https://www.khutbah.info/causes-of-heedlessness/ A person’s affairs, in this world and the next, are not sound except through the soundness of their heart, adherence to the commands of Allah the Most High, and diligence and effort in obeying Him Almighty. The disease of heedlessness is one of the diseases that destroys hearts, distances people from righteous deeds, and diverts them from what benefits them to what harms them. People vary in their heedlessness. Among them are those whose hearts are completely overcome by heedlessness, knowing nothing but this worldly life, working only for it, and believing that there is nothing beyond it. This is the behavior of the disbelievers and the hypocrites.
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:
A person’s affairs, in this world and the next, are not sound except through the soundness of their heart, adherence to the commands of Allah the Most High, and diligence and effort in obeying Him Almighty. The disease of heedlessness is one of the diseases that destroys hearts, distances people from righteous deeds, and diverts them from what benefits them to what harms them. People vary in their heedlessness. Among them are those whose hearts are completely overcome by heedlessness, knowing nothing but this worldly life, working only for it, and believing that there is nothing beyond it. This is the behavior of the disbelievers and the hypocrites.
Among the people of faith are those who are heedless due to their engagement with worldly diversions and preoccupation with them, some experiencing much and others little. No one is entirely free from some form of heedlessness, yet believers awaken and become aware of their heedlessness.
In the authentic Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
لِكُلِّ عَمَلٍ شِرَّةٌ وَلِكُلِّ شِرَّةٍ فَتْرَةٌ فَمَنْ كَانَتْ فَتْرَتُهُ إِلَى سُنَّتِي فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ وَمَنْ كَانَتْ إِلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَقَدْ هَلَكَ-رواه أحمد
Every deed has a period of enthusiasm, and every enthusiasm is followed by a slackening. Whoever’s slackening is towards my Sunnah has succeeded, and whoever’s slackening leads elsewhere will perish. [Ahmad 6958, Grade: Sound chain (Arnaout)]
There are numerous causes for heedlessness, the gravest of which is disbelief. A disbeliever is in complete heedlessness about their ultimate fate in the Hereafter, only caring for this worldly life and its fleeting pleasures. Allah Almighty clarifies their heedlessness in His Book:
يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَ * أَوَلَمْ يَتَفَكَّرُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى وَإِنَّ كَثِيرًا مِنَ النَّاسِ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّهِمْ لَكَافِرُونَ
Ar-Rum (30) 7-8: (7) They know what is apparent of the worldly life, but they, of the Hereafter, are unaware. (8) Do they not contemplate within themselves? Allāh has not created the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth and for a specified term. And indeed, many of the people, in the meeting with their Lord, are disbelievers.
Allah Almighty also says:
لِتُنْذِرَ قَوْمًا مَا أُنْذِرَ آبَاؤُهُمْ فَهُمْ غَافِلُونَ * لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى أَكْثَرِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Ya-Sin (36) 6-7: (6) That you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, so they are unaware. (7) Already the word [i.e., decree] has come into effect upon most of them, so they do not believe.
Another cause of heedlessness is being deceived by this worldly life, becoming attached to it, and striving solely for it. Those whose hearts are attached to the worldly life, accumulating it, enjoying it, and being greedy for it, forget the Hereafter to the extent of their attachment. That is why it was said, “Love of this worldly life is the root of every sin.” Because this worldly life deceives people, Allah has repeatedly warned about it in many verses. Allah Almighty says:
وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَلَلدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
Al-An’am (6) 32: And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion; but the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allāh, so will you not reason?
Allah Almighty also says:
وَمَا هَذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ وَإِنَّ الدَّارَ الْآخِرَةَ لَهِيَ الْحَيَوَانُ لَوْ كَانُوا يَعْلَمُونَ
Al-Ankabut (29) 64: And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter – that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.
Allah Almighty also says:
إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ
Luqman (31) 33: Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allāh by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan].
Allah Almighty also says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ فَلَا تَغُرَّنَّكُمُ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا يَغُرَّنَّكُمْ بِاللَّهِ الْغَرُورُ * إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ
Fatir (35) 5-6: (5) O mankind, indeed the promise of Allāh is truth, so let not the worldly life delude you and be not deceived about Allāh by the Deceiver [i.e., Satan]. (6) Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.
Among the causes of heedlessness is turning away the Quran. Allah Almighty says:
كِتَابٌ فُصِّلَتْ آيَاتُهُ قُرْآنًا عَرَبِيًّا لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ * بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا فَأَعْرَضَ أَكْثَرُهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ
Fussilat (41) 3-4: (3) A Book whose verses have been detailed, an Arabic Qur’ān for a people who know, (4) As a giver of good tidings and a warner; but most of them turn away, so they do not hear.
So whoever turns away from the Quran will be afflicted with heedlessness. Because the Quran is a book of knowledge, admonition, and reminder.
Likewise, heedlessness is caused by turning away from contemplating Allah Almighty’s signs in this existence. For signs of Allah Almighty’s greatness are found throughout the universe. Whoever turns away from noticing and contemplating them will be afflicted with heedlessness of knowing their Lord, glory be to Him, the Most High. Allah Almighty says:
وَكَأَيِّنْ مِنْ آيَةٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ * وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُمْ مُشْرِكُونَ-يُوسُفَ 105-106
Yusuf (12) 105-106: (105) And how many a sign within the heavens and earth do they pass over while they, therefrom, are turning away. (106) And most of them believe not in Allāh except while they associate others with Him.
Likewise, is turning away from thinking about the beginning and the end, death and the reckoning, causes one to become heedless. Because they become distracted by this worldly life and forget what awaits them in the Hereafter:
اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَابُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِي غَفْلَةٍ مُعْرِضُونَ * مَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ ذِكْرٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ مُحْدَثٍ إِلَّا اسْتَمَعُوهُ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ * لَاهِيَةً قُلُوبُهُمْ-الْأَنْبِيَاءِ 1-3
Al-Anbiya (21) 1-3: (1) [The time of] their account has approached for the people, while they are in heedlessness turning away. (2) No mention [i.e., revelation] comes to them anew from their Lord except that they listen to it while they are at play (3) With their hearts distracted.
Likewise, turning away from learning the religion of Allah Almighty causes one to become ignorant, and become heedless because of their ignorance.
بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ الْحَقَّ فَهُمْ مُعْرِضُونَ-الْأَنْبِيَاءِ 24
Al-Anbiya (21) 24: But most of them do not know the truth, so they are turning away.
When a man turned away from the Prophet’s teaching, the Prophet said:
وَأَمَّا الْآخَرُ فَأَعْرَضَ فَأَعْرَضَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ
As for the other man, he turned away, so Allah turned away from him. [Bukhari 474, Muslim 2176a]
And the religion of Allah, the Most High, is great cannot be attained by the one who turns away or is arrogant.
One of the causes of heedlessness is not rejoicing in the Quran, because it is a book of admonition, reminder, nourishment for the hearts, and a cure for their ailments.
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ * قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ-يُونُسَ 57- 58
Yunus (10) 57-58: (57) O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers. (58) Say, “In the bounty of Allāh and in His mercy – in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate.”
Among the signs of rejoicing in the Quran is frequently reciting it, contemplating it, and memorizing it.
So it is no wonder that heedlessness befalls the one who turns away from the Quran, due to their distance from the Quran, which is the life and healing of the hearts.
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:
Be conscious of Allah, the Most High, and obey Him, and beware of heedlessness, for it extinguishes the heart and leading one into darkness. Allah Almighty says:
أَوَمَنْ كَانَ مَيْتًا فَأَحْيَيْنَاهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُ نُورًا يَمْشِي بِهِ فِي النَّاسِ كَمَنْ مَثَلُهُ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ لَيْسَ بِخَارِجٍ مِنْهَا كَذَلِكَ زُيِّنَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Al-An’am (6) 122: And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom? Thus it has been made pleasing to the disbelievers that which they were doing.
In our times, a wide door of social media has opened for people, robbing their time, distracting them from the beneficial, and leading them to neglect their prayers and religious duties.
Social media has brought those far away closer and facilitated interaction among people, despite their geographical, cultural and national differences. Engaging excessively with social media is a cause of heedlessness. How much worse is it if it involves the forbidden—such as a man communicating with a woman who is not lawful for him or a woman communicating with a man who is not lawful for her—and perhaps even doing so publicly for all to see? This inevitably leads to heedlessness.
Some people indulge in these media, watching them, and switching from one program to another, or from one page to another. Long hours pass without them even realizing it, and they may even neglect the interests of their family and household, and the duties of their Lord, Glory be to Him.
All of this stems from heedlessness and increases in heedlessness. Allah Almighty has commanded to keep company with the righteous to awaken hearts from their heedlessness. He has also forbidden obedience to idle people who increase one in heedlessness. He, glory be to Him, says:
وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَنْ ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا
Al-Kahf (18) 28: And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His face [i.e., acceptance]. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.
So what about those who spend long hours on trivial diversions and tasteless discussions, most of which involve transgressions and sins that they burden themselves with without even realizing it? How extreme is their negligence! And how great is the disregard many people have for forbidden things! How great their loss will be if they do not return to their senses and repent from their sins!!
Thus, it is incumbent upon believers to avoid the causes of heedlessness and pay attention to the life of their hearts by strengthening their faith, reciting the Quran, and performing righteous deeds. Indeed, drawing closer to Allah Almighty is achieved by the purity of the heart and righteous deeds. As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى قُلُوبِكُمْ وَأَعْمَالِكُمْ
Indeed, Allah does not look at your appearances or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds. [Muslim 2564c]
We ask Allah make us among those who remember Him Almighty while standing, sitting and on our sides. 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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