https://www.khutbah.info/steadfastness-upon-the-truth/ When Allah Almighty wants to test the believers and those joining the caravan of Islam, and test the strength of their conviction and the sincerity of their faith, He varies their conditions and alternates between their days, between prominence and obscurity and between glory and weakness. So whoever embraced Islam in a time of prosperity, times of adversity are enough to reveal the genuineness of their religious commitment. And whoever was outwardly steadfast because he was going with the flow of those around him, will be let down by the changes. And if the affair of Islam was perpetual prosperity and victory, those seeking prosperity and worshipping victory would have followed it, even if they do not worship Allah. Therefore, such easy times cultivate the souls of hypocrisy. However, the hypocrites dissent in times of hardship and in situations of fear and weakness. And this was repeatedly observed during the missions of the prophets and the history of their communities. A group of the followers of Musa, peace be upon him, were told by their Prophet:
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:
When Allah Almighty wants to test the believers and those joining the caravan of Islam, and test the strength of their conviction and the sincerity of their faith, He varies their conditions and alternates between their days, between prominence and obscurity and between glory and weakness. So whoever embraced Islam in a time of prosperity, times of adversity are enough to reveal the genuineness of their religious commitment. And whoever was outwardly steadfast because he was going with the flow of those around him, will be let down by the changes.
And if the affair of Islam was perpetual prosperity and victory, those seeking prosperity and worshipping victory would have followed it, even if they do not worship Allah. Therefore, such easy times cultivate the souls of hypocrisy. However, the hypocrites dissent in times of hardship and in situations of fear and weakness. And this was repeatedly observed during the missions of the prophets and the history of their communities.
A group of the followers of Musa, peace be upon him, were told by their Prophet:
ادْخُلُوا الْأَرْضَ الْمُقَدَّسَةَ الَّتِي كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ-المائدة: 21
Al Maedah (5) 21: O my people, enter the blessed land which Allāh has assigned to you
They responded that within it was a people of great strength and that they would never enter it as long as they were in it. And the level of their religious commitment was summed up by how they responded:
فَاذْهَبْ أَنْتَ وَرَبُّكَ فَقَاتِلَا إِنَّا هَاهُنَا قَاعِدُونَ-المائدة: 24
Al Maedah (5) 24: So go, you and your Lord, and fight. Indeed, we are remaining right here.
This scene was repeated many times with our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. In Surah Al-Ahzab, Allah gives an example of the downfall of the perished. Allah Almighty said:
إِذْ جَاءُوكُمْ مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ أَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَإِذْ زَاغَتِ الْأَبْصَارُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنُونَا * هُنَالِكَ ابْتُلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَزُلْزِلُوا زِلْزَالًا شَدِيدًا * وَإِذْ يَقُولُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ وَالَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ مَا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا-الأحزاب: 10- 12
Al Ahzab (33) 10-12: (10) [Remember] when they came at you from above you and from below you, and when eyes shifted [in fear], and hearts reached the throats, and you assumed about Allāh [various] assumptions. (11) There the believers were tested and shaken with a severe shaking. (12) And [remember] when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease said, “Allāh and His Messenger did not promise us except delusion,”
So escaping from the truth becomes quicker as the truth increases in adversity. And abandoning its injunctions becomes more tragic and severe. And when the state of the Muslims weakened, a large number of them left some of the obligations of Islam. Or those who modify the religious rules through cutting or misinterpretation, in the name of keeping up with the times and being in harmony with the world and its development. And those people forgot or disregarded that Islam is more than fourteen hundred years old, and for more than a thousand of those years it was dominant and empowered, in advancements and authority, and in glory and prosperity. And it was loved and revered.
For more than a thousand years, Allah lifted the illiteracy of its followers to leadership in knowledge and civilization. And from fragmentation to unity. And from fear to security. And from poverty to prosperity. And from weakness to empowerment. And from dependency to leadership. Allah Almighty said:
وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَى شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا-آل عمران: 103
Al Imran (5) 103: And remember the favor of Allāh upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it.
And after a few verses:
كُنْتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ-آل عمران: 110
Al Imran (5) 110: You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind.
And Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺsaid:
نحن الآخِرُون الأوَّلُون يوم القيامة، ونحن أولُ مَن يدخُلُ الجنةَ، بَيْدَ أنهم أُوتُوا الكتابَ مِن قبلِنا، وأُوتِيناه من بعدِهم فاختَلَفُوا، فهدانا الله لما اختَلَفُوا فيه من الحقِّ-رواه مسلم
We are the last (but) are the first on the Day of Resurrection, and are the first to enter Paradise, however, they were given the Book before us, and we were given it after them but they differed. So Allah guided us to the truth about which they differed. [Muslim 855c]
And with all that goodness, weakness and distress occur because of distancing from religion and relaxing the adherence to its ordainments. And Islam, in its entirety and in the form that Allah revealed and the righteous predecessors practiced, is our inescapable destiny. And this is what produces Allah’s promises of victory and blessings in this world and the pleasure of Allah and the triumph of His gardens in the hereafter. Allah Almighty said:
وَمَنْ يُبَدِّلْ نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا جَاءَتْهُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ-البقرة: 211
Al Baqarah (2) 211: And whoever exchanges the favor of Allāh [for disbelief] after it has come to him – then indeed, Allāh is severe in penalty.
And the greatest favor is the favor of this religion. And steadfastness upon the guidance bestowed by Allah is the wish of the righteous, the hope of the knowledgeable, and the supplication of those turning to Allah. And slipping is the fear of the worshippers, worry of the pious and the dread of the doers of good.
And the Prophet ﷺ used to frequently supplicate:
يا مُقلِّبَ القلوبِ! ثبِّت قلبِي على دينِك
O Changer of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion. [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3522]
The Companions, after the passing of their Prophet ﷺ strived to not reduce the deeds upon which the Messenger of Allah left them upon. When the Prophet of Allah ﷺ instructed Abdullah bin Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, to take it easy on himself in worship, he responded:
إنِّي أُطيقُ أكثَرَ من ذلك
I am able to do more than that.
He responded so because he was young but when he grew old he could not bear it so he said:
يا لَيتَني قبِلتُ رُخصةَ رسولِ الله
If only I accepted the concession (granted to me by) the Messenger of Allah. [Bukhari 1975]
Oh Muslims: Allah has praised the steadfast. Allah Almighty said:
مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَنْتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا تَبْدِيلًا-الأحزاب: 23
Al Ahzab (33) 23: Among the believers are men true to what they promised Allāh. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow, and among them is he who awaits. And they did not alter [the terms of their commitment] by any alteration
This great religion was passed on to us on the shoulders of great men whom Allah chose for this heavy load. They were true to the covenant that they made with Allah. And they did not hesitate or slacken. And they had composure and steadfastness in the face of calamities. And their precious and valuable efforts and big sacrifices had a great impact on preserving the religion and the survival of the religious ordainments.
And when death approached Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him, Abu Masoud al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, entered upon him and said, O Abu Abdullah! entrust it to us. Hudhaifah said, did not certainty come to you? Know that misguidance, the true misguidance is to embrace what you used to deny, and to deny what you used to embrace. And beware of differing in Allah’s religion, for Allah’s religion is one.
Remember that the straight path that you are taking is neither new nor a product of your era and time. Rather, it is an ancient path that the prophets and scholars have walked on before you. As well as the martyrs and righteous. And those who Allah has chosen. Allah said:
قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَى-النمل: 59
An Naml (27) 59: Say, [O Muḥammad], “Praise be to Allāh, and peace upon His servants whom He has chosen.
And Allah said:
ثُمَّ أَوْرَثْنَا الْكِتَابَ الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَيْنَا مِنْ عِبَادِنَا-فاطر: 32
Fater (35) 32: Then We caused to inherit the Book those We have chosen of Our servants;
And patience is the means of the believers on the long and thorny path. And confidence in the true promise of Allah, and steadfastness without worry, confusion, or doubts. Patience, confidence, and steadfastness despite the confusion of others, and the cunning of plotters. And Allah’s victory is near, reserved for those who deserve it. And none will be worthy of it except those who persevere in hardship and adversity. And they do not bow their heads to the storm. Allah said:
فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلَا يَسْتَخِفَّنَّكَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُوقِنُونَ-الروم: 60
Ar Room (30) 60: So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allāh is truth. And let them not disquiet you who are not certain [in faith].
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:
This nation is promised a good recompense in times of affliction, and reward for bearing trials, and reward for inviting others and supplication. And is victorious with the affirmation of the Lord of the earth and heaven. Thus, it is not permissible for anyone to despair or grieve. Or lose interest in pursuing good or fatiguing. So how can one despair from Allah Who assists him? Or cut off from his Lord who backs him? Or be frightened, and Allah will comfort him?
And it is not befitting for a righteous person, to consider working for Islam as a burden and a worry. Or to be saddened by the retreat of individuals or groups from some or all of Islam. And Allah Almighty said to His Prophet ﷺ:
فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَفْسَكَ عَلَى آثَارِهِمْ إِنْ لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا-الكهف: 6
Al Kahf (18) 6: Then perhaps you would kill yourself through grief over them, [O Muḥammad], if they do not believe in this message, [and] out of sorrow.
And Allah said:
وَمَا أَكْثَرُ النَّاسِ وَلَوْ حَرَصْتَ بِمُؤْمِنِينَ-يوسف: 103
Yusuf (12) 103: And most of the people, although you strive [for it], are not believers.
For anxiety and grief frustrate a person and weaken or cut off his striving. A person has nothing but to strive to rectify himself and those around him, while making supplications for them. In addition to being gentle to them, and loving what they have of good in adhering to Islam and carrying out its obligations, and avoiding many of its prohibitions, even if they violate some of them.
This ummah (nation) has a lot of good, and this goodness must be nurtured and developed, and guarded from bad habits and trends. And souls need to educated and nurtured in the fear and the consciousness of Allah, and knowledge of Allah and His generosity and His ordainments which lead to deeds and purification. And it remains a provision and a shield in times of ease and adversity. For this view helps one remain balanced in his quest to rectify. And keeps him away from callousness in his dealings or from exaggerated reactions. And it illuminates his way. Allah Almighty said:
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ-الأحزاب: 21
Al Ahzab (33) 21: There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allāh an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allāh and the Last Day.
And the Prophet ﷺ liked optimism, giving good tidings and promising good outcomes and taking the means for success and triumph.
And with hardship is ease. And with difficulty is relief. And the mercy of Allah is close to the doers of good. So act, and rejoice, and have hope. And salvation is for those having a provision of Allah-consciousness and performing righteous deeds. And the way of Allah is not to disappoint a servant who turns to Him.
O Changer of the hearts, make our hearts firm upon Your religion. 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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