In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The Muhammad ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz al-Musa Mosque
in al-Badi' presents
Musk of the Discourse
by Sheikh Usama Bahr,
may Allah preserve him.
Melting into the sweetest of feelings,
I wish I could kiss this head.
Holding fast to principles
is a matter that allows for no compromise.
How much more so when those are the principles of Islam,
which a Muslim can never abandon
under any circumstances,
nor can they be swayed by any obstacles
or hardships,
because they were planted deep into the roots of the heart,
and they never wavered.
Among the situations that command our reverence and awe
is that moment filled with dignity and honor,
the story of our master 'Abdullah ibn Hudhafah, may Allah be pleased with him.
When 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, sent an army to the Romans,
'Abdullah ibn Hudhafah was among them,
and he was one of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
The Romans took him prisoner
and brought him before their king,
saying, "This man is one of the Companions of Muhammad."
The king said to him,
"Will you convert to Christianity, and I will share my kingdom and authority with you?"
'Abdullah replied,
"If you were to give me everything you possess and everything the Arabs possess
in exchange for turning away from the religion of Muhammad for even the blink of an eye, I would not do it."
The tyrannical king said,
"Then I will kill you."
"O 'Abdullah, that is up to you," he replied.
He ordered him to be crucified,
and said to the archers,
"Shoot arrows near his hands and feet,"
intending to intimidate him,
while continuing to offer him Christianity
and threatening him with death.
But he refused.
Then he ordered him to be taken down,
and called for a large pot containing oil,
and lit a fire beneath it.
Then he summoned two Muslim prisoners,
and ordered them to be thrown into it,
while 'Abdullah watched,
and the tyrannical king continued to offer him Christianity,
but he refused.
Then the king ordered that 'Abdullah be thrown into the pot.
As he was being carried toward the pot, he wept.
It was said to the king, "He has wept."
The king thought he had lost his resolve,
so he said, "Bring him back."
He offered him Christianity a second time,
but he refused.
The king asked him,
"Then what made you weep?"
'Abdullah replied,
"I wept because I said to myself,
'You are being thrown into this pot right now, and then you will be gone.'
I wished that I had
as many souls as there are hairs on my body,
all to be thrown into the path of Allah."
The tyrannical king then said to him,
"Will you kiss my head
and I will set you free?"
'Abdullah asked him,
"And all the Muslim prisoners as well?"
The king said,
"Yes,
and all the Muslim prisoners."
'Abdullah thought,
"I said to myself,
'An enemy from the enemies of Allah,
I will kiss his head,
and he will release me and the Muslim prisoners.'
I do not care."
He drew near to him and kissed his head,
and the king handed over the prisoners
and set them free.
When 'Abdullah returned,
the Muslim prisoners told
'Umar ibn al-Khattab
about his experience with the tyrannical king.
'Umar said,
"It is the duty of every Muslim
to kiss the head of 'Abdullah ibn Hudhafah,
and I will begin."
'Umar stood up
and kissed the head of 'Abdullah.
That head which 'Umar kissed—
I wish I could kiss it,
for its owner was steadfast in his resolve,
despite the temptations and despite the intimidation.
Verily, souls that have been trained to stand firm in times of hardship
deserve to have their heads kissed.
In the journey toward Allah, happiness pours into the hearts.
Increase your closeness to the Most Merciful,
so that joy may embrace you.
Attach your soul to your Lord,
and fill the surroundings with light.
Whoever obeys the Lord melts into the sweetest of feelings,
for there is darkness, then light,
and life thereafter.
If Allah wills a thing, He says to it, "Be," and it is.