His Eminence Sheikh Usamah `Abdullah Khayyat delivered the sermon of Salatul-Jumu`ah (The Friday congregational Prayer) entitled "Some Commandments of the Glorious Qur'an," in which he spoke about encouragement and motivation to ponder over the Book of Allah, Exalted be He, (the Qur'an) and to adhere to that which was ordained therein. He mentioned one of its commandments which is to resort to the purified Shari`ah for arbitration and not to follow the whims of Al-Mushrikeen (the idolaters, polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, pagans) and those who oppose (the Islamic Shari`ah).

First Sermon:

All praise and thanks be to Allah, who guides whom He wills to a straight way. I praise Him, Glorified be He, for His comprehensive bounty, and I bear witness that  none has the right to be worshiped but Allah Alone, who has no partner, Al-Barr ( the Most Subtle, Kind, Courteous, and Generous), the Full of Kindness, and the Most Merciful. And I bear witness that our master and prophet Muhammad is the servant and Messenger of Allah, the owner of the true way and the owner of a good moral standard. O Allah, send Your Salat (Graces, Honors, Blessings, Mercy) and Peace upon Your Servant and Messenger Muhammad, upon his family, his Companions, the Followers, and those who follow them righteously till the Day of Judgment.

O servants of Allah, fear Him and remember that you are going to meet Him (in the Hereafter) and you will stand before Him [for reckoning]. So, the happy ones are those who take the required preparation for that situation, take the best provision (piety and righteousness), follow every way to Allah, exert efforts to obtain His Reward by sayings and actions, and wishing that He would accept his actions, forgive his sins, and be pleased with him.

O Muslims:

The lessons and commandments of the Qur'an, its guidance to the way of happiness in the world, winning the pleasure of the Compassionate Lord, and winning a lofty place in Paradise exhort people of understanding to keep up reflecting on Allah’s Ayahs (proofs evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc), considering carefully its meanings, and discovering its secrets in response to the command of Allah Who says: "(This is) a Book ( the Qur'an) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings, that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember." [Surat Sad: 29].

Of the instructions revealed in this Blessed Book is that elaborate talk about the virtue of this blessed Shari`ah, proving that it is the truth which cannot be replaced by the whims of those who know not.

If whims (in general) are the worst thing to follow and the most misleading guide, how about the desires of those who know not, who are ignorant about the truth, go astray from its path, work against the truth from the polytheists and those who have followed their way. Verily, following whims is not only a means to failure and loss, but also a clear evidence of bad choice and self-oppression.

Those ignorant of the truth who follow falsehood shall not protect their followers from Allah and shall not ward off His Anger, His Punishment, and His Painful Torment.

Likewise they cannot do the least harm to others as Allah Almighty said when He addressed His most honored creation (Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and commanded him to follow this blessed Shari`ah, resort to it in arbitration, and warned him to follow those people:

"Then We have put you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) on a (plain) way of (Our) commandment [like the one which We commanded Our Messengers before you (i.e., legal ways and laws of Islamic monotheism)]. So follow you that (Islamic Monotheism and its laws,) and follow not the desires of those who know not. (18) Verily, they can avail you nothing against Allah (if He wants to punish you). Verily, the Zalimeen  (polytheists, wrongdoers) are Awliya (protectors, helpers) of one another, but Allah is the Wali (helper, protector) of the Muttaqeen (the pies)" [Surat Al Jathiyah: 18-19].

Nay, those ignorant people declared themselves innocent of those who followed them in their desires as Allah –Glorified is He– said: "When those who were followed disown (declare themselves innocent of) those who followed (them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them." (166) i.e., their worldly relationships such as kinship, religion, interests etc.

Their likeness in that: "(Their allies deceived them) like Shaytan (Satan), when he says to man: "Disbelieve in Allah." But when (man) disbelieves in Allah, Shaytan (Satan) says: "I am free of you, I fear Allah, the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)!" [Surat Al Hashr: 16]

Satan does not stop at that limit, but he also adds more blame and rebuke to them to double their regret. "And Shaytan (Satan) will say when the matter has been decided:" Verily, Allah promised you a promise of truth. And I too promised you, but I betrayed you. I had no authority over you except that I called you, and you responded to me. So blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you help me. I deny your former act in associating me (Satan) as a partner with Allah (by obeying me in the life of the world). Verily, there is a painful torment for the Zalimeen (polytheists and wrongdoers)." [Surat Ibrahim: 22].

O servants of Allah, certainly, there are only two ways: Either the Guidance of Allah, His Religion, and His Shari`ah or the whims of those who know not; so which way a reasonable person who desires good for himself should follow? And to which way he should turn his face?

There is no doubt that the way of Allah (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) is the true guidance, His Religion is the true religion which He accepts from His Servants, and His Path is the Straight Path which leads to His Pleasure and winning His Paradise in the Hereafter. So, following other ways is just following the whims which Allah warned His Prophet – Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him – against, explaining that following them is a clear wrongdoing to oneself: "And then if you were to bring to the people of the Scripture (the Jews and the Christians) all the Ayat (proofs, verses, evidences, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they would not follow your Qiblah (prayer direction), nor are you going to follow their Qiblah (prayer direction). And they will not follow each other's Qiblah (prayer direction). Verily, if you follow their desires after that which you have received of knowledge (from Allah), then indeed you will be one of the Zalimeen (polytheists, wrongdoers). [Al Baqarah: 145]. 

Allah commanded His Prophet to explain to the people that He –Glorified is He– forbade him to worship the idols which the people used to worship and if he had done so, he would have gone away from the Straight Path. "Say (O Muhammad PBUH):" I have been forbidden to worship those whom you invoke (worship) besides Allah. Say: "I will not follow your vain desires. If I did, I would go astray, and I would not be one of the rightly guided." [Al An`am: 56].

Then He made clear to him that He –Glorified is He– sent down to him this Book (the Qur'an) with truth to judge between people by Allah's Judgment. He also forbade him to follow the whims of the people of the Scripture (the Jews and the Christians) who resorted to him for arbitration and He warned him against leaning to them lest they may turn him away from some of the rulings which Allah sent down to him in His Book and make him follow their whims. So, He the Almighty said: (which means) "And so judge (you O Muhammad PBUH) among them by what Allah has revealed and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they turn you (O Muhammad PBUH) far away from some of that which Allah has sent down to you. And if they turn away, then know that Allah's Will is to punish them for some sins of theirs. And truly, most of men are Fasiqeen (rebellious and disobedient to Allah). [Surat Al Ma’idah: 49].

When He commanded him to call the people collectively to hold fast to His Religion which He ordained to His Prophets collectively and He commanded them to remain steadfast to it, He linked that with forbidding him from following the whims of polytheists who went astray from His Way and associated partners with Allah in worship. "So to this (religion of Islam alone and this Qur'an) then invite (people) (O Muhammad PBUH), and stand firm (on Islamic Monotheism) as you are commanded, and follow not their desires but say: " I believe in whatsoever Allah has sent down of the Book [all the holy Books, __ this Qur'an and the Books of the old from the Tawrat (Torah), or the Injeel (Gospel) or the Pages of Ibrahim (Abraham) and I am commanded to do justice among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us our deeds and for you your deeds. There is no dispute between us and you. Allah will assemble us ( all ), and to Him is the final return." [Surat Ash-Shura: 15].

So, O servants of Allah, fear Allah and hold fast to the clear signs and guidance that came down to you from your Lord and beware to follow whims because they are the source of error, deviation, failure, and the cause of loss in the Hereafter.

May Allah make you and me benefit from the guidance of His Book and the Sunnah (the beaten path) of His Prophet – Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. These are my words to you and I ask Allah, the Most Great, the Majestic, forgiveness for me, for you, and for all Muslims from every sin, verily, He is the Oft- Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

The second sermon

Praise be to Allah, we praise Him and seek His Help and Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Him from the evils of ourselves and from our evil deeds. Whom Allah guides, there is no one can mislead, and whom He misleads, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone without having any partners. I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger. O Allah, send peace and blessings on Your Servant and Messenger Muhammad, his family, and upon his Companions.

O servants of Allah,

Of the sayings reported about the virtue of Islamic Shari`ah and the impact of resorting to it in arbitration is the words of some scholars which read: “Resorting to Islamic Shari`ah in arbitration will result in the reform of communities because it is the absolute justice which contains no injustice nor oppression. Moreover, the Shari`ah illustrated every issue connected with life affairs, did not stand in the face of any interest or justice, but rather encompassed every interest and justice to the people regardless their races and times.

The Islamic state in its first beginning extended from China in the east to Morocco in the west, and the flag of Islam was flickering on all countries which contained different races, acts of worship, and habits.

However, the Shari`ah under the Muslim state could manage the affairs of these nations and peoples perfectly, precisely, and justly.

On the other hand, when Allah granted Muslims victory and opened countries or territories and something new came up, the scholars of Shari`ah could deduce rulings for it from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Moreover, they never disregard an interest nor clashed with any means that may achieve a high goal or public interest that is free of oppression and injustice.

Non-Muslims have lived in the Muslim state and have enjoyed the justice and kindness of the Shari`ah. Their rights have been safeguarded and have been treated more nicely than non-Muslim rulers who governed them.

O servants of Allah, fear Allah and know that holding fast to the Shari`ah and resorting to it in arbitration is the best call you can serve to Islam and by which you please your Lord.

Send peace and blessings upon the best of Allah’s Creation, Prophet Muhammad ibn `Abdullah, as you were commanded to do so in the Book of Allah: “Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honors, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad peace be upon him), and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad peace be upon him), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum).” [Surat Al Ahzab: 56].

O Allah, send peace and blessings upon your Servant and Messenger Muhammad. O Allah be pleased with his Four Rightly-Guided Caliphs: Abu Bakr, `Umar, `Uthman, Ali and with all Companions and Followers, and those who follow them righteously until the Day of Recompense. O Allah, be pleased with us with Your Pardon, Generosity, and Benevolence, O the Most Generous.

O Allah, grant Islam and Muslims glory! O Allah, grant Islam and Muslims glory! O Allah, grant Islam and Muslims glory! O Allah, protect the religion, and destroy the enemy of religion and all the corrupt and tyrants. O Allah, combine our hearts, unite our lines, reform our rulers, and gather their words on the truth, O Lord of the worlds.

O Allah, provide victory to Your Religion, Book, the Sunnah of Your Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and Your Truthful Believing Servants.

O Allah, make us secure in our homelands, reform our imams and rulers, and guide our Imam and Ruler to the best. O Allah, grant him pious entourage, guide him to things which please You, O Responding of supplications. O Allah, guide him, his crown prince, and his brothers to the best interest of Islam and Muslims, and guide him to things which will reform people and the country, O to whom we shall return on the Day of Recompense.

O Allah, protect us from Your Enemies and ours in the way You will. O Allah, protect us from Your Enemies and ours in the way You will. O Allah, protect us from Your Enemies and ours in the way You will. O Allah, kill them in their chests and protect us from their evils. O Allah, kill them in their chests and protect us from their evils. O Allah, kill them in their chests and protect us from their evils.

O Allah, perfect our faith which is the most important thing to us, reform our world in which we live, and reform our Hereafter to which we shall return. O Allah, make our life an increase to our good deeds and make death a comfort to us from every evil. O Allah, grant ourselves piety and purify them, for You are the best purifier; indeed You are their guardian. O Allah, we seek refuge in You from the removal of Your Favors, the change of Your Protection (from me), Your Sudden Wrath, and from every displeasure of You. “They said: Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.” [Surat Al A`raf: 23].

O Allah, cure our sick, bestow mercy on our dead, make us reach our hopes in the way that pleases You, and seal our actions with righteous deeds.

O Allah, guide us to righteous deed, protect us from deniable actions, grant us the love of the needy, and forgive us and bestow mercy on our souls, and if You want to mislead a group of people, put us to death without being afflicted. “Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!” [Surat Al Baqarah: 201].

O Allah, send Your Peace and Blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions. And the last of our call is to praise Allah the lord of the worlds.

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