Caring for Humanity - Shaykh Zakaullah Saleem

Khutbah Opening

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّ أَصْدَقَ الْكَلَامِ كَلَامُ اللَّهِ وَأَحْسَنَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَشَرَّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا وَكُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ وَكُلَّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ

The First Revelation and the Character of the Prophet

My dear respected brothers and sisters in Islam, Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has reported on the authority of our mother Sayyeda Aisha Siddiqa radiyallahu ta'ala anha that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, when he received the very first wahi and revelation from Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram while he was in the cave of Hira, our mother Aisha radiyallahu ta'ala anha tells of the incidents and the events that took place inside Ghar Hira and what happened afterwards.

She says that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, when he received the revelation from Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram, he sallallahu alayhi wasallam returned back home to his wife Sayyeda Khadija radiyallahu ta'ala anha —

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3)

— the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam came back while his heart was trembling and shivering. Then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said to his family: زَمِّلُونِي، دَثِّرُونِي، زَمِّلُونِي — "Wrap me, cover me up." And then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam was covered until his fear was over.

Then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam narrated the whole incident to our mother Sayyeda Khadija radiyallahu ta'ala anha, and the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: لَقَدْ خَشِيتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي — "I fear that something may happen to me."

When he sallallahu alayhi wasallam said this, all of a sudden our mother Khadija radiyallahu ta'ala anha said a statement — based on what she had experienced with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam in the past 15-plus years and what she had heard from the people of Mecca saying about the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam. She said:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3)

"No, by Allah, Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram will never disgrace you, O Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wasallam." Why? She gave the reason as well — and this is a lesson for me and you. If we have the same qualities and characteristics, then we should not have fear of anything living in this world.

Sayyeda Khadija radiyallahu ta'ala anha said: "By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you, Allah will never humiliate you — why? Because you hold the best qualities." The first one: you have a good relation with your kith and kin. And then: you earn for those who are less fortunate and for those who have nothing to live with. And you always speak the truth. And you take the burdens of others on your own shoulders. And you serve the guests and you show great hospitality towards your guests. And you also help people who are facing hardships and difficulties, and people who are afflicted by calamities because of their stance on the truth.

These were the characteristics of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, known to our mother Khadija radiyallahu ta'ala anha and throughout his community and the society he sallallahu alayhi wasallam lived in.

The Generosity of the Prophet in Ramadan

Can you imagine how these qualities and characteristics of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam would have improved when he sallallahu alayhi wasallam started receiving the revelation from Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram — the Quran? When the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam would receive the revelation and he would recite the Quran, especially during the month of Ramadan, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas radiyallahu ta'ala anhuma says the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam would become even more generous during the month of Ramadan when he would recite the Quran with Jibreel alayhi salatu wasalam.

Because Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram encourages us, as the Ummah of Muhammadur Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, that we must care for humanity. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam would increase his generosity during the month of Ramadan when he would recite the Quran, because Allah encourages us to care for humanity in the verses of the Quran — verse after verse, page after page, chapter after chapter, surah after surah: care for humanity. And this is the religion of Islam. This is the religion that Allah has chosen for me and you. And as the Ummah of Muhammadur Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam, we must have these characteristics and qualities amongst us — that we must care for humanity.

Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Ibn Daghina

Sayyeda Aisha Siddiqa radiyallahu ta'ala anha says in another narration, reported again by Imam Bukhari rahimahullah: when the Muslims faced severe tests and tribulations from the people of Mecca, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq radiyallahu ta'ala anhu decided to leave Mecca and migrate to Abyssinia. When he radiyallahu ta'ala anhu left Mecca and was on his way towards Abyssinia, he met Ibn Daghina, who was one of the chiefs of Quraish. He asked him: "Where are you going, Abu Bakr?" Abu Bakr said: "I would like to wander in the earth, in the land — go around and worship my Lord freely, without any oppression, without any prevention, without any difficulty."

At this point, Ibn Daghina said the same statement that our mother Khadija radiyallahu ta'ala anha said about our beloved Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam. He said: "A person like you can never leave and can never be expelled from his homeland." And then he gave the reason — again the same reason that our mother Khadija radiyallahu ta'ala anha said about the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam: "You earn for the destitute, you help the poor, you take the burdens of others on your own shoulders — so you do not deserve to be expelled from your homeland. So come back into Mecca. I am your protector."

Then Ibn Daghina went around and he saw the other chiefs of Quraish and he said the same statement: "You cannot force a person like Abu Bakr to leave his homeland, because he is a person of good character." Because of his care for humanity, he cannot be expelled from his homeland.

The Quranic Obligation to Care for Humanity

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, this is our religion. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam has encouraged us in so many ahadith — and even before the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, our Lord Allah Dhul Jalalul Ikram has encouraged us to take care of humanity, to be kind and gentle towards others. And whenever your fellow humans are facing any calamity, any difficulties, you must become a helping hand for them. You cannot sit back relaxing while you are living your own luxury life.

Rather, Allah Dhul Jalalul Ikram has criticized and has cursed those disbelievers who did not care for humanity. Allah says in Surah Yasin: when it is said to them, "Spend in the way of Allah from what Allah has provided you with," those disbelievers say to the believers, "Why do we need to feed those whom, if Allah willed, Allah Himself would have fed?" These disbelievers would say to the believers: "You are in a clear error and mistake."

Is it not true, my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, that some — even some believers and Muslims — say the same statement? When they hear any appeal, when they hear any appeal collecting donations for our brothers and sisters in Syria and Iraq and East Africa, when they hear the statement, when they hear the appeal for collecting donations in order to serve and help our fellow humans — our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters and children and women who are going through very difficult times — you cannot even imagine how many people say: "Why are you keep asking all the time? Appeal after another appeal, donation after donation — you keep asking, you keep begging."

Fear Allah, fear Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram. This is my responsibility and your responsibility — to show your care for humanity. If you want to live in a state of peace under the mercy of Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram, and if you want to safeguard yourself from humiliation and disgrace, then you must adopt these qualities and characteristics that my beloved Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam had even before he received the first revelation.

Surah Al-Haqqah: The Crime of Not Feeding the Poor

Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram has mentioned the punishment of those who neither give in the way of Allah nor urge others to feed the poor and needy — in so many places. For example, in Surah Al-Haqqah, Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram mentions the incidents that will take place on the Day of Judgement with regards to those who will receive their record of this dunya. The believers will receive their record in their right hand. As for others, they will receive it in their left hand.

Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram will order the angels: "Grab him! Grab this criminal — chain him, fetter him and chain him in a chain that is 70 cubits long!" And then Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram will say: "Throw him into the hellfire!" What was his crime? What was his sin? Allah says in the Quran: the very first one is that he would not believe in Allah the Great, and the second one is he never urged others to feed the poor and needy.

What do we understand from this ayah, my dear brothers and sisters in Islam? Is it not my responsibility and your responsibility — not only to spend in the way of Allah, but rather we need to take one step ahead and urge and encourage others as well? This is our responsibility. This is my religion. How can you ignore this responsibility and this obligation that Allah has placed on your shoulders? Every single one of us has this responsibility to urge and encourage others to spend in the way of Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram and to feed the poor and needy.

Surah Al-Muddathir: Why the Criminals Enter Hellfire

Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram also says in Surah Al-Muddathir about the people who will receive their record in their right hand. When they enter into paradise, they will ask each other about the criminals — about the mujrimin, the sinners. And Allah will allow them to converse directly with those criminals who will be going to be punished in the hellfire. So the people of paradise will ask the criminals in the hellfire: "What has led you into the hellfire?"

They will say: "Our first sin was that we were not amongst the people who would pray — we were not amongst the people who established the prayers. And the second one: we would not feed the poor." And because of this sin, because of this crime, "we are burning in the hellfire."

Surah Al-Fajr and Surah Al-Ma'oon

Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram also says in Surah Al-Fajr:

"O people, you do not honor the orphans — you need to respect them, you need to dignify them, you need to treat them with kindness and gentleness." And then Allah says: "You people do not show respect towards the orphans and you do not encourage and urge others on feeding the poor."

In Surah Al-Ma'oon again, Allah says:

"Have you seen the person who belies — the one who refuses and rejects the Day of Resurrection? He is the one who pushes away and repels the orphan." And then Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram says: "The one who does not urge others to feed the poor and needy — he is amongst those who refuse to believe and show their belief in the Day of Judgement."

The Hadith Qudsi: Visiting the Sick, Feeding the Hungry

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, remember the hadith of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam reported by Imam Muslim rahimahullah on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radiyallahu ta'ala anhu — a Hadith Qudsi. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam says:

(Sahih Muslim, Book 45, Hadith 43 — also recorded as Hadith 2569)

Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram will say to one of His servants on the Day of Judgement: "O son of Adam, I was sick and you never visited Me." The servant of Allah will reply: "O my Lord, how could I have visited You while You are the Lord of the whole universe?" Allah will say: "Did you not know that such and such of My servants was sick and you knew about that and you never visited him? But if you would have visited him, you would have found Me beside him."

Then Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram will say: "I asked you for food but you never fed Me." The servant will reply: "O my Lord, how could I have fed You while You are the Lord of the whole universe?" Allah will say: "Did you not know that if you would have fed one of My servants who was in dire need of food, you would have found the reward of your feeding, your charity, with Me today?"

And then Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram will say: "O son of Adam, I asked you for drink but you never provided Me a drink." The servant will say: "O my Lord, how could I have provided You drink while You are the Lord of the whole universe?" Allah will say: "Did you not know then that such and such a servant of Mine was in dire need of drink and he was waiting for the drink, but you never provided him the drink? If you would have provided him the drink, you would have found the reward of providing that drink with Me today."

Helping Fellow Muslims: Our Obligation

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, this is our religion. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said: "Whoever alleviates and removes a difficulty and hardship of any believer in this dunya, Allah will save him from the difficulties of the Day of Judgement. Allah's help is with His servants so long as he continues helping his fellow humans."

(Sahih Muslim, Book 45, Hadith 38 — also recorded as Hadith 2699)

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, this is my responsibility and your responsibility — to answer the call of those who are asking you to donate towards serving our fellow human brothers and sisters in East Africa. As you have probably seen the poster around, we are collecting donations for our fellow humans in East African countries like Somalia, Tanzania, Ethiopia and other neighboring countries. You probably know that they are going through a very difficult time — they are facing famine and drought. And we, as Muslims living in this country, Allah has blessed us with wealth, and we must share that wealth with our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters and our fellow humans in humanity, and we must help them.

May Allah give us tawfiq and ability to give in His way. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and from the bad deeds of our actions. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is alone and has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

Second Part of the Khutbah: A Call to Give

As I requested, my dear brothers and sisters, I will urge and request all of you that every single one of you must contribute something towards this appeal — because you never know that on the Day of Judgement, Allah may forgive you because of this one pound that you are giving today out of your sincerity and your care for humanity.

The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam said in a hadith reported by Imam Bukhari rahimahullah that Allah forgave a prostitute who provided some sips of water to a thirsty dog. What about our fellow humans who are facing severe hunger and thirst — in fact they are dying out of hunger and thirst? And Alhamdulillah we are blessed with so many favors and bounties of Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram. We must share this wealth and these bounties and favors of Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram with our brothers and sisters who are facing this very difficult situation.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3321; Sahih Muslim, Book 26, Hadith 47)

I will also encourage you to donate today — as soon as possible. If you do not have anything in your pocket today, then donate as soon as possible and never delay it until the month of Ramadan, because you and I do not know whether we are going to live until the month of Ramadan or not. We don't know. So don't wait until the time of your Zakat comes, because in your wealth there are other rights — there are rights other than Zakat in your wealth — for those who are less fortunate, for the destitute, for the poor and needy. So act today.

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, and before we begin the Salah, our brothers — volunteers — will go through the rows to collect the donations very quickly inshallah. As you know, we have scouts here inshallah — they will be going through the rows. So I will request all the brothers and sisters: please give out your donations out of your generosity. Whatever you have with you, give in the way of Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram and show this care for humanity — for our brothers and sisters in Islam, for our fellow humans.

And remember that this charity will never decrease your wealth. Believe in the statement of Muhammadur Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam when he said:

(Sahih Muslim, Book 45, Hadith 69 — also recorded as Hadith 2588)

"By Allah, charity never ever decreases the wealth of the believer." If you have true belief in Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram, then you will give and you will donate in the way of Allah believing that Allah will give you many folds in return. Allah says:

"Who amongst you is there to give a goodly loan to Allah Dhul Jalalil Ikram, so that Allah returns your loan in many folds and increases your wealth?" And Allah will bless you.

Acknowledgment and Community Announcements

I would also like to congratulate the community of Birmingham and the congregation of Greenland Masjid. Alhamdulillah, you showed great generosity towards your brothers and sisters in Syria during the last couple of months. Alhamdulillah, as you might have seen the news and pictures on the social media and the website — just last week, last Friday, we gave a 1.2 million cheque to our partnering organization to help the Syrian brothers and sisters. May Allah bless you with so much of His blessings, His favors and bounties, and may Allah allow us to give in His way and also encourage and urge others as well to give in the way of Allah.

Salatul Janazah al-Ghayb Announcement

And lastly, I have a very short announcement — again, out of our care for humanity, and more so towards our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, and especially those who convert to our religion. One of our revered brothers who converted to Islam a while ago, but who never revealed his acceptance of Islam to his family — he passed away a couple of weeks ago. We tried our best to find out about him but we could not get any information from his family. But as humans, as Muslims, we have a responsibility towards him and an obligation towards him to perform his Salatul Janazah.

Inshallah, tonight at Maghrib, we will be praying his Salatul Janazah al-Ghayb. As you probably know, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam, when the king of Abyssinia, Najashi, passed away, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam informed his companions and he sallallahu alayhi wasallam performed his Janazah in the absence of the dead body. This is from the Sunnah of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1333; Sahih Muslim, Book 11, Hadith 65)

So inshallah, tonight after Maghrib, we will be performing his Janazah. May Allah accept our good deeds, our Salah, our fasting, and also our charity that we give in the way of Allah Dhul Jalalul Ikram.