By Sheikh Osama ibn Abdullah Khayyat – 22 Safar 1437

His Eminence Sheikh Osama ibn Abdullah Khayyat –May Allah protect him– delivered this Friday khutbah titled “Obeying Allah and the Messenger (May Allah’s Salat and Peace Be upon Him!)” in which he talked about obeying Allah and His Messenger ‒May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him. Responding positively to Allah and His Messenger and obeying them should be the servant’s top priority. Then, he mentioned the obstacles that stand in the way between the servant and his obedience to Allah and His Messenger –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him!

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds! Only to the pious is the blissful end (in the Hereafter) reserved. I do praise Him –Glory be to Him! For praise is due to Him all the time. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah alone with no partner, peer, or equal. He is the Protector of all that exists in the heavens and the earth. I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger, who was sent as mercy to the Worlds. O Allah! Send Your permanent Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace upon your Servant and Messenger Muhammad, and upon his family, his magnanimous and blessed Companions as long as days, nights, months, and years keep alternating.

Now then!

O Servants of Allah, do observe taqwa vis-à-vis Allah:

“And be afraid of the Day when you shall be brought back to Allâh. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” [Al-Baqarah: 281]

Servants of Allah!

High rank and sublime status necessitate total obedience and a prompt positive response. If such highness and sublimity are associated with entire submission and reception of bounteous blessings, then obedience to the benefactor will be all-embracing, and positive response to his commands and prohibitions will be fuller, stronger, and prettier.

If this is accepted by sane minds and acquiesced to by normal people as a right due to powerless mortals, it should be more suited to the Creator, the Provider of livelihood, the Benefactor, the Almighty, and the Everlasting Who has neither peer nor equal with respect to the magnitude of bounty, the perfectness of favour, and the enormity of blessing.

Obedience to Allah –Be He exalted– should be one’s highest concern and top priority. It should be one’s top duties, plans, and missions in life so as to comply with the following command of Allah ‒Exalted be He:

“O you who believe! Answer Allâh (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) calls you to that which will give you life, and know that Allâh comes in between a person and his heart (i.e. He prevents an evil person to decide anything). And verily to Him you shall (all) be gathered.” [Al-Anfal: 24]

The greatest form and the noblest status of positively responding to (the Call of) Allah and His Messenger is giving Allah –May He be extolled‒ His due through the achievement of tawheed (monotheism) vis-à-vis Him. In fact, tawheed is the greatest command in religion, the foundation of deeds, the essence of worship, the pillar of closeness and proximity to Allah –to Whom belong Might and Majesty‒ and the ultimate purpose behind the creation of both humans and Jinn. In this respect, Allah –Most High‒ said:
“And I (Allâh) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” [Al-Thariyat: 56]

It is also the purpose behind revealing the Holy Books, including the Holy Qur’an about which Allah –Glory be to Him– said:

“(This is) a Book, the Verses whereof are perfected (in every sphere of knowledge, etc.), and then explained in detail from One (Allâh), Who is All-Wise and Well-Acquainted (with all things). (Saying) worship none but Allâh. Verily, I (Muhammad SAW) am unto you from Him a warner and a bringer of glad tidings.” [Hud: 1-2]

Suffice it to say that tawheed is the real honour in that Allah’s acceptance or rejection of all the deeds and words –both explicit and implicit– of human beings depends on it and is gauged by it. That is why the divine warning against shirk (polytheism) –which thwarts (good) deeds– was clear and unequivocal in the Book of Allah –Be He extolled– in His Words:

“And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad), as it was to those (Allâh’s Messengers) before you: “If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.”” [Al-Zumar: 65]

Allah –Exalted and Most High be He– also says:

“… But if they had joined in worship others with Allâh, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.” [Al-An’am: 88]

Suffice it to say that tawheed is such an honour that it protects against exposure to hellfire for eternity, provided there is as much of it (tawheed) in the heart as the lightest mustard seed. Thanks to it, the worshipper will get full guidance and total security in the herein and the hereafter. Allah –May His Name be exalted‒ said:

“It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh and worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief with Zulm (wrong i.e. by worshipping others besides Allâh), for them (only) there is security and they are the guided.” [Al-An’am: 82]

Allah –May He be exalted– made it clear that shirk is great injustice through His prophet Luqman:

“… “O my Son! Join not in worship others with Allâh. Verily! Joining others in worship with Allâh is a great Zûlm (wrong) indeed.” [Luqman: 13]

Besides, Tawheed is the major cause of mitigating worries both in the herein and the hereafter, as reported in the story of Allah’s prophet Yusuf (Joseph) –Peace be upon him. Imam ibn al-Qayyim –May Allah bless his soul‒ said: “Sincere devotion to Allah and tawheed are a tree in one’s heart whose branches are deeds and whose fruit is an agreeable life in the herein and eternal bliss in the hereafter. Just as the fruit of paradise is neither limited in season nor short in supply, so are the fruit of sincere devotion to Allah and tawheed in the herein.”

The tree of tawheed ‒O Servants of Allah‒ grows and flourishes; and the more it is irrigated with the water of obedience to Allah and to the Messenger –May Allah’s profuse Salat and Peace be upon him– the more its fruit will ripen and the more glamourous and magnificent it will become. Such obedience manifests itself in doing pious deeds and abstaining from sinful acts hoping for obtaining the promised divine reward and for fear of undergoing painful torment.

Included in tawheed and leading to it is the recital of the Holy Qur’an while meditating its meanings and acceding to its admonitions. One should therefore focus on its intended message and the rationale behind its revelation from Allah, in addition to taking maximum advantage of its verses so as to apply them to one’s heart to heal its maladies.

Also, part of tawheed is getting closer to Allah through performing supererogatory forms of worship in addition to regular observances. This involves remembering and mentioning Allah through words, acts and devotional attachment in all circumstances, giving priority to whatever Allah’s preferences over any others, calling to mind the blessings, graces and favours bestowed by Him upon His servants, feeling humble and totally obedient to Him, and retiring to privacy except the company of Allah –May He be glorified– during the time of divine manifestation in the heavens. It also involves supplicating Him and reciting His Holy Book throughout the last third of the night.

Finally, other entailments of tawheed include repenting to Allah, seeking His pardon, keeping close company of those who adore the Lord of the Worlds and show sincere love for Him –May He be glorified. Thus, one benefit from their constructive speech, moral rectitude and sensible counsel. One may distance oneself from whatsoever might distract one’s heart away from the Lord –to Whom belong Might and Majesty‒ cleanse one’s heart from hostility, rancour, envy, conceit, among other heart diseases, bear no grudge against the believers, wish others good, and show great concern for their destiny through endeavouring to improve their conditions and help them succeed in the herein and the hereafter.

An intelligent and successful person is indeed fully aware of whatever obstacles that might hinder obedience to Allah and His Messenger. Acting as a level-headed person, he/she would prove to have perfect knowledge of the nature, source, and dire consequences of such hindrances. He would not therefore be beguiled by the huge number of misguided people following corrupt ways, nor would his religious conviction be shaken by the small number of those who follow truth, divine guidance, knowledge, and faith. How can that ever take place if he constantly listens to the Word of Allah cautioning him against being deceived by the big number of the misguiding and misguided people? Allah –the Most Truthful of all speakers– says:

“And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allâh’s Path. They follow nothing but conjectures, and they do nothing but lie.” [Al-An’am: 116]

He –Exalted be His Name– also says:

“And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly.” [Yusuf: 103]

Such a sensible person would not forget or fail to realise that the pursuit of desires is one of the most powerful factors obstructing positive response to the Call of Allah and His Messenger –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him. Such a person is fully aware of that when he reads the following Words of his Lord Almighty:

“But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islâmic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allâh? Verily! Allâh guides not the people who are Zâlimûn (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allâh, and polytheists).” [Al-Qasas: 50]

or these Words of His –Glory be to Him:

“Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilâh (god), and Allâh knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allâh? Will you not then remember?” [Al-Jathiyah: 23]

This very person knows perfectly well that one’s environment and friends have the most decisive impact on one’s soul and mind. For example, one is naturally inclined to follow the person whose company one constantly keeps. This idea was affirmed in the hadith of the noblest among mankind, Prophet Muhammad –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him‒ who had never spoken out of his own desires. He said: “Any person tends to follow the creed of his companion; so take care when choosing a companion.” [This hadith was reported via a good chain of narration by Imam Ahmed in his Musnad, and by Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmithi in their Sunan]

In another hadith, Prophet Muhammad –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– said: “Do not take for a companion except a believer, and do not invite to your food except a pious person (who observes taqwa).” [This hadith was reported via a good chain of narration by Imam Ahmed in his Musnad, Abu Dawood and Al-Tirmithi in their Sunan, and Ibn Hibban in his Sahih]

Still in another hadith narrated by Abi Said Al-Khudri –May Allah be pleased with him– where Prophet of Allah –May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him– was reported to have said: “In one of the preceding nations, there was once a man who killed ninety-nine people. When he asked about the most knowledgeable man on earth, he was guided to a monk. When he reached him, he told him that he had killed ninety-nine people and asked him if he could repent. ‘No’, the monk replied. So, the man killed him, raising the number to one hundred. When he asked again about the most knowledgeable man on earth, he was directed to a knowledgeable scholar. He told him that he had killed one hundred people and asked him whether he could repent. The scholar said, ‘Yes, who can prevent you from repenting? Just go to such and such place and you will find there people who worship Allah; so, worship Allah with them and never return to your homeland because it is a land of evil, etc. (See the continuation of the hadith).” [This hadith was reported by the two Sheikhs (Imam Muslim and Imam Bukhari) in their Sahih books, but the wording is Imam Muslim’s –may Allah bless his soul]

A rational human being would also realize the dire need for inspiration in terms of religious matters, knowledge and deeds. Hence, Allah Almighty has made of His Prophet ‒May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him‒ an excellent example for those seeking benevolence for themselves, happiness and well-being in the Herein as well as a generous reward and eternal bliss in the Hereafter. He ‒Exalted be He‒ said:

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much.” [Al-Ahzab: 21]

Indeed, right guidance grows out of compliance with the Prophet’s example and following him as is stated by Allah, the Most High:

“So believe in Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), who believes in Allâh and His Words [(this Qur’ân), the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allâh’s Word: “Be!” – and he was, i.e. ‘Îsâ (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary), عليهما السلام], and follow him so that you may be guided.”” [Al-A’raf: 158]

There is no doubt that the gullible belief in the longevity of existence is one of the most diverting factors when it comes to the obligation of responding to Allah and His Messenger ‒May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him. For, such belief is misleading as it tends to entice people into the false hope for prolonged living, when death would suddenly strike. He ‒Glory be to Him‒ said in this respect:

“Leave them to eat and enjoy, and let them be preoccupied with (false) hope. They will come to know!” [Al Hijr: 3]

According to ibn Katheer ‒May Allah bless his soul‒ this is indeed “a strong threat to them (i.e. the infidels) and the most certain menace.” That is why Allah said: “… and let them be preoccupied with (false) hope”, i.e. ‘preoccupation with hope’ is diverting them from repenting to Allah and returning to Him in total submission. The expression “they will come to know” is used with reference to their subsequent realization of their doomed fate when they meet their Lord and find out about their woeful reckoning and grievous punishment.

Therefore, do observe taqwa ‒O servants of Allah‒ and do comply with the commands of Allah Almighty and His Messenger ‒May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him‒ whenever he calls you to do or say what would lead you to righteousness, success, guidance, forgiveness and attaining the loftiest ranks in Paradise.

May Allah grant me and you benefit from the guidance of His Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet ‒May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him. I say what you have just heard and I ask Allah, the Most Great, the Most Majestic, to forgive my sins, yours, and those of all Muslims, for He is indeed All-Forgiving, All-Merciful!