FROM THE MIMBAR OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES IN MAKKAH AND MADINA.

(Friday, December 27, 2002)

Faith does not hamper worldly progress: Imam Makkah

IN MAKKAH
The Imam and Khateeb of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madina in their
Friday Sermons urged Muslims to be thankful to Allah for His countless
blessings and adhere to His commands, the Shari’ah.

Sheikh Dr Saud Bin Ibrahim Al Shuraim, Imam and Khateeb of the Grand Mosque,
said an ideal Muslim society is the one, which is ruled by the tenets of
Shari’ah for it satisfies all its needs, maintains stability and prosperity
in it, and makes it invulnerable to the enemies. “There is a common feeling
among people that the world has made great progress toward material and
industrial development. (Unfortunately) all this progress has been at the
expense of religious duties and it has failed to produce pious and
benevolent individuals (in the society), which has led to an unbalanced
Muslims society and subsequently hampered  is well-being,” he said.

“True religious spirit implies the real belief in Allah reinforced by
implementation of His laws and a system of governance with its foundation on
the creed: ‘enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong,’ and observe
jihad as a means of eliciting Allah’s pleasure. In this way, the gap between
modem civilization and Islam can be bridged,” Sheikh Shuraim said,

He added that the rights and duties ordained by Allah do not impede
prosperity in life and material progress of Muslim societies, for man has
both a heart and mind.

“It is a wrong (notion) to believe that the awakening of heart can only be
achieved by not using your mind and ignoring facts of life. It is also not
prudent to believe that worldly progress can be attained by abandoning
belief in Allah and separating it from everyday life,” Sheikh Shuraim said.

Happiness and success can be achieved by blending both the material and
spiritual aspects of life, and working for his life as well as the life to
come Allah says in the Qur’an: ‘But seek, with the (wealth) which Allah has
bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, nor forget thy portion in this
world: But be good, as Allah has been good to you, and seek not (occasions
for) mischief in the land: for Allah loves not those who do mischief.”
(Qur’an –28:77)

He asserted there is no doubt about the fact that the weaknesses among
Muslims today are the result of neglect of their faith and failure to apply
Allah’s law, “Adherence to Allah’s Book and Prophet Muhammad’s (Sallallaaho
alaihi wa sallam) Sunnah (traditions) is the (only) way to rid of the
weaknesses and overcome divisions among us,” he said.

“Allah never takes back the blessings He has bestowed on people unless they
themselves, change their position and turn away from Him. “Even then Allah
is merciful to His slaves and keeps showering His blessing and mercy on
those who are pious and thankful to Him,” he added.

People have great desire to receive and enjoy the bounties of Allah but they
are seldom thankful to him. And when their ingratitude and ignorance reach
its limit, Allah’s wrath descends on them and their life becomes miserable.
In this world and the Hereafter,” Sheikh Shuraim said.

“Allah does not torment people unjustly and never desires to take revenge.
Allah is (always) just and never changes, but it is people who change (their
attitude) and do injustice to themselves, as Allah says: “Because Allah will
never change the grace which He has bestowed on a people until they change
what is in their (own) souls: and verily Allah is He who hears and knows
(all things),” (Qur’an- 8:53)

Sheikh Shuraim said that the urge for change should come from within the
ranks of Muslims. “Those who do not fear Allah or do not believe in His
Shari’ah cannot build the future of Muslim.

“Muslims should (aspire to) build their own future on the (solid) foundation
of the divine Shari’ah, which should not be tainted with narrow nationalism
and regionalism. Once they (Muslims) show sincerity and turn to Him for His
help, Allah will lift them up from their miseries, and grant them triumph,”
he said.

IN MADINA

The Imam and Khateeb of the Prophet’s (Sallallaaho alaihi wa sallam) Mosque,
Sheikh Abdul Mohsin Al Qasim, in his Friday Sermon reminded believers of the
countless bounties of Allah, which He bestows on Muslims, His slaves,
without limits.

“Allah tests his slaves through blessing as well as misfortunes, as he says:
“And We test you by evil and by good by way of trail. To Us must you
return.” (Qur’an- 21:35)

He said the trail by prosperity is greater than the trail by diversity.
People afflicted by good and evil needs patience and thankfulness to Allah
for whatever He bestows.

“Patience and gratitude are two things that a faithful slave must show to
His Lord. Allah Almighty has associated thankfulness with belief in Him.

“Allah has created man and given him the senses of seeing and hearing, and
intellect. He created the days and the nights, and he expects gratitude from
his slaves for the blessing He has bestowed upon them,” he said.

Sheikh Al Qasim said there are two types of people: one who praise and thank
Allah and the other who reject Him. Those who reject Him can do no harm to
Him.

“Thanking Allah is a way of worshiping Him, and are not counted among His
slaves. All of the renowned Muslim scholars unanimously agree that thanking
Allah is the best form of worship.

“Thanking Him is a means for obtaining His grace and blessing. Allah says in
the Holy Qur’an: “And remember! Your Lord caused to be declared (publicly):
If you are grateful, I will add more (favors) unto you; but if you show
ingratitude, truly my punishment is terrible indeed,” (Qur’an 14:7).” He
concluded.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Du’a (Supplications)
Wa iz qa_la ibra_himu rabbi-j'al ha_zal balada a_minaw wa-jnubni wa baniyya
an na'budal asna_m(a).

Remember Abraham said: "O my Lord! make this city one of peace and security:
and preserve me and my sons from worshipping idols.

Rabbi innahunna adlalna kasiram minan na_s(i), faman tabi'ani fa innahu_
minni, wa man 'asa_ni fa innaka gafu_rur rahim(un).

"O my Lord! they have indeed led astray many among mankind:he then who
follows my (ways) is of me and he that disobeys me but thou art indeed
Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Rabbana_ inni askantu min zurriyyati bi wa_din gairi zi zar'in 'inda
baitikal muharram(i), rabbana_ liyuqimus sala_ta fa-j'al af'idatam minan
na_si tahwi ilaihim wa-rzuqhum minas samara_ti la'allahum yasykuru_n(a).

"O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley without
cultivation by thy Sacred House; in order O our Lord that they may establish
regular prayer: so fill the hearts of some among men with love towards them
and feed them with Fruits: so that they may give thanks.

Rabbana_ innaka ta'lamu ma_ nukhfi wa ma_ nu'lin(u), wa ma_ yakhfa_
'alalla_hi min syai'in fil ardi wa la_ fis sama_'(i).

"O our Lord! truly Thou dost know what we conceal and what we reveal:for
nothing whatever is hidden from Allah whether on earth or in heaven.

Al hamdu lilla_hil lazi wahaba li 'alal kibari isma_'ila wa isha_q(a), inna
rabbi lasami'ud du'a_'(i).

"Praise be to Allah who hath granted unto me in old age Ismail and Isaac:
for truly my Lord is He the Hearer of Prayer!

Rabbi-j'alni muqimas sala_ti wa min zurriyyati, rabbana_ wa taqabbal
du'a_'(i).

"O my Lord! make me one who establishes regular Prayer and also (raise such)
among my offspring O our Lord! and accept Thou my Prayer.

Rabbana-gfir li wa liwa_lidayya wa lil mu'minina yauma yaqu_mul hisa_b(u).

"O our Lord! cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness me my parents and (all)
Believers on the Day that the Reckoning will be established!"

“O Allah! Take charge of Muslim affairs, assists their congregation; give
them Your Divine support.  Forgive them their sins, have mercy over them.
Make the Muslims strong  in faith and conviction. O Lord of the worlds, the
Most Merciful.”

MY Lord! I seek refuge with You from asking You that of which I have no
knowledge.  And unless You forgive me and have mercy on me, I would indeed
be one of the losers.

My Lord! Save me from the people who are wrong-doers.

Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the disbelievers, and forgive us, Our
Lord! Verily, You,only You are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

My Lord! Forgive me,and my parents,and him who enters my home as a
believer,and all the believing men and women of the world,shower the World
with Your peace,tolerance and understanding.

With the very best of good wishes,
Musa Amadu Pembo
Glasgow,
Scotland
UK.
[log in to unmask]
Da’wah is to convey the message with wisdom and with good words. We should
give the noble and positive message of Islam. We should try to emphasize
more commonalities and explain the difference without getting into
theological arguments and without claiming the superiority of one position
over the other. There is a great interest among the people to know about
Islam and we should do our best to give the right message.
May Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,guide us all to His Sirat Al-Mustaqim (Righteous
Path).May He protect us from the evils of this life and the hereafter.May
Allah,Subhana Wa Ta'Ala,grant us entrance to paradise .
We ask Allaah the Most High, the All-Powerful, to teach us that which will
benefit us, and to benefit us by that which we learn. May Allaah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala grant blessings and peace to our Prophet Muhammad and his family
and
companions..Amen.




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