Khutbah: Allah is the best of Planners

 Arshad Gamiet

13 November 2020

 “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 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 ﷺ, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.

(يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ)

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem! Ya Ay-yuhal-latheena ‘aamanut taqul-laaha, haqqa tuqaatihee wala tamu tun-na, il-la wa antum Muslimoon.”

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا)

O You who believe, – Be aware of Allah, with correct awareness, an awe-inspired awareness, 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.

In the opening verse of Sura An-Nisaa’, Allah says:

“O mankind! Show reverence towards your Guardian-Lord Who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, his mate and from the two of them scattered (like seeds) countless men and women;― Be conscious of Allah, through Whom ye demand your mutual (rights) and (show reverence towards) the wombs (that bore you): for surely, Allah ever watches over you.”

My Dear Sisters and Brothers,

The Noble Quran reminds us that:

“Fa inna ma’al usri yusra, inna ma’al usri yusra.”

“After hardship comes ease; truly, after hardship comes ease.” (Quran 94:5-6)

The US elections are now over, and the world is breathing a huge, collective sigh of relief. Muslims are especially hopeful, now that the President-Elect has promised to end the ‘Muslim Ban’ on his day one in office. We hope and pray that the new leadership will also use America’s influence to stop the persecution of Muslims in China, India, Myanmar and other parts of the world. We also hope and pray that other Presidents, like Macron in France, will behave more responsibly.

The ‘Islamophobia Industry’ both inside and outside the US, is well funded and highly organised. Muslims will have to work hard with our fellow citizens to resist it. We must continue to promote respect and appreciation of our diverse human family. There is a mountain to climb, dealing with the suspicion, fear and hate stirred up over the years. Those who hate us see Islam as the enemy. We Muslims know that Islam is not the enemy, but the saviour of humankind. But we won’t convince anyone if our bad behaviour simply confirms their prejudices.

My dear sisters and brothers, our task ahead is very clear. We must show others, through our words and actions that Islam is the best way of living. True Muslims are really the best of humanity.

“Kuntum khaira ummatin ukhrijat lin naasi ta’muroona bil ma’roofi wa tan hawna ‘anil munkari wa tu’minoona bil-Laah.”

“You are the best community raised for humanity. You encourage the good, you forbid the bad, and you believe in Allah.” (Quran 3:110)

The Holy Quran invites us to respond to Allah’s invitation in Sura Al-Imran (3:104):

“Wal takum minkum ummatun yad’oona ilal khairi waya’muroona bil ma’roofi wayan hawna ‘anil munkari. Wa ulaa ika humul muflihoon.”

“Let there arise from you a band of people who enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. They will be the successful ones.”

It’s a simple formula. Rise up and do good. Resist evil. This is not a time for us to hide away and hope for better things to come. This is a time for us to actively help others, in private and in public, to dispel their fear and hate.

Remember that everything comes to us as a test. Hard times are a test of faith, patience and perseverance. Good times are a test of gratitude to Allah. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in a well known Hadith reminded us that:

“Wondrous is the affair of the believer for there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone except the believer. If he is happy, then he thanks Allah and thus there is good for him, and if he is harmed, then he shows patience and thus there is good for him.” (Sahih Muslim 2999)

My dear brothers and sisters,

If we are grateful to Allah in the good times, Allah will not abandon us in the hard times. In a well known Hadith, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

“Remember Allah and you will find Him in front of you. 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. Know that victory comes with patience, relief comes with distress, and ease comes with hardship.”

We should never be disheartened or driven to despair when hardship comes our way. Trust Allah. History is safe in Allah’s hands. We are simply being tested to see whether we truly have faith and trust in Allah.

“Ya ayuhal latheena aamanus ta’eenahus sabari was salaah. Innal Laaha ma’as sabireen” (Sura Al Baqara 2:153)

“O you who believe, seek Allah’s help with patience, perseverance and prayer, for truly, Allah is with those who patiently persevere.”

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

Glory to Allah!  Praise to Allah! There is no power and no strength except from Allah!

My dear respected sisters and brothers,

Donald Trump has gone, but his toxic legacy remains. The suspicion,  the fear and hate towards Muslims has emboldened other leaders from China, India and Europe. But Allah’s religion will never be defeated. Despite their plotting and planning, Islam will survive and spread. That is Allah’s promise. Read Quran 8.30:

“Wayam kuroona wayam kurul-Laah. Wal-Laahu khairul maakireen.”

 “They plot and plan, and Allah plans. Allah is the best of planners.”

We can find even more reassurance in Sura Al-Anfal (Quran 8:30):

“The (disbelievers)  wish to extinguish Allah’s light with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, even though they detest it.”

So there we have it, my dear sisters and brothers. Keep calm, and carry on. Ignore the noise out there. Just like every other crisis in our 1,400 year history, this one will also pass. And Islam will be stronger, not weaker, for it. Let us continue to engage in good works alongside our many friends and neighbours in the wider community. Islam will prevail. Truth will triumph. Allah is firmly in control.of every part of His creation. Instead of weakening Islam, our enemies are driving ever more and more people into the Ummah of Muhammad ﷺ

Brothers and sisters, to conclude our khutbah:

“Surely Allah commands justice, good deeds and generosity to others and to relatives; and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: He instructs you, so that you may be reminded.”

Allah says: “and remember Me: I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and do not reject faith.” “and without doubt, Remembrance of Allah is the Greatest Thing in life, and Allah knows the deeds that you do.”

InnaAllaha, Yamuru bil adel, wal ihsaan, wa eetaa-i zil qurba; wa yanha anil fuhshaa-i, wal munkari walbaghi; ya-idzukhum lallakum tathak-karoon. (Sura 16:90),

Fadth kuroonee adth kurkum, wash kuroolee walaa tak furoon [2:152].

wala thikrul-Laahi akbar, Wal-Laahu ya’lamu maa tasna’oon.” [29:45].

Ameen.                   Aqeemus salaah!

(If you found this khutbah useful, please leave your comments here: mail@khutbahbank.org.uk. Your feedback is important to us. We use it to improve future khutbahs. Also, tell us about your Jumuah congregation, its size and location, your Muslim community, city and country. Jazak Allah khair. – Editors)