Khutbah by Shaykh ‘Ali Abdur-Rahmaan al-Huthaifi
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions.
Brothers in faith! Allah’s blessings on His creatures are innumerable. He says, “And if you would count the favours of Allah, never could you count them. Truly, man is a transgressor, ungrateful.” (Ibrahim: 34).
The greatest favour of Allah upon people after Eemaan is well-being and safety. Safety is the opposite of fear and is a source of peace and tranquillity for the heart. With safety and security, man has no fear over his religion, life, honour, wealth and rights. Safety is one of the fundamentals of human life. There will not be any prosperity or progress without it. What is the value of money with no safety? What is the essence of good life in the absence of peace? How can life be activated without it?
It is under the atmosphere of safety that one has aspirations and peace of mind on the fruits of one’s labour. It is under the shade of security that different useful human activities abound, interests and benefits are exchanged, different activities that men need proliferate, good things freely flow and roads become safe.
It is safety that makes the economy of a society boom, increases it in crops and livestock, protects its lives, properties and rights, facilitates means of sustenance, increases its infrastructure and makes it prosper in all aspects of its life.
Allah the Almighty has graciously bestowed mankind with the blessing of safety and reminds them of it that they may thank Him for it and worship Him under it. He says, “Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary, to which are brought fruits of all kinds, provisions from Ourselves, but most of them know not.” (Al-Qasas: 57).
The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) also made mention of the importance of security when he said, “Whoever wakes up in the morning feeling secure in his house, sound in his body and possesses his daily bread is like one who has the whole world at his disposal.” (At-Tirmithi).
Islam takes great care of security in any of its societies by making ordainments, prohibiting mischief and evil acts and prescribing deterring punishments. Allah says, “Help you one another in virtue, righteousness and piety; but do not help one another in sin and transgression.” (Al-Maa’idah: 2).
Allah also informs us that safety belongs to those who do good deeds, are upright in guidance of Islam and keep away from mischief and evil deeds when he says, “It is those who believe and confuse not their belief with wrong (by worshipping others besides Allah). For them (only) there is security and they are the guided.” (Al-An’aam: 82).
Whenever he saw the new moon, the Prophet used to say, “O Allah, let this crescent loom above us in safety, faith, peace and Islam. Make it a crescent of good and guidance. My Lord and your Lord is Allah.”
Therefore safety is a great blessing. Where there is no safety life becomes corrupt and people live miserable lives. Their condition worsens and all things turn upside-down for them; fear then replaces security; hunger replaces good living, anarchy replaces unity; injustice and aggression replace justice and mercy. May Allah give us well-being by His grace and favour! You should thank Allah and praise Him for this favour of safety and His other apparent and hidden favours by always obeying Him and abstaining from all prohibited things.
Brothers in Islam! Allah bestowed His favour on this land with safety and other blessings that make it unique among the nations of this age in terms of peace and stability and war against crimes. This is due to the fact that this country is governed by Islamic Law that is derived from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet.
Therefore to whomever Satan (or his own mind) suggests to him to play with the peace of a country and its stability, and whoever perpetrates the crime of destruction, bombing, terrorism and causing mischief on the earth has fallen into the abyss of Satan’s deception and betrayal; for evil plots encompass only those who make them. He has also committed a crime which will earn him everlasting disgrace and a painful punishment that Allah has decreed for him whether he is a Muslim or not. This is because acts of sabotage and bombing kill innocent souls whose lives and properties are sanctified by Islam.
Islam prevents the wrongdoer and aggressor from committing his crimes as it deters him and his likes from transgression for it is a religion of justice and mercy that does not enjoin on its followers except good and forbids them from evil deeds.
Fellow Muslim! Fear Allah, you will be among the successful and hold fast unto the rope of Allah, you will be guided to the straight path. Unite in waging war on any criminal who may want to jeopardise your safety and stability, endanger your achievements and spread anarchy in your society. Allah says, “And whoever earns sin, he earns it only against himself. And Allah is ever All-Knowing, All-Wise.” (An-Nisaa’: 11).
Brothers in faith! Fear Allah, for fear of Allah is the best provision and the source of your victory in this world and the next. Allah’s favours on you are many and great and there are those who are jealous of Allah’s favours on you. He commands you to be grateful to Him and promises increase in favour. He says, “And remember when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you give thanks, I will give you more (of my blessings), but if you are thankless, verily, My punishment is indeed severe.” (Ibraahim: 7).
Ibn Abbaas narrated that the Messenger of Allah said, “Observe the rights of Allah upon you, Allah will protect you; observe the rights of Allah, you will find Him in front of you (i.e. He will guide you). When you ask, ask of Allah, and when you seek for assistance, seek it from Allah. When the whole of mankind agree to benefit you with something, they cannot benefit you except with something that Allah has decreed for you, and know that when they agree to harm you, they cannot do you any harm except that which Allah has decreed upon you. The pens have been raised and the pages have dried.” (At-Tirmithi).
Man observes the rights of Allah by observing His obligations and commandments and abstaining from all that He forbids. When man observes all this, Allah will protect him, graciously bestow His favour upon him and drive away calamities from him. Therefore, fulfil your obligation to your Lord, He will also fulfil His promise.
An aerial view of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah and the clock tower.
