IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
THIRD KHUTBAH OF THE MONTH OF JUMADAL-ULA, DATED 20/5/1446 AH (22/11/2024 CE)
TOPIC: THE OBLIGATION OF REPENTING TO ALLAH AND SEEKING FORGIVENESS FROM THOSE WRONGED
The First Sermon
All praise is due to Allah, the One who says:
“وَالّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلَى مَا فَعَلُوا وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ”
“And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins—and who can forgive sins except Allah?—and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know”* (Aal Imran: 135).
He is the One who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons their sins. Glorified is He, who has decreed mercy upon Himself. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, the Most Merciful, the Forgiving. I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the Prophet of mercy and the guide of the ummah to all that is good and ensures their happiness in this world and the Hereafter. He ﷺ said: “O people, repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness, for I repent to Allah a hundred times a day”* (Muslim).
May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his family, and his companions, who truly knew Allah, so Allah honored them, and obeyed Allah, so He elevated their ranks. Allah was pleased with them, and they were pleased with Him. Such is the reward for those who fear their Lord.
To proceed:
O servants of Allah, I advise you and myself to fear Allah Almighty in both private and public. Taqwa is the ultimate goal of all acts of worship and the purpose of all commands and prohibitions. Allah, the Exalted, says:
“يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ”
“O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous” (Al-Baqarah: 2/21).
Respected servants of Allah, dear listeners:
What follows health except illness? What follows life except death? What follows youth except old age? And what follows life except departure to the Hereafter? Know that the sickness of the heart stems from sins, and the root of true health lies in repentance.
Repentance! What will make you understand the value of repentance? Repentance is the gateway to hope; it is an open door. Repentance is the shedding of sincere tears. Allah Almighty says:
“نَبِّئ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ”
“Inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful” (Al-Hijr: 49).
Repentance is when the sinful servant, who has fallen short in his duties—and we are all sinners and fall short—stands humbly before his Lord, with a broken heart and submissive limbs. His state and words plead:
“O Lord, who else but You will accept my repentance? Who will forgive sins if You do not forgive me? Who will have mercy on me if You do not have mercy on me, O Lord of the worlds?
Grant me repentance and forgive my sins, For You are the Forgiver of great sins.”
O servants of Allah!
Some may say: “Why should we repent? What are our sins and transgressions?” To such people, I say: We repent, O servants of Allah, because Allah has commanded us and all believers, saying:
“وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا المؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ”
“And repent to Allah, all of you, O believers, that you may succeed” (An-Nur: 31).
We repent because the scale of deeds will be set before your eyes on the Day of Judgment. Your good deeds will be placed on one side of the scale and your sins on the other. Good deeds will only outweigh sins through sincere repentance, which erases sins.
By the mercy of Allah, dear brothers in faith, Allah has opened the doors of hope and forgiveness for sinners so that those who err may repent, and those who stray may return to the path of righteousness. Allah forgives their sins and transgressions, as He says:
“قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ”
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful” (Az-Zumar: 53).
In a Qudsi hadith, Allah Almighty demonstrates the vastness of His forgiveness and mercy and the acceptance of prayers from those who do not associate partners with Him. Allah says:
“O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and have hope in Me, I will forgive you for what you have done, and I will not mind. O son of Adam, if your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky and then you sought My forgiveness, I would forgive you, and I will not mind. O son of Adam, if you were to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth but meet Me without associating anything with Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.”
In His kindness, Allah rejoices in the repentance of His servants more than a person who finds his lost camel in a desolate desert or someone whose broken car suddenly starts in a barren wilderness with no water or pasture.
True repentance, O Muslims, is sincere and meets its necessary conditions. If the sin involves only Allah, the conditions of repentance are three:
1. Ceasing the sin immediately.
2. Feeling genuine remorse for having committed it.
3. Resolving firmly never to return to it.
All these conditions must be fulfilled with sincerity for Allah’s sake alone. If any of these three are missing, the repentance is not valid.
If the sin involves the rights of others, a fourth condition is added:
4. Restoring the rights of the wronged person.
– If it involves money or property, it must be returned.
– If it involves slander or defamation, the wronged person must be asked for pardon, or the offender must allow the wronged to seek justice. Settling these matters in this world is far better than waiting for retribution in the Hereafter.
O servants of Allah! Is there anyone who will repent? Is there anyone who will return to Allah? Allah extends His hand during the night to forgive the sinner of the day, and He extends His hand during the day to forgive the sinner of the night. Repentance is not only for those who commit major sins and acts of immorality but for every believer. In fact, it is a command from Allah. He says:
“يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًا”
“O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance” (At-Tahreem: 8).
My dear Muslim brother, fear Allah, and refrain from committing sins. Strive to rid yourself of them if you have fallen into their trap, especially before the signs of death manifest. Consider the advice of Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) to his people when he lamented their stubbornness to Allah:
“…فقلت استغفروا ربكم إنه كان غفارا يرسل السماء عليكم مدرارا ويمددكم بأموال وبنين ويجعل لكم جنات ويجعل لكم أنهارا”
“And I said, ‘Seek forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in continuing showers. And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.” (Surah Nuh: 10-12).
This is especially pertinent in our current times of trials and tribulations across various aspects of life.
O servants of Allah, it is essential not to ignore sins or procrastinate repentance. Do not delay turning back from disobedience, for the window of opportunity for acceptance may close unexpectedly. Allah says:
“إِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِنْ قَرِيبٍ فَأُولَئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا * وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السَّيِّئَاتِ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّي تُبْتُ الْآنَ وَلَا الَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُولَئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيمًا”
“Repentance is not accepted from those who [continue to] do evil deeds up until, when death comes to one of them, he says, ‘Indeed, I have repented now,’ nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.” (Surah An-Nisa: 17-18).
So seek forgiveness from your Lord and repent to Him, for the one who repents from his sin is like one who has no sin.
The Second Khutbah
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
To proceed:
Undoubtedly, injustice is ruinous, one of the gravest sins, and among the most heinous crimes with the severest consequences. Allah has forbidden injustice in His Book and on the tongue of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Qur’an and Sunnah are replete with countless verses and hadiths condemning oppression, warning the oppressors, and cursing them.
The intelligent oppressor is the one who hastens to seek forgiveness and pardon from those he has wronged before it is too late, before he bites his hands in regret, while life remains in this world.
O honorable servants of Allah! The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) once adjusted the rows of his companions on the Day of Badr with an arrow in his hand. He passed by Sawad ibn Ghuzayyah, an ally of Banu Najjar, who was standing outside the row. The Prophet lightly poked him in the stomach with the arrow and said, *”Stand in line, O Sawad ibn Ghuzayyah.”
Sawad said, “O Messenger of Allah, you have hurt me, and Allah has sent you with justice. Allow me to retaliate.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) lifted his garment and said, “Retaliate.”
Sawad embraced the Prophet and kissed his stomach. The Prophet asked, “What made you do this, O Sawad?”
Sawad replied, “O Messenger of Allah, the battle is near, and I feared that I might die. I wanted my last moment to be my skin touching yours.”
The Prophet prayed for him and spoke well of him.
Dear Respected Listeners,
Take heed of yourselves, for this worldly life is fleeting and transient. The Day of Judgment is the day of ultimate justice and accountability. Whoever does not fulfill the rights of others in this world will be required to fulfill them in the Hereafter. In this world, one may compensate for a transgression with wealth or may even be forgiven by the aggrieved. However, on the Day of Judgment, such debts will be repaid through one’s good deeds.
It is imperative that a person safeguards their good deeds, for no one knows if their deeds will suffice to enter Paradise. Our Lord has blessed us with countless blessings, and we are obligated to express gratitude to Allah for them. The question arises: do our deeds truly measure up to the gratitude owed for these blessings?
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “None of you will enter Paradise by his deeds alone. You will enter only by the grace and mercy of Allah.”
The blessings of Allah are continuous and abundant upon His servants. No matter how much a person works, they cannot fully repay Allah for His blessings.
Additionally, one may wrong others without knowing whether the person they wronged will forgive them, or they might come on the Day of Judgment saying, “This person wronged me; I demand my right.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever has wronged his brother concerning his honor or anything else, let him seek forgiveness from him today before a day comes when there will be no dinar or dirham. If he has good deeds, they will be taken from him according to the wrong he has done, and if he has no good deeds, the sins of the wronged person will be taken and placed upon him.”
The Danger of Injustice
One of the gravest forms of injustice is harming someone’s honor through actions like slander, gossip, or false accusations. For instance, claiming that someone is a liar or dishonest is a grave assault on their reputation. Similarly, accusing someone of corruption, bribery, or wrongdoing without evidence falls into this category.
The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized the severity of these transgressions, saying:
“Whoever has a grievance against his brother, whether regarding his honor or anything else (and ‘anything’ encompasses even minor things), let him seek reconciliation today before it is too late.”
Even minor acts of wrongdoing, such as taking someone’s pen without permission and failing to return it, fall under this category. These seemingly trivial matters will also be accounted for on the Day of Judgment.
Who is the Bankrupt?
The Prophet (ﷺ) asked his companions: “Do you know who the bankrupt is?” They replied, “The bankrupt among us is the one who has neither money nor goods.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “The bankrupt of my nation is the one who comes on the Day of Resurrection with prayer, fasting, and charity, but he insulted this person, slandered that person, unlawfully consumed the wealth of another, shed blood, and beat others. So, his good deeds will be distributed among them. If his good deeds run out before he has repaid his debts, their sins will be taken and cast upon him, and he will be thrown into the Fire.” (Muslim)
The Weight of Justice on the Day of Judgment
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “A martyr is forgiven all his sins except debt.”
He also said: “By Allah, rights will be restored to their rightful owners on the Day of Resurrection, even a hornless goat will be avenged against the horned one.”
In another narration, the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “When the believers have been saved from the Fire, they will be detained on a bridge between Paradise and Hell, where they will settle the injustices that existed among them in the world.”
A Person Can Be Relieved of Others’ Rights in Two Ways: Fulfillment or Forgiveness
- Through Fulfillment:
If the rights involve money, the person must return it to its rightful owners if they know them. If they have forgotten the owners, they should strive to remember them. If the person is unaware of the owners’ whereabouts, they must search for them. If finding them proves impossible, the person should donate the money on their behalf. The reward for the donation will go to the rightful owners, while the person will earn the reward of repentance.
If the rightful owners have passed away and left heirs, the person must locate the heirs and give them the money, as it has transferred to them after the owner’s death. If the heirs are unknown or cannot be located, the person should donate the amount on their behalf, as it now belongs to them.
- Through Forgiveness (Ibraa’):
If the right pertains to honor (such as speaking ill of someone or insulting them), the person must seek the other person’s pardon by asking, “I hope you can forgive me for what I said about you; I said such and such.” It is encouraged for the one who was wronged to forgive, as Allah says:
“And if you punish, then punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed. But if you are patient – it is better for those who are patient.” (Surah An-Nahl: 126)
“And to forgo it is nearer to righteousness. And do not forget graciousness between you.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 237)
If the wronged person was not aware of the harm caused to their honor (for instance, if you backbit them without their knowledge), scholars differ:
- Some suggest informing the person and asking for their forgiveness.
- Others argue that if the wronged person was unaware, it is better not to inform them but rather to seek forgiveness for them and praise them in the same settings where you spoke ill of them. As good deeds erase bad deeds, this act of repentance can help atone for the sin.
If the rights involve other matters, the person must directly approach the wronged individual to seek forgiveness. If forgiveness is granted, this completes their repentance.
In the case of backbiting someone who has passed away, it becomes impossible to seek their pardon. However, if Allah knows that the person’s repentance is sincere, He—being the Most Generous—may absolve them of this wrong. Allah may reward the deceased for their rights and forgive the one who wronged them, for He is the Most Merciful and the Most Generous.
Supplication (Dua): O Allah, grant victory to those who strive in Your cause. Unite their hearts, strengthen their ranks, and guide them to adhere to Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet (ﷺ). O Allah, prepare the means for the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque, and guide Muslims—both rulers and the ruled—towards establishing Your Shariah and supporting Your religion.
O Allah, deal with the oppressive Jews and their supporters from among the Christians and hypocrites. O Allah, take retribution from them, divide their unity, destabilize their foothold, and unleash upon them Your wrath, which is not averted from the wrongdoing people. Truly, You are the One who answers prayers, and You are capable of all things. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.