By Sh Ali Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Huthaifi – 02 Muharram 1434
His eminence Sheikh Ali Ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Huthaifi, may Allah preserve him, delivered the Friday sermon entitled ” A Worshipper’s Happiness Lies in his Obedience to his Lord.” In this sermon, he talked about obedience to Allah the Almighty and said that nobody ever suffered because of his obedience and nobody ever found happiness because of his disobedience. He highlighted the fact that the passing days bear witness to good or evil deeds, and lamented those who do not save Allah’s blessings to benefit from them on the Day of Judgment. So, people of vision should learn a lesson from this.
Part one
Thanks be to Allah the Exalted and the Merciful. He created all creatures and managed their affairs through His power, knowledge, and mercy. He is the One and the Conqueror. I praise my Lord and thank Him. I repent to Him and seek His forgiveness, and I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah Who has no partner. To Him belongs the Dominion and He is the Sovereign, the Compeller Who alternates the night and the day. Truly, in this is a lesson for those who have vision. And I bear witness that our Prophet and master Muhammad is His servant and chosen messenger may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, his household and virtuous companions.
O Believers!
Fear Allah and obey Him, for the fear of Allah is the real protection from His punishment and is the only way to win His paradise. Do not be among those who forget that they will meet Allah and therefore lose both this world and the Hereafter.
Worshippers of Allah!
You should know that no one who obeyed Allah ever felt miserable and no one who disobeyed Him ever felt happy. Allah the Almighty says, ‘And whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger , fears Allâh, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful.’ [ An-Nûr: 52]
He also says, ‘…and whosoever disobeys Allâh and His Messenger, then Verily, for him is the Fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever.”‘ [Al-Jinn: 23]
Fellow Muslims!
Your Lord, holy be His names, is the Most Merciful and All-powerful, Wise and All-knowledgeable; He endowed you with hearing, sight, hearts and organs so that you may thank Him with your worship. Allah, Exalted be He, says,
‘And Allâh has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allâh).’ [An-Nahl: 78]
It is out of His Mercy that He provided worshippers with cosmic signs and created those finely constituted creatures so that man would know His Lord, Exalted be He, and get closer to Him through adhering to His commands and avoiding His prohibitions. Allah, Exalted be He, says,
‘It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and the reckoning. Allâh did not create this but in truth. He explains the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail for people who have knowledge. (6) Verily, in the alternation of the night and the day and in all that Allâh has created in the heavens and the earth are Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) for those people who keep their duty to Allâh, and fear Him much.’ [Yûnus: 5-6]
He also says,
‘And a sign for them is the night. We withdraw therefrom the day, and behold, they are in darkness. (38) And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.’ [Yâ-Sîn: 37-38]
He also says,
‘And He it is Who has put the night and the day in succession, for such who desires to remember or desires to show his gratitude.’ [Al-Furqân: 62]
Interpreters say:” Allah Almighty put the day and the night in succession to set time for His worship, so whoever misses an act of worship at night can make up for it during the day and whoever misses a deed of worship by day can perform it at night.
The day and the night are two of Allah’s signs which have been in succession on earth since Allah created the heavens and the earth and created in them for mankind many benefits that cannot be counted except by Allah, Exalted be He. They include innumerable lessons and examples.
The overflowing days and nights make up a month, the months make up a year, and the successive years make the ages of individuals, generations, nations, and whatsoever is alive in this world. These all die and Allah judges them on their deeds: if their deeds are good, they are rewarded and if they are bad they are punished and Your Lord does injustice to no one:
Allah Almighty says,
‘Surely! Allâh wrongs not even of the weight of an atom (or a small ant),[1] but if there is any good (done), He doubles it, and gives from Him a great reward.’ [An-Nisâ: 40]
The day and night have witnessed people who passed away and testified to their evil deeds. Such people have passed away and they are now in the worst abode. Likewise, the days and nights have also witnessed people who are no longer alive anymore and borne witness to their good deeds. These people are now in the best abodes.
Is there not anybody among you who remembers? Is there not anybody who learns from this? Those of you who are absent minded why do you not take pity on yourselves? Why do you not those of you who have committed excesses turn to Allah in repentance? O you persistent sinner who is deceived by his Lord’s patience, why do you not give up your acts of disobedience? Are you not ashamed of Allah the Almighty who bestowed on you all these blessings visible and invisible while you defy Him through your sins? Why does your cruel heart not soften and respond to sermons and Ayats (signs)? Why do you not call yourself to account before you die? Do you not know that the forbidden pleasures soon vanish into oblivion as if they had never been and all that is left of them is their consequences?
Do you not see the great numbers of those who are born and then return to the Lord of the Worlds? You also will be placed in a coffin and be among those delivered to Allah. Do you think that Allah is unaware of the deeds committed by those who are unjust?
O believers! Do you not wish to have more of the good deeds before it is too late on the day all people will be impeded from performing good deeds?
With every year that passes and every new year that starts, there are lessons to those who are capable of feeling signs, and those who have faith and perception and fear their Lord and the Day of Judgment.
‘But the Messenger and those who believed with him (in Islâmic Monotheism) strove hard and fought with their wealth and their lives (in Allâh’s Cause). Such are they for whom are the good things, and it is they who will be successful. (89) For them Allâh has got ready Gardens (Paradise) under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.’ [At-Taubah: 88-89]
On the other hand, the enemies of the messengers and those who followed them in such enmity deposited in the years that passed their infidelity, disobedience, and defiance of Allah and His Messenger . They lost and were overcome. They were prevented from obtaining their desires, so they had very little joy in this world and had no share in the hereafter.
Allah the Almighty says,
‘Then, after them, We created other generations. (43) No nation can advance their term, nor can they delay it. (44) Then We sent Our Messengers in succession. Every time there came to a nation their Messenger, they denied him; so We made them follow one another (to destruction), and We made them as Ahadîth (the true stories for mankind to learn a lesson from them). So away with a people who believe not!'[Al-Mu’minûn: 42-44].
He also says,
‘Verily, those who belie Our Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations) and treat them with arrogance, for them the gates of heaven will not be opened, and they will not enter Paradise until the camel goes through the eye of the needle (which is impossible). Thus do We recompense the Mujrimûn (criminals, polytheists and sinners). (41) Theirs will be a bed of Hell (Fire), and over them coverings (of Hell-fire). Thus do We recompense the Zâlimûn (polytheists and wrong-doers).'[Al-A‘râf: 40-41]
Among the most remarkable events and outstanding achievements is the migration of our master Muhammad , which we celebrate every year, from Makkah to Madinah by the order of Allah the Almighty, Who made it victory for His prophet . Allah, Exalted be He, says,
‘If you help him (Muhammad ) not (it does not matter), for Allâh did indeed help him when the disbelievers drove him out, the second of the two; when they (Muhammad and Abu Bakr [May Allah be pleased with him]) were in the cave, he said to his companion (Abu Bakr [May Allah be pleased with him]): “Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allâh is with us.”‘ [At-Taubah: 40]
Allah thus made of this migration (Hijrah) the starting point for the triumph of Islam until the Day of Judgment. In our time, in which Muslims do not have the opportunity to migrate, Allah still has opened for them the door to another migration which involves great rewards. For in these times and thereafter, Allah has facilitated for the Muslim migration with his heart to Allah, turning his back on Shirk (polytheism) and embracing monotheism, desisting from disobedience and pursuing obedience, turning away from what would hinder him from the worship of Allah and striving to strengthen his worship, abandoning innovations and adhering to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah and giving up his own personal inclinations and clinging to what is loved by Allah and his Messenger
Prophet Mohammad said: ”Worship in turmoil- namely; sedition – is like migration to me” [Narrated by Muslim]
He also said; “The Muslim is he from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe, and the migrant is he who abandons what Allah has prohibited.”
Quranic verses guide hearts, enlighten minds, reform man, elevate his interests, organize his life, feed his faith, and keep him on the righteous path.
Reflecting upon, benefitting from and working according to the Quranic verses help man reach the rank of perfection in virtues as well as purify himself from committing sins. Allah Exalted be He says,
‘ Verily, this Qur’an guides to that which is most suitable.’ [Al-‘Isrā’ :9]
But the Quran can only benefit those who reflect upon and understand it in the same way it was understood by the righteous companions of the prophet and those who followed them in truth. The Quran is a proof against all people. Allah Exalted be He says;
These are the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, which We recite to you (O Muhammad ) with truth. Then in which speech after Allâh and His Ayât will they believe? [Al-Jāthiyah: 6]
May Allah bless me and you with the Holy Quran and guide us to benefit from its verses and wise words as well as from the deeds and sayings of the Master of All Messengers. I say what you have heard, and I ask forgiveness, of Allah for myself, all of you and the rest of the Muslims, for every sin we have committed. Ask forgiveness of Allah, the All Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Part Two
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds and Master of the God-fearing. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah alone with no partners, Lord of the first and the last. I bear witness that our Prophet and master Muhammad is His servant and faithful Messenger. O Allah, send Your peace and blessings upon your servant and Messenger Muhammad, and his household and all his companions.
Worshippers of Allah,
Fear Allah and obey Him.
O servants of Allah, toil for the Afterlife, for it is the only true life. Allah, Exalted be He, said:
‘And your Lord comes with the Angels in rows (22) and Hell will be brought near that Day. On that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance avail him (23) He will say: “Alas! Would that I had sent forth for my life!”(24) So on that Day none will punish as He will punish (25) And none will bind as He will bind (26) O the one in rest and satisfaction! (27) Come back to your Lord well-pleased and well-pleasing (28) Enter you then among My slaves, (29) And enter my Paradise! (30)’ [Al Fajr: 22-30]
Pay heed to the commandment of the Prophet on the Farewell Pilgrimage, when he said: “O people fear Allah”, and in the Hadith reported by Ahmad (Ibn Hanbal): “Worship Allah, perform the five prayers, fast the month (of Ramadan), pay the Zakat”. In his Musnad, Baqi Ibn Mokhallad adds: “Perform the pilgrimage, obey the rulers, and you will enter the paradise of your Lord” [Narrated on the authority of Ahmad and Al Tirmidhi and the text is his].
Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, narrated a Hadith indirectly attributed to the Prophet : “Take advantage of five (states) before five (others happen): your youth before your old age, your wealth before your poverty, your health before your sickness, your free time before your working time, your life before your death”.
Servants of Allah,
Allah commanded you to do a thing that He had done it first. Allah (Exalted be He) says,
‘Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad p) and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad ) and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum’ [Al-Ahzab: 56].
The prophet also said, “He who invokes a blessing on me will receive ten blessings from Allah.”
Pray to Allah to send His peace and blessings upon the master of those who preceded us and those who are yet to come, and the leader of messengers Muhammad . O Allah! Bestow Your prayers upon Muhammad and his household, as You bestowed your prayers upon Ibrahim and his household. O Allah! Bless our master Muhammad and his family as You blessed Ibrahim and his household, and grant them peace, You Praiseworthy and the Glorious!
O Allah! Bestow Your peace and blessings upon Muhammad, his wives and offspring. O Allah! Be pleased with all companions! O Allah! Be pleased with the Rightly Guided Caliphs and imams: Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman, and Ali, and all those who follow them in righteousness till the Day of Judgment. O Allah! Be pleased with us and them out of Your favor and generosity, You the most Merciful of those who show mercy!
O Allah! Glorify Islam and Muslims and subdue disbelief and disbelievers, You Lord of all creation! O Allah! Destroy Your enemies, the enemies of religion. O Allah! Destroy Your enemies, the enemies of religion, You are the Powerful over all things.
O Allah! Grant victory to Your religion, Your Book, and the traditions of Your Prophet, You Lord of all creation.
O Allah! O Allah! Ease our affairs for us, and expand our breasts for us, Protect us from the evils of our souls and our ill deeds, and protect us from the evils of any evil doer, You Lord of the Worlds.
O Allah! Make us safe in our countries; make our countries and the countries of all Muslims secure, You Lord of all creation, and lead our governors to Your guidance You are Powerful over all things.
O Allah! Guide the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to do what pleases You. O Allah! Lead him to Your guidance and make all his deeds pleasing to You, help him to do all the good for his people, his country and all Muslims, You Lord of Creation.
O Allah! Forgive our past sins and our future sins; forgive what we have committed in secret and what we have committed in public; and forgive what You know better than we do. You are the Expediter and the Delayer. There is no god but You.
O Allah! Send down rain upon us. O Allah! Send down rain upon us. O Allah! O Allah! Send down rain upon us, You Lord of the Worlds. Oh Allah! You are the Most Merciful of All. Oh Allah! We ask You, appealing to Your power over everything, Your Mercy that embraces everything, and Your knowledge that encompasses everything, to have mercy upon us. O Allah! Send down rain upon us and do not make us among the despairing!
O Allah! Forgive the sins of our dead and the dead of all Muslims, You Lord of the Worlds. O Allah! Forgive the sins of our dead and the dead of all Muslims, You are Powerful over all things.
O Allah! We seek refuge in You from the withdrawal of Your grace, from the suddenness of Your wrath, from the alteration of the well-being You endowed us with, and from all your anger.
O Allah! We seek refuge in You from ill fate, from the malicious rejoicing of enemies, from abject misery, and from hard affliction.
O Allah! We ask You Paradise and every saying or deed that takes us closer to it, and we seek refuge in You from Hell and every saying or deed that takes us closer to it.
O Allah! Protect us and our offspring from Satan, his offspring, and his soldiers, You Lord of the Worlds. O Allah! Protect Muslims and their offspring from the cursed Devil and his offspring.
Worshippers of Allah!
‘Verily, Allah enjoins justice and kindness, and giving help to kith and kin, and forbids all types of evil deeds, and all kinds of oppression. He admonishes you, that you may take heed.’ [Al-Nahl: 90]
Remember Allah, the Great and Glorious and He will remember you. Thank Him for His blessings and He will give you more of them. Remembrance of Allah is greater than all, and Allah knows what you do.
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