Title of Sermon: The Religion of Proof and Evidence
Elements of Sermon:
1. The Fallacy of Doubts.
2. The Creed of Islam is Built on Proof and Evidence.
3. Those Who Stray from the Truth Do Not Reason.
4. Arrogance is a Barrier to Following the Truth.
All praise be to Allah, the Almighty Creator, who casts truth upon falsehood, demolishing it until it vanishes. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, alone without any partner, who has clearly explained His signs and clarified the truths. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, the trustworthy and truthful unlettered Prophet. May Allah exalt and send peace to him, his family, and his companions, in abundant measure.
As for what follows, fear Allah, O servants of Allah, with the true fear of Him, and be conscious of Him in secret and in the open, as Allah says:
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." [Aal-Imran: 102].
Servants of Allah:
Allah Almighty says:
وَأَضَلَّهُمُ السَّامِرِيُّ
“And the Samiri led them astray” [Ta-Ha: 85].
Who are these people? The Children of Israel witnessed with their own eyes the astonishing signs of the Lord of the worlds and how He saved them from the humiliating torment of the tyrant Pharaoh. However, after Allah saved them and drowned Pharaoh, they passed by a people who were devoted to idols, and they said to Moses:
اجْعَلْ لَنَا إِلَهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ
“Make for us a god just as they have gods.” [Al-A'raf: 138].
What great ignorance this was!
فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَكِنْ تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ
“For indeed, it is not the eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the chests.” [Al-Hajj: 46].
The Lord spoke to Moses, peace be upon him, and informed him that his people had worshipped the calf in his absence, and that they were led astray by the Samiri.
The Samiri was a leader of misguidance, and every era has its equivalent—a person who carries decorated falsehood that appeals to hearts blinded to the truth and filled with corrupt desires.
The Samiri noticed the Children of Israel’s longing for a made-up god, and like every lowly person seeking elevation through lies, he crafted a golden calf for them, producing a sound like that of a cow. He and his followers then declared:
هَذَا إِلَهُكُمْ وَإِلَهُ مُوسَى فَنَسِيَ
“This is your god and the god of Moses, but he forgot.” [Ta-Ha: 88].
Is it conceivable that Moses would forget his Lord, go astray, and that the true god would be a golden calf? Despite the insignificance of this argument—like all false arguments—it still had followers. Allah says:
أَفَلَا يَرَوْنَ أَلَّا يَرْجِعُ إِلَيْهِمْ قَوْلًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُ لَهُمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا
“Do they not see that it cannot return to them any speech and that it does not possess for them any harm or benefit?” [Ta-Ha: 89].
An idol that lacks the attributes of perfection cannot be a god, for it is deficient and flawed, unable to speak, to harm, or to benefit.
What kind of mind accepts that a made idol, deficient and powerless, could be a god—an idol that cannot hear or see, that cannot bring harm or benefit, that disappears and falls, that becomes sick and weak, that comes into existence after being nothing, that is in need of its worshiper, and whose worshiper is more complete and perfect than it?
This is akin to the argument of Ibrahim, peace be upon him, which he used to refute the idols of his people with proof and reason, after he physically destroyed them. He said:
أَفَتَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنْفَعُكُمْ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَضُرُّكُمْ * أُفٍّ لَكُمْ وَلِمَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
“Do you worship besides Allah that which does not benefit you at all or harm you? Uff to you and to what you worship besides Allah. Then will you not use reason?” [Al-Anbiya: 66-67].
Servants of Allah:
Thus, Allah consistently establishes His Oneness with decisive arguments and overwhelming proofs. One of the greatest characteristics of our correct Islamic creed is that it is founded upon sound proofs, certain evidence, and rational arguments. These proofs cannot be denied except by one who is destined for destruction. Allah 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].
The proof refers to clear, undeniable evidence that removes any doubt, and when it is heard by the ears and received by the sound heart, it implants certainty within, leaving no room for doubt or uncertainty.
Thus, all the principles of the creed and the foundations of faith are established by Allah through rational and scriptural evidence. When Allah speaks to us about His divinity, He addresses both our hearts and minds, saying:
أَفَمَنْ يَخْلُقُ كَمَنْ لَا يَخْلُقُ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not be reminded?” [An-Nahl: 17].
Can the Creator be equated with the created? Can something that did not exist, that is dependent on another to give it life, be a god? Listen to how these verses refute all falsehood. Allah says:
أَمَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَأَنْزَلَ لَكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَنْبَتْنَا بِهِ حَدَائِقَ ذَاتَ بَهْجَةٍ مَا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَنْ تُنْبِتُوا شَجَرَهَا أَإِلَهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ يَعْدِلُونَ * أَمَّنْ جَعَلَ الْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَجَعَلَ خِلَالَهَا أَنْهَارًا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزًا أَإِلَهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ * أَمَّنْ يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ وَيَكْشِفُ السُّوءَ وَيَجْعَلُكُمْ خُلَفَاءَ الْأَرْضِ أَإِلَهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ قَلِيلًا مَا تَذَكَّرُونَ * أَمَّنْ يَهْدِيكُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَنْ يُرْسِلُ الرِّيَاحَ بُشْرًا بَيْنَ يَدَيْ رَحْمَتِهِ أَإِلَهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى اللَّهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ * أَمَّنْ يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَمَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَإِلَهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ
“Is He [not best] who created the heavens and the earth and sent down for you rain from the sky, causing to grow gardens of joyful beauty, which you could not have grown the trees thereof? Is there a god with Allah? No, but they are a people who ascribe equals [to Him].
Is He [not best] who made the earth a stable ground and placed within it rivers and made for it firmly set mountains and placed between the two seas a barrier? Is there a god with Allah? But most of them do not know.
Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a god with Allah? Little do you remember.
Is He [not best] who guides you through the darknesses of the land and sea and who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy? Is there a god with Allah? High is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.
Is He [not best] who begins creation and then repeats it, and who provides for you from the heaven and earth? Is there a god with Allah? Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful.” [An-Naml: 60-64].
These are proofs as clear as the sun, telling you of Allah’s true divinity: creation and bringing into existence, precision and mastery, care and beneficence, magnificent signs. So, bring forth your proof and evidence for these falsehoods, idols, partners, and atheism, but how could they possibly do so?
The one who follows falsehood has no proof, and the polytheist has no evidence, nor does the atheist possess any authority. All of it is mere baseless assumptions and illusions. Allah says:
إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ إِنْ يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَمَا تَهْوَى الْأَنْفُسُ وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنْ رَبِّهِمُ الْهُدَى
"They are but [mere] names you have named them —you and your forefathers— for which Allah has sent down no authority. They follow nothing but assumption and what [their] souls desire, while there has already come to them from their Lord guidance." [An-Najm: 23].
All you need to do is read the Quran to hear the clear arguments for every foundation of this correct creed.
The verses of the written book (the Quran) inform you of the truth concerning the signs in the observable world. But for whom? Allah tells us that His signs are for
لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
"a people who reason" [Ar-Ra’d: 4],
And
لِقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ
"a people who listen" [Yunus: 67],
And
لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
"a people who reflect" [Ar-Ra’d: 3].
The polytheists denied the resurrection and meeting with Allah, so Allah addressed their hearts and minds, saying:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنَّكَ تَرَى الْأَرْضَ خَاشِعَةً فَإِذَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ إِنَّ الَّذِي أَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْيِ الْمَوْتَى إِنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
"And of His signs is that you see the earth stilled, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and grows. Indeed, He who has given it life is the Giver of Life to the dead. Indeed, He is over all things competent." [Fussilat: 39].
Do you see that barren and dead land, with no crops or fruit? How the Almighty brings it back to life with fresh, pure water? Is He, then, incapable of bringing you back to life after He has caused you to die, while He is the Giver of Life? Allah strikes down the arrogance of the boastful human being by saying:
وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلًا وَنَسِيَ خَلْقَهُ قَالَ مَنْ يُحْيِ الْعِظَامَ وَهِيَ رَمِيمٌ * قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِي أَنْشَأَهَا أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ * الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ الْأَخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَا أَنْتُمْ مِنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ * أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَى أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُمْ بَلَى وَهُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ
"And he presents for Us an example and forgets his [own] creation. He says, 'Who will give life to bones while they are disintegrated?' Say, 'He will give them life who produced them the first time; and He is, of all creation, Knowing. [It is] He who made for you from the green tree, fire, and then from it you ignite. Is not He who created the heavens and the earth able to create the likes of them? Yes, [it is so]; and He is the Knowing Creator." [Ya-Sin: 78-81].
As for those who rejected the Prophethood of His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ, Allah calls them to use their reason and reflect:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَعِظُكُمْ بِوَاحِدَةٍ أَنْ تَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ مَثْنَى وَفُرَادَى ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا مَا بِصَاحِبِكُمْ مِنْ جِنَّةٍ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ
"Say, 'I only advise you of one thing—that you stand for Allah, [seeking the truth] in pairs and individually, and then give thought. There is not in your companion any madness. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment.'" [Saba’: 46].
Think about it—could it be that Muhammad ﷺ is insane, while he is the trustworthy, truthful, wise one, whom you have known all your lives? You never experienced any falsehood or foolishness from him! Did not the Messenger of Allah ﷺ live among you for a long time, unable to read or write, and then he brought you a Book filled with truth, without any falsehood? How could this be from him? Allah says:
وَمَا كُنْتَ تَتْلُو مِنْ قَبْلِهِ مِنْ كِتَابٍ وَلَا تَخُطُّهُ بِيَمِينِكَ إِذًا لَارْتَابَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ
"And you did not recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Otherwise, the falsifiers would have had [cause for] doubt." [Al-Ankabut: 48].
Thus, Allah commanded him to speak to their minds, saying:
قُلْ لَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا تَلَوْتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا أَدْرَاكُمْ بِهِ فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ فِيكُمْ عُمُرًا مِنْ قَبْلِهِ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ﴾
"Say, 'If Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you. For I had remained among you a lifetime before it. Then will you not reason?'" [Yunus: 16].
Allah described these deniers, polytheists, and doubters as lacking true understanding, for they are like livestock—rather, they are even more astray.
When confronted with proof and argument, they respond by saying, "We follow what we found our forefathers upon." But what kind of proof is that? Thus, Allah says:
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ
"And when it is said to them, 'Follow what Allah has revealed,' they say, 'Rather, we will follow that upon which we found our forefathers.' Even though their forefathers understood nothing, nor were they guided?" [Al-Baqarah: 170].
Indeed, they are truly as Allah described:
وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
"But most of them do not use reason." [Al-Ma'idah: 103].
Therefore, they will cry out in Hell:
لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِي أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ
"If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze." [Al-Mulk: 10].
May Allah bless me and you with the great Quran, and benefit us with its signs and wise reminders. I seek Allah's forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness, for He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
The Second Sermon
All praise be to Allah, and may Allah exalt and send peace to the Messenger of Allah, his family, and companions.
O servants of Allah:
Our Lord, the Almighty, says:
قُلْ فَلِلَّهِ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ
"Say, 'To Allah belongs the conclusive argument.'" [Al-An’am: 149].
How fortunate we are with the truth that Allah has bestowed upon us, as He has honored us with the clear truth, supported by undeniable proof, free of confusion or contradiction, without ambiguity or deception.
Look around at the nations who have strayed from Allah and how they have been led astray by the followers of the Samiri, their souls filled with hatred for the truth, toward falsehood built on neither reason nor evidence. It is nothing but conflicting doubts and contradictory assumptions that align with corrupt desires. It is arrogance that has swelled their chests and made them too proud to follow the truth. Allah says:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَانٍ أَتَاهُمْ إِنْ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ إِلَّا كِبْرٌ مَا هُمْ بِبَالِغِيهِ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ
"Indeed, those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah without any authority having come to them—there is not within their breasts except pride, [the extent of] which they cannot reach. So seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Seeing." [Ghafir: 56].
They will be summoned on the Day of Judgment before the true King, who says:
سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ﴾
"We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?" [Fussilat: 53].
They will stand before Him on the Day of Resurrection, and He will say:
أَيْنَ شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ كُنْتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ * وَنَزَعْنَا مِنْ كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ شَهِيدًا فَقُلْنَا هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ فَعَلِمُوا أَنَّ الْحَقَّ لِلَّهِ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُمْ مَا كَانُوا يَفْتَرُونَ
"Where are My 'partners' that you used to claim?And We will extract from every nation a witness and say, 'Produce your proof.' And they will know that the truth belongs to Allah, and lost from them is that which they used to invent." [Al-Qasas: 75].
O servants of Allah!
Turn to the Book of your Lord and the Sunnah of your Prophet, and you will find a clear and pure creed, built upon decisive proofs and shining evidence. None deviates from it except those who seek destruction. Learn it and teach it to your children, as the Prophet ﷺ said: "I have left you upon clear proof, its night is like its day. No one strays from it after me except one who is doomed." (Reported by Ahmad).
O Allah, guide our hearts with the Qur'an, enlighten our vision with its evidence, and keep our feet firm on the straight path.
O Allah, grant relief to Your oppressed servants in Gaza and in every place, relieve the distress of our suffering brothers and sisters, and grant victory to Your monotheistic servants over the criminal Zionists.
O Allah, grant us safety in our homelands, guide our leaders and those in authority over us, and make our leadership among those who fear You, seek Your pleasure, and follow Your guidance.
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.
