In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The Third Khutbah for the Month of Dhul-Hijjah
DATE: 24TH DHUL-HIJJAH, 1446 AH (20TH MAY 2025 CE)
TRUSTWORTHINESS AND FULFILLMENT OF PROMISES: AMONG THE COMMENDABLE MORALS
THE FIRST SERMON
All praise is due to Allah, Who has made trustworthiness and fulfillment of promises among the traits of the true believers and among the signs of the sincere God-fearing people. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone with no partner; He has promised for those who uphold trust and fulfill their covenants the vast gardens of Paradise and His eternal pleasure. And I bear witness that our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is His servant and messenger, the best of those who upheld trust, fulfilled promises, conveyed the message, and worshipped his Lord until certainty (death) came to him. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, his pure and noble family, all his Companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed:
Fear Allah, O believers — for taqwa (piety and God-consciousness) is a source of honor, empowerment, and elevation in this world and the Hereafter. The good outcome, always and forever, is for the people of taqwa:
﴿ وَٱلْعَـٰقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴾
“And the good end is for the righteous.” (Surah Al-Qasas, 28:82)
Dear respected brothers,
Know—may Allah have mercy on you—that trustworthiness is a key indicator of good character and noble behavior. It reflects a person’s moral excellence and is tied to a set of values and attributes under which fall many virtues, including fulfillment of promises—which is a grand ethical and human value, a divine etiquette, a noble Prophetic trait, and a dignified Islamic behavior.
Due to the high importance of trustworthiness and keeping promises in Islam, the topic of our sermon today is: “Trustworthiness and Fulfillment of Promises: Among the Commendable Morals”
O Muslim brothers,
Trustworthiness in Islam holds a serious status and a profound impact. Allah Almighty presented the burden of trust to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains, but they all declined to bear it and were fearful of it. These magnificent creations, who obey their Lord without disobedience, knew the severity of the punishment for one who fails to uphold and fulfill a trust.
Muqātil ibn Ḥayyān, may Allah have mercy on him, said in the explanation of this verse:
﴿ إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا ٱلْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱلْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَن يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا وَحَمَلَهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ ظَلُومًۭا جَهُولًۭا ﴾
“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-Aḥzāb, 33:72)
Indeed, when Allah the Most High created His creation, He gathered together humankind, jinn, the heavens, the earth, and the mountains. He began with the heavens and presented to them the trust (al-amānah), which is obedience. He said to them: “Will you bear this trust, and in return you shall have bounty, honor, and reward in Paradise?” They replied: “O our Lord, we are not capable of this matter, we do not have the strength, but we are obedient to You.”
Then He offered the trust to the earths and said: “Will you bear this trust and accept it from Me, and I shall grant you bounty and honor?” They responded: “O our Lord, we have no patience or strength for this. But we listen and obey You. We will never disobey any command You give us.”
Then He brought forth Adam (peace be upon him) and said to him: “Will you bear this trust and observe it as it truly deserves to be observed?” Adam asked: “What will I receive from You in return?” Allah said: “O Adam, if you do well, obey, and preserve the trust, then you will receive from Me honor, bounty, and a great reward in Paradise. But if you disobey, fail to safeguard the trust, and act wrongly, then I shall punish and chastise you and place you in the Fire.” Adam said: “I am content, O my Lord.” And he accepted the trust.
So Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, said: “You have taken it upon yourself.” That is the meaning of His saying: ﴿ وَحَمَلَهَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ ﴾
“But man [undertook to] bear it.” (Surah al-Aḥzāb, 33:72)
This narration was reported by Ibn Abī Ḥātim. See Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Dār al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah edition, vol. 6, p. 432.
O brothers in faith,
The concept of trust (al-amaanah) in Islam is vast and not limited to financial dealings or physical safekeeping. Rather, it encompasses all aspects of the Muslim’s life. The religion itself is the foremost and greatest trust, and safeguarding it includes:
• Believing in its teachings, promises, and warnings
• Acting upon its commands and abstaining from its prohibitions
• Calling others to it and being loyal for its sake
• Showing allegiance to those who uphold it and disavowal of those who oppose it
• Sincerely devoting all acts of worship to Allah alone
Among the trusts that must be fulfilled are the rights of people. For example:
• Children are a trust upon the parents, and fulfilling that trust includes giving them a proper upbringing and teaching them the principles of Islam
• Similarly, fulfilling the trust owed to parents by their children includes honoring them, serving them, being kind to them, and obeying them in what is right
• Marital rights between spouses are also a form of trust, which includes good companionship, mutual advice, and cooperation
Another essential aspect of trust is not assigning positions of responsibility to those unworthy of them, but rather to those who are deserving — people of righteousness, competence, and uprightness. Appointing someone who is unqualified results in instability and societal corruption.
As the Prophet ﷺ said: “When the trust is neglected, expect the Hour.” He was asked: “How will it be neglected, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “When authority is given to those unqualified for it, then expect the Hour.”
“Expect the Hour” is a figurative expression implying the collapse of stability and the approach of the end of the world.
Let the one in authority beware of assigning positions of responsibility to those who are unqualified—whether out of favoritism or in pursuit of some worldly benefit. For this reason, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever appoints a man over a group while there is someone among them more pleasing to Allah than him, has indeed betrayed Allah, His Messenger, and the believers.” (Narrated by Aḥmad and al-Ḥākim and authenticated from the hadith of Ibn ʿAbbās. See: Subul al-Salām, 2/666)
And it was narrated from Yazīd ibn Abī Sufyān, who said: Abū Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me when he sent me to the Levant: “O Yazīd, you have close relatives, and I fear that you may favor them with positions of leadership. That is the thing I fear most for you. For the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever is entrusted with the affairs of the Muslims and appoints someone due to favoritism, then upon him is the curse of Allah. Allah will not accept any of his obligatory or supererogatory acts until He casts him into Hell.” (Narrated by Ahmad and al-Ḥākim, and authenticated)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ referred to public office and authority as a trust (amaanah), and he warned the weak from seeking it. Abū Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) once asked the Prophet ﷺ to assign him a position, and the Prophet ﷺ placed his hand on Abū Dharr’s shoulder and said: “O Abū Dharr, you are weak, and indeed it is a trust. And on the Day of Judgment, it will be a cause of disgrace and regret—except for one who takes it with full responsibility and fulfills its duties.” (Narrated by Muslim and Aḥmad)
Among the greatest of trusts is the trust placed upon leaders, presidents, judges, and teachers. Administering justice among people is a trust that rests upon the shoulders of leaders and judges. Allah has commanded the fulfillment of this duty in His saying:
﴿ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تُؤدُّوا ٱلأَمَـٰنَـٰتِ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهَا ۖ وَإِذَا حَكَمْتُم بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ أَن تَحْكُمُوا۟ بِٱلْعَدْلِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ نِعِمَّا يَعِظُكُم بِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ سَمِيعًۭاۢ بَصِيرًۭا ﴾
“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 al-Nisāʾ, 4:58)
Teaching students beneficial knowledge and raising them upon sound manners is also a trust upon the necks of teachers, which must be fulfilled. One of the areas of trust, O Muslims, is that a person’s lifespan is a trust in his hands. It is a vessel that must be filled with good deeds and righteous actions. This lifespan will surely be questioned. As mentioned in the hadith:
“The feet of a servant will not move on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about his life and how he spent it, his knowledge and what he did with it, his wealth—how he earned it and how he spent it—and his body and how he used it.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhī from Abū Barzah al-Aslamī)
Our bodily faculties are also trusts: our hearing, sight, and private parts. Allah says:
﴿ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْبَصَرَ وَٱلْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْـُٔولًۭا ﴾
“Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart—about all those [one] will be questioned.” (Surah al-Isrāʾ, 17:36)
And He also says:
﴿ قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا۟ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا۟ فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَبِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ ﴿30﴾ وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَـٰرِهِنَّ 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 al-Nūr, 24:30–31)
Thus, trust (amaanah) is a comprehensive virtue that applies to all aspects of life, and fulfilling it is a major reason for entering Paradise. The Prophet ﷺ said, as narrated by Abū al-Dardāʾ:
“Five things—whoever brings them while having faith in Allah shall enter Paradise: guarding the five daily prayers with their proper ablution, bowing, and prostration; giving zakāh from his wealth cheerfully; performing Ḥajj to the House (of Allah) if able; fasting in Ramadan; and fulfilling the trust.” (A ḥasan hadith, narrated by Abū Dāwūd, Aḥmad, and al-Ṭabarānī in al-Muʿjam al-Ṣaghīr)
Respected listeners, may Allah have mercy on you all, know that fulfilling promises is the act of a Muslim upholding what he has committed to, whether it be in word or deed. A person is not absolved of a commitment except by fulfilling it. When one deliberately breaks a promise, he steps outside the bounds of true faith and falls into the domain of hypocrisy.
Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Our Prophet ﷺ never addressed us without saying: (لَا إِيمَانَ لِمَنْ لَا أَمَانَةَ لَهُ، وَلَا دِينَ لِمَنْ لَا عَهْدَ لَهُ)
‘There is no faith for the one who has no trust, and no religion for the one who does not fulfill his promise.’” This is a sound hadith reported by Aḥmad in his Musnad.
Likewise, al-Ḥasan narrated from the Prophet ﷺ:
«ثَلَاثٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ فَهُوَ مُنَافِقٌ، وَإِنْ صَامَ وَصَلَّى وَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ مُسْلِمٌ: مَنْ إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ»
“There are three qualities, whoever possesses them is 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 he is entrusted, he betrays the trust.”
This hadith is reported by Aḥmad in his Musnad and al-Bayhaqī in al-Sunan al-Ṣaghīr, and its chain is authentic according to Muslim’s conditions.
The Prophet ﷺ guided us to the immense value of fulfilling promises and guaranteed Paradise to the one who upholds them.
ʿUbādah ibn al-Ṣāmit (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
«اضْمَنُوا لِي سِتًّا مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَضْمَنْ لَكُمُ الْجَنَّةَ: اصْدُقُوا إِذَا حَدَّثْتُمْ، وَأَوْفُوا إِذَا وَعَدْتُمْ، وَأَدُّوا إِذَا اؤْتُمِنْتُمْ، وَاحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَكُمْ، وَغُضُّوا أَبْصَارَكُمْ، وَكُفُّوا أَيْدِيَكُمْ»
“Guarantee me six things from yourselves, and I will guarantee you Paradise: Speak the truth when you talk, fulfill your promises when you make them, return trusts when you are entrusted, guard your chastity, lower your gaze, and restrain your hands.”
This is a sound hadith reported by Aḥmad. See also al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaḥīḥ lil-Sunan wal-Masānīd by Ṣuhayb ʿAbd al-Jabbār, vol. 4, p. 54.
O servants of Allah, one who breaks promises will have Allah as his opponent on the Day of Judgment.
Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah said:
«ثَلَاثَةٌ أَنَا خَصْمُهُمْ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ: رَجُلٌ أَعْطَى بِي ثُمَّ غَدَرَ، وَرَجُلٌ بَاعَ حُرًّا فَأَكَلَ ثَمَنَهُ، وَرَجُلٌ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَجِيرًا فَاسْتَوْفَى مِنْهُ، وَلَمْ يُعْطِهِ أَجْرَهُ»
“There are three whose opponent I will be on the Day of Judgment: a man who makes a promise by My Name then betrays it, a man who sells a free person and consumes the price, and a man who hires a worker, benefits from his labor, then does not pay him his wage.”
See: Mukhtaṣar Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, vol. 2, p. 73, and Sunan Ibn Mājah, vol. 3, p. 510.
O Muslims, there are different types of promise-keeping, and among the most important are:
First: Fulfilling the covenant between a servant and his Lord.
Allah the Exalted said:
{أَلَمْ أَعْهَدْ إِلَيْكُمْ يَا بَنِي 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.” (Sūrat Yāsīn, 36:60–61)
Second: Fulfilling agreements and covenants in general.
Allah said: {وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا}
“And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.” (Sūrat al-Isrāʾ, 17:34)
Third: Fulfilling payments and wages.
Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” This is a sound hadith reported by Ibn Mājah.
Fourth: Fulfilling vows.
Allah says: {يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا}
“They fulfill [their] vows and fear a Day whose evil will be widespread.” (Sūrat al-Insān, 76:7)
That is: They fulfill what they have obligated upon themselves for the sake of Allah from vows and promises.
May Allah bless me and you through the Noble Qur’an, and benefit us with its verses and wise reminders.
I say what you have heard, and I seek Allah’s forgiveness for me and for you and for all Muslims from every sin. So seek His forgiveness—verily, He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
THE SECOND SERMON
We praise Allah Almighty for His goodness and success, and we thank Him for His countless blessings. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that our Prophet Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah, send peace and blessings upon him, his family, and his companions abundantly.
To proceed:
Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, at all times, and remember the saying of the Truth in His noble Book: {إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ}
“Indeed, Allah accepts only from the righteous [who fear Him].” (Surah Al-Mā’idah, 5:27)
O Muslims, the pilgrims have returned from their blessed rituals. Glad tidings to them! Know, may Allah have mercy on you, that an accepted Hajj (ḥajj mabrūr) is one after which the condition of the pilgrim is better than it was before. Among its signs is that the pilgrim continues in obedience to Allah and remains steadfast upon it. For indeed, one good deed leads to another, and the most beloved deeds to Allah are those done consistently.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«خُذُوا مِنَ الْأَعْمَالِ مَا تُطِيقُونَ، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَمَلُّ حَتَّى تَمَلُّوا، وَكَانَ أَحَبَّ الْعَمَلِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَا دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُهُ وَإِنْ قَلَّ»
“Take up good deeds only as much as you are able, for Allah does not tire until you tire, and the most beloved deeds to Allah are those done regularly, even if they are few.” (Narrated by Ishaq ibn Rahwayh in his Musnad)
Perseverance in obedience to Allah has many great effects, including:
1. Connecting the heart to Allah,
2. Training the soul to obey Him,
3. Gaining Allah’s love and guardianship,
4. Deliverance in times of hardship, and
5. Erasing of sins.
O servants of Allah, We condemn the recent brutal attack in Yelewata, Benue State, where hundreds of people, including women and children, were massacred. Killing a soul unjustly is one of the gravest prohibitions in Islam and among the major deadly sins to be avoided. Allah the Most High says:
{مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍ فِي ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًا ۖ وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَا أَحْيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًا}
“Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land – it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one – it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” (Surah Al-Mā’idah, 5:32)
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Avoid the seven destructive sins.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, what are they?” He replied: “Associating partners with Allah, killing a soul that Allah has forbidden except by right, consuming usury, consuming the property of orphans, fleeing from the battlefield, and slandering chaste, innocent, believing women.” (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim)
We therefore call on the relevant authorities to protect the lives and property of the citizens of this country, for safeguarding life and wealth is among the necessities of Shariah.
O servants of Allah, The Muslim Ummah—east and west—followed with deep sorrow and fury the treacherous and cowardly Zionist aggression on the Islamic Republic of Iran last Friday. This blatant assault constitutes a violation of all international norms, a threat to regional and global peace and security, and utter disregard for innocent lives and for the dignity of the Muslim Ummah.
This brutal aggression is yet another page in the record of Zionist crimes, which have never ceased in spreading chaos, shedding innocent blood, and threatening global peace. Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَلا تَهِنُوا وَلا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ﴾ (آل عمران: 139)
“So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers.” (Aal Imran: 139)
In this context, we strongly condemn and denounce in the harshest terms this treacherous attack. We consider it a continuation of the Zionist policy of oppression, which shows no regard for the sanctity of human life or the dignity of nations. Palestine is bleeding, Gaza remains under siege, and now Iran is being bombed and attacked — a repeated scene of the tyranny of this usurping entity.
O believers, indeed Allah has promised victory for the believers and the lifting of oppression from the oppressed. Allah the Most High says:
﴿وَسَيَعْلَمُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَىَّ مُنقَلَبٍۢ يَنقَلِبُونَ﴾ (الشعراء: 227)
“And those who have wronged are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.” (Ash-Shu‘ara: 227)
Today, we remind the Islamic Ummah — its governments and its people, its scholars and leaders — of the obligation to support the oppressed and to stand united against this tyranny. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Support your brother whether he is an oppressor or oppressed.”
It was said, “O Messenger of Allah, I support him when he is oppressed, but what about when he is an oppressor?” He said: “You prevent him from oppression — that is your support for him.” (Reported by al-Bukhari)
O Muslims, these repeated Zionist attacks on the Islamic Ummah — whether in Gaza, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, or elsewhere — leave no doubt that this enemy understands nothing but the language of strength and will not be deterred except by the unity of the Islamic ranks, sincerity of purpose, and cooperation between the people and their leaders.
While we condemn this blatant aggression, we affirm the following:
1. The urgent necessity of Islamic unity in the face of Zionist aggression.
2. Standing firmly with the Islamic Republic of Iran in its legitimate right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
3. Solidarity with the oppressed and vulnerable in all parts of the world, as this is a core part of our creed.
4. Supplicating to Allah to grant victory to His believing servants, to restrain the hands of the oppressors, and to destroy the tyrants and aggressors.
Supplication:
O Allah, You are the All-Powerful, the Compeller! We ask You to turn the schemes of the Zionists back upon them, to make their plotting their own ruin, and to grant victory to Your monotheistic servants in Iran, Palestine, and every land where Your Name is remembered.
O Allah, protect the lands of the Muslims from the plots of the conspirators, the assaults of the aggressors, and the tyranny of the oppressors.
O Allah, make us among the supporters of truth, and grant us steadfastness upon Your path until we meet You.
O Allah, forgive us our sins, our mistakes, and our excesses in our affairs. You know our sins, and none forgives sins but You.
O Allah, grant us a good end, make us among the people of Paradise, and save us from the Fire — by Your mercy, O Most Merciful of the merciful.
And may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions.