By Sheikh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman al-Huthaifi – 15 Rabi Ath-Thani 1438

His Eminence Sheikh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman al-Huthaifi, may Allah preserve him, delivered the Friday khutbah entitled, “Distractions from the Right Path,” in which he talked about Allah’s never-failing promise to the believers, the everlasting bliss that Allah, Exalted be He, has prepared for His obedient servants, and the painful punishment against which He has warned the disobedient and disbelievers. Then he mentioned those things which distract the servant from the path of truth, namely, one’s lower self, one’s evil whims and desires, Satan, and the worldly life. In addition, he showed how the servant may protect himself from these enemies and attain the good pleasure of Allah, Exalted be He, and His Paradise on the Day of Judgement.

Praise be to Allah. Praise be to Allah, in Whose Hand lies all good, and Who is Powerful over all things. He takes charge of every person and knows all that he has earned. He will recompense all people in full for their deeds, and He wrongs not even the weight of a small ant: “…if there is any good (done), He doubles it, and gives from Him a great reward.” (An-Nisa’: 40)

I praise my Lord and thank Him for His infinite grace. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners, the All-knower, the Well-Acquainted with all things. I also bear witness that our Prophet and Master, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger, the bearer of glad tidings, the warner, and the lamp spreading light. O Allah! Bestow Your peace and blessings upon Your servant and messenger, Muhammad, who was sent with the Qur’an, the book that gives light, and upon his family and Companions, through whom Allah granted power and glory to Islam and humiliated despicable polytheism.

Now then, Fear Allah, Exalted be He, by hastening to do all that is good and by avoiding all that is forbidden so that you will attain the highest ranks and be saved from destruction.

O Muslims!
Allah has given you the promise of truth. His promise is never broken, and His judgement is never repelled. He has promised His obedient servants a good life in this world and the best of outcomes in the hereafter. He will allow His pleasure to descend upon them and make them enjoy the everlasting bliss in the Gardens of Eternity, with the prophets and the righteous people who follow the Right Path.

Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And if the people of towns had believed and had the Taqwa (Piety), certainly, We should have opened for them blessings from the heaven and the earth….” (Al-A‘raf: 96).

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “And if only the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) had believed (in Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) and warded off evil (sin, ascribing partners to Allah) and had become Al-Muttaqun (the pious), We would indeed have expiated from them their sins and admitted them to Gardens of pleasure (in Paradise). And if only they had acted according to the Taurat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), and what has (now) been sent down to them from their Lord (the Qur’an), they would surely have gotten provision from above them and from underneath their feet…” (Al-Ma’idah: 65-66)

That is, if they had believed in the Qur’an and acted according to it while believing in their Scriptures without distorting them, Allah would have made them live a good life in this world, and would admit them to the Gardens of Bliss in the hereafter.

Allah, Glorified be He, tells us how Nuh (Prophet Noah), peace be upon him, invited his people to belief: “I said (to them): ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft-Forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.’” (Nuh: 10-12)

Abu-Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Allah, Exalted be He, says (in the holy hadith): “If anyone takes a wali (an ally; a believing servant who loves and obeys Allah much) of mine as an enemy, I shall declare war against him. The most beloved things with which My servant draws nearer to Me are the obligatory acts that I have enjoined him to do. My servant keeps on coming closer to Me through performing supererogatory acts of worship until I love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his eyesight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his foot with which he walks; and if asks anything of Me, I will surely give it to him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely grant him refuge. I never am reluctant to do anything as I am when I order the life of one of my believing servant be taken; he loathes death and I hate to hurt him.” (Reported by al-Bukhari)

This hadith clearly indicates that Allah, Exalted be He, in His kindness, generosity, mercy, and power, takes good charge of His obedient servants and disposes of their affairs in the best possible manner during their lifetime and after their death.

Our Lord’s promise is always true, and not a bit of it ever fails to come to pass. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “Our Lord! Verily, it is You Who will gather mankind together on the Day about which there is no doubt. Verily, Allah never breaks His Promise”. (Al ‘Imran: 9)

Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, also says: “Our Lord! Grant us what You promised to us through Your Messengers and disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection, for You never break (Your) Promise.” (Al ‘Imran: 194)

Allah, Exalted be He, has promised people the truth in the hereafter. He says:”Allah has promised the believers – men and women – Gardens under which rivers flow to dwell therein forever, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of ‘Adn (Eden Paradise). But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure of Allah. That is the supreme success. (At-Taubah: 72)

The believers can perceive what their Lord has promised them even in their worldly life. His rewards and favours successively descend upon them. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “So Allah gave them the reward of this world, and the excellent reward of the Hereafter. And Allah loves Al-Muhsinun (the good-doers).” (Al ‘Imran: 148)

In the hereafter, they will certainly find true His promised reward and the everlasting bliss. Allah, Glorified be He, says: “Is he whom We have promised an excellent promise (Paradise) – which he will find true – like him whom We have made to enjoy the luxuries of the life of (this) world, then on the Day of Resurrection, he will be among those brought up (to be punished in the Hell-fire).” (Al-Qasas: 61)

Just as Allah has promised the obedient believers great reward, He also has warned the ungrateful disbelievers and the disobedient of punishment, and His warning will certainly come to pass. Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, says: “… while those who disbelieve enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat; and the Fire will be their abode.” (Muhammad: 12)

Allah, Glorified be He, also says, “And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to abide therein …” (An-Nisa’: 14)

Of all people, the disbelievers lead the most miserable life in this world. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’an nor acts on its teachings.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.” (Ta-Ha: 124)

Even if they were given all the riches of this world, they would continue to live in misery. Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “So let not their wealth or their children amaze you (O Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him); in reality Allah’s Plan is to punish them with these things in the life of this world, and that their souls shall depart (die) while they are disbelievers.” (At-Taubah: 55)

People are tested with things that distract them from whatever is beneficial to them and lead them to what is detrimental to them. These distractions discourage people from doing acts of obedience to Allah and adorn sins to them, so that Allah will distinguish those who struggle against their evil desires and oppose their whims from those who obey their devils and follow what they desire. In this way, Allah will grant those who have been guided to the straight path the highest ranks in Paradise and punish those who follow their whims and desires in the lowest depths of Hellfire. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard (for the Cause of Allah) and As-Sabirun (the patient), and We shall test your facts (i.e. the one who is a liar, and the one who is truthful). (Muhammad: 31)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths (i.e. Allah’s religion – Islamic Monotheism). And verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (good doers). (Al-‘Ankabut: 69)

Man’s lower self is definitely one of his worst enemies, and it is the gateway through which Satan can influence him. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “… Verily the (human) self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows His Mercy (upon whom He wills) … (Yusuf: 53)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “… They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire. …” (An-Najm: 23)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “… And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.”(Al-Hashr: 9)

Man’s lower self, being characterised by ignorance and injustice, turns him away from believing Allah’s promise, discourages him from adhering to the straight path, and causes him to deviate from the course of moderation.

Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said: “He who knows the true nature and character of his lower self will realise that it is the root of all evil and the breeding ground for all adversities, and that if it has any good in it, this is only due to Allah’s favour. Allah, Exalted be He, says: … And had it not been for the Grace of Allah and His Mercy on you, not one of you would ever have been pure from sins. …” (An-Nur: 21).

One can only be spared from ignorance by attaining beneficial knowledge that is based on the Shari‘ah. Similarly, one can only be spared from injustice by doing righteous deeds. A Muslim must always turn to Allah with hope and supplicate Him to set right his condition. Zaid ibn Arqam, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say in his supplication, ‘O Allah! Grant my soul piety and purify it, as You are the Best to purify it; You are its Guardian and its Protector. I seek refuge in You from knowledge that is of no benefit, from a heart that is not submissive to You, from a soul that is never satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered’” (Reported by Muslim). It is reported by at-Tirmidhi on the authority of ‘Imran ibn Husain that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught Husain two supplications, namely, “O Allah! Lead me to the right guidance and protect me from the evil within myself.”

If one is not purified with religious knowledge and righteous deeds, one will be overwhelmed by ignorance and injustice, which, if coupled with evil desires, will lead one to disbelieve in Allah’s promise, follow lusts, and consequently fall into the depths of loss, punishment, and humiliation, thus losing both this world and the hereafter. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “… And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allah, and polytheists).” (Al-Qasas: 50)

Conversely, when a person purifies himself with beneficial knowledge and righteous deeds, he will believe in Allah’s promise, feel reassured, and turn to his Lord. In addition, he will receive glad tidings of honour at the time of death. Allah, 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)

The enemy of man is the accursed Devil, who blocks all the means to goodness and invites man to commit all types of sins and evils. He is corrupt and is the source of all corruption. We seek refuge in Allah from him. Allah has made him a trial for those who are morally accountable for their deeds. Those who obey him will be assigned the worst positions, while those who disobey him will be assigned the best positions. He finds pleasure, joy, and bliss in corrupting people and leading them astray. He invites man to disbelieve in Allah’s promise of Paradise and warning of punishment in hellfire, adorns forbidden acts to him, turns him away from fulfilling obligatory and desirable acts, gives him false hopes, and deludes him with his evil whisperings. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “Surely, Shaitan (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire. (Fatir: 6)

Allah, Glorified be He, tells us what Satan will say to his followers in Hellfire: “And Shaitan (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided: “Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers).” (Ibrahim: 22)

Satan attempts to corrupt man in seven different ways. First he invites man to disbelieve in Allah – we seek refuge in Allah from such an invitation! If man accepts his invitation, then Satan has attained his goal and has made him join his losing party. If man rejects disbelief in Allah, Satan will call him to innovations in religion. If he is spared from these by strictly adhering to the Sunnah and the Qur’an, Satan will call him to commit major sins and adorn them for him. Furthermore, he will encourage him to delay repentance so that he may continue to commit major sins until he is overcome by them and thus becomes doomed to destruction. If man does not respond to Satan’s call to commit major sins, Satan will call him to commit minor sins instead, making them seem insignificant to him, so that he may continue to commit them frequently until he becomes used to them. Persistence in committing minor sins turns them into major sins, and this will lead to his destruction due to lack of repentance.

If man rejects Satan’s invitation to commit minor sins, Satan will call him to occupy himself with permissible acts at the expense of doing acts of obedience to Allah frequently, with the result that pursuing permissible acts will keep man too busy to take provisions for the afterlife journey or work hard for it. If man manages to escape from this trap, Satan will call him to occupy himself more with good deeds that are surpassed in rank than with excellent and more elevated deeds, such that his reward in the hereafter will be decreased, for good deeds vary in their rewards. If Satan fails in all these attempts, he will set his soldiers and followers on the believer to inflict different types of harm and evil on him.

The only way to spare oneself from the evil of Satan is to constantly seek Allah’s refuge from him, remember Allah, Exalted be He, at all times, maintain the obligatory prayers in congregation (for it is a fortress, a shelter, and salvation), put one’s trust in Allah, fight relentlessly against Satan, and be on one’s guard not to wrong others. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “And if an evil whisper from Shaitan (Satan) tries to turn you away (O Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. (Fussilat: 36)

Other matters that avert the believer from the truth, uprightness, and goodness include love of the worldly life and preferring it to the hereafter, amassing worldly wealth, whether from lawful or unlawful sources, being complacent with this life, and forgetting about the afterlife. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “Verily, those who hope not for their meeting with Us, but are pleased and satisfied with the life of the present world, and those who are heedless of Our Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), those, their abode will be the Fire, because of what they used to earn. (Yunus: 7-8)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “… Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared to the Hereafter.” (At-Taubah: 38)

This present world is an enemy of man. If it overwhelms his heart such that he is preoccupied with it and abstains from working for the afterlife, then he will certainly be doomed. Indeed, the majority of people in this world prefer the present life to the hereafter.

Allah, Exalted be He, says: “Nay, you prefer the life of this world; although the Hereafter is better and more lasting.” (Al-A‘la: 16-17)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says: “… And woe unto the disbelievers from a severe torment. Those who prefer the life of this world to the Hereafter, and hinder (men) from the Path of Allah (i.e. Islam) and seek crookedness therein – they are far astray.” (Ibrahim: 2-3)

One cannot be spared from the evil, harm, and adversities of this world except by earning wealth through permissible, lawful means and enjoying what Allah has made lawful in it without extravagance, indulgence, or wastefulness; without scorning people or being arrogant to them; without rejoicing in this worldly life or being proud of it; and without using one’s power to usurp others’ rights. One should also know its true nature and realise that it is nothing but a deceitful enjoyment and that it is transient and changeable. One should always remember this fact, for doing so is the means of having a sound heart.

Al-Mustawrid al-Fehri, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “In comparison with the hereafter, this world is similar to the amount of water that someone gets when he dips his finger in the ocean. Let him then see what it returns with” (Reported by Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ibn Hibban).

A Muslim should also be wary of the evil and bad consequences of this world. He should be careful not to be deceived by Satan if the latter attempts to persuade him that Allah has only bestowed this good life upon him because of his merits and shrewdness in making profits, just as he deceived Qarun (Korah), whose fateful end you are well aware of.

A Muslim has another important obligation with regard to this world: he should discharge his duty towards Allah as well as towards people, namely, paying Zakat, spending on one’s wife, children, and guests, helping the needy, and spending in other good causes without ostentation, showing off, or seeking praise from others, for doing so nullifies good deeds.

Some of the leading Companions had a lot of wealth, yet, of all people, they showed the least interest in worldly pleasure and led the most ascetic life. Abu Sulaiman said, “Uthman ibn Affan and Abdur-Rahman ibn ‘Awf were two of the wealthiest servants of Allah on earth, who spent their wealth in obedience to Allah, and dealt with Him with sincere hearts.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Live an ascetic life in this world, and Allah will love you. Show no interest in what people possess, and people will love you” (Reported by ibn Majah on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa‘d, may Allah be pleased with him). One who shows no interest in what people possess does not wrong them, deny them their rights, wish the withdrawal of the favours they have, hope to seize what they own, or compete with them in their worldly pursuits.

One of the most praiseworthy forms of asceticism is to avoid arrogance in this life. Allah, Exalted be He, says: “That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who rebel not against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief (by committing crimes). And the good end is for the Muttaqun (the pious). (Al-Qasas: 83)

May Allah bless you and me with the Great Qur’an and make us benefit from its verses and wise words and benefit from the guidance and right sayings of the Imam of Messengers. I have said what you have heard and I ask forgiveness of Allah for myself, for you, and for all Muslims. Ask Allah for forgiveness. He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.