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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM, WA REHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH,

This is the third and final part of the Khutbah which deals with the Anthropological aspects mentioned in the Holy Quran about the “Principles of Human Growth and Development”, which are derived from the Qur’an and Hadiths proving that the Human Life and its Development is a gradual process, as determined by ASWT.

We learned that today’s Sociology and Psychology is still backward and haven’t caught up with the Holy Quran wherein ASWT describes the whole concept of the Human Growth and Development, Ayaat by Ayaat.

We also learned in our last 2 Khutbahs that ASWT has told us that He created man in various progressive stages of growth and development. In other words, man’s life has been patterned in stages from conception to death. The stages through which man passes in his growth and development are not merely a matter of chance or accident. They were predesigned, predetermined, and graduated by ASWT Himself. We also covered those Ayaats in the Qur’an, wherein ASWT mentions these basic facts.

Now to continue this week, many of you have asked if we could enumerate the Scientific and Psychological proofs about the Wisdom of the age of 40 in Islam:

Before we do that let’s see what today’s Science and Psychology has to offer in the way of how people under 40 are still maturing. Inorder to do this we have to explore the works of leading psychoanalysts and psychologists as follows:

So their view is that within a life cycle, turning 30, 40, 50 and 60 are watershed years in the adult life cycle as they usher in new decades. Each decade presents its own challenges, offers its own rewards, and has its own distinctive atmosphere. And every decade can represent challenges and crises can be expected, as well as offer insight into what each life stage signifies.

Young adults currently at about the age of 22-24, are characteristic of an intense encounter with their idealism and the dreams they harbour. Each generation encounters the experience differently due to the constantly changing social landscape.

The World Health Organisation defines the end of adolescence as age 24. Therefore our early twenties are its final phase. Adolescence is a metamorphosis, which begins at puberty. Near the age of 21 we are preparing to leave the chrysalis identifying the urge to propel ourselves out of the familial orbit into another world.

Celebrating your 21st Birthday, in their eyes acknowledges that you are turning the ignition key and starting the motor to drive away from what is familiar. It is a time when we are launched into the world beyond our adolescent security systems. And by the age of 24 suggests we are primed to take a bigger leap into the unknown.

30-Something: Upwardly Mobile:

A major cyclical return heralds the decade of the thirties. The thirties are a decade of construction when our lives are like building sites: building our careers, our relationships, our interests and our hobbies, and our families. Often in the attempt to be worldly, we unwittingly construct a false self, abandoning some of the true essence of ourselves through compromising and conforming in order to be accepted. The first half of the thirties is a steady building period continuing to find a niche in the world. But by the age of 35-36, a series of cycles begin which promote a dramatic leap forward. New opportunities, new commitments, and new challenges may present themselves. Hard work begins to pay off and we find the path inclines steadily upward at this point. This is the first glimmer of the turning to mid-life. Only a glimmer, though, as there is enough momentum built up in the life to be propelled forward along the preferred path. Changes made at this juncture in the life cycle have far-reaching affects. Celebrating turning thirty is honouring a new commitment to life, renewing its contract. At 30 we celebrate the wide road ahead, firmly in control of the moving vehicle speeding down life’s highway.

Middlessence: Turning Forty

However, for the generation turning 40, their ideals of shared economic resources may feel adrift in a sea of corruption, disbelief and misplaced idealism.

At this juncture in the life cycle, mid-life offers the soul the facility to retrieve aspects of the unlived life, to deepen one’s inner experience through self-examination, and to forge a more authentic self. During mid-life, alternate choices and risks may be taken which help to reorient the course of one’s life. The life force is waxing and triumphant and entering into the demands of this period clear the path forward.

At 40, there is a potent mix of youthfulness and maturity, as well as enough self-awareness to make wiser choices in life. For this generation another cycle synchronises with the search for meaning . It supports the process of separating and relinquishing what is no longer working in one’s life. In the early 40s there is a collusion of powerful energies, which promote and encourage a more authentic journey forward and help to reorient ourselves towards meaningful goals while prioritising what is important to us.

AND Brothers that’s it. Modern day developmental psychologists and Sociologists haven’t got much to add. Conversely, now lets see how ASWT describes the whole Wisdom of the age of 40? So which Ayaats are these then?

To start of with, wasn’t it at the age of Wisdom in Islam, in Ghaarey Hira that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) received his first WAAHI or revelation “IQRA BISME RABBE KAL LADHI”, from Gibraeel (AS)? The revelation, which continued for the next subsequent twenty three years and which culminated in the Holy Qur’an, as we know it?

Surah 46: Al Qaaf, or Winding Sand-tracts, Ayaat 15:

Translation: “We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, ‘O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favour which Thou has bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in Islam.’ “

In several other Ayaats this single and common pattern of early weakness that first characterizes every person’s life and then strength in later development is also clearly indicated. For example:

In this Noble Ayaat, we clearly see how ASWT considers the person who reaches the age of 40 as a “mature” person, or a person who reached the age of complete responsibility and maturity. So before we reach the age of 40, it is deemed that we are still developing.

Notice that ASWT, used the word “Islam” in the Noble Ayaat which suggests that in general we would be a lot more serious about ASWT’s true Deen Islam when we reach the age of 40, because we would be more appreciative of our parents and have a better understanding of what they’ve gone through from pain when they brought us here to life, and we would be more careful about striving to work righteousness that He, ASWT, “mayest approve”, and would be also more careful about striving to win his Graciousness.

Human Life (Growth and Development) Passes through Certain Critical and Sensitive Periods

If some Ayaats and prophetic traditions are studied closely, it will be discovered that Islam has great concern regarding some of the periods and phases of human development. These are essentially the formative period or phases. They lay the foundation upon which later development builds. In this respect the entire prenatal, infancy, childhood, and adolescent periods can all be considered sensitive.

The sensitive nature of the prenatal stage for example can be seen in the fact that Muslims have even been enjoined to pray, by Prophet Muhammad (SAW), just as they are about to cohabit with their wife.

Why? Because this is meant as a Duah to ASWT for protection from Shaitan and a sound offering. Soundness here actually means protection from all sorts of ailments that may retard the development and growth of any aspect of the child’s life. In the same way, the Qur’an enjoins Muslims to make Duah to ASWT for a good offspring and progeny before and during pregnancy. And when a child is eventually born, the Adhan should be made in his ears; as it was done and enjoined by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

In actual fact, the primary concern of all these is the sound moral development of the child. This concern is an indication of the sensitive and critical nature of this period as the root of the later periods. Over and above all these, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has told us that it was at this period that certain important things of a person’s life are decreed by Allah. He tells us that the angel sent to blow the Rooh into the foetus is commanded by Allah to write its provisions (rizq), deeds (amal), life span (ajal), and destiny-whether the person will be in goodness or wickedness (shaqiy). This decree then runs through a person’s life up to the Hereafter. This then makes this period even more sensitive and critical than all the rest since they all depend on it.

After birth, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) enjoins Muslims to be very sensitive and careful with the upbringing of their children. Numerous Hadiths have been reported in this regard. However, another period that is considered very critical and sensitive is the adolescent period. As a period of transition from childhood to adulthood it constitutes a turning point in an individual’s life. It is prone to a lot of exuberance, anxieties excitements and temptations. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has in a number of his Hadiths made specific references to this stage, which allude to its sensitivity and importance. One example is the Hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) specially mentions seven categories of people that shall be comforted under the shade of the Glorious Arsh (Throne) of Allah. One of them is a young (adolescent) man who grows up in devotion and commitment to the worship of Allah. This Hadith alludes to the critical nature of the adolescent period in the sense that, having been full of temptations and exuberance, a young person who resists these temptations deserves to be specially comforted among those who shall attain felicity on the Day of Qiyamah.

Besides the troubles that characterize the adolescent period, some other reasons that make it a critical and sensitive period in an individual’s development are its transitional nature and the fact that it marks the beginning of taklif (legal responsibility). From the time the individual attains puberty he shall be held responsible for all his deeds. If he commits any wrong action it shall be recorded against him.

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

Second Khutbah:

FORMAL ARABIC KHUTBA WILL BE RECITED AT THIS JUNCTURE.

Globally Standardized Conclusion:

ALLAHUMMAGH FIR LIL’ MUSLIMEENA WAL MUSLIMAAT

WAL MOAMINEENA WAL MOUMINAAT…

AL-AHYAA’EE MINHUM WAL AMWAAT…

INNAKAA SAMEE’UN MUJIBUD DA’WAAT

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.

Ya Rabb, help us to perfect our salaat, and of our descendants, Our Lord, accept the duas of all these brothers.

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

My Lord, forgive us, and our parents, and all Believers until the Yawm al Qiyamah.

Ya Allah, accept our Ibadat and forgive us.

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

Ya Allah, we make dua so please 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM, WA REHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH,

This is the second part of the Khutbah which deals with the Anthropological aspects mentioned in the Holy Quran about the “Principles of Human Growth and Development”, which are derived from the Qur’an and Hadith proving that the Human Life and its Development is a gradual process, as determined by ASWT.

We learned that today’s Sociology and Psychology is still backward and haven’t caught up with the Holy Quran wherein ASWT describes the whole concept of the Human Growth and Development, Ayaat by Ayaat.

We also learned in our last Khutbah that ASWT has told us that He created man in various progressive stages of growth and development. In other words, man’s life has been patterned in stages from conception to death. The stages through which man passes in his growth and development are not merely a matter of chance or accident. They were predesigned, predetermined, and graduated by ASWT Himself. We also covered those Ayaats in the Qur’an, wherein ASWT mentions these basic facts.

Now to continue this week, if the postnatal period is taken in its entirety, then Islamic scholars have divided this into four broad stages, and each stage is itself divided into short substages. Allah says:

Surah 16, Naml, or The Bee, Ayaat 70:

Translation: It is Allah who creates you and takes your souls at death; and of you there are some who are sent back to a feeble age, so that they know nothing after having known (much): for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.

In his commentary on this Ayaat, Gummi (1922-1992) says the following:

“Some Islamic scholars have said that man’s life (after birth) has four broad stages.

The first stage is the stage of continuous growth and development, which begins from 0 to 33 years (the end of youth and the age at which an individual attains full physical and intellectual maturity).

The second stage, from 33 to 40, is the stage of constancy in which increase in growth and development is hardly noticeable. The age of 40 is usually considered the stage at which both physical and intellectual ability reach maturity.

The third stage is the stage of mid- or proper adulthood (al-kuhulah). From 40 to 60 years man begins to decline physically and mentally though so subtly and steadily that it can hardly be noticed.

The last stage, from 60 to the end of life, is the stage of old age and decline (senescence). In this stage decline becomes more obvious and noticeable.”

Pattern of Human Growth and Development

According to the Qur’an, human growth and development follow one common pattern which is applicable to every human being. Despite individual differences this pattern applies to every person. The pattern is that every individual grows and develops from initial weakness to strength and then to weakness. In other words, growth and development follow a certain natural inevitable law of rise and fall. That is to say that when the individual gradually reaches the apex of his development, whether physical or cognitive, he then begins to decline gradually. The Qur’an is very precise about this:

Surah 30, Rūm, or The Roman Empire, Ayaat 54:

Translation: It is Allah Who created you in a state of (helpless) weakness, then gave (you) strength after weakness, then, after strength, gave (you weakness and a hoary head: He creates as He wills, and it is He Who has all knowledge and power.

It needs to be emphasized here that this single pattern mentioned in this principle and as demonstrated in this Ayaat is applicable to all human beings. We are all created in a state of weakness. This refers to the early stage of our creation right inside the wombs and up to delivery. We are weak at these early stages both physically and mentally. This weakness at the onset of our life is also mentioned in another place in the Qur’an but with specific reference to mental weaknesses:

Surah 16, Naml, or The Bee, Ayaat 78:

Translation: It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when ye knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that ye may give thanks (to Allah).

Surah 46: Al Qaaf, or Winding Sand-tracts, Ayaat 15:

Translation: We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, ‘O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favour which Thou has bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in Islam.’

In several other Ayaats this single and common pattern of early weakness that first characterizes every person’s life and then strength in later development is also clearly indicated. 

The necessary analogical deduction that can be made from this Ayaat is that each person’s life begins in weakness, gradually attains strength, and then gradually declines, just as the first Ayaat under this principle clearly states. The decline is the beginning of a second dimension of weakness that characterizes human life at the end of one’s life. And this has also been stated in this Ayaat and several others. This pattern is certainly common to all human beings as it is witnessed in our life experiences.

This principle, it should be noted, does not eliminate the fact of individual differences. What is actually meant is that, although this pattern is applicable to all humans, there are always a number of differences among individuals in terms of specific developmental variables and processes. For the purpose of illustration, let us assume that two identical things are born at the same moment. This principle applies to both of them in the sense that they are both helpless, weak, miniature human beings, and both gradually begin to grow and develop until both attain full strength. However, it may be noticed that one may be dark in complexion while another may be light. Again, while one may be fat, the other may be slim. These are some forms of individual differences. They do not however, like all other forms, eliminate the fact of the common pattern of development represented by this principle, just as the principle itself does not wipe away this very fact of individual differences. A more detailed discussion on individual differences in development comes later in the later Khutbah.

Human Development Is a Cumulative and Simultaneous Process

If all the Ayaats of the Qur’an that talk about human development in its various stages are taken together, synthesized, and analyzed, it will be seen that the Qur’an had postulated that human development is cumulative in nature. That is to say, any new development acquired or attained by the individual adds up to the already existing one. In this way, development builds one aspect upon another up to the fullest stage. The Qur’an also teaches us that human development is a simultaneously interwoven process. This means that all the aspects of development-physical, mental, social, emotional, moral-are inseparable. Each one reinforces the other. This means that one aspect of development does not wait until another develops to its fullest before it commences. The physical and mental developments of a person for example go together with his social, emotional, and moral development. At each stage, all these aspects increase in growth and maturation proportionally and consecutively, hence, the simultaneous nature of development. Many of the Ayaats that talk about development refer to all its aspects either explicity or implicity. But the physical and cognitive aspects of it are especially explicity tied to each other in several Ayaats of the Qur’an. This is very clear in several Ayaats quoted earlier. The Ayaat in which Allah describes the two broad stages at the same time contains not only mention of physical development but also that of mental development. The same thing applies to the Ayaats in which He mentions, “attainment of full strength” in development and growth. Undoubtedly, the full strength so attained is not only restricted to physical strength but also necessarily includes all the other aspects of development. This is all the more obvious in the Ayaats where Allah refers to giving orphans their wealth when they attain “full strength.” It certainly means both physical and mental development. While physical development as implied in the Ayaat is indisputably more obvious from the word “strength” which immediately signifies physical stature and posture, the mental component is definitely included as it is clearly alluded to by another Ayaat of the Qur’an:

Surah 4, Nisāa, or The Women, Ayaat 6:

Translation: Make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage; if then ye find sound judgment in them, release their property to them; but consume it not wastefully, nor in haste against their growing up. If the guardian is well-off, Let him claim no remuneration, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. When ye release their property to them, take witnesses in their presence: But all-sufficient is Allah in taking account.

The mention of age of marriage is a direct reference to physical maturity and growth while sound judgement directly means mental maturity. The fact of the simultaneous nature of growth and development in human life is thus confirmed.

However, the Qur’an also alludes to the fact that some aspects may develop faster than others, thus creating intra-individual differences in development. For example, the individual’s physical development may be faster than his mental development or vice versa. The Qur’an therefore confirms the factor of mental retardation. In this situation, the individual may grow and develop physically but may not grow and develop at the same rate mentally. Allah alludes to this in the following Ayaat where He prescribes recording debt contracts:

Surah 2 Baqara, or the Heifer, Ayaat 282: (In our discussion and in our context, we are interested in the words highlighted in red within this long Ayaat.)

Translation: O ye who believe! When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving future obligations in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing Let a scribe write down faithfully as between the parties: let not the scribe refuse to write: as Allah Has taught him, so let him write. Let him who incurs the liability dictate, but let him fear His Lord Allah, and not diminish aught of what he owes. If the party liable is mentally deficient, or weak, or unable Himself to dictate, Let his guardian dictate faithfully, and get two witnesses, out of your own men, and if there are not two men, then a man and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs, the other can remind her. The witnesses should not refuse when they are called on (For evidence). Disdain not to reduce to writing (your contract) for a future period, whether it be small or big: it is juster in the sight of Allah, More suitable as evidence, and more convenient to prevent doubts among yourselves but if it be a transaction which ye carry out on the spot among yourselves, there is no blame on you if ye reduce it not to writing. But take witness whenever ye make a commercial contract; and let neither scribe nor witness suffer harm. If ye do (such harm), it would be wickedness in you. So fear Allah. For it is Good that teaches you. And Allah is well acquainted with all things. If ye are on a journey, and cannot find a scribe, a pledge with possession (may serve the purpose). And if one of you deposits a thing on trust with another, let the trustee (faithfully) discharge his trust, and let him Fear his Lord conceal not evidence; for whoever conceals it,–his heart is tainted with sin. And Allah knoweth all that ye do.

Several other Ayaats mention these cases of abnormal mental development. Another form of abnormal development has also been mentioned in another Ayaat. This is abnormal language development, which causes speech impairment. In a parabolic and euphemistic description of the disbeliever, this factor is denoted, as it appears in the Ayaat:

Surah 16: Naml, or The Bee, Ayaat 76:

Translation: Allah sets forth (another) Parable of two men: one of them dumb, with no power of any sort; a wearisome burden is he to his master; whichever way he directs him, he brings no good: is such a man equal with one who commands Justice, and is on a Straight Way?

As you can see we can extract psychological facts from the Qur’an. This means that it is the apparent significations and connotations of the Ayaats that are taken into consideration, not necessarily the specific contingencies or instances upon which the Ayaats were revealed. And this is an accepted principle in ‘Ilmul-Usul.

These Ayaats and several others do confirm that abnormality affects some aspects of a person’s development, just as it can affect it in its entirety.

Human Life (Growth and Development) Transcends Earthly Phenomenal Existence whereas all the theories of development in modern developmental psychology are confined only to this earthly (temporal) life, the Qur’an projects human life beyond this life. The Qur’an considers the present life as the foundation of another life that is permanent and everlasting. Man is going to be transformed into a different form of life whose growth and development are transcendental and divine. Such growth and development, however, may be either in endless bliss or torment. This is why in many of the Ayaats where ASWT mentions the stages of human development, He links them directly with the life after death. It shall be a continuation of life in some sorts. For example, in Surat al-Mu’minun Allah enumerates the stages of human development in this earthly life. He follows the preceding Ayaats with a mention of the next life:

Surah 23: Mū-minūn, or The Believers, Ayaat 12 – 16:

Translation: Man We did create from a quintessence (of clay);

Translation: Then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed;

Translation: Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!

Translation: After that, at length ye will die;

Translation: Again, on the Day of Judgment, will ye be raised up.

Therefore, it is clear that for a comprehensive study of man, this aspect of divine life after death should be incorporated. This is because the fear of death and what happens beyond it is inherent in every human being and it has a lot of bearing on man’s psychological dispositions and development. Unless this is done, our knowledge about the nature of man will continue to remain primitive and partial.

Due to time constraints, we will stop here and IA, continue the last phase of the Khutbah next time.

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

Second Khutbah:

FORMAL ARABIC KHUTBA WILL BE RECITED AT THIS JUNCTURE.

Globally Standardized Conclusion:

ALLAHUMMAGH FIR LIL’ MUSLIMEENA WAL MUSLIMAAT

WAL MOAMINEENA WAL MOUMINAAT…

AL-AHYAA’EE MINHUM WAL AMWAAT…

INNAKAA SAMEE’UN MUJIBUD DA’WAAT

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.

Ya Rabb, help us to perfect our salaat, and of our descendants, Our Lord, accept the duas of all these brothers.

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

My Lord, forgive us, and our parents, and all Believers until the Yawm al Qiyamah.

Ya Allah, accept our Ibadat and forgive us.

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

Ya Allah, we make dua so please 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM, WA REHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH,

In the last couple of weeks we performed a number of Science based Khutbahs. So for example, we learned about the process of Creation and Yawm Al Aakhirah in the light of the Holy Quran and compared this with Astrophysics, the Big Bang Theory, the Cosmic Crunch, the Black Hole etc. In fact we learned that there are hundred of scientific facts in the Holy Quran and we quoted the exact Ayaats to strengthen your Imaan, as seeing is believing.

Since then those of you who have not majored in Science have e mailed and felt that we covered enough Science in our Khutbahs, so the scope should now be widened to include 3 other subjects in the future Khutbahs, as follows:

1. Anthropological aspects mentioned in the Holy Quran because the Holy Quran coupled with the Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) indeed gives us a complete guide to a way of life which is what Islam is about and which equates to the following 3 beautiful words:

Islam = Peaceful + Plural + Tolerant

We mentioned before Ayaat, 256, from Surah 2, entitled, “Baqara” that:

Translation: Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

Incidentally, Anthropology is defines as the study of the human race, its culture and society and its physical development.

2. “Principles of Human Growth and Development” : Derivable from the Qur’an and Hadith proving that the Human Life and its Development is a gradual process, as determined by ASWT.

3. Scientific and Psychological proofs about the Wisdom of the age of 40 in Islam.

As per your kind request, Insha Allah (IA), we can cover these 3 topics but due to the time constraints, IA, it will be done in 3 separate Khutbahs.

Basic Concepts and Definitions

So in today’s Khutbah, lets cover the first 2 topics which are intermingled, i.e., Anthropology coupled with Human Growth and Development.

As we learned during our science based Khutbahs that present day Science has still a long way to go and catch up with the with the hard core scientific facts mentioned in the Ayaats in the Quran, for truly Quran anticipated many of the modern scientific discoveries which were simply beyond human imagination 14 centuries ago.

In a similar mode, the next stage may sound boring but we have prove to ourselves just how backward Sociology and Psychology are today and how they have tackled the “Principles of Human Growth and Development” by looking at the works of leading psychoanalysts and psychologists as follows. After that we will recite the many beautiful Ayaats that deals with the concept of Principles of Human Growth and Development.

In terms of organisational behaviour, by studying different stages of life and work (Super, 1957), the concept of “Career Stage” evolved, as follows, i.e., developmental psychologists such as Buehler, Levinson, Piaget concentrated on stages of psychological development.

Leading sociologists like Form and Miller identified periods of individuals’ working lives, and by combining these two foci the concept of “Career Stages” first emerge in the literature.

For example, the Exploratory Stage defined by Buehler (1933), a German developmentalist, and the Initial Work Period classified by sociologists Form and Miller (1949) both describe the experience of adolescents’ exploration of work. As a developmental stage, the Exploratory Stage represents the time period in which adolescents define their adult identities through spousal, social, and career choices, while the Initial Work Period describes the first jobs adolescents take to explore the world of work. In this way, the contributions of both psychologists and sociologists created a framework for understanding careers using the concept of career stage.

In 1950, Erik Erikson, a leading Psychoanalytic psychologist, described eight stages of the human life cycle, from infancy to old age, with each stage marked by a crisis that individuals must resolve before continuing to the next stage. In his seventh stage, middle adulthood (40-65), has as its conflict generativity stagnation, which refers to a person’s ability to care for another person. The most important event in this stage is parenting. Does the adult have the ability to care and guide the next generation? According to Erikson, “A person does best at this time to put aside thoughts of death and balance its certainty with the only happiness that is lasting: to increase, by whatever is yours to give, the good will and higher order in your sector of the world”. Generativity can also be seen at work; it is during this stage that individuals are more likely to become mentors and leaders and begin to think about succession planning if the work calls for. AND Brothers that’s it.

Modern day developmental psychologists and Sociologists haven’t got much to add. Conversely, now lets see how ASWT describes the whole concept of the Human Growth and Development, Ayaat by Ayaat in the Holy Quran.

Principles of Human Development Derivable from the Qur’an and Hadith

In the opening Surah of the Holy Qur’an, the Fatihah, ASWT declares that He is the Lord and Cherisher of the worlds:

Translation: Praises be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

What this means is that He is the sole creator of the universe and that He nourishes and sustains it. The implication is that He is the originator of everything (seen and unseen, known and unknown) and that everything depends on Him for sustenance, growth, and development. This interpretation is conveyed in the following Ayaat of the Qur’an:

Surah 39, Zumar, or the Crowds, Ayaat:62:

Translation: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Guardian and Disposer of all affairs.

ASWT is the creator of all things, and He is the guardian and disposer of all affairs. These Ayaats provide the background for our discussion on aspects and principles of human development in the Qur’an, particularly cognitive development. Incidentally the word cognitive is an adjective before the noun, connected with thinking or conscious mental processes.

In fact, as far as the Qur’an is concerned, the meaning of these two Ayaats is the fundamental principle of human development. So, ASWT is the creator of man, and He is the sole determinant of the pattern and process of his growth and development. The following paragraphs enunciate (or explain) this dominant principle in forms of sub principles of human development. In the Islamic perspective of developmental psychology, the following principles are identifiable:

Human Life (Growth and Development) Is a Gradual Process

This is the first principle of development that can be derived from the Qur’an. Having told us that He is the creator, guardian, and disposer of all things, ASWT also told us that He created man in various progressive stages of growth and development. In other words, man’s life has been patterned in stages from conception to death. The stages through which man passes in his growth and development are not merely a matter of chance or accident. They were predesigned, predetermined, and graduated by ASWT Himself. ASWT mentions this basic fact in a number of Ayaats in the Qur’an. Examples of such Ayaats are the following:

Surah 25, Furqaan or The Criterion, Ayaat 2:

Translation: He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: no son has He begotten, nor has He a partner in His dominion: it is He who created all things, and ordered them in due proportions.

This Ayaat clearly spells out the fact that the life of everything has been designed in such a way that every aspect of it is proportionately graduated. In the case of human growth and development it means that the various phases mentioned above have been duly proportioned and all humans have to pass through each stage up to old age and death. That growth and development does not take place at once but pass through the duly and proportionately designed phases is what makes them a gradual process. The following Ayaat clearly mentions that we have been created and caused to grow in phases, not at once:

Surah 71, Nuh (AS), Ayaat 13-14:

Translation: What is the matter with you, that ye place not your hope for kindness and long-suffering in Allah;

Translation: Seeing that it is He that has created you in diverse stages?

Ibn Kathir reported that H. Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA), hereinafter referred to as H.Ibn Abbas (RA) and others interpreted this Ayaat to mean that man has been created from a drop of sperm, then transformed into a clot of blood, then into a morsel of flesh, and so on. Allah says in the Qur’an:

Surah 84, Inshiqāq, or The Rending Asunder, Ayaat 19:

Translation: Ye shall surely travel from stage to stage.

Ibn Kathir again reported that H. ‘Ikrimah (RA) one of the disciples of H. Ibn Abbas (RA) interpreted this Ayaat to mean that man shall grow from one condition to the other such that he becomes a toddler after being an infant, old after being young and strong.

The above Ayaats tell us in general terms that man’s growth and development definitely follow certain stages. These stages are specifically spelled out in some other Ayaats in the Qur’an in more elaborate and particular terms. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) himself enunciated and expounded them in more detail in some of his Hadiths. These will be seen in our subsequent discussions. It is however important to note that the phases through which growth and development pass are themselves spread over two broad stages.

Human life (growth and development) has been categorized in the Qur’an into two broad phases: the prenatal and the postnatal. Each of these phases has been subdivided into different substages having different terms and periods. The following Qur’anic Ayaat succinctly describes the first phase of human life:

Sura 39, Zumar, or the Crowds, Ayaat 6:

Translation: He created you (all) from a single person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and he sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs: He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. such is Allah, your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no God but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Centre)?

In another Ayaat, the Qur’an describes the two phases in a precise and concise manner:

Surah 40: Mū-min, or The Believer, Ayaat 67:

Translation: It is He Who has created you from dust then from a sperm-drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does he get you out (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you become old though of you there are some who die before and lets you reach a Term appointed; in order that ye may learn wisdom.

The Qur’an has also told us that the first phase has a certain fixed and definite term within which it reaches its apex of development. Then it is terminated through birth (by delivery). But in much more elaborate, precise, and detailed terms the following Ayaat further describes these two broad stages with their respective specific phases. It reads thus in :

Surah 22: Hajj, or the Pilgrimage, Ayaat 5:

Translation: O mankind! if ye have a doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that We created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed, in order that We may manifest (our power) to you; and We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term, then do We bring you out as babes, then (foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength; and some of you are called to die, and some are sent back to the feeblest old age, so that they know nothing after having known (much), and (further), thou seest the earth barren and lifeless, but when We pour down rain on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells, and it puts forth every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs).

The Prophet (S.A.W.) has precisely and accurately described the first broad stage with fixed time specifications stipulated for each of the phases within it. The Hadith reads thus:

Lo! The creation of each one of you is composed in the womb of his mother (first) as a nutfah (mixed drop of sperm and ovum) for forty days then after that he transforms to alaqah (a clot of congealed blood) for a similar term, then he transforms to mudghah (a lump of flesh), and then an Angel is sent to blow the rooh into him.

Therefore, the Qur’an has established that the prenatal period is definite and fixed (usually 9 months under normal circumstances as enunciated in one of the Hadiths) and as experienced practically in daily life. However, the Qur’an further mentions to us that there are exceptional cases whereby the prenatal period terminates, before or after the normal term. And all these happen in accordance with ASWT’s Absolute Will and Decree. The Qur’an says:

Surah 3, Al Imran,: Ayaat 6:

Translation: He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as He pleases. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Might, the Wise.

This means that the nature, form, size, and time in which individuals are created and shaped in the womb may vary according to the will and wishes of ASWT. Because of this, He affirms that some pregnancies may be delivered before or after the normal time of delivery. But the knowledge of that (addition or reduction in time) is His exclusive preserve:

Surah 13, Ra’d, or Thunder, Ayaat 8 & 9

Translation: Allah doth know what every female (womb) doth bear, by how much the wombs fall short (of their time or number) or do exceed. Every single thing is before His sight, in (due) proportion.

Translation: He knoweth the unseen and that which is open: He is the Great, the Most High.

As for the postnatal phase of growth and development, the Qur’an does not mention any fixed span of life that is generally applicable to all individuals; it differs from one individual to the other. That is why in the Ayaat referred to earlier, the Qur’an says:

“And some of you are called to die (at different ages) and some are sent to the feeblest old age.”

Due to time constraints, we will stop here and IA, continue next time.

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

Second Khutbah:

FORMAL ARABIC KHUTBA WILL BE RECITED AT THIS JUNCTURE.

Globally Standardized Conclusion:

ALLAHUMMAGH FIR LIL’ MUSLIMEENA WAL MUSLIMAAT

WAL MOAMINEENA WAL MOUMINAAT…

AL-AHYAA’EE MINHUM WAL AMWAAT…

INNAKAA SAMEE’UN MUJIBUD DA’WAAT

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.

Ya Rabb, help us to perfect our salaat, and of our descendants, Our Lord, accept the duas of all these brothers.

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

My Lord, forgive us, and our parents, and all Believers until the Yawm al Qiyamah.

Ya Allah, accept our Ibadat and forgive us.

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

Ya Allah, we make dua so please 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM, WA REHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH,

In the last Khutbah, we discussed that in light of the recent cartoon conflict the we revisited the honourable and exalted status of Prophet (SAW). We therefore concentrated on how eminent non-Muslim had rated SAW most highly and given due recognition to his greatness.

We also felt that the many dimensions and multi-facets of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was a vast topic and required many Khutbahs. So in today’s Khutbah we will discuss his exalted status strictly in the eyes of ASWT. So with this in mind, today, Insha Allah, we will select some ayats from the Quran and hadiths from Sihaah Sitta, namely, Bukhari, Muslim Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Nissaaee, .and Tirmidhi.

First of all, Surah 9, AT TAUBA, Ayat 24, wherein Allah says:

“O Holy Prophet (SAW) say to the believers, if your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your clan, the wealth that you have earned, the business in which you fear loss and your chosen houses are more dear to you than Allah and his Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Jihad in his cause then wait until Allah brings forth his command punishment.”

This command of Allah together with hadith from both Bukhari and Muslim that, ‘None amongst you can be a true believer until his love for me is greater than the love he holds for his parents, his children and everyone else.’ Categorically proves that loving Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is part of the eeman.

In Bukhari, it is related by H. Anas (RA) about the man who came to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and asked, “When will the day of Qiyamah come?” Prophet Muhammad (SAW) asked “What have you prepared it ?” And the man said, “I have not prepared for it with a lot of Salaat, as Saum or Sadaqah, but I do love Allah and his Prophet (SAW).” The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said to him, “ANTA MAA’AA MAN AH BABTAA, you will be with the ones you love.”

Indeed even Allah has said in Surah 4, Annisa Ayat 69:

“And he who obeys Allah and his Prophet Muhammad (SAW) he will be with those whom Allah has favoured, the Prophets, the Siddiqeen (the sincere, lovers of truth), the Shuhada and the Saaleheen (Righteous, pious people who do good). Oh my brothers! Therefore do not be disheartened by the trials and the tribulations of the Duniya and think of your noble station that insha Allah, ASWT has destined for you.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is also the Prophet of SHAFAA-AAH or Intercession [as he will intercede with Allah on the Yawm al Qiyamat. He is also the Prophet of the Makaam-e-Mehmud, as Allah has addressed him in Surah 17, Al-Israa Ayat 79, saying:

“Soon will thy Lord raise thee to a Station of Praise and Glory.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has reported that ,

“I will be the first to be resurrected from the qabr and the pre-eminent among the descendants of Adam (AS) on the Yawm al Qiyamat. I will also be the first intercessor and the first whose intercession will be accepted (by Allah on the Yawm al Qiyamat” (Rawaa-hu Muslim).

During the Cartoon crisis, the great love shown by the Muslim Ummah for the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) brings to mind the profound affection the Sahaabaa held for him. One of the Muslims’ enemies at the Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) time, `Urwa ibn Mas`ud Ath-Thaqfi, said to his people , “O people! Wallahi, I have been to the kings and to the emperors of Persia and the Byzantine empire and to the Negus of Abyssinia, yet I have never seen any of them respected by his courtiers as much as Muhammad (SAW) is respected by his Sahaabaa. Wallahi, if he spat, the spittle would fall in the hand of one of them, who would rub it on his face and skin; if he ordered them, they would carry out his order immediately; if he performed wudu, they would struggle to take the remaining water of his wudu; and when they spoke, they would lower their voices and would not look at his face constantly out of respect” (Rawaa-hu Bukhari).

Prophet (SAW) said I have been referred to by 7 names in the Holy Quran : Muhammad, Ahmad, Yaaseen, Taaha, Muzammil, Muddathir, and Abdullah. The fact that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has so many names and attributes is again a reflection upon his numerous skills and qualities.

H. Abu Huraira (RA) relates that the Sahaabaa asked “Ya Rasulal-laah, when were you granted Prophethood? Prophet Muhammad (SAW) replied, ‘I was granted Prophethood before the creation of Adam (AS)’ “. (Rawaa-hu Tirmidhi). By reading this hadith, it is clear that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the first to be granted Prophethood.

Allah has said in Surah 5, Maidaa, Ayat 15:

There has come to you a Noor from Allah, and a Manifest Book. Now notice brothers, 2 separate entities are mentioned here, the first is the “Noor”., followed by a book meaning the Holy Al Quran.

In this verse, the word Light has been explained by a number of classic Quranic exegetes as follows:

First of all, H. Abdullah Ibn Abbas (RA) said that the Noor mentioned in the verse is in fact Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

H. Jalal al-Din as-Sayuti (RA), wrote in his “Tafsir al-Jalalayn”, (reference – 139): “It is indeed the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)”.

Incidentally, H. Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (RA) was a Mujtahid Imam, who had taken knowledge of Fiqh and NAHW (Arabic grammar) from a large group of Shaikhs.

Indeed, K’aab bin Zuhaair (RA), Abdullah bin Rawaaha (RA) and H. Abbas ibn Abdul Mutallib (RA) all whom wrote Naats praising the character of SAW. Above all, who can ever forget H. Hassaan bin Thaabit’s (RA) following immortal couplets. Indeed, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) himself used to ask H. Hassaan (RA) to read these Naats to him. (Rawaa-hu Bukhari wa Muslim.)

WA AHSANO MIN KA LAM TARAHU AYNI, YA RASOOLALLAH
My eyes has never seen anybody as handsome as you Ya Rasoolallah (SAW).

WA AJMALO MIN KA LAM TAALEDI IN NISAAOU, YA RASOOLALLAH
‘By Allah, no woman has conceived and given birth to one like you, Ya Rasoolallah (SAW).

KHULIKTA MUBARRA AM MIN KULLE AYBIN, YA RASOOLALLAH
O Holy Prophet (SAW) you have been created free from defects.

KA ANNA KA QAD KHULIKTA KAMA TASHÂAU, YA RASOOLALLAH
It is indeed as if you have been created just as you had wished.

H. Abbas (RA) recited to Prophet Muhammad (SAW), when he returned from the Battle of Tabuk.

WA ANTA LAMMA WULIDTTA ASHRA QATIL ARD WADHAA’AT BI NOORI KAA AL OOFOUQO

The entire earth was illuminated when you were born and the skies were illuminated by your noor.

FA NAHNU FI ZAÂLEKA AD DIYAÂ’I WAFI NOORI WA SUBUL AR RASHADI NAKHTARIQ

Now we are in the light of that same noor of yours travelling along the correct path of SERAA TUL MUSTAQIM.

In later years, Imam Al Aazam, H. Imam Abu Hanifa (RA) wrote,

ANTAL LAZEE LO LAAKA MAA KHULIQA IMRU’UN; KALLA WALA KHULIQA AL WARAA LAU LAAKA

If you had not been created than nobody would have been created. In fact, if you had not been created then nothing would have been created at all.

WAL LAAHI, YA YASEEN MITHLUKA LAM YAKUN; FIL AALAMEENA WA HAQQI MAN AMBA’ KAA

O Yaaseen! I swear by Allah, there is nobody like you in the entire universe! I swear to this by Him (ASWT) who granted you Prophethood.

Brothers as you are well aware, in reality, there is no-one who can help you overcome the trials of this world, except Allah, because everything is under His Will and Control. This is the realisation of enlightened souls, meaning the Muttaqin. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) , is a perfect example of the truly enlightened and conscious soul. Notice I said that in the present tense because he too is as Allah has said in the Qur’an, Ayat 2, Surah Al-Ahzaab (33): 21

“You have indeed In the Messenger of Allah, a beautiful example.

We live in an era of hypocrisy amidst Nasaara and Yahood, and when we disagree, of course Allah well knows those who are true in EEMAN really are, and those who are Munaafiq. For example, ASWT forewarned us in Ayaat 11 of Sura Al Baqara, where we read:

“WA ITHAA QEELA LAHUM, LAA TUF SIDOO FIL ARDI, QAALOO INNAMAA NAHNU MUSLIHOON”

“And when it is said to them, make no mischief on earth, they say, why, we are only ones that put things right.”

“ALAA INNA HUM, HUMUL MUFSIDOONA, WALAA KIN LAA YASH-’OROON.”

“Surely, they are the ones who make mischief, but they do not realise it”

So in these troubled times, it is now more important then ever, to remember two things: Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’s Good Character and his merciful and generous heart. For example, in the Hadith, we find one of his best known quotations:

“I have been sent to teach good character.”

The Holy Quran confirms this in Sura Al-Ahzaab, Ayaat 21, where we read:

“LAQAD’ KAANA LAKUM FEE RASOOLIL-LAAHI USWATUN HASANAH…”

“You have, indeed, in the Messenger of Allah, a beautiful pattern of conduct, for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Yawm al Qiyamah, and who engages much in the praise of Allah.”

On the plain of Arafaat, on the Mount of Mercy, Jabal Rahma, he delivered his final Khutbah. Here he reminded the Muslims that his life was coming to an end, but if they held fast to 2 things they would never go astray: one is the Holy Quran, and the other his Sunnah, the living example of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

To this day, 1,400 years later, the essence of Islam has been preserved in those 2 sources, and Insa Allah, they will remain so utterly central to our Muslim identity and experience until the end of time.

Prophet Muhammad (SWS) was not a man of theory, but a man of action. The best way to honour our beloved Prophet (SAW) will be to set our own life style based on his good character and his generous heart. We must also put in practise, Uswatul Hasanah ” the “perfect example” into the challenges we face in our own lives today.

This is because all the wisdom of Quran and Hadith is absolutely of no value unless someone studies it and lives by it. We Muslims must make it work, as our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did. Islam must become a living reality in our own daily lives.

The Holy Qurán says: “KUNTUM KHAIRA UMMATIN UKH-RIJAT LIN-NAASI TA’ MUROONA BIL MA’ROOF, WATAN HAUNA ‘ANIL MUNKARI WATU’ MINOONA BILLAAH”.

It describes the followers of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as the “best community sent forth for mankind. You enjoin what is right and you forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah.”

The message of Islam through the living example of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) offers a way out of this darkness for Ummah. May ASWT, help us to fulfil this noble cause. May Allah help us to study the Quran and the life of His Prophet Muhammad (SAW), so that our lives can become illuminated by that divine light that leads us to his garden of Jannatul Firdaus.

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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 (SAW) 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. 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

In the light of the recent cartoon conflict the topic of today’s Khutbah is about the honourable and exalted status of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The many dimensions and multi-facets of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is a vast topic and will require many khutbahs and even then it will not be enough to do full justice. So in the short time we have today, we can only focus on a few essential points.

To every Muslim on this planet, irrespective of cultural, geographical and political differences, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is Allah’s greatest creation. A thousand million Muslims however, do not require any surveys, lists or research to arrive at this conclusion. It is a non-negotiable article of eemaan and please note that I use the present tense when I say he is Allah’s greatest creation. But what of the non-Muslims?

So in today’s Khutbah we will concentrate on how eminent non-Muslim has rated Prophet Muhammad (SAW) most highly and given due recognition to his greatness and then in the next Khutbah we will discuss his exalted status strictly in the eyes of ASWT. So in the next Khutbah, Insha Allah, we will select some ayats from the Quran and hadiths from Sihaah Sitta.

So during the cartoon crisis, ordinary people and intellectuals throughout the world became preoccupied with the campaign for and against the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The event also had an impact on the attitudes of governments.

There was a strong condemnation on the ridiculing of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

New Web sites and special pages on the Internet had been specially launched to cover the events and facilitate ways of protest against the anti-Prophet cartoons.

There was also a wide-scale interest in the event shown in ordinary conversations, mobile phone text messages, personal e-mails, and signs on walls and cars.

The events was the subject of ideological discussions within the framework of dialogue of civilizations and respect of creeds and religious sanctities as essentials of basic human rights.

The events influenced Muslims’ emotions and attitudes so much that it caused them to contemplate on the, Azeem, great status of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that they have in their hearts.

After all in Surah 21st, Al Anbiya, Ayat 107 had ASWT not described him by saying:

WAMAA ARSAL NAAKA IL LAA REHMATAL LIL AALAMEEN

“And we have not sent you, Prophet Muhammad (SAW), but as a Mercy for all the aalameen”

Meaning all the universes, creatures, peoples. Notice the tense in the Arabic grammar together with plurality and the universality of this great ayat.

Now Michael H. Hart, a Christian American, astronomer, mathematician, lawyer and scientist, after extensive research, published an incisive biography of the 100 most influential people of all time. The biographical rankings with explanations describes the careers of religious and political leaders, inventors, writers, philosophers, scientists and artists.

From this research; which included illustrious personalities such as H. Isa (AS), H. Musa (AS), Caesar, the Wright brothers, Napoleon, Shakespeare, Columbus and Michelangelo; Michael Hart rated Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as number one.

He concluded the biography with the words:

“It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitIes Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to be considered the most influential single figure in human history.”

So today I will present to you synopsis on Prophet Muhammad (SAW) from Michael Hart’s book entitled “The 100″.

Brothers, as you know during the era of Jahiliyya, when the world was awash in rivers of blind prejudices and nonsensical ignorances, Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) divine message and glorious teachings became the purging torrents of spiritual enlightenment.

Now let’s see what Michael Hart says in his book and I quote him verbatim:

“My choice of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels.

Of humble origins, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) founded and promulgated one of the world’s great religions, and became an immensely effective political leader. Today, thirteen centuries after his death, his influence is still powerful and pervasive. The majority of the persons in this book had the advantage of being born and raised in centres of civilization, highly cultured or politically pivotal nations. Prophet Muhammad (SAW),

however, was born in the year 570, in the city of Mecca, in Southern Arabia, at that time a backward area of the world, far from the centres of trade, art, and learning. Orphaned at age six, he was reared in modest surroundings.”

Michael Hart then goes on to describe in detail Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) biography in quite a detail and as you are AS-HAAB AL ILM, I will skip these details and go over his concluding remarks which are quite lengthy:

“Although he passed away in 632, unified by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) for the first time in history, and inspired by his fervent belief in the one true God, these small Arab armies now embarked upon one of the most astonishing series of conquests in human history.

To the northeast of Arabia lay the large Neo-Persian Empire of the Sassanids; to the northwest lay the Byzantine, or Eastern Roman Empire, centred in Constantinople. Numerically, the Arabs were no match for their opponents. On the field of battle, though, the inspired Arabs rapidly conquered all of Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine. By 642, Egypt had been wrestled from the Byzantine Empire, while the Persian armies had been crushed at the key battles of Qadisiya in 637, and Nehavend in 642. But even these enormous conquests- which were made under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) close friends and immediate successors, H. Abu Bakr (RA) and H. Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) did not mark the end of the Arab advance. By 711, the Arab armies had swept completely across North Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. There they turned north and, crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, overwhelmed the Visigothic kingdom in Spain. For a while, it must have seemed that the Muslims would overwhelm all of Christian Europe. Nevertheless, in a scant century of fighting, these Bedouin tribesmen, inspired by the word of the Prophet, had carved out an empire stretching from the borders of India to the Atlantic Ocean – the largest empire that the world had yet seen. And everywhere that the armies conquered, large-scale conversion to the new faith eventually followed.

Now, not all of these conquests proved permanent. In Spain, more than seven centuries of warfare finally resulted in the Christians reconquering the entire peninsula. However, Mesopotamia and Egypt, the two cradles of ancient civilization, have remained Arab, as has the entire coast of North Africa. The new religion, of course, continued to spread, in the intervening centuries, far beyond the borders of the original Muslim conquests. Currently, it has tens of millions of adherents in Africa and Central Asia, and even more in Pakistan and northern India, and in Indonesia. In Indonesia, the new faith has been a unifying factor. How, then, is one to assess the overall impact of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on human history?

Like all religions, Islam exerts an enormous influence upon the lives of its followers. It is for this reason that the founders of the world’s great religions all figure prominently in this book. Since there are roughly twice as many Christians as Muslims in the world, it may initially seem strange that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has been ranked higher than Jesus (H. ISA (AS) ). There are two principal reasons for that decision. First, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) played a far more important role in the development of Islam than Jesus (H. ISA (AS) ) did in the development of Christianity. Although Jesus (H. ISA (AS) ) was responsible for the main ethical and moral precepts of Christianity (insofar as these differed from Judaism), St. Paul was the main developer of Christian theology, its principal proselytizer, and the author of a large portion of the New Testament. Prophet Muhammad (SAW), however, was responsible for both the theology of Islam and its main ethical and moral principles. In addition, he played the key role in proselytizing the new faith, and in establishing the religious practices of Islam.

Moreover, the Muslim holy scriptures, the Quran, a collection of certain of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’s insights that he believed had been directly revealed to him by Allah. The Quran, therefore, closely represents Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) ideas and teachings. No such detailed compilation of the teachings of Jesus (H. ISA (AS) ) has survived. Since the Quran is at least as important to Muslims as the Bible is to Christians, the influence of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) through the medium of the Quran has been enormous. It is probable that the relative influence of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on Islam has been larger than the combined influence of Jesus (H. ISA (AS) ) and St. Paul on Christianity.

On the purely religious level, then, it seems likely that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has been as influential in human history as Jesus (Isa (AS). Furthermore, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) unlike Jesus (H. ISA (AS) ) was a secular as well as a religious leader. In fact, as the driving force behind the Arab conquests, he may well rank as the most influential political leader of all time. Of many important historical events, one might say that they were inevitable and would have occurred even without the particular political leader who guided them. For example, the South American colonies would probably have won their independence from Spain even if Simon Bolivar had never lived. But this cannot be said of the Arab conquests. Nothing similar had occurred before Prophet Muhammad (SAW), and there is no reason to believe that the conquests would have been achieved without him.

(Incidentally, brothers, here, Michael Hart is referring to the 19th century South American independence leader Simón Bolivar who lead the fight for independence for what is now known as Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, and Bolivia, he is referred as a hero in these countries and throughout much of the rest of Hispanic America. Bolivar is known as “El Libertador”, which means The Liberator in English.)

The only comparable conquests in human history are those of the Mongols in the thirteenth century, which were primarily due to the influence of Genghis Khan. These conquests, however, though more extensive than those of the Arabs, did not prove permanent, and today the only areas occupied by the Mongols are those that they held prior to the time of Genghis Khan.

It is far different with the conquests of the Arabs. From Iraq to Morocco, then extends a whole chain of Arab nations united not merely by their faith in Islam, but also by their Arabic language, history, and culture. The centrality of the Quran in the Muslim religion and the fact that it is written in Arabic have probably prevented the Arab language from breaking up into mutually unintelligible dialects, which might otherwise have occurred in the intervening thirteen centuries. Differences and divisions between these Arab states exist, of course, and they are considerable, but the partial disunity should not blind us to the important elements of unity that have continued to exist. We see, then, that the Arab conquests of the seventh century have continued to play an important role in human history, down to the present day. It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Prophet Muhammad (SAW) to be considered the most influential single figure in human history. “ Here concludes Michael Hart’s quote who as an outsider saw Prophet Muhammad (SAW) not as a man of theory, but a man of action.

So returning to the cartoon controversy, we must seek the hikmah of ASWT in the events that transpire around us. In essence, the campaign against the Prophet (SAW) jolted the Muslim community and had a profound impact on Muslims’ spiritual and worldly lives.

Muslims have bitterly realized what it means to have their deen and sanctities insulted. We must teach our children to say, “Wa kafaa bil-Laahi shaheedaa” meaning, “And enough is Allah for a witness.”

For my personal view and opinion I would like to quote, a well known hadith from both Bukhari and Muslim whose Raawi is H. Anas (RA).

“The Holy Prophet (SAW) said, ‘None amongst you can be a true believer until his love for me is greater than the love he holds for his parents, his children and everyone else.’

Upon hearing this H. Umar (RA) said, ‘I swear by Allah who revealed the book (Quran) to you! You are indeed dearer to me than even myself’ to which Prophet Muhammad (SAW) replied, ‘Umar (RA) your eeman is complete.’”

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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 (SAW) 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. 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

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 topic of our khutba today is Du’a in so far as people have generally forgotten the power of Du’a translated it means literally ‘calling’. Because, in this technology driven world, people have become too arrogant. They believe that, somehow, they have become masters over their own destinies. So today’s Khutba will concentrate on nothing but the concept of Dua.

This is despite the fact that Dua is the most beneficial type of medicine for healing. It is therefore enemy of illness and affliction and despite the fact that SAW has said, “Dua is the weapon of the believer, the pillar of the deen, and the light of the heaven and earth.”
There’s a saying that you’ll never find a disbeliever on a sinking ship. This is exactly the same message we find in the Qur’an; when man realises his weakness in the face of a mighty storm, then he knows only ALLAH (AZZA WAJAL) can save him.

Surah Luqman (31): 31 – 33

ALAM TARAA AN NAL FULKAATAJRI FIL BAHRI BE NEA MATIL LAAHI LE YURIYA KUM MIN AAYAATEHI.

“Seest thou not that The ship sail through The Ocean by the grace Of Allah ? –

WA EZAA GHA SEYAA HUM MAUJUN KAA ZU LAA LI DA’AWALLAAHOMUKHLESINA LAHUD DIN.

“and when any wave befalls them like mountains, They call to Allah, Offering Him sincere devotion, But when He has delivered them Safely to land, there are Among them those that hover Between (right and wrong, keeping to the middle course. )”.

The thing to bear in mind here is that from the Tafsir point of view every Ayaat in the Holy Quran has many meanings and moreover for all times, past present and the future. This whole ayat applies to all of us in this room. Because it goes on to say, “In it are signs for every patient grateful.

Look I’ll prove it. Don’t look at the literal words Ship sailing through. This could be interpreted as the Ship being you my brother, not thanking Allah when all is well and you are sailing through the ocean, the ocean being life in general. Lets look at the second portion of the Ayat, which says that when a wave covers them, They call to Allah, Offering Him sincere devotion, Life is often full of pain and tribulations. A child begins by calling on its Mother, who is often quick to respond. But later on in life, there are times when parents or friends are not there and who do you call on then ? That is the time that a person faces up to his weakness and unfortunately, that is the time when most of us remembers ASWT. “But” the Ayat goes on the say “when He has delivered them Safely to land, there are Among them those that hover Between (right and wrong).

When things are going well, most of us don’t thank ASWT even a small tiny example from our daily lives, the fact that we all had a good meal last night but did we thank Allah, for the inestimate or inestimable pleasures that is on our dinner table daily. You can’t blame the Nassaara or the atheist neighbours who live next to you because they don’t even know whom to thank. But you my dear brothers in this room, exactly how many of you say the Dua either before or after the meal.

So why has there been a despondency amongst many brothers because I have actually heard my own son say, “well the response to my Du’a seemed to be delayed”.

Perhaps you are not aware of the consequences that would result if Allah granted your wish and you attained what you desired, because what you seek might be to your detriment. In this state you are like a child with fever asking for an ice cream. Such is the wisdom of ASWT. We think short term whereas Allah’s thinking is long term and for your own good.

One must become abd meaning a slave of Allah and show utter humility, when making Dua. Allah (azza wajal) mentions repeatedly that you should work for His pleasure. But we do the opposite. The idea is to please ASWT and not yourself. If the Du’a has been slow it is because of our constant wrong doings and wrong actions. If, however, you open the door by developing Taqwa for Allah then the response (to your Du’a) would arrive quicker.

“0 Rooh, be conscious that your Master is more aware about your well-being than you are says Allah azza wajal. And it maybe you will dislike something that is good for You”

Dua is also a cure for illness:

From the hadith of H. Aishah (RA) SAW said that, “Dua benefits those things that have occurred and have not yet occurred. For indeed while the tribulation is descending the Dua meets it and they remain struggling with one another until the Day of Judgement.”

Now what are the Merits of making Dua:

Allah says in the Qur’an: Surah Al-Baqarah Chapter 2: Ayat 186

WA EZA SA’ALAKA EBAADI ANNI FA INNI QARIB. OJIBU DA’AWATAD DAAI EZAA DA’ AANI

“When my servants Ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed Close to them: I listen To the Dua of every Dua maker when he calls on Me:

The place of Dua is so high to ASWT, that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has said

“There is nothing more noble in the sight of Allah than Du’a.” [4]

In fact, Allah remembers more those who worship Him than they remember Him. Under the verse Surah Ankaboot: 45

“And Allah’s remembrance is the greatest…”

In Islam, Du’a is considered to be the best act of Ibadah. It is a direct link between man and his Lord (Allah). This can be confirmed by another hadith: That : “The most excellent type of ibadah or worship is Dua.”

The Prophet SAW also said:

“Ask Allah for everything, even the lace of your shoes.

So make Du’a for everything you want, no matter how big or small.

And let no one say: “… my Lord won’t answer my Dua prayer, because of this and that.. or because of so and so..”. No! Indeed Allah is the Most Generous King. Is there anyone who met a king, and praised and glorified him, and then asked, yet the request was not granted? So what about Allah, the King of the Heavens and the Earth -Indeed, our beloved Prophet SAW had said: ” your Lord is so Generous, and when His servant raises his hands to Him in Dua, He is, shy from returning them empty. ‘Indeed, Allah is Shy and Beneficent. He is Shy when His servant raises his hands to Him (in a Du’a) to return them empty, disappointed! ‘ By the way you can find this Hadith in Ahmad, Abu Dawud #1488, at-Tirmidhi #3556, ibn Majah #3865 and others.

Dua is the weapon of a believer. It will protect you from the evils of enemies. Du’a is the shield of a believer. It will increase your sustenance. Du’a is more forceful than a sword. Du’a replaces what has been destined and also creates that what has not been destined. Du’a is a form of ibaadat. Du’a removes both the present suffering and that which will come down later. Du’a and sufferings challenge each other until the Day of Judgment, and Du’a comes out victorious.
Whoever knocks on a door persistently will be allowed in. If you keep on knocking the door of Divine Mercy, sooner or later it will be opened for you.

Never get tired of Du’a, for Allah Ta’ala has attached much value to it. Allah Ta’ala says “Let My servants know that I have the power to grant My servant’s wishes.”
If Allah grants someone a chance of making Du’a, He will not deprive him of answer. A believer’s Du’a will increase his good deeds and reward him in the Hereafter as his other good deeds are rewarded. Praise Allah Almighty. Remember Him and thank Him for His blessings. Send Salaat upon the Prophet (SAW). Seek Tauba. Attain Taqwa. That is the right way for Du’a.

It may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you, and it may be that you love a thing while it is evil for you.

So we must make Du’a to Allah, then be patient, have faith in his unquestionable decision and trust His absolute wisdom. Never have this impression that Allah Almighty has opened the door of making Dua but has closed the door of answering it. Sometimes Allah delays answering the Du’a to give a greater reward and a further blessing. What a catastrophe it would be if Allah answered every prayer at the snap of your fingers. Do you know what would happen? Allah would become your servant, not your Master. Suddenly Allah would be working for you, instead of you working for Allah. Remember, Allah’s delay is not Allah’s denial. Allah’s timing is perfect. Patience and trust is needed.

If I were to summarize the whole concept of Du’a into one single statement, it would be this:

Du’a is a form of Ibaadat, such a powerful Ibaadat that it can create and alter Qismat.

So the moral of the story is that where there is du’a, there is hope. It should always be your pot of shining gold at the end of the rainbow, your hope in times of despair, your silver lining in every dark cloud…

If you want your wishes to come true, career progression, bonus , salary I suggest you throw your head in Sujud, and cry your heart out, asking ALLAH AZZA WAJAL, like you have never asked Him before: I suggest you ask for all the things which are missing in your life, ask him to remove your grief and sorrow, to give you what you always wanted. Above tell Allah that you love Him very much.

Believe me, it will not come all at once, but IA came. Ask from your heart. So in the 2nd Khutba we will recite another new dua from Imam Ghazali’s work:

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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:

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.

“O my Allah! From abundance we desire the abundance of Your blessings

and from purity we desire its permanence

and from Your mercy [we desire] that we be included in all matters]

and from good qualities [we desire] their completion

and from your rewards [we desire] the reward which is the most common

and from your plenitude [we desire] the plenitude which is the sweetest

and from your favours [we desire] the favour which is the most plentiful

and from deeds [we desire] the deed which is the best

and from knowledge [we desire] the knowledge which is the most beneficial

and from the sustenance [we desire] the sustenance which is the most plentiful.

and of protection we desire its duration;

and of health we desire its attainment.

Of livelihood, we ask its increase and its comfort;

and of life; [we desire] its real success and its happiness

and of blessings its totality;

and fulfil for us our hopes beyond expectations.

and enjoin us with well-being and good health

and favour us with the removal of our faults.

In You is our trust and upon You our dependence.

O Allah, strengthen us on the road of sincerity

and righteousness and protect us

in this world from that which will be cause

for regret on the Final Day.

Lighten for us the burden of our sins

and bestow upon us the blessings of those

who had lived a life of Righteousness,

and be sufficient for us and avert

from us the evils of those who do evil.

O Most Mighty, Most Merciful, Most Generous;

the Veiler (of faults), the Gentle One, the Potent.

O Allah… O Allah… O Allah… O Allah…

O Merciful… O Merciful… O Merciful…

O most Merciful of the Merciful…

the First of the First and the Last of the Last.

The Possessor of unshakable Power.

The most Compassionate to the poor

and the destitute.

O most Merciful of the Merciful.

Surah No. 21, Surah Ambiya, Ayat 87)

LA ILAHA ILLA ANTA SUBHANAKA

“There is no God except You, Ya Allah so Glory be to You.

INNI KUNTU MIN AZ ZAALEMEEN.

Indeed we are amongst

those who have done wrong”

May the blessings of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammmad,(SAW)

his family and all of his companions.

And AL HUMDO LIL LAAHI RABBIL AALAMEEN, praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

ALLAHUMA’ EGHFIR LIL’ MUSLIMEENA WAL MUSLIMAT

WAL MOUMINEENA WAL MOUMINAAT

AL-AHYA’EE MINHUM WAL AMWAT

INNAKA SAMEE’UN MUJIBUD DAWAAT…

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.

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.

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.

Ya, Allah, grant these brothers wealth, beyond their imagination, so that they may spend rest of their remaining life doing your dhikr and ibadah, praising you.

IBADA ALLAH:

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.

WA AA QIMUS SALAAH

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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 recent world events have portrayed us as only terrorists.

Furthermore, they say that if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.

Therefore, I thought it would be good to redress the balance and so in today’s Khutbah we will concentrate on how many, many eminent non-Muslims have rated the Muslim Ummah.

First of all, lets see what Napolean Bonaparte had to say as Quoted in Christian Cherfils, ‘Bonaparte et Islam,’ Pedone Ed., Paris, France, 1914, pp. 105, 125.

Original References: “Correspondence de Napoleon Ier Tome V pièce n° 4287 du 17/07/1799…”

“Arabia was idolatrous when, six centuries after Jesus (H. Isa – AS), Muhammad (SAW) introduced the worship of the God of Abraham (AS), of Ishmael (AS), of Moses (AS), and Jesus (H. Isa – AS).

The Aryans and some other sects had disturbed the tranquillity of the east by agitating the question of the nature of the Father, the son, and the Holy Ghost. Muhammad (SAW) declared that there was none but one God who had no father, no son and that the trinity imported the idea of idolatry…

I hope the time is not far off when I shall be able to unite all the wise and educated men of all the countries and establish a uniform regime based on the principles of Qur’an which alone are true and which alone can lead men to happiness.”

Sir George Bernard Shaw wrote in ‘The Genuine Islam,’ Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936:

“If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam.

I have always held the religion of Muhammad (SAW) in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him – the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity.

I believe that if a man like him was to be in charge of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad (SAW) that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”

Bertrand Russell wrote in ‘History of Western Philosophy,’ London, 1948, p. 419:

“From India to Spain, the brilliant civilization of Islam flourished. What was lost to Christendom at this time was not lost to civilization, but quite the contrary…

“To us it seems that West-European civilization is civilization, but this is a narrow view.”

Now lets see what H.G. Wells had to say:

“The Islamic teachings have left great traditions for equitable and gentle dealings and behaviour, and inspire people with nobility and tolerance. These are human teachings of the highest order and at the same time practicable. These teachings brought into existence a society in which hard-heartedness and collective oppression and injustice were the least as compared with all other societies preceding it. Islam is replete with gentleness, courtesy, and fraternity.”

With regards to equality, Dr. William Draper wrote in ‘History of Intellectual Development of Europe’:

“During the period of the Caliphs the learned men of the Christians and the Jews were not only held in great esteem but were appointed to posts of great responsibility, and were promoted to the high ranking job in the government. Caliph Haroon Rasheed never considered to which country a learned person belonged nor his faith and belief, but only his excellence in the field of learning.”

With regards to the challenge and responsibility faced by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) , Thomas Carlyle wrote in the ‘Heroes, Hero Worship, and the Heroic in History,’ Lecture 2, Friday, 8th May 1840:

“Wild Arab men! They were wild men bursting ever and ever into quarrel, into all kinds of fierce sincerity; without right worth and manhood, no man could have commanded them. They called him prophet you say? Why he stood there face to face with them; bare, not enshrined in any mystery; visibly clouting his own cloak, cobbling his own shoes; fighting, counselling, ordering in the midst of them: they must have seen what kind of man he was, let him be called what you like! No emperor with his tiaras was obeyed as this man in a cloak of his own clouting. During three-and-twenty years of rough actual trial. I find something of a veritable Hero necessary for that, of itself.

These Arabs, is it not as if a spark had fallen, one spark, on a world of what proves explosive powder, blazes heaven-high from Delhi to Granada! I said, the Great man was always as lightning out of Heaven; the rest of men waited for him like fuel, and then they too would flame”

With regards to our contribution towards humanity, Phillip Hitti writes in the ‘Short History of the Arabs.’::

“During all the first part of the Middle Ages, no other people made as important a contribution to human progress as did the Arabs. For centuries, Arabic was the language of learning, culture and intellectual progress for the whole of the civilized world with the exception of the Far East. From the 9th to the 12th century there were more philosophical, medical, historical, religious, astronomical and geographical works written in Arabic than in any other human tongue.”

With regards to the Muslim Moghul rulers, who ruled India for several centuries, Carra de Vaux writes in ‘The Philosophers of Islam,’ Paris, 1921:

“Finally how can one forget that at the same time the Mogul Empire of India (1526-1857 C.E.) was giving the world the Taj Mahal (completed in 1648.), those poets those philosophers knew how to deal with the world or matter. They observe, classify, calculate and experiment. All the ideas that occur to them are tested against facts. They express them with eloquence but they also support them with statistics.”…the principles of tolerance, justice and humanity which prevailed during the long reign of Akbar.”

With regards to the development of science and law; Marcel Clerget wrote in ‘La Turquie, Passe et Present,’ Paris, 1938:

“Many proofs of high cultural level of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent are to be found in the development of science and law; in the flowering of literary works in Arabic, Persian and Turkish; in the contemporary monuments in Istanbul, Bursa, and Edirne; in the boom in luxury industries; in the sumptuous life of the court and high dignitaries, and last but not least in its religious tolerance. All the various influences – notably Turkish, Byzantine and Italian mingle together and help to make this the most brilliant epoch of the Ottomans.”

Now here’s the SHOCKER! Lets now analyse how the Muslims actually returned the Churches to the Christians, as documented by Michael the Elder Quoted in ‘Michael the Elder, Chronique de Michael Syrien, Patriarche Jacobite d’ Antioche,’ J.B. Chabot, Editor, Vol. II, Paris, 1901.

“This is why the God of vengeance, who alone is all-powerful, and changes the empire of mortals as He will, giving it to whomsoever He will, and uplifting the humble beholding the wickedness of the Romans who throughout their dominions, cruelly plundered our churches and our monasteries and condemned us without pity, brought from the region of the south the sons of Ishmael (AS), to deliver us through them from the hands of the Romans. And if in truth we have suffered some loss, because the Catholic churches, that had been taken away from us and given to the Chalcedonians, remained in their possession; for when the cities submitted to the Arabs, they assigned to each denomination the churches which they found it to be in possession of; nevertheless it was no slight advantage for us to be delivered from the cruelty of the Romans, their wickedness, their wrath and cruel zeal against us, and to find ourselves at people.”

Michael the Elder, Jacobite Patriarch of Antioch wrote this text in the latter part of the twelfth century, after five centuries of Muslim rule in that region.

With regards to science and learning Sir John Bagot Glubb wrote:

“Khalif (Caliph) Al-Ma’mun’s period of rule (813 – 833 C.E.) may be considered the ‘golden age’ of science and learning. He had always been devoted to books and to learned pursuits. His brilliant mind was interested in every form of intellectual activity. Not only poetry but also philosophy, theology, astronomy, medicine and law all occupied his time.

“By Mamun’s time medical schools were extremely active in Baghdad. The first free public hospital was opened in Baghdad during the Caliphate of Haroon-ar-Rashid. As the system developed, physicians and surgeons were appointed who gave lectures to medical students and issued diplomas to those who were considered qualified to practice. The first hospital in Egypt was opened in 872 AD and thereafter public hospitals sprang up all over the empire from Spain and the Maghrib to Persia.”

Now lets say a few words about the Holocaust of Baghdad in 1258 perpetrated by Hulagu:

“The city was systematically looted, destroyed and burnt. Eight hundred thousand persons are said to have been killed. The Khalif Mustasim was sewn up in a sack and trampled to death under the feet of Mongol horses.

For five hundred years, Baghdad had been a city of palaces, mosques, libraries and colleges. Its universities and hospitals were the most up-to-date in the world. Nothing now remained but heaps of rubble and a stench of decaying human flesh.”

Who could ever forget the Civilization founded by our Moors Brothers!

“The Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula, who ruled Spain between 711 and 1492 C.E., are commonly known as the Moors. The word Andalusia is derived from the Arabic word Al-Andalus which has several meanings. One of them is ‘to become green after a long summer or drought,’ and the history of the Iberian Peninsula over the ages attests to this phase when Muslims ruled Spain.

The word Moors is a corrupted word referring to the people who came from Morocco.

When Muslims first arrived in Spain in 711 C.E., they constituted mainly Arabs. Within two decades a majority of the inhabitants of Andalus, especially most of the Unitarian Christians and the oppressed class, accepted Islam freely in recognition of the peace, security and the freedom of religion and expression under the Muslim rule. By 770 C.E. people of all races from North Africa and Arabia migrated to Andalusia (Spain and Portugal). They intermarried with various nationalities including the native Spanish-Muslim population, with the result that Spain became a fairly homogeneous country within a few generations. During the reign of Abdur-Rahman, the ‘Falcon of Andalus’ (755-788), they began the work of building an Islamic civilization similar to the one already flourishing in Damascus, Baghdad and its many regional centers. Within a century of their activity, they had developed a civilization far in advance of any in Europe.”

Stanley Lane-Poole writes in ‘The Moors in Spain’: Introduction:

“For nearly eight centuries, under the Mohamedan rule, Spain set all Europe a shining example of a civilized and enlightened state.

…..To Cordoba belong all the beauty and ornaments that delight the eye or dazzle the sight. Her long line of Sultans form her crown of glory; her necklace is strung with the pearls which her poets have gathered from the ocean of language; her dress is of the banners of learning, well-knit together by her men of science; and the masters of every art and industry are the hem of her garments.

“Art, literature and science prospered as they then prospered nowhere else in Europe.

Mathematics, astronomy, botany, history, philosophy and jurisprudence were to be mastered in Spain, and Spain alone. Whatever makes a kingdom great and prosperous, whatever tends to refinement and civilization, was found in Muslim Spain…

With Granada fell all Spain’s greatness. For a brief while, indeed, the reflection of the Moorish splendour cast a borrowed light upon the history of the land which it had once warmed with its sunny radiance. The great epoch of Isabella, Charles V and Philip II, of Columbus, Cortes and Pizarro, shed a last halo about the dying monuments of a mighty state. When followed the rule of inquisition and the blackness of darkness in which Spain has been plunged ever since.

In the land where science was once supreme, the Spanish doctors became noted for nothing but their ignorance and incapacity. The arts of Toledo and Almeria faded into insignificance.

The land deprived of skillful irrigation of the Moors, grew improvished and neglected, the richest and most fertile valleys languished and were deserted, and most of the populous cities which had filled every district in Andalusia, fell into ruinous decay; and beggars, friars, and bandits took the place of scholars, merchants and knights. So low fell Spain when she had driven away the Moors.”

Conde as Quoted in Prescott, ‘Philip II of Spain,’ Vol. III:

“The Arabs suddenly appeared in Spain like a star which crosses through the air with its light, spreads its flames on the Horizon and then vanishes rapidly into naught. They appeared in Spain to fill her suddenly with their activity and the fruit of their genius, and endowed her with a glorious glamour which enveloped her from the Pyrenees to Gibraltar and from the oceans to the Barcelona.

Martin Hume wrote in the ‘Spanish People’:

“The Sultan Abd-er-Rahman was one of the Heaven-sent rulers of men. Prompt yet cautious in council and in war, unscrupulous, overbearing and proud, he was as ready to wreak terrible vengeance, as he was political to forgive when it suited him. Berber and Yamanite alike acknowledged that at last they had found their master. He ruled until his death, in 788, with the tempered severity, wisdom, and justice which made his domain the best organized in Europe, and his capital the most splendid in the world.”

S.P. Scott wrote in ‘The History of the Moorish Empire in Europe.’

“Yet there were knowledge and learning everywhere except in Catholic Europe. At a time when even kings could not read or write, a Moorish king had a private library of six hundred thousand books. At a time when ninety-nine percent of the Christian people were wholly illiterate, the Moorish city of Cordova had eight hundred public schools, and there was not a village within the limits of the empire where the blessings of education could not be enjoyed by the children of the most indigent peasant, and it was difficult to encounter even a Moorish peasant who could not read and write.”

H. Kamen, write in ‘The Spanish Inquisition.’:

“As a result of his (Cardinal Ximenes’ coercive) endeavours, it is reported that on l8th December 1499 about three thousand Moors were baptized by him and a leading mosque in Granada was converted into a church. ‘Converts’ were encouraged to surrender their Islamic books, several thousands of which were destroyed by Ximenes in a public bonfire. A few rare books on medicine were kept aside for the University of Alcala. Ximenes claimed the Moors had forfeited all their rights under the terms of capitulation (of Granada). They should therefore be given the choice between baptism and expulsion…At Andarax the principal mosque, in which the women and children had taken refuge, was blown up with gun-powder. All books in Arabic, especially the Qur’an, were collected to be burnt. Cardinal Ximenes was reported during his conversion campaign among the Granada Moors in 1500 to have burnt in the public square of Vivarrambla over 1,005,000 volumes including unique works of Moorish culture.”

Alhamduallah, Islam has grown in the world and the population has increased vastly from the time of Prophet Mohammed (SAW). How can Islam, in today’s society and life grow and become a bigger part of the world’s civilization? Answer is by the establishment of the Ummah based on the better understanding and application of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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

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,

As mentioned in our last Khutba, from the onset, again I would like to reiterate and to emphasise the fact that the English portion of the Khutba will contain quite a lot of Arabic and this is done deliberately so as to strengthen both your Arabic vocabulary and grammar.

We also mentioned the fact that the Khutba should contain current issues, and problems affecting Ummah so the Khutba 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. It serves as a warning.

At this point I just want to digress and brief you as to why I prefer to use the word Wrong Action rather than Sins. In 1975, I met a group of Muslims, all of them were highly educated Englishmen of pure Anglo-Saxon descent and Americans who had all converted to Islam. Many were practising Christians who had now converted to Islam through a Sheikh in Morocco of Shadhiliyya Tariqa. One of the first thing they thought me was the fact that inadvertently over the years we have adopted lot of words in our every day lives which have Christianic connotation, e.g., prime example was the word Sin. Yes you are right you may argue that well ASWT will look at our intentions but all of you are ASH-HAAB AL ILM, WA RUWAAD AL ILM, so think, if Allah has granted you knowledge then it becomes incumbent upon you to use this ilm. Again these Christian priests who had converted to Islam absolutely and categorically refused to use the word SIN. Now this is their opinion and as usual don’t’ shoot the messenger I am only delivering a message.

They say that if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. Likewise although the Wikipedia and the modern dictionaries have mellowed the word SIN, the die hard Christians will define the word Sin as follows: In fact brothers, lets forget people’s opinions and look at the source of the word that is the New Testament. Their book of Romans Chapter 3, verse 23, Ephesians Chapter 2, verse 1 – 3 , Book of Isaiah Chapter 53 verse 6, still teaches Christians wrongly that and I quote “Due to the Original Sin, man has lost any and all capacity to move towards reconciliation with God. This inborn sin turns humans away from God.” Brothers nothing is more false than that. Infact if you do your TAUBA say ASTAG with sincerity truly you know well that indeed, Allah is GAFOORUR RAHIM. In fact if you look at any Islamic books that were written by the Muslim Authors in the sixties and seventies including the translation of the Holy Quran, you will find that although the translation is correct on the tafsir side Muslims translators have used the word God throughout instead of Allah, So I rest my case as this just proves my point. Instead of Ya Rabb, they use the word O Lord! I ask you brothers lord of what House of Commons, House of Lords! See my point. It really doesn’t take much effort to use the word Ya Allah! Ya Rabb!

Umma Baad, Now, onwards and upwards.

Let us pick up the thread where we left off from last time when we spoke about the fact that undoubtedly our present day Heads of States and Political Leaders could learn a lot from H. Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RA). So this Khutba will continue where we left off from as we concentrate on further events from H. Umar’s (RA) life and draw parallel to present day crisis. We learned that whilst H. Umar (RA) on his way to Bait al Maqdas or Jerusalem, 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 would go fo nothing less than a couple of floors in a 5 Star Hotel not to mention anything less than Chauffer driven Limousine, etc.

Truly even the Kuffars acknowledged that “If there was one more Umar (RA) Islam would have conquered the whole Duniya!

One more incident that I am sure you might be aware of but I will mention it inorder to strengthen our Imaan, 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 Madinah Al Munawwarah 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 Madinah 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 Khutba of Salaatul Juma, H. Umar (RA) stood up on the mimber and said, “ ISMA 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 nor 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.

Now I will narrate the unquantifiable wealth that poured into Madinah Al Munawwarah and remember this point Brothers, as I will come back to it in a minute. For example the incident of the Qisrah’s throne arriving in Madinah Al Munawwarah 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.

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.

He was stabbed during Salaat by a kuffar and became a true shahid Yaani SHAHIDE HAQIQI or moreover he became a KAAMIL SHAHID and brothers, 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 Madinah 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

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

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:

1. Firstly, MAN RABBOKA? Who is your Rabb?
2. Secondly, WA MAA DINUUK? And what is your deen?
3. 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

A while ago, we did a Khutbah on the topic of Riba coupled with Islamic Finance and we agreed that as this was a vast topic it will be done in 2 Phases.

We also said that as most authors cover the present day situations so in contrast in the 1st Khutbah we looked at the Historical background and in particular, the cause, the root and answered why these ayats on Riba were revealed in the first place.

As promised, in this final Khutbah we will look at the future of the Islamic Finance; where its heading and why. So in the short time we have today, we can only focus on a few essential points.

The purpose of todays Khutba is to highlight the real problem with the Islamic finance industry in that despite a 50-year history and current assets of about $300bn (£153bn) they have yet to add any value. Islamic banks have not created any new jobs (employment at Islamic banks does not count), financed new inventions or innovations or made the Islamic communities more just and equitable. The smoke and mirrors Islamic finance industry appears to be all about creating financial structures to comply with the letter of the law, not the spirit and intent of the Quran.

Historically speaking, lets go back to the first principles and work our way back to present day’s dilemma.

“The Qur’an condemns Riba, and Commentators describe a pre-Islamic practice of extending delay to debtors in return for an increase in the principal (Riba al-jahiliyya). Since this practice is recorded as existing at the time of the revelation, it is one certain instance of what the Qur’an prohibits. Hence H. Ibn Hanbal (RA), declared that this practice – ‘pay or increase’ – is the only form of Riba the prohibition of which is beyond any doubt.”

However, gradually, based on hadith, the scope of Riba was widened and two types were identified: Riba al-fadl (primarily related to sales transactions), and Riba al-nasiya (sales or debt involving deferment), where the latter corresponded to Riba al-Jahiliyyah. H. Ibn Abbas (RA), one of the major companions of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and earliest of the Islamic jurists, and few other companions such as H. Usama ibn Zayd (RA) , H. Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (RA), H. Urwa ibn Zubayr (RA) , Zayd ibn Arqam (RA) considered that the only unlawful Riba is Riba al-jahiliyyah.”

It is broadly agreed that the Qur’an does not define Riba as one type of transaction or another. … The efforts of the fuqaha or judicial scholars like Shaikh Zuhayli and the examples of the hadith allow us to determine a clear idea of what is Riba.”

Anyhow, these prohibitions have created a fundamentally different vision of finance from the west: namely, money is supposed to act as a store of value for tangible trade or business, and investors and institutions should share risk.

This implies that most modern bank accounts, bonds, derivatives and loan structures are banned. In recent years, bankers have devised structures to meet shariat, often by using equity-style schemes, rather than simple debt. Islamic bonds, or “sukuk”, are thriving, as is “takaful” insurance. Also, shariat compliant bank accounts and more recently, hedge funds have sought ways around the rules.

I am not saying I agree with any of this but giving you a picture of the current state of affairs.

Even H. Umar Ibn Al Khattab (RA) said “There are three things. If Rasoolallah (SAW) had explained them clearly, it would have been dearer to me than the world and what it contains: (These are) kalala, Riba, and khilafa. Incidentally, this hadith has been taken from Ibn Majah, the Book of Inheritance, Vol. 4, #2727. Incidentally, the term kalala here means leaving no parents or children as heirs and it occurs twice in the Qur’an, and like Riba wide divergences exist regarding its interpretation among scholars.

Now let us look at the Financial Products of Islamic Banking. So what are they?

The most commonly used are those with reference to wadi’ah (safekeeping), mudharabah (profit sharing), murabahah (cost plus), ijarah (leasing), qardh al-hassan (benevolent loan), and musharakah (joint venture).

The Wadi’ah (safekeeping of funds) is of two categories: The first category is the current account which, as in conventional banking, gives no return to depositors.

The mudharabah represents investment accounts which are based on unrestricted contract. These accounts are term deposits that cannot be withdrawn prior to maturity without a penalty. A bank acting as an agent under a mudharabah contract is referred to a mudharib. For a project, e.g., a factory, which yields an identifiable rate of return, the government would issue a Mudharabah certificate to investors. This instrument is equity-based and hence marketable in secondary markets, with the secondary market price determined by the performance prospect of the underlying project.

Murabahah means a sale of an item on mutually agreed profit. Technically, it is a contract of sale in which the seller declared his cost and profit. Islamic banks have adopted this as a mode of financing. As a financing technique, it involved a request by the client to the bank to purchase certain goods for him. The bank does that for a definite profit over the cost, calculated either on a percentage of cost basis or as a fixed amount. This vehicle is used mostly to assist short-term trade transactions.

Ijara, also known as ijara waqtina (lease and purchase), is a leasing contract whereby a party leases an asset for a specified rent and term. The owner of the asset (the bank) bears all risks associated with ownership. The asset can be sold at a negotiated market price, effectively resulting in the sale of the ijara contract. The ijara contract can be structured as a lease-purchase contract whereby each lease payment includes a portion of the agreed asset price and can be made for a term covering the asset’s expected life. Such contracts are also common in real estate transactions in the United States.(8). This system is disadvantageous for the buyer, who is unable to refinance a property he lives in at more favourable terms because it is registered in the name of the bank. Such a restriction if applied to the U.S. real estate market would have enormously negative economic consequences for the entire real estate sector.

Qardh al-hassan (Benevolent Loan) – is a loan extended on a goodwill basis, wherein the debtor is required to repay only the amount borrowed. However, the debtor may, at his discretion, pay an extra amount beyond the principal amount of the loan (without promising it) as a token of appreciation to the creditor. Muslims consider this type of loan to be the only type that does not violate the prohibition on Riba because none is promised or paid.

Now lets say a few words on Musharakah (Joint Venture) and the rising of Sukuk.

Musharakah is a form of an equity participation contract under which a bank and its client contribute jointly to finance a project. It is done through the issuance of “Participation Securities,” commonly referred to as sukuk or Islamic bonds. The sukuk is becoming so lucrative that many banks are rushing to set up shari’a-compliant operation. With abundant oil-windfall revenues and with many mega infrastructure projects which are either underway or on the drawing board, the Gulf is fast becoming the logical choice of new and established players alike to set up shop.

Moody’s, the credit ratings agency, estimates total takaful (Insurance) premiums were worth more than $2bn in 2005 and predicts this will rise to $7bn by 2015, mostly concentrated in the Middle East and Malaysia. Mercer Oliver Wyman, the consultancy, estimates takaful insurance premiums are expanding at 30% a year.

As the Shariat dictates prohibits interest all financing must be done on a profit and loss sharing basis. In spite of all the lofty rhetoric, in practice no more than 5 per cent of Islamic financing is done this way.

Instead, Islamic banks use a structure called murabaha, or cost plus pre-determined profit, for the vast majority of their finance deals. Remarkably, the “profit” for an Islamic bank in a murabaha transaction and the interest a conventional bank would have charged on the same transaction happen to be exactly the same. Indeed, Islamic banks in determining their “profit” even quote the rate as a margin over Libor or other similar indices.

Murabaha was a crude trading practice designed for transactions between real sellers and real buyers involving physical goods. By structuring a financing transaction while disguising it as a trading transaction – and charging interest concealed in Islamic garb – Islamic banks turn the entire enterprise into a charade.

Other modes of financing are just as dubious. Take Islamic house finance, structured as a lease: lease payments are equal to interest that a conventional bank would charge on a home mortgage loan. Sukuks, or Islamic bonds, are similar in many respects to murabaha and just as tainted. Brandishing a fatwa from a scholar of sharia law (who, like mercenaries, are sometimes for sale at the right price), blessing the structure does not absolve the bankers from the responsibility of meeting the spirit of the sharia.

Islamic banks need to move away from the deceptive modes of financing they currently use and step towards the American style of venture capital. This has two advantages. First, the stated principles of Islamic banking – favouring profit and loss sharing over interest – are very similar to the financing techniques used by the venture capital industry, especially in the US. These private equity groups are the real Islamic finance, the genuine article. Second, by providing funds to entrepreneurs with bright ideas, the banks can assist in promoting innovation, invention and creation of new jobs and industries.

The ironic thing is that although the US is not an “Islamic country”, more authentic and genuine sharia compliant financing is done in the US than in all the Islamic countries combined. That is because American venture capital groups annually provide about $25bn in capital financing to entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers with new ideas. As a consequence of the availability of this type of financing the venture capital industry in the US has given birth and nurtured scores of Silicon Valley companies, including modern day icons such as HP, Cisco, Intel, Sun Micro Systems, Apple, Netscape, Ebay, and Google. All were created in the past 30 years or so from ideas grounded in science and technology. Scientists and engineers came up with the ideas, innovations and inventions while the venture capital industry provided the capital on a partnership basis. Millions of new jobs have been created as a result.

Sharia-compliant consumer banking has long thrived in some Muslim countries, with services provided by local banks. Now, some of the world’s biggest institutions are responding to a growing demand from Muslim consumers.

When UBS, the Swiss bank, sold $750m worth of Islam-compliant bonds for Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the Malaysian government’s investment arm, it was assumed that Muslim investors had bought most of the bonds.

Not so. Non-Islamic investors also scrambled to purchase the issue, which was the largest convertible bond issued in Asia in 2006.

The tale highlights a broader pattern in global finance. Until a couple of years ago, Islamic finance was a specialist niche of international banking, limited to Muslim countries and focused on the retail sector. But it has expanded rapidly, with estimates of its size ranging from $250bn to $750bn.

Malaysia may be the model for countries taking their first steps in developing a market for Islam compliant financial products but it now appears to be lagging behind more conservative states.

The country has been building up its Islamic banks for more than 20 years and, at a size of about M$117bn (US$33.4bn), they now represent a 12 per cent share of its banking market.

At one time – from AD750 to about AD1100 – it was the Muslim world that was making advances in science and technology, because of the availability of risk capital (from rich people or sponsorship from the rulers) and respect for education, scholarship, discovery and innovation. But nothing of consequence has been invented in the Islamic world for hundreds of years.

The west’s renaissance partly came as a result of learning from the Islamic world. Now it is the Islamic world that needs to learn from the west, especially borrowing those ideas that are both consistent with its own beliefs and able to contribute to economic and scientific development. Venture capital is clearly such an idea. By becoming more like venture capital groups, the Islamic banks can practice real Islamic finance while helping the Islamic community to rediscover its tradition of invention and innovation.

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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 (SAW) 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. 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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 topic of today’s Khutbah is Riba coupled with Islamic Finance and as this is a vast topic, and its many dimensions cannot be covered in a Weekly 15 mns Khutbah so it will be done in 2 Phases. As most authors cover the present day situations so in contrast in today’s Khutbah, we will look at the Historical background.

With this in mind, today, Insha Allah, we will select some ayats from the Quran and hadiths from Sihaah Sitta as to what exactly led to the revelation of these Ayats in the Quran and in the final Khutbah we will look at the future of the Islamic Finance; where its heading and why.

So in the short time we have today, we can only focus on a few essential points.

Of course, Usury is condemned and prohibited in the strongest possible terms. There can be no question about the prohibition. However, when we come to the definition of Usury there is room for difference of opinion.

In the words of Ibn Kathir (in his commentary in Section 2: 275), “the subject of Riba is one of the most difficult subjects for many of scholars (ahl al-’ilm)”. Hence, I would appeal to readers to read the entire article, understand the various issues with an open mind and then make their own decisions.

So first of all with regards to the word Riba almost all the translators of the Qur’an, have translated the Arabic word Riba as “Usury”, “an increase” (or interest) upon the capital.

From a banking perspective, the argument against Riba is that money is not “goods” and that profit should be earned on goods and services only – not on control of money itself (i.e., return on assets).

It should be borne in mind that the passage condemning or prohibiting Riba in the 2nd Surah Baqarah, Ayats 275 to 281, was the last revelation received by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), who died a few days later; hence the Sahaaba had no opportunity to ask him about the Shar’i implications of the relevant injection – so much so that even H. Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) is reliably reported to have said: “The last [of Qur'an] that was revealed was the verse on Riba; and, behold, the messenger of ASWT passed away without having explained its meaning to us”. [This was narrated by H. Ibn Hambal (RA), on the authority of H. Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab (RA)].

So let us look at the cause, the root and ask ourselves why these ayats on Riba were revealed in the first place. The way in which Riba was doubled and redoubled in the pre-Islamic period is expressed by the son of H. Zayd b. Aslam (RA) as follows:

“Riba in the pre-Islamic period consisted of the doubling and redoubling [of money or commodities], and in the age [of the cattle]. At maturity, the creditor would say to the debtor, ‘Will you pay me, or increase [the debt]? If the debtor had anything, he would pay. Otherwise, the age of the cattle [to be repaid] would be increased … If the debt was money or a commodity, the debt would be doubled to be paid in one year, and even then, if the debtor could not pay, it would be doubled again; one hundred in one year would become two hundred. If that was not paid, the debt would increase to four hundred. Each year the debt would be doubled.”

The exploitation and injustice of such Riba-based transactions are obvious, and hardly require any further explanation or rationalization. This type of Riba is known as Riba al-jahiliyyah, and according to some Islamic scholars, such as Imam Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (RA), only such Riba is unlawful without doubt from the Islamic viewpoint.

Hence the Ayats prohibiting Riba were revealed in the Qur’an and among verses that deal with Riba are as follows:

First of all, Surah An nisa, Ayat 160, wherein Allah says:

Translation: For the iniquity of the Jews, we made unlawful for them certain (foods) good and wholesome which had been lawful for them;- in that they hindered many from God’s Way;-

Surah An nisa, Ayat 161:

Translation: That they took usury, though they were forbidden; and that they devoured men’s substance wrongfully; we have prepared for those among them who reject faith a grievous punishment.

Surah 2, al-Baqarah, Ayat 275:

Translation: Those who devour Riba will not stand except as stands one whom the Evil One by his touch hath driven to madness. That is because they say: “Trade is like Riba but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden Riba. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord desist shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for Allah (to judge); but those who repeat (the offence) are companions of the fire: they will abide therein (for ever).

Surah 3, Al Imran, Ayat 130, wherein Allah says:

Translation: O ye who believe! Devour not Riba, doubled and multiplied; but fear Allah; that ye may (really) prosper.

Surah 2, al-Baqarah, Ayat 278:

Translation: O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and give up what remains of your demand for usury, if ye are indeed believers.

Translation: If ye do it not, Take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger. But if ye turn back, ye shall have your capital sums: Deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.

But these verses do not really define what is Riba and based on the historical practices during the period of revelation, what is definitely prohibited in the Qur’an is known as Riba al-Jahiliyyah.

There is a “room for difference of opinion”. In the Sahih Al-Bukhari, under Hadith number 3:579 narrated by H. Jabir bin Abdullah (RA) it is recorded that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) repaid his debt that he owed H. Jabir (RA) plus he paid him “an extra amount”. The scholars who do advocate “zero tolerance” explain; a borrower is permitted to pay an “extra amount” to the principal sum borrowed, while repaying his debt, provided it is given of his own free will and is not stipulated as a condition of the borrowing. Such a payment is neither Interest nor Riba.

But no doubt you will counteract this with either the hadith on dates from H. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (RA) wherein the Prophet (SAW) said: “Do not sell gold for gold except when it is like for like, and do not increase one over the other; do not sell silver for silver except when it is like for like, and do not increase one over the other; and do not sell what is away [from among these] for what is ready.” (Bukhari, Kitab al-Buyu’, Bab bay’i al-fiddati bi al-fiddah; also Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i and Musnad Ahmad).

Or the hadith from Sahih Al-Bukhari on dates from H. Abu Huraira that “The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “Usury has got seventy divisions. The easiest division of them is a man’s marrying his mother.”

And finally, H. Abu Said al-Khudri’s (RA); hadith from Sahih Bukhari, Vol 3 Hadith No.506 wherein it mentioned that “Once H. Bilal (RA) brought Barni dates) to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the Prophet (SAW) asked him, “From where have you brought these?” H. Bilal (RA) replied, “I had some inferior type of dates and exchanged two Sas of it for one Sa of Barni dates in order to give it to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW); to eat.” Thereupon the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “Beware! Beware! This is definitely Riba (usury)! This is definitely Riba (Usury)! Don’t do so, but if you want to buy (a superior kind of dates) sell the inferior dates for money and then buy the superior kind of dates with that money.”

Let me reiterate once again that the IKHTILKAAF or the difference of opinions will always exist between brothers and on their interpretation, as it did between the Sahaaba such that at the Battle of the Jamaal or Camel in 656, thousands of Sahaaba became shahid.

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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 (SAW) 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. 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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:

AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM, WA REHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH,

As Muslims we have to go on believing that Quran is a living miracle and it is indeed the word of ASWT. So the purpose of this Khutbah is to strengthen your Imaan by re-iterating the Ayaats in the Quran and comparing them with the following examples of modern discoveries and hard core scientific facts, because these hard core scientific facts were already revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the Holy Quran which were simply beyond human imagination 14 centuries ago.

So continuing from last week, which Ayaats are these then? And moreover, lets say a few words on the discovery of the “black hole”.

Over a course of periods, some of the theories relating to the creation of the universe have been verified as facts, whereas some others are still being explored. Obviously, the duniya still haven’t caught up with the innumerable scientific facts mentioned in the Holy Quran.

In our last Khutbah, we spoke of the concept of the expanding universe that was discovered by Edwin Hubble in the 1920s. Yet some thirteen centuries before this, it was clearly mentioned in the Quran:

“And the heaven We built with Our own powers (aydin) and indeed We go on expanding it (musi’un).”

We also learnt that the Quran goes further and describes the entire cycle of the beginning, the end and the return again to a similar beginning. The first step of creation as related in the Quran accurately describes the event of the Big Bang in the following words:

Do not the unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were a closed-up mass (ratqan), then We clove them asunder (fataqna)? And We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?

In this verse the words ratqan (closed-up mass), and fataqna (We clove them asunder), carry the basic message of the whole verse. Authentic Arabic lexicons gives two meanings of ratqan, is ‘the coming together of something and the consequent infusion into a single entity’ and the second meaning is ‘total darkness’. Both these meanings are significantly applicable. Taken together, they offer an apt description of the singularity of a black hole.

BLACK HOLE is a gravitationally collapsed mass of colossal size. It begins with the collapse of such massive stars as are 15 or more times the size of the sun. The immensity of their inward gravitational pull causes the stars to collapse into a much smaller size. The gravitational pull is further concentrated and results in the further collapse of the entire mass into a supernova. At this stage the basic bricks of matter such as molecules, atoms etc. begin to be crushed into a mass of energy. Thus that moment in space-time is created which is called event horizon. The inward gravitational pull of that something becomes so powerful that all forms of radiation are pulled back so that even light cannot escape. A resultant total darkness ensues which earns it the name black hole, reminding one of the word ratqan used by the Quran indicating total darkness. This is called singularity which lies beyond the event horizon.

A black hole once created grows rapidly because even distant stars begin to be pulled in with the progressive concentration of gravitational energy. It is estimated that the mass of a black hole could grow as large as a hundred million times the mass of the sun. As its gravitational field widens, more material from space is drawn in at a speed close to that of light. In 1997 there was observational evidence suggesting that in our galaxy a black hole of 2,000,000 solar masses existed. But other calculations show that in our universe there could be many black holes as big as 3,000,000,000 solar masses. At that concentration of gravitational pull even distant stars would stagger and lose their mooring to be devoured by a glutton of such magnitude. Thus the process of ratqan is completed resulting into that singularity which is both completely closed as well as comprising total darkness.

Whilst speaking of the first creation of the universe, the Quran clearly describes its ending into yet another black hole, connecting the end to the beginning, thus completing the full circle of the story of cosmos. The Quran declares:

“Remember the day when We shall roll up the heavens like the rolling up of written scrolls”

The clear message of this verse is that the universe is not eternal. It speaks of a future when the heavens will be rolled up, in a manner similar to the rolling up of a scroll. Scientific descriptions illustrating the making of a black hole, very closely resemble what the Quran describes in the above verse.

A mass of accretion from space falling into a black hole, as described above, would be pressed into a sheet under the enormous pressure created by the gravitational and electromagnetic forces. As the centre of the black hole is constantly revolving around itself, this sheet—as it approaches—will begin to be wrapped around it, before disappearing into the realm of the unknown at last.

The verse continues:

… “As We began the first creation, so shall We repeat it; a promise binding on Us; that We shall certainly fulfill.”

Following the eventual collapse of the universe into a black hole, here we have the promise of a new beginning. ASWT will recreate the universe, as He had done before. The collapsed universe will re-emerge from its darkness and the whole process of creation will start yet again. This wrapping up and unfolding of the universe appears to be an ongoing phenomenon, according to the Holy Quran.

This Quranic concept of the beginning and the end of the creation is undoubtedly extraordinary. It would not have been less amazing if it had been revealed to a highly educated person of our contemporary age, but one is wonder-struck by the fact that this most advanced knowledge, regarding the perpetually repeating phenomenon of creation, was revealed more than fourteen hundred years ago to an unlettered dweller of the Arabian desert.

“We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and INSIDE THEIR SELVES, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient as regards your Lord that He is a witness over all things? (The Holy Quran, 41:53)”

Very Important Discovery:

A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebula), which is one of the remnants of the “smoke” that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest,)

ASWT said: “Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke…(The Holy Quran, 41:11)”

Only Islam had claimed that the universe was originated from Dust and Hot Gas, or Smoke.

Another Very Important Discovery:

ASWT Said: “And when the heaven splitteth asunder and becometh ROSY LIKE RED HIDE – (The Holy Quran, 55:37)”

What ASWT is Saying here is that when Galaxies explode, they form a red-rose-shaped explosion. He is also informing us that the Universe will all turn into red exploded galaxies looking like red or reddish roses when the Day of Judgment happens.

The explosion of Stars (FORMING RED ROSES), Galaxies and the Universe in the Holy Quran had also been confirmed by NASA.

We have suggested the possibility of an all-consuming gigantic black hole which may pull back the entire universal mass into its singularity.

Following the eventual collapse of the universe into a black hole, here we have the promise of a new beginning. ASWT will recreate the universe, as He had done before. The collapsed universe will re-emerge from its darkness and the whole process of creation will start yet again. This wrapping up and unfolding of the universe appears to be an ongoing phenomenon, according to the Holy Quran.

As such, we have concluded that according to the Holy Quran the case of the universe is an open and shut case. At the moment of the Big Bang it began to expand almost at the speed of light. At the end it will once again be drawn back into the abyss which we refer to as a black hole.

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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 (SAW) 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. 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM, WA REHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH,

A while ago, we did a Khutbah on how Islam had contributed to the world’s civilization, education, culture and particularly to the scientific development. As a result many of you felt that the scope of this Khutba should be widened.

So in response to your positive feedback, and moreover in order to strengthen our Imaan, we did a further Khutbah that took the Ayaats of the Holy Quran and compared them with many, many, examples of modern discoveries because these hard core scientific facts were already revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the Holy Quran 14 centuries ago.

So continuing from there in today’s Khutbah we will learn about the process of Creation and Yawm Al Aakhirah in the light of the Holy Quran and compare this with the Big Bang Theory and the Cosmic Crunch. In terms of Astrophysics , the Big Bang Theory is currently the dominant scientific explanation for the origin of the universe. It was first proposed in 1927 by a Belgian priest named George Lemaître.

1. Modern science tells us that the universe was started from a singularity. The pictures taken by Edwin Hubbell in Mount Wilson observatory in 1929 showed that the universe was expanding which led to the Big Bang theory. The Qur’an anticipated this “discovery” by 14 centuries.
2. The heaven used to be smoke Surah 41, Hā-Mīm, Ayaat 11 & 12.. We know that smoke is a mixture of hot gases and suspended particles.

Translation of Ayaat 11 & 12: Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: ‘Come ye together, willingly or unwillingly.’ They said: ‘We do come (together), in willing obedience.’ So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days, and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights, and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge.

The Arabic word for “sky” in Ayaat 11 above is “samaa”, which is the same word used for “Universe”. Since the 7 heavens didn’t exist yet (because the seven firmaments or heavens were mentioned in the next Noble Ayaat 41:12), then this CLEARLY MAKES the “samaa” be referring to the Universe, since the heaven was the entire Universe when ASWT “comprehended in His design the sky”, He then later divided it into seven firmaments or heavens.

Anyway, as we clearly see above in the Noble Verses, ASWT created the Universe or the “samaa” with smoke (Dukhan). Dukhan in Arabic refers to the smoke coming from fire, which is always HOT GAS.

It is now taught in Schools and a common knowledge that a new star is formed out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebula), which is what Allah said in Ayaat 11: “Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke.

Lets now concentrate on Surah 21, Anbiyāa, Ayaat 30, and how this relates to the Big Bang Theory. So ASWT says:

Translation: Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of creation), before we clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?

Is there any wonder, then today when scientists look for traces of life on Mars or Jupiter moons, they look for water!

So whats new? The Big Bang Theory has only caught up with us, because it states that the Universe experienced an unbelievable explosion from the hot gases that were forming it, which caused the Universe (which consisted of the ball of gases) to split and expand. The Earth was separated then from the gaseous mass that was forming the Universe. The gases according to the scientific knowledge now made “the universe be consisted of compact ball of hydrogen — protons, neutrons, electrons, and their anti-particles — plus radiation. There were not differentiated planets, stars, suns, galaxies. Five billion years ago, the compact hydrogen soup blasted apart with huge force, matter was hurled in all directions, and the universe doubled in size. ”

It is really interesting to know that the Big Bang Theory suggests that the Universe is still expanding until today, because this is EXACTLY what ASWT also states in the Holy Quran, in Surah 51, Ariyāt, or the Winds That Scatter, Ayaat 47, that the heavens are expanding:

“And the firmament, We constructed with power and skill and verily We are expanding it.

The word “samaa” here is literally translated as firmament meaning the universe.

American physicists Arno A. Penzias and Robert W. Wilson, who were rewarded with the Nobel Prize in 1978, discovered the primeval fireball’s relict radiation. Their discovery was made in 1964 by means of radio observations.

When the Cosmic Crunch to the Universe occurs, the Day of Judgment shall come. Prophet Muhammad predicted that the Sun will rise from the West and set in the East due to a change in our orbit’s rotation.

Let us look at what ASWT said about the “Cosmic Crunch” Theory in Surah 21, Surah 21, Anbiyāa, Ayaat 104:

“The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books (completed),- even as We produced the first creation, so shall We produce a new one: a promise We have undertaken: truly shall We fulfil it.

An interview with a Scientist, Professor John Archibald Wheeler, who was a colleague of Albert Einstein, explains this Ayaat above in good details.

“Who knows, perhaps the “Cosmic Crunch” would cause the Earth to flip upside down, which would cause the sun to rise from the West and set in the East, or perhaps it would change the rotation of the sun and its planets all together: “

Lets now look at the hadith narrated by H. Abu Dhar (RA) taken from Sahih Bukhari, Beginning of Creation, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 421: “The Prophet asked me at sunset, ‘Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?’ I replied, ‘Allah and His Apostle know better.’ He said, ‘It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates Itself underneath the Throne and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return whence it has come and so it will rise in the west. And that is the interpretation of the Statement of Allah: ‘And the sun Runs its fixed course For a term (decreed). That is The Decree of (Allah) The Exalted in Might, The All-Knowing.’ (36.38) (Translation of )”

Here’s another hadith narrated by H. Abu Huraira (RA), taken from Sahih Bukhari, Afflictions and the End of the World, Volume 9, Book 88, Number 237:

“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘The Hour will not be established……..and till the sun rises from the West. So when the sun will rise and the people will see it (rising from the West) they will all believe (embrace Islam) but that will be the time when: (As Allah said,) ‘No good will it do to a soul to believe then, if it believed not before, nor earned good (by deeds of righteousness) through its Faith.’ (6.158) And the Hour will be established while two men spreading a garment in front of them but they will not be able to sell it, nor fold it up; and the Hour will be established when a man has milked his she-camel and has taken away the milk but he will not be able to drink it; and the Hour will be established before a man repairing a tank (for his livestock) is able to water (his animals) in it; and the Hour will be established when a person has raised a morsel (of food) to his mouth but will not be able to eat it.’

Surah 22, Hajj, Ayaat 2 strengthens this hadith further as “The Day ye shall see it, every mother giving suck shall forget her suckling-babe, and every pregnant female shall drop her load (unformed): thou shalt see mankind as in a drunken riot, yet not drunk: but dreadful will be the Wrath of God.”

In an exclusive interview with John A. Wheeler, a Scientist-philosopher, teacher-cosmologist, father of the Black Hole, wherein he was asked, “If you were the Lord constructing the universe, how would you have gone about it?”

In a lengthy reply, edited here due to time constraint, he replied, “the Big Crunch or final Gate of Time is not distinct in nature from the black hole. Learning about a black hole is learning about the final stages of the universe.”

But doesn’t Surah 81, Takwīr, or the Folding Up, Ayaat 1 says the same thing: that at the end of time, the sun will stop radiating energy and will be folded into a ball.

Translation: When the sun (with its spacious light) is folded up;

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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 (SAW) 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. 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

A while ago, we did a Khutbah on how Islam had contributed to the world’s civilization, education, culture and particularly to the scientific development. The Muslim scientific revolution, which produced the renaissance that put Muslims at the top of the civilized world for 8 centuries, was also result of contemplating the clues in the Qur’an about the physical world.

Since then I have received many requests from brothers to widen the scope of that feel good Khutbah and as this is a vast topic it will be done in several Phases.

As Muslims we always considered the Quran a living miracle and it is indeed the word of ASWT. It is important brothers that you go on believing this. However, they say that “Seeing is Believing” so the purpose of this Khutba is to strengthen your Imaan by re-iterating the Ayaats in the Quran and comparing them with the following examples of modern discoveries and hard core scientific facts, for truly Quran anticipated many of the modern scientific discoveries which were simply beyond human imagination 14 centuries ago. So which Ayaats are these then?

1. Reptiles came out of the water and were followed by two legged then 4 legged creatures, Surah 24, Noor, Ayaat 45.

Translation: And Allah has created every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their bellies; some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills for verily Allah has power over all things.

2. The atom is not the smallest unit of matter in the universe which indicates the presence of subatomic particles! Surah 34, Saba, Ayaat :3.

Translation: The Unbelievers say, “Never to us will come the Hour”: Say, “Nay! but most surely, by my Lord, it will come upon you;- by Him Who knows the unseen,- from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the heavens or on earth: Nor is there anything less than that, or greater, but is in the Record Perspicuous:

3. The Universe was created over a very long period. For ASWT, some days last 1000 lunar years Surah 22, Hajj, Ayaat 47.

Translation: Yet they ask thee to hasten on the Punishment! But Allah will not fail in His Promise. Verily a Day in the sight of thy Lord is like a thousand years of your reckoning.

Surah 32, Sajda, Ayaat :5:

Translation: He rules (all) affairs from the heavens to the earth: in the end will (all affairs) go up to Him, on a Day, the space whereof will be (as) a thousand years of your reckoning.

4. The Qur’an predicts that the speed of light is not the fastest speed in the universe. Spirits and angels proceed to ASWT at 50 times the speed of light Surah 70, Ma‘ārij, or the Ways of Ascent, Ayaat :4:

Translation: The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:

5. Earth rotates around the sun, Surah 7, A’rāf, or The Heights, Ayaat 7:54:

Translation: Your Guardian-Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the throne (of authority): He draweth the night as a veil o’er the day, each seeking the other in rapid succession: He created the sun, the moon, and the stars, (all) governed by laws under His command. Is it not His to create and to govern? Blessed be Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds!

6. That the Earth is not flat but is like a ball or an egg shaped, Surah 79, Nāzi’āt, or Those Who Tear Out, Ayaat 30:

Translation: And the earth, moreover, hath He extended (to a wide expanse);

7. Iron was sent to earth by ASWT. Scientists now believe that iron was introduced to earth by meteors. Surah 57, Ḥadid, or Iron, Ayaat 25:

Translation: We sent aforetime our apostles with Clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice; and We sent down Iron, in which is (material for) mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help, Unseen, Him and His apostles: For Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might (and able to enforce His Will).

8. The oceans have layers of waves and layers of darkness in which some creatures have light. Scientists discovered recently different currents at different depths. Surah 24, Noor, Ayaat 40:

Translation: Or (the Unbelievers’ state) is like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean, overwhelmed with billow topped by billow, topped by (dark) clouds: depths of darkness, one above another: if a man stretches out his hands, he can hardly see it! for any to whom Allah giveth not light, there is no light.

9. When different seas (i.e., different in salinity, temperature, oxygen content, etc. ) meet, there is a barrier between them that they do not violate. This is not apparent by visual observation but temperature sensitive satellite pictures confirm this. Surah 55, Rahmān, or Allah, the Most Gracious, Ayaat 19 – 20:

Translation: He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together:

Translation: Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress:

10. Mountains are pegs that have roots extending below the surface of the earth [78:7], mountains stabilize the earth’s crust by minimizing earthquakes [16:15]. Surah 78, Nabaa, or the Great News, Ayaat 7:

Translation: And the mountains as pegs?

Surah 16, Naml or The Bee, Ayaat 15:

Translation: And He has set up on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with you; and rivers and roads; that ye may guide yourselves;

11. Earthquakes precede volcanic eruptions, Surah 99, Zilzāl, or The Convulsion, Ayaat 1:

Translation: When the earth is shaken to her (utmost) convulsion

12. The earth’s core is heavier than its crust, Surah 99, Zilzāl, or The Convulsion, Ayaat 2:

Translation: And the earth throws up her burdens (from within),

13. Our sun is not the only sun in the universe. Modern astronomy tells us that the sun is actually a star and therefore the universe is full of suns. Surah 25, Furqān, or The Criterion, Ayaat 61:

Translation: Blessed is He Who made constellations in the skies, and placed therein a Lamp and a Moon giving light;

14. Astronomers are looking for other planets like ours. The Qur’an predicts they will find other planets, Surah 65, Ṭalaq, Ayaat 12:

Translation: Allah is He Who created seven Firmaments and of the earth a similar number. Through the midst of them (all) descends His Command: that ye may know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah comprehends, all things in (His) Knowledge.

15. The Bible differentiates the sun and the moon by size only: “God made two great lights–the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars” [Genesis 1:16]. The Qur’an, however, tells us in Surah 10, Yunus or Jonah, Ayaat 5, that the sun is a shining glory while the moon is a light; the sun is a lamp and the moon is a light [25:61, 71:16]; the sun is a blazing lamp [78:13].

Surah 10, Yūnus, or Jonah, Ayaat 5:

Translation: It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a light (of beauty), and measured out stages for her; that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time). Nowise did Allah create this but in truth and righteousness. (Thus) doth He explain His Signs in detail, for those who understand.

Surah Furqān, or The Criterion 25, Ayaat 61:

Translation: Blessed is He Who made constellations in the skies, and placed therein a Lamp and a Moon giving light;

Surah Nūḥ, 71, Ayaat 16:

Translation: And made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a (Glorious) Lamp?

16. The solar system is traveling through the universe to a final destination, Surah 36, Yā-Sīn, Ayaat 38.

Translation: And the sun runs his course for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing.

17. Morning is associated with breathing. Now we know that plants produce oxygen in presence of light and consume carbon dioxide, Surah 81, Takwīr, or the Folding Up, Ayaat 18:

Translation: And the Dawn as it breathes away the darkness.

18. Sperm attaches itself to the egg to form an attachment or a leach then a chewed-like lump which develops bones which are covered with flesh and then changed into a different form [ 23:14]. This refers to facts discovered only recently when scientists, using special scopes, followed the development of the fetus from a fertilized egg to a form resembling lower vertebrae before turning into the human form. Surah 23, Mū-minūn, Ayaat 14:

Translation: Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create!

After contemplating the descriptions of embryonic stages in these Ayaats, Professor Keith Moore, a Canadian embryologist, compared pictures of different embryonic stages to pictures of leaches and chewed clay and confirmed the amazing accuracy of this Ayaat in the Quran.

19. Human pregnancy passes through 3 trimesters, Surah 39, Zumar or the Crowds, Ayaat 6:

Translation: He created you (all) from a single person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and he sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs: He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. such is Allah, your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no god but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Centre)?

20. Different clouds (positively and negatively charged) are harmonized to produce droplets of water and lightning, Surah 24, Noor, Ayaat 43:

Translation: Seest thou not that Allah makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a heap?–then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst. And He sends down from the sky mountain masses (of clouds) wherein is hail: He strikes therewith whom He pleases and He turns it away from whom He pleases, the vivid flash of His lightning well-nigh blinds the sight.

In conclusion then, none of this is surprising since the Qur’an came to detail and explain everything and to settle differences of opinions [12:111, 16:64, 16:89].

Surah 12, Yūsuf, Ayaat 111:

Translation: There is, in their stories, instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not a tale invented, but a confirmation of what went before it,- a detailed exposition of all things, and a guide and a mercy to any such as believe.

Surah 16, Nahl, Ayaat 64:

Translation: And We sent down the Book to thee for the express purpose, that thou shouldst make clear to them those things in which they differ, and that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe.

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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 (SAW) 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. 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM, WA REHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH,

In today’s Khutbah we hope to enlighten you by reproducing below two articles on the question of how Islam spread which is related to the topic of a prejudicial view that is deeply entrenched in the Western psyche that relates Islam to Violence. At the root of this prejudice is the erroneous belief that Islam had spread through the Sword. If by this means that people were threatened with death unless they embraced the religion, there is very little ‘historical evidence to support this contention.

The first article is by world renowned Dr. Chandra Muzaffar who the President of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST). He is a Malaysian political scientist who is considered a symbol of intellectual activism.

The second article is by world renowned Mr. Uri Avnery, a leading Israeli intellectual associated with the human rights group, “Gush Shalom”.

Before people start thinking why I am including an article by a Jewish journalist, writer, peace activist in a Khutbah, I think it is only appropriate to say a few words on his biography which is as follows:

But brothers, these are very thought provoking articles that leads you to think that why weren’t these good articles written by our so called Muslim Ulama and scholars?

• Between 1950-1990 for a span of 40 years, Uri Avnery was the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, “Ha’olam Haze” news magazine.
• He served a massive 3 Terms as member of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) (1965-1969, 1969-1973, 1979-1981).
• In 1975 he was the Founding member of the Israeli council for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
• In 1993 he was the Founding member, “Gush Shalom” (Peace Bloc), Independent Peace Movement.
• Since 1948 has advocated the setting up of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
• At the time, the Muslims awarded him the Honorary citizenship of Abu-Ghosh near Jerusalem, for his part in preventing the eviction of the village, awarded 12.12.53

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SWORD – by Dr. Chandra Muzaffar

It was Albert Einstein who once noted that it is easier to split the atom than to crack a prejudice.

Although it is true Muslim rulers and generals conquered territories but often the conquered inhabitants were allowed to retain their religion or belief. In fact, until the middle of the eighth century”, in the words of the British writer, Karen Armstrong, Jews and Christians in the Muslim empire were actively discouraged from conversion to Islam, as, according to Quranic teaching, they had received authentic revelations of their own. In many instances, it was only after political authority had been securely established that the masses voluntarily adopted the religion of their new rulers. This is something that has happened in almost every religion. After the emperor Asoka became a Buddhist there was a huge influx, his subjects to his new religion. In the case of Islam trade also played an important role in the spread of the faith especially between the 8th and 15th centuries. Traders assumed the mantle of missionaries. Some historians have observed that the honesty and integrity of these traders attracted a lot of people to their religion. In Southeast Asia, as in East and West Africa, trade was perhaps the most effective channel for the propagation of the religion.

An even more influential factor in the spread of Islam in the early centuries was of course Islamic mysticism or Sufism. Across North Africa and Central Asia, in various parts of the Indian subcontinent and most parts of Southeast Asia, the gentle persuasiveness of Sufi preachers with their message of virtue and compassion culled from the Quran made a huge impact upon culturally diverse communities.

Perhaps more than any of these influences, it is the socio-political and socio-economic environment that prevailed in various parts of the world in the centuries immediately after the advent of Islam that explains its rapid and dramatic growth. In settings dominated by hierarchical and often oppressive structures, the egalitarian justice offered by Islam came as a breath of fresh air.

As the famous H.G. Wells put it, Islam prevailed because it was the best social and political order the times could offer. It prevailed because everywhere it found politically apathetic peoples, robbed, oppressed, bullied, uneducated and unorganized and it found selfish and unsound governments out of touch with any people at all. It was the broadest, freshest and cleanest political idea that had yet come into actual activity in the world and it offered better terms than any other to the masses of mankind.” It was, partly because of what it offered humankind, that even when Muslims were conquered, their conquerors eventually adopted the religion of the conquered. Thus, the descendants of Hulagu, the Mongol conqueror of Baghdad in the 13th century, chose to embrace Islam. In this regard it is significant that Islam today is spreading most rapidly in societies where Muslims are in a minority, in North America and Europe-and not in Muslim majority countries where they exercise power. What all this shows is that the allegation that ‘Islam had spread by the sword’ is perpetuated for a purpose. Before we examine the motive, it should be emphasized that the Quran is perhaps the only religious text that explicitly prohibits coercion in matters of faith.

Here Dr. Chandra quotes Ayaat 256 from Surah 2, Baqara:

Translation: Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.

It also acknowledges religious plurality in the oft quoted verse, Surah 109, Al Kafirun, Ayaat 6:

Translation: “To you your Deen; to me, mine”.

This is why for a period of time in the Ottoman empire, if a Muslim coerced a Christian or a Jew to convert to Islam, he was put to death.

If this is the Islamic position on forced conversion in theory and in practice, why has the lie about the sword and violence persisted for so long? The elites in the West who for the last few centuries have exercised over whelming influence on the thinking of the rest of human kind have succeeded in transferring their terrible guilt about perpetrating unspeakable violence upon people everywhere through perpetual wars, conquests and persecutions on to their adversaries. Thus their enemies have become the epitome and the embodiment of their own violence. Islam and Muslims- the perennial nemesis of the West- have borne the brunt of this transference of guilt.

There is no better example of this than the crusades blessedly the popes. When the crusaders conquered Jerusalem in 1099, they massacred 30,000 Muslims and Jews. Contrast this with the compassion and magnanimity of the illustrious Saladin when he recaptured Jerusalem in 1187.

He not only protected the Christian community-along with the Jews but also their places of worship and yet medieval Christian literature it was the Muslim who was portrayed as a blood thirsty warrior eager to embark upon Holy wars. The truth is the term ‘holy war’ does not even belong to Islam. As the Austrian Catholic philosopher, Hans Koechler points out, that literally, “holy war” is the translation of the Latin term bellum sanctum which was used to describe a “crusade” against the Saracens in the Middle Ages; thus, this notion was part of the doctrine of the Roman-Catholic Church over many centuries.

The crusades are but one gory entry in the long and sordid catalogue of violent conquests associated with elites in the West. There was the merciless slaughter of perhaps 30 million indigenous peoples of the Americas and Australasia. It is sad that in each and every one of these colossal catastrophes the Church had some role or other. At the same time however there were some notable Christian figures who spoke out against the monumental crimes committed in their name.

Nonetheless in, the course of reacting to oppression and subjugation, it is undeniably true that a fringe within the Muslim community has also indulged in horrendous acts of violence. murdered innocent people in total violation of unambiguously lucid Islamic principles. Their deeds have only helped to reinforce prejudiced stereotypes about Muslim violence.

The second article quoted below verbatim is by world renowned Mr. Uri Avnery, as we said before:

Since the days when Roman emperors threw Christians to the lions, the relationship between the emperors and the heads of the church have undergone many changes. 

Constantine the Great, who became emperor in the, year 306 – exactly 1700 years ago – encouraged the practice of Christianity in the empire, which included Palestine, Centuries later, the church split into an Eastern (Orthodox) and a Western (Catholic) part. In the West, the Bishop of Rome, who acquired the title of Pope, demanded that the emperor accept his superiority. – The struggle between the emperors and the~ played a central role in European history and divided the peoples, It knew ups and downs. Some emperors dismissed or expelled a pope, some popes dismissed or excommunicated an emperor. But there were times when emperors and popes lived in peace with each other. We are witnessing such a period today, . Between the present Pope, Benedict XVI, and the emperors of today. There exists a wonderful harmony. Last week’s speech by the Pope, which aroused a worldwide storm, went well with Bush’s regime.

In his lecture at a German university, the 265th Pope described what he sees as a huge difference between Christianity and Islam: while Christianity is based on reason, Islam denies it. While Christians see the logic of God’s actions, Muslims deny that there is any such logic in the actions of Allah. .

As a Jewish atheist, I do not intend to enter the fray of this debate. It is much beyond my humble abilities to understand the logic of the Pope. But I cannot overlook one passage, which concerns me too, as an Israeli living near the fault-line of this “war of civilizations”,

In order to prove the lack of reason in Islam, the Pope asserts that the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) ordered his followers to spread their religion by the sword. According to the Pope, that is unreasonable, because faith is born of the soul, not of the body.

How can the sword influence the soul? To support his case, the Pope Quoted – of all people – a Byzantine emperor, who belonged, of course, to the competing Eastern Church. In the 14th century, Emperor Manuel Palaeologus told of a debate he had – or so he said (its occurrence is in doubt) -with an unnamed Persian Muslim scholar, In the heat of the argument, the emperor (according to himself) flung the following words at his adversary: .Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman such as command to spread by the sword the faith he preached’. These words give rise to three questions: (a) Why did the Emperor say them? (b) Are they true? (c) Why dld the present Pope quote them?

When Manuel II wrote his treatise, he was the head of a dying empire. He assumed power in 1391, when only a few provinces of the once illustrious empire remained. These, too, were already under Turkish threat. At that point in time, the Ottoman Turks had reached the banks of the Danube. They had conquered Bulgaria and the north of Greece, and had twice defeated relieving armies sent by Europe to save the Eastern Empire. On 29 May 1453, only a few years after Manuel’s death, his capital, Constantinople (the present Istanbul ), fell to the Turks, putting an end to the empire that had lasted for more than a thousand years.

During his reign, Manuel made the rounds of the capitals of Europe in an attempt to drum up support. He promised to reunite the church. There is no doubt that he wrote his religious treatise In order to incite the Christian countries against the Turks and convince them to start a new crusade. Tpe aim was practical, theology was serving politics.

In this sense, the. quote serves exactly the requirements of the present Emperor, George Bush II. He, too, wants to unite the Christian world against the mainly Muslim “Axis of Evil”. Moreover, the Turks are again knocking on the doors of Europe, this time peacefully. It is well known that the Pope supports the forces that object to the entry of Turkey into the European Union. Is there any truth in Manuel’s argument?

The pope himself threw in a word of caution. As a serious and renowned theologian, he could not afford to falsify written texts. Therefore, he admitted that the Qur’an specifically forbade the spreading of the faith by force. He quoted the second Sura, Verse 256 (strangely fallible, for a pope, he meant Verse 257) which says: “There must be no coercion in matters of faith.

How can one ignore such an unequivocal statement? The Pope simply argues that this commandment was laid down by the Prophet (SAW) when he was at the beginning of his career, still weak and powerless, but that later on he ordered the use of the sword in the service of the faith. Such an order does not exist in the Qur’an. True, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) called for the use of the sword in his war against opposing tribes – Christian, Jewish and others – in Arabia, when he was building his state. But that was a political act, not a religious one; basically a fight for territory, not for the spreading of the faith.

The treatment of other religions by Islam must be judged by a simple test: how did the Muslim rulers behave for more than a thousand years, when they bad the power to “spread the faith by the sword”? – Well, they just did not.

For many centuries, the Muslims ruled Greece. Did the Greeks become Muslims? Did anyone even try to Islamize them? .the contrary, Christian Greeks held the highest positions in the Ottoman administration. The Bulgarians, Serbs, Romanians, Hungarians and other European nations lived at one time or another under Ottoman rule and clung to their Christian faith. Nobody compelled them and all of them remained devoutly Christian. True, the Albanians did convert to Islam, and so did the Bosniaks. But nobody argues that they did this under duress.

In 1099, the Crusaders conquered Jerusalem and massacred its Muslim and Jewish inhabitants indiscriminately in name of the gentle Jesus (AS). At that time, 400 years into the occupation of Palestine by the Muslims, Christians were still the majority in the country. Throughout this long period,. no effort was made to impose Islam on them. Only after the expulsion of the Crusaders from the country, did the majority of the inhabitants start to adopt the Arabic language and the Muslim faith – and they were the forefathers of most of today’s Palestinians. . There is no evidence whatsoever of any attempt to impose Islam on the Jews. As is well known, under Muslim rule the Jews of Spain enjoyed a bloom the like of which the Jews did not enjoy anywhere else until almost our time. Poets like Yehuda Halevy wrote in Arabic, as did the great Maimonides. In Muslim Spain, Jews were ministers, poets, scientists. In Muslim Toledo, Christian, Jewish and Muslim scholars worked together and translated the ancient Greek philosophical and scientific texts. That was, indeed, the Golden Age. How would this have been possible, had the Prophet (SAW) decreed the “spreading of the faith by the sword”? .

What happened afterwards is even more telling. When the Catholics reconquered Spain from the Muslims, they instituted a reign of religious terror. The Jews and the Muslims were presented with a cruel choice: to become Christians, to be massacred or to leave. And where did the hundreds of thousand of Jews, who refused to abandon their faith, escape?

Almost all of them were received with open arms in the Muslim countries. The Sephardi (“Spanish”) Jews settled all over the Muslim world, from Morocco in the west to Iraq in the east, from Bulgaria (then part of the Ottoman Empire) in the north to Sudan in the south. Nowhere were they persecuted. They knew nothing like the tortures of the Inquisition , the terrible mass expulsions that took place in almost all Christian countries, up to the Holocaust.

Why? Because Islam expressly prohibited an~ persecution of the “peoples of the book”. In Islamic society, a special place was reserved for Jews and Christians. They did not enjoy completely equal rights, but almost They had to pay a special poll tax, but were exempted from military service – a trade-off that was quite welcome to many Jews. It has been said that Muslim rulers frowned upon any attempt to convert Jews to Islam even by gentle persuasion – because it entailed the loss of taxes.

The story about “spreading the faith by the sword” is an evil, a myth that grew up in Europe during the great wars against the Muslims – the reconquest of Spain by the Christians, the Crusades and the repulsion of the Turks, who almost conquered Vienna. I suspect that the German Pope, too, honestly believes in these fables. That means that the leader of the Catholic world, who is a Christian theologian in his own right, did not make the effort to study the history of other religions.

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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 (SAW) 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. 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM, WA REHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH,

The purpose of today’s Khutba is to strengthen your Imaan by re-iterating the Ayaats in the Quran and comparing them with the following examples of modern discoveries and hard core scientific facts, for truly Quran anticipated many of the modern scientific discoveries which were simply beyond human imagination 14 centuries ago. So which Ayaats are these then?

Einstein’s Theory of Time relativity in the Holy Quran:

Today, the relativity of time is a proven scientific fact. This was revealed by Einstein’s theory of relativity at the early years of the 20th century. Until then, people did not know that time was a relative concept, and that it could change according to the environment. Yet, the Einstein openly proved this fact with the theory of relativity. He showed that time is dependent on mass and velocity. In the history of humanity, no one had expressed this fact clearly before.

With one exception though; the Holy Qur’an included information about time’s being relative!

So, how is Time Relativity expressed in the Noble Quran: Some Ayaats on this subject are as follows:

Surah 70, Ma‘ārij, or the Ways of Ascent, Ayaat :4:

The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose length is fifty thousand years.

Surah 22, Hajj, Ayaat 47

“They ask you to hasten the punishment. God will not break His promise. A day with your Lord is equivalent to a thousand years in the way you count.”

Surah 32, Sajda, Ayaat: 5:

Translation: He rules (all) affairs from the heavens to the earth: in the end will (all affairs) go up to Him, on a Day, the space whereof will be (as) a thousand years of your reckoning.

In some Ayaats, it is indicated that people perceive time differently and that sometimes people can perceive a very short period of time as a very lengthy one. The following conversation of people held during their judgement in the Hereafter is a good example of this:

Surah 23: Mū-minūn, or The Believers, Ayaats 112 – 114

“He will say, ‘How many years did you tarry on the earth?’ They will say, ‘We tarried there for a day or part of a day. Ask those able to count!’ He will say, ‘You only tarried there for a little while if you did but know!”

The fact that the relativity of time is so clearly mentioned in the Holy Quran, which started to be revealed in the Gregorian Year 610 AD, is evidence that Holy Quran can only be a word of ASWT.

From the above Ayaats we observed that the time of the earth is very fast than the time of the space. This is what the science says, lets see.

The relativity of the time is a scientific fact.

Time does go SLOWER for an astronaut in space than on Earth.

If one of a pair of twin sisters flies in space at great speed, at her return to Earth she’ll be younger than her sister who stayed there.

For example, if one sister flies into space for 5 years and reaches 99.5% of the speed of light (which is 185,400 miles per second or 298,500 kilometers per second) going out and then again on the return leg, she’ll find her Earth-bound sister aged by 50 years while for her, just 5 years have gone by. In other words, they are now 45 years apart in age!

Now let’s turn to UFOs and Space Shuttles which again were explicitly mentioned in the Noble Quran!

Surah 42: Shūrā, or Consultation, Ayaat: 29

“And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the living creatures that He has scattered through them: and He has power to gather them together when He wills.

Sex determination and human creation in Islam:

Let us look at what ASWT said about the human creation and formation:

Surah 86, Tāriq, or The Night-Visitant, Ayaats: 5 – 10

“Now let man but think From what he is created! He is created from A drop emitted — Proceedings from between the backbone and the ribs: Surely (Allah) is able To bring him back (To life)! The Day that (All) things secret Will be tested, (Man) will have No power, And no helper.”

Where does the male’s semen come from?

“A man’s seed is the quintessence of his body. It is therefore said metaphorically to proceed from his loins, i.e., from his back between the hipbones and his ribs. His backbone is the source and symbol of his strength and personality. In his spinal cord and in the brain is the directive energy of the central nervous system, and this directs all action, organic and psychic. The spinal cord is continuous with the Medulla Oblongata in the brain.”

Surah 76, Dahr, or Time; or Insān, or Man, Ayaats: 2

“Verily We created Man from a drop of mingled sperm, In order to try him: So We gave him (the gifts), Of Hearing and Sight.”

Important Note: How could Prophet Muhammad (SAW) have guessed 1400 years ago that the backbone or the “spine” as we call it today play a very essential role in the creation of humans? Also, how could he have guessed that the male is the one that determines the fetus sex since we are created from “drop emitted — Proceedings from between the backbone and the ribs”? Only the male’s semen is visibly “drop emitted” during ejaculation.

The sex of the fetus is determined by the father’s sperm. The female ovum contains only the X chromosomes. If the sperm, or the “emitted drop (as the Holy Quran called it)”, contains the Y chromosome, then the baby will be a male, otherwise the baby will be a female.

Let us look at the following Hadith (Saying) of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW):

(Translation of Sahih Muslim, The Book of Menstruation (Kitab Al-Haid), Book 003, Number 0614. H. Thauban, (RA), said: “While I was standing beside the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one of the rabbis of the Jews came and said:

He (the Jew) said: I have come to ask you about a thing which no one amongst the people on the earth knows except an apostle or one or two men besides him. He (the Holy Prophet) said: Would it benefit you if I tell you that? He (the Jew) said: I would lend ears to that. He then said: I have come to ask you about the child. He (the Holy Prophet) said: The reproductive substance of man is white and that of woman (i. e. ovum central portion) yellow, and when they have sexual intercourse and the male’s substance (chromosomes and genes) prevails upon the female’s substance (chromosomes and genes), it is the male child that is created by Allah’s Decree, and when the substance of the female prevails upon the substance contributed by the male, a female child is formed by the Decree of Allah. The Jew said: What you have said is true; verily you are an Apostle. He then returned and went away.

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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 (SAW) 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. 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

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. (You must expand this Arabic portion of Khutbah, depending on the month/season, e.g. Hajj, Ramadaan, etc.)

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,

AS-SALAAMU ALAIKUM, WA REHMATUL LAAHI WA BARAKAATUH,

Continuing from last week, lets see how the Cosmology was clearly defined in the Holy Quran.

At the time when the Holy Quran was revealed, the human understanding of the nature of the cosmos and the movement or the stillness of the galactic planetary systems bodies was extremely primitive and obscure.

Over a course of periods, some of the theories relating to the creation of the universe have been verified as facts, whereas some others are still being explored. Obviously, the duniya still haven’t caught up with the innumerable scientific facts mentioned in the Holy Quran.

In our last few Khutbahs, we spoke of the concept of the expanding universe that was discovered by Edwin Hubble in the 1920s. Yet some fourteen centuries before this, it was clearly mentioned in the Quran. We also suggested that at the time of Yawm Al Qiyamah, the possibility of an all-consuming gigantic black hole which may pull back the entire universal mass into its singularity.

Now we turn to another aspect of the description of the cosmos which relates to the motion of the heavenly bodies. All the scholars of that time were unanimous in their belief that the earth is stationary while other heavenly bodies like the sun and the moon are constantly revolving around it. If the Quran had described the earth as stationary and the heavenly bodies as revolving around it, then although the people of that time might have been satisfied with this description, the people of the later ages like you and I would have treated that statement as a proof of the ignorance of the Quran’s author. Such a statement, they would emphasize, could not have been made by an All-Knowing, Supreme Being.

Rather than literally comparing the motion of the earth to that of other heavenly bodies, the Quran makes the following statement:

“The mountains that you see, you think they are stationary while they are constantly floating like the floating of clouds. Such is the work of Allah Who made everything firm and strong.”

If the mountains are declared to be in constant motion, then the only logical inference to be drawn from this would be that the earth is also rotating along with them. But thanks to the masterly language of the Holy Quran this observation went unnoticed. If they had read with care the end of the same verse they would have been left with no room for any misunderstanding. It ends with a lasting tribute to the creative faculty of ASWT, Who has created all things with such firmness that they cannot be dislodged. Anything which cannot be dislodged can never be catapulted out of the earth, to fly alone, leaving the earth behind.

The Holy Quran also pronounces that all heavenly bodies are in a constant state of motion; none of them is stationary:

“everything is gliding along smoothly in its orbit.”

This all-embracing statement covers the entire universe, our solar system being no exception. In addition to this, there are many other verses which mention the elliptical movement of all the heavenly bodies. But they also speak of their movement towards their destined time of death. Following are some of the verses which cover both subjects:

“Allah is He Who raised up the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then He settled Himself on the Throne. And He pressed the sun and the moon into service. All pursue their course until an appointed time. He regulates it all. He clearly explains the Signs, that you may have a firm belief in the meeting with your Lord.”

“Hast thou not seen that Allah makes the night pass into the day, and makes the day pass into the night, and He has pressed the sun and the moon into service; all pursuing their course till an appointed term, and Allah is well aware of what you do?”

We turn to another amazing revelation of the Quran regarding a specific motion of the sun which is mentioned nowhere else. This verse 36:39, pronounces,

And the sun is constantly moving in the direction of its ultimate abode of rest. This is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

It clearly speaks of a point in space to be the sun’s final resting place. Despite the fact that it is only the sun which is mentioned, the verses which immediately follow bind the entire universe to the movement of the sun in the same specific direction:

And the sun is constantly moving in the direction of its ultimate abode of rest. This is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.

And for the moon We have regulated stages until it looks like a thin branch of an old palm tree.

Nor does it behove for the sun to overtake the moon nor for the night to overtake the day

If it were only the sun which was moving in a fixed direction, the verse which follows this statement would not have proclaimed that the sun and the moon strictly maintain their mutual distance; they will never be able to gain or move away from each other, an unchangeable destiny till their appointed time. This clearly shows that in whatever direction the sun is moving, the moon is also moving.

But it is not only the question of the sun and the moon. All the heavenly bodies are described in the Quran as soundlessly floating. Again there are numerous verses in the Quran which describe the heavenly bodies bound together with invisible links. Hence if one of them moves in a direction other than its orbital and elliptical motion, all the other heavenly bodies must also move along to maintain their mutual balance.

And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; everything gliding along in orbit.

This is a unique style of the Quran also employed for indicating the movement of the earth upon its axis. The people of the time of both these revelations could not clearly grasp the underlying idea. If the mountains are moving the earth must also move along, but this is not what the people of that age inferred. Nor could they grasp the idea that if the sun is moving in the direction of a specific space, the entire universe must also be moving along with it to the same destination. This vision of the entire universe drifting away in space is an idea which perhaps has not as yet been conceived by contemporary scientists. Yet it can be implied from an in-depth study of the Quran that the entire cosmos is moving towards some point in space. If that implication is true then one is left with no choice but to visualize all 180 billion or more galaxies, of which our planetary system is but a tiny dot, to be moving along with the sun in a set direction.

Conclusion of the First Part of the Khutbah:

NAD’OO ALLAHA AN YAGHFIRA LANA ZUNUBANA

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 (SAW) 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. 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