IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
THE FOURTH SERMON FOR THE MONTH OF DHUL-HIJJAH: DATED 22/12/1445 AH (28 JUNE 2024)
THE FIRST SERMON
TOPIC: PRAISEWORTHY MORALS: TRUSTWORTHINESS AND FULFILLING PROMISES
THE FIRST SERMON:
All praise be to Allah, who has made trustworthiness and fulfilling promises part of the attributes of the believers and the traits of the pious, truthful ones. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, He promised (as a reward for) trustworthiness and fulfilling promises, the expansive gardens of Paradise and the attainment of His pleasure. And I bear witness that our Prophet Muhammad is His servant and messenger, the best of those who fulfilled trust, kept promises, conveyed the message, and worshipped his Lord until certainty came to him. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his pure and noble family, all his companions, and those who follow them with good conduct, and grant them abundant peace.
As to what follows:
O Muslims, I advise you and myself to fear Allah the Almighty, and to adhere to His obedience, I equally warn you and myself against disobeying His commands and violating His prohibitions. Allah Almighty says: (يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ) {O you who have believed, fear Allah. And let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow – and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do} (Surah Al-Hashr: 18).
Dear noble brothers, know—may Allah have mercy on you—that trustworthiness is a significant indication of a person’s good character and the commendable ethics they possess. Among these ethics is the fulfilling of promises, which is a great human and moral value, a significant divine etiquette, a commendable prophetic character, and a noble Islamic behavior. Due to the importance of trustworthiness and fulfilling promises in Islam, today’s sermon will revolve around the topic: “Praiseworthy Morals: Trustworthiness and Fulfilling Promises.”
O Muslim brothers, trustworthiness in Islam has a significant and profound impact. Allah, the Most High, offered the responsibility (of trust) to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it out of fear of failing to uphold it. These creations, which have no choice but to obey their Lord completely, knew the punishment for failing to uphold and fulfill it. Muqatil ibn Hayyan explained this verse: (إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَنْ يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنْسَانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا) “Indeed, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and feared it; but man undertook to bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant.” (Surah Al-Ahzab: 72). He said: When Allah created His creation, He combined humans, jinn, the heavens, the earth, and the mountains. He began with the heavens, offering them the Trust, which is obedience, saying: Do you accept this Trust with the reward of honor and grace in Paradise? They said: O Lord, we cannot bear this matter and do not have the strength, but we obey You. Then He offered the Trust to the earth, saying: Do you accept this Trust and bear it for Me, and I will give you honor and grace? They said: We have no patience for this, O Lord, and we cannot, but we hear and obey You; we do not disobey You in anything You command us. Then He brought Adam closer and said: Do you accept this Trust and take care of it properly? Adam replied: What is in it for me, O Lord? Allah said: O Adam, if you do well, obey, and take care of the Trust, you will have honor, grace, and the best reward in Paradise. But if you disobey, do not take care of it properly, and do wrong, I will punish you and cast you into the Fire. Adam said: I accept, O Lord. And he accepted it. Allah Almighty said: “I have entrusted it to you.”
Thus, this is the meaning of His saying: “but man undertook to bear it”. (Narrated by Ibn Abi Hatim. See: Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyya edition, 6/432).
Brothers in faith, trustworthiness has a broad concept in Islam, which does not only include financial transactions and entrusted deposits but encompasses all aspects of a Muslim’s life. The religion itself is the foremost and greatest trust. Preserving the trust of the religion involves believing in its reports, promises, and warnings, adhering to its commands, abstaining from its prohibitions, calling to it, allying for it, disassociating for its sake, and dedicating all forms of worship solely to Allah Almighty. The rights of people are also trusts that must be fulfilled. Children are a trust to their parents, and fulfilling the trust regarding children involves raising them well and teaching them the principles of Islam. Additionally, fulfilling the trust includes the responsibility of the children to be dutiful to their parents, serving them, being kind to them, and obeying them in what is good.
Also, among the meanings of trustworthiness is that positions should only be entrusted to those who are truly qualified, those who are righteous, good, and upright. Appointing unqualified people to positions leads to societal instability and disorder. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When the trust is betrayed, then wait for the Hour.” He was asked: “How will it be betrayed, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “When authority is given to those who do not deserve it, then wait for the Hour.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Ahmad). “Wait for the Hour” is a metaphor for the end of life and stability.
The individual in-charge (of a people) should beware of appointing someone who is not qualified to a position, whether out of favoritism or for personal gain. Thus, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever employs a man over a group while there is someone more pleasing to Allah among them has betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and the believers.” (Narrated by Ahmad and Al-Hakim, authenticated by him from the hadith of Ibn Abbas. See: Subul As-Salam, 2/666). Yazid bin Abi Sufyan reported that Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him when he sent him to Syria: “O Yazid, you have relatives there, and I fear that you will favor them with authority, which is the greatest fear I have for you. For the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever is appointed in charge of any affairs of the Muslims and appoints over them anyone by way of favouritism, the curse of Allah be upon him and Allah will not accept any obligatory or nafl prayer from him until he admits him into Hell.” (Narrated by Ahmad and Al-Hakim, authenticated by him).
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called positions trusts and advised the weak against seeking them. Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him to employ him, whereupon he struck him on the shoulder and said: “O Abu Dharr, you are weak, and it is a trust. It will be a cause of disgrace and regret on the Day of Resurrection except for one who takes it by its right and fulfills his obligations regarding it.” (Narrated by Muslim and Ahmad).
One of the greatest trusts is the trust placed upon leaders, presidents, judges, and teachers. Just and fair judgment among people is a trust on the shoulders of leaders, presidents, and judges. Allah Almighty has commanded this in His saying: (إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَنْ تُؤَدُّوا الْأَمَانَاتِ إِلَى أَهْلِهَا وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُمْ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ أَنْ تَحْكُمُوا بِالْعَدْلِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُمْ بِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا) “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allah instructs you. Indeed, Allah is ever Hearing and Seeing.” (Surah An-Nisa: 58). Providing beneficial knowledge to students and raising them properly is a trust on the shoulders of teachers that must be fulfilled. Among its domains, O Muslims, is that a person’s lifespan is a trust that he must fill with good deeds and righteous action, for he will be questioned about it.
In the hadith: “A servant’s feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about four things: about his life and how he spent it, about his knowledge and what he did with it, about his wealth and how he earned it and how he spent it, and about his body and how he wore it out.” (Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi from Abu Barzah Al-Aslami, who said it is a good authentic hadith, authenticated by Al-Albani).
Our body parts are also a trust upon us: our sight, hearing, and private parts. Allah Almighty says: (إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا) “Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart – all those will be questioned about.” (Surah Al-Isra: 36), and He says: (قُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَلِكَ أَزْكَى لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ * وَقُلْ لِلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ…) “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts…” (Surah An-Nur: 30-31). Trustworthiness is a comprehensive trait that covers all aspects of life, and fulfilling it is a significant reason for entering Paradise. Abu Darda reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Five things, whoever brings them with faith in Allah, will enter Paradise: preserving the five daily prayers with their ablution, bowing, and prostration, paying the obligatory zakat willingly, performing Hajj if able, fasting during Ramadan, and fulfilling the trust.” (A good hadith narrated by Abu Dawood, Ahmad, and Al-Tabarani in Al-Mu’jam Al-Saghir).
Dear listeners, know that keeping promises means fulfilling what a Muslim has committed to, whether by word or action, and one is not absolved until fulfilling it. If someone breaks it intentionally, they step out of the scope of faith and fall into the realm of hypocrisy. Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “There is no faith for the one who has no trustworthiness, and no religion for the one who does not keep his promises.” (A good hadith narrated by Ahmad in Al-Musnad). Al-Hasan reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Three characteristics, if found in a person, make him a hypocrite, even if he fasts, prays, and claims to be a Muslim: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks it; and when entrusted, he betrays.” (Narrated by Ahmad in Al-Musnad and Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan Al-Saghir, with an authentic chain according to the criteria of Muslim).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of keeping promises and guaranteed Paradise for those who do so. Ubadah ibn Al-Samit reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Guarantee me six things about yourselves, and I will guarantee you Paradise: be truthful when you speak, fulfill your promises, return what you are entrusted with, guard your private parts, lower your gaze, and restrain your hands.” (A good hadith narrated by Ahmad. See: Al-Jami’ Al-Sahih Lil-Sunan Wal-Masanid by Suhaib Abdul Jabbar, 4/54).
Breaking promises makes a person an opponent of Allah on the Day of Judgment. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Allah said: ‘There are three people whom I will oppose on the Day of Resurrection: a man who gives his word by Me but breaks it; a man who sells a free person and eats his price; and a man who employs a worker, gets the full work done by him, but does not pay him his wages.” (See: Mukhtasar Sahih Al-Bukhari 2/73 and Sunan Ibn Majah 3/510).
O Muslims, there are various types of promises, and the most important among them are:
Firstly, fulfilling the covenant between the servant and his Lord. Allah Almighty says: ({أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَابَنِي آدَمَ أَنْ لَا تَعْبُدُوا الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ * وَأَنِ اعْبُدُونِي هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ) “Did I not enjoin upon you, O children of Adam, that you not worship Satan – [for] indeed, he is to you a clear enemy – and that you worship [only] Me? This is a straight path.” (Surah Ya-Sin: 60-61).
Secondly, fulfilling promises, which Allah has commanded in His Book: (وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا) “And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.” (Surah Al-Isra: 34), and He says: (وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ إِذَا عَاهَدْتُمْ) “And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have taken it.” (Surah An-Nahl: 91).
And Allah Almighty praises those who fulfill their promises, saying: (إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ * الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَنْقُضُونَ الْمِيثَاقَ} وبيَّنَ جزاءَهم: {أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ * جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا) “Only those who are endowed with insight will keep this in mind: those who fulfill the covenant of Allah and do not break the agreement.” And He explains their reward: “It is they who will have the final abode: the Gardens of Eden which they will enter.” (Surah Ar-Ra’d: 19-20 and 22-23).
Allah also describes the qualities of the pious: (وَالْمُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِهِمْ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا وَالصَّابِرِينَ فِي الْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ وَحِينَ الْبَأْسِ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ) “Those who fulfill their promise when they promise and are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is they who are the righteous.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 177).
Thirdly, fulfilling wages. Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” (A good hadith narrated by Ibn Majah. See: Al-Jami’ Al-Sahih Lil-Sunan Wal-Masanid 11/412).
Fourthly, fulfilling vows: (يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا) “They fulfill their vows and fear a day whose evil will be widespread.” (Surah Al-Insan: 7), meaning they fulfill what they have obliged themselves to Allah of vows and commitments.
May Allah bless me and you in the Great Qur’an and benefit us with what is in it of verses and wisdom. I say what you hear and I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and for you and for all Muslims from every sin, so seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
THE SECOND SERMON
TOPIC: CONTINUING GOOD DEEDS AFTER HAJJ
We praise Allah Almighty for His kindness and success and thank Him for His countless blessings. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, and I bear witness that our Prophet Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah, bless him and his family and companions and grant them peace abundantly.
As to what follows,
Fear Allah Almighty, servants of Allah, at all times and remember His saying in His Noble Book: (إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ) “Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah: 27).
O Muslims, the pilgrims have returned after performing the blessed rituals, so congratulations to them. Know, may Allah have mercy on you, that an accepted Hajj is one where the pilgrim’s condition after the exercise is better than before it. Among its signs is that the pilgrim continues in the obedience of Allah and perseveres in it. Good deeds lead to more good deeds, and the most beloved deed to Allah is the one that is continuous, even if it is little, as mentioned in the hadith narrated by Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for the best deeds are those that are done consistently, even if they are few.” (Narrated by Ishaq bin Rahawayh in his Musnad).
The continuous practice of good deeds has great benefits:
Firstly: It keeps the heart connected to Allah.
Secondly: It trains the soul to obey Allah.
Thirdly: It is a cause for Allah’s love and guardianship. Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Allah the Exalted has said: “Whoever shows hostility to a friend of Mine, I have declared war against him. My servant does not draw near to Me with anything more beloved to Me than the duties I have imposed upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory deeds until I love him. When I love him, I am his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes, and his leg with which he walks. If he asks Me, I will surely give him, and if he seeks refuge in Me, I will surely protect him.” (Narrated by Al-Bukhari).
Fourthly: It provides relief from hardships. It was narrated by Ahmad from Ibn Abbas that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Preserve Allah, and He will preserve you. Preserve Allah, and you will find Him before you. Recognize Him in times of ease, and He will recognize you in times of hardship.”
Fifthly: Perseverance in good deeds is a cause for the erasure of sins. In the hadith narrated by Bukhari and Muslim: “Do you see if there was a river at the door of one of you in which he bathes five times a day, would that leave any dirt on him?” They said: “It would not leave any dirt on him.” He said: “That is like the five daily prayers, by which Allah wipes away sins.”
Servants of Allah, adhere to maintaining the treasure of faith and obedience to the Most Merciful, for it is the path to success and prosperity in this world and the Hereafter.
Finally, servants of Allah, we demand the concerned authorities, especially the government of Oyo State, to issue a decisive judgment and implement the appropriate punishment regarding the audacious and heinous crime committed by a pastor and his associates in Iseyin, Oyo State, on the last Eid al-Adha day, which led to the beating of a Muslim man, his two wives until blood flowed from his head and one of his wives’ heads, and the breaking of one of the legs of his pregnant second wife. Their only fault was obeying Allah’s command by sacrificing on the day of Eid, but the criminal pastor claimed that the sacrifice took place near his church, even though the slaughter site was not part of his church’s land at all.
Servants of Allah, this confirms Allah’s statement: (وَلَنْ تَرْضى عَنْكَ الْيَهُودُ وَلا النَّصارى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ) “And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion.” We advise the oppressed family to be patient and steadfast, for their reward is with Allah, who never wrongs anyone. We also guide them to use the legal means available in our country to reclaim their rights. Allah is the provider of success.
After this, we must not forget to extend our gratitude and appreciation to all the brothers and institutions who investigated the matter and supported this oppressed family. May Allah reward their efforts and accept their deeds. This teaches us a great lesson in the virtue of the unity of the Islamic Ummah at all times, for unity is strength.
I say this and seek Allah’s forgiveness for you and me.
Supplication:
We ask Allah Almighty to accept your righteous deeds, to make your Hajj accepted, and to reward you with the best and most abundant rewards. O Allah, forgive our sins, our mistakes, and our excesses in our affairs, for You are the Most Knowledgeable of our sins, and no one forgives sins except You. O Allah, grant us a good end and make us among the people of Paradise, and save us from the Fire by Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful.
O Allah, honor Islam and the Muslims, and humiliate disbelief and the disbelievers. O Allah, we seek Your protection from their evil, and we seek refuge in You from their wickedness. O Allah, unite the hearts of the Muslims on the truth. O Allah, grant victory and honor to the people of Palestine, and give them strength, power, and awe in the hearts of their enemies and ours. O Allah, heal their wounded, release their captives, and lift the siege on them. O Allah, relieve their distress and remove their harm. O Allah, grant victory to their fighters with Your power and Your soldiers, O Lord of the worlds.
O Allah, grant us security in our country, and rectify our leaders, guiding them to what You love and are pleased with. O Allah, forgive our deceased and the deceased among the Muslims, O Most Merciful of the merciful and Lord of the worlds.