Shaytaan: Avowed Enemy
By Arshad Gamiet.
Royal Holloway Univ. of London/ 13th April 2007.
“As-salámu 'alaikum wa rahmatul láhi wa barakátuh!”
“A-úthu billáhi minash shaytánir rajeem. Bismilláhir rahmánir raheem.
Al hamdu lillahi nahmaduhu wanasta’eenahu, wanastagh-firuhu, wanatoobu ilayhi, wana’oothu Billaahi min shuroori an-fusinaa, wamin sayyi aati a’maalinaa. May- Yahdillahu fa huwal muhtad, wa may- yudlill falan tajidaa lahu waliyan murshida. Wa ash-hadu an Laa ilaaha ill-Alláh, 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 Muhammad, sws, is His servant, and His messenger.
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem! 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…
My respected Brothers and Sisters,
If we look around us we find that our physical environment is made of 4 elements: Earth, Water, Wind and Fire. Each of these elements is of a lighter and finer substance than the other: Earth is heaviest and roughest; then comes water, lighter and finer than earth; wind is lighter and finer than water and above them all, fire is the lightest and finest.
One of the great beauties of the Holy Quran is in its eloquent use of language, especially of metaphor. The Quran often refers to these 4 elements in the most graphic and evocative verses. Fire is often mentioned in connection with Hell, Jahannam, and its painful torment…’fee naari jahannam..’. But it is also connected with the pride and arrogance of Iblis, who was one of the Jinn In Sura Ar’af 7:v12, [and Sura Saad 38:v76] Allah tells us that when He commanded the angels to bow down to Adam, they all bowed down, except the evil Jinn, Iblis, who said: “Ana khairun Minn!” “I am better than He!” Iblis was saying, I am made of fire, and he, Adam, is made of lowly clay, earth, which is a coarser and cruder substance than fire. Iblis was of course, full of arrogance and pride. But Allah knows what Iblis could never know. Allah made Jinn from fire without smoke, and human beings were made from dust. But when we human beings, humble creatures, often forgetful and distractible as we are, bow down in prayer, touching the ground with our foreheads, when we obey our Lord, He raises our status even higher than the angels. We become the best of all creation. And when we disobey Allah, when we follow our lower passions and desires, we can become worse than animals. In Sura Al Teen, we read: [Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem!]
"La qad khalaq nal insaana fee ahsani taqweem"
"We have created Man in the best of moulds .."
And, just in case we become, like Iblis, too conceited and arrogant, in the very next verse, we are reminded of the darker side of human nature.
"Thumma radudná hu asfala sáfileen…"
"Then do we abase him to be the lowest of the low…"
" Illall latheena ‘aamanu wa’amilus sawlihaat. Falahum ‘ajrun ghairu mumnoon."
"Except those who believe and do righteous deeds, for they shall have a reward unfailing. "
Angels cannot make moral choices. Only Jinn and Mankind have this capacity. That is why, when we make the right moral choices, against all the temptations of Shaytaan, we can rise higher than angels. Allah says that He has created Jinn and Mankind for one purpose only: to worship Him. In Sura Dhariyát, Allah says,
"Wamá khalqtul jinna wal insa illá liya’ budoon."
"I have only created jinns and men, that they may serve Me"
Every time we resist the temptations of Shaytaan, and we respond to Allah’s call, we are really achieving the purpose of our creation. This epic battle between the lower nafs, the nafs al ammara bis sow, and our conscience, the nafs al law-waamah, the self-blaming nafs, is the most important victory we can ever achieve. The prize is True iman, faith, and Taqwa, which is awesome and loving awareness of Allah, and fearing His anger. These are the fruits of this jihad against our lower self. And the key to this struggle lies in the simple intention that we recite numerous times every day, at the beginning of every important action:
A-oothu bil-Laahi minash shaytaanir rajeem. Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem!
I turn away from Shaytaan, the Cursed One. I begin in the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate!
These simple words pass our lips so many times a day. But do we really ponder over their meaning and significance? Note that turning away from Shaytaan comes before we begin anything in the Name of Allah swt. We do not say Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem, A-oothu billaahi minash shaytaanir rajeem! It would not make sense that way. First the negative: Turning away from Shaytaan, then the positive: Begin in the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate. By saying these words in the way Prophet Muhammad sws taught us, we are reminded of the original sin of Prophet Adam, who allowed himself to be tempted by Shaytaan. Brothers and Sisters, whenever we say, with absolute sincerity:
“A-oothu bil-Laahi minash Shaytaanir rajeem, Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem,”
When we say this sincerely, when we reconnect our body, our mind and soul with its Maker, when we reject all our lower impulses and anything that displeases Allah then we truly become His Khalifa, his vice-regent, His ambassador on the earth. This is how we build and strengthen Iman and Taqwa.
The gifts of faith and Allah awareness, Iman and Taqwa, do not simply fall from the sky. Those who have it know that they’ve earned it through the hardships of life. Hardship cultivates patience, perseverance and total reliance on Allah. In the English language we talk of a ‘baptism of fire’ meaning that one often suffers hardship to learn valuable lessons that build good character.
If we study the extraordinary and eventful life of Prophet Muhammad sws we will see how his many hardships forged his unique and noble character. Indeed, Makka at that time has been described as a Crucible, a furnace where the fine metal of the first Ummah was forged to such high quality. Just like a real crucible separates impurities, base metals from pure gold, so the hardships in Makka separated truth from falsehood. Not surprising, therefore, that when Rasool-Allah sws returned to conquer Makka, he pronounced those memorable words:
“Wa qul jaa al haqqa, wa zahaqal baatil. Inna baatilan kaana zahooqaa…”
“And say, truth has come, and falsehood has perished. Truly, falsehood is bound to perish.”
Brothers and sisters, the victory in Makka came after many years of hardship and sacrifice. We are told that the darkest hour is just before the dawn. Let’s not forget how Prophet Muhammad sws struggled in the early days, both within himself and around himself, against his own fears and anxieties, after the first revelations. After a delay of many months Allah revealed Sura Dhu-haa:
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem! Wadh dhuhaa/Wal laili idzaa sajaa/Maa wad da'aka rab buka wa maa qalaa/Wa lal aakhiratu khairul laka minal oo laa/Wa lasaufa yutika rabbuka fatardaa/Alam yajika yatiman fa a_waa/Wa wajadaka daa-lan fahadaa/Wa wajadaka aa-ilan fa agnaa/Fa am mal yatima falaa taqhar/Wa am mas saa ila falaa tanhar/Wa am maa bini mati rabbika fahad-dith
By the glorious morning light, and by the night when it is still; Your Lord has not forsaken you, nor is He displeased. Truly, what comes after this will be much better for you than the present. Have we not found you an orphan, and gave you shelter and care? Have we not found you wandering, and gave you guidance? Therefore, do not treat the orphan with harshness, nor turn away the questioner unheard; but Rehearse and proclaim the blessings of your Lord!
This truly inspiring and comforting Sura addresses Prophet Muhammad sws directly, and it also addresses all Muslims indirectly. It’s as relevant to us now in the 21st century as it was to the first Ummah in the 7th century. It is a timeless promise from Allah that ease comes after hardship, and victory comes after sacrifice.
Fa inna ma’al usri yusra, innama al usri yusra….
With every hardship comes relief, truly with every hardship comes relief.
A hadith narrated by Abu 'Abbas 'Abdullah, says:
"Remember Allah in times of ease, and He will recognise you in times of distress. What hit you could not have missed you, what missed you could not have hit you. Remember that victory comes with patience, relief comes with affliction and ease comes with hardship".
Brothers and sisters, each one of us will have to endure some hardship during our lifetime. That’s guaranteed. That’s the fire, the crucible, the furnace that will help us separate the impurities from within our own hearts and souls. May Allah make us steadfast to follow the example of our beloved Prophet Muhammad sws
…….0000……
All praise is due to Alláh, the Lord of all the Worlds; may the greetings and peace be upon the best messenger, Muhammad, the unlettered prophet; and upon his family and upon all of his companions. Amma ba’ad, And, after this,
Behold, Alláh and his angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask for blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.
O Alláh! Send your greetings upon Muhammad and his family, just as you sent your greetings on Abraham, and his family. O Alláh, send your blessings on Muhammad and his family, just as you blessed Abraham and his family. In both worlds, you are praiseworthy and exalted."
Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen. Was-salaatu was-salaamu alaa Khairil mursaleen. Muhammadin-nabeey-yil Ummiy-yee, wa-‘alaa aalihee, wasah-bihee, aj-ma’een.
Ammaa ba’ad: Innalláha wa malaaikata yusallúna alan nabi. Yá ay yuhal latheena ámanu sallú alayhi wasalli mú tas leema. Allahumma salli alá Muhammad, wa ala áli Muhammad, kama salayta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali Ibrahim. Allahumma barik ala Muhammad, wa alaa áli Muhammad, kama barakta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali ibrahim. Fil ála meen, innaka hameedun majeed.”
Part Two:
Sub' hanallahi wal hamdu lillah, wala hawla wala quwwata illah billah yu althi yual theem.
"All glory is for Allah, and all praise is for Allah; There is no power and no strength except with Allah."
My respected brothers and sisters,
Whenever we criticise and condemn others, nitpicking and exaggerating those human frailties we see in other people, we are really saying: Ana khairun min, “ I am better than him!” Those words should be familiar to us…. The words Shaytaan used when Allah ordered him to bow down to Adam, Alayhis salaam.
I will urge myself and you, to avoid judging others. We have enough of our own faults to put right. We shouldn’t have the time, or the desire to compare others unfavourably with ourselves. Only Shaytaan can convince you that you are better than someone else. As soon as this thought comes to your mind, push it aside and say A-oothu bilLaahi minash shaytaanir rajeem! Allah warns us that he is to us an avowed enemy “Innahoo lakum a’doo-woon mubeen” Shaytaan does not always carry a big bright flashing neon sign that says: “Watch out for me….I’m going to mislead you!” He is often very subtle and insidious. Sometimes you don’t even notice him whispering quietly. He offers us all kinds of excuses for our bad behaviour, trying to distract us from our conscience. “Yuwas wisufee sudoorin naas. Minal jinnati wan naas.” He whispers into our hearts and if we are not careful, we might even believe those whisperings. We must be constantly watchful over our own thoughts, our feelings, our words and actions. We must constantly question and re-examine our own motives. Why am I doing this? Why am I thinking this or feeling this way. Does this come from Allah, or from Shaytaan? Will this feeling, this thought or action bring me closer to Allah, or will it drive me away from Him?
I’d like to share one of my favourite Hadith. Prophet Muhammad sws said that
"A Muslim is he from whose tongue and hands, other Muslims are safe. A Mu'min [true Believer] is he in whom all of mankind has an asylum, a sanctuary for its life and property."
O Allah! Help us to become not only good Muslims, but also True Believers like the Companions of Your Prophet Muhammad sws. O Allah, help us all to endure the trials and hardships of life with good grace and forbearance. Help us to follow the footsteps of our beloved Prophet Muhammad sws and help us to set a good example for our children and future generations.
Glory to Allah, Lord of Majesty and Honour, and Peace on all the Prophets, and Praise to Allah, Lord of all creation!
"Soob' haanaka Rabika Rabbil-‘’izzati 'Ammaa yasifoon, wasalaamun 'alal Mursaleen, wal Hamdu lil-Laahi Rabbil Aalameen."
Ameen. Aqeemus salaah!
Your feedback will help us to improve our khutbahs. Please let us have your comments and suggestions., by writing to : mail@khutbahbank.org.uk Jazakallah Khairan!
More khutbahs and articles by Arshad Gamiet our latest articles and khutbahs
Royal Holloway Khutbahs All Khutbahs A to Z Khutbahbank Homepage