The Blessing of Islam

First Sermon:

 

All praise is due and belongs to Allâh. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness and repent to Him. We seek refuge with Allâh from the evils of ourselves and from the wickedness of our own deeds. Whomever that Allâh guides, none can mislead him, and whomever He sends astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allâh alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ )

 

(O ye who believe, fear Allâh as he should be feared and die not unless you are Muslims) [Al-Imran: 102]

( يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاء وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءلُونَ بِهِ وَالأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا )

 

(O people fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul. From it, He created its spouse, and from both of them scattered many men and women. Fear Allâh, by whom you ask one another, and (fear) the wombs (lest you sever its relationship). Allâh is ever watching over you). [An-Nisa: 1].

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا * يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَن يُطِعْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا )

(O you, who believe, fear Allâh and say sound statements. He will mend your deeds for you and forgive your sins. Whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger shall win a great victory) [Al-Ahzab: 70-71].

 

O believers!

Before the advent of Islam, humanity lived a dark life, a life filled with ignorance and blindness, blindness in belief, blindness to know the wisdom of creation, and blindness in the conduct of all human affairs, ((Layers of) darkness upon darkness) [An-Nur:40].

 

Then by the grace of Allâh, Islam came and as a guide, redeemer and Savior, guiding people to good life, the life of Islamic monotheism and faith, the life of tranquility and happiness, the life of loftiness and advancement of the soul. It came to save them from the clutches of the multi injustice, injustice to oneself and injustice to others. It came to take them out of the desolation of the darkness of ignorance to the lights of Islam. Such was in fact salvation from the eternal abyss. Allâh, the Most Purified, has explained the value of His favour on His slaves, and the honor He granted them by taking them away from the punishment He has vowed to those that tread a path other than the path of guidance. Thus, He the Almighty said,

‌ ( وَكُنتُمۡ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفۡرَةٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنۡہَا )

And you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it [Al-Imran:103].

 

 How great is Allâh's mercy on His creation! How great is His love for His slaves! How Generous is He to one that obeyed Him! To Him belongs all glory and favour. To Him belongs the beautiful reward. He deserves all that is good, May He be Exalted and Glorified.

 

Our Lord has sent Muhammad (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), with the great blessing of Islam, and sent him to the rest of mankind, as a teacher and mentor, bringer of glad tidings and a warner. Allâh, the Almighty says,

(هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرۡسَلَ رَسُولَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ ٱلۡحَقِّ لِيُظۡهِرَهُ ۥ عَلَى ٱلدِّينِ ڪُلِّهِۦ وَلَوۡ ڪَرِهَ ٱلۡمُشۡرِكُونَ )

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,) hate (it) [At-Taubah: 33].

 

The Almighty also said,

(يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ شَـٰهِدً۬ا وَمُبَشِّرً۬ا وَنَذِيرً۬ا (٤٥) وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى ٱللَّهِ بِإِذۡنِهِۦ وَسِرَاجً۬ا مُّنِيرً۬ا)

O Prophet (Muhammad)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner, (45) And as one who invites to Allâh [Islâmic Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allâh (Alone)] by His Leave, and as a lamp spreading light (through your instructions from the Qur'ân and the Sunnah the legal ways of the Prophet) [Al-Ahzab: 45-46].

 

His mission was a commission for goodness and an extinguisher of evil. It was a mission to resuscitate good moral ethics and quench the bad morals. It was a mission for all other parameters of truth and an extinguisher for all other landmarks of falsehood. As a result of this blessed mission life was transformed, the course of history changed, people found what agrees with their natural disposition, and the desires of goodness that rests in their minds. They could not but entered in multitudes into this religion with which Allâh sent Muhammad, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him). Allâh, the Almighty has said,

( إِذَا جَآءَ نَصۡرُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡفَتۡحُ * وَرَأَيۡتَ ٱلنَّاسَ يَدۡخُلُونَ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ أَفۡوَاجً۬ا * فَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡهُ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ ڪَانَ تَوَّابَۢا )

 When there comes the Help of Allâh (to you, O Muhammad against your enemies) and the conquest (of Makkah), (1) And you see that the people enter Allâh's religion (Islâm) in crowds, (2) So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask His Forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives. [Surah An-Nasr].

 

The nation of Muhammad, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), has by that goodness it earned, and that grace Allâh has given to it, become the best and most virtuous nation, as Allâh said in the Holy Qur'an:

( كُنتُمۡ خَيۡرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخۡرِجَتۡ لِلنَّاسِ)

You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind [Al-Imran:110].

 

He said, recounting that goodness He bestowed upon His slaves, after they had been living the life of ignorant fools:

( وَٱذۡكُرُواْ نِعۡمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ أَعۡدَآءً۬ فَأَلَّفَ بَيۡنَ قُلُوبِكُمۡ فَأَصۡبَحۡتُم بِنِعۡمَتِهِۦۤ إِخۡوَٲنً۬ا )

And remember Allâh's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islâmic Faith) [Al-Imran:103].

 

Moreover, the Almighty said,

( ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمَ دِينً۬ا‌ۚ )

 This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion [Al-Maedah: 3].

 

The goodness Allâh has bestowed upon His slaves is the better and greater than this goodness. To Him belongs all praise at the beginning and the end, outwardly and inwardly.

 

The early followers of this religion, those who knew it and raced to it, adhered to the message that came to them from Allâh, and followed Muhammad, the unlettered Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), sent by their Lord to save them, while they were misguided in their affairs, until Allâh rescued them, as He says,

  (هُوَ ٱلَّذِى بَعَثَ فِى ٱلۡأُمِّيِّـۧنَ رَسُولاً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيہِمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬)

He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses, purifying them (from the filth of disbelief and polytheism), and teaching them the Book (this Qur'ân, Islâmic laws and Islâmic jurisprudence) and Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship, of Prophet Muhammad). And verily, they had been before in manifest error [Al-Jum'ah: 2].

 

They loved him, supported him and backed him in his call and struggle. On this account, Allâh, the Almighty says:

  (إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ شَـٰهِدً۬ا وَمُبَشِّرً۬ا وَنَذِيرً۬ا (٨ (لِّتُؤۡمِنُواْ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُڪۡرَةً۬ وَأَصِيلاً )

Verily, We have sent you (O Muhammad) as a witness, as a bearer of glad tidings, and as a warner (8) In order that you (O mankind) may believe in Allâh and His Messenger, and that you assist and honour him, and (that you) glorify (Allâh's) praises morning and afternoon [Al-Fath: 8-9].

 

Meaning, "I sent you a witness to the creation to believe in Allâh and His Messenger, and support him" (Tafseer At-Tabari).

 

With the efforts of those truthful people, the Islamic State was established. They spearheaded the management and leadership of the affairs of the nation with respect to the confrontations that occurred with the people of falsehood who waged wars against Islam, in order to spread the faith, and empower it in the land. They sacrificed their lives cheap in the cause of Allâh, whom they believe in His oneness and existence, and followed the light which He revealed, and the Messenger whom He sent. Allâh has praised them in more than one place in His Holy Book explaining the good in which they dwell. Among such verses is His saying,

(وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَهَاجَرُواْ وَجَـٰهَدُواْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَواْ وَّنَصَرُوٓاْ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ حَقًّ۬ا‌ۚ لَّهُم مَّغۡفِرَةٌ۬ وَرِزۡقٌ۬ كَرِيمٌ۬)

And those who believed, and emigrated and strove hard in the Cause of Allâh (Al-Jihâd), as well as those who gave (them) asylum and aid; - these are the believers in truth, for them is forgiveness and Rizqun Karîm (a generous provision i.e. Paradise) [Al-Anfal:74].

 

Slaves of Allâh!

Islam is an immortal call. It is the religion of Allâh, His revelation and His judgment, as Allâh, the Almighty said,

( صِبۡغَةَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ صِبۡغَةً۬‌ۖ وَنَحۡنُ لَهُ ۥ عَـٰبِدُونَ)

[Our Sibghah (religion) is] the Sibghah (Religion) of Allâh (Islâm) and which Sibghah (religion) can be better than Allâh's? And we are His worshippers. [Al-Baqarah: 138].

 

Allâh, the Almighty also said,

( وَمَنۡ أَحۡسَنُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ حُكۡمً۬ا لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُوقِنُونَ )

And who is better in judgement than Allâh for a people who have firm Faith [Al-Maedah:50].

It is a call for everyone belonging to this nation at all times and places. There is no difference between an Arab and a non-Arab, and black and white. It is as Allâh intended an address to all the people. And He sent Muhammad, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), to all the people, as He says,

( وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا ڪَآفَّةً۬ لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِيرً۬ا وَنَذِيرً۬ا )

And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind [Saba: 27].

 

Islam since the beginning and until the Last Hour, remains a reformist call, guiding and constructive. It eliminates chaos, actualizes guidance, establishes justice, prevents oppression and corruption, imposes peace and order, and provides brotherhood, reconciliation and harmony.

 

Part of the indications of the immortality of the call of Islam is that Allâh has vowed to preserve its Holy Book, the Qur'an, and the call will remain as long as it abides. He has revealed it to His slaves to act according to its dictates. Then He made it a good hotbed, where they fetch all goodness. It behooves them to act according to its judgment, to be guided by its guidance and take to its methodology. Allâh said says,

( إِنَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ يَہۡدِى لِلَّتِى هِىَ أَقۡوَمُ )

Verily, this Qur'ân guides to that which is most just and right a [Al-Isra: 9].

 

Our Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, " I have left among you the Book of Allâh, and if you hold fast to it, you would never go astray" (Muslim).

If they go away from what Allâh has guided them to, or turned aside from what He has shown them, they will be strayed and send others astray because He is the guide to the right path, and the guide to the straight path (of Allâh) about which Allâh, the Almighty said,

( وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٲطِى مُسۡتَقِيمً۬ا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ‌ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِ)

And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path [Al-An'am : 153].

 

 The path of Allâh here means "His way and religion which He has chosen for His slaves" (Tafseer At-Tabari).

 

Brothers in Faith!

Allâh has honored this nation, and the greatest honor He conferred upon it is this religion. He cherished it by it and because of it, He made it the best of mankind, and that if it seeks pride in other than it Allâh will humiliate it, as Al-Farouq, may Allâh be pleased with him, said, "We are a people whom Allâh dignified by Islam, whenever we seek dignity through other than it, Allâh will send humiliation upon us".

 

This nation was not recorded in the history due to Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab, but due to the Noble Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him),  and the first generation of his noble companions, and their followers in truth. Openings (victories) were not achieved through the wars of Dahis and Ghabra (famous wars in the history of Arabs) but he opened them through the wars at Al-Badr, Al Qadisiyah, and Al-Yarmouk. Countries were not liberated through seeking aids and holding conferences, but they were liberated through the battles of Hitteen and Ain Jaluth. The nation was not governed by manmade laws and hysterical ignorance, but it was governed by the Glorious Qur'an and great Islam. The sovereignty of the nation was not expanded through little states of denominations, but it was expanded by the Orthodox Caliphate and the Glorious Nation. Dear nation of the guide, Prophet Muhammad (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), make initiatives to restore the glory of Islam and pride of Muslims, for we have that which will fix and reform this world and the Hereafter, by the grace of Allâh. Allâh, the Almighty said,

( كُنتُمۡ خَيۡرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخۡرِجَتۡ لِلنَّاسِ )

 You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind [Al-Imran 110].

 

May Allâh bless me and you in the Holy Qur'an, and make me and you among those that act upon it. I say this, and I ask forgiveness of Allâh for me and you and other Muslims from every sin, so seek His forgiveness, for He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Second sermon:

 

All praise is due and belongs to Allâh, who suffices. May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon those He has chosen. We testify that there is no god worthy of worship but Allâh alone without partner, and we testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him).

 

Slaves of Allâh! The end of this nation cannot be sound except by that which made its beginning sound as Imam Malik, May Allâh have mercy on him, said. That is by upholding Islam and its teachings. The Muslims will never encounter good nor will Allâh ever grant them dignity and victory, nor feel the pleasantness and stability of life, except by returning to the true Islam and adhering to the book of Allâh and the Sunnah of His Messenger, as the Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, " When you enter into the 'einah, - a kind of mokhatara contract where the lender sells the borrower a trivial object to be paid for on the loan due date. The borrower then sells the same object back immediately for cash at the price minus the interest- hold the tails of oxen, are pleased with agriculture, and give up conducting jihad (struggle in the way of Allâh). Allâh will make disgrace prevail over you, and will not withdraw it until you return to your original religion" Abu Dawud.

 

He, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, " I have left among you the Book of Allâh, and if you hold fast to it, you would never go astray". (Transmitted by Al-Hakim and graded Sahih by Al-Albani).

 

These and other directives are clear in stating the fact about the betterment of the Islamic nation, and by what that will be achieved, and that its salvation, improvement of its present and future state lie in its return to its true religion, its adherence to the book of its Lord and the Sunnah of its Prophet,(May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), Allâh willing.

 

What about the Nation of Islam today wandering in search of how to restore its status among other nations, knowing that there is no success except, by adhering to the command of its Lord. Allâh recommended that to His slaves when the Almighty said,

( وَأَنَّ هَـٰذَا صِرَٲطِى مُسۡتَقِيمً۬ا فَٱتَّبِعُوهُ‌ۖ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُواْ ٱلسُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمۡ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّڪُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ )

 And verily, this is my Straight Path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His Path. This He has ordained for you that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (the pious) [Al-An'am: 153].

 

Moreover, the Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), said, " Say I believe in Allâh — and then be steadfast" (Muslim).

 

The path of Allâh is clear and flawless, treading it is easy and affordable, identifying it is simple for whom Allâh made so, he that treads it takes himself away from danger, and illuminates his way by that in which lies the happiness in this world and the hereafter. He would have pleased his Lord, rested his heart, chosen the life of splendor in this life and the afterlife. But as for he that turned a blind eye to all that good, and deviated from the true path, he has chosen for himself the life of humiliation and shame, and killed it before it dies. Allâh the Almighty, said,

( أَوَمَن كَانَ مَيۡتً۬ا فَأَحۡيَيۡنَـٰهُ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُ ۥ نُورً۬ا يَمۡشِى بِهِۦ فِى ٱلنَّاسِ كَمَن مَّثَلُهُ ۥ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ لَيۡسَ بِخَارِجٍ۬ مِّنۡہَا‌)

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'am: 122].

 

Oh Allâh! Guide us to the straight path, make us firm on the evident truth, return us to you nicely, forgive us our sins and wicked deeds, let us dwell in the abode of peace out of Your mercy, grace and favour, O the kindest of those who show kindness.

 

Invoke prayers and blessings of Allâh upon the gifted mercy, whom you have been commanded when Allâh, the Most Exalted and Glorified said,

( إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا )

Allâh sends His Salah (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy, etc.) on the Prophet (Muhammad) and also His angels too (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salah on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad), and (you should) greet him with the Islamic way of greeting [Al-Ahzab: 56].