Sermon Title: The Manufacturing of Triviality
Sermon Elements:
1. How is Triviality Manufactured?.
2. The Impact of Manufacturing Triviality.
3. The Status of Triviality and the Trivial in the Religion of Allah.
4. The Responsibility of Educators and Guardians.
All praise be to Allah, who made His Book a decisive truth without frivolity, upright with no crookedness. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, who is above deficiency or vanity, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, who forbade impurity and abomination. May Allah exalt and send peace to him, his family, and companions in abundance.
O servants of Allah, fear Allah as He deserves to be feared, and be mindful of Him both in private and in public. As He 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.” (3:102)
Servants of Allah
Have you heard of the ruwaybida?
Our Prophet ﷺ said, “There will come upon the people years of deceit, in which the liar will be believed, and the truthful will be denied; the dishonest will be trusted, and the trustworthy will be deemed treacherous. And in that time, the ruwaybida will speak.” It was said, “Who are the ruwaybida, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “A foolish person who speaks about public affairs.” (Ibn Majah)
The ruwaybida is a person who has idly reclined and shunned matters of importance. He is shallow, with petty ambitions, devoid of resolve, and holds neither weight nor value, for he is skilled only in trivialities. Yet, he dares to offer his opinions in the gravest of matters, positioning himself as a model among leaders.
In the past, people would disregard someone like this, but as our Prophet ﷺ foretold, times have changed, and now the insignificant ruwaybida is esteemed, pointed out by the hand and given attention.
We are living in an age of manufactured triviality. Let me show you where it’s produced. Here are two portraits:
In the first, there is a righteous person, beneficial to his faith and community, diligently providing for his family. Regardless of his profession, he lives on wholesome earnings, perhaps dwelling in a simple home, riding modest transport, wearing ordinary clothing, and earning a modest income.
In the second portrait, there is a person of excessive wealth, well-known to the people, his life the topic of media discourse. Spotlight is shone upon him, his journeys, and his family; he rides in the finest vehicles, lives in the grandest mansions, dines on the rarest of delicacies, and earns many times the income of the first person. He is honored wherever he goes, and gifts pour upon him.
What is his profession? What is his skill?
His profession, more often than not, is mastering the art of triviality.
A pursuit of no value to the growth of nations and, in most cases, a cause for their decline. At best, it may serve as mere entertainment, yet the mind of this famous person is emptied of any benefit or virtue, save his mastery of trifling pursuits.
He could be merely a player, singer, dissolute actor, sarcastic comedian, insatiable eater, effeminate dancer, or a creator of empty content, offering no benefit to people in faith or worldly matters.
One’s worth is now measured by the number of followers, the profits increase accordingly, advertising companies chase after him, brands leverage his image, and his photos appear on billboards and buses.
The more trivial he is, the larger his fan base grows, increasing his earnings. In just a few short months, he transitions from poverty to excessive wealth.
As the Prophet ﷺ truthfully said, “Soon, the luk’a ibn luk’a will dominate the world.” (Ahmad)
The luk’a: the despicable and base person who holds no benefit. The days turn, the times grow corrupt, and such people become the most prosperous in worldly life.
Servants of Allah
Our great Muslim Ummah has for ages led the world, bearing pride and dignity through its monotheism, its infallible revelation, and its upright faith, untainted by deviation. By the efforts of its children in various fields of life, they safeguarded the honor of Islam. But enemies from the East and West have assailed us, and the murderers of prophets and worshippers of the cross united to ravage its blood, its honor, and its wealth.
Have people awoken after such calamity? Have they recovered after such distress?
Hypocrites have targeted the youth of this Ummah, making triviality a craft and making the trivial into leaders, such that triviality has become the aspiration of generations and their preoccupation in every situation.
Now, the question remains: what’s the problem with manufacturing triviality and highlighting the trivial?
What if the younger generations see that those who excel only in trivialities are raised to prominence, granted immense wealth, and surrounded by people vying for their pictures, while those who benefit their community, having spent their lives on valuable knowledge and work, are ignored, barely finding their daily sustenance? This changes the criteria for success, and a young person’s highest hope becomes to be an athlete, a singer, an actor, or a famous dancer because he sees a society that rewards the debased and ignores the upright.
These trivial figures have been elevated and highlighted until they become role models, invited to public events and programs. Their opinions are treated as wise insights, though they offer only what people want to hear, since their true capital lies in popular appeal. They don’t confront people with truth lest they clash with them, nor do they offer sincere advice to the wealthy and powerful; instead, they hasten to please them by any means.
O servant of Allah
What is the status of triviality and trivial people in the religion of the Lord of all creation? Ask yourself: Why did Allah create us in this world? Allah says:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (51:56)
He created us for a grand purpose: to establish worship for Him alone, within ourselves and among those around us, to uphold His religion and the laws He revealed in His books and through His messengers, to establish them within ourselves and the entire world. A person lives in this world, tested with what Allah has commanded, and then dies, to live again and be accountable for their deeds, receiving full and just recompense.
Do you realize what lies ahead?
This matter is indeed serious, not a trivial one; it’s either Paradise or Hellfire. And Paradise has levels, just as Hell has depths. Allah speaks the truth, saying:
اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُعْرِضُونَ * مَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ مُحْدَثٍ إِلَّا اسْتَمَعُوهُ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ * لَاهِيَةً قُلُوبُهُمْ
“[The time of] their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away. No mention comes to them anew from their Lord except that they listen to it while they are at play, with distracted hearts.” (21:1-3)
O you who spend your time following the trivial and keeping up with their daily lives! Do you know who is truly at a loss?
It’s the one to whom Allah has granted life and time, yet he sells it cheaply on trivial pursuits and what brings no benefit.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no one among you except that his Lord will speak to him without an interpreter. He will look to his right and see only what he has done of deeds, and he will look to his left and see only what he has done. And he will look in front of him and see nothing but the Fire facing him, so protect yourselves from the Fire, even if with half a date.” (Agreed upon)
On the Day of Judgment, a person will be asked: “About his life and how he spent it, and about his youth and how he used it.” (Tirmidhi)
By Allah, how great the regret will be when people stand before the Lord of all worlds! Allah says:
وَأَنْذِرْهُمْ يَوْمَ الْحَسْرَةِ إِذْ قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ وَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
“And warn them of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and yet they are in [a state of] heedlessness, and they do not believe.” (19:39)
A person will surely realize on that Day, when he sees Paradise and its delights, that he had been heedless of a great matter.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “If a man were dragged on his face from the day he was born until the day he dies, growing old in obedience to Allah, he would still regard it as insignificant on the Day of Resurrection.” (Ahmad)
Even one gathering that passes without remembering Allah will be a cause of regret on the Day of Resurrection, even if he enters Paradise.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “No people sit in a gathering without remembering Allah or sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, except that it will be a cause of regret for them on the Day of Resurrection, even if they enter Paradise for their reward.” (Ahmad)
So tell me, O Muslim: Who are you truly? Why are you alive in this world, and what is your mission? Did Allah not say:
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.’”? (6:162)
And did He not say:
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ
“You are the best nation produced for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah.” (3:110)
How, then, can you lower yourself into the pit of triviality when Allah has honored you with this noble message?
They have prepared you for a matter, if you understood it well
So elevate yourself and don’t graze with the lowly.
O servants of Allah
The nations around us are striving to create legacies of greatness, struggling under the law of the strongest in this world. We cannot hold any value if we remain immersed in triviality.
Allah commanded us to take up the causes of strength, not to become dependent on other nations for our food, medicine, and weapons. How will we rise from this decline and slumber if triviality and trivial people become our role models?
May Allah bless me and you with the great Quran and benefit us with its verses and wise remembrance. I ask Allah’s forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness, for He is indeed the Forgiving, the Merciful.
All praise be to Allah, and may Allah exalt and send peace to the messenger of Allah, his family, companions, and all those who follow him.
O youth of the Ummah
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, Allah is Generous and loves generosity and noble manners, and He detests lowly characteristics.” (Reported by Al-Bayhaqi)
Allah loves for you and from you to strive for the highest ranks in every matter, and He detests that which is base.
O parents, guardians, and those whom Allah has entrusted with the responsibility of raising future generations,
Beware of elevating the trivial and promoting them or praising them! Beware of cultivating triviality!
What if we made the arena of competition for our children about noble pursuits?
What if recognition and honor were given only to those who truly succeed, judged by the standards of truth, not by the standards of the people of falsehood?
What if the lowly and trivial returned to their rightful places, and those of wisdom and intellect advanced to leadership roles?
If that were the case, things would be much different from what we see today, and we would lead the nations and be preeminent among all.
O Allah, bring forth for this Ummah a matter of righteousness in which You honor Your allies, humble Your enemies, uphold Your obedience, and forbid Your disobedience.
O Allah, grant this Ummah glory, honor, empowerment, and victory. Strengthen it through Your religion and Your Book.
O Allah, protect Your oppressed servants in Gaza and in every place, relieve the afflicted among the believers, and grant victory to Your monotheistic servants over the criminal Zionists.
O Allah, grant us security in our homelands, and rectify our leaders and those in authority over us. Make our authority among those who fear You, follow Your guidance, and seek Your pleasure.
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
