Performing acts of worship outwardly can weaken a person's faith:
Dear noble brothers, I will start by talking about a situation we are all involved in.
When one of us sweats excessively, he goes to a doctor. Also, when one of us sees a dark spot in his vision, he goes to an ophthalmologist. Similarly, when one of us feels chest tightness after exertion, he goes to a cardiologist.
The key question is: Why do we always look after our bodies, systems and senses? Why are we so keen on our health and income? In contrast, why do we not show equal concern for our faith?
Dear brothers, faith weakens when we perform acts of worship only outwardly, when we neglect voluntary acts of worship, when we become lazy in reciting the Quran, when we do not lower our gaze and when we do not control what we say in gatherings. Such cases weaken faith.
When a person becomes slack in performing acts of worship, neglects Adhkar and reciting Quran, lacks the motivation to do good deeds giving false excuses, focuses more on worldly life and becomes less steadfast, his faith will weaken even more.
Out of sense of purpose, one should avoid sins and commit to doing good deeds:
Dear noble brothers, in contemporary terms there is a principle that goes as follows: sin increases over time, and the act of obedience also increases over time. According to this dynamism, if you start with a minor sin, you may progress to a major one and so on. On the other hand, if you start with a small act of obedience, you may progress to greater acts of obedience.
(( Narrated Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "What saves a servant from the Fire?" He said: "Faith in Allah." I said: "O Prophet of Allah, is there any action along with faith?" He said: "That you give from what Allah has granted you, and give from what Allah has provided for you," meaning that you give in charity from what Allah has given you and made you possess. I said: "O Prophet of Allah, what if he is poor and finds nothing to give?" He said: "Then he should enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong." I said: "What if he is unable to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong?" He said: "Then let him help the incapable person," meaning the ignorant one who does not know how to do things properly. I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what if he is unable to do that?" He said: "Then let him help an oppressed person." I said: "O Prophet of Allah, what if he is weak and unable to help an oppressed person?" He said: "Then let him withhold his harm from people." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, will that enter him into Jannah (Paradise)?" He said: "No believer performs one of these qualities except that it takes him by the hand until it enters him into Jannah." ))
[ At-Tabarani and Al-Baihaqi, by the authority of Abi Dharr
]
He starts by refraining from wronging others, then he helps the weak, then he enjoins Ma'ruf (what is right) and forbids Munkar (what is wrong), and then he gives Sadaqah (charity) from what Allah has given to him. As you can see, the good deeds increase in an ascending manner, and sins and bad deeds increase in the same way.
This is a dynamic pattern that people usually follow, so beware of taking lightly a sin you commit, as it may lead you to commit a greater one.
What I mean to say is that you are so keen on the well-being of your eyes to such an extent that you are willing to wait two months for your turn to see the ophthalmologist, and you are concerned about the health of your heart, your body, and your income, and you strive, move and ask around to do so, but why are you not equally concerned when your faith becomes weak?
You do not care that you are performing acts of worship only outwardly, that you have abandoned Quran for a long time and no longer feel the desire to recite it, that you excuse yourself from doing good deeds, that you are concerned only with your own interests and that you feel nothing when remembering Allah or reading the Quran.
When you are in this state, you should know that these are symptoms of weak faith. Keep in mind that when faith becomes weak, there are ways to revive it and make it strong again.
Means of strengthening faith:
1- Seeking Islamic knowledge:
This Khutbah is about the means with which we strengthen faith. Whoever suffers from weak faith, and I have just mentioned some of its symptoms, can strengthen it. The first thing he has to do is to seek Islamic knowledge and continue doing so.
Every person is concerned with his existence, its safety, its well-being and its continuity. As man seeks more Islamic knowledge, his concern increases; consequently, his obedience, his connection to the Hereafter and his piety increase, because there is a clear connection between them.
Let me give you a simple example from our daily life to clarify this connection between increasing one's piety and fear of Allah and his steadfastness upon His Order. All goods a trader imports are usually recorded in his annual accounts. The authorities usually compare his records with those of the customs office, so if he fails to record even a single item, his accounts may be held, and he may be taxed heavily on that item. Accordingly, it is not in any trader's interest to omit recording any imported goods, because the authorities have another record of all his imports at the customs office.
Whoever knows that Allah is The All-Knowing and will bring him to account and punish him, will remain steadfast on the Right Path:
According to the previous example, when someone knows that a more powerful man is aware of his actions and is capable of punishing him, he will comply with that man's rules. In the same vein, when you come to know that Allah Almighty is aware of what you do and will hold you accountable, you become more pious. Moreover, when you know that wronging others leads to punishment, you will adhere to steadfastness.
Once again, your human nature will drive you to become steadfast on the Path of Allah simply because you value yourself, your safety, and your happiness and the well-being and continuity of your existence. For this reason, man should seek Islamic knowledge.
Let me remind you that man's faith weakens if it is neglected. The Prophet PBUH said:
(( Faith wears out in the heart of one of you just as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew faith in your hearts. ))
Desires and doubts weaken faith:
Desires and doubts weaken faith. Doubts are usually related to beliefs, whereas desires are related to behavior. Therefore, when you hear a doubt about Islam, and then another one follows, and you do not take steps to resolve them or ask people of religious knowledge, these doubts will accumulate in your mind.
(And We sent not (as Our Messengers) before you (O Muhammad PBUH) any but men, whom We inspired, (to preach and invite mankind to believe in the Oneness of Allah). So ask of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not)
[Al-Nahl, 43]
Bear in mind that the enemies of Islam are so many. In addition, when you backslide into fulfilling desires that do not please Allah, these desires and doubts will weaken your faith.
Seeking Jannah requires man's great efforts:
Dear brothers, pay attention to the following Hadith, please:
(( Rabi'a b. Ka'b said: I was with Allah's Messenger at night, and when I brought him his water for ablution and what he required, he told me to make a request. I said, "I ask to accompany you in Jannah." He asked if I had any other request to make, and when I replied that that was all, he said, "Then help me to accomplish this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration." ))
[ Muslim, by the authority of Rabi'a b. Ka'b ]
It is not enough for a student to attend the lectures in order to pass exams; rather, he should pay attention to the lecturers and study hard at home. In the same vein, do you think it is enough just to come to the Masjid and listen to the Khutbah? Should a person not make efforts at home in addition to attending religious lectures and Khutbah?
Man must make efforts through Dhikr, Da'wah (calling others) to Allah, enjoining Ma'ruf and forbidding Munkar. Therefore, you must support your attendance at the Masjid with efforts you make at home. The Prophet PBUH said:
(( Then help me to accomplish this for you ))
If a king asks his only son to mention anything he wants, the king will bring him whatever he desires, even if it is a private jet, a brand-new car, or a beautiful mansion. However, if this son asks the king to make him a professor at the university, the king will not be able to do so, because this is something his son must strive to achieve himself.
As you can see, material things are easy to obtain, but when one seeks the Hereafter and Jannah, he must make efforts to attain them.
(( Then help me to accomplish this for you by devoting yourself often to prostration. ))
The greatest blessing man can receive in this worldly life is knowing Allah Almighty:
It was said, "Allah has deeds (acts of worship) performed at night which He does not accept during the day, and He has deeds performed during the day which He does not accept at night." Therefore, the first thing that strengthens your faith is to seek Islamic knowledge, Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He, says:
﴾ Then High above all be Allah, the True King. And be not in haste (O Muhammad PBUH) with the Qur'an before its revelation is completed to you, and say: "My Lord! Increase me in knowledge." ﴿
Hence, you should increase your Islamic knowledge. Regarding this point, believe me, dear brothers, no bestowal that a person can receive is more important than knowing Allah Almighty. The proof is in the following Ayah:
﴾ Had not the Grace of Allah and His Mercy been upon you (O Muhammad PBUH), a party of them would certainly have made a decision to mislead you, but (in fact) they mislead none except their own selves, and no harm can they do to you in the least. Allah has sent down to you the Book (The Qur'an), and Al-Hikmah (Islamic laws, knowledge of legal and illegal things i.e. the Prophet's Sunnah – legal ways), and taught you that which you knew not. And Ever Great is the Grace of Allah unto you (O Muhammad PBUH). ﴿
It is a great blessing to know Allah, because when you know Him, you will know everything; but if you miss knowing Him, you will miss everything, and everything else you have will be in vain. The Prophet PBUH said:
(( Any group of people that assemble in one of the Houses of Allah to recite the Book of Allah, learning and teaching it, tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will engulf them, angels will surround them and Allah will make mention of them to those (the angels) in His proximity. ))
(( He who follows a path in quest of knowledge, Allah will make the path of Jannah easy to him; and he who is made slow by his actions will not be speeded by his genealogy. ))
"And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty)":
The following Hadith refers to the opposite group of people:
(( People who arise from an assembly in which they did not remember Allah will be just as if they had got up from an ass's corpse, and it will be a cause of grief to them. ))
[ Abu Dawood, An Nasa'i and Ahmad ]
Spending time of gatherings talking about rising prices, food shortages, low income and long working hours will turn life into a kind of hardship, because every day will bring bad news, and repeating it over and over makes life unbearable.
(( There will not be a year, except that the one that is after it will be more evil than it, until you meet your Lord. ))
[ Al-Bukhari, At-Tirmizi and Ahmad ]
Bad news weakens motivation. However, if you mention Allah in gatherings, and remind one another that everything is in His Hand, such as your provision, health, those above you, those below you, those around you, your physical well-being and everything else, you will become more optimistic. There is nothing to worry about as along you obey Allah as He asks to do:
﴾ Nay! But worship Allah (Alone and none else), and be among the grateful. ﴿
When you are down, in despair, or facing hardship, this Ayah will bring back hope:
﴾ Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter). ﴿
Despite all circumstances, you will be granted a good life. You have a right upon Allah Almighty:
(( Narrated Mu'adh bin Jabal: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "O Mu'adh! Do you know what Allah's Right upon His slaves is?" I said, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet (PBUH) said, "To worship Him (Allah) Alone and to join none in worship with Him (Allah). Do you know what their right upon Him is?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know best." The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Not to punish them (if they do so). ))
[ Al-Bukhari and Muslim, by the authority of Mu'adh bin Jabal ]
Allah has granted you a right upon Him.
﴾ Then when they are about to fulfil their term appointed, either take them back in a good manner or part with them in a good manner. And take for witness two just persons from among you (Muslims). And establish the witness for Allah. That will be an admonition given to him who believes in Allah and the Last Day. And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). ﴿
[ At-Talaaq, 2
]
Whoever makes his goals Hereafter-oriented will live in great happiness:
Regardless of how tough your hardship is, it will not be tougher than the one of Prophet Yunus PBUH who became inside a whale with no hope of survival.
﴾ And (remember) Dhan-Nun (Jonah), when he went off in anger, and imagined that We shall not punish him (i.e. the calamites which had befallen him)! But he cried through the darkness (saying): La ilaha illa Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers."* So We answered his call, and delivered him from the distress. And thus We do deliver the believers (who believe in the Oneness of Allah, abstain from evil and work righteousness). ﴿
After reciting the Quran, you become filled with the hope of being confident and having prosperous future, and you become certain that Allah Almighty will not forsake you. On the other hand, being in a gathering where people tell you only bad news will fill your heart with frustration, despair, melancholy and pessimism.
Attending religious sessions in the Masjid and listening to the Words of Allah make you realize that all matters are in His Hand, Exalted and Sublime be He, and that He will never forsake you, because Allah never gives you up to anyone as long as you worship Him as you should. Allah says:
﴾ And to Allah belongs the Ghaib (unseen) of the heavens and the earth, and to Him return all affairs (for decision). So worship Him (O Muhammad PBUH) and put your trust in Him. And your Lord is not unaware of what you (people) do. ﴿
By definition, faith means Tawheed (believing in Allah alone as the only Deity worthy of worship).
When you are in a gathering where the Quran is recited and its Ayaat are interpreted, you will be filled with optimism, a healthy spirit, inner coherence, determination to correct your mistakes, a sense of triumph and a feeling of excellence. When you seek the Hereafter with your goals, hoping to have the doors of Jannah opened for you, you become a changed person.
Seeking Islamic knowledge strengthens faith and steadfastness:
Allah says:
﴾ And of men and Ad–Dawab (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and cattle, in like manner of various colours. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, Oft-Forgiving. ﴿
Seek Islamic knowledge when your faith weakens, your piety decreases and your steadfastness declines.
﴾ It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. ﴿
In fact, the plight of the people of Hellfire is due to a lack of knowledge:
﴾ And they will say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!" ﴿
Strengthening faith requires attending religious sessions:
Dear noble brothers, in order to strengthen your faith, you should attend religious sessions. One cannot aspire to become a doctor without considering enrolling in the medical school; otherwise, he would be foolish.
It is impossible in any country in the world to become a doctor without enrolling in the medical school. In the same vein, one cannot attain strong faith, success, prosperity, triumph, and support without seeking Islamic knowledge.
One may spend 10 hours watching TV shows yet fail to attend a one-hour religious session under the pretext of being busy.
You are entitled to your choices, but how can you know Allah without going to the Masjid? How can you know His Book (i.e. Quran) if you do not attend sessions where it is interpreted? How can you know Islamic rulings if you do not seek Islamic knowledge?
Seeking Islamic knowledge is not about obtaining quick pieces of information at random; otherwise, it will evaporate like a drop of water evaporating from the surface of a tank in hot weather. Hence, listening to a speech delivered in a wedding ceremony, or hearing sermons by chance does not reflect the true pursuit of Islamic knowledge.
You cannot become a doctor by reading medical magazines, because that only provides general knowledge. In order to become a doctor, you have to enroll in the medical school, study various sciences such as mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, pathology and pharmacology…etc, and then complete clinical rotations in hospitals to gain practical experience. Only then can you be certified as a doctor. After that you have to pursue a Master's Degree and a PhD, and then obtain board certification.
As you can see, it is a long process before you can place "Dr." before your name and become a practising doctor. How can a person long for faith, the Hereafter and Jannah without being willing to attend even one religious session or read a book, while he follows the news, TV shows and movies? Not to mention, he criticizes people as if he were a scholar.
Weak faith is strengthened by seeking Islamic knowledge:
Dear brothers, seeking Islamic knowledge should be a priority. One more thing: Most Muslims suffer from having weak faith, severed ties, difficulty in lowering their gaze, lack of controlling their tongue, estrangement from the Quran, lack of religious knowledge, poor behavior and backsliding into certain sins. All the above are symptoms of weak faith which can only be strengthened by seeking Islamic knowledge.
2- The way through which one receives Islamic knowledge:
The way through which you receive Islamic knowledge also strengthens faith, but how should I acquire such knowledge? First of all, seek it from the Noble Quran:
﴾ Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise ﴿
The Noble Quran is "Qat'i Ath-Thubut" (definitively authentic (in transmission)). However, some of its Ayaat are "Qat'i Ad-Dalalah" (definitive in meaning), and others are "Zanni Ad-Dalalah" (open to interpretation). The latter are referred back to the former (i.e. the definitive Ayat) for proper understanding:
﴾ And perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat, and Irka (i.e. bow down or submit yourselves with obedience to Allah) along with Ar-Raki'un. ﴿
[ Al-Baqarah, 43
]
This Ayah is definitive in meaning, but regarding other Ayaat, Allah says:
﴾ So ask of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not ﴿
Once again, the Noble Quran is "Qat'i Ath-Thubut" (definitively authentic (in transmission)). However, some of its Ayaat are "Qat'i Ad-Dalalah" (definitive in meaning), and others are "Zanni Ad-Dalalah" (open to interpretation). However, all the Ayaat that relate to your happiness and safety are "Qat'i Ad-Dalalah" (definitive in meaning).
Regarding some Ayaat, which pertain to Allah's Divine Character, require asking those whose religious knowledge is deep. Allah says:
﴾ And your Lord comes with the angels in rows ﴿
[ Al-Fajr, 22
]
﴾ Verily, those who give Bai'a (pledge) to you (O Muhammad PBUH) they are giving Bai'a (pledge) to Allah. The Hand of Allah is over their hands. Then whosoever breaks his pledge, breaks only to his own harm, and whosoever fulfills what he has covenanted with Allah, He will bestow on him a great reward. ﴿
There are about five Ayaat revolving around this matter, so if you do not understand them, then:
﴾ …ask of those who know the Scripture [learned men of the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel)], if you know not ﴿
Hence, there must be a source from which you receive Islamic knowledge.
First you get that knowledge from the Quran. As for the Prophetic Hadith, you should know that not every Hadith is "Qat'i Ath-Thubut" (definitively authentic (in transmission)).
There are fabricated Ahadeeth, weak Ahadeeth and Hasan Ahadeeth (an accepted category of Hadith in Islamic terminology that sits between Sahih (sound/authentic) and Da'if (weak)).
In order to apply a Prophetic Hadith, you should take two actions: first, make sure that the Hadith is Sahih (authentic), and then ask about the purpose meant by the Prophet PBUH when he said that Hadith. After that you can apply it.
However, regarding the Noble Quran all you have to do is just applying it alongside understanding its meaning.
Only the deeds that are performed rightly and sincerely will be accepted (by Allah):
One more time: The Quran and authentic Sunnah are the main sources of receiving Islamic knowledge. Accordingly, whatever statement from the time of Adam until the Day of Resurrection, whether heard, watched or written, and whether old or new, should be measured against Quran and authentic Sunnah.
If a statement complies with both of these sources, we can accept it, but if it goes against them, we should reject it. One may say, "They held a musical show to raise funds for the poor." Well, this show is against Quran and Sunnah. A good deed is accepted only if it is sincere (for the Sake of Allah) and right (in accordance with Sunnah). Therefore, a fundraising is unacceptable as long as it goes against the religious teachings.
Bear in mind that a deed or a statement should be measured against the Quran and Sunnah. So, if it is said that there is a medication that prolongs human lifespan, we respond by mentioning Allah's following Words:
﴾ And if Allah were to seize mankind for their wrong-doing, He would not leave on it (the earth) a single moving (living) creature, but He postpones them for an appointed term and when their term comes, neither can they delay nor can they advance it an hour (or a moment). ﴿
Someone once said to me, "Sport is forbidden", but I replied, "No it is not. You may live 67 years, but you either live them in good health or spend them in bed."
Looking after your health will not prolong your life, but it improves the quality of life; therefore, sport is very important in helping you spend your life in good health.
The Quran provides you with guidance and a standard against which you measure everything. Hence, whatever said by any person will be accepted if it is in accordance with this guidance, and rejected if it is not.
He who is indulged in fulfilling his desires and forgets his lord will deserve Allah's Wrath and Curse:
The main source we receive our Islamic knowledge from is: The Noble Quran, which is "Qat'i Ath-Thubut" (definitively authentic (in transmission)). The action you may take is to know the purpose of the Ayah.
As for the Prophetic Hadith, some Ahadeeth are "Qat'i Ath-Thubut" (definitively authentic (in transmission)), and others are "Zanni Ad Dalalah" (open to interpretation). The action you should take is to ensure that the Hadith is authentic, and then understand its purpose in order to apply it correctly.
Thus, whatever a statement made by people is subject to acceptance if it is in accordance with Quran, or rejection if it is not.
Students are taught in school Darwin's Theory of Evolution, which suggests that humans evolved from apes. Recently, I reflected on this theory in a different way. I pondered over the fact that man may, in metaphorical sense, become like a monkey when he is fully indulged in worldly desires. Allah Almighty says:
(Say (O Muhammad PBUH to the people of the Scripture): "Shall I inform you of something worse than that, regarding the recompense from Allah: those (Jews) who incurred the Curse of Allah and His Wrath, those of whom (some) He transformed into monkeys and swines, those who worshipped Taghut (false deities); such are worse in rank (on the Day of Resurrection in the Hell-fire), and far more astray from the Right Path (in the life of this world))
[An-Ma'idah, 60]
The monkey cares only about eating, while the swine cares only about mating. Therefore, whoever is consumed by these two motives is like monkeys and swines (he is driven only by instincts).
3- Reciting and understanding the Quran attentively:
Dear brothers, the third way to strengthen faith is by reciting and understanding the Quran attentively. Allah says:
﴾ (Allah) said: "Get you down (from the Paradise to the earth), both of you, together, some of you are an enemy to some others. then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery. ﴿
Allah is The Lord who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in the universe. He created a vast cloud in the outer space that can carry enough fresh drinkable water to fill the oceans 60 times over. Everything is in His Hand. He says:
﴾ …then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery.
﴿
﴾ We said: "Get down all of you from this place (the Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever follows My Guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve. ﴿
There is no grief over the past and no fear for the future. In other words, whoever follows Allah's Guidance, shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery; he will neither grieve over the past nor fear the future.
By reading Quran attentively man will find solutions for his problems:
Allah says:
﴾ Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life ﴿
This is a Divine Promise, and so it is inevitable regardless place, time, circumstances, conditions or siege. It is above any circumstance on earth. Allah says:
﴾ Verily, those who say: "Our Lord is Allah (Alone)," and then they Istaqamu , on them the angels will descend (at the time of their death) (saying): "Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings of Paradise which you have been promised! ﴿
Try to read at least five pages of the Quran every day after Fajr, and you will be guided to the solutions of your problems. Moreover, when you reach a dead end, you may find a way out in the Quran:
﴾ And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).
﴿
Allah, the Only Deity worthy of worship, says to you that the disappearance of the universe is easier for Him than not fulfilling His Promise.
Allah will grant a way out of hardship to whoever worships Him and thanks Him for His Blessings:
I address every young man: if you want a wife, a home and a job, and all doors seem closed in your face, remember: "Be with Allah, you find Him by your side"
﴾ And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). ﴿
I have endless stories of people whose hope rose from nothing to everything. Put your trust in Allah and worship Him as you are supposed to.
﴾ Nay! But worship Allah (Alone and none else), and be among the grateful. ﴿
Worship Allah and thank Him for all His Blessings and that is enough for you.
You may be fascinated by rich countries like France, where you travel from east to west and from north to south and see nothing but green lands, heavy rains and lakes. However, this beauty is only reflected on the retina. If you go few centimeters deeper (to the brain), you will realize that true perception is different and that there is ugliness (due to moral deviation in such countries). Therefore, you should see things with the light of Allah.
Ummah's victory is initially based on strong family bonds:
In our country, may Allah preserve its safety and prosperity, people fear Allah. For instance, the Masjids, are full of worshipers where Salah is performed and Quran is recited. Moreover, fathers are attentive to their children, and children in turn are dutiful to their parents. Furthermore, wives are steadfast, and they guard their honor, which manifest strong family bonds. How great such blessings!
Dear brothers, let me tell you this: Strong family bonds are initial condition for the Ummah's victory, whereas weak family bonds are the main reason for the destruction of the Ummah.
By Allah's Grace, our families have strong bonds. Wives are loyal to their husbands, and children are dear to their parents who raise them properly. Thus, we are in a very good state.
It hurts me to see someone who travels to western countries and does not speak about their negative aspects, but instead he exaggerates their positive ones; moreover, he overlooks all of our positive aspects. Such a person is biased and can greatly discourage others.
Do not blame my hand if the sword fails,
My resolve is firm, but fate has refused
In other words, "Every noble steed has a stumble, every sharp sword has a flaw, and every scholar has a slip." Well yes, we are now in our worst state as an Ummah, but we used to have glorious history.
Here is a piece of advice, dear brothers: read at least five pages of the Quran, and if you have a question, write it down and ask about it later. In this respect, keep in mind that there are always people who have the knowledge to answer your questions.
Let me repeat the three steps through which you strengthen your faith: Seek Islamic knowledge, take it from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah and then read the Quran attentively.
Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds.
The 2nd Khutbah:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and may He bless and grant peace to our Master Muhammad PBUH, the Faithful and the Honest.
A prudent person makes self-reflection from time to time:
Dear brothers, man should sit with himself from time to time. The Prophet PBUH used to retreat to the cave of Hira' for that purpose.
You do not need a cave; a quiet place in your house is enough where you may reflect on your mistakes. This worldly life is consuming, but dedicate some time for self-reflection.
﴾ And the slaves of the Most Beneficent (Allah) are those who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness, and when the foolish address them (with bad words) they reply back with mild words of gentleness. ﴿
[ Al-Furqan, 63
]
When the companions of the Prophet PBUH walked, they walked quickly. Our Master Omar, may Allah be pleased with him, was described as follows:
"When he walked, he walked quickly; when he fed, he fed abundantly; when he spoke, he made (others) hear; and when he struck, he struck severely."
Allah the Almighty describes His slaves by saying:
﴾ …who walk on the earth in humility and sedateness,
﴿
This kind of walking reflects being firm and steady, so as not to become consumed by the worldly life, business or family concerns, because a true Muslim has a greater purpose.
Unfortunately, most people nowadays are consumed by their problems, families, trades, and jobs, as they work day and night.
﴾ Say (O Muhammad PBUH): "Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds?* "Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds! ﴿
It is reported that Allah says:
(I have created everything in the universe for you so do not be overstrained, and I have created you for (obeying) Me so do not play (do not be negligent).)
[Ibn Taymiyah]
It is narrated in Qudsi Hadith:
(( O my slave, I created to you the heavens and earth and I was not wearied by their creation, does a loaf of bread that I bring to you every time wear Me? O My slave I have Faridah (obligatory duty) on you, and you have a livelihood on Me, so, if you disobey Me (in respect of) My Duty (My Right on you) I do not oppose you in your livelihood (sustenance), I (swear) by My Glory and Loftiness, if you do not assent to what I portioned out for you, I will authorize the worldly life that you will run in as the wild animal, then you will not get from it but what I portioned out (assign to) for you and I will not care. ))
It is narrated that Allah said to Dawood PBUH:
(( O Dawood, you desire (something) and I desire (something else). If you surrender to that which I desire, I suffice you concerning that which you desire; but if you refuse to surrender to that which I desire, I tire you out in that which you desire and then you get nothing but that which I desire. ))
Man should care about his heart, faith and level of obedience to Allah just as he cares about his health and income:
Dear brothers, Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He, is The Only Deity, so you should take this truth into consideration and engage in self-reflection.
Sit with yourself from time to time and ask: are there any doubts about the lawfulness of my income? Do I have relationships that do not please Allah? Is my daughter modest when she goes out, or not?
You should not be lenient in such matters; rather, you should take control of everything related to your family, your worship, your beliefs, your remembrance of Allah, your recitation of the Quran and your social gatherings. You should beware if the gatherings do not please Allah Almighty, and if there is mixing between men and women in them.
Write down the pros and cons in your life and then set a religious schedule to follow. Just engage in this self-accountability. In this regard, Omar, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "Look after your heart"
You go to the ophthalmologist when you see a constant dark spot in your vision, or when you experience chest pain after exertion, which may indicate something serious, such as reduced blood supply to the heart. Hence, just as you look after your health, income and job, you should look after your heart, your faith and your level of obedience to Allah, Exalted and Sublime be He. It starts with you.
Ibn Al-Qayyem mentioned in Madarej As-Salikeen what had been reported in the tradition:
(Allah Almighty said to Musa (Moses) PBUH: "Be for Me as I want, and I will be for you as you want. Be for me as you wish, but do not tell Me what is best for you.")
Allah Almighty knows what is best for you, and what really matters is to fulfill your obligations first, and then ask Allah for what is rightfully yours.
Du'a (Supplication):
O Allah, we beseech You to show us the way of righteousness together with those to whom You showed it; and to give us good health together with those whom You have healed; and to be our Protector, as You are of those whom You protect; and to bless what You have bestowed on us; and to save us from the affliction that You have decreed –for You rule with justice and You are never judged; and he whom You protect shall never be humiliated, and he whom You make Your enemy shall never be elevated, blessed and dignified are You. To You belongs all praise and gratitude for what You have bestowed and granted. We seek Your forgiveness, O Allah, and we repent to You. O Allah, grant us righteous deeds that draw us closer to You.
O Allah, guide us to perform good deeds with which we draw closer to You.
O Allah! Increase us [in Your Blessings and rewards] and do not decrease us, honour us and do not humiliate us, give us [from Your Gifts] and do not deprive us, be in favour of us and not against us, and make us satisfied and be satisfied with us.
O Allah, raise high the word of truth and religion, grant victory to Islam, and dignity to Muslims and give them triumph all over the world and in all lands. O Allah, lead the rulers of Muslims to that which pleases you. Indeed, You are over all things Capable, and worthy of answering (our Du'as)
