IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
THE SECOND SERMON FOR THE MONTH OF RABI’ AL-AWWAL, DATED 11/3/1446 AH (13/9/2024 CE)
THE FIRST SERMON
TOPIC: THE NECESSITY OF FOLLOWING THE PROPHET (PBUH) IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES AND DEALINGS
All praise is due to Allah, Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all other religions, and sufficient is Allah as a witness. We praise Him, seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and the bad consequences of our actions. Whomever Allah guides, no one can mislead, and whomever He misleads, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him in abundance.
As for what follows, O honorable servants of Allah! Fear Allah as He should be feared, obey His commands, and beware of disobeying and opposing Him. Allah says: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلاً سَدِيداً (70) يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فازَ فَوْزاً عَظِيماً (71))
“O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment.” (Surah Al-Ahzab, 70-71)
Servants of Allah, we are still in the school of the Prophet of Mercy (peace be upon him), and today our discussion focuses on: The necessity of following the Prophet (peace be upon him) in all circumstances and dealings.
Brothers in faith, the rights of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) upon us are many, and they are summarized as follows: Obeying him in what he commands, avoiding what he forbids, believing in what he informs, adopting his morals, following his guidance, emulating him, spreading his Sunnah, defending it, and loving him more than wealth, self, children, and all people. Loving his righteous family and his honorable companions is also part of these rights. The importance of emulating him is demonstrated by the reward of gaining Allah’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and guidance through following him. Allah says: (قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَاللّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ )
“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘If you should love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.'” (Surah Al-Imran: 31)
And Allah the Almighty also said: (لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ)
“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day.” (Surah Al-Ahzab: 21)
Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, said about this noble verse:
“This noble verse is a major principle in emulating the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in his words, actions, and states.” He is the perfect example that every Muslim should follow and walk in his footsteps, for everything he says or does is worthy of emulation and being a role model. He encouraged people to follow the Sunnah and warned them against abandoning it, as he (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me.” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim), meaning, whoever abandons my way and follows another way is not from me.
He (peace be upon him) is a role model in good character: his character was the Quran, he was pleased with what pleased it and angered by what angered it. He was neither obscene nor rude, nor did he shout in the markets. He did not repay evil with evil but pardoned and forgave. Safiyyah bint Huyayy (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “I have never seen anyone with better character than the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him).” (Hasan – Narrated by Al-Tabarani).
He is a role model in patience and forgiveness: Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I was walking with the Prophet (peace be upon him) who was wearing a thick-bordered Najrani cloak. A Bedouin came and pulled it forcefully, so much so that I saw the side of the Prophet’s shoulder affected by the border of the cloak due to the pull. The Bedouin then said, ‘Command that I be given from Allah’s wealth that you possess.’ The Prophet (peace be upon him) turned to him, smiled, and then ordered that he be given something.” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim).
He is a role model in compassion and mercy: Malik bin Al-Huwayrith (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) with a group of my people, and we stayed with him for twenty nights. He was kind and gentle. When he saw our longing for our families, he said: ‘Return to them, stay with them, teach them, and pray with them. When it is time for prayer, let one of you call the Adhan, and the eldest of you lead the prayer.'” (Narrated by Bukhari).
He is a role model in loyalty to others: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: “I was never more jealous of any of the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) than I was of Khadijah, though I never saw her. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to frequently mention her, and sometimes he would slaughter a sheep and send its meat to her friends. Sometimes I would say to him, ‘It is as if there is no woman in the world except Khadijah!’ He would reply, ‘She was such and such, and I had children from her.'” (Narrated by Bukhari).
He is a role model in humility: He would pass by children and greet them. A young girl would take his hand, and he would go with her wherever she wished. He would mend his sandals, patch his clothes, milk his sheep, sit with the poor, and respond to anyone who invited him, even for the simplest of things. He would visit the sick, attend funerals, answer invitations, and walk with widows, the poor, and the weak to fulfill their needs.
He is a role model in courage: Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “When the fighting intensified on the day of Badr, we took shelter behind the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and no one was closer to the enemy than him.” (Authentic – Narrated by Ahmad). Al-Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “By Allah, when the fighting became fierce, we would seek refuge behind him, and the brave among us was the one who stood by him – meaning the Prophet (peace be upon him).” (Narrated by Muslim).
He is a role model in generosity and kindness: Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was the most generous of people, and he was most generous during Ramadan when Jibreel met him. Jibreel would meet him every night of Ramadan, and they would study the Quran together. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was more generous in doing good than the blowing wind.” (Narrated by Bukhari).
He is a role model in fear of Allah and awe: Mutarrif narrated from his father (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) praying, and there was a sound from his chest [the sound of weeping] like the buzzing of a mill due to his crying.” (Authentic – Narrated by Abu Dawud).
He is a role model in asceticism regarding the worldly life: Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) entered upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was lying on a mat with nothing between him and it. There was a leather pillow stuffed with palm fibers under his head, and near his head were some untanned skins hanging. Umar said: “I saw the marks of the mat on his side, and I wept.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: “What makes you weep?” Umar replied: “O Messenger of Allah, Kisra (the Persian emperor) and Caesar (the Roman emperor) are living in luxury, and you are the Messenger of Allah!” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Are you not pleased that they have the world, and we have the Hereafter?” (Narrated by Bukhari).
He is a role model in steadfastness and certainty in Allah’s promise: Al-Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a man once said to him: “O Abu Umara, you fled on the day of Hunayn!” He replied: “No, by Allah! The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not flee, but the first to flee were the hastening people, and Hawazin met them with arrows. The Prophet (peace be upon him) remained on his white mule, and Abu Sufyan bin Al-Harith was holding its reins, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) was saying: ‘I am the Prophet, no lie; I am the son of Abdul Muttalib.'” (Narrated by Bukhari).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was a role model in worship and frequent remembrance of Allah: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to stand in prayer at night until his feet would swell. She asked: “Why do you do this, O Messenger of Allah, when Allah has forgiven your past and future sins?” He replied: “Shall I not be a grateful servant?” (Narrated by Bukhari). He (peace be upon him) was the most perfect of creation in remembering Allah. He would remember Allah in all his states—standing, sitting, walking, riding, traveling, and resting.
He is a role model in both his speech and silence: When he spoke, his speech was clear, deliberate, and well-defined, so much so that those who counted could count his words. He did not speak hastily or unintelligibly. His speech was balanced with pauses between his words, and his manner of speaking was the most perfect. He often repeated his statements three times to ensure they were understood. When he greeted others, he would greet them three times. He was often silent, not speaking unless there was a need. He spoke concisely, using few but comprehensive words. He did not speak about things that did not concern him, and when he spoke, it was only about matters for which he hoped for a reward. If he disliked something, it was evident in his face.
He is a role model in his laughter and weeping: Most of his laughter was a smile; in fact, all of his laughter was a smile, and at its peak, only his molar teeth would show. As for his weeping, it was similar to his laughter: without loud wailing or raising his voice, just as his laughter was not boisterous. His eyes would tear up until the tears flowed, and a buzzing sound could be heard from his chest. His weeping was sometimes out of mercy for the deceased, sometimes out of fear for his Ummah and concern for them, sometimes out of fear of Allah, and sometimes when listening to the Quran—this weeping was out of longing, love, reverence, accompanied by fear and awe.
When his son Ibrahim died, the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) eyes shed tears, and he wept out of mercy for him. He also wept when he witnessed one of his daughters on her deathbed, and when Ibn Mas’ud recited Surat Al-Nisa’ to him, he wept. He wept when Uthman bin Maz’oon passed away and when the sun was eclipsed; he prayed the eclipse prayer and wept during the prayer. He also wept when he sat by the grave of one of his daughters, and at times, he would weep during his night prayers.
He is a role model in dealings: He was the best of people in transactions. He sold and bought, hired and rented, and entered into partnerships with others. When one of his partners once came to him, he said, “Do you not recognize me?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “Weren’t you my partner? You were an excellent partner: you did not argue, nor did you deceive.” (Authentic – Narrated by Abu Dawud). He would give and accept gifts, repay them, borrow with and without collateral, and sometimes he would buy with immediate or deferred payment. When he borrowed something, he returned it in better condition. When he borrowed from someone, he repaid him and prayed for him, saying: “May Allah bless you in your family and wealth, for indeed, the reward of a loan is praise and repayment.” (Authentic – Narrated by Al-Nasa’i). He dedicated a piece of land he owned as charity in the way of Allah. He interceded for others and accepted intercessions made to him. Barira refused his intercession for reconciling with Mughith, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not become angry or reproach her. He was indeed the best role model.
He would joke, but only spoke the truth in his jokes. He would use metaphors but would not lie in them. He would give advice and seek advice. The Prophet (peace be upon him) would race on foot and wrestle. He would mend his own sandals, patch his own clothes, repair his bucket, milk his sheep, clean his clothes, and serve his family and himself. He also helped in building the mosque, carrying bricks with the companions, and he both hosted guests and was hosted by others.
Peace and blessings be upon him and his family and companions.
THE SECOND SERMON
TOPIC: THE NEED FOR PATIENCE IN OUR TIMES
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, who says in His noble Book: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاةِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ) “O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient” (Quran 2:153), and (وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاةِ وَإِنَّها لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَاّ عَلَى الْخاشِعِينَ) “Seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humble” (Quran 2:45), and (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصابِرُوا وَرابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ) “O you who believe, be patient, persevere, stand firm, and fear Allah that you may succeed” (Quran 3:200).
In a hadith, Abu Salama ibn Abdul Rahman said: One day, Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) approached me and said: “Do you know, O nephew, regarding what this verse was revealed: (يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصابِرُوا وَرابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ) ‘O you who believe, be patient, persevere, and stand firm’?” I said: “No.” He replied: “It was not revealed about the time of battle or war, but it was revealed about people who regularly attend the mosque, pray at the prescribed times, and remember Allah therein. Upon them the verse was revealed: ‘Be patient’ meaning with regard to the five daily prayers, ‘Persevere’ meaning against your desires, ‘Stand firm’ meaning remain steadfast in your mosques, and ‘Fear Allah’ in what He has taught you so that you may succeed.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “Be patient, for no time will come upon you except that the one after it will be worse, until you meet your Lord.” (Bukhari).
The Meanings of Patience:
1. Patience in obeying Allah
2. Patience in avoiding disobedience to Allah
3. Patience in facing trials and hardships
4. Patience in dealing with people’s harm
The Objectives of Taqwa (God-consciousness):
1. Fear of the Majestic (Allah)
2. Acting in accordance with revelation
3. Contentment with little
4. Preparation for the Day of Departure
“O noble servants of Allah, the events of our times are terrifying!
– A blind man, father of two, lost hope in life and attempted to throw himself into the sea from the Third Mainland Bridge!
– A motorcyclist crashed into a car from behind. The driver, a woman, got out and slapped him. The motorcyclist, in turn, pushed her into the lake, and both of them drowned and died instantly.
– A man was kidnapped; the kidnappers took 10 million naira from his family, yet they killed him!
– A woman agreed to go with her lover to a hotel for just 2,000 naira, and she was murdered! And so on, and so on…”
O servants of Allah, listen to the words of Allah, the Exalted: (وَالْعَصْرِ (1) إِنَّ الْإِنْسانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ (2) إِلَاّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحاتِ وَتَواصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَواصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ (3))
“By the passage of time, indeed, mankind is in loss. Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.” (Quran 103:1-3)
That is, in the end times, humans are in loss except for four types of people:
1. Those who believe
2. Those who do righteous deeds
3. Those who advise each other to the truth
4. Those who advise each other to patience.
What is the reward for those who are patient?
It is mentioned in the words of Allah, the Exalted: (: قُلْ يَا عِبادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمْ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هذِهِ الدُّنْيا حَسَنَةٌ وَأَرْضُ اللَّهِ واسِعَةٌ إِنَّما يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُمْ بِغَيْرِ حِسابٍ)
“Say, ‘O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account.'” (Quran 39:10)
In conclusion, dear Muslims, we hereby send our heartfelt condolence to our dear brothers and sisters in Borno state over the ongoing flood disaster which started on Tuesday due to the collapse of Alau dam on the Ngadda river. This has caused the state’s worst flooding in decades and forced residents to flee their homes affecting more than one million people with over 30 people death. We call for more federal government intervention and support, while we call on Nigerians to support the affected people to pull through this disaster. Both government and private bodies need to come up with initiatives to mobilise support both locally and internationally for the residents to prevent humanitarian and health crisis May Allah save us from such calamities and all other calamities. Kindly donate charity to help them, may Allah accept your charity. (Human Concern Foundation International 1012578198 Zenith Bank PLC)
Supplication:
“O Lord, make this a safe land and provide its people with fruits—those who believe in Allah and the Last Day. O Lord, make this land safe and keep me and my children away from worshipping idols. O Allah, we ask You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor, to relieve the distress of the Muslims in Gaza. O Allah, lift the distress, difficulties, and afflictions from the Muslims in Gaza and all other Muslim lands, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, grant them victory over their oppressors, for You are capable of all things, O Possessor of Majesty and Honor. O Allah, protect our country, O Allah, protect our country from all evil and harm, O Lord of the worlds. O Allah, forgive us and our parents, O Allah, forgive our deceased and the deceased among the Muslims, and illuminate their graves, O Most Merciful of the merciful. And may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You bestowed blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.”
“Proceed to your prayer, may Allah have mercy on you.”