Sermon's Title: al-Sirāj al-Munīr (The Radiant Lamp) - Humanity’s Need for Messengers and Divine Messages
Themes of the Sermon:
1- Humanity’s need for prophets and divine messages.
2- Knowing Allah and affirming His Oneness.
3- Knowing the truth and establishing justice.
4- Clear conveyance of the message and the removal of all excuses.
All praise is due to Allah, who sent His messengers with clear proofs and guidance, making them—by His revelation—lamps that illuminate the darkness. 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 His Messenger. May Allah send abundant peace and blessings upon him.
To proceed: Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, with true fear of Him, and be mindful of Him in private and in secret. Allah the Exalted 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 in a state of Islam.” [Sūrat Āl ʿImrān: 102]
O servant of Allah:
Do you know how our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ is described in the Tawrāt?
ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAmr was asked about the description of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in the Torah. He said:
“By Allah, he is indeed described in the Tawrāt with some of the same qualities mentioned in the Qurʾān: ‘O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner; a safeguard for the unlettered. You are My servant and My Messenger. I have named you al-Mutawakkil (the one who relies upon Allah). He is neither harsh nor hard-hearted, nor loud and crude in the marketplaces. He does not repel evil with evil, but rather he pardons and forgives. Allah will not take his soul until He establishes through him the upright religion, so that they say: There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. Through him He will open blind eyes, deaf ears, and sealed hearts.’” Narrated by al-Bukhārī.
How truthful and precise this description is! This was the condition of people: eyes blind to seeing the truth, ears deaf to hearing guidance, and hearts sealed—neither recognizing what is right nor rejecting what is wrong. It was pitch darkness and a deep, oppressive night. Yet Allah, by His mercy, willed that the sun of the message rise upon His creation, bringing them out of darkness into light, from death into life, and from misery into a wholesome and good life.
O servants of Allah:
A great and vital question—one that we and our children are in dire need of understanding—is this: What is humanity’s need for prophets and divine messages?
Can a human being dispense with revealed guidance by relying solely on intellect, thought, and culture?
Can a person truly come to know his Creator—His attributes, what is due to Him, what must be affirmed for Him, and what is impossible to attribute to Him—without revelation from Him, glorified be He?
Are the children of Ādam capable of establishing justice, values, and moral systems without the law of Allah?
Know that a human being cannot do without his Lord for even the blink of an eye, nor can he do without worshipping Him and following His religion as long as night darkens and day breaks. For although Allah created humanity upon the natural disposition (fiṭrah), the devils led the children of Ādam astray, blinding them to the Lord of the worlds and misguiding them away from the true God. Satan adorned their deeds for them, until human history became filled with nations that denied their Lord, nations that worshipped idols and stones besides the One, the All-Subduing, nations that deified human beings because of power or authority they possessed, and nations that worshipped Satan himself.
All of these nations possessed intellect and knowledge that did not benefit them. Rather, it only increased them in transgression—because the god they worshipped was their own desire, given a visible form, through which they sought what their souls truly worshipped.
For this reason, the ultimate purpose of sending the messengers was for them to deliver the clear message, so that people would come to know their true Lord—knowing Him in His perfection, majesty, and absolute oneness—and thus say, affirming and believing: “There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.” Allah the Exalted says:
فَهَلْ عَلَى الرُّسُلِ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ الْمُبِينُ * وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ
“So is there upon the messengers anything except clear conveyance?
And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, saying: Worship Allah and avoid false deities.” [Sūrat al-Naḥl: 35–36]
How many false rivals have people clothed in the garments of divinity without right! How deceitful are the custodians of idol temples who misled minds with lies and falsehood! How desperately that falsehood needs a clear, manifest truth that strikes it down, so it vanishes. And this truth has no pure source except from the true God, who sent His messengers with the true message and the true Book—one to which falsehood cannot come from before it or from behind it. Allah the Exalted says:
بَلْ أَتَيْنَاهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَكَاذِبُونَ * مَا اتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ مِنْ وَلَدٍ وَمَا كَانَ مَعَهُ مِنْ إِلَهٍ إِذًا لَذَهَبَ كُلُّ إِلَهٍ بِمَا خَلَقَ وَلَعَلَا بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
“Rather, We have brought them the truth, and indeed they are liars. Allah has not taken a son, nor has there ever been with Him any deity. Otherwise, each deity would have taken what it created, and some would have overpowered others. Exalted is Allah above what they describe.” [Sūrat al-Muʾminūn: 90–91]
Here is ʿAmr ibn ʿAbasah asking the Prophet ﷺ before embracing Islam. He said: “What are you?”
He replied: “I am a Prophet.”
He said: “And what is a Prophet?”
He replied: “Allah has sent me.”
He said: “And with what has He sent you?”
He replied: “He sent me to uphold family ties, to break the idols, and that Allah be worshipped alone, with nothing associated with Him.” Narrated by Muslim.
How can a human being know who he is, how he was created, why he was created, who created him, what comes after death, what this world truly is, and what its purpose is—how can he find certain and detailed answers to these profound existential questions except from the One who created him and created the heavens and the earth in truth? Allah the Exalted says:
وَكَذَلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا مَا كُنْتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلَكِنْ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُورًا نَهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ نَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ
“And thus We have revealed to you a Spirit from Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor what faith was, but We made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants. And indeed, you surely guide to a straight path.” [Sūrat al-Shūrā: 52]
When you read the Qur’an, you find the healing answer that is fully in harmony with human nature and sound reason—free from the convoluted abstractions of philosophers and the nonsense of charlatans.
When Allah sent Ādam (may peace be upon him) down to the earth, He promised him that He would not abandon him to misguidance and misery. He said:
فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ مِنِّي هُدًى فَمَنِ اتَّبَعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا يَضِلُّ وَلَا يَشْقَى
“But when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance will neither go astray nor suffer.” [Sūrat Ṭā Hā: 123]
The only true guarantee of salvation from ignorance, darkness, misguidance, misery, and injustice is to follow the message of Allah—His revelation and His law. Allah, exalted be He, says:
لَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَأَنْزَلْنَا مَعَهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ النَّاسُ بِالْقِسْطِ
“We certainly sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and We sent down with them the Book and the Balance so that people may uphold justice.” [Sūrat al-Ḥadīd: 25]
The human being’s need for a straight and flawless system—free from deficiency and deviation—by which he can live without misguidance or misery, is an essential and unavoidable need. For the human being, by nature, is prone to injustice and ignorance. People’s interests and desires conflict, their intellects and levels of knowledge differ, and each person perceives truth and goodness—or falsehood and evil—according to his own interest, perspective, and desire.
Therefore, there must be an absolutely just judge who rules with truth—a judgment to which both minds and hearts submit, encompassing all conditions of creation. This can only belong to Allah, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise, who knows the true nature of the human being, the diseases and ailments of his soul, what reforms him and what corrupts him. He is the Just Judge, perfectly equitable and fair, who does not wrong even the weight of an atom. And from His mercy, He sent down the divine messages so that people may uphold justice.
In them, He clarified all rights and obligations—without omission or neglect. He distinguished between what is wholesome and what is vile, good and evil, noble character and corrupt character. He established limits and prescribed punishments—all through a precise, complete, and detailed legislation, free from distortion or contradiction.
With a single glance at the nations that once held the reins of human civilization while living apart from revelation, you see misery, injustice, confusion, bloodshed, and the obliteration of natural disposition. You become certain that the lights of prophethood and revelation are the true path to guidance and a good life—that through them lies the rectification of both religion and worldly life. Without them, people are like cattle—indeed, even more astray.
Allah sent the messengers as bearers of glad tidings and as warners, carrying complete and perfect messages, so that people would have no argument against Allah. They conveyed the message in its entirety—without deficiency—in word, belief, action, methodology, judgment, and conduct. For no one loves excuses being established more than Allah Himself. Allah the Exalted says:
رُسُلًا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا
“Messengers as bringers of glad tidings and warners, so that mankind would have no argument against Allah after the messengers. And Allah is Mighty and Wise.” [Sūrat al-Nisāʾ: 164–165]
And the Prophet ﷺ said: “No one loves that excuses be established more than Allah. For that reason, Allah sent the messengers as bearers of glad tidings and as warners.” Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.
May Allah bless me and you through the Mighty Qur’an, and benefit us by what it contains of verses and wise remembrance. I seek Allah’s forgiveness for myself and for you, so seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
The Second Sermon:
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, upon his family, his Companions, and all who follow him. To proceed:
Our Prophet ﷺ used to present Islam to the Arab tribes. On one occasion, he presented Islam to Banū Shaybān ibn Thaʿlabah. Mafrūq ibn ʿAmr said to him: “To what do you call us, O brother of Quraysh?”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: “I call you to bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partner, and that I am the Messenger of Allah; and that you give me shelter, protect me, and support me so that I may convey on behalf of Allah Most High what He has commanded me. For Quraysh has united against the command of Allah, denied His Messenger, preferred falsehood over truth, while Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.”
He then said to him: “And to what else do you call us, O brother of Quraysh?”
So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited:
قُلْ تَعَالَوْا أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُمْ مِنْ إِمْلَاقٍ نَحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ * وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ وَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَى وَبِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ أَوْفُوا ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ * وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ
“Say: Come, let me recite to you what your Lord has forbidden to you: that you associate nothing with Him, and that you show kindness to parents; and do not kill your children out of poverty—We provide for you and for them; and do not approach immoralities, whether apparent or hidden; and do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden except by right. That is what He has enjoined upon you so that you may understand. And do not approach the wealth of the orphan except in the best manner until he reaches maturity; and give full measure and weight with justice—We do not burden any soul beyond its capacity; and when you speak, be just, even if it concerns a close relative; and fulfill the covenant of Allah. That is what He has enjoined upon you so that you may remember. And indeed, this is My straight path, so follow it, and do not follow other paths lest they divert you from His path. That is what He has enjoined upon you so that you may be mindful.” [Sūrat al-Anʿām: 151–153]
Mafrūq then said to him: “And to what else do you call us, O brother of Quraysh? By Allah, this is not the speech of the people of the earth! Had it been from their speech, we would have recognized it.” So the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
“Indeed, Allah commands justice and excellence, and giving to relatives, and He forbids immorality, wrongdoing, and transgression. He admonishes you so that you may take heed.” [Sūrat al-Naḥl: 90]
Mafrūq then said to him: “By Allah, O man of Quraysh, you have called to noble character and the finest deeds. Truly, those people who denied you and united against you have been deceived.” Narrated by Abū Nuʿaym.
This is how the Prophet ﷺ came. He is the radiant lamp. Without the message of Allah that he brought, there is no salvation for humanity from the darkness of ignorance. Allah the Exalted says:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ
“And We have not sent you except as a mercy to all the worlds.” [Sūrat al-Anbiyāʾ: 107]
O Allah, grant victory to Islam and honor the Muslims, and destroy the Zionist criminals. O Allah, send down tranquility into the hearts of those striving in Your path, rescue Your oppressed servants, and raise high the banner of the religion—by Your power, O All-Powerful, O Ever-Strong.
O Allah, grant us security in our homelands, rectify our leaders and those entrusted with authority over us, and place our governance in the hands of those who fear You, are mindful of You, and follow what pleases You.
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
O servants of Allah, remember Allah with much remembrance, and glorify Him morning and evening. And our final supplication is that all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds.
