Khutbah (sermon) of Usaamah Al-Khayyaat – Imam of Haram 

Allah, the Almighty has created this earth by His Mercy and Favour which He bestowed upon His creatures in a perfect manner for their utilisation. He sent His Messengers and revealed His books that contain clear evidences and guidance to mankind. He guarantees for them the means that will lead to their prosperity in this life and the next by His truthful and unfailing promise. It is by following these guidelines that humanity will become perfectly reformed. In reality there is no other way of reformation except for the complete and comprehensive one that is brought by this religion in all areas belief and law. Little wonder then that the corruption caused upon the earth after it has been reformed is regarded by Allah as being the worst of all crimes for it is tantamount to challenging Allah and His Messenger and waging war on them. It is an attack on the strong pillars upon which the belief and firm constitution of the Muslim nation are built and on which its moral structure stands. The perpetrators of such mischief are guilty not only of their own crimes, but also of laying a bad precedence for others to follow – what an evil practice and ugly path! 

There are many ways of spreading corruption upon the earth, the worst of them being the association of partners with Allah in worship by attributing the rights that are exclusively His to others. This is indeed a great injustice; Allah tells us of Luqmaan’s admonition to his son with that which translates as: “O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allah. Indeed, association [with Him] is great injustice” (Luqmaan: 13). 

The greatest crime that people can commit against themselves and the greatest self-harm that they can accomplish is by is by committing shirk, or associating partners with Allah in worship. By doing this, they equate Allah, who is the Creator, the Omnipotent and the All-Provider, with a weak and limited creature. That is why the perpetrator of shirk is likened to a person who falls from the top of a high cliff to the ground far below. Allah says that which translates as: “And he who associates with Allah – it is though he had fallen from the sky and was snatched by the birds or the wind carried him down into a remote place.” (Al-Hajj: 31). 

What corruption upon the earth is greater than that of one who calls others beside Allah who can neither benefit nor harm anything? 

Committing different types of sins are also an act of causing corruption on the earth. The most grievous of these sins are the destructive ones which Allah and His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam threaten the perpetrators of with a severe punishment. Some of them are: Practicing magic, committing murder, making interest-based transactions, usurping the property of orphans, fleeing from a battle with disbelievers, falsely accusing innocent believing women with fornication, mistreating one’s parents, bearing false witness, adultery and fornication, drinking alcohol and taking narcotics, stealing, severing bonds of kinship etc. These sins destroy man and turn him into an obedient servant of Satan, who will then lead him to all evils and blind him from seeing the truth and receiving guidance. Satan will also make his evil deeds fair seeming to him so much so that he will actually view the evil and corruption that he does as good deeds; just like the hypocrites whom Allah describes in His Book when he says that which translates as: “And when it is said to them, ‘Do not cause corruption on the earth,’ the say, ‘We are but reformers’. Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive (it) not.” (Al-Baqarah: 11-12). 

Another clear act of corruption and mischief on the earth today is the merciless transgression, injustice, killings and destruction that the Jews are perpetrating in the holy land of Al-Quds, or Jerusalem. They kill innocent people, expel them from their land and besiege them without even showing mercy to the elderly or infants. We are not surprised by this, for it is just one of a series of oppressive and arrogant acts of corruption that they are taking part in. 

Environmental pollution with its widespread destruction is another form of causing corruption upon the earth in modern times. This pollution has caused immense and unnecessary damage to human beings, animals, plants and aquatic creatures. This harm is caused by man’s selfish desire to hasten productivity and is a result of his selfish materialism and his craving for wealth which knows no limit. 

We must realise and acknowledge that all this corruption occurs upon the earth as a result of mankind’s evil deeds. Allah says that which translates as: “Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He [i.e. Allah] may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [i.e. refrain]” (Ar-Room: 41). 

It must then be an indisputable fact that the remedy lies at the hands of the people, for Allah will never improve the condition of a people while they are not changing their behaviour. The condition of people will only change for the better when they repent, return to their Lord, seek His pleasure, worship Him as He should be worshipped, fully submit themselves to Him, judge by His law and be pleased with it. They may of course take advantage of whatever Allah facilitates of means of power, progress and prosperity that He has made abundant on the earth. Allah says that which translates to: “And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.” (Al-A’raaf: 56).’ 

Brothers in faith! Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim said while commenting on this verse: “Indeed worshipping others beside Allah, calling unto others beside Him and associating partners with Him in worship are the greatest forms of corruption that man can commit. In fact, associating partners with Allah and disobeying Him are at the head of all forms of corruption. The earth can never be in order, nor can its inhabitants live in peace unless all acts of worship are done for the sake of Allah alone and performed in accordance with the example laid down by His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. If people begin to enjoin disobedience to Allah, then they must not be followed or obeyed, for Allah put this earth in order through His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and His religion; Allah enjoins belief in His oneness and orders that He be worshipped alone; He forbids committing corruption upon the earth by ascribing partners to Him and disobeying His Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. When one reflects on the current condition of the world, he will observe that in every place where peace, tranquility and law and order are enjoyed, this is only as a result of the people there having belief in the unity of Allah, worshipping Him alone and following His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. On the other hand, one will notice that afflictions, tribulations, drought, oppression and all other evils that people suffer from are the result of disobeying Allah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam and associating partners with Allah in worship. Whoever ponders carefully over their own condition and that of other peoples, will see that matters are as described above. And there is no power except with Allah, the Most High, and the Magnificent”. 

Therefore fellow Muslims, fear Allah and be among the righteous; by doing this you will earn the pleasure of your Lord and will be in His sight among the successful and victorious.