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…Also among Allaah’s names is الْمُؤْمِنُ al-Mu’min (the One who testifies to His own uniqueness, affirms the truthfulness of those who speak the truth, establishes the truthfulness of His Prophets, and grants security). Part of what this name conveys is that Allaah is the One who praised Himself due to His attributes of perfection, as well as His utmost majesty and splendour; and He is also the One who sent His Messengers to people, sent down His Scriptures containing many evidences and proofs, and affirmed the truthfulness of His Messengers with every type of evidence and proof that established their honesty and the correctness of the message that they brought.

Also among Allaah’s names is الْمُهَيْمِنُ al-Muhaymin (the All-Aware Witness to everything). This conveys the fact that Allaah is always aware of things that are hidden and that people’s hearts conceal, as well as the fact that Allaah encompasses absolutely everything with His knowledge.

Also among Allaah’s names is الْقَدِيرُ al-Qadeer (the Completely Able). This conveys that Allaah’s ability is complete in all ways. By His ability, He brings into being all things that exist; by His ability, He regulates and controls all of them; and by His ability, He creates all of them with utmost precision. By His ability, He gives life and causes death, He will resurrect His servants to recompense them, He will recompense those who did good things in accordance with the good they did, and He will recompense those who did bad things in accordance with the bad they did. Whenever He wants to bring into being anything that He preordained, all He says to it is “Be” and it comes into being. Additionally, by His ability, He can change hearts and direct them in whatever ways that He wills and wants.

Also among Allaah’s names is اللَّطِيفُ al-Lateef (the Caregiver who knows even the most minute of details). This conveys that Allaah is the One whose knowledge encompasses all that is concealed and hidden, all that people have within themselves, and all precise and minute matters. He is also the One who takes special care of His servants who have Eemaan, allows what serves their interests to reach them out of His kindness and care for them, and does that in ways that they do not even realize. Thus, this name conveys meanings similar to الْخَبِيرُ al-Khabeer (the One fully acquainted with all things) as well as الرَّؤُوفُ ar-Ra’oof (the Most Kind).

Also among Allaah’s names is الْحَسِيبُ al-Haseeb (the One who suffices, preserves, and recompenses). This conveys that Allaah has complete knowledge about His servants; He suffices those who place their full reliance upon Him; and He recompenses His servants—in terms of both good and bad—according to His complete wisdom, as well as His complete knowledge of all their deeds no matter how major or minor they might be.

Also among Allaah’s names is الرَّقِيبُ ar-Raqeeb (the Witness who continually oversees and maintains). This conveys that Allaah is always aware of what is concealed within people’s hearts, and He witnesses and records the deeds of every single person. He also maintains all things throughout creation, causes them to remain orderly in the best way, and regulates them in the most complete manner…

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…The Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, كُلُّ خُطْبَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا تَشَهُّدٌ فَهِيَ كَالْيَدِ الْجَذْمَاءِ “If any speech is delivered, but does not contain a testimony regarding Allaah and His Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), that speech is like a hand that has been severed from a person’s body and cannot provide him with any benefit.”

Scholars have explained that this Hadeeth can be understood to include sermons delivered on occasions such as Fridays, ‘Eeds, eclipses, and when seeking rain from Allaah; and it can also be understood to include any address delivered when conducting a marriage, when conducting a business transaction, or on any other occasion in which one has a need to fulfil. With respect to the تَشَهُّد mentioned in this Hadeeth (i.e. the testimony regarding Allaah and His Messenger, may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), some of the scholars have explained that it refers to saying أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ “I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah”, or something close to that; and this is definitely a plausible explanation. However, an alternate explanation that some scholars have given for the تَشَهُّد mentioned in this Hadeeth is that it refers to what is commonly called خُطْبَةُ الْحَاجَةِ (the speech to be delivered when one has a need that he wants to fulfil). One source of this understanding comes from an authentic Hadeeth that has several wordings with some slight variations between them. One of those wordings mentions that ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said, عَلَّمَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ “Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) had taught us” التَّشَهُّدَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ “the testimony regarding Allaah and His Messenger to say when praying,” وَالتَّشَهُّدَ فِي الْحَاجَةِ “and the testimony regarding Allaah and His Messenger to say when one has a need that he wants to fulfil.” In that same wording narrated from ibn Mas‘ood, he had further explained that التَّشَهُّدُ فِي الْحَاجَةِ (the testimony regarding Allaah and His Messenger to say when one has a need that he wants to fulfil) is: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ “All praise belongs to Allaah.” نَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ “We seek His assistance and we ask His forgiveness.” وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا “We also seek refuge with Allaah against the ills that we have within ourselves.” مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ “If Allaah guides any person, none can misguide such an individual;” وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ “and if Allaah leaves any person in misguidance, none can guide such an individual.” وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ “In addition, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah,” وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ “and I testify that Muhammad is Allaah’s worshipping servant and Messenger.” In that same wording, ibn Mas‘ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) further added, وَيَقْرَأُ ثَلَاثَ آيَاتٍ “Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) would also read three sets of Aayaat.” That narration stops there, but other narrations of that Hadeeth actually mention all three sets of Aayaat in their entirety: the first being Aayah 102 in Soorah Aali ‘Imraan, the second being Aayah 1 in Sooratun-Nisaa’, and the third being Aayah 70 and Aayah 71 in Sooratul-Ahzaab. This Hadeeth provides the rationale for the explanation given by some of the scholars for the Hadeeth being discussed: كُلُّ خُطْبَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا تَشَهُّدٌ فَهِيَ كَالْيَدِ الْجَذْمَاءِ “If any speech is delivered, but does not contain a testimony regarding Allaah and His Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection), that speech is like a hand that has been severed from a person’s body and cannot provide him with any benefit.” They explain that the تَشَهُّد (testimony regarding Allaah and His Messenger) in this context refers to خُطْبَةُ الْحَاجَةِ (the speech to be delivered when one has a need that he wants to fulfil). This is undoubtedly a valid explanation that uses several Ahaadeeth to explain each other in a completely consistent way… 

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…Also among Allaah’s names are الْقُدُّوسُ al-Quddoos (the One exalted above all deficiencies) and السَّلَامُ as-Salaam (the One free of all flaws). These convey that Allaah is exalted far above all traits of imperfection, and far above anything or anyone among creation being like Him. Thus, He is free of all flaws; and He is exalted far above having anyone match Him in any aspect of His perfection whatsoever, or even come close to it in any way. Allaah said, لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ ((There is nothing at all that is like Him)) [42:11]. Allaah also said, وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ ((Additionally, there is none whatsoever who equals Him or resembles Him in any way)) [112:4]. Allaah further said, هَلْ تَعْلَمُ لَهُ سَمِيًّا ((Do you know of any that is similar to Him at all?)) [19:65]. Allaah also said, فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَنْدَادًا ((Therefore, you must not ascribe any rivals to Allaah)) [2:22]. Hence, Allaah’s names al-Quddoos (the One exalted above all deficiencies) and as-Salaam (the One free of all flaws) both entail negating imperfection from every perspective. They also entail affirming absolute perfection in every way, since the fact that Allaah has no sort of imperfection necessarily establishes for Him all forms of absolute perfection.

Also among Allaah’s names are الْعَلِيُّ al-‘Alee (the Exalted) and الْأَعْلَى al-A‘laa (the Absolutely Most Exalted). These convey that Allaah is the One who is Most Exalted in an absolute sense from every perspective: He is the Most Exalted in terms of His self, the Most Exalted in terms of His status and attributes, and the Most Exalted in terms of completely overpowering all things. He rose above His throne and He is above all of His dominion. He possesses all attributes of magnificence, greatness, majesty, splendour, and complete perfection; and the extent that He has of those qualities is absolutely unparalleled.

Also among Allaah’s names is الْعَزِيزُ al-‘Azeez (the Almighty). This conveys that Allaah is the One who possesses all forms of might: the might of having utmost strength, the might of being overpowering, and the might of being absolutely invulnerable. Thus, Allaah is not susceptible to being harmed by any created being. He overpowers everything in existence, and all of creation yields to Him and is humbled before His magnificence.

Also among Allaah’s names are القَوِيُّ al-Qawee (the Most Powerful) and الْمَتِينُ al-Mateen (the Completely Invincible). These convey meanings similar to al-‘Azeez (the Almighty).

Also among Allaah’s names is الجَبَّار al-Jabbaar (the Exalted and Overwhelmingly Powerful who sets matters right for His servants). This conveys the meanings of al-‘Alee (the Exalted), and al-A‘laa (the Absolutely Most Exalted); the meaning of al-Qahhaar (the One who overpowers all things); and also the meaning of ar-Ra’oof (the Most Kind) who sets hearts right after they have been shattered, sets things right for those who are weak and lack ability, and also sets things right for those who resort to Him for attaining all that is advantageous and for being protected against all that is harmful.

Also among Allaah’s names is الْمُتَكَبِّرُ al-Mutakabbir (the One whose greatness is absolute). This conveys that due to Allaah’s magnificence and greatness, He is exalted above all evils, deficiencies, and flaws.

Also among Allaah’s names are الْخَالِقُ  al-Khaaliq (the Creator), الْبَارِئُ al-Baari’ (the Originator who brings all things into existence), and الْمُصَوِّرُ al-Musawwir (the One who gives all things their forms). These convey that Allaah is the One who created all things in existence, brought them into being, brought them to completion according to His wisdom, and gave them their forms in ways which show that He is the Most Praiseworthy and the Most Wise. He has always been—and will always be—described with these magnificent attributes…

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…The Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) had said, مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ، ثُمَّ أَتَى الْجُمُعَةَ، فَدَنَا وَأَنْصَتَ وَاسْتَمَعَ “If any person performs Wudoo’ and does so in the best manner, then he attends the Friday Sermon and Prayer—coming near to the leader of the congregation, remaining quiet, and listening carefully—” غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ الْأُخْرَى وَزِيَادَةُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ “that person would be forgiven for sins that he committed from that time until the previous Friday, along with an additional three days.” وَمَنْ مَسَّ الْحَصَى فَقَدْ لَغَا “And if any person touches the pebbles, that person has committed اللَّغْوُ (i.e. done something considered inappropriate according to Islaam’s teachings).” The pebbles mentioned here formed the surface of the ground on which they prayed at the time. Touching the pebbles was mentioned by way of example, and it can basically be understood as a reference to fiddling around during the Friday Sermon with things on the ground or anywhere else, as well as repeatedly adjusting things on the ground during prayers in general. This Hadeeth shows the importance of listening to the Sermon attentively and not letting one’s attention be diverted by distractions.

Another example of اللَّغْوُ in the context of the Friday Sermon was specified by the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) in his statement, إِذَا قُلْتَ لِصَاحِبِكَ وَالْإِمَامُ يَخْطُبُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ: أَنْصِتْ “While the leader of the congregation is delivering the Sermon on Friday, if you say to any person beside you in the congregation, ‘Be quiet so that you can listen attentively’,” فَقَدْ لَغَوْتَ “you would have committed اللَّغْوُ (i.e. said something that is considered inappropriate during the Sermon according to Islaam’s teachings).” Even speaking softly to someone beside you, and telling them something that would be useful to say under other circumstances, is still considered inappropriate during the Sermon.

As for the ultimate consequence of اللَّغْوُ on Friday, there is a Hadeeth in which the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, مَنْ لَغَا “If any person commits اللَّغْوُ (i.e. says or does anything during the Friday Sermon or Prayer that is considered inappropriate during it according to Islaam’s teachings),” وَتَخَطَّى رِقَابَ النَّاسِ “or he steps over people who are already seated in the congregation in order to pass them,” كَانَتْ لَهُ ظُهْرًا that person’s Friday prayer would only yield for him the reward of praying Thuhr.” This indicates that the person’s two-unit Friday prayer would be valid and sufficient to fulfil his obligation to Allaah, but the person would still be deprived of the enormous rewards that he could attain for attending the Friday Sermon and Prayer… 

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…Also among Allaah’s names are الْمَجِيدُ al-Majeed (the Most Glorious), الْكَبِيرُ al-Kabeer (the Most Great), الْعَظِيمُ al-‘Atheem (the Most Magnificent), and الْجَلِيلُ al-Jaleel (the Most Majestic). These convey that Allaah has the attributes of complete glory, greatness, magnificence, and majesty. He is the One who is greater than all else, more magnificent than all else, more majestic, and more exalted. These names also convey that there is reverence for Allaah’s magnificence and majesty in the hearts of His worshipping servants whom He chooses to favour due to their obedience to Him. Their hearts are filled with reverence for His magnificence, reverence for His majesty, submission to Him, and humility before His greatness.

Also among Allaah’s names are الْعَفُوُّ al-‘Afoo (the Most Pardoning), الْغَفُورُ al-Ghafoor (the Most Forgiving), and الْغَفَّارُ al-Ghaffaar (the Abundantly Forgiving). These convey that Allaah is the One who has always been—and will always be—known as pardoning, and described as forgiving and overlooking when it comes to wrong done by His servants. Everyone always remains in utmost need of Allaah’s pardon and forgiveness just as they are always in utmost need of His mercy and generosity. Additionally, Allaah promised to grant forgiveness and pardon to those who pursue the means necessary for attaining them. Allaah—the Most Exalted—said, ((And I am most certainly the Abundantly Forgiving towards anyone who returns to Me, has sound beliefs, performs righteous deeds, and then remains steadfast in following sound guidance)) [20:82].

Also among Allaah’s names is التَّوَّابُ at-Tawwaab (the One who continually guides to repentance and accepts repentance). This conveys that Allaah is the One who continually accepts the repentance of those who repent, and forgives the sins of those who return to Him. Anyone who sincerely repents to Allaah would have Allaah accept his repentance. Allaah first guides such people to repent by assisting them to do so, and by directing their hearts towards it; and He also accepts their repentance from them after they repent, and He pardons their misdeeds…

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…The Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) had said,

خَيْرُ يَوْمٍ طَلَعَتْ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ، فِيهِ خُلِقَ آدَمُ، وَفِيهِ أُهْبِطَ، وَفِيهِ تِيبَ عَلَيْهِ، وَفِيهِ مَاتَ، وَفِيهِ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ، وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ إِلَّا وَهِيَ مُسِيخَةٌ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ، مِنْ حِينَ تُصْبِحُ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ شَفَقًا مِنَ السَّاعَةِ، إِلَّا الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ، وَفِيهِ سَاعَةٌ لَا يُصَادِفُهَا عَبْدٌ مُسْلِمٌ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ حَاجَةً، إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهَا

The best day during which the sun has risen is Friday. On it, Aadam was created; on it, he was sent down; on it, his repentance was accepted; and on it, he died. Additionally, on it, the Hour of Resurrection will occur; and there is not a single creature that moves about except that it listens apprehensively and awaits what might occur on Friday—from the time it reaches dawn until the sun rises—out of fear that the Hour of Resurrection will occur, except for jinns and humans. Furthermore, Friday contains a very significant interval of time. There is no servant of Allaah who submits to Him inwardly and outwardly, who prays during that interval—requesting any need of his from Allaah—except that Allaah would grant him what he requests.

خَيْرُ يَوْمٍ طَلَعَتْ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ “The best day during which the sun has risen is Friday”. Based on other related authentic Ahaadeeth, some scholars understand this to mean that Friday is the most virtuous of days in an absolute sense, while others understand it to mean that Friday is the most virtuous day among the days of the week. فِيهِ خُلِقَ آدَمُ “On it, Aadam was created”. This is a source of special distinction for Friday: the fact that it was the day on which the forefather of all human beings was created. وَفِيهِ أُهْبِطَ “on it, he was sent down”, meaning that Aadam was sent down from Paradise to the Earth on a Friday. One of the immensely good things that resulted was the existence of wholesome individuals who eventually descended from Aadam, such as the Prophets commissioned by Allaah; the Messengers sent by Allaah; and other obedient servants of Allaah throughout the Earth who accept the truth from Him, fulfil His commands, and avoid His prohibitions. وَفِيهِ تِيبَ عَلَيْهِ “on it, his repentance was accepted”. That was after Aadam ate from a particular tree from which Allaah had forbidden him. Aadam subsequently received words from Allaah to use for repentance; so Aadam used those words to repent, and Allaah accepted Aadam’s repentance. وَفِيهِ مَاتَ “and on it, he died”. That resulted in him being rescued from various trials of this world, and admitted to Paradise. وَفِيهِ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ “Additionally, on it, the Hour of Resurrection will occur”. Its eventual outcome is that the people who accepted and complied with the Truth from Allaah while in this world would be admitted to Paradise, and their opponents would be sentenced to the Hellfire. وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ إِلَّا وَهِيَ مُسِيخَةٌ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ “and there is not a single creature that moves about except that it listens apprehensively and awaits what might occur on Friday”. Allaah sends particular inspiration to any such creature that causes it to do so. مِنْ حِينَ تُصْبِحُ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ “from the time it reaches dawn until the sun rises”; meaning that it rises from the direction where it normally rises, and it does not rise from the direction where it normally sets. شَفَقًا مِنَ السَّاعَةِ “out of fear that the Hour of Resurrection will occur”, and one of its immediate precursors is the sun rising from its place of setting. All such creatures that move about remain apprehensive until the sun comes up from its normal place of rising, indicating that the Friday they reached is not the one on which the Hour of Resurrection will occur. إِلَّا الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ “except for jinns and humans”. Due to a particular type of heedlessness that Allaah decreed for them to have, they are not apprehensive about the Hour of Resurrection occurring, the way that other creatures are; and this factor may be part of what contributes to humans developing and populating this world in the ways that they do, and Allaah knows best. وَفِيهِ سَاعَةٌ “Furthermore, Friday contains a very significant interval of time”. Other narrations of this Hadeeth mention that the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) stated that this interval is a brief one. لَا يُصَادِفُهَا عَبْدٌ مُسْلِمٌ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي “There is no servant of Allaah who submits to Him inwardly and outwardly, who prays during that interval”. Based on other related Ahaadeeth, one meaning that “praying” here can convey is waiting for an upcoming prayer; and another meaning that “praying” could convey is supplicating Allaah (i.e. Du‘aa’). يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ حَاجَةً “requesting any need of his from Allaah”, meaning any good thing that deserves to be sought. إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهَا “except that Allaah would grant him what he requests”. There are authentic Ahaadeeth from which it can be understood that the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) clarified that the interval referred to falls somewhere in between the time of ‘Asr and Maghrib. Based on that, a number of scholars have mentioned that this is the most accurate view about when that interval is, and Allaah knows best...

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…Also among Allaah’s names is السَّمِيعُ as-Samee‘ (the All-Hearing). This conveys that Allaah hears all voices, in all their different languages, expressing the many types of needs that are sought from Him.

Also among Allaah’s names is الْبَصِيرُ al-Baseer (the All-Seeing). This conveys that Allaah is the One who sees everything, even if it is something very minute and inconspicuous. Thus, He sees even the crawling of a black ant upon a bare rock during a dark night, and He sees what lies beneath the seven Earths just as He sees what is above the seven heavens. In addition, He is All-Hearing and All-Seeing in regards to who deserves what recompense, all in accordance with His wisdom, and this last meaning returns back to Allaah’s wisdom (i.e. Allaah being الْحَكِيمُ al-Hakeem: the Most Wise and the One who gives wise judgment).

Also among Allaah’s names is الْحَمِيدُ al-Hameed (the Most Praiseworthy). This conveys that Allaah is the Most Praiseworthy in His self, His names, His attributes, and His actions. This entails that His names are the best and that His attributes are perfect. It also entails that His actions are the best and most complete, since all the actions of Allaah (the Most Exalted) revolve around His favour and His justice…

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…The Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) had asked his Companions: أَلَا تَصُفُّونَ كَمَا تَصُفُّ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا “Would you not like to form rows the way that the angels form rows before their One Supreme Lord?” This refers to the angels forming rows for prayer in congregation. The Companions present inquired, يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ وَكَيْفَ تَصُفُّ الْمَلَائِكَةُ عِنْدَ رَبِّهَا؟ “Messenger of Allaah, and how do the angels form rows before their One Supreme Lord?” In response, he said, يُتِمُّونَ الصُّفُوفَ الْأُوَلَ وَيَتَرَاصُّونَ فِي الصَّفِّ They first complete the front rows; and they come close together in each row, leaving no space between themselves. Completing the front rows means that they do not begin forming a row at the back of the congregation unless the row ahead of it has no space left to accommodate another individual. As a result, only the back row would be incomplete if there are not enough individuals present to fill it… The Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) had also said,

أَقِيمُوا الصُّفُوفَ فَإِنَّمَا تَصُفُّونَ بِصُفُوفِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَحَاذُوا بَيْنَ الْمَنَاكِبِ وَسُدُّوا الْخَلَلَ وَلِينُوا بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ وَلَا تَذَرُوا فُرُجَاتٍ لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَمَنْ وَصَلَ صَفًّا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى، وَمَنْ قَطَعَ صَفًّا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى

Establish the rows for prayer, since you are indeed only to make rows similar to the rows made by the angels. In addition, line up your shoulders, close the gaps between yourselves, be kind towards the hands of your brothers, and do not leave any openings for Shaytaan. Furthermore, if any person connects a row, Allaah (the Owner of Limitless Blessings and the Most Exalted) would connect that person; and if any person disconnects a row, Allaah (the Owner of Limitless Blessings and the Most Exalted) would disconnect that person.

أَقِيمُوا الصُّفُوفَ “Establish the rows for prayer”. This includes ensuring that no one in any row is standing out of line, coming close together in each row, completing the front rows first, and not leaving any gaps in the rows, as will be clarified in the remainder of this Hadeeth. فَإِنَّمَا تَصُفُّونَ بِصُفُوفِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ “since you are indeed only to make rows similar to the rows made by the angels”. The description given in the previous Hadeeth was that “they first complete the front rows; and they come close together in each row, leaving no space between themselves”. The Hadeeth currently being discussed continues: وَحَاذُوا بَيْنَ الْمَنَاكِبِ “In addition, line up your shoulders”. When this Hadeeth is put together with other Ahaadeeth about establishing the rows for prayer, it can be understood that the individuals in each row are to do their utmost to line up their shoulders, necks, and feet; such that they stand in an even line facing the Qiblah (direction of the Ka‘bah), without anyone ahead of their own line or behind it. وَسُدُّوا الْخَلَلَ “close the gaps between yourselves”. That happens when the individuals of each row come close to each other in their own row. وَلِينُوا بِأَيْدِي إِخْوَانِكُمْ “be kind towards the hands of your brothers”. One meaning this expression includes is that if any of your brothers indicate that you should come into the line a bit more evenly—whether they gesture to you, put their hand on you, or speak to you—then kindly yield to them and come into the line to make it even as best as you can. Another meaning this expression includes is that if one of your brothers comes along and wants to be part of the row that you are in—and he perhaps puts his hand on you to indicate that he would like to be accomodated—then each of you in the row should kindly try to make some space so that he can be accommodated. وَلَا تَذَرُوا فُرُجَاتٍ لِلشَّيْطَانِ “and do not leave any openings for Shaytaan”. The term “Shaytaan” here could refer to Iblees himself, or to any jinns or humans in general who are rebelliously disobedient towards Allaah. This directive to not leave any openings emphasizes the earlier directive to close the gaps; and also clarifies part of the wisdom behind it, which is: taking measures to prevent Iblees and his followers—as well as their whisperings and influences—from entering the ranks of people who seek to obey Allaah. Additionally, describing spaces in the rows for prayer as “openings for Shaytaan” alludes to how blameworthy it actually is—according to Islaam’s teachings—to have such spaces in the rows. وَمَنْ وَصَلَ صَفًّا وَصَلَهُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى “Furthermore, if any person connects a row, Allaah (the Owner of Limitless Blessings and the Most Exalted) would connect that person”. This implies that Allaah would connect such a person with His favour, mercy, and forgiveness; and Allaah would be pleased with that person. Connecting a row includes things like filling a gap within a row, or standing in a row to contribute to its completion. وَمَنْ قَطَعَ صَفًّا قَطَعَهُ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى “and if any person disconnects a row, Allaah (the Owner of Limitless Blessings and the Most Exalted) would disconnect that person”. This implies that Allaah would disconnect such a person from His favour, mercy, and forgiveness; and Allaah would be displeased with that person. Disconnecting a row includes doing things like the following, without any valid reason: leaving a row less than complete; refraining from filling a gap that one can fit into within a row; exiting the row that one was part of; standing away from others in the row; being present in the midst of a row, but not praying; putting something within a row that causes it to be disconnected; or passing through the people already standing in a row. Due to the severity of the threat that this Hadeeth mentions for disconnecting a row, some of the scholars have considered doing so to be a major sin. We seek refuge with Allaah from all things that displease Him and could expose us to His punishment...

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…Also among Allaah’s names are: الرَّحْمَنُ ar-Rahmaan (the Possessor of Limitless Mercy), الرَّحِيمُ ar-Raheem (the Bestower of Mercy), الْبَرُّ al-Barr (the Limitlessly Gracious), الْكَرِيمُ al-Kareem (the Most Generous), الْجَوَادُ al-Jawaad (the Most Giving), الرَّؤُوفُ ar-Ra’oof (the Most Kind), and الْوَهَّابُ al-Wahhaab (the One who bestows abundantly). These names are close to each other in their meanings, and they all convey that our One Supreme Lord has the attributes of mercy, graciousness, giving, and generosity. They also convey the vastness of the mercy and blessings He bestows, such that He makes those extend to all of creation; and that takes place according to His complete wisdom. In addition, He grants the greatest and most complete share of the preceding to the people of Eemaan (i.e. those who accept the truth from Allaah and comply with it). Allaah (the Most Exalted) said, وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ and as for My mercy, it has extended to all things; فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ الزَّكَاةَ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِآيَاتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ and I will further record My special mercy for those who protect themselves from My punishment and give obligatory charity, as well as those who accept and comply with the truth regarding Our evidences [7:156]. All the blessings and favours that we have are effects of Allaah’s mercy, giving, and generosity; and all good things of this world and the Hereafter are effects of His mercy…

…Regarding Fridays, there is an authentic Hadeeth that says:

يَحْضُرُ الْجُمُعَةَ ثَلَاثَةُ نَفَرٍ: رَجُلٌ حَضَرَهَا يَلْغُو وَهُوَ حَظُّهُ مِنْهَا. وَرَجُلٌ حَضَرَهَا يَدْعُو؛ فَهُوَ رَجُلٌ دَعَا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، إِنْ شَاءَ أَعْطَاهُ، وَإِنْ شَاءَ مَنَعَهُ. وَرَجُلٌ حَضَرَهَا بِإِنْصَاتٍ وَسُكُوتٍ، وَلَمْ يَتَخَطَّ رَقَبَةَ مُسْلِمٍ، وَلَمْ يُؤْذِ أَحَدًا؛ فَهِيَ كَفَّارَةٌ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا وَزِيَادَةِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ، وَذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ: مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا

“In attendance on Friday are three types of people: One type is a man who attends the Sermon while saying or doing things that are considered inappropriate during it according to Islaam’s teachings, and whatever he said or did would be the share that he receives for being present. A second type is a man who attends the Sermon while supplicating Allaah. Therefore, the recompense that the man receives is for supplicating Allaah (the Almighty and Most Majestic):  if Allaah wills, He gives to the man; and if Allaah wills, He withholds from the man. A third type is a man who attends the Sermon while attentive and quiet; and neither does he step over any Muslim who is already seated in the congregation—in order to pass them—nor does he cause harm to anyone. For this person, attending the Friday Sermon and Prayer would contribute to the removal of sins that he committed since the previous Friday, along with an additional three days. And that is because Allaah (the Almighty and Most Majestic) says, ⸨If any person comes on the Day of Resurrection with a righteous deed that pleases Allaah, that person would be granted the reward for ten like it⸩”...

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…يَحْضُرُ الْجُمُعَةَ ثَلَاثَةُ نَفَرٍ “In attendance on Friday are three types of people”: رَجُلٌ حَضَرَهَا يَلْغُو “One type is a man who attends the Sermon while saying or doing things that are considered inappropriate during it according to Islaam’s teachings”. Some of the things considered inappropriate during the Sermon include: greeting people in the congregation, communicating with people by way of words that are spoken or written, and fiddling around with things on the ground or manipulating objects in general. وَهُوَ حَظُّهُ مِنْهَا “and whatever he said or did would be the share that he receives for being present”. In other words, that inattentiveness or distraction is what Allaah would recompense the person for; and even though attending still remains obligatory for that person, he would not receive the immense rewards that he could receive from Allaah for attending. The purpose of attending the Sermon is to listen to it attentively, and anything that detracts from that is to be avoided. وَرَجُلٌ حَضَرَهَا يَدْعُو “A second type is a man who attends the Sermon while supplicating Allaah”. That is his purpose for attending: he preoccupies himself with supplicating Allaah or with performing a prayer other than the two units that he is to perform if he comes after the Sermon has begun, and these do prevent him from listening attentively to some or all of the Sermon. فَهُوَ رَجُلٌ دَعَا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ “Therefore, the recompense that the man receives is for supplicating Allaah (the Almighty and Most Majestic)”. Although supplicating Allaah and praying to Him are immensely virtuous deeds in general, they are not the deeds that Islaam’s teachings prescribe while the Sermon is being delivered, and this person would not be entitled to rewards that result from listening to the Sermon. إِنْ شَاءَ أَعْطَاهُ “if Allaah wills, He gives to the man” by accepting the man’s prayer or supplication; وَإِنْ شَاءَ مَنَعَهُ “and if Allaah wills, He withholds from the man”. Such a person remains subject to Allaah’s will, and Allaah may deprive the person of reward because he occupied himself during the Sermon with something other than listening attentively, even if what he occupied himself with is a deed that might merit immense rewards when performed at other times. وَرَجُلٌ حَضَرَهَا بِإِنْصَاتٍ وَسُكُوتٍ “A third type is a man who attends the Sermon while attentive and quiet”. Some narrations of this Hadeeth describe this person’s attendance as being بِوَقَارٍ وَإِنْصَاتٍ وَسُكُونٍ “with composure, attentiveness, and stillness”. The current Hadeeth being discussed continues: وَلَمْ يَتَخَطَّ رَقَبَةَ مُسْلِمٍ “and neither does he step over any Muslim who is already seated in the congregation—in order to pass them—” وَلَمْ يُؤْذِ أَحَدًا “nor does he cause harm to anyone”. This type of person does not annoy the people by stepping over them, and he does not annoy them in any other way either—whether by way of his words, his actions, his behaviour, his odour, or any other aspect of his person. Such a person is the best of the three. فَهِيَ كَفَّارَةٌ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا وَزِيَادَةِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ “For this person, attending the Friday Sermon and Prayer would contribute to the removal of sins that he committed since the previous Friday, along with an additional three days”. That would be ten days in total, as a recompense for the one day on which he attended the Friday Sermon and Prayer in the way that pleases Allaah. A noteworthy detail is that explaining the expression إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا in this Hadeeth to mean “since the previous Friday” is based on another Hadeeth with an overall meaning that is similar to the one being discussed, and it contains the wording بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ جُمُعَتِهِ الَّتِي قَبْلَهَا “between that Friday and his attendance on the Friday before it”. However, some scholars have also explained إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ الَّتِي تَلِيهَا in the Hadeeth currently being discussed to mean “until the following Friday”, and this could also be a possible understanding of the wording of this Hadeeth, and Allaah knows best. Either way, the total number of days is ten. وَذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ And that is because Allaah (the Almighty and Most Majestic) says: مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ عَشْرُ أَمْثَالِهَا ⸨If any person comes on the Day of Resurrection with a righteous deed that pleases Allaah, that person would be granted the reward for ten like it⸩. The third type of person described in the Hadeeth being discussed performed the righteous deed of having the reverence for the Friday Sermon and Prayer that they deserve to be given according to Islaam’s teachings. That contributes to some of the person’s sins being pardoned at the time of him performing that righteous deed, and that pardon also extends for ten days from that time...

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…Also among Allaah’s names are الْوَاحِدُ al-Waahid (the One and Only), and الْأَحَدُ al-Ahad (the One who is unique). These convey that Allaah is the One who is unique in having all forms of perfection, such that none shares any of that with Him whatsoever. Furthermore, it is obligatory for Allaah’s servants to affirm His uniqueness in their beliefs, words, and deeds. That comes about by them acknowledging Allaah’s absolute perfection, acknowledging His uniqueness in being the only One deserving of worship, and making Him the only One to whom they devote all forms of worship.

Also among Allaah’s names is الصَّمَدُ as-Samad (the Eternal, Self-Sufficient, Supreme Master and Sustainer whom all creatures need). This conveys that Allaah is the One who must be sought out by all creatures for everything that they need and require, and they are to do so throughout all circumstances. This is due to Allaah being absolutely perfect in His self, His names, His attributes, and His actions.

Also among Allaah’s names are الْعَلِيمُ al-‘Aleem (the Completely Knowledgeable), and الْخَبِيرُ al-Khabeer (the One fully acquainted with all things). These convey that Allaah is the One whose knowledge encompasses everything outward and inward; everything concealed and disclosed; the necessary, the impossible, and the possible; the heavens above and the Earth below; as well as the past, the present, and the future. Thus, there is nothing whatsoever that is hidden from Him.

Also among Allaah’s names is الْحَكِيمُ al-Hakeem (the Most Wise and the One who gives wise judgment). This conveys that Allaah is the One who has utmost wisdom in His creation and His command. He is the One who gave the best form to everything that He created, ((and who could ever be better in giving judgment than Allaah for a people who have certainty?)) [5:50]. Thus, He neither creates anything aimlessly, nor prescribes any directive without a purpose. He is the One who ultimately owns all judgment in this world and the Hereafter, and there are three forms of judgment that are His such that no one shares them with Him at all: He judges between His servants by way of the directives He prescribes, by way of the things He decrees to happen, and by way of the recompenses that He gives. Additionally, regarding Allaah being al-Hakeem (the Most Wise and the One who gives wise judgment), it should be noted that wisdom is to put things where they deserve to be put, and in the places that are appropriate for them...

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…Our Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) had said, إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ مَلَائِكَةٌ “On Friday, at each one of the entrances to every Masjid in which the Friday prayer is established, there are particular angels”. يَكْتُبُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَنَازِلِهِمْ، الْأَوَّلَ فَالْأَوَّلَ “They write the people, according to the level of the ranks that they attain: the first, then the next, and so on”. فَإِذَا جَلَسَ الْإِمَامُ طَوَوُا الصُّحُفَ وَجَاءُوا يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ “Then, when the leader of the congregation sits, those angels fold the records that they wrote, and they come to listen to the mention of Allaah”.

إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ مَلَائِكَةٌ “On Friday, at each one of the entrances to every Masjid in which the Friday prayer is established, there are particular angels”. Although the Friday Sermon and Prayer do not necessarily have to take place in a Masjid—a location where the regular congregational prayers are performed on a continuous basis—specific mention was made of the Masjid here because it is the site where the Friday Sermon and Prayer take place in the majority of cases. Additionally, the angels mentioned are different from the ones assigned to each person to record that person’s deeds. The angels mentioned here are ones who are specifically tasked with recording the people who come to attend the Friday sermon. يَكْتُبُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَنَازِلِهِمْ، الْأَوَّلَ فَالْأَوَّلَ “They write the people, according to the level of the ranks that they attain: the first, then the next, and so on”. Based on what this Hadeeth says—along with what is mentioned in other Ahaadeeth as well—it can be understood that the ranks that people attain may result from a combination of how early they enter the Masjid, as well as how near they come to the leader of the congregation. فَإِذَا جَلَسَ الْإِمَامُ “Then, when the leader of the congregation sits”. In other words: after the leader of the congregation extends the Salaam (supplication for Allaah’s protection) to the congregation, and then sits on the podium while the call-maker proclaims the call to be given at that time; طَوَوُا الصُّحُفَ “those angels fold the records that they wrote”. The records referred to here are the ones specifically related to the rewards attained for coming early and near. If people miss out on being written in those records, there are still other rewards that they can attain for deeds such as listening to the Sermon, performing the Prayer, maintaining humility towards Allaah with focus, mentioning Allaah in ways that are prescribed by the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah, supplicating Allaah, and so on. Such rewards would be written for them in other records by other angels. However, immense rewards that could be attained from Allaah are missed by failing to be written in the records of the angels assigned to write the people who arrive early and come near. فَإِذَا جَلَسَ الْإِمَامُ طَوَوُا الصُّحُفَ وَجَاءُوا يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ “Then, when the leader of the congregation sits, those angels fold the records that they wrote, and they come to listen to the mention of Allaah”. The “mention of Allaah” in this context is the Sermon that the leader delivers, in which he should urge the people to obey Allaah and comply with Allaah’s directives.

The Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) further expounded upon the ranks attained by the attendees, by saying, وَمَثَلُ الْمُهَجِّرِ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي يُهْدِي الْبَدَنَةَ “In addition, a similitude that applies to the person who comes early is that of someone who offers a camel to be sacrificed in Makkah as an act of charity and drawing nearer to Allaah”; ثُمَّ كَالَّذِي يُهْدِي بَقَرَةً “next is that of someone who offers a cow to be sacrificed in Makkah as an act of charity and drawing nearer to Allaah”; ثُمَّ كَالَّذِي يُهْدِي الْكَبْشَ “next is that of someone who offers a ram to be sacrificed in Makkah as an act of charity and drawing nearer to Allaah”; ثُمَّ كَالَّذِي يُهْدِي الدَّجَاجَةَ “next is that of someone who offers a hen to be sacrificed in Makkah as an act of charity and drawing nearer to Allaah”; ثُمَّ كَالَّذِي يُهْدِي الْبَيْضَةَ “and next is that of someone who offers an egg to be given in Makkah as an act of charity and drawing nearer to Allaah”. One basic idea that can be drawn from these similitudes is that the ranks with Allaah that people attain are in accordance with the deeds that they perform: the less their righteous deeds are, the less their ranks would be with Allaah; and the greater their righteous deeds are, the greater their ranks would be with Allaah…

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…Numerous scholars of Islaam have taken great care to gather from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah what they considered to be names of Allaah, and some of the scholars have also elaborated on what those names mean. Among the scholars near our time who did that in a brief manner was ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Naasir as-Sa‘dee (may Allaah have mercy upon him), the same scholar who authored the well-known explanation of the Qur’aan’s meanings commonly referred to as “Tafseer as-Sa‘dee”. His Tafseer in Arabic contains a short chapter—some editions have the chapter near the beginning of the Tafseer , while others have it near the end—in which he listed many of what he considered to be names of Allaah, and he also provided some brief elaboration about their meanings. With Allaah’s assistance, we would like to spend some time to reflect upon what he said. We will only be able to go through a portion of his remarks in this sermon, and we hope to continue presenting his remarks from that short chapter during some of our upcoming sermons as well, if Allaah wills. At the beginning of the chapter alluded to, as-Sa‘dee (may Allaah have mercy upon him) mentioned that “many of Allaah’s sublime names are repeated throughout the Qur’aan in a way that is related to the context of what is being discussed; thus, there is a need for drawing attention to their key overall meanings” and he then presented a list of what he considered to be names of Allaah in the Qur’aan, along with brief elaboration about their meanings.

One of those names—perhaps the most intuitive one—is اللَّهُ Allaah. He is the One who deserves to be worshipped by all creatures, and He is the One to whom all creatures are subservient and to whom they must devote all of their worship. That is because He is the only One who possesses attributes of divinity, and those are attributes of absolute perfection.

Also among Allaah’s names is الرَّبُّ ar-Rabb (the One Supreme Lord). The name ar-Rabb (the One Supreme Lord) is repeated in many passages of the Qur’aan. The One Supreme Lord is the One who nurtures all of His servants by regulating all matters for them and by granting them blessings of all types. In addition to that, He grants a special type of nurturing to His worshipping servants whom He chooses to favour due to their obedience to Him. He nurtures them in a special way by setting right for them their hearts, their souls, and their conduct. Thus, we find in various passages of the Qur’aan that Allaah’s obedient worshipping servants often use this majestic name to supplicate Allaah—addressing Him by saying رَبِّ (my One Supreme Lord) or رَبَّنَا (our One Supreme Lord)—since they seek that special type of nurturing from Him.

Also among Allaah’s names are الْمَلِكُ al-Malik (the Supreme Sovereign) and الْمَالِكُ al-Maalik (the Supreme Owner). These convey that Allaah is the One who owns and controls all things. Allaah being described as the Supreme Sovereign and Owner entails that He has attributes of complete magnificence, greatness, power, and authority. He is the One who can do absolutely everything that He wants in terms of creating, issuing directives, and giving recompenses. To Him alone belongs everything throughout the heavens and the Earth. All creatures throughout them are subservient to His authority and ownership, and they are always in need of Him.

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…There are a few authentic Ahaadeeth about several immense blessings from Allaah that can be attained by reading or memorizing certain portions of Sooratul-Kahf, or by reading the entire Soorah; and for one such Hadeeth, some of its narrations mention reading Sooratul-Kahf on Friday in particular. With respect to that Hadeeth, some of the scholars have noted that when its various narrations and wordings are gathered, and when all of their chains of transmission are taken into consideration together, it can be understood that one of the things about Sooratul-Kahf authentically narrated from the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) was: مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْكَهْفِ فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ أَضَاءَ لَهُ مِنَ النُّورِ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ “If any person reads Sooratul-Kahf on Friday, there would be light that shines for that person for the distance that lies between himself and Allaah’s Ancient and Protected House.”

مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْكَهْفِ فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ “If any person reads Sooratul-Kahf on Friday”. The apparent meaning of this is reading the Soorah in its entirety; and based on some narrations of this Hadeeth, some of the scholars explain that “Friday” here applies to the day of Friday as well as eve of Friday, and Allaah knows best. أَضَاءَ لَهُ مِنَ النُّورِ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْبَيْتِ الْعَتِيقِ “there would be light that shines for that person for the distance that lies between himself and Allaah’s Ancient and Protected House”. That House refers to the Ka‘bah in Makkah. As for the light that shines, scholars have explained that it could refer to [1] light while alive in this world, [2] light in the Hereafter, and [3] light even while in one’s grave.

As for [1] light while alive in this world, it could be light that light surrounds a person for the distance mentioned, and is witnessed by the angels; it could also be light that serves to protect the person against shaytaan (i.e. jinns or humans who are rebelliously disobedient towards Allaah); it could be part of the light that enables a person’s limbs to remain engaged in what pleases Allaah; and it could also be part of the light by which Allaah illuminates the person’s heart and insight such that the person is granted beneficial knowledge, is guided to the truth, and remains enlightened throughout all circumstances. A related noteworthy detail is that there are authentically narrated words of supplication—collected by al-Bukhaaree (no. 6316) and Muslim (no. 763)—in which we can find that our Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) had invoked Allaah to grant him light within his heart; light in his tongue, hearing, and sight; as well as light in all the directions around himself.

As for [2] light that could shine for a person in the Hereafter as a result of reading Sooratul-Kahf in this world, that explanation can be understood from a Hadeeth that some of the scholars have graded authentic when its various routes of transmission are given consideration altogether. A portion of that Hadeeth says مَنْ قَرَأَ سُورَةَ الْكَهْفِ كَمَا أُنْزِلَتْ كَانَتْ لَهُ نُورًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ مَقَامِهِ إِلَى مَكَّةَ “If any person reads Sooratul-Kahf the way that it was sent down, it would be light for him on the Day of Resurrection, spanning the distance from where he is all the way to Makkah”. Note that this Hadeeth just cited applies to reading Sooratul-Kahf on any day; and reading the Soorah the way it was sent down can basically be understood to mean reading it without changing any of its wordings or its meanings, and Allaah knows best.

As for [3] light while in the grave, that is something that Allaah can grant people due to righteous deeds that they performed while in this world; and reading Sooratul-Kahf correctly, as well as striving to understand its contents and comply with them, are certainly righteous deeds due to which a person can hope to be granted light by Allaah while in the grave…

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…There is a Hadeeth that scholars have graded acceptable at the level of Hasan, when various narrations and wordings of it are given consideration altogether. In that Hadeeth, the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) said, إِنَّ لِرَبِّكُمْ فِي أَيَّامِ دَهْرِكُمْ نَفَحَاتٍ فَتَعَرَّضُوا لَهُ، لَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يُصِيبَكُمْ نَفْحَةٌ مِنْهَا فَلَا تَشْقَونَ بَعْدَهَا أَبَدًا “Indeed, the One Supreme Lord over all of you has various immense blessings that He bestows throughout the days of your life in this world. Therefore, seek that out. There is hope that one of those immense blessings would reach you and, as a result of it, you would never end up in misery afterwards”. Some of the most important means by which we can seek to attain Allaah’s blessings include: keeping our hearts clean and devoted purely to Allaah, striving to increase our knowledge of the opportunities that Allaah provides us with so that we may seize them, complying with the directives that have come to us in the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah, purifying our conduct from all that is blameworthy, and asking Allaah to grant us His blessings. Through the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah, Allaah has informed us of many times when various blessings from Him can be attained, and He also informed us of how to go about attaining those blessings. Therefore, times like those are precious opportunities to be seized in the ways that have been prescribed by Allaah and demonstrated by the Messenger who was sent by Allaah (may Allaah grant His Messenger commendation and protection).

One of the opportunities we have been given to attain some of the immense blessings that Allaah bestows throughout the days of our life in this world comes to us every single week. That opportunity is يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ (Friday), and there are several very important acts of obedience to Allaah that we can perform on Fridays in order to seek out the immense blessings that Allaah bestows. Allaah made some of those acts on Fridays obligatory for us; and there are others that He encouraged us to engage in, but He did not make them obligatory. In the remainder of this Sermon, we would like to say something about two beloved deeds to Allaah that He has made obligatory for some of us to perform on Fridays. One of them is attending the Friday Sermon, and the other is performing the Friday Prayer.

In the Qur’aan, Allaah (the Almighty and Most Majestic) gave us the following instruction: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا People who have accepted the truth from Allaah and complied with it, إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ when the call has been given for prayer on Friday after the speaker gets on the podium, فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ you must be diligent in your effort to hear the exhortation in the sermon delivered by the speaker addressing the congregation, and in your effort to perform the prayer [62:9].

It should be noted that there are some types of people who are exempted from this instruction, and there is an authentic Hadeeth in which the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) clarified four of those types. He had said, الْجُمُعَةُ حَقٌّ وَاجِبٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ إِلَّا أَرْبَعَةً: عَبْدًا مَمْلُوكًا أَوِ امْرَأَةً أَوْ صَبِيًّا أَوْ مَرِيضًا “Attending the Friday Sermon and attending the Friday Prayer are established in the Qur’aan and the Sunnah as obligations that must be fulfilled by every Muslim, in congregation, except for four types of individuals: a slave, who is owned by someone; a woman; a child; and a person who is ill.” Based on other texts in the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah, scholars have pointed out that this Hadeeth is not an exhaustive list of exceptions; rather, there are other types of people who are exempted as well, such as a person whose intellectual function is not intact, a caregiver who needs to remain with an ill person unable to attend the sermon and prayer, a traveller, and others who have legitimate excuses according to Islaam’s teachings that exempt them from the general default obligation. However, if any person exempted from the obligation is able to join the congregation for the Friday Sermon and Prayer, and chooses to do so, that person’s attendance of the Sermon and performance of the Prayer are valid and acceptable righteous deeds that bring the person nearer to Allaah—so long as the person complies with the directives of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah that apply to him or her attending the Sermon and Prayer...

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…Servants of Allaah, there are some important words of our Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) that several prominent Hadeeth scholars have graded authentic at the level of Saheeh. That Hadeeth conveys to us an instruction that clarifies Allaah’s statement, فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ you must be diligent in your effort to hear the exhortation in the sermon, and in your effort to perform the prayer [62:9]. The Hadeeth alluded to says, احْضُرُوا الذِّكْرَ وَادْنُوا مِنَ الْإِمَامِ، فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَا يَزَالُ يَتَبَاعَدُ حَتَّى يُؤَخَّرَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنْ دَخَلَهَا “You are to attend the Sermon and the Prayer, and you are to come near to the leader of the congregation. This is because a man can keep moving away until he is eventually moved back in Paradise even if he enters it.”

احْضُرُوا الذِّكْرَ “You are to attend the Sermon and the Prayer”. Further clarification can be understood from an alternate narration of this Hadeeth, which contains the wording احْضُرُوا الْجُمُعَةَ “You are to attend the Friday Sermon and the Friday Prayer”. Both of those—the Sermon and the Prayer—are part of the Thikr that people have been instructed by the Qur’aan and the Sunnah to be present for on Fridays. وَادْنُوا مِنَ الْإِمَامِ “and you are to come near to the leader of the congregation”. In other words, you are to come near to the leader of the congregation such that you are able to listen to the Sermon that he delivers, and you—the men in particular—are to be in the rows nearest to him when he leads the prayer. فَإِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَا يَزَالُ يَتَبَاعَدُ “This is because a man can keep moving away”, meaning that he can keep moving away from settings in which he is able to seek out immense blessings from Allaah, without any excuse for moving away. This description applies to someone who makes doing so a constant habit. The description can be understood to include: physically moving away from the leader of the congregation, by unnecessarily staying in rows to the rear; moving away from being present with the congregation in attendance, by coming late; or moving away from listening to the Sermon, by staying away from areas where it can be heard, or by letting oneself be distracted from listening despite being physically present. حَتَّى يُؤَخَّرَ فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَإِنْ دَخَلَهَا “until he is eventually moved back in Paradise even if he enters it”. Due to the person choosing to move away from obeying Allaah in the best way, the person would end up moved away from being recompensed by Allaah in the best way. Such a person, by his own deliberate wilful actions, chooses to be content with merely entering Paradise at some point—not with those who are foremost—and he chooses to forego the immense rewards and lofty ranks that Allaah grants His servants who are diligent in striving for Him. Allaah said, وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا And regarding those who have struggled for Us—Allaah—We will most surely guide them to the paths that lead to Us. وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ And Allaah is surely with those who strive to worship Him in the best way and deal with His servants in the best manner [29:69]…

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…Dear people of Islaam, in a previous sermon, we said a few words about some names of the One Supreme Lord over all of creation: His names Allaah, ar-Rahmaan (the Possessor of Limitless Mercy), and ar-Raheem (the Bestower of Mercy). Also among His names are: الْقَوِيُّ al-Qawee (The Most Powerful), الْعَزِيزُ al-‘Azeez (The Almighty), الْكَبِيرُ al-Kabeer (The Most Great), and الْجَبَّارُ al-Jabbaar (whose meaning in this context is: The Overwhelmingly Powerful). No matter how strong people may be, they all remain subject to Allaah’s infinite might and limitless ability. No one has any authority that does not yield to the supreme majesty and power of Allaah. Every powerful person is weak in comparison to Allaah; and no one will be able to escape from Allaah’s might in the Hereafter, even if it may appear that they remained unscathed in some ways while in this world. Allaah (the Almighty and Most Majestic) said, وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ And if only those who worshipped others besides Allaah in this world knew what their state would be in the Hereafter when they see Allaah’s punishment, they would realize that all might belongs to Allaah and that He is most certainly severe in punishing those who disobey Him [2:165]. If a person believes that there is any sort of force from some part of this world that is invincible and cannot be overcome, that person must correct his beliefs and renew his certainty about Allaah. Allaah is greater than everything, and He is more powerful than any king or influential person. People who may be downtrodden and oppressed in every place and time should always resort to Allaah and find solace in that. 

Another one of Allaah’s names is الرَّزَّاقُ ar-Razzaaq (the One who provides abundantly). He is the One who provides for every single thing. Every creature throughout this Earth depends upon Allaah to sustain it. Who is there besides Allaah, the Almighty Provider, that sustains fish in the depths of the oceans, birds in their nests at such high altitudes, and predatory animals in dry desolate lands? Moreover, no soul passes away without receiving its full provision and lifespan appointed by Allaah. If all the humans and the jinns came together to prevent an individual from receiving any provision that Allaah apportioned for that individual, they would never be able to do so. None can withhold anything that Allaah grants, and none can grant anything that Allaah withholds. Allaah said, إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ Indeed, Allaah is the One who provides abundantly, ذُو الْقُوَّةِ the Possessor of Limitless Power, الْمَتِينُ the Completely Invincible [51:58]. You must also realize that no matter how greedy someone is, that will never enable him to attain any more provision than what Allaah decreed for him; and no matter how much someone objects, that cannot avert any of Allaah’s provisions from anyone in any way. Servants of Allaah, when you sincerely take recourse to Allaah, you will find Him near and responsive. He told us, وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُوَ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ And Allaah is most certainly the best of providers [22:58].

Also among Allaah’s names are الْغَفُورُ al-Ghafoor (The Most Forgiving) and الْكَرِيمُ al-Kareem (The Most Generous). He forgives all sins no matter how grave, and He conceals faults no matter how numerous. The Prophet Nooh (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) had said about Allaah, the One Supreme Lord over all people: إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا “Indeed, He has always been abundantly forgiving” [71:10]. In addition, Allaah’s Messenger Muhammad (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) told us: قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى Allaah (the One who owns limitless blessings and is Most Exalted) said, يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِي وَرَجَوْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ فِيكَ، وَلَا أُبَالِي “Descendant of Aadam, indeed, as long as you call upon Me and place your hope in Me, I will forgive you despite all that emanated from you, since I do all that I want and nothing is too much for Me.” يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، لَوْ بَلَغَتْ ذُنُوبُكَ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي “Descendant of Aadam, even if your sins reach all the way up to what you can see of the sky, but you then ask My forgiveness, I will forgive you, since I do all that I want and nothing is too much for Me.” يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، إِنَّكَ لَوْ أَتَيْتَنِي بِقُرَابِ الْأَرْضِ خَطَايَا، ثُمَّ لَقِيتَنِي لَا تُشْرِكُ بِي شَيْئًا لَأَتَيْتُكَ بِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً “Descendant of Aadam, indeed, even if you come to Me with sins that fill almost the entire Earth, but you then meet Me without ascribing anything to Me as a partner, I will certainly come to you with forgiveness that similarly fills almost the entire Earth.” Thus, all of us who commit sins and fall short of our responsibilities must hasten to seek forgiveness from Allaah. He is al-Kareem (The Most Generous) and al-Ghaffaar (The Abundantly Forgiving).

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…Also among Allaah’s names are الْحَكِيمُ al-Hakeem and الْعَلِيمُ al-‘Aleem. Allaah is al-Hakeem and has full wisdom in His laws and decrees. He did not create anything aimlessly, He did not leave His creatures without purpose, and He did not prescribe anything meaningless for them. Allaah is al-‘Aleem and has complete knowledge about His creatures and what suits them best. Allaah said: قُلْ أَأَنْتُمْ أَعْلَمُ أَمِ اللَّهُ Messenger of Allaah, tell them, “Is it you who are more knowledgeable, or is it Allaah?” [2:140]. Allaah has full knowledge whereas people are lacking in knowledge. Allaah has full wisdom whereas people act insolently and follow their own inclinations. When a person fully realizes that and accepts that as the Truth from Allaah, he would submit to the directives of Allaah, he would remain within the bounds that Allaah set, and he would not object to Allaah’s rulings and decrees. Allaah instructed His Messenger to tell the people who worshipped others besidesbesides Allaah: أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ أَبْتَغِي حَكَمًا وَهُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ إِلَيْكُمُ الْكِتَابَ مُفَصَّلًا “Should I then seek other than Allaah for judgment although He is the One who has sent down to you the Qur’aan, which provides clear judgment concerning that which you dispute about?” [6:114]. Furthermore, when someone submits to Allaah as previously mentioned, He would not object to Allaah’s commands. Allaah told us, أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ Pay attention to this: To Him alone belong all creation and all command [7:54]. When people object to any aspect of Allaah’s directives, they oppose part of the ‘Aqeedah (unwavering beliefs) that they are to hold. When people call for the abolition of the criminal code prescribed in Islaam, or claim that transactions involving usury are acceptable, they cast doubt upon the infinite wisdom of Allaah. When they object to rulings in Islaam concerning women, they disparage the One who prescribed those rulings. Who instructed a woman to observe Hijaab? Allaah did. Who decreed a woman’s rights and responsibilities? Allaah did. أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ “Is Allaah not the most just and wise of all who give judgment? [95:8]. Allaah had also said: أَلَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ خَلَقَ وَهُوَ اللَّطِيفُ الْخَبِيرُ Does the One who created all things not have complete knowledge, when He is اللَّطِيفُ (the Caregiver who knows even the most minute of details) الْخَبِيرُ (the One fully acquainted with all things) [67:14]. This Aayah about Allaah’s all-encompassing knowledge is also tied to His name اللَّطِيفُ (the Caregiver who knows even the most minute of details) as well as His name الْخَبِيرُ (the One fully acquainted with all things), and these are two more names of Allaah, the One Supreme Lord over all of creation...

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[ ▶️ QSSC YouTube Recording ]

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ Indeed, all praise belongs to Allaah. We seek His assistance and we ask His forgiveness. وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا We also seek refuge with Allaah against the ills that we have within ourselves. مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ If Allaah guides any person, none can misguide such an individual; and if He leaves any person in misguidance, none can guide such an individual. وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ In addition, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I testify that Muhammad is Allaah’s worshipping servant and Messenger. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ People who have accepted the truth and complied with it inwardly, you must protect yourselves from Allaah’s punishment with complete protection as you are required to, and you must not ever die except while also submitting to Allaah outwardly. يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً People, you must protect yourselves from the punishment of your One Supreme Lord, who created you from one individual, created from that individual his own spouse, and spread from the two of them multitudes of men and women. وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا In addition, you must protect yourselves from the punishment of Allaah, the One by whom you make requests of each other; and you must also protect yourselves from the punishment incurred by severing the ties of kinship. Indeed, Allaah is always a Witness regarding you Who continually oversees and maintains. يَا  أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا People who have accepted the truth and complied with it, you must protect yourselves from Allaah’s punishment and you must say what is correct. يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ If you do so, Allaah will set your deeds right for you and He will forgive you for your sins. وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا Furthermore, when any person obeys Allaah and His Messenger, that person has surely achieved ultimate success.

إِنَّ أَصْدَقَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ وَأَحْسَنَ الْهَدْيِ هَدْيُ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ Indeed, the most truthful speech is the Book of Allaah, and the best path is the path of Allaah’s Messenger Muhammad (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection). وَشَرُّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا Furthermore, the worst of things are those that are invented and then claimed to be part of Islaam. وَكُلُّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ Everything that is invented and then claimed to be part of Islaam is called a Bid‘ah; وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ every Bid‘ah is misguidance; وَكُلُّ ضَلَالَةٍ فِي النَّارِ and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.

Dear people of Islaam—dear people who submit to Allaah inwardly and outwardly—the more knowledge about Allaah people acquire, the stronger their certainty about the Truth from Allaah becomes. Having knowledge about Allaah’s names and attributes has profound effects at both the individual and collective levels, and that knowledge leads to a fruitful and prosperous life in this world as well as in the Hereafter. Having true Eemaan regarding Allaah’s names and attributes requires knowing their meanings and acting in accordance with what they entail, and we would like to spend some time to review meanings of some of Allaah’s beautiful names, and perhaps also briefly mention a few of the effects that they produce.

We begin with the name اللَّه Allaah. One of the most concise and comprehensive phrases that scholars of Islaam use when explaining the meaning of اللَّه Allaah in Arabic is ذُو الْأُلُوهِيَّةِ وَالْعُبُودِيَّةِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ (He is the only One who has attributes of divinity, which are attributes of absolute majesty and perfection that entitle Him to being deified by all creatures; and He is the only One to whose will and authority all creatures are always subject, and to whom they must devote all of their worship). Allaah is the One whom our hearts must glorify as the One true deity deserving of all worship, by devoting our complete love and reverence to Him. Proper Eemaan regarding the name اللَّه Allaah requires that we devote all worship to Allaah alone, and that we not ascribe any partner to Allaah. However, in this world where we exist, there are people who devote themselves to others besides Allaah; and there are people who seek the fulfilment of their requests, needs, and prayers from others besides Allaah, even though Allaah is the only One who can actually fulfil them. There are people who even resort to things like graves, tombs, and shrines to seek their needs instead of asking Allaah. Even if such individuals called themselves people of Eemaan, the reality is that they do not have proper Eemaan regarding this tremendous name: Allaah (the only One who has attributes of divinity, which are attributes of absolute majesty and perfection that entitle Him to being deified by all creatures; and the only One to whose will and authority all creatures are always subject, and to whom they must devote all of their worship).

Another two of Allaah’s beautiful names are الرَّحْمَن (the Possessor of Limitless Mercy) and الرَّحِيم (the Bestower of Mercy), and both of them are related to His attribute of mercy. All of the blessings that surround us are products of Allaah’s limitless mercy. Among the manifestations of Allaah’s mercy are: sending messengers and sending down scriptures; providing safety, security, prosperity, health, wealth, and offspring; and giving us the night, the day, the rain, and the plants. Allaah is more merciful to His creatures than a loving, caring, and compassionate mother is to her own child. There is neither any blessing that is granted, nor any hardship that is averted, except by Allaah’s limitless mercy, which encompasses all things and creatures.

اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ نَرْجُو O Allaah, it is the mercy of You alone that we hope for. فَلَا تَكِلْنَا إِلَى أَنْفُسِنَا طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ Therefore, we implore You to not leave us to ourselves for even the blink of an eye, وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا شُؤُونَنَا كُلَّهَا and we implore You to set right for us all matters that pertain to us. لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ None has the right to be worshipped except You.

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ We call upon You—O Allaah—the Eternally Living, Self-Sufficient Sustainer of everything. بِرَحْمَتِكَ نَسْتَغِيثُ It is by the mercy of You alone that we seek deliverance. وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا شُؤُونَنَا كُلَّهَا In addition, we implore You to set right for us all matters that pertain to us, وَلَا تَكِلْنَا إِلَى أَنْفُسِنَا طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ أَبَدًا and to not ever leave us to ourselves for even the blink of an eye.

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الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ All praise belongs to Allaah, and may Allaah grant commendation and protection to His Messenger. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection).

Servants of Allaah, among the leading scholars of Islaam, there was one who was commonly known as Abul-Qaasim al-Asbahaanee. He passed away in the year 535h—corresponding to 1141ce—and we beseech Allaah to grant him immense mercy. One of Abul-Qaasim al-Asbahaanee’s books is entitled al-Hujjah fee Bayaan al-Mahajjah; and in it (1/123), he mentioned that some of the scholars had said: يَنْبَغِي لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ أَنْ يَعْرِفُوا أَسْمَاءَ اللَّهِ وَتَفْسِيرَهَا فَيُعَظِّمُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ عَظَمَتِهِ People of Islaam should know the names of Allaah as well as their meanings, so that they can then revere Allaah as He rightfully deserves due to His absolute magnificence. وَلَوْ أَرَادَ رَجُلٌ أَنْ يَتَزَوَّجَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ أَوْ يُزَوِّجَهُ أَوْ يُعَامِلَهُ When a man wants to marry someone’s daughter, marry off his own daughter to someone, or conduct any sort of deal with someone, طَلَبَ أَنْ يَعْرِفَ اسْمَهُ وَكُنْيَتَهُ وَاسْمَ أَبِيهِ وَجَدِّهِ وَسَأَلَ عَنْ صَغِيرِ أَمْرِهِ وَكَبِيرِهِ he seeks to know that person’s name, that person’s Kunyah, the name of that person’s father, and even the name of that person’s grandfather; and he tries to find out every major and minor detail about that person. فَاللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَنَا وَرَزَقَنَا وَنَحْنُ نَرْجُو رَحْمَتَهُ وَنَخَافُ مِنْ سَخَطِهِ أَوْلَى أَنْ نَعْرِفَ أَسْمَاءَهُ وَنَعْرِفَ تَفْسِيرَهَا Therefore, since Allaah created us, He provides for us, we hope for His mercy, and we fear Him being displeased with us—He is even more deserving of us knowing what His names are, as well as what His names mean.” (End of remark cited by Abul-Qaasim al-Asbahaanee, may Allaah have mercy upon him).

In the initial portion of this sermon, mention preceded about the names “Allaah”, “ar-Rahmaan” (the Possessor of Limitless Mercy), and “ar-Raheem” (the Bestower of Mercy); along with some very brief elaboration about a few of the effects that those names should have in our lives. Also among the names of Allaah are: السَّمِيع (the All-Hearing) and الْبَصِير (the All-Seeing). There is nothing that is concealed from Allaah’s hearing or Allaah’s sight. Allaah Himself told us: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَخْفَى عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ There is most certainly nothing throughout the Earth or the heavens that is hidden from Allaah [3:5]. Allaah further told us: يَعْلَمُ خَائِنَةَ الْأَعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِي الصُّدُورُ He knows every glance that people steal and everything that people’s hearts harbour. [40:19]. Allaah also said: وَإِنْ تَجْهَرْ بِالْقَوْلِ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْلَمُ السِّرَّ وَأَخْفَى Whether you speak out loud or conceal things within yourself, Allaah certainly knows what is hidden as well as all that is even more concealed than that [20:7]. Allaah sees every glance that we steal, and every blink of our eyelids. Allaah knows, sees, and hears every obscure and hidden thing. Thus, none is worthy of worship except Allaah, and we have no Supreme Lord besides Him. When people wish to contend with Allaah by disobeying Him, do they think that He cannot see them? Do they think that when they are concealed from the sight of other people, they are also concealed from Allaah’s sight? Whenever you are alone with a sin in the dark, and your soul calls you to commit it, be ashamed to do so while Allaah is watching, and tell your soul that the One who created the darkness most certainly sees you even while you are surrounded by it. Allaah sees and hears everything throughout His creation, whether concealed from people or apparent to them. Furthermore, always remember that the essence of Ihsaan (worshipping Allaah in the best way) is to worship Allaah as though you could see Him, and although you cannot see Him in this world, you must bear in mind that He always sees you.

اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْهَرَمِ وَعَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ O Allaah, we earnestly seek refuge with You against helplessness, laziness, cowardice, stinginess, senility, and torment in the grave. اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نُفُوسَنَا تَقْوَاهَا وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلَاهَا O Allaah, we implore You to grant our souls the inspiration that they require in order to remain protected from Your punishment. We also implore You to purify our souls; You are the best to purify them. You are the One who has complete control of them, and supreme guardianship over them. اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لَا يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قُلُوبٍ لَا تَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نُفُوسٍ لَا تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دَعَوَاتٍ لَا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا O Allaah, we earnestly seek refuge with You against having knowledge that does not benefit us, against having hearts that are not humble towards You, against having souls that are not satisfied, and against prayers that are not answered.

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[ ▶️ QSSC YouTube Recording ]

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ Indeed, all praise belongs to Allaah. We praise Him and we seek His assistance. مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ If Allaah guides any person, none can misguide such an individual; and if He leaves any person in misguidance, none can guide such an individual. وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ In addition, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, without any partner, and that Muhammad is Allaah’s worshipping servant and Messenger.

Servants of Allaah, knowing about Allaah is the most exalted type of knowledge that one can have. All areas of knowledge pale in comparison to knowledge about Allaah. This is exactly why Allaah instructed His Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection), فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ “You are to have knowledge of the fact that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah.” [47:19]. The esteemed leading scholar of Islaam, al-Imaam at-Tabaree (may Allaah have mercy upon him), commented that this essentially means that Allaah was saying: Muhammad, you must realize that there is no deity besides Allaah who deserves worship, is fit to be worshipped, or is permissible for you or any other creature to worship. Allaah is the One who brought all of creation into existence, and has complete ownership and control of all things. Everything besides Him submits to Him as its One Supreme Lord. (End of remark from at-Tabaree, may Allaah have mercy upon him). 

Thus, the greatest of all things that a person can have knowledge about is Allaah—the One who is his Lord, Creator, and Maker; as well as his Lord’s attributes of absolute majesty and perfection. Again, most certainly, the best thing that people can know about is their One Supreme Lord who originated them, as well as His perfect, sublime, beautiful attributes. The excellence that any branch of knowledge holds corresponds to the excellence of its subject matter, and this is why knowing about Allaah, His names, and His attributes is the best type of knowledge that one can have. True Eemaan (acceptance of the Truth and compliance with it), true Tawheed (affirmation of Allaah’s uniqueness), and the essence of the correct ‘Aqeedah (sound unwavering beliefs) all necessitate accepting and complying with the truth regarding Allaah’s beautiful names and exalted attributes. The more sound knowledge people have about Allaah, the more they would fear Allaah with understanding; and the people who have the most fear of Allaah with understanding are the ones who have the most knowledge about Allaah, His names, and His attributes.

My dear brothers sisters who all strive to hold sound beliefs: we know that Allaah created His servants in order for them to worship Him alone. However, how can they possibly worship Him without knowing Him? It is an absolute must for them to know Him in order to fulfil the very purpose and wisdom behind their existence in this world. We must realize that devoting attention to knowing Allaah amounts to devoting attention to the purpose for which Allaah created His servants; and on the other hand, when people neglect to know Allaah, that amounts to them neglecting the purpose for which they were created. Allaah’s blessings and grace shower upon us continuously. It is, therefore, a reflection of utter disdain for people to remain ignorant about their One Supreme Lord, and neglect to learn about Him, His names, and His attributes.

When it comes to Allaah’s names, one important point concerning having sound beliefs about them is that we must hold the unwavering belief that all of Allaah’s names are the best of names. Allaah (the Almighty and Most Majestic) said, اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى “Allaah is the only One deserving of worship. None has the right to be worshipped except Him. To Him alone belong the best names” [20:8]. This means that Allaah’s names are the absolute best and there is nothing better than them, since they express Allaah’s majesty and perfection. Therefore, they are the best and most complete of names, and this is the belief that we must hold because Allaah Himself has told us so.

A second important point concerning sound beliefs about Allaah’s names is that they are only known from the texts of Islaam. This means that it is not correct for us to name Allaah with anything besides the names used by Allaah Himself and the names used by Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection). We can understand this from an authentic Hadeeth, which mentions that the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) had said the following words at certain times when he supplicated Allaah: “أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ I implore You by every name that You have— سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ whether You named Yourself with it; أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ or You taught it to any individual among Your creation; أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ or You sent it down in Your scriptures; أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ or You kept it as part of the knowledge that is imperceptible to us, which only You have.” From this, we can understand that the names being used to call upon Allaah are the ones that He has given us knowledge of, whether through His own speech or through the speech of His Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection). In other words, we can only come to know what Allaah’s names are by way of the Qur’aan and the authentic Sunnah.

The aforementioned Hadeeth also leads to a third important point about sound beliefs regarding Allaah’s names, and that is: there are names of Allaah that He has given us knowledge of, and there are also names Allaah has that He has not given us knowledge of; however, among all the names that Allaah has, there are ninety-nine of them that carry very special importance and Allaah has given us knowledge of those ninety-nine among all of His names. In the foregoing Hadeeth, the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) drew attention to names that Allaah has kept as part of the knowledge that is imperceptible to us, which only Allaah has. That came in the portion of the supplication that said أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ “or You kept it as part of the knowledge that is imperceptible to us, which only You have.” From this we can understand that there are names of Allaah that He has not given us knowledge of. As for the ninety-nine among Allaah’s names, which carry special importance for us, their importance is clarified by an authentic Hadeeth in which the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) said, “There are indeed ninety-nine names that Allaah has; one less than a hundred. If someone encompasses them, he would be admitted to Paradise.” The meaning of encompassing Allaah’s names as mentioned in this Hadeeth includes learning their wordings and their meanings, as well as worshipping Allaah based on what they dictate. We will briefly elaborate on that in the remainder of this sermon, if Allaah wills.

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All praise belongs to Allaah, and may Allaah grant commendation and protection to His Messenger. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.

Dear people of Eemaan—dear people who strive to accept and comply with the Truth from Allaah, inwardly and outwardly—a Hadeeth of the Prophet (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) was cited earlier in which he said, “There are indeed ninety-nine names that Allaah has; one less than a hundred. If someone encompasses them, he would be admitted to Paradise.” There are several things that are meant by encompassing those names of Allaah:

Encompassing the ninety-nine names of Allaah referred to includes having the correct beliefs about those names, memorizing the wordings and meanings of those names, using those names to seek one’s needs from Allaah, using those names to glorify Allaah, praising Allaah for being the One described by all of those names, and acting in compliance with what is indicated by the meanings of those names.

Encompassing the ninety-nine names of Allaah referred to also includes adopting the qualities that are understood from certain names, and that are appropriate for a person to adopt and emulate. For instance, Allaah has the names الرَّحِيمُ ar-Raheem (the Bestower of mercy) and الْكَرِيمُ al-Kareem (the Most Generous). Thus, an individual can train himself to be merciful and generous in ways that befit him as a created being.

Encompassing the ninety-nine names of Allaah referred to also includes humbling oneself to the qualities that are understood from certain names, and that would not be appropriate for a person to emulate. For instance, Allaah has the names الْجَبَّارُ al-Jabbaar (understood in this context to carry the meaning of the One who overpowers all else), الْعَظِيمُ al-‘Atheem (the Most Magnificent), and الْمُتَكَبِّرُ al-Mutakabbir (the One whose greatness is absolute). These necessitate being humble towards them, not seeking to adopt such qualities for oneself or emulate them.

Encompassing the ninety-nine names of Allaah referred to also includes hoping for the goodness that is understood from certain names. For instance, Allaah has the names الْغَفُورُ al-Ghafoor (the Continually Forgiving), الشَّكُورُ ash-Shakoor (the One who continually accepts from His servants deeds that are small, and gives a plentiful recompense for them), الْعَفُوُّ al-‘Afoo (the Continually Pardoning), الرَّؤُوفُ ar-Ra’oof (the Most Kind), الْحَلِيمُ al-Haleem (the Most Forbearing), الْجَوَادُ al-Jawaad (the Most Giving), and الْكَرِيمُ al-Kareem (the Most Generous). One should hope to attain from Allaah what these names indicate. 

Encompassing the ninety-nine names of Allaah referred to also includes fearing the threat understood from certain ways in which Allaah described Himself. For instance, Allaah said He is شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ Shadeed al-‘Iqaab (severe in punishment), سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ Saree‘ al-Hisaab (swift in reckoning), and عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ ‘Azeezun Thuntiqaam (Almighty and completely able to exact retribution). One should be fearful of having any of these threats apply to himself. 

Encompassing the ninety-nine names of Allaah referred to also includes always bearing in mind the meanings of those names, and giving each of the names its due right by understanding it properly and worshipping Allaah according to it. This involves acting in compliance with what their meanings indicate, as mentioned earlier, along with even more. For instance, if a person constantly bears in mind Allaah’s highness and being above all of His creation, that person is to submit to Allaah and worship Him based on those descriptions. This takes place by the person always remaining humble towards Allaah, standing before Allaah as a worshipping servant, and being ashamed of having any word or deed of his ascend to Allaah that would incur Allaah’s wrath and lead to disgrace. 

The preceding are some of the main aspects of having sound beliefs about Allaah’s names, and we beseech Allaah to make us people who worship Him in the best way and who use His names to call upon Him correctly.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا عَبِيدُكَ، وَبَنُو عَبِيدِكَ، وَبَنُو إِمَائِكَ O Allaah, We are indeed Your servants. We are also the children of Your male servants, and the children of Your female servants. نَوَاصِينَا بِيَدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِينَا حُكْمُكَ The front portion of our heads lie in Your hand, such that You have complete authority over us. عَدْلٌ فِينَا قَضَاؤُكَ What always remains in effect concerning us is Your judgment. True justice concerning us lies in all that You decree. نَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ We implore You by every name that You have— سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ whether You named Yourself with it, أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَدًا مِنْ خَلْقِكَ or You taught it to any individual among Your creation, أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ or You sent it down in Your scriptures, أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الْغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ or You kept it as part of the knowledge that is imperceptible to us, which only You have— أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قُلُوبِنَا We implore You to make the Qur’aan the springtime for our hearts, وَنُورَ صُدُورِنَا the light of our chests, وَجِلَاءَ أَحْزَانِنَا the removal of our sorrows, ‌وَذَهَابَ ‌هُمُومِنَا and the departure of our anxieties.

اللَّهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ الْغَيْبَ وَقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ، أَحْيِنَا مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَيَاةَ خَيْرًا لَنَا، وَتَوَفَّنَا إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْرًا لَنَا We seek means to You, O Allaah, by Your limitless knowledge regarding all that is imperceptible to people, and by Your limitless ability to do anything that You want with all that You have created. We implore You to let us stay alive for as long as You know that life would be better for us, and We implore You to let us die if You know that death would be better for us. اللَّهُمَّ وَنَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ O Allaah, we also ask You to let us fear You with understanding, regarding everything about us that people cannot see and everything that they can see as well. وَنَسْأَلُكَ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ We also ask You to let us say the truth whether we are pleased or angry, and whether saying it causes people to become pleased with us or angry with us. وَنَسْأَلُكَ الْقَصْدَ فِي الْفَقْرِ وَالْغِنَى We also ask You to let us remain soundly balanced whether we are in circumstances of neediness or affluence. وَنَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيمًا لَا يَنْفَدُ We also ask You to let us have blessings that will not be depleted. وَنَسْأَلُكَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَا تَنْقَطِعُ We also ask You to let us have that which brings us endless happiness when our eyes behold it. وَنَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضَا بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ We also ask You to let us be pleased after You bring into being anything that You have preordained. وَنَسْأَلُكَ بَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ We also ask You to let us find a life of relaxation after death. وَنَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ We also ask You to let us have the delight of seeing Your face in the Hereafter, and to let us continue longing to meet You. فِي غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ We implore You to grant us the preceding without any hardship that causes us harm, and without any test that causes us to stray from the truth. اللَّهُمَّ زَيِّنَّا بِزِينَةِ الإِيمَانِ، وَاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ O Allaah, we implore You to adorn us with the beauty that lies in accepting the truth from You and complying with it; and we implore You to let us be conveyors of sound guidance, who themselves follow that guidance as well.

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[ ▶️ QSSC YouTube Recording ]

إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ Indeed, all praise belongs to Allaah. نَحْمَدُهُ، وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ، وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ We praise Him, we seek His assistance, and we ask His forgiveness. وَنَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا، وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا We also seek refuge with Allaah against the ills that we have within ourselves, and against the sins that we perpetrate outwardly. مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ، وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ If Allaah guides any person, none can misguide such an individual; and if He leaves any person in misguidance, none can guide such an individual. وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ In addition, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, without any partner, and I testify that Muhammad is Allaah’s worshipping servant and Messenger. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا People who have accepted the truth and complied with it inwardly, اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ you must protect yourselves from Allaah’s punishment with complete protection as you are required to, وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ and you must not ever die except while also submitting to Allaah outwardly. يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ People, اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً you must protect yourselves from the punishment of your One Supreme Lord, who created you from one individual, created from that individual his own spouse, and spread from the two of them multitudes of men and women. وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ In addition, you must protect yourselves from the punishment of Allaah, the One by whom you make requests of each other; and you must also protect yourselves from the punishment incurred by severing the ties of kinship. إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا Indeed, Allaah is always a Witness regarding you Who continually oversees and maintains. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا People who have accepted the truth and complied with it, اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا you must protect yourselves from Allaah’s punishment and you must say what is correct. يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ If you do so, Allaah will set your deeds right for you and He will forgive you for your sins. وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا Furthermore, when any person obeys Allaah and His Messenger, that person has surely achieved ultimate success. 

أَمَّا بَعْدُ As for what follows that introduction: فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ Truly, the best speech is the Book of Allaah, وَخَيْرُ الْهُدَى هُدَى مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ and the best guidance is the guidance of Allaah’s Messenger Muhammad (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection). وَشَرُّ الْأُمُورِ مُحْدَثَاتُهَا In contrast, the worst of things are those that are invented and then claimed to be part of Islaam, وَكُلُّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ and everything that is invented and then claimed to be part of Islaam is misguidance.

Dear people of Islaam, nothing is finer than speaking about Allaah, and no subject should be more desirable than one that contains praise for Allaah. That is what brings the soul healing and happiness, and that is what rids the soul of sorrow and fear. In light of that, we should examine ourselves by asking: How much of our lives has gone to waste while we were preoccupied with matters of relatively trivial importance? How many hours have passed us by while we were engaged in distractions and in words of relatively little value? We would find that we have been overly heedless when it comes to mentioning our One Supreme Lord and knowing Him; and we should certainly feel great remorse over any missed opportunities when it comes to finding solace with Allaah, and living our moments of life in this world while being mindful of Allaah. The righteous individuals who have overtaken us in drawing near to Allaah have not done so only because of much fasting, prayer, and charity; rather, it was because of things that took firm root in their hearts and became firmly established within their souls. Those things are: having deep and sound knowledge about the One Supreme Lord over all of creation, being strongly attached to Him, and having strong love for Him.

Servants of Allaah, there are two general types of knowledge about Allaah:

The first category basically entails acknowledgement of who Allaah is; and very many people have this knowledge, even those who may worship others besides Allaah. This type of knowledge does not provide people with success or salvation if it does not lead them to affirm Allaah’s uniqueness, and if it does not move their hearts to have true love for Allaah and to devote all worship purely to Him alone.

The second type of knowledge about Allaah entails things that are beyond acknowledgement of who He is. This second type of knowledge is one that fills people’s hearts with reverence for Allaah and which, in turn, leads them to make Allaah the only One to whom they direct all of their worship, the only One to whom they devote their complete love, the only One in whom they place complete hope, the only One towards whom they have complete fear with understanding, the only One from whom they seek all assistance, and the only One upon whom they place complete reliance.

When people have knowledge like that, they would always feel near to their One Supreme Maker and Guardian. They would not have utmost fear of anyone except Allaah; they would not place utmost hope in anyone except Allaah; they would not be completely subservient to anyone besides the One who owns and controls everything about them; and they would not make anything their utmost concern and priority besides pleasing their One Supreme Lord (the Absolutely Flawless). All of those qualities would come together to make life for them pleasant and untainted. Neither would they be sad over what may have passed them by, nor would they be conceited due to what they already have. They would not be unsettled by circumstances around them; they would not be shaken by adversities; and their focus on Allaah would not be diverted by people who lack certainty about the Truth from Allaah.

There are two general types of knowledge about Allaah: one type is basically knowing who Allaah is, but not necessarily being moved by that knowledge to do anything further; and this type of knowledge does not lead to salvation in the Hereafter. The second type of knowledge includes knowing who Allaah is as well, but in such a way that we are moved by that knowledge—both inwardly and outwardly—so that we accept all that Allaah wants us to hold as our beliefs; we do all that Allaah has commanded us to do; and we avoid all that Allaah has prohibited us from doing. This type of knowledge is the one that produces its desired fruits, and it is this knowledge that leads to salvation in the Hereafter.

To conclude the first portion of this sermon, we would like to cite an authentic Hadeeth that was narrated by Aboo Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him). He narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) had once said to some of his Companions, أَتُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَجْتَهِدُوا فِي الدُّعَاءِ؟ Would you like to go to great lengths in supplicating Allaah? قُولُوا Say the following supplication: اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنَّا عَلَى شُكْرِكَ وَذِكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ O Allaah, we implore You to assist us in being grateful to You, mentioning You, and worshipping You in the best way. 

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الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ All praise belongs to Allaah. وًأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ In addition, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ and I testify that Muhammad (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) is the Messenger of Allaah.

Servants of Allaah, there are three factors that can provide people with the greatest of assistance when it comes to having proper knowledge about Allaah, having a strong attachment to Allaah, and having Eemaan and certainty take root in the heart firmly. These three factors have tremendous effects upon our hearts when we are keen on ensuring their presence; and when we remain that way and persevere in doing so until our One Supreme Lord makes us among the individuals whom He specially chooses to grant His favour.

[1] Servants of Allaah, the first among the three factors is to constantly examine and contemplate the Aayaat of Allaah that are recited, and that we can hear. This refers to the Aayaat of the magnificent Qur’aan, and they are among the greatest means by which a person attains Eemaan, certainty, and sound knowledge. Our One Supreme Lord (the Absolutely Flawless) said, كِتَابٌ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ Messenger of Allaah, this is a Book that We have sent down to you, replete with blessings; لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ in order for people to contemplate its evidences, وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ and in order for people of sound intellect to take heed [38:29]. Furthermore, to attain the benefits mentioned, people need to ensure that their hearts are present while they recite the Qur’aan; their recitation should be clearly articulated and relatively slow; they should contemplate the meanings of the Aayaat (evidences from Allaah) that they recite; and they are to have sound understanding of what those Aayaat mean and prove. This is what brings about optimal benefit for people’s hearts and souls. The first factor was constantly examining and contemplating the Aayaat of Allaah that we hear as they are recited from the Qur’aan.

[2] Servants of Allaah, the second among the three factors is to constantly examine and contemplate the Aayaat of Allaah that are witnessed throughout His creation. This refers to the evidences from Allaah that can be seen throughout His dominion that spans all of the heavens and the Earth. It refers to the incredible things Allaah has created within people themselves, as well as the things that Allaah has put in the world around them. Reflecting upon these evidences gives people certainty about the truth from Allaah, as well as strong Eemaan (acceptance of the Truth and compliance with it) and sound knowledge about their One Supreme Lord. Contemplating such evidences was an approach used by Allaah’s Prophets and Messengers. For instance, Allaah told us about how His Prophet Ibraaheem (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) had contemplated Allaah’s evidences in various remarkable things that Allaah created, as well as how His Prophet Ibraaheem used that to establish Tawheed (Allaah’s uniqueness) and to prove that none deserves to be worshipped except Allaah alone. Our One Supreme Lord said, وَكَذَلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ And just as We—Allaah—had shown the Prophet Ibraaheem the truth regarding various things, We further show him Our vast dominion spanning the heavens and the Earth so that he could use that as evidence, وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ and so that he would be among those who have complete certainty about Our uniqueness and Our limitless ability [6:75]. Additionally, the Prophet Ibraaheem had said after that, إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ Indeed, I devote myself purely to Allaah alone, the Originator of the heavens and the Earth. حَنِيفًا I do that while inclining towards Allaah’s uniqueness, and away from worshipping others besides Him; وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ and I am not among those who ascribe partners to Allaah [6:79]. The second factor was constantly examining and contemplating the Aayaat of Allaah that we witness throughout His creation.

[3] Servants of Allaah, the third among the three factors is making consistent mention of Allaah by declaring His perfection, declaring that none has the right to be worshipped except Him, declaring that He is greater than everything else, praising Him, and seeking His forgiveness at all times. Consistent mention of Allaah in such ways provides His servants with impenetrable defense against various ills; and it fills their hearts with love for Allaah, penitence towards Allaah, pure devotion to Allaah, and the awareness that Allaah is always near to His obedient servants and that He is with them as well. Consistent mention of Allaah also provides His servants with strength in their bodies, hearts, and minds; and it prompts them to actively use their limbs for performing righteous deeds. Mentioning Allaah is life for the heart, soul, and body; and someone who does not make mention of Allaah is like a person who is deceased, or a structure that lays in ruins. Furthermore, the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) would not let his tongue cease to be engaged in mentioning Allaah, and he would make mention of Allaah throughout all circumstances that he was in. When servants of Allaah keep their tongues moist with mentioning Allaah, He grants them His assistance, His support, and His defense. This is because Allaah is with His servant whenever that servant mentions Him and whenever that servant’s two lips move due to mentioning Him.

Servants of Allaah, the aforementioned three factors strengthen people’s knowledge about Allaah, and they strengthen how firmly certainty about the truth from Allaah is rooted within them. Allaah (the Most Exalted) brought all of those factors together when He said, إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ Indeed, the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and the alternation of night and day, contain evidences for people of sound understanding. الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِهِمْ Those are individuals who mention Allaah whether they are standing, sitting, or lying on their sides; وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ and they contemplate the creation of the heavens and the Earth, which leads them to supplicate Allaah by saying: رَبَّنَا Our One Supreme Lord, مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلًا You have not brought this into existence aimlessly. سُبْحَانَكَ We declare that You are Absolutely Flawless. فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ Thus, we beseech You to protect us against the torment of the hellfire [3:190-191]. These are Aayaat (evidences from Allaah) that are recited from the Qur’aan; they make reference to contemplating various Aayaat (evidences from Allaah) that can be witnessed throughout creation; and they also make reference to mentioning Allaah (the Absolutely Flawless).

اللَّهُمَّ نَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ O Allaah, we seek refuge, by way of You being pleased with us, against You being displeased with us; وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ and by way of You pardoning us, against You punishing us. وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ We also seek refuge, by way of You Yourself, against You Yourself. لَا نُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ We cannot encompass even a single instance of the repeated praise that You deserve. أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ You are as You have repeatedly praised Yourself.

اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنَّا عَلَى شُكْرِكَ وَذِكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ O Allaah, we implore You to assist us in being grateful to You, mentioning You, and worshipping You in the best way.

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[ ▶️ QSSC YouTube Recording ]

Indeed, all praise belongs to Allaah. Allaah enlightened the hearts of His obedient servants by guiding them to love Him. Allaah enlightened the insight of His obedient servants with the knowledge and wisdom that He granted them. Allaah also astounded the minds of His obedient servants with His limitless ability. I praise Allaah, as He is perfect in every way. I am grateful to Him, I glorify Him, and I declare His absolute majesty. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, without any partner. He is the Almighty Sovereign who is absolutely flawless. I further bear witness that Muhammad is Allaah’s worshipping servant, Allaah’s chosen Messenger, and Allaah’s Khaleel (i.e. an individual whom Allaah favoured immensely and whom Allaah granted a degree of love greater than what He granted to others). That servant and Messenger of Allaah was the most knowledgeable of people about his One Supreme Lord; he had the most reverential fear of his One Supreme Lord; he observed Taqwaa of Allaah most; and he had the purest soul among all people. O Allaah, we beseech You to grant Salaah and Salaam (commendation and protection) to Your Messenger, to his esteemed family, to his noble Companions, and to all who continue to follow their path.

Dear Muslims—dear people who strive to submit to Allaah inwardly and outwardly—happiness is a state that is felt by the heart and the soul. It is something that basically comes about when a person attains something that he wants, or when a desire of his is satisfied. There are many things in life that can make a person happy, and they vary based on people’s ideas, convictions, and motives. The majority of people may be unmindful of the fact that there is a happiness unmatched by anything in this world that they so ardently desire and pursue. There is a type of happiness that is extraordinary, and it brings remarkable delight to the heart and soul when it permeates them. That happiness comes from being happy with Allaah.

Being happy with our One Supreme Lord entails being happy with Allaah Himself; being happy with all that comes from Allaah; being happy with Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection); being happy with Allaah’s directives; being happy with the Qur’aan; being happy with the Sunnah; and being happy with the various acts of worship such as prayer, fasting, charity, and all acts of goodness that please Allaah. 

Being happy with all of that is true happiness. It brings delight to the soul, it continues without coming to an end, and anyone who has not tasted its sweetness has not tasted any true blessing. Allaah told His Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection), وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ The people who accept the truth among those whom We gave prior scriptures are happy due to all of the revelation that has been sent down to you [13:36]. 

Allaah (the Absolutely Flawless) also said in reference to the Qur’aan, يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُمْ مَوْعِظَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ People, there has indeed come to you exhortation from the One Supreme Lord over all of you; وَشِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ and there has come to you healing for the ills within your chests; وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ and there has also come to you guidance, as well as mercy for the people who accept the Truth from Allaah and comply with it. قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا Messenger of Allaah, tell the people that them being granted the bounty and mercy of Allaah is what they must feel happy about. هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ It is better than anything of this world that they can amass for themselves. [10:57-58]. The majority of the scholars of Tafseer (explanation of the Qur’aan’s meanings) have explained that the bounty of Allaah referred to here is Islaam, and the mercy of Allaah referred to here is the Qur’aan. In other words, it is as though Allaah is saying to us: Be happy with Islaam and with the Qur’aan. That is what should truly make you happy, and it is better than all the things of this world that people can amass for themselves.

Being happy with Allaah is an incredible act of worship that people may sometimes neglect to keep in mind and neglect to remind others about. Consequently, being happy with all that draws us nearer to Allaah becomes an act of worship that is forgotten even though it is what can cure the ailments of our souls; it can remedy the sorrows of our hearts; it can strengthen our bodies; and it can rid us from the ills of boredom or fatigue. The renowned leading scholar of Islaam, ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy upon him) commented that being happy with Allaah is one of the most important stages through which a person progresses as they proceed along the path of completing their Eemaan (acceptance of the Truth from Allaah and compliance with it). People should feel happy with Allaah due to them being worshipping servants towards Him, and having love for Him; and they should feel happy with Allaah (the Absolutely Flawless) as the One Supreme Lord over all of them, the One to whom they direct all of their worship, the One who grants them all blessings, and the One who nurtures them in all ways. (End of remark from ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him).

Servants of Allaah, being happy with Allaah—which entails being happy to say all of the words that please Him, and perform all of the deeds that please Him—consoles people of Eemaan throughout the struggles of life, and provides the most effective means of putting the heart at ease and enabling it to accept the Truth from Allaah. Being happy with Allaah is the greatest delight that hearts can feel and the greatest sweetness that souls can taste. It is among the foremost things that Allaah loves for us to have, and it is among the foremost things that can raise the rank of those who inculcate it within themselves. People need to remain certain that they have One Supreme Lord who regulates all things, owns all things, provides for all people, is in control of all matters, and is capable of doing everything that He wants to do. When people are certain of that, their hearts would be at ease, and they would find unparalleled happiness with that One Supreme Lord. Furthermore, the happiness of such people would last for as long as they continue to maintain that certainty throughout all circumstances in which they find themselves; and no matter how difficult people may find any struggle that they engage in for the purpose of pleasing Allaah and obeying Him, they must always remember that Allaah has said: وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا And regarding those who have struggled for Us—Allaah—We will most surely guide them to the paths that lead to Us. وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ And Allaah is surely with those who strive to worship Him in the best way and deal with His servants in the best manner. [29:69].

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All praise belongs to Allaah, the One Supreme Lord over all of creation. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I testify that Muhammad (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) is the Messenger of Allaah.

Dear servants of Allaah: a person who strives to complete his Eemaan—by doing what is obligatory and going beyond that to also do what is supererogatory—should feel happy when he knows that Allaah is with him and that Allaah sees him, hears his words, and supports him. Such a person should feel happy when reciting His Lord’s words; contemplating their meanings; and seeking strength, certainty, and assistance from them. Such a person should feel happy due to Allaah granting him blessings; and due to Allaah guiding him to be steadfast in adhering to Allaah’s religion, steadfast in obeying Allaah, and steadfast in staying away from disobeying Allaah—especially at times when many people fall victim to doubts and turmoil, treat Allaah’s obligations lightly, or belittle well-established principles of Islaam.

A person who strives to complete his Eemaan—someone who aims to complete his acceptance of the Truth from Allaah, and his compliance with that Truth inwardly and outwardly—should feel happy due to the fact that Allaah has made him a member of the Ummah of the greatest Messenger whom Allaah sent, that being the Prophet Muhammad (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection). A person of Eemaan should feel happy due to the fact that Allaah blessed him to follow that Messenger’s Sunnah and guidance, since there are many people who have not been blessed in that way—they have invented things and claimed that they are part of Allaah’s religion when, in reality, Allaah never permitted them, and they contradict the Sunnah of His Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection). Such people have strayed from what is correct in this life, perhaps even thinking that what they do is correct, and that will have detrimental results in the Hereafter; thus, we implore Allaah to grant all of us His guidance and to keep us away from all that is detrimental.

A person who strives to complete his Eemaan should feel happy when he is genuinely humble towards others, when he is merciful to them, when he extends kindness to them, when he helps them with their needs, when he feeds the hungry among them, when he settles their debts, and when he is able to provide them with assistance at times of adversities or disasters. He should feel happy when he struggles to keep his heart clean from the impurities of malice, spite, rancour, arrogance, and bigotry.

A woman who strives to complete her Eemaan should feel happy about her modesty, her chastity, her Hijaab, her obedience to her husband if she is married, and her being in her home as a place of protection from various ills that may be present outside. If she is in a position of caring for others and imparting good things to them through her words and her actions—whether she is a mother or otherwise—she should feel happy to fulfil a continuous responsibility that Allaah has blessed her with in this life: the responsibility of educating the coming generation, raising true men and women, and shaping role models who deserve to be emulated.

The aforementioned aspects of happiness, along with many others, all come from being happy with Allaah and with all that pleases Him. Thus, when a person strives for his Eemaan to become closer and closer to completion, he experiences indescribable happiness throughout his life. Being happy with Allaah is one of the greatest channels to worshipping Allaah in the best way and dealing with His servants in the best manner. This is because being happy with Allaah is the product of many magnificent components of Eemaan including having love for Allaah, being pleased with Allaah, having certainty about the truth from Allaah, persevering for the sake of Allaah, and expecting the best from Allaah. No greater honour can be conferred upon people than them being individuals whose hearts are full of happiness with their Originator and their One Supreme Guardian Lord.

Servants of Allaah, nothing should ever prevent us from being happy with our One Supreme Lord whose mercy encompasses all things; who provides us with guidance to the channels that please Him; who fulfils our needs; and who gives us shelter, food, and drink. He is immensely kind and merciful to us. Therefore, should we not have utmost love for Him, and should we not be happy with Him? Servants of Allaah, bear in mind that Allaah is near and has full knowledge of everything. Expect the best from Allaah because He will be to His obedient servant as that servant expects Him to be. Seek what is with Allaah so that you would not be in need of what people have; that is where true richness and contentment lie. Occupy yourselves with mentioning Allaah, and reciting Allaah’s speech with understanding and compliance. When you do these things, your days would be filled with true happiness.

Servants of Allaah, nothing should ever prevent us from being happy with Allaah’s Messenger either (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection). He was the most honourable of all people to Allaah, and he was sent as mercy and guidance for all of creation. You should endeavour to read and study his Sunnah, and to make knowing about his life part of your life. Servants of Allaah, follow the path of that Messenger, because it is completely sufficient for you; love that Messenger as the Companions loved him, without any excessiveness or negligence; and keep in mind that the things that were disliked most by Allaah’s Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) were extremism, excessiveness in praise, and beliefs or practices that people invent and then claim to be part of his path.

Dear Ummah of Islaam, be happy with Allaah’s favour and mercy. Islaam is a religion of ease and devoting all worship to Allaah alone. It is a religion that brings happiness. It does not advocate restrictiveness or sorrow; on the contrary, sorrow is mentioned in the Qur’aan as something that people must not dwell on. Therefore, you should focus on Allaah’s favours to you, expect the best from Allaah when you obey Him, be pleased with what Allaah grants you, remain hopeful and optimistic, and do not lose hope or fall victim to grief. When people are happy with Allaah, they would not grieve over what passed them by, despair about the present, or be upset with any circumstances. When people are happy with Allaah, they would not panic due to adversity, they would not surrender to anybody, they would not give up just because of the first difficulty that they face, and they would not be shaken by events around them. Throughout each day and night, Allaah—the One Supreme Lord over all of creation—assists those individuals, supports them, and guides them. Allaah allows such individuals to find contentment and solace with Him, He provides their souls with nourishment that makes them forget every difficulty and sorrow, and He guides them to have love for Him that is greater than their love for anything else. Allaah said, وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ أَنْدَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ And among the people, there are some who take others besides Allaah as rivals to Him: such people love those rivals as they love Allaah. وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِلَّهِ However, the people who have accepted the Truth and complied with it love Allaah more than anything else. [2:165].

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ، وَتَرْكَ الْمُنْكَرَاتِ، وَحُبَّ الْمَسَاكِينِ O Allaah, we earnestly implore You for guidance that leads us to do many things that are good, to avoid things that are unacceptable, and to have love for the needy. وَأَنْ تَغْفِرَ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمَنَا We also earnestly implore You to grant us forgiveness and to grant us mercy; وَإِذَا أَرَدْتَ فِتْنَةً فِي قَوْمٍ فَتَوَفَّنَا غَيْرَ مَفْتُونِينَ and if You want to afflict any set of people with a trial, we earnestly implore You to allow us to die without being afflicted with such a trial. وَنَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُحِبُّكَ، وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُ إِلَى حُبِّكَ In addition, we implore You to enable us to have love for You, to have love for the people who love You, and to have love for any action that brings us nearer to having love for You.

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[ ▶️ QSSC YouTube Recording ]

Indeed, all praise belongs to Allaah. We praise Him and we seek His assistance. If Allaah guides any person, none can misguide such an individual; and if Allaah leaves any person in misguidance, none can guide such an individual. In addition, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, without any partner, and I testify that Muhammad is Allaah’s worshipping servant and Messenger.

As for what follows that introduction: Indeed, the best of things is the Book of Allaah, and the best path is the path of Allaah’s Messenger Muhammad (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection). In contrast, the worst of things are those that are invented and then claimed to be part of Islaam, and everything that is invented and then claimed to be part of Islaam is misguidance.

Dear Muslims, when scholars of Islaam discuss Tawheed (recognizing Allaah’s uniqueness), some of them may use a term such as تَوْحِيدُ الْمَعْرِفَةِ وَالْإِثْبَاتِ Tawheed al-Ma‘rifah wal-Ithbaat (recognizing Allaah’s uniqueness in a way that entails knowledge and affirmation). They may use that term in reference to the perhaps more familiar terms تَوْحِيدُ الرُّبُوبِيَّةِ Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah and تَوْحِيدُ الْأَسْمَاءِ وَالصِّفَاتِ Tawheed al-Asmaa’ was-Sifaat: Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah (Allaah’s uniqueness regarding His Supreme Lordship) and Tawheed al-Asmaa’ was-Sifaat (Allaah’s uniqueness regarding His names and attributes). Tawheed (recognizing Allaah’s uniqueness) from the aforementioned perspectives—Allaah’s Ruboobiyyah (Supreme Lordship), Allaah’s Asmaa’ (names), and Allaah’s Sifaat (attributes)—provides a foundation for having certainty about the truth from Allaah, and a foundation for Eemaan (accepting the truth from Allaah and complying with it). That Tawheed (recognition of Allaah’s uniqueness) urges people’s hearts to remain attached to the One who has complete knowledge of all that is imperceptible to us, it urges them to devote all of their worship exclusively to Him, it urges them to turn to Him alone in all matters, and it urges them to purify their intentions making them solely for Him. Recognizing Allaah’s uniqueness also comprises the true fuel that gives life to people’s souls, keeps them steadfast, provides them with happiness, protects them against whispers of Shaytaan, and protects them against ideas that are misguided or destructive.

That is why Allaah (the Absolutely Flawless) loves for His servants to know Him, to carefully examine His remarkable actions, and to contemplate the incredible things He has created. When we bear that in mind, we would realize that the Qur’aan in its entirety is all about acquainting people with their One Supreme Lord; telling people about Allaah, His names, His attributes, His actions, and His directives of profound wisdom; and connecting people’s hearts to Allaah in order for their minds and souls to be enlightened by way of making Allaah the only One whom they intend and seek when performing their deeds. Making Allaah the only One who is worshipped and the only One who is sought when performing deeds may be referred to asتَوْحِيدُ الْأُلُوهِيَّةِ وَالْعِبَادَةِ  Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah wal-‘Ibaadah (Allaah’s uniqueness in His right to be worshipped), and it may also be referred to as تَوْحِيدُ الْقَصْدِ وَالطَّلَبِ Tawheed al-Qasd wat-Talab (recognizing Allaah’s uniqueness in a way that entails making Him the only One intended when performing deeds, and the only One from whom all needs are sought).

Tawheed al-Ma‘rifah wal-Ithbaat (recognizing Allaah’s uniqueness in a way that entails knowledge and affirmation) must be accompanied by Tawheed al-Qasd wat-Talab (recognizing Allaah’s uniqueness in a way that entails making Him the only One intended when performing deeds, and the only One from whom all needs are sought). These two are inseparable; and together, they comprise the correct path. Emphasizing that these two categories of Tawheed must not be separated is the correct method to follow when educating and nurturing others, and when calling them to Allaah.

People whose ideas and actions reflect regression or divergence from sound guidance only become that way due to a lack of deep and proper knowledge about Allaah, and due to having a weak attachment to Him. As a result, their hearts become unstable and their values change. Certainty about Allaah leaves their hearts in the event of the slightest problem they may face, or due to their own personal interests that they seek to achieve. We must remember that our Ummah—the collective of people to which we belong—will not be rectified by anything except correct Tawheed (recognition of Allaah’s uniqueness), along with having deep and proper knowledge about Allaah as well as a strong attachment to Him. 

سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ I declare that Allaah is absolutely flawless and I do so according to the way that He has praised Himself. سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ O Allaah, You are absolutely flawless and I declare Your flawlessness according to the way that You have praised Yourself.أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except You. أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ I seek forgiveness from You, and I repent to You. 

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All praise belongs to Allaah. We seek His assistance and we ask His forgiveness. We also seek refuge with Allaah against the ills that we have within ourselves. If Allaah guides any person, none can misguide such an individual; and if Allaah leaves any person in misguidance, none can guide such an individual. In addition, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I testify that Muhammad is Allaah’s worshipping servant and Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection).

Dear Ummah of Islaam, dear collective of people who strive to submit to Allaah inwardly and outwardly: having sound knowledge about Allaah, maintaining a strong attachment to Him, and keeping our hearts filled with reverence for His Absolute Majesty and Magnificence all constitute the greatest means that produce and nurture proper Tawheed (recognition of Allaah’s uniqueness through our beliefs and our actions).

How could it ever be otherwise? Out of everyone who could ever be mentioned, Allaah is the One who is the most deserving of being mentioned. He is the Most Magnificent of all who can be called upon. He is the Most Generous of all who can be asked. He is the Most Merciful of all in whom hope can be placed. He is the kindest of all who have authority. His blessings are continuous and innumerable. The resources of absolutely everything are stored with Him, and He grants anything that He wants to whomever He wills. His hand always remains full; no amount of giving causes what it contains to decrease, despite the fact that what it gives constantly pours down upon us throughout the night and the day. If all the people there ever were came together at the same time in one single location and asked of Allaah until there was no more asking that they could possibly do, and He gave them everything that they asked Him for, His dominion and the resources that are stored with Him would not be decreased in any way whatsoever. That is because Allaah is the One Supreme Sovereign who is Most Giving, who is Most Generous, and who is Rich in every way such that He does not need anything at all.

He is the One who is before all things, the One who is after all things, the One who is above all things, and the One who is unobstructed from all things. He encompasses everything about all of His creation, and there is not a single individual throughout His creation that is beyond His control and His invincible power. He is the One who lowers and raises according to His complete justice. The barrier between us and Him is light. If He were to lift it, the brilliant light of His face would burn all of creation as far as His sight reaches. He is the One who grants refuge to those who turn to Him in their state of dire need. He is the One who provides safety to those who turn to Him in search of protection. He is the One who rescues those who turn to Him in their state of anguish. His knowledge encompasses all things. He knows all that has happened and all that will happen. He even knows how things which will not happen would take place if they were to actually happen. Not a single speck—or anything smaller or anything larger—throughout the heavens or the Earth escapes His limitless knowledge.

Thus, none has the right to be worshipped besides Allaah alone. So absolutely unequalled is His magnificence. So absolutely unequalled is His majesty. To Him alone belong absolute perfection, majesty, and beauty; and that applies to all of His names, His attributes, and His actions. Allaah is One and Unique, He regulates all things with complete wisdom, and He is our One Supreme Lord who is capable of all things that He wants to do. Nothing is equal to Him, nothing resembles Him, nothing rivals Him, and nothing is like Him. There is nothing that tires Him or is too much for Him; rather, all things are easy for Him. People’s minds and vision cannot encompass Him. He is the Eternally Living, who never dies. He is the Self-Sufficient Sustainer of all, who never sleeps. He keeps the heavens and the Earth in the places where He wants them to be, such that they do not move elsewhere. He brought this creation into existence and does not need anything from it; He provided for all of His creatures without any difficulty whatsoever; and He will eventually cause all of them to die, and none can escape that. Afterwards, He will restore them to life once more and take them to account, and that is even easier for Him to do than bringing them into existence from nothing. He is the Supreme Sovereign who is Absolutely Flawless. Out of His favour, He grants His dominion to whomever He wants; and out of His justice, He takes it away from whomever He wants. All people ultimately yield to His control and all tyrants will ultimately be subdued by His invincible power. He may grant the unjust respite, and leave them for some time as they continue to perpetrate their injustice; however, after they transgress and exceed all bounds, He will eventually seize them with punishment in a way that spares none of them. When He seizes anyone with punishment, it will undoubtedly be painful and severe.

On each day, Allaah has major matters that He brings about. All things that He preordains and decrees inevitably take effect at their appointed times. No one can obstruct what He decrees, no one can challenge His judgment, and no one can override His command. He keeps track of what every individual does. He also keeps track of everything throughout this entire universe: preserving it and regulating all matters regarding it with full knowledge, ability, and wisdom. He is the One who consoles His servants’ hearts, the One who continuously bestows many blessings, the One who is continuously kind, the One who Possesses Limitless Mercy. He mends the hearts of His righteous servants. He grants His assistance and support to the downtrodden wherever they might be throughout the Earth, He blesses them with strength and with the demise of their oppressors, and He establishes them in a way that allows them to obey Him. Allaah is always kind to His obedient worshipping servants. There are innumerable difficulties from which Allaah has granted His servants relief; there are innumerable afflictions from which Allaah has granted His servants deliverance; and there are innumerable circumstances of distress and fear from which Allaah has protected His servants. He is the Almighty and the owner of all dominion and power.

All grandeur diminishes before His majesty, and all might is humbled before His greatness.  He hears even the steps of a black ant when it walks upon the surface of a smooth rock, and He sees even the wings of a mosquito when it extends them during an intensely dark night. In spite of all the languages that people have and all the needs that they raise to Him, no voice distracts Allaah from other voices when His servants call upon Him, and no need is too much for Him to fulfil. He knows everything that people disclose as well as everything that they conceal within themselves in all circumstances, even when they cover themselves with their garments. He is indeed completely knowledgeable about everything that people’s chests harbour.

He is Allaah: the One who is always completely able to do anything that He wants to do. He raises and lowers. He gives and withholds. He is Allaah: the Possessor of Limitless Mercy, the Bestower of mercy. He is the owner of general mercy that encompasses all of His creation. He is also the owner of special mercy that He grants exclusively to His beloved and obedient righteous servants. He bestows that upon them and none can withhold anything that He chooses to grant them. By way of that mercy, their lives would become wholesome; by way of that mercy, any bitterness there might be in the adversities that He decreed for them to experience would turn sweet; and by way of that mercy, their souls that may have been worn out and scorched by the difficulties of life would still find comfort and enjoyment.

That is most certainly who Allaah is. None deserves to be worshipped besides Him alone. All praise belongs to Him in its entirety. We cannot encompass even a single instance of the repeated praise that He deserves.

اللَّهُمَّ نَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ O Allaah, we seek refuge, by way of You being pleased with us, against You being displeased with us; وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ and by way of You pardoning us, against You punishing us. وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ We also seek refuge, by way of You Yourself, against You Yourself. لَا نُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ We cannot encompass even a single instance of the repeated praise that You deserve. أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ You are as You have repeatedly praised Yourself. 

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[ ▶️ QSSC YouTube Recording ]

Indeed, all praise belongs to Allaah, the One Supreme Lord over all of creation. Our Lord, we praise You, we seek Your assistance, we ask Your forgiveness, and we repent to You. We must praise Allaah (the Absolutely Flawless) and we must remain grateful to Him. Each of His creatures is a testament to His Supreme Lordship, and all of the things that He created establish that only He has the right to be worshipped. All praise is due to Allaah, the Owner of all favour and generosity, who so graciously bestows His abundant blessings upon His servants. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, without any partner. I further testify that our Prophet Muhammad is Allaah’s worshipping servant and Messenger. Allaah sent that Messenger with the final set of laws for all people, and Allaah taught the people sound conduct by way of that Messenger’s example and teachings. O Allaah, I beseech You to send Salaah and Salaam upon Your final Messenger, upon his family and Companions, and upon all who follow their path until the Day of Recompense.

Servants of Allaah, when we reflect upon current events in our world and think about how conditions have changed over the passage of time, we may easily become astonished by the state of our world today. Despite the staging of particular athletic events that some people might say bring our world together, war can still readily be found in various parts of our world, many areas remain unstable, spiritual matters are often sidelined, and materialism reigns supreme in various ways—the constant and excessive concern over material possessions. It is that materialism which can demolish the foundations of religion, and it can impose a strong negative influence upon people’s hearts, minds, and ideas. Advocates of materialism may also open doors that can even lead people to doubt the existence of Allaah—the One who created the Earth and the heavens—and to doubt that He is the only One entitled to all worship without any partner. Our time is one in which many struggles and changes are happening, various obstacles persistently remain along the path to achieving international peace and safety, and humanitarian crises are on the rise. It might be true that we are in an age of information and knowledge, such that the rational proofs of Allaah’s existence have proliferated and can be clearly recognized by people of sharp mind and sound thinking; however, the people of our Ummah—the people of Islaam—are still faced with various sources of pain, division, and loss of focus. At a time like this, there is a dire need for us to flee to Allaah, the Almighty and the Most Majestic.

Dear people of Islaam—dear people who strive to submit to Allaah inwardly and outwardly—in light of the fact that Allaah created us to obey Him and to worship Him alone, we should ask ourselves: is it possible for us to truly obey Allaah and worship Him without knowing who He is? The obvious answer is that knowing Allaah is an absolute necessity in order for us to fulfil the greatest purpose for which He put us in this world. Allaah’s blessings come to each servant of His continuously: one blessing, then another, then another, and so on. Thus, it is a complete tragedy for any servant of Allaah to be ignorant about his One Supreme Lord, and be uninterested in learning about his Lord as well as his Lord’s names and attributes. A person’s Eemaan—a person’s acceptance of the Truth from Allaah and compliance with that Truth—increases in proportion to the person’s knowledge about Allaah.

Indeed, knowledge about Allaah is a foundation for having knowledge about anything else, and people of Islaam should know the names of Allaah and their meanings, in order for them to revere Allaah as He deserves. No servant of Allaah is independent of needing his Creator for even the blink of an eye. We must bear in mind that Allaah instructed His Messenger (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) to tell the people: فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ Therefore, you must flee to Allaah. إِنِّي لَكُمْ مِنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ I am certainly a clear warner from Allaah to all of you. وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ Additionally, you must not designate for yourselves any other deity that you worship along with Allaah. إِنِّي لَكُمْ مِنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ I am certainly a clear warner from Allaah to all of you. [51:50-51]. 

Dear people of Islaam, Allaah’s majesty is clearly shown to us by all of the remarkable things that He has created. Allaah’s flawlessness is declared by the heavens, by the stars, by the Earth, by the oceans, by the mountains, by the hills, by the sand, by the trees, by the creatures that inhabit all of those locations, and by everything throughout the universe whether it is moist or dry, living or inanimate. Allaah said: تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّ The seven heavens, the Earth, and everyone throughout them declare Allaah’s flawlessness. وَإِنْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِ In fact, there is not a single thing except that it declares Allaah flawlessness and praises Him; وَلَكِنْ لَا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ however, you—human beings—do not comprehend the manner in which they declare Allaah’s flawlessness. إِنَّهُ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا Surely, Allaah is always Most Forbearing, Most Forgiving. [17:44].

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All praise belongs to Allaah. In addition, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I testify that Muhammad (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) is the Messenger of Allaah.

Dear people of Eemaan—dear people who accept the Truth from Allaah and comply with it—Allaah is the One who is eternally perfect. None is perfect in every way besides Allaah. Nothing escapes Allaah's knowledge. To Allaah, everything we conceal is just as plain as what we reveal. Allaah is Absolutely Flawless, and His decrees take effect in all things whether visible to us or not. Contemplate the things that Allaah has created. They contain innumerable signs that direct us to Him. Consider the sky and its magnificence, the stars and their beauty, the sun and its brilliance, the planets and the awe that they inspire, the full moon and the light that it reflects, outer space and its enormous expanses, the clouds that send water down upon us, the oceans and their waves, and the pure rains whose drops come in succession and even cause rivers to flow. Contemplate the peaks of mountains that rise up so high and remain there throughout the passing of many generations. Contemplate all of the stars and planets: they follow precise paths and orbits that have been decreed for them. Could there ever be any other god along with Allaah? Our One Supreme Lord is certainly perfect in every way. He is the One who created all things in a remarkable way and gave each of those things its complete form. His creation is so enormously expansive that it reaches every horizon that we can see, both by day and by night, and every part of it allows our minds to be acquainted with Our maker. The light of morning is light that Allaah made, and the dew that appears on the ground comes from Allaah’s grace. Even the birds in their nests declare Allaah’s perfection; they are His creatures, and He is the One who provides for them. Allaah said: أَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاءِ Do people not see the birds held up in the middle of the sky? مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا اللَّهُ None holds them there besides Allaah and none gives them the ability to fly except Him. إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ That certainly contains clear evidences for people who accept and comply with the Truth from Allaah. [16:79].

When someone is so preoccupied that he overlooks the blessings of Allaah, that person will one day be looking for them and weeping over not finding them. However, when someone remains grateful for Allaah’s blessings by striving to obey Allaah, inwardly and outwardly, Allaah will reward such a person by allowing the blessings to remain. Allaah’s creation around us is like a book that has been written. Its words are ones that proclaim Allaah’s perfection as well as the fact that only He deserves to be worshipped. Down to even its tiniest parts, it says: هَذَا خَلْقُ اللَّهِ فَأَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ دُونِهِ This is what Allaah created. Therefore, show me anything that was created by others besides Him. [31:11].

In that regard, there are also some lines of Arabic poetry that some among the scholars of Islaam cite at times, and those lines say: ‌تَأَمَّلْ ‌سُطُورَ الْكَائِنَاتِ فَإِنَّهَا \ مِنَ الْمَلِكِ الْأَعْلَى إِلَيْكَ رَسَائِلُ Contemplate the lines written throughout creation. They are messages that the Most High King has sent to you. وَقَدْ خُطَّ فِيهَا لَوْ تَأَمَّلْتَ خَطَّهَا \ أَلَا كُلُّ شَيْءٍ مَا خَلَا اللَّهَ بَاطِلُ If only you contemplated what was written in them, you would find them saying, “Pay attention to this: all deities besides Allaah are false.” تُشِيرُ بِإِثْبَاتِ الصِّفَاتِ لِرَبِّهَا \ فَصَامِتُهَا يَهْدِي وَمَنْ هُوَ قَائِلُ Whether they speak with voices or remain silent, all of them guide us to the attributes of their One Supreme Lord. 

اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لَنَا دِينَنَا الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِنَا O Allaah, we implore You to set right for us all aspects of our adherence to the religion that You prescribed for us, which is what protects us against all ills; وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا دُنْيَانَا الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشُنَا we implore You to set right for us everything that we need in this world, which is the abode that contains our livelihood; وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا آخِرَتَنَا الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادُنَا we implore You to set right for us everything that we need in the Hereafter, which is the abode to which we will finally return; وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لَنَا فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ we implore You to make our life in this world a source of increase for us in all good things; وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لَنَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ and we implore You to make our death in this world a source of rest for us from all bad things. 

اَللَّهُمَّ اقْسِمْ لَنَا مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ مَا يَحُولُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ مَعَاصِيكَ O Allaah, we implore You to grant us a share of fearing You with understanding, which prevents us from disobeying You; وَمِنْ طَاعَتِكَ مَا تُبَلِّغُنَا بِهِ جَنَّتَكَ we implore You to grant us a share of obedience to You, by which You allow us to reach the abode of Paradise that You have prepared for Your obedient worshipping servants; وَمِنَ الْيَقِينِ مَا تُهَوِّنُ بِهِ عَلَيْنَا مُصِيبَاتِ الدُّنْيَا we implore You to grant us a share of certainty about Your complete control and limitless wisdom, by which You alleviate for us the adversities of this world; وَمَتِّعْنَا بِأَسْمَاعِنَا وَأَبْصَارِنَا وَقُوَّتِنَا مَا أَحْيَيْتَنَا، وَاجْعَلْهُ الْوَارِثَ مِنَّا we implore You to enable us to benefit from our hearing, our sight, and our strength for as long as You keep us alive, and to allow that benefit to remain all the way until we leave this world; وَاجْعَلْ ثَأْرَنَا عَلَى مَنْ ظَلَمَنَا we implore You to enable us to regain our rights from those who have done us injustice; وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى مَنْ عَادَانَا we implore You to support us against those who are hostile towards us; وَلَا تَجْعَلْ مُصِيبَتَنَا فِي دِينِنَا we implore You to not cause us to be afflicted in our religion; وَلَا تَجْعَلِ الدُّنْيَا أَكْبَرَ هَمِّنَا وَلَا مَبْلَغَ عِلْمِنَا we implore You to not cause this world to be our greatest concern, or the farthest extent of our knowledge; وَلَا تُسَلِّطْ عَلَيْنَا مَنْ لَا يَرْحَمُنَا and we implore You to not give authority over us to anyone who would not be merciful towards us.

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[ ▶️ QSSC YouTube Recording ]

Indeed, all praise belongs to Allaah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance, and we ask His forgiveness. We also seek refuge with Allaah against the ills that we have within ourselves, and against the sins that we perpetrate outwardly. If Allaah guides any person, none can misguide such an individual; and if He leaves any person in misguidance, none can guide such an individual. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone, without any partner; and I further testify that Muhammad is Allaah’s worshipping servant and Messenger. O Allaah, we beseech You to grant Your commendation and protection to Your Messenger, as well as to his family, to his Companions, and to all who follow them in the best way.

Dear people of Islaam, Allaah—the Most Exalted—has created two Paradises. There is one Paradise that can be experienced here in this world; and this first Paradise is, in fact, a means and a path that leads to the other Paradise, which is the abode in the Hereafter whose expanse is like that of the heavens and the Earth. Many people leave this world without ever getting a taste of the Paradise that we have the opportunity to experience here and now in this very same world where we are. They leave while oblivious to any trace or sign of it. Being in that state of unawareness can cause their souls to run dry; it can cause their hearts to turn rusty; and it can cause their minds and hearts to be seized by the ailment of inclinations to disobey Allaah, as well as the ailment of misconceptions about the truth from Allaah.

Servants of Allaah, the Paradise for us to enjoy in this world is: having sound knowledge about Allaah and maintaining our connection with Allaah. That type of knowledge is the truest type of knowledge—one that is full of life. Having sound knowledge about Allaah and maintaining a sound connection with Allaah certainly comprise a Paradise, and what a remarkable Paradise it truly is! If a person ever experiences this Paradise and tastes its sweetness, he would never desire to be elsewhere or look for any substitute. It provides solace for people who accept the truth from Allaah and comply with it; it provides delight for people who genuinely devote all of their worship to Allaah alone; and it provides enjoyment for people who remain true. 

No matter how much people try to seek enjoyment, happiness, and tranquility, they will not truly find those things in a permanent way without knowing Allaah, the Absolutely Flawless; without finding solace with Allaah; without bearing in mind that Allaah is always near; and without bearing in mind that Allaah is with His obedient servants. This produces for them a variety of positive feelings such as happiness, joy, being pleased with Allaah, and finding true inner peace.

The preceding can continue and reach such an extent that those people would perform their worship as though they could actually see Allaah. As a result, for any such individual, Allaah—the Most Exalted—would be that person’s hearing with which he hears, that person’s sight with which he sees, that person’s hand with which he grasps, and that person’s foot with which he walks.

How amazing do you think life would be for a servant of Allaah who is in that state; and how much happiness do you think that servant of Allaah would enjoy if he reached that level of Eemaan (accepting and complying with the truth from Allaah), that level of knowledge and understanding about Allaah, and that level of Ihsaan (worshipping Allaah in the best way)?

اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لَنَا دِينَنَا الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِنَا O Allaah, we implore You to set right for us all aspects of our adherence to the religion that You prescribed for us, which is what protects us against all ills; وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا دُنْيَانَا الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشُنَا we implore You to set right for us everything that we need in this world, which is the abode that contains our livelihood; وَأَصْلِحْ لَنَا آخِرَتَنَا الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادُنَا we implore You to set right for us everything that we need in the Hereafter, which is the abode to which we will finally return; وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لَنَا فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ we implore You to make our life in this world a source of increase for us in all good things; وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لَنَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ and we implore You to make our death in this world a source of rest for us from all bad things. 

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Seeking assistance and blessings by every name of Allaah, I begin. All praise belongs to Allaah. In addition, I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I testify that Muhammad (may Allaah mention him with commendation and grant him protection) is the Messenger of Allaah.

Servants of Allaah: Having proper knowledge about Allaah is the greatest gateway that leads to Tawheed (recognizing Allaah’s uniqueness and devoting all worship purely to Allaah alone), and having proper knowledge about Allaah is also the most direct means to attaining Allaah’s unfailing support and protection. When that knowledge takes firm root in a person’s heart—and a person knows Allaah by way of Allaah’s names, Allaah’s attributes, Allaah’s actions, and Allaah’s Supreme Lordship—the light of Tawheed would inevitably enter that person’s heart: the light of recognizing Allaah’s uniqueness and worshipping Allaah alone. As a result, that person would not direct complete devotion of himself to anyone besides Allaah; he would not ask for his needs to be fulfilled by anyone besides Allaah; and he would not direct any form of worship whatsoever to anyone besides Allaah alone.

However, a person will remain unable to actualize genuine Tawheed—genuine recognition of Allaah’s uniqueness, and genuine devotion of all worship purely to Allaah—unless he truly has sound knowledge about Allaah (the Most Exalted and the Absolutely Flawless). In fact, making this connection is the method that the Qur’aan uses to establish Tawheed al-Uloohiyyah (Allaah’s uniqueness in His right to be worshipped). In other words, the Qur’aan shows us that the necessary result of having proper knowledge about Allaah’s names, attributes, and Supreme Lordship is to worship Him alone. For instance, Allaah said, ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوهُ That is Allaah, the One Supreme Lord over all of you. There is none worthy of worship except Him. He is the Creator of all things, so all of you must worship Him alone. [5:102].

Servants of Allaah, when people’s hearts are filled with knowledge about Allaah, recognition of Allaah’s uniqueness, and complete reverence for Allaah, those qualities flush out any pride, arrogance, ailment, and any other detrimental impediment that might be present. Those aforementioned qualities purify people’s souls and provide a foundation for them to have Eemaan (acceptance of the truth from Allaah and compliance with it); as well as a foundation for them to have certainty about the truth from Allaah, for them to place full reliance upon Allaah, for them to devote all worship purely to Allaah, and for them to stay true to Allaah. When those take root in people’s hearts, they would find happiness that cannot be matched by anything else. They would place full trust in their One Supreme Lord, find complete sufficiency and enrichment with their One Supreme Guardian, attain strength from their One Supreme Master, be pleased with all that Allaah does, and be at peace with all that Allaah decrees. Such individuals would break free from being subservient to people, money, prominence, or influence. They would become subservient to Allaah alone because they know who Allaah is, and they know that the keys to all matters lie exclusively in the hand of Allaah (the Absolutely Flawless). He is the One who is rich in all ways and the One who has complete and ultimate control of the heavens and the Earth.

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبَّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبَّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ O Allaah, we call upon You: the One Supreme Lord of the heavens, the One Supreme Lord of the Earth, the One Supreme Lord of the Magnificent Throne; رَبَّنَا وَرَبَّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ the One Supreme Lord over all of us, and the One Supreme Lord over all things; فَالِقَ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى، وَمُنْزِلَ التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالْفُرْقَانِ the One who causes grains and seeds to split open and sprout; and the One who sent down the Tawraah, the Injeel, and the Qur’aan which sets right apart from wrong. نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، أَنْتَ آخِذٌ بِنَاصِيَتِهِ We seek refuge with You against the bad that may emanate from every creature. You are the One who takes hold of the front portion of the head of each one of them, such that You have complete authority over them all. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْأَوَّلُ فَلَيْسَ قَبْلَكَ شَيْءٌ O Allaah, You are the One before all things, and nothing is before You. وَأَنْتَ الْآخِرُ فَلَيْسَ بَعْدَكَ شَيْءٌ You are the One after all things, and nothing is after You. وَأَنْتَ الظَّاهِرُ فَلَيْسَ فَوْقَكَ شَيْءٌ You are the One above all things, and nothing is above You. وَأَنْتَ الْبَاطِنُ فَلَيْسَ دُونَكَ شَيْءٌ You are the One unobstructed from all things, and nothing obstructs You. اِقْضِ عَنَّا الدَّيْنَ، وَأَغْنِنَا مِنَ الْفَقْرِ We implore You to settle our debts, and we implore You to enrich us so that we are spared from poverty. 

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Note: final versions of the Sermon drafts listed below are compiled together in this file.

(2026-03-20)  Meanings of Soorah Qaaf [50:6-11], and a Reminder About ‘Eed al-Fitr  🔊 

(2026-03-13)  Some of the Significance of 'Eeds in Islaam, and a Few Words for Takbeer (Declaring Allaah's Greatness)  🔊 

(2026-03-06)  Selections from the Ahaadeeth About Laylatul-Qadr Presented by al-Imaam ibn Katheer in His Explanation of Sooratul-Qadr  🔊 

(2026-02-27)  Meanings of Soorah Qaaf [50:1-5], and a Reminder About Prayers  🔊 

(2026-02-20)  Soorah Qaaf [50] During the Sermon, and a Supplication When Breaking Fast  🔊 

(2026-02-13)  Meanings of Sooratul-Munaafiqoon [63:5-11]  🔊 

(2026-02-06)  Meanings of Sooratul-Munaafiqoon [63:1-4]  🔊 

(2026-01-30)  Meanings of Sooratul-Jumu‘ah [62:9-11], and a Reminder About the Middle Night of the Lunar Month Sha‘baan  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2026-01-23)  Meanings of Sooratul-Jumu‘ah [62:1-8]  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2026-01-16)  Meanings of Sooratul-Ghaashiyah [88:1-26], and a Reminder About Sha‘baan  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2026-01-09)  Meanings of Sooratul-A'laa [87:1-19]  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2026-01-02)  The Human’s Hair and Hands, and a Reminder About Rajab  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2025-12-26)  The Human Mouth  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2025-12-19)  The Ear, Protective Secretions of the Senses, and the Nose  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2025-12-12)  A Human’s Joints, Head, and Eyes  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2025-12-05)  Beginnings of a Human’s Existence in This World  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2025-11-28)  The Innate Disposition of Humans  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2025-11-21)  Allaah's Evidences Throughout Creation  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2025-11-14)  Knowing About Allaah  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2025-11-07)  Allaah Called Us “My Servants” Ten Times in a Single Hadeeth  🔊1st half | 2nd half

(2025-10-31)  A Supplication During Prayer, and a Supplication After a Battle  🔊1st half | 2nd half