https://www.khutbah.info/steadfastness/ Steadfastness in the servitude of Allah Almighty is the greatest matter that a Muslim should strive for in this worldly life. Mankind was created for the sake of this servitude. Allah Almighty: Ad Dhariyat (51) 56: And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. And the Muslim recites Surah Al Fatihah at least seventeen times a day declaring his servitude to Allah Almighty:Al Fatihah 5: It is You we worship and You we ask for help. And there is great reward in this world and the next for steadfastness in this worldly life. Allah said:Fusillat (41) 30-32: (30) Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allah” and then remained on a right course – the angels will descend upon them, [saying], “Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. (31) We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish] (32) As accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful.”
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ ,نَحْمَدُهُ ,وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ , وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا ,مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ , وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ , وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Him from the evils of our selves. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide. Whoever He misguides, none can guide. And I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His slave and messenger.
يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ – آل عمران:102
Al Imran 102 : O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
Oh people:
Steadfastness in the servitude of Allah Almighty is the greatest matter that a Muslim should strive for in this worldly life. Mankind was created for the sake of this servitude. Allah Almighty:
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ-الذاريات: 56
Ad Dhariyat (51) 56: And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.
And the Muslim recites Surah Al Fatihah at least seventeen times a day declaring his servitude to Allah Almighty:
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ -الفاتحة
Al Fatihah 5: It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
And there is great reward in this world and the next for steadfastness in this worldly life. Allah said:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ * نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنْفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ * نُزُلًا مِنْ غَفُورٍ رَحِيمٍ-فصلت: 30 – 32
Fusillat (41) 30-32: (30) Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allah” and then remained on a right course – the angels will descend upon them, [saying], “Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised. (31) We [angels] were your allies in worldly life and [are so] in the Hereafter. And you will have therein whatever your souls desire, and you will have therein whatever you request [or wish] (32) As accommodation from a [Lord who is] Forgiving and Merciful.”
But what is the standard for steadfastness? And when can it be said: This person is upright or this person is not upright. Is it based on societal norms? Or is it based on human laws? Or is it based on mental whims? No, it is not based on this or that. And indeed it is according to the divine commands. So whoever implements them realizes uprightness and righteousness. And whoever does not implement them is neither upright nor righteous.
And Allah Almighty commanded His Prophet ﷺ:
وَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ-الشورى: 15
Ash Shura (42)15: And remain on a right course as you are commanded and do not follow their inclinations
And Allah commanded him:
فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ وَمَنْ تَابَ مَعَكَ وَلَا تَطْغَوْا إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ * وَلَا تَرْكَنُوا إِلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا فَتَمَسَّكُمُ النَّارُ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءَ ثُمَّ لَا تُنْصَرُونَ-هود: 112- 113
Hood (11) 112-113: (112) So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allah], and do not transgress. Indeed, He is Seeing of what you do. (113) And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allah any protectors; then you would not be helped.
And Allah commanded:
وَأَنَّ هَذَا صِرَاطِي مُسْتَقِيمًا فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا السُّبُلَ فَتَفَرَّقَ بِكُمْ عَنْ سَبِيلِهِ ذَلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ-الأنعام: 153
Al Anam (6) 153: And, [moreover], this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] ways, for you will be separated from His way. This has He instructed you that you may become righteous.
So be upright as you have been commanded. Not as you desire or want. And not as your family desires or wants. And not as society desires or wants. And not as any person of this world desires or wants. Rather as Allah wants and as Allah loves and is pleased with. And what is besides that is transgression as Allah said:
فَاسْتَقِمْ كَمَا أُمِرْتَ وَمَنْ تَابَ مَعَكَ وَلَا تَطْغَوْا إِنَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ-هود: 112
Hood (11) 112: So remain on a right course as you have been commanded, [you] and those who have turned back with you [to Allah], and do not transgress. Indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.
And it is misguidance as Allah commanded:
وَلَا تَتَّبِعِ الْهَوَى فَيُضِلَّكَ عَنْ سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ-ص: 26
Saad (38) 26: And do not follow [your own] desire, as it will lead you astray from the way of Allah.
And Allah said:
أَفَمَنْ يَمْشِي مُكِبًّا عَلَى وَجْهِهِ أَهْدَى أَمَّنْ يَمْشِي سَوِيًّا عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ-الملك: 22
Al Mulk (67) 22: Then is one who walks fallen on his face better guided or one who walks erect on a straight path?
And steadfastness in servitude is not limited to oneself. Rather it includes all acts of worship. And performing the commands and avoiding the prohibitions. And everything that Allah loves and is pleased with from speech, actions, beliefs- apparent and hidden.
So a person is not upright as commanded by Allah and His messenger if he wrongs people and spreads corruption even if he spends the night prostrating and standing in prayer
And a person is not upright as commanded by Allah and His messenger if he devours others’ wealth through cheating, falsehood and usury even if he goes to the masjed before the caller to prayer.
And a person is not upright as commanded by Allah and His messenger if he commits evil and has bad character and behavior even if he safeguards the prayers.
And a person is not upright as commanded by Allah and His messenger if he has good character and behavior but abandons the obligations commanded by Allah.
And a person is not upright as commanded by Allah and His messenger if he worships Allah night and day in an innovated fashion. And it was authenticated from the Prophet ﷺ that he said:
إيَّاكم ومحدثاتِ الأمورِ, فإنَّ كلَّ محدثةٍ بدعةٌ, وكلَّ بدعةٍ ضلالةٌ
Beware of newly-invented matters, for every newly-invented matter is an innovation (Bid’ah) and every innovation is a going-stray. [Sunan Ibn Majah 42]
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
مَن أَحْدَثَ في أَمْرِنَا هذا ما ليسَ فِيهِ, فَهو رَدٌّ
Whoever innovates something in this matter of ours (i.e. Islam) that is not part of it, will have it rejected. [Bukhari 2697, Muslim 1718a]
And a person is not upright as commanded by Allah and His messenger if he goes against their commands with deviated thoughts and innovated opinions. Even if he prays the night prayer and fasts the days and does not part with the Quran. As the Prophet ﷺ said:
سَيَكُونُ بَعْدِي مِنْ أُمَّتِي قَوْمٌ يَقْرَؤونَ الْقُرْآنَ, لاَ يُجَاوِزُ حَلاَقِيمَهُمْ, يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ الدِّينِ كَمَا يَخْرُجُ السَّهْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ, ثُمَّ لَا يَعُودُونَ فِيهِ, هُمْ شَرُّ الْخَلْقِ وَالْخَلِيقَةِ
There will be people among my Ummah (nation) after me who will recite the Qur’an, but it will not go any deeper than their throats. They will pass through Islam like an arrow passing through its target, then they will never return to it. They are the most evil of mankind and of all creation. [Muslim 1067, Sunan Ibn Majah 170]
Be conscious of Allah and be upright as Allah wants. You will succeed in this world and the hereafter.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ * أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ-الأحقاف: 13- 14
AL Ahqaf 13-14: (13) Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allah,” and then remained on a right course – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (14) Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein as reward for what they used to do.
أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
I say what you have heard and I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and you from every sin. So seek forgives from Him, Verily He is Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Second Khutbah
الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ, وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ , وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاْ إِلَهَ إِلَّاْ اَللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَاْشَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَاً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His slave and messenger.
Oh Muslims:
All praise is due to Allah Who guided us to Islam. For indeed the path to steadfastness upon what Allah Almighty wants is through holding on to the Book of Allah. Allah Almighty commanded:
فَاسْتَمْسِكْ بِالَّذِي أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ إِنَّكَ عَلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ-الزخرف: 43
Az Zukhruf (43) 43: So adhere to that which is revealed to you. Indeed, you are on a straight path.
And Allah said regarding the Quran:
لِمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَسْتَقِيمَ * وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ)[التكوير- 28- 29
At Takwir (81) 28-29: (28) For whoever wills among you to take a right course. (29) And you do not will except that Allah wills – Lord of the worlds.
Verily, being steadfast upon the command of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is part of steadfastness on the command of Allah. For whatever the Prophet ﷺ commands and forbids is indeed revelation from Allah the Almighty said:
وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَى * مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَى * وَمَا يَنْطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى * إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى-النجم: 1 – 4
An Najm (53) 1-4: (1) By the star when it descends (2) Your companion [i.e., Moḥammad] has not strayed, nor has he erred, (3) Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination.(4) It is not but a revelation revealed,
And the Almighty said:
مَنْ يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ وَمَنْ تَوَلَّى فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا-النساء: 80
An Nisa (4) 80: He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah; but those who turn away – We have not sent you over them as a guardian.
And Allah commanded:
وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانْتَهُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ العِقَابِ-الحشر: 7
Al Hashr (59) 7: And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
And Allah Almighty said:
وَإِنَّكَ لَتَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ * وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ عَنِ الصِّرَاطِ لَنَاكِبُونَ-المؤمنون: 73- 74
Al Mominoon (23) 73-74: (73) And indeed, you invite them to a straight path. (74) But indeed, those who do not believe in the Hereafter are deviating from the path.
And Allah said:
فَلْيَحْذَرِ الَّذِينَ يُخَالِفُونَ عَنْ أَمْرِهِ أَنْ تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ أَوْ يُصِيبَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ-النور: 63
An Noor (24) 63: So let those beware who dissent from his [i.e., the Prophet’s] order, lest fitnah strike them or a painful punishment.
And it has been authenticated from the Prophet ﷺ that he said:
لَا أُلْفِيَنَّ أَحَدَكُمْ مُتَّكِئًا عَلَى أَرِيكَتِهِ, يَأْتِيهِ الْأَمْرُ مِنْ أَمْرِي مِمَّا أَمَرْتُ بِهِ أَوْ نَهَيْتُ عَنْهُ فَيَقُولُ: لَا نَدْرِي, مَا وَجَدْنَا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ اتَّبَعْنَاهُ.
Let me not find one of you reclining on his couch when he hears something regarding me which I have commanded or forbidden and says: We do not know. What we found in Allah’s Book we have followed. [Sunan Abu Dawood 4605]
And it has been authenticated that he ﷺ forbid some matters on the day of Khaybar then said:
أَلَا إِنِّي أُوتِيتُ الْقُرْآنَ وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَهُ,يُوشِكُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يُكَذِّبَنِي, وَهُوَ مُتَّكِئٌ عَلَى أَرِيكَتِهِ, يُحَدَّثُ بِحَدِيثِي, فَيَقُولُ: بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ, فَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَلَالٍ اسْتَحْلَلْنَاهُ, وَمَا وَجَدْنَا فِيهِ مِنْ حَرَامٍ حَرَّمْنَاهُ ,أَلَا وَإِنَّ مَا حَرَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- مِثْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ.
Verily I was given the Quran and something like it (sunnah), yet the time is coming when one of you will deny me while he is reclining on his couch mentioning my hadith and will say: “Between us and you is the Book of Allah, what we find in it to be permissible we treat as permissible, and what we find in it to be prohibited we treat as prohibited.” Verily what Allah’s Messenger ﷺ has prohibited is like what Allah has prohibited. [The Authentic Series Albani 6/872]
So be conscious of Allah and hold on to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah and request guidance from Allah:
وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهَادِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُسْتَقِيمٍ-الحج: 54
Al Hajj (22) 54: And indeed is Allah the Guide of those who have believed to a straight path.Oh Allah guide us through the Noble Quran and the Sunnah of the leader of the messengers. Verily You are All Hearing, Answering.
هَذَا وَصَلُّوا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى نَبِيِّكُم كَمَا أَمَرَكُمْ بِذلِكَ رَبُّكُمْ , فَقَالَ
I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon your Prophet as your Lord commanded:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
Al Ahzaab (33) 56: Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنا فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنا فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنا فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لنا فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنا شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا سَأَلَكَ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَاذَ بِهِ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ كُلَّ قَضَاءٍ قَضَيْتَهُ لَنا خَيْرًا
O Allah, We ask You for all that is good, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from all evil, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we ask You for the good that Your servant and Prophet has asked You for, and we seek refuge with You from the evil from which Your servant and Prophet sought refuge. O Allah, we ask You for Paradise and for that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed, and we seek refuge in You from Hell and from that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed. And we ask You to make every decree that You decree concerning us good
عِبَادَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Servants of Allah. Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
اُذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُرُوهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا وَأَقِمِ الصّلَاة
Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favors – He will increase you therein. And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters. And, establish the prayer.
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