In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
[The sermon begins.]
Honorable brothers,
Whatever has been related in the Book of Allah, the Almighty,
regarding stories,
is not intended for mere entertainment or amusement.
Rather, the Lord of Might, Glorified be He, has related them
so that we may derive lessons from them.
Allah spoke the truth when He said:
“In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.” (12:111)
The lesson.
A sermon by the honorable Sheikh,
Khalid al-Hamud, may Allah preserve him.
O community of believers,
everything has a beginning,
and every beginning has an end,
and in every end, there is a lesson.
Our Lord, the Almighty, says
regarding the fate of the towns of the people of Lut:
"And We made the highest part [of the city] its lowest."
“And We utterly confounded them, and We rained upon them stones of heated clay.” (15:74)
“Lo! therein verily are portents for those who read the signs.” (15:75)
Honorable brothers,
the universe is built upon divine laws.
And among the laws of Allah, the Almighty,
is that the conditions of people are tied to their faith.
So, if they change their faith,
Allah changes their conditions.
He replaces their security with fear,
and their abundance with hunger.
Those who possess insight
are those who take heed,
those who derive the lesson
and benefit from it.
So, what is the "lesson" (al-'ibrah), O servants of Allah?
We hear it often:
"Indeed, in that is a lesson."
“In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.” (12:111)
This incident contains a lesson.
This situation contains a lesson.
So, what is the lesson?
The lesson, O servants of Allah,
linguistically,
is an admonition,
a witness, and a proof.
As for its technical meaning,
it refers to events and occurrences
that take place by the command of Allah, the Almighty,
and serve as a truthful witness and proof
of the power of Allah, the Almighty,
upon which He built the universe
and by which He directs it.
And to Allah belongs the ultimate wisdom.
Honorable brothers,
whatever has been related in the Book of Allah, the Almighty,
of stories,
the purpose of presenting them
is not entertainment or amusement.
Not at all.
Rather, the Lord of Might, Glorified be He, has related them
so that we may derive the lesson from them.
And Allah spoke the truth when He said:
“In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.” (12:111)
"for those of understanding."
And what the Lord of Might, Glorified be He, related
to His Messenger,
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
is only to steady his heart
and to confirm the truths
which Allah revealed to him.
"And each [story] We relate to you
from the news of the messengers
is that by which We make firm your heart."
Therefore,
we find that Allah, the Almighty,
omitted the specific designations of things—
the names of times, places,
and persons—
so that efforts are not diverted
into searching for names
and labels
that are not the lesson itself.
The People of the Cave, for example:
they were youths
who believed in their Lord,
"and We increased them in guidance."
Who were they? We do not know.
But in their story, there is a lesson.
For the lesson lies in emulating their actions,
not in excavating names.
Then know, O honorable ones,
that no one benefits from the lesson
except the wise,
those with deep insight,
those who have fear in their hearts.
Allah spoke the truth when He said:
“Lo! herein is indeed a lesson for him who feareth.” (79:26)
“In their history verily there is a lesson for men of understanding. It is no invented story but a confirmation of the existing (Scripture) and a detailed explanation of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for folk who believe.” (12:111)
“He it is Who hath caused those of the People of the Scripture who disbelieved to go forth from their homes unto the first exile. Ye deemed not that they would go forth, while they deemed that their strongholds would protect them from Allah. But Allah reached them from a place whereof they recked not, and cast terror in their hearts so that they ruined their houses with their own hands and the hands of the believers. So learn a lesson, O ye who have eyes!” (59:2)
Honorable brothers,
there are two types of people
who never benefit from a lesson:
the arrogant
and the heedless.
The arrogant person
is one who views everyone as insignificant
if measured against himself;
he is too high
to take a lesson from an event
or to be moved by a situation.
He, the Almighty, said:
"I will turn away from My signs
those who are arrogant
upon the earth without right."
"And if they see every sign,
they will not believe in it."
“I shall turn away from My revelations those who magnify themselves wrongfully in the earth, and if they see each token believe it not, and if they see the way of righteousness choose it nor for (their) way, and if they see the way of error choose if for (their) way. That is because they deny Our revelations and are used to disregard them.” (7:146)
"They do not take it as a way."
"But if they see the way of error,
they take it as a way."
"That is because
they denied Our signs
and were heedless of them."
Then there are those who shut off their hearing,
their sight,
and their intellects.
They are like animals
that do not learn from the event
taking place before them.
They see danger before their eyes
and people perishing,
yet they return after that
and commit the same act.
These are the candidates
for the Fire of Hell.
This is not my speech;
it is the speech of Allah,
the Exalted in His majesty.
And listen, O servant of Allah:
"And We have certainly created for Hell
many
of the jinn and mankind."
“Already have We urged unto hell many of the jinn and humankind, having hearts wherewith they understand not, and having eyes wherewith they see not, and having ears wherewith they hear not. These are as the cattle - nay, but they are worse! These are the neglectful.” (7:179)
“Already have We urged unto hell many of the jinn and humankind, having hearts wherewith they understand not, and having eyes wherewith they see not, and having ears wherewith they hear not. These are as the cattle - nay, but they are worse! These are the neglectful.” (7:179)
“Already have We urged unto hell many of the jinn and humankind, having hearts wherewith they understand not, and having eyes wherewith they see not, and having ears wherewith they hear not. These are as the cattle - nay, but they are worse! These are the neglectful.” (7:179)
“Already have We urged unto hell many of the jinn and humankind, having hearts wherewith they understand not, and having eyes wherewith they see not, and having ears wherewith they hear not. These are as the cattle - nay, but they are worse! These are the neglectful.” (7:179)
"Those are like livestock;
rather, they are more astray.
It is they who are the heedless."
As for the types of lessons,
the first is the lesson
in demonstrating the power of the Truth,
Glorified be He.
For the craftsmanship points to the Craftsman,
and the precision of the created
points to the greatness of the Creator.
The Lord of Might,
Glorified be He, invites us
to contemplate the creation of our own selves,
the creation of the heavens and the earth,
the creation of plants,
and the creation of animals.
As for the creation of our own selves,
Allah, the Almighty, says:
“And (also) in yourselves. Can ye then not see?” (51:21)
And regarding the creation of the heavens and the earth,
our Lord says:
"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth
and the alternation of the night and the day
are signs for those of understanding."
And regarding the creation of plants:
“He it is Who sendeth down water from the sky, and therewith We bring forth buds of every kind; We bring forth the green blade from which We bring forth the thick-clustered grain; and from the date-palm, from the pollen thereof, spring pendant bunches; and (We bring forth) gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike. Look upon the fruit thereof, when they bear fruit, and upon its ripening. Lo! herein verily are portents for a people who believe.” (6:99)
And as for the creation of animals,
Allah, Glorified be He, says:
"And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson."
“And lo! in the cattle there is verily a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, and many uses have ye in them, and of them do ye eat;” (23:21)
“And lo! in the cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from betwixt the refuse and the blood, pure milk palatable to the drinkers.” (16:66)
“And lo! in the cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from betwixt the refuse and the blood, pure milk palatable to the drinkers.” (16:66)
Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
"When food is digested in the stomach,
everything goes to its proper path:
blood goes to the veins,
milk goes to the udder,
urine goes to the bladder,
and dung goes to the exit.
They do not mix with one another,
nor does one of them take the path of another."
So blessed is Allah, the best of creators.
How excellent is the one who said:
"Say to the physician,
whom the hand of death has snatched:
'O physician, who was it that killed you with your own medicine?'
Say to the patient who survived after
the arts of medicine failed: 'Who healed you?'
Say to the healthy man who dies without illness:
'Who struck you with death, O healthy one?'
Say to the sighted man
who fell into a pit he was avoiding:
'Who was it that caused you to fall?'
Say to the newborn who wept and sobbed
at birth:
'Who was it that made you weep?'
And when you see the snake
spitting its venom,
ask it: 'O snake,
how do you live and survive
while this venom fills your mouth?'
And the bees:
'Say to the bees, O bird of the wilderness,
who was it that sweetened you with honey?'
Rather, ask about the purified milk:
it was between blood and dung,
who was it that purified it?"
The signs of Allah in the universe will answer.
A wonder,
a marvel,
If only your eyes could see.
My Lord, to You belongs the immense praise befitting Your Essence.
A praise.
And there is no one worthy of it but You.
This is the creation of Allah.
“This is the Creation of Allah. Now show me that which those (ye worship) beside Him have created. Nay, but the wrong-doers are in error manifest!” (31:11)
And among the lessons as well.
The lesson lies in the fate of those who acted arrogantly toward people.
By virtue of their status and wealth.
Those whom blessings took by surprise.
So they looked upon other human beings.
With a gaze of disdain and contempt.
And they thought they were above the level of humanity.
Taking pride in their wealth.
Or in their status.
The Lord of Might, glory be to Him, struck.
An example with Qarun.
So He, the Majestic and Exalted, said.
“Now Korah was of Moses' folk, but he oppressed them; and We gave him so much treasure that the stores thereof would verily have been a burden for a troop of mighty men. When his own folk said unto him: Exult not; lo! Allah loveth not the exultant;” (28:76)
Yet he oppressed them.
And We gave him of the treasures that.
“Now Korah was of Moses' folk, but he oppressed them; and We gave him so much treasure that the stores thereof would verily have been a burden for a troop of mighty men. When his own folk said unto him: Exult not; lo! Allah loveth not the exultant;” (28:76)
“Now Korah was of Moses' folk, but he oppressed them; and We gave him so much treasure that the stores thereof would verily have been a burden for a troop of mighty men. When his own folk said unto him: Exult not; lo! Allah loveth not the exultant;” (28:76)
“Now Korah was of Moses' folk, but he oppressed them; and We gave him so much treasure that the stores thereof would verily have been a burden for a troop of mighty men. When his own folk said unto him: Exult not; lo! Allah loveth not the exultant;” (28:76)
“Now Korah was of Moses' folk, but he oppressed them; and We gave him so much treasure that the stores thereof would verily have been a burden for a troop of mighty men. When his own folk said unto him: Exult not; lo! Allah loveth not the exultant;” (28:76)
And seek through what Allah has given you.
The abode of the Hereafter.
“But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah hath given thee and neglect not thy portion of the world, and be thou kind even as Allah hath been kind to thee, and seek not corruption in the earth; lo! Allah loveth not corrupters,” (28:77)
“But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah hath given thee and neglect not thy portion of the world, and be thou kind even as Allah hath been kind to thee, and seek not corruption in the earth; lo! Allah loveth not corrupters,” (28:77)
And do not seek corruption in the land.
“But seek the abode of the Hereafter in that which Allah hath given thee and neglect not thy portion of the world, and be thou kind even as Allah hath been kind to thee, and seek not corruption in the earth; lo! Allah loveth not corrupters,” (28:77)
“He said: I have been given it only on account of knowledge I possess. Knew he not that Allah had destroyed already of the generations before him men who were mightier than him in strength and greater in respect of following? The guilty are not questioned of their sins.” (28:78)
He attributed the blessing to himself.
And did not attribute it to Allah, the Almighty and Exalted.
How was his end?
“So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling-place. Then he had no host to help him against Allah, nor was he of those who can save themselves.” (28:81)
“So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling-place. Then he had no host to help him against Allah, nor was he of those who can save themselves.” (28:81)
“So We caused the earth to swallow him and his dwelling-place. Then he had no host to help him against Allah, nor was he of those who can save themselves.” (28:81)
And listen, O servant of Allah, to this lesson.
It is mentioned that a man was eating food with his wife.
A beggar knocked on the door.
The wife wanted to take some food to him.
The stingy husband forbade her.
He went out to the beggar and rebuked him.
And drove him away in the worst possible manner.
Days, months, and ages passed.
And suddenly, this rich man became poor.
And that is not difficult for Allah.
Due to the severity of his poverty, he divorced his wife.
So she married another man.
And the rich man of yesterday says.
The poor man of today becomes a beggar.
Knocking on the doors of people's houses.
One day, he knocked on a door.
And it turned out he was knocking on the door of his former wife.
Who had married someone else.
She said, "Who is it?"
He said, "A beggar at the door."
Her second husband said to her.
"Take some food to him."
"Perhaps he is in greater need than we are."
The woman went.
Then she returned trembling.
Confused and weeping.
He said to her, "What makes you weep?"
"What is the matter with you?"
She said, "Do you know?"
"Who was knocking at our door?"
He said, "No."
She said, "It is my first husband."
He said, "And do you know who I am?"
She said, "No."
He said, "I am the first beggar."
"Who knocked on your door, and you drove him away."
Indeed, in that is a lesson.
And those days.
We alternate them among the people.
For everything.
Once it reaches perfection, it begins to decline.
So let no person be deceived by a life of ease.
These are affairs.
As you have witnessed, they are like shifting states.
Whoever is made happy by a time.
Will be saddened by other times.
O Allah, we seek refuge in You from the withdrawal of Your well-being.
And the suddenness of Your vengeance.
And all of Your wrath.
And among the lessons as well.
That gives the Muslim pause.
The lesson in the consequence of consuming the unlawful.
Or falling into it.
It is mentioned that there were brothers who owned a cow.
And they used to mix water with milk.
And sell it to the people.
This is deception and unlawful.
And they continued in this state for years.
Until Allah sent a flood upon them.
It carried away the cow, so it drowned and died.
The wise ones among them said.
"What you gathered in small amounts."
"Allah gathered it for you, then drowned the cow because of it."
As you judge, so shall you be judged.
And the recompense is of the same nature as the deed.
“And the Book is placed, and thou seest the guilty fearful of that which is therein, and they say: What kind of a Book is this that leaveth not a small thing nor a great thing but hath counted it! And they find all that they did confronting them, and thy Lord wrongeth no-one.” (18:49)
Some might say.
The motivation for the unlawful.
Is the search for a future for the children.
And so that the father may provide for them.
A bright and secure future.
And the Lord of Might, glory be to Him, teaches us.
That the best guarantee for the protection of children.
Is piety, O servants of Allah.
So whoever fears for his offspring.
And the offspring of his offspring.
Let him fear Allah.
And listen, O servant of Allah.
And let those fear who, if they were to leave behind them.
Weak offspring.
They fear for them.
Let them fear Allah.
And let them speak a word of truth.
Umar Ibn Abd al-Aziz.
When death approached him.
He asked to see his children.
And they were more than ten.
None of them were adults.
So he looked at them.
Then his eyes teared up.
Then he said.
"By Allah, I have not withheld from you a right that is yours."
"And I have not taken from the wealth of the people."
"To give it to you."
"For if you are righteous."
"Then Allah will take care of the righteous."
"And if you are otherwise."
"Then I will not give my wealth."
"To people who cause corruption in the land."
"And do not act righteously."
Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, says.
"By Allah, there were among his children princes."
"Who would donate entire armies in the cause of Allah."
He says, "And I have attended the deaths of caliphs."
"Who gave each of his wives."
"One hundred and fifty thousand dinars."
"And each of his children."
"Sixty thousand dinars."
"And he said, 'We have seen among their children.'"
"Those who beg from people and ask for charity."
So is there a lesson in that?
Yes, indeed, there is a lesson in that.
Finally, O servants of Allah.
The lesson in those who commit.
The abomination of adultery, and we seek refuge in Allah.
And for the adulterer, there are two ends.
The adulterer never keeps his honor safe.
Imam al-Shafi'i says.
"Indeed, adultery is a debt."
"If you borrow it."
"Know that the repayment will come from your own household."
"Whoever commits adultery among a people for a thousand dirhams."
"In his own house, it will be committed for a quarter of a dirham."
"Whoever commits adultery, it will be committed against him."
"Even if it be with his own wall."
"If you are intelligent, O man, then understand."
"So be chaste, and your women will be chaste regarding what is forbidden."
"And avoid what is not befitting a Muslim."
Or the adulterer's end may lead.
To the diseases.
Which Allah the Exalted has made a punishment.
For those who commit this crime and act.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said.
"Abomination does not appear among a people."
"Until they proclaim it openly."
"But there will appear among them plagues."
"And diseases."
"That did not exist among their predecessors."
Servants of Allah.
How many are the lessons.
And how few are those who take heed.
And the believer is shrewd and perceptive.
And wisdom is the lost property of the believer.
“Lo! therein verily is a reminder for him who hath a heart, or giveth ear with full intelligence.” (50:37)
“Lo! therein verily is a reminder for him who hath a heart, or giveth ear with full intelligence.” (50:37)