Title of the Sermon: That is the Lord of All Worlds
Elements of the Sermon:
1. The Meaning of Allah's Lordship Over His Creation.
2. The Implication of Lordship: Worshiping Allah Alone.
3. The Root of Polytheism: Equating the Lord with His Creation.
4. Among the Characteristics of Lordship: Exclusivity in Command, Judgment, and Legislation.
All praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds, the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything between them, and the Lord of the Great Throne. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger. May Allah's blessings be upon him, his family, and his companions.
To proceed, have fear of Allah, O servants of Allah, with the true fear of Him, and be mindful of Him in secret and in public. As it is said in the Qur'an:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
"O you who believe, fear Allah with true fear of Him, and do not die except as Muslims."
Servants of Allah:
Our Prophet's ﷺ praise for his Lord included saying: "O Allah, the Lord of everything, the King of everything, and the Deity of everything; to You belongs everything."
O brother in Islam:
Allah is the Lord of all worlds, your Lord and the Lord of everything. The Lord of the angels, the humans, the jinn, the birds, the beasts, the trees, the stones, the stars, the sun, and the moon. Moses stood before Pharaoh (may Allah curse him), inviting him to Allah, and Pharaoh arrogantly asked:
وَمَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
"And what is the Lord of the Worlds?"
Moses replied:
رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُوقِنِينَ
"The Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything between them, if you are certain."
Do you know what the Lord of all worlds means? It means everything, from any realm: the realm of angels, humans, jinn, beasts, and birds. Whether it's trees, stones, the sun, the moon, or anything else—Allah is its Lord.
He created it, brought it into existence, and gave it form. He owns it, its reins are in His hand, it is under His control and power. He sustains it, manages its affairs, hears it, sees it, and is its guardian, witness, and sustainer. He guides it to what is good for its life and order.
Allah is not preoccupied with one creation at the expense of another; He is, at the same time, the Lord of all worlds.
Do you see that little ant that comes out of its hole seeking food?
Do you see that bird that leaves its nest hungry?
Do you see that servant praying in his prayer niche asking for something?
Do you see those high heavens, where every space of four fingers has an angel bowing in prostration?
All of them: Allah is their Lord, managing all their affairs. He does not go missing, does not err, does not forget, and does not fail.
The Lord of all worlds said:
قُلْ مَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَمَّنْ يَمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ فَسَيَقُولُونَ اللَّهُ فَقُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ * فَذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمُ الْحَقُّ
"Say, who provides for you from the sky and the earth, or who controls hearing and sight, and who brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living, and who manages the affair? They will say, 'Allah,' so say, will you not then fear Him? That is Allah, your true Lord."
O brothers in Islam:
The greatness of Allah's lordship is that He answers His creation, feeds them, gives them drink, provides for them, and heals them. He hears their prayers and does not let them down. How astonishing it is for a servant to suffer while his Lord is Allah!
Didn't you hear the words of Zechariah:
وَلَمْ أَكُنْ بِدُعَائِكَ رَبِّ شَقِيًّا
"And I have never been in despair from calling upon You, my Lord"?
Didn't our Prophet ﷺ and his companions call upon their Lord on the day of Badr, and Allah said:
إِذْ تَسْتَغِيثُونَ رَبَّكُمْ فَاسْتَجَابَ لَكُمْ
"When you were calling upon your Lord, and He answered you"?
One aspect of Allah's lordship is that He did not leave His creation without guidance. Instead, He sent down books and sent messengers to them, providing them with guidance, light, and healing for what is in the chests.
This is how Ibrahim introduced his people to his Lord, saying:
قَالَ أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ * أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمُ الْأَقْدَمُونَ * فَإِنَّهُمْ عَدُوٌّ لِي إِلَّا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ * الَّذِي خَلَقَنِي فَهُوَ يَهْدِينِ
"Have you seen what you have been worshipping—you and your ancient fathers? They are my enemy, except for the Lord of all worlds, the One who created me and guides me."
Because He is the Lord, He guided all His creation toward Him, gave them signs, introduced them to Him, and explained everything with the clearest of explanations.
The Lord of all worlds said:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
"O people, there has come to you a warning from your Lord, and a cure for what is in the chests, and a guidance and mercy for the believers."
And the Lord of all worlds said:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بُرْهَانٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ نُورًا مُبِينًا
"O people, there has come to you evidence from your Lord, and We have sent down to you clear light."
Because He is the Lord of all worlds, He knows His creation better than they know themselves. He legislated for them a straightforward and just religion, without hardship or difficulty. Haven't you heard His words:
ذَلِكَ تَخْفِيفٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ
"That is a lightening from your Lord and a mercy"?
Servants of Allah:
The lordship of Allah over all His creation calls for servitude to Him alone, without any partners.
What a great supplication our Prophet ﷺ taught us, where it begins by saying: "O Allah, You are my Lord, there is no deity except You. You created me, and I am Your servant..." (narrated by Bukhari).
Thus, it is: You are my Lord, and I am Your servant.
All the cloaks of lordship that people attribute to creatures are cloaks of falsehood and slander. They are servants under compulsion, their forelocks are in Allah's hand, and they cannot do without Him for even a blink of an eye.
They are divided lords who caused misery to people. This one is feared, that one is hoped for, another is called upon and sought for help, and yet another has laws followed and is obeyed. Creation suffered the day they went astray from the Lord of the Worlds, becoming submissive to others because their hearts attached themselves to slaves like them, names without reality, for they are slaves who cannot even benefit or harm themselves.
Joseph said to his two companions in prison:
أَأَرْبَابٌ مُتَفَرِّقُونَ خَيْرٌ أَمِ اللَّهُ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ * مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
"Are different lords better or Allah, the One, the Conqueror? You do not worship besides Him except names that you and your ancestors have named. Allah has not sent any authority for them. Judgment is for Allah alone. He has commanded that you worship none but Him. That is the upright religion, but most people do not know".
As for the believer, his life’s theme is as Allah says:
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ * لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ * قُلْ أَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْغِي رَبًّا وَهُوَ رَبُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
"Say, 'Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my life, and my death are for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, with no partner. This is what I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.' Say, 'Shall I seek a lord other than Allah when He is the Lord of everything?'".
Servants of Allah:
The greatest crime on this earth is to associate partners with Allah, to make someone or something a partner, an equal, or a peer to Him—to worship and submit to them along with or instead of Allah.
They will cry out in regret, acknowledging their guilt on the Day of Judgment when they are asked:
وَقِيلَ لَهُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْبُدُونَ * مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ هَلْ يَنْصُرُونَكُمْ أَوْ يَنْتَصِرُونَ * فَكُبْكِبُوا فِيهَا هُمْ وَالْغَاوُونَ * وَجُنُودُ إِبْلِيسَ أَجْمَعُونَ * قَالُوا وَهُمْ فِيهَا يَخْتَصِمُونَ * تَاللَّهِ إِنْ كُنَّا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ * إِذْ نُسَوِّيكُمْ بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
"And it will be said to them, 'Where are those you used to worship besides Allah? Can they help you or help themselves?' Then they will be thrown into it, and the wrongdoers and the soldiers of Iblis, all of them. They will say, while they dispute therein: 'By Allah, we were clearly misguided when we made you equal to the Lord of the Worlds'".
What kind of mind or heart equates the Creator and the created, the Lord and the subject, the Maker and the made?
Consider those who made Jesus the Messiah a lord and a god along with Allah. Didn't he say to them:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ هَذَا صِرَاطٌ مُسْتَقِيمٌ
"Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him; this is the straight path"?
O servant of Allah:
The first question you are asked in your grave is: Who is your Lord?
If a person was certain and believed in this world that Allah is his Lord and the Lord of all worlds, not worshiping anyone else, Allah will keep him firm in his grave. He will answer without fear or hesitation, "My Lord is Allah." At that moment, the angels will say to him: "You were on certainty, you died on it, and you will be resurrected on it, if Allah wills." This was reported by Ahmad.
However, those who lived in doubt, lost among the false lords, will say: "Hah, hah, I do not know."
We ask Allah for safety and well-being. May Allah bless me and you through the Great Qur'an and benefit me and you with the signs and wise remembrance within it. I ask for Allah's forgiveness for myself and for you; seek His forgiveness, for He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Second sermon
All praise be to Allah, and may Allah exalt and send peace to the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family and companions and those who follow him.
To proceed, fear Allah, O servants of Allah, be mindful of Him, obey Him, and do not disobey Him.
One of the attributes of the Lord of all worlds is that He has authority and judgment. Allah says:
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
"Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then rose over the Throne. He covers the night with the day, chasing it rapidly, and the sun, the moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Is not to Him the creation and the command? Blessed is Allah, the Lord of all worlds".
Just as no one else created, no one else commands, and no one else judges. Therefore, anyone who claims the right to command alongside Allah, to legislate alongside His laws, or to judge alongside His judgment—to permit what Allah has forbidden or to forbid what Allah has permitted or to legislate what Allah has not authorized—has made himself a lord alongside Allah. Anyone who obeys him and gives him this right has made him a lord alongside Allah.
Adi ibn Hatim said: "I came to the Prophet ﷺ, and I had a gold cross around my neck. He said, 'O Adi, remove this idol from your neck,' so I removed it. I went to him, and he was reciting Surat Bara'ah, and he read this verse: 'They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah' . After he finished, I said, 'We do not worship them.' He replied, 'Do they not forbid what Allah has permitted, and you forbid it? And do they not permit what Allah has forbidden, and you permit it?' I said, 'Yes.' He said, 'That is their worship.'"
May Allah, our Lord, forgive our sins, our transgressions, and keep our feet firm, and give us victory over the disbelieving people.
O Allah, grant victory to Your servants who strive in Your way, destroy the criminal Jewish murderers, and rescue Your oppressed servants with Your mercy.
O Allah, guide our leader to what You love and are pleased with, and guide him to righteousness and piety. Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of Hellfire.
Servants of Allah: Remember Allah frequently, and glorify Him in the morning and evening. And the last of our supplications is: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.
