Read the Friday Sermon Below:
The Wrath of Allah… Why ?
Allah (twt) says in the Holy Quran:
“Let there arise out of you a community [or group] of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right, and forbidding what is wrong: They are the ones to attain felicity.” [Al-Imran, 3: 105]
And in a Hadith, Huzaifah Ibn Al-Yaman (ra)
reported that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “By Him who holds my life in His
hands, you must command good and forbid evil; otherwise Allah (twt) will
inflict His punishment on you and you will beg Him but He will not answer you.”
[Tirmidhi]
Commanding good and forbidding evil is a concept in the Qur’an that allows the whole world to discover and evaluate the system of Islam. No Muslim has the right to turn away from it because it is not only a characteristic of a Muslim, but also a protection against ruin.
The verse which I just read before you refers to the Jews who rejected the real Deen and were trying to convince other people not to accept it. That’s why they stopped getting the favours of Allah (twt) and got lost.
Thus, Muslims are addressed to develop their Taqwa [i.e., their Fear for Allah, their Piety and as well as Righteousness] and embrace Islam in all its aspects. Muslims are also called to unite against all evil forces and not to divide.
These commands concern spiritual development and to make them universal, Muslims have been ordered to invite humanity to all that is good - AL-KHAYR - to ordain the accomplishment of good works - Aamilus Swalihaat - and to prohibit evil actions. Allah (twt) condemned the People of the Book [Ahlul-Kitaab] - that is, the Jews and Christians - for two reasons, namely for their transgression and because they turned people away from the real Deen.
So unlike Jews, Muslims must not only be righteous people, but must also guide others to righteousness. This responsibility of Muslims to Allah (twt) is described as follows:
(i) Invite to Good [Al-Khayr]; and
(ii) Ordain good [Al-Ma’ruf] and forbid
evil [Al-Munkar].
Now, one should know the meaning and
implications of these responsibilities:
“AL-KHAYR” involves the Deen of Allah (twt), which was transmitted by the Holy Prophet (pbuh) in a broader context. The Deen of Allah (twt) involves Islam and all its systems, its Aqeedah and its political, ethical principles, etc. Everything that has been prescribed by Islam represents Al-Khayr and everything that has been forbidden by Islam represents evil. Islam is the only ideal of Muslims and any other system or ideology represents nothing but evil, [which is] undoubtedly imperfect. This is why Muslims should devote themselves to re-establishing the Deen Al-Islam (Sahih Al Islam) as the only true system of governance and uprooting all other systems.
No one can imagine a Muslim who does not fulfil the divine duty to command Good and forbid Evil. The Muslim is not like a monk who locks himself in a monastery.
To invite to Al-Khayr is to invite to the message of Islam in its entirety and this does not imply a partial invitation, that is, only the ritual side or the political side. Once again, all efforts must be mobilized in order to fulfil such a duty. Besides, all the prophets (as) invited their respective people to Allah (twt).
Although the rules and laws have taken different forms for different peoples, the essence behind Allah’s messages, their rules and laws have remained the same.
Allah (twt) says in the Holy Quran: “And We made them leaders, guiding people by Our command, and We inspired them to do righteous deeds, establish prayer and give Zakaat; and they were Our true worshipers.” [Al-Anbiya 21: 74]
In the verse I just mentioned, Al-Khayraat implies the righteous acts of prophets (as) such as Ibrahim (as), Ishaq (as) and Yaqub (as) in accordance with the command of Allah (twt):
“… For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made you as ye are). So vie one with another in good works...” [Al-Maida 5: 49]
These verses imply the obedience of Allah and the assertion that the Qur’an is the last Book revealed. These prove that the teachings of Islam and the commandments derived from it as well as the actions that believers have been ordered to perform are the very essence of righteousness, such righteousness that will bring Al-Khayr to the summit of its accomplishment.
In short “Khayraat” is synonymous with
obedience to Allah (twt) and the prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and submission to the
Shariah of Allah. This sums up the whole way of life that has been
described in the Quran and to which all mankind should be invited. What is
required of a Muslim is to submit to the Shariah, and those who refuse
are only transgressors.
Inviting to “Al-Khayr” being addressed in a general order implies an invitation to all that can assure the best in this world and in the Hereafter, while inviting to other than Islam, can only bring disaster.
So, the “Dawa ilal Khayr” [The Invitation
to the accomplishment of Good] is a directive which is not only tantamount to
preaching verbally, but which should urge every Muslim to do justice to this command,
this by striving body and soul and inviting towards the Sahih Al Islam
[The righteous way of Islam, the True practice of Islam].
“AMR BIL MA’ROOF - NAHY ANIL MUNKAR” [Ordaining good and forbidding evil] is a prophetic mission as described in the Holy Quran: “Those who follow the Messenger – the unlettered Prophet – whose description they find in their Torah and the Gospel. He enjoins them to do what is good and forbids them from what is evil; he makes lawful for them what is pure and makes unlawful for them from what is impure; he relieves them of their burden and the shackles that were on them. So those who believe in him, they honour and support him, and follow the light which is sent down with him – it is they who will be successful.” [Al-Araf 7: 158]
When you read this verse, from my personal analysis, the people of the Book had a responsibility to fulfil: the duty to command Good and forbid Evil, but, unfortunately, they failed in their duty. This sacred duty then fell upon the Muslims [to accomplish] and it is in this command that the meaning of the prophecy resides and this is what makes the Ummah Muhammadiyya, the successors of the Holy Prophet (pbuh). The Muslim should take the role of leader while being at the same time a devout practitioner. In addition to his submission to Allah (twt) and the prayers he performs, he should guide mankind to righteousness. The Muslim has no right to neglect any part of his responsibility, otherwise he will fall into sin and be held accountable on the Day of Judgement. One should never forget the reasons why Allah (twt) honoured the Ummah of the Prophet (pbuh): “You are the best community ever raised for humanity—you encourage good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah. Had the People of the Book believed, it would have been better for them. Although some of them are faithful, but most are perverted transgressors.” [Al-Imran 3: 111].
The Ummah having inherited such a prophetic mission, Muslims should perform their divine duty in the same spirit as that of the prophets (as). To believe in Allah (twt) is to surrender completely to His will [the will of Allah (twt)] and it is only by being strict in our submission that we can develop a firm faith – the same faith [strong and sincere faith] which is so lacking in the Ummah these days.
As Allah (twt) has described it, the duty to order good and forbid evil is a characteristic of Muslims. As long as they sincerely discharge their responsibility, they will be part of the Khayrah Ummah. However, any negligence on their part can deprive them of such honour and cause their downfall.
No one can imagine a Muslim who does not fulfil the divine duty to command good and forbid evil. The Muslim is not like a monk who locks himself in a monastery. Muslims should realize that it is not just personal virtues that are needed to guide humanity. Allah (twt) describes the ‘Swaleheen’ [Those who do good] as follows: “(They are) those who repent, those who worship, those who praise (Allah), those who journey (in Allah’s way), those who bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer, those who enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limits by Allah. And give the good news to the believers.” (At-Tawba 9: 112)
They are helping mankind and by ordering good and forbidding evil, they are guiding mankind to obedience to Allah (twt). They know how to distinguish between Good and Evil correctly. They are aware of the law of Allah (twt) and adopt it in theory as well as in practice. So, in addition to doing the Ibaadat of Allah (twt), they do many voluntary acts for humanity; it is because the believers are doing this that the good announcement has been made to them [i.e. the good news has been given to them].
I read somewhere, but I don’t remember where, but what is important, our prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “He who commands good and forbids evil is the Vicegerent of Allah (twt), the prophet (pbuh) and the Book.”
Muslims who are completely devoted to Allah
(twt) are very rare. So whoever tries to put an end to such a state of affairs
is the best person on earth. He will be honoured with the ‘Renaissance of Authentic
Islam’. Whoever ordains good and forbids evil will put Islam back in its right
place. By doing so, that person will become the one Allah most preferred.
Besides, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) not only emphasized and insisted on the fulfilment
of such a duty, but he also warned the Ummah of the wrath of Allah
(twt), if ever the Muslims were to fail in their divine responsibility.
Darrat Abi Lahhad (ra) reported that on one occasion, while the Holy Prophet (pbuh) was giving a sermon [Khutba] on the Pulpit [Mimbar], someone asked him: “O Messenger of Allah! Who is the best among us?”
The Holy Prophet (pbuh) replied: “The one who possesses the most Taqwa, recites the Book frequently, does not refrain from the duty to command Good and forbid Evil, and maintains his relationship with his parents.” [Ahmad]
Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) has reported that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “Islam implies obedience to Allah (twt), to avoid the Shirk, to perform the Hajj, to observe the Sawm (Fasting - Roza), to pay the Zakaat, to order Good and to forbid Evil. Anyone who neglects any obligation will be guilty of it. Whoever abandons all his obligations then transgresses.” [Ahmad]
Jabir (ra) reported that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “Allah (twt) ordered Jibra’il (as) to destroy a certain city; Jibra’il (as) subsequently pleaded with Allah (twt) on behalf of a resident who appeared to be pious. But Allah (twt) had maintained His order for Jibra’il (as) to destroy this city, including the person, who seemed pious, because despite his piety, this person had never tried neither to command Good nor to forbid Evil.” (Baihaqi).
The call to command good and forbid evil is one of the pillars of Islam; prophets have been sent down through the millennia to fulfil such a duty. Otherwise, the mission of the prophets would be lifeless and without reason. Any delay in fulfilling such a duty would result in the spread of ignorance, lawlessness and disaster in general, even if people are unaware of their [own] negligence.
Alas! The foundation of Islam has been affected. This is why today the image of Islam has been distorted from within and outside also. Tempted by worldly affairs, Muslims submit to their passions and therefore, they are no better than wild animals. The importance of commanding good and forbidding evil is testified by the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This is one of the pillars on which the Deen rests. If any part of the community neglects any of the essential duties, it must be fought even with regard to those who believe in Allah and in divine revelations and prophethood, but who do not perform their five daily prayers (Fardh). They must be monitored and asked to fulfil their obligations. Likewise, we must fight all those who neglect their obligation to command Good and forbid Evil, and who compromise with non-Muslims.
To be guided involves the duty to command Good and forbid Evil as much as possible. The believer who is guided is not the one who struggles only for his own improvement, but for that of others as well.
I end with this famous Hadith: Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra) related that the Messenger of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: “When the time comes when people will be indifferent to the spread of evil, these people will attract the wrath of Allah (twt).” (Ahmad).
May Allah preserve us all from His wrath and
give us faith and courage to fulfil our duties as Muslims, and Alhamdulillah,
in this century Allah has sent to you His Caliph [Khalifatullah] and Insha-Allah,
through your devotions to Islam, and following divine instructions, you will
walk with His Caliph towards the building of a new world, being obedient and
transforming yourselves into the Khayrah Ummah [The Best Community that
invites to Good]. Insha-Allah, Ameen.