بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Friday Sermon
HADHRAT AMIR’UL MUMINEEN MUHYI-UD-DIN
Munir Ahmad Azim
29 November 2013 ~
(25 Muharram 1435 Hijri)
(Summary of Friday Sermon)
After having greeted all his followers (and all Muslims) round the world – mentioning the nearby islands, India, Kerala, Trinidad and Tobago etc. – with the Salutations of Peace, Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din (atba) read the Tashahhud, Taouz and Surah Al Fatiha and then said:
Islam is a word that implies the idea of submission and obedience. Another literal meaning of Islam is peace. Therefore greeting in Islam is peace, that is to say, “As-Salam”.
The Prophet of Allah (pbuh) said: “Salutation (Assalam-u-alaikum) was sent by Allah as a benefaction for men, therefore propagate it as far as possible among you.”
The salutation of peace according to the Islamic precept is a sacred duty for each Muslim. An obligation which every Muslim owes to his brothers is to shower peace on him.
Assalam-u-alaikum (peace be upon you) is not just a simple formula of peace but there is also a feeling of bliss that is felt and moreover, it is a deep invocation from us for the salvation, protection and peace of our brother. It also has the idea which ensures that our brother will not be harmed by any action from us.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) reported that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, but you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I teach you a way, which if you do shall enable you to love one another? Spread Peace (Salam) among you.” (Bukhari)
The greeting of peace (Assalam-u-alaikum) according to Islamic formula has a great effect, such that even the bad intentions which people have towards us will dissipate. The prophet of Allah said about this: “When you pass by the people inclined to evil, greet them, their malice and hatred towards you shall disappear.” (Bukhari)
It is sickening to see that sometimes there are people who do not respond to the greeting (Salam) of their Muslim brother. Is replying to and bidding Salam not a sacred duty for every Muslim?
How do we dare not respond to someone’s Salam, because the Quran has exposed this injunction in clear sentences? (Do you judge others before (contemplating to) greeting them?)
“And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet with a better (greeting) than it or return it; surely Allah takes account of all things.” (4: 87)
So an advice to those who dare not greet their brethrens; The Salam opens the door to reconciliation. Broken relationships, disputes incurred are quickly remedied by the act of peace greeting.
“It is not lawful for a Muslim to sever relations with his brother for more than three nights, (It is unlawful for them that) when they meet, one of them turns his face away from the other, and the other turns his face from the former, and the better of the two will be the one who greets the other first.” (Bukhari)
The greeting in Islam decreases boasting and pride, for both have no place in Islam. And to destroy them, we only have to practice Salam as often as possible. The Prophet said, “The one to greet the first is free of pride”. (Bukhari).
Every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He owes him some obligations, among which is the greeting of peace (as-Salam). The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Every Muslim has six duties vis-à-vis his brother.
1. Visit him when he falls ill.
2. Always wish him well in his presence as well as in his absence.
3. Help him in difficult times.
4. Wish him “Assalam-u-alaikum” when meet him.
5. Answer him “May Allah have Mercy upon you” when he sneezes.
6. Attend his funeral.” (Bukhari)
The first command that Allah gave Hazrat Adam (as) was to learn the Salam according to Islamic precepts. Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) reported that the Holy Prophet said: “When Allah created Adam (as) He said: ‘Go greet that group of angels, and listen to their greeting because it will be your greeting and that of your descendants’.” (Bukhari)
According to this tradition, all other forms of greeting (except Assalam-u-alaikum) are pure inventions of man for only the greeting of peace (as taught by Islam) is according to the teachings of God and which has existed since the creation of the man. This is why we see that all other forms of greetings do not conform to all the circumstances of the life of man. To take just one example, one cannot wish “Good morning” to someone who suffers horribly. But on the other hand we may well invoke the peace and salvation of God in his favour, be it in his time of misery or happiness.
The Quran states that angels greet the faithful servants of Allah with the word peace (Salam) before they are enter through the gates of paradise.
“But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, "Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein.” (39: 74)
The Quran tells us that angels come to remove the souls of the good servants of God and will say: “Peace be upon you.”
“Those whom the angels cause to die in a good state, saying: Peace be on you: enter the garden for what you did.” (16: 33).
Al-Quran tells us that God also greet the inhabitants of paradise by the formula Assalam-u-alaikum (Peace be upon you).
“The word from a Merciful Lord (for them) is: Peace!” (36: 59).
Supplication (Du’a)
Oh my Rab, I seek refuge with You in the trials of life and death. Oh my Rab, my Allah, I ask you to confirm me in obedience to Your will and keep me on the right path. I beseech You to make me grateful for Your blessings and to attract your pleasure on my worship (of You). I pray that You give me good and preserve me from the evil that You know. I ask You for forgiveness of sins that you know. My Rab, my Allah, forgive me the wrong I have done, that I have forgotten, that I concealed and what I have done openly. You know better than me, You who make near that which is distant and You, besides whom there is no God. (Ameen).
