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                           Bismillah irRahman irRaheem
            In the Name of Allaah, The Most Gracious, The Most Kind
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 Hijri date: Friday 28 SHawwal 1420 A.H.

 Ack: Qur'an & Sunnah Net Group - http://www.qsnetgroup.org
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 Translation of some excerpts of Jum'ah Khutbah from Haram in Makkah.
 21th January 2000/ 14th Shawwaal 1420
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 The Imam of the Holy Mosque in Makkah al-Mukarrammah, Sheikh Saleh bin
 Humaid began his sermon by praising and thanking Almighty Allah for the
 countless favours He has bestowed on His servants. He stated that Allah is
 the sole God without partners and that Muhammed is His servant and
 Messenger, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his household
 and righteous companions. He recommended to the worshippers that they fear
 Allah and ask for His forgiveness. He urged them to obey Allah and put
 their trust in Him.


 Man is civilised by nature and can only enjoy a pleasant life through
 living with others. Allah said in the Holy Quran: "Among the features of
 the human civilisation and the nature of human beings is the sincere
 advice, consultations and excepting of and giving orders among people." He
 who is not enjoined to do right will surely enjoin evil and falsehood. It
 is not possible for a man to desire to neither enjoin right nor forbid
 evil because this is not characteristic of human beings. Human souls are
 either righteous, self-reproaching or evil. If souls are not occupied with
 the righteous deeds they will certainly deviate to evil and falsehood. A
 nation who does not hold fast to it's principles will lose them to it's
 enemies. Allah said: "And did not Allah check one set of people by means
 of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief."


 The Sheikh explained that Islam descended as the seal of all other
 religions and the Holy Quran is the inheritor of all other Scriptures. In
 it's essence Islam is based on commanding it's followers to enjoin right
 and forbid wrong. The Islamic society advocates right and rejects
 falsehood and evil. Through this principle of enjoining right and
 forbidding wrong the Islamic nation is distinguished from other nations.
 Allah described the muslim nation in the Holy Quran: "You are the best of
 people evolved from mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is
 wrong and believing in Allah." The Sheikh said, without enjoining the
 right and forbidding the wrong the banner of Islam will never be raised
 high. Neither will we be able to hold fast to the rope of Allah. The
 guidance of enjoining right and forbidding wrong is the basis through
 which the Islamic Shari'ah is preserved throughout time from the invasion
 of misleading novelties. If Allah wills it will protect your beliefs,
 values and virtues. The enjoining of right and forbidding of wrong is a
 feature of solidarity among muslims. Allah said: "The believers men and
 women are protectors one of another, they enjoin what is just, forbid what
 is evil, they observe regular prayers, pay zakat and obey Allah and His
 Messenger. On them will Allah pour His Mercy." The Imam added that one of
 the basic features that distinguishes people of belief is their enjoining
 the right and forbidding the wrong. Allah Almighty will aid and firmly
 establish the nation who enjoins good and forbids evil. "Allah will
 certainly aid those who aid His cause for verily Allah is full of
 strength, exalted in might able to enforce His will. They are those who if
 We establish them in the land, establish regular prayers, give zakat,
 enjoin the right and forbid the wrong. With Allah rests the end decision
 of all affairs." Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil guarantees
 protection of the Islamic environment from being polluted by misleading
 intellectual thoughts which may invade it through books, newspapers,
 magazines or other means of media.


 The Imam addressed the worshippers: Oh brothers in Islam! The enjoining of
 right and forbidding of wrong is the duty of the state through it's
 various systems. It is the duty of the propagators of the Islamic Shari'ah
 and also teachers, educators and the information media. The muslim
 scholars are the first to shoulder such a duty as Allah said: "Why do not
 the Rabbis and the doctors of law forbid them from their habits of
 uttering sinful words and eating things forbidden? Evil indeed are their
 works."


 The Sheikh said in every society there is a group of righteous people whom
 Allah as described in the Holy Quran: "Let there arise out of you a band
 of people inviting to all that is good, enjoining what is right and
 forbidding what is wrong, they are the ones to attain felicity." The Imam
 said this is the group that forbids mischief and corruption on the earth,
 calling those who went astray to return to the righteous course of Allah
 the Almighty. Their main concern is to firmly establish the religion of
 Allah on the earth and to raise high His Word. Such a group is the valve
 of safety that may save the nation from destruction. It is not an easy
 task to shoulder because it frequently contradicts the peoples' wishes and
 for this such righteous groups may encounter harm. For this Allah said: As
 to those who deny the signs of Allah and in defiance of right slay the
 Prophets and those who teach just dealings with mankind, announce to them
 a grevious chastisement." The Imam added, this group has resorted to
 patience and self-restraint in carrying out their mission to guide people
 to the path of Allah. The Imam regretted that some people misunderstand
 individual freedom and rights which they misuse to commit indecent acts
 which result in the break up of their society. It is regrettable that this
 practice has spread among many muslims who have become heedless to the
 sincere advice of the righteous group. In Islam there is a balance between
 the rights of the individual and the group. Allah said: "The beleivers men
 and women protect one another." The Imam urged muslims to hold on to this
 right of enjoining good and forbidding evil.


 The Sheikh concluded his sermon by cautioning muslims not to become weak
 in this issue, because this will be the cause of evil in their society.
 The righteous society is that in which good deeds prevail. He showed
 appreciation to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for establishing a commission
 to call people to what is right and to advise them against what is wrong.


 Translation by Abdur Rahman Hassan Ibrahim. >>

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