| Delivered at BCMA Richmond Masjid, Canada |
| “Expect the best from Allah” |
| By: Ayman El-Najjar |
إن الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله.{يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ} {يَاأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا} {يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلا سَدِيدًا يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا} أما بعد، فإن أصدق الحديث كتاب الله، وخير الهدي هدي محمد - صلى الله عليه وسلم -، وشر الأمور محدثاتها، وكل محدثةٍ بدعةٍ، وكل بدعةٍ ضلالةٍ، وكل ضلالةٍ في النار، أما بعد.
All praise is due to Allah, whose help and forgiveness we seek. We seek refuge in Allah from whatever evil our hearts conceal and from the consequences of our evil deeds. Whoever Allah grants guidance will never be led astray. Whoever He allows to go astray will never find guidance. I bear witness that none is worthy of worship except Allah, who has no partners, and that Mohammad is His slave and Messenger.
In the story of Mosa Alahi Assalam with Pharaoh, Mosa left Egypt with his people till they reached the sea. Pharaoh and his army followed them. Mosa and his people got surrounded by the sea and Pharaoh and his army!
(فَلَمَّا تَرَاءى الْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُوسَى إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ * قَالَ كَلاَّ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ * فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى أَنِ اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ الْبَحْرَ فَانفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍ كَالطَّوْدِ الْعَظِيمِ * وَأَزْلَفْنَا ثَمَّ الآخَرِينَ * وَأَنجَيْنَا مُوسَى وَمَن مَّعَهُ أَجْمَعِينَ * ثُمَّ أَغْرَقْنَا الآخَرِينَ * إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً وَمَا كَانَ أَكْثَرُهُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ) الشعراء 61-67
“And when the two hosts saw each other, the companions of Musa (Moses) said: "We are sure to be overtaken * [Musa (Moses)] said: "Nay, verily! With me is my Lord, He will guide me." * Then We inspired Musa (Moses) (saying): "Strike the sea with your stick." And it parted, and each separate part (of that sea water) became like the huge, firm mass of a mountain. * Then We brought near the others [Fir'aun's (Pharaoh) party] to that place. * And We saved Musa (Moses) and all those with him * Then We drowned the others * Verily! In this is indeed a sign (or a proof), yet most of them are not believers.”
The people of Mosa saw only defeat and hardship. Looking at the same situation, with connected heart with Allah and absolute trust in Him Subhanahu Wata’al expecting the best from Him, Mosa saw guidance and victory. “My Lord is with me; He will show me guidance.”
Brethren, today I have one message of reminder to me and the rest of you hoping that we shall hold tight unto it and have it with us everywhere at all times; EXPECT THE BEST FROM ALLAH. Expect the best from your Lord; and rest assured He will be at your expectation. In a sacred hadith, narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam said Allah said “I am as My Slave thinks and expects of Me”
Brother and Sister in Islam, we need to expect the best of Allah when a calamity strikes us! When we face failure; when we live in hardship such as sickness or poverty, what kind of thoughts occupies your minds? What are your expectations of tomorrow?
We have the inclination to think of all the negative things that might happen in life! Why not to think of all the positive things that we wish and desire to happen! Expect the best of your Lord! He is more Merciful to us than our fathers and mothers. He is the Most Generous! He is The Sustainer. When we think positive expecting the best from Allah Azza wajjal, we will behave and act with energy searching for the good that Allah will bring our way! When we expect the best from Allah and think positive, we will work harder.
Think of Ibrahim Alaihi Assalam when his people threw him into the fire. His words were “"Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for me, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs.” Then, Allah commanded the fire to be cold and safe on Ibrahim.
Think of the story of Hajar the mother of Ismaeel; when Ibrahim Alaihi Assalam left her at a valley that has no vegetation, no water, no people, nothing! She asked Ibrahim “Is it Allah Who Commanded you to do this?” He said “Yes.” With a heart filled with faith and high expectation, she said “then He will not neglect/abandon us!” She was 100% expecting Allah to take care of her and her baby child. Because she expected the best from her Lord, she kept searching for water, running between the two mountains of alsafa and Almarwaah.
Think of Rasullullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam when he was chased by the makkans who were determined to kill him and they were so close to catch him and his companion Abu Bakr radia Allahu anh but Rasullallah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam was confident of Allah’s Support. He told Abu Baker what do you think of two Allah is their third! Allah is with us!
Suhaib Alroomi (radia Allahu Anh) was a trader with wealth. When he embraced Islam and decided to migrate to Madinah for Allah’s Sake, the Makkans followed him and demanded him to leave all of his wealth in order to allow him to go! Without an iota of hesitation, Sohaib gave them all that he saved and made of wealth for Allah! When he arrived to Madinah, Allah’s Messenger Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam was I his reception telling him that you have made the best of transaction “ Rabiha Albai Ya Aba Yayhya”
When Ubu Salamah (radiya Allahu Anh) died, his wife Ummu Salamah (radaya Allahu Anha) repeatedly stated “Inna Lellah wa Inna Ilayhi Rajeoon, Allahma A’jorni fii mussibati Wa Akhlef lii khairan menha” “To Allah we belong, and to Allah we turn; O Allah! Reward me for my calamity and Give me better than that I lost” Ummu Salamah had faith in these words! She expected the ebst from Allah. But she was wondering who might be better than Abu Salamah from among other companion who might come forward to marry her! Guess what? Who was the one? Rasullullah Sallallahi Alaihi Wassallam proposed to Ummi Salamah to marry her! Allahu Akbar! Expect the best from Allah; Allah will be as you expect of Him!
Hope and positive expectations will energize the person to exert efforts and become more resourceful and thoughtful to come out of the calamity and find solution to it with a heart that is truly reliant on Allahu azza wajjal.
Think POSITIVE; Expect the best from Allah Azza Wajjal and get out there to work and to get involved in actions expecting the best to come your way. Nothing good will come your way if you remain idle doing nothing!
Fellow Muslims, we need to EXPECT THE BEST FROM ALLAH when we supplicate to Allah asking our needs; have confidence and faith that Allah is Kind and He will grant us the best for us! Our life will be different. Rasullullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam said “Supplicate to Allah while you have confidence and faith that Allah will answer your supplication.” When calling on Allah and raising your hand asking your needs, remember that Allah is near to us knowing our needs and hearing our supplications …
(وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُواْ لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُواْ بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ) البقرة 186
“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.” (2:186)
We need to call on Him repeatedly with humbleness and hope as Allah Says:
(ادْعُواْ رَبَّكُمْ تَضَرُّعًا وَخُفْيَةً إِنَّهُ لاَ يُحِبُّ الْمُعْتَدِينَ) الأعراف 55
“Invoke your Lord with humility and in secret. He likes not the aggressors” (7:55)
Supplicating to Allah Azza Wajjal is a great weapon to face life’s hardship and toil. But to benefit by it, we need to use it with faith and confidence that Allah will answer our prayers and grant us what is best for us. Supplicate to Allah expecting the best from Him.
Brethren, we need to expect the best of Allah and think of His Kindness and Mercy when we are on the death bed about to leave this dunia! Shaitan will avail our weakness at these moments to hold negative thoughts about Allah … Allah won’t forgive me! I am bad! Allah is angry at me! I am going to hell!
Rasullullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassllam said لا يموتن أحدكم إلا وهو يحسن الظن بالله
In Sahih Muslim, Jaabir narrates that he heard Rasullullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wassllam said three days before his death as saying: “Let none of you die without having a good opinion of Allah.”
The ill-opinion of Allah especially while the person is facing death will cause him to hate the meeting with Allah, then Allah will hate the meeting with this person. In Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wassllam said “Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah will love to meet him. And whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah will hate to meet him.”
Brothers and Sisters in Islam, having good opinion of Allah and expecting the best from Him is strongly related to the actions and deeds of ours and they both act upon each other. When our actions are not good and not in obedience to Allah’s Command, people tend to hold ill-opinion about Allah and indulge in more of the bad actions! Having good opinion of Allah and expect the best from him should energize us to increase our actions and enhance our performance to become more entitled for Allah’s Favors and Support. Sins and bad deeds will darken the heart and weaken our bodies.
Let’s open our hearts to embrace this reminder to make our life more pleasurable! Allah azza Wajjal created human beings in toil and hardshipلقد خلقنا الانسان في كبد ! Living this life with positive thinking expecting the best from Allah will ease our journey!
Let’s think well of Allah and expect the best from Him when we set out to attain a challenging aim. Let’s think well of Allah when we slip and commit sins to come back in repentance hoping His forgiveness and acceptance. Let’s think well of Allah and expect the best from Him when we go for a job interview or decide to get married or start a new business. Let’s think well of Allah and expect the best from Him when we are struck by calamity trying to come out of it hoping Allah’s Help and Support. Live every moment in your life with a heart attached to Allah; thinking well of Him, expecting the best from Him Azza Wajjal; and rest assured Allah will meet your expectation and answer your supplication.
2nd Khutbah
Brothers and sisters in Islam, two important reminders you and I need nowadays need to observe during these short and cold days;
The 1st reminder is related to observing the five daily prayers on time. You might be a student at school or a engineer at site or a salesperson busy with your clients! Whatever the role you do in life, we need to remember that observing the five daily prayer timely is our utmost priority duty! Be watchful to offer the prayers at their prescribed time especially those prayers that their times come while you’re busy at work or at school. Wallahi, it is a calamity to delay the prayer till its time is gone without praying! It is not okay to wait till you return home to pray Dhur after its due time. Similarly with salatu Al-Asr! Delaying it till after the sunset for no valid reason except being busy at work or at school, wallahi it is a calamity! This calamity is worse than the loss of one’s family and kids! This delay would cause severe damage to our check balance of righteous deeds. So, I admonish myself and the rest of you to be extra cautious to offer the prayers at their prescribed times. Pray anywhere but never allow yourself to delay it till after its deadline time! Fear Allah more than the fear of people! And let’s remember that these prayers of ours are one the most important worships in our religion!
The 2nd reminder is related to wearing socks and wiping over them. In a snapshot, wiping over the socks or whatever covers your feet is legitimate and well-established in our shari’ah with unison among the scholars. And this is from the mercy and ease in our religion.
For the wiping to be valid and accepted, four conditions have to be met:
The first condition is to have the socks put on when you are in a state of tahaarah (purity, i.e., when one has wudoo’). The evidence for that is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah: “Don’t worry, because I put them one when I was clean.”
The second condition is that the khufoof (leather slippers which cover the ankle) or socks should be taahir (pure). If they are naajis (impure) then it is not permissible to wipe over them. The daleel for that is that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) led his companions in prayer one day wearing shoes, which he took off whilst he was praying. He said that Jibreel had told him that there was something dirty on them. This was narrated by Ahmad from the hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) in his Musnad. This indicates that it is not permissible to pray wearing anything that is naajis, because if the naajis thing is wiped over, the person will be contaminated by that najaasah (impurity), so he cannot be considered to be taahir (pure).
The third condition is that they may be wiped over when one is purifying oneself from minor impurity (i.e. doing wudoo’ after passing wind, urine or stools), not when one is in a state of janaabah (major impurity following sexual activity) or when ghusl is required. The evidence for that is the hadeeth of Safwaan ibn ‘Assaal (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded us, when we were travelling, not to remove our khufoof for three days and three nights, except in the case of janaabah. But we could keep them on and wipe over them in the case of stools, urine and sleeping.” (Ahmed)
The fourth condition is that the wiping may be done within the time specified by sharee’ah, which is one day and one night in the case of one who is not travelling, and three days and three nights in the case of one who is travelling. This is because of the hadeeth of ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stated one day and one night for the one who is not travelling, and three days and three nights for the one who is travelling, i.e., for wiping over the khufoof.” This was narrated by Muslim. This period starts from the first time one wipes over the socks when doing wudoo’ after some minor impurity, and it ends twenty-four later for the one who is not travelling, and seventy-two hours later for the one who is travelling. Once the time is over, you should take off the socks and the khoof to make wodoo and to clean your feet by water.
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