Jum'ah Khutbah by Sh. Abdul Hadi

Khutbah: Following the Prophet's Sunnah to Achieve Peace and Prosperity

Alhamdulillah, we praise Him, we ask His help and we ask His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and from the evil of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him. And whomsoever He misguides, none can guide him. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. He has sent him with the truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner.

O Allah, send peace and blessings upon Muhammad and upon his family and all his companions.

As for what follows: the best hadith is the Book of Allah. And the best guide is the guide of Muhammad ﷺ. And the worst of all affairs are its innovations. And every innovation is an invention. And every invention is a misguidance.

The Universal Desire for Peace and Prosperity

Brothers and sisters, there is a common and very popular topic these days among intellectuals as well as ordinary people, which is peace and prosperity. Everyone wants to bring peace and prosperity and establish security in the society — a place where we can live happily, with peace and harmony. Everybody and everyone is suffering with the current situation. But the big question is: how to bring about a dream society where we can enjoy peace? Because it is very popular to discuss and talk about peace. But how?

Here I would like to mention a principle for the solution suggested by the great muhaddith, the famous scholar, Imam Malik. He said that it is not possible to solve the problems of this ummah — of those people who are coming after us in the future — except by adopting the same method of the previous nation, like the Sahabah رضوان الله عليهم أجمعين. In simple words, Imam Malik, the great scholar of the time, is saying that if we follow the teaching of the Quran and the Sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ, then obviously we can expect the same result.

The State of Arabia Before the Prophet ﷺ

Let us discuss what the problems were in Arabia before Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and how he tackled this situation. There were many problems existing in Arabia, starting with aqeedah and tawheed, to the general attitude of the people. They used to worship more than 360 idols in Makkah city alone. In other words, every day they used to search for a new god to be worshipped. And they had divided themselves into many categories of tribe, caste, wealth, and power.

There was exploitation by some genders over others. And sometimes they would prefer to bury their own daughters alive. Can you imagine? Or they would raise them full of hatred, as though a daughter was a burden for them. If you read Quran Majid, you will find this. The daughter who has been buried alive — on the Day of Judgment, Allah will ask her: why did this happen to her?

And in another place, the Quran says: whenever they had news about the birth of a male, they used to be happy. And with a female, they were put under distress — just two options: either to look after their own daughter with full humiliation and hatred, or to bury her alive. And the Quran categorically condemned this type of thinking. Because this is a decision made by Allah, Who is أَحْكَمُ الْحَاكِمِينَ — this is not your decision to make.

And there was the slavery system, which was at its peak during this time. Slaves were treated worse than animals. There were many other social problems, including gambling, alcohol, adultery, bloodshed, and many others.

How the Prophet ﷺ Transformed Society

But by the blessing of Prophet ﷺ, he successfully removed these problems in a very minimum amount of time, with limited resources. He only stayed in Makkah Mukarramah for 13 years, and in Madinah Munawwarah after migration, only 10 years. Altogether as a prophet, he worked just 23 years. But you can see the result.

The Foundation: Tawheed

First and foremost, he started his Dawah work from Tawheed. The real and true meaning of Tawheed is the foundation — like a seed from which you can expect a fruitful tree. But unfortunately, many of our respected brothers and sisters don't even understand the meaning of Tawheed. Maybe this is the reason they don't make the difference between Tawheed and Shirk, between Sunnah and Bid'ah. Because for a true believer who understands the meaning of Tawheed, it is not possible that he would still commit Shirk. And for the person who understands the importance of Sunnah, it is not possible that he would then become involved in Bid'ah and innovation.

Many brothers and sisters — maybe they were born in Muslim families, but if you ask basic questions relating to Iman, relating to Aqeedah, relating to Tawheed, they may not be able to answer you.

Equality and Social Justice

And then our Rasul ﷺ introduced such a marvelous set of rules according to his teaching and practical life: that all human beings are the same, and no one has any superiority over any other because of his color, language, wealth, or social background. As Allah says:

O people, We created you from male and female, and made you nations and tribes so that you may know one another. This is the only source to introduce and recognize each other — not as a means of pride. Rather, Allah says the real superiority belongs to those who are better in character, in personal qualities, in their practical life.

And no one can misuse his power over others, regardless of who he is — male or female. Rather, in the teaching of the Prophet ﷺ, he said: the best among you is he who treats his family — especially his wife — as nicely as possible. Rasulullah ﷺ presented himself as a model: as a husband, as a head of the family.

The Character of the Prophet ﷺ — The Walking Quran

Some Sahaba — companions — came to ask Ummul Mu'mineen Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the biography and seerah of Rasulullah ﷺ. So what was her reply? She said: "Don't you read the Quran?" They were a little bit confused and thought maybe she did not understand their question. They said: "Yes, we do read the Quran, but our question is about the seerah of Rasulullah ﷺ, the biography of Rasulullah ﷺ." Then Ummul Mu'mineen Aisha said: "If you want to understand the seerah of Rasulullah ﷺ, the biography of Rasulullah ﷺ, go and read Quran Majid." Like: if the Quran is the theory, then the practical shape is Rasulullah ﷺ. If you want to see someone as a walking Quran, then look at Rasulullah ﷺ. This was the testimony of Ummul Mu'mineen Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) about the character of the Prophet ﷺ.

(Sahih Muslim, Book 6, Hadith 139 — reported by 'Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, that the character of the Prophet ﷺ was the Quran)

Honoring Daughters

And at family life — as a father, as a head of the family — this was our Rasulullah ﷺ's seerah. He also introduced a new way of thinking about children, regardless of their gender — male or female. And if someone has two daughters and gives them proper tarbiyah and cares for them nicely, as is suitable for them, then Rasulullah ﷺ said about this type of person: he will be in Jannah with the Prophet ﷺ. Now you can imagine — they used to prefer to take their own daughter and bury her alive. And how Prophet ﷺ changed this situation and their ideology. And if someone understands that his daughter is a source to take him to Jannah, then how is he going to treat her, and how is he going to provide proper tarbiyah and care for her? Because she is his source to take him to Jannah.

Justice for All

And regarding social justice: according to the teaching of the Quran, even if someone has any enmity with someone because of hatred, you cannot be unjust with him — we should be just. As Allah says:

Justice for all. Justice for everyone — regardless of his social background, whether he is a known figure or unknown, whether he is wealthy or poor, whether he has power or not. But justice should be equal for everyone. This is the teaching of Rasulullah ﷺ.

The Path to a Peaceful Society: Are We Truly Following the Prophet ﷺ?

Now we have to consider: how do we want to bring real peace and have a happy society? Because this is the dream of everyone. But unfortunately, we are not ready to analyze this situation with its root causes and provide a proper and practical solution. This problem that affects everyone today is double standards.

And especially — especially for practicing Muslims — look at what is going on around us. They are trying to shut down the masjid. What are they trying to achieve? If you close the masjid, what are you going to achieve with this? What is your aim? What is your target? They are trying to target especially those who are practicing. Where is the freedom then? Is this fair — to punish all of the society because of some individual's mistake? And many times without any proper trial, even without any verification: who did it? Who is involved? And why did they do it? But the reaction is huge. Is this fair to do like this?

But now we have to consider ourselves — in our homes, in our family life. For example, in the following month, after just a few days, Rabi'ul Awwal will start. And many Muslims claim to have love for the Prophet. We believe that — to believe in the Prophet. But are we truthful in our claims? We have to consider this point. Look at our own behavior in our daily life.

Because everybody is trying to say: "I love the Prophet. I believe in the Prophet." But in reality, a politician, for example, is not ready to apply the teaching of the Prophet in his policies and decisions. A businessman is not ready to apply the teaching of the Prophet in his trade. A worker is not ready to follow the Sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ. A husband is not ready to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet when he goes after the masjid back to his own house. A Muslim wife is not ready to apply the Sunnah of the Prophet upon herself. And children are not ready to apply the Sunnah of the Prophet towards their parents. And parents also are not ready to follow the Sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ towards their children.

Then everybody is saying: "I love the Prophet. I believe in the Prophet." But without following his teaching, without following his Sunnah in daily life — then from where will that blessing come? Just by the imagination, we cannot expect this. So from this we have to ask ourselves: where is the evidence that we love the Prophet? How can we solve problems and bring peace in the society if we have no regard for the teaching of the Prophet? Maybe we cannot bring our dream society or peace even in our own house, even in our masjid. Look at our own society. Look at our family life.

And Allah says:

Whatever the Prophet ﷺ gives you, you have to take it. And whatever he has prohibited, you have to abstain from it. There is no option — we have to accept whatever the Prophet ﷺ says. Otherwise, in Surah An-Nur, verse 63, Allah says:

People have to be careful about this — a fitna can strike, or a painful punishment, if we do not take this seriously.

The Danger of Bid'ah and the Principle of Ibadah vs. Mu'amalat

Another thing we can see is that some followers are more keen to innovate new things rather than following the Prophet ﷺ's teachings as he commanded. This is unacceptable. As the deen was completed upon Prophet ﷺ — our Prophet ﷺ is the last and final messenger — so it is not acceptable for us to innovate anything. Because there is no room for Bid'ah according to Islamic sharia. We have to be followers of Rasulullah ﷺ. Don't innovate anything. There is no vacuum in our deen, our sharia.

And there is a difference between ibadah and mu'amalat. As the great scholar Imam Ibn Taymiyyah said: there is a big difference between ibadah and mu'amalat.

In ibadah — acts of worship — everything is prohibited except what is confirmed by the authentic teaching of Rasulullah ﷺ. Like sawm, salat, wudu, zakat — these are all ibadah, and you cannot add anything to them. So we have to be followers in ibadah.

And in mu'amalat — our daily life issues — everything is permitted except whatever conflicts and contradicts with Islamic sharia. For example, where to wear, how to wear, what type of clothes you are going to wear, and about your home and house — these type of things. So in mu'amalat, everything is permitted except whatever conflicts with Islamic sharia. And in ibadah, everything is prohibited except whatever is confirmed by authentic sources of Rasulullah ﷺ.

So my brothers, if we want to bring real peace, then we have to understand the teaching of the Quran and the Sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ. May Allah give us tawfiq and understanding for the true teaching of the Quran and Sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ. And may Allah give us tawfiq for understanding the teaching of Islamic sharia and following the best. Ameen.

Second Khutbah

He conveyed the message, and he fulfilled the trust, and he encouraged the ummah, and he strived in Allah for the truth of his jihad. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him.

O you who believe, fear Allah for the truth of His fear, and you will not die except as Muslims.

O brothers, the ummah needs to know the biography of Al-Mustafa ﷺ and to pick from the saplings of prophethood above all needs. So everyone who hopes for Allah and the Last Day makes Rasulullah ﷺ a role model for him. As Allah said:

You had in Rasulullah a good example for those who hoped for Allah and the Last Day, and who mentioned Allah a lot. So without doubt, the honor of the ummah and its happiness, and its strength and its guidance, and its safety and its sovereignty — all of that is based on its adherence to the Book of its Lord and the Sunnah of its Prophet. So the day the ummah was adhering to its true Islam, the east and the west called for it, and its word was united, and its flag was raised, and its ranks were joined together.

And we cannot unite the ranks except by holding the strong rope of Allah. And in these days, everyone is talking about security, safety, and stability. Because this security is one of the greatest blessings in every place and in every time. But how can this wish be fulfilled? As Imam Malik said: the last of this ummah cannot be reconciled except with what reconciled its beginning — by adhering to the Book and the Sunnah.

These are the conditions. We need to follow the messenger in everything we are commanded. As Allah said:

And the messenger said: he will not truly believe until he follows what I have come with.

(Recorded in Arba'een al-Nawawiyyah, Hadith 41; also narrated by al-Maqdisi in Al-Hujjah)

But everyone claims that he loves the messenger without doing what he commanded us. The ruler, the merchant, the husband, the wife — everyone claims that he loves the messenger. But the ruler does not want to apply the law of Muhammad in what he rules. And the merchant is not willing to choose the principles of Islamic trade. And the husband does not conduct himself in the house as it was mentioned in the biography of the Prophet. And the Muslim wife does not want to implement the rules of the religion in the affairs of the house and the upbringing of children. So where is the love and loyalty? And where is our relationship with the Prophet in our daily life?

We all have to understand our responsibilities and work seriously before the dawn.

Salawat and Du'a

Pray for the messenger, the noble Prophet, as Allah commanded us:

O Allah, honor Islam and Muslims. O Allah, help Muslims everywhere. O Allah, help Muslims everywhere. O Allah, forgive all believing men and women, Muslim men and women, the living among them and the dead. O Allah, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided us, and bestow upon us mercy from You — You are the Bestower. O Allah, give us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire. O Allah, we ask You for guidance, righteousness, forgiveness, and wealth. O Allah, protect us from all the trials of this world and the torment of the hereafter.

Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of Glory, above what they attribute. And peace be upon the messengers. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.