Benefits of Lockdown - Shaykh Abdul Hadi

Khutbah Opening

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 whosoever He sends astray, none can guide him. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

Amma ba'd: fa inna khair al-hadith kitabullah, wa khair al-hadi hadi Muhammad ﷺ, wa sharr al-umur muhdathatuha, wa kulla muhdathatin bid'ah, wa kulla bid'atin dhalalah, wa kulla dhalalatin fi-n-naar.

Gratitude After Lockdown

Brothers, alhamdulillah, we are here after a long absence — in lockdown during this pandemic. We have to be thankful to Allah for His countless bounties upon us. As in the hadith, the Prophet ﷺ said: the situation of the believer is between sabr and shukr. If he receives any bounty from Allah, he will be thankful. And if he experiences any calamity, he will show sabr, and he will be rewarded for this in either case.

(Sahih Muslim, Book 55, Hadith 2999)

Positive Changes Observed During Lockdown

Although during this pandemic we are experiencing many hardships and unprecedented problems, there are some positive aspects as well. Indeed, we have noticed during lockdown that people have acted positively. They are regular in their salat, adhkar, du'a, and recitation of Qur'an-e-Majeed. And people have acted in dressing appropriately. Interest rates became 0%, and people are avoiding sinful activities.

We used to, from the beginning, speak against these things. But many people were giving less attention, or sometimes laughing at these things. And now, alhamdulillah, they have realized how to dress — especially for women — what to eat and drink. And also many religious obligations have been observed. Many among us started leading communal salat. And because they became imam at their home, they have learned surahs of Qur'an-e-Majeed as well. And many have increased in their adhkar and du'a. And daily, they are reading a portion of Qur'an-e-Majeed.

Trust in Allah and Belief in Divine Decree

But because of what is going on around us, do not be disappointed or lose your hope. We have to increase our confidence and we have to believe sincerely in the divine decree. Nothing can harm or benefit us without the will of Allah. This is one of the articles of iman.

As Allah says in Surah Al-An'am, verse 17:

"And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it except Him. And if He touches you with good, He is Able to do all things."

And there is a hadith in Tirmidhi: if you guard the deen of Allah — be practicing — Allah will protect you. And He Almighty will be with you always. And if all people gather to benefit or harm you, it will not be possible except that which has been decided by Allah.

(Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2516)

This should be my iman. But while we believe this, we have to take precautions as outlined by the experts and specialists in this field — such as social distancing and cleanliness and hygiene.

The Islamic Concept of Tahara

Especially if you read the first chapter in Islamic fiqh books, you will find it is about tahara. And remember, the concept of tahara is not just hygiene, but it is very comprehensive and deep in meaning. Cleanliness which should be extended to other parts of our life — our clothes, body, places, food, and whatever we are eating, even our plates, etc. And the environment also should be clean. This is the concept of tahara, which is more than nazafa (hygiene). And while we are using physical sources and precautions, we must have tawakkul — trust in Allah — especially during this critical and painful period of our lifetime.

Remembering Those We Have Lost

As we have lost many of our valuable members of this masjid, as well as members of the community in general, and we were unable even to attend their salatul janaza because of this situation. May Allah forgive them all and grant them a high place in Jannah.

And we appreciate here and offer thanks to those volunteers — including in this masjid especially — who offered their time, energy, and efforts in supporting and providing services for those who were affected by COVID-19: in hospitals, with medical care, in masajid, in mortuaries, in the graveyard even. May Allah be pleased with them for their hard work and efforts.

But this should serve as a reminder to us all about our own death, our destiny, and the truth of our own future. We should avoid sins and disobedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ. Wherever we are, whatever circumstances we are in, we have to avoid anything which is not appropriate for a true believer. We have to be followers of the teachings of the Qur'an and the sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ. And do that which will benefit us after death — in the qabr, in the grave, and in the hereafter. There are judgments on the Day of Resurrection. So we need to invest something to get benefit here and in the hereafter. May Allah accept our good deeds. May Allah remove this calamity and forgive those brothers and sisters who passed away.

The First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah

We will, inshAllah, soon enter Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. People are not able to travel for Hajj this year because of the ongoing situation. Only a limited number of local residents are going to perform Hajj. But we can join them spiritually by doing that which is good — amal-e-saliha.

Especially, the first ten days are very important according to hadith. Even many scholars say it is more important than Ramadan — the daytimes especially. Because in Ramadan the nights are very important, but in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah — which will start in approximately three or four days — the days are very, very important. So we have to utilize this by doing righteous good deeds, amal-e-saliha.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 969)

Closing: Return to the Masjid

Alhamdulillah, here we are now in a house of Allah, O brothers, to perform Jumu'ah prayer after a long absence — after the complete closure. And as it was mentioned in the hadith, it is amazing for the believer: his whole matter is good. And that is not for anyone except for the believer. If he is granted a blessing, he is grateful, so it is good for him. And if he is afflicted by illness, he is patient, so it is good for him.

And Allah says — and we must not throw ourselves into destruction:

And as it is said, prevention is better than cure. But we share with the pilgrims the good deeds. The days of good deeds are dearer to Allah than these days — so do more good deeds, O brothers.