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In condemnation of the London attack

March 24, 2017

DISCLAIMER: This reminder was originally delivered in Arabic on Friday, 24 March 2017. 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

Islam provides us with the greatest teaching and beliefs of how people within a society should interact and treat each other. It provides the foundations to build a balanced society that is organised as respectful of the rights of others, and upholds justice.

The message of the Quran is one that is for the whole of mankind in all corners of the world. An example of one of the fundamental principles Islam teaches to us is, as mentioned in Surah An-Nahl ;

‘ Indeed, Allah orders justice and excellence and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He advises you that perhaps you will be reminded. ‘

When a society adheres to these kinds of principles and teaching of respect, mercy and justice then individuals and groups and all members of society can feel safe.

Islam demands we uphold justice. And justice is something which is is fixed and should not be influenced by our desires and feelings. Justice should not differentiate between a strange and a relative, or a weak person and a strong person, or a poor person and a weak person.

Allah (swt) says in Surah An-Nisa;

‘ So do not follow your personal inclination, in case you are not just ‘

And he said in Surah Al-Maidah;

O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah , witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do.

And the definition of justice is to protect the blood and welath and property of people and to ensure everyone is given their full rights.

Islam demands ihsaan ,‘Excellence’ from us, which is to forgive and pardon when our rights are not given to us in their entirety. Ihsaan is possible in all good deeds you do in your life, and all the relationships you have with others. Your relationship with your Lord, and your family, and your community and with mankind as a whole. The messenger (Peace & Prayers be upon him) said in a hadith narrated in Sahih Muslim that ,

‘ Allah (swt) has written Ihsaan upon everything ‘ ,

and Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Baqarah ,

‘ And show excellence, indeed, Allah loves those who show excellence. ‘

Dear brothers and sisters

Islam forbids you from immorality and detestable acts and oppression as mentioned in the ayah at the beginning of the khutbah. This immorality includes any action or speech which crosses the boundary of respect and anything which tarnishes and decreases the modesty in society. The detestable acts we are forbidden by Allah from doing include everything that goes against natural human decency. The things which are detested by human nature has been rejected by Islam also, as Islam is a religion that is in alignment with human nature. And if human nature was to become corrupted then this religion remains the reference point of what our pure human nature should be.

And transgression and oppression and injustice which was also forbidden in this verse all go against human nature.

And this is all gathered in the hadith of the messenger (Peace & Prayers be upon him) in which he said ;

Shall I inform you of the believers? They are the ones who people trust and feel safe with regards to their wealth and themselves. And the Muslim is the one who people are safe from his hands and his tongue. And the Mujahid is the one who struggles with himself to ensure he obeys Allah , and the Muhajir ( emigrant) is the one who emigrates from sins. [ Silsilah Sahih by Albani, and declared authentic by Albani]

Dear Brothers and sisters

These lessons and advice is for every one of us to become involved in all things which are good and have benefit. To help protect the wellbeing of the communities we live in on a small scale, and on a larger scale the wellbeing of the whole country we reside in. And this is what all the verses we have mentioned are telling us. That these teaching are principles of justice and mercy and peace are to be present on an individual level and within our families and communities and society and nation as a whole. Islam is a religion of peace and its teachings are the truth and justice and a light from Allah.

Dear Brothers and Sisters

People are in dire need to know about the reality of this beautiful religion and its teachings of truth and justice and its guidance and light. The message of Islam is a mercy and guidance for all the people on earth. This is what Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Jaasiyah ;

This [Qur’an] is enlightenment for mankind and guidance and mercy for a people who are certain [in faith].

And who is going to take this message and guidance to mankind. It has to be us Muslims. O Muslims. O believers. We are followers of the great messenger Muhammed , who Allah (Peace & Prayers be upon him) described as having a ‘great moral character ‘, and that he was ‘not send except as a mercy for mankind.And these descriptions found in the Quran of the messenger include praise for the messenger , and also praise for the message that he delivered as it was a mercy from Allah for all mankind, and the mercy of Allah in his creation of Muhammed (Peace & Prayers be upon him)

And the mercy given to Muhammad (Peace & Prayers be upon him) is apparent is 2 things;

Firstly, in his character and appearance and his displaying of all the characteristics of mercy until he can be described as mercy rather than merciful. He was created with mercy as part of his nature and was shown in all his dealings with all people. Allah (swt) says in Surah Aal-Imran ;

So by mercy from Allah , [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have scattered from around you.

Meaning by mercy from Allah that was placed inside your creation and is a part of his blessed being (Peace & Prayers be upon him).

And it is narrated in Sahih Muslim ;

that during the battle of Uhud when the face of the Messenger (Peace & prayers be upon him) was injured, the companions found it difficult to bear and said to him , Invoke a curse against the idolaters.’ He replied, ‘I was not sent as a curser. I was sent as a mercy.‘ And in another narration I am but a bestowed mercy. And when Aisha was asked about his character she replied , ‘ His character was the Quran .’

And secondly, the mercy of the messenger (Peace & Prayers be upon him) is apparent in the mercy which encompasses the laws of Islam ( Shariah). The basis of the shariah is mercy and ease. Allah (swt) says in Surah Al-Hajj ,

And he has not placed upon you any difficulty in the religion .’

and He (swt) says in Surah Al-Baqarah ,

Allah wants ease for you and does not want difficulty for you.

And it narrated in a Hadith that the messenger (Peace & Prayers be upon him) said ,

I have been sent with that which is pure monotheistic and easy.

Its laws are not harsh or too difficult to follow. The actions it requests from you are easy. And the beliefs it teaches are of pure monotheism, to worship Allah (swt) alone.

So Islam, the messenger of Islam and the Shariah of Islam is one of justice and mercy for the whole world. And this is what Allah (swt) intended for His religion and its followers. And anything which goes against this concept of justice and mercy for all mankind and all creation, be it in the form of a fatwa or a belief or action of a certain group, then Islam is free from this and likewise the Muslims and free from this.

Dear Brothers and Sisters

To conclude we condemn this evil crime committed this week in London at the houses of Parliament. We reject this criminal action along with whoever committed it. What happened was an act of murder and an attack upon innocent people and it took place in a location which is symbolic to this country. We are saddened for those who were injured and pray they have a quick recovery and likewise we are saddened for those who were wrongfully killed.

We ask Allah (swt) that he protects this land in which we live and to grant it lasting safety and peace.