IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
SECOND KHUTBAH FOR THE MONTH OF DHU AL-HIJJAH: DATED 10/12/1446 AH (6 MAY 2025 CE)
THE SYMBOLS OF ALLAH AND THE OBLIGATION TO HONOR THEM
The First Sermon
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, who commanded us to obey Him and forbade us from disobeying Him and transgressing His limits, and guided us to honor His symbols by His grace and bounty. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that our Prophet and the beloved of our hearts, Muhammad, is His servant and Messenger. O Allah, send your blessings, peace, and blessings upon him and his pure family, and be pleased with his noble companions and those who follow them with good until the Day of Judgment.
As for what follows:
So fear Allah, O Muslims, and fill your hearts with reverence, respect, and honor for your Lord, your Prophet, your religion, and all the rulings of your religion. {So fear Allah, O you of understanding, that you may be successful} (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:100).
O Muslims: The topic of our sermon today is: “The Symbols of Allah and the Obligation to Honor Them,” in this time when many people are neglectful about honoring the symbols of Allah and performing them properly. Many violations and disregard have appeared concerning these symbols which Allah Almighty has glorified and commanded us to honor. Allah says: {That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts} (Surah Al-Hajj 22:32). He made honoring the symbols of Allah a sign of piety and attributed piety to the hearts because the heart is the place of piety, as our Prophet (peace be upon him) pointed to his chest three times and said, “Piety is here” (narrated by Muslim, al-Tirmidhi, and Ahmad). One of the greatest signs of the piety of the heart is to obey the commands of Allah and avoid His prohibitions.
The symbols — O brothers in Islam — are the plural of sha’irah, which means a sign, taken from the word for notification (announcement). The symbols of Allah are the signs of His religion and its manifestations that He legislated and commanded His servants to uphold. Honoring the symbols of Allah means venerating them, elevating their status in emotions and hearts, and performing them with desire, love, and passion.
The symbols of Allah surround our entire lives and come in several types, each with its own manifestations. Among them are the temporal symbols — those related to specific times. Allah has honored some times over others because of the guidance and goodness that occurs in them. Among the times honored by Allah Almighty is the month of Ramadan, in which the Qur’an was revealed, and in it is the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr), which is better than a thousand months.
Among them is: the month of Ramadan in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.
{شَهرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِي أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلقُرءَانُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَٰتٍ مِّنَ ٱلهُدَىٰ وَٱلۡفُرقَانِ}
“The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:185)
And in it is: the Night of Decree (Laylat al-Qadr) which is better than a thousand months.
{لَيلَةُ ٱلقَدرِ خَيرٌ مِّن أَلفِ شَهرٍ}
“The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.” (Surah Al-Qadr 97:3)
Also among them are: the ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah, which include the Day of Arafah and the Day of Sacrifice (Nahr). These days are the best for righteous deeds, even better than fighting in the cause of Allah.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “There are no days during which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” They said, “Not even jihad in the cause of Allah?”
He said, “Not even jihad in the cause of Allah, except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth and does not return with anything.”(Narrated by Abu Dawood and Ahmad)
The best of these days is the Day of Arafah, during which Allah looks at the people of Arafah and boasts about them to His angels:
“Indeed, Allah boasts to His angels on the evening of Arafah about the people of Arafah saying: ‘Look at My servants who have come to Me disheveled and dusty.'”(Refer to Al-Jami’ al-Kabir 2/241)
And after it is the Day of Sacrifice (Nahr), during which the sacrifice (Udhiya) is slaughtered, and it is the best act on this blessed day: “Indeed, the greatest of days with Allah, Blessed and Exalted, is the Day of Sacrifice, then the Day of Tashreeq.” (Narrated by Abu Dawood)
“No deed of the son of Adam on the Day of Sacrifice is more beloved to Allah than shedding blood (the sacrifice). Indeed, it will come on the Day of Resurrection with its horns, hooves, and hair, and the blood falls in a place before it reaches the earth by the permission of Allah, so comfort your souls with it.”
(Narrated by Al-Hakim and authenticated; also graded good by Al-Tirmidhi)
Excellence in selecting the sacrifice is one of the symbols of Allah mentioned in the Qur’an. Allah says:
{وَٱلۡبُدۡنَ جَعَلۡنَٰهَا لَكُم مِّن شَعَـٰٓئِرِ ٱللَّهِ لَكُمۡ فِيهَا خَيۡرٌ}
“And the camels and cattle We have appointed for you as among the symbols of Allah; for you therein is good.” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:36)
Among the temporal symbols of Allah are the sacred months, which Allah chose and favored over other months, and made them forbidden from wrongdoing since the creation of the heavens and the earth. Allah says:
{ إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثنَا عَشَرَ شَهرًا فِي كِتَٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَومَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلأَرضَ مِنهَا أَربَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلقَيِّمُۚ فَلَا تَظلِمُواْ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُم}
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the register of Allah from the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them.” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:36)
Among the temporal symbols of Allah is our day of Friday (Jumu’ah). It was reported in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise, and on it he was expelled from it, and the Hour will not be established except on Friday.” (Narrated by Muslim)
Brothers in Faith:
Then there are the ritual places, which are the locations that Allah, Glorified and Exalted, has preferred over others, such as the mosques on earth.
In the Qudsi Hadith, Allah the Exalted says:
“إِنَّ بُيُوتِي فِي أَرْضِي الْمَسَاجِدُ، وَإِنَّ زُوَّارِي عُمَّارُهَا، فَطُوبَى لِعَبْدٍ تَطَهَّرَ فِي بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ زَارَنِي فِي بَيْتِي فَحَقٌّ عَلَى الْمَزُورِ أَنْ يُكْرِمَ زَائِرَهُ”
“Indeed, My houses in My earth are the mosques, and indeed My visitors are its frequenters. So blessed is the servant who purifies himself in his house, then visits Me in My house. It is incumbent upon the visitor to honor his visitor.” (Refer to: Kuwait Encyclopedia of Jurisprudence 30/299)
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“أحب البقاع إلى الله مساجدها، وأبغض البقاع إلى الله أسواقها”
“The most beloved places to Allah are the mosques, and the most hated places to Allah are the markets.”
(Narrated by Muslim)
The best mosques are: Al-Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque), Al-Masjid al-Aqsa (the Farthest Mosque), and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque). These are the greatest houses of Allah, and Allah has made the reward of prayer in them greater than in others. It is forbidden for Muslims to disobey their Lord within them, for as good deeds multiply in them, so do sins multiply.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“لَا تُشَدُّ الرِّحَالُ إِلَّا إِلَى ثَلَاثَةِ مَسَاجِدَ: المَسْجِدِ الحَرَامِ، وَمَسْجِدِ الرَّسُولِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى”
“Travel is not undertaken except to three mosques: Al-Masjid al-Haram, the Mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and Al-Masjid al-Aqsa.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)
Respecting the Sacred Sanctuary of Makkah is part of honoring the symbols of Allah. Allah has preferred Makkah over all other lands, forbidding the hunting of its animals, scaring them away, cutting down its trees, or collecting its fallen produce. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“إِنَّ هَذَا البَلَدَ حَرَّمَهُ اللَّهُ لَا يُعْضَدُ شَوْكُهُ، وَلَا يُنَفَّرُ صَيْدُهُ، وَلَا يَلْتَقِطُ لُقَطَتَهُ إِلَّا مَنْ عَرَّفَهَا”
“Indeed, Allah has made this land sacred: its thorns shall not be broken, its game shall not be frightened away, and its fallen produce shall not be picked up except by one who is recognized.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)
The virtue of praying in Al-Masjid al-Haram compared to other mosques is one hundred thousand prayers; in my mosque one thousand prayers; and in Al-Masjid al-Aqsa five hundred prayers.
“فضل الصلاة في المسجد الحرام على غيره مئة ألف صلاة وفي مسجدي ألف صلاة وفي مسجد بيت المقدس خمسمئة صلاة”
(Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Mundhiri in Al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib 2/216)
Allah Almighty has threatened those who intend harm in Makkah:
{ وَمَن يُرِدۡ فِيهِ بِإِلۡحَادِۭ بِظُلۡمٍ نُّذِقۡهُ مِنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ}
“And whoever intends upon it [i.e., Makkah] wrongdoing or injustice – We will make him taste a painful punishment.” (Surah Al-Hajj 22:25)
May Allah bless us with the Qur’an and Sunnah, and benefit us with what is contained therein.
I say this statement and ask Allah’s forgiveness for me and for you and for all Muslims from every sin. So seek His forgiveness; indeed, He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
The Second Sermon
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone without partner, and I bear witness that our Prophet Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
O Allah, send your peace, blessings, and mercy upon him, his family, and all his companions.
Fear Allah, the Exalted – O Muslims – and fill your time with obedience to Allah – Glorified and Exalted is He – and do not let the demands of this fleeting worldly life distract you from the realities of the everlasting Hereafter. For true success and victory lie in steadfastness upon obeying Allah – Glorified and Exalted is He – until death, as our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was upon.
Brothers in Faith:
After this blessed day, the Days of Tashreeq will begin, which are the three days following the day of Eid al-Adha. They are also called the days of Mina because the pilgrims stay in Mina during these days. These are blessed days whose virtue is mentioned in the purified Sunnah. They are among the days of abundant blessings (nafahat) which our Prophet (peace be upon him) encouraged us to take advantage of and benefit from their goodness.
They are days for the remembrance of Allah, the Exalted, and gratitude to Him, although the truth is that Allah should be remembered and thanked at all times and places, but it becomes more emphasized during these limited blessed days. Allah, the Almighty, says:
{ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ فِيٓ أَيَّامٍ مَّعۡدُودَٰتٍ}
“And remember Allah during [specific] numbered days.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:203)
Ibn Kathir reported that Ibn Abbas said: “The ‘numbered days’ are the Days of Tashreeq.”
And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“أَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ أَيَّامُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ وَذِكْرِ اللَّهِ”
“The Days of Tashreeq are days of eating, drinking, and remembering Allah.” (Narrated by Muslim)
Fasting on these days is not permissible because they are our Eid (festival). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“يَوْمُ عَرَفَةَ، وَيَوْمُ النَّحْرِ، وَأَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ، عِيدُنَا أَهْلَ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَهِيَ أَيَّامُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ”
“The Day of Arafah, the Day of Nahr (sacrifice), and the Days of Tashreeq are our Eid as Muslims, and they are days of eating and drinking.” (This is an authentic hadith narrated by Abu Dawood, An-Nasa’i, and Ibn Khuzaymah in his Sahih)
The days are called Days of Tashreeq because the pilgrims “spread out” the meat of their sacrificial animals (hady) during these days.
It is recommended to remember Allah (dhikr) during these days after the obligatory prayers, and this remembrance is prescribed until the morning or afternoon of the last day of Tashreeq. This refers to the restricted takbeer which is said after the obligatory prayers.
As for the unrestricted takbeer, it starts from the sighting of the moon of Dhu al-Hijjah until the last day of Tashreeq. It is preferred to raise the voice when saying the takbeer during these days, as it is among the distinctive symbols that set the Islamic nation apart from other nations.
Regarding the issue of group takbeer, it is a matter of scholarly difference (ikhtilaf), and it is permissible to differ on it. No blame is upon anyone who follows one of the opinions or imitates the one who gives fatwa accordingly. Such issues should not become causes of dispute or conflict among Muslims. Instead, whoever is convinced of the stronger opinion should act upon it without condemning those who differ.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued a fatwa declaring that collective dhikr (remembrance) is an innovation (bid‘ah) on the basis that it has no authentic origin or evidence, and it is among the newly invented matters that our Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade, as he said:
«مَنْ أَحْدَثَ فِي أَمْرِنَا هَذَا مَا لَيْسَ مِنْهُ فَهُوَ رَدٌّ»
“Whoever introduces into this affair of ours something that is not from it, it is rejected.”(Agreed upon narration)
As for the Dar al-Ifta of Egypt, it has ruled that group takbeer during the two Eids and the Days of Tashreeq after the obligatory prayers is legally recommended (mustahabb) and is in fact a manifestation of the signs of Allah, the Exalted.
Imam Al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
“‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to make takbeer from his dome in Mina, so the people in the mosque would hear it and say takbeer, and the people in the markets would say takbeer until Mina would shake with takbeer.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari)
And in Fath al-Bari, the explanation of Sahih al-Bukhari, the word “تَرْتَجُ” means: it shakes or moves, which is an exaggeration to describe the loudness of the voices gathered together.
Al-Bukhari also said: “Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with them) would go out to the market during the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah and say takbeer, and people would repeat their takbeer.”
Imam Al-Shafi‘i (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Al-Umm:
“When they see the crescent of Shawwal, I love that people should say takbeer collectively and individually in the mosques, markets, roads, homes, travelers, and residents in all conditions, wherever they are, and that they should display the takbeer… Likewise, I love that on the night of ‘Eid al-Adha for those who did not perform Hajj.” (Al-Umm by Al-Shafi‘i 1/264)
We emphasize the necessity of not making such issues a cause of discord or division among Muslims, nor judging those who differ as innovators (mubtadi‘). These are blessed days of joy and celebration.
Supplication:
O Allah, let us live in this world as devoted and humble worshippers, and let us die as Muslims who repent to You. Make us among Your obedient servants. Provide us with sincere turning to You and firm certainty. Protect us and our country from all calamities, and purify us from all sins. O Allah, honor Islam and the Muslims, and grant victory to the oppressed Muslims everywhere. O Allah, help those who call upon You in distress, the refuge of the refugees, the helper of the oppressed; grant victory to our brothers in Palestine, relieve their distress, remove their affliction, disappoint their enemies, and support them with Your help, Your soldiers, Your angels, and the believers. O Allah, we ask You for security and peace in this country and in the lands of the Muslims. O Most Merciful of the merciful.