1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,399 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 2 00:00:03,399 --> 00:00:11,589 Within the embrace of Allah, happiness pours into the hearts. 3 00:00:11,589 --> 00:00:15,589 Seek ever-greater closeness to the Most Merciful. 4 00:00:15,589 --> 00:00:18,589 The Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Musa Mosque 5 00:00:18,589 --> 00:00:21,589 presents, through the Badi' [media group], 6 00:00:21,589 --> 00:00:24,589 The Essence of the Sermon, 7 00:00:24,589 --> 00:00:28,589 by Sheikh Usama Bahr, may Allah preserve him. 8 00:00:28,589 --> 00:00:35,590 Whoever obeys the Lord dissolves into the sweetest of feelings. 9 00:00:35,590 --> 00:00:37,590 If you meet Uways al-Qarani, 10 00:00:37,590 --> 00:00:42,020 for Allah, the Exalted, 11 00:00:42,020 --> 00:00:46,020 may elevate a person whom people might consider lowly, 12 00:00:46,020 --> 00:00:50,020 and may lower a person whom people might consider great. 13 00:00:50,020 --> 00:00:53,020 This is a truth we learn 14 00:00:53,020 --> 00:00:56,149 through the story of Uways al-Qarani. 15 00:00:56,149 --> 00:00:59,149 For the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said 16 00:00:59,149 --> 00:01:04,150 to our masters 'Umar and 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with them both: 17 00:01:04,150 --> 00:01:10,150 "If you meet Uways, ask him to seek forgiveness for you and to pray for you." 18 00:01:10,150 --> 00:01:13,150 For he has a mother, and he has a white patch [on his skin]. 19 00:01:13,150 --> 00:01:17,280 Who is this man who would seek forgiveness for 'Umar, 20 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:19,280 the giant of Islam, 21 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:23,209 and for 'Ali, the knight of Islam? 22 00:01:23,209 --> 00:01:27,209 The journey to search for Uways al-Qarani began 23 00:01:27,209 --> 00:01:31,209 by 'Umar and 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with them. 24 00:01:31,209 --> 00:01:36,209 They waited for ten years after the passing of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 25 00:01:36,209 --> 00:01:39,209 watching for Uways during the Hajj season, 26 00:01:39,209 --> 00:01:43,209 until the following year arrived. 27 00:01:43,209 --> 00:01:45,209 A delegation from Yemen came, 28 00:01:45,209 --> 00:01:48,209 and our master 'Umar said to the leader of the delegation, 29 00:01:48,209 --> 00:01:51,209 after inviting them to a feast: 30 00:01:51,209 --> 00:01:55,209 "Is there among you a man who is fair-skinned and has a white patch?" 31 00:01:55,209 --> 00:01:58,209 The man said, "Perhaps you know him; 32 00:01:58,209 --> 00:02:02,209 he is obscure, tending our camels." 33 00:02:02,209 --> 00:02:05,209 So they went to him, and 'Umar said to him, 34 00:02:05,209 --> 00:02:09,210 "What is your name?" He replied, "I am 'Abdullah [a servant of Allah]." 35 00:02:09,210 --> 00:02:16,210 Our master 'Ali said, "We know that everyone under the heavens is a servant of Allah, 36 00:02:16,210 --> 00:02:19,210 but what is the name your mother gave you?" 37 00:02:19,210 --> 00:02:22,210 He asked, "Who are you two?" 38 00:02:22,210 --> 00:02:26,210 Our master 'Umar said, "I am 'Umar, and this is 'Ali." 39 00:02:26,210 --> 00:02:29,210 He stood up on his feet 40 00:02:29,210 --> 00:02:33,210 and said, "The Commander of the Faithful and the son-in-law of the Messenger of Allah! 41 00:02:33,210 --> 00:02:37,210 May Allah reward you with the best reward on behalf of Islam. 42 00:02:37,210 --> 00:02:40,210 You have attained the honor of companionship [with the Prophet], 43 00:02:40,210 --> 00:02:45,210 whereas I have not seen the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him." 44 00:02:45,210 --> 00:02:48,240 Our master 'Umar said to him, 45 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:52,240 "O Uways, how do you imagine the Messenger of Allah?" 46 00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:57,240 He replied, "I imagine him as a light that sparkles and fills the horizon." 47 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:02,240 'Umar wept out of longing for the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 48 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:07,240 and said, "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 49 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:10,240 requested that you seek forgiveness for us and pray for us." 50 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:14,240 He replied, "I do not single anyone out in my prayers, 51 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:16,240 but I make them general." 52 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:20,240 'Umar said, "Admonish me, O Uways." 53 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:24,240 He said, "Seek the mercy of Allah when you obey Him, 54 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,240 and avoid His disobedience when you fear His punishment, 55 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,240 and let your hope in Him never be severed." 56 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,240 'Umar asked, "Where do you intend to go?" 57 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,240 He replied, "I intend to go to Kufa." 58 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,240 'Umar said, "Shall we provide you with some provision?" 59 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,240 He said, "No." 60 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:45,240 'Umar said, "Shall we speak to the governor of Kufa on your behalf?" 61 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:47,240 He said, "No. 62 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:51,240 I wish to be among the common folk, obscure and unknown." 63 00:03:51,240 --> 00:03:53,240 Then he went on his way. 64 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:57,750 Uways died in a tent for the Muslims, 65 00:03:57,750 --> 00:04:00,750 obscure, known by no one. 66 00:04:00,750 --> 00:04:04,199 This story confirms for us 67 00:04:04,199 --> 00:04:09,199 that there are people whose station with Allah is high. 68 00:04:09,199 --> 00:04:11,199 Here is Uways al-Qarani, 69 00:04:11,199 --> 00:04:14,199 who did not see the face of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 70 00:04:14,199 --> 00:04:17,199 yet 'Umar and 'Ali speak of him, 71 00:04:17,199 --> 00:04:19,199 and they are who they are, 72 00:04:19,199 --> 00:04:22,199 and he commands them, if they meet Uways, 73 00:04:22,199 --> 00:04:25,199 to have him seek forgiveness and pray for them. 74 00:04:25,199 --> 00:04:29,199 There is no doubt that there are many like Uways, 75 00:04:29,199 --> 00:04:34,199 and that Allah, the Exalted, loves them for the purity of their hearts and deeds, 76 00:04:34,199 --> 00:04:37,199 even if they are among the common folk. 77 00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:40,199 These are the true standards 78 00:04:40,199 --> 00:04:43,199 by which a person should be known. 79 00:04:43,199 --> 00:04:45,199 It is not wealth, nor position, 80 00:04:45,199 --> 00:04:47,199 nor status, nor lineage; 81 00:04:47,199 --> 00:04:50,199 these are the standards that Allah, the Exalted, considers. 82 00:04:50,199 --> 00:04:52,199 So reflect upon that. 83 00:04:52,199 --> 00:05:01,259 Within the embrace of Allah, happiness pours into the hearts. 84 00:05:01,259 --> 00:05:05,259 Seek ever-greater closeness to the Most Merciful, 85 00:05:05,259 --> 00:05:09,259 so that joy may embrace you. 86 00:05:09,259 --> 00:05:17,290 Attach your soul to your Lord and fill the surroundings with light; 87 00:05:17,290 --> 00:05:24,480 for whoever obeys the Lord dissolves into the sweetest of feelings. 88 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:32,769 For there is darkness, then light, and revelation thereafter. 89 00:05:32,769 --> 00:05:36,769 If Allah wills a thing, 90 00:05:36,769 --> 00:05:41,769 He says to it, "Be," and it is.