Don’t Take Allah’s Blessings for Granted - Shaykh Mustafa Abu Rayyan

Khutbah al-Ula — Opening Sermon

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا، مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَصَفِيُّهُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ وَخَلِيلُهُ، أَرْسَلَهُ اللهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ كَافَّةً بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا، فَبَلَّغَ الرِّسَالَةَ وَأَدَّى الْأَمَانَةَ وَنَصَحَ الْأُمَّةَ، وَتَرَكَنَا عَلَى الْمَحَجَّةِ الْبَيْضَاءِ لَيْلُهَا كَنَهَارِهَا لَا يَزِيغُ عَنْهَا إِلَّا هَالِكٌ، فَصَلَوَاتُ اللهِ وَسَلَامُهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى أَهْلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَمَنِ اهْتَدَى بِهَدْيِهِ وَاسْتَنَّ بِسُنَّتِهِ وَدَعَا بِدَعْوَتِهِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.

أَحِبَّتِي فِي اللهِ وَفِي الْإِسْلَامِ، أُوصِيكُمْ وَنَفْسِي بِتَقْوَى اللهِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ، فَإِنَّ اللهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ تَقَوْا وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ مُحْسِنُونَ.

My beloved brothers and sisters, I start by praising Allah and sending blessings and salutations upon our beloved Messenger Muhammad, salawatullahi wa salamuhu alayh.

Counting Allah's Blessings

My brothers and sisters, alhamdulillah — all praise belongs to Allah. Shukrulillah — all gratitude belongs to Allah, who has truly blessed us with so many blessings and favours. It is truly something that we cannot enumerate or count, the amount of barakah and blessings in our lives.

This is not to say that our lives are not filled with challenges. Each one of us is dealing with a challenge of some sort — whether that is financial, whether that is physical, whether that is family related. Life was never meant to be paradise. However, it is important that we appreciate the many, many blessings Allah has blessed us with.

Most of us here, if not all of us here today, enjoyed breakfast. We have fridges that are full. We will go about our day and have access to food and water. We will be able to go and take our families out for food, enjoy ourselves, have clothing. If it's too warm, we have air conditioning. If it's too cold, we have heaters. We have the ability to buy new clothes and live in a type of leisure and joy that sometimes we take for granted. Wallahi, we are blessed.

And my beloved brothers and sisters, we are going to be asked about those blessings. Allah will ask you about the cold water that you enjoy, the tea that you drink, the food that you have, the warmth — everything.

The Story of the Prophet ﷺ, Abu Bakr, and Umar

Our beloved Messenger Muhammad ﷺ one day left his home hungry and he went outside and he met Abu Bakr (radiyallahu anhu). The Prophet ﷺ asked him: "Why are you out at this time?" And he said: يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ، مَا أَخْرَجَنِي إِلَّا الْجُوعُ — "O Messenger of Allah, I came out because we have nothing to eat. Hunger got me out of my home." They then met Umar (radiyallahu anhu) that same day, and he was also starving and hungry.

Think about this for a second. Have you ever been in that situation? Allah has truly blessed us. But that blessing, my brothers and sisters, is also a trial and test — how grateful are we, and how mindful are we of the many blessings that we enjoy day after day?

The Prophet and his two companions were hosted by one of the Ansar. He brought them some dates, some water, and some meat. The Prophet ﷺ and his two companions, Abu Bakr and Umar, enjoyed that meal. Afterwards, the Prophet looked at them and said: "I swear by Allah, we will truly be asked about this on the Day of Judgment."

(Sahih Muslim, Book 36, Hadith 5)

The Prophet ﷺ is telling his companions about a simple meal that they enjoyed — and Allah will ask you about it. What does that mean? It means: have you genuinely felt grateful, or did you take it for granted? And if you did feel grateful, that you say Alhamdulillah and attribute gratitude to the One it belongs to — which is Allah Almighty — who chose to give you a life and put you in a place where you have easy access to things that other people don't have or struggle to get.

That is why we are ordered to say Alhamdulillah after every meal — praise Allah and thank Him.

Do Not Take Allah's Blessings for Granted

My message to myself and to all of you is: do not take the many blessings you have for granted. Thank Allah for every morsel of food that you have, and that you don't have to live in the same way many of our brothers and sisters in this world are living. This is not because you are better than them. But Allah chose to test you with this favour — so be grateful. Be grateful. Be grateful to Allah and express that gratitude through worship.

Among the best ways we can express gratitude for the many blessings we have is by helping those who are in need — after recognising that the One who gave it to you is Allah. Not because you are special, not because you are better, not because you are particularly righteous — but Allah favoured you with these blessings, chose you, and gave them to you. So you start by recognising that, and you start by thanking Allah.

And we as Muslims do not thank Allah just with our words — we express our gratitude through our actions. Rasulullah ﷺ taught us to express gratitude through prayer, for he would pray at night many, many hours. He would do so to the point where his wife and our mother Aisha (radiyallahu anha) said to him: "Ya Rasulallah, Allah has forgiven your sins, past and future — why do you do this?" And he said:

"Will I not be a grateful servant?" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4837; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2820)

The Prophet ﷺ taught us to express gratitude through fasting as well. For when Allah saved Prophet Musa and Bani Israel from Fir'aun, the Prophet ﷺ fasted as an expression of gratitude.

So worship is one of the ways we thank Allah. In other words, the many blessings that we have should reflect itself in much worship — pray more, give more sadaqah, fast more. And more importantly, understand and believe that what you have is given to you by Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, the Most Merciful, the Giver of Mercy. Teach that to your children and to your families. Appreciate every single moment.

Understand that your life — and often we tend to focus on the difficult times that we go through — exists within the context of many blessings Allah has given you. If you suffer from back pain, you are able to go to the pharmacy and get something that alleviates that pain. You have access to doctors that can help you. These are all blessings Allah has given you. Understand that your life is not doom and gloom. Allah has given you much, much, much. Alhamdulillah, alhamdulillah.

Feeding the Needy — إِطْعَامُ الْمَسَاكِينِ

More specifically, my beloved brothers and sisters, I want to use this khutbah to remind myself and all of you of a particular act of worship that is often repeated in the Qur'an and often emphasised by our Prophet ﷺ — which is إِطْعَامُ الْمَسَاكِينِ, to give and feed the needy.

Allah mentioned this in the Qur'an when He was praising those that will go to Jannah:

They give food to those that need it, and they give it while they themselves are in need — but they do it anyway. And why do they do it? Because Allah says they declare:

"We are fearful of our Lord on a difficult and dark day." If you are fearful — and you should be fearful of the Day of Judgment, because you are a human being that accumulates sin — then among the ways to alleviate the many darknesses that await us, may Allah forgive us all, is by giving and feeding the poor and the needy.

The Prophet ﷺ taught us among the ways to go to Jannah. He said:

"Feed the needy, and pray at night while the people are asleep — you will enter into Paradise peacefully." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2485; Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 3251)

Our Responsibility as One Ummah

My brothers and sisters, the ummah as a whole — among the things that we are guilty of is not always being aware of what's happening to our brothers and sisters all over the world. Sometimes we get into a bubble. We are so focused on our immediate family, our careers, our day-to-day. And I understand the grind of life — it can keep you busy, it can keep you distracted. But each one of us is responsible for the other. We are one ummah. The Prophet ﷺ described us as one body — if one part is hurting, the whole body stays up. So we have a responsibility to be aware of what's happening to our brothers and sisters everywhere.

If you're not going to be someone that is actively keeping up with what's happening to your brothers and sisters all over the world — those that are in need of food, those who in winter are in need of clothing, those who are going through desperate situations — then at the very least, when you are reminded, do not be the one who assumes that is not their responsibility.

When Allah blesses you with an opportunity and someone tells you there are those in need — give. Do not be among those who don't give. That is how you get Jannah — by showing mercy to others. Those that show mercy, the Most Merciful shows them mercy. May Allah make us among those that receive Allah's mercy and show mercy to others.

The Situation in Gaza and Beyond

Now why am I speaking today particularly about feeding the needy? Because I'm sure a lot of you have seen what's happening in Gaza. And although we have gone through two years — and that two years is just one chapter of a book filled with atrocities and oppression — it's not only in Gaza. There were millions starving in Yemen and still are. There are those that are struggling all over the world.

Assume responsibility as an individual. That includes dedicating a portion of your du'a — just like you dedicate a portion of your du'a to your mother and father, whether they are living or have passed away, just like you dedicate a portion of your du'a to your children because you want what's best for them — dedicate a portion of your du'a to your fellow believers who are suffering and struggling. Dedicate a portion of your income to your fellow believers that are suffering and that are struggling. It is a responsibility that we behave as an Ummah.

If the leaders of the world have failed, it doesn't mean that you have to fail as well. Do what you can. Wallahi, to see that — and then go into the shops and fill up to enjoy your dessert and your cup of tea — when you know there are mothers and fathers and children that walk miles, miles, to find some food. And when they queue up — gunfire. And the next day they know they may die, but they are so hungry they have no choice. They have to go to that wretched place and wait.

May Allah alleviate their suffering. May Allah alleviate their suffering.

The Story of Abdul Rahman ibn Auf

What I want to share, my brothers and sisters, is number one: appreciate the blessings that you have. Let me tell you a story about Abdul Rahman ibn Auf, a great companion of the Prophet ﷺ and among the ten who were given the glad tidings of Jannah.

Abdul Rahman ibn Auf was blessed with a lot of wealth. He was among the richest of the companions. One day he was fasting and they brought him food. It was time to break his iftar, and he looked at it — and he remembered his companions. He remembered the day of Uhud. He remembered how Mus'ab ibn Umayr, who was the flag bearer that day, died in battle and was so poor that he didn't own enough clothing to be shrouded in. And Abdul Rahman ibn Auf cried so much he couldn't eat. He didn't have iftar. He put the food away and said: "I can't eat when I know what my brothers went through." He said: "I am fearful that perhaps the food that I have now is Allah giving me my dunya and nothing in akhira."

So the next time you hear or have an opportunity — overall, my brothers and sisters — when you hear about believers suffering from hunger, we're not talking about building them homes. We're talking about the most basic thing in life. Every one of us should put their hands in their pockets. Alarm bells should be ringing when you hear that people can't find food. And when you find yourself in an opportune moment where someone stands up and says such and such is suffering, they haven't eaten in this many days — do not be among those that can walk out and forget about that and go home and enjoy a meal. At the very least, empathize. Are you not among the believers? Are you not part of that body?

What Can We Do?

My brothers and sisters, I ask Allah to forgive our shortcomings. And I understand that sometimes we ask ourselves: what can we do? A common question being asked now — and it's a very fair question — is: we give and we give and we give. But if these evil doers, this tyrannical, inhuman regime, these shayateen that are hoarding and keeping the food away from those that need it — what is the point of giving if it's not going to reach them?

To that we say, my brothers and sisters: those that are delivering aid — sometimes windows open up, and when those windows open up, food is taken in. Perhaps what you're giving will be among that. I'm not saying don't be smart. I'm not saying don't investigate. I'm not saying don't ask questions — when will it be delivered, how will it be delivered? There are many challenges. I'm not even saying only focus on Gaza, although their situation is dire.

What I want is a mentality shift from us: when we hear that people are in need, we understand that it is our responsibility to help them as Muslims. What I want is — when you hear or you see an ad or a call for aid — have, number one, a sense of curiosity for your fellow believers. How are my brothers and sisters doing in Myanmar? How are they doing in China? How are they doing in Sudan? What's happening in Yemen? Are they not your brothers? Would you feel the same way if they were your blood brothers?

But if you're not going to be someone that is actively looking into it, if you're not going to dedicate a portion of your salary, if you're not going to say "I'm going to give this much every month regardless" — then at the very least, when Allah blesses you with someone reminding you, do not ignore that message. Do not ignore that message.

And remember, in the end of the day, we want to be among those that are fed from the fruits of Jannah. We want to be among those whose sins are forgiven. And among the ways you do that, my brothers and sisters, is like the Prophet ﷺ told us:

"Whoever feeds someone that is hungry, Allah feeds him from the fruits of Jannah." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2449)

In the end of the day, all our salah and all our fasting and all our sadaqah and everything that we do — we have one goal: the pleasure of Allah and entering Jannah. Among the doors and the gates to Jannah is this. May Allah forgive our shortcomings.

أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ.

Khutbah al-Thaniyah — Second Sermon

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَكَفَى، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ الْمُصْطَفَى.

My beloved brothers and sisters, allow me to summarise the messages that I want to share with you in a few points.

Point One: Recognise and Be Grateful for Allah's Blessings

Understand that Allah has blessed you with many, many favours — among them being the readily accessible food, water, and shelter that you have and enjoy every single day. And remember there is a religious responsibility upon you to express gratitude to Allah. That you first feel grateful with every morsel that you eat and give to your family. And that that expression of gratitude should translate itself into worship, like the Prophet ﷺ taught us — that he would pray in gratitude and he would fast as an act of gratitude.

Point Two: Feeding the Needy is an Act of Worship and a Responsibility

My brothers and sisters, understand that feeding the needy is an act of worship, a responsibility, and among the ways you find salvation thereafter. As an ummah, we are meant to feel responsibility for all of our believers. It is incumbent upon us that we understand and are more aware of what's happening to our less fortunate brothers and sisters all over the world.

I understand that sometimes you can get distracted. But when Allah blesses you with an opportunity and someone reminds you — be among the forerunners to alleviate some of the difficulty and some of the hunger. There are way too many orphans that are not being sponsored. There are way too many people thirsty that are not getting enough water. There are way too many people hungry that could be fed and supported by us — those whom Allah has blessed with more than what they have.

More specifically, the situation in Gaza is getting dire, and I want to remind myself and all of you that our brothers and sisters are suffering all sorts of oppression. We should alleviate that wherever we can. Here in this masjid we have three separate programs — Water for Gaza, Food for Gaza, and Medicine for Gaza — and each one is something that you can support, insha'Allah, and I encourage you all to support either here or anywhere else. Of course, due diligence is something that I always recommend and is important.

Point Three: Our Ultimate Goal — the Pleasure of Allah

Finally, my brothers and sisters, understand that our goal overall is to gain the pleasure of Allah. And you gain the pleasure of Allah through two things: through worshipping Allah alone — service to Allah in worship — and service to Allah's creation in ihsan, helping them in whatever way you can.

May Allah forgive our shortcomings and our sins, and aid our brothers and sisters wherever they may be.

Du'a — Closing Supplication

وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ.