FROM THE MIMBAR OF HOLY HARAM IN MAKKAH AND MADINA (Friday, August 10, 2001) MUSLIMS TOLD TO REFRAIN FROM EVIL TENDENCIES, FOLLOW THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. The Imams and Khateebs of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah in their Friday Sermons this week (August 10, 2001) called on Muslims to be pious, fear God and seek His favor and mercy through worship and good deeds. IN MAKKAH The Imam and Khateeb at the Grand Mosque in Makkah Sheik Dr Osama Bin Abdullah Khayat in his Sermon urged Muslims to worship God Faithfully and particularly refrain from certain sinful acts such as witchcraft, homicide, usury, taking away orphan’s property and disobedience to parents. He said that God, by his grace, has invested the earth with mercy for the benefit of his creatures. He has sent to them on the right path that would lead to happiness in this life and the Hereafter as He promised. Sheikh Khayat warned against treading the path of sins that leads to destruction which Allah Almighty and Prophet Mohammed (Sallallaaho alaihi wa sallam) have made implicitly clear. Among the greatest sins that Muslims should avoid are witchcraft, homicide, usury, taking away orphan’s property, refusal to participate in fighting for the cause of Allah, giving false testimony, disobedience to parents, etc. By committing these and other sins, a person lands himself to Satan who then spurs him onto evil ways, blinds him from the path of righteousness and leads him astray. He urged the faithful to seek refuge in God, to seek His blessing and worship him in the right way. IN MADINA In Madinah, the Imam and Khateeb of the Prophet’s Mosque Sheikh Ali bin Abdul Rahman Al Hudheifi in his Friday Sermon called on Muslims to be pious and fear God all the time, and prepare for the Day of Judgment. He said everything has a beginning and an end, and “we all are in a period of trail and testing for the final destination of either paradise or hell. God Al mighty has designated Islam as the only path that leads to paradise. He has sent Prophets and their companions to preach the way that leads to paradise, Sheikh Hudheifi said, adding that there are also advocates of the devil who lead their follower to hell. He talked about the evil and the methods he uses to lead his followers astray. He said the devil, in his characteristics leads his followers to hell and then disowns them on the Day of Judgment. The devil has no power or authority over believers who have trust in God, he said, noting that the devil’s machinations can be held at bay through sound belief, regular prayers in congregation, reading the Qur’an, giving alms, and reciting the names of Allah. The Holy Qur’an says: La_hiyatan qulu_buhum wa asar run najwal lazina zalamu_ hal ha_za_ il la_ basarum afatatu_nas sihra wa antum tubsiru_n (Surah Al-Anbiyaa, Ayat 3) 3 Their hearts toying as with trifles. The wrongdoers conceal their private counsels (saying) "Is this (one) more than a man like yourselves? Will ye go to witchcraft with your eyes open?" 2664 2665 Commentary by A. Yusuf Ali 2664 Allah's Message is free and open, in the full light of day. His enemies plot against it in secrecy, lest their own false motives be exposed. Their jealousy prevents them from accepting a "man like themselves" as a teacher or warner or guide. (21.3) 2665 Literally, "in a state in which you (actually) see (that it is witchcraft)". When Allah's Messenger is proved to be above them in moral worth, in true insight, in earnestness and power of eloquence, they accuse him of witchcraft, a word which may mean nothing, or perhaps some mysterious deceitful arts. (21.3) Wattaba'u_ ma_ tatlusy syaya_tinu 'ala_ mulki sulaima_n(a), wa ma_ kafara sulaima_nu wa la_kinnasy syaya_tina kafaru_ yu'allimu_nan na_sas sihra wa ma_ unzila 'alal malakaini bi ba_bila ha_ru_ta wa ma_ru_t(a), wa ma_ yu'allima_ni min ahadin hatta_ yaqu_la_ innama_ nahnu fitnatun fa la_ takfur, fa yata'allamu_na minhuma_ ma_ yufarriqu_na bihi bainal mar'i wa zaujih(i), wa ma_ hum bi da_rrina bihi min ahadin illa_ bi iznilla_h(i), wa yata'allamu_na ma_ yadurruhum wa la_ yanfa'uhum, wa laqad 'alimuu_ lamanisy tara_hu ma_ lahu_ fil a_khirati min khala_q(in), wa labi'sa ma_ syarau bihi anfusahum, lau ka_nu_ ya'lamun(a). (Surah Al-Baqara, Ayat 102) 102 They followed what the evil ones gave out (falsely) against the power of Solomon; the blasphemers were not Solomon but the evil ones teaching men magic and such things as came down at Babylon to the angels Harut and Marut. But neither of these taught anyone (such things) without saying: "We are only for trial so do not blaspheme." They learned from them the means to sow discord between man and wife. But they could not thus harm anyone except by Allah's permission. And they learned what harmed them not what profited them. And they knew that the buyers of (magic) would have no share in the happiness of the Hereafter. And vile was the price for which they did sell their souls if they but knew! 103 104 105 Commentary by A. Yusuf Ali 103 This is a continuation of the argument in ii. 101. The People of the Book, instead of sticking to the plain Books of Revelations, and seeking to do the will of God ran after all sorts of occult knowledge, most of which was false and evil. Many wonderful tales of occult power attributed the power of Solomon to magic. But Solomon dealt in not arts of evil. It was the powers of evil that pretended to force the laws of nature and the will of God; such a pretense is plainly blasphemy. (2.102) 104 This verse has been interpreted variously. Whe were Harut and Marut? What did they teach? Why did they teach it? The view which commends itself to me is that of the Tafsir Haqqani following Baidhawi and the Tafsir Kabir. The word "angels" as applied to Harut and Marut is figurative. It means "good men, of knowledge, science (or wisdom) and power." In modern language the word "angel" is applied to a good and beautiful woman. The earlier tradition made angels masculine, and applied to them the attributes which I have mentioned, along with the attribute of beauty, which was implied in goodness, knowledge, wisdom, and power. (2.102) 105 What the evil ones learnt from Harut and Marut (see last note) they turned to evil. When mixed with fraud and deception, it appeared as charms and spells of love potions. They did nothing but cause discord between the sexes. But of course their power was limited to the extent to which God permitted the evil to work, for His grace protected all who sought His guidance and repented and returned to Him. But apart from the harm that these false pretenders might do to others, the chief harm which they did was to their own souls. They sold themselves into slavery to the Evil One, as is shown in the allegory of Goethe's Faust. That allegory dealt with the individual soul. Here the tragedy is shown to occur not only to individuals but to whole groups of people, for example, the People of the Book. Indeed the story might be extended indefinitely. (2.102) Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) Sayings :(Hadith) From Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith Narrated by Aisha ( R ): Some people asked Allah's Apostle about the foretellers. He said. -They are nothing." They said, -O Allah's Apostle! Sometimes they tell us of a thing which turns out to be true." Allah's Apostle said, "A Jinn snatches that true word and pours it into the ear of his friend (the foreteller) (as one puts something into a bottle). The foreteller then mixes with that word one hundred lies." Narrated by Abu Masud (R ):The Prophet forbade the utilization of the price of a dog, the earnings of prostitute and the earnings of a foreteller. Narrated by Abu Hurairah ( R ): Allah's Apostle said, "Avoid the Mubiqat, i.e., shirk and witchcraft." Narrated by Abdullah Bin Umar ( R )Two men came from the East and addressed the people who wondered at their eloquent speeches. On that Allah's Apostle said, "Some eloquent speech is as effective as magic." Narrated by Saud ( R ): The Prophet said, "If somebody takes some 'Ajwa dates every morning, he will not be effected by poison or magic on that day till night." (Another narrator said seven dates). Supplications rabbana_ la_ tu'a_khizna_ in nasina_ au akhta'na_, rabbana_ wa la_ tahmil 'alaina_ isran kama_ hamaltahu_ 'alal lazina min qablina_, rabbana_ wa la_ tuhammilna_ ma_ la_ ta_qata lana_ bih(i), wa'fu 'anna_,wagfir lana_, warhamna_, anta maula_na_ fansurna_ 'alal qaumil ka_firin(a). Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against faith.

 

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The very best of good wishes,

Musa Amadu Pembo

Glasgow

Scotland

UK

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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 .. Ameen .