An appeal for Muslim unity

“Wassalatu Wassalamu ‘Ala Muhammad wa ‘Ala Alihi Wa Sahbihi wa Sallim.”

Dear brothers and sisters,

I would like to begin by extending a warm welcome to the brothers and sisters who join us this year and to those who are returning from what I hope has been an enjoyable break. May Allah bless our futures with success and prosperity, and may He strengthen the Muslim Ummah during this time of hardship for our brothers and sisters around the world.

Today, I hope to focus on an issue which affects us all, and is becoming increasingly important, especially as we consider the current events happening around us around the world. InshAllah I want to talk to you about the unity, or oneness, of the Muslim Ummah. I want to explain how important it is to not forget our Muslim neighbours, to feel what they feel, to praise Allah and share in their happiness and to remember them in our prayers during times of difficulty. We are part of the largest and most diverse community on Earth, and we should be proud of our identity.

To begin with, I’m going to recite verse no.  103 from Surah Al-E-Imran from the Quran, followed by its English translation:

As I look around the room, I see people from different countries, who speak different languages, enjoy different foods and study different subjects. Apart from sharing the fundamental biological features that make us human, we are unique in the sense that we think differently, we see differently, and we speak differently. However, despite all this, it is a great blessing that we are all united by our common belief in the Shahadah and the Islamic principles that are associated with it. We all believe that Allah is the only God, and that Muhammad S.A.W. is the final prophet and messenger of Allah . This declaration of faith, and our duties as a result of this, such as praying 5 times every day, fasting for 1 month, giving charity, all in the name of God, unites us and makes us part of the Ummah of Muhammad S.A.W.

The Muslim Ummah has enjoyed periods of greatness, where Muslims in Asia were at the forefront of Scientific, Medical and Mathematical knowledge.  At this time most of Europe in the West was trapped in what is known as the Middle or ‘Dark’ Ages, and yet the Muslims before us, who prayed 5 times a day like we do today, were creating buildings of learning and worship that still stand magnificently today. This period is regarded by scholars as the Islamic Golden Age, and Alhamdulilah it lasted for hundreds of years.

Coming to the present, things are very much different. If we read the news we soon realise that as Muslims, we are far from this Golden Age I just described. Although Islam has grown and is now Alhamdulilah the fastest growing religion in the World, there are thousands of people who have lost their lives in Syria, Libya, Palestine, Burma and elsewhere. As I speak there are children in prison for simply throwing stones at armed soldiers, there are children in Africa starving, and children in this country bullied for their beliefs. Brothers and sisters, as an ummah I believe that the brotherhood that exists between us is weak and could be much stronger, as is evident as we read about the humanitarian crises in Asia and Africa.

Muhammad S.A.W is reported to have said in a Hadith:

“The Muslim Ummah is like one body. If the eye is in pain and if the head is in pain, then the whole body is in pain.”

From this hadith, we should try and imagine the entire Muslim Ummah as one body. Like a human body contains different types of cells in different numbers, the Muslim Ummah too is made up of people of different nationalities from different parts of the world. The different cells in the body work together to keep the body healthy and free of disease and pain, and this is what we as an Ummah should aim for. We should work together to keep the Ummah, this body, healthy and strong.

Regardless of colour, nationality, or gender, we should be united and in the event that some part of the Ummah is in distress, we should feel that pain as well. An example of this is the suffering of our neighbours in Syria and Burma. As we read about their pains, we should remember them in our duas and share in their pain as well. The same also applies for happiness. If our brothers are happy, then what is stopping us from sharing in that happiness?

In this present age, as Muslims we face the threat of Islamophobia from increasingly popular groups. Our brothers and sisters are being oppressed without rights that we take for granted in this country. In other places, our neighbours are starving and sleep hungry. Linking back to the hadith, in the body that represents the Ummah, there are currently multiple regions that are in Pain, and it is more important than ever that we struggle against this adversity to remain united as one.

There are many things we can do to strengthen the brotherhood that exists between us all. Small actions like greeting other Muslims with “Salaam” not only earns you the reward of Allah , but it brings with it a sense of ease and comfort to the person you greet. It makes them feel safe and not alone.  Other simple actions that strengthen our brotherhood is praying Salaat as a congregation, even if it Esha Salaat late at night with a few brothers or sisters. Alhamdulilah on Youtube there is a live stream of the Holy Masjid in Makkah, and if you watch the Salaat being performed, you instantly feel the bonds that exist between us. When you can see thousands of people, of different colour, stand side by side for Salaat facing the Ka’aba and prostrating to Allah , we should strive to achieve this; to stand side by side with our Muslim brothers, not just in Salaat, but throughout our daily lives as well.

Most important of all, is to lift our hands and pray to Allah to strengthen the brotherhood that exists between us, and pray for help for our family and neighbours in pain and times of difficulty. When we make supplication to Allah , what difference does it make to spend a little extra time to pray for the safe wellbeing of our brothers and sisters who are going through hardship?

You may have heard the phrase “If you don’t ask, you don’t get”. I mention this because it is very appropriate in this situation. How can we expect Allah’s help if we don’t ask for it in the first place?

I’m going to end this part of the Khutbah by reciting a hadith from ‘Muslim’ which emphasises the importance of brotherhood in Islam.

Abu Hurairah R.A. reported that the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W said:

“Do not be envious of one another; do not artificially inflate prices against one another; do not hate one another; do not shun another; and do not undercut one another in business transactions; and be as fellow brothers and servants of Allah .

A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim. He neither oppresses him nor humiliates him nor looks down upon him. Piety is here *He pointed to his chest 3 times*. It is evil enough for a Muslim to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. All things of a Muslim are inviolable for another Muslim; his blood, his property and his honour”. (Muslim)

Please join me in the following Dua:

Oh Allah , strengthen the bonds that exists between all Muslims. Safeguard our brothers and sisters who are in danger. Provide food and water for our brothers and sisters who are hungry and thirsty. Oh Allah , provide shelter to the Muslims who are homeless and help those who live in Poverty. May Allah protect the Muslim ummah from calamities and difficulties, and may He grant us all entry into Paradise in the life after death. Ameen.