20170414- 2nd Khutba- Sheikh Arsalan

Opening Praise and Testimony

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. Whomsoever Allah guides, no one can misguide, and whomsoever He misguides, no one can guide.

And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger.

The Two Lessons of Surah Al-Mulk

Brothers and sisters, Allah says in the Qur'an, at the beginning of Surah Al-Mulk. After I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan, in the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate:

Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion, and He is over all things competent. Who created death and life, that He may test you — which of you is best in deed — and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.

Blessed be He in whose hand is the dominion of everything, in whose hand is the kingdom, in whose hand is control of everything, and He is capable of everything, He has the power to do everything. الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ — the one who created death and life, to test you. أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا — to see which of you is the best in deeds. وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ — and He is the Irresistible, the Oft-Forgiving.

From these two ayat of Surah Al-Mulk, we learn two important lessons.

The first lesson: بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ — that all control is in the hands of Allah, that Allah is always in control. No matter how things may seem to us to be, He is in control. No matter how much chaos there is around us, He is in control. He has a plan, and everything is moving according to His plan.

The second lesson: الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ — that He created death and life to test you. Brothers and sisters, this abode, this life, is a life of tests, a life of trials and tribulations. This is دَارُ الْبَلَاء. And what that means is that we should expect to face trials in our life. When we are faced with trials, they shouldn't come as surprises. We should expect that, because that is why He created us — to see أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا, to see how we're going to respond to those tests, which of us is going to have the best response, which of us is going to have the best actions.

Two Forms of Tests: Adversity and Prosperity

Tests come in two forms, brothers and sisters, not just in one form. Tests are of two types, as Allah tells us in the Qur'an:

We test you بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ — with evil and with good, with adversity and with prosperity, with difficult times and easy times, with pain and with happiness. Both are tests from Allah, to see أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا — which of you are going to have the best response, the best actions in the face of those tests.

The Test of Adversity

When we face adversity in our lives — difficulties, pain, suffering, tragedy, catastrophes — when we face challenges in our lives, whether it is at an individual level or at an international level and all levels in between, what is the response that we must have? How must we react to those difficulties? If I was to put it in one phrase, brothers and sisters, it is to remember that Allah is in control. That must be our response — to remember and realize and never forget that Allah is in complete control, total control, and everything is moving according to His will, His plan, according to His knowledge, according to His will and according to His power.

It is a test to see how we're going to respond. Do we respond to adversities in our lives with patience, with perseverance? Or do we respond by blaming Allah, by finding fault with Allah, by questioning the wisdom of the divine decree? How do we respond to the challenges and tribulations in our lives? Do we respond with patience, sabr? Or do we respond by saying, "Ya Allah, why are you doing this to me? Ya Allah, for how long are you going to subject me to these things? For how long are you going to subject the ummah with these things?"

Do we respond to tribulation by being hopeful, by holding on to hope, or do we respond by falling into despair? Do we respond to difficulties and challenges by holding on to hope — part of which is to get up and do something about it. So that if we are ill, we go to the doctor. So that if we are hungry, we look for food. So that if we are jobless, we look for a job. If we do that, then we have hope. That's a sign of hope. Do we do that, or do we fall into despair, debilitated by the adversity that we face?

Do we do something about it using the halal means that Allah has put at our disposal? Do we respond to injustices by following the legal means to protest against those injustices, or do we fall into despair and become debilitated by the injustices around us? That is the test of adversity — to see, أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا — which of you will be the best in action.

Do we respond to adversity by putting our trust in Allah, because He is in control? Or do we respond to adversity by becoming afraid? Too afraid to even be identified as a Muslim in public. Too afraid to even pray in front of other people. Too afraid to even come to the masjid. Do we respond to challenges and adversities by trusting in Allah, taking Him as an ally? Or do we respond to adversity by becoming so afraid that we are willing to ally ourselves with people who demand that in return we must support them in their disobedience of Allah?

Do we respond to adversity by seeking help from Allah? Or do we rely on our own selves, our own connections, our own talents, our own intelligence, our own alliances, our own resources? Who do we rely on? Do we turn to Allah and beg Him for His help? Do we implore Allah and ask Him for support? That is the test of adversity — to see, أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا — which of you is the best in deeds.

The Test of Prosperity

But like I said, brothers and sisters, tests come in two forms. Adversities are only one form of the test. The other form of the test is prosperity. When we are faced with prosperity, with good times, with happiness, with comfort, with luxury, with security and peace and safety, with health and wealth and family and love — when we are faced with prosperity, and we do enjoy a lot of prosperity despite everything that's going on in our lives and in the world — how do we respond to that test of prosperity?

Once again, if I was to summarize it in one phrase, the response that we must have is to remember that Allah is always in control. Everything is from Him, not from me. It's not from me. It's from Him. He is in control. بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ — to Him belongs the kingdom, the dominion, the power.

So how do I respond to prosperity? Do I respond to prosperity by being with Allah in prosperity? Or do I only look for Allah when I'm faced with difficulty? Do I only come to the masjid when things are tough? Or do I come to the masjid when things are good and easy?

The Prophet ﷺ said:

(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 2803; also reported by al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2516 — from the hadith of Ibn Abbas)

Get to know Allah when things are easy and good, and He will know you when things are difficult and tough.

How do we respond to prosperity? Do we respond by knowing Allah and being with Allah in prosperity or not? Do we respond to prosperity by being thankful to Allah and recognizing that He is the one who gave me my degrees, He is the one who gave me my job promotion, He is the one who gave me that beautiful house? It is not my intelligence. It is not my talents and my hard work. It is not me, me, me. It is Him, Him, Him.

He is the one in control. He is the one who gave it to me. Do I respond by being thankful to Allah by using His blessings in the way that He loves, or do I use them in the way that I love even if Allah does not love that? That is the test of prosperity — to see أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا — which of you will be the best in actions.

The Unifying Theme of Surah Al-Kahf

Today is Friday. And every Friday we are recommended to read Surah Al-Kahf. If you analyze Surah Al-Kahf from the beginning to the end it has four stories: the story of the People of the Cave, the story of the Man of Two Gardens, the story of Musa and Khidr, and the story of Dhul Qarnayn. Every story has its own unique lessons, but there is a unifying theme of the Surah — a lesson that is reinforced in every one of these four stories. And that lesson, brothers and sisters, is meant to help us respond to the test of life. Perhaps that's why we are told to recite the Surah regularly every week, so that we are equipped to face the test of life, because it contains in its theme a lesson to help us face those tests.

That unifying theme of the Surah, brothers and sisters, is simply this: Allah is in control. Things aren't always what they seem to be. We must take the means, yes. But we must always put our trust in Allah alone because He is in control.

Story 1: The People of the Cave

The People of the Cave were bound for destruction until they had to hide in a cave. It seemed that they were going to be destroyed by the king and his people for worshipping Allah alone. But Allah saves them miraculously, puts them to sleep, and then brings them up to wakefulness generations later — to show us and to show people who is truly in control.

Story 2: The Man of Two Gardens

The man of the two gardens is tested with the other form of tests — the test of prosperity. He possesses the means for success. He has so much wealth, so many children, so many resources. But he becomes deluded. He thinks he has acquired all of this through his own prowess and intelligence and resources. And then suddenly Allah overnight destroys everything he has — to teach us who is truly in control.

Story 3: Musa and Khidr

The story of Musa and Khidr reinforces the same idea. When Khidr does things that seem to be so evil — by damaging the ship of innocent poor fishermen, by killing a young innocent man — things seem to be going in such an evil direction. But Khidr teaches Musa, and Allah is teaching us through that story, that Allah has a plan, that things aren't always what they seem. The chaos that surrounds us — don't let that make you think that things are happening beyond the control of Allah. No. Things are going exactly according to the plan of Allah. Allah is in control, brothers and sisters.

Story 4: Dhul Qarnayn

And the story of Dhul Qarnayn is the story of a king who takes the means, who seeks the help of the people around him, who has been given talents and resources and skills, and he puts them to use to build that wall against Ya'juj and Ma'juj. But he does not put his trust in those things. He puts his trust in Allah:

He says, "This is from my Lord. This is the rahmah of my Lord. It's not from me. I am just a vehicle, a means." This incredible wall that he builds — he says it's from Allah. The same lesson is repeated again and again in these ayat, brothers and sisters.

The Condition for True Security

If we want there to be peace in our lives, if we want there to be safety and security for us individually and our families and for the ummah, we have to do what Allah says in the Qur'an:

Those who have faith and do not contaminate their faith with injustices — they are the ones who will have security from Allah and they are rightly guided.

We must put our faith in Allah and not contaminate that faith by losing patience in the face of adversities. We must not contaminate that faith by finding fault with Allah and questioning the decree of Allah. We must put our faith in Allah and not contaminate it by injustices, by losing hope, by falling into despair. We must hold on to faith in Allah.

We must trust in Allah and not contaminate our faith by being too afraid to even worship Allah, by allying ourselves with those who demand in return that we support them in their disobedience of Allah. We must put our faith in Allah, brothers and sisters, by seeking help from Him and not contaminate that faith by trusting our own selves, by relying on our own selves, and by relying on the material imperative of causality.

If we do that, brothers and sisters, then they are the ones who will have al-amn, Allah said:

They will be rightly guided. If we hold on to faith in times of tribulations and difficulties, then we will be among those about whom Allah says, أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا — which of you will be the best in actions.

أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ فَيَا فَوْزَ الْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ

Second Part of the Khutbah

الحمد لله رب العالمين وأفضل الصلاة وأتم التسليم على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين

أَمَّا بَعْد

The Story of Khabbab ibn al-Arat

Brothers and sisters, a group of companions — while Quraysh was at its peak — came to the Prophet ﷺ and spoke to him. Among them was Khabbab ibn al-Arat. And those of you who know his story, please remember what he had gone through of persecution and torture at the hands of Quraysh. And Khabbab said to the Prophet ﷺ, "Ya Rasulullah, why don't you invoke Allah to destroy these people? Why don't you invoke Allah to give us His victory?"

And the Prophet ﷺ responded and said: "The people who came before you — they would be thrust into the ground up to their necks. And then they would be split in half by saws. And iron combs would be brought and their flesh would be separated from their bones. And that would not deter them from their faith in Allah."

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3852)

"Allah will bring this matter to pass. Allah will fulfill His plan. وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ — but you are in a rush." Things aren't going against Allah's plan. They're going according to His plan. We just need the insight to be able to see that.

The Lesson of Sulh al-Hudaybiyyah

Sulh al-Hudaybiyyah teaches us that. When the Prophet ﷺ made that agreement with the disbelievers, what seemed like a loss because of the unfair clauses of the agreement — until Umar himself protested and said, "Ya Rasulullah, why are you agreeing to these terms?" — what seemed to be a loss, only a year later, Abu Sufyan, the leader of the Quraysh, came begging for the return clause of the agreement to be repealed. That clause that they themselves had put in there. And in less than two years, the Muslims conquered Makkah.

The lesson is, brothers and sisters, that sometimes even when we are disobedient, Allah uses the ummah and its enemies for a greater plan that He has. The mess that we see right now is like walking into the castle of a king while the entire structure is being reorganized. Imagine you walk into the castle of a king and you see that there are walls that are torn down here and half a wing that is built there and there is dust everywhere. That's what's happening. Except that Allah is not going to send down His angels to rearrange things. No — the way He does it is He lets His enemies do it for Him, so that they exhaust themselves and let them think that they are winning. But in fact, things are moving according to His plan.

Allah reminds us again and again in the Qur'an and in the seerah of the Prophet ﷺ:

That it may be that you dislike something but it's good for you, and it may be that you like something and it's bad for you, and Allah knows and you don't know.

When the mother of the believers, Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, was accused of adultery by the hypocrites of Medina, and it became the talk of the town, Allah revealed the ayat and said: "Don't think that's bad for you. It's good for you." Because everything is happening according to Allah's plan. Things aren't always what they seem. These are tests from Allah.

He is in control. بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ — and these are tests in forms of adversities and prosperities, to see أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا — which of you will be the best in deeds.

Closing Du'a

O Allah, have mercy on the dead, and have mercy on the dead Muslims. Have mercy on Your weak Muslims who are oppressed in the east and west of the earth. O Allah, have mercy on them. O Most Merciful.

O Allah, deal with the tyrants and the oppressors, for none can save themselves from You. O Allah, we place them before You and we seek refuge in You from their evil. O Powerful, O Mighty, O Living, O Sustainer, يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ. Ameen, Ameen, Ameen.

Rise to your prayer, may Allah have mercy on you.