Haroon Mosque Khuthabah
Friday April 29th, 2011
Brothers and Sisters,
Conflict is a part of life. Freedom of thought is Bestowed to man by the Wills of Allah. As conflict grows stronger and turns into pressure. People who do not know how to solve it will turn themselves towards drugs or violence to reduce such pressure. Whenever conflict arises, people usually focus on the differences rather than common term. The differences like richness, cleverness, or even difference in religious faith usually pressurize the life of people. It is much better if people will try to negotiate and discuss on the issues that are common for both the parties. This technique is available in the Quran and the practice of Rasulullah (Sal).
Surah Al-Imran 3 : 64 Say (O Muhammad Sal): "O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians): Come to a word that is just (common terms) between us and you, that we worship none but Allah, and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah. Then, if they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims."
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Prophet Muhammad (Sal) sent letters to the Kings and Rulers of Kingdoms and Empires. As narrated by Ibn Abbas (Ra.) that Abu Sufyan told him personally about Heraclius of Byzatine upon receiving the letter from Prophet Muhammad (Sal). Heraclius asked whether anyone knew this man who claimed to be a Prophet. There Abu Sufyan told him that he was the nearest relative. Heraclius asked so many questions about the Prophet (Sal) and then he summarized as follows. Muhammad (Sal) came from a noble family and all the Messengers come from the noblest family.
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Muhammad (Sal) was not seeking to rule the kingdom since his father was not a King. The followers of the Messengers were mostly poor people. Since Muhammad (Sal) never told a lie, Heraclius believed that Muhammad (Sal) could never tell a lie about Allah. All of his followers were so delighted after embraced Islam and it was true Faith and pleasure would enter the hearts. The numbers of his followers were increasing, that was the way of Faith till it completed. Heraclius told that the war between Muhammad (Sal) and Abu Sufyan was undecided because the Prophet (Sal) would be put to trails and the final victory would be for the Prophet Muhammad (Sal). Then Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan what Prophet Muhammad (Sal) asked him to do. He said, Prophet Muhammad (Sal) asked them to offer prayers, pay zakat, keep good relationship with the kin and to be chaste. Then Heraclius said, “If whatever you have said is true, then he is really a Prophet. I knew that he (Sal) was going to appear, but I never thought that he would be from amongst you.
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If I were certain that I can reach him, I would like to meet him and if I were with him, I would wash his feet and his kingdom will expand (surely) to what is under my feet.” Then Heralius asked for the letter of Allah’s Messenger(Sal) and read :
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Muhammad (Sal) was not seeking to rule the kingdom since his father was not a King. The followers of the Messengers were mostly poor people. Since Muhammad (Sal) never told a lie, Heraclius believed that Muhammad (Sal) could never tell a lie about Allah. All of his followers were so delighted after embraced Islam and it was true Faith and pleasure would enter the hearts. The numbers of his followers were increasing, that was the way of Faith till it completed. Heraclius told that the war between Muhammad (Sal) and Abu Sufyan was undecided because the Prophet (Sal) would be put to trails and the final victory would be for the Prophet Muhammad (Sal). Then Heraclius asked Abu Sufyan what Prophet Muhammad (Sal) asked him to do. He said, Prophet Muhammad (Sal) asked them to offer prayers, pay zakat, keep good relationship with the kin and to be chaste. Then Heraclius said, “If whatever you have said is true, then he is really a Prophet. I knew that he (Sal) was going to appear, but I never thought that he would be from amongst you.
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If I were certain that I can reach him, I would like to meet him and if I were with him, I would wash his feet and his kingdom will expand (surely) to what is under my feet.” Then Heralius asked for the letter of Allah’s Messenger(Sal) and read :
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“In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. (This letter is) from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Heraclius, the sovereign of Byzantine. Peace be upon him who follows the Right Path. Now then, I call you to embrace Islam. Embrace Islam and you will be saved (from Allah’s punishment) ; embrace Islam, and Allah will give you a double reward, but if you reject this, you will be responsible for the sins of all the people of your kingdom. “O people of the Scripture! Come to common terms between us and you, that we worship none but Allah (Alone)…. Bear witness that we are Muslims.”
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Know them know us win all the battles. But for Prophet Muhammad (Sal), he followed a better way. That is to win without any battle. Through kind words and asking people to accept the common terms is a better way than violence or war.
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ قَوْلًا مِّمَّن دَعَا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا وَقَالَ إِنَّنِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Surah Fussilat 41 : 33 And who is better in speech than he who invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."
Picture : Google
