Embracing Our Divine Purpose As Ambassadors Of Faith

Opening Praise and Introduction

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. And peace and blessings be upon the most honored of the prophets and messengers, our master and our prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions, and those who followed them in good faith until the Day of Judgment.

I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

God Almighty has spoken the truth.

Respected brothers and sisters in Islam, السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. Alhamdulillah, it's a great honor and it's a blessing for me to be here in Chicago. I thank the Dar Es Salaam community and the Chicago community for inviting me here and giving me the opportunity to remind myself and our brothers. And inshallah, through this reminder and through this remembrance, we become closer to Allah, and we become closer to understanding our responsibility that we have here at this moment in time, in this point in history, where we are.

This weekend, as many of you may have heard, we have a three-day program, a three-day conference retreat known as the Ambassadors of Faith: Exemplifying Excellence in Conduct. And the title itself, my dear brothers and sisters, reminds us of our duty, of who we are and where Allah has kept us and where Allah has brought us. And as we know, there is nothing in this world except that there is a purpose behind it.

That is, nothing that occurs and nothing that comes about in this world — to you or to anyone — except that it is in a clear book. Except that Allah has written it from before. So there is a divine wisdom.

Divine Wisdom Behind Our Presence Here

Many of us who are here, many of us are immigrants who have come from our native lands for a better life, for opportunity to work, to have a good life. Many of us have not come here by choice. As we know, our brothers and sisters through the Syrian conflict that's taking place and the Middle Eastern conflict that's taking place, they are here not necessarily by choice. They were brought out of their homes. But in the scheme of all of this, my dear brothers and sisters, there is a divine wisdom. And no matter whether we came by choice to make a better life for ourselves, or we came by force to flee from having our lives taken away and having our freedom trampled — whatever the case may be — wherever we go, we are as followers of the faith.

Wherever we go, Allah mentions about the Muslim in the Qur'an-e-Karim:

The believer is the one who carries a nur — a light — with him. And that light that he carries, he doesn't keep it to himself. He is not greedy of whatever he has. He is aware that Allah has given him this, and he is aware that people are in need of this. He is aware that he has something. And he is also aware of the need of the people.

The Story of Rib'i ibn Amir: The Ambassador to Persia

I am reminded of a very amazing story about a Sahabi by the name of Rib'i ibn Amir. He was an ambassador — just a simple messenger — that was sent to the emperor of Persia when the armies of Khalid ibn Walid were there at the gates of Persia. So they sent the ambassador to speak to them.

When he came, there was a very luxurious carpet and beautiful chandeliers, and it was very rich and very affluent — the palaces of the Khosrow Parviz, the palaces of the emperor of Persia, who had reigned and who had ruled for centuries. And you have this Bedouin man who is wearing a simple izar with patches in his clothes, and literally the ribs of his horse are sticking out, and the reins of the horse are made of date palm fiber. He is walking in with a broken sword, and he is scratching the carpet as he is walking inside.

He stands in front of the emperor, and the emperor says: What message do you have? So he said to him:

(Al-Bidayah wan-Nihayah, Ibn Kathir — Statement of Rib'i ibn Amir to the Persian commander)

He said: Indeed Allah has selected us, O emperor, to take out whoever Allah wills from the worshipping of idols and from the worshipping of these material things to the worship of the Almighty. This is what Allah has brought us.

He said this and he walked back, and the emperor of Persia said a very interesting statement. He said: We brought him here inside of the palace so that he becomes affected. We brought him here to show him the riches, to show him the luxury, to show him what he's missing out on in the Arabian deserts. We brought him here in the palace so he can see and he could be in awe and he could be overwhelmed, so that he can be affected by us. He said: But the reality is that this man with his faith and his courage — he has affected us.

We Have Been Selected and Sent

Brothers and sisters, in the situation that we are in right now, we have been brought here, and our example is very similar. But we have to realize that we have been selected and we have been sent. We haven't just come. And the difference between us and the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم is that they understood that they are these ambassadors, and they have something, and they are carriers of something.

They knew that they carry a light and they are taking this light with them. They realized this and they understood this. However, we need to understand that. Otherwise, our example will not be like that Sahabi who came in the most poorest condition. When he came, he wasn't affected by what he saw around him. He wasn't pulled in. He wasn't made unmindful. He wasn't made neglectful. He didn't say: Oh, what Muhammad brought to me — this is old, this is nothing. Look at this! This is the real thing. This is what we're missing. This is what we need to have. We don't have this in Medina. We don't have this in Makkah. He was not affected by that.

Brothers and sisters, it shouldn't be that we become like those people who come into the palace, who see something new, and we forget the blessing of iman that Allah has given us — which is the greatest gift to mankind. Right now, we see the direction the world is going. What are the factories giving to the world other than pollution? Every other day we're hearing about people getting affected by cancer, people getting sick, radiation and this and that and the other. To become overwhelmed and mesmerized that technology is the thing that is going to save all of mankind — no. Technology and advancement make life easy, but it is not going to be the savior of mankind.

The savior of mankind can be nothing but faith, good character, humanity, mercy, compassion. This is the message that Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ came with. This is why everywhere he went — adl, and rahma, and hikma — justice, and compassion, and fairness, and liberty, and good character. These are the things that Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ brought to the world.

The Best Nation Raised Up for Mankind

The Sahaba رضي الله عنهم did not have wealth. They did not have money. They were the meekest in these things. But Allah gave them the keys of the treasures of the entire world at that time. Because they had something that surpassed all of these worldly things — they had iman. Allah had given them faith. Allah had given them character. Allah had cleansed their hearts from racism.

What is plaguing our country? We are Americans. We are people of this land — whether naturalized citizens, or born here, or native, whatever we are. We have to accept this fact that we are part of this land. We are the sons and daughters of this land. Look at racism. What is the solution to that, other than what Allah has brought in our deen? What you see in these masajid, brothers and sisters, you will not see even in the churches. Indian, and Pakistani, and Asian, and Arab, and African, and white, and European — from every single continent. You will not find this in the churches of America. This is the teaching of Islam.

This was the last farewell pilgrimage of Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. He said:

Every single one of you is from Adam, and Adam was created from dust. There is no virtue of an Arab over a non-Arab, and a white man over a black man — there is no such thing in our deen. And we see this, subhanAllah, in our masajid. These are the cures to the sicknesses and the ills of society. Brothers and sisters, we are the ambassadors of that. We have to recognize that. We are not just here, and we were not just brought here for the sake of earning money and for the sake of being rich, and then —

— that's the end of the story. No. There is something much greater than that. But for that, brothers and sisters, we have to believe in something greater than ourselves. Why is it that the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم did what we cannot do? Why is it that they achieved what we cannot achieve? Because, brothers and sisters, they believed in something that was greater than themselves.

The Islamic Nightmare: Me, Myself, and I

Let us not get sucked into the American dream, which can be the Islamic nightmare. What is that? Me, myself, and I. If I'm going to be a doctor, it's for me, myself, and I. If I'm going to be an engineer, it's for me, myself, and I — the Holy Trinity, as they say. May Allah save us. لَا سَمَحَ اللَّهُ — God forbid we should have that mentality as well. That whatever we do, our final thought about it is: How does it benefit me? This is not the mentality that a Muslim has. This is not the mentality of the ambassadors of Allah.

Rather, for those who are college students, I urge and encourage you, my dear brothers and sisters — whatever you learn and whatever you study, this should be for the benefit of mankind, not for me, myself, and I. Not for our own benefit alone. My benefit is secondary. It will come. Allah will provide for you. Don't worry about that. That will come. But your intention and your niyyah should be: Ya Allah, with this major of mine...

A student came to me and said: Sheikh, what should I major in? I'm confused. I'm undecided. I said: You should major in that thing which there is most benefit for the community. Yes, you can contribute to the ummah. You can contribute to humanity. You can contribute to mankind. This is why this ummah is the best ummah — not only to the Muslims, but to all of mankind.

O ummah of Islam, you are the best nation, the best ummah, that has been raised up for the benefit of mankind. The benefit of mankind. We are benefactors of mankind, brothers and sisters. We are not just consumers. You know this word, consumer? You consume. You devour. Is this simply what we are — consumers? Or are we benefactors? How much benefit have we given? This is what the Muslim ummah should be asking.

أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ — for the longest time, the Muslim empire was at its climax, at its high point. Why? Because they were for the benefit of mankind. Whether it was medical contributions, scientific contributions, astronomical contributions. Even in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue — who were the ones on his ship navigating him to the new land? It was old land for Muslims. They had traveled there already. Muslims had already navigated there. They already knew how to navigate the seas. This is what the Muslim ummah had given to the world — not just for themselves, but for the entire world.

Being True Ambassadors: Character Over Status

First is iman, akhlaq, spirituality, character, compassion, mercy, justice, not being racist. But we have to ask ourselves: what are we giving? What light do we carry? What benefit do we bring to the people we are living amongst? When the youth ask me what they should do, I say: do whatever you do, but look at that thing that is going to benefit your community the most. We have been brought here for the benefit of mankind.

MashaAllah, we see now Muslims slowly coming to their senses — having free hospitals in places where people are in need, being able to feed the people, Islamic Relief, Rahma Foundation, and many other organizations by which we are becoming benefactors of humanity. This is the meaning of كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ. How much of that is coming inside of us? We have to come out of this selfish mentality. How can we be for others?

This is what Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ came and taught the Sahaba, and what he instilled within them. Every single one of us — if Allah has given you a business, ask yourself: How can I use my business for the sake of Allah, for the benefit of the Muslim community and the non-Muslim community? If Allah has made me a doctor, how can I use my expertise for the benefit of both? If Allah has given me wealth or an engineering background or whatever I have — how can I use it for the benefit of humanity? This is when we become true ambassadors.

This is how the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم operated — they were traders, businesspeople, tujjar. They would go from place to place and do their dealings with justice and fairness, and then they would pray, and the people would see them. The people would say: These people have something, these people are carrying something. What are you worshipping? We are worshipping Allah, the unseen God. Are you worshipping the river? The mountain? The tree? He said: Our God is the transcendent God, who cannot be seen, and He feeds and is not fed, and He gives and is not given. He is the One, and none is worthy of worship but Him, the Creator of the heavens and the earth. And the people became so affected — but it was the character that the people saw.

People do not see our salat in the masjid. Many non-Muslims don't come here, many non-Muslims will not see our prayers. But they will see our conduct. And that is why, brothers and sisters, we have to earn our status in this country. We have to earn it. We can't just take from the people. We have to earn the respect.

The Prophetic Qualities: What Khadijah Said

Just like Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ — they knew he was Muhammad ibn Abdullah, but they did not know that he is Muhammad Rasulullah. How did he convince them that he is Muhammad Rasulullah? By his prayers only? By his fasting only? He used to pray and fast before Islam. Everybody knows that when the month of Ramadan would come, he used to go to the cave of Hira, and the Prophet ﷺ used to meditate and remember and ponder over Allah, and separate himself from the idol worshippers. They already knew that Muhammad is a great worshipper, a man of spirituality. They knew that about him. But when was it that they realized that Sayyidina Muhammad is Rasulullah? People just didn't accept that automatically.

Similarly, people aren't just going to accept us like that, brothers and sisters. We have to earn that. How do we earn that? The same way Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ did — through his character, through his mercy, through his generosity, through his humanity, through his compassion.

I want to mention something: when the Prophet ﷺ came back shaking after receiving the first revelation — everybody knows the story — Jibreel came to Sayyidina Muhammad, and it was a very terrifying and awesome ordeal. He came shaking and said to his wife: O Khadija, O my wife, I fear for myself. Something bad might be happening to me. I don't know.

What did Khadija رضي الله عنها say? Listen to these qualities — these are the prophetic qualities that he had before Islam. These are the prophetic qualities that he kept after he became a Prophet, and by which he earned the respect of the people.

She said: Never, O my husband — glad tidings to you.

What a human being he was — that even his wife knew the status of her husband. These are the qualities we should have. She said: Allah will never disgrace you, O my husband. Do you know why? Because:

The Five Prophetic Qualities

Number one: إِنَّكَ لَتَصِلُ الرَّحِمَ — You join the family ties. You don't cut off from your family. You don't cut off from your relatives. Despite whatever happens, you will always be the one to connect with them. You will say: No, we have to keep our family ties strong. Because the backbone of a society, the backbone of a community, is that we remain together. If we're cutting off from our own family, it will be easy for us to cut off from others. And what will the condition be? Fighting in the masajid, fighting in the organizations, fighting in the institutions. Why? Because we don't have darguzar, pardoning, overlooking. Forgive and forget. If we don't have that, we will not be able to succeed.

Number two: وَتَحْمِلُ الْكَلَّ — You carry the burdens of others. SubhanAllah, we can't even carry our own burdens, yet the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was carrying the burdens of others.

Number three: وَتَكْسِبُ الْمَعْدُومَ — The one who doesn't have, you will earn for him and give that person. That generosity. Allahu Akbar.

Number four: وَتَقْرِي الضَّيْفَ — The travelers and those that are guests, you honor the guests even though you are poor yourself.

Number five: وَتُعِينُ عَلَى نَوَائِبِ الْحَقِّ — And those who are suffering, you relieve their suffering.

SubhanAllah, brothers and sisters — these five qualities, if we revive them as ambassadors of faith in our lives, in our communities, showing mercy. To such an extent he changed the people. Just like we have right now people that are hostile against Muslims — don't think that the Prophet ﷺ did not face hostility. He gave them and he honored them and he showed mercy to them despite their hatred, until they had no choice but to say: O Muhammad, your face was the most hated face to me, and now I have to say that your face is the most beloved face to me. This was the statement of his enemies.

Closing: Reviving the Prophetic Character

How did he achieve that? Brothers and sisters, as ambassadors of faith, we can also achieve that — by making those who hate us and have hostility towards us come to love us — by developing and inculcating the prophetic character within us. May Allah give us that tawfiq.

We request all the brothers and sisters — this three-day retreat is going to be focused specifically on this topic and this theme: How do we, as ambassadors of faith in this country and in this world, be a positive force for our communities and our societies here? May Allah give us the ability to implement what has been said.