2015 09 25 Friday Prayer Hafiz Asil Khan

Khutbah Opening

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُ عِوَجًا، قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا مَّاكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا، وَيُنذِرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ وَلَدًا.

وَنَشْهَدُ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّ سَيِّدَنَا وَسَنَدَنَا وَمَوْلَانَا مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ، حَبِيبُهُ وَخَلِيلُهُ. أَمَّا بَعْد.

Eid al-Adha: The Second Day

Today is the second day of Eid al-Adha. Muslims all over the world are celebrating — they are still commemorating the great sacrifice made by Sayyidina Ibrahim and Sayyidina Ismail. After the month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal, we have Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr is only for one day, because the next day, if people would like to fast for Shawwal, they may do so. But in Eid al-Adha, the second day and the third day — fasting is not allowed, it is prohibited, because these days are still Eid. So the second day and the third day are also considered the days of Eid, and we are prohibited to fast on these two days.

Following the Uswa of Ibrahim

As we are following Sayyidina Ibrahim's pattern — his Sunnah — by sacrificing, this is the great tradition of Sayyidina Ibrahim. But at the same time, we are asked to follow his Uswa — Uswa-e-Hasana. In the Quran, there are only two personalities mentioned as the best example to follow. The first, Allah says:

Indeed, in the life of Sayyidina Ibrahim you have the best example to follow — this Uswa-e-Hasana, the best pattern to follow. And the second:

Indeed, in the life of the Messenger of Allah you have the best example to follow. These two personalities. So when we follow the Sunnah of Ibrahim, we must understand that Ibrahim — his entire life was full of tests and trials. So we have to learn: when he was afflicted with trials and tests, how did he react? What was his reaction? And today we are also facing challenges, we are also facing tests and trials. How should we react? What should be our reaction? What do we do? We have to follow Sayyidina Ibrahim.

The Trials of Sayyidina Ibrahim

For example, he kept on asking Allah:

"Ya Allah, bless me with a righteous son." When he was blessed with the righteous son, the first test was: keep them away from you — keep them, both mother and son, an infant — away from you, and keep them so far where no one is there. That was a test. And with the passing of time, when this baby grew up and was able to work with his father:

SubhanAllah — when he is able to work with his father, now comes another test. So he consulted with his son: "I had this dream — what is your opinion?" And the son replied: "O my father, do what you have been commanded. You will find me, by the will of Allah, among those who are patient." SubhanAllah.

The True Meaning of Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raji'un

As the ayah I have recited, Allah says:

"Definitely We shall test you with something of fear and hunger and loss of wealth, fruits, and lives — but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Those who, when they are afflicted with problems and difficulties and calamities, what do they say?" إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ — "Verily we belong to Allah and we have to return to Him." And those who are tested in their life and they show their patience — they show their sabr — for them are glad tidings. وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ.

Just like Sayyidina Ibrahim — he really understood the meaning of إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ. You know, whenever we hear any bad news, whenever we hear that someone passed away, someone died — what do we say? Immediately we say إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ. But do we understand what this means?

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ — verily we belong to Allah and we will return to Him. Definitely we will return to Him. So everything that we have with us — we are just custodians, we are just trustees. We do not own our life. We do not own our health or our wealth. Whatever that we have — these are all Allah's blessings and Allah's favours. We are just trustees, we are custodians, we are just utilising it. But ultimately, it is Allah who has given us His trust. And when we are tested, that إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ is in us.

Allah said to the Prophet:

"Say, O Prophet: verily my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying is only for Allah — لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ — for Allah, who is the Lord of the worlds."

So the true meaning of إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ — when we understand this, then Allah says:

And they are those who show patience — Allah says عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ — upon them are Allah's blessings and Allah's mercy, and they are the guided people. They are the ones who are guided.

The Spirit Behind the Ritual

When we sacrifice, when we celebrate, we have to learn the lesson of the spirit. What is a ritual? The ritual is just sacrificing. But what is the spirit in it? What is the wisdom behind this? What is the hikmah behind this? What is the lesson that we have to learn? That is more important — not only the rituals.

My brothers and sisters in Islam, sometimes when we are afflicted with any problems, the immediate question that we ask is: "Why is it only me?" We are human beings — we are not perfect. We have many shortcomings. We become emotional, we become aggressive, we lose our temper, we complain. We are human beings. But Sayyidina Ibrahim — SubhanAllah — great personalities. The Anbiya-e-Ikram suffered a great deal. They were tested more than anyone else.

As today we also have challenges — in our jobs, we are facing challenges; within our family, we are facing challenges; because of health issues or other issues — many things. Some of us have more challenges, some of us less, but eventually and ultimately we are all passing through these challenges. We are tested. No one can say: "I am a believer, I am performing more salah, I am fasting frequently, I am making ibadat and zikr — Allah should not put me in this situation, I should not be suffering." No. In Surah Al-Ankabut, Allah says:

Do people think that they will be left alone because they are saying "we believe" and will not be tested? Indeed, We tested those before them. Tests and trials are part of our life.

Shukr and Sabr: The Two Responses of the Believer

But how we react — sometimes we are tested by Allah giving us more. We are in good times, everything is there, we live a happy life, we have wealth, we have children, we have a family — we are happy, Alhamdulillah. Then what do we do? This is also a test. We have to be thankful to Allah. Then Allah says: if you are grateful, if you are thankful to Allah, then Allah says "I will add you more, I will give you more." But when you are ungrateful, My punishment is severe. So if we think we are in good times, we must be thankful to Allah. But at the same time, when we have challenges, when we have bad times — what do we do? We have to make sabr. وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ — Allah is with those who patiently persevere. Allah is with those who do sabr. SubhanAllah.

The Prophet said: every matter of the believer is strange — is very strange, unique. And what is it? Whenever he has good times, when something good touches him and he makes shukr — because of his shukr, Allah will raise him in degrees. And when he is afflicted with anything which is bad, he makes sabr — and because of his sabr, Allah raises him in degrees. SubhanAllah.

(Sahih Muslim, Book 42, Hadith 2999)

Lessons from the Haj Tragedy in Mina

My brothers and sisters in Islam, whether we are in any part of the world, we are not living in Jannah. This is the world. This is just a reminder for all of us — if we have any challenges in our life, just as Sayyidina Ibrahim and other Anbiya, their reaction was to thank Allah and to make sabr. So if we have something good in our life — SubhanAllah — always thank Allah, and Allah will give you more.

Just like this: sometimes our children — if you would like to give them cell phones, iPhones, iPads and all these devices which are commonly used — when you give it to your child, to your son or your daughter, what happens? Some children are smart — they are utilising these devices properly. But some of us do not know how to use it, so we misuse it. When you give it to them to do something good, to do projects — instead of playing games all the time — and when they are utilising it properly, you are happy. "He needs this, let me upgrade, let me give him something better, because he is using it properly." But when they misuse it, "No — you are not entitled, you are not deserving. Give me back, give me back." So if we have something good, we have to utilise it properly — whether our health, our wealth, whatever ni'mah that we are blessed with. If we utilise it properly, Allah will give you more. Otherwise it is going to be taken away — you are not entitled, you are not deserving.

And my brothers and sisters in Islam — just now, during Hajj, in Mina, hundreds of hujjaj lost their lives. This is a trial and a test for their beloved ones. Because those who left this world — they were hajjis, and Allah will raise them in degrees. They are innocent. Allah made them innocent. The person who performs Hajj and does not indulge in any kind of evil or indecent actions or indecent language — he becomes sinless, he becomes like a newborn baby. Allah has forgiven them. May Allah raise them in degrees. May Allah make du'a for their beloved ones. May Allah give them sabr. May Allah give them tawfiq to bear this loss.

This is life, brothers. We do not know how long we are going to survive. We do not know whether the next day, or next year, or next month — am I going to be alive or not? Yes, in our life there are ups and downs — we have to face this, we are facing this. But we have to learn from these opportunities. So make shukr, and we have to show our sabr. And insha'Allah, Allah will bless us and Allah will shower His blessings upon us in this world and in the life after.

Du'a of Ibrahim from the Quran

Closing

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.

Allahu Akbar. Sami'Allahu liman hamidah. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar.

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah. Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah.