Being Fair & Just - Sheikh Abdul Hadi Al-Omri

Khutbah: Being Fair & Just

Alhamdulillah, we praise Him, ask for His help, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and from the evils of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him. Whomsoever He sends astray, none can guide him. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

He has sent him with the truth as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. As for what follows, the best hadith is the Book of Allah. And the best guide is the guide of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his family. And the worst of all affairs are their innovations. And every innovation is an invention, and every invention is a misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Fire.

Islam: A Comprehensive and Balanced Religion

Dear brothers and sisters, Islam is a comprehensive religion, completed by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Ghuluww — excessiveness or extremism — according to the Islamic Sharia is not accepted, not recommended and not appreciated by Nabi Karim sallallahu alaihi wasallam. Islam is the deen of truth, the religion which was revealed by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, who is all wise, the best decision maker, the best of judges. Therefore, it is not possible for something revealed by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to go against wisdom, to be against human benefit, or harmful to mankind.

Rather, Islam is a deen of mercy — mercy for everyone. Because our Nabi Karim sallallahu alaihi wasallam came as a mercy for all mankind. And the final book, Al-Quran, was revealed as a mercy and bounty to everyone. We have been prohibited from doing things which are harmful.

However, in every community and society, some people have been affected with this illness — this problem of extremism. This is not a problem exclusive to Muslims. But in every religion, in every society, in every group, we can find such elements. Unfortunately, when this term is used by the media and society, it is usually directed at Muslims. Whenever they mention terrorism, fundamentalism or radicalism, most people listening will brace themselves for a Muslim to be mentioned. But this is not true. This is against justice, and this act itself is a sign of extremism from the media and leaders. In every field — politics, commerce, sport, entertainment, education, religion — you may find examples of this.

The Middle Path in Islam

Islam has always emphasized following the middle way, maintaining check and balance. Islam does not encourage us to go against the middle path — to go more or less than is appropriate. Even in Ibadah, although Ibadah is highly recommended and we all have to perform it, there has to be check and balance.

The Hadith of the Three Men

We should remember the famous hadith in which three people came to Ummul Mu'mineen Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, asking about the routine of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam at home. They were aware of his routine outside, but they wanted to know what happened at home. After receiving their answer, they realized that what they were doing in Ibadah was less than what they thought they should do. So one of them decided that he would spend the whole night in Qiyamul Lail, because that is very rewardable. Another person said he would fast every day, because fasting is very rewardable and Allah likes it. The third person said he would not get married, so that he could give all his time, energy and efforts for Da'wah work and Ibadah.

Although their intentions were very good, their aims were high, and their purpose was to earn the reward and pleasure of Allah, when the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam was informed about their plan, he responded immediately. He said: look at me, look at my life. I spend a portion of the night in Ibadah, in Qiyamul Lail, and another portion in sleep and rest — because this is the right of my body. And I do not fast every day in non-obligatory fasting. And I also have my family life. So if someone wants to be successful, he should follow me and make me his ideal example. And he who turns away from my path will be in loss.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5063; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1401)

"By Allah, I am the most God-fearing among you and the most pious, but I fast and I break my fast, I pray and I sleep, and I marry women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me."

The Story of Zaynab and the Rope

There is another hadith conveying a similar message. One day Nabi Karim sallallahu alaihi wasallam saw a rope tied between two pillars in the masjid, and he asked about the reason for it. He was informed that a lady called Zaynab liked to pray long prayers during the night, and whenever she felt tiredness, she would hold the rope to support herself and stay in prayer for longer. The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam — although her intention was very good, to spend maximum time in prayer — did not like this, and asked a companion to remove the rope immediately. Then he said: as long as you can focus easily in your Salat, pray; and whenever you feel tiredness, go and have a rest.

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 212; Sahih Muslim, Hadith 786)

Nabi Karim sallallahu alaihi wasallam did not like that one should push oneself beyond what is comfortable in Ibadah. He used to take the middle path in every aspect of his life — not only in Ibadah. When the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam led the congregational prayer, Salatul Jama'ah, it was neither very lengthy nor very short. When he delivered his sermon or talk, he followed the same pattern. And in the recitation of Quran, the same thing.

Balance in Worship and Daily Life

Allah says in Surah Taha:

"Ta Ha. We have not sent down the Quran to you that you be distressed." Read whenever you think comfortable, and then stop for a while.

And in giving charity, Sadaqah, there must be balance as well. Do not open your hand to spend everything in your possession, and neither be so tight as to show selfishness. As Allah says:

"And do not make your hand chained to your neck, nor extend it completely, lest you sit blamed and regretful." Be balanced — even in giving charity.

This rule does not apply only to Ibadah, but to our daily lives as well — in eating, drinking, clothing and walking. In every aspect of our life, Islam is the deen of balance. And we have to live accordingly.

As Allah says in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 143:

"And thus We have made you a just community, that you will be witnesses over the people, and the Messenger will be a witness over you." We have to learn from these verses for our life.

Extremism Affects Muslims Too

Unfortunately, this problem affects some Muslims as well. There are some Muslims who are happy to sit with non-Muslims and discuss their problems, but at the same time they are not ready to sit with other Muslims — especially those with differences of opinion. They are very ready and happy to sit with people of different faiths, to discuss and have dialogue. But they are not ready to sit with certain Muslims if there is a difference of opinion. They are not even ready to welcome them in their masajid. This too is another example of ghuluww — excessiveness.

Reasons for Extremism

There are several reasons for this ghuluww. Number one may be a lack of knowledge — a lack of preparedness to refer to scholars or those who are knowledgeable in order to obtain true knowledge. Another reason is a lack of understanding of the background of issues. Sometimes people rush to issue verdicts without understanding the full context — giving fatwa without understanding the background. In giving a fatwa, one should first seek awareness of the background. The people of knowledge should be referred to.

A Contemporary Example: Birmingham Schools

A very current example of this is the situation going on in a number of schools in Birmingham. These schools are in predominantly Muslim areas with a majority of Muslim students. Some people are trying to give the impression — labelling them — that these schools are extreme. There is currently a very negative propaganda campaign being run by both electronic and print media.

These are the very same schools where their achievement and pass rates were once between 20 to 30 percent. Now they have raised their pass rates to 70 to 75 percent, and in some schools even 90 percent. Academic results as well as behaviour have improved. Where was the media when these schools were underperforming so badly? Where were these leaders at that time, when Muslim children were being let down by the school system? Now that they are showing considerable improvement, we have this sudden criticism and unpleasant labelling.

When school children were taken on trips to France or Spain, there was no objection. But when they took a trip to Jeddah as Arabic language students and performed Umrah, there was huge objection raised against it.

And very unfortunately, some people tried to label and divide the community by saying that the teachers, students, and governing bodies of these schools are mainly from an Ahl-e-Hadith or Salafi background. My brothers, we have to be very careful when using these terminologies. In other words, are we saying that praying is a sign only of an Ahl-e-Hadith student? Is attending Jumu'ah only for those from a Salafi background? Is learning Arabic only for Ahl-e-Hadith students? Is going to perform Umrah only for Ahl-e-Hadith students? Are other Muslim students not supposed to pray, not supposed to come to Salatul Jumu'ah, unable to learn Arabic, and should not go to perform Umrah? What kind of division is this?

Unfortunately, many brothers and sisters, without fully understanding the situation, are talking about these things. My point here, my brothers, is that extremism in any form should not be tolerated by any person — regardless of whether he is Muslim or non-Muslim. Previous nations were affected and destroyed because of this extremism. I hold fast to the truth.

A Call to Balance and Justice

My request is to the Ulama, to our leaders, to our brothers, and to our sisters: we have to be balanced in every aspect of our lives. We must avoid all types of excessiveness and learn and acquire knowledge from proper sources. Whenever Nabi Karim sallallahu alaihi wasallam was given two options, he used to take whichever was easier — as long as it was within the Sharia. This is an example for us. If we have the option to choose between two paths, we can take whichever is easier, as long as it is within the Islamic Sharia. That itself is the Sunnah of Nabi Karim sallallahu alaihi wasallam.

Islam is the religion that likes balance. In Islam, excessiveness was never liked. These are very unpleasant things. Even Nabi Karim sallallahu alaihi wasallam did not like to go beyond the limit even in the matter of worship. May Allah give us the ability for understanding and following the best of Islam. May Allah give us the middle way of Islam, create moderation within us, and protect us from all kinds of fitnah. Ameen.