Title of the Sermon: The Fitrah of Allah
Elements of the Sermon:
What is the Fitrah of Allah?
Every newborn is born upon the Fitrah.
Islam is the religion of Fitrah.
The Fitrah is both spiritual and physical.
All praise is due to Allah, the Creator of mankind, who commands justice and kindness and forbids immorality and oppression. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions, in abundance until the Day of Judgment.
To proceed: Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, as He should be feared, and be mindful of Him in private and public. 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.”
O servants of Allah:
One day, the Prophet ﷺ set out for battle and, on his way, heard a shepherd calling the Adhan, saying: “Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “He is upon the Fitrah.” [Muslim]
How beautiful and pure the natural disposition is in the heart! And how vile it is when man’s arrogance drives him to suppress it and deny what Allah created him upon—acknowledging Him and turning to Him in devotion! The disbelieving nations said to their prophets:
إِنَّا كَفَرْنَا بِمَا أُرْسِلْتُمْ بِهِ وَإِنَّا لَفِي شَكٍّ مِمَّا تَدْعُونَنَا إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ
“Indeed, we disbelieve in that with which you have been sent, and indeed we are in disquieting doubt about that to which you invite us.” [Ibrahim: 9]
The messengers responded:
أَفِي اللَّهِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
“Is there doubt about Allah, Creator of the heavens and the earth?” [Ibrahim: 10]
How can there be doubt about Allah when He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and has created mankind upon a sound and upright natural disposition?
Do you know what the natural disposition is upon which Allah created all people? Listen to what the Prophet ﷺ says: “There is no newborn except that he is born upon the Fitrah”—in another narration: ‘upon this religion’—“then his parents make him a Jew, or a Christian, or a Magian, just as an animal gives birth to a complete offspring—do you see any of them born mutilated (with a severed ear)?” Then Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) recited: ‘The Fitrah of Allah upon which He has created all people.’” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Allah creates every newborn among the children of Adam with a heart pure from disbelief and corrupt beliefs, inclined to accept the truth and guidance if left untouched. This is the Hanifiyyah—the religion of Islam. Thus, every person is born into this world like a complete lamb, free from flaws or defects, until external influences corrupt him. Similarly, mankind is born upon the Fitrah of Islam, but then parents and the allies of Satan lead them away from the light of this natural disposition to the darkness of idolatry, Judaism, Magianism, Christianity, or irreligion.
In the Qudsi hadith, Allah says: “I created My servants as Hunafa’ (upright and pure), but the devils turned them away from their religion, made unlawful for them what I had made lawful, and commanded them to associate partners with Me in worship, for which I sent no authority.” [Muslim]
Allah has created all people with an inherent acknowledgment of Him as their Lord and Creator—He who subjected the sun and the moon, provides for every creature, and manages their affairs. Allah says:
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ فَأَنَّى يُؤْفَكُونَ
“And if you asked them, ‘Who created the heavens and the earth and subjected the sun and the moon?’ they would surely say, ‘Allah.’ Then how are they deluded?” [Al-Ankabut: 61]
And Allah says:
وَلَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ نَزَّلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِهَا لَيَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
“And if you asked them, ‘Who sends down rain from the sky and gives life thereby to the earth after its death?’ they would surely say, ‘Allah.’ Say, ‘Praise to Allah’; but most of them do not reason.” [Al-Ankabut: 63]
And He says:
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?’” [Al-Mu’minun: 84-89]
There is no human being who does not naturally turn to Allah. This is why even the polytheist calls upon Him in times of hardship and seeks refuge in Him during calamities. At such moments, his arrogance is broken, he forgets all the earthly false gods, and his heart and face turn sincerely to the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Allah says:
وَإِذَا مَسَّ الْإِنْسَانَ ضُرٌّ دَعَا رَبَّهُ مُنِيبًا إِلَيْهِ
“And when adversity touches man, he calls upon his Lord, turning to Him alone.” [Az-Zumar: 8]
Allah also says:
وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَنْ تَدْعُونَ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ وَكَانَ الْإِنْسَانُ كَفُورًا
“And when adversity touches you at sea, lost are [all] those you invoke except for Him. But when He delivers you to the land, you turn away. And ever is man ungrateful.” [Al-Isra: 67]
Here the Prophet ﷺ teaches us a supplication to conclude our day, affirming this innate servitude. Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When you go to your bed, perform ablution as you do for prayer, then lie on your right side and say: ‘O Allah, I submit myself to You, entrust my affairs to You, turn my face to You, and rely on You, in hope and fear of You. There is no refuge or salvation from You except with You. I believe in Your Book which You have revealed, and in Your Prophet whom You have sent.’ If you die during the night, you will die upon the Fitrah. Let these be the last words you say.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Allah has created all of mankind capable of recognizing the truth, naturally affirming that the universe has a Praiseworthy Creator—neither a human being nor a fabricated entity, but One deserving of all praise and perfection. This Fitrah requires no reasoning or deduction; it is an undeniable certainty embedded in the soul, found settled in the heart, mind, and conscience of every human being, incapable of being denied. Look at Antarah, even though he was in his state of pre-Islamic ignorance, that he said:
"O ‘Abla, where can I flee from death,
If my Lord in the heavens has decreed it?"
Thus, hearts are naturally inclined to believe that above the heavens is a Great Lord whom souls revere, worship, turn to, and place their trust in.
The Fitrah, O servants of Allah, is Islam. This is why the Prophet ﷺ would say morning and evening: “We have entered the morning upon the Fitrah of Islam, the word of sincerity, the religion of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and the faith of our father Ibrahim, who was upright and a Muslim and not of the polytheists.” [Ahmad]
Everything that Islam calls to in terms of goodness and truth aligns with the sound Fitrah, which readily accepts and desires it. Likewise, everything that Islam forbids in terms of falsehood and sin is naturally rejected and detested by the upright disposition.
Allah summarized His command and law in this magnificent verse, saying:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct, and giving to relatives and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.” [An-Nahl: 90]
Indeed, He commands all justice, goodness, and kindness and forbids all corruption, wickedness, and oppression.
With this purpose, Allah sent the messengers—to affirm and perfect the innate disposition, not to change or alter it. Did Allah not say about His Prophet ﷺ:
يَأْمُرُهُمْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ
“He enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil.” [Al-A‘raf: 157]
Do you not see, O servant of Allah, how Allah refers to what He commands as “Ma‘ruf” (good and recognized)? This is because sound and upright dispositions recognize, affirm, and find peace with it. He refers to what He forbids as “Munkar” (evil and detested) because the pure disposition rejects, abhors, and disdains it.
An-Nawwas ibn Sam‘an (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about righteousness and sin, and he said: ‘Righteousness is good character, and sin is what troubles you in your chest, and you dislike that people should find out about it.’” [Muslim]
The companion Abu Tha‘labah Al-Khushani asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ: “Inform me of what is lawful for me and what is unlawful for me.” The Prophet ﷺ replied: “Righteousness is what the soul finds tranquility with, and the heart finds peace with. Sin is what unsettles the soul and does not give peace to the heart.” [Ahmad]
Ask any person with a sound disposition about noble virtues, and you will find them considering justice, mercy, kindness, truthfulness, helping the distressed, supporting the oppressed, assisting the needy, modesty, and fulfilling trust as excellent morals and noble qualities. Likewise, they view injustice, corruption, aggression, lying, violating sanctities, and betrayal as vile traits and despicable behaviors.
Ask any person of sound nature—regardless of their race or language—about modesty, marriage between a man and a woman, honoring the family structure, and respecting parents, and you will find them unanimously accepting these as inherent, beautiful values. Then ask them about immodesty, homosexuality, perversion, family destruction, and disobedience to parents, and they will agree that only those with corrupted dispositions and inverted souls engage in such acts. Allah says:
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“So direct your face toward the religion, inclining to truth—the Fitrah of Allah upon which He has created all people. No change should there be in the creation of Allah. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.” [Ar-Rum: 30]
May Allah bless me and you with the great Qur'an and benefit us with its verses and wise reminders. I seek forgiveness from Allah for myself and for you. Seek His forgiveness, for He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Second Sermon
All praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, companions, and all who follow him. To proceed:
O servants of Allah:
Indeed, there are two types of Fitrah (natural disposition):
A Fitrah related to the heart, which purifies the heart and soul. It is the recognition of Allah, loving Him, and preferring Him over all else. Through this, the heart is cleansed from Shirk and the filth of disbelief.
A practical Fitrah, which inclines a person toward good and beautiful deeds. It leads the individual to avoid filth and impurities, ensuring cleanliness and purity in word and action. Such a person becomes the most wholesome outwardly and inwardly due to the soundness of their Fitrah and purity of their heart.
Did the Prophet ﷺ not say: “Five acts are from the Fitrah: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, plucking the armpit hair, clipping the nails, and trimming the mustache.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Reflect upon these qualities, which achieve cleanliness, purification, enhancement of appearance, and regulation of desires, ensuring that a person remains in the best of states. Abandoning these practices reduces a person to the level of animals, devoid of natural disposition and religion.
May Allah protect us and you from all harm and impurity and adorn our outward and inward selves with all that is good and wholesome.
O Allah, keep us firm upon the Fitrah of Islam, the word of sincerity, the religion of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and the faith of Ibrahim, who was upright and not of the polytheists.
O Allah, grant victory to Islam and honor the Muslims. Destroy the Jewish criminals. O Allah, send tranquility into the hearts of those striving in Your cause, save Your oppressed servants, and raise the banner of the religion by Your power, O Powerful, O Almighty.
O Allah, grant us safety in our homelands, rectify our leaders and those in authority over us, and place our leadership among those who fear You, follow Your commands, 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.
