Jumu'ah Khutbah - Shaykh Hamad al-Tuwaijiri

Jumu'ah Khutbah — Shaykh Hamad al-Tuwaijiri

First Khutbah

Alhamdulillah. We praise Him, we ask His help, we ask His forgiveness and we repent to Him. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and the evil of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, there is no misguidance for him, and whomsoever He misguides, there is no guide for him.

And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, no partner for Him. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger — peace be upon him and upon his family and his companions, and peace be upon him in abundance.

As for what follows, O Muslims — we have lived and continue to live in a fitna that no one knows the extent of except Allah, the Exalted. And it has been proven that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, woke up one night at the end of his life. He went out to al-Baqi' to greet its inhabitants and to give them glad tidings. When he greeted them and bid them farewell, he informed them that this Ummah would be faced by many trials.

And Imam al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, began his book al-Sahih with the Book of Fitna. And he began it with the saying of Allah, the Exalted:

"And fear a fitna that will not afflict the wrongdoers among you in particular." And Allah, the Exalted, said:

"Do the people think that they will be left to say, 'We believe,' and they will not be tested? And We have certainly tested those before them. So Allah knows those who are truthful, and He knows the liars." And Allah, the Exalted, said:

"O Children of Adam, do not let Shaytan tempt you as he took your parents out of Paradise." And Allah, the Exalted, said:

"And know that your wealth and your children are a trial." And Allah, the Exalted, said:

"He is the One who sent down to you the Book, of which are clear signs — they are the mother of the Book — and others are similar. But as for those in whose hearts is doubt, they follow that which is similar, seeking trial and seeking its interpretation."

And it was proven in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "A time will come when people will not know where they were killed, nor will they know why they were killed." And in the hadith narrated by Abu Dawud and Sahih Muslim: "The happy are those who avoid trial."

(Sunan Abu Dawud; see also Sahih Muslim)

And in the hadith narrated by al-Bukhari, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Trial is presented to the hearts as a sowing of seeds, again and again. And any heart that absorbs it will have a black spot placed in it. And any heart that rejects it will have a white spot placed in it."

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 144)

These texts, these verses, and these hadiths warn us against trial. And scholars have mentioned that trial is divided into two parts. One is the trial related to the hearts — which is the trial of shubuhat (suspicions and doubts). And the other is the trial related to the souls — which is the trial of shahawat (desires). And the worst and the most dangerous is the trial of suspicions, which have increased, diversified, and multiplied in our time.

And this is why the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, pointed to these two types of trial. He mentioned in the hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad with a correct chain of narration — on the authority of Ibn Umar, Abu Hurairah, and others — when he said that this Ummah will be divided into 73 groups, all of them in Hell, except one. He pointed to the trial of suspicions.

(Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 4597; Musnad Ahmad; graded Sahih)

Ways to Be Saved from Trials

So how can we get out of this trial — with both types? The Muslim has become in great danger of being affected by one of these two types of misguidance. There are many ways to be saved, after Allah's success.

First: Seek Refuge in Allah

One of them is to seek refuge in Allah from the evil of this trial, and to seek help, relief, and refuge in Allah alone. As it was proven in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Seek refuge in Allah from trials — those that have appeared and those that are hidden."

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2867)

A person is not safe — not because of his knowledge, nor because of his environment in which he was raised, nor because of his family. He is exposed to trial at any moment. And if the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him — for whom Allah has guaranteed his safety and who is safe from trial beyond any doubt — as it was proven in Sahih al-Bukhari from the hadith of Aisha, he would often say:

"O You who turn the hearts, fix my heart upon Your religion." — So what do we, the poor and the weak, think of ourselves? The greatest way to be saved from this trial is to seek refuge in Allah with sincerity, to rely upon Allah with sincerity, and to call upon Him night and day to save us from this trial.

Second: Flee from Trials and Stay Away from Them

The second way is to escape from the trial — to stay away from it, from its places, and from even the thought of its occurrence. As Allah, the Exalted, said:

"And when you see those who go astray in Our signs, turn away from them until they go astray in another discourse." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is the most knowledgeable of this Ummah, the most righteous, and the most God-fearing. And yet Allah, the Exalted, ordered him — if he came to a place where Allah's signs were being mocked — to avoid it and leave it. Safety is not equal to anything.

And in the hadith narrated by Abu Dawud on the authority of al-Miqdad, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The happy one is the one who avoids the trial."

And in the hadith narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3601; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2886)

"There will be trials. The one who stays therein is better than the one who stands therein. The one who stands therein is better than the one who walks therein. The one who walks therein is better than the one who runs toward it. Whoever seeks it out, it will consume him. And whoever finds a refuge, let him take it."

And in another hadith narrated by Imam Ahmad and al-Tirmidhi with a correct chain of narration, there was a trial and a man said: "Did you see — if he entered my house and extended his hand to kill me?" The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: "Be like the son of Adam" — as Allah Almighty said about him: "If you extend your hand to me to kill me, I will not extend my hand to you to kill you."

And it was also proven from the hadith of Abu Bakr, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "There will be a trial, then there will be a trial. And when it descends, whoever has a camel, let him follow his camel. And whoever has sheep, let him follow his sheep. And whoever has land, let him follow his land." A man said: "O Messenger of Allah, what if I was forced to go to one of the two groups and a man struck me with his sword and killed me?" He said: "He will bear his sin and your sin, and he will be among the companions of the Fire."

(Sahih Muslim)

Third: Return to the People of Knowledge

The third means by which a person avoids tribulation is to return to the people of knowledge and to rely on them. As Allah says:

"And when a matter comes to them of security or fear, they publicize it. But if they had referred it to the Messenger and to those of authority among them, those who draw correct conclusions from it would have known it." So in the time of tribulation, one must return to the people of knowledge, because they are the greatest and most knowledgeable people regarding the magnitude of this tribulation, and the most knowledgeable about the good and the bad. Their perspective is wider than others. And they are the ones about whom Allah says:

"Indeed, it is only those who have knowledge among His servants who truly fear Allah." Because they are the most knowledgeable about the magnitude of the matter and how it will end.

Fourth: Hold Fast to the Book and the Sunnah

Another means by which a person avoids tribulation is the necessity of holding fast to the Book and the Sunnah, according to the understanding of the righteous predecessors, may Allah have mercy on them. As was proven from Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him — he said: "Allah benefited me on the Day of al-Jamal with a word I heard from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him." And the Day of al-Jamal was a day of tribulation which happened among the companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. So Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Allah benefited me in avoiding this tribulation through a hadith I heard from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him." He said: "No people led by a woman shall ever prosper." So I avoided this tribulation.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4425)

And it was proven from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in an authentic hadith, that he said:

(al-Muwatta of Imam Malik; al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak, Hadith 319)

"I leave among you that which, if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray after me — the Book of Allah and my Sunnah." This is a guarantee and a trust from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to the Muslim, that he will not go astray if he holds fast to what he commanded us to do. And in another hadith:

(Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 4607; Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2676; graded Sahih)

"You will have to follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after me." He said this hadith when he mentioned that at the end of times there would be a great deal of splitting and division. And in another hadith: "I have left you upon the clear white path. No one will deviate from it after me except for one who is destroyed."

And it was proven from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that when he was asked about tribulation he said: "O Messenger of Allah" — and he pointed to the Book of Allah — "in it is the news of what was before you." And Allah Almighty said:

"Indeed, this Qur'an guides to that which is most upright." So there is no doubt that adhering to the Book and the Sunnah and returning to their texts is safer than falling into such tribulation.

Fifth: Increase in Worship and Purification of the Soul

Also, one of the reasons for the salvation of the Muslims is the abundance of worship and the reformation and purification of the soul. As it was proven in the authentic hadith narrated by Muslim:

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2948)

"Worship during times of tribulation is like emigrating to me." So the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, wants us to resort to an abundance of worship — salat, fasting, zakat, dhikr — during the time of tribulation. And in the hadith of Umm Salama, when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, woke up in a state of fear saying: "Woe to the Arabs from an evil that has come near!" — he said at the end of the hadith: "Whoever has the door of their room closed, let them pray." Narrated by al-Bukhari. Meaning, when tribulation descends, one should resort to the worship of Allah, the Almighty.

Sixth: Remain with the Muslim Community

Also, one of the reasons for peace from tribulation is holding on to the Muslim community and keeping away from division and discrimination. As in the hadith of al-Irbad ibn Sariyah: "Whoever lives among you will see great differences." He said at the end of the hadith: "The Muslim community and their leader is obligatory upon you." Narrated by Muslim. And also in the hadith narrated by al-Hakim: "Whoever wishes to enter the middle of Paradise, let him hold on to the Muslim community."

Seventh: Guard the Tongue

Also, one of the main safeguards from tribulation is the preservation of the tongue, because the tongue is still. And times of tribulation have caused people to speak about what they do not know. And perhaps a person says something which ruins his life and his hereafter because of it. And it has been proven that Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, when some tribulations were mentioned that had happened among the Companions, he said: "Those are tribulations that Allah has purified our hands from — so let us purify our tongues from them."

"That nation has passed away. It has what it earned, and you have what you have earned. And you are not asked about what they were doing."

And from Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Tribulation in which the tongue is more severe than the fall of a sword."

(Sunan Abu Dawud; Sunan Ibn Majah; Musnad Ahmad — graded Sahih by Ahmad Shakir)

And Allah Almighty said:

"And We have made some of you a trial for others — will you be patient? And your Lord is ever Seeing." So when the trial descends, the believer should train himself to be patient and not to speak of it except in a good way.

Eighth: Accept the Truth Wherever It Comes From

Another reason is to accept the truth from those who have brought it, and to stay away from classifying people and partisanship. The real balance is the Book and the Sunnah. So whoever brings the truth — even if he is not on my path, not on my way, not in my style — one should accept the truth from him. As has been proven from Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him: "Whoever brings you the truth, accept it from him even if he is far away and you dislike him. And whoever brings you falsehood, reject it from him even if he is a loved one." Narrated by Abu Nu'aym in al-Hilyah.

Also, in the time of trial, the classification of people increases, and the process of issuing verdicts and opinions multiplies. So justice and fairness are required from the believer. As Allah, the Exalted, said:

"And when you speak, then be just."

May Allah bless me and you through the Great Qur'an and benefit me and you with what is in it from the verses and the wise remembrance. I say what you hear and I seek Allah's forgiveness for me and for you, so seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

Second Khutbah

All praise is due to Allah for His beneficence, and thanks are due to Him for His grace and favour. I praise Him with a praise befitting His majesty and the greatness of His authority. And peace and blessings be upon His servant and Messenger, Muhammad ibn Abdillah, peace and blessings be upon him, and upon his family and companions, in abundance.

As for what follows, O brothers — we have learned some of the reasons that save the believer, after the success of Allah, from falling into trials. Let me now mention briefly the consequences and outcomes that result from a person falling into such trials.

Consequences of Falling into Trials

First: The spilling of protected blood. This is a matter that has been evident since the dawn of history. No trial appears except that the spilling of sacred and forbidden blood follows it. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "A man will continue to have latitude in matters of his religion as long as he does not shed forbidden blood."

(Sahih al-Bukhari)

The verses and texts regarding this are numerous and there is no need to mention them all. You are also aware of the story of Usama, may Allah be pleased with him, as in Sahih Muslim — when he killed the man who had testified that there is no god but Allah. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: "Did you kill him after he said La ilaha illallah?" He said: "He only said it out of fear of the sword." The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to him: "Did you split open his heart to see what La ilaha illallah will do when it comes on the Day of Resurrection to argue for its owner?" This is why Usama said: "I wish I had not become Muslim until this hour." And in another hadith: "The killing of a believer is more grave to Allah than the disappearance of the entire world." Narrated by al-Nasa'i with an authentic chain. And in the hadith of Ibn Mas'ud narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim: "The first matter to be judged between people on the Day of Resurrection is bloodshed."

Second: Trials — at their beginning — have a sweetness and pleasure to them and captivate many people. But when they actually occur, they encompass both the righteous and the corrupt alike. From the narrations: "When tribulations occur, the righteous and the sinful are afflicted — the mushrik and others alike." Rather, as you can see, these tribulations strike people who have no involvement in them — like children, women, and the elderly.

Third: From the effects of tribulations — when they pass and recede, the one who entered into them and was involved in them will regret it, because of the corruption and evil he witnesses.

Fourth: Tribulations generally dress themselves in the garment of goodness at their beginning, then it becomes clear at the end of the matter that what occurred was in fact in opposition to — and even sometimes contrary to — the Shari'ah.

Fifth: From the causes of tribulations is splitting and disagreement — to the extent that some may even accuse others of disbelief, curse one another, and kill one another.

Sixth: From the effects of tribulations is turning away from worship and calling to Allah, the Almighty. This is why the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Hasten to do good deeds before tribulations come like the darkest night."

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 118)

Seventh: From the evil effects of tribulations is the turning of people away from knowledge and the belittling of the people of knowledge and scholars.

Eighth: From the effects of tribulations is the rise of the foolish to positions of leadership. As Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "When fitna occurs, the wise become incapable within it of repelling the foolish."

We ask Allah to keep us far from trials — those that are apparent and those that are hidden — and to protect us from falling into them, and to keep our hearts and our limbs away from being afflicted by such trials.

O Allah, keep us far from tribulations — those that are apparent and those that are hidden. O Allah, keep us far from tribulations — those that are apparent and those that are hidden. O Allah, purify our hearts from hypocrisy, our deeds from showing off, our tongues from lying, and our eyes from treachery. Indeed, You know the treachery of the eyes and what the hearts conceal. O Allah, rectify for us our religion which is the safeguard of our affairs, and our worldly life in which is our sustenance, and our Hereafter to which is our return. Make life an increase for us in every good, and make death a rest for us from every evil. O Allah, save the weak believers in every land. O Allah, save the weak believers — our brothers in al-Sham, in Iraq, in Yemen, in Palestine, and in all of the earth and in every place. O Allah, protect their blood, unite them upon the truth, preserve their honour, and preserve their wealth.

Rise to your prayer, may Allah have mercy on you, for indeed the prayer forbids indecency and wrongdoing.

Our guest khateeb today is our Shaykh, may Allah preserve him, who has come all the way from Riyadh for our annual winter conference, insha'Allah. The Shaykh's subject and topic of choice for this khutbah was the issue of trials and tests that we are facing. He said that this is something that all of us are facing and something we are all dealing with on a constant basis.

But when we look at the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, there are many and numerous texts that speak about these types of fitna and trials. For example, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was reported to have woken up one night, woke up his servant, and took him to the graveyard of al-Baqi' in Medina. The Prophet greeted the inhabitants of the graveyard, made du'a for them, and mentioned that this Ummah would be faced by many, many trials.

The importance of this issue is something which Imam al-Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, deemed so important that in his famous compilation of hadith, the first chapter he mentioned and spoke of was the Chapter of Fitna and Trials. He begins that chapter with the statement of Allah in which He says: "Beware of those trials that won't only affect certain groups and specific people among you, but will be general and encompass everyone." In another verse, Allah says: "Alif Lam Meem — do the people think that they will be left alone and not tried and tested simply because they say 'We believe'? Indeed, We tested those who came before them so that it could be made known who are truthful and who are lying." And Allah says in yet another verse: "Know that your family and your wealth are a trial for you."

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned in a number of hadiths the dangers of trials and how we should be aware of them. In the hadith of Abu Dawud for example, he said: "Indeed the successful, the happy, the joyous one is the one who is saved from trials." And in another hadith the Prophet said that trials will come upon people to the extent that the one who kills won't know why he is killing and the one who is murdered will not know why they are being murdered.

The Shaykh said that the scholars of Islam divided the different trials we face into two main categories. The first is the trials that affect the heart — the doubts and misconceptions one has in terms of belief and creed. The second are the trials that affect our limbs and actions — the trials of desires. The Prophet spoke about both. He told us that trials will come upon a person's heart, and whoever succumbs to a trial will have a black dot placed in their heart until the whole heart becomes darkened. Whereas if a trial comes to a person and they reject it and stay away from it, then Allah will place a white dot within their heart. And when it comes to the trial of doubts, the Prophet told us that this Ummah would split into 73 different sects — all of them in the Fire except for one.

The Shaykh then went on to speak about the things we can do to safeguard ourselves and our families from these trials: (1) Turn back to Allah and seek refuge in Him. (2) Stay away from trials and those things that lead to trials. (3) Return to the scholars and people of knowledge. (4) Hold on to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet. (5) Engage in ibadah and worship. (6) Remain united with the Muslim community. (7) Protect your tongue. (8) Accept the truth wherever it may come from.

The Shaykh then concluded his khutbah by mentioning some of the evils that come about as a result of falling into fitna — not least of which is the spilling of innocent blood, the splitting of the Ummah, people turning away from knowledge and da'wah and from worshipping Allah. He concluded by asking Allah to keep us and our families and our community safe from all types of trials — those which are hidden and those which are apparent.