All praise is for Allaah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah from the evil of ourselves and the wickedness of our own deeds. Whosoever Allaah guides, cannot be led astray and whoever Allaah misguides none can guide. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, alone without any partner and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) is His slave and Messenger. Allah praises him and sends peace upon him, his household, and his companions and all those who follow them in righteousness till the Day of reckoning.
Allaah, Exalted stated that: O You who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam. [Surah Aal-Imran (The Family of Imran) 3:102]
O Mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He Created his wife [Hawwa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women; and fear Allah through Whom you demand (your mutual rights), and (do not cut the relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All- Watcher over you. [Surah An- Nisa’ (The Women) 4:1]
To proceed: ((Certainly the best speech is the Book of Allaah and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) and the worst of matters are the newly invented matters (into Islaam)and every newly invented matter is an innovation. Every innovation is a misguidance and every misguidance is in the Hellfire – Muslim reported it in his Sahih).
All praises are due to Allaah, the Mighty and Worthy of Thankfulness. He is our Creator. Whoever thanks Him and obeys Him, you are the one who is successful in this World and the Hereafter. But, whosoever refuses to worship Him know that this would never offend Him and know that the result of such disobedience often results in the individual to experience or meet a very difficult and bitter life. Therefore, it does not affect the existence of Allaah. I praise Him with the fullest of praises. Praises which nobody can ascertain except Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala). To Him (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala) alone we do seek for help and every time we are faced with a worry (hardship), we will knock upon His door for provisions and sustenance. In light of this, I implore you anytime you have hard times please turn to Allaah by knocking on his door; begging Allaah, relying on Him at all times and placing all your hopes in Him alone, and strongly believing that He is the King who is never tired of anything.
Very, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it “Be!” — and it is! [Surah Ya-sin (Ya-sin 36:82]
Thus, the command happens exactly the way He wants it. I pray to Allaah to protect all of us in this world and the Hereafter. Ameen! If Allaah stands for you, have no fear. And do not be afraid of anything. If He guarantees you that you are protected, do not bother and fear no one’, and know that nothing will befall you except what Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala) has written for you.
Allied to this, is when the sahaba (Companions of the Holy Prophet – Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) were guarding the Prophet (‘Alayhe salatu wa salam), and Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala) and the Exalted, said: “I shall save you from people’s plots”. He (‘Alayhe salatu wa salam) immediately relieved his guards since Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala) would provide him with the best form of defence. This is the reason that if Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala) protects you, then you are safe, you would be in peace in this world and the hereafter. May Allaah shelter all of us! Brothers! Sons of Adam are not capable of anything. If it is power, know that this is provisional. Besides, beware that such authority is very minute in front of Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala). And know that his plan too is small in the eyes of Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala). This is why we should not fear anyone except Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala). Please believe that Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala) said: Say: Nothing shall ever happen to you except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector). And in Allah let the believers put their trust. [Surah At-Taubah (The Repentance) 9:51]
No mishap would happen to us except what Allaah has written. All of you present here today (in this congregation), if you want to hurt me or yet still if the whole world intends to harm me, you would not be able to do so except what Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala) wills. It has been stated by some hadith that following a jihad expedition, the Prophet (‘Alayhe salatu wa salam) and the sahaba were scattered in the bush in search of cool shade from trees, and anyone who found one would rest under it. The Prophet (‘Alayhe salatu wa salam) also found shelter under a tree, hung up his sword and lay down. Subsequently, one of his enemies manoeuvered, prowled and grasped the Prophet’s sword shouting, “Yaa Muhammad! who is going to save you from me today?’ Abruptly, the Prophet (‘Alayhe salatu wa salam) woke up. What was the Prophet’s response? He said: ‘Allaah! Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala) will save me.’ The man trembled till the sword fell from him. In repossessing his sword, the Prophet (‘Alayhe salatu wa sallam) in turn questioned the enemy: “What of you, who will save you?’ The man replied: “You are a good person, and your father is a good person, please spare me.” The Prophet (Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) laughed until he revealed his molar tooth. That is why if anybody is looking for security, seek it from Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala).
It extremely shocks me when people wear talisman to seek protection. It never stops to worry me when I find people seeking safety from trees. I swear by Allaah, this amazes me a lot. This is not a mere speech. This really stuns me. Some people use a piece of broom stick plus charcoal to seek protection on behalf of their newborn babies. O people! Where is common sense? Piece of broom! A broom which is a cleaning tool use for tidying up any place dirty inside our houses and homes and at times used by other people to clean themselves after using the toilet (restroom)! Do forgive me! Could this protect a person? It is unable to escape from sorry sights and dirt. How can this provide protection for someone? Please, I enjoin us to seek protection from Allaah (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala) alone and nothing else.
The Prophet (Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) used to recite the following: “All praise is for Allaah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness…”
He habitually recited the above so that people would emulate him, learn and understand it. But lots and lots of people are still stubborn. And for us, Alhamdoulillaah! (All praise be to Allaah), May Allaah give us steadfastness, anytime we are in trouble, that person is not that spiritual and indispensable to a degree for us to go to. The person is not that indispensable and important, he hasn’t attained that knowledge, and I mean he hasn’t until we are so much desperate to a point where we consult him and say, ‘Mister or Mistress! Please help us…never! We shall call out to YAA Allaah! Lord of the heavens and the earth. He is the One we will call out to for help. Therefore, you too be that individual to seek out your affairs from Allaah Whom you know wherever you are, is watchful over you (Sub hanahu Wa ta’ala). He is the one whose hearing is the sharpest of all perceptible range. One’s remark is never too low for Him not to hear. May Allaah provide us with well-being. Whoever Allaah is happy with, don’t be afraid. Whoever He is glad with don’t be afraid. Be on the right path that is all. May Allaah have mercy on all of us. He is the One too I do ask to cleanse our sins. We are all sinners. Nobody escapes from it. The Prophet (Sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) is the one who said this. Nobody! Listen to this statement: “All of the Bani (sons) of Adam commit mistakes, I make mistakes, you make mistakes, any other person makes mistakes. Even the ‘saints’ (most pious) whom you have placed all your hopes in, do commit mistakes. There is nobody on this earth who doesn’t make mistakes. May Allah forgive us our sins! Ameen! But those whom Allaah like are those who return and repent to Him. Allaah mighty is He, said: And (He did forgive also) the three [who did not join the Tabuk expedition whose case was deferred (by the prophet sallalahu alayhe wassalam] (for Allah’s Decision) till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their ownselves were strained to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He forgave them (accepted their repentance), that they might beg for His pardon [repent (unto Him)]. Verily, Allah is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful. [Surah At-Tauba (The Repentance) 9:118] Again, Allaah said: And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheirm) to your Lord and submit to Him (in Islam) before the torment comes upon you, (and) then you will not be helped [Surah Az-Zumar (The Groups) 39:54]. He also said: O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will expiate from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) – the day that Allah would not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) And those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward before them and (with their Records –Books of deeds) in their right hands. They will say: “our Lord! Keep perfect our light for us [and do not put it off till we cross over the “Sirat” (a slippery bridge over the Hell) safely] and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things. [Surah At-Tahrim (The Prohibition) 66:8]
He likes those who return to Him repenting. Whenever he (son of Adam) makes mistakes, he regrets it. And moans, look at what I have caused myself. He repents! Even if he commits the same mistakes again and again, tomorrow, the following day ex cetera, make sure satan does not deceive you in thinking that let me continue on doing the bad deeds because I am now cursed so Allah will not forgive me. No!..never do that. Allaah wants Even the “morrow” you repent to Him. This is what Allaah wants. Do you know what is important, make is sure whenever you are meeting Allaah, your heart is clean. May Allaah grant us this! Ameen. This is what Allaah wants. May Allaah Cleanse us off our sins. Ameen! He is alone in His dominion. He is alone in worship (tabarakah wa ta’ala). May Allaah send peace and blessings on His messenger and prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) the son of Abdoullaah.
By Ousman Bojang
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