Jumu'ah Khutbah by Mufti Azeemuddin Ahmed

Opening and Gratitude

Respected elders and brothers, mothers and sisters, dear friends, dear listeners. السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته. Most definitely we are all indebted to almighty Allah for the blessing of being able to perform Salatul Jum'ah here on a day when we are reminded of how many who would be praying Salatul Jum'ah with us on a regular basis but are not able to make it anymore. Either because they have fallen ill, either because they have passed on in this past year, or either because they have gotten so accustomed to not performing Salatul Jum'ah in the masjid that it has become extremely difficult for their return back to the environment of the masjid.

When we come here today, we should feel honored, we should feel blessed, we should feel chosen by Allah that we are a za'ir, we are a visitor from the houses of Allah. Allah has taken upon himself to honor the visitor. So we will insha'Allah be honored by his forgiveness, by his pleasure, by his happiness as long as we genuinely show him the appreciation for being blessed with the honor of being here today.

Reflecting on Change

Dear respected friends, dear respected elders and brothers, I was blessed to be here before the COVID happened, right before in January of 2020. We had a longer time period given slot at that time to speak. The masjid was much more filled up with shoulder to shoulder. And things have changed across the world, across the country, in all masajid, all over. It is definitely not the place where we were a year and a half ago. Let us accept the reality has changed. Let us learn how to now make the most of it.

We figured out how to put this glass over here. We figured out that we have to put on the mask. We figured out that we have to stay a few feet away from each other. These are the new adjustments we have made to our life in order to protect ourselves from physically becoming ill. And those are necessary precautions that a person must take.

Spiritual vs Physical Sickness

But what I want you to understand in this few minutes that I have today is that the fear of becoming physically sick and of passing away is definitely something true, something possible, something real. But the end result of suffering a spiritual sickness and a spiritual death in this era and in this age far supersedes any type of repercussion and harm that a physical illness can cause. That is the belief of a Muslim that there is nothing more greater that you and I can suffer than the death of our ruh, the death of our spirituality, the death of our qalb, the death of our connection with Allah.

And the payment for that, or the punishment of that, or the pain of that only begins when a person is lowered in the grave. The real stuff. Although there is definitely some difficulties that come about in this world, but the real pain only begins when the eyes close shut.

The worldly life is the true life, the life of the hereafter is the true life if only people were to know.

All the disease and difficulties and physical ailments and illnesses of this world come to an end when the heartbeat hits zero. When the red line goes down and we say he's passed, that's the end. What do people say? He died peacefully in his sleep, he died peacefully at home, he died after suffering a long illness, now at least he'll be in peace. That is, you may say, the answer for physical pain of any sort, that death brings an end to that.

However, my respected friends, the spiritual diseases which are by far much greater in their complexity, in the harm that they cause, in the longevity of their punishment, that only begins the real punishment once that heartbeat goes down to zero. And once that body and the soul has been removed and the Qur'an is saying,

When that soul reaches the throat and it's about to leave the body, you're all there watching the dying man as he's slowly becoming cold. Allah says, we are closer to him than you are, yet you don't see us, you don't realize how close we are to this dying individual.

Reflection on Loss and Death

Respected friends, this past year and a half has given you and I many moments of reflection. A year of death, mayhem, loss of life, not only through COVID, but because of the many natural disasters and the other continuous turmoil that plagues the earth. We have all lost relatives and friends and loved ones in this past year and a half. And it is a moment for reflection, that where did they go? If someone passed away as a shaheed, due to this illness, we are hopeful and expecting from Allah that their painful illness would have become a means of their forgiveness of their sins. And what awaits them, bi-idhni ta'ala, insha'Allah, is the pleasure of Allah and in Jannah.

But those of us who are still alive, you and I, in what state will our death will come? We are not aware. And how the next years of post-pandemic lifestyle will affect our spirituality, we're not aware. That is something I want you to reflect.

The Decline in Masjid Attendance

In every masjid I think about this, in my own masjid I think about it, is that how many of those thousands who used to come for Eid, did not show up for the past four Eids, especially this recent one. How many of those thousands who would come for Jum'ah in our masajid across the globe are no longer present? And it's like out of sight and out of mind. Obviously these spots, there were people here, last time I came around. There were people here, they're not here. Where are those people? Where are those individuals? In every masjid, who now have a spot that is left empty for them. Where are those individuals praying?

Every single masjid got the same protocol. Every single masjid has lost. If you do the statistics, you know, basic statistics, basic math. I've spoken to administrators and masajids for the past five months across the country where I travel. And they have given similar numbers. We have lost between a third to a half of our attendees. A third to half of our attendees of Eid. Now what is the Eid? Eid is the very basic final straw. That is where a cultural Muslim also shows up, who doesn't have anything to do with faith. But he's like, hey, this is my national, you know, where I come from, this is where we celebrate our holiday. So I'll show up. Even if he might not even care about anything, but he's there part of the festivities. We have seen this huge drop in numbers all across the globe in terms of jama'ah, jum'ah, and even in Eid.

The Trial of Our Time

This is the fitna of today. That along with COVID sickness, you have this massive amount of population that is being disconnected from the houses of Allah. That is being disconnected from jum'ah and jama'at. And it's only a matter of time that a person can survive without this environment. It's only a matter of time. The various wolves out there as the Rasul ﷺ has called them, regarding shaytan,

(Hadith reference: Narrated in various collections regarding the wolf eating the stray sheep)

That when a wolf attacks, when he attacks, he eats, and he attacks that sheep that is stranded from the rest, that is on its own. That becomes a very easy target for shaytan. So if a person stays away from the house of Allah for one or two or three weeks, what are the chances of his survival?

Changed Mentalities

Just imagine how our mentality has changed within the past year and a half. That if most of us masjid going people, if you wanna call us that, there was no concept that, Oh, you know what, I don't feel like coming for Jummah today. There was nothing like that. I would say most of the brothers here can say that they cannot imagine even once in their life, or even intentionally just saying, I don't feel like it today. The kids are at home, the relatives are over, let me skip on Jummah. Those were things that we didn't do.

But now, subhanAllah, for the smallest of excuses, you ask a brother, why are you not there for Jummah? Why are you not there for Eid? It's just like, man, it's COVID. But brother, you were just at the swimming pool party. You invited me to your child's birthday party tomorrow. Like, what's going on? On what basis are you missing out Jummah? The mentality has changed. What is acceptable has changed. Those things were completely off the table has changed. This is the fitnah today.

The Prophetic Warning About Fitnah

The fitnah, as Rasulullah ﷺ said,

(Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 144)

He said, the fitnah will be presented on the heart, the trials and tribulations. On the heart, like a straw mat, one after another, one after another. You have a chitai, a straw mat, one after another. Similarly, this is how the fitnah will be presented on the heart. And there will be two types of hearts. One heart will deny it, ankarah. He will say, No, this is unacceptable. I refuse to accept this new idea. And he will say no once, no twice, slowly, slowly. He may no longer have the willpower to be able to say no everyday. And eventually cave in.

Then there are certain individuals, mashaAllah, who Allah has protected them, that till the last breath, they will be saying, Ahad, Ahad. Meaning, absolutely not. I will refuse to change my view. I refuse to accept this new reality. I will remain consistent and confident in my faith and my deen, no matter what the trial is.

And then there are others, ushribah. That this fitnah will be literally poured in, like the way you fill up a bottle. That's how their hearts will be filled up with the fitnah. Until they become completely, as Rasulullah ﷺ said, like a upside-down cup. Like what? An upside-down cup. When you have a kooz that's upside-down, you can take it into the shower, and put it on a full blast, not a drop of water is gonna go in. Because it's upside-down. So these hearts have become sealed to any goodness, because they continually absorb the filth, the evil. So now these hearts only recognize evil, and do not recognize a goodness, and they become upside-down.

The Vision of Fitnah

The Prophet ﷺ prophesized that time, when later on, towards the end of times, fitnah will be coming at a fast pace, one after another, like these strands on a straw mat. Nabi ﷺ one day got up in Medina, and he saw at a distance, he said,

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 92, Hadith 18)

Do you see what I see? What do you see? Rasulullah ﷺ said, The Nabi ﷺ said, I see fitnah falling. You don't see what I see? I see fitnah, trials and tribulations, falling in between your houses, all around you, the way drops of water fall. When it rains, is anyone saved? Everyone's house gets wet. Everyone's roof gets wet. Everyone's driveway grass will get wet. And if you're standing outside, you're bound to get wet, no matter who you are. The Prophet ﷺ is informing us of a time when fitnah will become so popular, so common, that everyone will be afflicted.

The Intensified Trials of Today

My dear friends, the fitnah of atheism was already there. The fitnah of irtidad, leaving the fold of Islam was already there. But now, it has become exemplified. And the situation has become far worse, due to the pandemic in which people do not have an opportunity, for example, to attend family nights, halaqas, attend salatul jama'ah. That distance from the house of Allah has made it easy for shayateen to, even further, increase their attacks.

The Warning Against Shaytan's Deception

What is the take home for you and I?

Let shaytan not allow you and I to fall into deception. He is your open enemy. Why does the Qur'an keep on mentioning this part that do not allow him to deceive you? Because shaytan doesn't come and say, hey, I'm Iblis and I'm your enemy. His tactics are extremely deceptive. And he comes to you in a manner where you don't ever even imagine that this is shaytan who's putting these thoughts in my mind. So we need to constantly be aware of how shaytan may be changing our mentality and our approach to life and to deen in general.

The Deception of Numbers and Following the Truth

Number two, let us not be taken back and let us not be deceived by the amount of people being deceived by shaytan. That's what these scholars of hadith explain. If you see lots of people going in one direction, and then you say, but that seems to be a deception of shaytan. But majority are going there. How is that possible? It's probably nothing wrong with that. Nope.

Just like rain comes everywhere, the fitan will come everywhere, and shayateen will be working on the hearts and the minds of people from all directions. If Allah saves you and allows you to see the wrong that's happening, then thank Allah for that. Don't say, there must be something wrong with me. Why is it that I'm able to see something wrong in my heart, and I just don't feel right about this? Well, everyone else is okay with that. Well, as we move forward closer to the day of judgment, this will continue to happen.

Notice the word كَثِيرَ and قَلِيلَ in the Qur'an. كَثِيرَ means a lot, قَلِيلَ means few. Almost always in the Qur'an, كَثِيرَ has been used in a negative form, and قَلِيلَ has been used in a positive way.

Only few of my servants are grateful, only few of my servants believed in His message, etc. And كَثِيرَ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ - Majority don't believe, majority don't ponder, majority don't think. So let not the majority deceive you. Instead, remain steadfast on what Allah has taught you, what you've learned from your teachers, from your scholars, what you have learned from your parents. Ask Allah for guidance.

Call to Action: Bringing People Back to the Masjid

Respected my beloved brothers and sisters, right now is the time when we need to hold on to the rope of Allah together. Working on our youth, working on our young adults as well as elders who are not, we haven't seen them for a long time. This job is upon all of us here. Figure out who you haven't seen in the masjid for a long time. Stop by, text them, leave some fruits for them, leave a fruit basket and check on them, see how you can get them back to the house of Allah.

Jumu'ah, make it special, put on your status, whatever you use. Say, Jumu'ah Mubarak, I'm excited to listen to the khateeb today. I've got my new clothes, I'm ready, excited to go for Jumu'ah. You're making Jumu'ah truly the Eid that it's supposed to be. And letting people know that you're celebrating the Eid of the week. So that someone who listens to you, watches you, hears you, says, my God, that's nostalgic man. We used to do that too. It's been a while. Figure out how every week you can bring at least one individual or two individuals back in and ask them to try to bring their kids, their spouses, their families back into the environment of the masjid.

Protecting Our Youth from Modern Challenges

And number two, my dear friends, be aware of those who are falling and tripping within our own families. Our vulnerable young boys and girls, adolescents, are being affected tremendously by social media and by the various, subhanAllah, opportunities for knowledge out there that are ruining their mindset about the deen. We must be aware as moms and dads. We cannot put our head down and say, Beta, I wanna see you A+, that's all I care. We must be worried about what is happening to their faith. What are the discussions that are there.

InshaAllah ta'ala tonight, here after Salatul Maghrib, I'm gonna be discussing specific issues related to our new generation and youth. My kids, I got four kids, alhamdulillah. Many of you have kids. We're all worried about how to handle the situation. First of all, we need to highlight what are the actual challenges. And then brainstorm and come up with possible solutions for that. So I request you to join us here tonight, inshaAllah, between Maghrib and Isha. As we discussed this and tomorrow after Salatul Fajr as well, we ask Allah that He protects you and I from falling flat on our faces in these fitan.

Du'a and Conclusion

We ask Allah that He gives us the eyes of basira, the eyes of the heart to be able to distinguish right from wrong. To be able to tell haq from batil. And may He give us the willpower and the strength to remain firm on the siratul mustaqeem till the very last breath. We ask Allah to cure all of us and protect us from physical illnesses. And more importantly beyond that, some spiritual diseases and illnesses as well. May Allah grant shifa to all of us for whatever spiritual ailments ourselves, our spouses, and our children are suffering from. Ameen.

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 145)

And the Prophet ﷺ said in the meaning of the hadith: "Indeed, the religion began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give good tidings to the strangers."

Shahada Ceremony

Alhamdulillah, we have a shahada today. InshaAllah, Brother Gertman, who is coming here to give the shahada. Let's stay for a minute, inshaAllah, if we can, and witness this, his acceptance of Islam, inshaAllah.

InshaAllah, as a reminder, tonight, between Maghrib and Isha, we'll have the family night here. We request everyone to join. If you're not able to, at least, inshaAllah, just pick up one of the flyers and send the flyers on your way out, and hopefully, we can see you there and benefit during the winter break, inshaAllah. Jazakumullah khairan.

I'm going to, inshaAllah, recite the shahada. And, of course, you've already had the discussion, I'm sure, on the basics and the fundamentals of Islam. And, alhamdulillah, we're here, Imam Ahmad is here to assist, and afterwards as well. Right now, formally, we'll recite the testimony, the words of testimony in our faith. And you'll repeat after me, inshaAllah. We'll do it in Arabic, and we'll do it in English. Is that fine, inshaAllah? Alright.

I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except for Allah. And I bear witness that Muhammad is his servant and messenger.

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 121)

Now, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Islam forgives everything that's done in the past." So today, mashallah, you are the most righteous amongst all of us here. Accepting Islam on this blessed day, congratulations to you. We ask Allah to accept it and make your life, future life in this world, a much more pleasant, much more beautiful. May Allah make you a peg of the deen. May He make you a means of guiding others as well. Jazakumullah khair.