Remembering Allah, and our Neighbourly Duties
Arshad
Gamiet/Royal Holloway College/Univ. of London /UK.
30th July 2004
“As-salámu 'alaikum wa rahmatul láhi
wa barakátuh!” [Wait for adhán]
“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.
My
Dear Brothers and sisters in Islam
Firstly:
A few words about the khutbahs we deliver here at Royal Holloway. Sometimes
members of the congregation have come forward to suggest topics that they would
like to hear, or they expect us to deliver a khutbah dealing with some hot item
in the news. We do our best, but we cannot always please everyone. As you know,
the brothers who do the khutbahs are all volunteers and they do it as a service
to the community. None of us are ’Alims, professional scholars of Islam, nor
are we experts on politics and current affairs. We share what we know and
because our knowledge is limited, we have to do extensive reading, research and
preparation. If you enjoy listening to a khutbah, and you think it was really
well done, remember that all good comes from Alláh, all praise is for Alláh
alone. If the khutbah sometimes falls short of your expectations, remember that
we are only human, the faults are ours, and we hope you will be patient and
forbearing. May Alláh guide us all to His way.
These
days, Islam is constantly in the news, for one reason or another, for better or
for worse. Sometimes, it may seem for the worse, but, Alláh knows best, what we
do not know. What may seem to us to be a disaster may in time prove to be a
blessing, and what seems at first to be a blessing could later prove to be a
disaster.
Right-wing
groups and individuals are now joining the Zionists in attacking Islam and the
Muslims in the most vindictive way. Sheikh
Yusuf Qaradawi’s visit raised quite an unnecessary storm, and the recent
tactical Muslim voting for the Conservative party in Leicester has aroused a lot
of hysteria in the rightwing press. This is just a small indication of how some people are
worried by the idea of Muslims getting organised into an effective political
lobby.
Remember
that the Jewish community in Britain is much smaller than the Muslim community.
But they are far more effective and influential than we are, because when Jews
are under attack, they don’t just sit there quietly feeling sorry for
themselves. They work hard, they are vigilant, and they are organised. They
promote the interests of their community. Surely we can learn something from
this! We Muslims should stop complaining that we are being treated unfairly,
that our rights are being abused, and then we do nothing about it. Our laziness
will cost us dearly. If we really take Islam seriously, then we must strive
energetically to improve ourselves and strengthen our communities in an Alláh-conscious
way. There are believers who do nothing but believe. And there are believers who
translate their beliefs into action.
Alláh
The Exalted says, in Sura al-Nisa [4:95]
“Not
equal are those Believers who sit at home and receive no hurt, and those who
strive in the cause of Alláh with their goods and their persons. Alláh has
granted a grade higher to those who strive with their goods and persons than
those who sit at home. Alláh has promised good to all who have faith; but those
who make strenuous effort has he distinguished above the others, by a special
reward.”
And
in Sura Al Ma’idah [5:35]
“O
you who believe! Do your duty to God, seek the means of approach to Him, and
strive with might and main in His cause: that you may prosper.”
From
these verses it must be clear that Muslims must be people of action, not simply
people who claim to hold certain beliefs, but who do very little about it.
How
should we defend the good name of Islam from the attacks of slanderers and
Islamophobes? Should we retaliate in the same way? Should we become abusive and
trade insult with insult? Should we resort to violence?
The
Holy Qur'an offers some eloquent advice on this subject: in Sura 16:125
[“’Ud’oo
ila sabeeli Rabbika bil hikmati wa mow-‘idatil hasanah…”]
“Invite to the Way of your Lord, using wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious; for your Lord knows best, who have strayed from His path, and who receive guidance.”
We
have to deal with prejudice and bigotry by tackling its causes. Fear is bred by
ignorance.
When people begin to know and understand, their confidence increases. Gradually,
trust is established and fear is removed. When we reach out our hands in
friendship, and we open our hearts in respect and compassion towards our
neighbours in the wider community, then we remove the fear and anxiety that
feeds their bigotry and prejudice. To see how this works, you only have to look
at other Muslim minorities who have successfully integrated and who are making a
positive contribution to their wider society. For example, in South Africa.
We
Muslims in Britain must realise that Islam was never intended to be a religion
of the ghetto, a marginalised cult for so-called ethnic minorities. This is a
much bigger ball game than some of us realise. It is high time that we behaved
like the true representatives of a universal faith. We, who bear witness that
there is only One God, must now take on our responsibility, of following in the
noble footsteps of Prophet Muhammad, sws, who was sent as a Mercy to all
mankind. Our behaviour, our presence here in Britain, should by now become at
least something of a small mercy to our local neighbourhood. Even if we don’t
yet know how to get others to love us, we can at least try not to let them hate
us! We can at least treat our host community with courtesy; we can at least
refrain from behaving in an insulting and ungrateful manner.
Surely
we must accept some responsibility for our troubles instead of trying to blame
everything on the merchants of Islamophobia.
One
small suggestion. When we pass others in the street, or when we enter a public
room or gathering, do we greet? Do we say ‘Hello’ or ‘Good Morning’ to
others? Do we at least walk around with a pleasant and happy disposition? Our
sisters are particularly conspicuous in their hijab. Their public behaviour has a big impact on the image of Islam
and Muslims. I have often heard some sisters complain that other sisters do not
even acknowledge their greetings in the street. Does Islam teach us only to
greet and respond to those we already know? Is it haraam to accept the
greeting of a sister you haven’t met? If some Muslims cannot even reciprocate
basic courtesy, adab, can you understand how far we have to go to become
real ambassadors of Islam?
Dear
Brothers and sisters, the sooner we get down to real practical Islam in our
families, in our neighbourhoods and in our country as a whole, the better for
everyone. We need to show by example that in Islam, holiness is about wholeness,
about being complete. Wearing a beard or hijab does not in itself make
our faith complete. A true Muslim is a good citizen, a helpful neighbour, a
trustworthy employee. A true Muslim is courteous, fair and honest in business
affairs. When people know and understand healthy Islam and when Muslims become
better role models of their faith, then Islamophobia may well become a thing of
the past. Something that can be consigned to the history books. But as long as
we are too lazy to serve Alláh as He should be served, we risk allowing the
hatred and fear of Islam to grow into a respectable mainstream attitude in
British society. If this happens, Alláh forbid, then we can prepare ourselves
for a grim future. That is, if we are to have any future in this country at all.
This, my dear Brothers and sisters, is not the legacy we want to pass on to our
children.
May
Alláh protect us from such a fate. A’oothu billaah!
“Alhamdu
lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen. Was-salaatu was-salaamu alaa Khairil mursaleen.
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.”
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.
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 Ibraheem, and his family. O Alláh,
send you blessings on Muhammad and his family, just as you blessed Ibraheem and
his family. In both worlds, you are praiseworthy and exalted.
Sub’ hanallahi wal hamdu lillah, wala hawla wala quwwata illah billah yu althi yual theem"
"All Glory is for Allah, all praise is for Allah. There is no power and no strenght except with Allah."
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In
the past few khutbahs, Dr Hossam Roushdi discussed many different
aspects of worship, ‘Ibadah. Who benefits from our worship, and who
benefits from our Zhikr, our remembrance of Allah? Does Alláh benefit,
or do we benefit? Alláh says that He is totally independent of his
creatures. On the other hand, we are totally dependent on Him. This is
clearly illustrated by Hadith Qudsi, no. 17 which says:
"O
My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me, and you will not
attain benefiting Me so as to benefit Me. O My servants, were the first of you
and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as pious as the
most pious heart of any one man of you, that would not increase My kingdom in
anything. O My servants, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of
you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man
of you, that would not decrease My kingdom in anything. ..."
Alláh
does not need us. We always need Alláh. Never forget that. More Hadith Qudsi:
"I am as
My servant thinks I am. I am with
him when he makes mention of Me. If
he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he
makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly even
better than that. And if he takes
one step towards me, I take ten steps towards him.
And if he comes walking to Me , I go running towards him."
Just
imagine that! Alláh is so pleased with us when we begin our spiritual journey
to find Him, that He will shorten
the distance by moving towards us with even greater speed! . In many standard
Arabic khutbahs, we hear the following words:
From Sura
Al-Baqara, [2:152], we read:
“Fadth-kuroonee
adth-kurkum; Wash-kuroolee walaa takfuroon”
“Then do you
remember Me, I will remember you, and do not reject Faith.”
And, from
Sura Al-Ankabut [29:45]
“Utloo
ma oohiya ilayka minal kitaabi wa-aqimis-salaata, innas-salaata tanhaa ‘anil
fahshaa wal munkar wala thikrullahi akbar, wal-laahu ya’lamu maa tasna’oon.”
“Recite
what is sent of the book by inspiration to you, and establish regular prayer;
for prayer restrains from shameful deeds; and remembrance of Alláh is the
greatest [thing in life], without doubt. And Alláh knows the deeds that you
do.”
Remembrance
of Alláh is the greatest thing in life. It’s a short, simple statement. And
it carries such power and beauty, because it’s absolutely true. This gem of
wisdom should be kept uppermost in our minds at all times. To put it another
way, the greatest thing in life is to remember The One Who gave you life, to
remember the purpose of your life and to work hard to complete that purpose.
It is
especially important these days, when life has become so frenetic, so full of
countless distractions. We’re all caught up in the daily rush to get to work,
to get to school or to lectures, the rush to get home, to fetch children, to
watch football or to be in time for some appointment. Everything is a rush, and
it seems we don’t have enough time to do all the things we need or want to do.
Yet somehow,
life can be manageable, we can cope, if we get our priorities right. That is why
Salaah and Zhikr is so important. No matter how busy we are, we must make
time for regular, conscious remembrance of our Maker, for contemplating our
relationship with God. If we neglect this or forget, we will be lost in
perpetual distraction, spending endless hours on what we think is
important. But we must get back to basics. Where have we come from? And where
are we going? The Holy Qur'an answers these important questions in one short
statement, in Sura Al Baqara:
“Inna
lillaahi wa inna ilayhir raaji-oon”
“From Alláh
have we come, and to Him is our return.”
When we
remember that our beginning and ending is with Alláh, it stands to reason that everything in the middle, has to be dedicated to
Him as well. Our whole life, from childhood to youth and through maturity to old
age, has a clear purpose, and whatever we do we must be in continuous awareness,
consciousness, of Allah. We must serve Alláh and be mindful of what pleases him
and what displeases him. That is why our prayer times have been so strategically
placed throughout the day. It is to keep us constantly aware of our duty to our
Maker.
Salaah,
however, should not be the only time we remember Alláh. True Believers, those
who spend every waking moment in conscious awareness of Alláh, they transform
even the most mundane human activities into acts of worship. Therefore, when
others are fretting and filled with anxiety whilst waiting for a bus or a train,
or stuck in a traffic jam, the true Believer finds an opportunity to recite his
praises to his Lord, his heart is filled with serenity and beauty, while other
hearts are full of stress and distress.
“Alaa, inna
awliya Alláh, la khawfun alayhim walaa hum yahzanoon”
“Behold, on
the Friends of Alláh, there is no fear, nor do they grieve.”
Let us pray to
Alláh, to help us all to increase our awareness and consciousness of Him at all
times. O Alláh, help us to filter out the many distractions that creep into our
lives. Help us to keep our hearts and our minds, focussed on what pleases you.
Help us to be mindful of our priorities, and to keep us away from anything that
might lead us to shame and humiliation or that may invite your displeasure.
O
Alláh, help us to live and die as Muslims. And let us build strong foundations
for our children and for the generations to come.
……………………
Before we begin
the salaah, let us also remember the millions who are suffering
unspeakable hardship in the floodwaters of Bangladesh, and those who are victims
of man-made disasters in Sudan, Iraq and elsewhere. May Alláh send His Mercy to
the innocent victims. May Alláh help us all to do our best to relieve the
suffering. I would appeal to each and everyone to do what we can, to send money,
clothes, food and medical supplies that are urgently needed. Now is the time for
us to show the compassionate side of Islam. Let us seek Alláh’s help and
mercy not only for ourselves, but also for all those who suffer hardship and
distress, everywhere.
Ameen! Aqeemus salaah!
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