ICICE AL-NOOR KHUTBAH FOR FRIDAY 9/8/2019

EMULATING GOOD PEOPLE

All praise is due to Allah, we seek His help and forgiveness, we seek refuge with Him from the evils of ourselves and the evils of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides cannot be misguided by anyone and whoever Allah sets astray cannot be guided by anyone. I bear witness that none deserves the right to be worshiped except Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that our master Muhammad is his servant and messenger.
“And fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be treated unjustly.” [02:281]
O Muslims, Allah says in surah Al-kahf regarding His servant Dhul Qarnain: “Indeed We established Him upon the earth, and We gave Him to everything a way. So He followed a way” [18:84-85] Indeed Allah had given him knowledge, wisdom and capacity. He tried His best in terms benefiting from that which Allah had bestowed upon Him so that people around Him live happily, peacefully and comfortably. He utilized perseverance and hard work in the course of that, he transmitted his experience with regards to civilization to people that needed it. Allah says: “Then he followed a way Until, when he reached [a pass] between two mountains, he found beside them a people who could hardly understand [his] speech. They said, “O Dhul-Qarnayn, indeed Gog and Magog are [great] corrupters in the land. So may we assign for you an expenditure that you might make between us and them a barrier?” [18:92-94]
Dhul Qarnain then directed them towards holding on to those factors that determine success in the execution of their project and building of the barrier, he said to them: “That in which my Lord has established me is better [than what you offer], but assist me with strength; I will make between you and them a dam.” [18:95]
He then combined his expertise and theirs so that they all participate in this great execution. They unified their efforts to erect the building, in turn Allah blessed their efforts and made them successful. More importantly, peace and tranquility were actualized for them and their city for generations to come after them.
Allah the exalted said in his magnificent book describing the strength and how well the barrier or dam was built, he says: “So Gog and Magog were unable to pass over it, nor were they able [to effect] in it any penetration.” [18:97]
Success is often the yield of hard work from a sound team. This is part of the guidance brought to us by prophets and messengers of Allah, to do everything possible for the service of humanity and uplifting their status. Allah the exalted ordered Noah (AS) to construct a ship, Allah says: “And construct the ship under Our observation and Our inspiration” [11:37] So Noah (AS) worked hard to build the great ship, he loaded upon the ship of each [creature] two mates it sailed with them through waves like mountains. Allah says: “So We saved him and those with him in the laden ship.” [26:119] so their escape from the waves as contained in the verse resulted from their hard work and the favor from Allah to them.
When Allah the exalted ordered Ibrahim (AS) to build the sacred house (ka’ba), he sought assistance from his son Ismail (AS), so Ismail was bringing blocks while Ibrahim was building. They utilized what was at their disposal of success determining factors and above all, they were united towards the great work before them, Allah says: “And [mention] when Abraham was raising the foundations of the House and [with him] Ishmael, [saying], “Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed You are the Hearing, the Knowing.” [02:127]
When Allah the exalted revealed on to Musa (AS) that a servant from amongst Allah’s servants existed at the junction of the two seas who was more knowledgeable than Musa, Musa (AS) said to his servant: “I will not cease [traveling] until I reach the junction of the two seas or continue for a long period.” [18:60] so he hastened towards him to learn from him, he eventually learnt from him what benefited the humankind.
Maryam the mother of Isa/Jesus (AS) was asked by Allah the exalted to do what she could to eat from the fruits of the trunk of a palm tree she was seating next to despite the fact that Allah could have caused the fruits to fall without her exerting any efforts towards getting them. Allah says: “And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. So eat and drink and be contented.” [19:25]
Indeed the life of our beloved prophet Muhammad peace be upon him exemplified hard work and holding on to success determining factors. People learnt from this how not to leave any stone unturned in terms of spreading knowledge, human capital development, and spreading civilization. When the messenger (peace be upon him) reached Medina; he immediately started building the mosque in an effort to build the entire city of Medina. The messenger (peace be upon him) directed his companions towards combining between holding on to success determining factors and relying upon Allah the exalted.
The messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Be keen on what benefits you and seek help from Allah, and do not give up.” Someone would never give up on actualizing his/her desire if at all he/she relies on Allah then holds on to the causes of success. The messenger (peace be upon him) enjoined his companions to exert efforts in what ever they do and not rely on others, he said: “No doubt, one had better take a rope (and cut) and tie a bundle of wood and sell it whereby Allah will keep his face away (from Hell-fire) rather than ask others who may give him or not.”
In the aforementioned hadith, there is a prophetic advice on the value of hard work and being productive because that has a huge role in the development of societies. Sa’ad Bin Rabee’ Al-ansari offered Abdurrahman Ibn Auf (May Allah be pleased with them) half of his wealth, Abdurrahman said: May Allah bless you in your wealth guide me to the market, so he followed the way to profitable trade.
Allah says: “It is He who made the earth tame for you – so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision – and to Him is the resurrection.” [67:15] Meaning that, Allah had induced in the earth what is of benefit, so we should benefit from its resources.
May Allah the most high guide us aright.