In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
BEING THE THIRD SERMON FOR THE MONTH OF JUMAADAL AKHIRAH DATED, 25TH JUMAADAL AKHIRAH, 1443 (28TH JANUARY, 2022)
REPENTANCE TO ALLAH TA’ALAH
All Praises belong to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, who says in His Glorious Book, in describing the servants of the Most Merciful in Surat Al-Furqan: “The ˹true˺ servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk on the earth humbly, and when the foolish address them ˹improperly˺, they only respond with peace. They are˺ those who spend ˹a good portion of˺ the night, prostrating themselves and standing before their Lord. They are˺ those who pray, “Our Lord! Keep the punishment of Hell away from us, for its punishment is indeed unrelenting. It is certainly an evil place to settle and reside. They are˺ those who spend neither wastefully nor stingily, but moderately in between. They are˺ those who do not invoke any other god besides Allah, nor take a ˹human˺ life—made sacred by Allah—except with ˹legal˺ right, nor commit fornication. And whoever does ˹any of˺ this will face the penalty. Their punishment will be multiplied on the Day of Judgment, and they will remain in it forever, in disgrace. As for those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, they are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will change into good deeds. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah properly.” (Al-Furqaan: 63-71). We praise Him, seek His help, and seek His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in God Almighty from the evils of ourselves and the evils of our actions. Whoever is guide by Allah, nothing and nobody can mislead Him, and whoever is let astray, none can guide Him. And whoever Allah does not bless with light will have no light! I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone. He has no partner. He made us special with the best Book revealed and honoured us with thebest Messenger sent, and made us, with Isalaam, the best nation evolved for mankind. We enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and we believe in Allah, and He has bestowed upon us the blessing of the greatest religion that Allah has honored for His servants: The religion of Islaam: “Today, I have perfected your religion for you, and have completed My blessing upon you, and chosen Islaam as religion for you.” (Al-Maaidah: 3) “And whoever seeks a faith other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, is among the losers.” (Aal-Imraan: 85).
I testify also that Muhammed is His slave and Messenger. He discharged the Trustt, he delivered the Message, and admonished the Ummah. He strove and fought duly in the path of his Lord. He left us o a very clear path where everything is as clear as day. No one deviates from it except someone that wants to perish. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed succeeded in a big way. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has clearly gone astray. O Allah! Let Your Benedictions and Peace and Blessings be upon this noble Prophet, and on his family and his companion. And make us live on his path, make us die on his religion and gather us among his group on the day of Resurrection with those on whom You have bestowed Your Favour among the prophets, the righteous, the martyrs and the good-doers. Excellent indeed are these as companions.
Thereafter..Servants of Allah!, I enjoin you and myself to fear Allah Almighty in accordance with His Words: “O believers! Be mindful of Allah, and say what is right. He will bless your deeds for you, and forgive your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, has truly achieved a great triumph.” (Ahzaab: 70-71)
Brothers in Faith!, This is the fourth meeting for the month of Jumaada al-Thani, and the theme of our sermon today revolves around repentance unto Allah Ta’alah.
Brothers in Faith! The door of repentance is open and does not close until the sun rises from the west, and at that time “belief will not benefit those who did not believe earlier or those who did no good through their faith.” (Al-An’aam:158). And this door is also closed when the soul reaches the throat. Allah Almighty said: “However, repentance is not accepted from those who knowingly persist in sin until they start dying, and then cry, “Now I repent!” (An-Nisaa:18).
And Allah, Blessed and Most Exalted is He stretches out His Hand during the night to accept the repentance of those that sinned in the day, and He extends His Hand in the daytime to accept the repentance of those that sinned in the night. In fact, He is happy with the repentance of His servant when he repents to Him, so hasten to enter into the Mercy of Allah, and beware of delaying repentance, because man does not know when his life will end, and no one can prevent you from repentance.
And if a Muslim intends to return to Allah, he does not need an intermediary as is the case with people in this world. If you perform ablution and say “Allahu Akbar!”, then you are standing before Allah. He hears your words and responds to your supplications. So turn to the One Who accepts repentance from his servants and pardons sins.
The Conditions of Repentance to Allah, the Almighty and Most Majestic
Brothers of Islaam, sincere repentance must fulfill certain conditions, explained by the people of knowledge are as follows:
1: The person repenting must be sincere in his repentance: He must intend nothing other than the pleasure and face of Allah by the repentance. The one who leave his sins for fear of the police or fear of a scandal, or the one who leaves alcohol because he fears for himself and to preserve his health, or to run away from fornication and adultery for fear of modern diseases like AIDS is not repentant.
2: He should be honest in his repentance. He shouldn’t say that he repents only with his tongue while his heart is attached to the sin; That is the repentance of liars.
3: To leave the sin immediately.
4: To resolve not to return to the sin..
5: He must regret that he committed the sin.
If the sin has to do with the rights of people, then it needs an additional condition:
6: Returning the rights to their owners or owning up and asking them for pardon.
Among the things that can help the repentant person to remain steadfast are the following:
1= Distancing himself from sinful company and foolish negligent friends.
2- Striving to change the environment of sin because everything in it reminds of sins.
3- Striving in looking for companions who remind him of Allah and help him in good deeds.
4- Doing a lot of good deeds that remove bad deeds: “Surely good deeds wipe out evil deeds” (Huud:114)
Good news, my brother! Indeed Allah, may He be Glorified, when He sees your honesty and sincerity, He accepts your repentance. In fact, He changes your bad deeds into good deeds. Allah Ta’alah says: “As for those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, they are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will change into good deeds. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful..” (Al-Faraq: 70).
Lots of seeking forgiveness of Allah is desirable and very useful, and that is the guidance of the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) about whom Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “We used to count the Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) ask for forgiveness of Allah and repenting unto Him, in one gathering, more than a hundred times”. And he (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said to Hudhaifah, “...and where are you in seeking forgiveness of Allah, Hudhaifah? I ask Allah’s forgiveness more than seventy times in a day.”
Our pious predecessors used to ask Allah’s forgiveness a lot, and they used to seek virtuous times like the last third of the night, as the prophet of Allah, Ya’aquub said to his sons: “I will ask forgiveness for you, my Lord…”. Ibn Mas’uud said: “He reserved his asking of forgiveness for them until the time just before dawn.”
A Muslim seeks Allah’s forgiveness even after acts of good deeds, because he believes that he falls short, and in order to rectify the flaws and shortcomings in it, After salaat, it is expected that a muslim should say “Astagfiru-LLah” three times, and after the Hajj… and others like that. The righteous predecessors of the Ummah, if they wanted rain, they asked Allah’s forgiveness, and if they wanted money/wealth, they asked Allah’s forgiveness, and if they wanted a child, they asked Allah’s forgiveness, or if they wished to attain strength in their bodies and in their countries, they asked Allah’s forgiveness, and this is as a result of their excellent understanding of His saying, Tabaaraka-Wata’alah: “So I said, ‘Seek your Lord’s forgiveness, ˹for˺ He is truly Most Forgiving. He will shower you with abundant rain…” (Nuuh:10-11).
Repentance has its conditions as has been said before, and a muslim must repent to Allah from every sin, whether minor or major. And a muslim must tie his tongue to a lot of forgiveness. No sin is small if it is persistent and no sin is too big with forgiveness. I ask Allah for you for repentance and rectification. And Allah is the Custodian of Success.w
THE SECOND SERMON:
All praises are due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, we invoke prayers and blessings upon the best of Allah’s creation, our master Muhammad, and all his family and companions.
Thereafter:
O servants of Allah, it is a good thing for us to use this opportunity to highlight the virtues of the Muslim woman’s hijab and the ugliness of Tabarruj (wanton display of adornment), on the occasion of the International Day of the Hijab, which is held annually on the first of February.
Among these virtues are the following:
The Hijab is faith and obedience to Allah, the Exalted and to the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): Allah made obedience to Him and His Messenger, peace be upon him and obligation. Allah, the Exalted, commanded the women to adorn the hijab: (وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلَّا مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ) And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision1 and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment2 except that which [necessarily] appears thereof3 and to wrap [a
portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment [i.e., beauty] except to their husbands” (Surat An-Nur: 31) He the Exalted said: (يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ) “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments.” (Al-Ahzab: 59). And the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessing be upon him, said: “The woman is ‘Awrah (Parts of the body that are not supposed to be exposed to others)” [Sound], meaning that it is obligatory to cover her.
The Hijab is chastity: Allah made a commitment to the hijab a symbol of chastity, and He, the Exalted says: (يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ وَبَنَاتِكَ وَنِسَاء الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُدْنِينَ عَلَيْهِنَّ مِن جَلَابِيبِهِنَّ ذَلِكَ أَدْنَى أَن يُعْرَفْنَ فَلَا يُؤْذَيْنَ) “O Prophet, tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to bring down over themselves [part] of their outer garments.1 That is more suitable that they will be known2 and not be abused. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Al-Ahzab: 59).
The hijab is Purification: He (glory be to Him) says: (وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِن وَرَاء حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّ) ” And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.” (Surat Al-Ahzab: 32). He described hijab as purification for the hearts of the believing men and the believing women because hijab cuts passion of the ailing hearts. (فَلَا تَخْضَعْنَ بِالْقَوْلِ فَيَطْمَعَ الَّذِي فِي قَلْبِهِ مَرَضٌ) “lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech” (Surat Al-Ahzab: 32).
The hijab is a concealment: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah is characterised by modesty and concealment. He loves modesty and concealment” (Sahih), and he, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Any woman who takes off her clothes anywhere but in her husband’s house, has torn the screen between her and Allah” (Sahih). Reward is of the type of work.
Hijab is piety: Allah, the Exalted says: (يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْءَاتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىَ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ) “O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness – that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.” (Surat Al-A’raaf: 26)
THE UGLINESS OF TABARRUJ (DISPLAY OF ADORNMENT)
Tabarruj (Displaying one’s adornment) brings about the curse and expulsion from the mercy of Allah and its one of the characteristics of the people of Hell and a major sin that destroys: The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: “Two sets are of the inmates of Hell whom I did not see: people having whips like the tails of the cows with them and they would be beating people, and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, inviting to evil; and they themselves will be inclined to it. Their heads will appear like the humps of the Bactrian camel inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise and they will not smell its fragrance which is perceptible from such and such a distance.” [Muslim] Al-Bakht: a type of camel.
Tabarruj (Displaying one’s adornment) is hypocrisy, indecency and scandal: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The best of your women are the loving, child bearing ones who do as their husbands please and assist him in his affairs, as long as they have taqwa (fear of Allah). And the worst of your women are those who expose themselves and are proud. These are (like) hypocrites. Very few of them will enter Jannah. And the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ““Any woman who takes off her clothes anywhere but in her husband’s house, has torn the screen between her and Allah, the Exalted” (Sahih).”
Adornment is a Satanic Way and a Jewish method: The story of Adam and Hawaa with Satan reveals to us the extent of the desire of the enemy of Allah, Satan, to expose the nakedness, and to expose the concealments, and to spread immorality. Verily, defilement and display of adornment are a primary goal for him. Allah says: (يَا بَنِي آدَمَ لاَ يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ كَمَا أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُم مِّنَ الْجَنَّةِ يَنزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْءَاتِهِمَا) “O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing1 to show them their private parts.” (Surat Al-A’raf: 27). And the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, said: “So avoid the allurement of the world, avoid the allurement of the women: verily, the first trial for the people of Israaeel was caused by women..” [Muslim]
Tabarruj (Displaying one’s adornment) is the door of widespread evil: the effects of the evils and harms of tabarruj to the religion and the world are many, especially if it is joined by carefree mixing of the sexes. Among these dire consequences are: the adorned women compete in the area of forbidden adornment in order to draw attention to themselves, an act which destroys morals and wastes wealth, and it makes the woman looks like a humiliated and contemptible commodity offered to anyone who wants to stare at her. It also includes: the corruption of men’s morals, especially the youth, particularly the teenagers, pushing them to all kinds of forbidden immorality. In addition, it includes, the destruction of family ties, the lack of trust between its members, and the widespread of divorces. Other consequences of tabarruj includes: trafficking in women as a means of advertising or entertainment in the fields of commerce and others. It also includes: doing harm against the woman herself, considering tabarruj as a sign that indicates her bad intentions, which exposes her to the harm of the wicked ones and the foolish ones. Some its effects also includes: the spread of diseases. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “ Immorality never appears among a people to such an extent that they commit it openly, but plagues and diseases that were never known among the predecessors will spread among them.” [Sahih]
Facilitating the sin of fornication with the eye. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “ The adultery of the eye is the lustful look” [Muslim]
Du’aa: