WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.299 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. 00:00:04.450 --> 00:00:07.650 We are pleased at the Sheikh Hasa Islamic Center 00:00:07.750 --> 00:00:10.449 to present to our esteemed listeners 00:00:10.550 --> 00:00:12.650 a reading of the book 00:00:12.750 --> 00:00:14.449 *The Treasure of the Muslim* 00:00:14.550 --> 00:00:17.050 *On the Virtue of Calling to Allah* 00:00:17.149 --> 00:00:20.250 by its author, John Yar Bamarni. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:23.679 Calling to Allah 00:00:23.780 --> 00:00:26.879 wards off punishment from the servants of Allah. 00:00:27.719 --> 00:00:29.719 Allah the Exalted says: 00:00:30.219 --> 00:00:32.719 "Cursed were those who disbelieved 00:00:32.820 --> 00:00:36.719 among the Children of Israel 00:00:36.820 --> 00:00:39.619 by the tongue of David 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:41.719 and Jesus, son of Mary. 00:00:42.750 --> 00:00:44.750 That is because they disobeyed 00:00:44.850 --> 00:00:47.750 and were transgressing. 00:00:47.850 --> 00:00:51.359 They did not prevent one another 00:00:51.460 --> 00:00:57.000 from wrongdoing that they did. 00:00:57.100 --> 00:00:59.670 How wretched was 00:00:59.670 --> 00:01:02.670 that which they were doing." 00:01:06.900 --> 00:01:08.799 Calling to Allah 00:01:08.900 --> 00:01:12.439 is a salvation from the sin of speech. 00:01:12.540 --> 00:01:15.439 Indeed, a person’s preoccupation with calling to Allah 00:01:15.540 --> 00:01:18.439 is a cause for their safety from the sins of speech 00:01:18.540 --> 00:01:20.439 and the slips of the tongue. 00:01:20.540 --> 00:01:23.439 The Lord, Glorified and Exalted be He, says: 00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:29.819 “There is no good in much of their secret conferences save (in) him who enjoineth almsgiving and kindness and peace-making among the people. Whoso doeth that, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall bestow on him a vast reward.” (4:114) 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:32.819 “There is no good in much of their secret conferences save (in) him who enjoineth almsgiving and kindness and peace-making among the people. Whoso doeth that, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall bestow on him a vast reward.” (4:114) 00:01:32.819 --> 00:01:39.819 “There is no good in much of their secret conferences save (in) him who enjoineth almsgiving and kindness and peace-making among the people. Whoso doeth that, seeking the good pleasure of Allah, We shall bestow on him a vast reward.” (4:114) 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:42.819 "And whoever does that 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:47.819 seeking the pleasure of Allah, 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:53.819 We will give him a great reward." 00:01:53.920 --> 00:01:57.980 If you do not occupy your soul with obedience, 00:01:58.079 --> 00:01:59.980 it will occupy you with disobedience. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:07.359 “Restrain thyself along with those who cry unto their Lord at morn and evening, seeking His Countenance; and let not thine eyes overlook them, desiring the pomp of the life of the world; and obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, who followeth his own lust and whose case hath been abandoned.” (18:28) 00:02:07.459 --> 00:02:10.360 "In the morning and the evening, 00:02:10.460 --> 00:02:13.360 desiring His countenance." 00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:19.310 Calling to Allah is a cause for the righteousness of people's lives 00:02:19.409 --> 00:02:22.310 and the prevention of the corruption of the ignorant. 00:02:22.409 --> 00:02:26.020 The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: 00:02:26.120 --> 00:02:29.020 "The example of the one who upholds the limits of Allah 00:02:29.120 --> 00:02:31.020 and the one who falls into them 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:34.020 is like a people who drew lots for places on a ship; 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:39.020 some occupied the upper deck and some the lower. 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:43.020 Those in the lower deck, when they needed water, 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:45.020 had to pass by those above them. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:47.020 So they said, 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:50.020 'If we were to make a hole in our portion 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:52.020 and not harm those above us...' 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:55.020 If they leave them to what they desire, 00:02:55.120 --> 00:02:57.020 they will all perish, 00:02:57.120 --> 00:02:59.020 but if they take them by their hands, 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:02.020 they will be saved, and all will be saved." 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:05.330 Calling to Allah 00:03:05.430 --> 00:03:10.330 is an important requirement for anyone who desires salvation for themselves. 00:03:10.430 --> 00:03:12.840 Allah the Exalted says: 00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:17.969 “And when a community among them said: Why preach ye to a folk whom Allah is about to destroy or punish with an awful doom, they said: In order to be free from guilt before your Lord, and that haply they may ward off (evil).” (7:164) 00:03:18.069 --> 00:03:22.969 "Why do you advise a people whom Allah is about to destroy?" 00:03:23.069 --> 00:03:28.969 “And when a community among them said: Why preach ye to a folk whom Allah is about to destroy or punish with an awful doom, they said: In order to be free from guilt before your Lord, and that haply they may ward off (evil).” (7:164) 00:03:29.069 --> 00:03:34.379 “And when a community among them said: Why preach ye to a folk whom Allah is about to destroy or punish with an awful doom, they said: In order to be free from guilt before your Lord, and that haply they may ward off (evil).” (7:164) 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:38.379 "And perhaps they will become righteous." 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:42.340 And other than that are the fruits, 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:45.340 such as uniting the word and sharpening resolve, 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:48.340 spreading security, and strengthening certainty. 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:53.879 This is a summary of the virtues and fruits of calling to Allah, 00:03:53.979 --> 00:03:56.879 presented briefly and concisely. 00:03:56.979 --> 00:04:00.879 I ask Allah the Almighty to make it beneficial. 00:04:00.979 --> 00:04:04.969 Calling to Allah is a noble goal, 00:04:05.069 --> 00:04:10.969 deserving that we give it our most precious time, wealth, and effort, 00:04:11.069 --> 00:04:12.969 not merely the leftovers. 00:04:13.069 --> 00:04:15.969 It accompanies us until we are buried. 00:04:16.069 --> 00:04:18.029 Migration and striving in the path of Allah (Jihad) 00:04:18.129 --> 00:04:24.029 are nothing but the removal of any obstacle in the way of calling to Allah. 00:04:24.129 --> 00:04:28.800 What do we need to call to Allah? 00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:31.379 Maintaining the correct intention, 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:34.379 purifying it from impurities and the desires of the self, 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:37.379 and seeking fame or praise. 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:42.500 We must equip ourselves with sacred knowledge, skills, and practice. 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:46.759 The caller must be a good example to people 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:49.759 in their conduct, their inner self, and their outward appearance. 00:04:49.860 --> 00:04:53.110 Patience in the path of calling to Allah. 00:04:53.209 --> 00:04:55.110 Among the requirements of patience 00:04:55.209 --> 00:04:59.110 is not to find the path too long or to be hasty for results. 00:04:59.209 --> 00:05:02.370 Not to take any reward for one's call 00:05:02.470 --> 00:05:05.370 except what one hopes for from one's Lord. 00:05:05.470 --> 00:05:09.259 Doubts that hinder the call. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:14.100 Some may abandon the call due to a lack of response. 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:20.100 There is no doubt that the prophets and messengers were the most perfect of people in the aspect of calling to Allah, 00:05:20.199 --> 00:05:27.100 for it is the primary mission for which Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, sent them. 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:28.100 Yet, 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:33.100 they faced from their people what they faced of rejection and stubbornness, 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:36.100 to the point that some of them had no one believe in them, 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:41.100 as the Chosen One, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, informed us: 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:43.160 "The nations were presented to me, 00:05:43.259 --> 00:05:48.160 and I saw a prophet and two prophets passing by with a group of followers, 00:05:48.259 --> 00:05:51.160 and a prophet with no one with him." 00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:54.610 So guidance is in the hand of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, 00:05:54.709 --> 00:05:56.610 as in His saying: 00:05:56.709 --> 00:06:08.829 “The guiding of them is not thy duty (O Muhammad), but Allah guideth whom He will. And whatsoever good thing ye spend, it is for yourselves, when ye spend not save in search of Allah's Countenance; and whatsoever good thing ye spend, it will be repaid to you in full, and ye will not be wronged.” (2:272) 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:13.500 The lesson is not in the response. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:21.230 If we contemplate the guidance of the Lord of the Worlds to our Prophet and beloved, Muhammad, peace be upon him, 00:06:21.329 --> 00:06:24.230 who is our example in calling to Allah, 00:06:24.329 --> 00:06:27.230 we find that Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, 00:06:27.329 --> 00:06:30.230 did not charge him with the people's response to him; 00:06:30.329 --> 00:06:35.230 He only charged him with conveying the message, as in His saying: 00:06:35.329 --> 00:06:41.230 “Obey Allah and obey His messenger; but if ye turn away, then the duty of Our messenger is only to convey (the message) plainly.” (64:12) 00:06:41.329 --> 00:06:45.389 What confirms that the mission of the Messenger is conveying the message 00:06:45.490 --> 00:06:47.389 is His saying, Glorified be He: 00:06:47.490 --> 00:06:51.389 "And there is not upon the Messenger except the clear notification." 00:06:51.490 --> 00:06:54.490 As for true guidance, 00:06:54.589 --> 00:06:57.490 it belongs to Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, 00:06:57.589 --> 00:07:01.490 as in His saying: "You do not guide whom you like, 00:07:01.589 --> 00:07:05.490 but Allah guides whom He wills." 00:07:05.589 --> 00:07:08.899 Regarding the people of the Sabbath from the Children of Israel, 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:13.899 when a group objected to the preachers by saying: 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:19.899 “And when a community among them said: Why preach ye to a folk whom Allah is about to destroy or punish with an awful doom, they said: In order to be free from guilt before your Lord, and that haply they may ward off (evil).” (7:164) 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:22.899 The preachers replied by saying: 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:27.899 “And when a community among them said: Why preach ye to a folk whom Allah is about to destroy or punish with an awful doom, they said: In order to be free from guilt before your Lord, and that haply they may ward off (evil).” (7:164) 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:30.939 Al-Qasimi said in his *Tafsir*: 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:33.939 "The prohibition of evil does not lapse, 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:36.939 even if the one who forbids it knows there is no benefit in it, 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:40.939 for it is not a condition that compliance is obtained from the wrongdoer. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:45.939 Even if there were no benefit other than fulfilling a great pillar of the religion, 00:07:46.040 --> 00:07:48.939 having zeal for the limits of Allah, 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:52.939 and offering an excuse to Him, the Exalted, since He was strict in abandoning it, 00:07:53.040 --> 00:07:54.939 that would be sufficient benefit." 00:07:55.040 --> 00:08:01.339 Judging people by their lack of response is a mistaken judgment. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:05.600 Who is able to judge people by their lack of response? 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:11.600 Even if one says, "I have called them twice, three times, or more," 00:08:11.699 --> 00:08:18.600 the response may not come until after repeated attempts and a long time. 00:08:18.699 --> 00:08:22.600 Calling to Allah requires long-suffering 00:08:22.699 --> 00:08:25.600 and patience with those being called. 00:08:25.699 --> 00:08:27.600 Haste in expecting results 00:08:27.699 --> 00:08:30.600 and lack of patience with those being called 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:34.600 are among the afflictions that some callers suffer from. 00:08:34.700 --> 00:08:39.629 We have in the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, a beautiful example; 00:08:39.730 --> 00:08:44.629 he spent time calling his people to Allah, commanding them and forbidding them, 00:08:44.629 --> 00:08:49.629 until Allah manifested the religion and honored the Muslims. 00:08:49.730 --> 00:08:56.269 The fruits of introducing Islam are not limited to the person accepting Islam. 00:08:56.370 --> 00:09:01.269 Rather, there are other fruits that are realized even if they do not convert: 00:09:01.370 --> 00:09:04.500 the attainment of Islam, even if after a while; 00:09:04.600 --> 00:09:08.500 the removal of a false perception about Islam; 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:11.659 the building of a correct perception about Islam; 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:13.659 neutralization; 00:09:13.659 --> 00:09:15.659 support; 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:19.750 fulfilling the duty and removing the burden from the Muslims; 00:09:19.850 --> 00:09:21.909 and establishing the proof. 00:09:22.009 --> 00:09:25.580 Other than the concept of surrender. 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:27.710 The concept of surrender 00:09:27.809 --> 00:09:32.710 is for the caller to think that it is difficult to guide people. 00:09:32.809 --> 00:09:34.710 The opposite is true. 00:09:34.809 --> 00:09:38.710 How easy it is for people to enter Islam if they are reached! 00:09:38.809 --> 00:09:42.710 You must strive to convey the religion using the best methods, 00:09:42.809 --> 00:09:46.710 and you will see them enter Islam by the permission of Allah. 00:09:46.809 --> 00:09:49.710 The important thing is to think about conveying the message; 00:09:49.809 --> 00:09:51.710 "You do not guide whom you like." 00:09:51.809 --> 00:09:54.220 Ask yourself: 00:09:54.320 --> 00:09:57.220 How many people have you reached with Islam? 00:09:57.320 --> 00:09:59.220 A hundred people? 00:09:59.320 --> 00:10:00.220 Two hundred people? 00:10:00.320 --> 00:10:02.220 And how many times? 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:03.220 It is strange! 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:07.220 Then you complain about the difficulty of people entering Islam. 00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:10.289 This is a trick from Satan, 00:10:10.389 --> 00:10:12.289 so be on guard. 00:10:12.389 --> 00:10:16.289 And also beware of the frustrated, idle ones, 00:10:16.389 --> 00:10:20.289 and put cotton in your ears so you do not hear them. 00:10:20.389 --> 00:10:22.669 Ask yourself: 00:10:22.769 --> 00:10:25.669 How many people have you reached with Islam? 00:10:25.769 --> 00:10:27.669 Then judge. 00:10:27.769 --> 00:10:29.740 The concern for calling to Allah in general, 00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:32.740 and calling non-Muslims in particular, 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:36.740 should be carried by every single Muslim, 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:40.740 according to their ability in speech, action, or behavior. 00:10:40.840 --> 00:10:43.740 This applies equally to the old and the young, 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:45.740 the male and the female, 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:47.740 the scholar and the layman, 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:51.740 each according to their capacity and ability. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:55.740 And Allah guides whom He wills by His grace and mercy. 00:10:55.840 --> 00:11:00.090 We should urge our children, our wives, 00:11:00.190 --> 00:11:02.090 our sisters, our mothers, 00:11:02.190 --> 00:11:06.090 and all members of our families to participate in conveying the message, 00:11:06.190 --> 00:11:09.090 assign them missionary tasks, 00:11:09.190 --> 00:11:14.090 and accompany and motivate them materially and morally. 00:11:14.190 --> 00:11:17.179 A non-Muslim might respond 00:11:17.279 --> 00:11:19.179 to the call of a child, 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:22.179 while another might refuse to accept it from a caller 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:25.179 who possesses the power of persuasion and influence. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:29.179 This is evidenced by what one of the new Muslims mentioned 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.179 in the city of Riyadh, 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:34.179 who works as a swimming coach. 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:37.179 He said that the reason for his Islam 00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:40.179 was a thirteen-year-old child 00:11:40.279 --> 00:11:43.179 who was training him in swimming. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:45.179 This young boy brought him 00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:49.179 a number of translated Islamic books, 00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:54.179 and also gifted him a copy of the translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur'an. 00:11:54.279 --> 00:11:58.179 That was the cause of his guidance to Islam. 00:11:58.279 --> 00:12:01.470 With this extreme ease, 00:12:01.570 --> 00:12:03.470 people enter the religion of Allah 00:12:03.570 --> 00:12:06.470 and turn toward Islam. 00:12:06.470 --> 00:12:09.470 Therefore, non-Muslims today 00:12:09.570 --> 00:12:13.470 are in dire need of someone to present Islam to them. 00:12:13.570 --> 00:12:18.470 How easy are the paths of the call in this era for sound souls, 00:12:18.570 --> 00:12:22.470 and how difficult they are for sick souls! 00:12:22.570 --> 00:12:26.950 Planting the call in the souls of the young, as they are able, 00:12:27.049 --> 00:12:30.950 is a path to their guidance, a cause for their protection, 00:12:31.049 --> 00:12:34.950 and a motivation for others to follow the path of the call. 00:12:34.950 --> 00:12:39.950 And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.