Title of Sermon: Allah, the Owner of All Dominion
Elements of Sermon
1. We only prostrate to Allah.
2. Arrogance is the root of corruption.
3. Allah, the True King.
4. What does anyone own besides Allah?
5. The Owner of the Day of Judgment.
All praise be to Allah, the True and Manifest King. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them and within them. He is All-Powerful over everything. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah exalt him and send peace to him and upon his family and companions in abundance.
To proceed: Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, as He should be feared, and be mindful of Him in private and in public.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ﴾
“O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims” (Surah Aal-Imran: 102).
O servants of Allah:
“We do not prostrate except to Allah, the Almighty.”
This is what Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) declared when he entered upon the Negus, the King of Abyssinia. At that time, the Quraysh had sent ‘Amr ibn Al-‘As and ‘Umara ibn Al-Walid, bringing gifts to have the oppressed migrants returned to Mecca so they could be subjected to further persecution.
When ‘Amr and ‘Umara entered upon the Negus, they bowed to him. However, when Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib and those with him from among the companions entered, they did not bow. The guards asked Ja‘far, “Why do you not bow to the king?” He responded, “We do not prostrate except to Allah, the Almighty.” They asked, “And why is that?” He said, “Allah, the Almighty, sent His Messenger ﷺ to us and commanded us not to prostrate to anyone but Him, the Almighty.” (Narrated by Ahmad).
The root of human corruption is arrogance, and arrogance arises when a person sees himself as independent of his Lord and Master. Allah says:
كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَيَطْغَى أَنْ رَآهُ اسْتَغْنَى
“No! Indeed, man transgresses because he sees himself self-sufficient” (Surah Al-‘Alaq: 6-7).
The perception of self-sufficiency comes from the perception of possession. The more one possesses, the more they feel independent, and people show deference to them according to what they see in their possession. This is the root of all corruption in this world.
Every person who possesses wealth, status, authority, or anything from this world becomes the object of others’ desires. People fawn over the powerful, flatter corrupt leaders, and curry favor with the rich only in hope of something they possess.
Look at the hypocrisy of those who fawn over their masters among the disbelievers, or the flattery of false scholars towards Westerners or rulers, or the double-dealing of those who seek favor from the wealthy. You will see that they do so only in the hope of some benefit the poor souls possess.
Observe the fragility of souls in the face of the power of the wicked and the depraved. They have become weak only because they think these individuals hold the keys to their affairs.
Even the hypocrites, when they display their deeds to the people of the world, do so only in the hope of some share of what the worldly possess.
Contemplate every instance of associating partners with Allah in this world, and you will find that its origin is the attachment of hearts to something other than Allah, thinking that they have some dominion or influence.
O servants of Allah:
The true Sovereign, the Lord of all dominion, is Allah, Glorified and Exalted. In His hand alone is the dominion of everything. He grants sovereignty to whom He wills, and He takes sovereignty from whom He wills.
He alone is the King of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them and within them. He owns the creation and what they possess. He owns the angels, mankind, jinn, birds, wild beasts, mountains, and wealth. He owns benefit and harm, life and death, giving and withholding. He owns hearing, sight, hearts, strength, power, dominance, and protection. Did Allah not say:
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ
“Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion” (Surah Al-Mulk: 1)?
Here are the verses that address your heart so that it prostrates to Him alone:
قُلْ لِمَنِ الْأَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيهَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ قُلْ مَنْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ قُلْ مَنْ بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ يُجِيرُ وَلَا يُجَارُ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ قُلْ فَأَنَّى تُسْحَرُونَ
“Say, ‘To whom belongs the earth and whoever is in it, if you should know?’ They will say, ‘To Allah.’ Say, ‘Then will you not remember?’ Say, ‘Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the Great Throne?’ They will say, ‘To Allah.’ Say, ‘Then will you not fear Him?’ Say, ‘In whose hand is the realm of all things—and He protects while none can protect against Him—if you should know?’ They will say, ‘To Allah.’ Say, ‘Then how are you deluded?’” (Surah Al-Mu’minun: 84-89).
The True King, Allah, says:
قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ مَالِكَ الْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِي الْمُلْكَ مَنْ تَشَاءُ وَتَنْزِعُ الْمُلْكَ مِمَّنْ تَشَاءُ
"Say, ‘O Allah, Owner of all Dominion, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will.’" [Aal-Imran: 26].
The True King, who holds the treasures of everything and controls all affairs in reality, is Allah. He, the Almighty, says:
فَتَعَالَى اللَّهُ الْمَلِكُ الْحَقُّ
“So exalted is Allah, the Sovereign, the Truth” (Surah Taha: 114).
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no true owner except Allah, the Exalted and Glorious.” (Narrated by Muslim).
The Prophet ﷺ used to declare every morning, evening, and when taking rest at night that true sovereignty belongs to Allah alone. In the morning, he would say: “We have entered the morning, and the kingdom belongs to Allah. All praise is due to Allah.” In the evening, he would say: “We have entered the evening, and the kingdom belongs to Allah. All praise is due to Allah” (Narrated by Muslim).
When taking rest at night, he would say: “O Allah, Lord of everything, King of everything, God of everything, to You belongs everything. I seek refuge in You from the Fire” (Narrated by Ahmad).
He would proclaim in his prayer, with both his heart and tongue, that Allah alone is the King with no partner. Among the praises of the Prophet ﷺ in his opening supplication of the prayer, he would say: “O Allah, You are the King. There is no deity but You. You are my Lord, and I am Your servant” (Narrated by Muslim).
In his bowing and prostration, he would say: “Glory be to the One with majesty, sovereignty, greatness, and might” (Narrated by Abu Dawood).
If Allah owns everything, what do others possess? Indeed, everyone besides Allah does not own even a speck in the heavens and the earth, nor do they share any ownership with Him in anything. They cannot bring about life or death, nor can they benefit or harm themselves or others, nor can they avert harm or alter it.
Listen to the words of your Lord as He liberates your heart from attachment to others:
وَاتَّخَذُوا مِنْ دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنْفُسِهِمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ مَوْتًا وَلَا حَيَاةً وَلَا نُشُورًا
“But they have taken besides Him gods which create nothing while they are created and possess not for themselves any harm or benefit and possess not power to cause death or life or resurrection” [Al-Furqan: 3].
Allah Almighty says:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهِمَا مِنْ شِرْكٍ وَمَا لَهُ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ ظَهِيرٍ
“Say, ‘Call upon those whom you claim [as gods] besides Allah. They do not possess an atom’s weight in the heavens or on the earth, nor do they have any share in either, nor is there for Him from among them any assistant” [Saba: 22].
He also says:
قُلِ ادْعُوا الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ فَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ كَشْفَ الضُّرِّ عَنْكُمْ وَلَا تَحْوِيلًا
“Say, ‘Call upon those whom you claim [as gods] besides Him, for they do not possess the ability to remove harm from you or to change [it]’” [Al-Isra: 56].
And He says:
الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ
“To whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion” [Al-Furqan: 2].
To those whose hearts are attached to rivals, whether alive or dead, believing that they have some control over Allah’s dominion: Did Allah not say to the best of His creation, our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
قُلْ لَا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا إِلَّا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ
“Say, ‘I possess not for myself any harm or benefit except what Allah should will” [Al-A’raf: 188]?
To those whose hearts are attached to others besides Allah for their provisions, fearing or flattering others lest their sustenance be cut off by mere servants like themselves: Did Allah not say:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لَكُمْ رِزْقًا فَابْتَغُوا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ الرِّزْقَ وَاعْبُدُوهُ وَاشْكُرُوا لَهُ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
“Indeed, those you worship besides Allah do not possess for you [the ability to cause] provision. So seek from Allah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be returned” [Al-Ankabut: 17]?
Do you fear someone who does not even own a "qitmir"? Allah says:
ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِنْ قِطْمِيرٍ
“That is Allah, your Lord; His is the dominion. And those whom you invoke besides Him do not possess [as much as] the membrane of a date seed” [Fatir: 13].
Do you know what a "qitmir" is? Have you seen that thin layer covering a date seed? Even those with power and wealth do not possess it!
O you who show off your deeds to people so that they may love you and praise you—by Allah! People do not own their own hearts. They do not possess love, hatred, adornment, or disgrace, nor can they raise or lower anyone. All of that belongs to Allah alone.
A man once said to the Prophet ﷺ: “My praise is beauty, and my criticism is disgrace.” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “That is for Allah alone” (Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi).
Indeed, a servant who truly affirms Allah’s oneness does not feel impoverished in his heart except towards Allah. He does not owe allegiance to anyone but Him, worships none but Him, and submits to no one but Him. He seeks the pleasure of none but Allah, because in reality, there is no King except Allah. The true owner is the one who is worshipped, who legislates, who commands and prohibits. If the kings of this world refuse to have anyone share their rule, then what about the King of kings, who is above all kings, and is the true owner? Allah says:
قُلْ أَتَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَمْلِكُ لَكُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا وَاللَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
“Say, ‘Do you worship besides Allah that which does not possess for you [the power of] harm or benefit while Allah is the Hearing, the Knowing?’” [Al-Ma’idah: 76].
May Allah bless me and you with the Noble Quran, and benefit me and you with the verses and wise reminders it contains. I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness, for He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Second Sermon
All praise is due to Allah, may Allah exalt and send peace to the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions. As for what follows:
O servants of Allah,
Man believes he owns something in this world, but on the Day of Judgment, all of creation will realize that true ownership belongs solely to Allah. They will come to their Lord individually, as He created them the first time: barefoot, unclothed, and exposed before Him.
Indeed, He is the Owner of this world and the Hereafter, the Owner of the Day of Judgment. Allah says:
يَوْمَ هُمْ بَارِزُونَ لَا يَخْفَى عَلَى اللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ شَيْءٌ لِمَنِ الْمُلْكُ الْيَوْمَ لِلَّهِ الْوَاحِدِ الْقَهَّارِ
“The Day they come forth, nothing concerning them will be concealed from Allah. To whom belongs [all] sovereignty this Day? To Allah, the One, the Irresistible” [Ghafir: 16].
He also says:
الْمُلْكُ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْحَقُّ لِلرَّحْمَنِ وَكَانَ يَوْمًا عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ عَسِيرًا
“True sovereignty, that Day, is for the Most Merciful. And it will be upon the disbelievers a difficult Day” [Al-Furqan: 26].
Where, then, are the kings of the earth on the Day of Judgment? And where is what they used to own? The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah will grasp the earth, and fold the heavens in His right hand, then He will say: ‘I am the King, where are the kings of the earth?”(Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
On that Day, no soul will have power to benefit or harm another soul. They will have no power to intercede or even speak, except by the permission of the True King, to whom all dominion belongs, without any partner.
O Allah, fill our hearts with faith in You, true monotheism, and complete reliance upon You.
O Allah, grant victory to Your religion, Your Book, the Sunnah of Your Prophet ﷺ, and Your righteous servants.
O Allah, save Your oppressed servants, and bring relief to our afflicted brothers among the believers.
O Allah, grant us safety in our lands, and rectify our leaders and those in authority over us, and make our leaders those who fear You, obey You, and seek Your pleasure.
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
