IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICIENT, THE MERCIFUL
BEING THE THIRD KHUTBAH FOR THE MONTH OF RABI’UL AWWAL, DATED 23RD RABI’UL AWWAL 1445AH (6TH OCTOBER, 2023CE)
TOPIC: ISLAM: FAITH, KNOWLEDGE AND WORK.
THE FIRST SERMON
All Praises belong to Allah, we praise Him, we seek His help and His forgiveness, and we repent unto Him. We seek protection in Allah from the evils of our souls and from the evil of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides, none can mislead him, and whoever He lets go astray, none can guide him. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah alone. He has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in good deeds until the Day of Judgment.
Thereafter…
O people! I enjoin you and myself to fear Allah – the Almighty – that you fear Allah in what He commands and in what He prohibits, for by His fear you will attain bliss and salvation from Hell, according to His saying, Most High: (يَا أَيُّهَا الّذينَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ) “O you who believe! Fear Allah as you should fear Him, and do not die except as Muslims” (Aal Imraan: 102).
Brothers in Faith! The topic of our sermon today revolves around: Islam as faith, knowledge and work. Knowledge and faith are two mutually complementary brothers who do not contradict, fight, or repel each other. It is not known in the history of Islaam that a separation occurred, or that an enmity occurred, or that a conflict arose one day between knowledge and faith. On the contrary, what agrees with reason is brought by faith, and what is brought by faith, reason agrees with it. Faith calls for the pursuit of knowledge, even if knowledge is at the ends of the earth. Knowledge is the path to true faith, and the more knowledge there is, the greater and stronger the faith. Knowledge is the path to good deeds and it is the path to beneficial deeds. In knowledge, there is protection from misguidance, it contains protection from falling into what Allah Ta’alaa, Glorified He is, has forbidden.
Servants of Allah! People give priority to the rich, they give priority to the powerful, and they eulogize the elites, and Allah Ta’alaa does eulogizes anyone except only those who believe and those who have been given knowledge. Allah Ta’alaa raises them in ranks: (يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ) “Allah increases the degrees of those of you who believe (who are âmenû, who wish to reach Allah before death), and given knowledge.” (Al-Mujaadilah: 11)
Allah Ta’alaa indeed loves among His servants those who are knowledgeable. The world is cursed, and everything in it is cursed except the remembrance of Allah Ta’alaa and a scholar or a learner, as it is established in a hadith narrated by Al-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Hurairah. And Allah Ta’alaa loves whomever from among His servants that is grounded in knowledge and understanding. He loves whomever among His servants that has clear vision (insight) insightful and wisdom. Why?? It is because the person who has knowledge and understanding believes only out of conviction, he believes with his heart and mind together, he does not close his eyes, he does not blindly follow others, he does not sell his intellect, rather, he contemplates, he ponders, he considers the small before the big. (مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ كَمَثَلِ الْعَنْكَبُوتِ اتَّخَذَتْ بَيْتًا وَإِنَّ أَوْهَنَ الْبُيُوتِ لَبَيْتُ الْعَنْكَبُوتِ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَا إِلَّا الْعَالِمُونَ) “The likeness of those who take Auliya’ (protectors and helpers) other than Allah is as the likeness of a spider, who builds (for itself) a house, but verily, the frailest (weakest) of houses is the spider’s house; if they but knew. Verily, Allah knows what things they invoke instead of Him. He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. And these similitudes We put forward for mankind, but none will understand them except those who have knowledge (of Allah and His Signs, etc.).” (Al-Ankabuut: 41-43).
O Muslim brothers! The person who has knowledge, religious comprehension, and breadth of understanding believes with both his mind and his heart. Then, if he makes Da’wah to Allah Ta’alaa, he does so with clear insight and evidence: (قُلْ هَذِهِ سَبِيلِي أَدْعُو إِلَى اللَّهِ عَلَى بَصِيرَةٍ أَنَا وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَنِي وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ) “Say (O Muhammad SAW): “This is my way; I invite unto Allah (i.e. to the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me (also must invite others to Allah i.e. to the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism) with sure knowledge. And Glorified and Exalted be Allah (above all that they associate as partners with Him). And I am not of the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah; those who worship others along with Allah or set up rivals or partners to Allah).” (Yusuf: 108)
The Messenger of Allah, may the Blessings and Peace of Allah be upon him, was asked: “Who is the most honourable of people?” He said: “The most pious of them.” They said: That is not what we are asking you about. Then he said: “Yuusuf, the Prophet of Allah, the son of the Prophet of Allah, the son of the friend of Allah.” They said: That is not what we are asking about. Then he said: “You ask me about the characteristics of the Arabs. The best of them in pre-Islamic times is the best of them in Islaam if they understand the Deen.” (Agreed upon as related from Abu Hurairah). The Messenger of Allah, may the Blessings and Peace of Allah be upon him, said: “The similitude of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like a rain which has fallen on some ground. A fertile part of earth has absorbed water and brought forth much grass and herbs. Another part, which is solid, held the water and Allah benefits men thereby, who drank and gave others to drink, and used it for irrigation. But some of it has fallen on a portion of sandy land which neither retains the water nor produces herbage. Such is the likeness of the man who understands the religion of Allah and who gets benefit of what Allah has sent me with; he learns and teaches others. It is also the likeness of the man who neither raises his head on that account (meaning he does not benefit from what the Prophet (ﷺ) was sent with) nor accepts Allah’s Guidance with which I am sent.” (Bukhari, related from Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari).
Servants of Allah! The most honourable of people is the most knowledgeable of them, the wisest of people is the most learned of them, the most reverent of Allah’s people, the most sincere is the one that is most modest before Allah, and the most fearful of Allah among people is the most knowledgeable about Allah Almighty. This is because knowledge leads to good manners and good character, and the more a servant’s knowledge increases, the more his humility, forbearance, and wisdom increases. Why is this so? Because knowledge opens minds and hearts to see the greatness of Allah, the power of Allah, the wisdom of Allah, and the beauty and importance of Allah Ta’alaa’s creation at every moment. (أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ ثَمَرَاتٍ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهَا وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ وَمِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَابِّ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ كَذَلِكَ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ) “See you not that Allah sends down water (rain) from the sky, and We produce therewith fruits of varying colours, and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colours and (others) very black. And of men and AdDawab (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and cattle, in like manner of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. Verily, Allah is AllMighty, OftForgiving.” (Fatir: 27-28). Some of them (the companions) were asked about the meaning of this verse: (إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ) “It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.’ He said: Whoever knows Allah is most conscious of Allah. Ibn Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah refers to those who know that Allah has power over all things. It was said to Sa’eed ibn Ibrahim: Who is the most learned of the people of Madeenah? He said: The most conscious of Allah Almighty among them.
Servants of Allah! Knowledge is a necessity for human life. With knowledge, time is shortened, with knowledge, space becomes immaterial, with knowledge, what is far becomes near, and with knowledge, iron is softened. With knowledge, the children of Aadam dived into the depths of the water, with knowledge, the children of Adam flew in the air, with knowledge, man reached the moon, and with knowledge, man turned the world into a small village. But this knowledge alone is unable to make people happy. This knowledge alone is incapable of instilling correct morals. Therefore, it is necessary for humans to learn another type of knowledge – a knowledge that reforms morals, a knowledge that grooms virtues, a knowledge that guarantees man happiness in this world and the hereafter. This knowledge is knowledge of Allah Ta’alaa and knowledge of the commands and instructions of Allah Ta’alaa (concerning what is halaal and what is haraam) (what Allah loves and what He does not love) (what pleases Allah and what displeases Him) and all of this is written in the Sunnah of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).
With this knowledge, our souls are elevated and our morals are raised, and with this knowledge a person lives as a human being. Mu’aadh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Learn knowledge, for learning it is reverence of Allah Ta’alaa, seeking it is worship, studying it is praise, and searching for it is considered as striving in the Way of Allah, teaching it to someone who does not know is regarded as sadaqah, and giving it to members of the family is an act of getting close to Allah, because it is what makes us know what is halaal and what is haraam).
We ask Allah Ta’alaa,, the Almighty, the Lord of the Noble Throne, to teach us what will benefit us and to benefit us with what He has taught us. We ask Him, Glory be to Him, with His Most Beautiful Names and His Sublime Attributes, to make faith beloved to us and to beautify it in our hearts. Allahumma Aameen.
THE SECOND SERMON
All Praises belong to Allah, who said in his Criterion (the Qur’an) (إِنَّما يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبادِهِ الْعُلَماءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ) “ Only those fear Allāh, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Forgiving” (Al-Fatir: 28). Blessings and peace be upon His Trustee to His Revelation, our Master Muhammad, and upon his family, his companions, and whoever follows his guidance until the Day of Judgment.
Dear servants of Allah, the United Nations has designated the fifth day of October annually as World Teacher’s Day in order to raise awareness about the issue of teachers around the world. It sets standards relating to the policy of education personnel, employment and training, as well as the continuous education of teachers, their employment and care for their working conditions. World Teachers’ Day aims to focus on appreciating, evaluating and improving the status of teachers in the world and providing an opportunity to consider issues related to teachers and teaching.
Islam has paid great attention to knowledge, learning, and teachers, as the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah have mentioned various evidence on the issue. The Exalted says: (إِنَّما يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبادِهِ الْعُلَماءُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ) “ Only those fear Allāh, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Forgiving” (Al-Fatir: 28). And His statement: (يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنْكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجاتٍ وَاللَّهُ بِما تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ (المجادلة: 11)) “Allāh will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allāh is Aware of what you do.” (Al-Mujadila: 11) Almighty also says: (وَتِلْكَ الْأَمْثالُ نَضْرِبُها لِلنَّاسِ وَما يَعْقِلُها إِلَاّ الْعالِمُونَ) “And these examples We present to the people, but none will understand them except those of knowledge.” (Al-Ankabut: 43).
Sahl bin Mu’adh bin Anas narrated from his father that: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever teaches some knowledge will have the reward of the one who acts upon it, without that detracting from his reward in the slightest.” And he, may God bless him and grant him peace, said: “Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah, His angels, the dwellers of the heaven and the earth, and even the ant in its hole and the fish (in water) supplicate in favour of those who teach people knowledge.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, who said: This is a good, authentic, strange hadith.) Abu al-Aaliyah said: “Supplication of Allah means praises and that of the angels is prayer” (Fath al-Bari by Ibn Hajar). And he, blessings and peace be upon him, said: “Among the deeds and good deeds that reach to a believer after his death is knowledge that he taught and spread.”
Dear Servants of Allah, since teachers carry the greatest message and perform the most important roles in the society, they have some rights over us, and we have some rights over them. As for their rights over the people, they are many and we cannot list them here, which include: reverence, honour, and respect. It is not permissible to disturb them or burden them beyond their capacity, it also include recognition of their rights, loving them and the preserving their affection,
As for our rights and the rights of our children over them, they are also many, which include the following: setting a good practical example for students, caring for students and monitoring their conditions, being kind to them, having compassion, and adopting wisdom in dealing with their mistakes.
O our venerable teacher, we would like to remind you of some things here, so hold unto them:
Firstly: Sincerity for Allah as you teach our children: you teach knowledge, and teaching brings you closer to Allah Almighty, so your teaching them should be sincerely for the sake of Allah, so that Allah may bless it and bring forth its fruits, which we could see evident in the morals, mentality and the hearts of our children.
Secondly: The need to adorn good morals and rise above worldly things: Here is Ibn Al-Mubarak saying: Mukhlida bin Al-Hussain said to me: “We are more in need of a lot of politeness than we are of a lot of utterances” (Al-Adab Ash-Shar’iyyah, by Ibn Muflih). It is also said that: “Morality is given priority over knowledge”
Thirdly: You should abstain from things in people’s hands: Ath-Thawree says: “The scholar is the doctor of this nation, and money is the disease, so if the doctor brings the disease to himself, how can he treat others?!” (Al-Adab Ash-Shar’iyyah, by Ibn Muflih).
Fourthly: Seeking constant increase in knowledge: Is there more than Allah Almighty commanding that, the Master of the prophets and messengers, saying to him: (وَقُلْ رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا) “And say, “My Lord, increase me in knowledge” [Taha: 114].
And I said what you heard. May Allah forgive you and I …
Supplication: O Allah, honor Islam and Muslims, and humiliate polytheism and polytheists. And improve the conditions of Muslims everywhere, and reconcile their hearts, O Lord of the worlds. Oh Allah, give us good in this world, and good in the hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire. Our Lord, forgive us and our parents, and have mercy on them as they raised us when we were children. Oh Allah, gather us with those whom You have brought us together with in this world in goodness and well-being, and in the hereafter in the gardens of bliss. Glory be to your Lord, Lord of glory above what they describe, and peace be upon the messengers, and praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.