Sermon Title: And Allah is Witness over Everything
Themes of the Sermon:
Do not conceive it as sheer evil
The secret behind the believers’ steadfastness when calamities befall
Allah's recompense to His servants
Allah will perfect His light, even if the disbelievers dislike it
All praise be to Allah; not even the weight of an atom or less than that or greater, escapes from His Knowledge in the heavens or in the earth, and He is All-Wise and All-Knowing. Our Lord is Exalted is His own eternal authority. He is Perfect and Exalted, He does as He pleases, and He, over all things, is Witness. He is the Most Just Judge in His words and actions. He is the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, the Almighty, and the Praiseworthy.
I bear witness that no deity is worthy of worship but Allah, He has no partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah exalt and send peace to him, his family, and his Companions, and may He grant him abundant peace.
To proceed:
So, fear Allah, O servants of Allah, and know that whoever fears Allah, He will protect him from evil in this worldly life and the Hereafter, provide him with a way out of every distress, and a relief from every anxiety.
O servants of Allah:
Our Lord, Exalted be He, is the Knower of His servants, and nothing of their affairs is hidden from Him. He is the Owner of Sovereignty and the Disposer of affairs. He disposes of all affairs; He raises the status of some people and humbles others; He gives and withholds, honors whomever He wills and humiliates whomever He wills. He is the Most Deserving to be mentioned and exalted, the only Deity worthy of worship. He grants victory to those who ask Him for it and He is the Most Compassionate to His servants. He is the Most Generous to be asked, and the Most Bountiful to give. He afflicts His servants with trials and tribulations to elevate their ranks, withholds to give them even more, and denies them to bless them with abundance. All of His actions beget goodness and mercy, and all His decrees are based on knowledge and wisdom.
How many times a person perceives a matter to be evil because of the accompanying pain, but it turned out to be good. Allah said:
فَعَسَى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَيَجْعَلَ اللهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا
"But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you." [2:216]
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "How wonderful is the affair of the believer; all his affairs are good for him, and this applies only to the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him." [Muslim]
Let us recall the story of the People of the Ditch (al-Ukhdūd). The fire was lit and the agents of the oppressive king threw the believers into it one by one with no mercy, even the children! Allah related their story, and then remarked:
وَاللهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
"And Allah is Witness over everything." [Quran 85:9]
He, exalted is He, is Ever-Watchful, All-Knowing, All-Wise, and Forbearing. He gives respite to the oppressor for reasons only He knows, and then seizes him with His painful and severe seizure.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed, Allah gives respite to the oppressor, but when He seizes him, He does not let him escape." Then he (ﷺ) recited:
وَكَذَلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ القُرَى وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ
"And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe." [11:102] (Al-Bukhari)
O servants of Allah:
When the Muslims who had migrated to Abyssinia returned to Al-Madinah, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Will you tell me of the most astonishing thing that you saw in Abyssinia?" A group of them said: “O Messenger of Allah! While we were sitting, an old woman passed by us carrying a water jug on her head. She passed by some of their youth, one of whom placed his hand between her shoulders and pushed her. She fell on her knees and her water jug broke. When she stood up, she turned to him and said: “You will come to know, O traitor, that when Allah sets up Al-Kursī (the Footstool; the place where Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, rests His feet) and gathers all people, and the hands and feet speak of what they used to do, you will come to know your case and my case in His presence soon!’” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘She spoke the truth; she spoke the truth! How can Allah purify any people (of sin) when they do not support their weak and protect them from their strong?’” [Ibn Hibbān in his book, Sahih Ibn Hibbān].
How strange it is that history has a way of repeating itself!
You see an oppressed individual, group, or nation wronged by a criminal, oppressive tyrant and his agents. They inflict upon them the worst forms of torment, aggression, and oppression, enslaving and killing them. Days turn into years, and the oppressed has no escape nor refuge. People start to lose hope amd despair seeps into the souls, except for those who have good expectations about their Lord and Master; they never lose hope in the vast mercy of the Lord of the worlds.
They are the sincere believers who are endowed with firm conviction. Why are they steadfast? Why do these believers stand firm in the face of calamities and they never have bad expectations about of their Lord? Why do not despair and hopelessness creep into their hearts?
They are steadfast because they believe with certainty that the worldly life is an abode of trials and tribulations, and that Allah says about Himself:
الَّذِي خَلَقَ المَوْتَ وَالحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا وَهُوَ العَزِيزُ الغَفُورُ
"He who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving." (Quran 67:2)
They are steadfast because they know that Allah is the Knower of the two worlds, the Unseen and the Seen; He singles out the believer from the disbeliever, the truthful from the liar, the reformer from the corrupter. Allah, the Exalted, says:
وَقُلْ لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ اعْمَلُوا عَلَى مَكَانَتِكُمْ إِنَّا عَامِلُونَ * وَانْتَظِرُوا إِنَّا مُنْتَظِرُونَ * وَللهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُ الأَمْرُ كُلُّهُ فَاعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
"And say to those who do not believe, 'Work according to your position; indeed, we are working. And wait, indeed, we are waiting. And to Allah belong the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth and to Him will be returned the matter, all of it, so worship Him and rely upon Him. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do.'" (11:121-123)
They stand firm because they believe that these trials and tribulations single out the truthful from the liars, and the believers from the hypocrites. Allah, the Almighty, says:
الم * أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يُتْرَكُوا أَنْ يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ * وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الكَاذِبِينَ
"Alif, Lam, Meem. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, 'We believe,' and will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars." (29:1-3).
He also says:
ذَلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَاءُ اللهُ لَانْتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَكِنْ لِيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُمْ بِبَعْضٍ
"That is so, and if Allah willed, He could take vengeance upon them. But [He orders armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others." (47:4)
Indeed, there are many wicked hypocrites stand in the ranks of the believers, changing colors like chameleons. These hypocrites are more dangerous than the disbelievers themselves. Therefore, a manifestation of Allah's wisdom is ordaining these trials and tribulations to purify the ranks of the believers and refine their hearts.
He, the Exalted, says:
إِنْ يَمْسَسْكُمْ قَرْحٌ فَقَدْ مَسَّ القَوْمَ قَرْحٌ مِثْلُهُ وَتِلْكَ الأَيَّامُ نُدَاوِلُهَا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ وَلِيَعْلَمَ اللهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَتَّخخِذَ مِنْكُمْ شُهَدَاءَ وَاللهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الظَّالِمِينَ * وَلِيُمَحِّصَ اللهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَيَمْحَقَ الكَافِرِينَ
"If a wound should touch you - there has already touched the [opposing] people a wound similar to it. And these days [of varying conditions] We alternate among the people so that Allah may make evident those who believe and [may] take to Himself from among you martyrs - and Allah does not like the wrongdoers - And that Allah may purify the believers [through trials] and destroy the disbelievers." (3:140-141).
He also says:
مَا كَانَ اللهُ لِيَذَرَ المُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى مَا أَنْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يَمِيزَ الخَبِيثَ مِنَ الطَّيِّبِ
"Allah would not leave the believers in that [state] you are in [presently] until He separates the evil from the good." (3:179)
The believers are steadfast because they sincerely seek after Paradise, unlike many others who merely claim to seek it! The one who truly seeks Paradise strives and adheres to patience? Allah, the Almighty, says:
أمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَعْلَمِ اللهُ الَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا مِنْكُمْ وَيَعْلَمَ الصَّابِرِينَ
"Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while Allah has not yet made evident those of you who fight in His cause and made evident those who are steadfast?" (3:142)
They stand firm because they believe with certainty that Allah is the Most Just Judge, All-Wise, All-Knowing, and that He is deemed far Exalted and above frivolity, ignorance, and injustice. To Him belongs the profound wisdom that none can encompass but Him. All His actions are the epitome of wisdom, precision, perfection, and beauty. Therefore, they never question the decrees of their Lord. Sometimes things may seem evil, but turn out to beget great good.
They are steadfast and tranquil because they know that this worldly life is not the abode of recompense, and that Allah may punish the wicked criminals and oppressors in this worldly life, but their true recompense will be on the Day of Resurrection, when they will receive their due punishment in full.
O servants of Allah:
Allah will judge among His servants and the oppressors. On the Day of Judgment, those who have wronged others are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned (i.e., know what vicissitudes their affairs will take). Allah, the Exalted, says:
وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ اللهَ غَافِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ الظَّالِمُونَ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ الأَبْصَارُ * مُهْطِعِينَ مُقْنِعِي رُءُوسِهِمْ لَا يَرْتَدُّ إِلَيْهِمْ طَرْفُهُمْ وَأَفْئِدَتُهُمْ هَوَاءٌ
"And never think that Allah is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror]. Racing ahead, their heads raised up, their glance does not come back to them, and their hearts are void." (14:42-43).
It is noteworthy that Allah will not only judge among people; He will even settle scores among the animals on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet (ﷺ) once saw two sheep butting each other (until one of them defeated and subdued the other) and said to Abū Dharr: “Why are you smiling, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “It is amazing. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, their score will be settled on the Day of Resurrection.” [Ahmad]
So, if Allah will justly judge among these two sheep, do you even think He may spare the killers of children and women? Would you think that He will not hold the oppressive criminals accountable for their actions?
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "On the Day of Judgment, the murdered will come with the murderer’s forelock and head in his hand, as his jugular vein flows with blood, saying: ‘O Lord! Ask him why he killed me!’ till they draw near the Throne. Thereupon, Allah - Glorified and Exalted - will say to the killer, 'Woe to you!' and he will be taken to Hellfire." [Al-Tabarani]
On that day, the wounded hearts of the believers will heal as they recline on the couches of Paradise, looking at the wicked disbelievers and the oppressive killers being punished in Hellfire. What a humiliating and painful punishment!
Allah says:
فَاليَوْمَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنَ الكُفَّارِ يَضْحَكُونَ * عَلَى الأَرَائِكِ يَنْظُرُونَ * هَلْ ثُوِّبَ الكُفَّارُ مَا كَانُوا يَفْعَلُونَ
"So today those who believed are laughing at the disbelievers, on adorned couches, observing. Have the disbelievers [not] been rewarded [this Day] for what they used to do?" (83:34-36)
May Allah bless me and you with the devotion to the Quran, and help me and you benefit from its verses and wise reminders therein. I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and you; seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is All-Forgiving and All-Merciful.
Second Sermon
Praise be to Allah as befitting Him, and may He exalt and send peace to His Prophet and His servant.
To proceed:
Be mindful of Allah, O servants of Allah, and fear Him as He should be feared, and be conscious of Him in public and in private.
Brothers of Islam,
The believers know with certainty that the word of Allah is the uppermost, and that Allah will perfect His light, cause His religion prevail and triumph, even if the disbelievers dislike it. They know with certainty that this religion will spread all over the globe.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "This matter will certainly reach everywhere the night and day can reach, and Allah will not leave a dwelling in a city or a desert except that He will make this religion enter it, thus, honoring the honorable ones or humiliating the humiliated ones; an honor which Allah will bestow on Islam, and a humiliation which Allah will inflict on disbelief." [Ahmad]
He (ﷺ) also said, "Give glad tidings to this Ummah about prosperity, glory, victory, and empowerment on earth." [Ahmad and Ibn Hibban]
They know with certainty that Allah will defeat these Jewish criminals at the hands of the believing Mujāhidīn, a defeat after which there will be no triumph. Their very existence will inevitably come to an end, and Al-Aqsa Mosque will surely return to the believers' care, where they will perform their prayers safely, expressing gratitude to the Lord of the Worlds.
Indeed, this will be the day about which our Prophet (ﷺ) told us: "The Hour will not come until the Muslims fight against the Jews and kill them, until a Jew will hide himself behind a stone or a tree, and the stone or the tree will say: 'O Muslim, there is a Jew behind me. Come and kill him,' but Al-Gharqad tree will not say so, for it is the tree of the Jews." [Muslim]
Lastly, ask Allah to exalt and send peace to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as you were commanded; O Allah, exalt and send peace to Prophet Muhammad, and to all his family and Companions.
O Allah, Revealer of the Book, Mover of the Clouds, Defeater of the Confederates, defeat them and bless us with victory over them. O Allah, save the weak believers, bless them with Your protection, encompass them with Your mercy, mend their broken hearts, and take care of them, for You are the Worthy Guardian and the Praiseworthy.
O servants of Allah, remember Allah with much remembrance and glorify Him morning and evening. Our final supplication is “All praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.”
