Khutbah delivered at An Nur Mosque, Christchurch on Friday 4th March 2011 by Sheikh Mohammed Amir, Chairman, New Zealand Ulama Board After The Devastating Christchurch Earthquake
All praise is due to Allah, may peace and blessings be upon the
Messenger, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allah as he
should be feared, for fear of Allah
brings more blessings and prevents
afflictions.
Dear Muslims! Allah has
foreordained the fate of all
creatures, written down their
impacts and deeds, portioned out
between them their livelihood
and wealth and created death and
life that He may test them which
of them is best in deed. Indeed,
belief in Allah's decree and
preordainment is one of the pillars
of faith. Nothing happens in this
universe except by His will.
This life is full of misfortune and
sorrow. It is destined to be a place
of hardships and trouble. Trials
and tribulations are as inevitable
in this life as cold and heat. Allah
says,
"And certainly We shall test you
with something of fear, hunger,
loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but
give glad tidings to those who are patient."
(Al Baqarah: 155)
"Pre-destination is a test by which the truthful ones are
distinguished from untruthful ones. Allah says,
"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say,
'We believe,' and will not be tested."
(Al 'Ankaboot: 2).
The human soul does not become pure except through trials,
and it is during tribulations that real men are known. Ibn Al
Jawzie said,"Whoever wants to have everlasting peace and
well-being with no affliction does not understand the meaning
of Allah's commandments, nor does he perceive the meaning
of submission to Allah. Every soul (either believing or
disbelieving) shall inevitably taste suffering in this world, for
this life is based on hardships. Man lives between comfort
and suffering. Prophet Adam, for instance, had the angels
prostrated before him and yet was soon after expelled from
paradise. A believer is afflicted with trials in order to refine him,
not to punish him. He is tested in ease as well as in hardship.
Allah says,
"And We tried them with good (blessings) and evil (calamities)
in order that they might turn (to Allah's obedience)."
(Al-
A'raaf: 168).
Muslims in faith! Something undesirable may sometimes have
a pleasant result, while something seemingly desirable may turn
out to have an unpleasant and detestable result. Do not therefore
feel that harmful things cannot come to you through hardship.
Allah says,
"...And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you
and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows,
and you do not know"
(Al-Baqarah: 216).
Prepare yourself mentally for afflictions before they occur so
as to make their occurrence light on you. Do not be worried
because of tribulations, for they have their limits, and watch
what you utter during your hard times for many a word
has ruined its utterer. A resolute Muslim stands firm during
hardships, his heart does not change and he does not complain.
Console yourself whenever
afflicted with a promise of
reward from Allah.
Brothers & Sisters in Islam! Be patient
over afflictions, they will
soon be removed from you.
the patient ones are being
recompensed with good
rewards. Allah says,
"And those who are patient,
we will certainly pay them a
reward in proportion to the
best of what they used to do."
(Al-Anaam: 96).
The reward of the patient
ones will be doubled for
their patience and Allah will
be with them, remove their
afflictions and make them
pleased.
O afflicted one! Your Lord
does not deny you what you
want except what is better
than that, He does not test
you but for your well-being and He does not subject you to
tribulations but to purify you. He tries His slaves with pleasure
as he blesses them with calamity. Do not therefore waste your
time thinking over what has already been guaranteed for you.
As long as one is still alive his provision will no doubt come to
him. Allah says,
"And no (moving) living creature is there on
earth but its provision is due from Allah."
(Hood: 6).
Further, if Allah - out of His wisdom - closes a door against
you, He opens out of His mercy a door better for you than the
closed one. It is by afflictions that righteous and understanding
people are increased in rank and reward. Sa'd bin Abee
Waqqaas said:
I said, "O Messenger of Allah, who are the
most afflicted of all people?" He replied, "The Prophets, then
the righteous people,then those who are nearest to them in
perfection and those who are nearest to them.
Man is tested according to his religiosity; if he is strong
religiously, his test is increased and if he is weak in religion,
his test is reduced And a believer will be tested until he walks
on the earth sinless [i.e. his sins have been erased by series of
afflictions that he endured.]"
(Al-Bukhaarie).
Fellow Muslims! Prophet Adam laboured along difficult paths
beset with affliction; Prophet Ibraahiem was thrown into a
blazing fire; Isma'iel was laid down for slaughter; Yoonus was
swallowed by a whale; Prophet Ayyoob suffered from a severe
illness; Yoosuf was sold for a small price, thrown into a well
and wrongfully jailed, and Muhammad suffered different kinds
of injury. You also are in path of calamities moving, for the
life does not give pleasure only to anyone. The Prophet said,
"If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with
trials.
(Al-Bukhaarie).
Real trial, dear brothers and sisters, is the trial in one's religion
and whatever trial besides that is regarded as well being, for it
raises one in the rank and erases ones sins. Also all comforts
that do not bring one closer to Allah is a tribulation. Do not
therefore grieve over what you miss in worldly materials, for
worldly pleasure begets pain and disobedience. Aboo Dardaa'
said,
"Of the insignificance of this world to Allah is that He is
not disobeyed except in it, while what is with Him cannot be
obtained except by abstaining from it. Engage yourself in what
will benefit you more. Keep away from what is in peoples' hands
you will be the wealthiest of them; do not lose hope in Allah's
mercy lest you are disgraced; always remember Allah's favour on
you and drive away your distress by being pleased with Allah's
decree, for however long the night may be, it will be followed by
the dawn. Supplicate to Allah. He will give you relief and if you
are patient Allah will provide a way out for you. Ponder over
the story of Prophet Ya'qoob who lost a son for a long period and
yet did not lose hope of relief from the Almighty One, but rather
said, "Maybe Allah will bring them all (back) to me."
Dear brothers & sisters! It is only Allah who deserves all praise and is
capable of attending to all complaints. It is only Him you must
beseech to remove your misfortunes. Pray to Him during the
night with submission and humbleness and request Him to make
your affairs easy for you. He says,
"Is it not He who responds to
the distressed one when he calls Him"
(An Naml: 62).
Put your trust in the all-powerful Lord and take refuge with Him
with a humble heart, He will open the doors of His mercy for
you.Fudayl Ibn 'Iyaadh said,
"If you lose hope in all people and
you do not ask anything from them, your Lord will give you
all that you want."
Whoever leaves his affairs to the hands of
Allah will achieve what he aspires: Always recite the prayer of
Prophet Yoonus:
"None has the right to worshipped except You
(O Allah) Glorified (and exalted) are You (above all that they
associate with You) Truly I have been of the wrong doers.
" (Al
Anbiyaa': 87).
If your provision seems delayed, do a lot of Istighfaar, for
misdeeds necessitate punishment; and if it does not seem that
your supplications are having any impact, then examine yourself,
for it may be that you have not been sincere in your repentance.
Endeavour also, to give charity to the needy, for charity prevents
and removes affliction. However, if your affliction is removed,
give a lot of thanks and praise to your Lord and know that a false
sense of safety is a big trial. Allah says,
"Say: Nothing shall
ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is
our Lord and Protector, and in Allah let the believers put their
trust"
(At-Tawbah: 51).
Dear Muslims! No condition is permanent. Fortunate is he who
is always God-conscious. Fear Allah in any condition you
may find yourself. You can do nothing to prevent what has been
destined to happen as you do nothing to attain what has not been
pre-ordained. The ability to choose and control is with Allah
alone and His choice for His slave is better for him than his
choice for himself. Daawood Ibn Sulaimaan said,
"Three things
indicate the piety of a believer; his trust in Allah in what he has
not attained; his satisfaction with whatever he has attained and
his patience over what he has missed."
Allah is the All-Wise, All-Knowing in all that He wills and
decrees, and He is the All-Wise, All-Knowing in all that He
legislates and commands. He creates and decrees whatever
signs He wills, to frighten His slaves and remind them of their
obligations and duties towards Him, and to warn them against
associating anything in worship with Him, going against His
commands and doing that which He has forbidden. Allah says:
"And We sent not the signs except to warn"
[al-Israa' 17:59]
"We will show them Our Signs in the universe, and in their own
selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Qur'an)
is the truth. Is it not sufficient in regard to your Lord that He is a
Witness over all things?"
[Fussilat 41:53]
Allaamah Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him)
said:
"Allah sometimes gives the earth permission to breathe,
which is when major earthquakes happen; this makes people
feel scared, so they repent, give up sins, pray to Allah and feel
regret [for their sins]. When there had been an earthquake, some
of the Salaf said: your Lord is warning you. When Madeenah
was struck by an earthquake, 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab addressed
the people and said: if there is another earthquake, I will not stay
here with you."
And there are many similar reports from the
Salaf.
Our response when there is an earthquake or some other sign
such as an eclipse, strong winds or floods, should be to hasten
to repent to Allah and pray to Him for safety, and to remember
Him much and seek His forgiveness, as the Prophet (pbuh) said when there was an eclipse:
"If you see anything like that, hasten
to remember Him, call on Him and seek His forgiveness."
(Al-
Bukhaari (2/30) and Muslim (2/628)).
It is also mustahabb (recommended, encouraged) to show
compassion to the poor and needy, and to give charity to them,
because the Prophet said:
"Show mercy, you will be shown mercy."
(Narrated by Imaam
Ahmad, 2/165).
"Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most
Merciful. Have mercy on those who are on earth, and the One
Who is in heaven will show mercy to you."
(Narrated by Abu
Dawood (13/285), al-Tirmidhi (6/43)).
"Whoever does not show mercy will not be shown mercy."
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5/75), Muslim (4/1809)).
It was reported that when there was an earthquake, 'Umar ibn
'Abd al-'Azeez R.A would write to his governors telling them to
give in charity.
Allah Azza Wa Jall says:
"And whosoever fears Allah and keeps
his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from
every difficulty). And He will provide him from (such sources)
he could never imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah,
then He will suffice him."
[al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
And there are many
aayaat on this topic.
The Prophet said:
"Whoever meets the need of his brother,
Allah will meet his needs."
(Agreed upon; al-Bukhaari, 3/98;
Muslim, 4/1996).
And there are many
aayaat on this topic.
And he ( peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever relieves a believer of some of the distress of this
world, Allah will relieve him of some of the distress of the Day
of Resurrection. Whoever makes things easier for one who is
suffering hardship, Allah will make things easier for him in this
world and in the Hereafter. Whoever conceals a Muslim's faults,
Allah will conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter.
Allah will help a person so long as he helps his brother."
(Narrated by Muslim, 4/2074).
Allah is the One Whom we ask to reform the affairs of all the
people and to bless them with proper understanding and help
them to adhere steadfastly to it and repent to Allah from all their
sins.
This Page Last Updated 2/04/2011 16:02
PLEASE NOTE: The revealed Arabic Qur'an is the authoritative and primary source of reference and as such the Qur'anic English translations are provided purely as indicative interpretations.
