by Imâm al-Madîna al-Munawarrah 'Alî Abd-ur-Rahmân al-Hudhaifî

All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. May His blessings and benedictions be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.

Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and hold fast unto Islaam. That is the most trustworthy handhold. It is the fear of Allaah that sets the matters of one’s life and Hereafter right. Know also that Allaah’s Sunnah (His rules on His creatures) in this universe never changes. Allaah says,

“No change will you find in Allaah’s Sunnah (way of dealing) and no turning off will you find in Allaah’s Sunnah.” (Faatir 35:43)

It is in the Sunnah of Allaah and His rules that whoever sows good will harvest good and that whoever sows evil will harvest evil. He says,

“Whoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom shall see it.” (Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8)

It is a rule of Allaah over His creatures that whoever takes the way that leads to the success of his life of this world and its pleasure shall attain whatever Allaah has destined for him of this world and whoever takes the way that leads to the success of his hereafter and the Paradise, Allaah will make him reach his goal. Also, whoever takes the way that leads to the success of both this world and the Hereafter, obeys Allaah and abstain from sins, he will attain the success of this both world and the Hereafter. Allaah says,

“Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein disgraced and rejected (far away from Allaah’s Mercy). And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it, then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated. On each –these as well as those- We bestow from the Bounties of your Lord. And the Bounties of your Lord can never be forbidden.” (Al-Israa’ 17:18-20)

It is also of the rule of Allaah to test His slaves with the good and evil. He says, “We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good. And to Us you will be returned.” (Al-Anbiyaa’ 21:35)

As for the Muslim, whenever any good affects him he knows that it is a favour from his Lord, for he knows that he deserves nothing from Allaah by right and this belief will make him thank his Lord and praise Him. Also, if any evil afflicts him he perseveres and seeks the reward of his Lord, for he knows that, that is the result of a sin he has committed or that Allaah wants to elevate his rank in the Hereafter. Allaah says,

“And whatever of misfortune that befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” (Ash-Shoora 42:30)

The Muslim examines himself, review his deeds and repents for every sin he commits. As for the disbeliever, if any favour comes his way, he becomes insolent and arrogant and starts transgressing. And when any calamity afflicts him he despairs and becomes impatient. This world is his Paradise and his lord is his desires.

Brethren in faith! Muslims, these days, are afflicted with many calamities. Many causes have however been given for these tribulations. Some say that they are a result of the evil plan of the enemies, some say they are the result of our economic recession and some say they are the result of the Muslim’s industrial and technological backwardness etc. All this are just symptoms of the ailment. The real cause of this sorry situation is the Muslim’s negligence of their religion individually and collectively. Allaah says,

“(What is the matter with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say, ‘From where does this come to us?’ Say (to them): It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds).’ And Allaah has power over all things.” (Aal ‘Imraan 3:165)

He also says, “Allaah will not change the condition of a people as long as they do not change their state themselves.” (Ar-Ra‘d 13:11)

Muslims in their history have passed through some periods which were more severe than the present one in afflictions and in which their enemies subjected them to persecutions. But then they made a sincere return to their religion with knowledge and Faith. They therefore, attained security and regained their honour, unity and wellbeing under the shade of Islaamic law. This injury was healed and their condition became better. In this age, the calamity is actually great for the Muslim nation, but it remains and indisputable fact that the affairs of the latter generation of the Muslim nation will never be set aright except by that which set right the affairs of their predecessors. So, blaming the enemies of Islaam for these calamities does not in any way absolve the Muslims from being responsible for their own woes, for how will the Muslims expect the unbelievers to solve their problems for them if they themselves fail to do so through the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of his Prophet and in the light of their interests and those of their coming generations? The solution to Muslims’ problems therefore lies with Allaah and then with their rulers and scholars by letting the people know all that is good, encouraging them to do that and warning them against all that is evil as far as matters of their religion and life is concerned. This is a great responsibility that requires strong will and sincerity.

Fellow Muslims! Whenever a calamity afflicts a community, the first step to take is to have a sincere repentance. Allaah says, “And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you, O believers, that you may be successful.” (An-Noor 24:31)

Every Muslim needs to have a sincere repentance. If anyone however says, ‘What is the relevance of my personal repentance to the rectification of the Muslims’ condition?’ He should be told that the cause of all good in this world and the Hereafter is the obedience to Allaah and the cause of evil retribution is to disobey Him. He should also be told that, the repentance of every individual brings greater good and reduces calamities on the Muslims.

Muslims should also unite in the face of this changing world that aspires to change the creed of Islaam and eliminate its values and laws.

Further, past nations were destroyed because of the existence of many sinners and fewness of righteous people. The sin of a single individual may destroy a whole nation. Allaah caused the people of Thamood to perish because one of them killed the camel. He caused epidemics to spread among the children of Israel –even in the presence of Musa and Haaroon because some of them committed adultery. Allaah says about some of the destroyed nations,

“So We punished each (of them) for his sins; of them were those on whom We sent a violent wind with shower of stones, of them there were those who were overtaken by awful cry, of them were those whom We caused the earth to swallow and of them were those whom We drowned. It was not Allaah who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.” (Al-‘Ankaboot 29:40).

Zainab bint Jahsh narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said, “Woe unto the Arabs because of an impending calamity. Today the debris of the Gog and Magog has been opened to this extent. And he demonstrated that extent by making a circle with his index finger and the thumb.’ Zainab said: ‘I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! Are we going to be destroyed while there are righteous people among us? The Messenger of Allaah said, ‘Yes, when immorality and alcoholic drinking have become widespread.”

Do not therefore treat the matter of repentance lightly for it is the way out of all hardships. Hold fast unto the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger for they are the light and guidance that save from darkness and error.

Brethren in faith! The religion of Islaam commands the Muslims to be united and forbade them from disunity. Allaah says, “And hold fast unto the Rope of Allaah (the Qur’aan) and do not be divided among yourselves.” (Aal-‘Imraan 3:103)

He also says, “And do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient.” (Al-Anfaal 8:46)

The religion of Islaam while enjoining unity among Muslims, does not however mean that the non-Muslims can be attacked or denied their rights which they enjoy under the Islaamic law. If many non-Muslims understand the justice of Islaam and its beauties, they would embrace Islaam and would not have blamed it for wrongful acts of some Muslims. Allaah says,

“Say (O Muhammad to the people): ‘Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him, be good and dutiful to your parents, kill not your children because of poverty –We provide sustenance for you and for them, come not near the shameful sins, whether committed openly or secretly and kill not any one whom Allaah has forbidden except for a just cause (according to Islaamic Law). This He has commanded you that you may understand.” (Al-An‘aam 6:151)

Brethren in Faith! Fear Allaah as He should be feared, seek nearness to Him through righteous deeds and abstain from sins. Send forward good deeds before you meet Him and make good use of your life. Allaah says,

“O you who believe! Fear Allaah and keep your duty to Him. Let every soul look for what he has sent forth for the morrow and fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is All-Aware of what you do.” (Al-Hashr 59:18)

Provide for yourselves answers that will save you from the hardship of the Day of Resurrection. The Messenger of Allaah said, “The foot of man will not slip on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked of his life as to how he has lived it, of his youth as to how he has used it, of his wealth as to how he got it and in what he spent it and about his knowledge as to what he did with it.”