Striving for excellence

Arshad Gamiet/Royal Holloway/University of London/30/10/98

A-úthu billáhi minash shaytánir rajeem.

Bismilláhir rahmánir raheem.

Al hamdu lillahi rabbil ‘alameen. Was salaatu was salaamu ‘alaa ashrafil mursaleen. Sayidinaa wa nabi’na wamoulanaa Muhammadin wa’ala aalihee wa sahbihee wasallim.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters

Our Khutbah today is about striving for excellence, as ambassadors of Allah.

A few weeks ago, in a previous khutbah, we touched on the challenges facing Muslims in a non-Muslim society. We considered whether we should assimilate, isolate or interact with our non-Muslim neighbours. We concluded that the best way forward is neither by assimilation into the cultural melting pot, nor by isolation in ghettos for so-called "ethnic minorities", but by selective interaction, by accepting the good and avoiding the bad influence in the host community. We also reminded ourselves that, in order to interact with non-Muslims in a confident and mutually beneficial way, we must constantly strengthen our faith, our iman, by improving our knowledge and understanding of Islam, and by sharing it with others.

I heard last week of a young Muslim lady who works for a large American company here in Britain. Her boss asked her why she was wearing a scarf, and she replied, "because I am a Muslim." As he knew very little about Islam, he was rather curious, and wanted to know more. She took the time and trouble to tell him about her faith. In the end, by the Grace of Allah, he chose to become a Muslim, and they are now happily married. This Muslim lady is an excellent role model and ambassador of Islam.

I’m sure that many of you will have heard of equally inspiring examples.

As true Believers we should not only say ASH HADU ALLAH ILAHA ILLAL LAAH with our lips, but in our hearts and through our actions, it should be clear to anyone, that we are true Muslims.

In Sura Al Baqara verse 30 we read:

Behold your Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth." They said "Will you place therein one who will make mischief and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your holy (name)?" Allah said: "I know what you know not."

This verse confirms our role of khalifatullah, vicegerent or Ambassador of Allah. Like every good ambassador, we have to keep in touch with our Sovereign, to ensure that we are faithfully carrying out His wishes. And the duty of every good ambassador is firstly to KNOW his master, if he is to properly fulfil his mission.

How do we get to know Allah?

We get to know Allah, by constantly studying, remembering, rehearsing, and reflecting on His Names. Throughout the Holy Quran, we find Allah’s ninety-nine Beautiful Names, Asma_ ul Husna. Reciting these names constantly, and with deep concentration and awareness of meaning, can be a spiritually uplifting and energising experience. For instance, the last three verses of Sura Al Hashr reads:

22 Huwal la_hul lathee la_ ila_ha il la_ huwa a_limul ghaibi wash shaha_dati huwar rahma_nur rahim

23 Huwal la_hul lathee la_ ila_ha huwal almalikul qud du_sus sala_mul muminul muhaiminul azizul jab ba_rul mutakab bir subha_nal la_hi am ma_ yushriku_n

24 Huwal la_hul ha_liqul ba_ri ul musaw wiru lahul asma_ ul husna_ yu sab bihu lahu_ ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wal ardi wa huwal azizul hakim

22 Allah is He besides whom there is no other god, Who knows (all things) both secret and open; He Most Gracious Most Merciful.

23 Allah is He besides whom there is no other god; the sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to Allah! (high is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.

24 He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver the Bestower of Forms (or colors). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: Glorifying and praising Him are all creatures in the heavens and on earth: and He is the exalted in Might, the Wise."

 

What a beautiful description of Allah, what a soul-stirring end to Sura Al Hashr! Who cannot be deeply moved and inspired by these verses!

Throughout the Holy Quran, we find verses that describe Allah's beautiful names, in the most evocative and powerful way. And to think, Allah has chosen us, you and me, to be his Ambassador here on earth! What a wonderful honour. What a privelege! What a responsibility!

Knowing Allah’s names is one thing. Knowing our responsibilities is another. We need to transform ourselves, from what we are, to what Allah wants us to be. This is not a destination, but a method of travelling. We can never be perfectly satisfied with our condition, because perfection belongs to Allah alone. We must be engaged in a lifelong process of purification and refinement, firstly of ourselves, then of our families and those for whom we are responsible, then in ever widening circles, we purify and refine our communities and attract others into our faith.

Where do we start? The task seems enormous, and we sometimes feel so insignificant, so helpless.

But remember, the longest journey, starts with a single step. We sow an action, we reap a habit; we sow a habit, we reap a character; we sow a character; we reap… a destiny.

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, kama barakta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali ibrahim. Fil ála meen, innaka hameedun majeed.

SECOND KHUTBAH

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

Dear Brothers and Sisters

It is not the Da'wah of the Clever argument or the Brilliant Speech that will bring others to Islam. The most powerful attraction is for a Muslim to set an excellent personal example. All of us here today are multi-role human beings. We are fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, employers, employees, friends and neighbours, all at the some time. As the ambassadors of Allah, we cannot settle for low standards or mediocrity. In every role we must strive to be the best: We should be models of kindness, wisdom, patience and generosity, in short, good character.

One hadith, narrated by Yahya from Imam Malik, says that that he had heard that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "I was sent to perfect good character."

Perfecting good character means that we must not be ashamed to strive for excellence. Nowhere does the Quran or Hadith encourage us to be average, or mediocre, or to be under-achievers, or to be the meek and wretched of the earth. We are not encouraged to forsake Allah's many blessings, and to seek spiritual bliss or Nirvana, as some do, by retreating from the concerns of daily life, to become monks and live a life of seclusion. No. Islam teaches us to enjoy all that life has to offer, in accordance with our role as the justly balanced people, the ummatan wasatan.

Sura Ar-Rahman asks the constant refrain, FA BI AY-YI ALAA IRAB BIHUMA TUKATH THIBAAN, "THEN WHICH OF THE BLESSINGS OF YOUR LORD WILL YOU DENY?"

In our prayers, we ask Allah,

RABBANA AATINA FID DUNYA HASANATAN WA FIL AAKHIRATI HASANATAN WAQINA ATHAABAN NAAR.

"O MY LORD, PLEASE GRANT ME THE BEST OF THIS WORLD, AND THE BEST OF THE WORLD HEREAFTER, AND SAVE ME FROM THE TORMENT OF THE FIRE"

Whatever we do let us do it well. Try to be the best. If you are a student, be the best one on the campus. If you are a taxi driver, be the best one on the road. If you are an engineer, doctor or consultant, be the best among your peers. Do not be ashamed of success. Others will try to be like you.

Let us pray to Allah, that he may help us all in our pursuit of Excellence. Because Allah possesses the highest form of excellence, when we strive for excellence, we are really doing a sacred duty. Allah is known by the ninety-nine Beautiful Names, In striving for excellence, we are really seeking to draw ourselves closer to Allah. Think of any of the names of Allah, and we will see that by doing our duty as Muslims, we are really acquiring those noble qualities, and bringing ourselves closer to Allah.

Every time we overcome selfishness and show compassion to others, we are really getting closer to Al Rahman, the Compassionate. Every time we overcome anger and show mercy to those who hurt us, we are really getting closer to Al Rahim, the Merciful. Every time we resist human weakness and develop our physical, mental and spiritual strength, we come nearer to Al 'Azziz, the All Mighty, and as we grow and develop from ignorance to knowledge and wisdom, we draw ever closer to Al Hakim, the All-Wise.

In Sura Al Maida verse 104: we are told:

Let there arise out of you, a band of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong. They are the ones to attain success.

O Allah, Please help us to build faith, iman, confidence and self-esteem. Help us to activate fully all the many talents and gifts that you have given every one of us. Let us be excellent personal examples in all the roles we have to play, in the family, in the workplace, and in wider society. When our life is over, let us return to you having fulfilled the best of our deeds, and having left a rich legacy for future generations to build on.

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!

Royal Holloway Khutbahs    All Khutbahs A to Z   Khutbahbank Homepage