IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICIENT, THE MERCIFUL
BEING THE FOURTH KHUTBAH FOR THE MONTH OF SAFAR, DATED 23RD SAFAR 1445AH (8TH SEPTEMBER, 2023CE)
TOPIC: ISLAM: A PURSUIT, CIVILIZATION AND STRUCTURE.
THE FIRST SERMON
All Praises belong to Allah, Lord of the worlds, Who made Islam a comprehensive and wholistic system for the happiness of humanity, and to bring humanity out from limitations and difficulty to abundance, and from oppression to justice. He is the One Who made man His vicegerent on His land to build it and establish the worship of Allah Almighty in all its corners. Then Allah Almighty said: (وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً) “And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will place a vicegerent on earth’” (Al-Baqarah: 30). We praise Him, Glorified and Exalted He is, we thank Him we believe in Him and depend on, and put our trust in Him. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah. He has no partner. And I bear witness that our Master Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. He delivered the message, he fulfilled the trust, he admonished the ummah, and Allah removed, through him, the confusion (of humanity), and he strived in the way of his Lord as he should until the Certainty (death) came to him. O Allah, may Your blessings and peace of be upon him, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in kindness until the Day of Judgment.
Thereafter…
O servants of Allah! I advise you and myself to fear Allah Almighty, secretly and openly, and know that piety is the desired purpose of all acts of worship and good deeds according to His saying, Glory be to Him: (يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ) “O people, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, so that you may attain piety” (Al-Baqarah: 21).
O dear respectable Muslims, this is the fourth and last meeting in Allah’s month of Safar, and the topic of our sermon today revolves around: Islam is a pursuit, a civilization, and a structure.
Brothers in Faith! It is an obligation on those who work for Islam, individually and as groups, to strive to establish the religion with which Allah had sent His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, by whatever legitimate means they can. This religion, that Allah has perfected and by which He has completed His blessing upon us, muslims must strive to establish it in its entirety, as Allah Ta’alaa said: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ) “O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy.” (Al-Baqarah: 208). He denounced upholding parts of the religion and neglecting other parts. Allah, Glorified He is, said: (أَفَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَنْ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ مِنْكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْيٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَى أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ) “Do you believe in some parts of the Book and disbelieve in some parts? So, what is the recompense for those who do that among you except disgrace in the life of this world and on the Day of Resurrection they will be returned to the most severe torment, and Allah is not unaware of what you do.” (Al-Baqarah: 85)
However, a person should only be admonished with what he is able to do. Whatever these groups working for Islaam are unable to do, they are not obligated to do it, because Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. And he, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, said: “If I command you to do something, do as much of it as you are capable.”
Anyone who is capable of any command of the religion must make an effort to establish it, and the one who is unable to do so must strive to attain the means for being able to do it, while taking into account the fiqh of the priorities of Islamic action and taking into account the interests and evils that require careful consideration and penetrating understanding so that the greater of the two interests is taken into account and is advanced, and the greater of the two evils is warded off.
Islaam and Civilization: Brothers in Islaam! Most of the ideas that call for the sidelining of the Islamic system usually link it with the backwardness, ignorance, intolerance and lack of progress that our country suffers from, and they claim that it (the Islamic system) is not sufficient to put us on the path of the race for civilizational, regardless of the fact that the pages of history is replete with shining Islamic civilization that opened the way to the whole world to progress and prosperity.
Islaam indeed came with a comprehensive and wholistic system to make humanity happy, and to bring it from constriction and narrow-mindedness to abundance and broad-mindedness, and from injustice to justice. It came with a belief system that heals confused souls concerning the issue of the universe, and answers questions about creation. It came with a system of values and morals that are consistent because they are divine in source, and that are realistic so they are in harmony with human capacity and abilities, and also with flexibility. It also takes into account special situations. Islaam, for example, permits holding back the truth from one’s wife to soften her heart.
Islaam also came to humanity with the mission of vicegerency and building the earth, considering man the theme of the message. It calls for adopting the means of civilization, strength, and the development of life, and this is considered to be at the core of the servitude that Allah created people in order to achieve, and you can read in the hadiths of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, a great command in this regard: “If the Final Hour comes while you have a shoot of a plant in your hands and it is possible to plant it before the Hour comes, then you should plant it.”
Building the universe in Islamic civilization: Dear Muslims! Islamic civilization was concerned with structuring the earth based on the Qur’anic perspective of man’s function in the universe and in life. It is the appointment of a vicegerent to the earth to build it and establish the worship of Allah Almighty in all its four corners. Man is the vicegerent of Allah on His earth. Allah Ta’alaa says: (وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً) “And when your Lord said to the angels, ‘Indeed, I will place a vicegerent on earth’” (Al-Baqarah: 30), and Allah Ta’alaa says: (يَا دَاوُودُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَاكَ خَلِيفَةً فِي الْأَرْضِ) “O Daaud, indeed, We have made you a successor on earth” (Sod: 26) And Allah Ta’alaa says: (هُوَ أَنْشَأَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ وَاسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٌ مُجِيبٌ) “He brought you forth from the earth and settled you therein, then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in repentance. Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His Knowledge), Responsive.” (Hud: 61). And Allah Ta’alaa forbade man from corruption on earth, and forbade a muslim to spoil his property or the property of someone else, because Allah Almighty does not like corruption, nor corrupt people; Therefore, one of the harshest criminal laws in Islaam is against those who strive to spread corruption on earth, because corruption is against the laws of succession on earth and the reconstruction of the universe. (إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَنْ يُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُمْ مِنْ خِلَافٍ أَوْ يُنْفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ ذَلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْيٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ) “The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and their feet be cut off on the opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter.” (Al-Ma’idah: 33).
Many hadiths have been reported about the virtue of building the earth and reviving its dead. Imaam Ahmad narrated in his Musnad on the authority of Anas, who said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “There is no muslim who sows crops or plants a plant and then a bird, person or animal eats from it except that it is recorded for him as charity”. Al-Bukhari included in his Saheeh a chapter: “Whoever revives a dead land”, then he said: And Ali holds this view concerning the desolate land of Kufa that is dead. And Umar said: “Whoever revives a dead land, it is his,” and it was narrated on the authority of Amr ibn ‘Awf, on the authority of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “…not the right of a Muslim, nor the right of an unjust person.” It was narrated about it on the authority of Jaabir, on the authority of the Prophet, may Alah bless him and grant him peace, and on the authority of ‘Aaisha, may Allah be pleased with her, on the authority of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “He who cultivates land that does not belong to anybody is more rightful (to own it).” `Urwa said, “`Umar gave the same verdict in his Caliphate”
Islaam prioritizes building the man before building physical structure and directed man to the fact that the material structure exemplified in the putting together of rocks and stones alone cannot be called civilization or development unless it is crowned with the moral and spiritual building and development that characterizes the man that builds it. Allah Ta’alaa says: (أَجَعَلْتُمْ سِقَايَةَ الْحَاجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ كَمَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَجَاهَدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا يَسْتَوُونَ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ) “Have you made watering the pilgrims and building the Sacred Mosque like one who believes in Allah and the Last Day, and strive in the cause of Allah. They are not equal before Allah. And Allah does not guide the people who do wrong.” (At-Tawbah: 19). Allah Ta’alaa also said regarding those who care about edification and do not care about human development: (أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ كَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَثَارُوا الْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَا أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَكِنْ كَانُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ) “Do they not travel in the land, and see what was the end of those before them? They were superior to them in strength, and they tilled the earth and populated it in greater numbers than these (pagans) have done, and there came to them their Messengers with clear proofs. Surely, Allah wronged them not, but they used to wrong themselves.” (Ar-Ruum: 9).
Muslims proceeded from these lofty Qur’anic rules, and they built the structure of the human spirit on a firm foundation of faith, love, and a strong, solid connection with Allah, Blessed and Most High. Then the muslims among men set out to plant and cultivate the earth, and build therein lofty mosques and high lighthouses whose heights reach to the sky, symbolizing the monotheism of Allah Almighty, even in the most severe situations in which anger and recklessness overwhelm a person, which is the state of war and fighting. Muslims brought a new method that humanity had never known before. Because the Muslims do not understand the meaning of the word war to have the connotations it carries that suggest destruction and devastation of everything, but the Muslim understands Jihaad for the sake of Allah Ta’alaa with the connotations of striving, self-control, and making the means equal to the end, not exceeding it, from a state of defense to a state of revenge and healing. So, Jihaad in Islaam, it leads to peace and tranquility, not devastation and destruction. The Rightly Guided Khalif Abubakr As-Siddeeq advised his soldiers in the conquest of the Sham (Syria), saying: “O people, halt! I counsel you with ten (things). Preserve them from me. Do not betray (a trust), nor embezzle (war booty), nor commit treachery, nor mutilate, nor kill a small child nor an elderly man, nor a woman. Do not uproot a date-palm, nor burn it, and do not cut a tree bearing fruit and do not slaughter a goat, cow or camel except for consumption. You will soon pass by people who have devoted themselves to the monasteries so leave them to what they have devoted themselves to. And you will soon come upon people who will present to you vessels containing various shades of food, so when you eat morsel after morsel from them, mention the name of Allah over it. And you will soon meet such people who have shaven the middle of their heads and have left its surroundings like a turban, strike them with the sword at once. Now go forth in Allah Name!”
We will make do with this amount due to the limitation of time. I say this: I seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty for me and for you, so seek His forgiveness and repent to Him. Indeed, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most-Merciful.
THE SECOND SERMON:
All Praises are due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, who says in his dear book: (قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتَنزعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّنْ تَشَاءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَنْ تَشَاءُ بِيَدِكَ الْخَيْرُ إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ) (Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O Allah! Lord over all authorities! You give authority to whoever You please and remove it from who You please; You honour whoever You please and disgrace who You please—all good is in Your Hands. Surely You ˹alone˺ are Most Capable of everything.) (Al Imran: 26). Blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, companions, and those who follow him.
Thereafter,
Dear Servants of Allah, it happened that after the lapse of five months, the Presidential Election Petition Court in our country announced its unanimous ruling confirming the incumbent President, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the rightful president who won the last election, and at the same time canceled all the petitions of the three petitioning parties – (APM, LP, PDP). Under the pretext of its lack of merit, and not providing conclusive and reliable evidences. The court issued this ruling at its last session on Wednesday (9/6/2023), which took more than half a day – from 9am until 10pm! Hence, we commend the efforts of the five judges in their dexterity, transparency, careful analysis, and preserving justice among the petitioners without favoritism nor bias. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Judges) are of three types, two of whom will go to Hell and one to Paradise. The one who will go to Paradise is a man who knows what is right and gives judgement accordingly. However, a man who knows what is right, and does not give judgement accordingly and acts unjustly in his judgement, will be in the Hell-fire. Likewise, a man who does not know what is right and judges people with ignorance, will be in the Hell-fire.”
Dear listeners, we hereby advise those who object to the ruling to proceed to the Supreme Court to express their concerns, or to accept the ruling and be satisfied with it, while these are the only two acceptable options. As for the idea of causing violence by calling for revolution through social media and other means, intimidation and threats, all of these contradict the Shari’ah and antithetical to our collective existence as a nation. It is imperative to discard such and pay no attention to anything like it.
We also advise the winners to be focused on the responsibility, that is, the responsibility of governance, for which they ran for presidency, and for which they were elected, and thereafter thay will be held accountable for what they are doing with it. The Prophet – peace be upon him – said: “Each of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for his flock. The ruler who is over the people is a shepherd over them and is responsible for them…” (Ahmad).
Therefore, it incumbent upon the leaders and the followers to ponder over the content of this noble hadith, especially with regards to what is happening in our beloved country Nigeria. It seems as if those in authority are oblivious of the Day of Resurrection, Judgment, and Rewards. And ideally, reward is a product of the work done. The citizenry behave as it pleases them, while the elected leaders enjoy themselves and do not care about the affairs of the voting masses, and the same applies to all government agencies: executive, legislative, and judiciary, and the same goes for the ministers and all members of the society. Allah says: (فَلَنَسْئَلَنَّ الَّذِينَ أُرْسِلَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَلَنَسْئَلَنَّ الْمُرْسَلِينَ) “So We will certainly question those to whom it was sent, and We will certainly question the Messengers” [Al-A’raf: 7/6]. We hear news of workers strike often. The consequences of this step will fall back on the society. Allah is the One we seek help from away from what they describe.
Dua:
Oh Allah, grant us security in our homelands, grant the best among us leadership over us, support our leaders with truth, and grant us security and stability in our country. And fix the conditions of Muslims everywhere. Oh Allah, grant us security in the countries and the homes, and defend us from temptation and evil, and correct the rulers of our affairs for us, and answer our supplication, for You are the Hearer of supplication. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon the Prophet, his family and companions.