Jummah Khutbah

Reflecting on the End of the Year

We're only a few days away from the end of the year 2017. And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has given us so many ayaat — signs — to reflect through the beginning and the end of each year that comes in our life. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said to our beloved Messenger ﷺ, in Surah Yunus, ayah 101:

"Say: Look at what is in the heavens and on the earth." But these ayaat — the signs that we see day and night — are not beneficial to those who do not believe in them.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala made this earth an ayah, the heavens an ayah, the day and the night an ayah. As Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah An-Nur, ayah 44:

"Allah alternates the day and the night. Certainly in that there is a lesson for those who have vision, those who have sight, those who can look at it." Look at your surroundings, brothers. Look at the day and night. Every day comes and ends. Every year comes and ends.

What about our life? When are we going to reflect? Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah Al-A'raf:

"Look at the realm of the heavens and the earth — and everything that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has created." And everything that He created, He created for a reason — to reflect.

Every Day Draws Us Nearer to Allah

I know all of us are very happy that we're coming to the end of the year 2017. All of us are hopping to the beginning of the year 2018. But what about our life, brothers and sisters? Do we know that every year and every day that passes by is drawing us nearer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala?

Every day, brothers and sisters, that comes to end, it is drawing us nearer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. We are facing Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala — every day, every year, we are getting closer to Him.

But do we reflect? This Qur'an is full of remembrance. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala made the book of Allah, the Qur'an, a blessed book. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah Sad, ayah 29:

"A book that We have revealed unto you — a blessed book — so that they may reflect upon its verses, and those of understanding may be reminded." The signs that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is sending to us day and night, ya ikhwani. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, when He created these days, He did not create them without a reason. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala did not create us aimlessly.

As Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah Al-Qiyamah, ayah 36:

Do men think that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will neglect — will not question us of what we do good and what we do wrong? Do we think that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala created us aimlessly? Do we think that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is alternating days and nights so that years come to an end without a reason?

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah Al-Mu'minun, ayah 115:

"Do you think that We created you aimlessly and that you are not going to return back to Us?" As the year 2017 is returning — as everything returns back to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala — we will all return back to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will question every individual about what we do right and what we do wrong.

Are We Prepared? The Deception of Dunya

Are we prepared, brothers? We're counting down the end of the year now. We're facing the new year. It's a new chapter in our life. But are we prepared for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala? Do we have a good and strong plan with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala? The year coming — the year 2018 — what is the plan of everyone, brothers and sisters? Question yourself. Sit with yourself and be frank with yourself. What do you do for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala?

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, ya ikhwani, did not make this life an eternity for anyone. No one will live forever. The dunya that we're enjoying — everything that we have, every pleasure that we have in this dunya — will come to an end, just as the year is coming to an end. Likewise, when Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala described the dunya in the Qur'an, many times He said that this beautiful life that we have is nothing but a brief enjoyment.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah Al-Imran, ayah 185:

"This life of the dunya is nothing but a deceitful enjoyment." It is deceitful. It is deceiving us, distracting us from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. You compare it to the akhirah. As believers, we know that the akhirah is forever. It is eternal.

And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah Ar-Ra'd, ayah 26:

"The life of this dunya in comparison with the akhirah is mata'a." Mata'a is something that you use — like utensils. It is means. It is nothing.

In another ayah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah An-Nisa, ayah 77:

"Say: The enjoyment, the pleasure of this life is very brief. And the akhirah is better for those who have taqwa."

When the Prophet ﷺ was sent to humanity, our Messenger ﷺ was poor. He didn't have a lot of position. Then Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala told him — and likewise to us — in Surah Al-Imran, ayaat 196–198:

"You should not be distracted and deceived by what the disbelievers have — how much they enjoy in the dunya." That should not distract you. It is dunya; it is going to come to end just as the year is coming to end. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala told him: it is brief enjoyment. And the akhirah is better for those who have taqwa — those who are pious.

What Allah Has Is Better and More Lasting

So now, ikhwani, let us reflect together and look back at what we have done wrong and right in the year 2017. We only have a few days left — countable hours. Let us go back to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and ask Him for forgiveness. Remember that, brothers and sisters — whatever good thing that we have in this life, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala told us it is nothing. The taqwa is better for us. Being close to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and having strong iman is better for us.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in two beautiful ayaat — Surah Al-Qasas, ayah 60:

"Whatever of goodness you are given in this life — it is the beauty of this life, an enjoyment for a short time. But what is with Allah is much greater in duration and in pleasure and in enjoyment. Are you not reflecting? Are you not giving heed?"

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala reminds us of the same thing in Surah Ash-Shura, ayah 36:

"For those who have faith in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and rely on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, the akhirah is better for them."

If our beloved Messenger ﷺ did not live forever, and if Allah was going to grant eternity in this life to anyone, He would have given it to the righteous people. He would have given it to the anbiya, azza wa jalla. But Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala took the life of our beloved Messenger ﷺ and all the righteous people and the prophets of the past — and so we know that our life is going to come to an end, just as the year is coming to an end.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah Al-Anbiya, ayaat 34–35:

"O Muhammad, We have never granted eternity to anyone before you. And if you die — are they going to live forever? Every soul shall taste death."

This is the kind of understanding every Muslim should have. The year begins and the year ends, and our life is drawing us closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. These days are bringing us close to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

The Analogy of the Newborn and the Dunya

When a child is born, everyone surrounding him is happy. But the baby himself is crying, isn't it, brothers? Why? This is like the dunya. Everyone is happy when they receive us into this world. Everyone is happy when we receive the new year. But when we die, everyone that surrounds us will cry for us. Isn't it? Likewise is the life of this dunya.

Ikhwani, if Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala did not give eternal life to our beloved Messenger ﷺ, we all know that this dunya has no value. But the plan is — the year is coming. What kind of plan do I have for myself? And brothers and sisters, what kind of plan do you have for yourself?

Repentance and Returning to Allah

Ikhwani, let us first of all repent to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Let us receive the new year with taqwa and repentance. Let us all go back to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is most forgiving, most merciful. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala forgives all sins — regardless of whether it is a major sin or a minor sin.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said a beautiful ayah in Surah Az-Zumar, ayah 53:

"Say to My servants who have transgressed against themselves — do not despair from the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins." Whatever I have done wrong in the year 2017, let us all return back to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. This is how every Muslim should receive the new year — that we receive this new page from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for forgiveness.

When we are able to ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for forgiveness, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has extended our life. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala gave us the ability to remember Him. He gave us every ni'mah that we have. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is the One who provided for us:

"And whatever favor you have — it is from Allah." Every favor that comes in your life, every blessing that you have in your life, in my life, it is indeed from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

"And He gave you all that you asked of Him. And if you were to count the favors of Allah upon you, you would never be able to enumerate them."

Our Absolute Need for Allah

Brothers and sisters, my beloved brothers and sisters — the year 2018 should be a different year for all of us. We should all receive it with forgiveness, being humble to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, humiliating ourselves before Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, and showing our need to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. We are in absolute need of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah Fatir, ayah 15:

"O mankind — you have absolute need of Allah, and Allah is the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy."

Let us ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for forgiveness, ikhwan. Let us be grateful to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for what He has given to us. Let us sit with ourselves and hold ourselves accountable for what we do wrong and what we do right.

The Example of the Prophet ﷺ and the Dunya

And the Prophet ﷺ — this is how he educated the Sahaba. That is the difference between us and the Sahaba. They saw the Messenger ﷺ — how he was toward this life. One day, the Sahaba saw the Prophet ﷺ lie down, and they saw the imprint of the mat he had slept on upon his body. So Abdullah ibn Mas'ud and the Sahaba said to the Messenger ﷺ, "Ya Rasulallah, we should have given you a comfortable bedding." And the Prophet ﷺ said:

(Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2377 — declared Hasan Sahih)

"What do I have to do with the dunya? My situation, my status in the dunya is like a traveler who rested under a tree for its shade and then left for good — never went back, never came back to that tree. I am like that in the dunya." This is the Messenger of Allah ﷺ teaching all of us, brothers.

We shall not neglect the dunya entirely. Benefit from the dunya:

"And do not forget your share of the dunya." But as Muslims today, brothers and sisters, we regard worldly things so highly that we have too many problems among ourselves. We do not live as though we are going to depart from this world, ikhwani.

Two Reasons: Al-Ghaflah and Heedlessness

The reasons can be summarized into two, brothers. Number one: Al-Ghaflah. All of us, brothers, are in a state of ghaflah — heedlessness. And the Prophet ﷺ told us not to be negligent of our time in this dunya. The akhirah should be our goal. So if we are in a state of ghaflah, the more we sin, and the more we are away from Allah.

And Ibn al-Qayyim has a beautiful statement in which he describes al-ghaflah:

"Heedlessness is a great veil upon the heart — it creates a great estrangement between the heedless person and his Lord." When you fall into a state of ghaflah — unmindful of Allah — then you are completely blocked from Allah.

Ikhwani, if we were to live forever and have everything that we have in this dunya, imagine you have everything, brother — I have everything. As someone once said:

"Even if the whole world were given to you freely — is its ultimate end not disappearance? And what is your world except like a shade that sheltered you, then announced its departure?" Is this dunya not like a shade?

Imagine if we had everything that we have. As Allah told us in Surah Ash-Shu'ara, ayaat 205–207:

"Do you see — if We gave them enjoyment for years and years and years, then there came to them what they had been promised — nothing will benefit them of what they used to enjoy." Whatever they had in their possession would not benefit them.

We ask Allah to give us the understanding of this dunya. As a poet once said:

"Imagine everything that we have enjoyed for a thousand years — the first night spent in the grave will make us absolutely forget everything that we had of enjoyment in this dunya."

We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to give us the understanding of His deen. We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to forgive us and forgive our parents.

Second Part of the Khutbah

Our Wish List — Before and After Death

My brothers and sisters in Islam, everyone among us has a long wish list in this dunya. All of us have a long wish list in this dunya. But we may or may not be able to accomplish it. But after death, we will still continue to have a wish list — all of us. But we will not be able to act on it.

And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala told us that the first wish every human being will have after death is to come back to this dunya. To come back to this dunya — to do what? To gain more worldly things? To have more position on this earth? Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala told us — when death approaches one of them, he will say: "O Allah, send me back." For what reason, brothers?

In Surah Al-Mu'minun, ayaat 99–100:

"So that I can do good." O Allah, even one hasanah. Just one good deed. One sadaqah that I gave. One good deed that I do in this dunya. O Allah, send me back. This is what everyone is going to hope and wish. But we can do good deeds now. We can become righteous now. Now we have the opportunity and the ability to be productive Muslims — righteous Muslims, while we can.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah Al-Munafiqun, ayaat 10–11:

"Spend out of what We have given you before death comes to one of you, and he says: 'O my Lord, if You would only delay me for a brief term so I may give charity and become among the righteous.'" Ikhwani, we should be mindful of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. We should be taking these ayaat — the days and the nights, the years that come in our life — as a lesson for a believer, to know that our life is drawing near to its end, just as the year is coming to an end.

Amud Foundation — A Call to Support Somalia

At the end, brothers and sisters, I am here today on behalf of Amud Foundation. Amud Foundation is a foundation that has truly cared for Somalia and has helped a lot of Muslims in that country. Lately I have been visiting Somalia, and there are a lot of problems and difficulties in life back home.

Amud Foundation is going to celebrate very soon its 20th year of targeting the lives of Muslims. And in this year 2017, Somalia had the worst drought in the last 65 years. 17.7 million lives have been affected. But what Amud has done — with your help, with the support of the community especially in Texas, in this masjid and other masajid in Dallas — they delivered 40 million meals to needy families this year. They also delivered water trucks to 216,000 families. And they dug 200 wells this year alone — with your help. Also, brothers and sisters, Amud delivered 3 trailers full of food and full of medical supplies. All of that happened with your support.

I am here today to seek your support for the needy families in Somalia. And I request from every brother and sister in this gathering to give us 5 minutes after the Salah — be part of the change, and have an impact on the lives of others.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, ya ikhwani — whatever He gave to us, He is asking from us. When Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala gives in abundance to some and restricts for others, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala made it an ayah — a sign — to show us that it is Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala who gives and who withholds. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala told us:

"And whatever you spend — He will replace it. And He is the best of providers."

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said in Surah Saba, ayah 36:

"Say: Indeed my Lord expands rizq — sustenance — for whoever He wills among His servants, and restricts it for whoever He wills." It is an ayah from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala — given also to encourage us to show generosity, to be generous with our needy Muslim brothers and sisters.

We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to make the end of this year 2017 a year of forgiveness for all of us. We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to forgive our sins. We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to forgive the sins of our parents, our teachers, and our loved ones.

Du'a