By Sheikh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman Al-Hudhaifi – 05 Shawaal 1435

His Eminence Sheikh Ali ibn Abdur-Rahman Al-Hudhaifi, may Allah preserve him, delivered the Friday Khutbah entitled, “The Virtue of Steadfastness in Obedience to Allah”, in which he talked about steadfastness in worshipping Allah, Exalted be He, and the importance of maintaining it, showing its virtue and positive effect on a Muslim’s life.

Praise be to Allah, the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Forbearing, the Most Appreciative of His servants’ good deeds. I praise my Lord and thank Him. I turn to Him in repentance and ask Him for forgiveness. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the All-Knowing of what the breasts conceal, and I bear witness that our master and prophet, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger, the caller to every righteous deed. O Allah! Bestow Your prayers, peace, and blessings upon Your servant and messenger Muhammad and upon his family and all his Companions.

O Muslims!
Fear Allah as He should be feared, and grasp the trustworthy handhold of Islam, for Allah protects whoever fears Him and safeguards whoever trusts in Him.

Servants of Allah!
Those who take admonition and learn lessons from others are successful, those who fear Allah will be saved, but the heedless who turn away from the truth are the losers. You can learn the greatest lessons and take the best admonitions. Its scrolls of deeds have been folded up and its days have recorded whatever has been done in them. None of the past days will ever come back again until the Day of Resurrection.

Whomever Allah has granted success should thank Allah for guiding him to acts of obedience and keeping him away from forbidden acts, and should remain steadfast in this, for steadfastness in goodness is the greatest honour ever, and whoever maintains it will be protected by Allah from destructive sins and will be among the foremost to Paradise in the hereafter. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is (only) Allah,” and thereafter stand firm and straight on the Islamic Faith of Monotheism, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever) – a reward for what they used to do.” (Al-Ahqaf: 13-14)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says:
“Verily, those who say: “Our Lord is Allah (Alone),” and then they stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): “Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised! We have been your friends in the life of this world and are (so) in the Hereafter. Therein you shall have (all) that your inner-selves desire, and therein you shall have (all) for which you ask for. An entertainment from (Allah), the Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”” (Fussilat: 30-32)

Scholars have said, “Steadfastness includes all aspects of the religion and encompasses all its commands and prohibitions; it comprises doing all acts of obedience and avoiding all the forbidden ones.” When Sufyan ibn Abdullah Ath-Thaqafi, may Allah be pleased with him, once asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, about a comprehensive piece of advice and an all-embracing statement on the religion, the Prophet advised him to be steadfast. As reported by Muslim, Sufyan Ath-Thaqafi said, “I once said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Tell me something concerning Islam about which I will never ask anyone else.’ He said, ‘Say, “I have believed in Allah,” and then be steadfast.’”

Due to the great position of steadfastness, Allah ordered His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, to maintain it, so as to show gratitude to Allah for the blessing of prophethood and to set a good example to all Muslims to follow. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“So stand (ask Allah to make) you (Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)) firm and straight (on the religion of Islamic Monotheism) as you are commanded and those (your companions) who turn in repentance (unto Allah) with you, and transgress not (Allah’s legal limits). Verily, He is All-Seer of what you do.” (Hud: 112)

The best state for a servant of Allah is to observe steadfastness by following up one good deed with another and abstaining from evil deeds. This is the rank of those who are foremost in doing good deeds. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“And the foremost ones [(in Islamic Faith of Monotheism and in performing righteous deeds) in the life of this world on the very first call for to embrace Islam,] will be the foremost (in Paradise). These will be those nearest (to Allah), in the Gardens of Delight (Paradise). A multitude of those (foremost) will be from the first generations (who embraced Islam). And a few of those (foremost) will be from the later generations.” (Al-Waqi‘ah: 10-14)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says:
“While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance, and bestows on them their piety.” (Muhammad: 17)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says:
“And those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear (whether their alms and charities have been accepted or not), because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning). It is these who hasten in the good deeds, and they are foremost in them [e.g. offering the compulsory Salat (prayers) in their (early) stated, fixed times and so on].” (Al-Mu’minun: 60-61)

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, explained this verse to Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, stating that it refers to those who do good deeds but fear that such deeds may not be accepted from them.

The state next in rank for the servant is to follow up a bad deed with a good one – with repentance and with righteous deeds that wipe out sins. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“And perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night [i.e. the five compulsory Salat (prayers)]. Verily, the good deeds remove the evil deeds (i.e. small sins). That is a reminder (an advice) for the mindful (those who accept advice).” (Hud: 114)

Mu‘adh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Fear Allah wherever you are. Follow up a bad deed with a good deed and it will wipe it out. And deal with people in good manners”.

The worst state for the servant is to abandon righteous deeds and to commit sins and forbidden acts. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“Verily, those who have turned back (have apostatised) as disbelievers after the guidance has been manifested to them, Shaitan (Satan) has beautified for them (their false hopes), and (Allah) prolonged their term (age).” (Muhammad: 25)

Allah orders us to maintain doing righteous deeds. Allah, Exalted be He, says:
“Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. the best prayer – ‘Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salat (prayer)].” (Al-Baqarah: 238)

Allah, Exalted be He, also says:
“And worship your Lord until there comes unto you the certainty.” (Al-Hijr: 99)

Commentators on the Qur’an have said, “This means, ‘Maintain worshipping your Lord until death comes to you.’”

Our Lord, Blessed and Exalted be He, forbids invalidating good deeds by doing whatever renders them unacceptable or at least reduces their reward. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“O you who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger (Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him) and render not vain your deeds.” (Muhammad: 33)

Abul-‘Aliyah, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said, “The Companions of Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, used to believe that a sin would not invalidate a good deed. However, when this verse was revealed, they feared that sins could invalidate good deeds.”

During the month of Ramadan, our enemy, Iblis (Satan), and the rebellious devils were chained up and they were unable to achieve their goals, but now that Ramadan has elapsed, they want to pursue their aim of misleading the members of the Ummah. Therefore, drive them back, reject them, and defeat them by putting your trust in Allah, by believing in His Oneness, and by maintaining your worship of Him.

Those who, in the month of Ramadan, missed doing some good deeds, committed some forbidden acts, or were misled and went astray must remember that Allah has opened the door for His servants to repent of their sins, not only in Ramadan but in any other month as well. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“And verily, I am indeed Forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, (till his death).” (Ta Ha: 82)

Never lose your determination to increase your good deeds. Never take any sin lightly, however small it may seem, for it will be recorded against you and you will be held accountable for it and will be punished for it. Bishr Al-Hafi was once asked, “What do you think of those people who strive hard to do good deeds in Ramadan, and when it is over, they give them up?” He replied, “They are evil indeed, for they know Allah only in Ramadan.”

Servants of Allah!
Do not be deceived by vain hopes and never rely on having a long life, for just as the days of Ramadan and the days before it passed, the months and the years after it will also pass. Therefore, strive hard for the hereafter, exert the effort due for it and you will be admitted into Paradise, the Home of Peace. This worldly life is not an eternal abode, but will soon come to an end, so constantly reflect upon the death of those who preceded you, one generation after another. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“O mankind! Verily, the Promise of Allah is true. So let not this present life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah. 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: 5-6)

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 all Messengers. 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.