DISCLAIMER: This reminder was originally delivered in Arabic on this Friday. 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.
Dear brothers and sisters
Over 1000 years have passed since our beloved messenger (Saw) made his Hijrah [ migation] from Makkah to Medinah, yet it still provides us with many lessons for all different times and places. He (saw) migrated and left behind his family and his home and everything he possessed for the sake of his religion and so that he could spread the message of Islam. He did not fear anything and he had no hesitation, because he trusted in Allah and the promise of Allah, and that Allah would never disgrace him. Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Qasas:
“ And We wanted to confer favour upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them successors [28 : 5]
Just as our messenger was given victory by Allah (swt), and his migration was the starting point for the truth to separate from falsehood, You are also promised victory if you perform Hijrah. But not a Hijrah from Makkah to Medinah, or from one country to another, but rather you are promised victory over Saitan if you leave behind the places of sinning for the places of obedience and goodness.
The messenger (saw) said :
“ The person who performs Hijrah is the one who leaves behind that which Allah has forbidden. “ [ Bukhari]
This is an ongoing hijrah where you are leaving behind the Haram actions you have been committing. You migrate with your heart from loving other than Allah, to loving Allah and his messenger. You migrate from obeying your desires to obeying Allah and his messenger. You migrate from sins towards repentance and you make your whole life for Allah.
As Allah (swt) tells us in Surah Al-Anaam:
“Say, ‘My prayers and sacrifice, my life and death, are all for Allah, Lord of all the Worlds.” [6 : 162]
Dear brothers and sisters
A year has gone by. And just like there are many lessons for us in the Hijrah of our Messenger (saw), there are many lessons for us in the year that has passed.
If you look back to the events of the past years, the days and the nights, the weeks and the months, then you would notice how quickly time is passing by. And what is scary is this time is never going to return. This portion of your life and your health is now gone. And you are closer to the end then you were yesterday. So beware of this Dunya [ worldly life ] and its deception, as it has deceived many people before you.
How many of our brothers and sisters, mother and fathers , friends and family have returned to their Lord in this past year. How many people who were delaying their good deeds, and delaying their repentance and delaying changing their lives were interrupted by their death. So learn from these lessons and make the most of your life, your health, your youth, your time and your wealth.
Allah (swt) said : “ O believers! Be mindful of Allah and let every soul look to what it has sent forth for tomorrow. And fear Allah, for certainly Allah is All-Aware of what you do. [59 : 18]
Dear brothers and sisters
We remind you and remind ourselves that whenever you remember a sin you have committed, or mistake or shortcoming towards Allah, then be positive and race to perform as much good as you can, as they purify the sins. And race towards a paradise that is greater than the whole universe, which has been prepared for the believers.
Beware of being negative, and drowning in regret for your sins, and then taking no action as a result. Make your regret a starting point for changing yourself and use it to motivate you to improve. Do not allow your regret to make you lose hope in the mercy of Allah.
Allah (swt) says in Surah Az-Zumar:
Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah . Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." [39 : 53]
And in a Hadith Qudusi :
O Son of Adam, If your sins were to reach the skies , and then you asked me for forgiveness, I would forgive you and I would not mind.