By Sheikh Husein ibn Abdul-Aziz al-Sheikh – 23 Jumaadal Ukhrau 1437

His Eminence Sheikh Husein ibn Abdul-Aziz al-Sheikh, may Allah preserve him, delivered the Friday Khutbah entitled, “The Importance Attached to Tawhid by the Prophet, Peace and Blessings be upon Him,” in which he talked about the advice of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to his Ummah, represented by his instructions to Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, in the well-known hadith. He highlighted some of the most important aspects of this advice, such as the emphasis laid by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, on protecting tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah – true Islamic monotheism) and his fear that his Ummah might stray from the right path and fall into the abyss of polytheism. He cited some evidence to this effect from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

Praise be to Allah, the One Who wards off afflictions, removes adversities, and hears secret conversations. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners; to Him is all praise in this world and in the hereafter; I also bear witness that our Prophet, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger, the chosen prophet and favoured servant. O Allah! Bestow Your prayers, peace, and blessings upon him and upon his family and Companions, the best examples of faithfulness.

Now then, O Muslims!
I advise you and advise myself to fear Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, and to obey Him in secret deeds and in private conversation, for doing so is the road to all good, happiness, and success in this world and in the hereafter.

O Muslims!
The only basis on which a Muslim can achieve happiness and success is to worship none but Allah, the One and Only God. It is for such worship that man was created. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).” (Adh-Dhariyat: 56)

This means that the jinn and mankind should worship none but Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, and should have pure faith in Him. A servant of Allah should be sincere in turning to Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, loving Him, and glorifying Him. He should be sincere to his Creator in his fear of Him, his hope in Him, and his supplications to Him. He should be sincere to Allah both inwardly and outwardly, in all his actions, deeds, and intentions. Allah, Glorified be He, says to His Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “Say (O Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him): “Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the ‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.” (Al-An‘am: 162-163)

Fellow Muslims!
The Qur’an and the Sunnah pay special attention to establishing this great principle of Islam. The Noble Prophet’s instructions sum up what is mentioned in the Holy Qur’an in this respect. Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said:
One day, I was riding behind the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, when he said, “O young man! I shall teach you some words: Be mindful of Allah, and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him with you. When you ask, ask Allah. When you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if all the people gather to benefit you, they will not benefit you with anything other than that which Allah has decreed for you; and if all of them gather to harm you, they will not harm you with anything other than that which Allah has decreed against you. The pens have been lifted and the ink has dried up.” (Reported by at-Tirmidhi, who classified it as hasan sahih (good and authenticated), and regarded as mashhur (well-known) by hadith scholars)

O Muslims!
This advice instils in Muslims the glorification of Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, and aims to fulfil a great Islamic creed; namely, that the One Who holds the keys and the reins of all matters and to Whom belong the treasures of the universe and the keys of all things is Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him. It is He Who grants His servants their needs, answers their supplications, and bestows His mercy upon them. All creatures are in need of Him, Glorified be He. They cannot do without His grace, generosity, bounty, and mercy. They cannot stay alive for a blink of an eye without the will of Allah, Glorified be He.

“Is not He (better than your gods) Who responds to the distressed one, when he calls on Him, and Who removes the evil …” (An-Naml: 62)
All servants are always in need of Him, and they can never do without His mercy: “And if Allah touches you with harm, 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 which He causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He wills. And He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” (Yunus: 107)

The Muslims of today, who are surrounded by indescribable hardships and calamities, need to listen carefully to this advice, with the intention of acting on it. They should listen to it while they know that they are obligated not to turn to anyone other than their Creator, Might and Majesty be to Him, to grant them their needs, alleviate their grief, and remove their distress. Every time Muslims perform prayers, they say: “You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).” (Al-Fatihah: 5)

So let this meaning be instilled in their hearts and realised in their deeds.

This advice, O Muslims, warns every Muslim against falling into the causes of eternal damnation and everlasting torment, which would fall on man if he supplicated and sought the help of other than his Creator in times of hardships and adversities, and if he asked other than Allah to relieve his distress and bring him prosperity, which none but Allah, the Most Great Creator, can do. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “… And those, whom you invoke or call upon instead of Him, own not even a Qitmir (the thin membrane over the date-stone). If you invoke (or call upon) them, they hear not your call; and if (in case) they were to hear, they could not grant it (your request) to you. And on the Day of Resurrection, they will disown your worshipping them …” (Fatir: 13-14)

Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said, “Whoever dies while assigning a rival to Allah will enter Hellfire” (Reported by al-Bukhari). Through this concise hadith, which sums up the instructions, purposes, aims, and objectives of the Qur’an in its commands, prohibitions, statements, and narratives, our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, teaches us that if we hold on to worshipping Allah alone, submit our needs to Him, and entrust all our affairs to Him, then He will protect us against all that grieves us in the worldly life and in the hereafter. Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, says: “Truly, Allah defends those who believe …” (Al-Hajj: 38)

Allah, Glorified be He, also says: “… And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him …” (At-Talaq: 3)

If anyone turns and shows submission to other than Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, then he will be entrusted to whoever he turned and submitted to. As a result, he will be living in disgrace, weakness, and humiliation, and will ultimately suffer evils and calamities. Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, says:

“… Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest? Then what is the recompense of those who do so among you, except disgrace in the life of this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they shall be consigned to the most grievous torment …” (Al-Baqarah: 85)

Our Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever hangs up something (as an amulet) will be entrusted to it” (Reported by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi).

Therefore, O Muslim, stick to this advice so that you may not be misguided by vain desires and tossed by conflicting opinions. The only thing that can protect you from this is to follow this honourable advice, which the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, acted on until they perfected tawhid (i.e. worshipping Allah alone, without assigning partners to Him). ‘Auf ibn Malik al-Ashja‘i said:

A group of us (about nine, eight, or seven) were in the company of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do not ask anything of people.” After that, I noticed that some of these people who were present did not ask anyone to do anything for them, not even to pick up a whip that fell from their hands. (Reported by Muslim)

Al-Ahnaf ibn Qais’s nephew once complained to him of a toothache. Then al-Ahnaf said to him, “I lost sight in one of my eyes 40 years ago and I have never mentioned that to anyone. I only complain to Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him.”

O Muslims!
Seek refuge in Allah alone in times of hardship and distress, and turn to Him alone, Glorified be He, in times of adversity and affliction. It is a piece of advice that Muslim societies should act on, especially in this age, when they are surrounded by their enemies’ schemes and plots, which we need not go into on this occasion.

Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, says about His prophet Yunus (Jonah), peace and blessings be upon him:
“And (remember) Dhun-Nun (Jonah), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (i.e. the calamities which had befallen him)! But he cried through the darkness (saying): “La ilaha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O, Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.” So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allah, abstain from evil and work righteousness).” (Al-Anbiya’: 87)

O Muslims!
It is no use now seeking help from people in the west or the east. We should uphold tawhid and faithfully turn our hearts to Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, to remove distress and bestow His mercy upon Muslims. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “If you are struck by grief or distress, then you should say, ‘Allah is my Lord. I do not associate any partner with Him.’” A Muslim should utter it with his tongue while assuring that his actual deeds testify to his belief in what he is saying. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to supplicate Allah during times of distress, saying, “There is no god but Allah, the Most Great. There is no god but Allah, the Lord of the heavens and earth and the Lord of the Supreme Throne.”

One of the established principles of Islam is that seeking support, refuge, or help from any creature, whether dead or alive, absent or present, for something that only Allah can grant is an act of Shirk (i.e. assigning partners to Allah) that would waste one’s deeds.

O Muslims!
How did the early Muslims attain power and success? How did the first Muslim State powerfully and honourably achieve its numerous glories, conquests, and victories, which have been confirmed by historians, foes and friends alike? They did so by adherence to tawhid, i.e. worshipping Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, alone without assigning partners to Him. They did so by truly seeking refuge in the Lord, Might and Majesty be to Him. Therefore, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was keen on instilling the principle of tawhid in people’s hearts. He strove hard to call to this fundamental of Islam and fully protect the concept of tawhid from any flaw or defect regarding words, deeds, objectives, or intentions. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was once asked if it was permissible for a Muslim to bow to salute his fellow Muslim when meeting him, and he said, “No” (Reported by Ahmad and at-Tirmidhi, who classified it as hasan (good)). This aims to prevent Muslims from humbling themselves to anyone but Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him.

Al-Bukhari reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians did with ‘Isa (Jesus), the Son of Mary, for I am only a servant of Allah. So, call me the Allah’s servant and messenger.” He wanted the Ummah not to humble itself or show submission except to Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, and not to supplicate or seek help from anyone but Him.

Brothers in Faith!
One of the signs testifying to the Chosen Prophet’s commitment to tawhid and the great attention he paid to realizing it is that he blocked every means employed by Satan to get the servants of Allah caught into the mire of polytheism and the superstitions of the pre-Islamic period of ignorance (jahiliyyah). Therefore, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was careful through his noble instructions to warn Muslims against calling upon the dead in their graves, seeking their protection, supplicating before their doorsteps, and asking them for help in times of calamities and distress, among other things which should be directed only to the Creator of the earth and the heavens.

Abu-Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “O Allah! Do not make my grave an idol that is worshipped. Those who take the graves of their prophets as places of worship have indeed incurred Allah’s great wrath.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, paid great attention to the exaltation of the Creator and to upholding tawhid, for this is the basis of his mission. He warned against Satan’s tricks to entice people into wearing amulets and talismans or hanging them around their necks or property, claiming that they ward off evil and diseases, as some people do in times when knowledge decreases and ignorance dominates. It is reported by Ahmad in al-Musnad that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever wears an amulet has associated partners with Allah.”

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also warned against being deceived by sorcerers, imposters, and liars when he said, “Whoever goes to a soothsayer or a fortune-teller and believes in what he says, has disbelieved in what has been revealed to Muhammad” (Reported by the Four Compilers (an-Nasa’i, at-Tirmidhi, Abu-Dawud, and Ibn Majah) and by al-Hakim).

It is unfortunate that in the so-called age of technology and civilization, the media and real-life events provide examples of people frequenting sorcerers, soothsayers, and diviners to enquire about the future, though it is known by necessity in Islam that only Allah, Majesty and Glory be to him, has knowledge of the unseen. Similarly, when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked about an-nushrah (i.e. treating witchcraft with witchcraft), he answered saying, “That is the work of Satan.”

O Muslims,
Our Prophet, Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was keen on making us adhere to true monotheism and greatly exalt and love our Creator, Majesty and Glory be to Him. Even in situations when people seek treatment of their diseases and may be tempted to commit unlawful acts, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, reminded his Ummah to stick to monotheism and to pay the greatest attention to it, so that a Muslim may always be attached to Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, seeking refuge in Him, relying on Him, and turning to none other than Him, Glorified be He. ‘Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her and her father, narrated that whenever the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, visited an ill person he would say, “O Allah, Lord of mankind! Make the harm go away. Heal him, for You are the Healer and there is no healing except Yours, and let the healing leave no trace of illness in him.”

When Uthman ibn Abi al-‘As ath-Thaqafi, may Allah be pleased with him, complained to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, about a pain he had had in his body since he converted to Islam, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him, “Place your hand where you feel pain in your body and say, ‘In the name of Allah,’ three times, and then say seven times, ‘I seek refuge in Allah and His power from the evil of what I suffer and fear’” (Reported by Muslim).

Brothers in Islam!
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gave us further noble instructions within the framework of his great care for monotheism and the great attention that he paid to instilling it in the hearts of Muslims. Abdullah ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, narrated that a man once said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “As Allah wills and you will!” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, then said to him, “Have you made me a co-equal to Allah? But say, ‘As Allah alone wills!’” Hudhaifah ibn al-Yaman also narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do not say, ‘As Allah wills and so-and-so wills,’ but say, ‘As Allah wills and then as so-and-so wills.’”

One aspect of the great care that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, had for his Ummah, and his keenness on guiding his followers to beware of all that opposes the essence and fundamentals of monotheism or denies its obligation, is contained in the great speech he addressed to the Ummah. Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers. If anyone swears, he must swear by Allah or keep silence.” Umar said, “By Allah, I have never sworn by my forefathers since I heard that from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, nor have I reported such words from anyone else.”

It is narrated in another hadith classified as hasan (good) by hadith scholars that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him said, “Whoever swears by other than Allah has committed disbelief or has associated partners with Allah.”

O Muslims,
If you seek happiness and success in the hereafter as well as glory, success, deliverance, and happiness in this world, you must uphold monotheism. Always uphold monotheism and the Oneness of Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, and live for the sake of worshipping Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him. As Ibn al-Qayyim said,
Worshipping the Most Gracious is based on our love for Him,
Along with humility. These are the two foundations of worship.

Live for the sake of worshipping, glorifying, and attaching yourselves to Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him, in every matter. Compel yourselves and your hearts to exalt their Creator. Remember that the prayer, zakat, hajj, and all the sacred rites in Islam serve this great fundamental. It is not the practice of those who perform prayers to pray and then turn towards other than Allah, Majesty and Glory be to Him. Do everything you can to please your Creator, and you will achieve all that is good and attain great rewards.

“Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is (only) Allah,” and thereafter stand firm and straight on the Islamic Faith of Monotheism, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever) – a reward for what they used to do.” (Al-Ahqaf: 13-14)

May Allah make us all among those who uphold monotheism and exalt their Creator and Provider, Majesty and Glory be to Him.
I have said this, 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.