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The first sermon
The greatest human achievement is to gain the love of Allah
Dear Brother, man, instinctively, every human on the earth from Adam until the Day of Resurrection likes his existence, his safety, the perfection of his existence and its maintenance. So Why does him suffer misery as long as he likes that? It is due to ignorance which is man's worst enemy. Actually, the harm ignorant one causes to himself is greater than that done by his enemy. Therefore, the serious problem of people of Hell-fire is the ignorance, and the proof of that is mentioned in this ayah:
"And they will say: "Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not have been among the dwellers of the blazing Fire!"
Dear Brother, human's greatest achievement in this life is absolutely to earn the love of Allah the Almighty, it will be called in the universe that Allah loves a person so every creature in the universe will love him. Actually, if Allah loves you, you attain everything, but as the saying goes: Averting evil is preferable to bringing benefits.
Who are those whom Allah doesn't like?
1- The transgressors:
Today's subject is: Whom are those Allah does not like? We are tackling this subject in order to avoid these items and then to think: How do we earn the love of Allah the Almighty? Allah the Almighty says:
"But transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors."
There are many kinds of aggression, aggression against human's soul by the act of abusing, torturing, or killing, aggression against his wealth by theft or fraud, and aggression against his honor, man's honor is his reputation, by backbiting,calumny and gossip(tattle). So do not commit transgression against people's souls by torture and killing, do not commit transgression against their wealth by theft and fraud, and do not commit transgression against other's honor by backbiting and calumny:
"But transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors."
But this does not mean that if someone commits transgression against you that you should do nothing, this contradicts the believer's dignity and self-esteem, Allah the Almighty says:
"And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, they take revenge."
The oppression is the aggression.
Allah rewards those who forgive sh3er:
((Ask your needs with self-esteem because matters (everything) happen according to the Noble Preordainments))
The believer should has self-esteem:
"And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, they take revenge."
But if they take revenge:
"The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah."
These are very precise words; when you think in all probability that if you forgive the aggressor he will return to the right way, then Allah the Almighty says to you: O My slave, forgive him, and I will reward you: "But whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah." Just for clarification, if a man was driving his vehicle at low speed, then a child jumped into his way and he unintentionally run over him, then this driver, according to laws, should receive a severe punishment. However, the reality is exactly the opposite; this isn't his fault because he was driving at the lowest speed but that reckless child jumped into his way so he run over him unintentionally. So if we forgive him, this will reform him. However, he who drives at high speed, challenges sh3er, and abuses them, should be punished when committing such fault. So the condition here is that when you think in all probability that if you forgive him he will return to the right path, then forgive him and Allah will reward you, on the other hand, if your forgiveness will increase his moral corruption and abusing then you should not forgive him. So:
"And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, they take revenge.* The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah. Verily, He likes not the Zalimun (oppressors, polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)"
This means that he made reconciliation when he forgave him, he thought his forgiveness will improve his situation, then Allah the Almighty says: "his reward is with Allah"
Backbiting is one of the worst sins:
Dear Brother, the Prophet may Allah bless him and grant him peace said:
"backbiting is worse than adultery"
Because it is an act of aggression against other's honor which is human's object of praise and slander:
" Beware of backbiting, for it is worse than adultery”. They (Companions ) asked:O Allah's Messenger, how backbiting is worse than adultery?.He (The Noble Prophet )said: “A man may commit adultery then he turns in repentance to Allah,and Allah accepts it. But the backbiter will not attain salvation unless the person against whom he backbites him forgives him"
Once a man said to another: you spoke unpleasant words against me ( you have maligned me), he said: why do I do that for you? If I want to backbite any one, I will do that against my father and mother because they are worthier of my righteous deeds than you. It was said that accusing a chaste woman of adultery demolishes the righteous deeds of a hundred year. So backbiting, abusing and killing are acts of aggression. Actually, you should not look to those who gave you the order but to the Owner of the order, to the One and the Judge (Allah), to Whom you are in His Possession:
"And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, they take revenge.* The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof, but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah. Verily, He likes not the Zalimun (oppressors, polytheists, and wrong-doers, etc.)"
The Prophet prohibited backbiting and listening to it.
Dear Brother, We're still in this ayah:
"But transgress not the limits. Truly, Allah likes not the transgressors."
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) forbade backbiting, and this prohibition is known to everyone, but the thing that some of you may not know is that he forbade listening to backbiting too. There was a respected scholar in this good country who used to say to anyone made backbiting in front of him: stop talking! You have darkened my heart. In conclusion, the Prophet, Allah's Blessings and Grace be upon him, forbade backbiting and listening to it.
The first item (in our discourse) is: Allah does not like the aggressors; He does not like aggression against souls by abusing and killing, nor the aggression against wealth by theft and plunder, nor the aggression against honor by backbiting and calumny. So the (summary of the)first paragraph is: Allah does not like the aggressors.
Shirk (polytheism) is the greatest kind of sins.
The second ayah is:
"And Allah likes not the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers)."
The absolutely greatest kind of wrong is Shirk (to associate another one with Allah in worship) because Allah the Almighty says:
"O my son! Join not in worship sh3er with Allah. Verily! Joining sh3er in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed."
When you headed for a human being and thought that your blessing, your fear, your bad luck, and your destiny are in his hand and that you are under his possession and forgot Allah, you worshipped him instead of Allah. This is the great shirk. On the Day of Resurrection, the killed person will come dragging his killer and say: 'O My Lord, this man killed me:
"(On the Day of Judgment) a man will come holding the hand of another man and say: O Lord! It is he who killed me. Allah will say: Why did you kill him? He will say: I killed him so that glory be for You. Allah will say: Indeed it is (for Me). Then another will come taking hold of another man's hand and say: It is he who killed me. Allah will ask him: Why did you kill him? He will say: I killed him so that glory may be established for so and so,Allah will say: Indeed glory is not his. So the killer will bear the sin"
So the believer follows the orders of the Noble Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, and he should not implement any order that contradicts them whatever is the results. Verily, this is the Devine Way.
"And Allah likes not the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers).
So, the absolutely greatest kind of wrong is Shirk; to worship anyone else besides Allah, to think that anyone else with Allah has power, and to believe that powerful people arrange all affairs for decision.
At-Tauhid (monotheism)
When dose Allah the Almighty command you to worship Him? It is after He assured you that:
"And to Him return all affairs (for decision).So worship Him"
When does Allah order you to worship Him? It is after He filled you with confidence that all you affairs, your life, your death, your sustenance, your happiness, your wife, your children, and everything surrounding you is in His Hand. Actually, this is the real monotheism, as the saying goes: The servants of Allah have not learned anything better than Tauhid. So:
"Verily! Joining sh3er in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed."
"And Allah likes not the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers).
2- The Zalimun (polytheists and wrong doers)
As regard our discourse: Whom are those Allah does not like? Allah does not like the evil-doers. Once l illustrated this ayah by this example:
"Verily! Allah forgives not (the sin of) setting up partners in worship with Him"
If a man wants to travel from Damascus to Aleppo to receive a large amount of money at twelve o'clock for example, and there is a train that will head from Damascus and will reach Aleppo at eleven o'clock. If he rides a carriage of the third class while he booked a ticket i of the first class, then this is a mistake, but the train is heading to Aleppo and will reach there at eleven o'clock. Also, if rides with rude young men who bother him a lot, this is another mistake but the train is still heading to Aleppo. Also, if he feels with extreme hunger while there is a special vehicle for food in that train but he does not know that, this is another mistake. Actually, I can list dozens of mistakes for you, but eventually the train is heading to Aleppo and will arrive there at eleven o'clock. However, the unforgivable mistake is to ride a train heading to Amman, then he will receive nothing at all; he will not receive that great amount of money. So, if a man seeks anyone other than Allah, he has unintentionally committed Shirk. In conclusion, if you seek anyone other than Allah, you have committed the greatest kind of Shrik
"Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin"
There are mistakes accompany shirk, like taking sh3er wealth unjustly, and committing acts of aggression against people and their lives
So Dear brother, the second item of our discourse is: Allah does not like the wrong-doers.
3- The extravagant people
Now:
"And eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allah) likes not Al-Musrifun (those who waste by extravagance)"
So Allah the Almighty never likes the aggressors, the wrong-doers and the extravagant.
4- The cheerful ones
The striking thing is:
"Verily! Allah likes not those who are glad (with ungratefulness to Allah's Favours)."
Is rejoice forbidden ? Actually there is another ayah that explains this one, and for that reason the Noble Qur'an is called oft-repeated; which means: there are two ayat(verses) about each subject in the Noble Qur'an, one which explains the other. The Noble ayah is:
"But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of legal enjoyment in this world, and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the Mufsidun (those who commit great crimes and sins, oppressors, tyrants, mischief-makers, corrupts)."
Do not be glad with money that enables you to disobey Allah, then:
"Verily! Allah likes not those who are glad (with ungratefulness to Allah's Favours)."
Man should be delighted with the bounty of Allah, with his straightness, and his good deeds
What you should be delighted with ?
"Say: "In the Bounty of Allah, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islam and the Qur'an); -therein let them rejoice."
You should be delighted that you are a believer, that you stand straight on Allah's Orders, that Allah enables you to perform good deeds, that you understand the Noble Qur'an and you should be delighted with a righteous deed by which Allah will raise your status (in Paradise). So, joy is not forbidden in general, but it is forbidden to be delighted with this life, because it tempts people with its illicit pleasures, harms them then it elapses.
Once, a man, who is now dead, may Allah have mercy upon him, told me that he has s shop in Hamidiya market and he used to collect the garbage of his shop, put it in a fine box, wrapped it in a gift wrap, tied it with a red ribbon and put it on the pavement outside his shop. Someone saw it and thought it something precious so he took it (stole it) and run. The owner of the shop followed him. After a hundred meters, the thief untied the ribbon, after a second hundred meters he tore the gift wrap, opened the box thinking that he will find gold or diamonds, but after he realized that it was the garbage of the shop he began to shout and curse. Verily, this is the case of human when he will meet Allah the Almighty, he loved this life, he was extremely interested in it, and he thought that it was something precious, but eventually truth is revealed to him (he realizes that it was valueless without righteous deeds). But when did that happen? It happened too late. So:
"Say: "In the Bounty of Allah, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islam and the Qur'an); -therein let them rejoice."
The first question is: do not transgress the limit, verily Allah does not like the aggressors, and the oppressors. In addition to that, Shirk is a great wrong, and Allah does not like those who rejoice. Actually, you should be delighted with the bounty of Allah, your straightness on Allah's orders, your righteous deeds, spending money on the poor and seeking Islamic knowledge.
5- The betrayers and those who commit sins (sinners)
"Verily, Allah does not like anyone who is a betrayer of his trust, and indulges in crime."
Allah does not like any kind of betrayal. Moreover, Allah the Almighty says:
"And, verily! Allah guides not the plot of the betrayers."
The plot is the arrangement of affair, if a man betrays the trust, he swore on oath before graduating that he would take care of nation's rights, to take care of the patient rights as a doctor, to take care of the oppressed rights as a lawyer, so he swore an oath upon graduation but he did not do that. Thus, this is a betrayal of principle, a betrayal of oath. Verily, each top job has an oath upon graduation; to swear by Allah to take care of the rights of the nation and the citizens, therefore:
"Verily, Allah does not like anyone who is a betrayer of his trust, and indulges in crime."
The answer is:
"And, verily! Allah guides not the plot of the betrayers."
Any plot, no matter how perfect and who well-knit it is, if it is based on betrayal, Allah will definitely reveal it.
6- The arrogant:
"Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster."
What is the reason behind arrogance? By only one second, a man might die; if a drop of blood which is no more than a pinhead in size clots in one of the arteries of brain, it causes paralyze, blindness, or innumerous diseases, which means all your status, supremacy, strength and weight among people is based on a drop of blood which is a pinhead-sized, if it clots in one of brain's vessels, it causes paralyze. There is a king of an Arab country who was paralyzed for ten years due to a drop of blood, so what is your real might? Do not be proud of your power. So:
"And, verily! Allah guides not the plot of the betrayers."
"Verily, Allah likes not each arrogant boaster."
Humble yourself to the Lord of the Throne, to Allah the Almighty, and to those who are around you.
7- Those who utter evil in public:
Dear brother, Allah the Almighty also says:
"Allah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public except by him who has been wronged."
There is a gentle guidance of the Prophet(p.b.u.h) which is that one of the companions cursed Abu Jahl, the worst infidel who declared himself an enemy of the Prophet for twenty years and who followed various ways to degrade the Companions through acts of aggression against them, however, when one of the Companions cursed him after his death, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"Ikrima bin Abi-Jahl will come to you as Migrant believer so do not curse his father as cursing the dead hurts the feelings of his alive relatives and does not reach the deceased"
What a good manner! He forbade insulting Abu Jahl for the sake of Ikrima, so accustom yourself not to use bad words in your speech.
8- The proud:
There is another thing:
"Truly, He likes not the proud"
"If you do not commit any sins, I fear that you may fall into something which is worse: conceit! Conceit"
"Truly, He likes not the proud"
"Pride is My Garment and greatness My Mantle, so whoever vies with Me for them I will throw into Hell".
This is related to the infidel who disbelieves in Allah.
9- The disbelievers:
Actually, some of you may ask: if any one disbelieve in Allah, does that mean he denies His Existence? No. consider this serious ayah:
"And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger (Muhammad); and that they came not to As-Salat (the prayer) except in a lazy state ; and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly"
What does this ayah indicate?
"And nothing prevents their contributions from being accepted from them except that they disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger (Muhammad); and that they came not to As-Salat (the prayer) except in a lazy state ; and that they offer not contributions but unwillingly"
Scholars said: There are degrees (or levels) of Al-Kufr (disbelief): there is Kufr that makes you completely infidel and there is a less degree of Kufr; like when you do not spend money on charity, do not follow the orders of Allah in spending money on the poor, do not lower your gaze from illicit sights, and when you pay no attention to this ayah in which Allah the Almighty says:
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things)"
When you do not care for a verdict from Islamic law, a command mentioned in the Noble Qur'an or in the Sunnah of the Prophet, then this is a kind of disbelief in it. Consider this example, if a man went to a doctor and the doctor treated him and wrote a prescription, that patient was very intelligent, tactful, and sociable, he shook hands with the doctor, thanked him and paid the fee, but that patient did not fill the prescription which meant that he had no confidence in the doctor's knowledge. So refraining from buying the medicine and taking it,is a kind of disbelieving in that doctor. Actually, there is no need to say: I believe in Allah, if you really believe in Allah, what did you do? What is the righteous deed that you performed to affirm your faith? There are many types of deviation caused by being not entirely convinced of Allah's Command, or by lacking the will to apply it.
So, Dear brother, Allah the Almighty does not love the disbelievers, and there are many degrees of kufr:
"And, verily! Allah guides not the plot of the betrayers."
To summarize, Allah does not like the betrayer, the arrogant, those who utter evil in public, does not like the proud and boastful, those who make mischief, those who are delighted with this life, the oppressors, the aggressors. Those are people Allah does not like. Next lesson, insha-Allah, I will talk about those whom Allah the Almighty likes.
I say these words, and ask Allah the Almighty's forgiveness for me and you; so ask Him His forgiveness and He will forgive you, and you will gain a lot by doing that.
***
The second khutba
Praise be to Allah, and I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the Protector of the righteous; and I bear witness that Prophet Muhammad, whose character is exalted, is His Slave and His Messenger. O Allah, grant Your peace and blessing upon our master Muhammad and his family, and Companions altogether.
Turning to Allah in repentance is the basis of salvation.
Dear Brother, there are sometimes few words that I call it 'totally inconclusive words' like what was narrated in tradition:
" One shouldn't fear anything except his own sin "
Do not be afraid of a powerful person or anything, except your sin:
"One shouldn't fear anything except his own sin "
Sin alone is the cause of any problem, and these ayaat confirm that, as the saying goes: No calamity happened but due to a sin, and it will not be lifted (ends) but after a repentance:
"There is no stumbling, twitching in a vein, or scratching by a stick (or thorn) except because of your sins, and the sins that are forgiven by Allah are more than that"
So, you should believe that Allah the Almighty does not allow a disaster to happen but due a reason, and when you look for this reason, you pass the greatest part of the way to Allah the Almighty. Again, you should believe that no scourge happens but because of a reason which if we remove, this scourge will come to an end, like an irremovable brutal power that was formed due to believers' sins, when will it vanish? It will happen when people first return to Allah in repentance, then move in accordance with wisdom, so we must repent to Allah so that our problems will go away.
Invocation
We beseech you Allah to show us the way of rightness among those whom You showed, and give us good health among whom You gave, and be our patron like those whom You became their patron, and bliss what You bestowed us, and save us from the traumas that You destined, for You rule in rightness and You are never judged, and he whom You patron shall never be humiliated and whom You make as enemy shall never be honored, blessed and dignified are You, and we thank You for what you destined, we ask Your Forgiveness and we repent to You, Allah please lead us to the good deeds for no one leads to them but You, please lead us to the good manners for no one leads to them but You, please Allah reform our religion which is our dignity, and make our worldly life good for it is our living, and make us safe in the Hereafter for it is our final destination, please make the life is our supply for all good things and make the death a rest from every evil, our Master the Lord of all worlds, please make us be satisfied with what You have made lawful from what You have made unlawful and with Your Obedience from disobedience to You, and with Your Grace from of all sh3er. O Allah do not let us feel secure from Your Plan, and do not lift Your Veil from us (disgrace us ) and let us not forget Your Remembrance, O Allah send Your Blessings,Honors and Graces on our master Muhammad, and his family and Companions
