https://www.khutbah.info/affirming-our-return-to-allah/ Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate; the Comforter of the lonely, the Protector of the fearful, the Benefactor of those who seek help, the Healer of the hearts of the afflicted. No one relies on Him and is let down, and no one hopes in Him and is disappointed. No calamity is greater than the calamity of the passing of the Prophet Mohammad ﷺ and nothing was harder for the Companions than his passing, but the consolation is in the Quran and in his Sunnah. Be conscious of Allah Almighty and adhere to His religion, for death is near, the reckoning is severe, and the reward is great. People are either wretched or joyous. So let us do the deeds of the joyous, for it is eternal happiness, and let us avoid the deeds of the wretched, for it is eternal wretchedness. Allah Almighty said:
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 slave and messenger.
يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ – آل عمران:102
Al Imran 102 : O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
Oh people:
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate; the Comforter of the lonely, the Protector of the fearful, the Benefactor of those who seek help, the Healer of the hearts of the afflicted. No one relies on Him and is let down, and no one hopes in Him and is disappointed. No calamity is greater than the calamity of the passing of the Prophet Mohammad ﷺ and nothing was harder for the Companions than his passing, but the consolation is in the Quran and in his Sunnah.
Be conscious of Allah Almighty and adhere to His religion, for death is near, the reckoning is severe, and the reward is great. People are either wretched or joyous. So let us do the deeds of the joyous, for it is eternal happiness, and let us avoid the deeds of the wretched, for it is eternal wretchedness. Allah Almighty said:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِنَا سَوْفَ نُصْلِيهِمْ نَارًا كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُمْ بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا لِيَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا * وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ سَنُدْخِلُهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا لَهُمْ فِيهَا أَزْوَاجٌ مُطَهَّرَةٌ وَنُدْخِلُهُمْ ظِلًّا ظَلِيلًا-النِّسَاءِ 56 – 57
An-Nisa (4) 56-57: (56) Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses – We will drive them into a Fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted in Might and Wise. (57) But those who believe and do righteous deeds – We will admit them to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide forever. For them therein are purified spouses, and We will admit them to deepening shade.
O people, among the greatest things that benefit believers in their life and after their death is understanding the ranks of servitude to their Lord, exalted is He. For in times of prosperity, there is the worship of gratitude; and in times of adversity, there is the worship of patience. Patience in the face of calamities and affirming our return to Allah is a lofty rank of true servitude, and the person who possesses it is rewarded with the greatest of rewards. For Allah, exalted is He, compensates the patient without limit. And how much people are in need during these times to understand Allah’s Sunnah (Divine Laws) in calamities and to understand how to face them with patience and affirming one’s return to their Lord; as these times are alarming and dangers surround individuals and communities from all sides. Allah Almighty said:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ * الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ * أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ-الْبَقَرَةِ 155-157
Al-Baqarah (2)155-157: (155) And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, (156) who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.’ (157) Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided
So, it is Allah’s Sunnah (Divine Laws) regarding His believing servants to test them with trials, touch them with difficulties, and to afflict them with calamities to distinguish between the sincere and insincere, the genuine from the fake, the truthful from the liar, and the one who despairs from the patient. For if prosperity was continuous for the people of faith, and they did not have trials and adversities, the people of faith would be undifferentiated from the people of hypocrisy, and those seeking the worldly life would not be distinguished from those seeking the Hereafter. Because in a state of well-being and comfort, everyone displays faith and sincerity. Therefore, there must be specific and general calamities that sift through this mixture. Allah’s wisdom requires distinguishing the people of good from the people of evil. Thus, this is the benefit of trials and calamities. They are not for turning believers away from their religion. Allah would never let their faith go to waste. For this reason, the affliction is with a little fear and hunger, for it is a test and not a punishment. And regarding punishment, Allah the Exalted said:
فَكَفَرَتْ بِأَنْعُمِ اللَّهِ فَأَذَاقَهَا اللَّهُ لِبَاسَ الْجُوعِ وَالْخَوْفِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَصْنَعُونَ-النَّحْلِ 112
An-Nahl (16) 112: So they denied the favors of Allah; so Allah made them taste the garment of hunger and fear for what they used to do.
There is a big difference between tasting hunger and fear and actually being afflicted with them. This shows the mercy of Allah Most High towards the believers and that He wishes good for them with whatever afflicts them. It serves as a reminder for them in their forgetfulness and a wake-up call from their heedlessness, along with the reward they will get for their affliction if they are patient and affirm their return to Allah. For trials purify and refine, but they do not destroy or ruin.
Furthermore, these afflictions that befall an individual or a community could be hunger and fear, which are among the severest forms of trials. For hunger pains the body and weakens it, while fear occupies and fragments the heart. If afflictions having elements of hunger and fear were not quick to pass, the afflicted would perish. Afflictions also include loss of wealth, lives, and produce, whether from natural disasters or theft or damage.
After informing about trials and afflictions, glad tidings came:
وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
Al-Baqarah (2) 155: But give good tidings to the patient
Praiseworthy patience is beautiful patience that is free from complaints and lamentation, with no panic or discontent, and without complaining to others. This is like the patience of Jacob, peace be upon him, when he lost Joseph and said:
فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ-يُوسُفَ 18
Yusuf (12) 18:Beautiful patience is fitting for me. Allah is the one whose help can be sought against that which you describe.
And from what makes patience beautiful, free from lamentation or complaint, and without restlessness at what Allah Almighty sent down of calamity, is entrusting one’s affairs to Allah Most High, and to refer one’s return and ultimate end to Him alone. And that is why Allah Almighty said concerning the state of the patient, and what they say when a calamity befalls them:
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ-الْبَقَرَةِ 156
Al-Baqarah (2) 156: Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return
In this statement is completely entrusting one’s affairs to Allah Almighty and taking pride in His majesty, as well as reassurance in His ability that elevates souls above complaining to anyone other than Allah, the Most High and All-Powerful.
It also acknowledges that we are the property of Allah Most High. He administers us as He wills. Our affairs are in His hands, He administers them as He pleases. He is the one to rely upon for removing harm and relieving distress, and He has the command and control. In this worldly life, we belong to Him, and after this worldly life, we will return to Him.
In this phrase:
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ-الْبَقَرَةِ 156
Al-Baqarah (2) 156: Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return
is an affirmation of Tawhid (Divine Oneness), a feeling of servitude, and faith in resurrection. In that, there is immense comfort and relief from trials. The Prophet ﷺ said:
مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ تُصِيبُهُ مُصِيبَةٌ، فَيَقُولُ مَا أَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ، إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي، وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا، إِلَّا أَخْلَفَ اللَّهُ لَهُ خَيْرًا مِنْهَا-رَوَاهُ مُسْلِ
Whenever a Muslim is afflicted with a calamity and says what Allah has commanded, Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return, O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it with something better, Allah will surely replace it with something better. [Muslim 918a]
The righteous do not flee from calamities that befall them, nor do they perceive them from a negative standpoint. Rather, they see them from a beneficial and positive angle. Such trials cultivate in the believer a sense of Divine Lordship, humility before the Divine Power, and sincerity to Allah, the Most High. Sincerely realizing weakness before Him and realizing that none can relieve hardship except Allah, so they beseech Him. For beseeching and supplicating to Him are among the greatest acts of worship and the highest statuses.
Calamities humble the soul and distance it from arrogance, wrong doing, and transgression. This is because being touched by hardship reveals one’s weakness and the power of Allah over them. Therefore, they declare their belonging to Allah and their return to Him, whereby perhaps before the calamity they had been heedless of Him, disregarding His signs and admonitions.
People of faith and certainty look at calamities from a long-term perspective. They firmly believe, due to their positive thinking regarding Allah, that there is a great benefit behind them, which they may not perceive at the time of the calamity. But they may find it afterwards. Allah Almighty said:
وَعَسَى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ-الْبَقَرَةِ 216
Al-Baqarah (2) 216: It may be that you dislike something and it is good for you
And in another verse:
فَعَسَى أَنْ تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَيَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا-النِّسَاءِ 19
An Nisa (4) 19: But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you
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 slave and messenger.
Oh Muslims:
Be conscious of Allah, the Most High and obey Him and be grateful to Him in times of prosperity, and be patient during adversity, and seek refuge with Him during calamities:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اصْبِرُوا وَصَابِرُوا وَرَابِطُوا وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ-آلِ عِمْرَانَ 200
Aal-E-Imran (3) 200: O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.
When Allah, the Exalted, informed of the trials faced by the people through various afflictions, and commanded them to have patience and affirm their returning to Him, He the Almighty clarified the immense reward and bounty, for He is the Generous, the Noble. This clarification is a grace from Allah, the Exalted, to motivate souls towards patience and inspire them to affirm their return to Him. Thereby the great reward and recompense makes them forget the pain and severity of the affliction. Allah Almighty said:
أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ-الْبَقَرَةِ 157
Al-Baqarah (2)157: Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is those who are the [rightly] guided.
Their Lord blesses them, meaning He praises them. He mentions their patience and affirming their return to Him in the highest assembly. So, the people on earth feel compassion for them because of their affliction, while the angels in the heavens covet them for what they see of Allah’s remembering and praising them for their patience and affirming their return to Him. What a great mention in the highest assembly! Along with what is stored for them of immense reward and recompense.
In addition to the blessings of Allah Almighty upon them, they will have mercy from Him that will cover them. And whoever is embraced by the mercy of Allah will neither stray nor be wretched. And He describes them as being rightly guided. This is a commendation from Him, the Most High, and is the greatest and most beneficial form of praise. Allah Almighty said:
مَا أَصَابَ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ يُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ-التَّغَابُنِ 11
At-Taghabun (64) 11: No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah – He will guide his heart
So guidance came after iman (faith) that is required for having patience. And this guidance is a reward from Allah, the Most High.
The believer who is patient and affirms their return to Allah during calamities contrasts with the state of the disbelievers and the hypocrites who become distressed, lack patience, become resentful, and do not affirm their return to Allah. The disbelievers said to their messenger:
اطَّيَّرْنَا بِكَ وَبِمَنْ مَعَكَ
An-Naml (27) 47: We see an evil omen from you and those with you.
And the Exalted said about the hypocrites:
وَإِنْ تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ يَقُولُوا هَذِهِ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ-النِّسَاءِ 78
An-Nisa (4) 78: And if an evil befalls them, they say: This is because of you.
Therefore, the believers accustom themselves to being grateful during ease and prosperity and to being patient during hardship and adversity. And arm themselves with patience and affirming their return to Allah, two weapons during calamity that do not fail, the effect of which is rapidly felt in the heart of the afflicted with contentment, joy, and happiness despite the enormity of the calamity. Allah Almighty said:
وَمَنْ يُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ-التَّغَابُنِ 11
At-Taghabun (64) 11: And whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart. And Allah is Aware of everything.
We ask Allah, the Most High, for well-being, and continuous protection in religion, life, and the Hereafter. We ask Him for patience and contentment in times of calamity and that He may multiply our rewards and blessings, and grant us a good conclusion. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Responsive.
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
عِبَادَ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Servants of Allah. Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
اُذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ واشْكُرُوهُ يَزِدْكُمْ واسْتَغْفِرُوهُ يَغْفِرْ لكُمْ واتّقُوهُ يَجْعَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَمْرِكُمْ مَخْرَجًا وَأَقِمِ الصّلَاة
Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favors – He will increase you therein. And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters. And, establish the prayer.
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