

So which sin has prohibited the child from the love of his mother or meeting his father while he is part of them both and he should not do away with one compared to the other, no matter what the one has done. The child should be able to see his parents and to contact them when he wishes, without reckoning or harassment. Under no circumstances should the separation between parents be a call to raise the child on the ingratitude of one of them or the lack of goodness towards the other.

O you who has been through divorce, both fathers and mothers! Do not forget favours between you. And fear Allah with regards to your children. Verily your disputes are an elongated rope of whose ends are in your hands and at the centre is a knot curled around the neck of the child. Every time one of the parents tightens the pull, the knot grips the neck of the child, knowing that usually in disputes between parents, the loser has more goodness than the winner.

How many fathers evade and decrease the maintenance of their children, or escape from it, not for anything except to enrage their mother. So how does he expect the obedience of his children after that and hope for their dua and their charity on him when they grow up?!

O Muslims: And among the widespread pictures of torture is shouting and screaming at the child and threatening and intimidating him, and excessively rebuking and scolding him. And this is what fathers, mothers and teachers are careless about. And they portray their angry feelings without realising the destructive consequences to the psychology of the child. Intimidation and threats produce an unstable personality and a troubled psychology. Behold! Fear Allah in their His advice “Allah advises you as regards your children” [Nisaa; Verse 11] and everyone should fear Allah in their flock, for everyone will be asked and reckoned with.

O Allah bless us in the Book (Quraan) and Sunnah, and make us benefit from their verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine and I ask Allah to forgive me and you.

Second Khutbah

All praise be to Allah as He ought to be praised and the most loyal (praise). And salutations and greetings be upon His messenger and His chosen one. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be upon him and on his family, companions and those associated.

O Muslims: The mistakes of children are forgiven and their sins are pardoned. Allah has lifted the pens of compulsion from them, so you should lift the methods of violence from them. Take a stand between violence and weakness in the position of resoluteness and give due appreciation to the young of age and the love of fun. And if the child is not hit for prayer which is a pillar of religion except if he is ten years old and beyond and after he has been commanded hundreds of times, then how can a two- or three-year old child be hit, or a five- or seven-year old. Should he be naturally troubled or be in innocent fun?!

And for you in the guidance of the prophet (peace be upon him) is a good example. On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) he said: “I served the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) for ten years. During that time, he never once said to me as much as ‘uff’ if I did something wrong. He never asked me, if I had failed to do something, ‘Why did you not do it?’ and he never said to me, if I had done something wrong, ‘Why did you do it?’” [Narrated by Bukhari]. And the wording in Abu Dawud: Anas said: “I served the Prophet (peace be upon him) at Medina for ten years. I was a boy. Every work that I did was not according to the desire of my master, but he never said to me: ‘uff’, nor did he say to me: Why did you do this? or Why did you not do this?“

Hafith ibn Hajar said: “The benefit of this: leaving out admonition for what has been missed because it is inevitable and can be called for if needed. It is also disliked for the tongue to snap and vilify and falsely allege against the servant. And this is with regards to humans. As for religious obligations, then there should be no overlooking, because this falls under enjoining good and forbidding evil”.

Servants of Allah: There’s no dispute regarding the early correction of mistakes of children when they err but it should be corrected in a manner that is constructive, not destructive and should be politely, not harshly. And for us in the prophet (peace be upon him) is an example. On the authority of Umar bin Abi Salamah, he said: “I was a boy under the care of Allah’s Apostle and my hand used to go around the dish while I was eating. So Allah’s Apostle said to me, ‘O boy! Mention the name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat of the dish what is nearer to you.’ Since then I have applied those instructions when eating.” [Agreed upon]

And on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), that Hasan bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) took a date from the dates of charity and put it in his mouth. The Prophet said, “Expel it from your mouth. Don’t you know that we do not eat a thing which is given in charity?” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]

And Tabarani narrated on the authority of Zainab bint Abi Salamah that she entered on the prophet (peace be upon him) while he was bathing. She said: “So he took a handful of water and splashed it in my face and said: ‘Go back, O small one’.

So look at how he taught Umar bin Abi Salamah the etiquette of eating and how he taught Hasan piety and he taught Zainab the etiquette of seeking permission and refraining from looking at the prohibited. And ponder over how the teaching was in a method understood by the young, with one word or a short, concise clear sentence, easy to memorise and understand, without humiliation or insult and without blame or scolding, without scowling or blaming. More virtuous than hitting the young or praying against them and this is a dangerous matter, because if the supplication coincides with an hour of acceptance then the one who supplicated will be regretful at a time when regret will not benefit.

And the prophet (peace be upon him) says: “Do not supplicate against yourselves. And do not supplicate against your children. And do not supplicate against your wealth. Perhaps an hour from Allah when He is asked anything and it is granted might correspond and you will be answered” [Narrated by Muslim]

And this is his etiquette (peace be upon him) even with the elders. Mu’awiya bin al Hakam (may Allah be pleased with him) said – and he spoke during the prayer – : “May my father and mother be sacrificed. I have not seen a teacher before him nor after him better in teaching than him. By Allah he did not rebuke me, nor hit me, nor abuse me. He said: ‘It is not fitting to have any speech from people in the prayer. It is only glorification and proclaiming the greatness of Allah and reciting the Qur’aan” [Narrated by Muslim]

And on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: “I went along with Allah’s messenger (peace be upon him) at a time during the day but he did not talk to me and I did not talk to him until he reached the market of Banu Qaynuqaa’. He came back to the tent of Fatimah and said: ‘Is the little chap (meaning Hasan) there?’ We were under the impression that his mother had detained him in order to bathe him and dress him and garland him with sweet garland. Not much time had passed that he (Hasan) came running until both of them embraced each other, thereupon Allah’s messenger (peace be upon him) said: ‘O Allah, I love him; so love him and love the one who loves him” [From Bukhari and Muslim] and this is the wording in Muslim. And the wording in Bukhari: then he came running until he embraced him and kissed him.

And he said (peace be upon him) to a man who never used to kiss his children: “I cannot put mercy in your heart after Allah has taken it away from it” [Narrated by Muslim]

And on the authority of Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: “I have not seen anyone more merciful to children than the messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).” He said: “His son Ibraheem was in the care of a wet nurse in the hills around Madeenah. He would go there, and we would go with him, and he would enter the house, pick up his son and kiss him, then come back. [Narrated by Muslim]

And Ibn Hibban has recorded in his saheeh on the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “The prophet (peace be upon him) used to stick out his tongue at Hasan bin Ali and the lad used to see the redness of his tongue and he used to rush towards him”.

And on the authority of Mahmood bin Rabee’ who said: “When I was a boy of five, I remember, the prophet (peace be upon him) took water from a bucket with his mouth and threw it on my face.” [Agreed upon].

This is his guidance so act upon it and this is the messenger so follow his footsteps.

Then send salutations and peace on the best of the best and the purest of mankind. O Allah send your salutations, peace and blessings on your slave and messenger Muhammad and on his pure, good family and his companions, the best of personalities. And be happy O Allah with the guided leaders and the rightly guided khulafa: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali and all the other companions of your prophet and those who follow their ways and emulate their methods O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims……

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/05...hild-in-islam/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Contemplations and lessons from the story of Yusuf (عليه السلام)

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib
May 11, 2012 ~ Jumadal Akhirah 20, 1433

First Khutbah
Surely all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek help and forgiveness from Him and We seek His protection from the evil of our souls and from our evil deeds. Whoever Allah guides, then there is no misguidance for him and whoever Allah leads astray, then there is no guidance for him. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be on him and on his good, pure family and his companions, the fortunate personalities, and those who came after them and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter:

I advise you – O people – and myself to fear Allah. For taqwa is the lifeline and it is a barrier against trials, and with it there is help at the time of hardships and tribulations.

“No doubt! Verily the Auliya of Allah (those who believe in Oneness of Allah and fear Him and love Him), no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve, Those who believed, and used to fear Allah much For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world, and in the Hereafter. No change can there be in the Words of Allah, this is indeed the supreme success.” [Yunus; Verse 62 – 64]

O Muslims:

O you patient and steadfast ones – and O you troubled ones! Verily with the long length of night and the aggravation of wounds, optimism is beautified. And in the midst of sadness, tales of solace are wished for. And during pains, hopes are born. And when hardships become severe, and when calamities become widespread, and the evildoer dominates and the victor becomes rare – then the way of Allah in His Quran (is that) before victory there are stories that send hope and liven up the souls and purify them with faith.

And whatever afflicts a believer of wounds or troubles is nothing except a norm that has passed by the sincere friend before; raising ranks; decreasing the sins; examining the hearts; and distinguishing the believing nation. “If a wound has touched you, be sure a similar wound has touched the others. And so are the days, We give to men by turns, that Allah may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allah likes not the wrong-doers. And that Allah may test the believers and destroy the disbelievers.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 140-141]

And in the biography of our prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him – are signs and lessons. And in the most critical and severe of times in Makkah, three years before the migration, Khadeejah – may Allah be pleased with her – passed away, and she was a true advisor to Islam. The beloved prophet would complain to her and seek support from her. And his paternal uncle Abu Talib passed away and he was a prevention for him and a helper against his nation. And people found the incident of Israa (night journey) strange so they belied him (prophet), and some who had become Muslim apostatised. And da’wah (calling to Islam) regressed until no one was entering into Islam.

And the Prophet – peace be upon him – called that year: The Year of Sadness. And the Quraysh ventured against the Prophet – peace be upon him. And war against him had reached to its furthest extent. And the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – was suffering from loneliness and foreignness – and the group of Muslims suffered this hardship with him.

So Allah the Exalted revealed Sura Israa and Furqaan, then Sura Yunus was revealed, then Sura Hood and in them was steadfastness and pleasure and the stories of the prophets and their information with their nations and the days spent with them and the success of the Truth and its people – whatever strengthened the determination of the prophet – peace be upon him – and his believing group. And at the end of Sura Hood: “And all that We relate to you (O Muhammad –peace be upon him) of the news of the messengers is in order that We may make strong and firm your heart thereby. And in this (chapter of the Quraan has come to you the truth, as well as admonition and a reminder for the believers.” [Hood; Verse 120]

And after these Suras and in that sad time, Sura Yusuf was revealed. It was a balm, love and mercy from Allah and a solace. And it was the last of the beautiful stories.

Sura Yusuf, in it are scenes of pain and hope, and the bitterness of separation and the sweetness of meeting. In it are tales of despondence and certainty, and oppression and subjugation, and trials and patience, then success and victory. In it is revenge and pardoning and forgiving. In it is hope and Dua and stability after trials, and good consequences for the pious and the patient.

In Sura Yusuf, the wisdom and decree of Allah is manifested, and his planning and secrets in a narrative style not heard of before by the world. “Alif-Lam-Raa. These are the verses of the clear Book. Verily, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran in order that you may understand. We relate unto you (Muhammad – peace be upon him) the best of stories through Our revelations unto you, of this Quran. And before this (revelation) you were among those who knew nothing about it (Quran).” [Yusuf; Verse 1-3]. Allah relates to His noble prophet the story of his noble brother: Yusuf ibn Ya’qub ibn Ishaaq ibn Ibraheem – peace and salutations of Allah be upon all of them. And he was suffering many kinds of tribulations and hardships: the tribulation of the plotting of the brothers; the tribulation of the well and fear and intimidation in it; and the tribulation of slavery and he was transferred like a commodity from hand to hand against his wish and he had no protection and no care from his parents or family.

And the tribulation of the plot of the wife of Azeez (ruler of Egypt) and the women. And before this the hardship of seduction and the trial of lust. And the tribulation of prison after a comfortable and tender life in the palace of Azeez. Then the tribulation of prosperity and full authority in his hands while he was ruling over the livelihoods of people and their throats, and in his hands was a bit of bread that sustained them. And the trial of human emotions when he met, after that, his brothers who threw him in the well and who were the apparent reason for all these tribulations and hardships.

So it is not strange that this Sura – with whatever it contains of the story of this noble prophet and of the commentaries on it after that that was revealed to the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – and the Muslims with him in Makkah at that particular time – that it was a consolation and a pleasure, and peace and steadfastness for the persecuted expatriates.

But as if in this there was a hint about the exit from Makkah to another land where there will be victory and stability, even though leaving was disliked under threat, just as Yusuf was taken out from the lap of his father to face all these hardships. Then he ended up after that with victory and stability. “Thus did We establish Yusuf in the land, that We might teach him the interpretation of events. And Allah has full power and control over His affairs, but most of men know not.” [Yusuf; Verse 21]

The verse of stability came in between mentioning Yusuf when he was being sold as a slave. And this Sura came and in all its stages of narration is a confirmation of faith, firm belief and certainty in the Lord of the worlds, and good consequences for the pious.

And at the time that Yusuf was thrown in the well, and sold, and the intention of the plot against him, Allah the Exalted said: “And Allah has full power and control over His affairs, but most of men know not.” [Yusuf; Verse 21]. So the brothers of Yusuf wished a matter for him and Allah wished a matter for him – and when Allah has full control over His affairs and is Dominant, then His affairs will surely be disposed. As for the brothers of Yusuf – they owned none of their affairs, so it escaped from their hands and was disposed against their wishes. “but most of men know not” – They do not know that the way of Allah will come to pass and that His affairs will occur.

And when Yusuf was about to lean towards a mortal – mentioning his being oppressed to the king – his retribution was that he remained in prison for several years. His Lord wished to teach him how to cut off all means, and to hold fast to His means alone; that He does not make His needs fulfilled at the hands of a servant; and not through means attached to a servant. And this is from His selection and His Generosity.

Verily, the pious servants of Allah should be sincere to Him – Glorified is He – and their leadership should call unto Him alone and they should call unto Him – Glorified is He – to map out their pathways. And when they fail to their human weaknesses in the first case regarding the choice of this method they should prefer Allah – Glorified is He – then He will make them overpower it (weakness) until they know Him and experience Him and they commit to Him thereafter in obedience, pleasure, love and yearning. So He will complete His favour on them because of all of this.

Certainty (Yaqeen) is: Being proud of Allah, and peace towards Him and certainty in Him and deprived without Him and divorcing all worldly values and freedom of all its lassos (ropes), and belittling heavy matters that are controlled.

As for Ya’qub, the prophet, – he was a firm believer and a confident, patient (person). And at every moment and occasion he says: “But Allah is the Best to guard and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy” [Yusuf; Verse 64] and he says “and I cannot avail you against Allah at all. Verily! The decision rests only with Allah. In Him I put my trust and let all those that trust, out their trust in Him.” [Yusuf; Verse 67]

And at the time of losing his three children and the pain reached its end he says: “So patience is more fitting (for me). May be Allah will bring them (back) all to me. Truly He! Only He is All-Knowing, All-Wise”. And he says: “I only complain of any grief and sorrow to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you know not. O my sons! Go you and enquire about Yusuf and his brother and never give up hope of Allah’s Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.” [Yusuf; Verse 86-87]

Verily it is the faith of the prophets and the certainty of the true believers. So never give up hope of Allah’s mercy – O you who are traumatized. And never give up hope of Allah’s victory – O you stationed ones, steadfast in the face of storms. The believers, those whose hearts are connected to Allah; whose souls are moist with His mercy, feeling His gentle breezes, do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah even if hardships encompass them, and narrowness becomes severe on them. For a believer is in mercy from the shadows of his faith; and in happiness due to the link with His Lord, and in peace due to the certainty of His Protector, even though he may be in severe difficulty or choking hardships.

O Muslims:

Surely these trials and hardships were from the planning of Allah and His Kindness, Knowledge and Mercy, until Allah gave Yusuf – peace be upon him – full authority on the earth. So he became a dear king. In his hands were the storehouses of Egypt. “Thus did We give full authority to Yusuf in the land, to take possession therein, as when or where he likes.” [Yusuf; Verse 56]. He took from it the position he wanted, and the place he wanted, in contrast to the well and whatever was in it of fears and the prison and whatever was in it of restrictions. “We bestow our mercy on who We please” so We exchanged for him difficulty with ease, narrowness with escape, and fear with safety, and restrictions with freedom, and the disgrace among people with honour and a high position. “And We make not to be lost the reward of the good doers.” Those who perfect the faith in Allah and reliance and turning to Him. And they perfect their behaviour and deeds. “And Verily, the reward of the Hereafter is better for those who believe and used to fear Allah and keep their duty to Him (by abstaining from all kinds of sins and evil deeds and by performing all kinds of good deeds)” [Yusuf; Verse 57]

And like this, Allah replaced for Yusuf the trials with that position on earth, and this glad-tidings in the Hereafter, an agreeable reward for faith, patience and good. And this is the recurrent secret of the description of Allah – Exalted in His being – that He is the All-Knowing, All-Wise. He knows the conditions. And He knows what is behind these incidents and hardships. And He brings every affair at its appropriate time, when His Wisdom is realized in the sequence of reasons and results. “It may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good.” [Nisaa; Verse 19]

And at the end of the Sura “And We sent not before you (as messengers) any but men, whom We inspired from among the people of townships. Have they not travelled through the earth and seen what was the end of those who were before them? And Verily, the home of the Hereafter is the best for those who fear Allah and obey Him. Do you not then understand?” [Yusuf; Verse 109] “(They were reprieved) until, when the messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied (by their people), then came to them Our help, and whomsoever We willed were delivered. And Our Punishment cannot be warded off from the people who are Mujrimoon (criminals/sinners)” [Yusuf; Verse 110] “Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding. It (Quraan) is not a forged statement but a confirmation of Allah’s existing Book (Taura and Injeel) and a detailed explanation of everything and a guide and a Mercy for the people who believe” [Yusuf; Verse 111]. Verily it is steadfastness with the passing of Allah’s way when the messengers lose hope and a hint to a disliked exit that precedes the desired escape.

Meanings that believing hearts are aware of so faith and certainty fill them, and patience and steadfastness. That is the way of Allah. Hardships are unavoidable and distress is unavoidable. Then victory comes after despondency from all the apparent means that people attach to. Victory comes from Allah. So those who deserve saviour are saved from the destruction that overtakes the oppressors. And they are saved from oppression and tyranny that which the haughty have brought upon them. And Allah’s strength replaces the criminals, destroying, eradicating, not stopping. And no helper or friend can block it. “Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding. It (Quraan) is not a forged statement but a confirmation of Allah’s existing Book (Taura and Injeel) and a detailed explaination of everything and a guide and a Mercy for the people who believe” [Yusuf; Verse 111].

May Allah bless me and you in the Book (Quran) and Sunnah, and benefit us with what is in them of verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine and I ask Allah – the Exalted – to forgive me and you.

Second Khutbah

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. The Beneficient, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. The clear Truth. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. The truthful, the trustworthy. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be on him and on all his family and companions.

Servants of Allah:

For truth and justice are words that have to be said. And condemnation of oppression without sweet talk or excuses. For verily what has occurred regarding the seizing of the Saudi diplomat in Yemen is a wrong act and an oppression and crime which neither religion nor customs condone. It is not from religion or from Jihad. And it is not enmity against just one Muslim, but it is enmity against every one representing them from this land. And an announcement for hostility and fighting for them. And our lands never answer for blackmail and they do not decline their rights. Except that the door of repentance is open, and the principle of review is discarded.

So fear Allah regarding Islam and the Muslims. For how many vices are gained due to distorted behaviours and deviant ideas.

May Allah release the captive and make the plots of the aggressors turn against them.

This; and send salutations and peace on the chosen prophet and selected messenger.

O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on Your servant and messenger Muhammad, and on his good, pure family, and his companions, the outstanding personalities.

O Allah be pleased with the guided leaders and the rightly-guided khulafa: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali and all the other companions of your prophet and those who follow their ways and emulate their methods, O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/06...tory-of-yusuf/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Marital Bliss

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib
June 15, 2012 ~ Rajab 25, 1433

First Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah the amount that He created and shaped, and established and dispersed. And all praise be to Allah a dominating praise. “He has created man from water, and has appointed for him kindred by blood, and kindred by marriage” [Furqaan; Verse 54]. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the best of creations without exception. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be upon him and on his family, his companions and those who follow them and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter:

Fear Allah – the Exalted – and obey Him. And revere His commands and do not disobey Him. “O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women, and fear Allah through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you.” [Nisaa; Verse 1]. He watches your deeds. And He counts your breaths. And He numbers your days.

So if mankind knows that he will be asked about how he spent his life and how he utilized his youth, he will stick to hard work (throughout) his age and he will leave amusement (throughout) his life. “So when you have finished (your occupation) devote yourself for Allah’s worship. And to your Lord (Alone) turn (all your) intentions and hopes.” [Sharh; Verse 7-8].

O Muslims: The family, the house and the marital home is the foundation of the system of Muslim society and its nucleus. And from it is the reformation of the individual and in it is his cultivation. In addition to marriage being a natural inclination, a necessity and a natural human need, in Islam it is also a law and command, a Sunnah and a purity, an entity of which every potential is employed for its establishment, completion and reformation and to protect it from obstacles and disturbances.

And from the goals of Islam and its efforts: The establishment of a family comprising of two spouses (wife and husband); love, mercy and peace flapping in its wings; guided by legislations and instructions; and its individuals complement (it) by fulfilling responsibilities; and from it pious offspring are bred; and children are grown in its care; and its individuals share roles in helping towards goodness and piety, and integration and solidarity in realizing the goals and hopes in this world and in the Hereafter. And that is the philosophy of the family in Islam.

And understanding this natural reality in its Shar’i dimensions determines the features of marital happiness and the features of the building of a pious family. And therefore the coherent society is able to build its civilization after building its individuals and its entity.

And from here comes the importance of the command to marry and encouraging towards it. Allah – Glorified and Majestic – said: “And marry those among you who are single and (also marry)) the Salihun (pious, fit and capable ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female slaves). If they be poor, Allah will enrich them out of His Bounty.” [Noor; Verse 32]

And in the pure Sunnah the prophet – peace be upon him – says: “O group of youth! Whoever from among you can marry should do so …” [Hadeeth; narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]

O Muslims: And to build this family entity and its reformation and its protection, Sharee’ah came with a sentence of commands and prohibitions; and etiquettes and commandments; painting for houses features of their happiness and sketching for the family the path of its delight. Muslims are summoned to take it and adopt it, drawing close to Allah – the Exalted – as a protection for their houses and their societies, and reformation for their conditions.

And the need is magnified when there is much negligence, and aggravation of injuries in the houses, and the marital building cracks. And from what is hurtful is that studies and examinations indicate that the rate of divorce in the Arab and Islamic world is no less than 30% and it reaches 40% in some of our countries. These rates are alarming, requiring the initiative of the society with its organizations and individuals for more studies, solutions, plans and programs – with thanks and praise for what the organizations and associations are doing – and the positions and directions which help with regards to the family and its issues.

O Muslims: The features of happiness and success for the family come from the first building, which is choosing and deciding. For character and religion are the path of searching and the secret of happiness. And negligence in considering that is the source of misery. And in the freedom of choice, there is asking permission and seeking counsel. So no man should be compelled to take who he dislikes. And no girl should be forced to accept who she hates.

And in the Quraanic verses and prophetic instructions, there is the light of guidance of the light of what is quoted from it, and (too) from the guidance that which we do not oppose. And enough for us are these snippets and quotes:

Regarding rights and responsibilities: “And they (women) have rights similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them.” And with explaining rights and responsibilities, surely it is not (about) stinginess and accountability, but it is in (the light of) the generous instruction: “And do not forget liberality between yourselves.” [Baqarah; Verse 237]

And with regards to dealings, the prophet – peace be upon him – says: “A good word is charity” [Agreed upon]

And He –peace be upon him – says: “Smiling in the face of your brother is charity for you” [Narrated by Tirmidhi].

And on the authority of Aisha – may Allah be pleased with her – the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Gentleness does not enter anything except that it beautifies it and harshness does not enter anything except that it disfigures it.” [Narrated by Muslim]

Verily gentleness, good words, pardoning and forgiving is better than gifts with bounties and bad dealings, and in the Beloved Revelation: “Kind words and forgiving of faults are better than charity followed by injury.” [Baqarah; Verse 263]

Servants of Allah: And it is not from justice: Requesting rights while neglecting the fulfilling of obligations. For verily, the one who said: “If I were to command anyone to prostrate to anyone else, I would have commanded women to prostrate to their husbands” is the one who said: “O Allah I declare inviolable the rights of the two weak ones: the orphans and the women” and it is he who said: “Treat the women kindly.”

And verily the one who said: “The best of you is the best of you to his family”, he – peace be upon him – is the one who said: “If a woman prays her five (daily prayers), fasts her month (Ramadan), guards her private parts and obeys her husband, it will be said to her ‘Enter Paradise through whichever of the gates of Paradise you wish.”

And regarding the richness of the heart and foresight and a good comparison, the prophet – peace be upon him – says: “A believing man should not hate a believing woman. If he dislikes something in her character, he should be pleased with some other or another trait of hers” [Narrated by Muslim]

And in this regard Allah – Glorified and Majestic – said: “And live with them honourably. If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good.” [Nisaa; Verse 19]

And regarding administration: “Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means.” [Nisaa; Verse 34]. And maintenance is not domination and abuse, and not oppression and looking down upon another, but it is care and protection, and establishing interests. And surely the call to the opposite of that, calling towards equality or freedom is the heart of primitiveness and an opposition to nature.

O Muslims: Piety, truthfulness and trust are the best (things) that relationships are built upon. And this noble character is a spring for the heart, a purification of the habitus, and fruit of generosity, and bravery of the conscience, for surely the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “I order you to be truthful for verily truthfulness leads to righteousness and verily righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man continues to be truthful and strives for truthfulness until he is written as a truthful person by Allah. Beware of lying, for verily lying leads to sinning and verily sinning leads to the Fire. And a man continues to tell lies and strives upon lying until he is written as a liar by Allah.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]

As for trust and protecting marital secrets, it is compulsory. It protects the homes and cares for families. On the authority of Abu Sa’eed al Khudriyy – may Allah be pleased with him – the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Among the worst people in Allah’s sight on the Day of Judgement: The man who has conjugal relations with his wife and she with him, and then he divulges her secret.”

And the warning is for the man and woman alike.

O you men and women: O you who are searching for happiness in this world and the Hereafter! The composition of happiness is in the saying of Allah – Glorified and Majestic – : “Whoever works righteousness – whether male or female – while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).” [Nahl; Verse 97]

Surely this meaning is more worthy of care and propagating instead of people’s pre-occupation with what destroys and does not build regarding the affairs of the family and the society. Reformers and advisors, and those who control pens and the media should care greatly for the reformation of the family and its stability and to establish the houses and strengthen its building and to ward off everything that affects it (negatively).

And Allah is asked to preserve for the Muslims their religion and security and to reform their conditions and to make happy their lives.

May Allah bless me and you in the Book and the Sunnah and benefit us from what is in them of verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine and I ask Allah – the Exalted – to forgive me and you.

Second Khutbah

Al praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, the Strong, The Able. And He – Glorified is He – is The Mighty, The Helper. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the True Omnipotent King. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be upon him, and on his family, companions and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter:

The blood is still flowing oppressively on the soil of Syria. And the massacres are committed in front of the hearing and sight of the world. Neither religion nor (good) character deters the committing of it. And surely Allah has permitted for those who are fought against and oppressed that they have the right of defense of themselves. And in some cases, admonition and advice is futile.

For you is Allah, O Levant (Shaam). This era has not witnessed a people ruled by their enemy as the Levant has witnessed. Its government has ruled over it as an enemy, and administrated its affairs as an executioner, and has dealt with its dealings as a butcher and what a butcher?! The massacres of its despot almost make the massacres of the Qarmatians and Tartars forgotten. Mercy has diminished in their hearts, and humanity has evaporated from their actions. And the slaughter of women and children have become part of their requests, and the destruction of the land (has become) part of their wishes.

May Allah curse them, the curse of Aad and Thamud, and kill them, the killing of the people of the trenches, and hasten on their tyrant days of misfortunes and blackness, and deliver them quickly to the darkness of the graves.

And it is compulsory upon the world to fulfill its responsibilities in the face of this catastrophe, the duration of which is prolonged, and the pain of which is continuous. And the responsibility is greater on the Arabs and Muslims especially, so they should call for the helping of the oppressed, and warding off of the oppressor, and the solution should be practical and immediate, for the days are not increasing the aggressor except in slogans and nothing is seen from him except hell and fire.

O Syrians: “Permission to fight is given to those who are fought against, because they have been wronged; and surely Allah is Able to give them victory.” [Hajj; Verse 39]. Surely the thief government has overstepped in oppression, and this is an announcement of a close relief. And oppression is an announcement of the passing away of kingship and hastening in punishment, so be happy: “Help from Allah (against your enemies) and a near victory.” [Saff; Verse 13]

And surely Allah ensures ease with difficulty. Two signs of victory have joined for you. Defend with everything you are able to, and place your trust in Allah for He does not disappoint the one who depends on Him. And surely you have seen the betrayal of nations and their leagues.

Verily the tyrant has pledged repeatedly that the protests are the exchange for their tyranny. Thereby they have betrayed their omens and belied their thoughts and gathered your matters and united your rows. And fear Allah with regards yourselves and your families. “So fear Allah and adjust all matters of difference among you” [Anfaal; Verse 1] “It may be that Allah will restrain the evil might of the disbelievers. And Allah is Stronger in Might and Stronger in punishing.” [Nisaa; Verse 84]

Perhaps Allah will restrain the evil might for you, and ward off evil for you.

This, and send salutations and peace on the chosen prophet and selected messenger.

O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on Your servant and messenger Muhammad, and on his good pure family and his companions, the fortunate personalities.

O Allah be pleased with the guided leaders and rightly guided Khulafa: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali and with all the rest of the companions of Your prophet and those who follow their approach and follow their way, O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/marital-bliss/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Why the Fear of Islam?

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib
April 6, 2012 ~ Jumadal Awwal 14, 1433


First Khutbah
All praise to Allah. All praise to Allah. He made the religion of Islam the final religion and he completed it. And He made the one affiliated to being under His flag from the best of nations. All praise to Allah. We praise Him, seek help from Him and seek His forgiveness. And we ask Allah’s protection from the evil of ourselves and from the evil of our actions. Whoever Allah guides, there is no misguidance for him. And whoever Allah leads astray, then there is no guidance for him. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And no one can overturn His Rule. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be on him and on all of his family and companions.

Thereafter:
Fear Allah – the Exalted – as He ought to be feared. And hold fast onto Islam with the firm tie. “O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared. And die not except in a state of Islam with complete submission to Allah.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 102].

Fear Allah and have hope in Him, and fear Him and fear Him as He ought to be feared. For the one who fears Allah is not the one who squeezes his eyes. Verily the one who fears (Allah) is the one who leaves his desires of the forbidden while he is able to do them. “But for him who fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two Gardens (i.e. Paradise).” [ArRahmaan; Verse 46]

Servants of Allah: In the Hadeeth of the story of the pledge of Aqabah, when the prophet – peace be upon him – congregated secretly with the Ansaar to pledge help to him. Ka’b bin Malik – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated to us, he said: The first to grab the hand of the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – was al-Bara bin Ma’roor. Then the people followed him. After we pledged allegiance to the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – shaytaan shouted from a mountain of Aqabah in the most piercing voice I’ve heard: O people of “Jubajib”! – and Jubajib (means): houses – do you want a blameworthy person and the apostates with him who have gathered together to wage war on you?!
So the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “This is the (devil) Azabb of Aqabah, the son of Athyab. Listen, enemy of Allah. By Allah, I shall deal with you….” [Hadeeth; Narrated by Imam Ahmad and others].

O people: This was the first call for the fearing of Islam. A satan from the satans of jinn started it. And in that rumour and story, he portrayed that this early birth of the existence of Islam is a gathering of war against people.

And throughout the span of the following generations, it continued (through) humans who inherited that call and propagated it, either ignorantly or neglectfully. And fear and intimidation of Islam still continues currently in international resolutions and international forums, due to the media.

And politicians and media personnel still insist on confirming the picture of Islam as it being an aggressive culture and that tolerance is the culture of the west. And if they looked justly and fairly they would see in the tenets of Islam and its principles, the best values and examples regarding justice and tolerance.

Verily, for this lie – i.e. the fear of Islam – there are negative effects for Muslims and other than them, because it destroys the bridge of trust and help, and it breaks the international relations and the establishment of interests between human beings, and it nourishes the root of enmity and terrorism, and it represents threats and dislike of equal rights, and discrimination on the basis of religion and racism, in addition to harassment and torture, and restrictions on personal freedom, as if it is a distortion of the truth which came from Allah.

Due to the lie of the fear of Islam, the matter has reached (the level of) incitement and stirring up religious grudges. Some have even trespassed in desecrating and degrading the holy Islamic sites, and violating the sacred religious (items), extending to the sacredness of the prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him – or the profanation of the Noble Quran, and the issuing of laws against the portraying of the woman’s Hijaab or face veil, and the promotion of taunting drawings in newspapers and media hurting the Muslims and linking pictures of Muslims and their appearances with topics that speak of terrorism.

And belonging to Islam, whether an individual or a nation, still continues to be a reason for the failing of his affairs, and denying his rights and refusing his requests.

The fear of Islam is behind the oppression of Palestine and the strong defense of the cruel (one) for 60 years, and the justification of the continuous oppression and seeking to cheapen the blood of the Palestinians, and seizing their lands.

And the fear of Islam is behind the attitudes of suspicion and enmity in every effort of nations regarding their choice of the decision by which they wish to live. And you will be disappointed when you find many looking with great tolerance towards the pagan religions, but in the case of Islam, the reaction towards it is not usually rational, but it is (one of) overwhelming negative emotion.

And surely, the delay in assisting the distressed, and the hesitancy in saving the oppressed from those who are oppressing them is nothing except fear of establishing support for Islam. And there’s no doubt that the cultural heritage has an effect in the formation of this trend of others (being) against Islam. The biased media nourishes it, and (too) the unfair policies until the current secretary of the United Nations warned – justly – by saying: “Surely the surge of fear of Islam has progressed to a level of the resistance (against) racism for this religion.” And his predecessor surely said something similar on the pulpit of the United Nations.

Verily it is upon the intellectuals of the world to stop with fairness and justice in front of this serious matter, which is useless except for increasing conflicts and disagreements. And verily, ignorance of Islam, its teachings and its ethics is the main reason for fearing it. And humans fear what they are ignorant of.

O people: Surely, when we acknowledge the above, we do not acknowledge it in the context of mobilization (of military) or projecting injury. But it is so that many of the world’s simple (people) and liberals may know the magnitude of their unawareness of the historical facts and the context of events, and many times many do not stop a wrong situation which is not in line with what they boast about regarding values and ethics which man has reached in the third millennium.

Why the fear of Islam?
Because Muslims were never ever responsible for igniting the two world wars, where 17 million people were killed in the first one; and in the second one, 50 million. (This), besides the injured and the enormous destruction of the environment and human abilities.

And the Muslims did not colonize the world, and they did not subject its nations to exhaust the good (produce/products) of that nation so that the colonizer may enjoy it. And Islam never carried out, in its long history, inquisition tribunals to force people to change their religion. But across the span of 15 centuries of the expanding rule of Islam, there still continued to be temples and churches undesecrated for religious people and people of faith. And those minorities still continue living with the Muslims on Islamic land until today.

And it is for you to look at the international cases today to see how narrow interests prevail over principles and values, and how the judgement is justified against people because they are Muslim, or (due to) fear for Muslims to obtain their human rights in their countries and not outside them!

Surely, it is an embarrassing situation that a nation is annihilated and the world refrains from carrying out its international and ethical responsibility, (just) because they are Muslims or Sunnah!

Are these values? Are these principles? Thereafter Islam is accused of racial discrimination. And this shakes the confidence of the world (regarding) the contemporary relations built on national interests, not on ethics, principles and laws when they are not consistent with interests.

And in the past 100 years, in which organizations that took care of human rights emerged, and (in which) resources and lands were held sacred, history has not recorded that (any) Muslim land invaded a non-Muslim land. While the opposite is true, with much pain, and in the view of the world. So much so, that a suspicion or just an accusation is enough to invade a Muslim land, and kill millions of its people, plunder its resources, destroy its potentials and violate its history and civilization. Then it becomes clear that the suspicion was not true, and the situation passes without apology or compensation.

The international media has surely succeeded in portraying the uprising of the slaughtered as being barbaric, so they have busied people in blaming the slaughtered, while forgetting the slaughterer!

Why the fear of Islam?
While it calls for people to have mercy among them. “O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women, and fear Allah through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you.” [Nisaa; Verse 1].

Islam surely cancelled the system of castes and racism in the society, while the age of banning castes and racism in the strongest and greatest western country has not reached 50 years. “O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa (piety).” [Hujuraat; Verse 13].

Why the fear of Islam?
While the first human rights that were laid down, were under its banner. Surely Islam is the most clear and explicit method in decreasing tyranny, coercion and despotism, not only from the political aspect, but because it considers these crimes (as) contradictory to the gem of this true religion, which is Tawheed (Oneness) of Allah – Glorified and Majestic – and in the Quraan, there is a complete way to decrease despotism and coercion and eradicating it.

Why the fear of Islam?
While it has surely preserved, even the rights of animals. They (animals) are not burdened more than they can bear, and they are not starved. A sheep and her child are not separated, and the young of a bird is not taken from its nest.

Why do people fear Islam? Do they fear that the joys of life, its beauty and adornment will be prohibited for them?

Never. For Islam emphasized the denouncement of those who forbid the adoration (with clothes) created by Allah for people. “Say (O Muhammad – peace be upon him) ‘Who has forbidden the adoration with clothes given by Allah, which He has produced for His slaves and the lawful things of food?” [A’raaf; Verse 32]. Verily Islam has ensured the right of life, its enjoyments and delights for everyone, so there should be no fear of Islam or anxiety.

Why the fear of Islam?
While it has surely leapt with civilization in a period of history, leaps of which others were on after it (period), and nations after it completed the journey.

Why is Islam portrayed as if it carries seeds of torture and intolerance, while tolerance and noble character is an original Islamic principle. In the Quraan, the mentioning of mercy, pity, pardoning, forgiving, covering up faults and patience comes more than 900 times, besides what was transmitted from the prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him. So does there exist a religion or culture that gives such concern in training on tolerance?!

Know that tolerance does not mean humiliation and disgrace, or subservience to oppression and submission to the oppressors. But it is a balance which the Quraan reflects on in its saying: “And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, they take revenge. The recompense for an evil is an evil thereof, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah. Verily, He likes not the oppressors. And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them. The way (of blame) is only against those who oppress men and wrongly rebel in the earth, for such there will be a painful torment. And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah.” [Shoora; Verses 39-43]

And tolerance means: Righteousness and meting bad with good, a matter that is required and desired, which does not result in helping oppression, or abandoning the oppressed or violating the principle that honour belongs to Allah, His messenger and the believers.

Surely, Islam came with good character, and with every detail of good behaviour towards humans and the environment, just as it came with harmony between the spiritual side and the material side.

Servants of Allah: Verily, the reality of the matter is that the fear of Islam is a product synthesized by nations intending to repel people from Islam, or idle talk about its facts, values, symbols and laws due to political and racial purposes and carnal desires. And if people and their affair were left, if they were left to their natural inclinations, their consciences and their independent intellects, if they were left without incitement and mobilizing against Islam, they would never have feared it (Islam).

Verily Islam is not the religion of Arabs alone, and its best is not reserved for the Muslims alone, but he is a mercy for all people. “And We have sent you (O Muhammad – peace be upon him) not but as a mercy for the worlds.” [Anbiyaa; Verse 107]

And it is compulsory for the Muslims to hold fast onto its principles and values, and to explain its facts to people by actions and words, and sincere calling, not pretending and posing.

And there is no fear of Islam, for Allah is the protector of His religion, but the fear is of those who are extremists or negligent or repel against it or turn away. “So hold you (O Muhammad – peace be upon him) fast to that which is inspired in you. Verily, you are on a Straight Path.” [Zukhruf; Verse 43].

May Allah bless me and you in the Great Quraan, and benefit us in what is contained in it of verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine and I ask Allah – the Exalted – to forgive me and you.

Second Khutbah:

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. The Beneficent, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. The Clear Truth. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the truthful and trustworthy. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be upon him, and on all his family and companions.

Thereafter, O you people: What was mentioned above was conscripted. And the satellite channels are raining over us pictures of killing and intimidation which are happening in our beloved Shaam (Levant) “Syria,” and its killer has assured the tackling of the nations – especially in the west and east of it – And the propagation of these images no longer upset him, but perhaps he considers it (to be) the propaganda to intimidate his nation. All that no longer upsets him, as long as the tyrant of Shaam warned (against) any of the Muslims succeeding him in ruling, and nations are content with this warning. Those who were deceived by him, of the nations of the earth, do not know that the Muslims – and the “Sunni” of them especially – will not only succeed him, but they were the predecessors of his party for generations.

And Shaam was more honourable, pleasant, secure and finer when it was under Muslim rule, and it did not know of misfortunes until the tyranny appeared.

And verily the hope in Allah is great. And when the aid from the earth is cut off, the doors of the heaven are opened. And surely every action, political or ideological (that) removes that darkness is praised and thanked. And from it is what this land is doing. For it has surely raised its voice in every national and international conference that promised to look into the matter of the oppression. It has called seriously for the removal of oppression and firmly (against) taking the hand of the oppressor, and (to) hope when looking at the consequences, and peace from fear.

Perhaps Allah will make successful the true efforts and will make beneficial the sincere strivings and remove the veils from the eyes and change the days (so as to be) against every arrogant tyrant. “And We wished to do a favour to those who were weak (and oppressed) in the land and to make them rulers and to make them inheritors.” [Qasas; Verse 5]

This, and send salutations, peace and blessings on the chosen prophet and selected messenger.

O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on your servant and messenger Muhammad and on his pure, good family, and his companions, the fortunate personalities.

O Allah be pleased with the guided leaders, and rightly-guided successors: Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmaan and ‘Ali and with all the rest of the companions of your prophet and those who tread on their method and follow their way, O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/07...fear-of-islam/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

The virtue of honesty and its importance

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib
January 15, 2010 ~ Muharram 29, 1431


First Khutbah
All praise to Allah. “All the praises and thanks be to Allah, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. His is all the praises and thanks in the Hereafter, and He is the All-Wise, the All-Aware. He knows that which gets into the earth and that which comes forth from it, and that which descend from the heaven and that which ascends to it. And He is the Most Merciful, the Oft-Forgiving.” [Saba; Verse 1-2]

Glory be to Him and praise be to Him. He knows the hidden and concealed of the souls. And He uncovers the secrets of the heart and its concealment: “Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal.” [Ghaafir; Verse 19]. And He counts the harvests of the tongues, then He will spread it on the Day of Resurrection. He makes firm and He writes, then He takes reckoning, then He forgives or punishes.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. May Allah’s many salutations, peace and blessings be upon him, and on his pure family and his best companions.

Thereafter:
Verily Taqwa (piety) is the best advice, the best dress and the noblest character: “O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His messenger – peace be upon him – he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. saviour from Hell and entry into Paradise).” [Ahzaab; Verse 70-71]

May Allah have mercy on the one who reforms his tongue and recognizes his bridle and makes his leading rope the path of truth and does not make idle talk his habit and not (make it) his decision-maker.

O Muslims: Today’s talk is a talk about a character trait that is the leader of character, the collection of virtue and the head of good traits. Allah praises it in His Book when He – Glorified is He – says: “And who is truer in statement than Allah?” [Nisaa; Verse 87] “And whose words can be truer than those of Allah?” [Nisaa; Verse 122] and He says: “Say (O Muhammad – peace be upon him): ‘Allah has spoken the truth…” [Aal Imraan; Verse 95]

Allah describes His messengers, His prophets, His sincere friends and His friends as truthful so He – Glorified is He – says: “And mention in the Book (Quraan) Isma’eel. Verily! He was true to what he promised, and he was a messenger, (and) a prophet.” [Maryam; Verse 54] and He says to all His servants: “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [Tawbah; Verse 119].

O Muslims: The quality of honesty is neither voluntary nor a choice. Verily it is compulsory on a Muslim and a feature of a believer, of whom it is compulsory for his external and internal alike to be true, clear, pure and serene.

Although this quality is simple and the creation agrees on it, we are today in great need to advise regarding mandating it in the midst of a crisis of character which many suffer from. The main reasons of which are: weakness of faith, weakness of upbringing and yearning for this world.

Honesty – O believers – is praised in this world and the Hereafter and is a sign of piety, a reason for the expiation of evil deeds and raising in ranks. And all this is gathered in the saying of Allah – Exalted and Majestic – : “And he (Muhammad – peace be upon him) who has brought the truth (this Quraan and Islamic Monotheism) and (those who) believed therein, those are the pious. They shall have all that they will desire with their Lord. That is the reward of the good-doers. So that Allah may remit from them the evil of what they did and give them the reward, according to the best of what they used to do.” [Zumar; Verse 33-35]. As for the Day of Retribution, then listen to the Saying of Allah – the Exalted – : “Allah will say: ‘This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow – they shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success.” [Maaidah; Verse 119]

Honesty is a virtue, a nobility, an illuminated path and a sublime soul, and its companion is always given the ability to do good. And ponder – O Muslims – on this hadeeth: On the authority of Abdullah bin Mas’ood – may Allah be pleased with him – who said that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to tell the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to sinning and sinning leads to the Hellfire, and a man may continue to tell lies till he is written before Allah as a liar.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]. And in the narration of Muslim: “And a man continues to be truthful and strives for truthfulness until he is written as a truthful person by Allah. And a man continues to tell lies and strives upon lying until he is written as a liar by Allah.”

Verily honesty is a guide to every righteous deed, a guide to every good; taking its companion on the pathways of guidance until it enters him into Paradise. How not, while he speaks the truth? How not, while he speaks the truth and is truthful, defending the truth in every speech and action?

Verily he is truthful and he strives on honesty and he mandates it, is cautious regarding it, weighs his words, stays far from errors, and feels embarrassed at stumbles.

He doesn’t involve himself in secrets or betrayal until he is written by Allah as truthful.

And which rank does a Muslim hope for after this! Verily they are the friends of the prophets and martyrs: “…Then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!” [Nisaa; Verse 69].

O Muslim: In order to explain to you the effect of honesty in the heart and why the truthful ones deserve the company of the prophets, ponder also over this authentic hadeeth on the authority of Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – who said that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “When the time draws near, a believer’s dream can hardly be false. And the truest vision will be of one who is himself the most truthful in speech. The vision of a Muslim is one forty-sixth part of prophethood.” [Hadeeth; narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

Ponder.. A true dream is a part of prophethood, and it is in the heart of the truthful one who soars and purifies, so he shines and is illuminated by the Light of Allah and the curtain of the unknown is opened for him and Allah lets him know of what He wills.

O Muslims: Whoever mandates honesty while he is young, he will hold onto it when he is older. And whoever holds onto it regarding himself, then it is regarding Allah more (deserving) to be held onto. And whoever strives for honesty is guided towards it, his self is made good, his pleasure is purified and his heart is illuminated.

Servants of Allah: Verily it is not correct to be negligent in this principle, because it is the basis of our religion, and it was a rubric for our model and example Muhammad – peace be upon him – whose life was the best example of a complete human, who took from truthful speech and trustful dealings a firm way, not deviating from it even one iota. And that was in him like a secret refuge and naturally. He was known for it even before prophethood and he was nicknamed the truthful, the honest. And he was well-known for this, and he was known by this among people. And when he was commanded to announce in public the call and propagation of the message, he gathered the people and asked them whether they will believe him if he informs them of a matter, so they answered with what they knew of him saying: We have not experienced you except as truthful.

And consider this incident from a life which was full of truthfulness, nobility and loyalty. On the authority of Abdullah bin Abi Hamsa who said: “I bought something from the prophet – peace be upon him – before he received his prophetic commission, and as there was something still due to him I promised him that I would bring it to him at his place, but I forgot. When I remembered 3 days later, I went to that place and found him there. He said: “You have vexed me, young man. I have been here for 3 days waiting for you.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood]

Three days and he came (regarding) the same promise to the agreed place loyally and truthfully.

And this solid principle continued with him from his childhood until he – peace be upon him – passed away. He did not utter (even) one lie, but lying was the most disdained attribute to him. Aisha – may Allah be pleased with her – said: “There was no behaviour more hateful to the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – than lying. A man would lie when narrating something in the presence of the prophet and he would not be content until he knew that he had repented.” [Imam Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan].

That is because lying – O Servants of Allah – is a vile quality and an ignoble trait. And a stingy person or a coward may be excused but the liar has no excuse – Safwan bin Sulaim narrates: It was said to the prophet – peace be upon him – : “Can a Muslim be a coward?” He said: “Yes.” It was said: “Can he be stingy?” He said: “Yes.” It was said: “Can he be a liar?” He said: “No” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad in his muwatta]

Another hadeeth in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad supports and explains it: On the authority of Abu Umamah – may Allah be pleased with him – who said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “A believer may commit every sin except betrayal and lying.”

An Nawawi – may Allah have mercy on him – said: “The texts of the Book (Quraan) and Sunnah have demonstrated the prohibition of lying in a sentence, and it is from the ugly sins and the immoral faults and the consensus of the Ummah is in agreement on its prohibition as mentioned in the demonstrations of the texts.” Then he – may Allah have mercy on him – said: “And this hadeeth of whose authenticity is agreed upon suffices: On the authority of Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – who said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies, when he promises he breaks his promise and when he is entrusted he betrays the trust.”

And on the authority of Abdullah bin Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – who reports that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever has (the following) four characteristics will be a pure hypocrite. And whoever has one of these characteristics has one characteristic of a hypocrite unless he gives it up: when he makes a covenant he proves treacherous, when he speaks he lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he argues he proves wicked.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

Lying decreases faith. Allah – Exalted and Majestic – said: “It is only those who believe not in the verses of Allah, who fabricate falsehood…” [Nahl; Verse 105]. Surely the liar is dealt with with cursing: “…then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the Curse of Allah upon those who lie.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 61].

Silence is better than lying and the honesty of the tongue is the first happiness. And there isn’t anything that you can think of, that is more further (away) from chivalry and beauty and glory in men than lying. Lying is the collection of every evil and the origin of every sin and its small brings on its big.

And surely the wise ones said: “Whoever has legalized the suckling on lying, his weaning is made difficult.” For that reason the prophet – peace be upon him – used to rebuke it even if small, and he used to shun lying even to small children so that they may grow up on honesty and become familiar with it and that they may distance (themselves) from lying and reject it.

Abdullah bin Aamir reports: My mother called me one day when the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – was sitting in our house. She said: Come here and I shall give you something. The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – asked her: “What did you intend to give him?” She replied: I intended to give him some dates. The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “If you were not to give him anything, a lie would be recorded against you.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood with a good chain of narration].

And on the authority of Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – who said that the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever says to a child: ‘Come here and take this’ then does not give him something, this is counted as a lie.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad with an authentic chain of narration].

Look at how the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – taught fathers and mothers to bring up their children, an upbringing wherein they sanctify honesty and mock lying. And if he were to ignore these matters and regard them as trivial trivia it would have been feared that the children would grow up considering lying (as) a small sin while it is in the sight of Allah great.

And this strictness in striving for the truth and protecting honesty continued until it encompassed (even) domestic issues. On the authority of Asmaa bint Yazeed – may Allah be pleased with her – who said: “O messenger of Allah if one of us were to say about something we desired ‘I do not desire it’, would this be considered lying? He replied: “A lie is written as a lie, and a white lie is written as a white lie.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad and Tabarani in Kabeer].

Surely, there’s no negligence in the principle of lying even in entertaining or joking. On the authority of Bahz bin Hakeem, who narrates from his father, who narrates from his grandfather – may Allah be pleased with them – that: I heard the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – saying: “Woe to him who tells lies to make people laugh. Woe to him. Woe to him.” [Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi and Nisaai and Tirmidhi said: (It is) good and authentic].

So if this is (regarding) the one who jokes, then what do you think about the most heinous lie, that is, the lie against Allah and His messenger! Allah – Exalted and Majestic – said: “And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied against Allah – their faces will be black…” [Zumar; Verse 60] and he – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever lies against me intentionally, let him occupy his seat in Hellfire.” [Agreed upon]

In keeping with that, is the one whose harm is widespread like lying that affects the interests of the Ummah and its great matters or (that) which causes confusion in the ranks of society or spreads chaos and disposes of trust and dresses the truth with falsehood, especially with the presence of means to spread (news) widely and quickly propagating information, so you find information networks releasing rumours and you see the media lying and newspapers inciting, so honesty is hurt in the midst of this mess. And when the truths are mixed, people walk without guidance. And surely, the prophet – peace be upon him – saw the punishment of the one whose lie was propagated so he said: “And as for the man whose cheeks you saw being torn apart, he is a liar. He used to speak lies until they used to become famous everywhere.” [Narrated by Bukhari]

And perhaps the lie comes from a source that the listener thought was true, so he took his stance on it, then it reached the (level of) infliction and harm that none besides Allah knows, and perhaps it has destroyed homes, broken families or spilled blood due to the conveying of a liar or a treacherous betrayal. And in the hadeeth: “It is great treachery that you should tell your brother something and have him believe you while you are lying.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood]

Servants of Allah: Honesty is a blessing and lying is a destruction, and at (the time of) buying and selling greed is present and piety decreases, therefore the noble directives (serve) as an admonition at this stage. Hakeem bin Hizaam – may Allah be pleased with him – said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Both parties in a business transaction have the right to annul it so long as they have not separated; and if they speak the truth and make everything clear they will be blessed in their transaction; but if they tell a lie and conceal anything the blessing of their transaction will be wiped out.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]

And Bukhari classified this hadeeth in his Saheeh as: The chapter (on) what lying and concealment wipes out in trade.

And Rifa’ah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that he came out with the prophet – peace be upon him – to the place of prayer, then he saw the people trading so he said: “O group of merchants,” so they answered to the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – they raised their necks and their sights towards him, then he said: “All merchants are resurrected on the Day of Judgement as sinners, except for those who feared Allah, treated their customers well, and were truthful.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja and Tirmidhi said: This hadeeth is good and authentic].

Beware, so make honesty a motto and garment for you and mandate it in public and private, Allah will create piety in your hearts and ability and light on your paths: “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [Tawbah; Verse 119].

May Allah bless me and you in the Great Quraan and benefit us with the guidance of the leader of the messengers. I say these words of mine and I ask Allah – the Exalted – to forgive me and you.

Second Khutbah

All praise is due to Allah for His Kindness and thanks to him for His ability and bounties. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. Great is His Being. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, a caller to His Pleasure. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be n him, and on his family, companions those after them and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter:
O Muslims: growing your souls with honesty and holding fast onto it and (onto) the (fact that) Allah – the Exalted – is always watchful, in secret and public, and holding onto piety; (all these) motivate a person to have honesty as a quality.

Spreading honesty in the society and renouncing the liars – especially in the general media networks and broadcasting sources – is compulsory on the society.

Verily it is sinful that people become used to the one who liars, and he remains present, affecting (others) with his pen, tongue or media means. Surely liars are found in any place, but it is not permissible for lying to remain or (for us) to become used to its presence.

Sharee’a is critical in this regard. And the punishment of the slanderer (as mentioned) in the Great Quraan is lashing and being known as evil. And Allah also says: “And reject their testimony forever…” [Noor; Verse 4].

It is a containment of an epidemic and a removal for a disease. Similarly, the role model has a great effect in this regard. And how many a mother, father or teacher neglects by being careless about honesty and they do not realise that the growing one picks up from him, being aware or unaware, and he is raised on this character or that.

Honesty is the enlightenment of the society and the responsibility of every person… “And are people thrown on their faces into the Fire for anything but the harvest of their tongues”

This, and send salutations and peace on the best of people and the purest of humans Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Hashimiyy, al-Qurashyy.

O Allah send your salutations, peace and blessings on your servant and messenger Muhammad and on his pure good family and his companions, the fortunate personalities. And be happy O Allah with the guided leaders and pleased khulafa – Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman and ‘Ali – and all the rest of the companions of your prophet and those who tread their path and follow their way, O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/07...ts-importance/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

The virtue of honesty and its importance

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib
January 15, 2010 ~ Muharram 29, 1431


First Khutbah
All praise to Allah. “All the praises and thanks be to Allah, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. His is all the praises and thanks in the Hereafter, and He is the All-Wise, the All-Aware. He knows that which gets into the earth and that which comes forth from it, and that which descend from the heaven and that which ascends to it. And He is the Most Merciful, the Oft-Forgiving.” [Saba; Verse 1-2]

Glory be to Him and praise be to Him. He knows the hidden and concealed of the souls. And He uncovers the secrets of the heart and its concealment: “Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal.” [Ghaafir; Verse 19]. And He counts the harvests of the tongues, then He will spread it on the Day of Resurrection. He makes firm and He writes, then He takes reckoning, then He forgives or punishes.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. May Allah’s many salutations, peace and blessings be upon him, and on his pure family and his best companions.

Thereafter:
Verily Taqwa (piety) is the best advice, the best dress and the noblest character: “O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His messenger – peace be upon him – he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. saviour from Hell and entry into Paradise).” [Ahzaab; Verse 70-71]

May Allah have mercy on the one who reforms his tongue and recognizes his bridle and makes his leading rope the path of truth and does not make idle talk his habit and not (make it) his decision-maker.

O Muslims: Today’s talk is a talk about a character trait that is the leader of character, the collection of virtue and the head of good traits. Allah praises it in His Book when He – Glorified is He – says: “And who is truer in statement than Allah?” [Nisaa; Verse 87] “And whose words can be truer than those of Allah?” [Nisaa; Verse 122] and He says: “Say (O Muhammad – peace be upon him): ‘Allah has spoken the truth…” [Aal Imraan; Verse 95]

Allah describes His messengers, His prophets, His sincere friends and His friends as truthful so He – Glorified is He – says: “And mention in the Book (Quraan) Isma’eel. Verily! He was true to what he promised, and he was a messenger, (and) a prophet.” [Maryam; Verse 54] and He says to all His servants: “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [Tawbah; Verse 119].

O Muslims: The quality of honesty is neither voluntary nor a choice. Verily it is compulsory on a Muslim and a feature of a believer, of whom it is compulsory for his external and internal alike to be true, clear, pure and serene.

Although this quality is simple and the creation agrees on it, we are today in great need to advise regarding mandating it in the midst of a crisis of character which many suffer from. The main reasons of which are: weakness of faith, weakness of upbringing and yearning for this world.

Honesty – O believers – is praised in this world and the Hereafter and is a sign of piety, a reason for the expiation of evil deeds and raising in ranks. And all this is gathered in the saying of Allah – Exalted and Majestic – : “And he (Muhammad – peace be upon him) who has brought the truth (this Quraan and Islamic Monotheism) and (those who) believed therein, those are the pious. They shall have all that they will desire with their Lord. That is the reward of the good-doers. So that Allah may remit from them the evil of what they did and give them the reward, according to the best of what they used to do.” [Zumar; Verse 33-35]. As for the Day of Retribution, then listen to the Saying of Allah – the Exalted – : “Allah will say: ‘This is a day on which the truthful will profit from their truth: theirs are Gardens under which rivers flow – they shall abide therein forever. Allah is pleased with them and they with Him. That is the great success.” [Maaidah; Verse 119]

Honesty is a virtue, a nobility, an illuminated path and a sublime soul, and its companion is always given the ability to do good. And ponder – O Muslims – on this hadeeth: On the authority of Abdullah bin Mas’ood – may Allah be pleased with him – who said that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man continues to tell the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to sinning and sinning leads to the Hellfire, and a man may continue to tell lies till he is written before Allah as a liar.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]. And in the narration of Muslim: “And a man continues to be truthful and strives for truthfulness until he is written as a truthful person by Allah. And a man continues to tell lies and strives upon lying until he is written as a liar by Allah.”

Verily honesty is a guide to every righteous deed, a guide to every good; taking its companion on the pathways of guidance until it enters him into Paradise. How not, while he speaks the truth? How not, while he speaks the truth and is truthful, defending the truth in every speech and action?

Verily he is truthful and he strives on honesty and he mandates it, is cautious regarding it, weighs his words, stays far from errors, and feels embarrassed at stumbles.

He doesn’t involve himself in secrets or betrayal until he is written by Allah as truthful.

And which rank does a Muslim hope for after this! Verily they are the friends of the prophets and martyrs: “…Then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!” [Nisaa; Verse 69].

O Muslim: In order to explain to you the effect of honesty in the heart and why the truthful ones deserve the company of the prophets, ponder also over this authentic hadeeth on the authority of Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – who said that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “When the time draws near, a believer’s dream can hardly be false. And the truest vision will be of one who is himself the most truthful in speech. The vision of a Muslim is one forty-sixth part of prophethood.” [Hadeeth; narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

Ponder.. A true dream is a part of prophethood, and it is in the heart of the truthful one who soars and purifies, so he shines and is illuminated by the Light of Allah and the curtain of the unknown is opened for him and Allah lets him know of what He wills.

O Muslims: Whoever mandates honesty while he is young, he will hold onto it when he is older. And whoever holds onto it regarding himself, then it is regarding Allah more (deserving) to be held onto. And whoever strives for honesty is guided towards it, his self is made good, his pleasure is purified and his heart is illuminated.

Servants of Allah: Verily it is not correct to be negligent in this principle, because it is the basis of our religion, and it was a rubric for our model and example Muhammad – peace be upon him – whose life was the best example of a complete human, who took from truthful speech and trustful dealings a firm way, not deviating from it even one iota. And that was in him like a secret refuge and naturally. He was known for it even before prophethood and he was nicknamed the truthful, the honest. And he was well-known for this, and he was known by this among people. And when he was commanded to announce in public the call and propagation of the message, he gathered the people and asked them whether they will believe him if he informs them of a matter, so they answered with what they knew of him saying: We have not experienced you except as truthful.

And consider this incident from a life which was full of truthfulness, nobility and loyalty. On the authority of Abdullah bin Abi Hamsa who said: “I bought something from the prophet – peace be upon him – before he received his prophetic commission, and as there was something still due to him I promised him that I would bring it to him at his place, but I forgot. When I remembered 3 days later, I went to that place and found him there. He said: “You have vexed me, young man. I have been here for 3 days waiting for you.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood]

Three days and he came (regarding) the same promise to the agreed place loyally and truthfully.

And this solid principle continued with him from his childhood until he – peace be upon him – passed away. He did not utter (even) one lie, but lying was the most disdained attribute to him. Aisha – may Allah be pleased with her – said: “There was no behaviour more hateful to the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – than lying. A man would lie when narrating something in the presence of the prophet and he would not be content until he knew that he had repented.” [Imam Ahmad and Ibn Hibbaan].

That is because lying – O Servants of Allah – is a vile quality and an ignoble trait. And a stingy person or a coward may be excused but the liar has no excuse – Safwan bin Sulaim narrates: It was said to the prophet – peace be upon him – : “Can a Muslim be a coward?” He said: “Yes.” It was said: “Can he be stingy?” He said: “Yes.” It was said: “Can he be a liar?” He said: “No” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad in his muwatta]

Another hadeeth in the Musnad of Imam Ahmad supports and explains it: On the authority of Abu Umamah – may Allah be pleased with him – who said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “A believer may commit every sin except betrayal and lying.”

An Nawawi – may Allah have mercy on him – said: “The texts of the Book (Quraan) and Sunnah have demonstrated the prohibition of lying in a sentence, and it is from the ugly sins and the immoral faults and the consensus of the Ummah is in agreement on its prohibition as mentioned in the demonstrations of the texts.” Then he – may Allah have mercy on him – said: “And this hadeeth of whose authenticity is agreed upon suffices: On the authority of Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – who said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks he lies, when he promises he breaks his promise and when he is entrusted he betrays the trust.”

And on the authority of Abdullah bin Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – who reports that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever has (the following) four characteristics will be a pure hypocrite. And whoever has one of these characteristics has one characteristic of a hypocrite unless he gives it up: when he makes a covenant he proves treacherous, when he speaks he lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he argues he proves wicked.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

Lying decreases faith. Allah – Exalted and Majestic – said: “It is only those who believe not in the verses of Allah, who fabricate falsehood…” [Nahl; Verse 105]. Surely the liar is dealt with with cursing: “…then we pray and invoke (sincerely) the Curse of Allah upon those who lie.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 61].

Silence is better than lying and the honesty of the tongue is the first happiness. And there isn’t anything that you can think of, that is more further (away) from chivalry and beauty and glory in men than lying. Lying is the collection of every evil and the origin of every sin and its small brings on its big.

And surely the wise ones said: “Whoever has legalized the suckling on lying, his weaning is made difficult.” For that reason the prophet – peace be upon him – used to rebuke it even if small, and he used to shun lying even to small children so that they may grow up on honesty and become familiar with it and that they may distance (themselves) from lying and reject it.

Abdullah bin Aamir reports: My mother called me one day when the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – was sitting in our house. She said: Come here and I shall give you something. The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – asked her: “What did you intend to give him?” She replied: I intended to give him some dates. The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “If you were not to give him anything, a lie would be recorded against you.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood with a good chain of narration].

And on the authority of Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – who said that the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever says to a child: ‘Come here and take this’ then does not give him something, this is counted as a lie.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad with an authentic chain of narration].

Look at how the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – taught fathers and mothers to bring up their children, an upbringing wherein they sanctify honesty and mock lying. And if he were to ignore these matters and regard them as trivial trivia it would have been feared that the children would grow up considering lying (as) a small sin while it is in the sight of Allah great.

And this strictness in striving for the truth and protecting honesty continued until it encompassed (even) domestic issues. On the authority of Asmaa bint Yazeed – may Allah be pleased with her – who said: “O messenger of Allah if one of us were to say about something we desired ‘I do not desire it’, would this be considered lying? He replied: “A lie is written as a lie, and a white lie is written as a white lie.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad and Tabarani in Kabeer].

Surely, there’s no negligence in the principle of lying even in entertaining or joking. On the authority of Bahz bin Hakeem, who narrates from his father, who narrates from his grandfather – may Allah be pleased with them – that: I heard the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – saying: “Woe to him who tells lies to make people laugh. Woe to him. Woe to him.” [Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi and Nisaai and Tirmidhi said: (It is) good and authentic].

So if this is (regarding) the one who jokes, then what do you think about the most heinous lie, that is, the lie against Allah and His messenger! Allah – Exalted and Majestic – said: “And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied against Allah – their faces will be black…” [Zumar; Verse 60] and he – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever lies against me intentionally, let him occupy his seat in Hellfire.” [Agreed upon]

In keeping with that, is the one whose harm is widespread like lying that affects the interests of the Ummah and its great matters or (that) which causes confusion in the ranks of society or spreads chaos and disposes of trust and dresses the truth with falsehood, especially with the presence of means to spread (news) widely and quickly propagating information, so you find information networks releasing rumours and you see the media lying and newspapers inciting, so honesty is hurt in the midst of this mess. And when the truths are mixed, people walk without guidance. And surely, the prophet – peace be upon him – saw the punishment of the one whose lie was propagated so he said: “And as for the man whose cheeks you saw being torn apart, he is a liar. He used to speak lies until they used to become famous everywhere.” [Narrated by Bukhari]

And perhaps the lie comes from a source that the listener thought was true, so he took his stance on it, then it reached the (level of) infliction and harm that none besides Allah knows, and perhaps it has destroyed homes, broken families or spilled blood due to the conveying of a liar or a treacherous betrayal. And in the hadeeth: “It is great treachery that you should tell your brother something and have him believe you while you are lying.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood]

Servants of Allah: Honesty is a blessing and lying is a destruction, and at (the time of) buying and selling greed is present and piety decreases, therefore the noble directives (serve) as an admonition at this stage. Hakeem bin Hizaam – may Allah be pleased with him – said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Both parties in a business transaction have the right to annul it so long as they have not separated; and if they speak the truth and make everything clear they will be blessed in their transaction; but if they tell a lie and conceal anything the blessing of their transaction will be wiped out.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]

And Bukhari classified this hadeeth in his Saheeh as: The chapter (on) what lying and concealment wipes out in trade.

And Rifa’ah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that he came out with the prophet – peace be upon him – to the place of prayer, then he saw the people trading so he said: “O group of merchants,” so they answered to the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – they raised their necks and their sights towards him, then he said: “All merchants are resurrected on the Day of Judgement as sinners, except for those who feared Allah, treated their customers well, and were truthful.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja and Tirmidhi said: This hadeeth is good and authentic].

Beware, so make honesty a motto and garment for you and mandate it in public and private, Allah will create piety in your hearts and ability and light on your paths: “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” [Tawbah; Verse 119].

May Allah bless me and you in the Great Quraan and benefit us with the guidance of the leader of the messengers. I say these words of mine and I ask Allah – the Exalted – to forgive me and you.

Second Khutbah

All praise is due to Allah for His Kindness and thanks to him for His ability and bounties. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. Great is His Being. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, a caller to His Pleasure. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be n him, and on his family, companions those after them and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter:
O Muslims: growing your souls with honesty and holding fast onto it and (onto) the (fact that) Allah – the Exalted – is always watchful, in secret and public, and holding onto piety; (all these) motivate a person to have honesty as a quality.

Spreading honesty in the society and renouncing the liars – especially in the general media networks and broadcasting sources – is compulsory on the society.

Verily it is sinful that people become used to the one who liars, and he remains present, affecting (others) with his pen, tongue or media means. Surely liars are found in any place, but it is not permissible for lying to remain or (for us) to become used to its presence.

Sharee’a is critical in this regard. And the punishment of the slanderer (as mentioned) in the Great Quraan is lashing and being known as evil. And Allah also says: “And reject their testimony forever…” [Noor; Verse 4].

It is a containment of an epidemic and a removal for a disease. Similarly, the role model has a great effect in this regard. And how many a mother, father or teacher neglects by being careless about honesty and they do not realise that the growing one picks up from him, being aware or unaware, and he is raised on this character or that.

Honesty is the enlightenment of the society and the responsibility of every person… “And are people thrown on their faces into the Fire for anything but the harvest of their tongues”

This, and send salutations and peace on the best of people and the purest of humans Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Hashimiyy, al-Qurashyy.

O Allah send your salutations, peace and blessings on your servant and messenger Muhammad and on his pure good family and his companions, the fortunate personalities. And be happy O Allah with the guided leaders and pleased khulafa – Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman and ‘Ali – and all the rest of the companions of your prophet and those who tread their path and follow their way, O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/07...ts-importance/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

The Levant (Shaam) .. Its virtues and its history

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib
February 24, 2012 ~ Rabi al Awwal 2, 1433


First Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, the one whose commands change the conditions. He rotates the days, so how many a country was judged against, then was changed. And how many a group dominated and thought their domination was everlasting, then they slipped and passed away and its kingdom passed away. I praise my Lord – Glorified is He – and I praise him and thank him and I seek His repentance and forgiveness. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, The Great, The Exalted. He gives respite without neglect. And He is severe (in) insidiousness, Great in warning. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the noblest of messengers and the most complete of men. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be on him and salutations on his companions and family.

Thereafter:

Verily the best of speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad – peace be upon him – and the worst of affairs are the newly invented, and every newly invented thing is a bid’ah (innovation), and every innovation is a misguidance.

Then verily the best advice: (is) the advice of the fearing of Allah – The Exalted. “O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His messenger – peace be upon him – he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. saviour from Hell and entry into Paradise).” [Ahzaab; Verse 70-71]

O Muslims:

When Allah spread out the earth and caused the hand of the creation over the creatures, He made in it lands and spread on it humans. Then He chose from these lands, lands, and from humans, humans. “And your Lord creates whatsoever He wills and chooses.” [Qasas; Verse 68]. So it was Makkah and the Mashaa’ir (Mina, Muzdalifah, Arafah) and the purest of the pure (Madeenah), and the birthmark of them was the land of Shaam.

And He chose from humans, His prophets and messengers, and He decreed for the land of Shaam a great portion of them. He made its land the route of the prophets and the descent of revelation from the sky. It is the land of gathering and resurrection. And when Allah will send the Messiah, son of Maryam at the end of times, he will not descend except in it, at the eastern, white minaret of Damascus, (as is) narrated by Muslim.

Blessedness for Shaam! The angels of the Most Gracious spread their wings over it. Surely it is a land that Allah has blessed through the texts of the Book and the Sunnah. For it is the wet-nurse of Islam and its nurse-maid; and its capital for a long period of time. Many governments of Islam ruled on its land and many companions (sahaba) and scholars of the Muslims are buried in it.

How many (tears) of the eyes of worshippers were shed on its soil, and (how many) brigades of Jihaad were summoned in its shadows, and (how much of) ink flowed on its notebooks with knowledge and (how much of) the blood of martyrs flowed on its soil: companions and chosen ones and sincere friends. And the rule rotated in it (through) kings and sultans, increasing majesty in majesty and honour in honour.

The crusader movement that flocked to it for 200 years was defeated on its hills, (of which) the number of soldiers in it was close to the (number of) citizens of the entire land of Shaam.

When the civilization of Islam is considered, Shaam is mentioned; and when knowledge, virtue and conquests are mentioned, Shaam is mentioned. It is the land of prophets and the refuge of the sincere friends. And the prophet – peace be upon him – did not visit a land outside the Arabian Peninsula except the land of Shaam.

And at the end of time, when there will be a great massacre, the tent of the Muslims and the unison of their banners will be in the land of a fertile oasis, in which is the city said to be: Damascus, and it will be the best place for people to live in on that day, as Tabarani narrated from the saying of the prophet – peace be upon him.

And surely the companions– may Allah be pleased with them – had grasped the supplication of the prophet – peace be upon him -: “O Allah bless us in our Shaam, O Allah bless us in our Shaam” [Narrated by Bukhari].

And his saying – peace be upon him – “If the people of Shaam are corrupted then there is no good in you. There will always be a group of my nation that will be victorious, and they will not be harmed by those who seek to humiliate them until the hour comes.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi].

They (companions) did not remain after his – peace be upon him – demise, except a few of them. Their hearts turned to the land that Allah had blessed and (that) the messenger of Allah advised about. Then the banners of victory fluttered towards it (Shaam), and the brigades of Jihaad flapped in its cradles, and features of light ruled it, and Islam spread its robe over Shaam. The vanguards of faith extending it, being led by Khalid bin Waleed, Abu Ubaidah bin Jarraah, Shurahbeel bin Hasanah, Amr bin Aas, Diraar bin Azwar and with them was a thousand companions, 100 of whom had witnessed Badr. And the noble companions were successors to it (Shaam).

Waleed bin Muslim said: “10 000 eyes that saw the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – entered Shaam.”

Eyes, after the purity of Madeenah, saw the sight of Shaam. Not surprisingly, for the prophet – peace be upon him – chose it for his companions, and advised his most loyal of companions regarding it. He – peace be upon him – said: “You will be split up into groups of armies. An army will be in Shaam, an army in Yemen and an army in Iraq.” Ibn Hawlah – may Allah be pleased with him – said: “Choose for me O messenger of Allah if I’m around to witness that. So he said: “You must join Shaam, for it is the chosen land of Allah in His earth. In it the chosen ones among His servants shall have protection. Otherwise, go to Yemen but be prepared to drink from still water. For Allah has given me a guarantee concerning Shaam and its people.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawood].

And Shaam became the capital of Islam. The first kingdoms of Islam and the most just kings of Islam were established in it. The light of knowledge radiated from it. And the robe of justice was spread out in it. And the values of truth and freedom were spread in it. The Muslims there portrayed the most wonderful examples in good neighbouring and noble dealings with others.

And the Muslims protected the custody of the people of religions, and they left their sects and places of worship for them, so the people lived in peace and security, free in their land and beliefs. And Shaam partook of the blessings of justice, and its life was comfortable, and its sustenance was great, so much so that Umar bin Abdul Aziz said, while he was sitting on its throne: “Scatter the grain on the tops of mountains so that it will not be said: The birds are hungry in the land of the Muslims.”

And the armies of Tartar were defeated on its hills, and the light of Islam was elevated in it and gained victory, so much so that a questioner asked Ibn Taymiyyah – may Allah have mercy on him -: “Is the status of Shaam due to its manifestation of Islam better or that of Makkah and Madeenah?”

Then a long time passed, and the days changed. And with the rising of the ones who rose to its rule, its condition changed, then Shaam was not the Shaam that promises. Its vegetation withered, and its flowers shriveled, and the life of its people narrowed, and security demised from its meadows, and the enemies cut off a part of its land. And there were still scholars and pious (people) in the land of Shaam. Some left their homes and were separated from their countries, expelled. They were met with the hand of oppression and transgression. Their eyes flow with tears. And most of the strangers are not kind to their people and homes. And they see on the screens, places of their lands that they know. They had memories and sorrows there. The airplanes are bombing them and the cannons are demolishing them.

O Muslims: Shaam is the heritage of the conquerors i.e. the companions and those who follow them; and a trust of the ancestors of the Muslims for the descendants. Its history is inspirational and its current situation is sad, and its people have patience of whose tales are long. Perhaps their patience can be interpreted towards goodness.

And surely we are in a time in which we are summoning that majesty and that old history to take a stand against two hollow wounds in the land of Shaam; two bleeding bloods that the Islamic nation suffers from. Both wounds are moist, and too the sickles are affecting them: The wound of Palestine, and the wound of Syria, and between them there are scars here and there. And these are days of tests and trials.

O Muslims: How is a person in these days able to exceed the massacres of values in our beloved Shaam and he sees treachery of the near (ones), and betrayal of the far (ones), and disloyalty of the shepherd for his flock. The capabilities of the nation and its achievements are employed for its suppression and humiliation; and its weapons which are (usually) used to drive off the danger of the enemy returned on the jugular veins of the citizens, slaughtering and chopping. The Islamic nation is crushed for the sake of the interests of individuals who don’t care about it (even) for a day. Surely the covered has been uncovered, and the slogans have worked up the feelings, and it is clear that sometimes the enemy that is beyond the borders is more merciful than the enemy that is within the borders.

Women and children not armed even with a stone, the missiles of treachery are scattered on the stones of their homes; and their bodies are shattered under the mess. You see arms amputated and bodies buried below the rubble of the houses; in pictures portraying the capability of the lack of humanity and the like thereof of the perpetrators, and the lack of character and nobility in their actions. The blood of the Shaamis are flowing (like) the flowing of the Tigris and Euphrates, not on (the hands) of an apparent enemy, but on the hands of an imposter, an Arab Renaissance and the guardianship of the Arabs about whom no excuse can tolerate and no justification can conceal.

O Noble Shaamis: Your weapons have honour, so do not dirty them by attaining your brethren with them. And your strength is a pride for the Arabs, so do not tackle your people with it. And make your weapons for your family a protector; and for your land a defender. There is no excuse for you in front of Allah and history that you return the barrels of guns against your chests, and some of you taste the wrong of others. “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him and a great punishment is prepared for him.” [Nisaa; Verse 93]. Unify the ranks, join the speech, and seek help from Allah and be patient.

Servants of Allah: Verily the virtue of Shaam and its existence is the inlet of Islam which makes it necessary for the Muslims to call to aiding its people and driving off oppression from them and removing injustice from them. And surely the prophet – peace be upon him – made the reformation of Shaam the criterion for the reformation of the entire Islamic nation. Therefore, it is necessary on the Muslims – all the Muslims – to drive off as much as they can so that the hand of corruption does not change the beautiful face of Shaam, and it remains as its history, faith, knowledge, civilization and light, no hungry birds in it as Umar wanted; and no people fear in it; loyal to the companion conquerors and the glorious scholars who put the soil of Shaam under their heads for the last sleep in this world; and standing efficiently on its rights that were gifted by the Arabs and Muslims.

Surely the ardent intellectuals have called for the interests of the Islamic nation. And the custodian of the two Holy Mosques has raised his voice from the first hour, calling for ruling with truth and justice, and logic, wisdom and intellect, and placing noble public interests before personal interests, sparing the blood of the Muslims and preserving the unity of their ranks and their land, and repelling group and ideological differences, and steadfastness on the positions of religion and character. And he has stood up – may Allah protect him – coming out openly with words of truth and justice with his ardent brothers and friends.

So may Allah fulfill the efforts, and reform the affair, and make the consequences good.

And verily we have hope in the morning (that) enfolds the stifling night, and by which the flowers breathe, and with which the sun of salvation shines. And the hope in Allah is great that the day will return its (Shaam’s) glad tidings. And the sky gives hope when it is obscured.

Perhaps Allah will replace your night (with) morning, and your fear (with) security, and your agony (with) comfort, and make the best of you take charge, and suffice you with the evil of your evil ones. “And Allah has full power and control over His affairs, but most of men know not.” [Yusuf; Verse 21]

May Allah bless me and you in the Great Quraan, and benefit us with what is in it of verses and wise reminders. I say these words of mine, and I seek the forgiveness of Allah – The Exalted – for me and for you.

Second Khutbah

All praise be to Allah, The Guardian, The Praiseworthy. He creates what He wishes and rules as He pleases. And He is Just, doing what He wishes and ruling as He pleases. In His hand is giving and preventing, and trials and comfort – Glorified is He, Exalted and Holy. His actions and commands do not stray from wisdom, mercy and reformation. And we are His servants, the sons of His male servants, the sons of His female servants. Our past is His command. Our justice is His decree. And He – Glorified is He – is the most wise of judges, and the most merciful of those who show mercy. He does not decree for His friends except that it is the best for them, whether that decree hurts them or pleases them. And for Him is great praised wisdom in everything that occurs to the believers, even though that decree may be apparent trials and evils, for verily in His involvement, there is wisdom and advantages of which only Allah can count. “And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.” [Baqarah; Verse 216]

And when the believers are certain about this reality, and they know aspects of goodness and mercy are in what has afflicted them, their hearts will be filled with steadfastness, patience, hope, and trust in the promise of Allah, and peace regarding His good planning and choices. “It may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good.” [Nisaa; Verse 19]

Verily, the wounds are hollow, and the calamities are great, and the pain is intense, but the sentiments that this destruction has caused in the Islamic nation are immense. And if Shaam is suffering, then surely the rest of the body of the Islamic nation suffers from fever and sleeplessness, and solidarity manifests among the Muslims, and life cheers up in their one body, and the masajid resound with supplication, and deep emotions in the Islamic nation are stirred up, emotions that were almost wiped out, and that were almost overlooked by the desires of life, and for as long as the enemies of Islam try to anaesthetise them (emotions) with distractions and entertainment – (so) they claim.

And because of it, they have re-awoken and there is raging in the hearts, and it sees the blood of the beloveds flowing on the blessed land of Shaam. And people have returned, a true returning, to the religion. And the truth of the truthful ones has become evident, and the betrayal of the betrayers has manifested, and the confidence of the world in the international organisations has shaken, and it is clear that they do not act except according to their selfish interests. The cries of children and the moans of the injured and oppressed do not affect the hearts of its (organisation’s) owners.

The hearts of the believers are certain about the saying of The True – Glorified is He -: “If Allah helps you, none can overcome you, and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you? And in Allah (alone) let the believers put their trust.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 160]

It is narrated that Ali bin Abi Talib – may Allah be pleased with him – sang:

And do not be despondent when a mishap befalls you

For how much, by Allah, of concealed benevolence

And how many eases come after difficulty

Thereby relieving the distress of the grieved heart.

And how many a matter is hurtful at morning

And pleasure comes to you at evening.

When conditions narrow on you on a day

Then depend on The One, The Unique, The Exalted.

O Believers: Surely Allah the Exalted wants us to hold back tears at (the time of) every calamity or mishap; and to wipe away sadness, and to renew repentance, and not to become weak and not to be despondent, and to drive off fate with fate. “So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 139]

Assembly of Muslims: Verily, knowing the aspects of goodness in these events, and being happy with the decree of Allah – Honoured and Majestic – and submitting to His decree does not mean: indifference and weakness, and being happy with corruption, disgrace and humiliation and not taking the means to victory, honour and nobility, but it strengthens the certainty in the promise of Allah – Glorified is He – and the confidence in His victory and contentment of His decree and planning.

Trials are an elevation, a purification, and an examination. And the martyrs are chosen and selected. “And that (Hereafter) which is with Allah is better and will remain forever.” [Qasas; Verse 60]

Pain gives birth to hope. And to the extent of the intensity of the hardship, the certainty of the closeness of relief is obtained. And know that victory is with patience and relief is with hardship and that with difficulty is ease.

With patience, there is reinforcement from the heavens, “Yes, if you hold on to patience and piety, and the enemy comes rushing at you, your Lord will help you with 5000 angels having marks (of distinction).” [Aal Imraan; Verse 125]

And with patience the harm of the enemies disappears “But if you remain patient and become pious, not the least harm will their cunning do to you.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 120]

And surely Allah has praised the ones who are patient in extreme poverty, disease and at the time of fighting (battles) so He – Glorified is He – said: “Such are the people of the truth and they are the pious.” [Baqarah; Verse 177]

Verily patience is necessary and there’s no substitute for it. Patience is necessary on the effects of the events like pain and anger and hopelessness sometimes and despondency. Patience is necessary and so too is endurance, endurance of the oppressors who try and strive to break the patience of the believers.

And if falsehood insists, forebears and remains on its way, then how much more deserving is it for the people of truth to be intensely persistent and greatly patient. “If you are suffering (hardships) then surely, they (too) are suffering (hardships) as you are suffering, but you have hope from Allah (for the reward i.e. Paradise) that for which they hope not, and Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.” [Nisaa; Verse 104]

So O people of Shaam! “Seek help in Allah and be patient. Verily, the earth is Allah’s. He gives it as a heritage to whom He wills of His slaves, and the (blessed) end is for the pious.” [A’raaf; Verse 128]

Verily Allah – Exalted and Majestic – has surely provided Shaam and its people for His prophet. That which Allah has provided, then there is no forfeiting of it. And surely the description in the Book and Sunnah of blessings is a glad tiding that the period of tribulation and tyranny will not be long in it, because it is a place of blessings, security and faith.

And surely Shaam was the cemetery of the enemies of the Islamic nation and the elders. For in it the crusaders and Tartars were defeated, and in it the Romans were overpowered – as in the Hadeeth of the great slaughter – and in it Dajjaal (anti-Christ) and those who follow him from amongst the Jews will be destroyed. And the prophet – peace be upon him – made the corruption of Shaam a permission for the vanishing of goodness from the Islamic nation, and he made its reformation a glad tiding for the reformation of the affair of the entire Islamic nation. And here it is today, glad tidings are coming and nights filled with hope.

And surely we swear by Allah – Exalted and Majestic – firmly, with full conviction in what our Lord has promised us of the help of His friends and defending them when they take from the means of victory, that hardship and difficulty will never be prolonged on a nation that surrender their needs to Allah and exclaim: O Allah, there is no one for us besides You, O Allah! And Allah – the Exalted – says: “And whoever holds firmly to Allah (i.e. follows Islam – Allah’s religion, and obeys all that Allah has ordered, practically), then he is indeed guided to a Right Path” [Aal Imraan; Verse 101] “And (as for) the believers it was incumbent upon Us to help (them).” [Room; Verse 47] “And that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors.” [Saaffaat; Verse 173] “Verily, Allah will help those who help His (Cause).” [Hajj; Verse 40] “Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah) in this world’s life and on the Day when the witness will stand forth (i.e. Day of Resurrection)” [Ghafir; Verse 51]

O Muslims: Verily waiting for relief is from amongst the greatest acts of worship. And verily despondency of the mercy of Allah is from amongst the major sins. And the believers should fill their optimistic hearts with the closeness of relief and the conviction of the end of the oppressors. “So make no haste against them; We only count out to them a (limited) number (of the days of the life of this world and delay their term so that they may increase in evil and sins).” [Maryam; Verse 84]

And surely Allah wants for His servants victory and relief greater than they imagine; and stability more everlasting than they are waiting for. “And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.” [Talaaq; Verse 3]

This; and send salutations and peace on the chosen prophet and selected messenger.

O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on your servant and messenger Muhammad and on his good, pure family, and his companions, the fortunate personalities.

O Allah be happy with the guided leaders and rightly-guided khulafaa: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, and with all the rest of the companions of your prophet, and those who tread their path and follow their way O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/09...d-its-history/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Easy acts of worship with immense reward

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib
August 24, 2012 ~ Shawwal 6, 1433


First Khutbah
All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, the Returner of the seasons and the eids, and the One who makes easy the paths of good so that the servant may be plenty in good and increase. Then all praise be to Allah on what He has legislated, and thanks to Him for the ability He has granted, and virtue to Him for His guidance. To Him is the returning and the turning back. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partners and no rivals. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His messenger and the best of servants. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be upon him and on his family and companions, the possessors of guidance, and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Mutual Talks.

Thereafter:
Then piety – O Muslims – piety: the advice of the prophets, and the ornament of the saints and the best preparation for the Day of Meeting. “O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” [Hashr: Verse 18]

O Muslims: There still remains in our clothes a fragrance from the scents of our month that has not reduced, and there still remains in ourselves a moistness from the reciting of Quraan that has not dried, and there still remains in our eyes a dampness due to the farewell of Ramadan, and who can blame it for (not) drying, and this is not except for what it misses regarding the sweetness of worship and the sweetness of actions that bring (us) close (to Allah). And the mount of time of worship has not dried us, to reverberate the souls and overcome the hearts.

And if a person exercises patience, and overcomes his desires, and continues the voluntary acts of worship that he made habitual during the month of Ramadan like fasting, standing in prayer at night, recitation of Quraan, charity and goodness, his life will become a season of goodness always, and his self will change to a garden of good actions continuously and he will exemplify the saying of Allah – Glorified and Majestic – : “Say (O Muhammad – peace be upon him): ‘Verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” [An’aam: Verse 162]

O Muslims: The earth is Allah’s inheritance for his servants. They choose their houses from Paradise to the extent of their reaping for the Hereafter. “And they will say: ‘All praises and thanks be to Allah Who has fulfilled His Promise to us and has made us inherit (this) land. We can dwell in Paradise where we will.” [Zumar: Verse 74] And the true believer is going towards his Lord, rushing and he does not break down until his end is Paradise, and he does not stop until death overtakes him. “And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty (i.e. death).” [Hijr: Verse 99]

And although the month of Ramadan has passed – and it is a month of multiplication of rewards – then verily Allah the Exalted is the Lord of all the months. And in life there are wide prospects for (doing) good deeds, and rewards (that) multiply. It (life) is – by Allah – the profiting store. And in the laws of Allah and the guidance of His messenger – peace be upon him – there are (many) roads that connect to Allah, and paths that lead and guide to His Pleasure, and actions that seek the pleasures of Allah and His Mercies, and he is rewarded for them with His Paradise, but where are the people busy in work (towards Paradise)?!

Abdullah bin Umar – may Allah be pleased with both of them – said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – took me by my shoulder and said: “Be in this world as a stranger or a wayfarer” And Ibn Umar used to say: “At evening, do not wait for morning and at morning do not wait for evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and from your life for your death.” [Narrated by Bukhari]

And surely the prophet – peace be upon him – indicated towards easy actions, and set for them immense rewards, and opened for us wide doors of good actions to increase in for the Day of Recompense, and stock away for the meeting of Allah, the Lord of lords. “And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it (i.e. do righteous deeds of Allah’s obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allah), then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, thanked and rewarded (by Allah).” [Israa: Verse 19]

Abu Tharr – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “A charity is due for every joint in each person on every day the sun comes up: For in every glorification there is a charity, and in praise of Him there is a charity, and in declaration of His Oneness there is a charity, and in every declaration of His Greatness there is a charity, and in enjoining good there is a charity, and forbidding evil is a charity, and 2 units of Dhuha prayers which one performs in the forenoon is equal to all this (in reward).” [Narrated by Muslim]

And he – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that people said: “O messenger of Allah! The rich have taken the rewards. They pray as we pray, they fast as we fast, and they give charity from their extra wealth. He said: “Has Allah not made ways for you to give charity? In every glorification of Allah there is charity, and in every declaration of His Greatness there is charity, and in praise of Him is charity, and in every declaration of His Oneness there is charity, and enjoining good is charity, and forbidding evil is charity, and in a man’s intimate relations with his wife is charity.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, is there a reward for one who satisfies his passions?” He said: “You see if he were to devote himself to something forbidden it would be a sin; likewise, if he were to devote himself to something lawful, he will have a reward.” [Narrated by Muslim]

And surely the believer reaches the highest stages through easy actions, by which he does not think he will reach what he has reached. Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the prophet – peace be upon him –said: “I saw a man going about in Paradise (and enjoying himself) as a reward for cutting from the middle of the road a tree which was causing inconvenience to the Muslims.” [Narrated by Muslim]

And in the narration by him: “A man who passed by a branch of a tree leaning over a road and decided to remove it, saying to himself: ‘By Allah! I will remove from the way of the Muslims so that it would not harm them.’ On account of this he was admitted to Paradise.”

According to another narration in Bukhari and Muslim: “While a man was walking, he saw a thorny branch on the road, so he removed it and Allah appreciated his action and forgave him.”

O Muslims: And a simple word that a servant seeks the pleasure of his Noble Lord, and he appreciates His widespread bounties. Anas – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the messenger of Allah –peace be upon him – said: “Verily Allah is pleased with a servant when he eats a morsel and praises him for it and when he takes a drink and praises him for it.” [Narrated by Muslim]

As for ablution and prayer, and this is repeated many times a day, then listen to what Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “When a Muslim – or a believer – performs ablution and washes his face, every sin he committed with his eyes will be washed away from his face along with the last drop of water; when he washes his hands, every sin he committed with his hands will be washed away along with the last drop of water; when he washes his feet, every sin towards which his feet have taken him will be washed away along with the last drop of water, until the result is his purification from sin.” [Narrated by Muslim]

Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Shall I not guide you to that by which Allah wipes away the sins and raises the ranks?” They said: “Certainly O messenger of Allah” He said: “Completing the ablution when it is a hardship, and many steps towards the mosques and waiting for the (next) prayer after the prayer. That is defending the frontiers.” [Narrated by Muslim]

Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “The five obligatory prayers, the Friday prayer, Ramadan followed by another Ramadan expiate sins committed in between them as long as major sins are avoided.” [Narrated by Muslim]

Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “If people knew the reward for pronouncing the Athan (call to prayer) and for standing in the first row and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots, they would draw lots, and if they knew the reward for the Thuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of Isha and Fajr prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl.” [Agreed upon]

Abu Abdullah – may Allah be pleased with him – or it is said: Abu Abdur Rahmaan – Thawbaan, mawla of the messenger – peace be upon him – and may Allah be pleased with Thawbaan – narrates: I heard the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – saying: “Perform many prostrations, for verily you do not prostrate to Allah a prostration except that Allah raises you by it a rank, and reduces from you by it a sin.” [Narrated by Muslim]

And the remembrance of Allah the Exalted is a rubric of success, and a sign of ability and reformation. Abdullah bin Busr – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that a man said: “O messenger of Allah! The laws of Islam are too much for me. Tell me something I can cling to. He said: “Your tongue should remain moist with the remembrance of Allah.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi]

Abu Darda – may Allah be pleased with him – says: the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Shall I inform you of the best of your actions and the purest of your property and the highest of your degrees and what is better for you than spending in gold and silver and better for you than encountering your enemy and striking their necks and their striking your necks?” They said: “Yes indeed”. He said: “Remembrance of Allah the Exalted.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi, and Haakim said: its chain is authentic]

Abu Abbas – may Allah be pleased with him – said: the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “If someone clings to seeking forgiveness, Allah will appoint for him a way out of every constriction, and relief from every difficulty, and will provide for him from where he does not imagine.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood]

Shaddad bin Aws – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “The best way to seek forgiveness is for a slave to say: ‘O Allah You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your slave. I comply with Your covenant and Your promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me. Only You can forgive sins.’ Anyone who says this during the day having confidence in it and dies on that day before evening will be among the people of Paradise. Anyone who says it during the night having full confidence in it and dies before morning will be among the people of Paradise.” [Narrated by Bukhari]

And in goodness towards the creation, you should not hesitate in goodness, and do not belittle a good act that you present, even if it may be little. Adiyy bin Hatim – may Allah be pleased with him – said: I heard the prophet – peace be upon him – saying: “Fear (ward off) the Fire, even if it be by giving half a date in charity.” [Agreed upon]

And in a narration in them (Bukhari and Muslim) he said: the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Allah will speak to every one amongst you without any interpreter between them. He (the man) would look towards his right and would not find anything but (the deeds) which he had done before and he would look towards his left and would not find anything but (the deeds) which he had done before. He would see in front of him and would find nothing but Fire just before his face. So protect (yourselves) against the Fire even if it is (by giving) half a date in charity. But if you fail to find it, (then protect yourselves against the Fire) with the help of a pleasant word.”

Abu Moosa – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Every Muslim has to give in charity.” The people then asked: “(But what) if someone has nothing to give, what should he do?” The prophet replied: “He should work with his hands and benefit himself and also give charity (from what he earns).” The people further asked: “If he cannot find even that?” He replied: “He should help the needy who appeal for help.” Then the people asked: “If he cannot do (even) that?” The prophet said: “He should command to good”. The people asked: “If he cannot do (even) that? The prophet said: “He should keep away from evil deeds, and that will be regarded as charity.” [Agreed upon]

May Allah bless me and you in the Quraan and Sunnah, and benefit us of what is in them of verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah the Exalted for me and you.

Second Khutbah
All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. The Beneficent, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. His is the kingdom. The Clear Truth. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the truthful, the trustworthy. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be upon him, and on all his family and companions.

Servants of Allah: Good actions with great recompense and concealed reward encompasses all dealings in the Muslim society like (dealings with) parents, wife, relatives and neighbours. Abdullah bin Mas’ood – may Allah be pleased with him – said: A man came to the messenger of Allah and said: “O messenger of Allah! Who from amongst mankind warrants my best companionship from me?” He replied: “Your mother”. The man asked: “Then who?” So he replied: “Your mother”. The man then asked: “Then who?” So the prophet replied again: “Your mother”. The man then asked: “Then who?” So he replied: “Your father.” [Agreed upon]

And in a narration: “O messenger of Allah! Who from amongst mankind warrants my best companionship from me? He said: “Your mother, then your mother, then your mother, then your father, then the next closest to you in kinship, then the one next closest.”

And his saying: “Then your father” means: then kindness to your father.

And Anas – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Whosoever desired that he be granted more provision, and his life be prolonged, should join ties with his blood relations.” [Agreed upon]

And Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – said: the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “The believer with the most complete faith is the one with the best character. And the best of you is the one who is the best to his wives.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi; and he said: good, authentic Hadeeth].

Ibn Umar and Aisha – may Allah be pleased with them both – said: the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Jibraeel continued to advise me to be good to my neighbour until I thought that he would have m make him my heir.” [Agreed upon]

Abdullah bin Mas’ood – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Let whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day honour his guest, and let whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day join his family ties and let whosoever believes in Allah and the Last Day speak good or be silent.” [Agreed upon]

And regarding covering up (the faults) of people, the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “No servant conceals (the faults of) another servant in this world, except that Allah conceals (his faults) on the Day of Judgement.” [Narrated by Muslim]

Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates: the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – was asked about (what) causes most people to enter Paradise. He said: “Fearing Allah and good character.” And he was asked about (what causes) most people to enter the Fire. So he said: “The (sins of) the mouth and the private parts.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi and he said: (it is an) authentic hadeeth].

O Muslims: O those whom Allah has made noble by (virtue of) the fast of the month of Ramadan! Verily it is from the Sunnah that you fast six days from the month of Shawwaal. For surely the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan and follows it up by six (fasts) of Shawwaal, it is as if he has fasted an entire year.” [Narrated by Muslim]

And it is permissible to fast them continuously or intermittently.

So increase in pious actions, and remain on obedience and beware of evil deeds. “And be not like her who undoes the thread which she has spun after it has become strong.” [Nahl: Verse 92] And whosoever Allah has freed from the Fire, he should not return to disobedience, for he will return to the slavery of sins and to captivity.

Then send salutations and peace on the selected prophet and the pleased messenger.

O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on your servant and messenger Muhammad, and on his good, pure family, and his companions, the fortunate personalities.

O Allah be happy with the guided leaders and rightly-guided khulafaa: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali, and on all the rest of the companions of your prophet and whoever treads their path and follows their way, O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/09...mmense-reward/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Helping the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم .. How should it be?

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

September 21, 2012 ~ Thul Qa’dah 5, 1433


First Khutbah
All praise to Allah, Unique in His Lofty name, connected with the honourable, defending Kingship. He has no end and nothing is out of His reach. His Knowledge and Mercy encompass everything. And He completes for His servants widespread bounties. And He sends to them messengers from amongst themselves, the most precious of them, Arab and non-Arab. And much praise be to Allah as He gives much bounties. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s servant and messenger, the best of creation (in) intellect, knowledge and tolerance, and the purest of them (in) soul and understanding. His Lord purified his spirit and body and He distanced him from faults and blemishes. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be on him and on his pure good family and his companions, the fortunate personalities, and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter:
Then piety – O people – piety: Mandate it in private and public and prepare for what will save you on the day of presenting before Allah, for all of us are returning to Him. And there is nothing except reaching Delight, or the punishment of the Fire. And the one who is given the ability is the one who rescues his soul and prepares his tools for the great matter. May Allah recompense our broken hearts, and forgive our great sins, and guide us to what saves us from His punishment, and draw us near to His Mercy and His Door.

O people:
Places and humans, and books and words are equal in their absolutely original forms. Then if they are increased they acquire their worth from what is added to them. And the greatest and most majestic and most serious addition is the addition to Allah, the Great, for the books of Allah are the crown of books, and the houses of Allah are the purest of houses, and the speech of Allah is the greatest speech, and His Messengers are the beginning of mankind and the ornamentation of this world.

Allah chose them the best of the best, and made them sinless before prophethood and after it, and exemplified the perfection of humans in their beings, and the high standards of humanity in their souls, and the upright paths in their guidance.

The messengers of Allah and His prophets are the best who have tread the earth, and the noblest and most kind of people. There is no path to Paradise except by obeying them, and there is no salvation from Hellfire except by believing in them, and there is no reaching to Allah, the Majestic and Noble, except with their guidance. Venerating the messenger is part of the veneration of the One Who sent him, and respecting him is part of respecting the One Who sent him, and their status by Allah is great.

And verily Allah guards over His prophets and defends them. How many nations were eradicated by the supplications of their prophets against them, and how many houses were changed and startled and shaken due to their belying their messengers and their taunting of them. “And indeed (many) Messengers were mocked before you, but their scoffers were surrounded by the very thing that they used to mock at.” [An’aam: Verse 10]

And prophets and messengers still continue to have a high position in laws and messengership. Every time a messenger came, he confirmed the truth of the messenger before him, and gave the glad tidings of a messenger after him. And all the messengers gave the glad tidings of a messenger who will come after them named: Ahmad; he is the seal of them and their leader in goodness; their leader, although he was the last of them in order – may Allah send salutations on him and send salutations on all His prophets, messengers and their followers.

O Muslims:
Expressions and praises fall short and the meanings and talents decrease in front of the greatness of the noble prophet and the great messenger, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah, the son of Abdul Muttalib, the Hashimite, the Qurayshy, the Arab. And the pulpits never reach (encompassing) his status. And the pens never accomplish his value. And the honourable biography is in no need of introduction, for value is high and status is lofty.
How can the prophets surpass your rank O sky, which no sky has surpassed (in loftiness)

O people:
Verily, the world from its beginning to its end has not known a human (with such) pure excellence, pure biography, graceful character, solid striving and strong connection to his Lord as is known in the prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him.

An the world has not known a human (who) has cut open the road of perfection, and made life smooth and comfortable for people, and called them to it eagerly, and explained its characteristics to them sleeplessly; and forbore, for the sake of Allah, what no one else forbore, as is known of the prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him.

And those who studied the philosophy of character, sociology, politicians, army generals and founders of civilizations and countries know some of the greatness of this great messenger. Then when these comprehensive studies regarding the great people of the earth are concluded and are compared with the excellent leaders of humanity, it halts in front of the distinction of the perfect human: Muhammad, the son of Abdullah, so that it is seen that the geniuses of the earth fade in his brightness, and that their legacies are minute in front of his guidance, and that their excelling over their peers amounts to nothing in front of the rising sun of prophethood and its wonderful halo.

Verily the reality of the messenger – peace be upon him – is above the description of the describers and the hands that discharge it. It makes every believer indebted to him for the light of faith that illuminates his soul and purifies it. “And verily, you (O Muhammad – peace be upon him) are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path. The Path of Allah, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Verily, all the matters at the end go to Allah.” [Shoora: Verse 52-53]

Verily Muhammad – peace be upon him – came in the descendants of prophethoods which Satan followed the fruits of. And his coming was the last word of the heavens, for it was an assurance preventing distortion and a protection against deviation to conserve the long future of humanity, and in the noble Quraan: “By Allah, We indeed sent (Messengers) to the nations before you (O Muhammad – peace be upon him), but Satan made their deeds fair-seeming to them. So he (Satan) is their helper today, and theirs will be a painful torment. And We have not sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad – peace be upon him), except that you may explain clearly unto them those things in which they differ, and (as) a guidance and a mercy for a folk who believe.” [Nahl: Verse 63-64]

Fabricated religions were in existence, and beliefs ascribed to Allah that is not befitting and sayings about Him that cannot be uttered and it reached from the stability of this and that that it resisted the truth severely when it came, and the world only gained misery from it. In that regard, Allah – Exalted and Majestic – said: “Then, who does more wrong than one who utters a lie against Allah, and denies the truth when it comes to him! Is there not in Hell an abode for the disbelievers? And he (Muhammad –peace be upon him) who has brought the truth and (those who) believed therein, those are the pious persons. They shall have all that they will desire with their Lord. That is the reward of good-doers.” [Zumar; Verse 32-34]

Verily the coming of Muhammad – peace be upon him – was the birth of truth in its most glorious form and its brightest ray, and the rising of this truth was a declaration of the passing away of the prevailing confusion and the miserable mood.

Surely Islam came to announce about One God. He created everything, Exalted, above similarity to anything. “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth, He enlarges provision for whom He wills, and straitens (it for whom He wills). Verily! He is the All-Knower of everything.” [Shoora: Verse 11-12]

And the absolute Oneness is the truth that Islam regards as very valuable, and it spreads its verses in every horizon. Surely the coming of the prophet – peace be upon him – was salvation from this godlessness and its disgraceful consequences; and a raising and defense against oppression and the worshiping of humans by humans, and these were the first signs of widespread mercy that the possessor of this great message was sent with. Following that were the actions and manners, for Muhammad – peace be upon him – came to all nationalities with a religion commanding them to do good and forbidding them from all sins. Verily Muhammad – peace be upon him – is a divine production never to be repeated, so glory be to the One Who perfected Muhammad.

O people:
The stance today is not the stance of speaking about the status of the messengers and the virtue of the seal of them – peace and salutations be on all of them – and not confirming the truth of the prophethood of Muhammad – peace be upon him – and the authenticity of his message, for this is something that no human who respects his intellect argues over, and the means of recognition today are abundant to a great extent. But it is pausing and indications around what busies people regarding the insults of the person of our prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him – and the violation of our final religion, which agitates the bosoms, and makes the hearts boil as pots boil. And there is no good in a nation when its prophet is harmed and they do not get angry, and there is no good in anger for the messenger of Allah discharged (causing) the anger of Allah and His messenger.

It is impossible for a man who has a respected culture or insightful intellect to hate Muhammad. Why does he hate him?! Is it because his book describes the Exalted Creator saying: “Allah! None has the right to be worshiped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth.” [Baqarah: Verse 255]

Muhammad is the messenger of Allah – peace, salutations and blessings be upon him – may my father and my mother and myself be sacrificed for him – today one billion, five hundred million or more people follow him. He is more beloved to them than themselves, their wealth, their children and all people. Their selves are for his soul sacrificed and their honour is for his honour a protection. All of them say as Hassaan (Radiallahu Anhu) said:
Then verily my father and his father and my honour
Is for the honour of Muhammad amongst you a protection.

And a question to the so-called liberals: For whose interests are these incitements been incited?! For whose interests have civilizations and cultures been shocked?! And (since) when has freedom of speech meant violation without limits or restraints?!

Alas, so where is the freedom of speech when denying the slaughtering of the Jews before the treaty which the politicians assume to be more than the historical reality?! No individual in the world dares to deny it (holocaust) or doubt it except that the international organizations and their governments, courts and leaders pursue him. As for the messenger Muhammad – peace be upon him – them talking about him is permissible, and a freedom granted by the law! What is wrong with you, how do you judge?!

Verily the leaders and decision makers should know that the reactions of the nations are a flood that cannot be seized and a raging fire that cannot be extinguished, and maybe the bridle has disappeared, so no word is heard, and no wisdom benefits, and especially when the Ummah is disgraced regarding its holy symbol.

Therefore, it is on the wise to prevent the fools, and on the leaders to prevent those who fuel fires, and no one should accept an excuse regarding his religion.

Verily we call for dialogue, understanding and tolerance, but all these will be of no use if those people continue inheriting the deep-rooted hatred of centuries and harbouring in their hearts resentment with no tranquillity towards Islam and its messenger and its Ummah.

Where are the international laws and international treaties that criminalize calling towards hate and racism, and especially when it represents (in drawing/pictures/photographs etc.) direct provocation towards violence?!

Verily we request from the world, which claims with its assembly to place rules for the protection of all, to draw up a code of ethics and (to) legislate a binding law forbidding and criminalizing the insulting of the prophets and messengers and their heavenly messages.

And surely the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has called for that in every gathering, and strived in extending the bridges of dialogue between the followers of the heavenly religions and the human cultures, so that the relationships between the nations of the earth are built on foundations of cooperation, justice and mercy and to change the world from the clashing of civilizations to the dialogue of civilizations, and calling to the truth without prevention or misrepresentation, for these are our principles, the principles of Islam. In it is the respect of the prophets, all of them; and believing in them, all of them; and following them; and spreading goodness, security and Islam.

And in the description of Allah of His prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him -: “And We have sent you (O Muhammad – peace be upon him) not but as a mercy for the worlds.” [Anbiyaa: Verse 107]

May Allah bless me and you in the Quraan and the Sunnah, and benefit us of what is in them of verses and wisdom. Surely I have said what has passed and I seek forgiveness of Allah – the Exalted – for me and you.

Second Khutbah

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. The Beneficent, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. The King, the Clear Truth. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on him and on his companions and those who follow them, and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Jugdement.

Servant of Allah:
It was said to one of the predecessors: A person has backbitten about you. He said: “Surely he has thrown an arrow at me that did not wound me, until you came and carried it to me.”

So the prophets of Allah – peace be upon them – are continuously insulted and mocked, them and their followers and this happens in every period and place. “And never came a Messenger to them but they did mock him.” [Hijr: Verse 11]

And even if that occurred from the most evil human and the worst in both the worlds, then it is compulsory on the one who heard something of that not to spread it and not to speak about it except to an authority that is able to prevent the abuse.

And surely the poems of the polytheists speaking ill of the leader of the messengers were lost although they were many and (even though they) were delivered as songs. And those poems died then and there when the Muslims did not celebrate or exchange it between them, and they did not include them when mentioning lines of poetry or the information of the Arabs.

Your religion – O servants of Allah – is manifest, and your prophet is sufficed and helped. “It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad – peace be upon him) with guidance and the religion of , to make it superior over all religions even though the polytheists, hate (it).” [Tawbah; Verse 33]. And the status of the prophets will never be affected at all by the attacks of foolish atheists or betrayed disbelievers. And Allah – the Exalted – says: “Truly! We will suffice you against the scoffers.” [Hijr; Verse 95]

So the positions of the prophets are protected, and their values are dear and safeguarded, and verily the insulter is the poor loser. “For he who makes you angry (O Muhammad -peace be upon him)), – he will be cut off (from every good thing in this world and in the Hereafter).” [Kawthar; Verse 3]

And perhaps in this there is a balm for the souls of the listeners and a moistening for the hearts of the defending believers, guidance for their appreciated defence and their rewarded help.

O Muslims:
In the famous incident of “Ifk” (slander), Allah – Exalted and Majestic – said: “Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you.” [Noor; Verse 11] and in the incidents of these days the emotions are stirred, whereas they were cold in the souls of some of the Muslims. The gazes of the non-Muslims have turned to this religion and its noble prophet, and sluggish water has been moved towards the Muslims and other than them.

And if the Muslims make good use of this incident, it will be a victory and honour, and if they make bad use of it, it will become a defeat, and repulsion.

Verily the described good of this Ummah is a complete good that does not divide, so it is incumbent on the Muslims to portray their goodness in reactions, for killing innocent (people) is not of goodness, nor is the destruction of properties, nor demagoguery in dealing with the incidents.

And if the Muslims portray more of holding onto the guidance of their prophet and treading his footsteps, and spreading his biography and knowledge of it, making use of the social media sites – as many Muslims do thankfully – this will be the most impressive reply to the insulters, and to instigate their arguments for the prevention of the repetition of the insults due to what they see of adverse da’wah effects, for verily this reply is the most hurtful for those who insult, and it is dealing with contrary intent.

As for the objective behind every one that wishes evil for this Ummah, (it is) either by busying it with its condition that it is being trialled by in this period, or by provoking the Muslim expatriates in the West towards actions that they are not responsible for to justify their deportation, as the right wing calls for in that country, or so that those actions are a justification for the prevention and blockage of every da’wah activity in the West after they have realised that Islam is present in every angle of their countries, and the future is for it.

Verily the Muslims should know that they are not in need of new incidents distressing the rising tide of Islam and losing its gains. Verily the Muslims should be at the level of awareness and maturity, and not to repeat mistakes, and verily living for Islam is sometimes more effective in its (incident’s) antagonism than dying for it (Islam).

Verily, helping the prophet – peace be upon him – does not mean straying from his Sunnah, and (does) not (mean) acting contrary to his guidance. Verily these insulting incidents mandate that the Ummah increases in holding onto its religion, and protecting its prophet, and returning to following his Sunnah, in happiness and anger, and weakness and strength. “So be patient (O Muhammad – peace be upon him). Verily, the Promise of Allah is true, and let not those who have no certainty of faith, discourage you from conveying Allah’s Message (which you are obliged to convey).” [Room; Verse 60]

O Allah send salutations on the merciful guider and the holy bounty.
O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on Your servant and messenger Muhammad, and on his pure good family and his companions, the fortunate personalities.
O Allah be pleased with the guided leaders and rightly guided khulafa: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali and with all the other companions of Your prophet and those who tread their path and follow their way, O Lord of the worlds.
O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: https://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/1...the-messenger/

:w:

[_Y168]

Subhaan Allaah! Jazaakillaah Khair. May Allaah reward you abundantly. Aameen.

[A-Brother]

:sl:

Standing Up For The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasalam - 2nd Version Of Translation - How Should It Be?

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

September 21, 2012 ~ Thul Qa’dah 5, 1433


Part One

Praise be to Allah Who has His unique Supreme Name, Who is distinguished by
the rule of the Most Powerful Kingdom, the Eternal, with no beginning and no end.
He encompassed everything with His Mercy and Knowledge and bestowed His
abundant blessings upon His servants. He sent them a Messenger (Muhammad)
from among themselves, Arabs and non-Arabs. All Praise be to Allah and I bear
witness that there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah alone, Who has no
partners. And I also bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, who
is the best amongst all creatures in mind, knowledge and tolerance. His Lord purified
his soul and body and guarded him against any flaw or disgrace. May Allah send His
Salat and Peace upon him, his kind, virtuous family, his honourable, blessed
Companions, and those who follow their footsteps in righteousness until the Day of
Judgement.

Guard taqwa (fear of Allah), O people! Guard taqwa! Keep to it secretly and
openly, and make ready for that which saves you at the Day of Exposure before Allah,
for we all shall return unto Him. Once judged, there is either eternal bliss (in Paradise)
or eternal torment in the blazing Fire. The successful people are those who save their
own souls and get ready for the Great Event (the Day of Judgment). May Allah
cleanse our hearts, forgive all our sins, guide us to what saves us from His
punishment, and bring us closer to His Mercy.

O People!

Land and mankind, books and words might be equal in their abstract origins;
however, if they are attached to anything, they shall acquire their value from that
thing to which they are attached. The greatest, the most important and serious
attachment is the attachment to Almighty Allah. For the Books of Allah are the crown
of all books, the houses of Allah (mosques) are the most immaculate houses, and the
word of Allah is the best of all words, and His Messengers are the best of all mankind
and the ornament of life.

Allah selected them as the best descendants from the best ancestors, saved them
from committing sins before and after prophethood. Human perfection is represented
in them, the eminence of humanity is represented in their souls, and the straightest
paths are represented in their guidance.


The messengers and prophets of Allah are the best who have trodden the earth, the
noblest and most pious humans. There is no path that leads to Paradise and away from
the Hell Fire except by believing and obeying them. No person can ever reach Allah
without their guidance. The greatness and honour of a Messenger derives from the
greatness and honour of the One Who has sent him. Thus, their dignity in the eyes of
Allah is great.

Truly, Allah is vigilant in defending his messengers. How many a nation has been
annihilated because its messenger invoked Allah against it and how many a country
was turned upside down, struck violently or quaked because they belied their
messengers and mocked them. And indeed (many) Messengers before you
were mocked at, but their scoffers were surrounded by the very
thing that they used to mock at. [Al-An’âm: 10]

The messengers and prophets still have of a great position in divine laws and
Messages. Whenever there came a messenger, he believed in the one who came
before him and gave glad tidings of a messenger to come after him. The glad tidings
of all the messengers to their people agreed upon a messenger to come called 'Ahmad'
(the more praiseworthy). He is the Seal of all of them and their Imam (leader) even
though he was the last of them. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him
and upon all prophets and messengers and all their followers.

O Muslims!

All expressions, praises, meanings and talents fall short in front of the greatness of
the Arab noble Prophet and Messenger Muhammad ibn `Abd Allah ibn `Abd al-
Muttalib Al Hashimi Al Qurashi. Neither pulpits nor inkstands will suffice to grant
him his due worth. His honorable Sira (life) need not be told about, as his standing is
lofty and his objective is eminent. (Then, the sheikh cites a line of poetry describing
the Prophet's standing): How could prophets attain your level, O you, who is a lofty
heaven, no other heaven can be compared with.

O People!

Never has the world, from its creation to eternity, known a man with such
attributes as Prophet Muhammad (). For, he was pure, reputable, good-looking,
brave and deeply attached to Allah. Neither has the world known a man who opened
the way of perfection, paved it very well to people, called them cordially to it, and
explained its features to them in the most subtle way as Muhammad () did. He also
endured for the sake of Allah what no other human could endure.

Those who have studied about the philosophers of ethics, sociologists, politicians,
army leaders, and founders of civilizations and states stand still before the greatness
of this perfect man, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, to find that all the geniuses of the earth
have disappeared in the brightness of his light, that their legacies have shrunk in front
of his guidance, and that the privilege those great people had over their peers became
nothing in front of the rising sun of prophethood and its beautiful aura.
The verity of the Messenger () is above all descriptions. The great services he
has offered make every believer indebted to him for the light of faith that illuminated
his/her life and purified it. And verily, you (O Muhammad
  
)
are indeed guiding (mankind) to the Straight Path (i.e. Allâh’s
Religion of Islâmic Monotheism). The Path of Allâh to Whom belongs
all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Verily, all
matters at the end go to Allâh (for decision). [Ash-Shûra: 52-53]
Prophet Muhammad () came after some prophets whose fruits were spoiled and
damaged by Satan. The Prophet's Message was the last heavenly Message. Thus, it
was a guarantee preventing crookedness, and protecting from corruption, to safeguard
the long future of humanity. In the Holy Qur'an, we read: By Allâh, We indeed
sent to the nations before you, but Shaitân made their deeds fairseeming
to them.

So he is their Wali today, and theirs will be a
painful torment. And We have not sent down the Book to you
except that you may explain clearly unto them those things in
which they differ, and a guidance and a mercy for a folk who
believe. [Al-Nal: 63-64]

There were contrived religions and beliefs which attributed to Allah what does not
befit Him and attributed false reports to Him. Such contrived religions and beliefs
were so deeply rooted that they strongly resisted the Truth, when it came. As a result,
the world won only misery. That is why Allah () says,  Then, who does more
wrong than one who utters a lie against Allâh, and denies the truth
when it comes to him! Is there not in Hell an abode for the
disbelievers? And he who has brought the truth and believed
therein, those are Al-Muttaqûn. They shall have all that they will
desire with their Lord. That is the reward of Muhsinûn. [Az-zumar:
32-34]


Indeed, Muhammad's Mission (
) was the birth of Truth in its best form and
brightest rays. The rise of this Truth was an indication for the demise of the prevailing
confusion and overhanging misery.

Islam has come to declare that there is only one God who created everything and
that there is nothing like Him: There is nothing like Him; and He is the
All-Hearer, the All-Seer. To Him belong the keys of the heavens
and the earth. He enlarges provision for whom He wills, and
straitens. Verily He is the All-Knower of everything. [Ash-Shura: 11-
12]

Absolute monotheism is the truth which Islam overemphasized and extended its
signs in every horizon. The Mission of Muhammad (
) was salvation from atheism
and its nefarious consequences, removal and repulsion of injustice and of the
enslavement of man by man. These were the first signs of the overwhelming mercy
with which was sent the one entrusted with of this great message. Then, the emphasis
of good deeds and behavior followed. Muhammad (
) did come to all races with a
religion telling them to enjoin Al-Ma‘rûf (good deed) and forbid Al-Munkar (bad deed
or evil), sanctioning At-Tayyibât (anything that is good and harmless) and forbidding
Al-Khabâ’ith (anything that is evil and harmful). Muhammad (
) is a divine creation
which did not recur. Glorified be He who excelled in creating Mohammed.

O People!

Today we are not trying to talk comprehensively about the standing of the
Messengers and the merit of their Seal (May peace and blessings of Allah be upon
them all), neither are we trying to prove the truthfulness of the prophethood of
Muhammad (
) and the truthfulness of his Message, for no one respecting his/her
mind can contest this as there are so many channels of knowledge available
nowadays. Yet, there are views and indications flaring up in our chests and boiling in
our hearts that need to be made about what preoccupies people concerning the abuse
of Prophet Muhammad (
) and the prejudice towards our religion. Let it be known
that there is no good in a nation whose prophet is hurt and does not get angry, and
there is no good in being angry for the sake of Allah's Messenger (
) which leads to
the wrath of Allah and His Messenger.

It is impossible for a man with a respected culture or a shrewd mind to harbor any
sort of malice against Prophet Muhammad (
). Why harbor malice against him? Is it
just because his Book describes the Almighty Creator (Allah) saying: Allâh! Lâ
ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), AlPage


Hayyul-Qayyum (the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and
protects all that exists). Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him.
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the
earth. [Al-baqarah: 255]

Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (
), for whose sake I sacrifice my father,
my mother, and myself is followed today by more than a billion and a half people,
who love him more than themselves, their money, their children and the rest of
mankind. They are ready to sacrifice themselves for his sake, and protect his honor
with theirs. All of them reiterate what Hassan (The Prophet's poet) said:
(My father, my grandfather, and my honor are shields for Muhammad's honor against
you.)

A question I ask those who claim to defend the freedom of speech: For whose sake
are such incitements to evil raised?! For whose sake are civilizations and cultures
pushed to clash?! And when has the freedom of speech meant aggression without
limits or restrictions?!

Where indeed did the freedom of speech disappear when the Holocaust, which
took place decades ago, was denied? Was not the Holocaust imposed by politics
rather than by historical facts? No person in the world dare deny or question it. If ever
one dares, he will be pursued by world organizations, governments, courts and
politicians. Whereas, talking malevolently about the great Messenger Muhammad (
)
is permissible and the freedom of speech is guaranteed by law! How do you judge
so?!

Politicians and decision-makers should realize that peoples’ reactions are typhoons
which cannot be controlled and an explosive hell which cannot be avoided. Matters
may get out of control, and in this case, no word would be heard and no wisdom
would be useful, especially if a nation is humiliated in its sacred symbol.
So the wise have to prevent the foolish and politicians have to prevent those who
light fires, and no one would accept any excuses from those who abuse his religion.
We call for dialogue, understanding and tolerance, but all this is of no avail if the
hearts of those people continue to inherit the hatreds of centuries and heap fathomless
scorn on Islam, its Messenger and its ummah.

Where are the international law and treaties that criminalize the advocacy of hatred
and racial discrimination, especially when they constitute a direct incitement to
violence?!


We call upon the world which claims, in its totality, to have made a set of rules to
protect all people to issue a code of conduct and enact a binding law which prohibits
and criminalizes insulting the prophets and messengers, and their Heavenly Messages.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has advocated this in every occasion and
sought to build bridges of dialogue between the followers of the Monotheistic
religions and human cultures so that the relationship between the nations of the earth
is built on the basis of acquaintance, justice and mercy and thus the
world turns from the clash of civilizations to the dialogue of civilizations and calls for
the Truth without any discouragement or distortion. This is our principle, the principle
of Islam, which means believing, respecting, and following all the Prophets as well as
disseminating good, peace and security.

Describing His Prophet Muhammad (
), Allah says: And We have sent you
not but as a mercy for the ‘Âlamîn. [Al-Anbiya: 107]
May Allah bless you and me by Qur'an and Sunnah and benefit us with their
verses and wisdom! Having said this, I ask Allah, be He exalted, to forgive me and
you!




Part Two

Praise be to Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Lord of the worlds, the Only
Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of
Resurrection). I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone who has no
partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah
bless him, his Companions, the tab'in, and those who follow them until the Day of
Resurrection!

Servants of Allah!

It was once said to one of our predecessors: “Someone slandered you.” He
responded, “He, thus, threw an arrow towards me, but it didn’t reach me until you
stabbed me with it.”
The Prophets of Allah (May peace be upon them all), and their followers are still
abused and mocked in every era, and in every country. And never came a
Messenger to them but they did mock him. [A-Hijr: 11]
While such an action emanates from people that belong to the lowest classes of
humanity and occupy the bottom status in the two worlds (this world and the
Hereafter), it is the duty of anyone, who hears derisions, not to spread them nor
transmit them except to a capable ruler who can prevent the transgressor.

The infidels’ satirical poetry mocking Prophet Muhammad (), the master of all
messengers, faded into oblivion although it was widely spread and recited. Such
poems vanished immediately because Muslims neither paid attention to them nor
circulated them. Most of these poems are not mentioned in any of Arab news or
collections of poetry.

O servants of Allah! Your religion is manifest and your Prophet is taken care of by
Allah and he is victorious:

It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad
 
)with guidance and the religion of truth (Islâm), to make it superior
over all religions even though the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans,
idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) hate (it). [At-Taubah:
33]

The standing of the prophets will not be lowered due to an impertinent atheist, or a
disheartened infidel. Allah, be He exalted, says: Truly! We will suffice you
against the scoffers. [A-Hijr: 95]
The Prophets’ standings are preserved and their fates are precious and protected,
but the impertinent transgressor is the miserable loser. For he who hates you

(O Muhammad
 ), he will be cut off (from posterity and
every good thing in this world and in the Hereafter). [Al-Kauthar: 3]
This verse heals the suffering souls and sweetens the hearts of ardent believers and
guides them in their thankful devotion and rewarded advocacy.
O Moslems!
In the notorious “ifk” (fabrication) (ifk about Aisha (May Allah be pleased with
her), the Prophet's wife), Allah () says:
... Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you. [An-
Nûr: 11]
In the insolent fabrication of these days against the Prophet (), Muslims’
feelings, which have long lain dormant, have flared, and many non-Moslems have
paid attention to our honorable religion and our Noble Prophet (). Today’s
fabrication moved stagnant water in Muslim and non-Muslim countries.


If Muslims make good use of this event, it can be a road for conquest and triumph,
and if they misuse it, it can lead to relapse and alienation.
The benevolence with which the Muslim Ummah (nation) is depicted is an
indivisible whole. Therefore, Muslims should show their benevolence in their
reactions. It is not benevolent to kill innocent people or destroy properties. It is not
benevolent to follow hooliganism while dealing with such events.

If Muslims had demonstrated closer adherence to their Prophet’s guidance and
footsteps, and spread his tradition and biography, making use of the international
social networks to communicate with others as some Muslims have already
thankfully done this would have been the most effective response to the insolence of
the attackers, and we would have seen how our enemies would hasten to prevent the
repetition of the abuse leveled at our Prophet () when they witness our counter
abuse activities. Such a response would be the most productive vis-à-vis those who
have abused our Prophet () and the best way to refute the intentions of the
offenders.

But, following those who harbor evil intentions towards this Ummah (nation)
either through keeping it busy with the problems which are afflicting it in these times,
or provoking the Muslim communities in foreign countries to commit irresponsible
actions that will lead to their expulsion, which right-wing parties in those countries
are calling for; or to lead those countries to prohibit or suspend any activities for
da'wa (religious call) in the West, after they realized the presence of Islam in each
corner in their countries and that the future belongs to it.

Muslims should realize that they do not need any more of such events that may
result in restricting the tide of Islam and losing its gains. Muslims should show a high
level of maturity and awareness, and they should not repeat the same mistakes. They
also should know that sometimes living for Islam has a heavier negative effect on its
enemies than dying for it.

Standing up for the Prophet () does not mean breaching his Sunnah, nor does it
lead to an action that opposes his guidance. The abuse that has occurred should make
the Ummah cling more firmly to its religion, defend more ardently its Prophet, and
follow his Sunnah in contentment and wrath, in strength and weaknesses. So be
patient (O Muhammad
 
). Verily, the Promise of Allâh is
true; and let not those who have no certainty of faith, discourage
you from conveying Allâh’s Message (which you are obliged to
convey). [Ar-Rûm: 60]

O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace on Your
servant and Messenger Muhammad, the Given Mercy, the Offered Blessing! O Allah!
Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace on Your servant and
Messenger Muhammad, on his kind, virtuous family and his honourable, blessed
Companions! O Allah! Be pleased with the guided imams and the righteous tab'în
(the contemporaries of the Companions of the Prophet  after his death), and all the
Caliphs –Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman and Ali– and on all of Your Prophet's
Companions, and on those who follow their path, O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims, and fail polytheism and polytheists
(who associate partners with You). O Allah! Destroy the enemies of Your Religion.

O Allah! Grant safety and security to this homeland and to the rest of Muslim
homelands!

O Allah! Fail those who want to harm or divide our country, turn their plots
against them, and make that the cause of their own destruction!

O Allah! Grant us safety in our homelands, guide our leaders and those responsible
for our affairs, and support with the Truth our Imam and leader. O Allah! Grant
success to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and make his deeds the source of
Your Satisfaction, and provide him with a righteous retinue! O Allah! Reunite
through him the word of all Muslims and raise high the emblem of our religion! O
Allah! Reward him for supporting the causes of all Muslims, for his striving to unify
them, and for his firm stance for blocking all the electronic links that insult our noble
Prophet! O Allah! Grant him and our Crown Prince success, and help them all in
their endeavors for the good and welfare of this nation.

O Allah! Improve the conditions of our Muslim brothers in all countries. O Allah!
Improve their conditions in Syria. O Allah! Gather them around Your Truth and
Guidance. O Allah! Spare their blood, reassure them, feed the hungry people among
them, preserve their dignity and honour, strengthen their hearts, and grant them power
and victory over their oppressors! O Allah! Lift the siege around them! O Allah!
Bring an end to their suffering! O Allah! Bring an end to their suffering!

O Allah! Come to the succor of the orphans, the widows, and the oppressed! O
Allah! Have mercy on them, O You our Lord, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate, O
You Who help the oppressed!

O Allah! Defeat the tyrant and oppressors! O Allah! Inflict Your suffering and
contempt on them! O You, the Lord of the Truth!

O Allah! Grant victory to Your Religion, Your Holy Book, Your Prophet’s
Sunnah, and Your true servants! O Allah! Grant victory to the oppressed among the
Muslims everywhere, and reunite them around Your Truth. O You, Lord of al-'alamîn
(the worlds)! O Allah! Grant them victory in Palestine over the Zionist occupiers! O
Allah! Grant victory to the oppressed in Burma! O Allah! Spare their blood, improve
their conditions!, and be on their side, O You Lord of the worlds, Most Merciful,
Most Compassionate!


… Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the
Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the
Fire! [ Al-Baqarah: 201]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, pardon our shortcomings, make easy our affairs, and
fulfill our hopes in accordance with Your pleasure! O Lord! Forgive our parents, our
grandparents, our wives and children, O You, Who hears our prayers!

O Allah! Accept our prayers, and forgive us! You are indeed Most Forgiving,
Most Merciful!
Glorified be You Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! You are free from what they
attribute unto You! May peace be upon the Messengers! The last of our supplications
is all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

[A-Brother]

Paradise

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib
September 12, 2008 ~ Ramadaan 1, 1429


Right Click > Save: Khutbah Audio in Arabic
Right Click > Save: Khutbah Text in Arabic

First Khutbah
All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, the Possessor of virtue and bounties. For him is abundant praise and purest greetings, and (in) Him is the hope for forgiveness of sins and errors. He threats and He promises, and makes the good outcome for the one who believes in Him and guides and who is steadfast and guided and does not ascribe any partners with his Lord.
And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.
And I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s servant and messenger. He gave his nation the glad-tidings of Paradise and warned them of Hellfire, and being dissatisfied with this abode, longing for the permanent abode. May Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on him and on his pure family and chosen companions and those who follow them and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.
Thereafter:
O Muslims: I advise you and myself with the fear of Allah. For it is the preparation of this life to reach to the promise of the God. And do not let the life of this world distract you, for verily life is a wheel that will soon stop and souls are approaching and nearing their deadlines. Then all the creation will thereafter arrive at the promise of Allah or His threat. “O my people! Truly, this life of the world is nothing but a enjoyment, and verily, the Hereafter that is the home that will remain forever. Whosoever does an evil deed, will not be requited except the like thereof, and whosoever does a righteous deed, whether male or female and is a true believer, such will enter Paradise, where they will be provided therein (with all things in abundance) without limit.” [Ghafir: Verse 39-40] So the one who is granted the ability is the one who is earnest and strives and in the seasons of goodness he strives and in them he rejoices to attain Paradise and with Paradise he is triumphant.

O fasters, O worshipers, O weak repenters: Allah’s glad-tidings for you is the eternal Garden, the home of peace. And His Promise for you is Lofty Gardens. And for the one who fears the standing (in front of) his Lord is two gardens. Talking about Paradise – O believers – is an antidote, a solace, a yearning and faith. And at the time of good deeds, the hearts are eager for its promised and they hope for gardens from their Lord and the One they (hearts) worship, for Paradise is promised by the Lord of the worlds and (it is) His recompense for the pious workers, and it is the solace of the patient ones and the destination of the journey of the worshipers. It is the houses of the prophets and the abode of the true, happy friends and the resting place of the saints. Paradise and whatever is in it is the end of the hope of the hopeful and the objective of the ambitions of the ambitious. The talk about Paradise is the “departure of the souls to the lands of joys”, and the objective of it (talking about Paradise) is strengthening courage and melting the hearts and reminding the souls, and giving glad-tidings to the people of faith and Sunnah of what Allah has prepared for them in Paradise, for verily they are deserving of good news in the life of this world and the Hereafter. “And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous good deeds, that for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise).” [Baqarah: Verse 25] “That is (the Paradise) whereof Allah gives glad tidings to His slaves who believe (in the Oneness of Allah) and do righteous good deeds.” [Shoora: Verse 23] “Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah) and emigrated and strove hard and fought in Allah’s Cause with their wealth and their lives are far higher in degree with Allah. They are the successful. Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a mercy from Him, and that He is pleased (with them), and of Gardens (Paradise) for them wherein are everlasting delights. They will dwell therein forever. Verily, with Allah is a great reward.” [Tawbah: Verse 20-22]
Paradise is the promised and its bounties surpass description and imagination. In the two authentic (books) (Bukhari and Muslim): “A (small) place equal to an area occupied by a whip in Paradise is better that the world and whatever is in it.” The people of Paradise will be welcomed with security and the glad tidings of eternity. “My worshipers! No fear shall be on you this Day, nor shall you grieve, (you) who have believed in Our verses and were Muslims. Enter Paradise, you and your wives, in happiness. Trays of gold and cups will be passed round them, therein all that the one’s inner-selves could desire, all that the eyes could delight in, and you will abide therein forever. This is the Paradise which you have been made to inherit because of your deeds which you used to do. Therein for you will be fruits in plenty, of which you will eat.” [Zukhruf: Verse 68-73]
And in the two authentic (books) (Bukhari and Muslim): That the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Verily the first group (of people) who will enter Paradise will be (glittering) like the moon when it is full; and those who will enter next will be (glittering) like the most brilliant star in the sky. They will not urinate, defecate, spit or blow their noses. Their utensils will be of gold and their sweat will smell like musk. The aloes-wood will be used in their centers. Their wives will be the fair wide-eyed maidens. All of them will look alike and will resemble their father Aadam (in statute), sixty cubits tall.”
O Muslims: In Paradise, troubles will be cast off for a believer and he will relax from hardship, and he will praise Allah for this rest: “And they will say: ‘All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has removed from us (all) grief. Verily our Lord is indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate. Who, out of His Grace, has lodged us in a home that will last forever; there, toil will touch us not, nor weariness will touch us.’” [Faatir: Verse 34-35]
Paradise is free from disturbances: “(They will enter) Eden Paradise, which the Most Beneficent has promised to His slaves in the unseen. Verily! His Promise must come to pass. They shall not hear therein any evil talk, but only salutations of peace. And they will have therein their sustenance, morning and afternoon. Such is the Paradise which We shall give as an inheritance to those of Our slaves who have been pious and righteous.” [Maryam: Verse 61-63].
Listen, O you pious. Verily you are the inheritors. And this promise is the truth by Allah. Verily, His Promise must come to pass. “Verily! The pious will be in a place of Security (Paradise). Among Gardens and Springs. Dressed in fine silk and (also) in thick silk, facing each other, So (it will be), and We shall marry them to female fair ones with wide, lovely eyes. They will call therein for every kind of fruit in peace and security; They will never taste death therein except the first death (of this world), and He will save them from the torment of the blazing Fire, – As a Bounty from your Lord! That will be the supreme success!” [Dukhaan: Verse 51-57].
Verily Paradise has no danger in it. It is, by the Lord of the ka’bah, a shining light and a vibrating sweet fragrance and a constructed castle and a steady (flowing) river and abundant, ripe fruit and a good, beautiful wife; and abundant jewels in an everlasting place; in silk and gold; in tall gorgeous houses; enmity, hatred and (evil) whisperings removed from their hearts. “And We shall remove from their hearts any sense of injury (that they may have), (So they will be like) brothers facing each other on thrones.” [Hijr: Verse 47]
Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrates that the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Allah – the Exalted – said: ‘I have prepared for my righteous servants what no eye has seen and no ear has heard, nor has it occurred to the human heart.” Thus recite if you wish: “And no soul knows what joy for them has been kept hidden.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]
Eden Paradise (Everlasting Gardens): its rooms are (made) of all types of jewels; and its tents are (made) of hollow pearls on the shores of its pleasant rivers. The throne of the Most Beneficent is its roof; and musk and saffron are its soil; and pearls, ruby and jewels are its pebbles; and gold and silver are its bricks; lofty rooms, one above another under which rivers flow.
And if you want more, then listen to what will meet the fearful working believers, those who: “And they give food, inspite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to the poor, the orphan and the captive (saying): ‘We feed you seeking Allah’s Countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. Verily we fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme dislike for it).’ So Allah saved them from the evil of that Day, and gave them a light of beauty and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise, and silken garments, because they were patient. Reclining therein on raised thrones, they will see there neither the excessive heat of the sun, nor the excessive bitter cold, (as in Paradise there is no sun and no moon). And the shade thereof is close upon them, and the bunches of fruit thereof will hang low within their reach. And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver and cups of crystal, crystal-clear, made of silver. They will determine the measure thereof according to their wishes. And they will be given to drink there a cup (of wine) mixed with ginger, A spring there, called Salsabil. And round about them will (serve) boys of everlasting youth. If you see them, you would think them scattered pearls. And when you look there (in Paradise), you will see a delight (that cannot be imagined), and a great dominion. Their garments will be of fine green silk, and gold embroidery. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver, and their Lord will give them a pure drink. (And it will be said to them): ‘Verily, this is a reward for you, and your endeavour has been accepted.” [Insaan: Verse 8-22].
The delight of the body with gardens and rivers and fruits; and the delight of the self with pure wives; and the delight of the heart and coolness of the eyes with eternity and permanence. Life and delight forever and ever. “This is a Reminder, and verily, for the pious is a good final return (Paradise), – Eden Paradise, whose doors will be open for them, Therein they will call for fruits in abundance and drinks; And beside them will be chaste females restraining their glances only for their husbands, of equal ages. This is what you are promised for the Day of Reckoning! (It will be said to them)! Verily, this is Our Provision which will never finish.” [Saad: Verse 49-54]
And if you ask about the wives, then they are the fair, wide-eyed maidens, good and beautiful. They combine both outward and inward beauty; beautiful fair females restrained in pavilions; loving their spouses; virgins, whom no man or jinn has had sexual relations with before them. If one of them had appeared in this world, whatever is between the sky and earth would be filled with fragrance and perfume and her light and radiance will outshine the light of the sun and her veil on her head is better than this world and whatever is in it. And Allah will reward the believing women with their being created in the best creation: “Verily, We have created them (maidens) of special creation. And made them virgins. Loving (their husbands only), equal in age. For those on the Right Hand.” [Waqi’ah: Verse 35-38].
Allah will unite their gathering and make their families accompany them. “Eden Paradise (Everlasting Gardens), which they shall enter and (also) those who acted righteously from among their fathers, and their wives, and their offspring. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate (saying): ‘Peace be upon you for that you persevered in patience! Excellent is the final home!’” [Ra’d: Verse 23-24] “Verily, the dwellers of Paradise, that Day, will be busy in joyful things. They and their wives will be in pleasant shade, reclining on thrones. They will have therein fruits (of all kinds) and all that they ask for. (It will be said to them): Peace be on you, a Word from the Lord, Most Merciful.” [Yaseen: Verse 55-58].
Everlasting pleasure and eternity and radiance and happiness. “Verily the pious who fear Allah and avoid evil will be in Delight (Paradise). On thrones, looking (at all things). You will recognise in their faces the brightness of delight. They will be given to drink pure sealed wine. The last thereof will be the smell of musk, and for this let (all) those strive who want to strive (i.e. hasten earnestly to the obedience of Allah). It will be mixed with Tasnim. A spring whereof drink those nearest to Allah.” [Mutaffifeen: Verse 21-28].
This; and if you ask about the Day of Increase (in reward) and the visit of the all-Mighty, all-Wise, and the sight of His Face – free from any resemblance or likeness to anything – as you see the Sun in the middle of the day and the full Moon on a cloudless night, as was constantly conveyed by the truthful, the trusted, which is present in the books of authentic Ahadeeth, narrated by Jurair, Suhaib, Anas, Abu Hurairah, Abu Moosa and Abu Sa’eed – may Allah be pleased with them all: “Then listen on the day that the caller will call: ‘O People of Paradise! Your Lord – Blessed and Exalted – requests you to visit Him, so come to visit Him!’ So they will say: ‘We hear and obey!‘
Until, when they finally reach the wide valley where they will all meet – and none of them will turn down the request of the caller – the Lord – Blessed and Exalted – will order His Chair to be brought there. Then, pulpits of light will emerge, as well as pulpits of pearls, gemstone, gold, and silver. The lowest of them in rank will sit on sheets of musk, and will not see what those who are on the chairs above them are given. When they are comfortable where they are sitting and are secure in their places, and the caller calls: ‘O People of Paradise! You have an appointment with Allah in which He wishes to reward you!’ So they will say: ‘And what is that reward? Has He not already made our faces bright, made our scales heavy, entered us into Paradise, and pushed us away from the Fire?’
And when they are like that, all of a sudden a light shines that encompasses all of Paradise. So, they raise their heads, and, behold: the Compeller – Exalted is He, and Holy are His Names – has come to them from above them and majestified them and said: ‘O People of Paradise! Peace be upon you!’ So, this greeting will not be responded to with anything better than: ‘O Allah! You are Peace, and from You is Peace! Blessed are You, O possessor of Majesty and Honour!’ So the Lord – Blessed and Exalted – will laugh to them and say: ‘O People of Paradise! Where are those who used to obey Me without having ever seen Me? This is the Day of Increase!’
So, they will all give the same response: ‘We are pleased, so be pleased with us!’ So, He will say: ‘O People of Paradise! If I were not pleased with you, I would not have made you inhabitants of My Paradise! So, ask of Me!’ So, they will all give the same response: ‘Show us Your Face so that we may look at it!’ So, the Lord – Mighty and Majestic – will remove His covering and will majestify them and will cover them with His Light, which, if Allah – the Exalted – had not Willed not to burn them, would have burned them.
And there will not remain a single person in this gathering except that his Lord – the Exalted – will speak to him and say: ‘Do you remember the day that you did this and that?’ and He will remind him of some of his bad deeds in the worldy life, so he will say: ‘O Lord! Will you not forgive me?’ So, He will say: ‘Of course! You have not reached this position of yours (in Paradise) except by My forgiveness.’”
O Allah we ask you for the enjoyment of seeing Your Noble Face and yearning for Your Meeting, without any harm nor misguiding trial.
O Allah bless us in the Quraan and Sunnah, and benefit us in what is in them of verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine and I seek the forgiveness of Allah – the Exalted – for me and you.
Second Khutbah
All praise be to Allah. He made the Firdaws Paradise an abode for His believing servants. And He varied for them righteous deeds as a means to be taken to these gardens. And He made the appointment for entering them the Day of coming to Him. And He set the period of temporary life with no postponement.
And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. We are not self-sufficient (even) for the blink of an eye of His bounties and mercy. And we have no craving for (entering) Paradise except through His Pardon and Forgiveness. And I bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s servant, His messenger, His friend and His chosen one. May Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on him and on all his family and companions.
Thereafter:
O Muslims: These words are nothing except references. Verily the realities are greater, and Allah – the Exalted – is more Generous, so who is the striver for Paradise? Say (you all): We are the strivers, if Allah wills. For it is – by Allah – The life. Alas, evil is the one who prefers the life of this world over it (Paradise). He trades the everlasting Paradise for a temporary life. If he is happy for a little while, he will cry a lot and if he is pleased for a day, he will be sad for a month. Its (The life of this world) beginning are fears, and its end are deserts. Evil is a nation that delights in this world as if they were created for it and they tread every path, whether permissible or forbidden, in order to obtain it as if they are everlasting in it. Evil is a nation that forgets the Hereafter and neglects it and leaves out the commands of Allah and flouts them. Tomorrow it will be said to them: “Then taste you (the torment of the fire) because of your forgetting the Meeting of this Day of yours, (and) surely! We too will forget you” [Sajdah: Verse 14]. So how strange is the one who prefers the temporary over the permanent. And surely the exorbitant fraud will be apparent on the Day of Judgement, when grief and regret will be apparent. When the pious will be gathered unto the Most Beneficent like delegates, and the criminals will be driven to Hell, thirsty. And a caller will call out bearing testimony: The standing people will surely know who is more deserving of hospitality among the servants. And if you see the noble believers “They will be served by immortal boys, with cups, and jugs, and a glass from the flowing wine, Wherefrom they will get neither any aching of the head, nor any intoxication. And fruit; that they may choose. And the flesh of fowls that they desire. And (there will be) fair females with wide, lovely eyes, Like unto preserved pearls. A reward for what they used to do.” [Waqi’ah: Verse 17-24]
Thereafter O servants of Allah: Here you are in the era of ploughing, work, storing and hope. And verily this world is patience for an hour, then to Allah is the returning. So show Allah the best of yourselves. “And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious.” [Aal Imraan: Verse 133]. Then Allah – the Exalted – calls you: “Allah calls to the home of peace” [Yunus: Verse 25]. So come to Paradise and pleasure, and be like those who the Most Beneficent has described: “They used to sleep but little by night. And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness. And in their properties there was the right of the beggar, and the poor who does not ask others.” [Thaariyaat: Verse 17-19].
And verily in Paradise there are rooms which can be seen from the inside and the outside. Allah has prepared them for he who utters good, feeds the poor and spends the night in prayer while the people are asleep. And here is the month of Ramadan, the season of repentance and returning and the occasion of supplications and answering (of supplications), the month of prayer, fasting, charity and joining family ties. Take provisions from good deeds and increase in good until it is said to you tomorrow in the Hereafter: “Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent on before you in days past!” [Haaqqah: Verse 24]. Reach out for yourselves, for verily among people, there are poor, destitute, those overwhelmed by debts, disabled, struggling, orphans, widows, prisoners, the families of prisoners, beggars and those keeping chaste (seeking marriage). All of them are in need of your charities. And in the lands, there are national committees for the welfare of prisoners and their release and the welfare of their families, so fulfil their needs. And a Fatwa (religious ruling) has been issued (that) Zakaat (annual obligatory charity) may be given to them, so help them. “As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him, And believes in The Best, We will make smooth for him the path of ease.” [Layl: Verse 5-7]
O Allah make us from the people of Paradise. O Allah make us from the people of Paradise. O Allah make us from the people of Paradise.
This; and send salutations and peace on the best of mankind and the purest of humans, the messenger of Allah, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah. O Allah send salutations, peace and increase and (send) blessings on your servant and messenger Muhammad and on his family and companions.
O Allah let us drink from his pond. O Allah let us drink from his pond and resurrect us in his gathering and grant us his company in Paradise.
O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Caution with regards to the Hellfire

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

August 14, 2009 ~ Sha’baan 23, 1430

First Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, the Possessor of Power and Eternity and Kingship. For Him is Glory in the heavens and earth. And for Him is Honour in them and Force and Might, painful in punishment, severe in consequences, and He is Eternal, Ever-Living and does not die. Glory be to You, O Allah. Who is the one that feels safe (with) Your Plan, how lost is he?! And who is the one that flouts Your Prohibitions, then how regretful is he?! And who is the one that Your Threat befalls and he is saved?!

And I bear witness that there is no god but You. Glory be to You. And I bear witness that Muhammad is Your servant and messenger. May Allah’s salutations be on him, for how fearing he was of Allah and how devout! And may Allah’s salutations be on him, how pious and Allah-conscious he was! And may His salutations be on him, for how much of his tears flowed for Allah! And may His salutations be on the family and noble companions and much peace until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter:

Fear Allah – the Exalted – as He ought to be feared. And hold onto Islam with the firm tie. And prepare for the meeting of Allah and beware of His Punishment, for verily your bodies cannot be patient on the heat of the Hellfire and cannot withstand it: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” [Hashr; Verse 18]

Servants of Allah: Surely it is from the way of the prophet – peace be upon him – to advise his companions and attach their conditions to the Hereafter. And in the two authentic (books) (Bukhari and Muslim): that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “The Hellfire complained to its Lord and said: ‘O Lord! My different parts eat up each other.’ So, He allowed it to take two breaths, one in the winter and the other in summer, and this is the reason for the severe heat and the bitter cold you find (in weather).” And also in the two authentic books: that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “If it is very hot, then pray the Thuhr prayer when it becomes (a bit) cooler, as the severity of the heat is from the raging of the Hellfire.”

O Muslims: A destiny (that) prevents the eyes of the pious from sleep; and a return (that) trembles the hearts of the Allah-fearing; and an end, the warning of which makes thirsty the days of the worshippers and lengthens the standing of the saints at night; and an end (that) perpetuates sadness in the expression of the soft-hearted. “Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope.” [Sajdah; Verse 16].

Verily it is, O Muslims, the Hellfire. The Hellfire is a great creation of the creations of Allah. And it is the abode that Allah prepared for the disbelievers; for it is the lodge of the oppressors; and the prison of the disbelievers; and the punishment of the sinners and violators. And it is the greatest disgrace and the clear loss. It is evil in which there is no good and the destination that is necessary; ancient in creation; previously existing. “And fear the Fire, which is prepared for the disbelievers.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 131]. For it is prepared and created and surely the prophet – peace be upon him – saw it, as in the Hadeeth in the two authentic (books), in the solar eclipse prayer.

O Muslims: The discussion about Hellfire is a true, truthful discussion. In it are mountains, valleys, rivers and ravines. In it are descending steps and houses and it is black and dark, gloomy and obscured. For it, is a sound that (can) be heard from far; groaning, scolding and shaking a dreadful shaking, and “Verily! It (Hell) throws sparks (huge) as a fort. As if they were yellow camels or bundles of ropes. Woe that Day to the deniers (of the Day of Resurrection)!” [Mursalaat; Verse 32-34].Grief therein is everlasting and long, and for the people therein is screeching, shouting and wailing. The hearts of its people are filled with hopelessness and despair and the days in it do not increase them except in difficulty and hardship. In it are punishment and pains which tongues and pens are incapable of describing. And in it are terrors and griefs of which the mind is deficient in picturing. “Evil indeed it (Hell) is as an abode and as a place to dwell.” [Furqaan; Verse 66]. Allah frightens the close angels with it: “And if any of them should say: ‘Verily, I am a god besides Him (Allah),’ such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the polytheists and wrong-doers.” [Anbiyaa; Verse 29]. And He said to His noble messenger: “Set not up with Allah any other god, or you will be thrown in Hell, blameworthy and rejected (from Allah’s Mercy).” [Israa; Verse 39].

And the messenger frightened his companions and his nation with it, then he warned them of the Hellfire and he said: “I warn you of the Hellfire, I warn you of the Hellfire, I warn you of the Hellfire.” Will the rest of the world be safe after this, nay will the sinners (be safe)?! Hasan al Basriyy – may Allah have mercy on him – said: “By Allah, never will a servant truly believe in the Hellfire, except that the earth will narrow upon him despite its vastness, and the hypocrite will not believe in the Hellfire even if it was behind his back, until he is disfigured in its depths. By Allah, the servants have not been warned of anything worse than it ‘Therefore I have warned you of a Fire blazing fiercely (Hell); None shall enter it except the most wretched, who denies and turns away.’ [Layl; Verse 14-16].” And in the Mighty Revelation: “There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord; a Decree which must be accomplished.” [Maryam; Verse 71]. So where is the fear of that passing over? Verily there is one who fears travelling by night and whoever travels by night reaches the house, and by Allah no one will be saved except the believers: “Aforetime, we were afraid with our families (from the punishment of Allah). But Allah has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the Fire. Verily we used to invoke Him (alone and none else) before. Verily, He is the Most Kind, the Most Merciful.” [Toor; Verse 26-28].

Abdullah – may Allah be pleased with him – said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “The Hellfire will be brought on that Day with seventy thousand reins; and with every rein will be seventy thousand angels pulling it.” [Narrated by Muslim]. For it, are a terrorizing sound, destruction and palpitations: “When it (Hell) sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and its roaring.” [Furqaan; Verse 12] and in the Kingdom Chapter: “It almost bursts up with fury.” [Mulk; Verse 8]. Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – said: the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “The fire of the children of Adam which they kindle is a seventieth part of the fire of Jahannum (Hellfire).” They said, “Messenger of Allah, this fire is certainly enough.” He said: “That fire is sixty-nine times greater.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

“This is the Hell which the polytheists denied.”[Rahmaan; Verse 43]. They will enter it with the severest of speech then the doors will be shut on them: “The fire of Allah, kindled, which leaps up over the hearts, Verily, it shall be closed in on them. In pillars stretched forth (i.e. they will be punished in the Fire with pillars, etc.).” [Humazah; Verse 6-9]. Its fuel is people and stones. Its fire will not be extinguished with the length of time and its kindles will not be dimmed with the passing of days “whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.” [Israa; Verse 97]. And (together) with that they will be bound: “Verily, we have prepared for the disbelievers iron chains, iron collars and a blazing Fire.” [Insaan; Verse 4]. “When iron collars will be rounded over their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along. In the boiling water, then they will be burned in the Fire.” [Ghafir; Verse 71-72], and above that they will be hit and humiliated “And for them are hooked rods of iron (to punish them). Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein, and (it will be) said to them: “Taste the torment of burning!” [Hajj; Verse 21-22]. They will be dressed with fire and will melt: “And you will see the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allah) that Day bound together in fetters; Their garments will be of pitch, and fire will cover their faces.” [Ibraheem; Verse 49-50], and in the Pilgrimage Chapter: “then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads. With it will melt or vanish away what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins. And for them are hooked rods of iron (to punish them).” [Hajj; Verse 19-21]. Do you not see how meat is roasted on the fire? So like this is the condition of the disbelievers in the Hellfire “On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say: ‘O would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger (Muhammad – peace be upon him).” [Ahzaab; Verse 66], “The Fire will burn their faces, and therein they will grin, with displaced lips (disfigured).” [Mu’minoon; Verse 104].

As for their food, it is punishment and their drink is punishment: “No food will there be for them but “Daree’” (a poisonous thorny plant).” [Ghashiyah; Verse 6]. And “Daree’” is a thorny plant that comes from the land of Hijaz sticking in the earth; “Verily, the tree of Zaqqum, wil be the food of the sinners, like boiling oil, it will boil in their bellies, like the boiling of scalding water.” [Dukhaan; Verse 43-46] and Zaqqum is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire, the shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils. As for their drinks, they are the discharge of wounds and pus, and it is the beverages of the people of the Hellfire: “And if they ask for help (relief, water, etc.) they will be granted water like boiling oil, that will scald their faces.” [Kahf; Verse 29], “and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels.” [Muhammad; Verse 15] and in another verse: “and he will be made to drink boiling, festering water. He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find a great difficulty to swallow it down his throat, and death will come to him from every side, yet he will not die and in front of him, will be a great torment.” [Ibraheem; Verse 16-17]. These are some of the scenes of punishment, so do the desires of an hour of this world rank equally?

Anas bin Malik – may Allah be pleased with him – said: the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “One of the citizens of Hell who led a life of ease and plenty amongst the people of the world would be made to dip in Hellfire only once on the Day of Resurrection and then it would be said to him: O son of Adam, did you find any comfort, did you happen to get any material blessing? He would say: By Allah, no, my Lord.” [Narrated by Muslim]. Verily it is one dip and man will forget every bounty of this world and its delicacies and desires: “The sinner would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children, and his wife and his brother, and his kindred who sheltered him, and all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. By no means! Verily! It will be the Fire of Hell! Taking away (burning completely) the head skin! Calling: ‘(O disbeliever, O polytheist) (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from faith).” [Ma’arij; Verse 11-17].

Servants of Allah: And when the hardships are prolonged on the people of the Hellfire and the punishment has reached every extent and their griefs and regrets are many, they will seek exit and refuge: “Therein they will cry: ‘Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do.” [Fatir; Verse 37] and they will confess their sins: “They will say: ‘Our Lord! Our wretchedness overcame us, and we were (an) erring people. Our Lord! Bring us out of this; if ever we return (to evil), then indeed we shall be polytheists.” [Mu’minoon; Verse 106-107], so they will be answered after a while: “Remain you in it with ignominy! And speak you not to Me!” [Mu’minoon; Verse 108], then they will request from the keeper of the Fire that he intercedes with Allah for them to be destroyed and to die so that they may be acquitted of the punishment: “And they will cry: ‘O Malik (keeper of Hell)! Let your Lord make an end of us.’ He will say: ‘Verily you shall abide forever.” [Zukhruf; Verse 77]. Verily it is denial of everything that they request, and death will be brought, then slaughtered and it will be said to the people of Paradise: Eternity and no death, and it will be said to the people of Hellfire: Eternity and no death… The Hadeeth is in Saheeh Bukhari. There, the wailing of the people of Hellfire will intensify and their grief will heighten and their cries will prolong, so they will cry until their tears end, then they will cry blood until it flows on their faces like the shape of trenches (due to) crying.

O Muslims: Verily from the perfection of the justice of Allah – Glorified and Majestic – is that He does not equate the obedient and the sinner nor the reformer and the corrupter: “Shall We then treat the (submitting) Muslims like the polytheists? What is the matter with you? How judge you?” [Qalam; Verse 35-36]. And verily Allah – the Exalted – has described to us His Punishment, so there is no proof for the sinner against Allah. So disbelief and hypocrisy are the reasons for eternity in the Hellfire: “Allah has promised the hypocrites; men and women, and the disbelievers, the Fire of Hell, therein shall they abide. It will suffice them. Allah has cursed them and for them is the lasting torment.” [Tawbah; Verse 68]. And whoever recommends his opinions, opposing the commands of Allah and His Law, then he should listen to the saying of Allah – Glorified and Majestic – : “Know they not that whoever opposes and shows hostility to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), certainly for him will be the Fire of Hell to abide therein. That is extreme disgrace.” [Tawbah; Verse 63]

And woe, then again woe to the one who neglects the prayer when he is asked: “What has caused you to enter Hell?’ They will say: ‘We were not of those who used to offer their prayers. Nor we used to feed the poor. And we used to talk falsehood (all that which Allah hated) with vain talkers. And we used to belie the Day of Recompense. Until there came to us (the death) that is certain.’ So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them.” [Muddathir; Verse 42-48].

And the consuming of interest is a cause of entering Hellfire, and (so too) is eating the wealth of the orphans oppressively: “Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing Fire!” [Nisaa; Verse 10], and in Saheeh Muslim: that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: Allah – the Exalted – says: “Pride is My cloak and greatness is My robe, and he who competes with Me in respect of either of them, I shall cast into the Hellfire.” And in the great Quran: “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him.” [Nisaa; Verse 93]. And eating the wealth of people falsely and suicide are coupled in one verse, Allah – Glorified and Majestic – said: “And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allah.” [Nisaa; Verse 29-30]. And a false oath submerges its companion in the Hellfire, therefore an oath is called ‘catastrophic’, and leaning towards oppressors and inclining towards them: “And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you.” [Hood; Verse 113].

And Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “There are two types of people who will enter the Hellfire, whom I have not (as yet) seen: People having whips similar to ox-tails with which they will beat people, and (secondly) women who will be dressed yet appear to be naked. They will seduce men and be inclined towards them. Their heads will be like the swaying humps of the Bactrian camels. They will neither enter Paradise, nor smell its fragrance, even though its fragrance can be smelt from such and such distance.” [Narrated by Muslim].

And Abdullah bin Umar – may Allah be pleased with them both – narrated that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “O group of women, give charity and ask for much forgiveness for I saw you in majority amongst the dwellers of Hell,” so a lady amongst them said: Why is it O messenger of Allah, that we are the majority in Hell? He said: “You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses.”[Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

As for the hypocrites, they are the first who will be burned by the Fire on the Day of Judgement as is in the two authentic (books of Hadeeth: Bukhari and Muslim). And say to the ones who speak with their tongues and their pens with no weight or accountability. The prophet – peace be upon him – said: “And are people thrown on their faces into the Fire for anything but the harvest of their tongues.” Hellfire is promised for the alcoholic, the breaker of family ties, the believer of sorcery, the carrier of tales and the one who reduces the wealth of his brother by a false oath should build his abode in the Hellfire.

O Muslims: And surely the prophet – peace be upon him – saw pictures of the punishment of the people of Hellfire, as in the Hadeeth (narrated) by Samurah bin Jundub – may Allah be pleased with him -: So surely the prophet – peace be upon him – saw a man who was lying on his back while another man was standing over him with a stone which he then dropped onto his head, crushing it. Then the stone rolled away from him and he went after the stone to retrieve it. When he returned to him, his head was whole again and had become as it had been in the first place. So he went back and hit him as he had done the first time… and he said in the Hadeeth: This is the man who memorized the Quran and then abandoned it and slept through the obligatory prayers. Just as the prophet – peace be upon him – saw a man lying on his back, and there was another man standing over him with an iron hook. He went to one side of his face and cut open the side of his mouth until it reached the back of his neck and then his nostril to the back of his neck and his eye to the back of his neck. Then he moved to the other side and did the same thing as he had done to the first side. When he finished that side, the first side had become whole again. Then he did the same thing all over again… and he said in the Hadeeth: This is the man who went from his house and told lies which spread everywhere. And the prophet – peace be upon him – saw something like an oven. There was babble and shouting in it, and it contained naked men and women. The flames would come at them from underneath, and when those flames reached them, they cried out… and he said: These are the adulterers and adulteresses. And the prophet – peace be upon him – saw a river red like blood. And in it was a man swimming while on the bank of the river there was a man who had many stones with him. When that swimmer swam and reached the one who had gathered stones, he forced his mouth open and made him swallow a stone. Then he would begin to swim and would come back to him again. Whenever he came back to him, he forced open his mouth and made him swallow a stone… and he said: This is the consumer of interest. And he saw a man with a repulsive appearance like the most repulsive man you have ever seen, and he said: This is Malik, the keeper of Hell. [Hadeeth narrated by Bukhari]. So is there any (greater) threat after this threat… “Verily, therein is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful.” [Qaaf; Verse 37]

O Allah save us from the punishment of the Hellfire. O Allah save us from the punishment of the Hellfire. O Allah save us from the punishment of the Hellfire. Our Lord we have believed so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire.

May Allah benefit us and you with the guidance of His Book and save us all from His humiliation and His Punishment. I say these words of mine and I seek the forgiveness of Allah – the Exalted – for me and you.

Second Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, the One Who Honours the one who is obedient to Him and the One Who disgraces the sinners against Him, the One Who saves the seeker of His Saviour and the One Who answers the caller unto Him. I praise Him – the Exalted – and I thank Him and I praise Him and I seek His Forgiveness and I ask His saviour for me and you. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be upon him and on all his family and companions.

Thereafter: Surely the speech of Allah is the truth: “And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he is indeed successful” [Aal Imraan; Verse 185], and faith and good righteous deeds are – by Allah – the path of success and deliverance, and the promise of Allah and the promise of His messenger is the truth. So the Hellfire will never go through the man who cries out of the fear of Allah until milk returns to the udder. And two eyes that the Hellfire will never touch: the eye that cries out of the fear of Allah and the eye that keeps watch in the way of Allah. And for piety there is a great rank: “But for him (the true believer of Islamic Monotheism) who fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two Gardens (i.e. in Paradise).” [Rahmaan; Verse 46]. And supplication and seeking refuge with Allah is the greatest door to saviour. Anas bin Malik – may Allah be pleased with him – said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “No one asks Allah for Paradise three times except that Paradise says: ‘O Allah! Enter him into Paradise!’ And no Muslim seeks protection with Allah from the Hellfire three times except that Hellfire says: ‘O Allah! Protect him from me.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja with an authentic chain of narration].

And we are about to welcome a great month, the month of emancipation from Hellfire, so whoever fasts one day in the path of Allah, Allah distances his face, due to that day, from the Fire by the distance traveled in seventy years, and in Ramadan the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hellfire are shut. And for Allah on every night of Ramadan are those emancipated from the Hellfire.

O Allah, O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, O Possessor of Majesty. O Allah we ask you by (virtue) of our bearing witness that you are Allah, there is no god but You and there is no power and might except with You. We ask You O Allah to enter us into Paradise and to save us from the punishment of Hellfire. O Allah we ask you for Paradise and we seek Your protection from Hellfire. O Allah we ask you for Paradise and we seek Your protection from Hellfire. O Allah we ask you for Paradise and we seek Your protection from Hellfire.

O Allah send salutations on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have sent salutations on Ibraheem and on the family of Ibraheem. Verily You are the Praise-Worthy, the Glorious. And bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed the family of Ibraheem amongst the worlds. Verily You are the Praise- Worthy, the Glorious.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/11...-the-hellfire/

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Caution with regards to the Hellfire

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

August 14, 2009 ~ Sha’baan 23, 1430

First Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, the Possessor of Power and Eternity and Kingship. For Him is Glory in the heavens and earth. And for Him is Honour in them and Force and Might, painful in punishment, severe in consequences, and He is Eternal, Ever-Living and does not die. Glory be to You, O Allah. Who is the one that feels safe (with) Your Plan, how lost is he?! And who is the one that flouts Your Prohibitions, then how regretful is he?! And who is the one that Your Threat befalls and he is saved?!

And I bear witness that there is no god but You. Glory be to You. And I bear witness that Muhammad is Your servant and messenger. May Allah’s salutations be on him, for how fearing he was of Allah and how devout! And may Allah’s salutations be on him, how pious and Allah-conscious he was! And may His salutations be on him, for how much of his tears flowed for Allah! And may His salutations be on the family and noble companions and much peace until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter:

Fear Allah – the Exalted – as He ought to be feared. And hold onto Islam with the firm tie. And prepare for the meeting of Allah and beware of His Punishment, for verily your bodies cannot be patient on the heat of the Hellfire and cannot withstand it: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” [Hashr; Verse 18]

Servants of Allah: Surely it is from the way of the prophet – peace be upon him – to advise his companions and attach their conditions to the Hereafter. And in the two authentic (books) (Bukhari and Muslim): that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “The Hellfire complained to its Lord and said: ‘O Lord! My different parts eat up each other.’ So, He allowed it to take two breaths, one in the winter and the other in summer, and this is the reason for the severe heat and the bitter cold you find (in weather).” And also in the two authentic books: that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “If it is very hot, then pray the Thuhr prayer when it becomes (a bit) cooler, as the severity of the heat is from the raging of the Hellfire.”

O Muslims: A destiny (that) prevents the eyes of the pious from sleep; and a return (that) trembles the hearts of the Allah-fearing; and an end, the warning of which makes thirsty the days of the worshippers and lengthens the standing of the saints at night; and an end (that) perpetuates sadness in the expression of the soft-hearted. “Their sides forsake their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope.” [Sajdah; Verse 16].

Verily it is, O Muslims, the Hellfire. The Hellfire is a great creation of the creations of Allah. And it is the abode that Allah prepared for the disbelievers; for it is the lodge of the oppressors; and the prison of the disbelievers; and the punishment of the sinners and violators. And it is the greatest disgrace and the clear loss. It is evil in which there is no good and the destination that is necessary; ancient in creation; previously existing. “And fear the Fire, which is prepared for the disbelievers.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 131]. For it is prepared and created and surely the prophet – peace be upon him – saw it, as in the Hadeeth in the two authentic (books), in the solar eclipse prayer.

O Muslims: The discussion about Hellfire is a true, truthful discussion. In it are mountains, valleys, rivers and ravines. In it are descending steps and houses and it is black and dark, gloomy and obscured. For it, is a sound that (can) be heard from far; groaning, scolding and shaking a dreadful shaking, and “Verily! It (Hell) throws sparks (huge) as a fort. As if they were yellow camels or bundles of ropes. Woe that Day to the deniers (of the Day of Resurrection)!” [Mursalaat; Verse 32-34].Grief therein is everlasting and long, and for the people therein is screeching, shouting and wailing. The hearts of its people are filled with hopelessness and despair and the days in it do not increase them except in difficulty and hardship. In it are punishment and pains which tongues and pens are incapable of describing. And in it are terrors and griefs of which the mind is deficient in picturing. “Evil indeed it (Hell) is as an abode and as a place to dwell.” [Furqaan; Verse 66]. Allah frightens the close angels with it: “And if any of them should say: ‘Verily, I am a god besides Him (Allah),’ such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the polytheists and wrong-doers.” [Anbiyaa; Verse 29]. And He said to His noble messenger: “Set not up with Allah any other god, or you will be thrown in Hell, blameworthy and rejected (from Allah’s Mercy).” [Israa; Verse 39].

And the messenger frightened his companions and his nation with it, then he warned them of the Hellfire and he said: “I warn you of the Hellfire, I warn you of the Hellfire, I warn you of the Hellfire.” Will the rest of the world be safe after this, nay will the sinners (be safe)?! Hasan al Basriyy – may Allah have mercy on him – said: “By Allah, never will a servant truly believe in the Hellfire, except that the earth will narrow upon him despite its vastness, and the hypocrite will not believe in the Hellfire even if it was behind his back, until he is disfigured in its depths. By Allah, the servants have not been warned of anything worse than it ‘Therefore I have warned you of a Fire blazing fiercely (Hell); None shall enter it except the most wretched, who denies and turns away.’ [Layl; Verse 14-16].” And in the Mighty Revelation: “There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord; a Decree which must be accomplished.” [Maryam; Verse 71]. So where is the fear of that passing over? Verily there is one who fears travelling by night and whoever travels by night reaches the house, and by Allah no one will be saved except the believers: “Aforetime, we were afraid with our families (from the punishment of Allah). But Allah has been gracious to us, and has saved us from the torment of the Fire. Verily we used to invoke Him (alone and none else) before. Verily, He is the Most Kind, the Most Merciful.” [Toor; Verse 26-28].

Abdullah – may Allah be pleased with him – said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “The Hellfire will be brought on that Day with seventy thousand reins; and with every rein will be seventy thousand angels pulling it.” [Narrated by Muslim]. For it, are a terrorizing sound, destruction and palpitations: “When it (Hell) sees them from a far place, they will hear its raging and its roaring.” [Furqaan; Verse 12] and in the Kingdom Chapter: “It almost bursts up with fury.” [Mulk; Verse 8]. Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – said: the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “The fire of the children of Adam which they kindle is a seventieth part of the fire of Jahannum (Hellfire).” They said, “Messenger of Allah, this fire is certainly enough.” He said: “That fire is sixty-nine times greater.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

“This is the Hell which the polytheists denied.”[Rahmaan; Verse 43]. They will enter it with the severest of speech then the doors will be shut on them: “The fire of Allah, kindled, which leaps up over the hearts, Verily, it shall be closed in on them. In pillars stretched forth (i.e. they will be punished in the Fire with pillars, etc.).” [Humazah; Verse 6-9]. Its fuel is people and stones. Its fire will not be extinguished with the length of time and its kindles will not be dimmed with the passing of days “whenever it abates, We shall increase for them the fierceness of the Fire.” [Israa; Verse 97]. And (together) with that they will be bound: “Verily, we have prepared for the disbelievers iron chains, iron collars and a blazing Fire.” [Insaan; Verse 4]. “When iron collars will be rounded over their necks, and the chains, they shall be dragged along. In the boiling water, then they will be burned in the Fire.” [Ghafir; Verse 71-72], and above that they will be hit and humiliated “And for them are hooked rods of iron (to punish them). Every time they seek to get away therefrom, from anguish, they will be driven back therein, and (it will be) said to them: “Taste the torment of burning!” [Hajj; Verse 21-22]. They will be dressed with fire and will melt: “And you will see the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allah) that Day bound together in fetters; Their garments will be of pitch, and fire will cover their faces.” [Ibraheem; Verse 49-50], and in the Pilgrimage Chapter: “then as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads. With it will melt or vanish away what is within their bellies, as well as (their) skins. And for them are hooked rods of iron (to punish them).” [Hajj; Verse 19-21]. Do you not see how meat is roasted on the fire? So like this is the condition of the disbelievers in the Hellfire “On the Day when their faces will be turned over in the Fire, they will say: ‘O would that we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger (Muhammad – peace be upon him).” [Ahzaab; Verse 66], “The Fire will burn their faces, and therein they will grin, with displaced lips (disfigured).” [Mu’minoon; Verse 104].

As for their food, it is punishment and their drink is punishment: “No food will there be for them but “Daree’” (a poisonous thorny plant).” [Ghashiyah; Verse 6]. And “Daree’” is a thorny plant that comes from the land of Hijaz sticking in the earth; “Verily, the tree of Zaqqum, wil be the food of the sinners, like boiling oil, it will boil in their bellies, like the boiling of scalding water.” [Dukhaan; Verse 43-46] and Zaqqum is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire, the shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of devils. As for their drinks, they are the discharge of wounds and pus, and it is the beverages of the people of the Hellfire: “And if they ask for help (relief, water, etc.) they will be granted water like boiling oil, that will scald their faces.” [Kahf; Verse 29], “and be given, to drink, boiling water, so that it cuts up their bowels.” [Muhammad; Verse 15] and in another verse: “and he will be made to drink boiling, festering water. He will sip it unwillingly, and he will find a great difficulty to swallow it down his throat, and death will come to him from every side, yet he will not die and in front of him, will be a great torment.” [Ibraheem; Verse 16-17]. These are some of the scenes of punishment, so do the desires of an hour of this world rank equally?

Anas bin Malik – may Allah be pleased with him – said: the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “One of the citizens of Hell who led a life of ease and plenty amongst the people of the world would be made to dip in Hellfire only once on the Day of Resurrection and then it would be said to him: O son of Adam, did you find any comfort, did you happen to get any material blessing? He would say: By Allah, no, my Lord.” [Narrated by Muslim]. Verily it is one dip and man will forget every bounty of this world and its delicacies and desires: “The sinner would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children, and his wife and his brother, and his kindred who sheltered him, and all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. By no means! Verily! It will be the Fire of Hell! Taking away (burning completely) the head skin! Calling: ‘(O disbeliever, O polytheist) (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from faith).” [Ma’arij; Verse 11-17].

Servants of Allah: And when the hardships are prolonged on the people of the Hellfire and the punishment has reached every extent and their griefs and regrets are many, they will seek exit and refuge: “Therein they will cry: ‘Our Lord! Bring us out, we shall do righteous good deeds, not (the evil deeds) that we used to do.” [Fatir; Verse 37] and they will confess their sins: “They will say: ‘Our Lord! Our wretchedness overcame us, and we were (an) erring people. Our Lord! Bring us out of this; if ever we return (to evil), then indeed we shall be polytheists.” [Mu’minoon; Verse 106-107], so they will be answered after a while: “Remain you in it with ignominy! And speak you not to Me!” [Mu’minoon; Verse 108], then they will request from the keeper of the Fire that he intercedes with Allah for them to be destroyed and to die so that they may be acquitted of the punishment: “And they will cry: ‘O Malik (keeper of Hell)! Let your Lord make an end of us.’ He will say: ‘Verily you shall abide forever.” [Zukhruf; Verse 77]. Verily it is denial of everything that they request, and death will be brought, then slaughtered and it will be said to the people of Paradise: Eternity and no death, and it will be said to the people of Hellfire: Eternity and no death… The Hadeeth is in Saheeh Bukhari. There, the wailing of the people of Hellfire will intensify and their grief will heighten and their cries will prolong, so they will cry until their tears end, then they will cry blood until it flows on their faces like the shape of trenches (due to) crying.

O Muslims: Verily from the perfection of the justice of Allah – Glorified and Majestic – is that He does not equate the obedient and the sinner nor the reformer and the corrupter: “Shall We then treat the (submitting) Muslims like the polytheists? What is the matter with you? How judge you?” [Qalam; Verse 35-36]. And verily Allah – the Exalted – has described to us His Punishment, so there is no proof for the sinner against Allah. So disbelief and hypocrisy are the reasons for eternity in the Hellfire: “Allah has promised the hypocrites; men and women, and the disbelievers, the Fire of Hell, therein shall they abide. It will suffice them. Allah has cursed them and for them is the lasting torment.” [Tawbah; Verse 68]. And whoever recommends his opinions, opposing the commands of Allah and His Law, then he should listen to the saying of Allah – Glorified and Majestic – : “Know they not that whoever opposes and shows hostility to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), certainly for him will be the Fire of Hell to abide therein. That is extreme disgrace.” [Tawbah; Verse 63]

And woe, then again woe to the one who neglects the prayer when he is asked: “What has caused you to enter Hell?’ They will say: ‘We were not of those who used to offer their prayers. Nor we used to feed the poor. And we used to talk falsehood (all that which Allah hated) with vain talkers. And we used to belie the Day of Recompense. Until there came to us (the death) that is certain.’ So no intercession of intercessors will be of any use to them.” [Muddathir; Verse 42-48].

And the consuming of interest is a cause of entering Hellfire, and (so too) is eating the wealth of the orphans oppressively: “Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be burnt in the blazing Fire!” [Nisaa; Verse 10], and in Saheeh Muslim: that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: Allah – the Exalted – says: “Pride is My cloak and greatness is My robe, and he who competes with Me in respect of either of them, I shall cast into the Hellfire.” And in the great Quran: “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him.” [Nisaa; Verse 93]. And eating the wealth of people falsely and suicide are coupled in one verse, Allah – Glorified and Majestic – said: “And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most Merciful to you. And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allah.” [Nisaa; Verse 29-30]. And a false oath submerges its companion in the Hellfire, therefore an oath is called ‘catastrophic’, and leaning towards oppressors and inclining towards them: “And incline not toward those who do wrong, lest the Fire should touch you.” [Hood; Verse 113].

And Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “There are two types of people who will enter the Hellfire, whom I have not (as yet) seen: People having whips similar to ox-tails with which they will beat people, and (secondly) women who will be dressed yet appear to be naked. They will seduce men and be inclined towards them. Their heads will be like the swaying humps of the Bactrian camels. They will neither enter Paradise, nor smell its fragrance, even though its fragrance can be smelt from such and such distance.” [Narrated by Muslim].

And Abdullah bin Umar – may Allah be pleased with them both – narrated that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “O group of women, give charity and ask for much forgiveness for I saw you in majority amongst the dwellers of Hell,” so a lady amongst them said: Why is it O messenger of Allah, that we are the majority in Hell? He said: “You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses.”[Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

As for the hypocrites, they are the first who will be burned by the Fire on the Day of Judgement as is in the two authentic (books of Hadeeth: Bukhari and Muslim). And say to the ones who speak with their tongues and their pens with no weight or accountability. The prophet – peace be upon him – said: “And are people thrown on their faces into the Fire for anything but the harvest of their tongues.” Hellfire is promised for the alcoholic, the breaker of family ties, the believer of sorcery, the carrier of tales and the one who reduces the wealth of his brother by a false oath should build his abode in the Hellfire.

O Muslims: And surely the prophet – peace be upon him – saw pictures of the punishment of the people of Hellfire, as in the Hadeeth (narrated) by Samurah bin Jundub – may Allah be pleased with him -: So surely the prophet – peace be upon him – saw a man who was lying on his back while another man was standing over him with a stone which he then dropped onto his head, crushing it. Then the stone rolled away from him and he went after the stone to retrieve it. When he returned to him, his head was whole again and had become as it had been in the first place. So he went back and hit him as he had done the first time… and he said in the Hadeeth: This is the man who memorized the Quran and then abandoned it and slept through the obligatory prayers. Just as the prophet – peace be upon him – saw a man lying on his back, and there was another man standing over him with an iron hook. He went to one side of his face and cut open the side of his mouth until it reached the back of his neck and then his nostril to the back of his neck and his eye to the back of his neck. Then he moved to the other side and did the same thing as he had done to the first side. When he finished that side, the first side had become whole again. Then he did the same thing all over again… and he said in the Hadeeth: This is the man who went from his house and told lies which spread everywhere. And the prophet – peace be upon him – saw something like an oven. There was babble and shouting in it, and it contained naked men and women. The flames would come at them from underneath, and when those flames reached them, they cried out… and he said: These are the adulterers and adulteresses. And the prophet – peace be upon him – saw a river red like blood. And in it was a man swimming while on the bank of the river there was a man who had many stones with him. When that swimmer swam and reached the one who had gathered stones, he forced his mouth open and made him swallow a stone. Then he would begin to swim and would come back to him again. Whenever he came back to him, he forced open his mouth and made him swallow a stone… and he said: This is the consumer of interest. And he saw a man with a repulsive appearance like the most repulsive man you have ever seen, and he said: This is Malik, the keeper of Hell. [Hadeeth narrated by Bukhari]. So is there any (greater) threat after this threat… “Verily, therein is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful.” [Qaaf; Verse 37]

O Allah save us from the punishment of the Hellfire. O Allah save us from the punishment of the Hellfire. O Allah save us from the punishment of the Hellfire. Our Lord we have believed so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire.

May Allah benefit us and you with the guidance of His Book and save us all from His humiliation and His Punishment. I say these words of mine and I seek the forgiveness of Allah – the Exalted – for me and you.

Second Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, the One Who Honours the one who is obedient to Him and the One Who disgraces the sinners against Him, the One Who saves the seeker of His Saviour and the One Who answers the caller unto Him. I praise Him – the Exalted – and I thank Him and I praise Him and I seek His Forgiveness and I ask His saviour for me and you. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be upon him and on all his family and companions.

Thereafter: Surely the speech of Allah is the truth: “And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he is indeed successful” [Aal Imraan; Verse 185], and faith and good righteous deeds are – by Allah – the path of success and deliverance, and the promise of Allah and the promise of His messenger is the truth. So the Hellfire will never go through the man who cries out of the fear of Allah until milk returns to the udder. And two eyes that the Hellfire will never touch: the eye that cries out of the fear of Allah and the eye that keeps watch in the way of Allah. And for piety there is a great rank: “But for him (the true believer of Islamic Monotheism) who fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two Gardens (i.e. in Paradise).” [Rahmaan; Verse 46]. And supplication and seeking refuge with Allah is the greatest door to saviour. Anas bin Malik – may Allah be pleased with him – said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “No one asks Allah for Paradise three times except that Paradise says: ‘O Allah! Enter him into Paradise!’ And no Muslim seeks protection with Allah from the Hellfire three times except that Hellfire says: ‘O Allah! Protect him from me.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja with an authentic chain of narration].

And we are about to welcome a great month, the month of emancipation from Hellfire, so whoever fasts one day in the path of Allah, Allah distances his face, due to that day, from the Fire by the distance traveled in seventy years, and in Ramadan the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hellfire are shut. And for Allah on every night of Ramadan are those emancipated from the Hellfire.

O Allah, O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, O Possessor of Majesty. O Allah we ask you by (virtue) of our bearing witness that you are Allah, there is no god but You and there is no power and might except with You. We ask You O Allah to enter us into Paradise and to save us from the punishment of Hellfire. O Allah we ask you for Paradise and we seek Your protection from Hellfire. O Allah we ask you for Paradise and we seek Your protection from Hellfire. O Allah we ask you for Paradise and we seek Your protection from Hellfire.

O Allah send salutations on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have sent salutations on Ibraheem and on the family of Ibraheem. Verily You are the Praise-Worthy, the Glorious. And bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed the family of Ibraheem amongst the worlds. Verily You are the Praise- Worthy, the Glorious.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/11...-the-hellfire/

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Yearning for the Secured Land (Makkah)

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

January 7, 2005 ~ Dhul Q’adah 26, 1425

First Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. He raised the symbols of Islam and He clarified for His creation the clear methods and signs. He contrasted between the months and days and He made the pilgrimage (one) of the pillars of the great religion. I praise Him – Glorified is He – and I thank Him and I ask Him of His gift of beautiful pardon and I seek His forgiveness from errors and sins and I ask Him for guidance and ability and entering in the group of the one who says my Lord is Allah and is then steadfast. And I bear witness that there is no god except Allah alone. He has no partner. He is Ever-Living, the Sustainer, the One Who does not sleep. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the preferred over the rest of the creation and beings. May Allah’s salutations and peace be on him and on his noble family and companions.

Thereafter: “O you who believe! Fear Allah and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” [Hashr; Verse 18] “And know that Allah knows what is in your minds, so fear Him.” [Baqarah; Verse 235]

O Muslims: Save the time for yourselves, for it is invaluable, and make good for yourselves the time and do not partake except of that which is permissible of it. And measure your actions by the Shar’i scale, and rectify the objectives and intentions and take from sincerity its virtue and monitor the world of secrets in private and public, for how good introspection is and how glorious (it is) and seize the virtuous days before they leave, days that Allah has honoured and blessed.

Thereafter: O Muslims: In these blessed days Makkah is welcoming the delegations of pilgrims and the sacred mosque is embracing the guests of the Most Beneficent in a majestic convoy, honoured by the care of Allah. They come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway, calling out the call of their Lord (Talbiyyah), responding to the announcement of His friend: “And proclaim to mankind the pilgrimage. They will come on every lean camel. They will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway. That they may witness things that are of benefit to them” [Hajj; Verse 27-28]. The pilgrims come, urging their mounts, yearning preceding them, hope prompts them, joy fills them while they are journeying to the revered house of Allah; wishing for the expiation of sins and reaching the gardens (of Paradise). They are discharging the fifth pillar of the pillars of their religion in the holiest of places on the face of the earth.

Makkah Mukarramah is a history and memories, biography and a tour. “Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for the worlds. In it are manifest signs: the place of Abraham; whosoever enters it, he attains security.” [Aal Imraan 96-97]. The prophets made pilgrimage to it and the leader of the true believers prayed towards it. And from Makkah, the light of guidance radiated, and the message of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) went forth until it prevailed across the earth, and changed the world, and anchored the most beautiful and most just civilization known by history, for it is the centre of the world, a symbol of the unity of the Muslims, a source of light for the worlds; the best land by Allah, and the most loved land by the messenger of Allah – peace be upon him. Makkah Mukarramah is the mother of all cities. In it was the birth of the most honourable of mankind. On its hills, he was nurtured and raised; and in its expanses he walked and did not lose heart. (For) half a century, the life of the prophet – peace be upon him – was witnessed in Makkah, so which honour excels this honour?! And if these hills spoke, then which biography would they mention?! And which history would they transmit?!

At these sites, Gabriel – peace be upon him – descended with revelation, and the prophet – peace be upon him – cut open with Tawheed from the Safa mountain. If the Ka’bah were to speak to you or Zam Zam and the station (of Abraham) were to relate, they would say: Abu Bakr and Umar were here, and Uthman and Ali (too), and the rest of the noble companions – may Allah be pleased with them all. They illuminated this world, purified the earth, and Tawheed battled against paganism until Allah made the religion (of Islam) manifest.

Here the prophet – peace be upon him – stood in front of the Ka’bah to establish the great principles of the religion and he illustrated the finest path of humanity, which every civilization is incapable of realising up to this day.

Pilgrims of Allah’s sacred house, congratulations to you on reaching the revered house of Allah, congratulations to you on these symbols and emotions; an honourable time and an honourable place with greatness of deeds, so praise Allah for what He has awarded you of these bounties, and thank Him for He has proclaimed increase for the one who thanks. You have come, welcome, and (may) your walking be easy, and you are the guests of Allah and His delegation. It is compulsory to honour (you) and supply (you). May Allah make easy your pilgrimage and make your pilgrimage accepted and your efforts thanked. May Allah accept from us and from you.

O Muslims: Verily intending (to travel to) this pure land expiates sins, and wipes out evil deeds and unloads errors. In fact there is no reward for an accepted pilgrimage except Paradise: the saying of your prophet – peace be upon him.

How many souls yearn for the plain of Makkah and (how many) hearts sink for its hills, and how many a weeper (cries) yearning, craving, and how many a heartbroken (person) wishes to see the bare valley, wishes to spend a night in Mina or crowd at the Jamarat or circumambulate the house (of Allah) and shed tears. He wishes for these places where the tears flow, and mercy descends, sins are abolished and supplications are answered. Allah has watered those hills and plains.

This is Khaif (Masjid) and that is Mina

So be kind to us O camel-driver

And restrain the mount for us (for) an hour

We will weep (the amount that covers) a district and cry our blood

For this occasion we have prepared crying

And for this day, the tears attract us

The camel-driver does not have to (provide) the means even if he is kind

While I shed my tears, then embrace (the teachings of Islam)

This house that which he knows

Deserving of its inclination are those who are the most yearning.

And the camps continue to burst in with pilgrims from every distant land. How beautiful are the sounds of the Talbiyyah called out aloud in the airplanes in the skies and (in) the cleaving of the waves of the sea and (in) the ships that swap up the path and track the journey, coming to the sacred house, I am present, O Allah, I am present. Here I come. You have no partner. Here I come. One outlook, one goal, all of them are answered, then they meet in the sanctity of Allah. Verily they are caravans of faith; a journey of life to the place of inclination of the hearts; and the centre of Islam; and the qibla of the Muslims.

Servants of Allah: Pilgrims to His sacred house: Verily the status of pilgrimage by Allah is great, and its position in the religion is big. Allah mandated it by His Saying: “And pilgrimage to the House (Ka’bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses; and whoever disbelieves, then Allah stands not in need of any of the worlds.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 97]. As for its virtue, then Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “An Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) to an Umrah is expiation for what is between them and an accepted pilgrimage has no reward for it except Paradise.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]. And also in the two authentics (Bukhari and Muslim) that the prophet – peace be upon him – was asked: Which is the best of actions? He said: “Belief in Allah – Exalted and Majestic.” It was said: Thereafter what? He said: “Striving in the path of Allah.” It was said: Thereafter what? He said: “An accepted pilgrimage.”

Verily it is trading of this world and the Hereafter and profit of both the worlds. Ibn Mas’ud – may Allah be pleased with him – said: The messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – said: “Follow up the pilgrimage and lesser pilgrimage, because they certainly remove poverty and sins as fire separates the impurities from iron.” [Narrated by Ahmad and Tirmidhi with an authentic chain]. And in the two authentics: that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever performs pilgrimage to this house and does not commit any obscenity or wrongdoing, he will come out as his mother gave birth to him,” i.e. free from sins and mistakes. This is with the multiplication of good deeds and raising of ranks. Jabir – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that the prophet – peace be upon him – said while he was in Madeenah: “One prayer in my mosque is better than one thousand prayers in any other mosque except Masjidul Haraam. And prayer in Masjidul Haraam is better than one hundred thousand prayers in any other mosque.” [Narrated by Ahmad and Bukhari in tareekh with an authentic chain] – i.e. the prayer of 54 years, so will anyone be blamed for the inclination towards the sanctity after this?! Aside from the standings of mercy in Arafaat and the gaining closeness (to Allah) at Mash’aril Haraam (Muzdalifah), and the going about in the mountain passes of Mina, and walking around the House and between Safa and Marwa, and stoning the Satans, and all that is from the occasions of mercy and acceptance of supplications.

As for Arafaat, and what will explain to you what Arafaat is?! The prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Allah frees far more people from Hellfire on the Day of Arafah than on any other day, and Allah comes closer this day and proudly says to the angels, ‘What do these people want and seek?” [Narrated by Muslim by Aisha – may Allah be pleased with her]. Verily they want the mercy of their Lord and His Paradise. They want the forgiveness of their sins and emancipation from Hellfire. They come from every distant place of this world and the outskirts of the land. They left their families and countries, and spent everything they could in order to reach these honoured places, in a time when you see some affluent, able (people) lazy to fulfill the obligation of Islam. They spend their wealth and waste their time in traveling, pleasure rides, and amusement and negligence. They have not made pilgrimage (even) once. These (people) should know that verily they are leaving out a pillar from the pillars of Islam. Umar bin Khattab – may Allah be pleased with him – said: “Whoever dies, being well off enough but having never done pilgrimage let him die as a Jew if he wishes or as a Christian.” And the same was narrated on the authority of Ali bin Abi Talib – may Allah be pleased with him. So he should fear Allah and the capable one should take the initiative before he passes on and if incapability or death overtakes him then excuses of complacency and laziness will not benefit him.

O believers, pilgrims to Allah’s ancient house: Allah has brought you to His house, so honour His Symbols, He will increase you in faith and piety: “Thus it is. And whosoever honours the symbols of Allah, then it is truly from the piety of the heart.” [Hajj; Verse 32]. And from amongst honouring the symbols is good deeds and completing them and ensuring their perfection and following the guidance of the prophet – peace be upon him – in every small and big (action), and surely he said: “Take your rituals from me.” Just as following weakness and complacency in the rituals is abandonment and deficiency, and Allah – the Exalted – says: “And perform properly the pilgrimage and the lesser pilgrimage for Allah.” [Baqarah; Verse 196]. Just as from honouring the symbols of Allah is distancing (oneself) from whatever decreases (the reward/value) of the pilgrimage, and respecting and revering the time and the place that the True – Glorified is He – has honoured. Refrain from disputes, arguments, quarrelling and disturbance, for acceptance and forgiveness are conditioned with that. Allah – Glorified and Majestic – said: “The pilgrimage is (in) the well-known months. So whosoever intends to perform pilgrimage therein, then he should not have sexual relations, nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the pilgrimage.” [Baqarah; Verse 197], and indeed the prophet’s – peace be upon him – saying previously as mentioned in the two authentics: “Whoever performs pilgrimage to this house and does not commit any obscenity and wrongdoing, he will come out as his mother gave birth to him.”

Verily the purification of the self, increasing in faith and attainment of piety will be when a Muslim approaches his acts of worship with etiquette and devotion and he devotes himself to what he came for and (for) what he intends, preserving his time, sincere to his Lord. Like this, it is imperative to ask about Shar’i rulings before beginning actions, for how many a pilgrim worships Allah with ignorance. He does not learn, nor does he ask. And how many a seeker of fatwa (religious ruling) if he asked before acting, he would not be in transgression. And upon those in charge of the pilgrims is a great responsibility, so they should fear Allah, and every shepherd is responsible for his flock.

O believers, verily the principle on which this great house was built is the Oneness of the Lord of the worlds, who said in the true revelation: “And (remember) when We showed Abraham the site of the (Sacred) House (saying): “Associate not anything (in worship) with Me’” [Hajj; Verse 26]. And amongst the verses of pilgrimage, He – Glorified is He – said: “So shun the abomination (worshipping) of idol, and shun lying speech (false statements), worshipping none but Allah, not associating partners (in worship, etc.) unto Him.” [Hajj; Verse 30-31].

So purify your deeds, may Allah have mercy on you. And stick to the Sunnah in your actions and throughout your life, for verily associating partners with Allah renders deeds useless. And mandate the remembrance of Allah – the Exalted – for it is a prominent feature of pilgrimage, and it is an announcement of the Oneness of Allah which is the slogan of pilgrimage: “O my Lord, here I am at your service. Here I am at your service. You have no partner. Here I am at your service. Verily all praise and bounty and kingdom is for You. Here I am at your service. You have no partner.” And surely He – Glorified is He – said: “And remember Allah during the appointed days” [Baqarah; Verse 203], and He said: “Then when you leave Arafaat, remember Allah (by glorifying His Praises) at the Mash’aril Haraam (Muzdalifah).” [Baqarah; Verse 198], and He – the Most Majestic of speakers – said: “So when you have completed your rituals (of pilgrimage), then remember Allah” [Baqarah; Verse 200], and He – Glorified is He – said: “That they may witness things that are of benefit to them, and mention the Name of Allah on appointed days (i.e. 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th of Thul-Hijjah).” [Hajj; Verse 28]

May Allah bless me and you in the Great Quraan, and make us tread the path of the master of the messengers. I say these words of mine, and I seek the forgiveness of Allah – the Exalted – for me and you and the rest of the Muslims so seek His forgiveness. Verily He is the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Second Khutbah

All praise be to Allah as He ought to be praised. And may salutations and peace be upon our master Muhammad, His prophet and His servant. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. Honoured in His Majesty. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the purest of people and the most virtuous of those who made pilgrimage to the Sacred House. May Allah’s salutations be upon him and upon his family, companions and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of His Promise.

Thereafter: O Muslims all over the world: In a short while the first ten days of the month of Thul-Hijjah will set in, and they are days of which Allah has honoured their worth and raised their remembrance, and swore by in His Book saying: “By the 10 nights (i.e. the first 10 days of Thul-Hijjah)” [Fajr; Verse 2]. And in Saheeh Bukhari, narrated by Ibn Abbaas – may Allah be pleased with him – that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “There are no days in which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days (of Thul-Hijjah).” They said: O messenger of Allah, not even striving in the path of Allah? He said: “Not even striving in the path of Allah, except that person who left with his life and wealth and did not return with any of it.”

And it is recommended in it (that you do) much good deeds and various types of voluntary acts and Takbeer (saying Allah is great) and Tahmeed (praising Allah) and Tahleel (saying there is no god but Allah), so revive these ways, and seek good from Allah that you may be successful.

And whoever is not a pilgrim, it is preferred that he fasts the Day of Arafah (9th day of Thul-Hijjah), according to the narration of Abu Qatadah – may Allah be pleased with him – that the prophet – peace be upon him – said regarding the fasting of the day of Arafah: “I have hope in Allah that it (the fast of Arafah) will be an atonement for the sins of the past and the forthcoming year.” And whoever intends to do the sacrifice (of a sacrificial animal) should not cut anything from his hair or nails from the beginning of the ten (days) until (after) he sacrifices.

And there is an important matter that people should be warned of, alas and that is the competing in giving religious rulings by those who are not well-versed in them and speaking regarding (the rules of) Allah with no knowledge, for how many a hasty one causes the pilgrims to transgress, and maybe he carries the sin of corrupting their pilgrimage by his issuing of religious rulings while he is not a legal source, and by his contributing to directives while he was not asked, and surely he would have been in safety if he mandated the fearing of Allah and piety. And surely the companions – may Allah be pleased with them – used to defend religious rulings, so what is the matter with today’s nation, they compete in them as if they are spoils of war?! There is no doubt that teaching people, guiding them and giving them religious rulings is among the greatest of actions that bring one close to Allah, and the most necessary of compulsory acts, but it is for the scholars, and knowledgeable students of knowledge. As for the ignorant and the masses, it is a sin, and surely Allah has coupled speaking without knowledge with Shirk (associating partners with Allah), sin and adultery. Verily pilgrimage is an act of worship and rituals that require comprehension and deep understanding, and upon the qualified is that they take charge of their degree so that others are dispensed for them.

Then remember – may Allah have mercy upon you – that Allah has surely commanded you with a command which He begins Himself, and which the angels who glorify His Holiness repeat, and which He directed to you O believers amongst the Jinn and humans, so He – Majestic in His Highness – said: “Allah sends His Salutations on the prophet (Muhammad – peace be upon him) and also His angels too (ask Allah to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your salutations on him (Muhammad – peace be upon him), and (you should) greet him with peace.” [Ahzaab; Verse 56]

O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on Your slave and servant Muhammad for as long as the stars shine and the clouds combine, and send salutations and peace on Your prophet and his family, his companions, his wives and offspring and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Recompense.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: https://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/1...d-land-makkah/

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[BintAbee]

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A Pause with the Meaning of ‘Barakah’ [1]

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

December 7, 2012 ~ Muharram 23, 1434


Part One

Praise be to Allah! Blessed be He in His divine essence, He Who blessed whom He wills among His creatures! Praise be to Allah, the Supreme and the Most Generous. No human being can give Him His due in full. No creature is capable of disengaging itself from the bonds of His service; nor can any human being exist independently of His generosity and bountiful gifts. He is the First in the whole existence and to Him alone all creatures stand upright in performance of worship rituals and lie in prostration. His existence () is unequalled by any form of being and His generosity is peerless. His might takes those who shy away from His message unawares, either in their waking time or during their sleep.

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, with no rival partner to Him and that Muhammad () is His servant and Messenger. O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honors, and Mercy) and Peace on your servant and Messenger Muhammad (), his family, his Companions, the tab'în (the contemporaries of the Companions of the Prophet () after his death), and all those who righteously follow them till the Day of Judgment!

O people!

My recommendation, to myself then to you, is to adhere to taqwa (fear of Allah). It is our resort in time of hardships, our source of assistance in ordeals, the inspiration of the soul and its quietude, the generator of patience and tranquility, the stimulator of strength and firm conviction, the tool of ascension to heaven to seek sublimity, the guarantee of guidance in moments of perilous predicaments, and the booster of morale in time of stressful affliction: O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth. [70]. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), he has indeed achieved a great achievement (i.e. he will be saved from the Hell-fire and will be admitted to Paradise). [Al-Aȟzeb: 70-71].

O Muslims!

In our greetings and prayers, there are expressions which deserve our attention; we use them frequently and daily in our verbal exchanges and prayers. They contain the good of both this life and the Hereafter, the source of happiness now and later. They are namely prayers imploring (divine) barakah. For instance, when a Muslim meets his brother in faith, he says to him, “May Allah’s Peace, Mercy and barakat (plural of ‘barakah’, blessings) be upon you!” Have we ever contemplated the significance of supplication for barakah? Besides, in our prayer, we appeal to Allah by saying, “[…] and send Your ‘barakah’ upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You had sent it upon Ibrahim […].” Also, among the supplications during Qiyaam (night) prayer, we ask Allah, “[…And] send Your ‘barakah’ (make abundant and blessed) in whatever you have bestowed on me!” We also say to the newly married couple, “May Allah send His ‘barakah’ (make abundant and blessed) in whatever He has bestowed upon you, and may He also send His ‘barakah’ upon both of you!”

So, what is the exact meaning of such ‘barakat’ (abundant blessings)?

O servants of Allah!

The original meaning of the term ‘barakah’ in Arabic is ‘constancy’, ‘permanence’, and ‘stability.’ Other meanings include ‘growth, increase, and abundance of good.’ The term ‘barakah’ can be followed by various prepositions in Arabic to mean: to bless something/someone, to make something abundant, to allow someone to enjoy divine bounties, and to preserve existent favors. There is also the attribute ‘mubarak’ (blessed and permanently abundant) to refer to anything which received Allah’s () holy blessings. Allah says in reference to the Holy Qur’ān: And this is “mubarak” (a blessed) Reminder (the Qur’ân) which We have sent down… [Al-Ânbiya: 50]. The attribute ‘mubarak’ is used here to refer to the abundant benefits, permanent merits, and various aspects of ‘barakah’ in the Holy Qur’ān.

‘Barakah’ is exclusively from Allah, for it is only the Lord, be He exalted, that has quintessential blessing and whatever is attributed to Him becomes blessed. In fact, His words are blessed, His Messenger is blessed, His servant believers dedicated to the service of His creatures are blessed, His Holy Mosque is blessed, and His sanctified land (His Kinanah) —which is Sham (the area consisting of Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan)— is the land of blessings and is depicted in some verses of the Holy Qur’ān as blessed. The Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds [2] along with its vicinity are blessed by Allah as well.

We say, when invoking Allah (), “tabaraka”; that is to say, “be He elevated, lauded, and glorified.” This (i.e. “tabaraka”) can never be said to anyone except Allah (). He is blessed in His divine essence and He imparts His blessing to whomever He selects from among His creatures. It is similar to saying “Allah is All-Mighty, All-Magnificent.” It is a sign of His Might, of the abundance and permanence of his goodness, as well as the accumulation of perfection traits in Him. This equally means that every benefit in the world originates from His bounty and generosity (), for He is the All-Mighty, the Glorious, and the All-Sublime.

This is why in the opening of Qur’ānic verses, Allah () frequently mentions the notion of blessing in association with His Magnificence and Glory. Allah () says: Blessed be He Who sent down the criterion (of right and wrong, i.e. this Qur’ân) to His slave (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) that he may be a warner to the ‘Âlamîn (mankind and jinn). [Al-Furqân: 1]. Allah () further affirms: Indeed your Lord is Allâh, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He rose over (Istawâ) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His Command. Surely, His is the Creation and Commandment. Blessed is Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)! [Al-Aâraf: 54]

O Muslims!

Allah may equally make some of His creatures blessed. Thus, the recipient of divine blessing would generously engage in good acts, acquire a higher status allowing him to influence people’s lives positively, manifest clear signs of moral fiber, and benefit others from resources at hand. Jesus Christ () is a perfect example of the select blessed when he extols Allah’s favors: “And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me Salât (prayer), and Zakât, as long as I live. [Maryam: 31]
“Barakah” is Allah’s favour bestowed on man without the latter being aware of its source or involved in any conscious calculations to get it. In fact, whenever you notice a kind of imperceptible increase in some phenomenon, that very phenomenon is said to be blessed or contains “barakah.” “Barakah” is then a gift from Allah which is inexplicable by the causal logic followed by our human minds. For instance, when Allah bestows “Barakah” on someone’s age, that person will enjoy longevity coupled with obedience to and worship of Him or will enjoy a wealth of good traits characterizing his/her personality. Moreover, when Allah bestows “barakah” on someone’s health, this means its preservation.

The same applies to bestowing “barakah” on someone’s property; that is, Allah accumulates, increases, purifies, and turns it into a source of gaining further assets. In addition, He also guides its owner to spending it in ways which please Allah and facilitate obedience to His instructions. Other examples of Allah’s granting “barakah” to someone include offspring and spouse. When Allah confers “barakah” on someone’s offspring, his children will show filial devotion, piety and good conduct; and when Allah bestows “barakah” on someone’s spouse, her husband’s life will turn into sheer bliss: whenever he looks at her, he enjoys perfect happiness and while he is absent she remains faithful to him.

“Barakah” is also visible in our actions, for whenever Allah grants His blessing to our actions, their positive impact will spread to larger spheres of life and their utility to others will become more obvious and rewarding. It is worth remembering here that the safest guarantee of Allah’s blessing on our actions resides in loyalty to Him (that is, without indulging, even unknowingly, in forms of associating deities with Him) and in tracking the footsteps of the Prophet ().

Ibn Al-Qayyim [3] —may Allah have mercy on his soul—said, “…Whatsoever is not dedicated to Allah will certainly be devoid of blessing (barakah), for it is exclusively Allah who is self-sufficiently blessed and all types of “barakah” emerge from Him.”

In the divine statement [4]: The Lord () says, “Whenever I am worshipped, verily I am pleased, and whenever I am pleased I confer my blessings, knowing that my ‘barakah’ parallels infinity.” [Reported by Imam Ahmed in his hadith publication entitled Al-Zuhd, as narrated by Wahb Ibn Munabbih (authentic chain of reporters)].

How much “barakah” has been conferred on things, time, speech, actions, and people! With “barakah”, meager quantity turns into abundance; benefit is generalized; what is good yields further goodness; sufficiency is realized; satisfaction reigns all over; and joy fills up people’s lives.

We can draw lessons from the “barakat” (blessings) bestowed on the lives of famous personalities and great brains, although they were simply human beings living in their respective communities. However, Allah bestowed His blessings on their actions and lifetimes. Muhammad ()—the most honorable of all creatures—was endowed with a blessed lifetime. Quite amazingly, although his dawa (i.e. mission campaign to spread Islam) only lasted for twenty-three years or so, he benefited all creatures and his “barakah” is unceasingly unfolding, era after era, until the Day of Judgment when Allah inherits the earth and all that lives thereon. Abu Bakr’s term as Caliph lasted just two years and a few months; however, he fulfilled in such a short period of time what requires decades.

As to scholarship, there are miraculous phenomena in scholars’ biographies. For instance, Imam Chafeî —may Allah have mercy on his soul— died at an early age: 54. Al-Ťabari, Al-Nawawi, Ibn Taymîya, among others, left a scholarly legacy comprising books and various writings whose design and publication must have taken their lifetime and would certainly challenge entire teams. Such prolific scholarship would have never been possible without Allah’s assistance and “barakah” which He bestowed on their lifetimes and works.

As to “barakah” in ordinary people’s lives, it was manifest in their way of life: they used to be contented with the bare minimum to live at subsistence level on a day-to-day basis; they also used to live as an extended family in one collective house; a single serving of food would satisfy two individuals; they used to live under the umbrella of contentment, taking pleasure in the joy of satisfaction and perfect delight.

So, what’s the matter with people nowadays? Have their incomes shrunk or have their spirits been incarcerated? Have their lifetimes become shorter or is it their volition that has become too weak to meet the challenge?

People nowadays do enjoy numerous life facilities and aspects of well-being of which their predecessors were visibly deprived. Today, treasures have erupted from inside the earth; money and business have become abundant; job opportunities have been multiplied as a direct result of technological inventions, scientific discoveries, and industrial progress. Paradoxically, it seems as though people were more pauperized and their lives became a picture of human misery, frustration, and coercion. The whole world tends to be constantly complaining about poverty, scarcity, tight budget, constraints of time, and phobia about the future—despite the availability of all kinds of luxury and life facilities. Where does the problem lie then? The answer is certainly the effacement of “barakah.”

A very eloquent dictum says, “Barakah does not mean or result in abundance; it is rather the reverse: abundance is the direct output of Barakah.” In this regard, Abu Huraira () narrated that Prophet Muhammad () said, “A year of severe drought does not mean the absence of rainfall; it is rather the year during which there is heavy and continual rainfall, but Allah does not bestow His Bârakah on it).”

In our Holy Book, we read: And if the people of the towns had believed and had the Taqwâ (piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes). [Al-Ârâf: 96]

Faith, taqwa (fear of Allah), and good deeds bring about “barakah” and increase income. They also bring about peace of mind and satisfaction: “But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’ân nor acts on its teachings); verily, for him is a life of hardship…” [Ťâha: 124]

Indeed, shying away from Allah is the reason of misery from which both individuals and nations are suffering today.

Why don’t we ponder about the reasons behind the disintegration of the strongest economic consortiums despite the availability of expertise and management skills that Allah enabled them to master? Why don’t we think about the spread of panic and the absence of security in the most powerful and oppressive countries of the world, along with the recurrence of wars, homicides, and turmoil despite the existence of a battery of laws, conventions, and organizations to govern societies?

It is Allah, the Almighty ‒may He be exalted and elevated‒ Who is indeed running the world where things are exclusively managed in accordance with His sunnah (laws) and where prosperity and well-being only materialize when He () orders them to be. He () said: Allâh will destroy Ribâ (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqât (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) [Al-Baqarah: 276], and It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allâh), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided. [Al-Ana’am: 82]. It is Allah () Who also said: Whoever works righteousness - whether male or female - while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islâmic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter). [Al-Nahl: 97]

Faith, piety and good deeds bring about blessings, happiness and satisfaction while sinning annihilates them and makes scant livelihoods. Allah Almighty said: And Allâh puts forward the example of a township (Makkah), that dwelt secure and well-content: its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (its people) denied the Favours of Allâh (with ungratefulness). So Allâh made it taste extreme of hunger (famine) and fear, because of that (evil, i.e. denying Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم) which they (its people) used to do. [Al-Nahl: 112]

Fear and hunger make a monstrous specter terrifying all the living. In fact, some of the effects of sins and disobedience are unthinkable. It is said in the Hadith that »whenever two friends are separated it is because of a sin one of them committed. « [Narrated by Bukhari in Al Adab Al Mufrid [5] ].

Insofar as marital relations are concerned note the repetition of taqwa (fear of Allah) and its effects in Surat Al Talaq (Divorce), then also note what Allah () said in this regard: And many a town (population) revolted against the Command of its Lord and His Messengers; and We called it to a severe account (i.e. torment in this worldly life), and We shall punish it with a horrible torment (in Hell in the Hereafter). So it tasted the evil result of its affair (disbelief), and the consequence of its affair (disbelief) was loss (destruction in this life and an eternal punishment in the Hereafter). Allâh has prepared for them a severe torment. So fear Allâh, O men of understanding. [At-Talaq: 8 - 10].

These are the same laws Allah made and executed on families and individuals and on nations and villages alike.

On the authority of Hakim Ibn Hizam (), the Prophet () said: »The vending/purchasing parties are given the choice so long as they are not separated. If they are honest and clear with each other, then their deal is blessed. However, if they lie and hide the truth, blessing shall be wiped off of their deal.« [Narrated by Muslim].

On the authority of Ibn Omar –may Allah be pleased with both of them (he and his father)– the Prophet () mentioned the main sins annihilating blessing and bringing about poverty, disaster and misery. These are the spread of immorality, the failure to observe fullness in weighing and measuring (in trading), the prevention of zakat [6], the betrayal of promises, dishonesty, and the arbitration of laws other than those of Allah.

Here, one may wonder whether merchants and vendors, those who have no scruples over carrying out fraud, bribery, betraying promises and practicing forgery and advocates of vice and corruption who mean to propagate immorality among the believers understand that! Allah the Truthful said: And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much [Al-Shura: 30], and (What is the

matter with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: "From where does this come to us?" Say (to them), "It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds) [Al Omran: 165]

O servants of Allah!
Observe taqwa (fear of Allah) and good deeds and then think about the effect thereof on your physical health, the tranquility of your souls and the thoroughness of your happiness. Ask Allah to bestow His blessing on you and seek the reasons amenable to it, and obey Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) that you may obtain mercy. [Al Omran: 132]

O Allah! Bless us by the Great Qur’ān and guide us to Your Right Path! I say this and ask Almighty Allah to forgive you and me.

Part Two

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful and the Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the King, and the Manifest Truth. I also bear witness that Muhammad () is His servant and Messenger, the honest and the faithful. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on him, his family and all his Companions!

O servants of Allah!

As is mentioned in both Sahihs [7] (Muslim’s and Bukhari’s), Abderrahman bin Abi Leila said: “I ran into Kaab Ibn Ujrah () who said to me: ‘may I pass on to you a gift I heard from the Prophet ()? I said: ‘certainly, give it to me.’ He said: ‘we asked the Messenger of Allah (): ‘O Messenger of Allah! How do we send our prayer on you, Ahl al Bayt [8] , for Allah taught us how to say ‘peace on you’? He answered: »say ‘O Allah! Send Your prayer on Muhammad and his family as You did on Ibrahim and his family! You are All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah! Send Your blessing on Muhammad and his family as You did on Ibrahim and his family! You are All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. «
Hence, supplicating for the Prophet (), by saying: »send Your blessing on Muhammad and his family as You did on Ibrahim and his family« , implies bestowing as much good on him as was bestowed on Ibrahim’s family, as well as sustaining, doubling and increasing it for him. Allah () said about Ibrahim and his family: We blessed him and Ishâq (Isaac) [Al Safat: 113]. Still on Ibrahim and his family, Allah () said: The Mercy of Allâh and His Blessings be on you, O the family [of Ibrâhîm (Abraham)] [Hud: 73]

O Allah! Send Your Prayer, Peace and Blessing on Your servant and Messenger, Muhammad, and on his good and pure family! O Allah! Be pleased with all of Your Messenger’s Companions and those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Judgement!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and victory to Muslims and fail tyrants, infidels and corruptors! O Allah! Grant glory to Your religion, Your Book and the sunnah of Your Prophet and Your believing servants!

O Allah! Foreordain for this nation (the nation of Islam) a matter (an affair) of rationality (guidance) where the people of piety are honored and those of sins are guided, and where al-ma’roof (promotion of good deeds) is promoted and al-munkar (promulgation of evil deeds) is prevented! O Lord of the worlds!

O Allah! Make preoccupied with their own evil those who wish to harm Islam and Muslims! Turn their plots and their cunning against them! O Lord of the worlds!

O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your cause in Palestine, in the Levant and wherever they may be, O Lord of the worlds! O Allah! Lift the siege around them, improve their conditions, and suppress their enemy!

O Allah! Liberate Al Aqsa Mosque from the oppressors’ injustice and the occupiers’ aggression! O Allah! Improve the conditions of Muslims everywhere! O Allah! Improve their conditions in Syria! O Allah! Group them around Your Truth and Guidance! O Allah! Spare their blood, safeguard their tranquility, bring them close together, feed their hungry, protect their honor, grant them boldness, strength and victory against their oppressors! O Allah! Lift the siege around them! O Allah! It’s Your speedy relief we seek!

O Allah! Guide our leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to do whatever you love and accept. O Allah! Guide him to piety and righteousness. O Allah! Grant him, his Crown Prince, his brothers and assistants success to do what is good for the people and the country!

O Allah! All praise is due to You for Your blissful curing of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques! O Allah! Bring him full recovery and keep him in good health. O Allah! Grant success to all the leaders of Muslims in order to govern by Your Sharia and follow the sunnah of Your Prophet ()! O Allah! Make them merciful to Your true servants!

O Allah! Make safe and prosperous all of our country and those of all Muslims around the world! Protect us against the evil of wrongdoers, the maliciousness of the lecherous and the evil of those plotting to carry it out by day or night! Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al Baqarah: 201], Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk. [Al Omran: 147]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and make come true our wishes in what pleases You! O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, our wives and children, You are All-Hearing! O Allah! We ask You to be pleased with us and grant us Your paradise, and we seek refuge in You against Your wrath and hell fire! O Allah! Spare us the torment of hell fire! We ask Allah for forgiveness! We ask Allah for forgiveness! We ask Allah for forgiveness, Allah Who is the only deity, the Living, the Subsisting, and we repent to Him!

O Allah! You are Allah, and there is no deity worthy of worship but You! You are the Self-Sufficient while we (humans) are destitute! Do send down rain on us and save us from despair! O Allah! Send rain down on us! Bestow upon us expedient rain; a blissful, flowing, widespread, useful and harmless rain, one that would rejuvenate the land, quench the people’s thirst and reach the rural and the urban lands!

O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy. O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy. O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy, not rain of torment, disaster, destruction, or flooding!
O Allah! Answer our prayers, for You are indeed the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! And forgive us! You are indeed Most Forgiving, Most Merciful!

Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! You are free from what they attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the Messengers! And all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!

1. The Arabic word (بركة) means blessing, benediction, good fortune, abundant good.

2. Al-Quds is the Arab name for what Western geographers tend to call Jerusalem in the occupied Palestinian territories.

3. Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr (also known as Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah ("Son of the principal of the (school of) Jawziyyah") (1292–1350 CE / 691 AH–751 AH) was a Sunni Islamic jurist, commentator on the Qur’an and theologian. His scholarship was focused on the sciences of Hadith and Fiqh.

4. This type of divine statement is known in the science of hadith as Hadith Qudsi (i.e. sacred hadith because—unlike the Prophet’s hadith—its provenance is traced back to Allah, though only its content is literally revelation whereas its wording is said to be the Prophet’s (peace be upon him).

5. This book, by Muhammad ibn Ismaeel al-Bukhari, is translated from the original Arabic into English. It provides a vivid insight into the moral conduct of the early Muslims in a society led by the perfect character of Prophet Muhammad (). The Prophet's Companions represent excellent examples of men of vigorous moral stature whose conduct inspired and attracted the masses to the fold of Islam wherever they went during the expansion of the Muslim territories, and contrary to the stereotypic portrayal, in the West, of Islam as being spread by the sword. (Retrieved from http://www.islamhouse.com/ip/13303, Dec. 9th, 2012)

6. It is the giving of a fixed portion of one's wealth as a tax, generally to the poor and needy or to the people who collect it. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. (Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zak%C4%81t, Dec. 9th, 2012).

7. Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are two of the Al-Kutub Al-Sittah (six major hadiths) of sunni Islam. These prophetic traditions, or Hadith, were collected by the Persian Muslim scholar Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim, respectively, after being transmitted orally for generations. Sunni Muslims view these as two of the three most trusted collections of hadith. In some circles, these Sahihs are considered the most authentic books after the Qur'an.[2][3] The Arabic word sahih translates as authentic or correct. (Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahih_al-Bukhari, Dec. 9th 2012).

8. Ahl al-Bayt (Arabic: أهل البيت‎) is an Arabic phrase literally meaning People of the House, or family of the House. The phrase "ahl al-bayt" was used in Arabia before the advent of Islam to refer to one's clan, and would be adopted by the ruling family of a tribe. Within the Islamic tradition, the term refers to the family of Prophet Muhammad (). (Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahl_al-Bayt, Dec. 9th 2012).

Source: http://www.alharamain.gov.sa/index.c...audio#kh_audio

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

The exaltation of Allah in the hearts

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

September 18, 2009 ~ Ramadan 28, 1430

First Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah. No praiser can encompass His praise. And the conveyances of praise cannot match up to His power. Glory be to Him, for no worshiper has worshiped Him as He ought to be worshiped, even if he spent his (entire) life devout to Allah, while bowing or prostrating.

All praise to Allah, Great in His Being, extensive in His rule, the Planner of the universe. In His kingdom, the celestial bodies glorify Him and around His throne, the angels glorify Him. “and there is not a thing but (that it) glorifies His praise” [Israa; Verse 44] For His Countenance is the splendor of Majesty and He is the Beautiful, the One who owns all beauty.

By Allah, if the oceans were ink and the seven heavens and earths were notebooks, they would not suffice in recording His Virtue and His bestowals and it will not convey the explanation of His Greatness and the Uniqueness of His actions.

Allah.. Noble of name, Exalted of description. The heavens and earth and whatever is in them praise Him, and the birds (too), folding in (their wings) and spreading (them). I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, he has no partner: the most truthful of words that the lips (can) utter and the best sentence the mouths (can) say. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the one who recognizes Allah truly, and relies on Him truthfully, worshiping and serving Him with humility. May Allah’s salutations be on him and his pure family and chosen companions and may Allah send much peace on him.

Thereafter:
O Muslims: The piety of Allah the Exalted is the best advice and the best dress and the noblest attribute: “O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. And die not except in a state of Islam with complete submission to Allah.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 102]. Whoever fears Allah, He will save him, and whoever betrays Him, He tears his covering and tests him. The disgrace of the one who stands at the door of anyone besides Allah is great. And the hopes of the one who hopes in the virtue of anyone besides Allah (will be) futile. And the one who works for other than Allah is wasting his actions.

(All) means are cut off except His means. He Allah is the One Who is feared and He Allah is the One on Whom hope is laid. And the people of the earth, the whole earth, – do not, by Allah – do not harm, do not benefit, do not disgrace and do not honour: “So know (O Muhammad – peace be upon him) that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah, and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) the believing men and believing women. And Allah knows well your moving about, and your place of rest (in your homes).” [Muhammad; Verse 19]

O Muslims, O worshipers, O fasters, and standers (in prayer): While you are at the end of the month of Ramadan, surely your bodies have tired, and your nights have prolonged with worship, and the throats of the fasting are thirsty during the day and you are looking forward to the end. Then verily a creation of the creation of Allah, whose hearts are filled with recognition of Him and their souls overflow with exaltation of Him, they exert (in) good actions many times more than what you worship and they consider that they have done nothing.

And surely the prophet – peace be upon him – informed that there is no space in the seven heavens a foot’s length or a hand span or a palm’s width which does not have an angel standing, bowing or prostrating on it. Then on the Day of Judgement, they will all say: Glory be to You, we have not worshiped You as You ought to be worshiped, except that we have not ascribed any partners with You.

O Muslims: The exaltation of Allah in the hearts, and venerating Him in the souls, and recognition of His bounties and favours and His Power as it ought to be is – by Allah – the provision of the worshipers, and the strength of the believers and the consolation of the patient ones, and it is the enclosure of the pious.

Who is it that recognizes Allah, then floats His commands or is negligent with His prohibitions, and who is the one that exaltates Him then prefers over Him his desires, and does not appreciate Him, becoming heedless. Allah – Glorified is He – is worshiped, praised and loved, because He is worthy of that and it is His right. Indeed it is what He – Glorified is He – deserves. The ability of the servants cannot attain Him, and their intellects cannot picture Him, therefore the creation who knows his Lord the most – peace be upon him – said as in the authentic Hadeeth: “I cannot encompass Your praise. You are as You have praised Yourself.” And in the two authentic books (Bukhari and Muslim): “There is no one who loves praise more than Allah” and therefore He praises Himself.

O Muslims: Your Lord that you worship, and pray to and fast, and strive towards and serve is a Great Lord. He has majestic and complete qualities that are beyond description and imagination: “And say: ‘All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son, and Who has no partner in (His) dominion, nor is He low to have a protector. And magnify Him with all the magnificence.” [Israa; Verse 111]

There is no god but Allah, the Great. The celestial bodies praise Him and the angels submit to Him: “Whatever is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, and He is the All-Mighty, All-Wise. His is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, it is He Who gives life and causes death, and He is able to do all things. He is the First (nothing is before Him), and the Last (nothing is after Him), the Most High (nothing is above Him) and the Most Near (nothing is nearer than Him), and He is the All Knower of everything.” [Hadeed; Verse 1-3]

Glorified is He and praised. How can the hearts not capture His love, while every good descends from Him, and every bounty is (due) to Him. From Him – Glorified is He – is giving and withholding, and trials and comfort, and restraining and extending, and justice and mercy, and pleasantness and kindness, and bounty and goodness, and concealment and pardon, and tolerance and patience, and answering supplication and lifting hardship and aiding anxiety. Indeed the expenses of the entire creation together are by Him.

And He is the most Generous of the generous. And surely He grants His servant more than he expects, before he (even) asks Him. He thanks for a little bit of actions and increases it, and He forgives a lot of sins and wipes it out. So how can the hearts not love the One Who is the only One Who brings goodness and the only One Who removes evil?

He answers supplications, and accepts slips, and forgives errors, and conceals faults, and lifts hardships. He is the most deserving of mention, and the most deserving of thanks, and the most deserving of worship and praise, and the most abundantly sought, and the most merciful of kings, and the most generous of those asked, and the most extensive of givers, and the most merciful of those from whom mercy is sought, and the most noble of purposes, and the most dear of those to whom are turned, and the most sufficient of those whom are dependent upon.

He is more merciful to His servant than a mother to her child, and more intensely happy with the repentance of the repenter than the joy of one who finds his camel after losing it and on it was his food and drink in a deserted land.

So Glorified is He and praised. He is the King. He has no partner, and He is alone and has no rivals: “And invoke not any other god along with Allah, none has the right to be worshiped but He. Everything will perish except His Face. His is the decision, and to Him you (all) shall be returned.” [Qasas; Verse 88]

He is not obeyed except by His Permission, and He is not disobeyed except with His Knowledge. He is obeyed, so He thanks, and He is disobeyed, then He pardons and forgives. He is the Closest Witness, and the Most Majestic Protector, and the most loyal with (regard to) promises, and the most Just, establishing with fairness. He comes between the souls, and He takes by the forelocks, and He writes the implications, and He reproduces the generations, so the hearts are conducive to Him, and the secrets are open to Him, and the unknown is exposed to Him, and everyone is compelled to Him. Faces are afflicted by the Light of His Countenance, and the intellects are incapable of comprehending His True Being. Through the light of His Countenance, darkness is brightened, and the earth and heavens are illuminated through Him, and all the creations are reformed by Him.

All critical matters are in His Hands and its returning is to Him, established on the throne of His Kingdom. No invisible is hidden from Him in the diameters of His Kingdom. The affairs of the servants and their needs and their deeds ascend to Him, so He – Glorified is He – commands what He wishes, then His command is carried out and His force overpowers. “Whosoever is in the heavens and on the earth begs of Him. Every day He has a matter to bring forth (such as giving honour to some, disgrace to some, life to some, death to some, etc.)!” [Rahmaan; Verse 29]

He forgives sins, and removes hardship, and lessens suffering, and consoles the afflicted, and helps the weak, and enriches the poor. He gives life after death, and makes happy and unhappy, and leads astray and guides, and He favours a nation and forbids His favours on others, and He honours nations and disgraces others: “He is Allah, than Whom none has the right to be worshipped but He, the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Beneficent, Most Merciful. He is Allah, than Whom none has the right to be worshipped but He, the King, the Holy, the One free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supreme.” [Hashr; Verse 22-23]

For Him is absolute Power and complete Will. He spoke to Moses directly, and He manifested His Glory on the mount, thereby making it dust, crushed. And He is glory be to Him above His heavens, no hidden is concealed from Him. He hears and sees the crawl of the black ant on a solid rock on a dark night. He is not uncertain of the voices with the different languages and various needs, and not an atom moves in this universe except with His Permission. “And with Him are the keys of the hidden (ghaib), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.” [An’aam; Verse 59] “Allah! None has the right to be worshiped but He, the Ever-Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep, overtake Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.” [Baqarah; Verse 255]

His veil is light. If He uncovers His Face, the splendour of His Face will burn (everything) until where His Sight ends. So if nothing can stand the splendours of His Exalted Face, then what do you think about the Majesty of that Noble Face, and its Beauty and Magnificence and Greatness and Glory. For this (reason) the greatest bounty of the people of paradise is the enjoyment of seeing His Noble Face – Majestic is His Majesty – and it is a great occasion where Allah’s Glory is manifested, and His Greatness and Beauty and Majesty.

O Muslims: And on another occasion (as) indicated in some verses of the Quraan and Ahadeeth from the Sunnah: Ibn Kathir – may Allah have mercy on him – cites: that “when Israfeel blows into the trumpet a shocking blow, then the people of the heavens and the earth will die. And the angel of death will come and his Lord will ask him – and He knows (best) – Who remains? So he will say: You remain and You are Ever-Living and will not die, and the (angels) carriers of the throne remain, and Jibraeel, Mikaeel and Israfeel remain and I remain, so his Lord will command him to remove their souls. Then He will say – and He knows (best) – Who remains? And the angel of death will say: O Lord, You remain and You are Ever-Living and will not die, and I remain. So Allah – Exalted and Majestic – will say: You are a creation of My creation so die, so he will die.

So no one will remain except Allah, the One, the Irresistible – He is the Last, as He was the First – He will fold up the heavens and the earth (as) a scroll for writing is folded, then He will unroll them. Then He will say: I am the Mighty, I am the Mighty, I am the Mighty, three times. Then He will call out in His Voice: For Who is the Kingdom? For Who is the Kingdom? For Who is the Kingdom? Then He will answer Himself by Himself: For Allah, the One, the Irresistible.

Then Allah will change the earth into (something) other than the earth, and the heavens (too), then He will spread them out and flatten them, then He will stretch them, then Allah will restrain the entire creation and they will be in this changed earth, then Allah will grant life to the creation, then the people will stand together, one standing, the period of which is seventy years. He will not look at them and not judge between them until Muhammad – peace be upon him – intercedes for them.

And Ibn Kathir narrates with his chain: that the messenger of Allah Muhammad – peace be upon him – said: “so I will return and I will stand with the people. While we are standing we will hear a loud sound from the sky, so we will be frightened. Then (a group of) men and jinn like those on the earth will descend from the sky of this world, until they approach the earth and the earth will light up with their light and they will take their positions and we will say to them: Is our Lord with You? They will say: No, but He is coming. Then from the second heaven (a group) will descend as descended before, of angels, jinn and men, until they approach the earth, it will light up with their light and they will take their positions and we will say to them: Is our Lord with you? So they will say: No, but He is coming. Then like this multitudes will descend from every heaven. Until the Almighty – Majestic is His Majesty – will descend, in a shade of clouds and angels. Eight (angels) will carry His throne on that day, their feet being in the edge of the earth, and the earth and heavens at their waists and the throne upon their shoulders. They will be humming in their praise (of Allah) saying: Glory be to the Possessor of the Throne and Might, Glory be to the Possessor of Kingdom and Royalty, Glory be to the One Who causes the creation to die while He does not die, the Praised, the Holy, Lord of the angels and Rooh (Jibraeel).”

O Muslims: Allah is the greatest in His Being and the Dearest King, but the sins that seize the heart veil the exaltation of the Lord in the souls and weaken His purpose in the hearts. And if the purpose of Allah and His Greatness is firmly seated in the heart of a servant, he will not dare to disobey Him ever, for verily the exaltation of Allah – the Exalted – and His Majesty in the heart necessitates veneration of His sacred limits and submitting to His laws, commands and prohibitions. And this exaltation comes between you and sins.

And the daring ones who disobey Allah, do not appreciate Allah as He ought to be appreciated. And a sufficient punishment for sins is that this exaltation weakens in the heart until the deserter – the sins – persist, so it becomes easy for Allah, then He removes his awe from the hearts of the creation and they (creation) belittle him as he belittles the command of Allah.

And surely Allah – the Exalted – has mentioned that He covers the hearts of those persistent on sins and seals them, and that He ignores them as they forgot Him, and He disgraces them and destroys them as they have neglected His commands. In this regard, He – Glorified is He – says in the verse of the creations prostrating to Him: “And whomsoever Allah disgraces, none can honour him.” [Hajj; Verse 18]

So to the extent of your fear of Allah, the creation is in awe of you, and to the extent of your exaltation of Allah, the creation reveres you, and to the extent of your love for Allah, the creation loves you. And verily trials are driven off by repentance, seeking forgiveness and submitting to the commands of Allah, the One, the Irresistible: “And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.” [Noor; Verse 31]

May Allah bless me and you in the Great Quraan, and benefit us in what is in it of verses and wise reminders. I say these words of mine and I seek the forgiveness of Allah the Great for me and for you.

Second Khutbah
All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah with whose name all good actions are begun and with Whose praise (all good actions) are ended. And all praise be to Allah, the Pardoner, the Noble, the Most Generous. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger and the best of His creation and the chosen from amongst the rest of nations. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be upon him, and on his family, companions, those who follow them and those who trace their path and adhere.

Thereafter:
O Muslims: The days of your month are like ships setting sail, contained in the horizon, unseen at dusk and what remains is just one boat or two boats. The coast dries them and the waves draw them closer and it is on the verge of being swallowed by the open sea, so whoever rectifies himself in these two boats, then verily the journey would not have been missed, and whoever is late for it, then surely his courage had forbid him and his neglect had made him lose.

And there is still in your month fasts and numbered rak’aat and prostrations, and a few occasions in which supplications are sought. Then to Allah is the return, and at the doorsteps of His door is the promise, and Allah knows (best) whether we will meet in the next (Ramadan) or not.

O fasters: Verily from the guidance of the Sunnah and the features of goodness and kindness at the end of this Noble month is that which Allah – the Exalted – has ordained on the tongue of His messenger – peace be upon him – regarding discharging the Fitr charity, for it is a purification for the fasting and a food for the poor and a bright representation of the virtues of this great Islam.. that Eid is for the rich and the poor and the haves and have nots, and as long as it is Eid, everyone should be joyous.

And the charity of Fitr is unanimously compulsory as Ibn Munthir, Baihaqiyy and others have related. And in the Hadeeth of Ibn Umar – may Allah be pleased with them both – that the prophet – peace be upon him – mandated the charity of Fitr, a Saa’ (type of measurement) of dates or a Saa’ of barley, on everyone, free or slave, male or female, of the Muslims. [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

As for the foetus, it is not compulsory to discharge it for him, but that is preferred according to the action of the rightly-guided khalif, ‘Uthman bin Affaan – may Allah be pleased with him.

And it is stipulated in the authentic Ahadeeth that it (should be) dates or wheat or barley or dry cottage cheese or raisins or it is acceptable to discharge it from the staple food of the land, like rice and the like.

And the time of discharging the Fitr charity and the most preferred is on the Day of Eid before the prayer. And it is permissible to give it out 1 or 2 days before Eid. And it is not permissible to delay it until after the Eid prayer. So discharge it – may Allah have mercy on you – as a purification for yourselves, then rejoice with your Eid and thank Allah – the Exalted – for the completion (of Ramadan), and ask Him for acceptance and a good ending (death).

And surely from the guidance of the Sunnah that Allah – Exalted and Majestic – has legislated and that His messenger – peace be upon him – has followed: The takbeer (declaration of the greatness of Allah) on the night of Eid and the morning of Eid. Allah – the Exalted – said in the verses of fasting: “(He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to magnify Him in that He has guided you, so that you may be grateful to Him.” [Baqarah; Verse 185].

And the way for a Muslim to say it is: “Allah is Great. Allah is Great. There is no god but Allah. Allah is Great. Allah is Great and for Allah is all praise.” Or like that, like saying: “Allah is Great, with all magnificence and for Allah is many praises.” And it is Sunnah for the men to say it aloud in houses and mosques and roads and markets.

And from the Sunnah is that a Muslim eats dates before leaving for the Eid prayer – 3 or 5 or 7 or more than that, an odd number as (mentioned) in Saheeh Bukhari.

And surely the prophet – peace be upon him – commanded everyone to come out for the Eid prayer, even the old women, the menstruating women and the virgins. [Narrated by Muslim].

So congratulations O Muslims on your fast and rejoice for your Eid, and thank your Lord and be steadfast and have glad tidings. May Allah accept from us and from you, and return Ramadan to us and you in the best condition.

Then send salutations and peace on the guider, the giver of glad tidings, the lighted and illuminated, the servant of Allah and His messenger Muhammad. O Allah send salutations and peace on Your servant and messenger Muhammad and on his pure, good family and all his companions and on those who follow them and those who follow them until the Day of Judgement.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: https://khutaab.wordpress.com/2012/1...in-the-hearts/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

The “Ghazwah” [1] of Ûhud [2]: Glad Tidings of Victory

Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib

29 Safar 1434 ~ 11 January 2013

Part One

Verily, praise be to Allah! We thank Him, ask Him for assistance and forgiveness, and
seek refuge with Him from the evils of our inner selves and the mischievous nature of our
deeds. Whoever is guided by Allah nobody shall lead him astray, but whoever Allah
dooms to misguidance shall never benefit from any guidance elsewhere. I bear witness
that there is no deity except Allah, with no partner, and bear witness that Muhammad ()
is His Servant and Messenger. O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honors, and Mercy)
and Peace on him, his Companions, and the tab'în (the contemporaries of the
Companions of the Prophet [] after his death), and on all those who follow them
righteously till the Day of Judgment.

To start with: Fear (Taqwa) Allah () as He should be feared and hold fast to the firm
bond of Islam: O you who believe [in Mûsâ (Moses) (i.e. Jews) and ‘Îsâ
(Jesus) (i.e. Christians)]! Fear Allâh, and believe in His Messenger
(Muhammad صلى لله علیھ وسلم ), He will give you a double portion of His
Mercy, and He will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight).
And He will forgive you. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful
28 [Al-Ĥadeed: 28].

O Muslims!
The world is witnessing today major events, a colossal historical metamorphosis, and
massive backbreaking and depressing hardships. The whole globe is experiencing a wave
of accelerated ordeals and shifts in regimes and beliefs ‒which renders the forbearing
person confused. They are ordeals like a pitch-dark night. None can escape Allah’s preordained
predicament except he who shall receive Allah’s grace. We are a nation (ûmmah) with a (revealed) religion and followers of a (divine) Message; we have at our disposal a Holy Book and the Prophet’s Sunnah.

The eternal miracle of the Qur’ān is that although it was revealed fourteen centuries
ago and it engaged this nation in an enormous battle which transformed not only its
history but also the history of humanity altogether, yet it (the Qur’ān) continues to
accommodate itself to contemporary life conditions as if it were still in the course of
being revealed so as to orientate Muslims in their current circumstances and in their
struggle with the events taking place around them.

O Muslims!
Many similar ways (and mishaps of life) were faced by nations
(believers and disbelievers) that have passed away before you (as you
have faced in the battle of Uhud), so travel through the earth, and see
what was the end of those who disbelieved (in the Oneness of Allâh,
and disobeyed Him and His Messengers. 137 This (the Qur’ân) is a
plain statement for mankind, a guidance and instruction to those who
are Al-Muttaqûn (the pious). [Âl-‘Imrân: 137-138]. The Holy Qur’ān does
establish a link between the present instant of this Ûmmah (nation) and its past, tracing by
the same token its future perspective.

O servants of Allah!
The aforementioned Qur’ānic verses were revealed on the occasion of the Ûȟud
Ghazwah, which took place during the 10th of Shawwal (3rd Hijri year), when the
polytheists of Quraish decided to take revenge on Muslims for having defeated them in
the prior Ghazwah of Badr. So, they mobilized their troops by gathering three thousand
warriors to be stationed at the outskirts of Madinah. After consulting his Companions, of
whom many insisted on the military encounter outside Medinah, Prophet Muhammad ()
‒who was initially inclined to stay at Madinah and use it as a stronghold‒ eventually left
Madinah accompanied by seven hundred of his Companions after the leader of the
hypocrites had already dissuaded people (from enlisting in the Muslim forces) and
managed to persuade one third of the (Muslim) army to retreat back to Madinah.
Afterwards, the Prophet camped at the mountain of Ûȟud with the remaining soldiers and
ordered the archers to be stationed up there, commanding them not to leave their
positions.

The fight was sparked off on the battlefield. The Muslims initially won the battle and,
as a result, the polytheists fled and their banner fell down.[3] Reckoning that the battle war
over, some archers swiftly left their positions up the mountain. Then, the polytheists
gathered around the Muslims and attacked them from behind. Consequently, they killed
seventy among the best Companions, fractured the Prophet’s skull, broke his premolar
tooth, and spread the rumor that they killed the Prophet (). This grieved the believers
deeply, caused them great pain, and a strong feeling of a humiliating defeat.

Later, the polytheists circulated the rumor that they were heading to Madinah. So the
Prophet () called up the injured and the extremely exhausted among his followers, who
promptly responded to his call despite their grave wounds. They immediately rushed to
fight their enemy in all courage, paying no attention to those who let them down.

Meanwhile, historic statements, eloquent speeches, exceptional attitudes, acts of
heroism, regressions and rebukes were made. This historic event was recorded in the
Holy Qur’ān to be recited until the Day of Judgment. Sixty verses in Âl-‘Imrân (chapter 3
in the Holy Qur’ān) were revealed on this issue. They were not a sheer record of a
historical event that took place in the remote past. On the contrary, the reader of those
verses experiences those events and projects them onto the conditions of (today’s)
Muslims and sees them surrounded by their enemies, who are lying in ambush for them,
constantly conspiring against them, harboring envious thoughts about them, spreading
lies and suspicion amongst them, bearing mutual rancor against them, rallying against
them, meeting them on the battlefield, fleeing them, then they return to sow dissension
among them. History is repeating itself, indeed.

O believers!
If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound
(and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and
not so good), We give to men by turns, that Allâh may test those who
believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allâh
likes not the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers). 140 And that
Allâh may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers. 141 [Âl-‘Imrân: 140-141]. This alternation of human conditions
between adversity and delight reveals the real nature of individuals, their true character,
the extent of their panic and patience, and the extent of their faith or loss of hope in
Allah.

It is indeed beneficial to the nation to experience violent shocks in order to purge evil
from it. Divine wisdom ordained this purification to take place during the Ûȟud
Ghazwah: Allâh will not leave the believers in the state in which you
are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. Nor will
Allâh disclose to you the secrets of the Ghaib (unseen) … [Âl-‘Imrân:
179].

The alternation of days and of adversity and delight are an infallible criterion and a
just balance.

In the battle of Ûȟud, the flaws of the hypocrites were uncovered. Their effect, as it
has always been, is to exploit periods of weakness to rock the hearts, break the ranks,
propagate debility, arouse schisms and suspicions to destroy the structure of the Muslim
society, starting with its faith and values in order to facilitate its surrender to mighty
victors.

The repercussions of the battle contributed to the purification of the souls and the
distinction between the camps of the believers and the hypocrites whose hidden traits
were made clear. Those repercussions contributed to the liberation from attenuated
morals and reluctant feelings.

Although Îbn Obey (leader of the hypocrites) succeeded in convincing one third of the
people to return to Madinah and abandon the support of the Prophet (), there was still a
pure elite (of Companions) who were steadfast, who assumed their responsibilities of
spreading religion, spending money to support fighters, fighting relentlessly on the
battlefield, and holding fast to the value of patience and perseverance: Among the
believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allâh [i.e.
they have gone out for Jihâd (holy fighting), and showed not their
backs to the disbelievers]; of them some have fulfilled their obligations
(i.e. have been martyred); and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e. they never proved treacherous to their
covenant which they concluded with Allâh] in the least. [Al-Aȟzeb: 23].

It was thanks to their perseverance and sacrifice that Allah protected the destiny of
Islam in the early period of its history. Again, it is with such heroic deeds, persevering
spirit, and strong patience that Allah will continue to preserve the existence of Islam in
the remaining human history.

O Muslims!
Allah () was indeed able to support His Prophet, His religion, and His servants from
the first instant, and destroy the enemies of the believers without any hard work or effort
from the latter. But Allah () wanted to educate the believers and put them to the test so
that they could qualify for a rational leadership of humanity, despite the vulnerability of
humans to whims, caprices, and devious conduct. Such leadership requires unshakable
faith, unswerving attachment to the value of truth, and strong patience in times of
hardship: …But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with
others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allâh, He will never let
their deeds be lost.[4] [Muhammad: 4]. This is Allah’s law: trial before granting
(Muslims) access to power.

Servants of Allah!
Before those Qur’ānic verses [5] unfold the scenes and attitudes related to the Ûȟud
Ghazwah, Allah reminds the believers of the battle in which they were victorious, the
Great Battle of Badr. This juxtaposition is meant to make each battle act as foil to the
other, as Muslims are supposed to assume their full responsibility for defeat and victory
alike: "Yes, if you hold on to patience and piety, and the enemy comes rushing at you; your Lord will help you with five thousand angels
having marks (of distinction)."  [Âl-‘Imrân: 125].

Consider these divine words: "Yes, if you hold on to patience and
piety…”. It is indeed patience and taqwa (fear of Allah), with all meanings and
nuances, that are the secret of victory.

O believers!
In the course of divine directives and hints expressed in the verses of Sûrat Âl-‘Imrân,
Allah warns against the conspiracies of the People of the Scripture, knowing that there
were only Jews who used to live with Muslims in Madinah at that time. Allah warns
Muslims not to incline towards the infidels or obey them. As to the first half of the Sûrat,
it depicts one of the facets of the conflict between Islamic faith and devious beliefs. Allah
engages the People of the Scripture in a debate, arguing with them and rebutting the
unwarranted doubts (they raise about religion).

It is not an abstract argument; it is rather one realistic facet of the huge battle opposing
Muslims to their enemies who lie in ambush for them, gather force to assail them, and ‒
when waging war against them‒ use all sorts of weaponry, conspiracies, and evil means.
The most prominent of such means is to shake the Muslims’ faith. Indeed, the same battle
is still going on up to the present moment between Muslims and their enemies.

Embedded in those Qur’ānic verses is Allah’s warning against usury, as well as His
command for believers to observe taqwa (fear of Allah), seek paradise, purify their souls,
strengthen their faith, control their caprices and whims, adhere to charity and forgiveness,
and spread love, tolerance, and righteousness: Those who spend (in Allâh’s
Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who
pardon men; verily, Allâh loves Al-Muhsinûn (the good-doers). [Âl-
‘Imrân: 134].

The human being can never win in wars unless he/she wins in prior contests: those of
values and principles. Those who turned back on the day the two hosts met at the battle of
Uhud, it was Satan who caused them to run away from the battlefield because of some
sins they had earned. (Cf Âl-‘Imrân, verse 155) [6]. However, those who won the battles of faith behind their prophets had already started the battle by asking Allah for forgiveness
from their sins, seeking refuge with Him and purifying themselves from wrongdoings.
Perhaps, the consequence of the archers’ disobedience of the prophet’s orders in the
Ûȟud Ghazwah may serve as a useful lesson from which Muslims can learn to appreciate
the value of obedience in every confrontation. A community which is not governed by a
single source of command, and whose individuals and groups (sects) are dominated by
personal conflicts, will not win a battle or succeed in a confrontation as long as its
members do not agree on just a single aspiration and a single destination, and as long as
they do not suppress all types of dissidence among their ranks.

When Muslims felt extremely shocked by the disaster which reversed their lives and
turned everything upside down, Allah said to them, (What is the matter with
you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your
enemies) with one twice as great, you say: "From where does this
come to us?" Say (to them), "It is from yourselves (because of your evil
deeds)." And Allâh has power over all things. [Âl-‘Imrân: 165]

O servants of Allah!
Despite the gravity of the ordeal inflicted on Muslims while struggling in defense of
Allah’s cause, they never sever their relationship with Allah; nor do they lose confidence
in the truthfulness of Allah’s promise to grant His soldiers victory sooner or later. They
never renounce faith in His vow not to let them down; on the contrary, they believe that
He will lead them to victory, support them, place them in a superior position to that of
their enemies, and grant them supremacy.

The Ûȟud Ghazwah left deep scars on the Prophet’s () psychological state, as he
was physically hurt, for his tooth was broken, his faced was wounded, and his skull was
fractured. His pure blood kept running on his virtuous face until a piece of a mat was
burnt and stuck on it (as remedy to stop the bleeding). Thirst exhausted him so much that
he kept falling on his knees. He also suffered from human casualties among his
followers; in fact, he lost at the foot of Mount Uhud seventy among his dearest
Companions and closest to his heart. He said, “I swear by Allah, I wish I were among
my companions who departed this life at the foot of the mountain.”

He also suffered from loss of lives among his family members. When he was informed
that his paternal uncle Ĥamza was killed, he stood by his corpse and saw his abdomen
ripped open, his nose amputated, and his whole corpse maimed. So, he did not want to look at him in that state and said, “I have never been placed in a position of suffering
from injustice more than this time.”

Nevertheless, the total submission to Allah’s will soon wiped off ephemeral sorrows.
The Prophet () resumed his inspection tour of the site, asking about his Companions,
relieving their suffering, and inspiring them with his strong faith in order to alleviate their
pain and incite them to accept their divine trial with a spirit of surrender to Allah’s
decree.

Rifa'a Az-Zuraqi () said, "On Uhud day when the polytheists retreated, Allah's
Messenger () said to his Companions: “Straighten up so that I thank my Lord”, ‘and
when they queued up behind him, he said’: “O Allah! All Praise is due unto You. O
Allah! none can seize what You have rescued, neither can anyone rescue what You
have seized; and none can guide whom You have misguided, neither can anyone
misguide whom You have guided; and none can deliver what You have deterred,
neither can anyone deter what You have given; and none can make near that which
You have made far, neither can anyone distance what You made near; O Allah!
Rescue us by Your Blessings, and by Your Mercy; and by Your Grace; and by Your
[ordained] Sustenance; O Allah! I ask You for steady bliss, that neither withers nor
evades; O Allah! I ask You for bliss on the day of dreadfulness; and for tranquility on
the day of fear; O Allah! I take refuge with You from the evil of what You sent our way
[as fate], and the evil of what you didn’t send; O Allah! Endear to us iimaan (faith)
and adorn our hearts with it; and make us hate kufr (disbelief), and sinfulness, and
defiance; and make us from the well-guided ones; O Allah! Grant us death as
Muslims; and keep us alive as Muslims; and join us among the righteous, without [us
falling into] ill-repute and disenfranchisement [in Your court]; O Allah! Kill the kafirs
– the people who contravene Your Prophets and avert Your [commanded] path; and
unleash on them Your punishment and torment; O Allah, the True God! Kill the kafirs
who were given the book (i.e., people of the book)”. [Reported by Imam Ahmad and
others]

O servants of Allah!
The Holy Qur’ān was gentle in addressing the believers after what befell them at
Uhud so that their defeat in the battlefield would not turn into despair that might weaken
their forces and a regret that might paralyze their productivity. Allah () says: So do
not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be
superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers. If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has
touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We
give to men by turns, that Allâh may test those who believe, and that
He may take martyrs from among you. And Allâh likes not the
Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).  [Al Imran: 139-140]

In addressing them, Allah () combined encouraging them, strengthening their souls
and reviving their determination and mettle. He showed the good consolation and
mentioned the brilliant wisdom that required granting the disbelievers victory over them.
Allah consoled His Prophet and His Auliyâ’ [7] for those who were killed in His Way with
the best and kindest consolation and the most conducive to accept what He decreed for
them. He also told them about what they had got of His reward and esteem in order to
compete with them about it and not to grieve for their death. He told them that the
disaster is due to their own selves (because of their evil deeds) so that they should be on
the lookout. He also told them that it took place according to His decree and destiny so
that they keep to the Oneness of Allah, put their trust in Him and not to fear anyone other
than Him. He consoled them with what He had given them that was worthier and more
serious than the victory and spoils that they had missed.

The outcome of the Uhud Ghazwah and the Qur’ānic guidance preceding the events
were greater than the outcome of victory and spoils. The believers learnt that when defeat
happens, it follows Allah’s law due to slackness and negligence and that it achieves
outcomes which Allah predestines by His wisdom and knowledege in order to scrutinize
souls, distinguish camps, clarify facts, adopt values, establish the measures and make the
laws clear to shrewd people.

Victory depends on nothing but the support of the Lord of al-'ālamîn (the worlds) for
whomever Allah () helps, none can overcome him and his betrayal by others shall not
harm him.

I seek refuge with Allah from the outcast Shaitân (devil): If Allâh helps you,
none can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is there after
Him that can help you? And in Allâh (Alone) let believers put their trust  [Al Imran: 160]. And in all of this there are lessons for Muslims these days in
every land and under every sky.

May Allah bless you and me by the Qur'ān and Sunnah and benefit us with their
verses and wisdom! Having said this, I ask Allah, be He exalted, to forgive me and you!

Part Two

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful and the
Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of
Resurrection)! I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, the King,
and the Manifest Truth. I also bear witness that Muhammad () is His servant and
Messenger, the honest and the faithful. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, and
Mercy), Peace and Blessing on him, his family and all his Companions!

O Muslims!
While early Muslims needed only dozens of men and a few months to regain their
strength and excel in subsequent battles, Muslims these days drained millions of their
souls and decades of their ages but their conditions have not changed and the difference
between them and their predecessors is in learning lessons from others and inspiring
themselves with preachments.

While early Muslims used to return to their religion after each defeat, resort to their
Lord (Allah) and stick around their Prophet (), Muslims these days are being driven
away from their religion, alienated from their Sharia and kept from all means of victory
and its supplies.

You can look around at the situation of many Muslim countries during the last century
after they had been colonized and lost their power. Even today, they have tried all ways,
knocked all doors, got their share from the modern sciences, acquired weapons and
military equipment, and the treasures of the world and the springs of its fuel have flowed
under their feet. However, these days, the blood that is being shed is theirs; the lands that
are being invaded are theirs, and the people who are being subdued are theirs. Even in
their own countries, their fate is controlled by the minorities.

O Muslims!
The flame of disasters is driving you back to your religion, the whips of destiny are
pushing you to resort to your Creator, and the calamities of ad-dahr (time) are calling you: come to that with which your predecessors were powerful and proud and to that
which gave them strength.

O Muslims!
Reassess yourselves, as the space is full of media and channels which do not belong to
a conservative past nor do they care about a painful reality. Furthermore, people are
unmindful, and their wounds are bleeding in every valley.

How come that there is extravagance and lavishness while among Muslims there is
suffering and people who are hungry? Have you not seen that days are taken by turns and
that time is fickle?

O our people in Syria! Allah is on your side and no one but Him! The whole world has
abandoned you so that you become more attached to Allah. The East has condemned
your liberation so that your attachment to your religion becomes stronger. They have
prevented you from getting assistance so that you humbly seek it from Allah. Seek
help in Allâh and be patient. Verily, the earth is Allâh’s. He gives it as
a heritage to whom He wills of His slaves; and the (blessed) end is for
the Muttaqûn. [Al-A‘râf: 128]

The tyrant of Syria has exceeded all limits in slaughtering his people, and he has
shown enmity to his own country which no other enemy has ever shown before. His link
with Allah is cut off but it is attached with the defeated on earth. What he has recently
shown of arrogance, empowerment (from his supporters), and carelessness for what is
happening in Syria is but the awakening before death. This is a sign that the glad tidings
of an imminent victory from Allah will soon manifest itself in Syria. The sun of salvation
will rise up; the birds whose migration has been long, will return. The believers shall
rejoice with Allah’s victory. Bravery is but an hour of patience!

O Allah! You are the Compeller! You are the Avenger! Hasten the demise of the
oppressive people! O Allah! Hasten the demise of the oppressive people! Have mercy on
the oppressed among your servants and heal the hearts of the believing people!

Muslims, before all other people, have to rush to the relief of their brothers in Syria as
their misery is increasing with cold weather, bitter snow and sweeping floods. May Allah
help them!

O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honors, and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on Your
Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, and on his good and pure family! O Allah! Be pleased with all of Your Messenger’s Companions and those who followed them in
righteousness until the Day of Judgement!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims and fail tyrants, infidels and corruptors! O
Allah! Grant glory to Your Religion, Your Book and the sunnah of Your Prophet and
Your believing servants!

O Allah! Foreordain for this nation (the nation of Islam) a matter (an affair) of
rationality (guidance) whereby the people of piety are honored and sinful people are
guided, and whereby al-ma’roof (good deeds) is promoted and al-munkar (evil deeds) is
prevented! O Lord of the worlds!

O Allah! Make preoccupied with their own evil those who wish to harm Islam and
Muslims! Turn their plots and their cunning against them and make that the cause of their
own destruction! O Lord of the worlds!

O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your cause in Palestine, in the Levant
and wherever they may be, O Lord of the worlds! O Allah! Lift the siege around them,
improve their conditions, and suppress their enemy!

O Allah! Liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque from the oppressors’ injustice and the occupiers’
aggression!

O Allah! Improve the conditions of Muslims everywhere! O Allah! Improve their
conditions and group them around Your Truth and Guidance! O Allah! Spare their blood,
safeguard their tranquility, bring them close together, feed their hungry, protect their
honor, grant them boldness, strength and victory against their oppressors!

O Allah! Guide our leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to do whatever
you love and accept. O Allah! Guide him to piety and righteousness! O Allah! Impart to
him health and well-being! O Allah! Impart to him well-being! O Allah! Bring him full
recovery and keep him in good health! O Allah! Grant him, his Crown Prince, their
brothers and assistants success to do what is good for the people and the country!

O Allah! Grant success to all the leaders of Muslims in order to govern by Your
Sharia and follow the sunnah of Your Prophet ()! O Allah! Make them merciful to
Your true servants!

O Allah! Make safe and prosperous our country and all Muslim countries around the
world! Protect us against the evil of wrongdoers and the maliciousness of the lecherous!

Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the
Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the
Fire! [Al Baqarah: 201], Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our
transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly,
and give us victory over the disbelieving folk. [Al Omran: 147]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and fulfill our
wishes in what pleases You! O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our
grandparents, our wives and children! You are indeed All-Hearing!

O Allah! We ask You to be pleased with us and grant us Your Paradise! We seek
refuge in You against Your wrath and hell fire!

O Allah! You are Allah, and there is no deity worthy of worship but You! You are the
Self-Sufficient while we (humans) are destitute! Do send down rain on us and save us
from despair! O Allah! Send rain down on us! Bestow upon us expedient rain; a blissful,
flowing, widespread, useful, and harmless rain: one that would rejuvenate the land,
quench the people’s thirst and reach the rural and the urban lands!

O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy, not rain of torment, disaster, destruction,
or flooding!

O Allah! Answer our prayers, for You are indeed the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing!
And forgive us! You are indeed Most Forgiving, Most Merciful!

Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! You are free from what they
attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the Messengers! And all praise be to Allah,
the Lord of the worlds!

1. Ghazwah is a battle in which Prophet Muhammad () took part. It is mainly a defensive military
expedition to defend the Islamic creed against the attacks and conspiracies of the infidels and the
pagans.

2. Uhud ( أحد ) is a mount near Madinah where this famous Ghazwah took place.

3. During wars in ancient times, the banner used to be hoisted manually by one of the warriors, and its fall
meant defeat.

4. Here is the beginning of the verse that was only partially quoted by the Sheikh:
So, when you meet (in fight - Jihâd in Allâh’s Cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till
when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as
captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom
(according to what benefits Islâm), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allâh
to continue in carrying out Jihâd against the disbelievers till they embrace Islâm and are saved from the
punishment in the Hell-fire or at least come under your protection], but if it had been Allâh’s Will, He
Himself could certainly have punished them (without you)… [Muhammad: 4]

5. The Sheikh is referring here to Sûrat Âl-‘Imrân (repeatedly cited throughout the Khutbah).

6. This sentence is somewhat a paraphrase of verse number 155 of surat Âl-‘Imrân.

7. The Auliyâ’ of Allah are those who believe in the Oneness of Allâh and fear Him much (i.e. abstain from
all kinds of sins and evil deeds which he has forbidden), and love Him much (i.e. perform all kinds of good
deeds which He has ordained).

Source: http://www.alharamain.gov.sa/index.c...owseby=khateeb

:w:

[noorzahra]

Aoa! I am looking for an English translation of the jumma khutbah by Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib delivered on March 15 2013. Can u help!? thanku!

Assalamu alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh

All Sermons by Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib will posted in this thread InshaAllah

[BintAbee]

Aoa! I am looking for an English translation of the jumma khutbah by Shaykh Saalih Aal Taalib delivered on March 15 2013. Can u help!? thanku!

:wasalamex

Thank you for your request and your interest :)

We will post the translation here once it is available in sha Allah :)

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

The protection of Allah for the servant

Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib
Shawwaal 9, 1426 ~ November 11, 2005

First Khutbah

All praise be to Allah, a praise that is abundant, good and blessed. There is no deprived if He grants, and there is no granted if He deprives. His bounties cannot be encompassed and His boons cannot be counted, no matter how large or spacious the numbers may be. No one other than Him is praised during difficulties and worries. And there is no helper except Him when the warned against occurs. His knowledge encompasses the creation and His power extends to every difficulty. He saves His friends from the evil of the calamities, and He rescues His servants from hardships and crises. I praise Him – Exalted is He – and I thank Him, praise Him and seek His forgiveness. And I bear witness that there is no god but Him alone. He has no partner. He is Exalted, so He raises, and everything submits to His Greatness and is humbled. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. He conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, advised the Ummah and truly strove for the sake of Allah. May Allah send salutations on him and on his family, and his companions, the possessors of God-fearingness and piety and may much peace be upon them.

Thereafter:
The advice of Allah for the former and later generations is His fearing: “And verily, We have recommended to the people of the Scripture before you, and to you (O Muslims) that you (all) fear Allah, and keep your duty to Him.” [Nisaa; Verse 131]. Taqwah (piety) is fearing the Majestic, acting upon the revealed and preparing for the day of demising. “Verily, for the Pious, there will be a success (Paradise); Gardens and grapeyards; And young full-breasted (mature) maidens of equal age; And a full cup (of wine). No Laghw (dirty, false, evil talk) shall they hear therein, nor lying; A reward from your Lord, an ample calculated gift (according to the best of their good deeds).” [Naba; Verse 31-36]

Thereafter: O Muslims:
Those traveling to Allah, some are foremost and others follow a middle course, varying ambitions, and lofty levels “Certainly, your efforts and deeds are diverse (different in aims and purposes).” [Layl; Verse 4]. And the greatest of them in status, the foremost of them in victory and the most fortunate of them is in the protection of his Protector and is pleased with him, so how happy is the one who is honoured by Allah.

Protection – O Muslims – is not a claim or pretention, and not humiliation or degradation. Verily it is a reality granted by Allah to whosoever of his servants He wishes if they tread the path of His pleasure. “As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths. And verily, Allah is with the good doers.” [Ankaboot; Verse 69]

And since the objective for which humans were created is the worship of Allah, and His unification, and His obedience and His glorification, the One Who made this world a place of trials and tests and made the abundance of obstacles and calamities, and enemies from devils and desires from the way of life, then verily Allah – the Exalted – does not surrender His servants nor abandon His friends. In fact He – Glorified is He – promises protection and care for His sincere friends and victory and stability for His friends when they carry out what He commands, and abstain from what He prohibits and prevents, and depend on Him truly, and preserve their religion, then the desires of the world and the evil of the transgressor will not distract them. “No doubt! Verily, the Auliya’ of Allah, no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve, Those who believed, and used to fear Allah much. For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world, and in the Hereafter.” [Yoonus; Verse 62-64]

And surely the prophet – peace be upon him – guided in his encompassing words to the path of protection and to what contains protection and saviour in a Hadeeth about which some scholars have said: “I have contemplated over this Hadeeth, so it amazed me, and I continue to be heedless. So how unfortunate are the ignorance of it and the deficiency of understanding of its meanings.” Abdullah bin Abbaas – may Allah be pleased with them both – said: “I was behind the prophet – peace be upon him – and he said: ‘O boy, I will teach you some words. Be careful regarding Allah and He will take care of you. Be careful regarding Allah and you will find Him in front of you. When you ask, ask Allah and when you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the whole community were to gather together to help you with something, they would not be able to help you in any way unless Allah had written that for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you in some way, they would not be able to harm you except with something which Allah has written for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages are dry.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi with an authentic chain]. And in the narration of Imam Ahmad: “Recognize Allah in ease and He will recognize you in hardship. Know that whatever misses you could never have hit you and what hits you could never have missed you. Know that victory comes with patience, rescue with hardship, and ease with difficulty.”

O Muslims: This Hadeeth includes great advices and complete rules from the most important matters of religion, and acting upon it is the realisation of Tawheed; and the exemplification of commands and prohibitions; and sufficient in the matter of this world and the Hereafter.

And the saying of the prophet – peace be upon him – “Be careful regarding Allah”, i.e.: Be careful of His laws, rights, commands and prohibitions, for whoever does that deserves the protection of Allah, and is amongst those promised Paradise, just like the True – Glorified is He – said: “And Paradise will be brought near to the pious not far off. (It will be said): “This is what you were promised, – (it is) for those oft-returning (to Allah) in sincere repentance, and those who preserve their covenant with Allah. “Who feared the Most Beneficent (Allah) in the Ghaib (unseen), and brought a heart turned in repentance” [Qaaf; Verse 31-33]

And from the greatest thing that requires preserving and being careful of is sincerity in the worship of Allah the Exalted and preserving the self from falling into Shirk (associating partners with Allah) in all its different forms, for whoever associates partners with Allah – the Exalted – , has wasted his efforts and nullified his actions. The Truth – Glorified is He – said: “And We shall turn to whatever deeds they did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust.” [Furqaan; Verse 23], and He – Glorified and Majestic – said: “And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad – peace be upon him), as it was to those (Allah’s Messengers) before you: “If you join others in worship with Allah, surely your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.” [Zumar; Verse 65]. And the intelligent Muslim is the one who accounts for himself and his actions so that he does not fall into something that nullifies his actions.

And from amongst the greatest (actions) that is incumbent to preserve of the commands of Allah is the prayer which Allah has ordained by His saying: “Guard strictly (five obligatory) prayers especially the middle prayer (i.e. ‘Asr prayer).” [Baqarah; Verse 238], and He made the success for the believers who guard their prayers, and He made the key to prayer cleanliness, which is an expiation of sins, an erasure if errors. And surely it has been established in an authentic Hadeeth that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “No one preserves ablution except that he is a believer.” [Narrated by Ibn Majah in his sunan and Malik in the muwatta with an authentic chain].

And from amongst the things that Allah has commanded to be protected are the bodies, especially the mouth and private parts, and they are the (organs) that are foremost in entering people into the Hellfire. And surely the True – Glorified is He – said in praise of the successful believers: “And those who guard their chastity” [Mu’minoon; Verse 5]. And He said: “The men and the women who guard their chastity and the men and the women who remember Allah much with their hearts and tongues Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a great reward.” [Ahzaab; Verse35]. In fact, the prophet – peace be upon him – has surely guaranteed Paradise for the one who guards what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, and that is the mouth which is the path of unlawful eating, and in it is the tongue which is the path of unlawful speaking, and the private parts are the reason for falling into unlawful desires, so most sins are due to these matters.

Servants of Allah: The reward is the like of the type of action, and surely He – Glorified is He – said: “Therefore remember Me. I will remember you” [Baqarah; Verse 152], and He said: “If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you” [Muhammad; Verse 7], and He said: “And fulfill (your obligations to) My Covenant (with you) so that I fulfill (My Obligations to) your covenant (with Me)” [Baqarah; Verse 40], and likewise whoever preserves the boundaries of Allah and His rights and mandates His commands and abstains from His prohibitions, then verily Allah the Exalted protects him, cares for him and guards him. And the protection is general in matters of this world and the Hereafter, so from it is that Allah the Exalted preserves for him the interests of his world, so He preserves him in his body, children, family and wealth. He – Glorified is He – said: “For each (person), there are Mu’aqqibaat (angels) in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allah.” [Ra’d; Verse 11], i.e. that this guarding is by the command of Allah, and the protecting “Mu’aqqibaat” are the angels as Ibn Abbaas – may Allah be pleased with them both – said. And in Saheeh Muslim that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “There are certain sayings, the repeaters of which or the performers of which after every prayer will never be caused disappointment: ‘Glory be to Allah’ thirty three times, ‘Praise be to Allah’ thirty three times, and ‘Allah is Great’ thirty four times.” And in Saheeh Muslim also that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever prays the morning (Fajr) Prayer is under the protection of Allah. Do not put yourselves in a situation where Allah has to call you to account for your negligence.” In fact the protection continues to the offspring just like Allah preserved the treasure of the two boys so He – Glorified is He – said: “And their father was a righteous man” [Kahf; Verse 82], and Umar bin Abdul Aziz said: “No believer dies except that Allah preserves him in his children and the children of his children.” And Ibn Munkadir said: “Verily Allah preserves for a righteous man his children and the children of his children and the houses around him, so they continue being in the protection of Allah and (His) covering.”

On the other hand, whoever flouts the commands of Allah, Allah destroys him, so he is ruined among the creation until harm and hurt comes to him from whom he expected benefit from amongst his family and others.

And just like Allah the Exalted protects His slave from the evil of the day and night and wild animals and humans and jinn, then verily Allah the Exalted also protects him and guards him in his religion and faith, so He protects him from misguided doubts and unlawful desires and He preserves his religion for him so He causes him to die on faith (Imaan). And surely Allah – Exalted and Majestic – said regarding Yoosuf – peace be upon him – : “Thus it was, that We might turn away from him evil and illegal sexual intercourse. Surely, he was one of Our chosen, guided slaves.” [Yoosuf; Verse 24], and that is because he was careful of the commands of Allah in the unseen, and he said: “I seek refuge in Allah!” [Yoosuf; Verse 23] in a situation in which no one saw him except Allah, and he escaped from sin, and he supplicated to Allah to turn away from him the plot of the women. All that is what made him deserve that Allah removed trials from him and turned away evil and indecency from him, then Allah granted him kingdom.

And surely Allah protects the servant by different types of protection which he does not realise, and (which) he may have disliked. As for the one who disobeys, then verily he is not protected. And Hasan said mentioning the people of sin: “It became easy on them, so they disobeyed Him. And if they made Him dear to them, He would have protected them.”

And in the saying of the prophet – peace be upon him – “Recognize Allah in ease and He will recognize you in hardship” is an urge to fear Allah and guard His boundaries in the condition of ease, health, comfort and safety until when hardship comes, he finds the kindness of Allah, and His mercy, protection and help very close to him.

And when the hardship on Yoonus – peace be upon him – became severe in the stomach of the whale, he called out in the darkness saying: ‘there is no god but You, Glory be to You, Verily I am among the wrong-doers’, so Allah answered his supplication and saved him from his hardship and rescued him from his sorrow. Allah – the Exalted – said: “Had he not been of them who glorify Allah, He would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection.” [Saaffaat; Verse 143-144]. And when Allah mentioned in Sura Anbiyaa his answering of Ayyoob when he was afflicted with harm, and Than-Noon and Zakaria, He – Glorified is He – said: “Verily, they used to hasten on to do good deeds, and they used to call on Us with hope and fear, and used to humble themselves before Us.” [Anbiyaa; Verse 90]. And in Tirmidhi with an authentic chain that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Whoever wishes for Allah to answer him at the times of hardship should increase supplication at the times of ease.” And the confirmation of that from the Book of our Lord is His saying – Glorified is He – : “And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).” [Talaaq; Verse 2], and His saying: “And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him.” [Talaaq; Verse 4]

So O you upon whom mishaps become apparent and hardships have become many, where are you regarding the Knower of the Unseen?! When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek help, seek help from Allah, for He is the One Who gives and withholds, and humiliates and raises, and harms and benefits. People are nothing but His servants, and the command is His command, so how can you beg from other than Him?! Or how can you have hope in besides Him?! “And if Allah touches you with hurt, there is none who can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His Favour” [Yoonus; Verse 107]. Who is the One Who saved our prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him – and his companion in the cave?! Who is the One Who saved Ibraheem the friend when he was thrown in the fire?! Who is the One Who parted the sea for Moosa?! Who is the One Who raised Eesa?! Who is the Begged in every hardship?! Who is the Hoped in every calamity?! Verily it is Allah, the All-Powerful.

O Muslims: In a time when the enemies have become apparent over the Muslims and they call each other and set upon them, just as diners set upon food, we do not fear – by Allah – our enemies, to the extent that we fear our sins, for whoever Allah is with, then who can fear?! And whoever Allah is against, then who can hope?!

Verily it is incumbent upon us to preserve the (laws of) Allah in ourselves and our religion, and to call to returning to Him, for if we are true with Allah “then know that Allah is your Maula (Patron, Lord, Protector and Supporter, etc.), (what) an Excellent Maula, and (what) an Excellent Helper!” [Anfaal; Verse 40].

May Allah bless me and you in the Book and the Sunnah, and benefit us with what is in them of verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness of Allah the Exalted for me and for you and for the rest of the Muslim males and females, so seek His forgiveness and repent to Him. Verily He is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Second Khutbah
All praise be to Allah, a praise that continues His virtues and hopes for His pardon. I praise Him, while He is the Most Merciful, Glory be to Him. He forgives sins, removes hardships and answers supplicators. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah’s salutations be upon him and upon his family and companions and may much peace be upon them.

Thereafter: Verily from among the pillars of faith is believing in pre-destination and pre-ordainment, and that nothing occurs in this world, small or big except by pre-ordainment written by the pen in the preserved tablet by the command of Allah – the Exalted – and (by) His knowledge and His power before the creation of the heavens and the earth, so nothing occurs except in accordance to that, known to the slave or not known, “Should not He Who has created know? And He is the Most Kind and Courteous (to His slaves) All-Aware (of everything).” [Mulk; Verse 14], “And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in (or on) the earth and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.” [An’aam; Verse 59].

And from here is the completion of the Tawheed of the believers, so their hearts are at peace towards the rules of pre-ordainment, and patience on trials becomes easy on them, and (so too) does gratitude in (times of) ease, and they leave their affair to Allah, and they ask Him for forgiveness, mercy, kindness and help, and for this reason the prophet – peace be upon him – exclusively chose Ibn Abbaas – may Allah be pleased with them both – just as he included the Ummah for this inclusive advice, and it is believing in pre-ordainment, patience on hardships and certainty (of belief) in the Lord of the earth and heavens.

And when understanding these meanings, the pleased souls are calmed and they live a pleasant life. In fact when death comes to them, they die a good death. And in Saheeh Muslim that the prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Strange is the affair of the believer. Verily all his affairs are good for him. If something pleasing befalls him he thanks (Allah) and it becomes better for him. And if something harmful befalls him he is patient and it becomes better for him.”

Then he closes the Hadeeth by his saying: “And know that in being patient on what you dislike is much good, and that victory comes with patience, rescue with hardship and ease with difficulty.” O by Allah! O how great these words are to the one who understands them and holds onto them. And the confirmation of that is in the Book of Allah: “So verily, with the hardship, there is relief, Verily, with the hardship, there is relief.” [Sharh; Verse 5-6], and a single difficulty will never overpower two eases, but where are the believers with certainty (of belief)?! And how many aspects of hardships have pleasantness, and surely people have seen wonders in the pleasantness of Allah and His ease.

And ponder over the precise meaning in this verse: “No calamity befalls, but with the Leave (i.e. decision and Divine Preordainments) of Allah, and whosoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart” [Taghabun; Verse 11], i.e. at the time of calamity, if the distressed understands that the calamity is from Allah, he will be guided to patience, pleasure and steadfastness on faith, so Allah guides his heart to all good. Qurtubi said: “Ikrimah reads it as: ‘His heart will be calmed’, and Malik bin Dinaar reads it lightening the hamzah: ‘His heart will be guided’”, so have the distressed, patient ones heard of this?! And some of the predecessors have said: “Good life is pleasure and contentment,” and Ibn Zaid said: “Pleasure (regarding the pre-ordainment of Allah) is the greatest door of Allah and the paradise of this world and the relaxation of the worshippers.”

And from the pleasure of the secrets of coupling rescue with hardship and ease with difficulty is that when hardship becomes severe and great and reaches its end, the servant reaches (a point of) despondency of its (hardship’s) removal by the creation, so he attaches his heart to Allah alone and all hope is cut off except in Him, and this is the reality of trust in Allah, and it is from the greatest reasons by which needs are sought, for verily Allah is sufficient for the one who relies on Him as He – Glorified is He – said: “And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him.” [Talaaq; Verse 3]

This, and send salutations and peace on the best creation and purest human, Muhammad bin Abdullah, the unlettered prophet.

O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on your servant and messenger Muhammad, and on his family and companions and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

O Allah guard us with Islam standing, and guard us with Islam sitting, and guard us with Islam lying, and do not make the enemies and envious ambitious for us.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2013/03...r-the-servant/

:w:

[noorzahra]

Thanku so much! JazakAllah!

[A-Brother]

03 جماد الأولى 1434 | MARCH 13 2013 JUMMAH KHUTBAH | KHUTBAH FILE NO: [49976]

The Al-Mu’awwidhatayn:
Merits and Proprieties

NOTE: The English Khutbah Is Now Available Via The Link Below.

Khutbah Translation Provided By: Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University (IMSIU) in Al-Ahsa
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[BintAbee]

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The Al-Mu’awwidhatayn (1): Merits and Proprieties
March 13, 2012 Jumadal Ula 3, 1434
Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib


Part One

Praise be to Allah! We express our gratitude to Him, implore His assistance, and seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of our own selves and malevolent deeds. Whoever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whoever Allah leads astray will never find any source of guidance. I bear witness that there is no deity
worthy of worship except Allah with no associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad () is His servant and Messenger ‒May Allah send His bounteous Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace on him, his family, his Companions, and the tabi'în (the contemporaries of the Companions of the Prophet [] after his death), and all
those who have righteously followed them till the Day of Judgement.

O people! I recommend to you what Allah had recommended to bygone nations as well as to our present nation: And verily, We have recommended to the people of the Scripture before you, and to you (O Muslims) that you (all) fear Allâh  [Al-Nissâ: 131]. For whoever keeps vigilant will definitely enjoy peace and safety, and whoever remains oblivious (of Allah’s teachings) will surely regret it.

Resurrection is a truth. On that day, scales will be laid down (to weigh deeds). So, take extra precautions in preparation for that day: And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allâh. [Al-Baǭara: 281]

O Muslims!

Paradise was Man’s first abode. It is good devoid of any trace of evil, while Hell is evil devoid of any trace of good. However, life in this world contains both good and evil.

As humans have been constantly caught unawares by various forms of evil during their lifetime, they ‒especially the ignorant amongst them‒ have cherished certain cults which are falsely believed to exorcise those evils, without reliance on divine revelation or prophetic teachings. Consequently, evil tightened its grip on human beings and corrupted religions, as is confirmed by Allah’s () following words: ‘And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the jinn, but they (jinn) increased them (mankind) in sin
and transgression. [Al-Jînn: 6]

Then Allah () with His clemency and beneficence made rules (of conduct) to His creatures to acquaint them with who they should seek refuge and how they should seek protection. Oqba Ibn Amer () narrated that Allah’s messenger () said, “Have you heard the unprecedented Qur’ānic verses revealed tonight? They are namely, Say: I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak [Al-Falaǭ: 1] and Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind [An-Nâs: 1] (Narrated by Muslim in his Šaĥîĥ).

That was the way Prophet Muhammad () described these great sûrahs (Chapters in the Holy Ǭur’ān). When the Prophet () uttered those words, he meant that the two sûrahs contain a big divine secret. They are bestowed by Allah on his servants as a fortress and a weapon to be used by the believers to repel the devils of both the Jinn and the Humans. In addition, believers deploy such a weapon in facing the evil forces, hardships, tribulations of life, conspirators, enviers, magic spells, conjurors, and sins which put them in harm’s way.

Therefore, the surahs, Al-Falaǭ and An-Nâs, contain clear verses which mention the disease as well as its medication. Prophet Muhammad () used to pay special attention to these Qur’ānic surahs and would use them -under the command of His Lord‒ to seek His protection ().

Abu Saeed narrated: “Prophet Muhammad () used to seek Allah's protection against the Jinn and human harmful and envious looks until the surahs of Al-Falaǭ and An-Nâs were revealed. Then, he renounced everything else and stood fast to them.” This Hadith was narrated by At-Tirmidhi and Al-Nassaî (At-Tirmidhi said, “it is a good hadith.”)

O Muslims!

These two sûrahs constitute a directive from Allah () primarily to His Prophet () and then to all the believers. Both are exhorted to seek refuge in His self-sufficient dominion and seek protection with Him from all sources of panic, whether visible or latent, known or unknown, and general or specific. It seems as though Allah () were making His safe dominion accessible to the believers and offering them His unlimited and unconditional protection. It sounds as if He were lovingly and graciously saying to them, “Come along! Come to your safe haven to find rest. Come on! I am the One Who perfectly knows your weaknesses and all fears surrounding you. I am the One Who has greater power to defeat your enemy. Come along to the divine haven of safety, tranquillity, and peace.

He who examines both surahs closely finds out that they constitute a fortress against invisible evils which are too subtle to be perceived. These evils target humans, who remain totally unaware of their source. This is why Allah’s command in both surahs (through the word “say”) has accorded focal attention to such evils as distinct from the rest of the perils and plagues afflicting humans. Allah’s () command has equally been clear as regards invoking His assistance, succour, rescue, and Istiâδa (seeking His protection) from all sorts of evil, in general, but specifically from the above-cited ones.

The objective is to firmly entrench the meaning of tawhid (monotheism) in the souls as these have a vital need for protection from all types of evil and harm, which fosters in them a sense of attachment to their protector who safeguards them against evil. Thus, these two surahs include invocation of divine protection against all such evils, using a style characterised by maximum brevity, conclusiveness, semantic force, as an invocation to seek refuge with Allah.

In Arabic, the term “Aûuδu” means “I resort to”, “I seek refuge with”, “I hold fast to Allah and ask for His protection.” Istiâδa is a form of worship through which we seek the satisfaction of the One Whose protection we implore, Allah (). This term reflects total confidence in Allah’s exclusive power to repel and lift whatever kind of
peril.

In the first Muâwiδah (Al-Falaǭ), Allah () commands His Prophet to address the “Lord of Daybreak” in order to implore His protection, as He is the Lord of daylight which emerges from the night to illuminate its darkness. The very idea of restrictively associating Istiâδa with daylight is an indication that the coming into sight of bright
daylight epitomises the advent of relief that dispels hardships. There is an analogy between, on the one hand, someone who is awaiting the daybreak and, on the other hand, a panic-stricken person who is eager to enjoy a sense of relief and safety after a period of suffering. This is why Allah () say to His Prophet and to all believers:
Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak From the evil of what He has created… [Al-Falaǭ: 1-2]. That is to say, I seek refuge from the evils of His creatures in general without any specification, regardless of the type of evil in the Herein and the Hereafter, including the evils of the Jinn as well as those of
the humans, the evils of wild animals and predators, fire, sins, whims, caprices of the ego, bad deeds, and the evils of all evil-doers.

The next verse is "And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away [Al-Falaǭ: 3]. The Arabic word “ghasaǭ” means ‘total darkness’, the word “ghasaaǭ” means ‘night’ or ‘the person moving by night’, and the word “waǭaba” means ‘comes/arrives’. Ibn Abbes (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said, “It means the advent of night with its darkness,” while Mujahid and Al-Zohri said, “It means sunset time.”

The meaning of Istiâδa is protection from the night, and whatever it is associated with, when it covers the earth with its awe-inspiring obscurity. Night time is therefore a trigger of fear sensations, for wild animals and predators use darkness to camouflage themselves and their motion. By night time, criminals and conspirers become active,
instincts and desires grow irresistible, and satanic brainwaves, along with hallucinations, worries, and grieves, violently crawl into one’s consciousness, thus generating emotions and longings.

Satan himself is privileged by darkness; he exploits it to gain freedom and start enticing people (into sinful acts). That is why Allah () ordered His Prophet to resort to Istiâδa from the night and whatever evils it might entail. Allah () says, "And from the evil of those who practise witchcraft when they blow in the knots” [Al-Falaǭ: 4].

This refers to the witches who contrive to harm others through blowing witchcraft into knots that they secretly tie, using threads or other devices, which they attach to the name of the targeted person. The latter will therefore suffer from their harmful witchcraft: …but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allâh’s Leave… [Al-Baǭara: 281].

The Prophet () considered witchcraft as one of the major sins which lead to Hellfire, in addition to annihilating individuals and nations, and causing a fatal destiny to its perpetrators in the Herein before total loss in the Hereafter.

Whoever falls ill or prey to witchcraft is prohibited from resorting to magicians, witches, or conjurors. The Prophet () warned that whoever commits that sin, he is acquitted of such evil deeds (on the Day of Judgement). As an alternative, Allah () prescribed us the use of Istiâδa, resorting to Him and seeking His assistance.

The last verse of this surah, "And from the evil of the envier when he envies." [Al-Falaǭ: 5] talks about envy. Envy is a bad moral both according to human nature and according to religion. It consists in wishing that the bounties Allah bestowed on the envied person would cease. The real evil and harm of the envier will concretise as soon as he directs his spiteful looks at the victim or proceeds to harm the envied person. This explains why Allah () commanded His creatures to resort to Istiâδa from envious people: —"And from the evil of the envier when he envies." [Al-Falaǭ: 5].

If people rely on Allah () alone and seek His exclusive assistance to protect themselves with these Qur’ānic verses, they will certainly get protection from envy and safety from the envier’s spiteful looks. The Al-Falaǭ sûrah is among the best remedies for the envied person. It includes sincere reliance on Allah, resorting to His might, seeking His protection against the envier of the bounties exclusively endowed by Allah, the Provider of all favours, for He () is the sole provider of help to whoever requests it and refuge to whoever seeks it.

O Muslims!

In the second Muâwiδa (the surah of An-Nâs), Allah ordained that people should approach their Lord to seek His protection, for He is the sole Provider of protection, the only Sovereign Who has the power to command or prohibit them to do anything, and the God Whom they worship. Allah ordered people to seek His protection from the devils who keep trying to prevent them from true worship of Allah. In fact, Satan is the origin of all evil emanating from people and befalling them.

Allah says "The King of mankind, "The Ilâh (God) of mankind, [An-Nâs: 2-3]. Because people have kings, Allah says that He is their King, and because among people there those who worship other deities, He says that He is their Lord Who is worthy of worship. It is He Who should be sought refuge with and He alone to be resorted to, not to monarchs and renowned worldly figures. He () is their true Lord, the real King, the only God Who is alone worthy of worship. Everybody and everything else is under His divine authority, and are virtually helpless vis-à-vis
seeking favours, removing harm, determining death, giving life, or setting off resurrection.

Istiâδa from the evil of Al-Waswaas Al-Khannaas ‒i.e. Satan‒ covers all his satanic evils. In this verse, Satan is assigned the most dangerous, malevolent, influential, and corrupt attributes; it is namely waswasa (surreptitious enticement) which is the initial stage of volition; for at first, the heart experiences a state of vacuity where evil and sin are totally absent. Then, Satan starts his enterprise of surreptitious enticement by embellishing evil to its potential doer. He beautifies the projected act in the eyes of its potential performer. In addition, he activates the hibernating determination of the potential doer. Conversely, he demonises good acts and discourages their potential
doer from undertaking them.

Such is always the situation with Satan; alternating his evil deeds of whispering and retreating. He insinuates himself into man and, like blood, finds his way to his heart. This is confirmed in both Sahihs(2) where Ibn Abbas(3) May Allah be pleased with both him and his father) says: “Satan is ever perched on a man’s heart. Whenever he is distracted and slips into oblivion, he starts whispering evil to him. Once he remembers Allah, he withdraws”; that is he ‘runs away’ or ‘retreats.’

Evil whispering does not come only from Jinn(4), but it may come from humans. In this regard, Allah () said: …Of jinn and men. [An-Nas: 6]. This bears reference to the danger of those human demons, about whom very few of us are alerted, despite the fact that Allah () commanded His Prophet in this sûrah to seek refuge with Him from the evil of both types of such demons: the human and the jinn.

O servants of Allah!

Reciting Al-Mu'awwidhatayn is permissible at any time of the day, particularly during those times sanctioned by the Prophet () including what was reported by Uqba Ibn Amir(5) () thus: “Allah’s Messenger () commanded me to recite Al-Mu'awwidhatayn at the end of each salat.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Al Nasai, and was authenticated by Al Hakim and others.]

Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) also narrated that the Prophet (), “whenever he went to bed every night he would put the palms of his hands together, blow in them and recite Say (O Muhammad صلى لله علیھ وسلم ): ‘He is Allâh, (the) One’.[ Al-Ikhlâs: 1]; Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak [Al Falaq:1] and Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind [An-Nas:1]. Then, using the palms of his hands, he would wipe three times all he could over the front part of his body, starting with the head and face.” [Narrated by Bukhari].

It is also part of the sunnah to recite Al-Mu'awwidhatayn three times while uttering morning and evening invocations. The Prophet () told Abdullah Ibn Khubaib(6) (): “ ‘Say’. I said: ‘say what?’ He said: ‘Say He is Allâh, (the) One, in addition to Al-Mu'awwidhatayn three times by morning and evening, for these will suffice to
ward off all evils.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi, who is quoted to have said: ‘This is a valid and sound Hadith’. The Hadith was authenticated by An Nawawi and others.]

O servants of Allah!

The recitation of Al-Mu'awwidhatayn is a self-ruqya(7) (treatment) for the Muslim and one he could use for others as well. Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) reported that “whenever the Prophet () felt pain, he would recite for himself Al-Mu'awwidhatayn and then blow. She said: ‘When he turned too ill to do it I would recite for him, and then use his own hand to wipe over his body with it wishing for its barakah(8).” [The Hadith was agreed upon.]

Also, Muslim reported, “Whenever one of his household fell ill, the Prophet () would blow on him/her while reciting Al-Mu'awwidhatayn.”

Furthermore, Al-Mu'awwidhatayn are recited as measure to ward off scourge before it strikes. Abu Saeed(9) () reported that “the Prophet () used to seek refuge with Allah from the evil eyes of humans and jinn alike. When Al-Mu'awwidhatayn were revealed to him he started to make exclusive recourse to them.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi, Al Nasai and Ibn Maja]

To recap, recitation of Al-Mu'awwidhatayn is confirmed at the end of each one of the five salats (prayers), before going to bed, in the morning and evening as well as for ruqya and protection purposes.

We beseech Allah to grant all of us refuge from all evils, wrongdoings, fitnas (temptations) and ailments.

May Allah () make His blessings for you and for me in the Noble Qur'ān and benefit us with the guidance of the Master of all Messengers ()! I say this and I ask Allah () forgiveness, for you and for me.

Part Two

Praise be to Allah! We praise Him kindly and abundantly and seek His blessing. He is the One Who answers whoever calls upon Him, shelters whoever seeks refuge with Him and provides safety for those seeking his protection and care. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, Who has no associates! I also bear witness that Muhammad () is His servant and Messenger! May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on him, his family and all of his Companions!

O Muslims!

One must not fail to realize the subtlety posed by the Sûrat of Al Falaq where the command, at the beginning of it, was ‘to seek refuge with the Lord of ‘Falaq’. The word ‘falaq’ means ‘Daybreak’, or rather anything that breaks out bringing goodness and good will. Making special reference to Al falaq here points to the ultimate verity that whoever is capable of bringing daybreak and of lifting the night darkness off the face of the earth is certainly be able of removing all types of darkness as well as ridding the oppressed of their sufferings. Hence there is no despair with the Almighty, the All-Capable: Verily! It is Allâh Who causes the seed-grain and the
fruit-stone (like date-stone) to split and sprout. [Al-An’am: 95]

Daybreak stands for that hope which is born out of tragedy. It is the morning light that comes to replace the gloomy darkness of the night. It is relief cascading from the peak of distress. It is a cheering voice announcing the advent of ease and relief.

Indeed, this is all we hope and wish for these days. The people of Syria are suffering from the oppression of their enemy and his allies from among his own denomination overseas, who are rushing for his support. However, such distress, no matter how extreme it may grow, is bound to perish in the face of the endurance of the believers and their exclusive reliance on Allah after they have been failed by those powers that pretend to stand by the weak. Nay, indeed! These powers only seek to secure their own interests.

It may be a sign –Allah Willing– that relief is drawing near, for certainly, there is relief after distress, triumph with patience and verily, along with every hardship is relief. [Ash-Sharh: 5]

In this context, what we so desperately need is that genuine feeling of trust in Allah and reliance on Him, in addition to imploring His forgiveness so profusely, for this is one of the most important keys to the establishment of relief and consent, and to the shunning of disputes. After all, ‘bravery is but an hour’s patience’.

Those Muslims who are capable of offering support to their brothers in faith – particularly the rulers– should realize that the initiative lies in their hands, that people would follow them, and that there is a great deal of goodness in our Umma (Islamic nation). Therefore, spare no effort to stop the aggression and to bring an end to perversity.

Verily, abandoning one’s brother in faith at times of hardships is only prelude to expedient retribution of the same nature. Likewise, standing by our brothers in Syria is warding off adversity from us in this Life and the Hereafter.

Now, ask Allah to send His Salat (Graces, Honors and Mercy) and Peace upon the Given Mercy and the Offered Blessing, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah. O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours and Mercy), Peace and Blessing upon
Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad () and his kind and virtuous family! O Allah! Be pleased with all of Your Messenger’s Companions and those who righteously follow them till the Day of Judgment!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims and let down tyrants, infidels and all the corruptors! O Allah! Grant victory to Your Religion, Your Holy Book, Your Prophet’s Sunnah and Your true servants!

O Allah! Foreordain for the nation of Islam a matter (an affair) of rationality (guidance) where the people of piety are honored, the people of sins are guided, Al-Ma‘rûf (good deeds) is enjoined, and Al-Munkar (bad deeds or evil) is forbidden! O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Fail those who want to harm Islam and Muslims! Make them preoccupied with their own selves! Turn their plots against them, and make that the cause of their own destruction, O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your Cause in Palestine, the Sham (Syria), and everywhere, O Lord of the Worlds! O Allah! Relieve them of the siege around them! Set right their affairs and suppress their enemy!

O Allah! Liberate Al Aqsa Mosque from the oppressors’ injustice and the occupiers’ aggression!

O Allah! Set right the situation of our brothers (in faith) wherever they may be! O Allah! Set right the situation of Muslims everywhere, O Lord of the Worlds! O Allah! Set right their affairs in Egypt and everywhere, rally them around Your Guidance, and protect them against those evil-doers among them! O Allah! Set right their affairs!

O Allah! Help our Muslim brothers in Syria! O Allah! Gather them around Your Truth and Guidance! O Allah! Spare their blood, safeguard their tranquility, bring them close together, feed their hungry, protect their honor, grant them boldness, strength and victory against their oppressors! O You, the Ever-Living, the Eternal Guardian, the Lord of Majesty and Bounty!

O Allah! Guide our leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to do whatever you love and accept! O Allah! Guide him to piety and righteousness! O Allah! Grant him good health! O Allah! Grant him, his deputies, their brothers and assistants success to do what is good for the people and the country!

O Allah! Help the Muslim leaders to govern and abide by Your Holy Book and to follow the Sunnah of Your Prophet, Mohammad ()! Make them a blessing on Your believing servants! O Allah! We implore You to spread security, prosperity in our own country and in those of all Muslims, to protect us against the evil of evil-doers
and the plotting of the lecherous! Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al Baqarah: 201]. Our Lord! Forgive
us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk. [Al Omran: 147]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and fulfill our wishes in what pleases You! O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, our wives and children! You are indeed All-Hearing!

O Allah! We ask You to be pleased with us and grant us Your Paradise! We seek refuge with You against Your wrath and hell fire!

It is Allah’s forgiveness we seek! It is Allah’s forgiveness we seek! It is Allah’s forgiveness we seek! O Allah! We turn in repentance to You! You are the Ever-Living, the Eternal Guardian! O Allah! You are Allah, and there is no deity worthy of worship except You! You are the Self-Sufficient and we are the poor! Send down rain upon us and do not make us despondent! O Allah! Send down rain upon us! O Allah! Send down rain upon us! O Allah! Send down rain upon us; a blissful, steady, widespread, useful and harmless rain, one that would rejuvenate the land, quench the people’s thirst and reach the rural and the urban lands! O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy. O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy. O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy, not rain of torment, disaster, destruction, or flooding!

O Allah! Answer our prayers, for You are indeed the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! O Allah! Forgive us! You are indeed Most Forgiving, Most Merciful! Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! You are free from what
they attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the Messengers! And all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!




(1) The Al-Mu'awwidhatayn ( المعوذتین ), sometimes translated as " Verses of Refuge", is an Arabic
term referring to the last two surahs (chapters) of the Qur’ān viz. Al-Falaq and An-Nas which are two
consecutive short prayers beginning with "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord...". Although these two Surahs
are separate entities in the Qur'ān and also are written in the Mushaf under separate names, they are
so deeply related mutually with their contents closely resembling each other's that they have been
designated by a common name Mu'awwidhitayn (the two Surahs in which refuge with Allah has been
sought). Imam Baihaqi in 'Dala'il an-Nubuwwat' has written that these Surahs were revealed together,
and hence their combined name of Mu'awwidhatayn. There is a Hadith that recommends reading them
over the sick or before sleeping and they are also considered a healing (adapted from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mu'awwidhatayn)

(2) Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari are collections of hadiths. They are considered to be the most
authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet ().

(3) Abdullah ibn Abbas was a paternal cousin of the Prophet (). He is revered by Muslims for his
knowledge and was an expert in Tafsir (exegesis of the Qur'an), as well as an authority on the Islamic
Sunnah (adapted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%60Abd_Allah_ibn_%60Abbas)

(4) The jinn or genies are spirits mentioned in the Holy Qur’ān and Islamic theology who inhabit an
unseen world in dimensions beyond the visible universe of humans. Like human beings, the jinn can
also be good, evil, or neutrally benevolent and hence have freewill like humans and unlike angels. The
jinn are mentioned frequently in the Qur'ān, and the 72nd surah is titled Surat al-Jinn.

(5) Uqbah ibn Amir was a Companion of the Prophet () and a well-known member of the early Muslim
community.

(6) One of the Companions of the Prophet ()

(7) What is said for the purpose of seeking protection or healing. It is agreed among Ulama (Muslim
scholars) that for a ruqya ( رقیة ) to be permissible it has to meet three requirements: (1) It has to include Allah’s words and fairest names and attributes, (2) It has to be in Arabic or any other language the
ruqya receiver (patient) understands, and (3) Both the raqi (the person performing the ruqya) and the
ruqya receiver must believe that the ruqya in itself does not produce any effects and that it is Allah ()
that does. (Adapted from Dr. Khaled Al-Jeraisy’s Self Ruqya Treatment, trans. Dr. Mohammad Atif
Mogahed Mohammad.)

(8) The Arabic word ( بركة ) means blessing, benediction, good fortune, abundant good, etc.

(9) One of the Companions of the Prophet ().


Source: http://www.alharamain.gov.sa/index.c...owseby=khateeb

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

The Al-Mu’awwidhatayn (1): Merits and Proprieties
March 13, 2012 Jumadal Ula 3, 1434
Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib


Part One

Praise be to Allah! We express our gratitude to Him, implore His assistance, and seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of our own selves and malevolent deeds. Whoever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whoever Allah leads astray will never find any source of guidance. I bear witness that there is no deity
worthy of worship except Allah with no associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad () is His servant and Messenger ‒May Allah send His bounteous Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace on him, his family, his Companions, and the tabi'în (the contemporaries of the Companions of the Prophet [] after his death), and all
those who have righteously followed them till the Day of Judgement.

O people! I recommend to you what Allah had recommended to bygone nations as well as to our present nation: And verily, We have recommended to the people of the Scripture before you, and to you (O Muslims) that you (all) fear Allâh  [Al-Nissâ: 131]. For whoever keeps vigilant will definitely enjoy peace and safety, and whoever remains oblivious (of Allah’s teachings) will surely regret it.

Resurrection is a truth. On that day, scales will be laid down (to weigh deeds). So, take extra precautions in preparation for that day: And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allâh. [Al-Baǭara: 281]

O Muslims!

Paradise was Man’s first abode. It is good devoid of any trace of evil, while Hell is evil devoid of any trace of good. However, life in this world contains both good and evil.

As humans have been constantly caught unawares by various forms of evil during their lifetime, they ‒especially the ignorant amongst them‒ have cherished certain cults which are falsely believed to exorcise those evils, without reliance on divine revelation or prophetic teachings. Consequently, evil tightened its grip on human beings and corrupted religions, as is confirmed by Allah’s () following words: ‘And verily, there were men among mankind who took shelter with the males among the jinn, but they (jinn) increased them (mankind) in sin
and transgression. [Al-Jînn: 6]

Then Allah () with His clemency and beneficence made rules (of conduct) to His creatures to acquaint them with who they should seek refuge and how they should seek protection. Oqba Ibn Amer () narrated that Allah’s messenger () said, “Have you heard the unprecedented Qur’ānic verses revealed tonight? They are namely, Say: I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak [Al-Falaǭ: 1] and Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind [An-Nâs: 1] (Narrated by Muslim in his Šaĥîĥ).

That was the way Prophet Muhammad () described these great sûrahs (Chapters in the Holy Ǭur’ān). When the Prophet () uttered those words, he meant that the two sûrahs contain a big divine secret. They are bestowed by Allah on his servants as a fortress and a weapon to be used by the believers to repel the devils of both the Jinn and the Humans. In addition, believers deploy such a weapon in facing the evil forces, hardships, tribulations of life, conspirators, enviers, magic spells, conjurors, and sins which put them in harm’s way.

Therefore, the surahs, Al-Falaǭ and An-Nâs, contain clear verses which mention the disease as well as its medication. Prophet Muhammad () used to pay special attention to these Qur’ānic surahs and would use them -under the command of His Lord‒ to seek His protection ().

Abu Saeed narrated: “Prophet Muhammad () used to seek Allah's protection against the Jinn and human harmful and envious looks until the surahs of Al-Falaǭ and An-Nâs were revealed. Then, he renounced everything else and stood fast to them.” This Hadith was narrated by At-Tirmidhi and Al-Nassaî (At-Tirmidhi said, “it is a good hadith.”)

O Muslims!

These two sûrahs constitute a directive from Allah () primarily to His Prophet () and then to all the believers. Both are exhorted to seek refuge in His self-sufficient dominion and seek protection with Him from all sources of panic, whether visible or latent, known or unknown, and general or specific. It seems as though Allah () were making His safe dominion accessible to the believers and offering them His unlimited and unconditional protection. It sounds as if He were lovingly and graciously saying to them, “Come along! Come to your safe haven to find rest. Come on! I am the One Who perfectly knows your weaknesses and all fears surrounding you. I am the One Who has greater power to defeat your enemy. Come along to the divine haven of safety, tranquillity, and peace.

He who examines both surahs closely finds out that they constitute a fortress against invisible evils which are too subtle to be perceived. These evils target humans, who remain totally unaware of their source. This is why Allah’s command in both surahs (through the word “say”) has accorded focal attention to such evils as distinct from the rest of the perils and plagues afflicting humans. Allah’s () command has equally been clear as regards invoking His assistance, succour, rescue, and Istiâδa (seeking His protection) from all sorts of evil, in general, but specifically from the above-cited ones.

The objective is to firmly entrench the meaning of tawhid (monotheism) in the souls as these have a vital need for protection from all types of evil and harm, which fosters in them a sense of attachment to their protector who safeguards them against evil. Thus, these two surahs include invocation of divine protection against all such evils, using a style characterised by maximum brevity, conclusiveness, semantic force, as an invocation to seek refuge with Allah.

In Arabic, the term “Aûuδu” means “I resort to”, “I seek refuge with”, “I hold fast to Allah and ask for His protection.” Istiâδa is a form of worship through which we seek the satisfaction of the One Whose protection we implore, Allah (). This term reflects total confidence in Allah’s exclusive power to repel and lift whatever kind of
peril.

In the first Muâwiδah (Al-Falaǭ), Allah () commands His Prophet to address the “Lord of Daybreak” in order to implore His protection, as He is the Lord of daylight which emerges from the night to illuminate its darkness. The very idea of restrictively associating Istiâδa with daylight is an indication that the coming into sight of bright
daylight epitomises the advent of relief that dispels hardships. There is an analogy between, on the one hand, someone who is awaiting the daybreak and, on the other hand, a panic-stricken person who is eager to enjoy a sense of relief and safety after a period of suffering. This is why Allah () say to His Prophet and to all believers:
Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak From the evil of what He has created… [Al-Falaǭ: 1-2]. That is to say, I seek refuge from the evils of His creatures in general without any specification, regardless of the type of evil in the Herein and the Hereafter, including the evils of the Jinn as well as those of
the humans, the evils of wild animals and predators, fire, sins, whims, caprices of the ego, bad deeds, and the evils of all evil-doers.

The next verse is "And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or goes away [Al-Falaǭ: 3]. The Arabic word “ghasaǭ” means ‘total darkness’, the word “ghasaaǭ” means ‘night’ or ‘the person moving by night’, and the word “waǭaba” means ‘comes/arrives’. Ibn Abbes (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) said, “It means the advent of night with its darkness,” while Mujahid and Al-Zohri said, “It means sunset time.”

The meaning of Istiâδa is protection from the night, and whatever it is associated with, when it covers the earth with its awe-inspiring obscurity. Night time is therefore a trigger of fear sensations, for wild animals and predators use darkness to camouflage themselves and their motion. By night time, criminals and conspirers become active,
instincts and desires grow irresistible, and satanic brainwaves, along with hallucinations, worries, and grieves, violently crawl into one’s consciousness, thus generating emotions and longings.

Satan himself is privileged by darkness; he exploits it to gain freedom and start enticing people (into sinful acts). That is why Allah () ordered His Prophet to resort to Istiâδa from the night and whatever evils it might entail. Allah () says, "And from the evil of those who practise witchcraft when they blow in the knots” [Al-Falaǭ: 4].

This refers to the witches who contrive to harm others through blowing witchcraft into knots that they secretly tie, using threads or other devices, which they attach to the name of the targeted person. The latter will therefore suffer from their harmful witchcraft: …but they could not thus harm anyone except by Allâh’s Leave… [Al-Baǭara: 281].

The Prophet () considered witchcraft as one of the major sins which lead to Hellfire, in addition to annihilating individuals and nations, and causing a fatal destiny to its perpetrators in the Herein before total loss in the Hereafter.

Whoever falls ill or prey to witchcraft is prohibited from resorting to magicians, witches, or conjurors. The Prophet () warned that whoever commits that sin, he is acquitted of such evil deeds (on the Day of Judgement). As an alternative, Allah () prescribed us the use of Istiâδa, resorting to Him and seeking His assistance.

The last verse of this surah, "And from the evil of the envier when he envies." [Al-Falaǭ: 5] talks about envy. Envy is a bad moral both according to human nature and according to religion. It consists in wishing that the bounties Allah bestowed on the envied person would cease. The real evil and harm of the envier will concretise as soon as he directs his spiteful looks at the victim or proceeds to harm the envied person. This explains why Allah () commanded His creatures to resort to Istiâδa from envious people: —"And from the evil of the envier when he envies." [Al-Falaǭ: 5].

If people rely on Allah () alone and seek His exclusive assistance to protect themselves with these Qur’ānic verses, they will certainly get protection from envy and safety from the envier’s spiteful looks. The Al-Falaǭ sûrah is among the best remedies for the envied person. It includes sincere reliance on Allah, resorting to His might, seeking His protection against the envier of the bounties exclusively endowed by Allah, the Provider of all favours, for He () is the sole provider of help to whoever requests it and refuge to whoever seeks it.

O Muslims!

In the second Muâwiδa (the surah of An-Nâs), Allah ordained that people should approach their Lord to seek His protection, for He is the sole Provider of protection, the only Sovereign Who has the power to command or prohibit them to do anything, and the God Whom they worship. Allah ordered people to seek His protection from the devils who keep trying to prevent them from true worship of Allah. In fact, Satan is the origin of all evil emanating from people and befalling them.

Allah says "The King of mankind, "The Ilâh (God) of mankind, [An-Nâs: 2-3]. Because people have kings, Allah says that He is their King, and because among people there those who worship other deities, He says that He is their Lord Who is worthy of worship. It is He Who should be sought refuge with and He alone to be resorted to, not to monarchs and renowned worldly figures. He () is their true Lord, the real King, the only God Who is alone worthy of worship. Everybody and everything else is under His divine authority, and are virtually helpless vis-à-vis
seeking favours, removing harm, determining death, giving life, or setting off resurrection.

Istiâδa from the evil of Al-Waswaas Al-Khannaas ‒i.e. Satan‒ covers all his satanic evils. In this verse, Satan is assigned the most dangerous, malevolent, influential, and corrupt attributes; it is namely waswasa (surreptitious enticement) which is the initial stage of volition; for at first, the heart experiences a state of vacuity where evil and sin are totally absent. Then, Satan starts his enterprise of surreptitious enticement by embellishing evil to its potential doer. He beautifies the projected act in the eyes of its potential performer. In addition, he activates the hibernating determination of the potential doer. Conversely, he demonises good acts and discourages their potential
doer from undertaking them.

Such is always the situation with Satan; alternating his evil deeds of whispering and retreating. He insinuates himself into man and, like blood, finds his way to his heart. This is confirmed in both Sahihs(2) where Ibn Abbas(3) May Allah be pleased with both him and his father) says: “Satan is ever perched on a man’s heart. Whenever he is distracted and slips into oblivion, he starts whispering evil to him. Once he remembers Allah, he withdraws”; that is he ‘runs away’ or ‘retreats.’

Evil whispering does not come only from Jinn(4), but it may come from humans. In this regard, Allah () said: …Of jinn and men. [An-Nas: 6]. This bears reference to the danger of those human demons, about whom very few of us are alerted, despite the fact that Allah () commanded His Prophet in this sûrah to seek refuge with Him from the evil of both types of such demons: the human and the jinn.

O servants of Allah!

Reciting Al-Mu'awwidhatayn is permissible at any time of the day, particularly during those times sanctioned by the Prophet () including what was reported by Uqba Ibn Amir(5) () thus: “Allah’s Messenger () commanded me to recite Al-Mu'awwidhatayn at the end of each salat.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Al Nasai, and was authenticated by Al Hakim and others.]

Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) also narrated that the Prophet (), “whenever he went to bed every night he would put the palms of his hands together, blow in them and recite Say (O Muhammad صلى لله علیھ وسلم ): ‘He is Allâh, (the) One’.[ Al-Ikhlâs: 1]; Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh), the Lord of the daybreak [Al Falaq:1] and Say: "I seek refuge with (Allâh) the Lord of mankind [An-Nas:1]. Then, using the palms of his hands, he would wipe three times all he could over the front part of his body, starting with the head and face.” [Narrated by Bukhari].

It is also part of the sunnah to recite Al-Mu'awwidhatayn three times while uttering morning and evening invocations. The Prophet () told Abdullah Ibn Khubaib(6) (): “ ‘Say’. I said: ‘say what?’ He said: ‘Say He is Allâh, (the) One, in addition to Al-Mu'awwidhatayn three times by morning and evening, for these will suffice to
ward off all evils.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi, who is quoted to have said: ‘This is a valid and sound Hadith’. The Hadith was authenticated by An Nawawi and others.]

O servants of Allah!

The recitation of Al-Mu'awwidhatayn is a self-ruqya(7) (treatment) for the Muslim and one he could use for others as well. Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) reported that “whenever the Prophet () felt pain, he would recite for himself Al-Mu'awwidhatayn and then blow. She said: ‘When he turned too ill to do it I would recite for him, and then use his own hand to wipe over his body with it wishing for its barakah(8).” [The Hadith was agreed upon.]

Also, Muslim reported, “Whenever one of his household fell ill, the Prophet () would blow on him/her while reciting Al-Mu'awwidhatayn.”

Furthermore, Al-Mu'awwidhatayn are recited as measure to ward off scourge before it strikes. Abu Saeed(9) () reported that “the Prophet () used to seek refuge with Allah from the evil eyes of humans and jinn alike. When Al-Mu'awwidhatayn were revealed to him he started to make exclusive recourse to them.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi, Al Nasai and Ibn Maja]

To recap, recitation of Al-Mu'awwidhatayn is confirmed at the end of each one of the five salats (prayers), before going to bed, in the morning and evening as well as for ruqya and protection purposes.

We beseech Allah to grant all of us refuge from all evils, wrongdoings, fitnas (temptations) and ailments.

May Allah () make His blessings for you and for me in the Noble Qur'ān and benefit us with the guidance of the Master of all Messengers ()! I say this and I ask Allah () forgiveness, for you and for me.

Part Two

Praise be to Allah! We praise Him kindly and abundantly and seek His blessing. He is the One Who answers whoever calls upon Him, shelters whoever seeks refuge with Him and provides safety for those seeking his protection and care. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, Who has no associates! I also bear witness that Muhammad () is His servant and Messenger! May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on him, his family and all of his Companions!

O Muslims!

One must not fail to realize the subtlety posed by the Sûrat of Al Falaq where the command, at the beginning of it, was ‘to seek refuge with the Lord of ‘Falaq’. The word ‘falaq’ means ‘Daybreak’, or rather anything that breaks out bringing goodness and good will. Making special reference to Al falaq here points to the ultimate verity that whoever is capable of bringing daybreak and of lifting the night darkness off the face of the earth is certainly be able of removing all types of darkness as well as ridding the oppressed of their sufferings. Hence there is no despair with the Almighty, the All-Capable: Verily! It is Allâh Who causes the seed-grain and the
fruit-stone (like date-stone) to split and sprout. [Al-An’am: 95]

Daybreak stands for that hope which is born out of tragedy. It is the morning light that comes to replace the gloomy darkness of the night. It is relief cascading from the peak of distress. It is a cheering voice announcing the advent of ease and relief.

Indeed, this is all we hope and wish for these days. The people of Syria are suffering from the oppression of their enemy and his allies from among his own denomination overseas, who are rushing for his support. However, such distress, no matter how extreme it may grow, is bound to perish in the face of the endurance of the believers and their exclusive reliance on Allah after they have been failed by those powers that pretend to stand by the weak. Nay, indeed! These powers only seek to secure their own interests.

It may be a sign –Allah Willing– that relief is drawing near, for certainly, there is relief after distress, triumph with patience and verily, along with every hardship is relief. [Ash-Sharh: 5]

In this context, what we so desperately need is that genuine feeling of trust in Allah and reliance on Him, in addition to imploring His forgiveness so profusely, for this is one of the most important keys to the establishment of relief and consent, and to the shunning of disputes. After all, ‘bravery is but an hour’s patience’.

Those Muslims who are capable of offering support to their brothers in faith – particularly the rulers– should realize that the initiative lies in their hands, that people would follow them, and that there is a great deal of goodness in our Umma (Islamic nation). Therefore, spare no effort to stop the aggression and to bring an end to perversity.

Verily, abandoning one’s brother in faith at times of hardships is only prelude to expedient retribution of the same nature. Likewise, standing by our brothers in Syria is warding off adversity from us in this Life and the Hereafter.

Now, ask Allah to send His Salat (Graces, Honors and Mercy) and Peace upon the Given Mercy and the Offered Blessing, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah. O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours and Mercy), Peace and Blessing upon
Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad () and his kind and virtuous family! O Allah! Be pleased with all of Your Messenger’s Companions and those who righteously follow them till the Day of Judgment!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims and let down tyrants, infidels and all the corruptors! O Allah! Grant victory to Your Religion, Your Holy Book, Your Prophet’s Sunnah and Your true servants!

O Allah! Foreordain for the nation of Islam a matter (an affair) of rationality (guidance) where the people of piety are honored, the people of sins are guided, Al-Ma‘rûf (good deeds) is enjoined, and Al-Munkar (bad deeds or evil) is forbidden! O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Fail those who want to harm Islam and Muslims! Make them preoccupied with their own selves! Turn their plots against them, and make that the cause of their own destruction, O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your Cause in Palestine, the Sham (Syria), and everywhere, O Lord of the Worlds! O Allah! Relieve them of the siege around them! Set right their affairs and suppress their enemy!

O Allah! Liberate Al Aqsa Mosque from the oppressors’ injustice and the occupiers’ aggression!

O Allah! Set right the situation of our brothers (in faith) wherever they may be! O Allah! Set right the situation of Muslims everywhere, O Lord of the Worlds! O Allah! Set right their affairs in Egypt and everywhere, rally them around Your Guidance, and protect them against those evil-doers among them! O Allah! Set right their affairs!

O Allah! Help our Muslim brothers in Syria! O Allah! Gather them around Your Truth and Guidance! O Allah! Spare their blood, safeguard their tranquility, bring them close together, feed their hungry, protect their honor, grant them boldness, strength and victory against their oppressors! O You, the Ever-Living, the Eternal Guardian, the Lord of Majesty and Bounty!

O Allah! Guide our leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to do whatever you love and accept! O Allah! Guide him to piety and righteousness! O Allah! Grant him good health! O Allah! Grant him, his deputies, their brothers and assistants success to do what is good for the people and the country!

O Allah! Help the Muslim leaders to govern and abide by Your Holy Book and to follow the Sunnah of Your Prophet, Mohammad ()! Make them a blessing on Your believing servants! O Allah! We implore You to spread security, prosperity in our own country and in those of all Muslims, to protect us against the evil of evil-doers
and the plotting of the lecherous! Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al Baqarah: 201]. Our Lord! Forgive
us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk. [Al Omran: 147]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and fulfill our wishes in what pleases You! O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, our wives and children! You are indeed All-Hearing!

O Allah! We ask You to be pleased with us and grant us Your Paradise! We seek refuge with You against Your wrath and hell fire!

It is Allah’s forgiveness we seek! It is Allah’s forgiveness we seek! It is Allah’s forgiveness we seek! O Allah! We turn in repentance to You! You are the Ever-Living, the Eternal Guardian! O Allah! You are Allah, and there is no deity worthy of worship except You! You are the Self-Sufficient and we are the poor! Send down rain upon us and do not make us despondent! O Allah! Send down rain upon us! O Allah! Send down rain upon us! O Allah! Send down rain upon us; a blissful, steady, widespread, useful and harmless rain, one that would rejuvenate the land, quench the people’s thirst and reach the rural and the urban lands! O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy. O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy. O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy, not rain of torment, disaster, destruction, or flooding!

O Allah! Answer our prayers, for You are indeed the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! O Allah! Forgive us! You are indeed Most Forgiving, Most Merciful! Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! You are free from what
they attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the Messengers! And all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!




(1) The Al-Mu'awwidhatayn ( المعوذتین ), sometimes translated as " Verses of Refuge", is an Arabic
term referring to the last two surahs (chapters) of the Qur’ān viz. Al-Falaq and An-Nas which are two
consecutive short prayers beginning with "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord...". Although these two Surahs
are separate entities in the Qur'ān and also are written in the Mushaf under separate names, they are
so deeply related mutually with their contents closely resembling each other's that they have been
designated by a common name Mu'awwidhitayn (the two Surahs in which refuge with Allah has been
sought). Imam Baihaqi in 'Dala'il an-Nubuwwat' has written that these Surahs were revealed together,
and hence their combined name of Mu'awwidhatayn. There is a Hadith that recommends reading them
over the sick or before sleeping and they are also considered a healing (adapted from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Mu'awwidhatayn)

(2) Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhari are collections of hadiths. They are considered to be the most
authentic collections of the Sunnah of the Prophet ().

(3) Abdullah ibn Abbas was a paternal cousin of the Prophet (). He is revered by Muslims for his
knowledge and was an expert in Tafsir (exegesis of the Qur'an), as well as an authority on the Islamic
Sunnah (adapted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%60Abd_Allah_ibn_%60Abbas)

(4) The jinn or genies are spirits mentioned in the Holy Qur’ān and Islamic theology who inhabit an
unseen world in dimensions beyond the visible universe of humans. Like human beings, the jinn can
also be good, evil, or neutrally benevolent and hence have freewill like humans and unlike angels. The
jinn are mentioned frequently in the Qur'ān, and the 72nd surah is titled Surat al-Jinn.

(5) Uqbah ibn Amir was a Companion of the Prophet () and a well-known member of the early Muslim
community.

(6) One of the Companions of the Prophet ()

(7) What is said for the purpose of seeking protection or healing. It is agreed among Ulama (Muslim
scholars) that for a ruqya ( رقیة ) to be permissible it has to meet three requirements: (1) It has to include Allah’s words and fairest names and attributes, (2) It has to be in Arabic or any other language the
ruqya receiver (patient) understands, and (3) Both the raqi (the person performing the ruqya) and the
ruqya receiver must believe that the ruqya in itself does not produce any effects and that it is Allah ()
that does. (Adapted from Dr. Khaled Al-Jeraisy’s Self Ruqya Treatment, trans. Dr. Mohammad Atif
Mogahed Mohammad.)

(8) The Arabic word ( بركة ) means blessing, benediction, good fortune, abundant good, etc.

(9) One of the Companions of the Prophet ().


Source: http://www.alharamain.gov.sa/index.c...owseby=khateeb

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

In the shade of Surah Qaaf

Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib

December 5, 2003 ~ Shawwaal 11, 1424

First Khutbah

All praise is due to Allah. All praise be to Allah, the One Who sent down the criterion (of right and wrong, i.e. the Quran) to His slave (Muhammad –peace be upon him) that he may be a warner to the worlds. And all praise be to Allah Who revealed the Book (the Quran) as an exposition of everything, a guidance, a mercy, and glad tidings for those who have submitted themselves (to Allah as Muslims). And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. In veneration of Him, in unification of Him and revering Him. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger, the best (person) sent by Allah as a guide and giver of glad tidings, and a caller to Allah by His Leave and a light and illumination. May Allah’s salutations be upon him and on his family and companions, and may much peace be upon them.

Thereafter: Fear Allah as He ought to be feared. And hold fast unto the Islam with the strongest handhold. “O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared. (Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always), and die not except in a state of Islam.” [Aal Imraan; Verse 102]. And whoever fears Allah, He saves him, and He suffices for him all his worries. “And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.” [Talaaq: Verse 2-3]

Thereafter: O Muslims: Allah sent every messenger to his people with a miracle and a sign. He sent Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him- with the greatest miracle and the most decisive sign, which shall remain everlasting till the Day of Resurrection. The sign is the Noble Quraan, which is the revealed and preserved Word of Allah. The Book explains everything and guides to the most straightforward path. “Alif-Lam-Ra. (This is) a Book, the Verses whereof are perfected (in every sphere of knowledge, etc.), and then explained in detail from One, Who is All-Wise and Well-Acquainted (with all things).” [Hood; Verse 1]

The Qur’an is the greatest reference for the preachers and the best authority relied on by the just rulers. It is its light that guides the scholars. Allah calls it an admonishment when He says: “O mankind! There has come to you a good advice from your Lord, and a healing for that (disease of ignorance, doubt, hypocrisy and differences) in your breasts, – a guidance and a mercy for the believers.” [Yoonus; Verse 57]

Allah’s Messenger used to admonish and remind his companions with the Qur’an in response to the call of his Lord: “But warn by the Qur’an; him who fears My Threat.” [Qaaf; Verse 45]

And in Saheeh Muslim, Umm Hisham bint Harithah said: “We used to share the same oven with the Messenger of Allah for two years or a year and some months. And I did not memorise (Surah) ‘Qaf wal-Qur’anil-majîd’ but from the mouth of Allah’s Messenger. He used to recite it every Jumu‘ah on the pulpit when he preached to people.” Ibn Kathîr said: “The purpose is that the Messenger of Allah used to recite this Surah in big congregations like Eids and Jumuas because the Surah contains information about the beginning of the creation, the Resurrection, the return, the standing (for reckoning), the Reckoning, Paradise and Fire. It also contains information on reward, punishment, encouragement to do good deeds and warning against evil deeds. And Allah knows best.”

Fellow Muslims! Surely, knowing about admonition is a blessing and strength. It is also a reward and guidance. Allah says,

“But if they had done what they were told, it would have been better for them, and would have strengthened their (Faith); and indeed We should then have bestowed upon them a great reward from Ourselves. And indeed We should have guided them to a Straight Way.” [Nisaa; Verse 66-68]. Let us now incline towards the shades of this Surah in order to revive the Sunnah, to attain guidance and to admonish our hearts.
In the Name of Allah the Gracious, the Merciful.

“Qaf. By the honoured Qur’an.

Nay, they wonder that there has come to them a warner (Muhammad – peace be upon him) from among themselves. So the disbelievers say: “This is a strange thing!”

When we are dead and have become dust (shall we be resurrected?) That is a far return.”

We know that which the earth takes of them (their dead bodies), and with Us is a Book preserved (i.e. the Book of Decrees).

Nay, but they have denied the truth (this Qur’an) when it has come to them, so they are in a confused state (cannot differentiate between right and wrong).” [Qaaf; Verses 1-5]

In the last of this group of verses, Allah describes those who rejected the truth as being in a confused state. This is truly the state of anyone who keeps away from the guidance of the Qur’an, denies the truth and seeks guidance from other than Allah. Such a person is always erratic in his thoughts and positions and confused in his life and actions. He always follows his desire; and concepts and values are always contradicting in his view.

In the following verses, Allah commands His slaves to ponder over His Works through which He created everything in the state of perfection. Can anyone besides Allah create what is similar? Far is Allah above that. Rather, can the creatures stand by themselves? This is indeed, a great proof that Allah is Omnipotent and that He is the True God.

“Have they not looked at the heaven above them, how We have made it and adorned it, and there are no rifts in it?

And the earth!We have spread it out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and have produced therein every kind of lovely growth.

It is an insight and a Reminder for every slave who turns to Allah in repentance.

And We send down blessed water (rain) from the sky, then We produce therewith gardens and grain that are reaped.

And tall date-palms, with ranged clusters.

A provision for (Allah’s) slaves. And We give life therewith to a dead land. Thus will be the resurrection.

Denied before them (i.e. these pagans of Makkah) the people of Nu, and the dwellers of Rass, and Thamud;

And ‘Ad, and Fir’aun (Pharaoh), and the brethren of Lut;

And the Dwellers of the Wood, and the people of Tubba’.

Everyone of them denied (their) Messengers, so My Threat took effect. Were We then tired with the first creation?

Nay, they are in confused doubt about a new creation (i.e. Resurrection)?” [Qaaf; Verse 6-15]

High and Exalted is Allah. Indeed, the One Who created the creatures from non-existence and never lacked strength while He was creating them is perfectly Capable of repeating their creation.

After this, Allah explains the second creation that will take place on the Day of Resurrection. He preceded that by reminding His slaves of His creation of man, that nothing is hidden from Him and that He knows what moves about in the hearts, not to talk of what is uttered or done however concealed they are. He explains that all that is watched and recorded. The Muslim should therefore get prepared for that day. For anyone who did an atom weight of good deed will find its reward and anyone who did an atom weight of evil deed will find its reward. You should therefore call yourselves to account before you are called to it.

“And indeed We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).

(Remember!) that the two receivers (recording angels) receive (each human being), one sitting on the right and one on the left (to note his or her actions).

Not a word does he (or she) utter, but there is a watcher by him ready (to record it).

And the stupor of death will come in truth: “This is what you have been avoiding!” [Qaaf; Verse 16-19]

Yes! There is no escape from death. It is the fate of every living thing. No Muslim or disbeliever will escape from this fate. In spite of the severity of death, what comes after it, such as situations of the grave, the Resurrection and Reckoning are far more severe and more horrible.

“And the Trumpet will be blown – that will be the Day whereof warning. And every person will come forth along with an (angel) to drive (him) and an (angel) to bear witness.” [Qaaf; Verse 20-21]

The sinner will then be told: “Indeed you were heedless of this. Now We have removed from you your covering, and sharp is your sight this Day!” [Qaaf; Verse 22]

In this difficult situation, the record of deeds will be distributed and the people will be shown their positions in Paradise or Hell. It is then that the dwellers of Hell will start arguing with one another as Allah explains in different places in His Book. He says:

“And his companion (angel) will say: “Here is (this Record) ready with me!”

(Allah will say to the angels): “Both of you throw into Hell every stubborn disbeliever.”

Hinderer of good, transgressor, doubter, “Who set up another god with Allah.

Then both of you cast him in the severe torment.”

His companion (Satan) will say: “Our Lord! I did not push him to transgress, but he was himself in error far astray.”

Allah will say: “Dispute not in front of Me, I had already in advance sent you the threat.

The Sentence that comes from Me cannot be changed, and I am not unjust (to the least) to the slaves.”

On the Day when We will say to Hell: “Are you filled?” It will say: “Are there any more (to come)?” [Qaaf; Verse 23-30]

As for Paradise, it will be brought closer to the believers as an honour to them. Listen to the description of its will-be dwellers.

“And Paradise will be brought near to the pious not far off.

(It will be said): “This is what you were promised – (it is) for those oft-returning (to Allah) in sincere repentance, and those who preserve their covenant with Allah.

“Who feared the Most Beneficent (Allah) in the Ghaib (Unseen) and brought a heart turned in repentance (to Him and absolutely free from each and every kind of polytheism).

“Enter you therein in peace and security – this is a Day of eternal life!” There they will have all that they desire – and We have more.” [Qaaf; Verse 31-35]

In a wonderful explicative apposition, the end of this Surah re-emphasises all the issues that are discussed in it. Allah says,

“And how many a generation We have destroyed before them who were stronger in power than they.

And (when Our Torment came) they ran for a refuge in the land!

Could they find any place of refuge (for them to save themselves from destruction)?

Verily, therein is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful.

And indeed We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in six Days and nothing of fatigue touched Us.

So bear with patience all that they say, and glorify the Praises of your Lord, before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting.

And during a part of the night (also) glorify His praises and (so likewise) after the prayers.” [Qaaf; Verse 36-40]

Allah also tells us that performance of prayers and remembrance of Allah are means of perseverance and strength. He says:

“And listen on the Day when the caller will call from a near place.

The Day when they will hear As-Saihah (shout) in truth: that will be the Day of coming out.

Verily, We it is Who give life and cause death; and to Us is the final return.

On the Day when the earth shall be cleft, from off them, (they will come out) hastening forth.

That will be a gathering, quite easy for Us. We know of best what they say.

And you (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) are not the one to force them (to Belief). But warn by the Qur’an; him who fears My Threat.” [Qaaf; Verse 41-45]

Fellow Muslims! Show gratitude to Allah for giving you rain. Ask Him to make it a rain of blessing and to make it cover all the Muslim lands. For the real drought is not in lack of rain but lack of blessings in the fallen rain. Adhere to the means of achieving blessing. Allah says: “And if the people of the towns had believed and had piety, certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth, but they belied (the Messengers). So We took them (with punishment) for what they used to earn (polytheism and crimes).” [A’raaf; Verse 96]

So O Allah for You is all praise for Your abundant bounties and great boons. O Allah for You is praise until You are pleased, and for You is praise until when You are pleased, and for You is praise after You are pleased. O Allah make that which You sent down on us strength to obey You and deliverance to it. O Allah make the plants grow with it, and make the milk flow in abundance with it, and make water abundant for us. O Allah make it a rain of mercy, and increase us in Your blessings, mercy, virtue and sustenance, and make your bounties general for all the houses of Islam, O Alive, O Self-Sustaining, O Possessor of Majesty and Bounty.

O Allah send salutations on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad just as You have sent salutations on Ibraheem and the family of Ibraheem. Verily You are the Praiseworthy, the Mighty. And send Your blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhmmad just as You sent Your blessings on Ibraheem and the family of Ibraheem in the worlds. Verily You are the Praiseworthy, the Mighty.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2013/03...of-surah-qaaf/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

High Aspiration
26 April 2013 ~ 6 Jumadal Akhirah 1434

by Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib

Part One

Praise be to Allah (), the Creator of all living creatures and the All-Knower. He preordained that His devout worshippers should be privileged over all creatures so that they would serve as exemplary models like lofty towers, and their faith would render them distinguished in the entire world. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah, with no associate ‒a testimony free of any scepticism or contention‒ and I bear witness that Muhammad () is His servant and Messenger, the best creature who ever tread on earth. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace on His Messenger Muhammad (), on his Companions, so brave and heroic, like lions, on his tabi'în (the contemporaries of the Companions of the Prophet [] after his death), and on all those who have followed them in righteousness till the Day of Judgment.

Having said that, I advise you to fear Allah and hold fast to His firmest bond: O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islâm [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh)]. [Âl-Îmran: 102]

O servants of Allah!

High aspiration is a token of honour that people look forward to. With it, nations can reach the zenith of achievement, realise the best results, and foster moral perfection. After all, acquiring such a prestigious status is a divine favour: Allâh will exalt in degree those of you who believe, and those who have been granted knowledge … [Al-Mujadila: 11]

Allah did commend His prophets and messengers for their strong aspirational potential, and counselled His Prophet Muhammad () to follow their example: Therefore be patient (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) as did the Messengers of strong will... [Al-Aĥqaf: 35]. Allah equally commended His devout worshippers for their high aspiration in situations requiring toughness and patience, exceptional determination and steadfastness, and unshakable religious belief: Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allâh [i.e. they have gone out for Jihâd (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers]; of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred); and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allâh] in the least. [Al-Aĥzeb: 23]

In addition, Allah () commanded His creatures to compete for achievements. He said, So hasten towards all that is good … [Al-Baǭara: 148]. The Prophet () also taught his Ûmmah how to promote motivation and develop a sense of high aspiration. He said, “There are one hundred ranks in Paradise which Allah reserved for the mujahedeen for the sake of divine satisfaction; the interval between each two ranks measures the distance between the earth and the heavens. So, when you supplicate Allah, do ask for Firdaws ‒it is Middle Paradise and Higher Paradise. On top of it is located Allah’s Throne, and from it springs out the rivers of Paradise.” [Reported by Imam Bukhari]. On his part, Omar Bin Al-Khaŧŧab () was reported to have said, “Let not your volition and aspiration weaken, for I have never seen something that discourages people from performing good deeds more than that.”

Likewise, Allah () dispraised feeble-minded people who rush to fulfil their capricious and worldly desires when He said, “And recite (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) to them the story of him to whom We gave Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), but he threw them away; so Shaitân (Satan) followed him up, and he became of those who went astray; [Al-Âraaf: 175]. And had We willed, We would surely have elevated him therewith but he clung to the earth and followed his own vain desire. So his parable is the parable of a dog: if you drive him away, he lolls his tongue out, or if you leave him alone, he (still) lolls his tongue out. Such is the parable of the people who reject Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.). So relate the stories, perhaps they may reflect. [Al-Âraaf: 176]

Servants of Allah!

A religion characterised by such principles never accepts its followers to be lazy, sluggish, powerless, inactive, irresolute, feeble-minded and weak-spirited: So when you have finished (your occupation), devote yourself for Allâh’s worship. [Al-Sharĥ: 7]; And to your Lord (Alone) turn (all your) intentions and hopes. [Al-Sharĥ: 7].

As the pursuit of relaxation and idleness is not a commendable trait of those with valour and a sense of honour, one of the early commands our Prophet Muhammad () received was: O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)! [Al-Muzzammil: 1]  Stand (to pray) all night, except a little [Al-Muzzammil: 2]. The Prophet (), along with his Companions, made a lot of sacrifices; they migrated from their native towns; they were brought up for the sake of Allah. It is with sacrifice that they achieved victory at (the Battle of) Badr. It is with patience and certitude that they saved themselves from Al-Ahzeb (the Confederates). They departed into (the Battle of) Tabûk while in deplorable conditions. They equally followed their Prophet in time of difficulty; and when they were told: “Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them." [Al-Îmran: 173], they became stronger in faith and steadfastness, and simply replied: "Allâh (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).” [Al-Îmran: 173-]

After the Prophet’s death (), his Companions did not spare any effort (to carry on their mission). Thus, their aspirations were so high that they defeated the two greatest of the time civilisations (i.e. the Persians and the Romans), hoisted their flags over the hills of the East and the West, and spread civilisation, knowledge and guidance throughout the entire world. All such achievements have been recorded in the chronicles of history in the form of spell-binding and enthralling biographies and records. Were it not for the existence of concrete historical evidence, some people might consider such accounts as just dreams!

They were humans, yet their hearts and souls were moulded by the Revelation to the extent that they became fond of the heavens. Allah selected and tested them (by hardships); they succeeded because they were sincere. That was the way the Prophet’s () educated his Companions until they became leaders of the Ûmmah in the areas of knowledge, jihad, and leadership.

O Muslims!

Today, our Ûmmah is in need of people who encourage our children to become (exceptional) men and women, for nowadays many people consider themselves as being promised paradise in the hereafter just because they happened to perform petty acts of worship, without ever contemplating the idea of sacrifice, as if Allah would not select amongst us martyrs or witnesses over mankind. For some of them, Islam has become a sheer social conduct which might be shared with other people and in which some others might outperform them. Don’t they realise that Islam means a set of solemn and arduous obligations, continuous work and trial: Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, "When (will come) the Help of Allâh?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allâh is near! [Al-Baǭara: 214]

If someone sleeps oneself to boredom, gets immersed in feasts abundantly set on tables, spends long hours shopping and in nightly entertainment, unrestrainedly spends most of the day browsing electronic media or performing futile entertainment activities and run after worldly gains, like predators in the bush running after their prey, then when should such a person be capable of producing anything positive or repelling any kind of external aggression or working for the advancement of his own nation?

Great achievements and grand aspirations strictly depend on hard work and arduous effort. If we examine the status of any nation, we will realize that no nation has been able to prosper and accomplish success ‒carving out its renown in the chronicles of history‒ without hard toil, immeasurable sacrifice, and onerous effort in all areas of life. Nations will never achieve such a status if their people do not assume their responsibilities and their youth and youngsters are not ready to serve their communities and offer sacrifices. This leads us to realize the risk of negligence when it comes to raising children or failing to nurture them to be serious and responsible. Imam Ghazali ‒may Allah send mercy on his soul‒ said, “The child is under the guardianship of his parents, and his pure uncorrupted heart is a precious gem. If he is taught to form good habits he will behave accordingly ‒achieving happiness both in the herein and the hereafter‒ and if, on the contrary, he is trained to acquire bad habits and is left to his own animalistic instincts, he will be unhappy and his destiny will be fatal. His deliverance lies in mending his manners, polishing up his taste, and teaching him good ethics.”

A retrospective look at how the earlier generations of Muslims handled this issue shows that they concentrated on a balanced education of their children. They were keen to instruct them how to face hardships and endure painful experiences without complaining. Indeed, they offered generous services to this religion and glory of this Ûmmah without asking for any favour.

Servants of Allah!

The current state of weakness and generalised infirmity from which our Ûmmah is suffering is due to excessive attachment to worldly desires and to the sense of contentment with petty mundane benefits, coupled with cowardice due to fear of losing benefits or missing opportunities. Thawban () narrated the following hadîth of the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (): “Nations will be tempted to rush to defeat you in the same way eaters rush to a feast.” ‘One member of the audience then asked,’ ‘Is that because we will be outnumbered (by them) then?’ ‘The Prophet replied,’ “No, you will be numerous then; but you are like scum. Allah will remove any feeling of apprehension from the hearts of your enemy vis-à-vis you, and will alternatively instil a feeling of frailty and defeatism in your hearts.” ‘Someone asked,’ ‘What is frailty and defeatism?’ “It is the longing for worldly desires and the hatred of death”, ‘replied the Prophet ()’. [Narrated by Imam Ahmed and Abu Dawood with an authentic chain of authority]

Prophet Muhammad () said, “The moment your commercial transactions become based on forms of usury, you stick to the plough behind bovine tails, and feel contented with your crop, Allah will inflict upon you humiliation which only return to (and reconciliation with) your religion can eradicate.” [Narrated by Abu Dawood with a sound chain of authority].

Excessive indulgence in the pleasures of life, desires, debased amusement, and distracting entertainment is like drugs which obstruct the advancement of the Ûmmah and impede its accession to a prestigious position. Just read history! Just read modern and ancient history to learn lessons. O wise and judicious people! This Ûmmah has been experiencing a sense of loss for a long period now and its tragic conditions have persisted for ages, reaching a dead end of utter darkness.

During the last century, we have seen the rapid renaissance and full restoration of other nations to prosperity after many falls. They have been steadily recovering despite a series of crises, wars, plagues, predicaments, and ordeals. Of course, this is not a statement of admiration for the West; it is rather a statement of bewilderment by the conditions of the East which is experiencing ordeals monthly or bi-monthly. However, people refuse to repent (from their sins) and awaken from their slumber. Allah did blame communities that had suffered from ordeals inflicted upon them once or twice a year without ever repenting or getting out of their state of stupor.

All the goods and chattels of life can never be an efficient and wholesome way to realise pride and integrity for the Ûmmah. Arabs can have at their disposal all types of resources everywhere; but if one day they ignore the principles of their religion, they will simply be reduced to incapacity and eternal humiliation, notwithstanding their possession of the weaponry of the East and the West combined.

Thus, Muslims are left but with a single alternative to achieve glory; it is their return to Islam as both outer physical appearance and inner essence. Muslims are therefore invited to follow the footsteps of the pioneers of Islamic creed in the sincerity of their faith and the rectitude of their moral behaviour. Retracing such path of honour and integrity will depend on Muslims’ knowledge of how, in the past, they became an Ûmmah and how they claimed their existence in history. We primarily need to conduct a self-assessment and a re-examination of our status as a whole.

As a rule, the Ûmmah will not be subject to outside aggression until it deteriorates from the inside. Thus, if we perpetrate evil deeds, we should not normally expect Allah to bestow favours upon us: That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqûn (the pious). [Al-Ǭaṧaṧ: 83]; And indeed We have written in Az-Zabûr [i.e. all the revealed Holy Books - the Taurât (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Psalms, the Qur’ân,] after (We have already written in) Al-Lauh Al-Mahfûz (the Book that is in the heaven with Allâh), that My righteous slaves shall inherit the land (i.e. the land of Paradise). [Al-Anbiya: 105]

The human being who is fit for edifying civilisation and inheriting Allah’s land is not restrictively the one characterised by intelligence; he should be someone who has a live conscience, a high feeling of taqwa (i.e. constructive and deterrent fear of Allah) which inhibits moral unrestraint and unethical capricious drives. All those qualities are normally nurtured by the enlightenment of monotheism and acts of worship. In fact, the entire world is in need for such a venerated spiritual leadership.

Making its way through the twenty-first Century, the world has found itself immersed in an atmosphere of injustice, disorder, anxiety and disintegration, where the night darkness is blocking the day light, the advocates of personal desires are flocking from all directions, virtue and morality are defeated, and where man –fueled by greed and vanity– goes on to kill his fellow man. In today’s world, the flames of lust are raging and the torch of guidance is being put out. Objects and substances have turned so precious and man so cheap.



In today’s world, vibrant cities are being flattened and thousands of people killed in minutes and seconds. A handful of nations have managed to dominate the world and turn it into a house of gambling or a butcher's market. They set out to abuse humanity the way a baby would a piece of paper and to manipulate other nations the way one would juggle a ball. In view of this, the universe cried out for justice, groping about the enlightening guidance of Islam as the steady gleaming light of dawn would traverse the gloomy darkness of the night. So, do you hear the call?!

O Muslims!

What you have in hand is the truest of all the heavenly legacies ever bestowed on man, and in your hands the world’s nurture. The Muslim Ummah is blessed with an everlasting religion that is capable of stirring life into dormant souls and bringing about rebirth. This Ummah is still in the process of recovering and trying to recuperate its strength in order to resume its maiden mission. May Allah () grant it the power it needs to accomplish its goal!

The territory our great Ummah occupies holds the reins of the entire world and the key to prosperity. Our Ummah holds the well-being and honor of humanity; and had it succeeded in employing such assets properly, it would have needed no other nation to help it while the rest of the world would have rushed to it in need of assistance: Verily, he who fears Allâh with obedience to Him (by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allâh makes not the reward of the Muhsinûn (good-doers - see V.2:112) to be lost. [Youssef: 90]

Therefore, aim at success, put on the garments of pure righteousness, take from the ‘lantern’ of Allah’s words thus: Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allâh ordered, by following the true Faith of Islâmic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds). [Ashams: 9], then follow (another) way. [Al Kahf: 92]. Recover your dignity and say ‘NO’ to desires and whims, wishes and fear, division and discord. Make the resolve to traverse pathways and pull through hardships, and bear in mind that reaching peaks and pinnacles may not be carried out in one leap and that progression is a necessary measure Allah () has created as part of His sunan (laws) in life.

Those with a high aspiration are willing to carry their Ummah’s concerns and sacrifce themselves and all that is precious to them towards helping it accomplish its goals and attain greatness. Such people do realize that positive outcomes are contingent upon negative ones and that interests, good things, pleasure and amenities may not be obtained except with a fair share of pain and discomfort. Those seeking greatness for their Ummah must learn to rise above others’ blame and reproach and must proceed to work hard towards that end: And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it (i.e. does righteous deeds of Allâh’s Obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) - then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, (thanked and rewarded by Allâh). [Al Isra: 19]. In this context, the Prophet () said: "He who is afraid of the pillage of the enemy, sets out in the early part of the night; and he who sets out early, reaches his destination. Be on your guard that the commodity of Allah is precious. Verily the commodity of Allah is Jannah".

Verily, those possessing a strong determination do not rescind their intentions. In this regard Allah () says: Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allâh. [Al Imran: 159]

The road to success is not paved with roses and basils. It rather requires much endurance and hard work to make one’s way through it. Once a man gets a taste of success, then trouble does not matter anymore. Ironically, it turns into a delicacy that is sweeter than serenity and tranquility. Indeed, this is the Way of Allah () in this life: As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allâh’s religion - Islâmic Monotheism). And verily, Allâh is with theMuhsinûn (good doers). [Al Ankabout: 69]

The rearing of the Ummah on such tenets is the responsibility of parents, educators, the media and the officials alike. However, promoting insensibility and debility through the proliferation of distractions may only breed a tamed nation that is fit neither to build during times of prosperity nor to withstand hardships at times of calamity.

As it experiences the gloomiest of its circumstances ever and the most precarious juncture throughout its history, it is incumbent upon the Muslim Ummah to rise above the low motives of amusement, frivolity, division, discord, negligence and oblivion, and to take upon itself to raise its generation on the values of earnestness, ambition and strong resolve. Allah told His Prophet: O Yahyâ (John)! Hold fast the Scripture [the Taurât (Torah)]. [Mariam: 12]. He also said: Hold unto these with firmness. [Al Aaraf: 145]

The Laws of Allah in matters of triumph and defeat are no mere accidents as events are meant to evolve to an end in accordance with accurate universal laws, and premises as consistent as the effects that come to validate the causes: Verily! Allâh will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allâh). [Al Raad: 11]

May Allah bless you and me by the Great Qur'ān and benefit us with the sunnah of the Master of all the messengers! Having said this, I ask Allah () to forgive me and you!

Part Two

Praise be to Allah Who would send out restraining exhortations to fend off evil, put forward lessons that would cause tears to flow, and Who would not hesitate to show His creatures their disgrace whenever they deserved it and their true value after they had been deluded. He () is the possessor of superb sagacity. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah alone, and I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on him and all his family and Companions!

Now, then:

Right there, in the backyard of the Arab World; on Muslim soil, and precisely in Syria, where the entire world can hear and see, the Syrian people are undergoing massacre after massacre. Blood is being shed continuously. The criminal regime proceeds to take the lives of thousands of Syrians, displace millions of them, terrorize them, bombard the heritage of ancient civilizations, and purposely set ablaze libraries holding treasures of knowledge and manuscripts. By so doing, that regime is deliberately announcing its formal break away from all that is human, ignoring religious values, civilization, and human heritage and turning a deaf ear to the crying of young children.

Perched on the land of Syria as an intruding cancerous tumor eating away its body, that regime continues to practice all forms of massacres and hideous crimes against the Syrian people, propagating terrorism among them with the help of its brothers in faith and enemies of Arabs and Muslims. These are only a minority in the process of eradicating the majority; a handful of people dominating an entire nation: And whomsoever Allâh disgraces, none can honour him. [Al Haj: 18]

Five hundred people, mostly young children, are being slain in Artouz Al-Fadhl in the outskirts of Damascus, while the world is watching and still looking for legimate reasons to intervene or supply weapons. Such reasons and excuses are indeed flimsy and fabricated as the the real motives lie in the fear that the neighboring enemy would feel embittered over the falling of weapons in the hands of true believers. Hence Syrian blood continues to be shed and people to be massacred at the hands of two enemies, not just one: an aggressor from inside and an occupier from outside; and hence continue to fall the values of those nations and organization that pretend to be protectors of man and human rights and to stand up for the weak and the defenseless as they watch such heart-rending images and horrifying news from Syria without lifting a finger.

It is an obligation for all to stand for the oppressed and to help put an end to this flagrant injustice. Anyone capable of supplying funds or weapons or exercising political pressure towards this end but refrains from doing so is judged to be a sinner and should expect divine retribution to be be wrought on him sooner or later. In this context, the Prophet () says: “When the people see the wrongdoer and they do not stop him, then soon Allah shall envelope them all in punishment from him."

O Allah! Alleviate the suffering of our brothers in Syria! O Allah! Alleviate the suffering of our brothers in Syria! O Allah! Put an end to their affliction! O Allah! Speed up their victory and relief! O Allah! Have mercy on them for they are too weak! Mend their breakage! Be with them! Bless the souls of their dead and heal their wounded! You, the charitable, the benevolent!

Remember –may Allah have mercy on you– that Allah gave you a command, which He Himself started as He said: Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât[1] on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting(salutation, i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum. [Al Ahzab: 56]

O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, honours and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, and on his good and pure family! O Allah! Be pleased with all of Your Messenger’s Companions and those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Judgement!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims and fail tyrants, infidels and corruptors! O Allah! Grant glory to Your Religion, Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet and Your believing servants!

O Allah! Foreordain for this nation (the nation of Islam) a matter (an affair) of rationality (guidance) whereby the people of piety are honored and sinful people are guided, and whereby al-ma’roof (good deeds) is enjoined and al-munkar (evil deeds) is prevented! O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Make preoccupied with their own evil those who wish to harm Islam and Muslims! Turn their plots and their cunning against them! O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your cause in Palestine, in the Levant and wherever they may be, O Lord of the Worlds! O Allah! Lift the siege around them, improve their conditions, and suppress their enemy!

O Allah! Liberate Al Aqsa Mosque from the oppressors’ injustice and the occupiers’ aggression! O Allah! Improve the conditions of our Muslim brothers in Egypt and everywhere! O Allah! Bring them close together on the path of guidance! O Allah! Protect them against the evil doers among them and set right their conditions!

O Allah! Be on the side of our brothers in Syria! O Allah! Unite them around righteousness and guidance! O Allah! Spare their blood! Safeguard their tranquility, bring them close together, feed their hungry, protect their honor, grant them boldness, strength and victory against their oppressors! O You, the Living, the Everlasting!

O Allah! Guide our leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to do whatever you love and accept. O Allah! Guide him to piety and righteousness! O Allah! Impart on him health and well-being! O Allah! Grant him, his Crown Prince, his brothers and assistants success to do what is good for the people and the country!

O Allah! Grant success to all the leaders of Muslims in order to govern by Your Sharia and follow the Sunnah of Your Prophet ()! O Allah! Make them a Mercy on Your true servants!

O Allah! Make safe and prosperous our country and those of all Muslims around the world! Protect us against the evil of wrongdoers, the maliciousness of the lecherous and the evil of those plotting to carry it out by day or night! Our Lord!


Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al Baqarah: 201], Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folks. [Al Omran: 147]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and make come true our wishes in what pleases You! O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, our wives and children, You are All-Hearing! O Allah! We ask You to be pleased with us and grant us Your paradise, and we seek refuge in You against Your wrath and hell fire!

We ask Allah for forgiveness! We ask Allah for forgiveness! We ask Allah for forgiveness! Allah is the only deity, the Living, the Subsisting, and we repent to Him!

O Allah! You are Allah, and there is no deity worthy of worship but You! You are the Self-Sufficient while we (humans) are destitute! Do send down rain on us and save us from despair! O Allah! Send rain down on us! Bestow upon us expedient rain; a blissful, flowing, widespread, useful and harmless rain, one that would rejuvenate the land, quench the people’s thirst and reach the rural and the urban lands!

O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy! O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy! O Allah! Send down upon us rain of mercy, not rain of torment, disaster, destruction, or flooding!

O Allah! Answer our prayers, for You are indeed the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! Forgive us! You are indeed Most Forgiving, Most Merciful!

Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! You are free from what they attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the messengers! And all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!


Source: http://www.alharamain.gov.sa/index.c...owseby=khateeb

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[BintAbee]

:sl:

Truth Triumphant, Falsehood Defeated

14 Rajab 1434; 24 May 2013

Khutbah Topic

His Eminence Sheikh Saleh Bin Muhammad Al-Tâleb ‒may Allah protect him‒delivered this week’s Friday Khutbah titled “Truth Triumphant, Falsehood Defeated.” He spoke about the eternal battle between truth and falsehood and asserted that victory will inevitably be on the side of what is right, however long the battle might take. He also exhorted all Muslims to return to the two divine revelations (the Holy Qur’ān and the Noble Sunnah), to follow their teachings, and to adopt them as a way of life.

Part One

Praise be to Allah Who decreed that final glory, supremacy and victory would be granted to His devout worshippers and loyal servants despite the sufferings and agonies which might be inflicted on them, and the recurrent predicaments which they might suffer. that supremacy would be assigned to His loyal servants, notwithstanding the successive predicaments and agonies to which they might fall victim. Allah () promised to bestow on them double relief to face just a single ordeal and vowed that their gloomy nights would be followed by bright dawn as a token of forgiveness.

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, with no associate. He alone may deadlock or open up all affairs. commands the obstruction of whatever state affairs and to Him exclusively belongs resolution to every crisis. He makes days unfold in alternation among His creatures whose destinies fluctuate in a preordained direction. I also bear witness that Muhammad () is Allah’s Servant and Messenger, the most open-handed creature on earth and the noblest in spirit ‒may Allah’s Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) be sent onto him, his family, and his Companions, who took maximum advantage of their Prophet’s teachings and spread the word of truth after his demise in order to propagate his message and open up new horizons for it in remote territories.

Having said that, my counsel to you is to truly fear Allah and hold fast to the unbreakable bond of Islam: O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allâh, He will grant you Furqân [(a criterion to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you; and Allâh is the Owner of the Great Bounty. [Al-Anfâl: 29]

Certainly, Allah is in full command of all matters in the universe. All creatures are due to return unto Him to have their fate determined, and all litigants are bound to convene before Him; so, make your preparations and take all necessary precautions for this encounter: How (will it be) when We gather them together on the Day about which there is no doubt (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). And each person will be paid in full what he has earned? And they will not be dealt with unjustly. [Al-Îmran: 25]

On resurrection day, people shall be congregated naked, just like their original state when they were first created (born). They would avail themselves of no garment whatsoever, except the garment of taǭwa (if ever they happened to observe taǭwa in the Herein): …And each person will be paid in full what he has earned [Al-Îmran: 25]. As stated in the Holy Qur’ān above, each person shall be judged individually, denuded of titles, privileges, decorations, awards or medals.

O Muslims!

In the Book of Allah, there is reassurance and relief to every believer and guidance for everyone with unshakable faith. Allah will never let down His loyal servants, i.e. truthful believers, for subsequent to each predicament Allah proclaims to His devout worshippers: So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers. [139] If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns, that Allâh may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allâh likes not the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers). [140] And that Allâh may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers. [141] [Al-Îmran: 139-141]
In fact, wrong-doing is futureless. Look at how Allah narrated to people the histories of ancient nations that had been devastated and therefore doomed to extinction because they persisted in perpetrating sin. Allah’s () laws governing the universe dictate that His Servants’ faith must be tested in accordance with the wisdom stipulated in the above-stated verse: ...that Allâh may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you... [Al-Îmran: 140]. Allah’s trials also aim at purging the ranks of the believers. This is indicated in Allah’s () statement: Allâh will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. Nor will Allâh disclose to you the secrets of the Ghaib (unseen) ... [Al-Îmran: 179]

Zaid ibn Asslam narrated: “Once Abu Ubaida ibn Al-Jarrah wrote to Omar ibn Khattab (may Allah be pleased with them both) and mentioned to him the huge number of the Roman troops. He expressed his anxiety about their potential threat. Omar replied, “Whatever predicament is inflicted on a devoted believer will be eased, and Allah will soon send relief; for a single predicament will never overcome a double relief [1]. Allah says in His Holy Book: O you who believe! Endure and be more patient (than your enemy), and guard your territory by stationing army units permanently at the places from where the enemy can attack you, and fear Allâh, so that you may be successful. [Al-Îmran: 200]

Therefore, in Allah we trust. We are hoping to see the break of the dawn of salvation whose light will eliminate darkness and whose daylight will herald agreeable hopes!

May Allah bless you and me by the Holy Qur’ān and the Noble Sunnah; and may we reap the fruit of the signs and wisdom they contain. This being said, I implore Allah () to forgive us all.


Part Two
Praise be to Allah, the Omnipotent, the Possessor of all things, and to Whom the entire universe is indebted. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah Who has no partner. Those who turn to Him among His servants are never disappointed and those who embrace His faith are never disgraced. I also bear witness that Mohammad () is His Servant and Messenger. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace and Blessings upon him, his family, and all of his Companions!

Now then,

Our ‘yaqin’ [2] in Allah () is so great, and our faith in His will to carry out His promises is so unswerving. We turn to Allah, the Almighty, when all paths seem to be cut off and we find refuge in Him when our prospects turn desolate. Verily, full power and control lie in no one else’s hands but His.

As we speak, it is the obligation of every Muslim to supplicate Allah with utmost sincerity on behalf of our oppressed Muslim brothers who have been alternately victimized with no one to rid them of their distress but Allah.

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds! “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah the Incomparably Great, the Ever-Forbearing. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah the Lord of the Mighty Throne. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah the Lord of the heavens, the Lord of the earth, and the Lord of the Honorable Throne. [3] "

O Allah! You, Whose soldiers are invincible; Whose promises are never broken; and Whose command is ever carried out; glory and praise be to You! Honored he is who seeks Your neighbourliness! Glorified be Your praise, and sanctified be Your names! O Allah! We beseech You by Your Supreme Name to have mercy on our brothers in Syria! O Allah! Have mercy on our brothers in Syria! O Allah! Lift their distress and grant them speedy relief! O Allah! Have mercy on them for they are defenseless; mend their breakage and take charge of their case! You, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate!

O Allah! You, Who sent down the angels on the Day of Badr [4] and dispersed Al Ahzāb [5] on the Day of Al Khandaq (the Trench); Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your cause in the Levant in general and in Al Qusair [6] in particular!

O Allah! Lift the siege around them, spare their blood, reassure them, feed the hungry among them, preserve their dignity and honor, strengthen their stamina, and grant them power and victory over their oppressors!

O Allah! Set right their conditions, unite them around righteousness, and protect them against the evil doers among them! O Allah! Suppress their enemy! O Allah! Suppress their enemy! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side with them! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side with them!

O Allah! The Revealer of The Book (The Holy Qur'ān), the Runner of the clouds, and the Defeater of Al Ahzāb (the Confederates)! Defeat the oppressors, shake the ground from underneath them and grant victory to our brothers in faith over them!

O Allah! Grant victory to Your Religion, Your Holy Book, Your Prophet’s Sunnah, and Your true servants! O Allah! Save Al-Aqsa Mosque from the evil of the oppressors and the aggression of the occupiers!
O Allah! Set right the conditions of our brothers in Egypt and everywhere! O Allah! Unite them around righteousness and true guidance. O Allah! Set right their affairs and protect them against the evil doers among them!
O Allah! Foreordain for this Ummah (the nation of Islam) a matter (an affair) of rationality (guidance) where the people of piety are honored and those of sins are guided, and where al-ma’roof (promotion of good deeds) is promoted and al-munkar (promulgation of evil deeds) is prevented! O Lord of the worlds!
O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims and fail tyrants, atheists and corruptors!
O Allah! Make preoccupied with their own evil those who wish to harm Islam and Muslims! Turn their plots and their cunning against them and make that the cause of their own destruction! O Lord of the worlds!

O Allah! Grant success to all the leaders of Muslims in order to govern by Your Sharia and follow the sunnah of Your Prophet ()! O Allah! Make them a mercy on Your believing servants!

O Allah! Make safe and prosperous all of our country and those of all Muslims around the world! Protect us against the evil of wrongdoers, the maliciousness of the lecherous! Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al Baqarah: 201], Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk. [Al Omran: 147]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and let our wishes come true in what pleases You! O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, our wives and children, You are All-Hearing! O Allah! We beseech You to be pleased with us and grant us Your paradise, and we seek refuge in You against Your wrath and Hell fire!

O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy), Peace and Blessings on Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, and on all of his family and Companions!

O Lord! Accept from us, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! Accept our repentance; You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful!

Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! You are free from what they wrongly attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the Messengers! All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

............................................

1. Reference is being made here to the verse of Ash-Sharh: Verily, along with every hardship is relief, Verily, along with every hardship is relief. [Ash-Sharh: 5-6]

2. An Arabic word (يقين) meaning certitude, certainty, unswerving religious conviction

3. The italicized part is from among the supplications of the Prophet ().

4. The Battle of Badr (غزوة بدر‎), fought 17 Ramadan, 2 AH) was a key battle in the early days of Islam and a turning point in the Prophet’s () struggle with the polytheists of Makkah.

5. Al-Ahzab (الأحزاب‎ ) (The Confederates, The Clans, The Coalition, The Combined Forces) is the 33rd surah (Chapter) of the Qur’ān with 73 ayats (Verses). Here, Al-Ahzab refers to the people who gathered to fight the Prophet () and his Islamic Da’wah in Madina. But Allah’s Power and Mercy for His devout believers dispersed the various tribes who attacked Medina, on the Day of Al-Khandaq,and made them leave.

6. A small town in Syria

Source: www.alharamain.gov.sa

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

The prayer, the prayer

Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib

January 9, 2004 ~ Dhul Qa’dah 17, 1424

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, Abundant in gifts; Excessive in bounties; the Remover of difficulties; the Averter of afflictions; He knows the hidden, and He sees what is in the dark. I praise Him – Exalted is He – and I thank Him. He created us from non-existence and extended to us bounties. He guided us with Islam. So for Allah is all praise from before and after. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. He conveyed the message and discharged the trust, and advised the ummah, and truly strove towards Allah, until the certainty (death) approached him. May Allah send salutations and peace on him, and on his family, companions and those who tread on his upright method.

Then fear Allah O Muslims! “O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah.” [Ale Imraan: Verse 102]. Fear Allah and obey Him. “And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.” [Talaaq: Verse 2-3]. Take account of yourselves before you are taken account of, for verily it is easier for you than the reckoning tomorrow. And prepare for the great exhibition by Allah. “That Day shall you be brought to Judgement, not a secret of you will be hidden.” [Haaqqah: Verse 18]. Save your relaxation for your grave, and decrease your amusement and your sleep, for verily before you is a sleep, the morning of which is the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter: Servants of Allah:

Before the sending of the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) this ummah was at the rear of the nations in worship, religion, strength, popularity, and taking the means of this world and being in the forefront, until Allah – the Exalted – blessed it with the sending of the leader of mankind, Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam). So it was just a few years until it (this ummah) excelled over the nations of the earth in every single field, and with truth it ruled, then with good it became expert. And its civilization and rule continued in extension and (thereafter) decreased until our present time and our late era, the condition of the ummah is complained to Allah. The enemies rule, and occupy some of its (ummah’s) homes, and depreciate from its lands, and steal their produce and they fight the Muslims in their religion and ideas. (Together) with the disunity of the Muslims, confusion in opinion and differences (thereby) increasing the rule of the enemies over them.

And verily the enumerating about the weak side and its portrayal humiliates and grieves, but it is necessary to expose the wound in order to cure it. And for many years, those affiliated with the Islamic nation compete in removing the disease and describing the cure, so from ascribing the weakness of the Muslims to material reasons or cultural and ideological reasons or other than that, everyone is looking and striving and every group is rejoicing with what it has. In fact, the condition has reached with some of the Muslims to accusing Islam itself or some of its laws. But the one who ponders over the history of the Islamic nation since its inception and the reflector over its methods and laws knows its illness and medication and its disease and its cure; he knows with certainty the reasons for disgraceful weakness, just as he knows the reasons for victory and stability.

Verily deriving that knowledge is not from humans, but from the Creator of humans – Glorified is He – Who is wise in His saying: “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” [Shoora: Verse 30], and the One Who said (Majestic in His Being): “When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: “From where does this come to us?” Say (to them), “It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds).”” [Ale Imraan: Verse 165]. Just as the beholder also knows that the breezes of change do not blow from idleness, and that reformation starts with the self, “Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah).” [Ra’d: Verse 11], just as he knows that guidance comes after striving, “As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allah’s Religion – Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the good doers.” [Ankaboot: Verse 69].

Therefore, the reason for the current condition of the ummah and its painful situation is the deficiency in adopting the true means of victory, those of which there is no victory without, for we are a nation whom Allah has granted honour through Islam. However, if we seek honour with other than it, Allah will humiliate us. Therefore it is imperative that we take account according to this method. It is compulsory for the Muslims to inspect their conditions with regards to their religion and their relationship with their Lord.

O Muslims: O those who have intended (visiting) the honoured house of Allah:

This is a moment of taking account with the greatest subject of connection with Allah, and the most important pillar after testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Behold, it is that of the prayer.

Prayer – O believers – is a pillar of religion and the ascension of the pious and the compulsion of Allah on the Muslims. There is no religion for the one who has no prayer. And there is no place in Islam for the one who omits the prayer. Whoever omits a compulsory prayer intentionally with no valid excuse, the protection of Allah is cleared off him. The companions of the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) would not regard leaving out any action as disbelief except prayer. And in saheeh Muslim, that the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) said: “There is nothing between a man and disbelief – or polytheism – other than leaving out the prayer.” In fact, Allah made prayer the epitome of Islam, so he said: “Have you (O Muhammad – peace be upon him) seen him (i.e. Abu Jahl) who prevents, A slave (Muhammad -peace be upon him) when he prays?” [Alaq: Verse 9-10]

Every compulsory act Allah (the Exalted) descended upon His messenger except prayer – for verily He (Glorified is He) made His messenger ascend to it. So He made His prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) ascend to the seventh heaven, then He hosted him until he was happy, then He obligated five prayers on him, so it is the most mentioned compulsion in the Quraan. In fact it was the advice of the messenger (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) when leaving this world, while he was overcome by the pangs of death. His noble soul was coming out while he was kind to his nation, he sacrificed himself and he called out: “The prayer, the prayer, and what your right hands own,” and his concern while he was at the last breath asking: “Have the people prayed? Command Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”

It is the epitome of success and the path of success. “Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their prayers with all solemnity and full submissiveness.” [Mu’minoon; Verse 1-2], until He says at the end of their characteristics: “And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) prayers (at their fixed stated hours). These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever.” [Mu’minoon: Verse 9-11].

Prayer is compulsory on the Muslim in every condition. It does not fall away in sickness or fear. In fact even until inability on its conditions and pillars, as long as the intellect is present, and even in the conditions of fear and fighting. “Guard strictly (five obligatory) prayers especially the middle prayer (i.e. the best prayer – ‘Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience. And if you fear (an enemy), pray on foot or riding. And when you are in safety, offer the prayer in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before).” [Baqarah: Verse 238-239], and the description of the fear prayer is mentioned in Sura Nisaa. The Muslim should pray on every condition, facing the qibla, then if he cannot he should pray facing any direction; standing, and if he is unable then sitting, and if he is unable then lying down, and if not then on any condition. And if he is unable to be in purity or to cover his body or something else, then he should pray in any condition. Yes, in any condition, because it is the prayer, that which will be the first of which the servant will be asked about on the Day of Judgement, then if it is sound, then the rest of the actions will be sound. And if it is corrupt then the rest of the actions will be corrupt, just as was authentically narrated to us by the innocent one – peace be upon him – so Allah will not accept worship without it.

O Muslims, five compulsory prayers every day: Fajr Thuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha, are an expiation for what is between them, so the heart is purified from the dirt of sins. In fact it prevents it from the beginning: “Verily, the prayer prevents from Al-Fahsha’ and Al-Munkar” [Ankaboot; Verse 45]. And when your sins narrow upon you a day, and (when) sins burden your back, then race to the prayer and listen to the saying of the God: “And perform prayers, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night (i.e. the five compulsory prayers). Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).” [Hood: Verse 114], and in the two authentic (books of Hadeeth: Bukhari and Muslim): Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Anhu) reports: I heard the messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) saying: “Do you think that if there was a river at the door of one of you and he bathed in it five times a day, there would remain any dirt upon him?” They said: “No dirt would remain upon him.” He said: “That is how it is with the five daily prayers, through them God washes away the sins.”

And the prayer is a door of sustenance: “And enjoin the prayer on your family, and be patient in offering them (prayers). We ask not of you a provision (i.e. to give Us something: money, etc.); We provide for you. And the good end (i.e. Paradise) is for the pious.” [Taaha; Verse 132]. It is a sanctuary at the time of anxiety, and to it is the escape at the time of fear. “O you who believe! Seek help in patience and the prayer. Truly! Allah is with the patient ones.” [Baqarah: Verse 153]. Therefore it was the coolness of the eyes of the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) for when a matter became serious he would take refuge in the prayer, and he would call: “Let us relax, O Bilal, with prayer,” and he replied when asked: Which is the best action? by saying: “Prayer at its appointed time” [Agreed upon]

And after this how can the ummah hope for the help of its Lord when it abandons its link with Him and is unable to fulfil His compulsion?! Verily those who neglect these prayers do not deserve respect and help from the Creator or the creation. Verily prayer is the first condition of victory and stability. “Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) order to perform the five compulsory congregational prayers, to pay the Zakat and they enjoin Al-Ma’ruf, and forbid Al-Munkar. And with Allah rests the end of (all) matters.” [Hajj: Verse 41]. So how can a Muslim be helped or granted ability when he leaves out the prayer while it has been made the reason for entering the fire?! “”What has caused you to enter Hell?” They will say: “We were not of those who used to offer their prayers.” [Muddathir: Verse 42-43], and in the description of the frowning faces: “So he (the disbeliever) neither believed (in this Quran, in the Message of Muhammad – peace be upon him) nor prayed! But on the contrary, he belied and turned away! Then he walked in full pride to his family admiring himself! Woe to you! And then (again) woe to you! Again, woe to you! And then (again) woe to you! Does man think that he will be left neglected without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his Lord (Allah) on him?” [Qiyaamah: Verse 31-36] And with all this, you will be disappointed and grieved to know that a group of Muslims leave out the prayer or are lax regarding it.

So fear Allah O Muslims, and enjoin good, and forbid evil, and advise towards the prayer, and let the example of the trainers and preachers be the command of Allah to His prophet: “And enjoin the prayer on your family, and be patient in offering them (prayers).” [Taaha: Verse 132]. And surely Allah praised Isma’eel – peace be upon him – by His saying: “And he used to enjoin on his family and his people the prayers.” [Maryam: Verse 55]. And in the authentic Hadeeth, according to Muslim, that the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) said: “Command your children to pray when they reach the age of seven and hit them if they leave it off when they reach the age of ten.” And commanding people with it, likewise commanding the family and children is (a means of) preserving it.

O Muslims: And there is a type of people for whom prayer has become cheap, for it is the last of their business, the end of their actions, and at the end of their concerns, so they combine prayers without an excuse, and they delay it beyond its appointed time, Allah’s saying applies to them: “Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for the prayer, they stand with laziness” [Nisaa: Verse 142] and regarding them the saying of the True – Glorified is He – was revealed: “So woe unto those performers of prayers (hypocrites), Who delay their prayer from their stated fixed times” [Ma’oon; Verse 4-5], that is: leaving it out, delaying it from its appointed time. Have they not heard the saying of Allah (Glorified and Majestic) : “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.” [Nisaa: Verse 103]?! That is: from time to time, knowing its beginning and ending times. It is not permissible (to pray) before its time just as it is not permissible to pray after its time except with a valid excuse.

So fear Allah, and preserve the prayers at their appointed times. And the men should know that it is compulsory upon them in the congregation of Muslims in the mosques. And if it were permitted for anyone to omit the (prayer in) congregation, then the merciful prophet to his nation would have permitted that blind old man who between him and the mosque was a valley with many predators and lions and there was no guider to guide him, so he asked the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) permission to pray in his house, but he did not permit him, so what about the one whom Allah has blessed and made easy for him?! And if not, then why were the mosques constructed, minarets raised and congregations established?! Is it only for Jumua (prayers)?! Is it only for Jumua (prayers)?! There is no might and power except with Allah.

Abdullah bin Mas’ood (Radiallahu Anhu) said: “If anyone would like to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, he should persevere in observing these five prayers whenever the call for them is made, for Allah has chosen for your prophet the way of right guidance. And the (five prayers in congregation) are part of this right guidance. If you were to pray them in your houses, as this man who stays behind in his house, you would be leaving a Sunnah of your prophet. If you leave the Sunnah of your prophet, you would go astray. Verily I have seen a time when no one stayed away from them (the congregational prayers) except for the hypocrites who were well known for their hypocrisy. A man would be brought, supported by two people (due to his weakness) until he was placed in a row.” [Narrated by Muslim]

O Muslim: O servant of Allah:

Here you have heard the reminder, and surely you know, so hold fast. Hold fast onto the path of guidance.

May Allah grant me and you the ability to please Him, and may He make our future condition better than its past.

I seek protection in Allah from satan, the rejected one. “And seek help in patience and the prayer and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi’un. (They are those) who are certain that they are going to meet their Lord, and that unto Him they are going to return.” [Baqarah: Verse 45-46]

May Allah bless me and you in the Book and the Sunnah, and benefit us with what is in them of verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine. And I seek forgiveness from Allah – the Exalted – for me and you and the rest of the Muslims, male and female, from every sin and error. So seek His forgiveness and repent to Him. Verily He is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.

Second Khutbah

All praise be to Allah, the Forgiver of sins, Undoer of offences. “He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins” [Shoora: Verse 25]. I praise Him – Glorified is He – and I thank Him. And I repent to Him, and seek His forgiveness and I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. A witness by which we hope for saviour on the day of death. O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on Your servant and messenger Muhammad, and on his family, companions and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter: O Muslims:

Whosoever wishes for refuge, protection, ability and security should preserve the prayer. Jundub bin Abdullah (Radiallahu Anhu) narrates: The messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation will be under the protection of Allah.” [Narrated by Muslim]

Likewise, prayer is a shared compulsion among the prophets, for all of them were commanded with it. Allah (Glorified is He) said about Ibraheem, Loot, Ya’qoob and Isma’eel – peace be upon them – : “And We inspired in them the doing of good deeds and performing the prayer.” [Anbiyaa: Verse 73], and it is the supplication of our father Ibraheem when he supplicated to his Lord saying: “O my Lord! Make me one who performs the prayer, and (also) from my offspring” [Ibraheem: Verse 40], and he said: “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may perform the prayer” [Ibraheem: Verse 37], and He (Glorified is He) said about ‘Eesa (Alayhi Salaam): “And He has enjoined on me prayer, and Zakat, as long as I live.” [Maryam; Verse 31], and in Allah’s (the Exalted) speech to Moosa (Alayhi Salaam): “Verily! I am Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me, and perform the prayer for My Remembrance.” [Taaha; Verse 14], and to our prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him -: “And enjoin the prayer on your family, and be patient in offering them (prayers).” [Taaha: Verse 132], “Perform the prayers from mid-day till the darkness of the night, and recite the Quran in the early dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Quran in the early dawn is ever witnessed.” [Israa: Verse 78], and He (Glorified is He) said about His pious, reforming servants: “And as to those who hold fast to the Book and perform the prayers, certainly, We shall never waste the reward of those who do righteous deeds.” [A’raaf: Verse 170]

So do you find after this – O believers – an act of worship enjoying a rank above the prayer?! Or do the abandoners and neglecters (of prayer) find an excuse after this proclamation?!

Servants of Allah:

And connected to the topic on prayer is an important indication of its spirituality and its essence, behold it is that of perfection and devotion in it. From its perfection is abiding by its conditions, its ablution and being calm in it, and not preceding the Imam, and following the Sunnah in its fulfilling as the Chosen One (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) has said in a Hadeeth narrated by Bukhari: “Pray as you see me praying.”

And devotion, O you praying ones, is the crumbling of the heart in the presence of Allah (the Exalted) and filling it with His awe and respect, and putting off worldly thoughts, and realising the greatness of the Creator (Glorified is He) and being undividedly busy with prayer with respect and peace. At that the body is at peace and the eyes bow down.

‘Uthman bin Affaan (Radiallahu Anhu) narrated: The messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) said: “When the time for a prescribed prayer comes, if any Muslim performs ablution well and offers his prayer with humility and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin, and this applies to for all times.” [Narrated by Muslim], and Allah (the Exalted) said: “O you who believe! Approach not the prayer when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter” [Nisaa: Verse 43], and how many a praying person does not drink intoxicants (yet) he does not know what he is uttering in his prayer. The world and its problems have intoxicated him.

So fear Allah, O Muslims and preserve the covenant of Allah with you, and prepare, for the reckoning is in front of you.

And know that Allah commands you with a command that He begins Himself, so He said: “Allah sends His Salat on the Prophet and also His angels too. O you who believe! Send your Salat on him, and gree him with the Islamic way of greeting.” [Ahzaab: Verse 56]

O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on Your servant and messenger Muhammad, and on his family, wives, companions, those who follow them and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2013/06...er-the-prayer/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

The prayer, the prayer

Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib

January 9, 2004 ~ Dhul Qa’dah 17, 1424

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, Abundant in gifts; Excessive in bounties; the Remover of difficulties; the Averter of afflictions; He knows the hidden, and He sees what is in the dark. I praise Him – Exalted is He – and I thank Him. He created us from non-existence and extended to us bounties. He guided us with Islam. So for Allah is all praise from before and after. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. He conveyed the message and discharged the trust, and advised the ummah, and truly strove towards Allah, until the certainty (death) approached him. May Allah send salutations and peace on him, and on his family, companions and those who tread on his upright method.

Then fear Allah O Muslims! “O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah.” [Ale Imraan: Verse 102]. Fear Allah and obey Him. “And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.” [Talaaq: Verse 2-3]. Take account of yourselves before you are taken account of, for verily it is easier for you than the reckoning tomorrow. And prepare for the great exhibition by Allah. “That Day shall you be brought to Judgement, not a secret of you will be hidden.” [Haaqqah: Verse 18]. Save your relaxation for your grave, and decrease your amusement and your sleep, for verily before you is a sleep, the morning of which is the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter: Servants of Allah:

Before the sending of the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) this ummah was at the rear of the nations in worship, religion, strength, popularity, and taking the means of this world and being in the forefront, until Allah – the Exalted – blessed it with the sending of the leader of mankind, Muhammad (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam). So it was just a few years until it (this ummah) excelled over the nations of the earth in every single field, and with truth it ruled, then with good it became expert. And its civilization and rule continued in extension and (thereafter) decreased until our present time and our late era, the condition of the ummah is complained to Allah. The enemies rule, and occupy some of its (ummah’s) homes, and depreciate from its lands, and steal their produce and they fight the Muslims in their religion and ideas. (Together) with the disunity of the Muslims, confusion in opinion and differences (thereby) increasing the rule of the enemies over them.

And verily the enumerating about the weak side and its portrayal humiliates and grieves, but it is necessary to expose the wound in order to cure it. And for many years, those affiliated with the Islamic nation compete in removing the disease and describing the cure, so from ascribing the weakness of the Muslims to material reasons or cultural and ideological reasons or other than that, everyone is looking and striving and every group is rejoicing with what it has. In fact, the condition has reached with some of the Muslims to accusing Islam itself or some of its laws. But the one who ponders over the history of the Islamic nation since its inception and the reflector over its methods and laws knows its illness and medication and its disease and its cure; he knows with certainty the reasons for disgraceful weakness, just as he knows the reasons for victory and stability.

Verily deriving that knowledge is not from humans, but from the Creator of humans – Glorified is He – Who is wise in His saying: “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” [Shoora: Verse 30], and the One Who said (Majestic in His Being): “When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: “From where does this come to us?” Say (to them), “It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds).”” [Ale Imraan: Verse 165]. Just as the beholder also knows that the breezes of change do not blow from idleness, and that reformation starts with the self, “Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah).” [Ra’d: Verse 11], just as he knows that guidance comes after striving, “As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allah’s Religion – Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the good doers.” [Ankaboot: Verse 69].

Therefore, the reason for the current condition of the ummah and its painful situation is the deficiency in adopting the true means of victory, those of which there is no victory without, for we are a nation whom Allah has granted honour through Islam. However, if we seek honour with other than it, Allah will humiliate us. Therefore it is imperative that we take account according to this method. It is compulsory for the Muslims to inspect their conditions with regards to their religion and their relationship with their Lord.

O Muslims: O those who have intended (visiting) the honoured house of Allah:

This is a moment of taking account with the greatest subject of connection with Allah, and the most important pillar after testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Behold, it is that of the prayer.

Prayer – O believers – is a pillar of religion and the ascension of the pious and the compulsion of Allah on the Muslims. There is no religion for the one who has no prayer. And there is no place in Islam for the one who omits the prayer. Whoever omits a compulsory prayer intentionally with no valid excuse, the protection of Allah is cleared off him. The companions of the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) would not regard leaving out any action as disbelief except prayer. And in saheeh Muslim, that the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) said: “There is nothing between a man and disbelief – or polytheism – other than leaving out the prayer.” In fact, Allah made prayer the epitome of Islam, so he said: “Have you (O Muhammad – peace be upon him) seen him (i.e. Abu Jahl) who prevents, A slave (Muhammad -peace be upon him) when he prays?” [Alaq: Verse 9-10]

Every compulsory act Allah (the Exalted) descended upon His messenger except prayer – for verily He (Glorified is He) made His messenger ascend to it. So He made His prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) ascend to the seventh heaven, then He hosted him until he was happy, then He obligated five prayers on him, so it is the most mentioned compulsion in the Quraan. In fact it was the advice of the messenger (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) when leaving this world, while he was overcome by the pangs of death. His noble soul was coming out while he was kind to his nation, he sacrificed himself and he called out: “The prayer, the prayer, and what your right hands own,” and his concern while he was at the last breath asking: “Have the people prayed? Command Abu Bakr to lead the people in prayer.”

It is the epitome of success and the path of success. “Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their prayers with all solemnity and full submissiveness.” [Mu’minoon; Verse 1-2], until He says at the end of their characteristics: “And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) prayers (at their fixed stated hours). These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever.” [Mu’minoon: Verse 9-11].

Prayer is compulsory on the Muslim in every condition. It does not fall away in sickness or fear. In fact even until inability on its conditions and pillars, as long as the intellect is present, and even in the conditions of fear and fighting. “Guard strictly (five obligatory) prayers especially the middle prayer (i.e. the best prayer – ‘Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience. And if you fear (an enemy), pray on foot or riding. And when you are in safety, offer the prayer in the manner He has taught you, which you knew not (before).” [Baqarah: Verse 238-239], and the description of the fear prayer is mentioned in Sura Nisaa. The Muslim should pray on every condition, facing the qibla, then if he cannot he should pray facing any direction; standing, and if he is unable then sitting, and if he is unable then lying down, and if not then on any condition. And if he is unable to be in purity or to cover his body or something else, then he should pray in any condition. Yes, in any condition, because it is the prayer, that which will be the first of which the servant will be asked about on the Day of Judgement, then if it is sound, then the rest of the actions will be sound. And if it is corrupt then the rest of the actions will be corrupt, just as was authentically narrated to us by the innocent one – peace be upon him – so Allah will not accept worship without it.

O Muslims, five compulsory prayers every day: Fajr Thuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha, are an expiation for what is between them, so the heart is purified from the dirt of sins. In fact it prevents it from the beginning: “Verily, the prayer prevents from Al-Fahsha’ and Al-Munkar” [Ankaboot; Verse 45]. And when your sins narrow upon you a day, and (when) sins burden your back, then race to the prayer and listen to the saying of the God: “And perform prayers, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night (i.e. the five compulsory prayers). Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).” [Hood: Verse 114], and in the two authentic (books of Hadeeth: Bukhari and Muslim): Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Anhu) reports: I heard the messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) saying: “Do you think that if there was a river at the door of one of you and he bathed in it five times a day, there would remain any dirt upon him?” They said: “No dirt would remain upon him.” He said: “That is how it is with the five daily prayers, through them God washes away the sins.”

And the prayer is a door of sustenance: “And enjoin the prayer on your family, and be patient in offering them (prayers). We ask not of you a provision (i.e. to give Us something: money, etc.); We provide for you. And the good end (i.e. Paradise) is for the pious.” [Taaha; Verse 132]. It is a sanctuary at the time of anxiety, and to it is the escape at the time of fear. “O you who believe! Seek help in patience and the prayer. Truly! Allah is with the patient ones.” [Baqarah: Verse 153]. Therefore it was the coolness of the eyes of the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) for when a matter became serious he would take refuge in the prayer, and he would call: “Let us relax, O Bilal, with prayer,” and he replied when asked: Which is the best action? by saying: “Prayer at its appointed time” [Agreed upon]

And after this how can the ummah hope for the help of its Lord when it abandons its link with Him and is unable to fulfil His compulsion?! Verily those who neglect these prayers do not deserve respect and help from the Creator or the creation. Verily prayer is the first condition of victory and stability. “Those (Muslim rulers) who, if We give them power in the land, (they) order to perform the five compulsory congregational prayers, to pay the Zakat and they enjoin Al-Ma’ruf, and forbid Al-Munkar. And with Allah rests the end of (all) matters.” [Hajj: Verse 41]. So how can a Muslim be helped or granted ability when he leaves out the prayer while it has been made the reason for entering the fire?! “”What has caused you to enter Hell?” They will say: “We were not of those who used to offer their prayers.” [Muddathir: Verse 42-43], and in the description of the frowning faces: “So he (the disbeliever) neither believed (in this Quran, in the Message of Muhammad – peace be upon him) nor prayed! But on the contrary, he belied and turned away! Then he walked in full pride to his family admiring himself! Woe to you! And then (again) woe to you! Again, woe to you! And then (again) woe to you! Does man think that he will be left neglected without being punished or rewarded for the obligatory duties enjoined by his Lord (Allah) on him?” [Qiyaamah: Verse 31-36] And with all this, you will be disappointed and grieved to know that a group of Muslims leave out the prayer or are lax regarding it.

So fear Allah O Muslims, and enjoin good, and forbid evil, and advise towards the prayer, and let the example of the trainers and preachers be the command of Allah to His prophet: “And enjoin the prayer on your family, and be patient in offering them (prayers).” [Taaha: Verse 132]. And surely Allah praised Isma’eel – peace be upon him – by His saying: “And he used to enjoin on his family and his people the prayers.” [Maryam: Verse 55]. And in the authentic Hadeeth, according to Muslim, that the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) said: “Command your children to pray when they reach the age of seven and hit them if they leave it off when they reach the age of ten.” And commanding people with it, likewise commanding the family and children is (a means of) preserving it.

O Muslims: And there is a type of people for whom prayer has become cheap, for it is the last of their business, the end of their actions, and at the end of their concerns, so they combine prayers without an excuse, and they delay it beyond its appointed time, Allah’s saying applies to them: “Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for the prayer, they stand with laziness” [Nisaa: Verse 142] and regarding them the saying of the True – Glorified is He – was revealed: “So woe unto those performers of prayers (hypocrites), Who delay their prayer from their stated fixed times” [Ma’oon; Verse 4-5], that is: leaving it out, delaying it from its appointed time. Have they not heard the saying of Allah (Glorified and Majestic) : “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.” [Nisaa: Verse 103]?! That is: from time to time, knowing its beginning and ending times. It is not permissible (to pray) before its time just as it is not permissible to pray after its time except with a valid excuse.

So fear Allah, and preserve the prayers at their appointed times. And the men should know that it is compulsory upon them in the congregation of Muslims in the mosques. And if it were permitted for anyone to omit the (prayer in) congregation, then the merciful prophet to his nation would have permitted that blind old man who between him and the mosque was a valley with many predators and lions and there was no guider to guide him, so he asked the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) permission to pray in his house, but he did not permit him, so what about the one whom Allah has blessed and made easy for him?! And if not, then why were the mosques constructed, minarets raised and congregations established?! Is it only for Jumua (prayers)?! Is it only for Jumua (prayers)?! There is no might and power except with Allah.

Abdullah bin Mas’ood (Radiallahu Anhu) said: “If anyone would like to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, he should persevere in observing these five prayers whenever the call for them is made, for Allah has chosen for your prophet the way of right guidance. And the (five prayers in congregation) are part of this right guidance. If you were to pray them in your houses, as this man who stays behind in his house, you would be leaving a Sunnah of your prophet. If you leave the Sunnah of your prophet, you would go astray. Verily I have seen a time when no one stayed away from them (the congregational prayers) except for the hypocrites who were well known for their hypocrisy. A man would be brought, supported by two people (due to his weakness) until he was placed in a row.” [Narrated by Muslim]

O Muslim: O servant of Allah:

Here you have heard the reminder, and surely you know, so hold fast. Hold fast onto the path of guidance.

May Allah grant me and you the ability to please Him, and may He make our future condition better than its past.

I seek protection in Allah from satan, the rejected one. “And seek help in patience and the prayer and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi’un. (They are those) who are certain that they are going to meet their Lord, and that unto Him they are going to return.” [Baqarah: Verse 45-46]

May Allah bless me and you in the Book and the Sunnah, and benefit us with what is in them of verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine. And I seek forgiveness from Allah – the Exalted – for me and you and the rest of the Muslims, male and female, from every sin and error. So seek His forgiveness and repent to Him. Verily He is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.

Second Khutbah

All praise be to Allah, the Forgiver of sins, Undoer of offences. “He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins” [Shoora: Verse 25]. I praise Him – Glorified is He – and I thank Him. And I repent to Him, and seek His forgiveness and I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. A witness by which we hope for saviour on the day of death. O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on Your servant and messenger Muhammad, and on his family, companions and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

Thereafter: O Muslims:

Whosoever wishes for refuge, protection, ability and security should preserve the prayer. Jundub bin Abdullah (Radiallahu Anhu) narrates: The messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) said: “Whoever prays Fajr in congregation will be under the protection of Allah.” [Narrated by Muslim]

Likewise, prayer is a shared compulsion among the prophets, for all of them were commanded with it. Allah (Glorified is He) said about Ibraheem, Loot, Ya’qoob and Isma’eel – peace be upon them – : “And We inspired in them the doing of good deeds and performing the prayer.” [Anbiyaa: Verse 73], and it is the supplication of our father Ibraheem when he supplicated to his Lord saying: “O my Lord! Make me one who performs the prayer, and (also) from my offspring” [Ibraheem: Verse 40], and he said: “O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in an uncultivable valley by Your Sacred House; in order, O our Lord, that they may perform the prayer” [Ibraheem: Verse 37], and He (Glorified is He) said about ‘Eesa (Alayhi Salaam): “And He has enjoined on me prayer, and Zakat, as long as I live.” [Maryam; Verse 31], and in Allah’s (the Exalted) speech to Moosa (Alayhi Salaam): “Verily! I am Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but I, so worship Me, and perform the prayer for My Remembrance.” [Taaha; Verse 14], and to our prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him -: “And enjoin the prayer on your family, and be patient in offering them (prayers).” [Taaha: Verse 132], “Perform the prayers from mid-day till the darkness of the night, and recite the Quran in the early dawn. Verily, the recitation of the Quran in the early dawn is ever witnessed.” [Israa: Verse 78], and He (Glorified is He) said about His pious, reforming servants: “And as to those who hold fast to the Book and perform the prayers, certainly, We shall never waste the reward of those who do righteous deeds.” [A’raaf: Verse 170]

So do you find after this – O believers – an act of worship enjoying a rank above the prayer?! Or do the abandoners and neglecters (of prayer) find an excuse after this proclamation?!

Servants of Allah:

And connected to the topic on prayer is an important indication of its spirituality and its essence, behold it is that of perfection and devotion in it. From its perfection is abiding by its conditions, its ablution and being calm in it, and not preceding the Imam, and following the Sunnah in its fulfilling as the Chosen One (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) has said in a Hadeeth narrated by Bukhari: “Pray as you see me praying.”

And devotion, O you praying ones, is the crumbling of the heart in the presence of Allah (the Exalted) and filling it with His awe and respect, and putting off worldly thoughts, and realising the greatness of the Creator (Glorified is He) and being undividedly busy with prayer with respect and peace. At that the body is at peace and the eyes bow down.

‘Uthman bin Affaan (Radiallahu Anhu) narrated: The messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wassalam) said: “When the time for a prescribed prayer comes, if any Muslim performs ablution well and offers his prayer with humility and bowing, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin, and this applies to for all times.” [Narrated by Muslim], and Allah (the Exalted) said: “O you who believe! Approach not the prayer when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter” [Nisaa: Verse 43], and how many a praying person does not drink intoxicants (yet) he does not know what he is uttering in his prayer. The world and its problems have intoxicated him.

So fear Allah, O Muslims and preserve the covenant of Allah with you, and prepare, for the reckoning is in front of you.

And know that Allah commands you with a command that He begins Himself, so He said: “Allah sends His Salat on the Prophet and also His angels too. O you who believe! Send your Salat on him, and gree him with the Islamic way of greeting.” [Ahzaab: Verse 56]

O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on Your servant and messenger Muhammad, and on his family, wives, companions, those who follow them and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2013/06...er-the-prayer/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Ramadhaan has come

Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib

July 20, 2013 ~ Ramadaan 1, 1433

First Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. He returns to His servants the seasons of goodness. And He prepares for them that which cleanses the souls and raises the ranks. And He eases for them that which nears them to the Lord of mankind. So from them are those who draw near to their Lord and are therefore elevated. And from them are those who are disgraced and deviated, and others whose desires degrade them to the lowest of positions. I praise my lord – Exalted is He – and I thank Him, and I praise Him and seek His forgiveness. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. He recompenses greatly for a little and He forgives great sins. He removes grief from believers, and He covers the ugly (sins) and He portrays the beautiful (deeds). He is Far above a similarity, partner and an equal. “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” [Surah Shoora; Verse 11]. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave, messenger, friend and chosen one. Successful is the one who is guided with his guidance and misguided is the one whose desires cause him to dislike him. May Allah send salutations on him (Muhammad) and on the family, companions and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement and may much peace be upon them.

Thereafter: So fear Allah – the Exalted – as He ought to be feared, and hold onto Islam with the firm tie. “And fear Allah, and know that you are to meet Him (in the Hereafter), and give good tidings to the believers.” [Surah Baqarah; Verse 223]

O Muslims: The days pass by us in haste while we are out of breath in them, and our lives are shortening while we are heedless, and our tasks busy us from what is required of us, and surely a violent year has passed in which thrones were overturned and countries were alternated and conditions were troubled and a page of history was changed, a whirlpool of quick incidents of which no human could capture its depth, of them were those of lesson and those of kindness.

And from the mercy of Allah and His Kindness is that we awaken today to the morning of a day of Ramadhaan, by His Grace, Blessings, Glad-tidings and Victory. Ramadhaan is a shore on which the ships of hearts are raised after the violence of events and heedlessness of days. A year passed with the changes of its conditions, and our business and our neglect.

And surely the day has come for us to devote our souls (to Allah) after dryness, and to soften our hearts after hardening, and may his nose be rubbed in dust: the one who experiences Ramadhaan and is not forgiven.

O Allah, start it (Ramadhaan) for us with safety, faith, security and submission.

O believers: Verily the seasons of goodness are auspicious opportunities. Although the coming season (requires) activeness (but) verily the gains in it and from it are patience for an hour, then the Muslim will be, after the acceptance of his deeds, from the successful, and to his creator from the close ones.

O, by Allah! How much of rewards are deposited in this season, and how many apparent sins are decreased in it. So make us, O Allah, exposed to Your fragrances (of mercy), and hasteners towards Your forgiveness, and possessors of Your pleasure, and grant us the ability to (perform) good deeds, and accept us, O Allah, among the accepted , and complete for us with goodness when the appointed time (death) arrives.

O Muslims: Fasting is an old law: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you” [Surah Baqarah; Verse 183], and Ramadhaan is a month of mercy and goodness, the doors of Paradise are opened in it, and the doors of Hell are closed. In it is the Night of Power which is better than a thousand months. And for Allah – the Exalted – are those He frees from Hellfire and it is authenticated from the two authentics (Bukhari and Muslim) that the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadhaan with faith and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven”, and “whoever stands (in prayer) in Ramadhaan with faith and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven”, and “whoever stands the night of power with faith and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven.”

The smell of the mouth of the fasting person is sweeter to Allah than the scent of musk. And for the fasting person, there are two joys: when he breaks his fast, he is happy with his fast-breaking, and when he meets his Lord, he is happy with his fasting.

And in Saheeh Muslim, that the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “And one Ramadhaan to the next is an expiation for what is between them if the major sins are abstained from.”

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).” [Surah Baqarah; Verse 185]. Jibra’eel (Alayhi Salaam) used to teach the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) the Quraan in it. And the predecessors – may Allah have mercy on them – when Ramadhaan came, they would leave out Hadeeth and busy (themselves) with the recitation of the Quraan. And fasting and the Quraan will intercede for their companion on the Day of Judgement.

It is the month of taraweeh prayers and standing, and lining up in the niches of tahajjud while people are asleep; a month of shedding tears and abrogation of sins. For the fasting person is a supplication that is not rejected. “And when My slaves ask you concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” [Baqarah; Verse 186].

In Ramadhaan the souls are purified, and character is refined. And in fasting, there is training on breaking desires, and cutting off the means of servitude to whims and desires. In Ramadhaan the poor and suffering are supported, for it is a month of charity and equality.

O Muslims: Make sincere your religion for Allah, and dispose the dirt of sins and disobedience, and wash them away with repentance and forgiveness, for verily sins are a restraint to obedience (of Allah) and an obstacle to good deeds.

Then preserve your fasting from that which depreciates it or nullifies it. Make sincerity and continuity a reality in all your acts of worship. And beware of polytheism for it is the severest prevention to the acceptance of deeds. In fact, it is a nullifier of them. And distance yourself from every innovation in religion, for Allah does not accept deeds that are not legislated by Islam.

Protect your fast from that which injures it. Abu Hurairah (Radiallahu Anhu) narrated that the messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Whoever does not give up false statements, and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink.” [Narrated by Bukhari]

And in the two authentics (Bukhari and Muslim) that the prophet (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual relation with his wife and quarrelling, and if somebody should fight or quarrel with him, he should say ‘I am fasting.”

O you fasting ones: Verily the objective of fasting: is the training of the self towards the obedience of Allah and purifying it with patience, and elevating it of base desires. Just as the body is prevented from permissible things during the condition of fasting, so it is more deserving that the body is prevented from the impermissible. Verily the time of Ramadhaan is too valuable to be wasted in front of lowly viewing (of television programs), even if the only thing (about viewing them) was wasting valuable time, it would be enough to shun it. How then when its channels are in a frantic race with the devil in promoting corruption and sedition, and a prevention to the remembrance of Allah and to prayer. So, will you not then abstain?!

Ramadhaan is a reminder to the ummah to review its accounts and its relationship with its religion, and to inspect the defective positions. “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious.” [Surah Baqarah; Verse 183], for it is a month of purifying the souls and training them.

O Muslim, O servant of Allah! Take the call of the Irresistible to you towards repentance, and answer the call: “And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.” [Surah Noor; Verse 31]. Hurry to repentance, may Allah forgive me and you, and beware of placing in your book of deeds today that which you will be ashamed of being mentioned tomorrow, and verily the greatest relaxation is for those who work hard.

O you fasting ones: And at pre-dawn, there are secrets, breezes and mercy with the divine descent, and perhaps a supplication may cause everlasting success to be written for you, and at the time of breaking the fast there is a supplication that is not rejected.

So be happy with your month, O Muslims, and deposit as much good deeds in it as you can, and draw near in it to your Protector, for surely Paradise is calling you: “Allah calls to the home of peace (i.e. Paradise) and guides whom He wills to a Straight Path.” [Surah Yoonus; Verse 25].

May Allah bless me and you in the Book and the Sunnah, and benefit us with what is in them of verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine, and I seek forgiveness from Allah – the Exalted – for me and you and the rest of the Muslims, so seek Allah’s forgiveness. Verily He is Oft-Forgiving.

Second Khutbah

All praise be to Allah, Who has made fasting a shield, and a means of attaining Paradise. I praise Him – Glorified is He – and I thank Him. He guides and eases (as a) grace from Him and a bounty. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. He guided us to the clear path and upright method. May Allah’s salutations, peace and blessings be on him, and on his family, companions and those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Judgement.

O believers; those who are fasting: Ramadhaan is a month of reminders, conquests and victories, so to the extent of our joy with its coming, we put together our hopes that Allah will change the condition of the ummah to (that of) honour, victory and stability, and that He will return it, a beautiful returning, otherwise Ramadhaan will dawn on us while the ummah is inflicted with wounds; burdened with pains.

Ramadhaan dawns while the place of the night journey of the messenger of Allah (Salallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is occupied (and) lamenting under the pressure of the oppressors.

Ramadhaan dawns, while the believers’ stationed troops under the shade of the holy house (Baitul Muqaddas) are being killed and captured, and their houses are being destroyed, and their lands are being shovelled away, and their unity is perishing.

Ramadhaan dawns while our brothers in Syria are being slaughtered and destroyed, and the evil people of the earth are oppressing them, and verily we see relief for them closer than one may think; victory that builds towards the tributaries of the patient ones, provided by the supplication of the humble fasters, and it is not difficult for Allah that at Eid there will be two eids in Shaam (Levant): the Eid of Fitr (breaking the fast) and the Eid of victory.

So O my Lord! Your servants, Your servants, You know of them better, and surely continuous calamities have come to them, so O my Lord! Grant them victory from You, victory (where) they thank no one besides You, and (victory) that suffices them on their enemies and Your enemies.

Then send salutations O my Lord and peace on the best of mankind. O Allah send salutations, peace and blessings on Your servant and messenger Muhammad, and on his good pure family, and his companions, the noble personalities. O Allah be happy with the guided leaders and rightly-guided successors: Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman and ‘Ali, and with all the rest of the companions of Your prophet, and those who tread their path and follow their method, O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims…

Source: http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2013/06...haan-has-come/

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Ramadan and the Conditions of the Muslim Ummah

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

July 5, 2013 ~ Shabaan 26, 1434

First Khutbah

Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Allah, Who has privileged certain days and months over others and made Ramada the month of the greatest forms of worship and the source of the most generous rewards. I praise my Lord and thank Him. I repent to Him and ask for His forgiveness. He is the Merciful, the Pardoner, the Forgiver, the Generous, the Munificent, and the Grateful. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah alone without associate; a testimony whereby I seek salvation on Resurrection Day. I equally bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is Allah’s Servant and Messenger and the best creature ever. May Allah send His Salat and Peace onto him, his family, his Companions, and his Ummah as long as crescents are born in the sky and mid-month full moons come into view by night time.

Now then, fear Allah and hold fast to the non-severable bond of Islam. Hold yourselves accountable before the Day of Accountability and make your own šaĥîfa (Deed Record) clear of sins before it is tagged around your neck (on Doomsday), and also before your body organs and locations you once frequented in the herein serve as witnesses for what you perpetrated. There are certainly angel-scribes taking record of all your deeds, and Allah is the promptest in exacting His creatures’ accountability: “And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allâh. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.“ [Surah al-Baqara: 281]

O Muslims! Year in, year out; days and nights alternate. Sunset gives way to sunrise. Victories, defeats, advantages, and inconveniences rotate. The passage of time burdens the self with responsibilities, pitfalls, fatigue, and regression which incite worshippers to recoil from the journey to Allah and make them feel bored with the length of the path leading to Allah’s promised recompense. Sometimes, one may even feel alienated from the very road taken and estranged from one’s travel mates. One will therefore struggle under the heavy burden of life’s habits which exert extra pressure on one’s psychological state torn between pain of despair and a ray of hope. Under such circumstances, one is inclined to search for a safe haven of shade from the scorching heat of sunshine and a secure harbour from tempestuous sea waves. One is in need of some respite, as the journey is long, food is scarce, and the obstacle is insurmountable.

This is why Allah, the Most-Munificent, bestowed upon His servants a graceful month and a magnificent season so that Muslim worshipers could strengthen their faith to confront the journey of belief ahead and enhance the degree of their taqwa. This graceful month is similar to a river for quenching one’s thirst, healing one’s wounds, and imbibing souls with its bounteous graces ‒which eventually leads to their felicitous destiny. It is a month during which one defeats one’s capricious desires and satanic drives. It is a month of bounteous divine favours and forgiveness. Notice how swiftly time passes and the twelve months of the calendar rush in succession until the month of Sha`aban has departed and the holy month of Ramadan is close to supplant it. Signs of its advent herald its remarkably glamorous features. It will soon be our most welcome and venerated guest. So, make yourselves ready to stand in awe of its revered arrival with determination to obey Allah by performing acts of worship.

How much longing worshipers have for it! How much pious people adore it! How impatiently they have been aching for its arrival! How much spiritual elevation their egos have experienced during its nights and early dawns! How mysterious they have found its early daybreak! How close they have felt to Allah, the One and the Omnipotent! How frequently they have tasted the flavour of faith and kept company of the Holy Quran both in listening and in reciting!

It is indeed one of Allah’s bounties to benefit from such a seasonal occasion in order to be cleansed of our sins and to purify our souls so as to achieve moral rectitude and ethical refinement: “O you who believe! Observing the fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious …).“ [Surah al-Baqara: 183]. Taqwa is a multi-faceted innermost feeling of fear that the performer of fasting experiences; it is positively reflected on his/her soul in the form of internal radiance, moral purity, and unblemished conduct.

Ramadan is the springtime of believers’ hearts, the beacon for moral people, the intimate company of the pious, and a good omen for worshippers. It is indeed a month whose perfection is crystal clear and whose splendour is manifest: “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion. So whoever of you sights the month, he must observe fasts that month, …“ [Surah al-Baqara: 185]

Its daytime is reserved for fasting; its night time is devoted to Qiyām (night worship rituals); its motto is the Quran and its outer fitting is charity and benevolence. During the month of Ramadan, prayers are met with acquiescent divine response, and good deeds are raised to Heaven. Each night, there are people who are salvaged from Hellfire. So, are there people determined to repent?

As to the reward reserved for Muslims performing fasting, it pertains to Allah’s benevolence. Abu Huraira (Radiallahu Anhu) reported that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Allah said: “Every good human deed belongs to its performer except fasting: it belongs to me and thus I offer the reward thereof. Fasting is an ideal shelter. Whoever performs fasting is interdicted from approaching his wife and from clamouring. If ever he is insulted or assaulted, he should say, ‘I am a fasting person.’ I swear by Allah, who is in control of my soul, the typical odour of the fasting person’s mouth smells better than musk. The fasting person experiences joy twice: the first time when he breaks his fast and the second time when he meets his Lord glad with his own fasting.” [Reported by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim] In a different version by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, “the fasting person refrains from eating and drinking for my own sake.”

In the Sahih by Imam Muslim, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported to have said, “The current month of Ramadan succeeded by the following month of Ramadan offers remission of sins for the time span between both months on condition that grave sins be avoided.” In the same Sahih Book, there is the Hadith, “Remiss and failed will be everyone who reaches the month of Ramadan but his sins have not been expiated.” This is because Ramadan is known for its whiff of spiritual splendour and divine compassion of which only a totally remiss person would be deprived.

In the two Sahih Books of Hadith by Imam Muslim and Imam Bukhari, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported to have said, “With the advent of Ramadan, the gates of paradise are opened and those of hell are firmly locked, while Shaytan and his agents are chained in manacles.” In the two Sahih Books of Hadith by Imam Muslim and Imam Bukhari, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported to have said, “Whoever performs fasting during the month of Ramadan ‒solely prompted by faith and sacrificing comfort in anticipation of Allah’s reward‒ will have his sins expiated in retrospect” and that “Whoever performs nightly prayers during the month of Ramadan ‒solely prompted by faith and sacrificing comfort in anticipation of Allah’s reward‒ will have his sins expiated in retrospect.” By the same token, “Whoever performs nightly prayers during Laylat Al-Qadr [the Night of Decree] ‒solely prompted by faith and sacrificing comfort in anticipation of Allah’s reward‒ will have his sins expiated in retrospect.”

It is worth noting that the best form of welcome for the month of Ramadan is repentance, for a soul delivered from sins and alleviated of burdens would be more readily motivated to perform the acts of worship associated with Ramadan and is likely to please Allah with good deeds and intentions.

Another germane point worth mentioning here is related to diverging astrological opinions with regard to confirming the beginning of the lunar month, including individual attempts to use observatories for that purpose. The very publication of such controversial observations in the media (both printed and audio-visual) has no other consequences than spreading scepticism among Muslims concerning their acts of worship and to underestimating the logistic and technical capacity of governmental institutions and committees to provide reliable information. Some people who get involved in such a debate are quite well-intentioned; others find in it an opportunity to show off and rise to fame.

To both camps we would like to say: Save your energy! You have been spared such effort in this country where special committees have been set up in different locations on the territory in order to duly observe this ritual and to take precautions against any error affecting the performance of this religious duty. Allah’s guidance and those special committees’ advice are quite sufficient for such a task, and whoever has a different opinion let them contact the authorities directly and stop disturbing Muslims’ spiritual life.

Servants of Allah! The meaning of fasting is not restricted to the sheer act of refraining from consuming food, then filling one’s stomach when breaking the fast. The wisdom behind fasting is to coerce the self to restrain its whims, to break the routine of its habitual actions, to cleanse it of all sorts of impurity, and to train it to remember the existence of starving and homeless families. Who will take care of populations struck by ordeals and weakened by wars that actually subjugate and grind down humanity? The victims are your brothers in faith who have no refuge except in Allah’s providential protection and in you. It is Allah Who grants and retains favours; it is Allah Who lowers and elevates His creatures’ status; and it is He Who ordained you to be His trustee in the property He bestowed on you in order to see how you would act. On Resurrection Day, the believer will take shelter from Hellfire in his charitable acts in the herein: “…and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allâh’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” [Surah Saba’: 39]

Of course, it is not impossible for a wealthy person to come across a needy person from among his own acquaintances or through authorised agencies and institutions. May Allah recompense every doer of meritorious deeds with due reward and accept good services from benefactors. I seek refuge with Allah from the cursed Satan: “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’ân, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion. So whoever of you sights the month, he must observe fasts that month, …“ [Surah al-Baǭara: 185]

May Allah bless you and me by the Holy and Magnificent Qur’ān. May Allah help us benefit from the teachings of the Sunnah of the Master of Messengers, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Having said this, I ask Allah to forgive you and me.

Second Khutbah

May Allah be praised abundantly and kindheartedly, a blessed praise that pleases our Lord and is to His liking! I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, Who has no associate. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on him and all his family and Companions!

Now then, O Muslims! There are certain events that are so conclusive in the history of the Muslim Ummah. When Muslims managed to overcome their own passions and desires Allah helped them triumph over their aggressors. Such events served as a precursor of the days that followed. The month of Ramadan witnessed the great Battle of Badr (fought 17 of Ramadan, 2 AH), the conquest of Makkah (fought 18 of Ramadan, 8 AH) and many others including those of the Sindh, Antioch, Sicily, the Battle of Ain Jalut (the Spring of Goliath) and finally the battle for the recovery of Sinai by the Egyptians. It was indeed in Ramadan that all of these battles and conquests took place.

There is a lesson to be learnt from these events particularly these days in which the forces of evil and hypocrisy have gone on the rampage against large numbers of Muslims across the world. The hostility deeply entrenched in the hearts of many against this religion has suddenly surfaced.

Presently, Muslims are being afflicted with much sturdiness at the hands of platoons of people who share no language, values, faith or homeland but bitter sentiments of hostility and enmity towards Islam. However, Muslims are still oblivious of their own cause, or say it is meant for them to remain unaware of the fact that hostility is nothing but religious. In Arakan and Burma, waves after waves of extermination are being launched against Muslims. In Syria, criminals are carrying out their evil practices in alternation. Elsewhere in the Muslim world, people are being abused, wickedness is prevailing and assistance and support have gone hard to find.

For decades we have not witnessed such masters of hypocrisy nor have we heard such loud voices speaking up against Islamic Sharia. Today, international laws and conventions are violated; political, human, children’s and women’s rights are abused. Advocates of such rights are not acting the way they should had the aggressor been Arab or Muslim and the victim from a different nationality or faith.

What has been going on is a disgrace for the entire world with its international organizations, conventions and covenants. The opponents of religion have been called into alliance from all directions and have grown increasingly powerful. Their determination and enthusiasm in this regard are so strong that they would stop at nothing (even if it comes to kneeling down) in order to stand by the aggressor and support injustice, to suppress truth and subjugate the oppressed.

In light of this, it is the obligation of every Muslim –without exception– to stay alert and vigilant, to hold as fast as ever to the Rope of Allah and not to take this religion (Islam) with weakness. Should Muslims venture to relinquish their faith they would lose power in this Life and reap disappointment in the Hereafter. On the other hand, if they take it with laxity they will run the risk of being overpowered by the enemy with no entitlement to the support they have otherwise been promised. However, if they take it with resolve, they will prevail in this Life and succeed in the Hereafter: “O Yahyâ! Hold fast the Scripture.“ [Surah Mariam: 12]

We are hopeful that Allah shall help our oppressed brothers in Syria prevail and that our fellow Muslims throughout the world shall realize the complexity of their cause in such a way that urges them to hasten to their support towards lifting the siege around them and defeating their enemy, particularly that the enemies of Arabs and Muslims have now rushed to strengthen their grip on the city of Homs.

All Muslims should also realize that one of the very first instructions given to ensure victory during the Battle of Badr was: “and do not dispute lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, Allâh is with those who are patient.” [Surah al Anfal: 46]

We place our hope first in Allah and then in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its support of our fellow Muslims in Syria and for its efforts in taking their cause to international forums and organizations and in urging major world powers to intervene in order to put an end to this prolonged and bloody tragedy. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques himself has so repeatedly and generously insisted on halting this bloody violence in Syria and bringing peace back to it.

May Allah help carry out their endeavors and bless their efforts! Remember that Allah gave you a command, which He Himself started as He said: “Allâh sends His Salât on the Prophet, and also His angels. O you who believe! Send your Salât on him, and greet him with the Islâmic way of greeting“ [Surah al Ahzab: 56]

O Allah! Send Your Salat, Peace and Blessing on Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, and on his good and pure family! O Allah! Be pleased with all of Your Messenger’s Companions and those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Judgement!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims and fail the tyrants, infidels and corruptors! O Allah! Grant glory to Your Religion, Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet and Your believing servants!

O Allah! Foreordain for this ummah a matter (an affair) of rationality (guidance) whereby the pious are honored and the sinful are guided, and whereby al-ma’roof (good deeds) is enjoined and al-munkar (evil deeds) is prevented! O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Make preoccupied with their own evil those who wish to harm Islam and Muslims! Turn their plots and their cunning against them! O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen! O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your cause in Palestine, in the Levant and wherever they may be, O Lord of the Worlds! O Allah! Lift the siege around them, improve their conditions, and suppress their enemy!

O Allah! We beseech You by Your Supreme Name to have mercy on our brothers in Syria! O Allah! Have mercy on our brothers in Syria! O Allah! Lift their distress and grant them speedy relief! O Allah! Have mercy on them for they are defenseless! Mend their breakage and take charge of their case, You, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate!

O Allah! You, Whose soldiers are invincible, Whose promises are never broken and Whose command is ever carried out, glory and praise be to You! Honored he is who seeks Your neighbourliness! Glorified be Your praise, and sanctified be Your Names! O Allah! We beseech You by Your Supreme Name to have mercy on our brothers in Syria! O Allah! Have mercy on our brothers in Syria! O Allah! Lift their distress and grant them speedy relief! O Allah! Have mercy on them for they are defenseless! Mend their breakage and take charge of their case, You, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate!

O Allah! You, Who sent down the angels on the Day of Badr and dispersed Al Ahzāb on the Day of Al Khandaq (the Trench)! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your cause in the Sham in general and in Homs in particular! O Allah! Lift the siege around them, spare their blood, reassure them, preserve their dignity and honour, bring them closer together, feed the hungry among them, strengthen their stamina, and grant them power and victory over their oppressors!

O Allah! Set right their conditions, unite them around righteousness, and protect them against the evil doers among them! O Allah! Suppress their enemy! O Allah! Suppress their enemy! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side with them! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side with them!

O Allah! The Revealer of The Book (The Holy Qur’ān), the Runner of the clouds, and the Defeater of Al Ahzāb (the Confederates)! Defeat the oppressors, shake the ground from underneath them and grant victory to our brothers in faith over them!

O Allah! Liberate Al Aqsa Mosque from the oppressors’ injustice and the occupiers’ aggression! O Allah! Improve the conditions of our Muslim brothers in Egypt and everywhere! O Allah! Improve the conditions of our Muslim brothers in Egypt and everywhere! O Allah! Bring them close together on the path of righteousness and guidance! O Allah! Set right their conditions, and protect them against the evil doers among them! O You the Ever-Living, the Eternal Guardian, the Lord of Majesty and Bounty!

O Allah! Guide our leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to do whatever you love and accept! O Allah! Guide him to piety and righteousness! O Allah! Impart on him health and well-being! O Allah! Impart to him well-being! O Allah! Keep him in good health! O Allah! Grant him, his Crown Prince, their brothers and assistants success to do what is good for the people and the country!

O Allah! Grant success to all the leaders of Muslims in order to govern by Your Sharia and follow the sunnah of Your Prophet ﷺ! O Allah! Make them merciful to Your true servants!

O Allah! Make safe and prosperous our country and all Muslim countries around the world! O Allah! Protect us against the evil of wrongdoers and the maliciousness of the lecherous and the evil of those plotting to carry it out by day or night!

“… Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!] [Al-Baqarah: 201]! [Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk." [Surah Ale 'Imran: 147]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and make come true our wishes in what pleases You! O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, our wives and children, You are All-Hearing! O Allah! We ask You to be pleased with us and to grant us Your paradise, and we seek refuge in You against Your wrath and hell fire!

O Allah! Help us reach Ramadan! O Allah! Help us reach Ramadan and guide us to do good throughout it and do accept our good deeds, You the most Generous!

O our Lord! Accept from us, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! Accept our repentance; You are the Relenting, the Merciful!

Glorified be our Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! He is free from what they attribute unto Him! Peace be on the Messengers! And all the praises and thanks be to Allâh, Lord of the ‘Al`alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists

Source: http://www.alharamain.gov.sa/index.c...owseby=khateeb & http://khutaab.wordpress.com/2013/07...-muslim-ummah/

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[BintAbee]

:sl:

Do Not Miss the Fragrance of Ramadan

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

August 2, 2013 ~ Ramadhaan 24, 1434

Khutbah Topic

His eminence Sheikh Salih Al-Talib –may Allah protect him– delivered this Friday Khutbah titled “Do Not Miss the Fragrance of Ramadan.” He spoke about the month of Ramadan and its final days and nights. He pointed out that although Ramadan is coming to an end, there is still time for presenting offerings and pious deeds during its blessed last days and nights. He added that in Ramadan worshippers compete for gaining divine bounties and blessings and take advantage of the Night of Al-Qadr (Night of Decree) and its high merit to please Allah and be saved from hellfire. He equally explained that Zakāt al-Fitr [1] is both important and mandatory.

Part One

Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Allah: Owner of creation, command, glory, and subdual. We praise and thank Him for this blessed month and for keeping us alive until we have reached its last ten days. We therefore praise Almighty Allah and thank Him. We also ask Him to forgive us and protect us from all sorts of evil. We pray Him to grant us more bounties and favours. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah alone without associate. May His name be glorified and His pardon magnificent! I equally bear witness that our Master and Prophet Muhammad () is Allah’s Servant and Messenger, the one who was best in fast and i’tikāf [2] and who was closest to his Lord. May Allah send His bountiful Salāt (Mercy, Honour, and Grace), Peace upon him, his family, his Companions and all those who have followed their footsteps till the Day of Judgement!

Now then, O people! Observe taǭwa, for it is the best garment to be worn and is our only hope when we depart this life: O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islâm [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh)]. [Al ‘Imran: 102]

Let it be known to you that you are doomed to appear before Allah on Doomsday. Then, you will be exposed to close scrutiny for all your deeds. You will be rewarded or penalised, depending on your own deeds. Whoever shows laxity or proclivity for mundane affairs will surely regret it on the Day of Judgement. Let it also be known to you that tombs are the site of utter desolation which only good deeds can dissipate and substitute by delightful company. The darkness of the grave can only be eliminated by taking advantage of propitious worship seasons (like Ramadan). Thus, beware the temptations of the herein and let not this life distract your attention from the hereafter. Surely, he who competes for pursuing worldly desires will never move up the ladder of pious deeds.

Nonetheless, never lose hope because of the multitude of people doomed to perdition and the supremacy of the godless: O you who believe! Take care of your own selves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is right (Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in error. The return of you all is to Allâh, ...  [Al-Maîda:105]

O Lord! Give us remedy for our pitfalls, forgive our slips, and grant Your pardon for the ignorance of those who sought help with anyone but You. Your pardon is so encompassing that no sinner is able to escape from the sphere of his own sin except through returning to You.

O Muslims!

Although most of the month of Ramadan has elapsed, what remains of it is the best. Despite the passage of its days, what remains of it secures salvation. Even though its nights have passed by so quickly, there are still some (nights) during which a worshipper can fulfil his hope. It is a graceful month whose hours and seconds are imbibed with good; it is a great religious season whose moments are all blessed by Allah. It offers a track for every competitor to hasten his paces; its race course is still wide open for anyone (hindered by certain excuses) to join in the race again.

O Allah’s servant! You do not know the exact moment when you will be shaded by its graces and perfumed with its fragrance; nor will you be able to know which night you will be delivered from hellfire in order to join the righteous. Indeed, Allah has imparted His blessing to the entirety of the month of Ramadan. Therefore, the gates of heaven are still wide open to allow prayers to ascend thereto, and the angels are still holding their pens to record all good and pious deeds. Thus, no fortunate person will ever give up doing good deeds until he actually enters Paradise.

Worshippers and righteous people have never regretted departing this life except when it has to do with missing such religious occasions. In fact, they have never shed tears on departing this life except when they feel certain they will no longer perform night prayers, fast during extremely hot days, and make jihad (holy war) for the cause of Allah.

Now, you still have time. Have you made up your mind about how to proceed? Keep in mind that you are still in the herein where there is room for further action. So, what are you going to do? Remember that the same occasions had been presented to previous communities, but they kept postponing action for some indefinite future time until the agony of death took them unawares. Thus, they just became part of history after having enjoyed capacitation and self-confidence during their lifetime. Allah commented on such people by saying:
Lest a person should say: "Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allâh (i.e. I have not done what Allâh has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), the Qur’ân, and Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and at the faithful believers]. (56) Or (lest) he should say: "If only Allâh had guided me, I should indeed have been among the Muttaqûn (the pious)" (57) Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: "If only I had another chance (to return to the world), then I should indeed be among the Muhsinûn (good-doers)” (58) Yes! Verily, there came to you My Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and you denied them, and were proud and were among the disbelievers. [Az-Zumar: 56-59]

Quite certainly, one of the greatest effects of the month of Ramadan on the rightly guided and successful servants of Allah is their return to their Lord and their repentance (for sins). In an authentic hadith, Prophet Muhammad () said “Amen” in response to Archangel Gabriel’s prayer, “Whoever witnesses Ramadan without being forgiven his sins, let him be expelled by Allah! O Muhammad, say ‘Amen’.” “Amen”, Muhammad said acquiescently. Thus, there is no choice but to resort to repentance. In this regard, Allah says: And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.).  [Al-Ĥujurât: 11]

O Muslims!

There remain a few nights of Ramadan which are likely to coincide with the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree); so, do your best and try hard to worship Allah and do good deeds. It is a little effort during a short period of night time, but its result will be a bounteous reward and eternal bliss. Beware the erroneous beliefs about the possibility of recognizing the Night of Al-Qadr through visions and dreams, for if Allah had ordained the disclosure of the Night of Al-Qadr to His creatures, He would not have kept it unidentified; so, just work harder. Do not merely depend on Allah without doing anything, but rather take the initiative. Each single night of the last ten days of Ramadan is expected to coincide with the Night of Al-Qadr, but odd numbers are more likely to coincide with it, especially the twenty-seventh night. In addition, every night Allah salvages a number of people from hellfire.

Prophet Muhammad’s () teachings about how to experience the last ten nights of Ramadan represent the most accurate and perfect guidance. Such last ten nights are sanctified by Allah Who eulogised them and promised abundant reward for worship associated with them. As reported by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, “With the advent of the last ten nights, Prophet Muhammad () would tighten his mi’zar [3] (wrapper)[i.e. keep awake at night ready for prayer], bring his night to life (through prayer), and wake up his family (to do so).”

Prophet Muhammad () used to lead Muslims in prayer until they started worrying about missing their saĥūr (last meal before fajr prayer during the month of Ramadan). In addition, during the last ten nights of Ramadan the Prophet would make I’tikāf. He would perform acts of worship day and night and, together with his honourable Companions, try to identify the Night of Al Qadr. Prophet Muhammad () said, “Whoever performs the night prayer on the Night of Al-Qadr with firm faith and while seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” [Narrated by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim]

It is called ‘the Night of Al-Qadr’ because of its high “qadr” (great importance and high status) and because of what Allah had ordained for all creatures, including the (size of) means of living and the instants of death.

Allah revealed the Holy Qur’ān on the Night of Al-Qadr and endowed it with His blessing. Allah () said: Hâ.-Mîm. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings] (1)  By the manifest Book (this Qur’ân) that makes things clear (2) We sent it (this Qur’ân) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Al-Qadr, Sûrah No. 97) in the month of Ramadân - the 9th month of the Islâmic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship] (3) Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments  (4) [Ad-Dukhân: 1-4]

Allah revealed about it (i.e. the night of Al-Qadr) an entire chapter (sūrat) in the Holy Qur’ān: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful: Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’ân) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) (1) And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? (2) The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months) (3) Therein descend the angels and the Rûh [Jibrîl (Gabrîl)] by Allâh’s Permission with all Decrees, (4) (All that night), there is Peace (and Goodness from Allâh to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn. (5) [Al-Qadr: 1-5]

The successful believer is the one who does his best and sincerely searches for it by performing night prayer during all nights, for Allah never dissipates the reward of the performers of good deeds. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Messenger () said, “Search for the Night of Al-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) also reported that: “Allah’s Messenger () used to seclude himself in the mosque for worship during the last ten days and said: ‘Search for the Night of Al Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.’” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Ubada Ibn Essamit () is reported to have said: “When the Prophet () went out to inform us about the Night of Al Qadr, two men came into sight. So, he said, ‘I went out to inform you about the Night of Al Qadr but so-and-so as well as so-and-so came into sight; therefore, it was blurred and lifted. This might be good for you. So, search for it in the 25th, 27th, and 29th night.’” [Imam Bukhari]

This is evidence of the misfortune brought about by disagreement, conflict and division, and all that stands in the way of benevolence.

O fasting believers!

Make your supplications for Allah with utmost insistence for He appreciates those who do so. Beseech, invoke and ask Him goodness in this life and the Hereafter for your relatives, homelands, and for those to whom Allah has entrusted your affairs as well as all Muslims. Make a portion of your supplications for the sake of those who are distressed among your fellow Muslims, particularly in Syria, Palestine, and Burma and for the healing of every bleeding wound of theirs. Verily, it is no surprise that Allah lifts their distress in response to a supplication by a true believer to whom others would pay no heed but who would be highly regarded by Allah.

Make your supplications for Allah with utmost insistence for He appreciates those who do so. See how many misfortunes have unexpectedly been set right and how many oppressors have been struck by the fatal arrow of response (from Allah to the supplications) before they could live to witness the next morning! See how many deadlocks have so miraculously been broken!

Verily, Allah appreciates the devoutness of those invoking Him: And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islâmic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation! [Ghafir: 60]. In the context of highlighting the merits of fasting Allah says: And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. [Al Baqarah: 186]

Make your supplications for Allah with utmost insistence for He appreciates those who do so, and maintain your submissiveness to Him: Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors (55) and do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope. Surely, Allâh’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers. [Al Aaraf: 55-56]

Aisha –may Allah be pleased with her– reported that she once asked the Prophet (): “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night (of Ramadan) is the Night of Qadr, what should I say?” He replied: “Say OAllah! You are Most Forgiving and You love forgiveness; so forgive me.” [Hadith sahih on the authority of Imam Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]

May Allah bless you and me by the Qur'ān and Sunnah and benefit us with their verses and wisdom! Having said this, I ask Allah () to forgive me and you!

Part Two

Praise be to Allah, the Possessor of heavenly glory, and thanks are ever due to Him! I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone with no associate. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, the best among those who have ever fasted, undertaken night prayers, given zakat and worshipped Allah. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace and Blessings upon him, his family and his Companions, those men of merit and honour, and upon those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment!

O Muslims!

Allah, may He be exalted, has legislated for you at the end of your month (Ramadan) the undertaking of zakat al-fitr, which is unanimously decreed (by Muslim scholars) as an obligation incumbent on every Muslim. Indeed, Zakat al-Fitr constitutes one of the bright facets of this great religion where Eid [4] is for all, the poor and the rich, the haves and the have-nots.

For Eid to be a genuine festivity and celebration it must bring joy and happiness to all. Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah reported that the Prophet () “made zakat Al fitr an obligation in order to cleanse the fasting Muslim from previously committed acts of falsity and obscenity and to feed the needy.”

Therefore, make certain –may Allah have mercy on you– that your zakat reaches those who are duly entitled to it. With respect to the value thereof it is estimated at one saa’ (equivalent to 2.5 kilograms) of dates, barley or whatever the staple food such as wheat or rice. Zakat al-Fitr is to be delivered locally. However, it is permissible to deliver it outside the country of the fasting Muslim where there is more need for it. With respect to zakat delivery time, it should be one or two days prior to Eid day up until before the Eid Prayer time.

Then, make certain to perform Eid prayer in congregation with the rest of the Muslims and to bring along your children and wives as it is one of those manifest rituals of Muslims. It is also part of the Prophet’s sunnah to make takbir [5] during the night of Eid up until the morning of that day and before the arrival of the Imam. Takbir is to be carried out loudly and in public (in the markets and streets). In this context Allah () says: (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allâh [i.e. to say Takbîr(Allâhu Akbar; Allâh is the Most Great] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. [Al Baqara: 185]

Muslims’festivities are different from those of Jahiliya [6] in that they are meant to be a means of establishing closer rapport with Allah and to worship Him. Such festivities feature the exaltation and mentioning of Allah through takbir in both Eids [7] , performing congregational prayer, delivering zakat al-Fitr, showing joy and happiness for being blessed with Islam and the ability to fast successfully.

Let us rejoice then, thank Allah for enabling us to carry out our fasting, and ask Him to accept our worship in this regard and grant us a happy ending.

Remember that Allah gave you a command, which He Himself started as He said: Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât[1] on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting(salutation, i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum. [Al Ahzab: 56]

O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, honours and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, and on his good and pure family! O Allah! Be pleased with all of Your Messenger’s Companions and those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Judgement!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims and fail tyrants, infidels and corruptors! O Allah! Grant glory to Your Religion, Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet and Your believing servants!

O Allah! Foreordain for this nation (the nation of Islam) a matter (an affair) of rationality (guidance) whereby the people of piety are honoured and sinful people are guided, and whereby al-ma’roof (good deeds) is enjoined and al-munkar (evil deeds) is prevented! O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your cause in Palestine and everywhere! O Allah! Lift the siege around them, improve their conditions, and suppress their enemy!

O Allah! We beseech You by Your Supreme Name to have mercy on our brothers and sisters in Syria! O Allah! Have mercy on our brothers and sisters in Syria! O Allah! Lift their distress and grant them speedy relief! O Allah! Have mercy on them, for they are defenseless! Mend their breakage and take charge of their case, You, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate!

O Allah! Lift the siege around them, spare their blood, reassure them, feed the hungry among them, preserve their dignity and honour, strengthen their stamina, and grant them power and victory over their oppressors!

O Allah! Set right their conditions, unite them around righteousness, and protect them against the evil doers among them! O Allah! Suppress their enemy! O Allah! Suppress their enemy! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side with them! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side with them!

O Allah! Liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque from the oppressors’ injustice and the occupiers’ aggression!

O Allah! Improve the conditions of our Muslim brothers and sisters in Egypt and everywhere! O Allah! Bring them close together on the paths of righteousness and guidance! O Allah! Set right their conditions and protect them against the evil doers among them!

O Allah! Guide our leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to do whatever you love and accept! O Allah! Guide him to piety and righteousness! O Allah! Grant him, his Crown Prince, his brothers and assistants success to do what is good for the people and the country and reward them with blessings for the efforts they are investing in the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors!

O Allah! Grant success to our security forces and to those working in the service of the visitors of the Two Holy Mosques and those coming to perform Umrah, and bestow on them profuse rewards!

O Allah! Grant success to all the leaders of Muslims in order to govern by Your Sharia and follow the Sunnah of Your Prophet ()! O Allah! Make them a Mercy on Your true servants!

O Allah! Make safe and prosperous our country and those of all Muslims around the world! Protect us against the evil of wrongdoers, the maliciousness of the lecherous and the evil of those plotting to carry it out by day or night! Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al Baqarah: 201]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and make come true our wishes in what pleases You!

Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folks. [Al Omran: 147]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, our wives and children, You are All-Hearing!

O Allah! We ask You to be pleased with us and grant us Your paradise, and we seek refuge in You against Your wrath and hellfire!

O Allah! Grant us, our loved ones, those who urged us to make supplication for them, and all those to whom we are indebted the most of whatever good we have implored you to bestow on us throughout this holy month!

O Allah! Grant us success to observe prayer during the Night of Al-Qadr! O Allah! We implore you to accept our good deeds and spare us the torment of hellfire!

O Allah! We beseech you to accept our fasting, night prayers, supplications and good deeds as You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! O Allah! Do accept our repentance as You are Most Forgiving, Most Merciful!

Glorified be your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! You are free from what they attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the messengers! And all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

......................................

[1] Zakat Al-Fitr is a required charity given to the needy at the end of fasting in Ramadan by every Muslim, whether male and female, minor or adult. The head of the household may pay the required amount for the other members.

[2] Iʿtikāf (اعتكاف‎) in Islam consists of a period of retreat in a mosque (to pray Allah) for a certain number of days in accordance with the believer's own wish. It is most common during the month of Ramadan, especially the last ten days.

[3] Note that some scholars explained this Arabic metaphor as meaning ‘he would refrain from sexual intercourse.’

[4] Eid al-Fitr (Feast of Breaking the Fast) is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan.

[5] To say Allahu Akbar _الله أكبر_ (Allah is Great).

[6] It is the Arabic label given to the pre-Islamic era.

[7] They are Eid al-Fitr (see footnote 4) and Eid al-Adhā. Eid al-Adhā (عيد الأضحى‎ ʻĪd al-’Aḍḥá, i.e. Feast of the Sacrifice, the Greater Eid) is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to honour the willingness of prophet Ibrāhīm __ (Abraham) to sacrifice his young first-born son Ismā’īl __ (Ishmael) as an act of submission to Allah’s command and his son's acceptance to being sacrificed, before Allah intervened to provide Ibrāhīm with a lamb to sacrifice instead. In the lunar Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adhā falls on the 10th day of Dhul al-Hijjah (12th month) and lasts for four days. Note that in the Gregorian calendar, the dates vary from year to year, drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.




Source: http://www.alharamain.gov.sa/index.c...owseby=khateeb

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Do Not Miss the Fragrance of Ramadan

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

August 2, 2013 ~ Ramadhaan 24, 1434

Khutbah Topic

His eminence Sheikh Salih Al-Talib –may Allah protect him– delivered this Friday Khutbah titled “Do Not Miss the Fragrance of Ramadan.” He spoke about the month of Ramadan and its final days and nights. He pointed out that although Ramadan is coming to an end, there is still time for presenting offerings and pious deeds during its blessed last days and nights. He added that in Ramadan worshippers compete for gaining divine bounties and blessings and take advantage of the Night of Al-Qadr (Night of Decree) and its high merit to please Allah and be saved from hellfire. He equally explained that Zakāt al-Fitr [1] is both important and mandatory.

Part One

Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Allah: Owner of creation, command, glory, and subdual. We praise and thank Him for this blessed month and for keeping us alive until we have reached its last ten days. We therefore praise Almighty Allah and thank Him. We also ask Him to forgive us and protect us from all sorts of evil. We pray Him to grant us more bounties and favours. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah alone without associate. May His name be glorified and His pardon magnificent! I equally bear witness that our Master and Prophet Muhammad () is Allah’s Servant and Messenger, the one who was best in fast and i’tikāf [2] and who was closest to his Lord. May Allah send His bountiful Salāt (Mercy, Honour, and Grace), Peace upon him, his family, his Companions and all those who have followed their footsteps till the Day of Judgement!

Now then, O people! Observe taǭwa, for it is the best garment to be worn and is our only hope when we depart this life: O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islâm [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh)]. [Al ‘Imran: 102]

Let it be known to you that you are doomed to appear before Allah on Doomsday. Then, you will be exposed to close scrutiny for all your deeds. You will be rewarded or penalised, depending on your own deeds. Whoever shows laxity or proclivity for mundane affairs will surely regret it on the Day of Judgement. Let it also be known to you that tombs are the site of utter desolation which only good deeds can dissipate and substitute by delightful company. The darkness of the grave can only be eliminated by taking advantage of propitious worship seasons (like Ramadan). Thus, beware the temptations of the herein and let not this life distract your attention from the hereafter. Surely, he who competes for pursuing worldly desires will never move up the ladder of pious deeds.

Nonetheless, never lose hope because of the multitude of people doomed to perdition and the supremacy of the godless: O you who believe! Take care of your own selves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is right (Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in error. The return of you all is to Allâh, ...  [Al-Maîda:105]

O Lord! Give us remedy for our pitfalls, forgive our slips, and grant Your pardon for the ignorance of those who sought help with anyone but You. Your pardon is so encompassing that no sinner is able to escape from the sphere of his own sin except through returning to You.

O Muslims!

Although most of the month of Ramadan has elapsed, what remains of it is the best. Despite the passage of its days, what remains of it secures salvation. Even though its nights have passed by so quickly, there are still some (nights) during which a worshipper can fulfil his hope. It is a graceful month whose hours and seconds are imbibed with good; it is a great religious season whose moments are all blessed by Allah. It offers a track for every competitor to hasten his paces; its race course is still wide open for anyone (hindered by certain excuses) to join in the race again.

O Allah’s servant! You do not know the exact moment when you will be shaded by its graces and perfumed with its fragrance; nor will you be able to know which night you will be delivered from hellfire in order to join the righteous. Indeed, Allah has imparted His blessing to the entirety of the month of Ramadan. Therefore, the gates of heaven are still wide open to allow prayers to ascend thereto, and the angels are still holding their pens to record all good and pious deeds. Thus, no fortunate person will ever give up doing good deeds until he actually enters Paradise.

Worshippers and righteous people have never regretted departing this life except when it has to do with missing such religious occasions. In fact, they have never shed tears on departing this life except when they feel certain they will no longer perform night prayers, fast during extremely hot days, and make jihad (holy war) for the cause of Allah.

Now, you still have time. Have you made up your mind about how to proceed? Keep in mind that you are still in the herein where there is room for further action. So, what are you going to do? Remember that the same occasions had been presented to previous communities, but they kept postponing action for some indefinite future time until the agony of death took them unawares. Thus, they just became part of history after having enjoyed capacitation and self-confidence during their lifetime. Allah commented on such people by saying:
Lest a person should say: "Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allâh (i.e. I have not done what Allâh has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), the Qur’ân, and Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and at the faithful believers]. (56) Or (lest) he should say: "If only Allâh had guided me, I should indeed have been among the Muttaqûn (the pious)" (57) Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: "If only I had another chance (to return to the world), then I should indeed be among the Muhsinûn (good-doers)” (58) Yes! Verily, there came to you My Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and you denied them, and were proud and were among the disbelievers. [Az-Zumar: 56-59]

Quite certainly, one of the greatest effects of the month of Ramadan on the rightly guided and successful servants of Allah is their return to their Lord and their repentance (for sins). In an authentic hadith, Prophet Muhammad () said “Amen” in response to Archangel Gabriel’s prayer, “Whoever witnesses Ramadan without being forgiven his sins, let him be expelled by Allah! O Muhammad, say ‘Amen’.” “Amen”, Muhammad said acquiescently. Thus, there is no choice but to resort to repentance. In this regard, Allah says: And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, etc.).  [Al-Ĥujurât: 11]

O Muslims!

There remain a few nights of Ramadan which are likely to coincide with the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree); so, do your best and try hard to worship Allah and do good deeds. It is a little effort during a short period of night time, but its result will be a bounteous reward and eternal bliss. Beware the erroneous beliefs about the possibility of recognizing the Night of Al-Qadr through visions and dreams, for if Allah had ordained the disclosure of the Night of Al-Qadr to His creatures, He would not have kept it unidentified; so, just work harder. Do not merely depend on Allah without doing anything, but rather take the initiative. Each single night of the last ten days of Ramadan is expected to coincide with the Night of Al-Qadr, but odd numbers are more likely to coincide with it, especially the twenty-seventh night. In addition, every night Allah salvages a number of people from hellfire.

Prophet Muhammad’s () teachings about how to experience the last ten nights of Ramadan represent the most accurate and perfect guidance. Such last ten nights are sanctified by Allah Who eulogised them and promised abundant reward for worship associated with them. As reported by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim, “With the advent of the last ten nights, Prophet Muhammad () would tighten his mi’zar [3] (wrapper)[i.e. keep awake at night ready for prayer], bring his night to life (through prayer), and wake up his family (to do so).”

Prophet Muhammad () used to lead Muslims in prayer until they started worrying about missing their saĥūr (last meal before fajr prayer during the month of Ramadan). In addition, during the last ten nights of Ramadan the Prophet would make I’tikāf. He would perform acts of worship day and night and, together with his honourable Companions, try to identify the Night of Al Qadr. Prophet Muhammad () said, “Whoever performs the night prayer on the Night of Al-Qadr with firm faith and while seeking reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” [Narrated by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim]

It is called ‘the Night of Al-Qadr’ because of its high “qadr” (great importance and high status) and because of what Allah had ordained for all creatures, including the (size of) means of living and the instants of death.

Allah revealed the Holy Qur’ān on the Night of Al-Qadr and endowed it with His blessing. Allah () said: Hâ.-Mîm. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings] (1)  By the manifest Book (this Qur’ân) that makes things clear (2) We sent it (this Qur’ân) down on a blessed night [(i.e. night of Al-Qadr, Sûrah No. 97) in the month of Ramadân - the 9th month of the Islâmic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship] (3) Therein (that night) is decreed every matter of ordainments  (4) [Ad-Dukhân: 1-4]

Allah revealed about it (i.e. the night of Al-Qadr) an entire chapter (sūrat) in the Holy Qur’ān: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful: Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’ân) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) (1) And what will make you know what the night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? (2) The night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allâh in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months) (3) Therein descend the angels and the Rûh [Jibrîl (Gabrîl)] by Allâh’s Permission with all Decrees, (4) (All that night), there is Peace (and Goodness from Allâh to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn. (5) [Al-Qadr: 1-5]

The successful believer is the one who does his best and sincerely searches for it by performing night prayer during all nights, for Allah never dissipates the reward of the performers of good deeds. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Messenger () said, “Search for the Night of Al-Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) also reported that: “Allah’s Messenger () used to seclude himself in the mosque for worship during the last ten days and said: ‘Search for the Night of Al Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadan.’” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Ubada Ibn Essamit () is reported to have said: “When the Prophet () went out to inform us about the Night of Al Qadr, two men came into sight. So, he said, ‘I went out to inform you about the Night of Al Qadr but so-and-so as well as so-and-so came into sight; therefore, it was blurred and lifted. This might be good for you. So, search for it in the 25th, 27th, and 29th night.’” [Imam Bukhari]

This is evidence of the misfortune brought about by disagreement, conflict and division, and all that stands in the way of benevolence.

O fasting believers!

Make your supplications for Allah with utmost insistence for He appreciates those who do so. Beseech, invoke and ask Him goodness in this life and the Hereafter for your relatives, homelands, and for those to whom Allah has entrusted your affairs as well as all Muslims. Make a portion of your supplications for the sake of those who are distressed among your fellow Muslims, particularly in Syria, Palestine, and Burma and for the healing of every bleeding wound of theirs. Verily, it is no surprise that Allah lifts their distress in response to a supplication by a true believer to whom others would pay no heed but who would be highly regarded by Allah.

Make your supplications for Allah with utmost insistence for He appreciates those who do so. See how many misfortunes have unexpectedly been set right and how many oppressors have been struck by the fatal arrow of response (from Allah to the supplications) before they could live to witness the next morning! See how many deadlocks have so miraculously been broken!

Verily, Allah appreciates the devoutness of those invoking Him: And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islâmic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation! [Ghafir: 60]. In the context of highlighting the merits of fasting Allah says: And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. [Al Baqarah: 186]

Make your supplications for Allah with utmost insistence for He appreciates those who do so, and maintain your submissiveness to Him: Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors (55) and do not do mischief on the earth, after it has been set in order, and invoke Him with fear and hope. Surely, Allâh’s Mercy is (ever) near unto the good-doers. [Al Aaraf: 55-56]

Aisha –may Allah be pleased with her– reported that she once asked the Prophet (): “O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night (of Ramadan) is the Night of Qadr, what should I say?” He replied: “Say OAllah! You are Most Forgiving and You love forgiveness; so forgive me.” [Hadith sahih on the authority of Imam Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]

May Allah bless you and me by the Qur'ān and Sunnah and benefit us with their verses and wisdom! Having said this, I ask Allah () to forgive me and you!

Part Two

Praise be to Allah, the Possessor of heavenly glory, and thanks are ever due to Him! I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone with no associate. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, the best among those who have ever fasted, undertaken night prayers, given zakat and worshipped Allah. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace and Blessings upon him, his family and his Companions, those men of merit and honour, and upon those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment!

O Muslims!

Allah, may He be exalted, has legislated for you at the end of your month (Ramadan) the undertaking of zakat al-fitr, which is unanimously decreed (by Muslim scholars) as an obligation incumbent on every Muslim. Indeed, Zakat al-Fitr constitutes one of the bright facets of this great religion where Eid [4] is for all, the poor and the rich, the haves and the have-nots.

For Eid to be a genuine festivity and celebration it must bring joy and happiness to all. Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah reported that the Prophet () “made zakat Al fitr an obligation in order to cleanse the fasting Muslim from previously committed acts of falsity and obscenity and to feed the needy.”

Therefore, make certain –may Allah have mercy on you– that your zakat reaches those who are duly entitled to it. With respect to the value thereof it is estimated at one saa’ (equivalent to 2.5 kilograms) of dates, barley or whatever the staple food such as wheat or rice. Zakat al-Fitr is to be delivered locally. However, it is permissible to deliver it outside the country of the fasting Muslim where there is more need for it. With respect to zakat delivery time, it should be one or two days prior to Eid day up until before the Eid Prayer time.

Then, make certain to perform Eid prayer in congregation with the rest of the Muslims and to bring along your children and wives as it is one of those manifest rituals of Muslims. It is also part of the Prophet’s sunnah to make takbir [5] during the night of Eid up until the morning of that day and before the arrival of the Imam. Takbir is to be carried out loudly and in public (in the markets and streets). In this context Allah () says: (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allâh [i.e. to say Takbîr(Allâhu Akbar; Allâh is the Most Great] for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him. [Al Baqara: 185]

Muslims’festivities are different from those of Jahiliya [6] in that they are meant to be a means of establishing closer rapport with Allah and to worship Him. Such festivities feature the exaltation and mentioning of Allah through takbir in both Eids [7] , performing congregational prayer, delivering zakat al-Fitr, showing joy and happiness for being blessed with Islam and the ability to fast successfully.

Let us rejoice then, thank Allah for enabling us to carry out our fasting, and ask Him to accept our worship in this regard and grant us a happy ending.

Remember that Allah gave you a command, which He Himself started as He said: Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât[1] on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting(salutation, i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum. [Al Ahzab: 56]

O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, honours and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, and on his good and pure family! O Allah! Be pleased with all of Your Messenger’s Companions and those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Judgement!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims and fail tyrants, infidels and corruptors! O Allah! Grant glory to Your Religion, Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet and Your believing servants!

O Allah! Foreordain for this nation (the nation of Islam) a matter (an affair) of rationality (guidance) whereby the people of piety are honoured and sinful people are guided, and whereby al-ma’roof (good deeds) is enjoined and al-munkar (evil deeds) is prevented! O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your cause in Palestine and everywhere! O Allah! Lift the siege around them, improve their conditions, and suppress their enemy!

O Allah! We beseech You by Your Supreme Name to have mercy on our brothers and sisters in Syria! O Allah! Have mercy on our brothers and sisters in Syria! O Allah! Lift their distress and grant them speedy relief! O Allah! Have mercy on them, for they are defenseless! Mend their breakage and take charge of their case, You, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate!

O Allah! Lift the siege around them, spare their blood, reassure them, feed the hungry among them, preserve their dignity and honour, strengthen their stamina, and grant them power and victory over their oppressors!

O Allah! Set right their conditions, unite them around righteousness, and protect them against the evil doers among them! O Allah! Suppress their enemy! O Allah! Suppress their enemy! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side with them! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side with them!

O Allah! Liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque from the oppressors’ injustice and the occupiers’ aggression!

O Allah! Improve the conditions of our Muslim brothers and sisters in Egypt and everywhere! O Allah! Bring them close together on the paths of righteousness and guidance! O Allah! Set right their conditions and protect them against the evil doers among them!

O Allah! Guide our leader, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to do whatever you love and accept! O Allah! Guide him to piety and righteousness! O Allah! Grant him, his Crown Prince, his brothers and assistants success to do what is good for the people and the country and reward them with blessings for the efforts they are investing in the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors!

O Allah! Grant success to our security forces and to those working in the service of the visitors of the Two Holy Mosques and those coming to perform Umrah, and bestow on them profuse rewards!

O Allah! Grant success to all the leaders of Muslims in order to govern by Your Sharia and follow the Sunnah of Your Prophet ()! O Allah! Make them a Mercy on Your true servants!

O Allah! Make safe and prosperous our country and those of all Muslims around the world! Protect us against the evil of wrongdoers, the maliciousness of the lecherous and the evil of those plotting to carry it out by day or night! Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al Baqarah: 201]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and make come true our wishes in what pleases You!

Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folks. [Al Omran: 147]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, our wives and children, You are All-Hearing!

O Allah! We ask You to be pleased with us and grant us Your paradise, and we seek refuge in You against Your wrath and hellfire!

O Allah! Grant us, our loved ones, those who urged us to make supplication for them, and all those to whom we are indebted the most of whatever good we have implored you to bestow on us throughout this holy month!

O Allah! Grant us success to observe prayer during the Night of Al-Qadr! O Allah! We implore you to accept our good deeds and spare us the torment of hellfire!

O Allah! We beseech you to accept our fasting, night prayers, supplications and good deeds as You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! O Allah! Do accept our repentance as You are Most Forgiving, Most Merciful!

Glorified be your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! You are free from what they attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the messengers! And all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

......................................

[1] Zakat Al-Fitr is a required charity given to the needy at the end of fasting in Ramadan by every Muslim, whether male and female, minor or adult. The head of the household may pay the required amount for the other members.

[2] Iʿtikāf (اعتكاف‎) in Islam consists of a period of retreat in a mosque (to pray Allah) for a certain number of days in accordance with the believer's own wish. It is most common during the month of Ramadan, especially the last ten days.

[3] Note that some scholars explained this Arabic metaphor as meaning ‘he would refrain from sexual intercourse.’

[4] Eid al-Fitr (Feast of Breaking the Fast) is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan.

[5] To say Allahu Akbar _الله أكبر_ (Allah is Great).

[6] It is the Arabic label given to the pre-Islamic era.

[7] They are Eid al-Fitr (see footnote 4) and Eid al-Adhā. Eid al-Adhā (عيد الأضحى‎ ʻĪd al-’Aḍḥá, i.e. Feast of the Sacrifice, the Greater Eid) is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to honour the willingness of prophet Ibrāhīm __ (Abraham) to sacrifice his young first-born son Ismā’īl __ (Ishmael) as an act of submission to Allah’s command and his son's acceptance to being sacrificed, before Allah intervened to provide Ibrāhīm with a lamb to sacrifice instead. In the lunar Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adhā falls on the 10th day of Dhul al-Hijjah (12th month) and lasts for four days. Note that in the Gregorian calendar, the dates vary from year to year, drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.




Source: http://www.alharamain.gov.sa/index.c...owseby=khateeb

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Landmarks for Muslims in Times of Fitnahs [1]

Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib

September 6, 2013 ~ Shawwaal 30, 1434



Khutbah Topic

His Eminence Sheikh Saleh Ibn Muhammad Ᾱl-Tālib ‒may Allah protect him‒ delivered last Friday’s khutbah titled “Landmarks for Muslims in Times of Fitnahs.” In the khutbah, he spoke about fitnahs and how the Muslim is expected to behave in order to sidestep them. Using evidence from the Holy Qur'ān and the Sunnah, the Sheikh demonstrated the magnitude of fitnahs and the perils of being ensnared therein. He also said that once wrapped in obscurity, the Muslim should resort to the Holy Qur'ān and the Sunnah as well as to experienced scholars.

Part One

Praise be to Allah, praise that is followed by pure salutations! He is the source of assistance, for there is none but Him whose support is hoped for in times of distress and disasters. On Him we rely, and sufficient unto us and unto all creatures is Allah! I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah alone with no associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad () is Allah’s Servant and Messenger. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace and Blessing onto him, his family, his offspring ‒the most honourable of all offspring‒ his Companions () who were endowed with pure inner souls, and all those who follow their footsteps righteously till the Day of Judgement.

Now then,

Do observe taqwa (fear of Allah) sincerely and hold fast to the non-severable bond of Islam:  O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islâm [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh). [Ᾱl-Imrān: 102]. In fact, Allah will protect, suffice, gratify, and shelter anyone who observes taqwa.
(The Sheikh cites a line of poetry celebrating taqwa):

Observing taqwa means optimal provisions stored for days ahead,
And Allah has further provisions for him who best observes taqwa.

Servants of Allah!

Abdurrahman Ibn Abd Rab Al-Kaaba narrated: “When I got into the Mosque, I found Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Al-Âass sitting in the shade of the Kâaba and people gathered around him. I joined them and sat near him. So, he said, “We were once on a trip with the Messenger of Allah (); so we stopped by (some place) on our way. There were those of us who were fixing their tents; others were competing in throwing arrows; and still others were taking their camels and horses out to pasture. Then, the herald of Allah's Messenger () suddenly cried: "gather for prayer." So, we gathered in front of the Messenger of Allah () who said, “There was no prophet preceding me who was not bound to guide his Ummah (community) to what is best for them, and warn them against what is the worst evil for them. Your present Ummah was destined to experience wellness and stability during its first generations but its later generations will witness afflictions and incidents that you would abhor. Fitnahs will follow in succession; some will seem milder compared to others. Whenever a fitnah befalls a believer, he says, ‘This time, it is going to be fatal.’ But it soon drives away. Then, a further fitnah follows, and again the believer says, ‘This fitnah (will finish me) … this fitnah (will finish me), and so on and so forth.’ Whoever wishes to be removed away from Hellfire and admitted into Paradise should ascertain that when he faces death he shall persist in remaining a believer in Allah and in the Last Day, and that he treats people the way he likes himself to be treated … (until the end of the Hadith).” [Narrated by Imam Muslim]

O believers!

Whenever the dormant tribulations of fitnahs are resuscitated and the sable nights of ordeals grow unrecognisably obscure, whenever the Ummah experiences phases during which many people are induced into error and fitnahs grow ferociously blind to the extent that a lot of people become dubious to truth, in such case the Muslim becomes in dire need for landmarks to guide him, for lighthouses to regain orientation and for stars to show him the way. This is mainly because, for any Muslim, the dearest possession is the soundness of his faith. The Prophet () said: "A time will come when the best property for a Muslim will be a flock of sheep which he drives to mountain tops and places of rainfall so as to flee with his religion from fitnahs." [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]

Fleeing from fitnahs takes place when resorting to Allah, the Almighty. This is in conformity with Allah’s () words: So flee to Allâh (from His Torment to His Mercy - Islâmic Monotheism). [Ath-Thāriyāt: 50]. He () also says:  Is not Allâh Sufficient for His slave?  [Az-Zumar: 36]

Ibn Al-Qayyim ‒may Allah have mercy on his soul‒ said, “Divine sufficiency is dependent upon the nature of the individual's servitude through worship; the more obedient you are to Allah, the more you will be endowed with divine sufficiency.” This is why the Prophet () instructed people to worship Allah in times of fitnahs. He said, “Worship in times of turmoil equals hijra (migration) to join me.” [Narrated by Imam Muslim]. Therefore, congratulations for the believer who resorts to prayers and worship while others remain busy with forms of tumultuous agitation and eager to hunt for news and track rumours. Congratulations for those who feel secure and tranquil by the remembrance of Allah when souls are anxious and hearts are disturbed.

One night, Prophet Muhammad () suddenly woke up frightened and said, “Glory to Allah! What has Allah revealed from His hidden coffers? What afflictions have befallen His creatures? Who could wake up the occupants of the chambers (he means his wives so that they could perform night prayer). Many a veiled (i.e. enjoying Allah's blessings) woman in the herein will be reduced to nudity (punished for not obeying Allah and being thankful to Him) in the hereafter." [Narrated by Imam Bukhari]. In this Hadith, there is evidence that performing night prayer is one of the major ways of escaping fitnahs. In fact, before revealing the verses dealing with trial, Allah () says: O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salât (the prayer). Truly! Allâh is with As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.). [Al-Baqarah: 153]

Worship is full of secrets, among which are the following: it represents the provisions for the wayfarer, the spiritual supplies for the soul, and the light for the heart. Prophet Muhammad () used to hurry to perform prayer whenever he happened to face some serious matter. He () urged believers to perform pious deeds since they protect them from fitnahs before they take place and save them from them when they do take place. Thus, Prophet Muhammad () said, “Proceed to good deeds. There will be fitnahs as dark as stratified nocturnal obscurity; a believer in the morning swiftly becomes an unbeliever in the evening and a believer in the evening swiftly becomes an unbeliever in the morning. He would sell out his religion in exchange for trivial mundane gains.” [Narrated by Imam Muslim]

Thus, he who is equipped with sufficient taqwa and good deeds will deserve salvation, bearing in mind that according to Allah’s laws governing the universe, Allah never disappoints a servant who seeks refuge with Him. It is said: “Prevent fitnahs by observing taqwa.” This is confirmed by Allah’s () verse: O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allâh, He will grant you Furqân [(a criterion to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. making a way for you to get out from every difficulty)]... [Al-Anfāl: 29]

O Muslims!

Among the forms of resorting to Allah is supplicating and imploring Him. Allah () says: And indeed We seized them with punishment, but they humbled not themselves to their Lord, nor did they invoke (Allâh) with submission to Him. [Al-Mū’minūn: 76]. He also says: When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not believe with humility? Al-An’ām: 43]

Among the supplications is seeking refuge from fitnahs; this is affirmed in the Hadîth narrated by Zaid Ibn Thabet () that Prophet Muhammad () said, “Seek refuge from fitnahs, both overt and covert.” [Narrated by Imam Muslim]

Servants of Allah!

Among the landmarks guiding the Muslim and providing him with relief is to follow Allah's firm signs as well as His constant sunan (laws governing the affairs of the whole universe). Instances of such firm signs and constant sunan include: verification prior to action, sanctity of human blood, keeping to the Revealed Book and to the Sunnah, anticipating the adverse repercussions of certain human actions, as well as identifying advantageous and disadvantageous courses of action along with classifying them in accordance with the principles of religion rather than personal desires and mundane worldly incentives. Allah () says: O you who believe! Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (SAW), if you believe in Allâh and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. [An-Nissā': 59]

From the above, we realise that the truth consists in whatever coincides with Allah’s instructions and His Messenger’s teachings whereas fitnah means whatever runs contrary to both of them. Prophet Muhammad () says, “There will be a fitnah.” “So, what are we supposed to do”, they asked. He answered, “You then return to your initial state of affairs.” [Reported by Tabarani]

In the Hadîth narrated by Al-Irbādh Ibn Sāriyah (), Prophet Muhammad () is reported to have said, “I advise you to observe taqwa (fear of Allah) and to show deference and obedience even if your ruler is an Ethiopian slave. Indeed, whoever outlives me will definitely notice much divergence. So, hold fast to my Sunnah and the tradition of the rightly guided caliphs after me. Stick to that and never relinquish your grip/bite on it. Be cautious and make sure not to follow inventions (in religion), for every invented belief or rite is sheer fabrication, and sheer fabrication means misguidance.” [Sound Hadith reported by the authors of Sunan Books].

Allah enjoins probity and forbids corruption. In this regard, one’s judgment may sometimes be right and sometimes wrong. Among Allah's firm signs, there is the sanctity of human blood. Prophet Muhammad () says, “Whoever is capable of eliminating any hindrance to his admission into Paradise virtually occasioned by smearing his hands with bloodshed he may have perpetrated should proceed to do so.”

O servants of Allah!

In times of fitnahs, the Muslim is faced with a multiplicity of news and rumours, and thus truth gets confounded with falsehood. This is essentially because of the increased impact of printed and audiovisual media, the spread of electronic websites and data networks, along with the ease of communication, the rapidity of news transmission, the fast dissemination of lies, and people’s audacity to tell lies with no feeling of embarrassment or fear of Allah. Abu Hurairah () narrated that Prophet Muhammad () had said, “It is enough evidence to say that somebody is telling lies if he talks about all he hears.” [Narrated by Imam Muslim]

Omar Ibn Al-Khattāb () said, “Beware of fitnahs! The work of the tongue in times of fitnah is similar to that of the sword.” Another version goes like this: “There will be a fitnah in which the work of the tongue is more severe and cruel than that of the sword.” [Reported by Imam Ahmed, Abu Dawood, and Ibn Majah]

In reality, proper conduct requires verification and patience, lenience and forgiveness in times of fitnahs and sudden changes in life conditions, consulting experienced and wise scholars, and avoiding taking decisions alone. A safe person is the one who is spared all such ordeals. Thus, it is not necessary for you to have your own say in every problem or your opinion on every incident. Allah () says: When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people), if only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly)... [An-Nissā': 83]


Justice and equity must also be observed. Allah () says: And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence), say the truth. [Al Anam: 152]. Allah () also says: And let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety. [Al Māedah: 8]

Contrarily to this, there are people who, in times of fitnahs, would not hesitate to harm the believers in their honour and dignity. They would hone their tongues and sharpen their pencils in order to humiliate the righteous, stir confusion among common Muslims, forge facts and incite fitnah and disunion, bearing in mind that the most dangerous of all is fitnah in religion. In this context, Allah () says: Verily, those who put into trial the believing men qnd believing women (by torturing and burning them ) and then do not turn in repentance (to Allah0, then they will have the torment of Hell and they will have the punishment of the burning fire. [Al-Burūj: 10]

A Muslim must avoid being one of those whom Allah has vilified in the following words: They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them Guidance from their Lord. [An Najm: 23] and But they have no Knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and verily, guess is no substitute for the truth (28). Therefore, withdraw (O Mohammad  from himwho turns away from Our Reminder(this Qur’an)and desires nothing but the life of this world (29). That is what they could reach of knowledge. Verily, your Lord it is he Who knows best him who goes astray from His Path, and He knows best him whjo receives guidance. [An Najm: 28-30]

When in doubt or ambiguity, a believer must seek to avoid confusion. However, once matters are clear, he must side with what is fair and right; rather he must put in the effort towards unveiling the truth. Therefore, he must not thwart the oppressed who are entitled to a certain right under the pretext of avoiding fitnah. To this effect Allah () says: And if two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both. But if one of them outrages against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which outrages till it complies with the command of Allah. Then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves those who are equitable. [Al Hujurāt: 9]

May Allah bless you and me by the Qur'ān and Sunnah and benefit us with their verses and wisdom! Having said this, I ask Allah, be He exalted, to forgive me and you!

Part Two
Praise be to Allah, Guardian of the believers! No aggression must be carried out save against oppressors. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah alone with no associate, Allah, the Ultimate Truth. I also bear witness that Mohammad () is His Servant and Messenger. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace and Blessings upon him, his family, and all of his Companions!

Now then,
Amidst the political conflicts taking place in the Muslim world and given the ambiguity that is infesting the social communications networks where nobody knows who is writing what and for what purpose, justice may run scarce and people may be carried away along the path of confusion undeterred by legality or values. Therefore, it is necessary to observe self-control and restraint first before taking any action, in accordance with Allah's () following words: O you who believe! If a fasiq (a liar; evil person) comes to you with any news, verify it, lest you should harm people in ignorance and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done. [Al Hujurāt: 6]

The Prophet () warned against fitnahs when he said: "There will be fitnahs, at which time the sitting person will be better than the standing one, and the standing one will be better than the walking one, and the walking one will be better than the running one. And whoever will look towards those fitnahs, he will be overtaken by them. Therefore whoever finds a refuge or a shelter, he should take refuge therein." [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]

Some of the salaf [2] said: “When fitnahs take place, minds are taken away and hearts are defeated.” At first a fitnah would seem suspicious, but when it’s over it becomes all too evident.
Ibn Taymiya ‒may Allah bless his soul– said: “When fitnah strikes, the rightful would be unable to ward off the impudent and no one would be saved from it (fitnah) except those that Allah chooses to make invulnerable to it.”

O Muslims!
Patience is the believer’s means to avert fitnahs. The Messenger of Allah () said: “Ahead of you are days which will require endurance, in which showing endurance will be like grasping live coals. The one who acts rightly during that period will have the reward of fifty men who act as he does. He (one of those present) said: 'Messenger of Allah, the reward of fifty of them?' He replied: 'The reward of fifty of you.'” [Narrated by Abu Dawood and Ibn Majah]

Abu Al-Sha'thā was reported to have said: “We went out with Abi Mass'ūd Al Ansari () and said to him: ‘Give us a tip.’ He replied: ‘You must observe taqwa (fear) of Allah and hold on to Muhammad’s congregation, for Allah ‒be He exalted‒ would not unite such congregation on perversion. Allah’s religion is but one, so beware of making it multi-faceted. You must observe taqwa of Allah and have patience until a righteous man is at ease and a dissolute man is gotten rid of.'" [Narrated by Al-Hākim in his ‘Al-Mustadrak’ (a book of Hadith); he (Al-Hākim) said: ‘This is a sound Hadith in accordance with Imam Muslim'.]

O servants of Allah!

There are still trials and fitnahs in this life, so arm yourselves with patience to defeat such calamities. Patience does not mean the willingness to settle for less and surrender to alienation, but the resolve to devote oneself to faith and to doing what is required by Sharia law, and this is laudable indeed.

In this age, it is important for Muslims to remain optimistic and hopeful, to avoid despair and firmly believe that those who observe taqwa shall have the upper hand in the end, for we read in the Holy Qur'ān: …and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you. [Al-Baqarah: 216]. In this context, it is equally important to remember Allah’s wisdom in bringing about trials.

There must be blazing events that would steer the believers back towards their faith just as much as they have pulled away from it, retributions that would make them seek refuge with their Creator just as much as they have alienated themselves from Him, and earthly disasters that would call upon them to revert to that which brought glory and might to your salaf and predecessors. After all, hardship is always followed by relief.

Signs of victory are looming in the horizon while the causes thereof keep coming and going. Our hope in Allah is so immense and boundless.

It must be known that those hadiths of fitnahs and epic encounters are mentioned by way of prompting consideration (on the part of the believers) and setting warning. Such hadiths include those of Al-Dajjāl [3], Al khasf [4], and wars. There should be no assertion as to the applicability of certain news on a given incident, for this is part of Ilm Al-Ghaib (knowledge of the unseen and unknown), and it is not allowed to speak instead of Allah while having no knowledge.

O Allah! We seek Your protection against misleading fitnahs! O Allah! We seek Your protection against misleading fitnahs! O Allah! Keep away from us all forms of disgrace and fitnahs, apparent or concealed!

This being said, send (O you Muslims) your salat (Graces, Honours and Mercy) and peace upon Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (), al-Hāshimi al-Qurashi, the best and most honest of Allah’s creatures.

O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, honours and Mercy), Peace and Blessing on Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, his good and pure family, his magnanimous and auspicious Companions and those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Judgement!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims and fail tyrants, atheists and corruptors!

O Allah! Foreordain for this Ummah (the nation of Islam) a matter (an affair) of rationality (guidance) where the people of piety are honored and those of sins are guided, and where al-ma’rūf (promotion of good deeds) is promoted and al-munkar (promulgation of evil deeds) is prevented, O Lord of the worlds!

O Allah! Make preoccupied with their own evil those who wish to harm Islam and Muslims! Turn their plots and their cunning against them and make that the cause of their own destruction, O Lord of the worlds!

O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your Cause! O Allah! Grant victory to the Mujahideen in Your Cause in Palestine and wherever they may be! O Allah! Lift their siege, set right their conditions and suppress their enemy!

O Allah! Alleviate the suffering of our brothers in Syria! O Allah! Put an end to their affliction! O Allah! Speed up their relief! O Allah! Have mercy on them, for they are too weak! Mend their breakage, O You, the charitable, the benevolent! O Allah! Spare their blood, reassure them, preserve their dignity and honour, feed the hungry among them, strengthen their stamina, bring them closer together, and grant them power and victory over their oppressors!

O Allah! Set right their conditions, unite them around righteousness and protect them against the evil doers among them! O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors and those who side with them! O Allah! Grant victory to Your Religion, Book, the Sunnah of Your Prophet and Your believing servants!

O Allah! Liberate Al Aqsa Mosque from the oppressors’ injustice and the occupiers’ aggression!

O Allah! Set right the conditions of our brothers in Egypt and everywhere! O Allah! Unite them around truth and righteousness, set right their conditions, and protect them against the evil doers among them!

O Allah! Guide our leader to do whatever you love and accept! O Allah! Guide him to piety and righteousness! O Allah! Grant him, his Crown Prince, his brothers and assistants success to do what is good for the people and the country!

O Allah! Grant success to all the leaders of Muslims in order to govern by Your Sharia and follow the Sunnah of Your Prophet ()! O Allah! Make them a blessing on Your true servants!

O Allah! Make safe and prosperous our country and all Muslim countries around the world! Protect us against the evil of wrongdoers and the maliciousness of the lecherous!
Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al Baqarah: 201], Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk. [Al-Imran: 147]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and fulfill our wishes in what pleases You!

O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, our wives and children! You are indeed All-Hearing!

O Lord! Accept from us, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! Accept our repentance; You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful!

Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! You are free from what they attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the Messengers! And all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!

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[1] The Arabic word فتنة (fitnah, pl. فتن fitan) carries many meanings: affliction, civil strife, discord, dissension, enticement, infatuation, intrigue, ordeal, riot, sedition, temptation, trial.

[2] The Salaf are the first generations of Muslims, who included the Companions and followers of Mohammad () at the time.

[3] Al-Masīh ad-Dajjāl (Arabic for "the false Messiah"), is an evil figure against whom the Prophet () warned the Muslims. He is to appear pretending to be Al-Masīh (i.e. the Messiah) at a time in the future, before Yawm al-Qiyamah (the Day of Resurrection).

[4] The swallowing of the earth and all that is on it

Source: http://www.alharamain.gov.sa/index.c...owseby=khateeb

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Directives for the Pilgrims of the Ancient House [1]

Sheikh Saalih Aal Taalib

October 11, 2013 ~ Dhul Hijjah 06, 1434

Khutbah Topic

His Eminence Sheikh Saleh ibn Mohammad Āl Tālib –may Allah protect him– delivered last Friday’s khutbah titled “Directives for the Pilgrims of the Ancient House” in which he discussed Hajj to the Holy Mosque and the spiritual acts of body and soul. He gave important advice and cautioned Muslims in general, and pilgrims in particular, to learn their manasik (rites) well and to observe adequacy of practice in this respect by fulfilling the enjoined duties and shunning prohibited acts and by seeking to experience the spiritual meanings of Hajj in both words and deeds.

Part one

Praise be to Allah! To Him we offer our true thanks and purest salutations. We offer Him abundant praise that can fill the earth and heavens. Verily He is worthy of praise and glory. He honored Makkah, Mina, Muzdalifa and Arafat, and made the hospitable and cheerful reception therein of His pilgrim guests a source of clemency, forgiveness and answering prayers. I praise my Lord (), thank Him, pay sincere tribute to Him and seek His forgiveness. He granted His creation propitious occasions, and bestowed upon them His never-ending graces. He who does business with his Lord achieves success. This is –I swear by Allah– the fruitful trade.

I bear witness that there is no deity worth worshipping except Allah alone with no associate. To Him pilgrims turn reciting talbiyah [2] and tawheed [3]. He made the holy sites and the Holy Mosque witnesses that there is no associate and no rival to Him, that He is the Greatest, and that all creatures are His slaves. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Prophet, and that he is the last and the most honourable of His messengers. His Lord has granted him Al-Hawdh and Al-Kawthar, ordered him to perform prayers to Him, to slaughter sacrifices, to go on Hajj to His Holy Mosque, and to mention His Lord at the Mash’ar [4]. May Allah’s salat and profuse peace be upon him, his family and his Companions () until Judgment Day.

Having said that,
I enjoin you –people‒ to observe taqwa, for taqwa (fear of Allah) is the best sustenance and the best attire. It is Allah’s () recurrent advice to the pilgrims of His Ancient House And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc.). So fear Me, O men of understanding! [Al-Baqarah: 197]

O believers!
Today, our Ummah is witnessing a great day of Allah’s and observing a great pillar of Islam. It is an occasion when sins and evil deeds are pardoned, errors rectified, and prayers answered.

Hajj to Allah’s Ancient House is a symbol of unity and tawheed. It is an occasion to proclaim covenants and pledges, honour rights and dignities, cease bloodshed, and protect souls and property. It is a spiritual season; such are the days of Allah.

Imagine the pilgrims piously plodding the roads to the mash’ar in their unified form; imagine the whiteness of their ihram, and the palpitation of their hearts as they recite talbiyah: “labayka allahumma labayk, lā sharīka laka labayk; inna al-hamda wa-n ni’mata laka wa-l-mulk; lā sharīka lak.”

I wonder how they can see their way with their tearful eyes. I wonder how their feet can support them as their hearts are severed from everything except from Allah’s mercy, and their souls free except from yearning to Him.

They have put their life’s cares behind their back –its embellishments, clamours and differences– just to be Allah’s guests. They have come to seek benefits, mention Allah’s name and thank Him for the favours He bestowed upon them.

Every pilgrim must have left behind a family and relatives whose yearnings that surpass his own. They are following the pilgrims’ news with infinite faster-than-tears longings. Having been prevented from joining the fold by certain impediments, they reiterate the cameleer’s lines:

You who are travelling to the Ancient House
You have become bodies and we souls.
We stayed behind because of insurmountable impediments
But he who has an excuse is as good as those who have gone.

When Um Ayman Bint Ali left Egypt and saw the pilgrims and camels passing by her, she started to weep and said, “This is the sorrow of one who was prevented from reaching the House, but how sorrowful would be the one who severed his relationship with the House’s Lord?”

(The Sheikh recites the following poetic lines):

Every horizon in Hijaz has angels
Heralding Allah’s graces and blessings.
Religion is yours, Lord of Pilgrims! You have assembled them
On a journey to a House of pure expansions and lands.
I see that people of different races and from everywhere
Have come to You from foreign lands and dispersion.
They have become equal, as You recognize
Neither difference of birth nor of destiny
You are the Most Forgiving, so we beseech You to strike out
With you forgiveness the sins we have committed in our lives.

Servants of Allah! O Muslims everywhere!
How happy we are to see the pilgrims enjoying the Holy Mosque, well organized moving around Al-Haram’s (the Holy Mosque) immaculate spaces in a dignified show of faith, seeking Allah’s satisfaction and favour.

They have stopped by Allah’s Ancient House Verily, the first House (of worship) appointed for mankind was that at Bakkah (Makkah), full of blessing, and a guidance for Al-'Alamîn (the mankind and jinns). In it are manifest signs (for example), the Maqâm (place) of Ibrâhim (Abraham); whosoever enters it, he attains security [Āl Imrān: 96-97]

They are responding to the eternal and renewed command And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj). That they may witness things that are of benefit to them (i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter, and also some worldly gain from trade, etc.) [al-Hajj: 27-28]

They are performing the fifth pillar of Islam And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka'bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allâh, those who can afford the expenses (for one's conveyance, provision and residence) [Āl Imrān: 97] reciting talbiyah, praying the Lord (), asking Him acceptance, hoping for His clemency and fearing His torture.

O pilgrims! Welcome to Hajj. Welcome to this Holy Valley and to the Ancient House which was the first to be built for people. Prophets performed Hajj to it; it was the locus of the early divine inspiration. Gabriel roamed about it, the Qur’ān was revealed in its high mountains, and it was the birthplace of the Prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (). It is the place where our Prophet () brought up the most truthful and righteous of his men.

It is a House built by Al-Khalil (Prophet Ibrāhīm ), to which prophets had performed Hajj over the ages and the years. Zamzam, Al-Maqām, Al-Hijr, Al-Safā, Al-Marwā, the mountains, the valleys and gorges all bear witness to the conflict between right and wrong; between guidance and deviation until light shone and spread from horizon to horizon.

On these hills, sins are expiated, and the pilgrim returns like the day he was born. There is no other place in the whole world that enjoys such an advantage. Therefore, you should feel the sanctity of the House, and seek the blessing of the time and place. The Prophet () says, “He who performs Hajj without committing sins will return as if he were born anew. [5]” [An agreed-upon hadith]

In the two Sahihs (Hadith Books by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim), it is reported that the Prophet () said, “An Umrah expiates the sins committed in the interval between it and the next one. An accepted Hajj has no other reward but paradise.” [An agreed-upon hadith]

May Allah accept your acts of obedience, forgive your sins and complete your nusuk (rituals)!

O Muslims in the East and West!

Pilgrims of the Holy House of Allah! The days you are witnessing now are glorified by your Lord. In His glorified Book, He () swore by them as He said, By the dawn. By the ten nights (i.e. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hîjjah) [al-Fajr: 1-2]. Speaking of these days, the Prophet () said, “There are no other days on which good deeds are rewarded by Allah than these days.” “Not even jihad in the cause of Allah?” they asked. “Not even jihad in Allah’s cause,” the Prophet answered, “except for a man who went out with his body and wealth and returned with neither,” the Prophet concluded.” [Narrated by Bukhari].
According to Imam Ahmad’s version: “So Observe a lot of tahlil, takbir, and tahmeed.” [6]
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la Ilaha Illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa lillah al-Hamd.

O Muslims! This Ancient House was established for no other purpose than to observe tawheed of Allah () and to worship no other deity than Him alone. And (remember) when We showed Ibrâhim (Abraham) the site of the (Sacred) House (the Ka'bah at Makkah) (saying): "Associate not anything (in worship) with Me, [Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh Islâmic Monotheism] [al-Hajj: 26]. Al-Khalil () raised the building supplicating Allah, And (remember) when Ibrâhim (Abraham) and (his son) Ismâ'il (Ishmael) were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka'bah at Makkah), (saying), "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. "Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our Manâsik (all the ceremonies of pilgrimage - Hajj and 'Umrah, etc.), and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful. [Al-Baqarah: 127-128].
Our Lord! And make us submissive unto You. Islam is absolute surrender, obedience to Allah and repudiation of shirk and mushrikeen (polytheism and polytheists respectively). and show us our Manâsik is to uphold righteousness, shari’a and sunnah.

In between the Hajj verses, Allah says, So shun the abomination (worshipping) of idol, and shun lying speech (false statements) Hunafâ' Lillâh (i.e. to worship none but Allâh), not associating partners (in worship, etc.) unto Him and whoever assigns partners to Allâh, it is as if he had fallen from the sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a far off place. [Al-Hajj: 30-31]

Jābir () narrated that the Prophet () then recited, “labayka allahumma labayk, lā sharīka laka labayk; inna al-hamda wa-n ni’mata laka wa-l-mulk; lā sharīka lak.” [Narrated by Abu Dawud]. So be sincere in your faith, and examine your deeds and aims.

Servants of Allah!

The manasik train the pilgrim to turn to no one else but Allah alone in supplication and prayers with complete reliance on Him, to seek refuge with Him, and renounce reliance on people. And the mosques are for Allâh (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allâh [Al-Jinn: 18]. This means one should not invoke a prophet, a righteous man, a place or an image. A pilgrim must not alter the purpose of Hajj. No invocation should be addressed to anyone except Allah alone; no motto should be raised except that of tawheed and sunnah. It is Allah’s religion and shar’. He who has received the word of Allah and the Prophet should adhere to righteousness and renounce everything else. Under no circumstances should he ignore the Qur’ān or the sunnah, regardless of who the instigator might be. Allah says, And let those who oppose the Messenger's (Muhammad SAW) commandment (i.e. his Sunnah legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) (among the sects) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.) befall them or a painful punishment. [Al- Nur: 63]

Weakness has found its way into the (Muslim) Ummah as much as Bida' [7], innovations and deviations from the right path. Moreover, if Muslims are seeking nowadays a way to progress, they have no other way except through their unity; and there is no way to achieve their unity except by practicing true Islam. In its turn, true Islam has its origin in the Holy Qur'ān and the Sunnah as implemented by the salaf of the Ummah , i.e. the (Prophet's) Companions and the tabi’in (the contemporaries of the Companions () after the death of the Prophet []).



O Muslims!

Hajj is a unique form of worship that gathers millions of people who are eager to perform the ritual and are willing to leave behind (the pleasures of) their worldly lives. Is there anything more beautiful to see than this great gathering of faith? In it is shown the gathering and harmony of the Ummah as well as its ethics and values: So whosoever intends to perform Hajj (therein by assuming Ihram), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. [Al Baqarah: 197]. These values include the values of tolerance, brotherhood, and the shunning away from differences and disputes, the values of equality and justice, the values of contentment and simplicity as reflected in the pilgrim's abandonment of the pleasures of this worldly life in his hajj clothes (Ihram), residence, and sleep.

O Muslims!

Since the commencement of Hajj in Islam, its gathering season has been used to deliver valuable instructions to the Muslim Ummah. It is the gathering of Muslims and their great meeting place. During the Farewell Hajj of Prophet (), the great speech (oration) he gave then addressing the most honourable gathering was an oration containing the greatest principles and the most honourable goals. Indeed, it is the ultimate record for human rights and the freedoms of nations.

During the Hajj of the ninth year of Hijrah (since the emigration of the Prophet to Madinah) all treaties previously concluded with the Mushrikeen (who take associates with Allah) were announced invalid; these treaties were respected and adhered to only by Muslims. The Mushrikeen, on the other hand, often abused these treaties and violated them as long as they were able to do so. Such violation of treaties keeps repeating itself nowadays and all the time.

Now then, O pilgrims of Allah's Sacred House!

Do learn the rulings of your rituals and make sure to know them properly before doing them; get yourself busy with worship and good deeds, for Allah’s reward cannot be gained with negligence.

Make abundant your Dua’a and supplication, and continue remembering Allah in all circumstances (good or bad), for your Prophet () says: "Verily the Tawaf (circumambulation) around the House (Ka'ba) and Sa’iy (going and coming in haste) between Safā and Marwā and Ramy of Jimar (stoning of the specified pillars in Mina epitomizing Satan) have only been ordained to establish the remembrance of Allah." [Narrated by Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmithi]

Allah () says: Then when you leave 'Arafat, remember Allah (by glorifying His Praises, i.e. prayers and invocations, etc.) at the Mash'ar-il-Haram. And remember Him (by invoking Allah for all good, etc.) as He has guided you, and verily, you were, before, of those who were astray. [198] Then depart from the place whence all the people depart and ask Allah for His Forgiveness. Truly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful. [199] So when you have accomplished your Manasik [(i.e. Ihram, Tawaf of the Ka'bah and As-afa and Al-Marwah), stay at 'Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina, Ramy of Jamarat, (stoning of the specified pillars in Mina) slaughtering of Hady (animal, etc.)]. Remember Allah as you remember your forefathers or with a far more remembrance. But of mankind there are some who say: "Our Lord! Give us (Your Bounties) in this world!" and for such there will be no portion in the Hereafter. [Al-Baqarah: 198-200]

May Allah bless you and me by the Qur'ān and Sunnah and grant us benefit from their verses and wisdom! Having said this, I ask Allah, be He exalted, to forgive me and you!

Part Two

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, the Merciful, the Compassionate, the Owner of the Day of Judgment. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah alone with no associate, Allah, the True Incontestable Sovereign. I also bear witness that Muhammad () is His Servant and Messenger. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace and Blessings upon him, his family, and all of his Companions!

Now then, O servants of Allah!

O pilgrims of the Sacred House (the Ka'bah) of Allah! The day after tomorrow will be the eighth of Thul-Hijjah (12th month in the lunar calendar), and before noon on that day anyone intending to perform Hajj should wear Ihram and go to Mina. There, he performs all the prayers, the dhuhr (noon), the ‘assr (afternoon), the maghreb (sunset) and the ‘isha (night) prayers on time but in a shortened form. Then, he spends the night there.

Upon performing the fajr (dawn) prayer on the ninth day and after sunrise, he moves to ‘Arafāt [8]. There, he performs both the dhuhr and ‘assr prayers in a joined and shortened form. He then stays in the highland of ‘Arafāt praising and remembering Allah () abundantly. The pilgrim should ask Allah with submissiveness to grant him some of the blessings of the Herein (this life) and the Hereafter. While in that great holy place (Arafāt), the pilgrim should supplicate Allah with insistence, for “Hajj is ‘Arafah” as the Prophet () said. He also said: "the best dua' (supplication) is the supplication on the Day of ‘Arafah, and the best of what I and the Prophets before me have said is: There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone with no associate, to Him belongs sovereignty and praise and He has absolute capacity over all things." [Narrated by Al-Tirmithi]

O servants of Allah!

For those who are not performing Hajj, it is recommended that they fast the Day of ‘Arafah hoping that Allah will forgive them (the sins of) the preceding year and the coming one, as the Prophet () said in a Hadith narrated by Imam Muslim.

Aishah (wife of the Prophet), may Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Prophet () said: "There is no day when Allah sets free more servants from Hell than the Day of 'Arafah. He draws near, then praises them to the angels, saying: What do these want?" [Narrated by Muslim]

When the sun sets, the pilgrims set for Muzdalifah with serenity and veneration. There they perform the sunset and night prayers joined, while shortening the night prayer. They spend the night in Muzdalifah where they perform the dawn prayer. They praise Allah and supplicate Him abundantly until dawn is very clear. They then proceed to Mina before the sun rises. It is, however, permissible for the weak, including women, children and the like to leave Muzdalifah after midnight, which is signaled by the setting of the moon.

When the pilgrims reach Mina they throw (the pebbles at) Jamratu al-Aqabah (the biggest of the three pillars at the entrance of Mina from the direction of Makkah) with seven successive pebbles making Takbir (saying Allah is Great) with each thrown pebble. Then they slaughter the Hadiy (sacrificial animal) in case they have to sacrifice one, then they shave their heads or cut their hair, bearing in mind that shaving is better. Afterwards, they go to the Sacred House during the Eid Day (Sacrifice Day) if possible; otherwise, they go the following day and make the Ifādhah Tawāf then the Sa’iy between Safā and Marwā. If they have already intended to perform Hajj Al-Qirān [9] or Hajj Al-Ifrād [10] and have already made Sa’iy before Hajj after the Arrival Tawāf, then this Sa’iy will suffice. There is no harm in not performing the rituals of the Sacrifice Day according to their due order.

The pilgrims then return to Mina and stay there during the nights of the days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah) and throws (pebbles at) the three Jimār on each day after the sun declines from the meridian. If they wish to, they can do that in two days; otherwise, they should stay until the day of the 13th which is better. Now, what remains for them to perform is only the Farewell Tawāf once they decide to leave Makkah.

The Prophet () had certain times during which he used to increase his supplication. It is therefore appropriate for a Muslim to seek these times. They include (a) the Day of Arafah, especially the last part of it, (b) immediately after the dawn prayer in Muzdalifah until dawn grows very clear, (c) after the throwing of the pebbles at the first Jamrah (i.e. Jamratu al-‘Aqabah or the biggest Jamrah), (d) after the throwing of the pebbles at the second Jamrah (or the middle Jamarah) during the Tashreeq Days, and (e) at the Safā and Marwā.

Therefore, try hard to perfect your Hajj and fear Allah in what you do and do not do; be sincere with Allah in your deeds and intention; follow the Huda (the Qur’ān) and the Sunnah. Avoid what may jeopardise or blemish your Hajj. Be gentle, calm, and tranquil. Have compassion and mercy towards your Muslim brothers and sisters especially in crowded places: during circumambulation, the throwing of pebbles at Jimār and in front of the entrances of the Holy Mosque. Do feel the greatness of this worship and the grandeur of the situation.

You should know that the government represented by its authorities, various systems, and institutions is doing the best it could to serve you and facilitate your Hajj. Order is set for your interest and all efforts are made for your service.

Therefore, adhere to the instructions and follow them, and be conscious of what you are doing. Let your conduct and ethics be the best. Stick to serenity and veneration. Be hardworking and never take extreme stances. Try to be as perfect as possible and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded (by Allah). Be optimistic, for you are coming to a Generous Lord.

May Allah accept your pilgrimage, appreciate your endeavours, and forgive your sins!

This being said, do send (O you Muslims) your salat and peace upon Muhammad Ibn Abdullah (), al-Hāshimi al-Qurashi, the best and most honest of all mankind.
O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, honours, Mercy), Peace and Blessing on Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, his good and pure family, his magnanimous and auspicious Companions: Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman, and Ali and on all the Companions of Your Prophet and those who followed them in righteousness until the Day of Judgement!

O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims and fail tyrants, atheists and corruptors! Make this homeland secure and peaceful and all homelands of Muslims!

O Allah! Grant us security in our homeland, set right our Imams and leaders, support with the Truth our Imam and leader; O Allah! lead him to Your guidance and make his deeds gain Your contentment! O Allah! Grant him a righteous retinue! O Allah! Reward him with blessings and merits for serving the Two Holy Mosques and taking care of the pilgrims and performers of Umrah! O Allah! Grant him, his two Crown Princes, their brothers and assistants success!

O Allah! Set right the conditions of Muslims everywhere! O Allah! Unite them on the Truth and right guidance! O Allah! Stop their bloodshed, alleviate their fear, satisfy their needs, and feed their hungry!

O Allah! Grant victory to oppressed Muslims everywhere and unite them on the Truth, O Lord of the Worlds!

O Allah! Grant victory to Your religion, Your Book, the Sunnah of Your Prophet and Your believing servants!

O Allah! Destroy the enemies of the religion, for You are more than a match to them!

Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire! [Al-Baqarah: 201]

O Allah! Forgive our sins, cover our flaws, make easy our affairs and make our wishes come true in what pleases You! O Allah! Forgive our sins, those of our parents, our grandparents, and their progeny, You are All-Hearing!

O Allah! Protect the performers of Hajj and Umrah! Facilitate their hajj rituals and help them to perform them in security, and accept (the good deeds) from them and from us!

O Allah! Guide and help the security forces and those who serve the pilgrims and reward them with blessings and increase their good deeds, O Lord of the Worlds!

O Lord! Accept from us, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing! Accept our repentance; You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful!

Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! You are free from what they attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the Messengers! And all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!

_____________________________________

[1] Ancient House is one of the names of the ka’bah in Makkah.

[2] Saying labayk Allahumma labbayk. (We have come, O Allah, in response to your command)

[3] Saying lā Ilāha Illa Allah (There is no deity except Allah alone)

[4] Muzdalifa valley

[5] He means without sins

[6] Saying lā Ilaha Illa Allah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, lā Ilaha Illa Allah, wa lillah Hamdu respectively

[7] In Arabic, bida’ (بدع) is the plural of bid’ah (بدعة) which is anything invented, innovated, or added to the religion of Islam after it was completed on Prophet Mohammad (). It especially concerns the rites and rituals of worship or any deed which was not performed or endorsed by the Messenger of Allah, but was added as a part of the religion after his death

[8] Note that, in Arabic, this holy place of Hajj is called ‘Arafāt (عرفات) or ‘Arafah (عرفة)

[9] Qirān (قران) is the combination of both umrah and hajj in the same state of ihrām. In this kind of hajj, the pilgrim is not allowed to end his state of ihrām after performing umrah but continue with it until he finishes hajj. He does not need to make ifādhah tawāf on 10th Dhul Hijjah since he has already made it when he arrived in Makkah and performed umrah. Such type of pilgrim is called ‘qārin’ (قارن)

[10] Ifrād (إفراد) in hajj is the intention to perform hajj only without umrah. Such type of pilgrim is called ‘mufrid’(مفرد) and should not perform umrah during the hajj season. The ‘mufrid’, unlike the ‘qārin’ is not obliged to make hadiy (animal sacrifice). Those who can perform Hajj al-Ifrād are those living within the limits of the Haram or within Meeqāts, including those living in Jeddah

Source: http://www.alharamain.gov.sa/index.c...owseby=khateeb

:w:

[BintAbee]

:sl:

Advices to the Muslims on the Day of Eid

Sheikh Saalih aal Taalib

October 26, 2013 ~ Dhul Hijjah 10, 1433

First Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah Who is glorified in His Loftiness, and Unified and Unique in His Lordship. For Him is Everlasting Eternity. And for Him alone is Honour. There is no god but Allah, everlasting and Ever-Existing, and He makes miserable and He makes happy. Glorified and Holy is He. The praise on Him cannot be counted, and there is no escape from Him except to Him, and there is no hoping for good except from Him. “And say: ‘All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has not begotten a son, and Who has no partner in (His) Dominion, nor He is low to have a Wali. And magnify Him with all the magnificence, [Allahu-Akbar (Allah is the Most Great)].” [Surah Israa: 111]

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest of the great, and praise be to Allah much, and glory be to Allah morning and evening. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

Allah is the greatest the amount of (times) the Ihraam is donned at appointed times of the pilgrims. And Allah is the greatest the amount of pilgrims flowing in the valleys. And Allah is the greatest the weight of the water of the seas, and the amount of gushing of the waves. Allah is the greatest, a takbeer that brightens this king and that kingdom, and Allah is the greatest of the great, the possessor of Honour and Might. And Allah is the greatest, the Ever-Living Who never dies. Allah is the greatest the amount of blood flowed of sacrificial animals. And Allah is the greatest on the plains and in the ravines and in the districts.

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

All praise be to Allah, the One, the Unique, the Great, the Almighty. No describer can encompass describing Him. And no knower can perfect His right, even if he counts, and accounts, and investigates and strives. All praise be to Allah without exception, and all praise be to Allah secretly and openly. And thanks be to Him successively. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah. He executes the matters in the world while He is the Lofty. And the creation is in need of Him, while He is Self-Sufficient. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger, primarily the best of people, and his name in the Injeel (original bible) is Ahmad. With his prophethood, the light of ignorances was eliminated, and on the Day of Reckoning, he will have a flag held, and a praised position and a watering pond. May Allah send salutations on him as the star in the sky shines and the bright star of Ursa Minor illuminates, and may his Lord send salutations on him and send salutations on his pure family, the selected of the selected, and send salutations on his pious companions. They were worshippers at night, lions during the day. Allah opened up lands through them, and built big cities, and (salutations be) on those who follow them (companions) and those who follow them in goodness, and much peace – O Lord – be on them.

Thereafter: I advise you and myself with the fear of Allah, for surely Allah has commanded and advised you with it: “And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is piety.” [Surah al Baqarah: 197], and remember the resurrection when looking at this gathering, and prepare for the day of returning, for verily you have a performance by your Lord so fear Him. “And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” [Surah al Baqarah: 281]

Pilgrims to Allah’s sacred house! You have stopped at the paths of the messengers and the prophets, and the place of revelation from the sky. Here is Islam and this is its centre, and here is its conclusion and to it is its unison. In these shadows the Sharee’ah was enacted, and the laws were enacted, and on these grounds the religion of Islam was completed.

Here our prophet Muhammad ﷺ was born, and here he received revelation. Here his propagation began and he met the first harm in the way of his Lord, then he was patient. Here the conquests of his reign were concluded, and here he bid farewell to his companions and his nation from these hills and those mountain feet. Here the first verses of the noble Quraan were revealed, and here they were recited, so the mountains listened to them, and the valleys and hills bowed with them.

This is the exalted Ka’bah of Allah, and this is the station of Abraham, and there is Safa and Marwa, and this is Zam zam and the hateem.

This land with its signs has been the inspiration of the Muslims over the years, and it is the desire of the worshippers and the pious regardless of how remote their houses are, and however old they may be.

On these hills, sins are washed away, and the pilgrim returns clean like (the day) his mother gave birth to him. And there is no place in this world with the distinction like this place, so appreciate the sacredness of the house, and be aware of the blessedness of the time and place, for your prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever performs pilgrimage to this house and does not commit any obscenity or wrongdoing, he will come out as his mother gave birth to him.” [Agreed upon]

And in the two authentic (books of Hadeeth: Bukhari and Muslim) also: that the prophet ﷺ said: “An accepted pilgrimage has no reward for it except Paradise.”

May Allah accept your obediences from you, and forgive your sins, and complete for you your rituals. You have descended at Mina, and you have arrived at the house of Allah, and before (that) you have stood at Arafaat, then drew close (to Allah) at Mash’aril Haraam (Muzdalifah), and gone about in the regions resounding in it with Talbiyyah and Takbeer, and announced the unity of Tawheed in it.

Lands where the name of Allah was mentioned and revered, and the inspired pilgrim was forgiven and honoured.

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

Group of pilgrims: Verily this day of yours is a blessed day. Allah has raised its worth, and exalted its remembrance, and called it: “The great day of pilgrimage,” and he made it a festivity for the Muslims, pilgrims and residents, and on this esteemed day, the pilgrims set out to Mina to pelt the big devil (symbol) with seven pebbles, then he sacrifices his sacrificial animal if he was a Mutamatti’ (one doing the Tamattu’ type of pilgrimage) or Qaarin (one doing the Qiraan type of pilgrimage), and he shaves his head, and with this the first permissibility becomes permissible, and whatever was forbidden for him due to the state of Ihraam becomes permissible except sexual relations, then the pilgrim sets off to Makkah to circumambulate the Ifaadah circumambulation, as per the saying of Allah – Majestic in His Being -: “Then let them complete the prescribed duties (rituals of Hajj) for them, and perform their vows, and circumambulate the Ancient House.” [Surah al Hajj: 29]

Then he walks between Safa and Marwa, and there is no harm in doing any of these actions before the other.

Guests of the Beneficent, pilgrims of Allah’s sacred house! It is compulsory on you to spend the night in Mina, following the Sunnah of the chosen one ﷺ and tomorrow is the 11th day (of Dhul Hijjah), and it is the first day of Tashreeq, of which Allah – Exalted and Majestic – says with regards to: “And remember Allah during the appointed Days.” [Surah al Baqarah: 203]

Ibn Abbaas (Radiallahu Anhum) said: “They are the days of Tashreeq.”

And the messenger of Allah ﷺ said regarding them: “(They are) days of eating, drinking and remembrance of Allah – Exalted and Majestic - ” [Narrated by Muslim]

So increase – may Allah have mercy on you – in remembrance of Allah and takbeer in these blessed days, exemplifying the command of your Lord, following the Sunnah of your prophet, following in the legacy of your predecessors, for surely the companions used to do takbeer, and Umar (Radiallahu Anhum) used to do takbeer in his camp in Mina, and the people used to do takbeer with his takbeer, and Mina used to resonate with takbeer.

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

O Muslims in the east and west of the world: Congratulations on this Eid. May Allah make your days forever happy, and increase you in delight and joy with Eid. May Allah accept your actions, elevate your ranks, expiate you your sins, and may Allah return it (Eid) to us and to you and to the entire Islamic nation with goodness, success, happiness, honour, victory and stability to Islam and the Muslims.

Eid – O believers – is accepted actions, joining of family ties, remembrance of Allah and gratitude and joy with the bounties of Allah and permissible entertainment, not distracting from the remembrance of Allah, so congratulations on your Eid, O Muslims.

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

Pilgrims to Allah’s sacred house: Surely in the pilgrimage of the prophet ﷺ are lessons and advices, and wisdom and rulings. The laws of the religion were fixed by it, and (too) the principles of justice. He delivered a sermon and bade farewell after the establishment of the Sharee’ah and completion of the religion, and completion of the favour. “This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” [Surah al Ma’idah: 3]

Then he established Tawheed, and abolished the meaning of castes and racism, and he established the rights of women, and discarded usury, and protected lives, wealth and honour. And he said: “I left for you what if you hold up to, you will never be misguided: the book of Allah.” [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim].

And it is appropriate for the Muslims to be inspired from the directives of their prophet: the superior principles, and the strongest of paths, and the most successful of methods for justice and the happiness of humanity in this world and the Hereafter.

Servants of Allah: Islam – and its basis of Tawheed – is the religion of glad tidings and mercy, and the pillars of Islam are an expiation of sins, so whoever meets Allah without associating anything with Him enters Paradise, and in the Great Quraan: “Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases.” [Surah an Nisaa: 48]

And in prayer: “And perform the prayer, at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night (i.e. the five compulsory prayers). Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins).” [Surah Hood: 114]

And in charity: “Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it.” [Surah at Tawbah: 103]

And in fasting: “Whoever fasts Ramadhan with faith and expecting reward, his past sins will be forgiven.” [Agreed upon]

And in pilgrimage: your prophet ﷺ says: “Whoever performs pilgrimage to this house and does not commit any obscenity or wrongdoing, he will come out as his mother gave birth to him.” [Agreed upon]

And in abstaining from the major sins: Allah the Exalted says: “If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall remit from you your (small) sins, and admit you to a Noble Entrance (i.e. Paradise).” [Surah an Nisaa: 31]

And in the category of character and manners: the prophet ﷺ says: “Those of you who will be closest to me on the Day of Judgement will be those who have the best character.”

And the mercy of Islam is general for all of creation: “And We have sent you not but as a mercy for the worlds.” [Surah al Anbiyaa: 107]

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

O Muslims: The religion is the religion of Allah, and the law is His Law and it is compulsory on the one who is conveyed the speech of Allah and the Sunnah of His messenger ﷺ to follow the truth and discard everything besides it, and not to leave the Quraan and Sunnah for the saying of anyone no matter who, and Allah the Exalted says: “And let those who oppose the Messenger’s commandment beware, lest some Fitnah befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.” [Surah al Noor: 63]

And surely weakness has infiltrated the Islamic nation just as innovations, modernity and deviation from the true path have infiltrated it, and (so too has) laxity in deriving from the two revelations (Quraan and Sunnah) (infiltrated it).

And if the Muslims today search for a way to rise, then there is no way except (by) uniting their groups. And there is no way for their unity except by (following) the authentic Islam. And the source of authentic Islam is the Quraan and Sunnah, and that is what the predecessors of this Ummah, the sahaba and tabi’een were upon.

And the call of the truthful ones is to return to Islam, with its clear meaning, from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His messenger ﷺ so do not let the (different) paths confuse you, and do not let desires misguide you, and do not let the abundance of differences deter you, or the influence of the imposters.

O you Muslims: Your predecessors are Muhammad ﷺ, his companions and the preferred generations, so in which book do you find them killing the Muslims, or betraying the trustees or calling unto Imams and pious, other than Allah, or invoking blessings from tombs and graves of predecessors, or creating trials between the Muslims?!

Your predecessors – O Muslims – were ardent on uniting sayings, unification of ranks, and cleansing the religion from the deviation of the extremists, and plagiarism of the liars, and the interpretations of the ignorant.

Declaring the predecessors as one’s ancestors is not a call claimed by an individual or a group or built by a cult or organization, but it is obedience and following, unity and togetherness, and discarding disunity and innovations.

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

Servants of Allah: Surely the United Nations have realised the need for unity and harmony, so they united despite their differences, and they allied and reformed despite a crushing war that occurred between them, but today’s interests necessitated unity and togetherness.

And we are – O Islamic nation – more deserving of togetherness and harmony and abandoning disunity and differences. “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Quran), and be not divided among yourselves.” [Surah Ale Imraan: 103]

And surely this Muslim nation owns a historical and civilized heritage in unity and togetherness, and it owns the ingredients of unity more than others. And surely it has experienced distracted pathways and closed tunnels and dark paths, and these did not succeed in doing away with it, and they did not direct it away.

Verily the struggle between nations today is not just a struggle of power, but it is a struggle of remaining or disappearing: to be existing or not to be existing! In a time of ideological and cultural globalization before economic and political globalization, in a time of domination of force and imposing opinions with force.

Surely it is upon the Islamic nation to strive with truthfulness and sincerity to hold fast to the means of its remaining as one nation, and to return to the reason for its discovery and to (return to) the Possessor of its message. “So fear Allah and adjust all matters of difference among you.” [Surah al Anfaal: 1]

And from the great objectives of Islam which manifests in the scene of Hajj in belief, worship and signs: The unification of the word of the Muslims, and the unison of their hearts and joining of their gathering. “And verily! This your religion (of Islamic Monotheism) is one religion, and I am your Lord, so keep your duty to Me.” Surah al [Mu’minoon: 52]

And from Khaif (Masjid) in Mina, the prophet ﷺ said: “May Allah cause his face to shine, the man who hears what I say and conveys it (to others). There are those who have knowledge but no understanding, and there may be those who convey knowledge to those who have more understanding than they do. There are three things because of which hatred does not enter the heart of a Muslim: sincerity in doing an action for the sake of Allah; advising the rulers of the Muslims; and adhering to the main body of the Muslims, for verily the prayers (of the Muslims) surround those from behind them.” [Narrated by Ibn Majah with an authentic chain].

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

O Muslims: Verily every society has characteristics that stop at its limits, and rites obliged by its veneration, even in countries headed by atheism, the nation agrees on matters that unite them and meet their quests, and regulate their lives with its words, and we Muslims do not build our lives except on certainty (of belief) in Allah, the One, and we do not sketch the lines of our society and the horizons of our future except in agreement with the guidances of Allah, the Great, as conveyed to us by His noble messenger.

And therefore, the spreading of indecency and atheism is never acceptable in the life of a Muslim society, and invalidating the laws of Allah in the rest of affairs is (also) not acceptable, and (also) not to despise the conduct of faith in the areas of general life. And the conciliation of Allah is not optional, the abstainers abstaining from it or the hesitant choosing it. And never should we leave the inheritance of truth which we have been given and then look forward to good in our immediate or future affairs.

Verily the Islamic beliefs have produced generations (and) have given the ability to change human life and uplift it. And these beliefs produce complete character, and build true manhoods, and overpower mighty crises.

Verily successful training depends on enduring facts, and truths that do not accept debate, and when the environment becomes evil, and doubts prevail in it, and suspicions are attached to that which is revealed from the sky, then how impossible it is to raise generations steadfast on their manners, their virtues and their justice!!

It is mandatory not to permit those with (spiritually) sick hearts to be active from time to time, spreading fake doubts and fabricated suspicions between the Muslims. And it is not permissible to go against the general opinion with ideas that influence towards anarchy, and (that) entice to the freedom from every stipulation and absconding through every loophole.

Verily the young generation and teenage youth, and the general Muslims, their hearts are corrupted with the scorch of these poisons. “O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones.” [Surah at Tahreem 6]

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

O Muslims: Verily from the ways of Allah the Exalted in His creation (is): The remaining of the struggle between truth and falsehood so that Allah may distinguish the wicked from the good and so that He may, with examination, choose the people of faith and raise, with trials, their ranks.

And what is occurring to the Ummah of great incidents harbouring matters that the self surely dislikes, and incidents that narrow the hearts, it’s final end will be – by the permission of Allah – victory and honour for the Muslims, and stability for the believing servants of Allah and the disappearance of the reasons of disgrace and humiliation. For this Ummah is not like others, for it is an Ummah that is promised victory and (good) outcomes, and it is an Ummah saved from mass destruction, and it is a superior Ummah, despite the wounds. “So do not become weak, nor be sad, and you will be superio if you are indeed (true) believers.” [Surah Ale Imraan: 139]

Servants of Allah: Verily with the long length of night and the aggravation of wounds, optimism is beautified. And during pains, hopes are born. And whatever afflicts a believer of wounds or troubles is nothing except a norm that has passed by the sincere friend before; raising ranks; decreasing the sins; examining the hearts; and distinguishing the believing nation, and besides, for verily the calamities of the Ummah in its (various) regions are significant; in Palestine, in Levant (Shaam), in Burma and others.

Verily the wounds are hollow, and the calamities are great, and the pain is intense. Big cities levelled, a nation torn apart, and absent sentiments. Religion does not deter the despots; neither does (good) character restrain them. But the sentiments that this destruction has caused in the Ummah are immense. And if Shaam is suffering, then surely the rest of the body of the Islamic nation suffers from fever and sleeplessness, and solidarity manifests among the Muslims, and life cheers up in their one body, and deep emotions in the Ummah that were almost wiped out are stirred up. And the truth of the truthful ones has become evident, and the betrayal of the betrayers was manifested, and the confidence of the world in the international organizations has shaken, and it is clear that they do not act except according to their selfish interests and the cries of children and the moans of the injured and oppressed do not affect the hearts of its (organization’s) owners. And our hope in Allah is great, for He – Glorified is He – said: “And We wished to do a favour to those who were weak (and oppressed) in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors.” [Surah al Qasas: 5]

And it is compulsory upon the world to fulfil its ethical and legal responsibilities in the face of the massacres and oppression which are perpetrated every day in the land of Shaam, and the continuous violations in Palestine. It is compulsory to stop war and destruction, and advancing general interests over personal interests, in order to spare the blood of the Muslims, and preserve the unity of their ranks and lands, and rejecting tribal and sectarian differences, and steadfastness on the stands of religion and good character.

And it is compulsory upon the world to fulfil its responsibilities in the face of this catastrophe, the duration of which is prolonged, and the pain of which is continuous. And the responsibility is greater on the Arabs and the Muslims especially, so they should call for the helping of the oppressed, and warding off of the oppressor, and the solution should be practical and immediate, for the days are not increasing the aggressor except in slogans and nothing is seen from him except fuel and fire. Perhaps Allah will relieve the affliction and remove the distress. “It may be that Allah will restrain the evil might of the disbelievers. And Allah is Stronger in Might and Stronger in punishing.” [Surah an Nisaa: 84]

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

O Allah bless us in the Quraan and Sunnah, and benefit us in what is in them of verses and wisdom. I say these words of mine and I ask Allah – the Exalted – to forgive me and you.

Second Khutbah

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah, praise that does not come to an end and does not decrease. He continues His bounties upon us, consecutively and flowing. No counting can encompass them and no one can count them, and no poetry can give them their full right. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the Protector, the Guard. How many broken wings does He restore, and (how many) sick and ill does He cure. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant, His messenger, His sincere friend and His friend. Dark affairs became brightened with his coming. May Allah’s salutations be on him, and on his family, his companions and those who follow them, and may much peace be upon them.

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

O Muslims: Women are the twin halves of men. “And they (women) have rights similar (to those of their husbands) over them to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them.” [Baqarah; Verse 228]. The prophet ﷺ advised regarding them while the pangs of death were overpowering him, and he said: “I advise you to take care of the women.” And he said: “I declare inviolable the rights of the two weak ones: the orphans and women.”

And the law of Allah is just and wise, not in need of adjudication or exploitation. And the religion does not bear the mistakes of individuals. Just as the prophet ﷺ advised the women of the Ummah and admonished them, commanded them, prohibited them and warned them of the slips of trials.

O trainers: You are entrusted with the shaping of the nation and leading the future in development and modernization and co-existence with civilization, with authenticity and steadfastness derived from the law of Islam, the goals of which are to make people worship the Lord of the worlds, and loyalty to this religion and rearing a pious, beneficial and conscious citizen, free of extremism of ideas and deviated paths. And training today encompasses every person who has a media platform, or a listened voice.

So the possessors of pens and media and those of websites and (internet) forums should fear Allah, for everyone will be questioned.

Servants of Allah: Commanding good and forbidding evil is a sign of the affection of a Muslim for his nation, and his loyalty to it. “The believers, men and women, are Auliya’ (helpers, supporters, friends, protectors) of one another, they enjoin Al-Ma’ruf, and forbid from Al-Munkar; they perform prayer and give the Zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah will have His Mercy on them. Surely Allah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.” [Surah at Tawbah: 71]

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

Servants of Allah: Verily Islam did not spread in many lands by sword or weapons, but verily the character of the Muslims spread it, and the values of the pious traders. Verily it was our Islamic values that others adopted from us, then they produced by it and were successful. And whoever reads history and ponders over the past battles, he will find that degeneration of character, corruption of manners, deception, betrayal, affluence, relaxation, taking pleasure in bounties, selfishness and egocentricity are the poisons that flow in the substance of the nations until it drops them at the end of the road.

And verily the zealous one for his religion and nation (and) the advisor for Allah, His messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and their masses, his heart will be cut with grief, and he will burn with fear and apprehension when he sees the values of the Ummah disintegrating on the hands of the falling media, soiling the garment of modesty and decency by the viewing of nudity and indecency, and destroying the palace of striving and determination by the propagation of the culture of entertainment and amusement, and triviality and futility. And the zealous one will be saddened to see, between the individuals of the Muslim society, followed pleasures, and obeyed greed and worldly influence.

Verily preserving the values of modesty and chastity is the safety valve for the society in the face of the moral disaster which has hit the world in a vulnerable spot.

Servants of Allah: Verily the way of Allah is not biased to anyone. And neither the individual nor the society has subjective immunity, and when the Ummah is deficient in fending off the reasons of the general calamities, then it is upon it (the Ummah) to accept the results of the deficiency, and the happy one is the one who learns from others. And it is not an Ummah secluded from punishment if it summons its causes, and it is not in safety from punishment if it treads its path and opens its doors to sins.

Verily a nation on which difficulties are descending in its regions, and the enemy is directing its efforts against it in its religion and its lands is obligated to be the furthest of people away from entertainment and indulgence, and leaning towards this world and its ornaments, and to devote its efforts and strength to draw near to its Creator and Originator, and to make sincere for Him the religion, and to unite to Allah the Lord of the worlds, and to abandon disobediences and desires, and avoiding sins and evils.

And it is true that a nation standing with a message of distinguished features and a civilization possessing principles will never rise from its fall if it does not return to the contents of its message, and follow the divine ways, and divine rules in establishing nations and their crumbling, and the rising of countries and their falling, and all that is conveyed in the Great Quraan: “Allah will not change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change their state of goodness themselves.” [Surah ar Ra’d: 11]. “Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion, that which He has chosen for them (i.e. Islam). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me.” [Surah al Noor: 55]

And how many a nation rose up after being seated, and became active after stagnation, and how many a nation were thankless for its means of livelihood, so punishment surrounded them and they were removed from existence. And how many a town of which Allah bestowed upon them His bounties, then they were ungrateful and did not thank, so they tasted the consequences of ingratitude and rejection.

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

O Muslims: Surely from amongst the best deeds, and most brilliant acts that bring one closer to Allah in these days: (is) drawing closer to Allah the Exalted by slaughtering the sacrificial animals, and no action of the son of Adam on the Day of Sacrifice is dearer to Allah than sacrificing animals. Indeed it (the animal) will come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hairs and hooves and indeed the blood (of the sacrificial animals) is surely accepted by Allah before it falls on the ground, so therefore do it wholeheartedly.

And it was confirmed in the two authentics (Bukhari and Muslim) that the prophet ﷺ slaughtered two white, horned rams. He slaughtered them with his hand and he mentioned Allah’s name and takbeer (saying Allah is great).

And it is Sunnah for the one who wishes to sacrifice to choose the best from camels or cows or sheep/goats, and to abstain from those which have defects in them, and the prophet ﷺ explained these defects as (mentioned) in Sunan with an authentic chain, and they are: a one-eyed animal which is clearly one-eyed, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, a lame animal whose lameness is obvious, and an emaciated animal that no one would choose.

And the days of slaughtering are four: from after the Eid prayer until the sunset of the 13th day, which is the last day of Tahreeq. And slaughtering is permissible at night and day, while the day is preferable, and the day of Eid is preferred over those after it.

And one sheep is divided among a man and the people of his house. And it is Sunnah for a Muslim to eat from his sacrifice, and gift from it, and donate it. Allah – Exalted and Majestic – said: “Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only).” [Kawthar; Verse 2], and He – Glorified is He – said: “And for every nation We have appointed religious ceremonies, that they may mention the Name of Allah over the beast of cattle that He has given them for food. And your god is One God, so you must submit to Him Alone (in Islam). And give glad tidings to the those who obey Allah with humility and are humble from among the true believers of Islamic Monotheism, Whose hearts are filled with fear when Allah is mentioned; who patiently bear whatever may befall them (of calamities); and who perform prayer, and who spend out of what We have provided them. And the Budn (cows, oxen, or camels driven to be offered as sacrifices by the pilgrims at the sanctuary of Makkah.) We have made for you as among the Symbols of Allah, therein you have much good. So mention the Name of Allah over them when they are drawn up in lines (for sacrifice). Then, when they are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat thereof, and feed the beggar who does not ask (men), and the beggar who asks (men). Thus have We made them subject to you that you may be grateful. It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is piety from you that reaches Him. Thus have We made them subject to you that you may magnify Allah for His Guidance to you. And give glad tidings to the good-doers.” [Surah al Hajj: 34-37]

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

O Muslims: Run to Allah, and mandate His obedience and His fearing, for with Allah every difficulty is eased, and every difficult task is made easy, and every far becomes near, and every fear becomes security. Mandate good deeds, and beware of sins. And there is nothing that Allah commands except that He helps towards it, and He does not prohibit anything except that He does not make it beneficial. And what is little and sufficient is better than much which distracts. And whoever is content, his life becomes good and the detained one is the one whose heart is detained from Allah, and the prisoned is the one who is prisoned by his desires. And who prolongs the path, weakens his walking. And perhaps one desire bequeaths long sadness.

Righteousness does not wear, and a sin is not forgotten, and the Judge does not die. And whoever does not have a preacher regarding his religion, religious lectures will not benefit him. Trust in Allah is the purest of hope, and depending on Him is the most loyal of actions, and in Allah there is a substitute for every loss, and in His anticipated meeting there is a consolation for every lost (item), and whoever reforms his private (affairs), Allah reforms his public (affairs), and whoever reforms that which is between him and Allah, Allah reforms that which is between him and people. And whoever works for his Hereafter, Allah suffices him for the provisions of his worldly (affairs).

Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the greatest. Allah is the greatest and for Him is all praise.

Pilgrims to Allah’s sacred house: Thank Allah the Exalted for what he has prepared for you and made easy regarding the fulfilment of the greatest pillar of pilgrimage by standing at ‘Arafah and Mash’aril Haraam (Muzdalifah) in safety, peace and security, and aspire to fulfil what remains of the rituals of pilgrimage, as the prophet ﷺ legislated, and exemplifying the command of Allah – Glorified is He – in His saying: “And perform properly (i.e. all the ceremonies according to the ways of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him), the Hajj and ‘Umrah for Allah.” [Surah al Baqarah: 196]

Refrain from crowded places and reasons for differences and arguments. And be friendly with your Muslim brothers, for all of you are hoping for what is by Allah.

May Allah make your pilgrimage accepted, and your efforts thanked and your sins forgiven.

O Allah, the Alive the Self-Subsisting, just as you have gathered this Muslim gathering in this blessed place, so (too) unite the Ummah of Islam on Your book and the Sunnah of Your prophet Muhammad ﷺ and take them to the truth and guidance O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah reform the conditions of the Muslims all over the world, and return them to You, a beautiful returning.

O Allah send salutations on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, just as You sent salutations on Ibraheem and the family of Ibraheem, verily You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. And send blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, just as You sent blessings on Ibraheem and the family of Ibraheem in the worlds, verily You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.

O Allah grant honour to Islam and the Muslims, and defeat the evil ones, atheists and corrupters. O Allah help Your religion, Your book, the Sunnah of Your prophet and Your believing servants.

O Allah establish for this Ummah guidance by which people of Your obedience are honoured, and people of Your disobedience are guided, and good is enjoined and vice is prevented O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah whoever intends evil for Islam and the Muslims, then preoccupy him with himself, and return his plots on his throat, and make a circle of evil surround him O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah assist the strivers in Your path all over the world. O Allah assist them in Palestine, and in the land of the Levant (Shaam), and in every place. O Allah break their siege, and reform their conditions and crush their enemy.

O Allah free Masjidul Aqsa from the oppression of the oppressors, and the anarchy of the occupiers.

O Allah reform the conditions of the Muslims all over the world. O Allah reform their conditions in Syria. O Allah unite them on truth and guidance. O Allah spare their blood and allay their fears, and remedy their shortcomings, and feed their hungry, and preserve their honours, and unite their hearts, and make steadfast their feet, and aid them against those who oppress them. O Allah break their siege. O Allah (we ask You for) Your near relief.

O Allah grant ability to the one in charge of our affairs, the custodian of the two holy mosques, to what You like and pleases You, and take from him to righteousness and piety. O Allah grant him the ability and his deputy and their brothers and aids to that wherein there is reformation for the servants and the countries. O Allah reward them with goodness and kindness for their sacrifices in serving the pilgrims, and serving the two holy mosques and their visitors.

O Allah suffice everyone who served the pilgrims, and reward with good those who took care of Your guests. O Allah make heavy their scales with good, and bless them in their deeds and lives.

O Allah grant the leaders of the Muslims ability to judge by Your law, and to follow the Sunnah of Your prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him -, and make them a mercy for Your believing servants.

O Allah spread security and comfort in our lands and the lands of the Muslims, and suffice us the evil of the evil one, and the plots of the evil ones.

“Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!” [Surah al Baqarah" 201] “Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk.” [Surah Ale Imraan: 147]

O Allah forgive our sins, cover our faults, ease our affairs and convey our hopes to what pleases You.

O Allah forgive us, our parents, their parents and their progeny, and our wives and our progeny. Verily You are the Hearer of supplications.

O Allah we ask You for Your pleasure and Paradise and we seek Your protection from Your anger and Hellfire. O Allah make us of those who are free from the Hellfire. O Alive, O Self-Subsisting, O Possessor of Majesty and Bounty.

O Allah, You are Allah. There is no god but You. You are the Rich and we are poor. Send down on us rain and do not make us of the despondent ones. O Allah send rain on us, O Allah send rain on us, O Allah send rain on us. Rain that is sufficient, wholesome, flowing, large quantities, covering, widespread, beneficial, not harmful, giving life to the servants and quenching the lands, and make it sufficient for the towns and desert.

O Allah (we ask You for) a rain of mercy. O Allah (we ask You for) a rain of mercy. O Allah (we ask You for) a rain of mercy. Not a rain of punishment, trials, destruction or drowning.

O Allah accept from us. Verily You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing. And forgive us. Verily You are All-Forgiving, most Merciful.

O Allah