Title of the Sermon: Quran Circles.. Light and Life
Elements of the Sermon:
1. The Virtue of Quran Circles.
2. The Virtue of the Quran Bearer.
3. Why We Teach Our Children the Quran.
4. The Quran and the Projectiles of Truth.
All praise be to Allah, who sent down the Quran as light and guidance, reviving hearts and illuminating paths through it. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah exalt and send peace to him abundantly.
To proceed:
Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, as He should be feared, and be conscious of Him in private and public.
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" [Al-Imran: 102].
Servants of Allah:
Have you heard of the stars that shine on the earth and are seen by the inhabitants of the heavens? Indeed, by my Lord, these are stars that emit light, seen by the angels of the Most Merciful while they are in the heavens, shining brightly in the darkness of that earth.
These are the gatherings of the Noble Quran!
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The house in which the Quran is recited appears to the inhabitants of the heavens as the stars appear to the inhabitants of the earth." (Reported by Al-Bayhaqi).
This is a reminder and an admonition, a wake-up call to fathers and mothers, reformers, educators, and those who seek the righteousness of this world and the hereafter:
The summer holidays from schools have begun, and here are our tender young ones, calling out: Is there anyone to water them with the elixir of life?!
Do you know where the elixir of life is?
It flows in the circles of life and light, the circles of the Noble Quran.
Those gatherings upon which tranquility and peace descend, and mercy envelops them, and the noble angels surround them.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No people gather in a house of the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah and studying it among themselves, except that tranquility descends upon them, mercy covers them, the angels surround them, and Allah mentions them among those who are with Him." (Reported by Muslim).
Dear honored father, dear virtuous mother, haven't you heard the Prophet (ﷺ calling you to take your children to the gatherings of light and life? Do you know what it means for your child to bear the title "Companion of the Quran" before Allah?
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The Quran will come to its companion on the Day of Resurrection when his grave is split open like a pale man. It will say to him: ‘Do you recognize me?’ He will say: ‘I do not recognize you.’ It will say: ‘I am your companion, the Quran, which kept you thirsty on hot days and kept you awake at night. Every merchant seeks to benefit from his trade, and today you will benefit from your trade.’ He will be given dominion in his right hand and eternity in his left, and a crown of dignity will be placed on his head. His parents will be clothed in garments that are more valuable than anything in this world. They will say: ‘Why have we been given these garments?’ It will be said: ‘Because your child learned the Quran.’ Then it will be said to him: ‘Recite and ascend through the levels and rooms of Paradise.’ He will keep ascending as long as he recites, whether he does so slowly or quickly." (Reported by Ahmad).
The Prophet (ﷺ also said: "The Quran will come on the Day of Resurrection and will say: ‘O Lord, adorn him.’ So, he will be adorned with a crown of dignity. Then it will say: ‘O Lord, give him more.’ So, he will be adorned with a garment of dignity. Then it will say: ‘O Lord, be pleased with him.’ So, Allah will be pleased with him, and it will be said to him: ‘Recite and ascend, and you will be given a good deed for every verse you recite.’" (Reported by Al-Tirmidhi).
It is dominion on the right, eternity on the left, a crown of dignity, and garments of honor. And more than that: achieving the pleasure of and nearness to the Most Merciful:
وَرِضْوَانٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
"And the pleasure of Allah is greater. That is the great success." [Al-Tawbah: 72].
Brothers in Islam:
Those who learn the Quran by heart, understand it, act upon it, and teach it to others are the best people on the face of the earth. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it." (Reported by Al-Bukhari).
You might ask: Why should I send my child to the circles of the Noble Quran?
The beginning of life for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was from the magnificent Quran. The first thing he heard from Gabriel (peace be upon him) was:
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ * خَلَقَ الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ * اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ * الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ * عَلَّمَ الْإِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ
"Read in the name of your Lord who created. Created man from a clot. Read, and your Lord is the most Generous. Who taught by the pen. Taught man that which he knew not." [Al-Alaq: 1-5].
And this is what he (ﷺ) did with his companions, may Allah be pleased with them. Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "When a man emigrated to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he would turn him over to one of us to teach him the Quran." (Reported by Ahmad).
Why all this diligence?
Every verse of the magnificent Quran overflows with light, life, guidance, insight, mercy, blessing, admonition, and healing. This is what Allah has informed us about His great Book. Allah says:
وَكَذَلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا مَا كُنْتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلَكِنْ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُورًا نَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ نَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
"And thus We have revealed to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what the Book was or what the faith was, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, you guide to a straight path" [Ash-Shura: 52].
And He, the Exalted, says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَكُمْ بُرْهَانٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ نُورًا مُبِينًا
"O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light" [An-Nisa: 174].
And He, the Exalted, says:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَتَّبِعُ مَا يُوحَى إِلَيَّ مِنْ رَبِّي هَذَا بَصَائِرُ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ
"Say, 'I only follow what is revealed to me from my Lord. This [Quran] is enlightenment from your Lord and guidance and mercy for a people who believe'" [Al-A'raf: 203].
And He, the Exalted, says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
"O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers" [Yunus: 57].
And He, the Almighty, says:
وَهَذَا كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُوا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
"And this [Quran] is a Book We have revealed [which is] blessed, so follow it and fear Allah that you may receive mercy" [Al-An'am: 155].
When your child sits before his teacher and reads the verses of the magnificent Quran, his heart will see the light, life will flow through his veins, he will be enveloped in mercies, and blessings will overflow upon him. He will come to know his Lord and Creator and see with his heart's eye His clear signs that point to Him.
The Quran will tell him about the true God, Allah, the Majestic, about His greatness and majesty, about His life and self-subsistence, about His honor and sovereignty, about His highness and power, about His knowledge and wisdom, His hearing and seeing, His strength and power, His forgiveness and might, His mercy and punishment. He will see the truth and falsehood, the good and the evil, and know the path of the believers and the path of the criminals.
He will see the divine method by which misery is removed, a method of life based on mercy and justice, encompassing all aspects of life, and by which alone can life be righteous and happy. The Quran will tell him about his human self, about his origin and history, and how Allah honored him and created him in the best of forms. It will reveal to him the ailments and diseases of this self and, at the same time, provide him with the cure and the elixir of life.
It will inform him about the history of this world and explain to him the motives of people. Why did Iblis refuse and act arrogantly? Why did Pharaoh rebel after being reminded of Allah? It will tell him about the extinct nations who disobeyed their Lord and what befell them of Allah's punishment: the people of Noah, 'Aad, Thamud, the people of Madyan, the people of Lot, Qarun, Haman, Abu Lahab, and his wife, the carrier of firewood. It will clarify for him the good and praiseworthy morals and the bad and vile morals.
Every verse he hears and enters his heart will make him steadfast on his path to Allah. Did you not hear the words of Allah:
وَكُلًّا نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ وَجَاءَكَ فِي هَذِهِ الْحَقُّ وَمَوْعِظَةٌ وَذِكْرَى لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
"And each [story] We relate to you from the news of the messengers is that by which We make firm your heart. And there has come to you, in this, the truth and an instruction and a reminder for the believers" [Hud: 120]?
The Quran will tell him about the stories of the prophets and the righteous, how they remained steadfast on the truth for Allah, the clear truth. It will inform him of the trials with which Allah tested His servants and how He granted success to the believers and abandoned the disbelievers and hypocrites. It will be as if he sees with his heart’s eyes the repentance of Adam, the flood of Noah, the steadfastness of Hud, the reform of Salih, the fire of al-Khalil (Abraham), the truthfulness of Ishmael, the prayers of Shu'ayb, the patience of Job, the sorrow of Jacob, the benevolence of Joseph, the supplication of Zechariah, the righteousness of Mary, the servitude of Jesus, and the struggle of our Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon them all.
May Allah bless me and you with the great Quran and benefit us with its verses and wise reminders. I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness; He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Second Sermon
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, companions, and those who follow him.
Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, and be mindful of Him, obey Him and do not disobey Him.
Brothers in faith and the Quran:
As soon as the Prophet ﷺ recited the Quran to the polytheists, they issued orders to prevent people from even listening to the Quran. Allah said:
وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَا تَسْمَعُوا لِهَذَا الْقُرْآنِ وَالْغَوْا فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَغْلِبُونَ
"And those who disbelieve say, 'Do not listen to this Quran and speak noisily during [the recitation of] it that perhaps you will overcome.'" [Fussilat: 26].
Why did they fight against the Quran and prevent people from listening to it? Because the Quran carries the projectiles of truth that shatter all falsehoods. Allah said:
بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَاطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ
"Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs." [Al-Anbiya: 18].
Dear parents:
In the reality we live in, Satan and his helpers strive desperately to spread falsehood in all its forms. They incite people with doubts and desires, inspiring one another with fancy words and actions, false and deceptive.
Bright names, whose ornaments almost blind the eyes, such as freedom, justice, equality, rights, tolerance, closeness, thinking, and enlightenment.
So where is the salvation of your child? It is in the Quran, preserved from alteration and distortion, the truth and the criterion that Allah has made a guide from misguidance and a clarification of everything. Allah said:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ وَالْمِيزَان
"It is Allah who has sent down the Book in truth and [also] the balance." [Ash-Shura: 17].
The balance of every word, method, and thought, a decisive judge, not jest, without favoritism or deviation, a revelation from the Wise, the Praiseworthy.
Bring your child to the circles of the Quran, push him to a teacher who recites the Quran to him fresh and tender, who makes him listen to the verses of Allah, teaches him their meanings, disciplines him with their lights, so that the light penetrates his heart, and life flows in his branches, for it is through it that life and light are.
O Allah, make the great Quran the spring of our hearts, the light of our eyes, the remover of our sorrows, and the reliever of our worries and distress.
O Allah, teach us from it what we have forgotten, remind us of it what we have neglected, and grant us its recitation during the night and at the ends of the day in a manner that pleases You.
O Allah, deal with the enemies of Islam from among the Jews, the Christians, and the hypocrites. O Allah, thwart their schemes and suffice us against their evil.
O Allah, guide our leader to what You love and are pleased with, and take hold of his forelock to piety and righteousness.
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and protect us from the torment of the Fire.
