WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:03.399 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:11.589 Within the embrace of Allah, happiness pours into the hearts. 00:00:11.589 --> 00:00:15.589 Seek ever-greater closeness to the Most Merciful. 00:00:15.589 --> 00:00:18.589 The Muhammad Ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Musa Mosque 00:00:18.589 --> 00:00:21.589 presents, through the Badi' [media group], 00:00:21.589 --> 00:00:24.589 The Essence of the Sermon, 00:00:24.589 --> 00:00:28.589 by Sheikh Usama Bahr, may Allah preserve him. 00:00:28.589 --> 00:00:35.590 Whoever obeys the Lord dissolves into the sweetest of feelings. 00:00:35.590 --> 00:00:37.590 If you meet Uways al-Qarani, 00:00:37.590 --> 00:00:42.020 for Allah, the Exalted, 00:00:42.020 --> 00:00:46.020 may elevate a person whom people might consider lowly, 00:00:46.020 --> 00:00:50.020 and may lower a person whom people might consider great. 00:00:50.020 --> 00:00:53.020 This is a truth we learn 00:00:53.020 --> 00:00:56.149 through the story of Uways al-Qarani. 00:00:56.149 --> 00:00:59.149 For the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said 00:00:59.149 --> 00:01:04.150 to our masters 'Umar and 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with them both: 00:01:04.150 --> 00:01:10.150 "If you meet Uways, ask him to seek forgiveness for you and to pray for you." 00:01:10.150 --> 00:01:13.150 For he has a mother, and he has a white patch [on his skin]. 00:01:13.150 --> 00:01:17.280 Who is this man who would seek forgiveness for 'Umar, 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:19.280 the giant of Islam, 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:23.209 and for 'Ali, the knight of Islam? 00:01:23.209 --> 00:01:27.209 The journey to search for Uways al-Qarani began 00:01:27.209 --> 00:01:31.209 by 'Umar and 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with them. 00:01:31.209 --> 00:01:36.209 They waited for ten years after the passing of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:01:36.209 --> 00:01:39.209 watching for Uways during the Hajj season, 00:01:39.209 --> 00:01:43.209 until the following year arrived. 00:01:43.209 --> 00:01:45.209 A delegation from Yemen came, 00:01:45.209 --> 00:01:48.209 and our master 'Umar said to the leader of the delegation, 00:01:48.209 --> 00:01:51.209 after inviting them to a feast: 00:01:51.209 --> 00:01:55.209 "Is there among you a man who is fair-skinned and has a white patch?" 00:01:55.209 --> 00:01:58.209 The man said, "Perhaps you know him; 00:01:58.209 --> 00:02:02.209 he is obscure, tending our camels." 00:02:02.209 --> 00:02:05.209 So they went to him, and 'Umar said to him, 00:02:05.209 --> 00:02:09.210 "What is your name?" He replied, "I am 'Abdullah [a servant of Allah]." 00:02:09.210 --> 00:02:16.210 Our master 'Ali said, "We know that everyone under the heavens is a servant of Allah, 00:02:16.210 --> 00:02:19.210 but what is the name your mother gave you?" 00:02:19.210 --> 00:02:22.210 He asked, "Who are you two?" 00:02:22.210 --> 00:02:26.210 Our master 'Umar said, "I am 'Umar, and this is 'Ali." 00:02:26.210 --> 00:02:29.210 He stood up on his feet 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! 00:02:33.210 --> 00:02:37.210 May Allah reward you with the best reward on behalf of Islam. 00:02:37.210 --> 00:02:40.210 You have attained the honor of companionship [with the Prophet], 00:02:40.210 --> 00:02:45.210 whereas I have not seen the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him." 00:02:45.210 --> 00:02:48.240 Our master 'Umar said to him, 00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:52.240 "O Uways, how do you imagine the Messenger of Allah?" 00:02:52.240 --> 00:02:57.240 He replied, "I imagine him as a light that sparkles and fills the horizon." 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:02.240 'Umar wept out of longing for the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:07.240 and said, "The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:10.240 requested that you seek forgiveness for us and pray for us." 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:14.240 He replied, "I do not single anyone out in my prayers, 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:16.240 but I make them general." 00:03:16.240 --> 00:03:20.240 'Umar said, "Admonish me, O Uways." 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:24.240 He said, "Seek the mercy of Allah when you obey Him, 00:03:24.240 --> 00:03:27.240 and avoid His disobedience when you fear His punishment, 00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:30.240 and let your hope in Him never be severed." 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:34.240 'Umar asked, "Where do you intend to go?" 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:36.240 He replied, "I intend to go to Kufa." 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:39.240 'Umar said, "Shall we provide you with some provision?" 00:03:39.240 --> 00:03:41.240 He said, "No." 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:45.240 'Umar said, "Shall we speak to the governor of Kufa on your behalf?" 00:03:45.240 --> 00:03:47.240 He said, "No. 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:51.240 I wish to be among the common folk, obscure and unknown." 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:53.240 Then he went on his way. 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:57.750 Uways died in a tent for the Muslims, 00:03:57.750 --> 00:04:00.750 obscure, known by no one. 00:04:00.750 --> 00:04:04.199 This story confirms for us 00:04:04.199 --> 00:04:09.199 that there are people whose station with Allah is high. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:11.199 Here is Uways al-Qarani, 00:04:11.199 --> 00:04:14.199 who did not see the face of the Prophet, peace be upon him, 00:04:14.199 --> 00:04:17.199 yet 'Umar and 'Ali speak of him, 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:19.199 and they are who they are, 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:22.199 and he commands them, if they meet Uways, 00:04:22.199 --> 00:04:25.199 to have him seek forgiveness and pray for them. 00:04:25.199 --> 00:04:29.199 There is no doubt that there are many like Uways, 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:34.199 and that Allah, the Exalted, loves them for the purity of their hearts and deeds, 00:04:34.199 --> 00:04:37.199 even if they are among the common folk. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:40.199 These are the true standards 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:43.199 by which a person should be known. 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:45.199 It is not wealth, nor position, 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:47.199 nor status, nor lineage; 00:04:47.199 --> 00:04:50.199 these are the standards that Allah, the Exalted, considers. 00:04:50.199 --> 00:04:52.199 So reflect upon that. 00:04:52.199 --> 00:05:01.259 Within the embrace of Allah, happiness pours into the hearts. 00:05:01.259 --> 00:05:05.259 Seek ever-greater closeness to the Most Merciful, 00:05:05.259 --> 00:05:09.259 so that joy may embrace you. 00:05:09.259 --> 00:05:17.290 Attach your soul to your Lord and fill the surroundings with light; 00:05:17.290 --> 00:05:24.480 for whoever obeys the Lord dissolves into the sweetest of feelings. 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:32.769 For there is darkness, then light, and revelation thereafter. 00:05:32.769 --> 00:05:36.769 If Allah wills a thing, 00:05:36.769 --> 00:05:41.769 He says to it, "Be," and it is.