Patience

Haroon Mosque Khutabah

      Friday June 10^th. 2011 

Brothers and Sisters,

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      Allah (Sub) Has made this world a place of trials. All comfort that is enjoyed is temporary. Allah (Sub) Wish to see our steadfastness and perseverance at the time of adverse conditions. Allah (Sub) Love and Reward those who have patience.  

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وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَعْلَمَ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ مِنكُمْ وَالصَّابِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَ أَخْبَارَكُمْ

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Surah Muhammad 47:31 And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard (for the Cause of Allah) and the patient ones, and We shall test your facts (i.e. the one who is a liar, and the one who is truthful). 

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الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
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Surah Al-Baqarah 2:156  Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return."

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      The claim to be a true servant of Allah (Sub) has to be proved. Patience is a quality of a true believer who is able to tolerate hardships and difficulties without complaining and losing hope in Allah (Sub).  Bukhari reported that, Rasulullah (Sal) said: “One who adopts the policy of patience Allah (Sub) will grant him patience, and no person has been given a greater and better gift than patience”. When Rasulullah (Sal) was asked as to which people will be given the hardest test, he replied the Prophets and then those who followed them. Another aspect of patience is to be steadfast on obedience to Allah (Sub) as shown in
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وَأْمُرْ أَهْلَكَ بِالصَّلَاةِ وَاصْطَبِرْ عَلَيْهَا ۖ لَا نَسْأَلُكَ رِزْقًا ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكَ ۗ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلتَّقْوَىٰ

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Surah Ta-Ha 20:132  And enjoin As-Salat (the prayer) on your family, and be patient in offering them [i.e. the Salat (prayers)].

      This is one of the duties of the family leader to see to it that the members of the family are steadfast in prayer or Salat.  Rasulullah (Sal) never missed a single Voluntary Prayer before Fajr, therefore, our family members should regularly offer prayers according to the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sal). 

      There are two conflicting forces inside us.  One force motivates us towards Islam and righteousness while the other drives us towards our vain desires. We have to keep these forces under control by insisting the religious force and reducing the force of lust and it is called “Sabr”. Sabr or Patience is defined as “Maintaining control of the nafs in the face of such things which the nafs dislikes.” There are three types of Sabr.

      The 1^st. Sabru alal Amal. This means to be firm and constant in practicing righteous deeds. The 2^nd. Sabru fil Amal. This means to have Sabr while engaging in the righteous deeds. The nafs or desires are held in control and prevented from diversion while engaged in the act of virtue. Acts of Ibadah will be done correctly by the principles and rules pertaining to such acts. Full attention is derected towards that Ibadat.   And the 3^rd. Sabru anil Amal. This is to have Sabr in the non-commission of any act or to restrain the nafs from indulging in the prohibition of Allah (Sub). 

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الصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْمُنفِقِينَ وَالْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِالْأَسْحَارِ
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Surah Al-Imran 3:17 (They are) those who are patient ones, those who are true (in Faith, words, and deeds), and obedient with sincere devotion in worship to Allah. Those who spend [give the Zakat and alms in the Way of Allah] and those who pray and beg Allah's Pardon in the last hours of the night.

      These are the people who will receive reward from Allah (Sub).  Heaven with rivers flow beneath them and they will also receive the Pleasure of Allah (Sub) and that is the most valuable reward for good doers.

Picture : Google.

Common term for beleiver

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).

قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ تَعَالَوْا إِلَىٰ كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ

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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      “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

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

Road map for life

Haroon Mosque Khutbah

              Friday February 11^th. 2011

Brothers and Sisters, 

.Our destination is to return to Allah (Sub) with success.  Our route is like traveling on the road.  Along the path we have to go through rough road, sharp curve and steep narrow road or even off road sometimes.  The signals and road signs provide useful information for us to prevent accident or loss our ways.  The same way we look for signs in our way of life from Al-Quran. 

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Surah Al-Ankabut 29:49. 

بَلْ هُوَ آيَاتٌ بَيِّنَاتٌ فِي صُدُورِ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ ۚ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَّا الظَّالِمُونَ

Nay, but they, the clear Ayat (qualities of Prophet Muhammad Sal.) are preserved in the breasts of those who have been given knowledge.  And none but the wrongdoers deny Our Ayat (signs).   

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     Al-Quran is the Book of Signs.  One of the signs is the qualities of Prophet Muhammad (Sal.).  The Prophet (Sal.) cannot read or write thus the Message he spoke is not from other people’s books.  The Message is Revelation from Allah.  The Revelations and Signs are self-evident for knowledgeable people who have both literary and spiritual insight.  Undoubtedly, believers bear truth and signs in their hearts, minds, and understandings so they never go astray.  On the other hand, the rejecters of signs also reject the truth.  Such rejection is a mark of injustice, dishonest, oppression and perversity.  
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Surah Al-Ankabut 29:50. 

وَقَالُوا لَوْلَا أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ ۖ قُلْ إِنَّمَا الْآيَاتُ عِندَ اللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَا أَنَا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

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And they say: “Why are not signs sent down to him from his Lord?  Say: “The signs are only with Allah, and I am only a plain warner.” 

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     It is noticeable that even the disbelievers are asking for Signs!  Honestly, they should accept the Commandments of Allah and not their pride and prejudice.  They want Allah to send them Signs so they shall believe.  But the Signs are with Allah and He does what He Please!  Believers will not let their emotion surpass their intellect.  They have the ability to reason intelligently.
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Surah Al-Ankabut 29:51. 

أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِهِمْ أَنَّا أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَرَحْمَةً وَذِكْرَىٰ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

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Is it not sufficient for them that We have sent down to you the Book (the Quran) which is recited to them?  Verily, herein is mercy and a reminder for a people who believe.  

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People who have faith in Allah will be able to feel the mercy and a reminder of truth whenever they hear Al-Quran.  Al-Quran is universal message and universal truth for everyone.  To recite the Quran in a nice, loud and pleasant tone is the worldly pleasure of the Prophet (Sal.)
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      Narrated Abu Hurairah (rd.) Allah’s Messenger (Sal.) said, “Not to wish to be the like of except two men: A man whom Allah has taught the Quran and he recites it during some hours in the night and during some hours of the day, and his neighbor listens to him and says, ‘I wish I had been given what has been given to so-and-so, so that I might do what he does’ ; and a man whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it according to what Allah has ordained in a just and right manner, whereupon another man may say, ‘I wish I had been given what so-and-so has been given, for then I would do what he does.’”  (Sahih Al-Bukhari).

Ref : google picture.