DISCLAIMER: This reminder was originally delivered in Arabic on Friday, 28 Feb 2014. Any meanings lost in translation are not to be attributed to the speaker as reminders are translated by volunteers. The mosque has no official translator and volunteers often have no formal qualifications to translate on the day. Please forgive any errors as they are from our human weakness and any right guidance is from God.
All praise is due to Allah, and Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His final Messenger, his pure family, his noble companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
It was reported that the Prophet (saaw) once asked his companions, “which believers are the most amazing in their belief?” they replied, ‘angels’ to which he (saaw) replied, “and why shouldn’t they believe while they are with their Lord!” they then said, ‘prophets’ to which he (saaw) replied, “and why shouldn’t they believe while revelation is sent to them!” they then said, ‘we are’ to which he (pbuh) replied, “and why shouldn’t you believe while I am between you!” they then asked, ‘so which people are the most amazing in their belief?’ the Prophet (saaw) answered, “they are the people who will come after you; they will find sheets and will believe in what’s in them”
...so which people are the most amazing in their belief?’ the Prophet (saaw) answered, “They are the people who will come after you; they will find sheets and will believe in what’s in them”
The Muslim who clings to his religion, follows the right path of Islam in his life, strives to maintain his belief in Allah (SWT) as his Lord, Muhammad (saaw) as his Messenger and Quran as the way and constitution of his life and struggles to do that which lawful and avoid that which is unlawful is like the one holding a burning coals in a time where Islam is targeted and harmed even in the Muslim lands! The Muslim who proudly holds on to his religion, who declares his religion to people in the right, honourable and civilised way saying: I’m a Muslim with a deep belief, right understanding to Islam, excellent behaviour, noble manners and good example between people will indeed get a great reward only known by Allah (SWT). It was reported in the Hadith “For ahead of you are days which will require endurance, in which showing endurance will be like grasping burning coals. The one who acts rightly during that period will have the reward of fifty men who act as he does”. Abdullah ibn Al-Mubarak added that the companions asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, the reward of fifty of them or of us? He (pbuh) replied, “The reward of fifty of you”. In another narration of the Hadith, he (saaw) said “For ahead of you are time which will requires endurance. The one who holds [to his religion] during that period will have the reward of fifty martyrs” [Al-Jame’ As-Sahih/ AL-Albani]
The Noble Quran guides us to equip ourselves with two things that help us to fulfil our religious duties and worldly affairs; two things that effect our strength and endurance, help us to reach the goals of the true believers, ease off the difficulties we face and encourage us to acquire every good and virtue: patience (Sabr) and prayer. Allah (SWT) says, “O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah, "They are dead." Rather, they are alive, but you perceive [it] not. And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient, Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return." Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided” [Al-Baqarah 2:153-157] so He (SWT) clarified the best help we can get at the time of hardships is through patience and prayer “And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]” [Al-Baqarah 2:45]
And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah] Surat al-Baqarah 2:45
The Quran also mentions the effect the true believers find in their souls of patience and prayer which cleanse their souls of all means of fear, panic and despair at the times of calamities as well the means of arrogance and transgression at the times of grace as He (SWT) says, “And if We give man a taste of mercy from Us and then We withdraw it from him, indeed, he is despairing and ungrateful. But if We give him a taste of favour after hardship has touched him, he will surely say, "Bad times have left me." Indeed, he is exultant and boastful – Except for those who are patient and do righteous deeds; those will have forgiveness and great reward” [Hud 11:9-11]. Allah (SWT) also say in regards of prayer, “Indeed, mankind was created anxious: When evil touches him, impatient, And when good touches him, withholding [of it], Except the observers of prayer” [Al-Ma’arij 70:19-22] and in the Hadith, ‘whenever the Prophet (saaw) was bothered by something he (saaw) would pray’. So patience and prayer are your tools in this life; by them you achieve what you seek, push away harm, become in Allah’s care and companionship; a companionship that grants you help, support and happiness so be with Allah (SWT) in order for Him to be with you.
Patience (Sabr) is two types:
- Patience to abstain from evil and prohibited acts
- Patience to fulfil the obligations and to do righteous
The second type has more reward because it is the intended patience. There is a third type which is patience during times of hardship without complaints which is a duty upon every believer as a sign of his acceptance and satisfaction with Allah’s divine will and decree.
As for prayer, Allah (SWT) says, “Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater” [Al-Ankaboot 29:45]. It is a means of connection with Allah (SWT) so the one who connects with Allah [through prayer] must be ashamed and embarrassed to meet Him (SWT) accompanied with sins and immoralities because prayer is a mean of purification that is unsuitable to be combined with sins and immoralities. The one who performs prayer without cleansing himself of sins first hasn't indeed established the prayer as there is a great difference between performing and establishing the prayer! If you want to establish your prayer then perform it with its conditions and pillars, with submission, tranquility and presence of heart because only then your prayer will connect you to the higher assembly, supply your soul with the provision of belief and forbid you from committing immorality and wrongdoing. Your prayer is your link of connection with Allah (SWT), the biggest mean of help for you to endure and steadfast; it strengthens your spirit of faith and push you to good deeds.
Your prayer is your link of connection with Allah (SWT), the biggest mean of help for you to endure and steadfast; it strengthens your spirit of faith and push you to good deeds. Sheikh Taher, 28 Feb 2014