Jumu'ah Mubarak, Honorable Brothers and Sisters!
Praise and glory to Allah the Almighty who has again granted us reaching the three blessed months. Last night we experienced the Laylat al-Raghaib. Our prayers and most sincere wishes of forgiveness were directed at Him alone.
Honorable Brothers and Sisters!
Mu'adh b. Jabal was honored with Islam at a young age. He was amongst the prominent Sahabah. The Prophet (s.a.w.) loved Mu'adh greatly, and often expressed his love and gave him advice. One day, the Messenger of Allah asked the young Sahabi: "Mu'adh, do you know the right of Allah on His slaves and the right of His slaves on Him?" Mu'adh answered, "Allah and His Messenger know better". The Prophet (s.a.w.) then explained, "The right of Allah on His slaves is that they worship only Him and never associate anything with Him. The slaves' right is that Allah not punish those who do not associate anything with Him."[1]
Brothers and Sisters!
Our Almighty Lord created man as the noblest of all creatures and equipped him with superior capabilities. He put everything in the universe into the service of mankind. And in return for bestowing the most unique abilities to him, He only asked for worshipping Him. Being a slave of Allah requires that we attach to Him sincerely using our morality and freewill, use all our means and abilities for the countenance of Him, and abandon the desires of our nafs and follow the rules decreed by our Lord.
Worship, explained as "The right of Allah over His slaves", is a phenomenon that makes man dignified in the presence of al-Rahman.[2] Worship is obedience, submission, and devotion to Allah Almighty. Worship is thanking Allah for the blessings He has bestowed upon us. It means to communicate with our Lord. It is when man, always in need of the Almighty, presents himself to Him without mediation. For this reason, the believer turns to Allah saying "It is You we worship and You we ask for help."[3] in every prayer. They accept their own weakness, ask Him for help and beseech Him. That is the awareness of worship and the conscience of servitude. The believer attains nobility above all creation by this awareness, earning happiness and peace on this world and eternal salvation in the afterlife.
Beloved Brothers and Sisters!
Worship is also a shield that protects us from all evil. Those who prostrate before Allah and fast, give alms (sadaqah) and perform the tawaf for His sake are cleansed from bad characteristics such as arrogance, selfishness, envy and excessive ambition. Worship protects our souls from desolation and the fatigue of worries and sorrows. In this regard, Almighty Allah states, "Verily, [only] by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."[4] Believers in sincere worship get closer to their Lord with every step, and strengthen their faith, trust, love and respect for Him.
The Messenger of Allah draws our attention to the fundamental acts of worship by saying, "Islam is based on five principles: to testify that there is none but Allah to be worshipped and Muhammad is His Messenger, to offer the prayers, to pay Zakat, to perform Hajj, and to fast during Ramadan."[5]
In addition, any effort for goodness and struggle against evil is worship as well. To behave kindly and greet others is worship. Serving and honoring one's parents, providing the material and spiritual needs of one's family, wiping the tears of the needy, showing compassion to orphans, being on the side of the oppressed and injured are all acts of worship.
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Turning the worships into good deeds and habits is as important as performing them without material expectations or vanity. In this respect, it is stated in the Holy Qur'an, "Worship your Lord until there comes to you death."[6] And the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, "The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few [are beloved the most by Allah]."[7] , advising consistency and resolve in worship.
Honorable Believers!
Our lives, entrusted to us by Allah, shall eventually end and we shall be judged for our actions. We must appreciate the value of living and being a servant before our fortune of life runs out. We must not deprive ourselves of the peace, blessing and pleasure of worship. Let us bring meaning to our lives with the awareness of worship and seize the opportunity of the three blessed months, the season of mercy, grace and worship. Let us cling to worship with patience, gratitude and submission to Allah. Let us keep performing our prayers in awe. Let us read and be guided by the Holy Qur'an. Let us open the doors of benevolence, and compete in good deeds. Let us purify our speech of lie, gossip and slander, and our hearts of grudge, hate and discord.
I would like to end the khutbah with this prayer from our beloved Prophet: "O Allah! Help me in remembering You, giving thanks to You, and worshipping You well."[8]
________________________________
[1] Bukhari, Jihad, 46, Muslim, Iman, 48.
[2] Furqan, 25/77.
[3] Fatiha, 1/5.
[4] Ra'd, 13/28.
[5] Bukhari, Iman, 2.
[6] Hijr, 15/99.
[7] Bukhari, Riqaq, 18; Muslim, Musafirin, 215.
[8] Abu Dawud, Tafriu Abwab al-Witr, 26.
General Directorate of Religious Services
Honorable Brothers and Sisters!
Mu'adh b. Jabal was honored with Islam at a young age. He was amongst the prominent Sahabah. The Prophet (s.a.w.) loved Mu'adh greatly, and often expressed his love and gave him advice. One day, the Messenger of Allah asked the young Sahabi: "Mu'adh, do you know the right of Allah on His slaves and the right of His slaves on Him?" Mu'adh answered, "Allah and His Messenger know better". The Prophet (s.a.w.) then explained, "The right of Allah on His slaves is that they worship only Him and never associate anything with Him. The slaves' right is that Allah not punish those who do not associate anything with Him."[1]
Brothers and Sisters!
Our Almighty Lord created man as the noblest of all creatures and equipped him with superior capabilities. He put everything in the universe into the service of mankind. And in return for bestowing the most unique abilities to him, He only asked for worshipping Him. Being a slave of Allah requires that we attach to Him sincerely using our morality and freewill, use all our means and abilities for the countenance of Him, and abandon the desires of our nafs and follow the rules decreed by our Lord.
Worship, explained as "The right of Allah over His slaves", is a phenomenon that makes man dignified in the presence of al-Rahman.[2] Worship is obedience, submission, and devotion to Allah Almighty. Worship is thanking Allah for the blessings He has bestowed upon us. It means to communicate with our Lord. It is when man, always in need of the Almighty, presents himself to Him without mediation. For this reason, the believer turns to Allah saying "It is You we worship and You we ask for help."[3] in every prayer. They accept their own weakness, ask Him for help and beseech Him. That is the awareness of worship and the conscience of servitude. The believer attains nobility above all creation by this awareness, earning happiness and peace on this world and eternal salvation in the afterlife.
Beloved Brothers and Sisters!
Worship is also a shield that protects us from all evil. Those who prostrate before Allah and fast, give alms (sadaqah) and perform the tawaf for His sake are cleansed from bad characteristics such as arrogance, selfishness, envy and excessive ambition. Worship protects our souls from desolation and the fatigue of worries and sorrows. In this regard, Almighty Allah states, "Verily, [only] by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured."[4] Believers in sincere worship get closer to their Lord with every step, and strengthen their faith, trust, love and respect for Him.
The Messenger of Allah draws our attention to the fundamental acts of worship by saying, "Islam is based on five principles: to testify that there is none but Allah to be worshipped and Muhammad is His Messenger, to offer the prayers, to pay Zakat, to perform Hajj, and to fast during Ramadan."[5]
In addition, any effort for goodness and struggle against evil is worship as well. To behave kindly and greet others is worship. Serving and honoring one's parents, providing the material and spiritual needs of one's family, wiping the tears of the needy, showing compassion to orphans, being on the side of the oppressed and injured are all acts of worship.
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Turning the worships into good deeds and habits is as important as performing them without material expectations or vanity. In this respect, it is stated in the Holy Qur'an, "Worship your Lord until there comes to you death."[6] And the Prophet (s.a.w.) said, "The most regular constant deeds even though they may be few [are beloved the most by Allah]."[7] , advising consistency and resolve in worship.
Honorable Believers!
Our lives, entrusted to us by Allah, shall eventually end and we shall be judged for our actions. We must appreciate the value of living and being a servant before our fortune of life runs out. We must not deprive ourselves of the peace, blessing and pleasure of worship. Let us bring meaning to our lives with the awareness of worship and seize the opportunity of the three blessed months, the season of mercy, grace and worship. Let us cling to worship with patience, gratitude and submission to Allah. Let us keep performing our prayers in awe. Let us read and be guided by the Holy Qur'an. Let us open the doors of benevolence, and compete in good deeds. Let us purify our speech of lie, gossip and slander, and our hearts of grudge, hate and discord.
I would like to end the khutbah with this prayer from our beloved Prophet: "O Allah! Help me in remembering You, giving thanks to You, and worshipping You well."[8]
________________________________
[1] Bukhari, Jihad, 46, Muslim, Iman, 48.
[2] Furqan, 25/77.
[3] Fatiha, 1/5.
[4] Ra'd, 13/28.
[5] Bukhari, Iman, 2.
[6] Hijr, 15/99.
[7] Bukhari, Riqaq, 18; Muslim, Musafirin, 215.
[8] Abu Dawud, Tafriu Abwab al-Witr, 26.
General Directorate of Religious Services