Friday Khutbah (June 18, 2004) delivered by Shaykh Muhammad Taher
DISCLAIMER: This reminder was originally delivered in Arabic. Any meanings lost in translation are not to be attributed to the speaker as reminders are translated by volunteers. The mosque has no official translater and volunteers often have no formal qualifications to translate on the day. Please forgive any errors as they are from our human weakness and any right guidance is from Allah.In our interaction with the Noble Qur’an, and in our conformity with its verses, there are affairs that are befitting for every Muslim to pay attention to and place before his eyes, when he turns over the pages of the book, when he renews the meanings of faith by this book, and when the Muslim is in the phase of renewing the relationship with the Book of his Lord, and strengthening the connection with the constitution of life and the Divine Law.
From these affairs is faith in the Book, the whole Book.
The faith of a Muslim is not confirmed if he does believe in the Noble Qur’an. Rather, his faith is not complete unless he believes in all the Books of Allah, that He revealed to His Messengers. Belief in the Qur’an means believing in everything that it contains, from articles of faith and concepts, religious rites and observances, morals and manners, legislations and how to conduct mutual relations. It is not permissible for a Muslim to say: “I take from the Qur’an the articles of faith but I don’t take morals.” Or “I take religious rites but I don’t take how to conduct mutual relations.” Or “I take the spiritual component but I don’t take the economic or political or legislative component for the affairs of life.” And when Allah, Exalted is He, says:
“Oh you who believe! Fasting is prescribed on you, as it was prescribed on those before you.” (al-Baqara: 183)
They say we hear and we obey. They accept fasting as a religious rite and obligation, and they do it for the sake of Allah. However, when Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, says in the same chapter, a mere four verses before this last one:
“Oh you who believe, the law of equality is prescribed on you in cases of murder.”(al-Baqara: 179)
(and so forth) new find that their hearts have misgivings, their tongues hesitate, their attitude changes. They say: “These are affairs of the dunya (this life) that can be changed, they can accommodate development.” Or “This is backwardness and reactionism.” Or “This is severity, harshness, and brutality.”
These people and those like them believe in part of the Book and reject the rest. Indeed, this kind of logic is not in accordance with belief in anything. Allah denounced the Children of Israel for this kind of logic. This same kind of logic is that which secularism advocates in modern times. The followers of secularism call to it in the Islamic world. Allah says:
“Then is it only a part of the Book that you believe in, and you reject the rest? But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this except disgrace in this life? And on the Day of Judgement they shall be consigned to the most grievous chastisement, for Allah is not unmindful of what you do.” (al-Baqara: 85)
It is obligatory for the Muslim to believe that what Allah has revealed, from Truth and Guidance, is complete and not broken up. Whoever neglects part of it comes close to neglecting all of it, for faith requires humility and submission to all of Allah’s ruling, Exalted is He!
Oh Muslims
It is upon us to interact with the Qur’an, as it is the Speech of Allah, Exalted is He, and His Guidance. It carries the Guidance of the Creator to His creation. If we hesitate in this or are uncertain, then it is an indication that one is doubting the divine nature of the Qur’an and that it comes from Allah, Exalted is He. This is the affair of the doubting hypocrites, who have a sickness in their hearts. Allah says:
“Those whose hearts are in doubt are tossed in their doubts, to and fro.” (al-Tawba: 45)
For these people take from the Qur’an and they reject, they accept and refuse. They take from it what suits their desires, or brings about their personal benefits. You see them rejecting what conflicts with their desires, forbidding them from their passions. Allah rejected them in their call when he said:
“Have you seen those who claim that they believe in that which has been revealed to you, and that which was revealed before you, and they wish to go for judgement to false judges while they have been ordered to reject them. And when it is said to them: “Come to what Allah has revealed and to the Messenger,” you see the hypocrites turn away from you with aversion.” (Al-Nisa’ 60-1)
This is the stance of the hypocrites, as it always has been and always will be. It never changes. They continually turn away with aversion.
Oh Muslims
The true way of interacting with the Qur’an, and with the rulings of the Qur’an, and with the guidance that our messenger brought, peace be upon him, has been disclosed and clarified by Allah in this Qur’anic text. Allah says:
“Oh you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those of you who are in authority. And if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination.” (al-Nisa’: 59)
And in Allah’s saying:
“The answer of the believers, when summoned to Allah and His Messenger, in order that he judge between them, in no other than: ‘We hear and we obey.’ These are the successful ones.” (Al-Nur: 51)
This is the stance of the believers when they are called to the rule of Allah and His Messenger. Submission without reluctance. Obedience without hesitation. That is because the contract of faith in Allah as the Lord, Muhammad as the Messenger, Islam as the religion, and the Qur’an as the Law and constitution, requires, demands, and necessitates that one is pleased with what Allah is pleased with, and His Messenger, and that one adheres to what they have enjoined. Otherwise the faith is only on the tongue, without any meaning, a claim without a reality, Allah says:
“It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter, to have any option about their decision. (al-Ahzab: 36)
Oh Muslims
The Qur’an is telling us, through these clear, established verses, full of guidance, that the faithful way of interacting with the rulings of Islam, is obedience to Allah, Exalted and Majestic is He, in this Qur’an, and obedience to the Messenger, peace be upon him, in his Sunnah, and obedience to those on authority from the believers.
As for the others who don’t submit to the rule of Allah and His Messenger, unless there is right or a benefit or a desire, these people are diseased in their hearts, they are doubters, and they are those who believe in a part of the Book and reject the rest.
They are debased in this life and the next. Belief in the Qur’an means belief in the whole Book, as a constitution for life, a complete guide.
2nd Khutbah
This Book, which is preserved by Allah, is neglected by this Ummah. It is
treated merely as a book of blessings; it is not brought into the public
discourse, as a book to rule and govern by, and interact with and act
according to in all affairs of life.
We ask Allah to make us return to His Book and to His obedience, and forgive us for our negligence.
And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be on the final Messenger.
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