Educating our Communities - Shaykh Wasim Kempson

Opening — Khutbah al-Hajah

Alhamdulillah, we praise Him, we ask for His help, we ask for His forgiveness, and we ask for His guidance. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and from the evil of our deeds. Whom Allah guides, none can misguide him, and whom He misguides, 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 Messenger. O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims.

O you who have believed, fear Allah and say the right words. He will correct your deeds and forgive your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has won a great victory.

Indeed, all praise and thanks belongs to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. I bear witness and testify there is none worthy of worship except Allah alone. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His final Messenger.

The Quran — The Ultimate Source of Solutions

Allah makes it very clear in the Quran that everything that has been revealed to us is the very best. The very best way to resolve and solve anything that you may come across. Allah says:

"Indeed, this Quran guides to that which is the most upright."

The very best that you are looking for — that is what you will find in the Book of Allah. If there are problems, if there are solutions that you are looking for, then indeed you will find it in the Book of Allah. And the nature of this worldly life is that you will find there are always problems.

Personal problems, societal problems, many, many problems. And then there will be those who step forward with solutions. They will identify what they see to be a problem and they will present their solution. This is how you fix it. If there is a broken car and it needs fixing, you take it to the mechanic. Simple, right?

However, there are certain problems which we may even argue over — is that even a problem in the first place? When you open your social media and you are scrolling, people are giving you solutions for so many things. How to double, triple, quadruple your wealth. Invest in this. Solutions for poverty. Gamble.

There are those who believe that there are solutions for all types of problems — as I mentioned: health, education, jobs, economy. All different walks of life are giving us advice, giving us solutions. And if you stop in this busy dunya where everybody is rushing around, but you manage just to stop and look around — in any one particular day, the amount of things that you come across, people will be talking about: this is how we fix this problem.

People may be mentioning that this problem we've had for years. This issue has been going on for such a long time, but it has not been resolved. They cannot fix it, but we can fix it.

Islam's Solutions to Society's Problems

So in a society now, which as the years pass by — no doubt there are problems, we will all agree — that exist within society, and people are still looking for solutions. For the Muslim? Solutions concerning these matters are quite simple.

If you like, the lewdness, the nakedness that exists outside, that people have free access to — what does Islam say with such behaviour? Well, it has a system in place that, if implemented within a society, prevents such behaviour. It doesn't allow such individuals or people to exist within a society, become famous, become well known, because they are not even selling themselves. They are willing to fornicate with anyone and make millions, make thousands upon such actions. We say this is a problem in society. Islam would outlaw such an action.

Or delinquency within the youth — not respecting the elders, not respecting their parents, not respecting their peers — that the youth, if you like, are lost, have no direction. What solutions are there within society to guide such a large proportion of our society? People will say we should be doing this, we should be doing that. Islam has, of course, clear guidelines on how to bring up youth, how to guide the youth to be good citizens, to be productive individuals within society.

Islam does not look to demonise a portion of society. Islam does not look to demonise or marginalise anybody. The guidance of Allah is for everybody, and caters for everybody with the utmost justice and the utmost fairness.

History, Racism, and the Rise of Intolerance

In the 50s, and in the 60s, and maybe even into the 70s, there were a number of different communities who came here to the UK — from the Caribbean, from the Irish. And when they came here as economic migrants, they came here to make a life for themselves and establish themselves well in this country, as well as, of course, in areas like Pakistan and India and Bangladesh. They came here as economic migrants to make a new life for themselves and were a benefit to society.

However, unfortunately at that time — and I say at that time, this is a good generation and a half ago — they were demonised, they were marginalised, they were looked down upon. Racism, discrimination existed at that time. People were told they need to follow our values. They need to follow the way that we live. And unfortunately, you used to see signs that no black people should apply, no Irish people should apply. You're not welcome.

But then after a time, people were educated somewhat. And racism, if you look, took a backseat — it was always there, but it took a backseat. It wasn't so apparent. Why? Because people were educated. Their level of understanding became a little higher. So these cheap shots or these uneducated statements from whoever they were were not tolerated within society, quite rightly so.

But it seems that we're going backwards once again. It seems that within our midst, the same or similar slogans are being used: migrants, asylum seekers, grooming gangs. The uneducated are being targeted once again, being brainwashed with anecdotal evidence — that maybe there are one or there are two incidents and that everybody is then brushed with the same brush. "They're all like that." The social media has now become a very toxic environment where people are able to push out their ideas, false ideas.

The Muslim Response — Education and Example

Now, I'm sure you're all aware of this. And just pushing out and explaining the ishkālāt — the problems that we have in society — is one thing. But what do we have as Muslims to combat such ideas, such false notions, and dealing with such individuals that unfortunately have been pushed to the forefront?

They say that they want to walk around with Christianity, walk around with the crosses, producing the videos. And so the question is asked: the version of Christianity that you have — is it a peaceful one, or is it a rollback to the Crusades that left Europe and left Palestine in a bloody state? What version is it that you want to bring to the people? Or is it the peaceful one — those that go to church on Sundays, who are peaceful members of society? What version is it that you want to give to the people? These are the slogans that are being said by certain individuals.

As a Muslim, we have to realise that our ideals, our values — because you are constantly told that you're not British enough, you have to follow our way. But what is your way? What are your values? Where do you get your values from? If it is about being upright, if it is about being fair and just, then these are also Islamic values. There is no difference of opinion on that.

Our Prophet ﷺ, as told to us by Allah:

"And indeed, you are of a great moral character."

That is our role model. That is where we get our ideals and our values. Not cheap shots, judging one society by a society that existed 1,450 years ago. Things can change. People's understandings can change. But your misunderstandings, your bias, your prejudice — what does it show? It shows that you are in essence a vulnerable person. That you are not really upon anything. And if you don't stand for anything, then you are easily swayed by those who have the loudest voices.

But as Muslims, we don't behave emotionally. We behave with educating others, teaching others, being an example for others, being a benefit to society. The most generous community — by four times — the most generous community in the UK are the Muslim community. Is that because I said that? No, because research tells us that. Muslims are more generous than any other community in the United Kingdom, four times more than any other community.

This is how we teach others, and educate others, and show others — this is what Islam, this is what our guidance has given to us. And we won't tolerate, we will not accept these false notions and understandings about Islam. Because they won't say "it's the Muslims," because the Muslim is your doctor, the Muslim is your engineer. They won't attack the Muslims by name, but they will attack Islam — as though Muslims are somehow detached from Islam. When they say Islam, they mean Muslims.

And who is this "who" that I'm talking about? I'm talking about those who have prejudices against Islam, those who have prejudices against Muslims, people of colour. This is the reality.

Islam's Rejection of Tribalism and Racism

But Islam has solutions for such things as tribalism, and nationalism, and this partisanship. All of this is outlawed in Islam. It's all haram. We do not judge people from where you come from, or the colour of your skin, or the language that you speak. Allah gave us the yardstick by what to judge one another — not even to judge one another. Allah judges us.

"Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you."

We have a rich history within Islam from the very beginning where colour was not even an issue. The Prophet ﷺ chose Bilal ibn Rabah رضي الله عنه to be the mu'adhdhin, to call the salah five times a day — Bilal ibn Rabah al-Habashi رضي الله عنه, who was from Abyssinia. A mother-like figure to the Prophet ﷺ from the time that he was born — Umm Ayman from Habasha. Our history is rich from the very beginning.

In the Final Sermon, the Prophet ﷺ also told us that there is no virtue of an Arab over a non-Arab and vice versa. There is no virtue of the black person over the white person and vice versa. What is the virtue between yourself? Taqwa Allahi. And this is why this tribalism, this nationalism is outlawed. Why? Because you are judging people because of the colour of their skin, their nationality. And that being the case, fairness and justice was the first casualty. There can be no fairness, there can be no truth, because you are judging people upon something which has no value.

You judge people on how they deal with you, how they speak with you. And this is what the deen of Allah has commanded us with. So may Allah allow us to be ambassadors to our communities, to show others what Islam really stands for. May Allah forgive us all.

All praise belongs to Allah. And may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon His final messenger, Muhammad ﷺ.

Second Khutbah — Masjid al-Aqsa as a Litmus Test

An extension from what I mentioned about the ills of society, finding solutions, and how to fix it correctly — how to bring people together — because that is what Islam does. Allah gave us guidance through Islam to bring people together, not to divide people. To educate people, not to push people away from one another.

But when you start moving on locally and then further afield, you find that those who oppose such ideas and ideals — their way of thinking really is fasid, really evil to the very core. It's evil, it's unfair, it's unjust at the very centre. And that has a knock-on effect on the way that they even see the world.

As you probably well know, the first Qiblah in Islam was Masjid al-Aqsa. It's the first Qiblah. Then Allah revealed ayat in Surah al-Baqarah changing the Qiblah towards al-Ka'bah al-Musharrafah — towards the Ka'bah in Mecca. So that, subhanAllah, people would know who are following the guidance. Many of them were happy that the Muslims were praying towards Masjid al-Aqsa. However, when the Qiblah was changed, this was a test — who is indeed going to follow the Messenger ﷺ, and who are the others who are going to turn on their heels?

So Masjid al-Aqsa has always been a litmus test to find out the direction and what is inside the hearts of people — even to this day. Masjid al-Aqsa and the surrounding areas, which Allah has blessed, are a litmus test on what topic? On the topic of humanity. On the existence of children. The existence of women. The existence of innocence.

This area is a litmus test to find out where that person falls on the gauge of standing up for what is Haqq — the truth — as opposed to standing up for the colour of your skin or your nationality. It doesn't matter what you do; as long as you are from a certain place, you get a pass. That is ayn al-dhulm — that is the very essence of oppression. Judging people and situations by your nationality and the colour of your skin. And through that whole process, dehumanising the others.

A few weeks ago, a Muslim brother goes into a hotel with his wife and children and is filmed going into the hotel — he's from this country. He's filmed going into the hotel and then the person filming says: "Look, more foreigners coming into the country." This person's qalb — that person who is filming — is gone. Aswad. Pure oppression. No care. Taking one thing out of context and sharing it. That is, as I mentioned to you, how oppression festers in the hearts of the people.

And this is how we are able to determine al-khabith min al-tayyib — between the good and the evil. But in this day, no khutbah should pass from one Friday to the next except that we mention this litmus test in Gaza and Palestine on a weekly basis, to remind ourselves. It is impossible to put to one side.

For us as Muslims, as humans, as individuals and people wanting to stand up for justice and fairness — you can't possibly from one day to the next accept that you must not think about it. Because the oppression that has befallen them is, of course, by the qadr of Allah. But the oppressors — we speak against oppression. The wrongdoers — we speak about their oppression and their wrongdoing. But we remember that Allah is not unaware, is not ghafil, about what the oppressors are doing. They will be taken to account. But also us — we will be taken to account. What we do or what we don't do.

They need our supplications. They need us to plead on their behalf to Allah. Not that they need us — their need of Allah is far greater than ours. But our need is so that we are not questioned on Yawm al-Qiyamah about what we did or what we did not do.

So we will always speak against what is wrong, because it is wrong — regardless of where people are, where they're from, the colour of their skin, the language that they speak. All of that is irrelevant to the Muslim. Because what is Haqq, what is the truth, we will speak up for it. And we are the best of nations that were raised up. Why? Because you command the good and you forbid the evil and you believe in Allah.

So we ask Allah to grant us the ability to stand up for the Haqq. And we ask Allah to alleviate the difficulties of all humans who are going through oppression on this earth.

Closing Du'as

Allah commands us to send salutations upon our beloved Nabi:

"O Allah, unite the hearts of the Muslims, O Lord of the Worlds."

"O Allah, grant us victory through Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet Muhammad ﷺ."

"O Allah, cure our sick, have mercy on our deceased, and grant us what pleases You, O Lord of the Worlds."

"Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."

وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاة