https://www.khutbah.info/summer-vacation/ Believers are commanded to earn good deeds throughout their lives, to refrain from sins and to erase sins with good deeds. And no one, no matter how great their iman (faith), taqwa (Allah-consciousness) and righteous deeds, is able to gather all the good deeds and to avoid all the bad deeds. And therefore the point is abundance of good deeds. So whoever has many good deeds and few bad deeds is among the fortunate. And punishment is feared for whoever has many bad deeds and few good deeds. And vacation, whether it is from school or work, is counted as part of our life spans. And it is a limited time from our stay in this world for which we are accountable. For the messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
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:
Believers are commanded to earn good deeds throughout their lives, to refrain from sins and to erase sins with good deeds. And no one, no matter how great their iman (faith), taqwa (Allah-consciousness) and righteous deeds, is able to gather all the good deeds and to avoid all the bad deeds. And therefore the point is abundance of good deeds. So whoever has many good deeds and few bad deeds is among the fortunate. And punishment is feared for whoever has many bad deeds and few good deeds.
And vacation, whether it is from school or work, is counted as part of our life spans. And it is a limited time from our stay in this world for which we are accountable. For the messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
عُمْرِهِ فِيمَا أَفْنَاهُ وَعَنْ عِلْمِهِ فِيمَا فَعَلَ وَعَنْ مَالِهِ مِنْ أَيْنَ اكْتَسَبَهُ وَفِيمَا أَنْفَقَهُ وَعَنْ جِسْمِهِ فِيمَا أَبْلاَهُ
A person’s feet will not move on the Day of Resurrection before he is asked about his life, how did he consume it, his knowledge, what did he do with it, his wealth, how did he earn it and how did he dispose of it, and about his body, how did he wear it out. [Tirmithi 2416, Grade:Hassan]
Indeed, lifespans pass by quickly, so the wise use their time with what gets them closer to their Lord. And listen to what those who fell short in their lives and disobeyed their Lord and opposed their Master will say at the time of their death. Allah Almighty said:
حَتَّى إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ رَبِّ ارْجِعُونِ * لَعَلِّي أَعْمَلُ صَالِحًا فِيمَا تَرَكْتُ كَلَّا إِنَّهَا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائِلُهَاn وَمِنْ وَرَائِهِمْ بَرْزَخٌ إِلَى يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ-سورة المؤمنون 99-100
Al Mominoon 99-100: (99) [For such is the state of the disbelievers] until, when death comes to one of them, he says, “My Lord, send me back (100) That I might do righteousness in that which I left behind.”1 No! It is only a word he is saying; and behind them is a barrier until the Day they are resurrected.
Ali bin Abi Taleb, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the worldly life has left behind and the hereafter has approached ahead, and each one of them has children, so be from the children of the hereafter and do not be from the children of the worldly life. For today is deeds and no reckoning and tomorrow is reckoning and no deeds.
And negligence and heedlessness during vacation and traveling is falling short. For this is not the characteristic of the wise, nor the practice of the scholars. For there are scholars who wrote works while travelling, even though travel was a difficulty and burdensome in contrast to our present times. Ibn Qayim, may Allah have mercy on him, wrote his great work Zaad Al Mi’aad while he was travelling. And people have benefited from it from the time that he authored it up until now.
Indeed, vacation is an opportunity to join kinship, visit relatives and to fulfill the family’s need for relief and rest. And the journey of the minds through learning and building awareness is more honorable than the journey of the bodies to countries and resorts. And the best and most enjoyable journeys are when both are combined.
And the rulings of travel start once a person leaves the built up area of their town. For it is permissible for the traveler to shorten the four-rak’ah prayer to two rak’ahs and to combine Dhuhr and Asr prayers at the time of either one of them and to combine Maghreb and Isha prayers, at the time of either one of them. So one does what is easier for them, either combining the prayers at the time of the first prayer or combining them at the time of the second prayer. But if one stays in a town, it is mandatory for them to pray in the Masjed. So if one prays with the congregation, it is mandatory to follow the imam (prayer leader). So if the imam (prayer leader) prays four-rak’ahs, it is not permissible to pray only two rak’ahs. That is, one cannot shorten the Dhuhr, Asr or Isha prayers if they pray behind a resident. But if he misses the congregation or if he is the imam (prayer leader), then he can shorten the four-rak’ah prayers to two.
And the traveler is obligated to perform wudu and cannot perform tayammum unless there is no water or if using water is harmful due to an illness or the like. The scholars said that the traveler shall carry water with for the purpose of wudu.
And among the rulings of travel that are good to know and implement is praying while one is riding their means of transportation. For it was authenticated that our Prophet Mohammad ﷺ used to offer the voluntary prayer while on his mount. And this is part of making the most out of time and safeguarding it with acts of obedience. For ‘Amer bin Rabia’, may Allah be pleased with him said:
رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي عَلَى رَاحِلَتِهِ حَيْثُ تَوَجَّهَتْ بِهِ- مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ . وزَادَ اَلْبُخَارِيُّ : يُومِئُ بِرَأْسِهِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَصْنَعُهُ فِي اَلْمَكْتُوبَةِ .
I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray on (the back of) his mount in whatever direction it took him. [Bukhari 1000, Muslim 700b]
And Al Bukhari added, he gestured with his head and did not do it for the obligatory prayers.
And based on that, we can do this whether in cars or on planes or on other means of transportation. And some people think that this is difficult because they wrongly think that complete bowing and prostration is required. And this is not correct, because the one praying in these cases bows and prostrates through slight gesturing and bends slightly lower for the prostration than the bowing.
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:
While we are on our vacations, it is good to remind ourselves of Allah’s favors and blessings. We enjoy safety and security while there are those who are less fortunate and living in turmoil. So let us carry our eternal message by realizing servitude to Allah Almighty and adapting our souls and desires to that which pleases the Provider and by instilling praiseworthy values and morals within ourselves, our children, our spouses, and throughout all aspects of our lives.
O young people, you are an important part of our community and the proof for its vitality and the path for elevating it. So using vacation for wasting time in vain is a betrayal. For our Prophet ﷺ said:
نِعمَتانِ مَغبونٌ فيهما كَثيرٌ من النَّاس: الصّحّةُ والفَراغ
Two blessings that many of the people squander are health and free time (for doing good). [Bukhari 6412]
And Ibn Masood, may Allah be pleased with him, said, I did not regret anything as much as the day that the sun set in which my life span decreased and my (good) deeds did not increase.
The successful are those who sacrifice their youth for the sake of pleasing their Creator and expend the precious to be close to their Lord throughout their youth, strength and vitality. And from among those shaded by the cover of Allah on the day that there is no shade but His is:
وشاب نشأَ في طاعةِ الله- متفق عليه
And a youth grew up upon the obedience of Allah. [Bukhari 1423, Muslim 1031a]
Oh students, vacation is a great opportunity to realize noble goals and good aims for this world and the next. So having righteous companions is of the utmost importance. Those whom turn you away from doing the ugly and help and support you in doing good.
And during vacation, fathers and mothers should beware of doors opening for their children to abandon obligations, miss prayers, and do forbidden things, or to travel to places where unbelief, sins, and immorality abound.
Allah Almighty said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ-التحريم 6
At Tahrim (66) 6: O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones.
Oh mothers and fathers, follow the approach of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in caring for the youth. The Prophet ﷺ said to his cousin Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, while he was a lad:
يَا غُلام إني أعلِّمك كلمات: احفَظِ الله يحفَظْك احفَظِ الله تجدْه تجاهَك
O young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice]: Be mindful of Allah and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him in front of you.[Tirmithi 2516, Grade: Sahih]
And how beautiful was the way of the righteous predecessors. Ibrahim bin Adham, may Allah have mercy on him, said, my father said to me, oh my son, seek out the Hadiths, for you will get a dirham every time that you find a Hadith and memorize it. Ibrahim said, I kept seeking out Hadith based on this.
So safeguard the moments of life, and use your time for that which is beneficial now and later. As Al Shafe’, may Allah have mercy on him said, for the soul, if you do not occupy it with the truth, will occupy you with falsehood.
And let us know that we will stand before our Lord, the Most High, and be responsible for our time and our deeds.Oh Allah, bless our time, our life spans and our deeds. Indeed Allah is 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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