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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Friday Sermon
HAZRAT KHALIFATULLAH AL-MASSIH AL-MA’OUD
Munir Ahmad Azim
(20 Shabaan 1432 Hijri)
(Summary of Friday Sermon)
After having greeted everybody with the Salutations of Peace, the Messiah (Massih’ullah) read the Tashahhud, Taouz and Surah Al Fatiha and he said:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَتْلُونَ كِتَابَ اللَّهِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً يَرْجُونَ تِجَارَةً لَّن تَبُورَ
‘Innallaziina yatluuna kitaabal-laahi wa ‘aqaamus-Salaata wa ‘anfaquu mimmaa razaqnaahum sirraww-wa ‘alaa-niyatayy-yarjuuna Tijaaratal-lan-tabuur.
“Surely they who recite the Book of Allah and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them secretly and openly, hope for a (transaction) gain which will not perish.” (35: 30)
Allah says: “Surely they who recite the Book of Allah and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them” – Here “spend out of what We have given them” does not only refers to mundane riches or properties. No! But it includes also capabilities and abilities, means etc. – it includes all that which Allah has provided man.
Thus, Allah is talking about those who spend of what He has provided them. They spend secretly, and openly also. Allah says that these are people who have made a transaction which shall never perish, a transaction which shall always prosper. And the advantages reaped from it shall be for all times. We know that on earth there are many businesses which prosper, flourish and develop but after some time, they flop. Reference is made in this case to the life itself of a person, of his own person, and the life of his children, whereby they are destroyed completely, bankrupt!
But here (in this verse) Allah mentions such a transaction, its gain being never-ending, which people shall benefit for all times; such a transaction where they shall not incur any loss. When one truly spends in the path of Allah and only for the pleasure of Allah, therefore, therein is no loss. Actually, the obstacles they face are only temporary and come from their own doings (problems/obstacles created by themselves).
The most honourable (among people mentioned in this verse) is the one who is most God-fearing (having Taqwa). And it is only natural that the one who is most God-fearing, it is him who shall give most (in the path of Allah) and nobody can ever snatch this honour from him, be him rich or poor. Allah mentions certain qualities of people who spend in His path. Allah says that “those who spend for Me (Allah) or spend in the way which I commanded, therefore I give the guaranty that this shall be a gain (for him) which shall never perish.” They shall benefit from it all the time. The qualities of these people are that they read the Book of Allah – they recite the Holy Quran and they reflect upon its words, and they establish prayer in such a way that they cannot go without prayer (they make their prayer obligatory upon them). After accomplishing these two acts (of worship), they spend in the way of Allah. Therefore in the sight of Allah, these are people whose sacrifices are accepted and Allah poured upon their riches (their money) so many blessings, such blessings which are never-ending. Thus, when Allah introduces those who make financial sacrifice, therefore as from the beginning itself, He started expounding, starting with the basic; that is, those who read the Holy Quran and establish prayer, thus resulting in them obtaining a love, a passion for practicing sacrifice (that is, spending in the path of Allah). And like I mentioned previously, they may do it either secretly or openly, the two types of spending (secretly and openly) being quoted one after the other in a precise sequence. Which means to say that there is a tendency for those who spend in the way of Allah, to spend first secretly, because their primal concern is to spend only for the pleasure of Allah, where Allah is the only one to see them; nobody else! Those who have this kind of spirit of sacrifice (to spend in the path of Allah secretly), nobody can blame them or accuse them that they were doing all this for show, by hypocrisy, for there is only one being who is observing them, and that Being is Allah.
Thus, someone who spends secretly, verily he does it to seek the pleasure of Allah. The great personalities coming from Allah, especially the prophets of Allah are verily those whom Allah loves the most, and it is them the first ones to receive rewards for the sacrifices they make – this is because they dedicate their all completely to Allah.
All little things which men of God do become a form of worship in the eyes of their Lord. That is why they harvest more fruits of their deeds, of their sacrifices. People who incur losses are those who stray from this path and spend their money in another way and when it is expected of them to spend in the path of Allah, they see it as a burden and in their perception, they think that spending in the path of Allah would mean a reduction in their money. Therefore they do not spend in the way of Allah and finally one witnesses that there is no blessing in this kind of person’s wealth. He himself does not know where his money has gone (been spent – that is, his wealth depletes quickly when he refuses to spend in the way of Allah)!
The One to have given him all this wealth is verily Allah, but that person feels it burdensome or as a trivial matter to spend in the path of Allah. There are another category of people who when they spend, they do a mixing – on one hand they spend in the path of Allah and on the other, they spend in trivial matters. In this case, Allah bestows upon this category of people only a small part of blessings, and thus they do not success in making ends meet; all because they have hesitated to give (of what they possess) in the path of Allah.
As for the prophets, they are those who are foremost to put their all at the service of Allah (they are fully conscious of the fact that it is Allah who has given them all that they possess). They spend all they have in the path of Allah. Their state is such that they benefit from their state of being, whereby they reap advantages which nobody else receives. This is so, because if someone’s sentiment is mixed with the sentiment of Allah, this verily means that you merge your own self in Allah, plunging completely in Allah in such a way that you even lose your own voice (Only Allah has complete power and will over you); in such a way that each desire you may have is in line with the will of Allah. It must be that each moment of your life is spent in the pleasure of Allah. When there is this merging of will, then you lose yourselves completely in Allah. That is why Allah ordains the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to proclaim:
“Qul: Inna Salaati Wa nusuki Wa mahyahya Wa mamaati-lir-Rabil-Alamiin.” Say: My prayers, my sacrifices, my life, and my death, all belong to (Allah) the Lord of all the Worlds.
That is to say: Bear this in mind (O people) that all my acts of worship, my life, death, my awakening, and my sleep (when Allah takes my soul), all is for Allah. There is nothing which belongs to me. Thus, that which means spend in the path of Allah – and the Holy Quran gives a picture of this whereby it says that those who spend secretly or openly only for the cause of Allah – it means that other things lose value in your eyes; only pleasing Allah becomes your priority (with a clear and good intention). There are some people who by their nature itself are prone to accomplish good works, as if Allah created them to do good for humanity.
These kinds of people, they cannot bear to see someone in difficulty, or being hurt. They come willingly to help these people who are suffering without anyone else (except Allah) knowing about their good acts. They serve humanity in such a way that they do not look at these people creed or colour. These helpers are not rich and they do not accomplish acts for something in return (be it money or otherwise); No! They sacrifice themselves, their wives, children; they do this service (to humanity) only for the pleasure of their Lord and they accomplish such tasks in such a way that nobody else comes to know about their deeds.
Allah has a great consideration for such good people that you would never see them in difficulty, or you would never see them complaining and Allah illuminate them with His light and put blessings in their wealth and home which is beyond your imagination! There are also other people who spend in the cause of Allah, despite the several trials they have to undergo. They continue to spend, in such a time where they are themselves facing dire difficulties. Despite their natural love for the world that they have (as a human with an earthly body), they double efforts to spend in the way of Allah.
Therefore, the word which the Quran use for them “yarjuuna Tijaaratal” (hope for a (transaction) gain) does not diminish them. On the contrary, Allah elevates their rank. In the world there are people who spend a lot (not in the way of Allah) and in return they get nothing. Verily this world is only temporary and shall be shortly destroyed. But those who spend in the path of Allah, even if they give a cent (for the cause of Allah), they reap many benefits; their money is blessed, and moreover they reap greater benefits which are of a more eternal aspect. Thus, this is the transaction which Allah has mentioned in this verse (35: 30). And this transaction is not coincidental but truly intentional (from the good thoughts of man and the resulting gains they obtain from Allah). It is because of that intentional aspect of the transaction (that is, spending in the way of Allah) that it reaps so many benefits. If it was a good deed without (good) intention, then bear in mind that even flowers emit sweet fragrance, but despite this fact, these flowers do not reap any reward (despite the fragrance they emit). In the same way when water extinguishes fire, then it is because of the law of nature that it is able to do so. It does not do what it does with an intention. But man can ignite fire as well as extinguish it, when he makes intention to do either of the two acts, especially when Allah so desires that he either ignites a fire or extinguishes it, therefore this act become a good deed.
In another place in the Quran, Chapter 13 Verse 23, Allah mentions this subject-matter also.
Walla-ziina sabarub-tighaaa-‘a Wajhi-Rabbi-him wa ‘aqaamus-Salaata wa ‘an faquu mimmaa razaq-naahum sirraww wa ‘alani-yataww-wa yadra-‘uuna bil-ha-sanatis-sayyi-‘ata ‘ulaaa-‘ika lahum ‘uqbad-Daar.
“Patient people, desiring the face of their lord, who establish their prayers, and spend of what We have given them in private and in public; and who ward off evil with good. Theirs shall be the final abode.”
In this verse, before mentioning the establishment of prayer, there is no mention of reading the Book (Quran), but there is the mention of another subject-matter; but all of them have similarities. Allah says: “Patient people, desiring the face of their lord, who establish their prayers, and spend of what We have given them in private and in public”
In this verse also there is the mention of spending secretly (first) and then openly; and it is these people who shall inherit (be rewarded) the final (and eternal) abode. Thus, when mention has been made of the final abode, this in fact represents their future. In fact, when mention has been made of the patient people, it means that in this temporal world, there are also those kinds of people who do not have any home (that is, great wealth), or any other mundane luxuries. But despite not possessing all these wealth, they do not steal the provisions of Allah. It means that they are deprived of certain favours like a home, clothes and other necessities etc, but they do not try to acquire these necessities by fraudulent means (like stealing from the drawers of the Jamaat, and put therein dishonoured cheques (without provisions of funds); when people give cash in his hand to spend in the path of Allah, he puts in his pocket (for his personal use), or during a year, he is foremost to spend in amusement the money of the Jamaat which the good and poor people who are doing great sacrifice night and day to get so as to spend in the path of Allah), and therefore, (it is inevitable) that the wrath of Allah fall upon these kinds of people.
For those who spend for the cause of Allah, despite their great difficulties, they prefer to adopt patience. They want only the pleasure of Allah. If they obtain this divine pleasure, then it does not matter to them if they do not acquire these temporal favours (like a new car for them and their families, plane tickets to go and assist the international functions etc.) Therefore for these kinds of people, their rewards shall be the final (eternal) abode, wherein Allah has already made their provisions, wherein they shall lack nothing. They shall have all their licit comforts. The Quran says that when this moment shall come, their heart’s desire shall be fulfilled in such a way that there is no distance between their desires and the accomplishment of their desires. On one hand, they had a desire and on the other hand, these desires are being accomplished. These are people whose established prayer had a link with patience as mentioned in the Quran, wherein Allah linked prayer and patience – wherein Allah mentioned: “Wasta’-inu bis-sabri was-Salah” (Seek help with patience and prayer).
Therefore they are not only steadfast but through prayer, they make the necessary efforts to remove their weaknesses and they look forward to please Allah, seeking His pleasure (not for show; not for the eyes of people). Concerning their spending, they voluntarily spend in the way of Allah. They are people who, although poor, although they may be facing all kinds of difficulties, yet they continue to spend in the path of Allah.
May Allah help each one of you to understand the importance of sacrifice in the path of Allah and may He give us this spirit of sacrifice, and it must not be that we take this sermon as an ordinary sermon. We must try to understand what Allah wants us to understand and as from today we establish ourselves in the path of prayer, patience, and we give regularly our Zakaat and Chanda contributions in the path of Allah. I make an appeal to all brothers and sisters to come forward to benefit from this blessing and give your Zakaat and Chanda to the treasurer of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam.
Despite the fact that a person may not possess anything (his basic needs – like everyone goes in search to in the world), even then this person must not strive to acquire it through bad ways, and it must be that which he has, he spends it in the path of Allah. That is why Allah made two promises to these kinds of people. But before this, there is the mention of another of their quality, in that which they seek to replace an evil with goodness or that they want to remove an evil by spreading good (through good deeds). This subject matter has a link with their beings and also with their environment. It means that to remove their weaknesses, to atone for their mistakes (or sins), to remove the void they may feel when not possessing not much of this world, and thus when they cannot spend in the way of Allah (because of lack of funds etc.), they look for another means: they propagate good and strive to remove evil and thus they seek the pleasure of Allah in this way.
On this same subject, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that if you don’t have anything to spend in the path of Allah, therefore a good word shall be counted as spending in the way of Allah. Therefore, at least say something good if you don’t have anything. This removing of evil and propagating good comes naturally because of their deprivation. There are a lot of people in this situation, who would have loved to spend in the path of Allah, but alas for them they do not have the means to do so. Therefore, they make service (to humanity); they serve the religion to fill this void. And when they do so, they become people who are foremost to serve (humanity, their religion) only for the cause of Allah, and they make necessary efforts to seek the pleasure of Allah.
Afterwards Allah says that it is for these people also that the final abode belongs to. The words “uqbad-Daar” (final abode) which have been used here do not necessary mean that these people get to obtain these rewards in this very life itself. Patience has a double connexion with this subject, for very often there are people who despite being deprived of all favours, of all basic needs, but yet they live in peaceful life, only for the pleasure of Allah. And they get this peace because of their steadfastness. If someone has no patience, therefore he would not be able to acquire any tranquillity and there would be no guarantee for his good deeds. Now, if someone does not know what the pleasure of Allah means, he is not aware of this, therefore, how would he be able to comfort himself (despite his deprivation)?
If there were no patience, therefore the poor people would have been a menace for the society. The rank of his (a poor person) demands, his desires, all begin by small things till it becomes more refined, him wanting better and costlier possessions. A rich person would not have the desire to steal something which has fallen on the ground. If he is truly rich and finds something pricey on the ground, he would not be interested with it (compared with the poor). It may be that when the poor makes such a find, he would be tempted to keep the finding for himself. Therefore sometimes in poverty there are certain obligations which the poor has to make. That is why Allah has linked this fact with this subject-matter, that there may be some people who have certain demands and therefore they prefer to leave goodness and plunge into evil. But concerning the people mentioned in this sermon, we are dealing with those who do the opposite of what the normally poor people do; despite being poor, they keep a distance with evil and they prefer to spread goodness.
Therefore, their poverty makes them become all the more beautiful. And that is the spending which they spend in society, Despite possessing nearly nothing, but yet they strive to give good advices and say good words to reform the people and most of the time their advices strikes home (that is, their advices are listened to), more than the words of any other rich person! In fact it means that it is not necessary or obligatory that you be given rewards for all your good actions on earth itself, and that Allah must reward you absolutely here itself, but in fact Allah tests your patience also (with all these trials). It is the quality of patience which counts, and this patience may be rewarded after a long time. These rewards are for people who all through their lives have remained steadfast and maintained themselves firm in steadfastness. They are those who shall merit that final eternal abode – that is, after their death, all their unfulfilled desires shall be accomplished and Allah shall give them a peaceful life, filled with tranquillity. We are living in a world filled with dishonesty, robbery and bullying.
Nowadays there are all kinds of organisations, political and economic systems and all sorts of societies which are studying and analysing how to usurp money of others. Courts have been established to encourage this practice. The same goes for the police department, for therein are corrupted and dishonest policemen who take bribes from others. Therefore this sermon seeks to make understand that there are people who despite their difficulties and restrictions, but they continue in their good works, and spending in the way of Allah to seek the pleasure of Allah.
May Allah help each one of us to accomplish our duty. Insha-Allah, next week I shall continue on the same subject – Financial sacrifice. Ramadan is coming. Insha-Allah, may our brothers and sisters be aware that spending in the path of Allah shall not only profit them on earth but also in the Hereafter. The more they shall spend in the way of Allah, especially in this forthcoming blessed month, the more the reward they shall reap, Insha-Allah. |
