Servants of Allah, Allah says which translates as: “Verily this Qur’an, guides to that which is most just and right and gives glad tidings to the believers who work righteously that they shall have a great reward”? (Al-Isra”: 9). Allah is saying that this Qur’an, that He sent down which was a revelation to Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) verily guides to that which is most just and right. It is guidance. It guides and directs to that which is best and just, to the correct path so people attain salvation. Those who take other paths indeed have proceeded along a path that is not proper and correct. O believers, Allah has given the evidence from the Qur’an, for all His servants. Indeed it is great evidence even though a lot of people have taken it lightly and have not given it its due right as Allah says which translates as: “And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.” (Yusuf: 103).

The Qur’an is with us – in our hands. It is the same Qur’an, which was revealed to Muhammad that is with us today, just as it was in the hands of the companions of the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). However, the companions of the Prophet took the guidance from the Qur’an. They accepted that the Qur’an, guides to that which is most right. They did not neglect the Qur’an. They did not neglect learning or practicing it. The Salaf of this nation studied the Qur’an, to take all kinds of good from it. To take from it the commands of Allah, to know from it the prohibitions of Allah, to know what Allah obliged them to do, from what He forbade them from doing, to take from it what Allah informed them of regarding things that are unknown and unseen, and the things to believe in and those things to call people to. Notice how Allah says which translates as: “guides to that which is most right and just.”

In the area of belief, the greatest matter in this is worshiping Allah alone and not setting up partners with Him. You take this from the Qur’an, because it guides you to that which is most right and just and anything else will mislead you to a dark path. A path after which there is great loss in this world and the hereafter. So, Allah guided us, He showed us, He directed us in the Qur’an, that His right is that He is worshiped alone without partners. Allah says which translates as: “And indeed it has been revealed to you, Muhammad, as it was to those before you (the other messengers) if you join others in the worship with Allah, then surly all of your deeds would be in vain and you will certainly be among the losers.” (Az-Zumar: 65-66). Allah is addressing the Prophet that if he worships anything else other than Allah or sets a partner to Allah then all his deeds will be in vain, and he is the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam)! The one who has not left any good deed, but has performed it. However, if he were to set a partner to Allah, then all his deeds would be in vain. Allah says which translates as: “And we shall turn to whatever deeds they did and we shall make it as scattered floating particles of dust.” (Al-Furqan: 23).

Therefore, Allah guided people to that which is most just and right. He clarified that in the Qur’an. He explained that, even though a servant may be amongst the people of prayer, those who give the Zakaah, those who fulfill the pillars and obligations and those who do other deeds such as Jihad for the sake of Allah, or any other deeds that may bring him closer to Allah; if this person associates anything with Allah then all his deeds would be lost. As he is not be better than the Prophet who was addressed by Allah that if even he associated partners with Allah then all of his deeds would be in vain. This is because the right of Allah is greater and more glorified, yet some people do not take the guidance of the Qur’an, and give some humans an exalted degree in rank even though they have set partners to Allah and have worshiped other than Him. They thought that this would not take them out of the fold of Islam nor make them lose their good deeds. Therefore, they glorified these people even though they may be polytheists and they elevated and exalted their ranks even though they have practiced polytheism.

Allah has guided us through Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) to that which is most just and right. In the Qur’an, He has asserted that anyone who associates anything with Allah then his deeds will be in vain even though he may be amongst the righteous and even if he was a prophet. Some people think of, in admiration, other human beings. They think they have more of a right without paying attention to the great sin that person may be committing, and not paying attention to the glorified and exalted right of Allah. Anyone who worships other than Allah, or joins a partner with Allah then he is the one addressed by the saying of Allah which translates as: “if you join others in the worship of Allah surly your deeds would be in vain.”

Therefore, let us not be deceived by acts of worship or the fighting of a Mujahid (one who fights in the way of Allah) or the one who is a caller to the religion if he has joined others in the worship of Allah; if he does not recognize what taghoot (anything worshiped besides Allah) is, and cannot differentiate between it and monotheism. Allah says which translates as: “That is because Allah is the truth, and that which they invoke besides him is falsehood and a false deity, and that Allah is the Most High and Most Great.” (Luqman:  30).

Remember this guidance, and measure people, individuals, groups, and countries through this great scale, which Allah gave us as guidance with the Qur’an. Allah reminds His prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) by saying which translates as: “And indeed it has been revealed to you (Muhammad) as it was to those before you if you join partners in the worship with Allah then surly your deeds will be in vain and you will be among the losers.” (Az-Zumar: 65). Indeed, losers in this world and in the hereafter regardless of what they do.

O believers, Allah has guided us by this Qur’an. Allah explained in the Qur’an that obedience to the Prophet is an obligation and that obeying him is like obeying Allah. Allah commanded the Messenger to convey the religion, which he did. He (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) conveyed the commands of Allah and the prohibitions of Allah by means of using verses of the Qur’an or by his Sunnah (his actions and approval of things).

However, some people did not accept this guidance. He (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) was guided, directed and evidences and proofs were given to him. He listened to the Qur’an, understood what it meant, and there is no doubt to the Qur’an or the prophet”s (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) understanding of what it means; however he rejects the guidance and doesn”t accept it. Others accept the guidance, but do not practice it. Therefore, he falls into the category of those who have deserted the Qur’an. Allah has commanded us to perform the congregational prayers and to give the Zakaat, to perform the pillars of Islam, fulfill our pledges, and to keep our trusts. He forbade us from cheating or misleading. He forbade us to take peoples money without right, from oppressing people in their selves, wealth, children, and honor. Allah commanded us to protect our minds, commanded us to be good, kind and just. All of this is from the guidance to that which is most right and just. Allah commanded and the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) conveyed all acts of worship, all ways of dealings, and all of that guides to that which is most just and most right.

Among the things that the Messenger of Allah conveyed is that Allah made usury prohibited. Allah commanded to us that we be just, and forbade cheating and deceiving. He commanded us to fulfill the rights of people and forbade giving or taking bribes. He commanded us to deal with people equally. To give them equal opportunities with what they deserve. Concerning dealings, Allah commanded us to deal in a good manner and not to commit what Allah prohibits.

The Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) explained that all conditions and terms not in accordance with the book of Allah are invalid, even if they are a hundred conditions. Yet, some of the Muslim”s faith became weak. They neglected and went away from the guidance of the Qur’an and started dealing with usury as practiced by the disbelievers. They adopted their ways of buying and selling which is mostly prohibited because it included things such as deception, oppressing people, taking people”s money, and their rights. The Prophet forbade us from deceiving people. The scholars say that something being prohibited in Islam means that it is corrupted. Therefore, any dealing that includes deception in it is a corrupted way of dealing. The worthier right or condition to be fulfilled is the right and command of Allah. That is why every condition that is not from the book or command of Allah is nullified even if it is a hundred conditions. If you look around you see how Muslims oppress one another when it comes to wealth. Allah guided us through the Qur’an to that which is most right and just. He guided and clarified to us what we need to know concerning our matters of faith, manners of dealing, and manners of worship. However, do Muslims take and accept it? Do they practice according to it? Are they hesitant as they become weakened by their desires and the influence of both the East and West? Allah guided the believers through the Qur’an, which rectifies and reforms their hearts and purifies their souls, so, that the worshipper would attain tranquility and the relationship with Allah would be based on glorifying Him. He showed ways to the good and the bad. Some people lower their gaze, stay away from the prohibitions, from adultery and fornication.

However many others refused to refrain from the prohibitions. They refused to lower their gaze. They follow their vain desires and lusts, fall into adultery and fornication. That is why you see that prayer for most of them is not practiced with tranquility. He does not feel joy in obeying Allah and doing, as He wants. He becomes weaker and weaker. When he sees something forbidden his eye enjoys it, then it occupies his heart and his heart enjoys it. That joy will then take the joy away from being with Allah or worshiping Him. Allah says which translates as: “Tell the believing men, oh Muhammad, to lower their gaze from looking at forbidden things, and to protect their private parts from illegal sexual acts.” (An-Nur: 30).

Therefore, he who wants purity and wants to purify himself, as Allah says which translates as: “Indeed he succeeds who purifies his own self.” (As-Shams: 9). He, who wants success through purification, then let him stay away as far away as possible from looking at women or from submitting to the desire of looking at a woman. This is because lowering your gaze will result in light entering your heart, the light of faith, the light of knowledge, the light of action. All of that can be obtained through lowering you gaze. The way you do that is by knowing that you are lowing your gaze as a form of glorifying Allah. Allah forbade illegal sexual action as well as all means leading to that. He says which translates as: “And come not near the illegal sexual acts of intercourse verily it is something abominable that transgresses its limits and is an evil way that leads one to hell.” (Al-Isra”: 32).

Among the ways of coming near these unlawful sexual acts is that a person feels joy in looking at the prohibited pictures whether it be a photo of a woman or something he sees on television, in a movie, or even if it is a reality such as looking at an actual woman. This is because there is no difference in effect between the two. The effect that happens to the heart is the same be it a picture or reality. Being attached to that or having joy in that takes away the light of belief and faith in the heart. It deprives you of feeling joy in obedience to Allah. It is glad tidings to the believers when Allah says which translates as: “Indeed this Qur’an guides to that which is most right and just and gives glad tidings to the believers who work righteous deeds.” (Al-Isra”: 9).

It is glad tidings to those who are sincere and follow the example of the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) in their actions, and take his guidance through the Qur’an. They have glad tidings in this life and in the hereafter. Allah guided and directed us in the Qur’an to fulfill the rights of others, to stay away from drinking alcohol, to enjoin good and forbid evil, and to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) in obedience to Allah and His messenger. He guided and encouraged us to do good and to take the path, which leads to paradise. He guided, directed, warned us, and clarified to us the things that would lead us to the hellfire so that we would avoid it. He guides us to things, which purify our hearts and souls. So, what are the Muslims going to do? Are they going to accept this guidance of the Qur’an and what the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) explained? Are they going to continue to follow their desires until what? Until what Allah says which translates as: in Chapter, “Until when death comes to one of them he says, “My Lord send me back so that I may do good in that which I have left behind. No, it is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the day when they will be resurrected.” (Al-Mu”minun: 99-100).

O believer, this is indeed a serious and dangerous matter. The matter of life is not something simple. So, think how short this life is, and that the hereafter is your actual life – the eternal life that does not end. Therefore, if you favor this life over the hereafter, you are not a person with any intelligence and you do not know what is good for you. Think, ponder, and reflect on what will be the cause of your salvation on the Day of Judgment. Always reflect on the Qur’an, obey Allah and His Messenger (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam), for in this is the great success and salvation. O Lord, make us among those who listen, follow, and practice the best of what they heard. Make us among those who accept the guidance of the Qur’an and work to practice it, and do not make us of those who reject it. Do not make us heedless. We seek refuge in you from heedlessness and ignorance. You are the Most Merciful and Most Generous. Ameen.