Sermon's Title: And He Comprehends All Vision
Themes of the Sermon:
1- The greatness of the sight of al-Baṣīr, the All-Seeing.
2- The fruits of believing in Allah’s supreme sight.
3- Allah is the One who grants true vision to the seeker of truth.
All praise is due to Allah, who is All-Seeing over every thing. He knows the treachery of the eyes and what the breasts conceal. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him in abundance.
To proceed:
Fear Allah, servants of Allah, with true piety, and be mindful of Him in secret and in open, for 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 while you are Muslims” [Āl ʿImrān: 102].
Servants of Allah:
One day, ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) went out to one of the outskirts of Madīnah with some of his companions. They set out a meal for themselves, and a shepherd of sheep passed by them. He greeted them with salām, so Ibn ʿUmar said to him: “Come, O shepherd, come and eat from this meal.” The shepherd replied: “I am fasting.” Ibn ʿUmar said: “You fast on a day like this, in the intense heat, while you are among these mountains tending this flock?” The shepherd said: “Yes, by Allah! I hasten to take advantage of my remaining days.”
Then Ibn ʿUmar, wishing to test his scrupulousness, said: “Would you sell us one of your sheep from this flock? We will pay you its price and give you some of its meat to break your fast with.” The shepherd replied: “These are not my sheep. They belong to my master.” Ibn ʿUmar said: “What would your master do if he noticed it missing? You could just say, ‘The wolf ate it.’” At this, the shepherd turned away, raising his finger to the sky, saying: “Where is Allah?!” When Ibn ʿUmar returned to Madīnah, he sent for the shepherd’s master, bought both the flock and the shepherd, then freed the shepherd and gifted him the flock. (Narrated by al-Bayhaqī).
How great is faith in Allah and in His Names and Attributes! It is the blessed tree that yields its fruit at all times by the permission of its Lord.
To believe in Allah, al-Baṣīr, the All-Seeing—who sees and perceives all things, from whom not even the weight of an atom in the heavens or the earth is hidden. He says, exalted is He:
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافَّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحْمَنُ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ
“Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None holds them up except the Most Merciful. Indeed, He is, of all things, All-Seeing” [al-Mulk: 19].
He is All-Seeing over everything, at the same time: the heavens and what they contain of noble angels and mighty celestial bodies; the earth and what is upon it of humans, jinn, birds, beasts, and all other creatures; even the ants in their tunnels, the fish in the seas, the hearts within the chests, and the water flowing through the rocks. All of this is seen by Allah, the All-Seeing.
O You who see the gnat extend its fragile wing,
in night’s dense gloom, where endless shadows cling—
Who sees the beating veins within its tiny throat,
and marrow flowing through the frailest bones afloat—
Glory be to Him—no veil, nor cloud, nor dust can obstruct Him from His creation.
He is as He described Himself:
لَا تُدْرِكُهُ الْأَبْصَارُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْأَبْصَارَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ
“Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the All-Aware.” [al-Anʿām: 103].
For He is Allah, the True, the Clear, possessing every perfection; and among His perfection is that He is the All-Seeing, nothing in the heavens or the earth is hidden from Him.
How vast the distance between the True God who sees every existing thing, and a false god with weak, limited sight! Did not Ibrāhīm, the close friend of Allah, rebuke the false gods of his father, saying:
يَا أَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِي عَنْكَ شَيْئًا
“O my father, why do you worship that which neither hears nor sees, and which cannot avail you at all?” [Maryam: 42].
Servants of Allah:
The believer who has faith in the greatness of Allah’s sight finds his heart at peace through this faith. He relies on his Lord, who sees all things and suffices him against all things.
When Mūsā and Hārūn, peace be upon them both, were commanded by Allah to go to Pharaoh the tyrant, He said:
اذْهَبَا إِلَى فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَى * فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَيِّنًا لَعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَى * قَالَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَنْ يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَا أَوْ أَنْ يَطْغَى * قَالَ لَا تَخَافَا إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَى﴾
“Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed. And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah]. They said: Our Lord, indeed we fear that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress. [Allah] said: Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.” [Ṭā Hā: 43-46].
Such is the reassurance: “Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.”
Tell me about your heart when you hear His words:
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْعَزِيزِ الرَّحِيمِ * الَّذِي يَرَاكَ حِينَ تَقُومُ * وَتَقَلُّبَكَ فِي السَّاجِدِينَ﴾
“And rely upon the Exalted in Might, the Merciful, who sees you when you arise, and your movement among those who prostrate.” [al-Shuʿarāʾ: 217-219].
Who can plot against you while you are under Allah’s gaze and in His protection? He said:
وَاصْبِرْ لِحُكْمِ رَبِّكَ فَإِنَّكَ بِأَعْيُنِنَا
“And be patient for the decision of your Lord, for indeed you are in Our sight.” [al-Ṭūr: 48].
Entrust your affairs to Allah, for He is the All-Seeing over His creation. He sees their schemes, and knows the treachery of the eyes and what the hearts conceal.
Say with your heart before your tongue the words of the believer from the family of Pharaoh:
فَسَتَذْكُرُونَ مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمْرِي إِلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَصِيرٌ بِالْعِبَادِ * فَوَقَاهُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِ مَا مَكَرُوا وَحَاقَ بِآلِ فِرْعَوْنَ سُوءُ الْعَذَابِ
“And you will remember what I [now] say to you, and I entrust my affair to Allah. Indeed, Allah is Seeing of [His] servants. So Allah protected him from the evils they plotted, and the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment.” [Ghāfir: 44-45].
The believer’s faith in Allah’s all-encompassing sight leads him to perfect obedience to Allah, who said:
وَاعْمَلُوا صَالِحًا إِنِّي بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“And do righteous deeds. Indeed, I, of what you do, am Seeing.” [Sabaʾ: 11].
He establishes servitude in the best of ways, for Allah sees him and sees his heart in the midst of his action. That is the station of iḥsān which Jibrīl, peace be upon him, asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about, and he replied: “Iḥsān is that you worship Allah as though you see Him, and if you do not see Him, [know that] He sees you.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
This is the true field of distinction between believers. A man may pray next to his brother, but their ranks and rewards differ as the distance between heaven and earth. Have you not read His words:
هُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ بَصِيرٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ
“They are [in varying] degrees in the sight of Allah, and Allah is Seeing of what they do.” [Āl ʿImrān: 163]?
Indeed, the believer who believes in Allah’s supreme sight is content with Allah alone as the All-Seeing. He does good, and it does not harm him whether people acknowledge his kindness and charity or deny it, for his Lord sees him. Even if people forget his virtue, he finds comfort in the words of his Lord:
وَلَا تَنْسَوُا الْفَضْلَ بَيْنَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“And do not forget graciousness between you. Indeed, Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.” [al-Baqarah: 237].
Such is the believer: unconcerned whether people see his worship or not. He gives charity with his right hand so that his left hand does not know what it has given, certain that he will find its reward with his Lord on the Day of Judgment. For Allah has said:
وَمَا تُقَدِّمُوا لِأَنْفُسِكُمْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ تَجِدُوهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“And whatever good you put forward for yourselves—you will find it with Allah. Indeed, Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.” [al-Baqarah: 110].
As for one with a trait of hypocrisy, you find him eager for people to see his deeds, grieved if they do not hear of his worship. It does not suffice him that Allah has seen what he has done. What a wretched people they are, deserving of the warning of the Prophet ﷺ: “Whoever shows off, Allah will expose him.” Narrated by Muslim.
What a dreadful warning—that Allah will disgrace the hypocrite who sought by his actions only the sight of people, so that they might glorify and honor him. On the Day of Judgment they will see that he did not obey Allah for His sake but for theirs, and Allah will expose his hidden intentions, leaving him shamed and disgraced.
Faith in Allah’s supreme sight instills fear, reverence, and modesty before Him, that one may not be seen by Him in a state displeasing to Him. For He is Witness over all things.
The believer fears that Allah may punish him for his sins, knowing that Allah saw him in his disobedience despite His forbearance and delay in punishment. He does not let this delude him; rather he lives in awe and caution, reflecting on the words of his Lord:
وَكَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مِنْ بَعْدِ نُوحٍ وَكَفَى بِرَبِّكَ بِذُنُوبِ عِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا بَصِيرًا
“And how many generations have We destroyed after Noah! And sufficient is your Lord, concerning the sins of His servants, as Aware and Seeing.” [al-Isrāʾ: 17].
O servant of Allah:
Have you not heard this warning:
أَفَمَنْ يُلْقَى فِي النَّارِ خَيْرٌ أَمْ مَنْ يَأْتِي آمِنًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ اعْمَلُوا مَا شِئْتُمْ إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“Then is one who is cast into the Fire better or one who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you will; indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.” [Fuṣṣilat: 40].
Where can you flee from Allah? What place is there that His sight does not reach?
Indeed, He is with you by His sight and knowledge wherever you may be. He said:
وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“And He is with you wherever you are. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.” [al-Ḥadīd: 4].
Did not our Lord warn the denier who turns away from Him:
أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى * أَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَى
“Have you seen if he denies and turns away? Does he not know that Allah sees?” [al-ʿAlaq: 13-14]?
O servant of Allah:
When you are alone one day in life’s span,
say not, “I’m alone,” but, “A Watcher sees man.”
Never suppose that Allah forgets for an hour,
nor that what is hidden escapes His power.
Your faith in Allah’s seeing grants your heart piety before Him, for He says:
وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
“And fear Allah and know that Allah sees all that you do” [al-Baqarah: 233].
May Allah bless me and you with the Great Qur’an, and benefit us with what is in it of verses and wise reminder. I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and for you, so seek His forgiveness, for He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
The Second Sermon:
All praise is due to Allah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family, his companions, and those who follow him. To proceed:
Allah is the All-Seeing, the Bestower of hearing and sight. He alone possesses hearing and sight, and He alone can take away hearing and sight. He said:
قُلْ مَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ أَمَّنْ يَمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ فَسَيَقُولُونَ اللَّهُ فَقُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ
“Say, Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Or who owns hearing and sight? And who brings out the living from the dead and brings out the dead from the living, and who governs the affair? They will say: Allah. Say: Will you not then fear Him?” [Yūnus: 31].
And He said:
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ سَمْعَكُمْ وَأَبْصَارَكُمْ وَخَتَمَ عَلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ مَنْ إِلَهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِهِ
“Say, Have you considered: if Allah should take away your hearing and your sight and seal your hearts, who is a god other than Allah who could bring it back to you?” [al-Anʿām: 46].
He, exalted is He, is the One who shows His servant what He wills. Just as He shows him with the eye of his sight that by which he avoids harm, He shows him with the eye of his insight the truth from falsehood. And this is only for the one sincere in seeking truth and restraining his soul from desire. As for the one who has taken his desire as his god, he is blind in this world and the Hereafter. He said:
أَفَرَأَيْتَ مَنِ اتَّخَذَ إِلَهَهُ هَوَاهُ وَأَضَلَّهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ وَخَتَمَ عَلَى سَمْعِهِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَجَعَلَ عَلَى بَصَرِهِ غِشَاوَةً فَمَنْ يَهْدِيهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ اللَّهِ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Have you seen the one who has taken his desire as his god, and Allah has led him astray knowingly, and sealed his hearing and his heart and placed upon his sight a covering? Who then can guide him after Allah? Will you not then remember?” [al-Jāthiyah: 23].
So, whenever you see someone astray, wandering far from his Lord, stumbling in the darkness of confusion, know that he preferred blindness over guidance, so Allah blinded him in just recompense. He said:
وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ فَاسْتَحَبُّوا الْعَمَى عَلَى الْهُدَى فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ صَاعِقَةُ الْعَذَابِ الْهُونِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
“And as for Thamūd, We guided them, but they preferred blindness over guidance, so the thunderbolt of humiliating punishment seized them for what they used to earn.” [Fuṣṣilat: 17].
O Allah, show us truth as truth and grant us to follow it, and show us falsehood as falsehood and grant us to avoid it.
O Allah, grant victory to Islam and honor to the Muslims, and destroy the criminal disbelievers. O Allah, send down tranquility upon the hearts of those striving in Your path, rescue Your oppressed servants, and raise high the banner of the religion, by Your power, O Strong, O Firm.
O Allah, grant us security in our homelands, set right our leaders and those in authority over us, and appoint our leadership to those who fear You, are mindful of You, and follow Your pleasure.
Our Lord, give us in this world good and in the Hereafter good, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
