His Eminence Sheikh Abdul-Bari ibn Awad Ath-Thubeity, may Allah preserve him, delivered the Friday khutbah entitled, “Glad Tidings in the Qur’an and the Sunnah”, in which he talked about glad tidings and the virtue of bringing good news to people. He mentioned substantial evidence from the Qur’an and the Sunnah about bringing glad tidings in this world and in the hereafter.

Praise be to Allah. Praise be to Allah, Who has conferred bounties on His servants and given glad tidings to them. I praise Him, Glorified be He, and thank Him for His munificence, generosity, and blessings. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who knows the fraud of the eyes and all that the hearts conceal, and I bear witness that our master and prophet, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger. Whoever follows his guidance will certainly be admitted into Paradise. May Allah bestow His peace upon him, his family, and his Companions, who are known for their merits and insight.

O Muslims!
I advise you and advise myself to fear Allah. For Allah, Exalted be He, says:
"O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam [as Muslims  (with complete submission to Allah)]." (Al ‘Imran: 102)

The Arabic words bishara, bushra and mubash-shirat (which all signify good news and glad tidings) arouse hope in people’s heart, boost their determination, and provide a remedy for despair and despondency. They establish trust in Allah’s promise and take away distress and anxiety. When used by itself, the word bishara is always associated with good news, while it can apply to evil only if its sense is restricted by another word.

Allah also says in His Book:
"Verily, this Qur’an guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), etc.), who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great reward (Paradise)." (Al-Isra’: 9)

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was a bearer of glad tidings as well as a warner. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
"And We have sent you (O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)) only as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner." (Al-Furqan: 56)

The Prophet, peace and blessings be on him, called Muslims to give glad tidings to people and warned against causing aversion in them towards Islam. He said, “Give glad tidings [to the people] and do not create [in their minds] aversion [towards religion]; show them leniency and do not be hard upon them.” He ordered his Companions, “Invite people [to Islam]. Give them tidings and do not create [in their minds] aversion [towards religion]; show them leniency and do not be hard upon them.” Maintaining a balance between giving people glad tidings and making them fear Allah’s punishment is the guidance of the Master of Messengers. It is the middle course: we hope for Allah’s mercy and, at the same time, we fear His punishment.

Receiving glad tidings prompts us to be more diligent in our worship and to be more keen on obedience to Allah. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said of Uthman ibn Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, “Whatever Uthman does after today [i.e. the day he made the largest contribution to support the poor Muslim army at the Battle of Tabuk] will not harm him.” This statement only made Uthman all the more righteous, pious, and obedient to Allah.

Giving glad tidings is indispensable for providing moral support and strengthening belief. This is clearly reflected in the stance Khadijah, may Allah be pleased with her, took when she said to her husband, peace and blessings be upon him, “Receive the good tidings! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you.” How noble it is when spouses hear from each other words of support and moral strength that bring them glad tidings in times of fear and distress! How noble it is when a soldier hears such words from his general and an inferior hears them from his superior!

Those who turn to Allah in repentance will surely receive glad tidings. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
"Those who . . . turn to Allah in repentance, for them are glad tidings. . ." (Az-Zumar: 17)

Those who fear Allah will receive glad tiding of eternal success. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

"Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds). For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world (i.e. righteous dream seen by the person himself or shown to others), and in the hereafter. . ." (Yunus: 63-64)

Those who strive in the cause of Allah are given the glad tidings that they will enjoy prosperity and will attain Allah’s pleasure. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

Regarding those who have patience, Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, says:
". . . but give glad tidings to As-Sabirun (the patient ones, etc.), Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: “Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return. They are those on whom are the Salawat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who receive His) Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones." (Al-Baqarah: 155-157)

 Glad tidings are also given to those who frequently walk to mosques. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Give glad tidings to those who walk to mosques in the dark of perfect light on the Day of Resurrection.”

Addressing those afflicted with a disease, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Have glad tidings, for Allah says, ‘It is My fire with which I have afflicted My believing slave in this world, to be his share of the Fire in the hereafter.”

Allah commanded the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to give glad tidings to Khadija of a palace of hollow pearl in Paradise, where there would be no noise and no toil. Also, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, gave glad tidings to ‘Ammar ibn Yassir, may Allah have mercy upon his soul, saying, “Have glad tidings, ‘Ammar. You will be killed by the transgressing party.”

The Auliya’ (obedient servants) of Allah receive glad tidings in this present world and in the hereafter. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
"No doubt! Verily, the Auliya’ of Allah [i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of Allah and fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which he has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve. Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and used to fear Allah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds). For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world (i.e. through a righteous dream seen by the person himself or shown to others), and in the Hereafter. . ." (Yunus: 62 -64)

Among the glad tidings that a believer receives in this worldly life is the praise he receives from people for the good deeds that he tries to conceal but that Allah discloses. Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was asked: ‘Tell us about a person who does some good deed for which he is subsequently praised by people.’ He replied, ‘These are the glad tidings which a believer receives (in this worldly life).’”

True visions are forms of glad tidings. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “There is nothing left of the features of prophethood except al-mubash-shirat.” The Companions then said, “What are al-mubash-shirat, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “True dreams” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Rejoicing at the birth of a child and giving glad tidings of such birth is the practice of the Prophet, peace en blessings be upon him. However, Allah, Exalted be He, does condemn those who are dissatisfied with the birth of baby girls and consider them a heavy burden. Allah says:

Allah, Exalted be He, also says:
"And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonour or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision." (An-Nahl: 58-59)

The wind is also a bearer of glad tidings. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
"And among His Signs is that He sends the winds as glad tidings, giving you a taste of His Mercy (i.e. rain), and that the ships may sail at His Command, and that you may seek of His Bounty, in order that you may be thankful." (Ar-Rum: 46)

The Auliya’ of Allah and His chosen ones receive certain signs that indicate that Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, has intended good for them. These include the grace and the success that they have in their life, the ease of their affairs, and their deliverance from hardships, for Allah says:  

Allah also says:
". . . and whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him." (At-Talaq: 4)

Therefore, if you feel that matters are made easy for you and that Allah decrees good for you though you have never expected it, then these are undoubtedly glad tidings.

In a more subtle way, Allah makes adversity a bearer of relief and hardship a sign of ease. This is exactly what the Qur’an relates about Allah’s prophets and chosen servants, who, when they went through severe hardships and felt that the earth, vast as it is, was straitened for them, ultimately received relief. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

"They . . . were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, ‘When (will come) the Help of Allah?’ Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allah is near!" (Al-Baqarah: 214)

Upon his death, the believer receives glad tidings while being washed and shrouded, and when his soul is being taken away. Regarding the glad tidings he receives upon departing this life, Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, says:

"(It will be said to the pious – believers of Islamic Monotheism): “O (you) the one in (complete) rest and satisfaction! Come back to your Lord – Well-pleased (yourself) and well-pleasing (to Him)! Enter you, then, among My (honoured) slaves, and enter you My Paradise!”" (Al-Fajr: 27-30)

While I was sitting in the condition which Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, described (in the Qur’an), my very soul straitened for me and the earth, vast as it is, straitened for me, I heard the voice of someone who had ascended Mount Sal’ calling at the top of his voice, ‘O Ka’b ibn Malik! Receive good tidings!’ I fell down in prostration, for I realised that relief had come. The people started receiving me in crowds, congratulating me on Allah’s acceptance of my repentance, saying, ‘We congratulate you on Allah’s acceptance of your repentance.’ . . . When I greeted Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, his face was bright with joy as he said, ‘Receive good tidings! This is the best day that you have ever had since your mother gave birth to you.’ I said, ‘Is this (forgiveness) from you, O Messenger of Allah, or from Allah?’ He said, ‘It is from Allah.’ Whenever Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, became happy, his face would light up as if it was a piece of the moon. Then Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, revealed the verse: "Allah has forgiven the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the Muhajirun (Muslim emigrants who left their homes and came to Al-Madinah) and the Ansar (Muslims of Al-Madinah) who followed him (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) in the time of distress (Tabuk expedition), after the hearts of a party of them had nearly deviated (from the Right Path), but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of Kindness, Most Merciful." (At-Taubah: 117)

May Allah bless you and me with the Great Qur’an and make us benefit from its verses and wise words. 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 Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.