Sermon Title: The West and the Fake Mask
Themes of the Sermon:
1- Where is the so-called ‘Free World’?
2- The Reality of the Conflict and the Secret behind the Disbelievers' Hostility toward the Muslims
3- When Will the Conflict End?
4- The Truth about al-Walā wal-Barā’ principle
Praise be to Allah, who has enabled His true religion to prevail over the ruins of falsehood, even if the polytheists dislike it; He perfected His light to dispel the darkness (of disbelief), even if the disbelievers dislike it. I bear witness that none is worthy of worship but Allah, without any partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, May Allah exalt him and send peace to him, his family, and companions, until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed:
O servants of Allah, fear Him, and know that whoever fears Allah, He will protect him from evil in this worldly life and the Hereafter, and will provide him with a way out of every distress, and a relief from every anxiety.
O servants of Allah:
"Be patient, mother! Verily, you are following the truth!"
These were the (miraculous) words of baby carried by his believing mother, who was being mercilessly pushed by the king's soldiers into the fire. The woman looked at her baby and was moved by her compassion as if she was being somewhat hesitant of falling into the fire; Allah made her baby to speak to boost his mother’s steadfastness. He said: "Be patient, mother! Verily, you are following the truth!"
The heinous torture of the believers was ordered by the oppressive king as our Prophet ﷺ informed us when he related the story of the People of al-Ukhdūd (the Ditch).
These criminals’ hearts did not move for this poor woman and her child, and they mercilessly threw her into the fire, and did the same with all the believers because they adhered to their faith (and defiantly refused to compromise).
It is true that we did not witness this incident first-hand, and did not see the flames devouring the mother’s lean body and her little baby, but today, we are witnessing a more horrific incident as we see thousands of the believers’ children and women get massacred, their homes are demolished, their bodies are burned, their blood is ruthlessly shed in full view of the whole world, and the massacre continues for a whole month; why has not the so-called ‘free world’ moved yet?
What kind of world is this?
The (Zionist) Jews are killing our brothers and the major countries of the world shamelessly provide them with soldiers, money, and weapons! They approve of their war crimes and encourage them as if saying to them: "Go ahead, annihilate them; it is your right! They are mere human animals!"
Where are the so-called human rights, international treaties, and the imagined justice?
For so long, many Muslims have been deceived by their false slogans and rhetoric about the alleged human rights, freedom, equality, coexistence, and acceptance of the other!
Finally, as we see the latest Israeli Holocaust against the Palestinians unfold before our very eyes, it exposed these lies and the fake mask of the West fell off! We got to see the real face of the Westerns that has been hidden by the tailored narratives in the media and the propaganda machine screams. Are these really the ones who once looked so glamorous?
We used to see them rushing to save a cat stuck in a tree, and we read in their newspapers about sheltering stray puppies or treating sick dogs, and some of us applaud in admiration on seeing this outstanding compassion and kindness, prompting some of us to say: "I went to the West and saw Islam, but no Muslims!"
How odd! Why do they not move now to save these innocent lives in Palestine? How come they approve of this brutality and provide them with money, soldiers, and war equipment?
We used to believe that they fostered freedom of expression, journalistic professional practices, and hear about their calls for the so-called “tolerance and coexistence”.
What has changed? Why do they hinder the establishment of justice and defence of the oppressed? Why do they silence the voices of justice, promote fake news, fabricate lies, and distort the facts?
Servants of Allah:
Indeed, Allah revealed to us the truth by His power and knowledge; He is All-Knowing of our enemies. He spoke truth when He said:
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِأَعْدَائِكُمْ وَكَفَى بِاَللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَكَفَى بِاللهِ نَصِيرًا
"And Allah is most knowing of your enemies; and sufficient is Allah as an ally, and sufficient is Allah as a helper." (4:45)
He unveiled to us the reality of the conflict and edified us on our true enemy when He said:
إِنَّ الكَافِرِينَ كَانُوا لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُبِينًا
"Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy." (4:101)
As long as you are a believer, you believe in Allah, His books, and His messengers, you are their sworn enemy. Your crime is your adherence to Islam; were you to give it up, their hostility will end. Allah says:
وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِاَللَّهِ العَزِيزِ الحَمِيدِ
"And they resented them not except because they believed in Allah, the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy." (85:8)
He also says:
وَلَنْ تَرْضَى عَنْكَ اليَهُودُ وَلَاَ النَّصَارَى حَتَّى تَتَّبِعَ مِلَّتَهُمْ
"And never will the Jews or the Christians approve of you until you follow their religion." (2:120)
This has always been the case. The underlying reason of their hostility is that we chose to believe in Allah alone without associating partners to Him in worship and abide by His Sharia. Our fault is that we adhere to the truth and righteousness, and reject falsehood and immorality. Allah says:
قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الكِتَابِ هَلْ تَنْقِمُونَ مِنَّا إِلَّا أَنْ آمَنَّا بِاللهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنْزِلَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَأَنَّ أَكْثَرَكُمْ فَاسِقُونَ
"Say, 'O People of the Scripture, do you resent us except [for the fact] that we have believed in Allah and what was revealed to us and what was revealed before, and because most of you are defiantly disobedient?'" (5:59)
Allah informed us about the root of their hostility towards us and clarified the underlying reason for it so that we are not deceived by their claims of love. He informed us that their hearts can never harbor true love for the people of faith, but are rather filled with hatred and hostility towards us. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا بِطَانَةً مِنْ دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا وَدُّوا مَا عَنِتُّمْ قَدْ بَدَتِ البَغْضَاءُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَمَا تُخْفِي صُدُورُهُمْ أَكْبَرُ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا لَكُمُ الآيَاتِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ * هَا أَنْتُمْ أُولَاءِ تُحِبُّونَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِبُّونَكُمْ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِالكِتَابِ كُلِّهِ وَإِذَا لَقُوكُمْ قَالُوا آمَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا عَضُّوا عَلَيْكُمُ الأَنَامِلَ مِنَ الغَيْظِ قُلْ مُوتُوا بِغَيْظِكُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ * إِنْ تَمْسَسْكُمْ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤْهُمْ وَإِنْ تُصِبْكُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَفْرَحُوا بِهَا وَإِنْ تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ كَيْدُهُمْ شَيْئًا إِنَّ اللهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ مُحِيطٌ
"O you who believe, do not take as intimates those other than yourselves, for they will not spare you [any] ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their breasts conceal is greater. We have made clear to you the signs, if you will use reason. * Here you are loving them but they are not loving you, while you believe in the Scripture - all of it. And when they meet you, they say, 'We believe.' But when they are alone, they bite their fingertips at you in rage. Say, 'Die in your rage. Indeed, Allah is knowing of that within the breasts. * If good touches you, it distresses them; but if harm strikes you, they rejoice at it. And if you are patient and fear Allah, their plot will not harm you at all. Indeed, Allah is encompassing of what they do.'" (3:118-120)
The forefathers of these transgressors, including the Zionist Jews and the Cross-bearers with their black clothes and hardened hearts, had distorted the Book of Allah, changed His laws, and disbelieved in His messengers. They claimed to be the sons of Allah and His loved ones, and this entailed being closer to Him than others, despite their disbelief and transgressions! When Allah sent His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to convey His true religion, uphold the just and guiding Sharia, and they verified his truthfulness and Prophethood, they envied him and hated those who followed his religion. Allah says:
وَدَّ كَثِيرٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الكِتَابِ لَوْ يَرُدُّونَكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِيمَانِكُمْ كُفَّارًا حَسَدًا مِنْ عِنْدِ أَنْفُسِهِمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الحَقُّ
"Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them." (2:109)
They traded their religion for worldly gains, chose misguidance over guidance, exchanged Allah’s forgiveness for His punishment! They displayed hostility toward Islam and wished for the Muslims to be misguided. Allah says:
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا نَصِيبًا مِنَ الكِتَابِ يَشْتَرُونَ الضَّلَالَةَ وَيُرِيدُونَ أَنْ تَضِلُّوا السَّبِيلَ
"Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, who purchase error [in exchange for it] and wish you would lose the way?" (4:44)
That is why they have always been waiting for the chance to annihilate the people of Islam and they do not unite forces except for that aim; Allah says:
وَدَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْ تَغْفُلُونَ عَنْ أَسْلِحَتِكُمْ وَأَمْتِعَتِكُمْ فَيَمِيلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ مَيْلَةً وَاحِدَةً
"Those who disbelieve wish that you would neglect your weapons and your baggage so they could come down upon you in one [single] attack." (4:102)
Indeed, the disbelievers will always harbor hostility toward us and this will not change unless we give in and disbelieve in Allah, approve of their falsehood, and lose the worldly life and the Hereafter! They will only be satisfied if we follow their religion and misguidance, approve of their immoral acts and practices that go against the sound human nature. They will only approve of us if we take off the cloak of sound belief and righteousness and wear that of wickedness and immorality. They want us to accept oppression, the usurpation of people’s wealth, the imposition of their hegemony over other nations and humiliating them. They want us to see eye to eye; to think like them and choose their preferences. They want us to blindly follow them without question and give up our sound human nature and true religion.
Undoubtedly, Allah will disgrace them, frustrate their schemes, uphold His word (religion), bless His servants with victory over them by His grace and power. Allah will surely perfect His light, even if the disbelievers dislike it. Verily, to Allah belongs [all] honor, and to His Messenger, and to the believers, but the hypocrites do not know.
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:
O servants of Allah:
We have learned the lesson and everything has become crystal clear for those who truly seek the truth. The fake masks have fallen off; there are no human rights. These are mere empty slogans promoted to deceive lay people, but when things get serious, they do not shy away from exposing their inner wickedness, but most people do not ponder!
It is incumbent upon Muslims to recognize the reality of the conflict with the disbelievers, and understand that their feelings of hostility and love must be informed by the teachings of their religion. They are enjoined to bear allegiance to the believers and disassociate themselves from the disbelievers, especially at such time when many Muslims have sadly lost their way and failed to adhere to the sound belief of al-Walā wa al-Barā’ (Allegiance to the believers and dissociation from the disbelievers).
Indeed, Allah enjoined us to love the people of faith and take them as allies and to hate and disassociate ourselves from the people of polytheism and disbelief. He says about the believers:
إِنَّمَا وَلِيُّكُمُ اللهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَهُمْ رَاكِعُونَ * وَمَنْ يَتَوَلَّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَإِنَّ حِزْبَ اللهِ هُمُ الغَالِبُونَ
"Your ally is none but Allah and [therefore] His Messenger and those who have believed - those who establish prayer and give zakah, and they bow [in worship and obedience]. And whoever is an ally of Allah and His Messenger and those who have believed - indeed, the party of Allah - they will be the predominant." (5:55-56)
He says about the disbelievers:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لاَ تَتَّخِذُوا اليَهُودَ وَالنَّصَارَى أَوْلِيَاءَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُم مِّنْكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللهَ لاَ يَهْدِي القَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ
"O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you - then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people." (5:51)
Even if the disbeliever is a close relative, a Muslim is enjoined to hate his adherence to false religions (and should not love him more than his fellow Muslim brothers). Allah says:
لَا تَجِدُ قَوْمًا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللهِ وَاليَوْمِ الآخِرِ يُوَادُّونَ مَنْ حَادَّ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَلَوْ كَانُوا آبَاءَهُمْ أَوْ أَبْنَاءَهُمْ أَوْ إِخْوَانَهُمْ أَوْ عَشِيرَتَهُمْ أُولَئِكَ كَتَبَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الإِيمَانَ وَأَيَّدَهُمْ بِرُوحٍ مِنْهُ وَيُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ أُولَئِكَ حِزْبُ اللهِ أَلَا إِنَّ حِزْبَ اللهِ هُمُ المُفْلِحُونَ
"You will not find a people who believe in Allah and the Last Day having affection for those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even if they were their fathers or their sons or their brothers or their kindred. Those - He has decreed within their hearts faith and supported them with spirit from Him. And We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally. Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him - those are the party of Allah. Unquestionably, the party of Allah - they are the successful." (58:22)
The principle of al-Walā wa al-Barā’ is one of the great pillars of faith, without which a person’s faith is not perfected. As the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever loves, hates, gives, and withholds for the sake of Allah, has indeed perfected his faith." [Abu Dāwūd]
Lastly, ask Allah to exalt and send peace to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who was sent as a mercy for the worlds. O Allah, exalt and send peace to Prophet Muhammad, and to all his family and Companions.
O Allah, protect our believing brothers in Palestine from the evils of the criminal (Zionist) Jews.
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, bless the injured with recovery, accept their martyrs, and relieve their calamity. O Lord, take care of them; You are the Protector and Praiseworthy. O Allah, guide our leader to what You love and is pleased with, and bless him with righteousness and Taqwā (mindfulness of Allah). Our Lord, give us in this worldly life [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Hellfire.
O servants of Allah, remember Allah with much remembrance and glorify Him morning and evening. Our final supplication is “praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.”
