Khutbah 53: 

Elections, New Muslims and New School

by Arshad Gamiet 8^th April 2005.

“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 take Allah and His prophet as a guide, has already achieved a mighty victory..

Respected brothers and sisters,

As we all know, a general election is just a few weeks away. Those of us who are entitled to vote, as British citizens, now have the opportunity to make a choice about who should govern this country. I will not tell you who to vote for. This khutbah is not the place for political agendas.  But I will urge you to get involved, and to vote wisely. Consider carefully how your vote can best serve the greatest good for the largest number of people. Obviously, there is no perfect option; there are no candidates or parties that are ideal for Muslim consumption. None of them come pre-packed with a genuine Halaal certificate. But that does not mean that we must sit and do nothing, and leave others to make the decisions that affect our lives. Britain is our home also. We owe it to our children and to our wider communities, to help build a peaceful, and prosperous and just society.

The world we live in is not perfect, and we have to make choices on the basis of what is the next-best option, what is the least worst of the choices available.  We should not sit on our hands and do nothing. Around the world, people have died, and are still dying, in the struggle to hold their governments to account. If we refuse to vote, we betray the sacrifices of those who risked everything just to have that right. It would be a criminal abdication of responsibility. As Muslims we cannot afford to become passive spectators in the unfolding drama of our own lives. Brothers and sisters, I urge you seek Allah’s guidance, and to think and act wisely.

To move on to another subject, I heard that while I was away in South Africa, several students took their shahada over here at Royal Holloway.  I think, maybe I should go away more often, so that our community can grow faster! But seriously, I would like to welcome our new brothers and sisters. We are a small part of the Muslim Ummah, what journalist Yvonne Ridley calls, the biggest family in the world. Like all families, we love togetherness, in spite of our diverse languages, colours and customs.  Our differences should be seen as a blessing, a sign of Allah’s infinite creativity. As we read in Sura al-Hujuraat, 49:03;

“O Mankind! We have created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and We made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other, [not that you may despise each other].”

Welcome indeed, to our diverse family. We are here to help and care for one another, like brothers and sisters. During his farewell pilgrimage, Prophet Muhammad sws declared that:

“Every Muslim is the brother to every other Muslim. You are now one Brotherhood.”

As brothers and sisters, we should work hard to find solutions to problems that concern us all. As you all know, we are living in what the Chinese call ‘interesting’ times. These days, it’s hard enough to observe any faith at all; let alone to live completely, faithfully and harmoniously as a Muslim in the West. We are faced with suspicion and Islamophobia on the outside, and with all sorts of self-inflicted problems on the inside. But this is our real challenge. How do we navigate these dangerous waters, so that we reach the safe harbour of Allah’s good pleasure? Here we must always seek guidance from Allah, and we must read widely and think deeply. We must engage with one another to share wisdom and insight. And we must consult those scholars who really understand our situation.

Today, there is no shortage of self-styled ‘experts’ who rush to issue fatwas, and who provide an ever-growing list of things that are bid’ah, [innovations] or haraam [forbidden].  If you take all these people seriously, by the time you’ve worked your way through their lists, you’d be so demoralized that you won’t feel much inclined to enjoy what’s left of your life, anyway. Indeed, you may well wonder, why is Islam really so difficult, so incompatible with life today?

Diversity exists not only in our colours and languages, but especially in our opinions, in our interpretation of the sacred texts. Who is right and who is wrong? Who knows best how Islam should be lived in the modern West?

The Holy Qur'an describes us as the justly-balanced community, in Arabic, the ummatan wasatan.:

“Wa kathaalika ja’alnaakum Ummatan wasatan litakoonoo Shuhadaa-a ‘alan-naas.”

“And thus We made you an Ummah, a community, justly-balanced, so that you may be a witness over the nations…”

By its very definition, a justly balanced community cannot be inclined towards extremes. Extremism, fundamentalism, militancy, call it what you will, these are not descriptions of a justly balanced community. Islam is the middle way between extremes. Some argue that we must follow the sunnah, literally, narrowly and with no room for ijtihad or interpretation. Others argue that Islam needs to be ‘reformed’ from the roots so that it can fit into the modern world. What we really need is guidance from competent and wise scholars, who can show a path between these opposite and extreme views. We need the wisdom of scholars who have deep knowledge of the sacred texts, as well as a keen understanding of the history, the philosophy and psychology of the modern world. I believe that we can find such guidance in the work of learned Sheikhs like Yusuf Qaradawi, Nuh Ha Mim Keller, Hamza Yusuf and Abdal Hakim Murad, to name a few. Their writing has enriched my understanding of Islam, and my khutbahs owe a lot to their work.

Those who have chosen Islam, often have to overcome big obstacles, like the hostility and alienation of family and friends. It takes a lot of courage to follow your heart and do the right thing, whatever others might think. We, who were born into Muslim families, also have to choose, at some time in our lives. Are we Muslims by choice or by chance? Is Islam just a habit, a designer label we have inherited from our parents? Or, is Islam the dynamic, all-inclusive way of life that we pursue consciously, freely and with total commitment? Sooner or later, even born Muslims have to make a positive choice about their faith.

Let us pray to Allah, to thank Him for his countless blessings, for his infinite Mercy that we enjoy every day. Let us thank Allah for giving us the ability to worship Him, for allowing us to choose with our own free will, from the many dazzling lifestyle options available to us today. Thank you, Allah, for giving us the wisdom to distinguish between truth and falsehood, between what pleases you and what arouses your anger. Thank you for guiding us, and  for giving us the wisdom to choose Islam.

"Rabbana la tuzigh qulubana ba'da idh hadaitana wa hab lana min ladun-ka rahmah, innaka antal Wahhab”.

"Our Lord! do not make our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and grant us Mercy from your very presence; surely you are the giver of Mercy without measure." (3:8)

  “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.”

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. 

Second Khutbah: 

Sub’ hanallahi wal hamdu lillah, wala hawla wala quwwata illah billah yu althi yual theem.

“Glory to Allah, Praise to Allah; there is no power and no strength, except in Allah.”

My Respected brothers and sisters,

In Islam, belief and action go hand in hand. The two are inseparable. Belief without action is simply daydreaming; Action without belief is pointless and futile. Our kalimah shahada begins with belief and it ends with action.

“Ash-hadu Allah ilaha il-lal-laah, wa ash hadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolullah, sal-lal-laahi alayhi wasal-lam. Wa aqeemus salaah, wa aatuz zakaah, was sawmul Ramadhan, wa hajjul bait, manis tataw a ilayhis salbeelaa.”

Firstly we believe in Allah, and in the prophethood of Muhammad, peace and blessings on him, and then we commit ourselves to the key actions of prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage. Those actions are in fact our beliefs made visible. Action brings belief to life.

And while on the subject of Belief and Action, I want to end this khutbah by appealing for your help with a very noble cause.

Brothers and Sisters, Last week I told you that the Slough Borough Council has invited tenders for a Muslim School to be built in central Slough. This announcement was made in January and the deadline for submissions was 15th March. So with only 6 weeks to prepare a bid, time was very short. A few concerned brothers and sisters decided to sieze the opportunity and prepared a proposal. As you all know, having our own Muslim School is something every community dreams of. This is a gift from Allah, a rare opportunity that we cannot afford to miss. The team consulted with other schools that have already gone down the same road, like The Avenue School in London, and we got some valuable help from them, thanks to Brother Tamim and his fellow Trustees. We also enlisted professional help from educational consultants who fine-tuned our proposal. There are 3 brothers from our community who are now actively helping others in this project. The proposal was submitted in time, and we expect to hear the outcome next Monday night, insh-Allah. Please make duah, and ask your families to pray for our success.

Now let me tell you about the site. The site is on the present Lea Junior and Primary School in Grassmere Avenue in Slough. That's between Sabar Brothers and Tescos. It's a very central area. It comprises about 14 acres, part of which will be sold off for residential development in order to fund the school. The School will be Grant-Maintained, so 90% of the funding will come from central government, and 10% must be raised by the Muslim community. We estimate that the  total project will cost between £6m to £8m. This means that we must find about £600k to £800k by August or September this year. That is, insh-Allah, if we are the successful bidders. And that we will know next week.

As you can all see, time is short, and if indeed our proposal is accepted, this will be a wonderful opportunity for us. It will be the first Muslim school in this area. The team who have started this project are determined to make this new Muslim School a center of excellence. It will be open to children of any faith. It will offer a broad based education that includes the National Curriculum. All subjects will be integrated into an all-inclusive Islamic ethos. By this we mean that there will be no artificial separation between sacred knowledge and knowledge of the world. Ultimately, all useful knowledge is a manifestation of the Divine, and to pursue useful knowledge is an Islamic duty. The school will cultivate a positve attitude to other faiths and communities; it will promote good citizenship and encourage a healthy British Muslim identity. Insh-Allah it will be a model school that will not only promote high academic standards, but will also produce well balanced Muslims who are fit for the 21st Century.

Brothers and Sisters, we need your help. We need your expertise, your physical, intellectual and moral support, as well as your financial support. If we hear next Monday that our bid has been successful, we will have to show that we have a substantial part of that 10% available, if not in cash, then at least as pledges to be cashed in August or September.

These pledges again, can be either as donations or as Qard-i-Hasanah, as a loan from you that will be repaid to you, when the project receives enough donations. So even if you do not have the cash to give as a donation, you can still pledge a loan as Qard-i-hasanah, and get your money back. You can still support this worthy cause.

Brothers and sisters, we usually worry about leaving enough money behind for our children, so that when we die, they do not have to struggle or suffer hardship. This is a natural instinct. But believe me, I know from personal experience, that a good education is much more valuable than money. And what better education can we give our children, than one that provides them with technical and academic skills that are firmly embedded in their Islamic spiritual, emotional and cultural roots? The way forward for Muslims in the West, is to become living examples of Islamic civilisation, with all that it stands for: well-rounded human beings who are a blessing to those around them. Allah has now placed this opportunity before us. How many of us are going to seize it, and loan to Allah a beautiful loan?

If we can find 600 people to pledge just £60 a month for one year, we can reach that target. £60 per month will give us £720 at the end of one year. The Inland Revenue will then add about £300 as a tax rebate, so that will be £1,000 per person. If we can find just 600 people to join this scheme, we can raise all the money we need, without having to go begging to some rich Arab Sheikhs to provide the money. It would be so much better for all of us, if we can achieve this noble objective without help from outside.

British Muslims do not spend money on alcohol, smoking or gambling. As a community we have among the highest disposable incomes in the country. I have a feeling this big challenge is well within our ability to accomplish. It's a do-able job. I am sure we can find enough generous donors from amongst ourselves.

The Holy Qur'an promises those who spend in the way of Allah, that their reward will be paid many times over, like a grain of corn that sprouts a sheath with a hundred grains on it. Remember that the more you give, the more Allah will increase your wealth. You cannot become poor by spending too much in Allah’s way. As the Holy Quran asks: "Who will loan to Allah a beautiful loan?" If you help with this noble cause, the reward will be a 'Sadaka Jaariyah' - a continuing charity that survives and accrues to your good deeds long after your death.

Brothers and sisters, I invite you to support this school project wholeheartedly. After the prayers, there are some pledge forms to complete for those who would like to make a contribution.

Let us pray to Allah, that the proposal we have put before Slough Borough Council will bear fruit, Insha-Allah, and that the school will become a reality. May Allah give us His guidance, so that we can establish a centre of excellence that will be an asset to local Muslims and to the wider community.

“Rabbana Aatinaa fid dunya hasanatan wafil aakhirati hasanatan waqina athaaban naar!"

"O Allah, give us the best of this world, and the best of the hereafter, and save us form the torment of the Fire."

 Ameen!        Aqeemus salaah!

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