Verily all praise belongs to Allah. We praise Him, seek help from Him, ask His forgiveness and ask His guidance. And we ask Allah’s protection against the evil of ourselves and the evil of our deeds. Whosoever Allah guides, there will be no misguidance for him, and whosoever He leads astray, 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.
“O you who believe fear Allah as He ought to be feared. And do not die except as Muslims.” [Surah Aal Imraan: 102]
“O mankind fear your Lord who created you from a single soul, and from him (Adam), He created his wife (Hawwa) 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.” [Surah Nisaa: 1]
“O you who believe fear Allah and speak (always) the truth. He will direct you to do good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His messenger he has indeed achieved a great achievement.” [Surah Ahzaab: 70]
Praise be to Allah! Praise be to Allah, the Sovereign enjoying power and dominion. He has pervasive volition in dealing with His creatures. He is the Living, Eternal and Immortal. He (Glory Be to Him) has unrivaled supremacy over His creatures in terms of Rank, Potency, and Omnipotence. He salvaged His close companion (Ibrahim) from fire and saved Yūnus from the whale’s belly. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah; No minute detail can escape His knowledge or surpass His will. I also bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s Servant and Messenger. His Lord has embellished his character with the best traits and the noblest qualities. May Allah send His bountiful Salāt (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace upon him, his family, and his Companions till the Day of Judgement!
Now then! The best speech is Allah’s Book and the best guidance is that of Muhammad ﷺ. The most vicious of all things are novelties (muḥdathāt, in religion); every novelty (muḥdathah) is an innovation (bid’ah), and every innovation is misguidance. Then the best advice is indeed observing taqwa (fear of disobeying Allah). So, do adhere to taqwa vis-à-vis Allah and perform good deeds: “then whosoever becomes pious and righteous, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” [Surah Al-A’rāf: 35] Whoever observes fear of Allah will be under His guardianship, and whoever fears humans will find no shelter from divine chastisement.
O Muslims! The conduct of prophets (May Allah’s Salāt and Peace be upon them all) is full of lessons and moral points. It is a radiant light procession upon a radiant light procession: “Indeed in their stories, there is a lesson for men of understanding. It (the Qur’an) is not a forged statement but a confirmation of the Allâh’s existing Books and a detailed explanation of everything and a guide and a Mercy for the people who believe.” [Surah Yūsuf: 111] The stories of the Holy Qur’ān were revealed to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ while he was still in Makkah and while the few believers who followed him were under siege in the mountain paths of Makkah. Their way was hard and long, and they could hardly see any end to it. The Qur’ānic stories would reveal for them the end of the way ahead, show them its contours, guide their steps, and provide them with the needed help.
The Qur’ānic stories were also meant to keep the Prophet ﷺ steadfast:
“And all that We relate to you (O Muhammad SAW) 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 Qur’an) has come to you the truth, as well as an admonition and a reminder for the believers.” [Surah Hūd: 120] and say to him “You are not alone in this path.” “Therefore be patient (O Muhammad SAW) as did the Messengers of strong will…” [Surah Al-Aḥqāf: 35]
O Muslims! Today, we are going to deal with the story of one of Allah’s prophets. It is a story that said to our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: “Beware! Never renounce the mission of da’wah and the burdens of (conveying) the Message.” It said: “So wait with patience for the Decision of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish, when he cried out (to Us) while he was in deep sorrow.” [Surah Al-Qalam: 48]
That was the story of Yūnus عليه السلام. Allah sent him to the people of Nineveh in the district of Mosul (in modern Iraq). He called them to tawheed, i.e. to profess belief in the unity of Allah (be He glorified) and to worship Him alone, but they disbelieved him and obstinately persisted in their atheism. With the passage of time, he grew impatient with their disbelief, became furious and quit them. He threatened them that divine chastisement was due in three days. He therefore quit, showing his extreme anger thinking that Allah would not constrict the land in front of him. He thought that the earth was quite vast, the cities were numerous, and human communities were also countless. He also thought that since those people were too difficult to call to Allah, then Allah would certainly redirect him to other people. This is the meaning of the verse: “… and imagined that We shall not punish him!… ” [Surah Al-Anbiyā’: 87], that is to say, “He imagined we shall not constrict the land in front of him.”
As to the people of Yūnus, when they noticed that he quit them and that Allah’s punishment would certainly befall them, Allah threw into their hearts repentance, so they regretted their negative response to their prophet. They, then, submitted themselves to Allah, showing their humility to Him. It was really a great moment! Allah lifted off, with His Might, Strength, Compassion, and Mercy, the punishment that was otherwise to befall them due to their deeds. That divine favour was granted only to the people of Yūnus. Indeed, no nation in history, which disbelieved its messenger and was about to be punished, but then declared belief and was saved from the due divine punishment (except the people of Yūnus). Allah the Almighty says in the surah of Yūnus: “Was there any town that believed), and its Faith (at that moment) saved it (from the punishment)? (The answer is none,) – except the people of Yûnus; when they believed, We removed from them the torment of disgrace in the life of the (present) world, and permitted them to enjoy for a while.” [Surah Yūnus: 98]
O servants of Allah! The fury of Yūnus عليه السلام led him to the sea shore where he boarded a ship laden with passengers and merchandise. In the middle of sea, the ship badly struggled against high winds and rising waves. In common creed, that symptom was ominous of wrath against one of the passengers who must have committed a sin and should accordingly be thrown into the sea so that the ship could be saved from sinking. They may have alternatively wanted to alleviate the cargo of the ship in order to avoid sinking. After they drew lots to decide on who should be thrown into the sea to save the ship, Yūnus’ name emerged, but they pitied him and could not throw him into the sea. However, on drawing lots, Yūnus’ name emerged repeatedly: “And, verily, Yûnus (Jonah) was one of the Messengers. When he ran to the laden ship.” [Surah Al-Ṣāffāt: 139-140]
To describe Yūnus’ departure, Allah used the Arabic verb “abaqa”, to run away in the same a slave does from his master, because he departed without Allah’s permission: “He (agreed to) cast lots, and he was among the losers.” [Al-Ṣāffāt: 141]. He was then thrown into the sea. “Then a (big) fish swallowed him and he had done an act worthy of blame.” [Al-Ṣāffāt: 142]. He indeed deserved blaming because he disengaged himself from the mission Allah entrusted him with. Furious with his people, he left them before taking permission from Allah. Then, the big fish (whale) swallowed him without eating his flesh or smashing his bones. He remained inside the whale’s belly for a while (preordained by Allah). It was a triple obscurity: the obscurity of the whale’s belly, the obscurity of the sea, and the obscurity of the night. He (peace be upon him) called up his Lord in supplication: “…none has the right to be worshiped but You (O Allâh)], Glorified are You. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.” [Surah Al- Anbiyā’: 87]
It was reported that when the angels heard his voice, they said, “O Lord! A feeble familiar voice coming from an alien country.” So, Allah answered his supplication and salvaged him from grief: “And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allâh, abstain from evil and work righteousness).” [Surah Al-Anbiyā’: 88] “Had he not been of them who glorify Allâh. He would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection.” [Surah Al- Ṣāffāt: 143-144]
Had he not shown obedience to Allah through performing prayers and evoking divine attributes in the time of well-being before being swallowed by the whale, he would have remained in the fish’s belly till Resurrection Day. This point is implicit in the Prophet’s hadith, “Be mindful of Allah’s commandments, He will protect you; Be mindful of Allah’s commandments, you will find Him in front of you.” Yūnus عليه السلام was one of those who glorify Allah and supplicate Him even inside the whale’s belly because he was before accustomed to doing so.
Then, the big fish threw up Yūnus عليه السلام on the sea shore in a place where there was neither vegetation nor shade. His body was very weak: “But We cast him forth on the naked shore while he was sick. And We caused a plant of gourd to grow over him.” [Surah Al-Ṣāffāt: 145-146] The gourd plant cast its shade over Yūnus with its large leaves and protected him from flies which are said to be repelled by such a plant. In the Arab culture, every plant having no stem is categorized as gourd. It is reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was fond of al-dubbā’ (a dish made of gourd) to the point that he would eat up every bit of it even in the edges of his bowl.
Then, Allah ordered him to return to his people, who believed him and embraced his faith. Their number reached no less than one hundred thousand people, which means that Allah honoured and favoured His prophet. That is why our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has the highest number of followers. He said, “Every prophet, without exception, was given what humans were supposed to embrace as creed; and what I was given was divine revelation inspired to me by Allah; thus, I hope I will have the highest number of followers on Resurrection Day.”
O servants of Allah! That was (the story of) Yūnus عليه السلام, a noble prophet. In the two Sahih Books by Imam Muslim and Imam Bukhari, it is confirmed that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “None should say: ‘I am better than Yūnus Ibn Mattā (Matthew) was’.” He was one among many other noble prophets. Allah mentioned them in the surahs of Al-Nissā’ and Al-An’ām when He said, “They are those whom Allâh had guided. So follow their guidance.” [Al-An’ām: 90] The great guidance in this story is the right guidance that Allah commended His Prophet to follow when He said: “So wait with patience for the Decision of your Lord, and be not like the Companion of the Fish, ….” [Al-Qalam: 48]
So, all the people entrusted with a particular da’wah must, by all means, endure its painful burden and keep their patience in the face of disbelief and harm, for its sake. Disbelieving sincere and confident people is indeed very bitter for the soul to cope with, but these are the dear costs to be paid (for being entrusted with a da’wah).
Followers of the messengers must observe patience and endurance; they must stay the course and maintain perseverance. They must re-engage the da’wah and keep calling people time and again. They must not, however, give up faith in the goodness of souls and the responsiveness of hearts no matter how much denial, refutation, arrogance and ingratitude they may face. It is easy for reformers to feel frustrated and give up on the people they are calling on because they do not find them responsive enough, but this does not help the truth to come out victorious. A believer must suppress his anger and carry on. It is better for him to be patient as all shall end well for the righteous: “Indeed, We know that your breast is straitened at what they say. (98). So glorify the praises of your Lord and be of those who prostrate themselves (to Him).” [Surah Al-Ḥijr: 97-99] O servants of Allah!
O you, who are feeling distressed, burdened and afflicted! You shall find a set example in those supplications by the prophets. Imam Ahmad and Al-Tirmidhi narrated with an authentic chain of narration on the authority of Sa’d Ibn Abi Waqqāṣ (May Allah be pleased with him) who reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to have said: “The supplication of Dhi Al-Nūn (Prophet Yūnus) when he supplicated, while inside the whale’s belly was: ‘There is deity (worthy of worship) except You, Glory be to You! I have been of the transgressors.’ No Muslim man has ever asked Allah for anything using this supplication without being answered.” Therefore, think about this great supplication, for it includes tawheed (monotheism) of Allah Almighty, His tanzeeh (elimination of anthropomorphic elements wrongly attributed to Him) as well as gratitude (towards Him): “None has the right to be worshipped but You, Glorified (and Exalted) are You. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.” [Surah Al- Anbiyā’: 87]
Imam Ahmad narrated that Abdullah Ibn Mas’ūd (May Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘No servant (of Allah) suffering from distress and worry has ever said (supplicating Allah Almighty): Oh Allah, I am Your servant, the son of Your servant, and the son of your maid! My forelock is in Your hand; I am subject to Your supreme power and I confess to the wisdom in Your justice. I call on You with every attribute You possess, have sent down in Your book, taught anyone of Your creatures, or have solely reserved for Yourself, I call on You to make the Holy Koran the spring and light of my heart, the vanishing of my sorrow and sadness’ – No servant (of Allah) has ever supplicated Allah Almighty in these words without having his concerns blown away, and replaced with joy’, (or ‒as reported elsewhere with the word‒ relief.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah! Should we learn these words?” He said: “Those who have heard them should learn them.” Of course, ‘learning them’ includes memorizing them, understanding them, and supplicating Allah using them.
In the two Sahihs (the two hadith books by Imam Muslim and Imam Bukhari), the Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate Allah using the following words whenever he felt anguished: “There is no deity but Allah, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. There is no deity but Allah, the Lord of the Great Throne. There is no deity but Allah, the Lord of the heavens, the Lord of the earth, and the Lord of the Noble Throne.”
These supplications are Prophetic remedies against all sorts of grief and sadness. He who uses them in good faith, Allah would ease up his grief and make go away his sadness. Whenever you are graciously guided to voluntarily perform two rak’ahs1, do supplicate Allah Almighty in humility. (In this context, the Sheikh quotes a few lines of poetry paraphrased as follows):
Ask your Lord to grant you success through them (rak’ahs). Ask Him in good faith whenever you implore Him; Whenever you prostrate yourself before Him in gratitude, supplicate Him In the same words uttered by ‘Thu Al-Nūn’ Observe perseverance when knocking at His door, So that He may open it for you when you do so. Do remember Him continuously for as long as you are on Earth, So that you will be mentioned in the Heavens whenever you do so.
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!
Second Khutbah
Praise be to Allah Alone, Who granted victory to His Servant and might to His soldiers, and Who defeated the confederates alone. Praise be to Allah, the One and only One, the Single, the Ṣamad, Who begets not, nor was He begotten; and there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah Alone with no associate and that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. May Allah send His Salat and Peace upon him, his family, Companions, the tābi’ῑn, and those who followed them with righteousness until the Day of Judgement!
Now then, O Muslims!
“Palestine: the Usurped Territory”, “Jerusalem: the Captive City”, and “The Palestinians: an Oppressed People while among their kin and brothers and sisters in faith.” All the above are epitomes as to the current incapacitation within the Arab world, an arena for political auctioneering and state-sponsored terrorism which is perpetrated by the occupying entity (Israel) no matter how hard those governments that installed and sponsored it try to justify its crimes and cover up its massacres. One day, the cover will certainly be lifted and the media blackout will eventually come to an end.
While dismayed on account of the victims (of Israeli bombing), and aggrieved over the displacement of many families and the terrorizing of scores of citizens, and despite the differences among people over the circumstances involved, there is still shining hope through the gloomy night of aggression which is embodied in a number of aspects including the sympathizing from the part of many nations on earth as they realize the criminality of the occupier and usurper, the aggressor and bloody criminal, the appalling and insidious killer.
The blackout over those crimes committed against the Palestinians and Palestine is the quilt which has long covered up the enemy’s hideous acts. This evil face, however, has been unveiled and along with it many other evil faces. Those who have always concealed and justified such crimes and occupation have now been exposed: “And Allah drove back those who disbelieved in their rage, they gained no advantage (booty, etc.)” [Surah Al Aḥzāb: 25]
They have achieved nothing but the killing of children and civilians, the destruction of mosques and homes, collective massacres excluding no one, war crimes against humanity, with no moral scruples or human consideration. All has been carried out under the gaze of the international community and its silent and languid institutions and organizations. The recent confrontation on the land of Gaza, despite the similar assaults that were previously launched against its territory, features a new outcome where the balance of power has slightly shifted as never before in favour of the oppressed. This bears evidence of change towards a new type of rivalry; one that is carried out on the grounds of more equity in terms of the balance of power in the face of the unjust occupier, especially with the changes taking place in the region, despite their negative and blurry aspects. The sparks in the face-off are bound to strike a long-oppressing aggressor and an enemy who has continued killing and displacing people.
May Allah Almighty have mercy on the souls of the martyrs of Palestine, heal its wounded, make up for its losses in money and homes, and grant it success in setting up a righteous and truthful leadership.
We thank those nations who, despite the fact that they share neither language nor faith with the Palestinians, have taken commendable positions vis-à-vis the recent offensive. However, we have no consolation to offer for those who are still too weak in this regard! “And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not.” [Surah Yūsuf: 21]
O Allah! Send your Salat and Peace upon Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdullah, 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, and his magnanimous and auspicious Companions! O Allah! We implore your satisfaction with the rightly-guided Imams and Caliphs, Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, and ‘Ali, with all the Companions of Your Prophet and those who followed them in righteousness and taken up their sunnah, 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 Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! Grant us safety in our homelands! O Allah! Grant us safety in our homelands, set right our leaders and those responsible for our affairs, and support with the Truth our Imam and leader! O Allah! Help him follow Your guidance, make his deeds the source of Your Satisfaction, and provide him with a righteous and truthful retinue! O Allah! Grant him and his deputies success in their endeavours to achieve good and welfare for the people and the country!O Allah! Lead them to the path of guidance and righteousness!
O Allah! Shove away from us expensiveness, epidemics, usury, earthquakes, trials, and the worst ordeals whether implicit or explicit!
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, and protect their religion, honour, homelands and property!
O Allah! We implore You to be on the side of the oppressed and the afflicted, to grant victory to the defenseless Muslims everywhere! O Allah! Grant them victory in Palestine! O Allah! Unite them around Your Truth, O Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! Grant victory to Your Religion, Your Holy Book, Your Prophet’s Sunnah, and Your true servants! O Allah! We leave to you the enemies of religion, for they are no match to You! O Allah! We leave to you the enemies of religion, for they are no match to You! O Allah! We leave to you the enemies of religion, for they are no match to You!
“…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]
O Allah! We ask You for pardon, well-being and long-lasting soundness in religion in the Herein and the Hereafter!
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, their progeny, our wives and children, You are All-Hearing!
O Allah! Lead us to the path of righteousness and expiate our shortcomings! Do accept from us our salat, fasting, supplications, and good deeds as You are All-Hearing, All- Knowing! O Allah! Forgive us, for You are All-Forgiving, All-Merciful!
Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honour 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!
Translated by Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
Allah – Glorified and Exalted – has blessed us with this safe Haram.
“Have we not established for them a safe sanctuary to which are brought the fruits of all things as provision from Us?” [Surah Qasas: verse 57]
“Have they not seen that We made [Makkah] a safe sanctuary, while people are being taken away all around them?” [Surah Ankaboot: verse 67]
So this is a great bounty that Allah has made easy His sacred house as a place of return for the people and a place of security where their security and safety is preserved. And verily this great house was built and constructed on monotheism and belief in Allah – Exalted and Majestic.
“And [mention, O Muhammad], when We designated for Ibraheem the site of the House, [saying], “Do not associate anything with Me” [Surah Hajj: verse 26]
So this mandates a Muslim to nurture authentic beliefs, sound methodology and following the prophetic guidance while living in this pure sanctity.
Verily reminding to worship Allah alone and being sincere to Him and busying oneself with worship especially by those who are visiting this Great house, no doubt this is a great priority on a Muslim.
And verily Muslim becomes pleased and delighted when he sees a congregation of worshippers praying or doing tawaaf or visiting and doing umrah, filling this Sacred house, in response to the call of Ibraheem:
“And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham said, “My Lord, make this city [Makkah] secure and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols. My Lord, indeed they have led astray many among the people. So whoever follows me – then he is of me; and whoever disobeys me – indeed, You are [yet] Forgiving and Merciful. Our Lord, I have settled some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley near Your sacred House, our Lord, that they may establish prayer. So make hearts among the people incline toward them and provide for them from the fruits that they might be grateful.” [Surah Ibraheem: verses 35-37]
So we welcome the visitors to the sacred house of Allah in these blessed occasions and we pray for them for acceptance, help and ability.
Here we have a group of pilgrims, all praise and bounty belongs to Allah, visiting this sacred house safely and peacefully, so we remind them and advise them and us to fear Allah – Exalted and Majestic – and being sincere to Him – Glorified is He , and good worship and sound belief and following the Sunnah of the prophet – peace be upon him – and caution against differences in belief that some Muslims believe, so we should revere Allah’s sacred house.
“And [mention, O Muhammad], when We designated for Ibraheem the site of the House, [saying]: “Do not associate anything with Me” [Surah Hajj: verse 26]
And Allah – Glorified and Majestic – said: “And We charged Ibraheem and Ismaeel, [saying]: ‘Purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who are staying [there] for worship and those who bow and prostrate [in prayer].‘” [Surah Baqarah: verse 125]
So revering this house and caring for its holiness is important upon the visitor to the sacred house and also adopting the etiquette of Masjid al Haraam and cooperating with the workers in it especially with these great expansion projects occurring in the noble Haram and among them is the project of the custodian of the 2 holy mosques – may Allah protect him – of the mataf expansion. So we should assist – O brothers – in good and piety, cooperating with the authorities of the affairs of Masjid al Haraam and Masjid al Nabawi and cooperate with the guards who are sacrificing much to protect the safety and security of the pilgrims.
We should also stay far from crowded areas and not sit on pathways and in front of doors and at the Maqaam Ibraheem, and watching out for the tawaaf crowds.
So our Muslim brothers should be keen to give their brothers doing umrah and opportunity. And the tawaaf guides should give their Muslim brothers and opportunity, assisting in good and piety.
Collective cooperation in preparing a climate of worship in Masjid al Haraam; an appropriate atmosphere for the pilgrims and not to make it difficult for themselves and to help and have mercy on their brothers and be soft with them and to assist them in goodness and piety and stay away from crowded places and not harming their Muslim brothers by speech or action.
“And those who harm believing men and believing women for [something] other than what they have earned have certainly born upon themselves a slander and manifest sin.” [Surah Ahzaab: verse 58]
And the pilgrim should busy himself with that for which he came, i.e. discharging acts of worship and he shouldn’t turn to other affairs and we notice some of our brothers busying themselves with photography etc. which corrupts the sweetness of worship. So we should assist to care for the safety of Masjid al Haraam and the safety of the pilgrims and care about the holiness and etiquette of this Haram and care for its cleanliness and busy ourselves in worship and go to other levels in the Haram, for the Haram is wide, with many levels, so we shouldn’t insist on being on the mataaf only, but the levels of the Haram are many and especially the expansion of the custodian of the 2 holy mosques.
And an advice to the Muslim woman to ensure her hijab and modesty and staying away from intermingling with men and to look after her children and care for the children, upholding the trust and to make use of the time to draw near to Allah.
We ask Allah – Blessed and Exalted – to accept from us and you our good deeds and to reward our leader, custodian of the 2 holy mosques, for this blessed effort in preparing the climate for the visitors to Allah’s sacred house, so pray that Allah cures and comforts him, and grants him the ability to do everything that He loves and is Pleased with.
And our last prayer is praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah’s peace be upon you and His mercy and blessings and may Allah’s salutations and peace be upon our prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
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:11]. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave, messenger, a continuous bounty from his Lord and a guiding mercy to the creation. 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, “O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment.” [Surah Ahzaab: 70 – 71]
Praise be to Allah. Praise be to Allah, Who says in the Holy Hadith, “Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me, and I shall reward [the fasting person] for it.” I praise Him, Glorified be He, and I thank Him. He says: “… and with Allah is the best of rewards.” [Surah Ale ‘Imran: 195]
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners. He says: “And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah’s Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Surah an-Nisa’: 110]
And I bear witness that our master and prophet, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger, who said, “Fasting is a shield [i.e. it protects one from falling into sin].” May Allah bestow His peace and blessings upon him and upon his family and Companions.
Now then! I advise you and advise myself to fear Allah. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “O you who believe! Observing fast is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become pious.” [Surah al-Baqarah: 183]
There are many things in which people take pleasure and find delight, but such pleasures and delights are transient and short-lived, and some of them even end in remorse and regret. The true pleasure is the spiritual pleasure; it is the pleasure that the heart finds in worship, which makes a Muslim experience the highest degree of happiness and joy. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “He has found the taste of faith who is content with Allah as his Lord, with Islam as his religion, and with Muhammad as his Prophet.” In this hadith, the Prophet ﷺ informs us that faith has a taste that the heart can feel, just as the tongue tastes food and drink. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said, “There are three qualities that whoever possesses will taste the sweetness of faith …” Faith, then, has sweetness and pleasure that make the heart happy and the soul calm and peaceful, and it is with this feeling of pleasure that the servant can reap the true fruits of his deeds and find eternal happiness. Such feeling of pleasure sets the heart right, makes it successful, joyful, and sound, and causes it to find peace and tranquillity. Nothing else could give the servant this feeling, even if he got all that can cause pleasure to people.
Praise be to Allah! Our Lord, we do praise You, seek Your assistance, ask for Your forgiveness, repent to You, and acknowledge that You are the sole source of all good.
(The Sheikh cites one line of poetry paraphrased as follows):
Honest and gracious praise is due to Allah,
Oft-repeated by worshippers at dawn and dusk.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone with no associate; He has bestowed on us the seasons of bounty and the month of pious deeds and blessings. I equally bear witness that our Prophet and Master, Muhammad, is the Servant and Messenger of Allah. He is the best creature ever who performed prayer and fasting, and the most pious who performed tahaj’jud (spending the nights in prayer) and stayed up to keep vigil in devotion to Allah. May Allah send His profuse Salāt and Peace upon him, his virtuous and noble family, his Companions, and the tābi’ῑn, as long as light and darkness keep alternating.
Now then, I do enjoin you as well as myself to observe taqwa vis-à-vis Allah (Glory and Might Be to Him), especially that we are amidst one of the most venerable seasons of taqwa. Indeed, the essence of fasting, its real significance and central purpose, is the fulfillment of taqwa vis-à-vis Allah (Be He Glorified in His Sublimity). Allah (May He be praised) says:
“O you who believe! Observing fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may becomepious.” [Surah al-Baqarah: 183]
(The Sheikh recites two lines of poetry paraphrased as follows):
O Man! Hasten to observe taqwa!
Accelerate your pace to good deeds as long as you have time,
How splendid taqwa is and how guiding is its track!
With it, Man elevates otherwise minimal deeds.
O Muslims! Here is Ramadhan, the month of bounty, blessing, fasting, and night prayer. Here it is overwhelming the Universe with its majestic radiance and filling the hearts with its beauty and splendour. It is a month whose rivers overflow with pious deeds and whose flowers blossom out with good. It is a month during which Muslims eagerly seek to understand its objectives and secrets and enthusiastically listen in awe to its hidden goals and news.
Praise be to Allah. Praise be to Allah, the Free of all wants and needs, the Worthy of all praise; the Owner of the Throne, the All-Glorious. I praise my Lord and thank Him. I turn to Him in repentance and ask Him for forgiveness. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners, the Doer of whatsoever He wills; and I bear witness that our prophet and master, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger, who was granted victory and given the greatest support. O Allah! Bestow Your peace and blessings upon Your servant and messenger Muhammad and upon his family and Companions, who followed the rightly-guided commands.
Now then, Fear Allah by doing good deeds and abandoning evil deeds.
O Muslims! Know that the teachings of this true religion are all based on three foundations, namely, doing good to oneself, doing good to others, and refraining from causing harm and evil to them. One can do good to oneself by performing different acts of worship, while doing good to others is realized through good deeds of various kinds. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “… and do good. Truly, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun.” [Surah al-Baqarah: 195]
Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “… but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors.” [Surah al-Baqarah: 190]
Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, also says: “Verily, Allah enjoins justice and Al-Ihsan, and giving to kith and kin, and forbids all evil deeds, and all that is prohibited, and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression). He admonishes you, that you may take heed.” [Surah an-Nahl: 90]
Allah also describes the believers as being good to themselves and as being kind to others by refraining from doing harm and causing evil to them. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “The believers, men and women, are helpers of one another, they enjoin goodness, and forbid from evil; they perform As-Salat 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, Exalted be He, also says: “… and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness.” [Surah al-Furqan: 63]
Servants of Allah! Zakah is an act of worship which Allah has imposed on Muslims to be taken from their wealth and to be paid to the eight categories of people entitled to zakah. The rich must pay the zakah to the poor as a duty, not as a favour. Allah has imposed it in order to achieve social solidarity among Muslims. He has prescribed it to meet the needs of the poor and the needy, by way of doing good to others and in order that those who pay it may gain His reward. It has many benefits and serves great purposes. For instance, it cleanses hearts of miserliness, covetousness, and vice. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them …” [Surah at-Tawbah: 103]
Paying zakah eradicates the disease of envy from hearts. Envy is a serious disease which results from rivalry for worldly superiority and which causes oppression, aggression, injustice, and hatred among the members of society. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The disease of the nations who came before you has started to spread among you: envy and hatred. Beware of envy, for it consumes good deeds just as fire consumes firewood.” [Reported by Abu-Dawud] Paying zakah brings about empathy and compassion among Muslims and ensures social solidarity as well as love and affection between the rich and the poor.
Zakah is one of the pillars of Islam. It is often mentioned in combination with the prayer in the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Allah’s Messenger ﷺ. Thus the acts of zakah and prayer are accepted together with one another.
The amount of zakah imposed on people is very little compared with the wealth that Allah has given to them. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And that it is He Who gives much or a little.” [Surah an-Najm: 48]
Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allah …” [Surah an-Nahl: 53]
Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, also says: “And keep your duty to Him, fear Him Who has aided you with all (good things) that you know. He has aided you with cattle and children. And gardens and springs.” [Surah ash-Shu‘ara’: 132-134]
Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “… And give them something (yourselves) out of the wealth of Allah which He has bestowed upon you …” [Surah an-Nur: 33]
Paying the zakah due on one’s wealth testifies to one’s gratefulness to Allah for having such wealth. In fact, zakah increases wealth and never decreases it and protects it against destruction and loss. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “… and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allah’s Cause), He will replace it. And He is the Best of providers.” (Saba’: 39)
The Prophet ﷺ said” “No wealth is damaged in the land or in the sea but by withholding the zakah due on it.” Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said” “… No people withhold the zakah of their wealth but they are denied rain, and were it not for the animals no rain would be sent down upon them.” [Reported by Ibn Majah] The poor will establish evidence against the rich on the Day of Judgement if they refrained from paying the zakah due to them in this world. They will say, “Our Lord! You granted wealth to these, but they denied us our rights.” Allah will then decide between them with His just judgement.
Allah has promised the greatest reward for those who pay the zakah. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And those who pay the Zakah. ” [ Surah al-Mu’minun: 4]
He also mentions other good deeds along with zakah, and then shows the great reward for doing them: “These are indeed the inheritors. Who shall inherit the Paradise. They shall dwell therein forever.” [Surah al-Mu’minun: 10-11]
Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “Verily, the pious will be in the midst of Gardens and Springs, Taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinun. They used to sleep but little by night. And in the hours before dawn, they were asking for forgiveness. And in their properties there was the right for the Sa’il (the beggar who asks) and the Mahrum (the poor who does not ask others).” [Surah adh-Dhariyat: 15-19]
Allah pledges to inflict a painful punishment on those who withhold the zakah due on their wealth. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “… And woe to Al-Mushrikun. Those who give not the Zakat and they are disbelievers in the Hereafter.” [Surah Fussilat: 6-7]
Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “… And those who hoard up gold and silver and spend them not in the Way of Allah, announce to them a painful torment. On the Day when that will be heated in the Fire of Hell and with it will be branded their foreheads, their flanks, and their backs, (and it will be said unto them): “This is the treasure which you hoarded for yourselves. Now taste of what you used to hoard.” [Surah at-Tawbah: 34-35]
Those who pay the zakah due on their wealth will not suffer such punishment and are excluded from this warning.
Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “No one possesses money and abstains from giving its Zakah but his money will come to him on the Day of Judgement in the form of a bald rattle snake, which will take him by the cheeks, saying, ‘I am your treasure, I am your money.’” [Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Similarly, the owners of camels, cows, and sheep who do not pay the zakah due on them will be thrown on his face before them on the Day of Judgement and their animals will trample over him, as the Prophet ﷺ said in a hadith reported in Saheeh Muslim. Zakah must be paid for gold and silver, or what corresponds for them in banknotes, if the value of each of them, or both of them combined, reaches the nisab (the minimum amount on which zakah is payable). Zakah is also due on camels, cows, and sheep when they reach the nisab, and it is equally due on what comes out of the earth. It is also due on commercial commodities, in which case they are estimated according to their value, and a quarter of a tenth (2.5%) of their value is given out as zakah.
If someone is in debt, he must first pay off his debt and then pay zakah on whatever is left of his wealth. If he has not paid off his debt, he pays zakah on whatever is in his possession. The nisab of gold is 20 mithqals, which is equivalent to 85 grams of pure gold, and the nisab of silver is 200 dirhams, which weighs 595 grams of pure silver, or what corresponds to them in banknotes. The value of the nisab of gold and silver varies according to the currency used in a specific time.
The right course of action is to pay two and a half per cent (2.5%) of the amount on which zakah is due. Thus, whoever pays 2,5 for each one hundred units, 25 for each one thousand units, and 25,000 for each one million units has discharged his duty. Zakah must be paid on whatever exceeds the nisab according to its category and value. In the case of camels, cattle, and sheep, no zakah is due on the animals below the first nisab and between each of the subsequent nisabs. As for gold and silver, or what corresponding to them in banknotes, zakah must be paid on whatever exceeds the nisab according to its value.
A Muslim must seek to have enough knowledge about zakah and must ask scholars about all its details in order to be able to discharge the duties that Allah has imposed upon him with regard to his wealth. Whoever pays the zakah of the wealth that has been in his possession for a year or less at a certain time or in a specific month every year, such as the month of Ramadan, has discharged his duty.
O son of Adam! Your real wealth is that which you spend for Allah’s sake, whereas the wealth that actually belongs to others is that which you do not spend but leave for them. If the rich paid the zakah due on their wealth, there would be no poor person or beggar left. Therefore, draw lessons from the lost generations whom Allah punished by their own wealth, and take admonition from the stories you heard of people whose wealth was of no avail to them. Remember that either you will leave your money behind or it will leave you.
Allah has prescribed other forms of mandatory or recommended spending besides zakah. Our Lord urges us to spend in the various good causes. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “O you who believe! Spend of that with which We have provided for you, before a Day comes when there will be no bargaining, nor friendship, nor intercession. …” [Surah al-Baqarah: 254]
The reward of what we spend for Allah’s sake is multiplied especially during the month of Ramadan. In addition, charity given in secret has its merits. Abu Sa‘id Al-Khudri رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Giving charity in secret extinguishes the wrath of the Lord, maintaining the ties of kinship increases one’s lifespan, and doing good deeds protects one from bad death.” [An authenticated hadith, reported by Al-Baihaqi in Shu‘ab Al-’Iman]
The one who gives charity is in fact striving against the devil. Buraidah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “No man gives any charity but he dispels by it seventy devils [who have been trying to dissuade him from giving charity].” [An authenticated hadith, reported by Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak] Ramadan is the month of charity and good deeds. Therefore, blessed are those who hasten to do good and keep away from sins that lead to destruction. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “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. Those who spendin prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinun.” [Surah Ale ‘Imran: 133-134]
May Allah bless you and me with the Great Qur’an and make us benefit from its verses and wise words and benefit from the guidance and right sayings of the Master of all Messengers. I have said what you have heard and I ask forgiveness of Allah for myself, for you, and for all Muslims for any sin we have committed. Ask Allah for forgiveness. He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Second Khutbah
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful; the Only Owner of the Day of Recompense. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners, the All-Provider, the Owner of Power, the Most Strong; and I bear witness that our prophet and master, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger. O Allah! Bestow Your prayers, peace, and blessings on Your servant and messenger Muhammad and on all his family and Companions.
Now then, Fear Allah as He should be feared, and grasp the trustworthy handhold of Islam.
Servants of Allah! A noble month is drawing near in which Allah has blessed you with the great season for doing good deeds and repenting of sins. Our prophet, Muhammad ﷺ used to give his Companions the glad tidings of its approach at the end of the month of Sha’ban, so that they could receive it with joy, happiness, and reverence.
Allah has made fasting Ramadan a means of expiating sins. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever fasts the month of Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward will have his previous sins forgiven.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari] Allah has also made performing voluntary night prayers in Ramadan a means of expiation for one’s past sins. It is a month in which the devils are chained, the gates of Paradise are opened, and the gates of Hellfire are closed. Therefore, you must honour it and sincerely repent of every sin before it starts, such as severing ties with fellow Muslims or deserting and hating one another.
Safeguard your fast, may Allah have mercy on you, from anything that is bound to invalidate it, such as backbiting, slander, and acts of disobedience to Allah, and sanctify it by remembering Allah and reciting the Qura’n, for Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an. Likewise, sanctify your fast by doing good deeds, and you will be among the successful and the foremost ones.
Observe the obligatory prayers in congregation, may Allah have mercy upon you, especially the Fajr (Dawn) and the ‘Isha’ (Nightfall) prayers, for it has been authenticated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever has performed the ‘Isha’ and the Fajr prayers in congregation is like one who has stood in prayer all night.” In addition, observe, may Allah have mercy on you, performing the tarawih prayers in congregation. For whoever performs the night prayer in congregation with his imam in Ramadan till he completes it will have the reward for standing an entire night in prayer.
Servants of Allah! “Allah sends His Salat on the Prophet and also His angels (ask Allah to bless him). O you who believe! Send your Salat on him, and greet him with the Islamic way of greeting.” [Surah al-Ahzab: 56]
The Prophet ﷺ said: “If a person asks Allah to send blessings upon me once, Allah will send blessings upon him ten times over.” Therefore, ask Allah to bestow His peace and blessings on the master of those who preceded us and those who are yet to come, and the Imam of Messengers.
O Allah! Bestow Your peace upon Muhammad and his family, as You bestowed Your peace on Ibrahim and his family, You are All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious. O Allah! Bestow Your blessings upon Muhammad and his family, as You bestowed Your blessings on Ibrahim and his family, You are All-Praiseworthy, All-Glorious.
O Allah! Be pleased with all the Companions, along with the tabi’un, and with those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgement. O Allah! Be pleased with us together with them, by Your grace, munificence, and mercy, O Most Merciful of all the merciful!
O Allah! Grant power and glory to Islam and Muslims. O Allah! Subdue disbelief and the disbelievers. O Allah! Protect Muslims from the evil-doers among them. O Allah! Protect Muslims from the evil-doers among them. O Allah! Protect Muslims from the evil-doers among them, O Lord of the Worlds! Do not set the evil-doers on the good among them; You are Powerful over all things! O Allah! Protect Muslims from the evil of their enemies.
O Allah! Protect us and protect our offspring from Satan, his offspring, his devils, and his soldiers, O Lord of the Worlds! O Allah! Protect Muslims and their offspring from Satan, his devils, and his soldiers, O Lord of the Worlds! You are Powerful over all things.
O Allah! Forgive the sins of our dead. O Allah! Forgive the sins of our dead and the sins of all dead Muslims. O Allah! Fill their graves with light, multiply their rewards, and forgive their sins, O Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! O Owner of Majesty and Honour! O Allah! Spare Muslims’ blood and safeguard their money and their honour. O Allah! Feed the hungry among them and clothe the naked among them. O Allah! Dispel their fears and conceal their defects, O Lord of the Worlds! O Allah! Protect them from the evil of evil-doers and the plotting of transgressors.
O Allah! Foil the plots of the enemies of Islam, O Lord of the Worlds! Thwart the plans of the enemies of Islam with which they intend harm against Islam, O Lord of the Worlds! You are Powerful over all things!
O Allah! O Owner of Majesty and Honour! Facilitate for us our affairs in the right way. O Allah! Help debtors in paying off their debts. O Allah! Cure our sick and the sick among all Muslims. O Allah! Cure our sick and the sick among all Muslims. O Allah! Help debtors in paying off their debts. O Allah! Dispel our fears and conceal our defects.
O Allah! We ask You, O Owner of Majesty and Honour, to protect us from the evil within ourselves and from our wrong deeds. O Allah! O Lord of the Worlds! Protect us from the evil of all evil-doers; You are Powerful over all things.
O Allah! Accept our good deeds; You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.
O Allah! Let us live and witness Ramadan. O Allah! Let us live and witness Ramadan for many years, O Owner of Majesty and Honour! O Allah! Accept our good deeds in Ramadan, and the good deeds of all Muslims; You are Powerful over all things! O Allah! Forgive our sins and mend our condition and the condition of all Muslims. None but You can mend our condition and all our matters.
O Allah! Guide the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to what You love and accept. O Allah! Lead him to Your guidance, make all his deeds pleasing to You, and provide benefit to Islam and Muslims through him. O Allah! Guide his two Deputies to what You love and accept and to that which is good for Islam and Muslims, O Owner of Majesty and Honour!
Servants of Allah! “Verily, Allah enjoins justice and Al-Ihsan, and giving to kith and kin, and forbids all evil deeds, and all that is prohibited, and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression). He admonishes you, that you may take heed.And fulfil the Covenant of Allah when you have covenanted, and break not the oaths after you have confirmed them – and indeed you have appointed Allah your surety. Verily! Allah knows what you do.” [Surah an-Nahl: 90-91]
Remember Allah, the Most Great, the Sublime, and He will remember you. Thank Him for His favours and He will give you more. Verily, remembrance of Allah is greater than all, and Allah knows what you do.
Translated by Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
Praise be to Allah, the Generous, the Giver! I praise Him ‒May He be extolled. He gives profusely and His Generosity is timeless. I bear witness that there is no deity worth worshipping save Allah alone, with no associate. He blessed His servants with fasting the days of Ramadhan and praying its nights. I also bear witness that our Prophet and Master Muhammad is the Servant and Messenger of Allah, the best of those who pray, fast and establish the worship of his Lord, the King, the Judge. O Allah! Send Your Salat and Peace upon Your Servant and Messenger Muhammad and his virtuous family! O Allah! Be pleased with all his Companions, the tabi’in and with all those who follow them in righteousness.
Now then, O servants of Allah! Fear Allah, and respond to Allah and His Messenger when you are called upon to what grants you (spiritual) life. [Surah Anfaal: 24]
O servants of Allah! While receiving the month of Ramadhan, the Muslim feels great happiness and hope in seizing the opportunity to win the ultimate gains and enjoy the highest ranks in Paradise with the Lord of the earth and heavens.
He does indeed realise that fasting, like all other kinds of worship that Allah has prescribed on His servants, is an obligatory worship that has sublime goals and lofty intentions. Believing souls and tranquil hearts wait for it anxiously; they desire and look forward to getting a great reward and good promise granted by Allah to His fasting, benevolent servants. Being only human and due to the drives and instincts that have been created in him, man might be misled off the right path; those drives and instincts might as well be a form of frustration and a hindrance that could prevent him from joining the path of the sincere servants of Allah and the righteous, or from obtaining a full share of self perfection and spiritual loftiness.
Praise be to Allah! We praise Him, seek His assistance, and repent to Him. We seek refuge in Allah from our wrong doings and our sins. He whom Allah guides may never go astray and he who is deprived of Allah’s guidance may never be guided. I bear witness that there is no deity worth worshiping except Allah alone with no associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. May Allah send his Mercy, Peace and Blessing upon him, his family and all his Companions.
Now then, I urge you and myself to observe taqwa (fear) of Allah in private and in public. It is the provision of the journey, the essence of virtues, the birthplace of traits, the source of power, the ascendance of sublimity, and the composure of the heart in times of trials. “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-Baqarah: 281] Continue reading →
Praise be to Allah, Who has made the present life a transitory abode and the hereafter a permanent abode. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners in the hereafter or in the present life, and I bear witness that our prophet, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger, the chosen prophet and favoured messenger. O Allah! Bestow Your prayers, peace, and blessings upon him and upon his family and pious Companions.
“O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak the truth. He will direct you to do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed achieved a great achievement.” [Surah al-Ahzab: 70-71]
O Muslims! People today, who live in a world full of successive changes and developments and face its temptations and seductive amusements, are in dire need of deeply contemplating the verses in which Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, says: “Think! (even) if We do let them enjoy for years, and afterwards comes to them that (punishment) which they had been promised, all that with which they used to enjoy shall not avail them.” [Surah ash-Shu‘ara’: 205-207]
Khutaab 