Hazrat/Sayyidna Omar ibn Al Khattab (Part 1 of 2)

AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM, WA REHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH,

Wait for adhaan

Standard Introduction:

AUZO BIL LAAHI MIN ASH SHAYTAANIR RAJEEM,

BISMIL LAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHIM

AL HAMDU LILLAAHI RABBIL ‘ALAMEEN. WAS SALAATU WAS SALAAMU ‘ALAA ASHRAFIL MURSALEEN. SAYIDINAA WA NABI YENAA WA MOULANAA MUHAMMADIN WA’ALA AALEHEE WA AS HAABEHEE WASALLIM.

All praise is due to Alláh, the Lord of all the Worlds; may the greetings and peace be upon the best messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and upon his family and upon all of his companions.

AL-HAMDU LILLA HIL LAZI HADAANA LIHAAZA WAMA KUNNA LANAHTADIYA LAW’LA ANN HADAANA ALLAH.

Meaning:

Praise is due to Allah,

Praise is due to Allah who guided us to the righteous path, and indeed we wouldn’t have attained this state of guidance without Him Allah,

AMMA BA’AD.

English Part of the Khutbah:

IKHWATI FIL ISLAM, ASH-HAAB AL ILM, WA RUWAAD AL ILM, Brothers in Islam, Learned Colleagues and Scholars,

The Khutbah should contain current issues, and problems affecting Ummah so the Khutbah is organic and not repetitive. It should contain something that is troubling the Ummah in the present climate so people can relate to it and that it is not detracted from reality whilst the Imam should emphasise the Ibrah part. Ibrah in Arabic and Ibrat in Urdu means a catastrophe or an incident that teaches us a lesson.

From the onset, I would like to make it clear that the English portion of the Dars or Bayaan of the Khutbah will contain quite a lot of Arabic and this is done deliberately so as to strengthen both your Arabic vocabulary and grammar.

Let us pick up the thread where we left off from last time when we spoke about the fact that unfortunately, our lives have intertwined so much with the Kuffars and Nassara that we have stopped believing in the concept of Baraka. If we earn say £100 by honest means then this will have more Barakah from ASWT then say £1,000 earned somewhat dishonestly. For example, in the former case, when you have earned less but by honest means, your Car’s MOT may get through cheaper, your electricity, gas, telephone and other utility bills may be lower than expected. Such is the Baraka of Allah T’ala. The rizq from ASWT comes from the least of unexpected sources. Conversely the money earned dishonestly may lack Baraka and invite a pack of trouble and may end up with unexpected bills, trials and tribulations, as his bad deeds eventually catches up with him and even then Allah is trying to forgive him in this Duniya so as to spare him from the strict accounting in the in Qabr and moreover on Yawm Al Qiyamah.

Throughout the day Shaitan puts was-wasaa or evil whisperings in our heart and mind as mentioned in Surah AN AAS:

QUL AUZO BE RABBIN NAAS MALEKIN NAAS

I seek refuge in the Lord of Men, the King of Men, and the God of Men.

MIN SARRIL WAS WAASIL KHAN NAASIL LAZI

From the evil whisperings of Shaitaan

YOU WAS WESO FI SUDOORIN NAAS

Who whispers into the hearts of men.

MIN NAL JINNATE WANNAS

From among the Jinn and men.

So to counteract this Allah says repeatedly in the Quran, for example, Surah Taa Haa, Ayat 132 and I quote:

“WA AA MUR AH LAKA BIS SALAATI WAS TABIR ALAIHAA LAA NAS ALOKAA RIZKAUW NAHNU NAR ZUKU KA WAL AAKE BATU LIT TAQWA”. Enjoin Salaat on your people and be constant therein. We are not asking you to provide Rizq,. In fact we provide it for you.

And again, in Surah Zaariyaah meaning the Winds that scatter: Aayat: 56 to 58, inclusive and again I quote verbatim: WA MAA KHALAQ TUL JINNAH WAL INSAA ILLA LIYA’A BUDOON.

I have only created Jinn and men that they worship me.

MAA URIDU MIN HUM MIN RIZQIN WA MAA URIDU AN YUT EMOON.

No sustenance or Rizq do I require of them. Nor do I require that they should feed me.

INNAL LAAHA HUWAR RAZZAQO ZUL QUW WATIL MATEEN.

For Allah is he who gives all rizq sustenance = INNAL LAAHA HUWAR RAZZAQO

And only he can do that for he is the Lord and the source of power who is steadfast forever and ever.

Undoubtedly our present day Heads of States and Political Leaders could learn a lot from H. Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RA). So this Khutbah now will concentrate on certain events from H. Umar’s (RA) life and draw parallel to present day crisis. As you know that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had said that “My companions are like the stars. Which ever of them you will follow you will be guided.”. So here, we have a Khalifa who managed a huge empire, conducted huge military campaigns, he held fast to the strict Sunnah of SAW and therefore met with amazing success. His conquests on behalf of Islam were unparalleled. After that he was called upon to bring peace into the vast empire. Here again, his success was unequalled.

Now I want you to picturise this glorious event in your mind when H. Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RA) is about to enter Bait al Maqdas, meaning Jerusalem. But before that let us rewind and recap what led to that event – that – on one hand H. Amr Bin Aas (RA) was ready to attack and H. Khalid (RA) and other notable generals also joined H. Amr (RA). The Christians had little or no hope from their fellow Byzantine Empire. Incidentally, Byzantium is the term conventionally used to describe the Roman Empire centred around its capital of Constantinople, before the Muslims took over. Although called the Roman Empire, Allah knows why, it was characterised by Greek as the official language.

The Christians were well aware that whenever the Muslims conquered a city or an empire for that matter, they had always respected the life and the property of the Defeated. In addition, the Muslims had also left alone their places of worship. Under Muslim rule they were allowed to follow their own religion. So in order to avoid blood shed in short the Christians gave in and sent a message to that effect to H. Abu Obaida (RA). Their only condition was that and I quote verbatim here, “ We are ready to give in, but your Caliph, H. Umar Ibn AL Khattab (RA) must come in person and sign the treaty of peace! The Muslim generals then conveyed this message to H. Umar (RA). Now this particular scene brings tears to my eyes. On his way to Bait al Maqdas or Jerusalem, H. Umar (RA) had brought with him just 1 servant and 1 camel for both of them for the entire journey and no entourage whatsoever unlike the present day Muslim Heads of States booking out couple of floors in a 5 Star Hotel not to mention anything less than Chauffer driven Limousine, Mercedes and Rolls Royce and etc.

By the time they got to the outskirts and horizon of Jerusalem, it was the time of the servant to ride the camel. The Christian priests, elders and Heads alike who had gathered to greet H. Umar (RA) commented to H. Abu Obaida, H. Khalid and other generals, “The rider is obviously your Caliph and commander of the Faithful.” “No” Replied H. Abu Obaida (RA). The man on foot and walking and holding the camel’s reins is our Amirul Moa meneen and our Commander in Chief whilst the rider is the servant. I ask you brothers do we see this sense of justice in any of our Ministers, Rulers, Head of States. It does not happen.

Brothers, as you are well aware MUNKAR WA NAAKIR will ask you questions such as:

Firstly, MAN RABBOKA? Who is your Rabb?
Secondly, WA MAA DINUUK? And what is your deen?
Thirdly, WA MAA DHATA TA QUL FIR RAJU LIL LAZI BU EE THA FI KUM?

The most stringent type of Su-aal will be taken from the rulers. So it is narrated in the Hadith that in the Qabr, when the MALAAIKA will question some righteous believers, insha ALLAH (IA) like yourselves, they will complain to the Malaaika to the effect that “Why are you questioning us? What did Allah give us in the Duniya and what did we ever had in the way of possession? The Malaaika will go back to ASWT and ask for guidance. At that juncture Allah will recall these believers in his Holy presence. These believers will say, “ Ya Allah, your angels were questioning me so I replied, “What did we ever have? You gave all the wealth to nassara and Yahud? All we ever had was Sabr. On this note ASWT will reply: “O mere bande! I kept you away from the Duniya so as not belittle you. It was for this day that I wanted to crown you and give you your rightful place, OOD KHO LOOL JANNAH! See your place in Jannat as far as eye can see, it is yours!

So what is the difference between a present day ruler or Minister and the Khula faa e Raashedeen? Mainly that the Politics come into play and the Muslim rulers under the pretext of politic will have no hesitation in instigating killings between Shia and Sunnis like we have in Iraq. As long as their position is safe guarded. The Khula faa ey Raashedeen on the other hand will ensure that the Shariah is upheld.

For example, on a Wednesday night Prophet Muhammad (SAW) made the Dua and on Thursday , H. Umar (RA) came into the fold of Islam. This was because H. Abu Bakr (RA) was beaten so badly that by evening he was near the point of death. When SAW saw his state he could not hold back the tears. So Prophet SAW made the Dua to Allah that give us Umar (RA) or Amr Bin Hishaam, commonly knows as Abu Jahl. Obviously his choice was H. Umar Ibn Khattab (RA) and the rest as they say is history to the effect that when Gibraeel (AS) came down he said, “Ya Rasoolallaah (SAW) even the angels are also rejoicing today. So H. Umar went on to rule for 10 years and during this glorious period Islam conquered from the large neo Persian empire to the north west’s Eastern Roman so called Byzantium Empire. Muslims swept across North Africa to the Atlantic Ocean.

So ten years after H. Umar passed away, he came in the dream of his son H. Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA). He asked his father “How goeseth O father?” Wiping the sweat of his brow H. Umar (RA) commented, “I have just completed the questions of the Malaaika with regards to my tenure of Khilafat and settled the accounts. I still have to answer for the remainder of civilian life” and yet this was one of the 10 Sahaba who was bestowed with good news Yaani ‘ASHRA – MUBASH SHAREEN’. The same Khalifa who used to roam the streets of Madina al Munawwara at night, crying, YA LAB BAIKA, YA LAB BAIKA. You may well remember the famous incident of the old lady who had an empty pot cooking away and was surrounded by couple of kids crying their heart out. He asked, “Ya ummi, O! Mother why are these children crying?” They are hungry the mother replied. What is this pot doing then? Oh its just boiling water. There is no food in the pot. It is just to make the kids think that I am cooking something. Tears rolled down H. Umar’s (RA) eyes as he asked her, “Does Umar (RA) know of your condition?” She replied “In that case, what business has he of becoming our Khalifa in the first place, if he doesn’t even know our plight? On hearing this, H. Umar (RA) immediate went to the Bait ul Maal and picked up a hugh sack full of provisions and as he lifted this his man servant Aslam (RA) asked, “O master” shall I lift this for you? To which H. Umar (RA) replied are you going to lift my burden on the day of Qiyamah as well? He proceeded to his house and made the halwa called, HAISA in Arabic. This was made up of Dates, Cheese & ghee – butter.

Aslam (RA) the servant further narrates that as H. Umar (RA) tried to light the fire I saw the smoke coming out of his beard and tears rolled down his eyes as a consequence! When the Halwa called Haisa was ready he served it on a plate and fed the children. After they were fed and satiated and seeing the laughter on the children’s face he began to continue on his nightly mission of seeking out more unfortunate souls. At that juncture, the mother of the children replied, “Oh! How I wish you were Amirul Moameneen in place of Umar (RA)”. Hearing this H. Umar did not acknowledge that in fact he was Umar (RA) but instead with unsurpassing humility replied, “O Mother! When you meet Umar (RA) I will be in his vicinity. Now Brothers in this room, name one of our Political Leader who would show such humility and care for the people.

I am sure you are all familiar with the Hadith of the Prophet SAW who said that “if there was to be another Prophet after me than it would have been H. Umar (RA). Truly even the Kuffars acknowledged that “If there was one more Umar (RA) Islam would have conquered the whole Duniya!

One more incident that is rare and you might be aware and that is at the time H. Amr Bin Aas (RA) was the Governor of Misr, Egypt and his son took part in a Horse Race. An unknown horse rider won the horse race and so H. Amr Bin Aas’ (RA) son decided to beat up the winner! Seems to be a custom in the sub continent. If you can’t win beat up your opponent! Anyhow, his father complained to the Caliph.

H. Umar (RA) therefore sent a message to both the father and son that come to Madina Al Munawwara dressed in your best clothes. H. Amr Bin Aas (RA) thought he had done exceptionally well that he was going to be rewarded. H. Umar (RA) gathered the people of Madinah and when they were all gathered he took out his own personal whip and handed it over to the son of the complainant. He said, I want you to beat this person as long as you like and in the same manner that he had beaten you. The beating then began until even the people of Madina felt that the justice had been done but H. Umar (RA) urged the young man to continue.

Yet another rare incident worth mentioning is that on another occasion, during the Khutbah of Salaatul Juma, H. Umar (RA) stood up on the mimber and said, “ IS MA OO WA ATI OO! O people listen to what I have to say and obey me! H. Salman Farsi (RA) a very notable Sahaba stood up and decided to challenge H. Umar (RA) saying, “LA NASMAOO WA LAA NU TEOO! We will not listen and not obey. Why asked H. Umar (RA). H. Salman (RA) replied, “You are a tall person and your JALAABA is made up of 2 sheets or TARAF QUMAASH. However, the quota of sheet that was distributed from the Bait ul maal, upon your own decree was 1 Chader each! So until you account for the extra sheet which you are wearing in the form of JALAABA, we will neither listen or obey you. H. Umar (RA) announced that his son H. Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) be brought forward. H. Umar (RA) said inform the people where I got this extra sheet from. H. Abdullah (RA) duly came forward and testified before the whole Majlis that “I was given 1 chader from the Bait ul Maal which I gave to my father as my father is quite tall and could not make a shirt from 1 chader.

Afsos! Alas! WA HASRATAA! WA HASRATAA! Such a shame!. We do not have such strong Imaan or such noble acts. Even Prophet SAW dug trenches during the Battle of the Khandaq even though he had both H. Gibraeel (AS) and Mikaeel (As) at his disposal. He prepared the map of war tactics during the GHASWAT BADR or the battle of Badr that even the most competent General of our day and age could not have prepared such a detailed Map of granularity. This was to guide the ummat that verily, Allah wants to reward you for ever more, if you perform any right action.

The wealth that poured in Madina AL Munawwara was also unparallel. For example the incident of the Qisrah’ throne arriving in Madina Sharif is again well documented with its length, the breadth, the height and weight. To top it all the throne was accompanied by a crown which was so heavy that it had to be hung from the ceiling and by the way Caesar would stick his head in it every time he sat on the throne. That aside the wealth from world over like the rich Iranian empire is again well documented. Despite the distributor of such wealth he wore only 1 robe and even that had 14 patches and he only ate meat once a month.

He was stabbed during Salaat by a kuffar and became true shahid Yaani SHAHIDE HAQIQI or moreover he became a KAAMIL SHAHID and you could not get a better status of a martyrdom than that. Then what happen? During the last few moments of his life, whilst dying he asked his son to be place on the ground. When done so as a final gesture of humility he started rubbing the dust Mubarak of Madina on his face, and begged ASWT for forgiveness.

Here we have a Khalifa who managed a huge empire, conducted huge military campaigns, he held fast to the Sunnah of H Rasoolallah (SAW) and therefore met with amazing success. His conquests on behalf of Islam were unparalleled. After that he was called upon to bring peace into the vast empire. Here again, his success was unequalled. In short H. Umar made himself the fountain head from which flowed the undiluted blessings brought by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), for mankind who was indeed Rehmatul Lil Aalameen. I

Insha Allah, we will continue this dars from here on in a future Salaatul Juma’s Khutba.

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIR LANA ZUNUBAKUM”

Meaning: We make Duas to ASWT, so that he will accept all our Ibadat & forgive our sins.

WA AAKHERO DAA’ WAANA ANIL HAMDO LIL LAAHEY RABBIL AALAMEEN.….

Sit down & make a du’a yourself.

Second Khutbah:

Globally Standardized Conclusion:

AL HAMDU LILLAAHI NAHMADUHU WANAS TA’EENAHU, WANASTAGH-FIRUHU, WANATOOBU ILAYHI, WANA’OOTHU BILLAAHI MIN SHUROORI AN-FUSINAA, WAMIN SAYYI AATI AA’MAALINAA.

MAY- YAHDILLAAHU FA HUWAL MUHTAD, WA MAY- YUDLILL FALAN TAJIDAA LAHU WALIYAN MURSHIDA. WA ASH-HADU AN LAA ILAAHA IL LAL-LAÁH, WAHDAHOO LAA SHAREEKA LAH, WA ASH-HADU ANNA MUHAMMADAN ‘ABDUHOO WARASOOLUH

All Praise is due to Alláh, We praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds.

Anyone who is guided by Alláh, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him.

I bear witness that there is no god but Alláh, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Prophet Muhammad, SAW, is His servant, and His messenger.

YA AY-YUHAL-LATHEENA ‘AAMANUT TAQUL-LAAHA, HAQQA TUQAATIHEE WALA TAMU TUN-NA, IL-LA WA ANTUM MUSLIMOON.”

O You who believe, – Fear Allah, as He should be feared, and die not except as Muslims.

YA AY-YUHAL-LATHEENA ‘AAMANUT TAQUL-LAAHA, WA QOOLOO QAWLAN SADEEDAA. YUSLIH-LAKUM A’MAALAKUM WA YAGHFIR LAKUM THUNOOBAKUM, WAMAY YU-TIL-LAAHA WARASOOLAH, FAQAD FAAZA FAWZAN ATHEEMAA.”

O You who believe, – Be aware of Allah, and speak a straightforward word. He will forgive your sins and repair your deeds. And whoever takes Allah and His prophet as a guide, has already achieved a mighty victory.

INNALLAAHA WA MALAAIKATAHU YUSALLÚNA ALAN NABI. YAA AY YOHAL LATHEENA AAMANU SALLÚ ALAYHI WASALLI MÚ TAS LEEMA.

ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALAA MUHAMMAD, WA AALA AALI MUHAMMAD, KAMAA SALLAYTAA ALA IBRAHIMA, WA AALA AALI IBRAHIM. ALLAHUMMA BAARIK ALA MUHAMMAD, WA AALA AALI MUHAMMAD, KAMA BAARAKTAA ALA IBRAHIM, WA AALA ALI IBRAHIM, INNAKA HAMEEDUN MAJEED.”

Behold, Allah and his angels shower blessings on the Prophet (SAW). O you who believe! Ask for blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

The Du’a – before the Khutbah Ends:

Again, for the sake of global standardization using the global “Islamic Language”, one uses a standard and brief du’a:

ALLAHUMMAGH FIR LIL’ MUSLIMEENA WAL MUSLIMAAT…. Stop for the congregation to say AAMEEN

WAL MOAMINEENA WAL MOUMINAAT…STOP FOR AAMEEN

AL-AHYAA’EE MINHUM WAL AMWAAT…STOP FOR AAMEEN

INNAKAA SAMEE’UN MUJIBUD DA’WAAT… STOP FOR AAMEEN

Meaning:

Ya Allah, forgive all our Muslim men and women,

Forgive the believing men and women,

Those who are alive and those who died,

You are indeed the One who listens and accepts all supplications.

RABBANA LAA TUZIGH QULOOBANAA, BA’DA ITH HADAY TANAA WAHAB LANAA MILLA DUNKA RAHMA. INNAKAA ANTAL WAH-HAAB.

O Allah, do not let our hearts deviate from the Truth now that we have been guided , but grant us Mercy from Your very Presence, for You are the Grantor of bounties without measure.

RABBI JA’ALNI MUQEEMUS SALAATI, WAMIN DUR-RIY-YATI, RABBANAA WATA QABBAL DU’AAH.

My Lord, help me to perfect my salaat, and of my descendants, Our Lord, accept this dua.

RABBIGH FIRLEE WALI WAALI DAYYA, WALIL MU’MINEENA YAWMA YAQOOMUL HISAAB.

My Lord, forgive me, and my parents, and all Believers until the Day of Reckoning.

SUB’ HAANAKA RABBEKA RABBIL ‘IZZATI ‘AMMAA YUSIFOON, WA SALAAMUN ‘ALAL MURSALEEN, WAL HAMDU LIL-LAAHI RABBIL AALAMEEN.”

Glory to Allah, Lord of Majesty and Honour, and Peace on the Prophets, and Praise to Allah, Lord of all creation!

Other Duas you could make:

Ya Allah, accept our Ibadat and forgive us.

Ya Rabb, have mercy on us. Help us obey you and praise you.

Ya Allah, we stand before you having observed all the tenets of Islam, so lead us to prosperity and growth, to triumph and solidarity, to unity and wealth beyond our imagination.

Ya Allah, we beg for your MAGFIRATAK, and ask you for success, health and wealth for all the brothers who are present here and now in this blessed room.

Ya Rabb, increase our love that binds us together now, and in the future to come.

With regards to their dear beloved ones who have passed away, Ya Rabb, may you grant them a place in Jannatul Firdaus. May you forgive all their KHATAYAA, KABEERA WA SAGHEERAH. May you fill their Qabr with your holy noor and light. Ya Rabb, may you also save us from ADHAAB AL QABR. Ya Allah, grant their rooh, eternal peace, AR RAAHA AL ABDIYYAA on the YAWM AL HISAAB.

Ya Allah, accept all our duas, fulfil all our righteous wishes, fulfil our dreams,.

Ya Allah, may your rehma and safety encompass all our families, wherever they may be.

Ya Allah, grant these brothers who are present, here and now, SABR that is YUHIB HUM AS SABR.

Ya Allah, make the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) intercede or YASHFAAH on our behalf on YAWM A QIYAAMAH.

Globally Standardized Conclusion:

IBAA DAL LAAH:

IN NAL LAAHA YA’A MURU BIL ADLI WAL IHSAN

WA EE TA’EE ZIL QURBAA WA YANHAA ANIL FAHSHAA’EE WAL MUNKAREE WAL BAGH’YI

YA EE ZUKUM LA AL LAKUM TAZAK KAROON.

FAZ KU ROONI AZ KUR KUM WAS KU RU LI WA LA TAK FURUN.

Then you conclude by saying to the mu’azzin:

WA AA QIMUS SALAAH