03: Eid al-Adha 2024 | Prayer & Khutbah - Shaykh Aqeel Mahmood

Eid al-Adha Khutbah 2024

The khutbah began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by Surah Al-A'la and Surah Al-Ghashiyah.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ — الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ، نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ.

The Miracles of Allah Throughout History

It was a miracle of Allah my dear brothers and sisters that Allah sent a messenger to Arabia to call the people to the worship of Allah, and it was a miracle of Allah that the Prophet ﷺ was a success — calling people to Islam and having the whole of Arabia eventually accept Islam.

It was a miracle of Allah that Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, after the death of the Prophet ﷺ, became the leader and continued the legacy of the Prophet ﷺ after his death. And the Muslims didn't decrease after the death of the Prophet ﷺ as believers, but in fact the believers became more and more.

It was a miracle of Allah that Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه became the leader after Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه and continued the legacy of those who came before him. Islam spread to the east and the west, and Islam and the Muslims were successful, and they again increased in number becoming more and more by the grace of Allah.

It was a miracle of Allah that empires came from amongst the Muslims and these empires continued the legacy of Islam. And it was a miracle of Allah that opposing empires and enemies of Islam continued to try to attack Islam and the Muslims and to destroy the Muslims — but they always failed.

It was a miracle of Allah that after the demise of the Ottoman Empire — al-Khilafat al-Uthmaniyyah — people thought or assumed that the Muslims would now become weaker, that the Muslims would lessen in number, that the Muslims would no longer be influential or effective in the Muslim world or globally. But Allah has a plan, and Allah is the best of planners.

The Miracle of Islam's Growth Amid Trials

It is a miracle of Allah today, brothers and sisters, that we see our Muslim brothers and sisters being killed, genocides taking place — may Allah ease their suffering — and regardless of all of what is happening, people are still accepting Islam.

It's a miracle of Allah that the people watch the afflictions befalling the Muslims and they see the Muslims holding on to their Iman. They are tasting the Halawatul Iman — the sweetness of Iman — and they can see the people having the sweetness of Iman, and they ask and say to themselves, "I want what those people have." It's a miracle of Allah that people are accepting Islam despite the trials and tribulations that the Muslims are suffering from.

And it's a miracle of Allah, first and foremost brothers and sisters, that the Book of Allah which was sent down to us is the greatest miracle — a book which is a book of guidance and also the greatest miracle and Mu'jizah of the Messenger of Allah.

The Greatest Blessing: Guidance to Islam

Brothers and sisters, it is a miracle of Allah that out of all the people that could have been chosen to be upon the straight path, Allah guided me and you. And this is from the greatest blessings which anybody could have been given by Allah.

Reflect on your families, on your wealth, on the things you've been thinking about for the past 24 hours — about which masjid you're going to be going to, what you're going to be doing after the Eid Salah, where you're going to be going, who you're going to be meeting, thinking about the timings, thinking about the weather, thinking about so many things. But have you ever stopped to think about the immense blessing of Allah that Allah guided you to Islam, and Allah chose you to be in a congregation where Allah's name is mentioned?

Brothers and sisters, we are at a point in our lives and in this time where the Muslims are suffering, and it's incumbent upon us first and foremost to practice our deen — regardless of if it's the month of Ramadan, if it's the month of Dhul Hijjah, or if it's the day of Eid. Every single day we are Muslim, and every single day we practice our deen as much as we are able to and as much as we can.

The companions would say that if they didn't do as many good deeds today — or more good deeds today — than they did yesterday, they would feel like they had wasted their whole day. And so brothers and sisters, use this time that Allah has given you. Don't disregard the blessing and miracle of Allah by committing sins.

A Reminder: Trials Can Come at Any Moment

Just as I was coming to the masjid today this morning, I saw two cars — maybe some of you also saw this — completely destroyed on the way to the masjid. Allah knows best as to who were in these cars. May Allah protect them. Allah knows best whether they were Muslims or non-Muslims or their circumstances or situation. But it's a timely reminder for us — even though it's a day of celebration — that trials and tribulations and ultimately death can come at any point, it can come at any time.

After the Battle of Badr, the first battle of the Muslims, they came back to Medina rejoicing — overjoyed, happy that they had won the battle against the Quraysh. But little did they know that the Prophet ﷺ would be given the sad news of the death of his daughter Ruqayya, because she was sick. And Uthman رضي الله عنه had not attended the Battle of Badr for this very reason. And so, after a big high of victory against the Quraysh, there was a low — the demise and the death of the daughter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

And in this also there is a very important lesson, which is that every single day we are going to go through highs and lows. There are going to be ups and downs, regardless of if it's the day of Eid or other days. Our duty is always to be dutiful to Allah, and when one is dutiful to Allah, Allah will take care of us.

Allah says:

"If you remember Me, then I will remember you."

True Success Is in the Hereafter

Brothers and sisters, ultimate success doesn't come down to the clothes we're wearing, the cars we're driving, how much money we have, what we're going to do specifically with our lives professionally or otherwise. Ultimately, success will come on the Day of Judgment — and we ask Allah for Jannah.

This is why at the Battle of Uhud, Abu Sufyan — who was not yet a Muslim — shouted and was boasting to the Muslims. He was saying, "This battle is for that battle" — meaning, now we are even. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ responded and said: "We are not even."

"Your dead are in the Hellfire and our dead are in Paradise."

There is no comparison. You haven't won anything — you've lost in this life and you've lost in the Akhirah.

Closing: Rejoice in This Blessed Day of Eid

So brothers and sisters, remember that we as Muslims are always Muslim — 24/7, for the rest of our lives, by the permission of Allah. And we should rejoice in this day, this blessed day of Eid, and spend it with our families, spend it enjoying ourselves, as is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

We ask Allah to bless ourselves, to bless our families and our communities, and the Muslims all over the world.