https://www.khutbah.info/the-toiling-of-humankind/ Allah the Exalted created humankind and tested them with responsibility. He entrusted them with the trust, so they carried it. He took from them the covenant to establish the religion of Allah Almighty on earth. Allah Almighty said: Al-Ahzab (33) 72: Indeed, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and feared it; but man undertook to bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant. With this responsibility, humanity becomes the highest of creation in rank if they fulfill it, and the lowest if they neglect it. And they toil as long as they are in this world until they pass. Allah Almighty said: Al-Balad (90) 4: We have certainly created man into hardship.
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:
Allah the Exalted created humankind and tested them with responsibility. He entrusted them with the trust, so they carried it. He took from them the covenant to establish the religion of Allah Almighty on earth. Allah Almighty said:
إِنَّا عَرَضْنَا الْأَمَانَةَ عَلَى السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالْجِبَالِ فَأَبَيْنَ أَنْ يَحْمِلْنَهَا وَأَشْفَقْنَ مِنْهَا ۖ وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنْسَانُ ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا-الأحزاب 72
Al-Ahzab (33) 72: Indeed, We offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and feared it; but man undertook to bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant.
With this responsibility, humanity becomes the highest of creation in rank if they fulfill it, and the lowest if they neglect it. And they toil as long as they are in this world until they pass. Allah Almighty said:
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ-البلد 4
Al-Balad (90) 4: We have certainly created man into hardship.
That is, into struggle and toil. Al-Hasan said: “He struggles with the calamities of the world and the hardships of the Hereafter.” He also said: “He strives to be grateful in times of ease and patient in times of hardship, for he is never free from one of the two.” Yaman said: “Allah did not create any creature who endures as much hardship as the son of Adam, and yet he is the weakest of creation.”
Adam, peace be upon him, was the first among humans to struggle when Satan whispered to him, leading him to eat from the tree. He endured the affliction of disobedience and then toiled in repentance until Allah the Exalted accepted his repentance. He then endured being sent down from Paradise to earth. On earth, he and his progeny have toiled until death, and even after death and resurrection.
وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنْتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ ۖ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا ۖ بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِنْ رَبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ قُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا مِنْهَا جَمِيعًا ۖ فَإِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ مِنِّي هُدًى ۖ فَمَنْ تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَكَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ-البقرة 35-39
Al-Baqarah (2) 35-39: (35) And We said, ‘O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.’ (36) But Satan caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that [condition] in which they had been. And We said, “Go down, [all of you], as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time.” (37) Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful. (38) We said, “Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (39) And those who disbelieve and deny Our signs – those will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
His children after him have struggled against the plots and whispers of Satan. Humanity remains in continuous hardship until the hardship of the believers ends with their entry into Paradise, and the hardship of the disbelievers intensifies with their entry into the Fire.
Indeed, this world is a place of hardship for the children of Adam. Newborns begin life crying as they exit from their mother’s womb. Then they struggle in their childhood to live, being weak and unable to ward off dangers or bring about benefits for themselves, relying on the care of their parents. An orphan faces even greater hardship than others. When they reach the age of discernment, they struggle in learning and acquiring knowledge, and in becoming self-reliant in their personal affairs. They then endure the challenges of puberty with all its changes, as accountability starts with their maturity, becoming responsible before Allah the Exalted, their parents, and society.
They struggle to please their parents and to contend with their souls that incite evil desires. If they overcome their desires, they succeed but if they succumb to their desires, they open up new doors of hardship, suffering, and sin upon themselves. They strive in their studies to obtain qualifications that secure a comfortable job providing sufficient income. In every stage of their lives, they seek comfort but are often met with unexpected hardships.
Upon reaching adulthood, they marry to preserve their chastity and build a family. They then struggle in dealing with their spouses, until mutual understanding is achieved. They then strive to be blessed with children, and upon receiving them, they work hard to provide for them and raise them.
They struggle in their dealings with their colleagues at work, in maintaining kinship ties, in kindness to neighbors, and in interactions with people, facing countless hardships.
When their children reach puberty, they struggle in raising them, ensuring they perform prayers, monitoring their studies, overseeing their friendships, and protecting them from bad company, just as their parents once struggled with them.
As they age, their strength may wane, and their health may decline. They contend with illnesses and pains, becoming preoccupied with their own condition.
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفًا وَشَيْبَةً-الروم 54
Ar-Rum (30) 54: Allāh is the one who created you from weakness, then made after weakness strength, then made after strength weakness and white hair. He creates what He wills, and He is the Knowing, the Competent.
They may reach old age and senility, struggling with memory loss and weakened intellect.
وَاللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَفَّاكُمْ ۚ وَمِنْكُمْ مَنْ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ لِكَيْ لَا يَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَيْئًا ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ -النحل 70
An-Nahl (16) 70: And Allāh created you; then He will take you in death. And among you is he who is reversed to the most decrepit [old] age so that he will not know, after [having had] knowledge, a thing. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Competent.
Throughout their lives, people face sudden distresses and overwhelming worries, unexpected calamities and sorrows. If they remains patient, they are rewarded, but if they despair, they bear the burden.
مَا أَصَابَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَنْ يُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ-التغابن 11
At-Taghabun (64) 11: No disaster strikes except by permission of Allāh. And whoever believes in Allāh – He will guide his heart. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.
From the time a person becomes accountable until their death, they struggle against Satan’s influence and their constant companion that never leaves them, enticing them toward sins and diverting them from acts of obedience. As mentioned in the hadith narrated by Ibn Mas’ud—may Allah be pleased with him—who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
مَا مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَقَدْ وُكِّلَ بِهِ قَرِينُهُ مِنَ الْجِنِّ، قَالُوا وَإِيَّاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ وَإِيَّايَ إِلَّا أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَانَنِي عَلَيْهِ فَأَسْلَمَ فَلَا يَأْمُرُنِي إِلَّا بِخَيْرٍ-رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ
There is none among you except that a companion from among the jinn has been assigned to him.” They said, “Even you, O Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Even me, but Allah helped me against him, and he became Muslim, so he only commands me to do good. [Muslim 2814a]
At the time of death, they grapple with sorrow over negligence in acts of obedience and committing prohibitions, regretting not accumulating more good deeds. They endure the throes and severity of death. When the Prophet ﷺ was approaching death:
كَانَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ رَكْوَةٌ أَوْ عُلْبَةٌ فِيهَا مَاءٌ، فَجَعَلَ يُدْخِلُ يَدَيْهِ فِي الْمَاءِ، فَيَمْسَحُ بِهِمَا وَجْهَهُ، وَيَقُولُ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، إِنَّ لِلْمَوْتِ سَكَرَاتٍ-رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ
There was a vessel or a container with water in front of him. He began to dip his hands into the water and wipe his face with them, saying, There is no deity except Allah; indeed, death has its agonies. [Al-Bukhari 6510]
Whoever realizes that this world is a place of hardship will not work solely for its sake but will strive for the abode of bliss where they will dwell eternally without hardship.
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَائِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ ۗ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ۖ فَمَنْ زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ ۗ وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ-آل عمران 185
Al ’Imran (3) 185: Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your [full] compensation on the Day of Resurrection. So he who is drawn away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise has attained [his desire]. And what is the life of this world except the enjoyment of delusion.
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:
O Muslims, when a believer contemplates this noble verse:
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ-البلد 4
Al-Balad (90) 4: We have certainly created man into hardship.
They do not grieve over missing a desired outcome or encountering something disliked, knowing that the essence of this world is hardship, and that humanity was created to live a life of toil. However, the greatest loss and misfortune is for a person to combine the hardship of the Hereafter with the hardship of this world by turning away from Allah the Exalted and committing prohibitions. Thus, they do not escape the hardship of this world and are condemned to even greater hardship in the Hereafter.
A man once asked Imam Ahmad—may Allah have mercy on him—“When does a person find the taste of comfort?” He replied, “When he places his first foot in Paradise.” Only then does hardship end forever, and the believer is granted eternal bliss that neither fades nor ceases.
The believer should contemplate upon how quickly times passes by. They should reflect on the rapid passage of nights and days, the conclusion of years and lifespans. No matter how long a person lives in this world, they are departing to the abode of permanence. Abu Darda—may Allah be pleased with him—said: “O son of Adam, tread the earth lightly, for soon it will be your grave. O son of Adam, you are but days; whenever a day passes, a part of you passes away. O son of Adam, you have been expending your life since the day your mother bore you.” Al-Hasan Al-Basri—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “There is not a day that dawns except it says, ‘O people, I am a new day, a witness over your deeds. When the sun sets, I will not return until the Day of Resurrection.’”
Humankind did not come into this world by choice, nor do they endure its hardships by their own will, and they die without desiring death. All these are signs that they have a Lord who is the Creator and Disposer, who decrees upon them what He wills and directs them as He pleases. Therefore, it is obligatory to recognize their Lord, understand His purpose for them, and act accordingly to attain happiness. Allah the Exalted created creation, provides for them, causes them to die, resurrects them, holds them accountable, and recompenses them for their deeds. He desires from them nothing but to worship Him by maintaining faith and performing righteous deeds.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ مَا أُرِيدُ مِنْهُمْ مِنْ رِزْقٍ وَمَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يُطْعِمُونِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ-الذاريات 56-58
Adh-Dhariyat (51) 56-58: (56) And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me. (57) I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me. (58) Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength.
We ask Allah Almighty to make us among those who realize our purpose in life and strive to please Him. And we ask Allah the Exalted to grant us everlasting comfort and bliss in the hereafter. 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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