All praise is due to Allaah, Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of all the Worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! The greatest blessing that Allaah bestowed on His slaves was that He sent Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to them with useful knowledge and righteous deeds. Allaah (s.w.t.) subhanahu wa ta’ala says in His Glorious Book,
“Indeed Allaah has conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent unto them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses, and purifying them, and instructing them in the Book (the Qur‘aan) and Al-Hikmah (the wisdom and the Sunnah), while before that they had been in manifest error.” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:164)
So whoever follows the Message with which Allaah sent His Messenger Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and hold unto that tenaciously, Allaah has combined for such the good of this world and the Hereafter. And whoever is deprived of that has become miserable and will never benefit from his worldly wealth and enjoyments. Allaah says,
“Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter, to them We shall pay in full the wages of their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire, and vain are the deeds that they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do.” (Hood 11:15:16)
The Prophet said, “On the Day of Resurrection, the greatest of all the inhabitants of this world in enjoyment will be brought and given a dip in the Fire and will then be asked, ‘Have you ever had any enjoyment?‘ And he will say, ‘By Allaah, I have never had any enjoyment.’ And the most wretched of the people of this world will be brought and given a taste of the Paradise and he will then be asked, ‘Have you ever experienced any suffering?‘ And he will say, ‘No, by Allaah, I have never experienced any suffering.’”
Fellow Muslims! The favour of truth which Allaah conferred on you will not be complete except by calling to the Path of Allaah with true knowledge; and the Muslim will never attain high degree except by calling to Islaam and Eemaan. Allaah has given the call to Islaam preference over uprightness to underline its position, its beautiful effects and its benefits for all. He says,
“So unto this (religion of Islaam) then invite (people) and stand firm as you are commanded, and follow not their desires but say, ‘I believe in whatever Allaah has sent down of the Book and I am commanded to do justice among you. Allaah is our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) and your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer). For us our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no dispute between us and you. Allaah will assemble us all, and to Him is the final return.’” (Ash-Shooraa 42:15)
In this noble verse, Allaah divides the obligations of Islaam into two: One has to do with uprightness, standing firm on the truth and self reform; and the other is calling people to Islaam, being kind to them by explaining the truth to them and distinguishing between good and evil, truth and falsehood, monotheism and polytheism. He says,
“O you who believe! Enter into the religion of Islaam completely and follow not the footsteps of Satan, for he is unto you a clear enemy.” (Al-Baqarah 2:208)
This verse means: you should accept Islaam and submit to Allaah completely and follow all injunctions of Islaam with no exceptions. Allaah (S.W.T.) says,
“Allaah calls unto the abode of peace (Paradise) and guides whomsoever He will unto the Straight Path.” (Yoonus 10:25)
Calling unto the way of Allaah was the function of the Prophets and Messengers; it is their highest aim and foundation of their deeds. Allaah says about them,
“And We made of them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command, and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, performing prayers and the giving of Zakaah, and of Us (alone) they were the worshippers.” (Al-Anbiyaa 21:73)
Allaah tells us in His Book the news of callers unto Islaam whose hearts were full of Eemaan and whose examples are the best to be followed. He tells us about the believer among the people of Pharaoh who said to his people,
“O my people! Follow me, I will guide you unto the way of right conduct.” (Ghaafir 40:38)
He also says about the man mentioned in Soorah Yaaseen,
“And there came a man running from the furthest part of the town. He said, ‘O my people! Obey the Messengers. Obey those who ask no wages of you (for themselves) and who are rightly guided.’ ” (Yaaseen 36:20-21)
But his people killed him and Allaah says about him,
“It was said to him (when he was killed): Enter Paradise! He said, ‘Would that my people knew that my Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones.’ ” (Yaaseen 36:26-27)
Qataadah said, “You will never find a believer (Muslim) but a sincere adviser. You will never find him a betrayer. See this believer mentioned in this verse how he had sincerely admonished his people during his life and even after death.” The Prophet also narrated the story of a boy who was in Najraan and used to call people to Allaah, that he told the King of his fervent desire for his people’s guidance: ‘Gather all the people into a place. Take out an arrow from my poach, shoot me with it and say: ‘In the name of the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of this boy.’ If you do that, you will kill me.’ So the King did that and killed him. And the people then said, ‘We believe in the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the boy‘. Such is the nature of faith. As soon as it settles in a heart, it spreads to other hearts. It is not peculiar with a particular land but it spreads to all lands. It is like the light that breaks all darkness without any restriction for everybody needs Islaam. If the faith does not therefore spread light to the deprived and corrupted heart and does not call unto Allaah, such faith is not real faith. See also the believers among the Jinn. When they believed, they went to their folk calling them unto guidance and warning them against rejection of that guidance. Even our Prophet Muhammad, Allaah has explained his responsibilities when He addressed him,
“O Prophet! Verily, We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. And as one who invites to Allaah by His Leave and as a lamp spreading light.” (Al-Ahzaab 33:45-46)
Allaah also commands him,
“Say (O Muhammad): This is my way; I invite unto (the religion of) Allaah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me. And Glorified and Exalted is Allaah. And I am not of the polytheists.” (Yoosuf 12:108)
The nation of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) is the last of all nations and the inheritors of the legacy of the Prophet. Allaah addresses them,
“You are the best of people’s ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin all that is good, forbid all that is evil and you believe in Allaah.” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:110)
Further, everyone of the righteous predecessors called unto Allaah with sure knowledge until they filled the earth with knowledge, light, guidance, peace and reform. Their reward for all this shall continue will the Day of Judgment. The Prophet said, “Whoever calls to guidance, such shall have the reward equal to the rewards of those who follow him until the Day of Resurrection, without diminishing nothing of their own rewards. And Whoever calls unto an error, he shall have the punishment equal to that of those who follow him in that error, without diminishing nothing of their own punishment.”
Whenever the Messenger of Allaah sent his commanders on a mission, he would command them to first call to Islaam. When he sent Muaadh to Yemen, he told him, “You are going to a people of the scripture, so, let the first thing unto which you shall call them be that ‘there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) is His Messenger‘. If they obey you in that, tell them that Allaah has ordained for them five daily obligatory prayers; and if they obey you in that, tell them that Allaah has ordained a specific alm on them which must be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor among them.” He would also command the leader of his army to call the enemy to Islaam first.
Therefore, this Ummah is that of calling to Allaah. If she preserve this duty, Allaah will preserve for her, her religion, worldly affairs and her Hereafter; but if she neglects it, she will expose herself to neglect in all her affairs. Allaah has raised up the obligation of calling to His way and exalted the degrees of those who do that. He says,
“And who is better in speech than he who calls (men) unto Allaah’s way and does righteous deeds and says: ‘I am one of the Muslims.’ ” (Fussilat 41:33)
Al-Hasan Al-Basree said, “This is the friend of Allaah, this is a selected servant of Allaah, this is one of the dearest creatures to Allaah. He answered the call of Allaah and invited other people to that call, and did good deed and said, ‘I am one of the Muslims.’”
Allaah also explains how people should be invited to His Way so that, the call can yield its expected results. He says,
“Invite (mankind) to the Way of your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) with wisdom and fair preaching and argue with in a way that is better.” (An-Nahl 16:125)
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and know that calling to His Way is an obligation which Allaah has ordained on you. It is by it that Allaah elevates the degree of the Muslim and it is through it that he achieve great rewards.
Brethren in faith! Obey Allaah’s Commandments and learn the knowledge of your religion, for it is he who Allaah wishes good for, that He teaches the knowledge of religion. Call unto the Way of your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) with sure knowledge as much as you can and beware of contradicting the good that you teach. One of the past scholars said, “Let the one who invites people to the Path of Allaah always remember these three verses and act upon them;
“Enjoin you acts of righteousness on the people and you forget (to practice them) yourselves, which you recite the scripture! Have you then no sense?” (Al-Baqarah 2:44)
His Word,
“I wish not in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you.” (Hood 11:88)
and His Word,
“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allaah that you say that which you do not do.” (As-Saff 61:2-3)
Inviting people to the way of Allaah is the proof, the evidence and certainty; and making Jihaad in the cause of Allaah is also in order to invite people to the religion of Islam. No one should therefore be forced to embrace a religion or prevented from embracing the religion of truth. Allaah says,
“There should be no compulsion in religion. The right guidance is manifest from error.” (Al-Baqarah 2:256)
As the act of Da‘wah comes with words, it should also be made with deeds. Allaah (S.W.T.) says,
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allaah, you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day, and remembers Allaah much.” (Al-Ahzaab 33:21)
By Sheikh Alee bin Abdur-Rahman Al-Hudhayfee
Khutbah (Friday Sermon) in Madina Al-Munawarra
Jumaadal Aakhirah 14, 1423 (August 23, 2002)
Fellow Muslims! The greatest blessing that Allaah bestowed on His slaves was that He sent Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam to them with useful knowledge and righteous deeds. Allaah (s.w.t.) subhanahu wa ta’ala says in His Glorious Book,
“Indeed Allaah has conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent unto them a Messenger (Muhammad) from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses, and purifying them, and instructing them in the Book (the Qur‘aan) and Al-Hikmah (the wisdom and the Sunnah), while before that they had been in manifest error.” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:164)
So whoever follows the Message with which Allaah sent His Messenger Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and hold unto that tenaciously, Allaah has combined for such the good of this world and the Hereafter. And whoever is deprived of that has become miserable and will never benefit from his worldly wealth and enjoyments. Allaah says,
“Whosoever desires the life of the world and its glitter, to them We shall pay in full the wages of their deeds therein, and they will have no diminution therein. They are those for whom there is nothing in the Hereafter but Fire, and vain are the deeds that they did therein. And of no effect is that which they used to do.” (Hood 11:15:16)
The Prophet said, “On the Day of Resurrection, the greatest of all the inhabitants of this world in enjoyment will be brought and given a dip in the Fire and will then be asked, ‘Have you ever had any enjoyment?‘ And he will say, ‘By Allaah, I have never had any enjoyment.’ And the most wretched of the people of this world will be brought and given a taste of the Paradise and he will then be asked, ‘Have you ever experienced any suffering?‘ And he will say, ‘No, by Allaah, I have never experienced any suffering.’”
Fellow Muslims! The favour of truth which Allaah conferred on you will not be complete except by calling to the Path of Allaah with true knowledge; and the Muslim will never attain high degree except by calling to Islaam and Eemaan. Allaah has given the call to Islaam preference over uprightness to underline its position, its beautiful effects and its benefits for all. He says,
“So unto this (religion of Islaam) then invite (people) and stand firm as you are commanded, and follow not their desires but say, ‘I believe in whatever Allaah has sent down of the Book and I am commanded to do justice among you. Allaah is our Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) and your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer). For us our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no dispute between us and you. Allaah will assemble us all, and to Him is the final return.’” (Ash-Shooraa 42:15)
In this noble verse, Allaah divides the obligations of Islaam into two: One has to do with uprightness, standing firm on the truth and self reform; and the other is calling people to Islaam, being kind to them by explaining the truth to them and distinguishing between good and evil, truth and falsehood, monotheism and polytheism. He says,
“O you who believe! Enter into the religion of Islaam completely and follow not the footsteps of Satan, for he is unto you a clear enemy.” (Al-Baqarah 2:208)
This verse means: you should accept Islaam and submit to Allaah completely and follow all injunctions of Islaam with no exceptions. Allaah (S.W.T.) says,
“Allaah calls unto the abode of peace (Paradise) and guides whomsoever He will unto the Straight Path.” (Yoonus 10:25)
Calling unto the way of Allaah was the function of the Prophets and Messengers; it is their highest aim and foundation of their deeds. Allaah says about them,
“And We made of them leaders, guiding (mankind) by Our Command, and We revealed to them the doing of good deeds, performing prayers and the giving of Zakaah, and of Us (alone) they were the worshippers.” (Al-Anbiyaa 21:73)
Allaah tells us in His Book the news of callers unto Islaam whose hearts were full of Eemaan and whose examples are the best to be followed. He tells us about the believer among the people of Pharaoh who said to his people,
“O my people! Follow me, I will guide you unto the way of right conduct.” (Ghaafir 40:38)
He also says about the man mentioned in Soorah Yaaseen,
“And there came a man running from the furthest part of the town. He said, ‘O my people! Obey the Messengers. Obey those who ask no wages of you (for themselves) and who are rightly guided.’ ” (Yaaseen 36:20-21)
But his people killed him and Allaah says about him,
“It was said to him (when he was killed): Enter Paradise! He said, ‘Would that my people knew that my Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) has forgiven me, and made me of the honoured ones.’ ” (Yaaseen 36:26-27)
Qataadah said, “You will never find a believer (Muslim) but a sincere adviser. You will never find him a betrayer. See this believer mentioned in this verse how he had sincerely admonished his people during his life and even after death.” The Prophet also narrated the story of a boy who was in Najraan and used to call people to Allaah, that he told the King of his fervent desire for his people’s guidance: ‘Gather all the people into a place. Take out an arrow from my poach, shoot me with it and say: ‘In the name of the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of this boy.’ If you do that, you will kill me.’ So the King did that and killed him. And the people then said, ‘We believe in the Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) of the boy‘. Such is the nature of faith. As soon as it settles in a heart, it spreads to other hearts. It is not peculiar with a particular land but it spreads to all lands. It is like the light that breaks all darkness without any restriction for everybody needs Islaam. If the faith does not therefore spread light to the deprived and corrupted heart and does not call unto Allaah, such faith is not real faith. See also the believers among the Jinn. When they believed, they went to their folk calling them unto guidance and warning them against rejection of that guidance. Even our Prophet Muhammad, Allaah has explained his responsibilities when He addressed him,
“O Prophet! Verily, We have sent you as a witness and a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. And as one who invites to Allaah by His Leave and as a lamp spreading light.” (Al-Ahzaab 33:45-46)
Allaah also commands him,
“Say (O Muhammad): This is my way; I invite unto (the religion of) Allaah with sure knowledge, I and whosoever follows me. And Glorified and Exalted is Allaah. And I am not of the polytheists.” (Yoosuf 12:108)
The nation of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) is the last of all nations and the inheritors of the legacy of the Prophet. Allaah addresses them,
“You are the best of people’s ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin all that is good, forbid all that is evil and you believe in Allaah.” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:110)
Further, everyone of the righteous predecessors called unto Allaah with sure knowledge until they filled the earth with knowledge, light, guidance, peace and reform. Their reward for all this shall continue will the Day of Judgment. The Prophet said, “Whoever calls to guidance, such shall have the reward equal to the rewards of those who follow him until the Day of Resurrection, without diminishing nothing of their own rewards. And Whoever calls unto an error, he shall have the punishment equal to that of those who follow him in that error, without diminishing nothing of their own punishment.”
Whenever the Messenger of Allaah sent his commanders on a mission, he would command them to first call to Islaam. When he sent Muaadh to Yemen, he told him, “You are going to a people of the scripture, so, let the first thing unto which you shall call them be that ‘there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) is His Messenger‘. If they obey you in that, tell them that Allaah has ordained for them five daily obligatory prayers; and if they obey you in that, tell them that Allaah has ordained a specific alm on them which must be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor among them.” He would also command the leader of his army to call the enemy to Islaam first.
Therefore, this Ummah is that of calling to Allaah. If she preserve this duty, Allaah will preserve for her, her religion, worldly affairs and her Hereafter; but if she neglects it, she will expose herself to neglect in all her affairs. Allaah has raised up the obligation of calling to His way and exalted the degrees of those who do that. He says,
“And who is better in speech than he who calls (men) unto Allaah’s way and does righteous deeds and says: ‘I am one of the Muslims.’ ” (Fussilat 41:33)
Al-Hasan Al-Basree said, “This is the friend of Allaah, this is a selected servant of Allaah, this is one of the dearest creatures to Allaah. He answered the call of Allaah and invited other people to that call, and did good deed and said, ‘I am one of the Muslims.’”
Allaah also explains how people should be invited to His Way so that, the call can yield its expected results. He says,
“Invite (mankind) to the Way of your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) with wisdom and fair preaching and argue with in a way that is better.” (An-Nahl 16:125)
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and know that calling to His Way is an obligation which Allaah has ordained on you. It is by it that Allaah elevates the degree of the Muslim and it is through it that he achieve great rewards.
Brethren in faith! Obey Allaah’s Commandments and learn the knowledge of your religion, for it is he who Allaah wishes good for, that He teaches the knowledge of religion. Call unto the Way of your Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) with sure knowledge as much as you can and beware of contradicting the good that you teach. One of the past scholars said, “Let the one who invites people to the Path of Allaah always remember these three verses and act upon them;
“Enjoin you acts of righteousness on the people and you forget (to practice them) yourselves, which you recite the scripture! Have you then no sense?” (Al-Baqarah 2:44)
His Word,
“I wish not in contradiction to you, to do that which I forbid you.” (Hood 11:88)
and His Word,
“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allaah that you say that which you do not do.” (As-Saff 61:2-3)
Inviting people to the way of Allaah is the proof, the evidence and certainty; and making Jihaad in the cause of Allaah is also in order to invite people to the religion of Islam. No one should therefore be forced to embrace a religion or prevented from embracing the religion of truth. Allaah says,
“There should be no compulsion in religion. The right guidance is manifest from error.” (Al-Baqarah 2:256)
As the act of Da‘wah comes with words, it should also be made with deeds. Allaah (S.W.T.) says,
“Indeed, in the Messenger of Allaah, you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allaah and the Last Day, and remembers Allaah much.” (Al-Ahzaab 33:21)
By Sheikh Alee bin Abdur-Rahman Al-Hudhayfee
Khutbah (Friday Sermon) in Madina Al-Munawarra
Jumaadal Aakhirah 14, 1423 (August 23, 2002)
