Echo of platforms | By Sheikh Khaled Al-Hamoudi | Sermon (13) | Reparation of thoughts

0:00 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

0:03 Echoes from the pulpit.

0:09 Mending broken hearts.

0:11 A sermon by the honorable Sheikh,

0:13 Khalid Ibn 'Abdullah al-Hammudi, may Allah preserve him.

0:17 We praise Him, seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness.

0:22 We extol Him for all that is good.

0:25 He has bestowed upon us abundant blessings.

0:29 And granted us favors in perfect measure.

0:33 Exalted is He, worthy of all glory, majesty, and praise, by right and by merit.

0:39 I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone, with no partner.

0:45 A testimony through which we hope to attain and enter Paradise.

0:52 And I bear witness that our master, our Prophet, and our beloved, Muhammad, is the servant of Allah and His Messenger.

1:00 The noblest of creation in lineage and ancestry.

1:05 The most distinguished in character and conduct.

1:10 The most sublime in his Prophetic biography, which illuminates the world.

1:15 May the blessings and peace of my Lord be upon him, repeatedly,

1:19 In reverence for his immense right and due.

1:24 And upon his family and his Companions, who supported his path,

1:28 Competing and racing toward it.

1:31 And upon the Tabi'un and those who followed them in righteousness, out of emulation and longing.

1:38 To proceed, O servants of Allah:

1:40 The most noble of honorable exhortations,

1:44 And the most sublime of admonitions,

1:47 Is the command to fear Allah.

1:49 So, fear Allah.

1:51 For the fear of Allah is the path to supporting the Sunnah,

1:57 A ladder for the people of Paradise,

2:01 A shield against whims and innovations,

2:05 A proof of sincere love—and what a proof it is—

2:10 And the best provision for tranquil hearts.

2:15 “The pilgrimage is (in) the well-known months, and whoever is minded to perform the pilgrimage therein (let him remember that) there is (to be) no lewdness nor abuse nor angry conversation on the pilgrimage. And whatsoever good ye do Allah knoweth it. So make provision for yourselves (Hereafter); for the best provision is to ward off evil. Therefore keep your duty unto Me, O men of understanding.” (2:197)

2:19 “The pilgrimage is (in) the well-known months, and whoever is minded to perform the pilgrimage therein (let him remember that) there is (to be) no lewdness nor abuse nor angry conversation on the pilgrimage. And whatsoever good ye do Allah knoweth it. So make provision for yourselves (Hereafter); for the best provision is to ward off evil. Therefore keep your duty unto Me, O men of understanding.” (2:197)

2:21 O community of believers,

2:24 Our topic on this blessed day

2:27 Concerns an important subject

2:30 That we all need in our lives.

2:33 I shall mention it;

2:35 Yes, I shall mention the subject,

2:38 But only after recounting the events of this remarkable story,

2:43 Which serves as an introduction to our topic.

2:47 This event took place

2:49 During the Umayyad era,

2:52 Involving a man named Khuzaymah Ibn Bishr.

2:56 This man was well-off,

2:58 Spending generously on every poor and needy person,

3:02 And every widow and destitute soul.

3:04 Until the tides of time and fortune turned against him,

3:08 And he became poor and destitute.

3:11 Some of those to whom he used to give from his wealth,

3:15 And to whom he had extended a helping hand, came to him.

3:18 They helped him for a month or two,

3:21 Then they grew weary and stopped assisting him.

3:25 He became sad and pained by this,

3:28 And he shut the door of his house upon himself,

3:30 Unable to find even enough to sustain his life,

3:34 He and his wife.

3:36 The governor appointed in the Jazira region

3:39 Was named 'Ikrimah Ibn al-Fayyad.

3:42 He knew Khuzaymah Ibn Bishr,

3:45 So he asked about him.

3:46 He was told, "Khuzaymah has become poor,

3:49 And no longer possesses his daily bread,

3:53 And he has shut his door."

3:55 'Ikrimah was astonished and said,

3:57 "Khuzaymah?

3:58 Has he become poor?

4:00 And did he find no one among those he used to help to stand by him?

4:04 Khuzaymah,

4:05 Who used to give as one who does not fear poverty?

4:09 Glory be to the Changer of conditions!

4:11 Allah spoke the truth,

4:12 And who is more truthful in speech than Allah?"

4:15 “If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loveth not wrong-doers.” (3:140)

4:19 In the night, while people were asleep,

4:22 'Ikrimah al-Fayyad went out.

4:24 The governor said,

4:26 And he concealed his face,

4:28 Carrying a heavy load on his back,

4:31 Until he reached the house of Khuzaymah.

4:33 Then he knocked on the door.

4:35 Khuzaymah asked, "Who is it?"

4:37 He said, "'Ikrimah."

4:39 "A guest has come."

4:40 Khuzaymah opened the door,

4:42 And 'Ikrimah set the load down from his back,

4:45 And said, "This is for you."

4:47 Khuzaymah asked,

4:48 "And from where?"

4:49 'Ikrimah said, "This is from the wealth of Allah."

4:52 Khuzaymah asked,

4:54 'Ikrimah said,

4:56 "I did not come to you at this time,

4:58 Veiled, just to be known."

5:01 So Khuzaymah said,

5:02 "I adjure you by Allah, let me know who you are."

5:06 'Ikrimah replied,

5:08 "I am the Mender of the Stumbles of the Noble."

5:11 Then he hurried away.

5:13 Khuzaymah said to his wife,

5:16 "Light a lantern for us,

5:18 So we can see what this veiled man has brought."

5:21 She said, "We have no lantern,

5:24 Nor firewood to light one."

5:26 So he waited,

5:28 Until the morning broke.

5:30 And when he opened what that man had brought,

5:37 He found four thousand dinars.

5:39 And a thousand dinars

5:41 Was equivalent to a weight of gold.

5:45 Then Khuzaymah thanked Allah,

5:47 He thanked his Lord,

5:48 Paid off his debts,

5:50 And restored his affairs.

5:51 When the governor 'Ikrimah returned

5:54 To his house,

5:56 He found his wife waiting for him,

5:58 And she said to him,

5:59 "The governor does not go out at this hour

6:02 Except for a grave matter.

6:05 Will you not tell me where you were?"

6:07 He said, "If I had wanted to tell you,

6:10 Or tell anyone,

6:11 I would not have gone out under the cover of night."

6:14 She said, "I adjure you by Allah, where were you?"

6:17 Then he told her the story,

6:19 And said, "Keep this secret,

6:21 And do not speak of it even to yourself."

6:24 After a while,

6:25 Khuzaymah went

6:27 To the Commander of the Faithful,

6:29 Sulayman Ibn 'Abd al-Malik.

6:31 He asked him, "Where have you been, O Khuzaymah?

6:34 We have not heard of you for a long time."

6:36 So he told him his story.

6:38 The Prince said,

6:40 "And who is the Mender of the Stumbles of the Noble?"

6:43 He said, "By Allah, I do not know him,

6:45 And he refused to tell me."

6:46 The Prince said,

6:48 "I wish you had known him."

6:49 Then he ordered another sum of money

6:53 for Khuzaymah,

6:54 And issued an order to dismiss 'Ikrimah al-Fayyad,

6:58 And to appoint Khuzaymah as governor

7:00 Of the Jazira region.

7:01 Khuzaymah returned,

7:03 And entered the governor's palace,

7:05 Carrying the decree of dismissal.

7:07 'Ikrimah himself was there to welcome him,

7:11 And he handed over the dismissal order.

7:13 'Ikrimah said,

7:14 "All is for the best."

7:16 Khuzaymah said,

7:17 "I want to hold you accountable for the wealth of the Muslims."

7:21 'Ikrimah welcomed that,

7:23 And Khuzaymah found

7:25 A sum of money missing.

7:28 Khuzaymah said,

7:30 "Where is the money, O 'Ikrimah?"

7:32 He said, "I do not have it."

7:34 He said, "Then return it from your own wealth."

7:36 He said, "I possess no private wealth."

7:39 He said, "Either the money,

7:41 Or prison."

7:42 So 'Ikrimah was imprisoned

7:44 For a period of time,

7:46 And heavy shackles were placed

7:48 Upon his shoulders and back,

7:50 Until his body grew weak,

7:52 And his complexion changed.

7:54 When the wife of 'Ikrimah heard

7:57 What had happened to her husband, the dismissed governor,

8:00 She went to Khuzaymah,

8:02 And said to him,

8:03 "O Khuzaymah,

8:05 Is this how one rewards

8:07 The Mender of the Stumbles of the Noble?"

8:09 Khuzaymah shuddered,

8:11 Terrified, and said,

8:13 "Is it 'Ikrimah?"

8:14 She said, "Yes, by Allah."

8:16 He cried, "Woe to me!

8:18 Woe to me!"

8:20 Then he rushed to the prison,

8:22 And began to remove the shackles from 'Ikrimah with his own hands,

8:25 Weeping.

8:26 'Ikrimah asked him,

8:28 "What happened?

8:29 And why are you weeping?"

8:31 Khuzaymah said,

8:32 "I weep for your generosity and your patience,

8:34 And for my own evil deed.

8:36 How can I look you in the face

8:38 After what I have done?"

8:41 He ordered clothing and food for him,

8:44 Until he regained his strength.

8:45 Then he said to him, "Come with me

8:47 To the Caliph of the Muslims."

8:49 When the Caliph saw them,

8:51 Ibn 'Abd al-Malik,

8:53 He said, "Who made you weep, O Khuzaymah?"

8:56 "And you are so newly appointed to your governorship."

8:59 He replied,

9:00 "I have come to you as a mender of the broken-hearted among the noble."

9:03 "And I suspect you were eager to know him."

9:06 Ibn 'Abd al-Malik was astonished.

9:09 He asked, "Is it 'Ikrimah?"

9:11 He said, "Yes, by Allah."

9:12 He then said, "You have put us to shame with your kindness,"

9:15 "And your patience,"

9:17 "O mender of the broken-hearted among the noble."

9:19 He then ordered 'Ikrimah

9:21 to be given ten thousand dinars,

9:23 and reinstated him as governor.

9:25 He said, "If you both wish,"

9:28 "you may govern together."

9:30 And they remained governors together

9:33 until Allah took their souls.

9:35 The lesson, O servants of Allah,

9:37 and the point, O servants of Allah,

9:40 is that whoever walks among people

9:42 mending their broken hearts,

9:44 Allah will reach out to him from among the hearts.

9:47 Indeed, mending hearts

9:50 is a noble character trait,

9:52 and a profound concept.

9:54 It is enough that it is a profound concept

9:57 derived from the attributes of Allah, the Exalted in His Majesty,

9:59 which He loves to see in His believing servants.

10:03 Look across the world:

10:05 how many hearts has Allah mended,

10:07 how many distresses has He relieved,

10:09 how many calamities has He averted,

10:12 and how many afflicted ones has He succored?

10:14 As for the one with harsh speech

10:16 and a hard heart,

10:18 the Sunnah of Allah, the Exalted, has already passed

10:21 that people will flee from him.

10:23 No guidance or invitation will be accepted from him,

10:26 no advice will be heard from him,

10:28 no companion will find comfort in him,

10:30 and no one will find solace in his presence.

10:32 “It was by the mercy of Allah that thou wast lenient with them (O Muhammad), for if thou hadst been stern and fierce of heart they would have dispersed from round about thee. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. And when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in Allah. Lo! Allah loveth those who put their trust (in Him).” (3:159)

10:34 You were gentle with them,

10:36 and had you been harsh and hard-hearted,

10:38 they would have dispersed from around you.

10:40 Therefore,

10:42 the greatest share of this trait

10:44 belonged to the Master of the Messengers,

10:46 and the Imam of the God-fearing,

10:48 upon him be the prayers and peace of Allah.

10:51 Allah, the Exalted, instructed him

10:53 not to break hearts, saying:

10:56 “Therefor the orphan oppress not,” (93:9)

10:59 “Therefor the beggar drive not away,” (93:10)

11:01 He adhered to this,

11:03 because his

11:05 character was the Qur'an,

11:07 nay, he was a walking Qur'an upon the earth,

11:09 may the prayers and peace of my Lord be upon him.

11:12 So, O servants of Allah,

11:14 O noble ones,

11:16 O beloved ones,

11:18 we need to mend the heart of the sorrowful,

11:21 we need to mend the heart of the afflicted,

11:25 we need to mend the heart of the oppressed,

11:29 the wounded, and the sick.

11:32 We need to mend the heart of the poor,

11:35 the destitute, and the needy.

11:38 Let us speak to them all with a kind word,

11:42 for it may be the cause of ending their pain.

11:45 If you do not have wealth

11:48 with which to help during the vicissitudes of time,

11:51 if you have no horses to gift nor wealth,

11:54 then let your speech bring happiness

11:56 if your circumstances cannot.

11:58 O Allah, mend our hearts

12:00 with Your forgiveness and pleasure,

12:02 and grant us, O Ever-Living, O Sustainer,

12:05 tranquility of heart,

12:07 peace of soul,

12:09 a noble station,

12:10 and a good ending,

12:12 O Possessor of Majesty and Honor.

12:14 May Allah bless me and you through the Great Qur'an,

12:17 and benefit me and you with the verses and the wise reminder it contains.

12:21 I say what you hear, and I ask Allah for forgiveness for me and for you.

12:23 So seek His forgiveness,

12:25 for He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Merciful.

12:29 Praise be to Allah.

12:31 I bear witness that there is no god but Allah,

12:35 and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,

12:38 may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon him.

12:41 To proceed, O servants of Allah:

12:43 Mending hearts is a disposition that indicates the loftiness of one's soul,

12:49 the soundness of one's intellect, and the purity of one's breast.

12:53 Therefore, the greatest share of this belonged to the Master of the Messengers,

12:58 and the Imam of the God-fearing,

13:00 peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,

13:02 whom Allah sent as a mercy to the worlds.

13:06 For he, may the prayers and peace of my Lord be upon him, was

13:09 the purest of people in heart,

13:11 the most truthful of them in tongue,

13:13 and the easiest of them in character,

13:15 with gentleness and kindness.

13:17 His hands overflowed with gifts,

13:20 in generosity and bounty.

13:22 He was compassionate and merciful to the believers,

13:25 mending their hearts,

13:27 checking on their conditions,

13:29 asking about those who were absent,

13:30 and visiting their sick.

13:32 He would never criticize food prepared by a human

13:36 so as not to break their heart.

13:38 And if news reached him of a man doing something disliked,

13:41 he would not mention him by name,

13:43 but would say,

13:45 "What is the matter with people who do such and such?"

13:48 in order to preserve feelings

13:50 and win affection.

13:52 So let it be, my blessed brother,

13:54 let it be, my beloved brother,

13:56 that your family receives the greatest share and portion

13:58 of your heart-mending.

14:00 Especially your parents,

14:02 your wife,

14:04 your children,

14:06 your brothers and sisters,

14:08 and the rest of your relatives.

14:10 So mend hearts,

14:12 and share in the feelings of your brothers,

14:14 and remember that it is a glorious act of worship

14:16 for which the Compeller (al-Jabbar) rewards

14:18 with great recompense.

14:20 In this time,

14:22 the need is intense

14:24 to console people,

14:26 to lighten their burdens,

14:28 and to soothe their hearts,

14:30 because those with broken hearts

14:32 are many.

14:34 In our societies,

14:36 you see a woman who is left in limbo,

14:38 neither a wife,

14:40 nor divorced.

14:42 Here is a widow,

14:44 there is a destitute person,

14:46 here is an orphan,

14:48 and there is another burdened with debt,

14:50 in a state of worry and grief

14:52 known only to Allah.

14:54 This one cannot find a university,

14:56 that one cannot find a job,

14:58 this one cannot find a wife,

15:00 and another is afflicted.

15:02 The worries are many,

15:04 and mending hearts

15:06 does not require much effort,

15:08 nor great energy.

15:10 Perhaps it is enough for some

15:12 to hear a word of dhikr,

15:14 or a supplication, or an exhortation.

15:16 Perhaps another needs

15:18 assistance,

15:20 another lacks influence,

15:22 and some wait for a need to be fulfilled.

15:24 Some are satisfied,

15:26 and others are satisfied

15:28 with a smile.

15:30 So we must strive

15:32 to bring joy and happiness

15:34 into the hearts of our brothers,

15:36 and not be stingy with ourselves,

15:38 for charity and goodness

15:40 return their benefit to you,

15:42 O servant of Allah.

15:44 Yes, their benefit returns to you.

15:46 So hasten,

15:48 before you depart.

15:50 O Allah, O Ever-Living, O Sustainer,

15:52 in this blessed hour,

15:54 relieve every worried person,

15:56 heal every sick person,

15:58 grant well-being to every afflicted person,

16:00 have mercy on the deceased of the Muslims,

16:02 and lift the distress

16:04 from the Ummah.

16:06 And reward, O Sustainer,

16:08 with the best reward,

16:10 the most complete and the most perfect,

16:12 the one who built this mosque,

16:14 maintained it, and cared for it,

16:16 and looked after its affairs.

16:18 O Allah, forgive our sins,

16:20 conceal our faults,

16:22 and accept our repentance.

16:24 Grant us security in our homelands,

16:26 and rectify our leaders

16:28 and those in authority over us.

16:30 O Allah, grant victory to our soldiers on the borders,

16:32 and grant victory to our oppressed brothers

16:34 In every place and upon every land,

16:36 and beneath every sky.

16:38 O Allah, rectify the state of the Muslims.

16:40 O Allah, rectify the state of the Muslims.

16:42 O Allah, rectify the state of the Muslims.

16:44 O Allah, lift from us

16:46 high prices, usury, and epidemics,

16:48 as well as adultery, earthquakes, and trials,

16:50 and the evil of tribulations.

16:52 O Allah, we ask of You Your pleasure and Paradise,

16:55 and we seek refuge in You from Your wrath and from the Fire.

16:58 O Allah, send prayers and peace upon our master Muhammad,

17:01 and upon all his family and his Companions.

17:03 And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Echo of platforms | By Sheikh Khaled Al-Hamoudi | Sermon (13) | Reparation of thoughts

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