Sermon Title: The Great Victory
Themes of the Sermon:
The Ultimate Purpose of Jihad
The Standard of Victory in Jihad between the People of Faith and the People of the Worldly Life
The Virtue of Martyrdom for the Cause of Allah
Does a Martyr Feel Pain When He Is Killed?
Praise be to Allah, who has prescribed Jihad for His Cause as a means for the believers to uphold His Word. He has honored the martyrs with leading a good life in His Company and the abode of His Honor (i.e., Paradise). I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah (ﷻ), and that His Rewards cannot be earned except through His obedience. May Allah (ﷻ) exalt and send peace to the Prophet (ﷺ), the leader, who strove in Jihad for the Cause of Allah with true determination, to support His Religion and manifest His divine message. May Allah be pleased with the early Companions (ﷻ) who strove to attain His Pleasure.
To proceed:
Be mindful of Allah (ﷻ), O servants of Allah, and know that whoever is mindful of Allah, He (ﷻ) will grant him relief from every worry, and a way out from every hardship. Allah (ﷻ) says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
"O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him] " [3:102]
O servants of Allah:
Partaking in Jihad for the Cause of Allah is the greatest act of worship, and the most virtuous act of obedience and means to draw closer to Him. It is a profitable trade and a successful deal. It is the best deed, next only to faith, and it is the pinnacle of Islam. Allah (ﷻ) prescribed it to be a means to call people to Him, uphold the religion of Islam, and raise high the banner of Monotheism. Through Jihad, true honor and victory are achieved, and the darkness of polytheism and disbelief are dispersed. Allah favored those who partook in Jihad, raised their ranks (in Paradise), and prepared for them everlasting bliss in the highest gardens of Paradise. Allah (ﷻ) says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآنِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُوا بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُمْ بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
"Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers their lives and their properties [in exchange] for that they will have Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah, so they kill and are killed. [It is] a true promise [binding] upon Him in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? So rejoice in your transaction which you have contracted. And it is that which is the great attainment." [9:111]
O servants of Allah:
The people of faith have different standards for victory and success in Jihad when compared to the standards held by the people of the worldly life (i.e., those who overindulge in worldly pleasures). Their perception of victory and success is based on their faith in Allah (ﷻ), and aspiration to His Reward and Grace.
As for the people who overindulge in the worldly life, their notion of victory is purely materialistic, and they chase after earthly goals only. They do not hope for what Allah (ﷻ) has in store for them, nor do they aspire to His Rewards.
The people of faith partake in Jihad and strive to accomplish the noblest purposes and aims. It is the most honorable path to be treaded (in our spiritual journey to our Lord) and the peak of honor. They fight to uphold the Word of Allah, and not to obtain any worldly gains, achieve dominance, gratify sinful desires, or cause mischief on earth and enslave its inhabitants.
On the other hand, the disbelievers and those who overindulge in the worldly life fight to gain power, cause mischief, be more dominant, and oppress others. Their goal is to enslave people, assault them, usurp their lands, and violate their honor.
As for the people of faith, they partake in Jihad and strive to guide others to Allah (ﷻ); their real victory is guiding people to Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) entrusted the banner of the Muslim army to ‘Alī ibn Abū Tālib during the Conquest of Khaybar and advised him, saying, "Proceed to them steadily and do not hurry till you enter their land. Then, invite them to Islam, and inform them of what is enjoined upon them; by Allah, if He (ﷻ) guides even one man to the truth through you, it will be better for you than possessing red camels (i.e., the most expensive camels)." [Al-Bukhārī and Muslim]
Raba'ī ibn ‘Āmir stood before Rustam, the commander of the Persian armies, who asked him why they came. He replied, "Allah (ﷻ) has sent us to bring forth whomsoever He wills from the worship of man to the worship of Allah; from the constriction of this worldly life to the vastness of this worldly life and the Hereafter; and from the oppression of false religions to the justice of Islam Allah (ﷻ) sent us to convey His religion to His creation and invite them to Him. Whoever accepts Islam, we are enjoined to accept his conversion and refrain from harming him. As for those who decline (the truth), we are enjoined to fight against them until we realize the promise of Allah." Rustam asked, "What is the promise of Allah?" He replied, "Paradise for those who die while fighting against those who reject the truth and refuse to believe in Allah (ﷻ), and victory for those who survive." [Al-Tabarī in his book “Tārīkh Al-Tabarī (The History of the Prophets and Kings)”]
In fact, the people of faith are always victorious; they never lose. Their ultimate aim is to obtain one of the two great attainments: victory or martyrdom. Allah (ﷻ) says:
قُلْ هَلْ تَرَبَّصُونَ بِنَا إِلَّا إِحْدَى الْحُسْنَيَيْنِ وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَنْ يُصِيبَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَذَابٍ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ أَوْ بِأَيْدِينَا فَتَرَبَّصُوا إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ مُتَرَبِّصُونَ
"Say, 'Do you await for us except one of the two best things while we await for you that Allah will afflict you with punishment from Himself or at our hands? So wait; indeed we, along with you, are waiting.'" (9:52)
Even if they do not achieve ‘victory’ according to the earthly standards, they have already won in the sight of Allah. They have answered Allah's call, abided by His commands, and sacrificed their lives and wealth for His Sake. Their only aspiration is to earn His Pleasure and Paradise. What a profitable trade with Allah (ﷻ)! Allah (ﷻ) says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا هَلْ أَدُلُّكُمْ عَلَى تِجَارَةٍ تُنْجِيكُمْ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ * تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُجَاهِدُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنْفُسِكُمْ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ * يَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَيُدْخِلْكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ وَمَسَاكِنَ طَيِّبَةً فِي جَنَّاتِ عَدْنٍ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ * وَأُخْرَى تُحِبُّونَهَا نَصْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَفَتْحٌ قَرِيبٌ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
"O you who believe, shall I guide you to a transaction that will save you from a painful punishment? [It is that] you believe in Allah and His Messenger and strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives. That is best for you, if you should know. He will forgive for you your sins and admit you to gardens beneath which rivers flow and pleasant dwellings in gardens of perpetual residence. That is the great attainment. * And [you will obtain] another [favor] that you love - victory from Allah and an imminent conquest; and give good tidings to the believers." [61:10-13]
O believers:
Indeed, whoever believes with certainty that a martyr is not truly dead but alive (with his Lord), relishing his share of Rizq (provision) and rejoicing at the Grace of Allah (ﷻ), will gladly accept death for the Cause of Allah, or even eagerly seek after it and look forward to it!
How could not he rejoice when the Prophet (ﷺ) said about the martyrs: "Their souls are the insides the green birds having lanterns suspended from the Throne, roaming freely in Paradise wherever they please, then taking shelter in those lanterns." [Muslim]
He (ﷺ) also said: "No one who has entered Paradise would love to return to the worldly life even if he would be given all that the world contains, except for a martyr. He will wish to return to the world and be killed ten more times on account of the honor that he will find." [Muslim]
What honor is greater than the rewards that Allah (ﷻ) has prepared for those who martyred for His Cause? The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "A martyr has six rewards (in store for him) with Allah (ﷻ): He is forgiven from the first drop of his blood that is shed; he is shown his place in Paradise; he is spared the torment of the grave; he is kept safe from the Great Fright (on the Day of Judgment); he is adorned with the crown of dignity placed upon his head and its gems are better than the worldly life and what is in it; he is married to (wives) from among the wide-eyed houris; and he is permitted to intercede for seventy of his relatives.[Al-Tirmidhī]
By Allah, what worldly gains do the people of the worldly life may have that can be compared even to the weight of a clipped nail from the musk of Paradise? Allah (ﷻ) says:
وَلَئِنْ قُتِلْتُمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أَوْ مُتُّمْ لَمَغْفِرَةٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَحْمَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ * وَلَئِنْ مُتُّمْ أَوْ قُتِلْتُمْ لَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
:"And if you are killed for the Cause of Allah or die - then forgiveness from Allah and mercy are better than whatever they accumulate [in this world]. And whether you die or are killed, unto Allah you will be gathered." [3:157-158]
Our Prophet (ﷺ) say: "If as little as what can be placed on a fingernail of what is in Paradise were to become apparent, it would have beautified all the far corners of the heavens and the earth, and if a man among the people of Paradise were to appear and his bracelets were to become apparent, it would have blotted out the light of the sun, as the sun blots out the light of the stars.." [Al-Tirmidhī]
Given these great merits and rewards, those who had valid excuses and whom Allah (ﷻ) relieved from the obligation of partaking in Jihad, were the most eager to participate in Jihad alongside the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), seeking after martyrdom and Paradise, despite their excuses.
For example, ‘Amr ibn Al-Jamūh was lame and was relieved from the obligation to partake in Jihad because of a valid excuse, but he longed for Jihad and said to the Prophet (ﷺ) during the Battle of Uhud: "By Allah, I hope to be martyred and to wander in Paradise with my lame legs!" As a reward for his truthfulness, Allah (ﷻ) made his wish come true and blessed him with martyrdom.
Similarly, when ‘Umayr ibn Al-Humām heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying on the battlefield: "Proceed toward a Paradise as wide as the heavens and earth," he threw away the dates that were in his hand, saying: "If I lived until I finished eating these dates of mine, it would be a long life indeed." He threw away the dates he had, and fought them bravely until he was martyred. [Muslim]
May Allah (ﷻ) bless you and me with the devotion to Noble Quran, and help us benefit from its verses wise reminders. I ask Allah (ﷻ) to forgive my sins and yours; seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is All-Forgiving and All-Merciful.
Second Sermon
Praise be to Allah (ﷻ), and may He exalt and send peace to His Messenger, his family, Companions (ﷻ), and those who follow his guidance.
O believers, be mindful of Allah and fear Him as He should be feared, and know that He watches you in private and in public.
O believers:
It may seem to some people that a martyr experiences a painful death, but in reality, he almost feels no pain more than a sting! Our truthful Prophet (ﷺ), said: "The pain the martyr feels when being killed is no more than the pain any of you feels when being stung." [Al-Tirmidhī]
Lastly, implore Allah (ﷻ) to exalt and send peace to your Prophet (ﷺ) as commanded. O Allah, exalt and send peace to our Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and upon his family and Companions (ﷻ).
O Allah, support our brothers who are striving for Your Cause in Palestine. O Allah, be their helper and supporter, and bless them with victory. O Allah, protect them, encompass them with Your Care, accept their martyrs, bless the injured ones among them with recovery, heal their wounds, and make their hearts steadfast.
O Allah, defeat the enemies of Islam; they cannot escape or frustrate Your Will. O Allah, fight against the disbelievers from the People of the Book who turn people away from Your path, disbelieve in Your Messengers, and oppose Your religion. O Allah, inflict upon them Your punishment and torment, O Lord of the worlds.
O Allah, make us witness their devastating defeat, humiliate them in this worldly life before the Hereafter, cause them to be disunited, frustrate their schemes, and make evil plans backfire on them.
O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Mover of the Clouds, Defeater of the Confederates, defeat them and bless us with victory over them.
O servants of Allah, remember Allah (ﷻ) abundantly and glorify Him in the morning and the evening, and let our final supplication be: ‘All praise be to Allah (ﷻ), the Lord of all the worlds.’
