https://www.khutbah.info/eid-al-adha-khutbah-trials-of-ease-and-hardship/ So what do you think of Allah, the Generous, as they ask Him and supplicate Him? And what do you think of the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy, while they place their hopes and trust in Him? And what do you think of the Gracious, the Merciful, while they seek His forgiveness and His mercy? They left their homes and children behind, spent their wealth, endured the hardships of their journeys to stand at Arafat. And so they stood there, disheveled and dusty, in humility and submission. Openly declaring their need, poverty, and weakness before Allah the Most High. Do you think the Most Generous would turn them away? Do you think the Most Merciful would punish them? Do you think the Most Gentle would disappoint them?
First Khutbah
إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ ,نَحْمَدُهُ ,وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ , وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا ,مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ , وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ , وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Verily, all praise is for Allah. We praise Him, we seek His assistance and we ask for His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Him from the evils of our selves. Whoever Allah guides, none can misguide. Whoever He misguides, none can guide. And I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His servant and messenger.
يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ -آل عمران 102
Al Imran (3) 102 : O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
Oh people:
The truest speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad ﷺ. The most evil matters are the newly introduced, for every newly introduced matter is a Bid’ah (unprecedented matter without basis in Quran or Sunnah). Every Bid’ah is misguidance, and every misguidance is in the Hellfire.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaha illaLah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa liLahil Hamd
Yesterday the pilgrims, stood upon the plain of Arafāt. They supplicated earnestly to Allah Most High. They shed tears. Their hearts were deeply attached to the Lord of the heavens and the earth.
So what do you think of Allah, the Generous, as they ask Him and supplicate Him? And what do you think of the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy, while they place their hopes and trust in Him? And what do you think of the Gracious, the Merciful, while they seek His forgiveness and His mercy? They left their homes and children behind, spent their wealth, endured the hardships of their journeys to stand at Arafat. And so they stood there, disheveled and dusty, in humility and submission. Openly declaring their need, poverty, and weakness before Allah the Most High. Do you think the Most Generous would turn them away? Do you think the Most Merciful would punish them? Do you think the Most Gentle would disappoint them?
No, by Allah! Our Lord will not turn them away or disappoint them. This is what we think about Him Glorified is He. And this should be what every true believer thinks of their Lord, Majestic and Exalted.
Ibn al-Mubārak said: I came to Sufyān al-Thawrī on the eve of ʿArafah, And he was kneeling on his knees, tears streaming from his eyes. I asked him: Who is in the worst state among this gathering?’ He replied: The one who thinks that Allah will not forgive them.
O Allah, make their Hajj accepted, Their striving rewarded, And their sins forgiven.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaha illaLah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa liLahil Hamd
It is from the Sunnah (established way) of Allah – the Most High – that He tests His servants, both individuals and communities, with ease and hardship, so that He may see who among them will be thankful during times of ease and who among them will be patient during times of difficulty. Those doing so will have a favorable outcome in this world, and will attain the great triumph in the Hereafter. And this law applies universally. It applies to all communities and in all eras. Allah Almighty said:
وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا فِي قَرْيَةٍ مِّن نَّبِيٍّ إِلَّا أَخَذْنَا أَهْلَهَا بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَ * ثُمَّ بَدَّلْنَا مَكَانَ السَّيِّئَةِ الْحَسَنَةَ حَتَّىٰ عَفَوا وَقَالُوا قَدْ مَسَّ آبَاءَنَا الضَّرَّاءُ وَالسَّرَّاءُ فَأَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ -الأعراف 94–95
Al-Aʿrāf (7) 94–95: And We sent to no city a prophet [who was denied] except that We seized its people with poverty and hardship that they might humble themselves [to Allah]. * Then We exchanged in place of the bad [condition], good, until they increased [and prospered] and said, “Our fathers [also] were touched with hardship and ease.” So We seized them suddenly while they did not perceive.
For He, glory be to Him, tests and grants relief, withholds and gives, and all of His actions, glory be to Him, revolve around mercy and wisdom. The trials of prosperity and adversity do not end except with the transition from this world to the Hereafter. As a person’s fluctuations between prosperity and adversity, they fluctuate between fear and sadness. Because if they are in prosperity, they fear losing it, and if they are in adversity, they are saddened by its occurrence. And no will be spared from fear and sorrow, except in Paradise:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ * أُوْلَٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ -الأحقاف 13–14
Al-Aḥqāf (46) 13–14: (13) Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then remained steadfast – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (14) Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein, as reward for what they used to do.
We are in a state of prosperity surrounded by fear. And our brothers and sisters in many places have been afflicted with hardship, so they are in sorrow until their hardships are removed.
We live in a state of security, stability, and abundance, yet we fear that what has afflicted others—disorder, fear, and hunger—might also affect us. Indeed, Allah the Exalted has often paired safety and sustenance together in many verses of the Qur’an, because true stability cannot be achieved without both:
أَوَلَمْ نُمَكِّنْ لَهُمْ حَرَمًا آمِنًا يُجْبَى إِلَيْهِ ثَمَرَاتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ رِزْقًا مِّن لَّدُنَّا وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ -القصص 57
Al-Qasas (28) 57: Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary to which are brought fruits of all kinds as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.
And this state of safety, abundance, and stability is preserved only through gratitude:
وَلَقَدْ مَكَّنَّاكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْنَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا مَعَايِشَ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ -الأعراف 10
Al-A’raf (7) 10: And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful.
Likewise, denial, whether through disbelief (kufr) or ingratitude towards blessings is a cause for transforming ease into hardship:
وَضَرَبَ اللَّهُ مَثَلًا قَرْيَةً كَانَتْ آمِنَةً مُّطْمَئِنَّةً يَأْتِيهَا رِزْقُهَا رَغَدًا مِّن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ -النحل 112
An-Nahl (16) 112: And Allāh presents an example: a city [i.e., Makkah] which was safe and secure, its provision coming to it in abundance from every location, but it denied the favors of Allāh. So Allāh made it taste the envelopment of hunger and fear for what they had been doing.
If we look at our current reality, we will find that we are falling short in expressing gratitude to our Lord—Glorified and Exalted is He—despite the fact that many others are facing trails and afflicted by fear and hunger.
Yet the people of sin have not left their sins, the extravagant have not abandoned their excesses, and those who falling short in acts of obedience have not made amends.
Rather, sins are increasing—within ourselves, our homes, our women, and our children. Wastefulness and ingratitude are rampant—on our tables, and at our celebrations. Even memorials have lavish meals, and leftovers are thrown into the garbage. As if we are indifferent to those dying of hunger.
We live in a state of well-being and free from diseases. We take precautions against infection, yet we do not take precautions against the punishment of the One who decreed diseases. We feel safe from Him – Glorified is He – even though He has warned us of His plan, saying:
فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ -الأعراف 99
Al-A’raf (7) 99: But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people.
We must fear during times of ease before we are forced to grieve during times of hardship. Our fear should be of Allah the Exalted. That fear should drive us to action. We must fear our sins and repent from them and abandon them. We must fear our shortcomings in acts of obedience and become diligent in fulfilling them. We must fear the sins of those around us—our family, children, colleagues, and neighbors—and so we must enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. Calling others to account must become a habitual behavior for us. For Allah the Exalted does not punish a community among whom some hold others accountable:
وَمَا كَانَ رَبُّكَ لِيُهْلِكَ الْقُرَىٰ بِظُلْمٍ وَأَهْلُهَا مُصْلِحُونَ -هود 117
Hud (11) 117: And your Lord would not have destroyed the cities unjustly while their people were reformers.
So let us spread righteousness and reform. And how greatly we are in need of renewing our commitment to our religion and repenting from our sins. Otherwise, we will be afflicted with what others were afflicted with.
We seek refuge with Allah the Exalted from the loss of His blessings, the removal of His protection, the suddenness of His punishment, and all forms of His anger. We seek refuge in Him—Glorified is He—from misery, from a bad fate, from exhausting trials, and from the gloating of adversaries. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Responsive.
أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
I say what you have heard and I seek forgiveness from Allah for me and you from every sin. So seek forgives from Him, Verily He is Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Second Khutbah
الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ, وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ , وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَاْ إِلَهَ إِلَّاْ اَللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَاْشَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَاً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His servant and messenger.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaha illaLah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa liLahil Hamd
So fear Allah – the Exalted – in these great days, and fill them with the remembrance of Allah the Exalted, for Allah the Exalted said:
وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ فِي أَيَّامٍ مَّعْدُودَاتٍ -البقرة 203
Al-Baqarah (2) 203: And remember Allah during [specific] numbered days.
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
أَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ أَيَّامُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ وَذِكْرٍ لِلَّـهِ
The Days of Tashrīq are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah. [Muslim 1141]
O Muslims, this day is the greatest of days in the sight of Allah – the Exalted – as the Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ الْأَيَّامِ عِنْدَ اللَّـهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَوْمُ النَّحْرِ ثُمَّ يَوْمُ الْقَرِّ
Indeed, the greatest day in the sight of Allah, Blessed and Exalted, is the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm al-Naḥr), followed by the Day of Settlement (Yawm al-Qarr). [Abu Dawud 1765, Sahih (Albani)]
So honor it as Allah – the Exalted – has honored it:
ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَائِرَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى الْقُلُوبِ -الحج 32
Al-Ḥajj (22) 32: That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaha illaLah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa liLahil Hamd
We live in security and stability, while others are surrounded by chaos from all directions. This calls for fear and urgency in turning to Allah – the Exalted – seeking His protection. Indeed, the images of those suffering contains powerful lessons and reminders that should lead us to repentance and turning back to Allah, and committing to His commands – so that we are not afflicted with what has afflicted others.
And the woman can be a source of trial for a man. Either she pleases him in a lawful manner and he is made happy through her and expresses gratitude to Allah – the Exalted – for that, and she helps him to remain grateful; or he is tempted by her, disobeys Allah Almighty for her sake, and thus brings upon himself Allah’s punishment because of her. Allah the Exalted has said:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّ مِنْ أَزْوَاجِكُمْ وَأَوْلَادِكُمْ عَدُوًّا لَّكُمْ فَاحْذَرُوهُمْ -التغابن 14
At-Taghabun (64) 14: O you who have believed, indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them.
So, O Muslim women, be a support for men in obeying Allah – the Exalted – and do not be a cause of their disobedience. For the affairs of homes and families in this time have largely fallen into the hands of women. And the woman is a caretaker in her husband’s house and is responsible for those under her care.
O woman, purify your home from forbidden things, raise your children to fear Allah – the Exalted – and instill in their hearts love for Him and obedience to Him. Firmly guide them upon the truth. If you do so, Allah – the Exalted – will avert punishment from us, preserve faith and security, and our children will become a source of joy for us.
May Allah safeguard and protect the Muslim women, shield them and their children from every kind of trial, both apparent and hidden, and rectify their spouses and their offspring.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaha illaLah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa liLahil Hamd
You are now leaving your places of prayer to draw closer to Allah – the Exalted – with your sacrificial offerings. The time for slaughtering extends until the setting of the sun on the thirteenth day (of Dhul-Hijjah), which is the last of the Days of Tashriq—days in which fasting is not permitted.
Let the first thing you eat today be from the meat of your sacrificial animals. So eat from it, gift part of it, give some in charity, and store some for later. Show joy and happiness on your Eid, avoid whatever Allah – the Exalted – has forbidden for you, and express gratitude to Allah Almighty Who has guided you and blessed you.
And do not forget your less fortunate brothers and sisters. So shelter them, feed their hungry, care for their sick, support their widows, sponsor their orphans, and show your concern for them. Comfort them with what Allah Almighty has given you, and remember them in your supplications.
For indeed, by helping them, you earn the pleasure of your Lord, you come to the aid of your fellow believers, you protect yourselves, and you safeguard your own security and provision. For truly, giving and generosity repel calamities and hardship.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Laa Ilaha illaLah, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, wa liLahil Hamd
May Allah Almighty repeatedly bestow upon us and you and upon all Muslims faith and blessings and safety and security. May Allah accept from us and you the righteous deeds. Indeed Allah is All Hearing, Answering.
هَذَا وَصَلُّوا وَسَلِّمُوا عَلَى نَبِيِّكُم كَمَا أَمَرَكُمْ بِذلِكَ رَبُّكُمْ , فَقَالَ
I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon your Prophet as your Lord commanded:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
Al Ahzaab (33) 56: Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنا فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنا فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنا فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لنا فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنا شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
O Allah, guide us with those whom You have guided, grant us well-being among those You have granted well-being, be an ally to us along with those whom You are an ally to, and bless what You have bestowed upon us, and save us from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree over You. He whom You support can never be humiliated. Glory is to You, our Lord, You are Blessed and Exalted.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّهِ عَاجِلِهِ وَآجِلِهِ مَا عَلِمْنا مِنْهُ وَمَا لَمْ نَعْلَمْ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا سَأَلَكَ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا عَاذَ بِهِ عَبْدُكَ وَنَبِيُّكَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ وَنَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ كُلَّ قَضَاءٍ قَضَيْتَهُ لَنا خَيْرًا
O Allah, We ask You for all that is good, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we seek refuge with You from all evil, in this world and in the Hereafter, what we know and what we do not know. O Allah, we ask You for the good that Your servant and Prophet has asked You for, and we seek refuge with You from the evil from which Your servant and Prophet sought refuge. O Allah, we ask You for Paradise and for that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed, and we seek refuge in You from Hell and from that which brings one closer to it, in word and deed. And we ask You to make every decree that You decree concerning us good.
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