Verily, all praises are due to Allah, who says in His magnificent Book: (وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ يَخُوضُونَ فِي آيَاتِنَا فَأَعْرِضْ عَنْهُمْ حَتَّى يَخُوضُوا فِي حَدِيثٍ غَيْرِهِ وَإِمَّا يُنْسِيَنَّكَ الشَّيْطَانُ فَلَا تَقْعُدْ بَعْدَ الذِّكْرَى مَعَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ) “And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.” (Suratul An’am: 68).
We praise Him, we seek His help, and forgiveness We praise Him, Glorified and Exalted He is, we seek His help, we seek His forgiveness and repent unto Him. We seek refuge in Him from the evils of ourselves, and our actions.
Whoever Allah has guided is the one that is indeed guided and nobody can lead such astray. And whoever is led astray, then for such, there is no helper/protector that can guide him. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone. He has no partner or associate.
I testify also that Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) is His slave and Messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his families, his entire companions.
As to what follows, O servants of Allah, fear Allah, the Exalted and be conscious of Him in the manner of one who knows that His Lord hears and sees Him. The fear of Allah, the Almighty, is an act of obedience to Allah upon the light from Allah, and the hope for Allah’s reward, and forsaking disobedience to Allah upon light from Allah, out of fear of His chastisement.
Allah says: (أَيّها الّذين ءامنُوا اتَّقُوا اللهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلّا وَأَنْتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ) “O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]. [Al-Imran: 102].
Brothers in faith, this is the first sermon in the new month, the month of Rajab month, one of the sacred months, the seventh of the Islamic months. The topic of today’s sermon is “THE WARNING AGAINST BAD COMPANIONS”.
Brothers in Islam, in this life, a person must intermingle with people, take some of them as companions, and helper over the problems of life. However, people differ in their morals and character; some of them are good and virtuous whom you benefit from their companionship and friendship, neighborliness and consultation.
While some others are worthless and lacking in mind, whose companionship creates harm, all engagement with him is harm, evil and distress. For this reason, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said in describing the sons of Adam and their differences: “Abu Musa al-Ash’ari reported the Messenger of Allah (May peace be upon him) as saying : Allah created Adam from a handful which he took from the whole of the earth; so the children of Adam are in accordance with the earth : some red, some white, some black, some a mixture, also smooth and rough, bad and good, some a mixture.” (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood and others)
Dear Muslim brothers, If this is known, then know that many people fell into misguidance and all evils because of their friends and companions. It is narrated that the Prophet, (peace be upon him) said: “Man follows his friend’s religion, you should be careful who you take for friends”.(Narrated by Ahmad, Tirmidhi, and others).
On the authority of Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari (May Allah be pleased with him) he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, “The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of the owner of musk and of the one blowing the bellows. The owner of musk would either offer you some free of charge, or you would buy it from him, or you smell its pleasant fragrance; and as for the one who blows the bellows (i.e., the blacksmith), he either burns your clothes or you smell a repugnant smell”. (Agreed upon)
This hadith indicates that the righteous person, being in the companionship of his friend means for him good and blessing, benefit and gain, such as the bearer of musk from whom you benefit from what he has, either as a gift, or by purchase, or by lesser thing; the period of sitting with him while you are in comfort, being delighted with the smell of musk, this is a form of comparison and analogy. Otherwise, what other good could be obtainable to the servant from his good companion more greater and better than the most memorable musk: either he teaches you things that will benefit you in your religion, or he teaches you things that will benefit you in this world, or in both of them, or he gives you advice that will benefit you for the duration of your life, and after your death. Or that he forbids you from what is harmful to you. You are always with him in a state of benefit, and your profit is guaranteed – by Allah’s will.
Man is inclined to follow the example of his companion and associate. Temperament and spirits are recruited soldiers as he, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, said in the hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari: Narrated Aishah (may Allah be pleased with him): I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), “Souls are like recruited troops: Those who are like qualities are inclined to each other, but those who have dissimilar qualities, differ.” Some leads to righteousness while some others lead to evil.
The least benefit that could come from a righteous companion is that a person turns away from bad deeds, evils and sins because of him, out of concern for the companionship, vying in goodness, and refusing evil. Among the benefit of good companionship is that he protects your honor in your absence and in your presence, he defends you, and among that is that you benefit from his prayer for you while alive and when you died.
As for being in the companionship of the evil ones, it is the deadly poison, the descending calamity, and you find them encouraging the perpetration of sins and evils, they provide the access to committing evils to those who associate with them, they decorate and embellish different kinds of sins for their associates, they urge them to harm the people, and always remind them about evil things, which have never occurred to their minds. If anyone of them wishes to repent and abandon sins, they would embellish for him postponement of that repentance and assure him of long hope saying that what you are in is easier than others, you can repent and submit when you grow old. surely what happens from mingling and interacting with them is much worse than this.
Do contemplate over the situation of Abu Talib and those who were (his companions) sitting with him, and how the impact of his companions affected him at the end of his life – we beseech Allah, the Exalted for good ending. The words of Allah was revealed in his case thus: (إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي من أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي من يَشَاءُ وهو أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ) “Indeed, (Oh Muhaammad), you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills.” (Suratul Qasas: 56) Allah also says: (مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا أَنْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَى مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الجَحِيمِ) “It is not for the Prophet and those who have believed to ask forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they were relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of Hellfire.” (Surah At-tawbah: 113)
Bukhari and Muslim related in their Sahihs that Sa`id bin Al-Musaiyab narrated from his father thus: When the time of the death of Abu Talib approached, Allah’s Apostle went to him and found Abu Jahl bin Hisham and `Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya bin Al-Mughira by his side. Allah’s Apostle said to Abu Talib, “O uncle! Say: None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, a sentence with which I shall be a witness (i.e. argue) for you before Allah. Abu Jahl and `Abdullah bin Abi Umaiya said, “O Abu Talib! Are you going to denounce the religion of `Abdul Muttalib?” Allah’s Apostle kept on inviting Abu Talib to say it (i.e. ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’) while they (Abu Jahl and `Abdullah) kept on repeating their statement till Abu Talib said as his last statement that he was on the religion of `Abdul Muttalib and refused to say, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.’ (Then Allah’s Apostle said, “I will keep on asking Allah’s forgiveness for you unless I am forbidden (by Allah) to do so.” So Allah revealed (the verse) concerning him (i.e. It is not fitting for the Prophet and those who believe that they should invoke (Allah) for forgiveness for pagans even though they be of kin, after it has become clear to them that they are companions of the fire (9.113).
And Allah revealed regarding Abu Talib and He said to the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, thus: (إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي من أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي من يَشَاءُ وهو أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ) “Indeed, (Oh Muhaammad), you do not guide whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He is most knowing of the (rightly) guided.” (Suratul Qasas: 56)
Therefore, compare between this and what a companion gains from his good companion, even if the companion is a mere dog, and that is what Allah told us in His book about the (As-haabul kahf) people of the cave, and their dog who was with them, and how this dog gained mention in the Qur’an because of its being in the company of these righteous youths. Allah says: (سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ…) “They will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog: …” (Suratul kahf: 22). If you want to know the reality, look at Pharaoh with Haman, his minister, look at Hajjaj bn Yusuf with Yazid bin Muslim, worse than him, and look at Yazid bin Mu’awiya with Muslim bin ‘Uqba al-Marriyy, worse than him.
However, look at Sulaiman bn Abdul Malik; His companion was Raja bin Haywah al-Kindi – one of the distinguished scholars – he made him upright and supported him. In the hadith, the Prophet- peace be upon him, said: “Allah never sends a prophet or appoints a Khalifah but he has two groups of advisers: A group that tells him to do good and a group that tells him to do evil and urges him to do it. And the one who is truly protected is the one who is protected by Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.” (Bukhari)
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When Allah has a good purpose for a ruler, He appoints for him a sincere minister who reminds him if he forgets and helps him if he remembers; but when Allah has a different purpose from that for him. He appoints for him an evil minister who does not remind him if he forgets and does not help him if he remembers.” (Abu Dawud and Nasaai)
Dear brothers, look at the extent to which the person with whom someone sits is influenced by his companion, therefore choose the people of piety and righteousness, for yourself and for those you are entrusted with, and avoid the people of evil and corruption. It was narrated from him (The Prophet), may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that he said: “Do not accompany except a believer, and do not serve your food except to one with Taqwa.” (Narrated by Imam Ahmad and Tirmidhi).
THE SECOND SERMON
All Praises are due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, who said in His Refined Revelation: “Let them worship the Lord of this House. Who has fed them, (saving them) from hunger and made them safe (saving them) from fear.” (Suratl Quraysh: 3-4 ).
We praise Him, Glory be to Him, we thank Him, we believe in Him, and trust Him. O Allah, bless the best of Allah’s creation, our Master and leaders, Muhammad, his family, his companions, and those who follow them in kindness until the Day of Judgment.
As to what follows, O servants of God, it has become clear that one of the challenges that we face in this beloved country is insecurity. Security has its prerequisite components. And we shall mention a few of them today. Brothers in faith, in order to enjoy security and safety in the homelands there must be establishment of foundations and controls, the most important of which are:
1 – Implementing the laws of Allah in judging among people because that is the only guarantor of justice and equality among people. There is no guarantor of justice among people except by the approach of “there is no god but Allah.”
For this reason, the followers of the prophets were the weak people, because the approach of “there is no god but Allah” guarantees for them justice and equality with others. Among the forms of the justice of Islam is illustrated in this story: The Commander of the Faithful, Ali bn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, had a dispute with a Jew over a his shield (coat of arm), so he went to Shurayh, the Judge. When there was no proof with the leader of the faithful, Ali bn Abi Talib, except the witness of his son, Al-hassan and his servant, Qumbur, and that is an unacceptable witness legally islamically. The Judge, Shurayh judged in favour of the Jew, despite knowing that the coat of arm belongs to the leader of the faithful, Ali bn Abi Talib, for the like of Ali would not tell a lie, and its not possible for him to claim what does not belong to him. Even though the Jews were the most hostile people to the Muslims but the Judge applied foundation of Justice in the judgement even in dealing with the enemies. So, the Jew was astonished by that ruling and confessed and he said, “Rather, the shield is for the Commander of the Faithful,” and he said, By Allah, this is the true religion, and that was the reason for his acceptance of Islam. Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) honoured him and he gave him the shield back and a horse as a gift. This is our religion and this is our character.
2- Another basic component of security is reforming the faith by sincerity in worshiping Allah, the Blessed and Exalted. Allah, the Almighty said: (وعد الله الذين آمنوا منكم وعملوا الصالحات ليستخلفنهم في الأرض كما استخلف الذين من قبلهم وليمكنن لهم دينهم الذي ارتضى لهم وليبدلنهم من بعد خوفهم أمناً يعبدونني لا يشركون بي شيئاً) Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. (An-Nur: 55) There must be sincerity in the servitude to Allah, and correction of creed in order for us to enjoy security and safety.
3- Enjoining good and forbidding evil. This is the reason for the benevolence of this nation, and it is the job of every individual in the society and neglecting it would bring punishment displace the security. The requirement is not that you are righteous, but we must be reformers. Narrated Zainab bint Jahsh: That the Prophet once came to her in a state of fear and said, “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah. Woe unto the Arabs from a danger that has come near. An opening has been made in the wall of Gog and Magog like this,” making a circle with his thumb and index finger. Zainab bint Jahsh said, “O Allah’s Apostle! Shall we be destroyed even though there are pious persons among us?” He said, “Yes, when the evil person will increase.” (Bukhari and Muslim). Also Hudhaifah bint Al-Yaman narrated that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! Either you command good and forbid evil, or Allah will soon send upon you a punishment from Him, then you will call upon Him, but He will not respond to you. ” ( Al-Tirmidhi narrated it and said: This is a good hadith, and it was classed as hasan by Al-Albani.)
We shall continue inshaa Allah by the next sermon.
Dua
BEING THE FIRST SERMON FOR THE MONTH OF RAJAB DATED 7TH RAJAB 1442 AH (19TH FEBRUARY, 2021 CE
