خطبتي الجمعة 23-1-1439 - المسجد النبوي

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Sheikh Dr.

Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

Allah’s Name, As-Salam: Its Indications and Requirements


His Eminence Sheikh Abdul-Muhsin ibn Muhammad al-Qasim, may Allah preserve him,
delivered the Friday khutbah entitled, “Allah’s Name, As-Salam: Its Indications and
Requirements,” in which he talked about worshipping Allah, Exalted be He, by His
names and attributes (i.e. knowing them, understanding them, acting according to their
requirements, and supplicating Allah by them). He explained that Allah, Exalted be He,
has the most beautiful names and loftiest attributes, focusing on Allah’s name As-Salam
(The One Free from all defects; the Source of peace) as well as the implications and
requirements of this glorious name of Allah.

Part One
Praise be to Allah. We praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness. We seek
refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and from our wrong deeds. He whom Allah
guides, none can misguide, and he whom Allah sends astray, none can guide. I bear
witness that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners, and I bear witness that
Muhammad is His servant and messenger. May Allah bestow his bountiful peace and
blessings upon him and upon his family and Companions.
Now then,
Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, as He should be feared, and be mindful of Him in
secret and in your private conversations.
O Muslims!
Allah has the most beautiful names and loftiest attributes. The signs of Allah,
Glorified be He, in the universe and His verses in the Qur’an clearly testify to this. All
Allah’s names and attributes require us to show servitude to Allah, just as they have
produced their effects in terms of the creation and making of everything. Each one of His
names and attributes has its own kind of servitude to Allah, which is among the
requirements of that name or attribute and the direct results of knowing and believing in
it. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

And (all) the Most Beautiful Names belong to Allah, so call


on Him by them, and leave the company of those who
belie or deny (or utter impious speech against) His Names.

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

They will be requited for what they used to do. (Al-A‘raf:


180)
As-Salam is a name of Allah, Exalted be He, which comprehends all His
attributes. It implies that the Lord is Sanctified, Holy, Free from any defect, and Exalted
above anything that does not befit His Majesty, Perfection, and Greatness, and that He is
absolutely Free from any flaw or any form of imperfection. Allah is As-Salam, the One
who is Free from all imperfections and defects, because He is Perfect in His Being, His
names, His attributes, and His actions. Allah, Glorified be He, says:

He is Allah beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the
right to be worshipped but He), the King, the Holy, the
One Free from all defects, the Giver of security, the
Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller,
the Supreme. Glorified is Allah! (High is He) above all that
they associate as partners with Him. (Al-Hashr: 23)
Allah, Glorified be He, is more Deserving of this name than anyone or anything
that may be described with it, and this is the essence of the exaltation which Allah
attributes to Himself and which the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, attributed
to Him. He is As-Salam: He is Free from the deficiency of having a wife and children,
Free from the imperfection of having an equal, a peer, or a match, and Free from the
defect of having a rival or a partner.
Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, is the Ever-Living; He is Free from death,
slumber, and sleep. He takes full charge of all the affairs of His Creation, and He is Free
from fatigue, incapacity, and weariness. Likewise, Allah’s knowledge is free from
ignorance, distraction, and forgetfulness; and His words are true, just, and free from any
falsehood or injustice. All of Allah’s attributes are free from whatever may contradict
their perfection or give a false impression that they have any shortcoming.
Just as Allah is Free from all defects regarding His Being, names, and attributes,
He is the Source of all peace and safety; peace is sought from Him alone, and whoever
seeks safety with other than Him will never find it. The Prophet, peace and blessings be
upon him, used to fulfil the requirements of this divine name and the attributes of peace
and safety which it contains. After completing an obligatory prayer, he would ask for
Allah’s forgiveness three times, and then say, “O Allah, You are As-Salam (the One
Free from all defects; the Source of peace), and from You is all peace; Blessed are
You, O Owner of Majesty and Honour!” (Reported by Muslim).

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

Allah, Glorified be He, has granted His loving, obedient servants peace and safety
from His punishment, and since Allah is Free from injustice, He does not wrong His
creation in any way. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

Surely! Allah wrongs not even of the weight of a small ant


... (An-Nisa’: 40)
Since Allah is the One Free from all defects and since every form of peace and
safety is from Him, we should not say, “Peace be upon Allah,” for “Allah is As-Salam
(the One Free from all defects; the Source of peace)” (Reported by al-Bukhari). He
bestowed peace upon His prophets and messengers as their messages were free from any
shortcoming or deficiency. Allah, Glorified be He, says:

Glorified is your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! (He


is Free) from what they attribute to Him! And peace be on
the Messengers! (As-Saffat: 180-181)
He has also decreed peace for His righteous servants. He says:

Say (O Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)):


“All Praise and thanks are Allah’s, and peace be on His
slaves whom He has chosen (for His Message)! ... (An-
Naml: 59)
By His grace, He has favoured whomever He wills from among His creation by
bestowing peace on them in all the worlds, such as Nuh (Prophet Noah), peace be upon
him. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“Salam (peace) be upon Nuh (Noah) (from us) among the


‘Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists)!” (As-Saffat: 79)
In the same way, Allah has bestowed His peace upon Ibrahim (Prophet Abraham), Musa
(Prophet Moses), Harun (Prophet Aaron), and Ilyasin (Prophet Elias). He has also
honoured His prophet Yahya (John) and favoured him with peace in three situations in
which people generally experience extreme loneliness:

And Salam (peace) be on him the day he was born, and


the day he dies, and the day he will be raised up to life
(again)! (Maryam: 15)

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

Allah has also commanded the believers to ask Him to bestow His peace upon our
Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Allah says:

... O you who believe! Send your Salat on (ask Allah to


bless) him (Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon
him)), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic
way of greeting (salutation i.e. As­Salamu ‘Alaikum). (Al-
Ahzab: 56)
Allah and Jibril (Angel Gabriel) sent greetings of peace to Khadijah, may Allah
be pleased with her, for the unique service she rendered to the Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, and the support she offered him. Jibril once came to the Prophet,
peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “O Messenger of Allah! Here is Khadijah
coming to you with a bowl of stew (or food or drink). When she reaches you, convey to
her the greeting of peace from her Lord, Might and Majesty be to Him, and from me”
(Agreed upon). Jibril, peace be upon him, also greeted ‘Aishah with peace for her
knowledge and profound wisdom. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“O ‘Aishah! Here is Jibril asking me to convey his greetings of peace to you”
(Agreed upon).
Every Muslim performing prayers sends greetings of peace to the Prophet, peace
and blessings be upon him, and to the righteous servants of Allah, during the tashahhud
(the testimony of faith at the end of prayers). He says, “O Prophet! May Allah’s peace,
mercy, and blessings be upon you! May peace be upon us and upon the
righteous servants of Allah!” (Agreed upon).
It is recommended for every Muslim when entering a house to salute the
household with the greeting of peace; for it is a good, blessed greeting. Allah, Glorified
be He, says:

... But when you enter the houses, greet one another with
a greeting from Allah (i.e. say: As-Salamu ‘Alaikum –
peace be on you), blessed and good. ... (An-Nur: 61)
Commenting on this verse, al-Qurtubi, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said, “Allah
describes it (i.e. the greeting of peace) as blessed because it includes supplication and
helps win the affection of the person who is greeted with it. He also describes it as good
because the one who hears it finds it pleasing.”
Allah has chosen for His servants a religion that embraces guidance and peace.
Allah, Exalted be He, says:

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam ... (Al ‘Imran: 19)
Its rulings and beliefs are free from additions or omissions. Allah, Might and Majesty be
to Him, says:

... This day, I have perfected your religion for you,


completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you
Islam as your religion ... (Al-Ma’idah: 3)
Following the religion of Islam brings about safety in this life and in the hereafter.
Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, says:

... And peace will be upon him who follows the guidance!
(Ta-Ha: 47)
Followers of Islam will ultimately settle in Paradise, the Home of Peace. Allah, Might
and Majesty be to Him, says:

Allah calls to the home of peace (i.e. Paradise, by


accepting Allah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism and by
doing righteous good deeds and abstaining from
polytheism and evil deeds) and guides whom He wills to a
Straight Path. (Yunus: 25)
Those who seek safety and peace for themselves, their families, and their society should
follow Islam, for its set of beliefs and its rules provide security, happiness, cheerfulness,
and tranquillity. The more Islam is practised in a certain society, the more such society
will enjoy peace and security. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

It is those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah and


worship none but Him Alone) and confuse not their belief
with Zulm (wrong, i.e. by worshipping others besides
Allah), for them (only) there is security and they are the
guided. (Al-An‘am: 82)
The peace inherent in the religion of Islam encompasses all people, in a way that
secures their honour and integrity. Its followers’ lives, property, and honour are
protected. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there
is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

and until they perform the prayer and pay Zakat. If they do so, they
will have gained protection from me of their lives and property
unless [they do acts that are punishable] in accordance with Islam,
and their reckoning is left to Allah. (Reported by al-Bukhari)
Islam is also the religion of security, as it safeguards the lives of those non-
Muslims living under the protection of a Muslim state, those whose country has a peace
treaty with Muslims, and those who are granted security in a Muslim land. The Prophet,
peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever kills a mu‘ahad (a non-Muslim who
is under agreement of protection in a Muslim state) will not smell the scent of
Paradise” (Reported by al-Bukhari).
Islam warns against frightening, even by a gesture, anyone who is protected under
Islam. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “He who points at his
Muslim brother with a weapon is cursed by the angels even if the other person
should be his real brother” (Reported by Muslim). Even animals are guaranteed a safe
and secure life under Islam. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A
woman was doomed to Hellfire because of a cat [which she tied till it died]”
(Agreed upon). He also said, “A prostitute was forgiven by Allah because she gave
water to a thirsty dog” (Agreed upon).
A Muslim is commanded to spread peace among people through his words and
deeds. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A Muslim is the one from
whose tongue and hands the Muslims are safe” (Reported by al-Bukhari). The
greatest thing to do to promote peace is to invite people to the path of Allah and to teach
them about their Lord, their Prophet, and their religion. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

And who is better in speech than he who [says: “My Lord


is Allah (believes in His Oneness),” and then stands firm
(acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah’s
(Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and
says: “I am one of the Muslims.” (Fussilat: 33)
Allah has praised those who make peace with the foolish and treat offenders with
benevolence. He says:

... and when the foolish address them (with bad words)
they reply back with mild words of gentleness. (Al-Furqan:
63)

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

One of the practices of this religion is to salute other Muslims with the greeting of
peace. This greeting includes mentioning Allah’s name, As-Salam, asking safety of Allah,
Exalted be He, and giving one’s Muslim brother assurances that one will not do him any
harm or evil. The greeting of peace is the first step towards agreement and the key to
fostering love among Muslims. Giving the greeting of peace to Muslims creates affection
among them, provides an open manifestation of their distinguishing motto, establishes
safety and security in their society, and testifies to their humbleness and close interaction
because of Islam. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The Jews have
not envied you for anything more than they have for the greeting of peace and
saying ‘Amin’ after supplications” (Reported by Ibn Majah).
It is the very greeting that Allah chose for Prophet Adam and his descendants.
Relating the beginnings of Adam’s creation, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon
him, said, “When Allah created Adam, He said to him, ‘Go and greet the group of
angels sitting there and listen carefully to their reply, for this will be your greeting
and that of your descendants.’ Adam went to the angels and said, ‘As-salamu
‘alaikum (peace be upon you)’. They returned the greeting and added ‘wa
rahmatullah (and the mercy of Allah)’” (Reported by al-Bukhari).
Islam urges Muslims to be the ones who initiate the greeting of peace. The
Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The nearest people to Allah are
those who start greeting others with peace” (Reported by Abu Dawud). Muslims are
commanded to spread the greeting of peace. Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib, may Allah be pleased
with him, said, “Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded us to
do seven things.” Among these he mentioned, “... to spread the greeting of peace”
(Reported by al-Bukhari).
It is also one of the means of spreading Islam. Abdullah ibn Salam, may Allah be
pleased with him, said:
When the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, came to al-Madinah,
I went along with the people to look at him. When I clearly saw the face of
the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, I knew that his
face could not be the face of a liar. The first thing he said was, “O People!
Exchange greetings of peace (i.e. say “As-salamu ‘alaikum” to one
another), feed food [to the poor and the needy], and pray at night while
people are asleep, and you will enter Paradise in peace” (Reported
by at-Tirmidhi).

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said, “Spreading the greeting of peace
(As-salamu ‘alaikum) means sending it widely, saying it frequently, and extending it to
every Muslim.”
Allah commands us to return the greeting or to greet the one who initiates it with
a better one. He says:

When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return


with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally
... (An-Nisa’: 86)
Commenting on this verse, Ibn Kathir, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said, “Addition
is recommended, but returning the greeting is obligatory.”
Extending the greeting of peace is one of the best qualities and acts of Islam. A
man once asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “Which act in Islam is the
best?” He replied, “To feed food [to the poor and the needy] and to greet those you
know and those you do not know with the greeting of peace” (Agreed upon). Ibn
Rajab, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said, “This is the best type of spreading the
greeting of peace.” An-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said, “There is a
greater and more important need to spread the greeting of peace and provide food for the
poor, since these two qualities are often neglected or taken lightly.”
Whoever says the greeting of peace will have from ten to thirty good deeds
recorded in his scroll of deeds. A man came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon
him, and said, “As-salamu ‘alaikum (peace be upon you).” The Prophet returned his
greeting and the man sat down. Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Ten.” Then another man came in and said, “As-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah (May
Allah’s peace and mercy be upon you).” The Prophet returned his greeting and the man
sat down. Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Twenty.” Then a
third man came in and said, “As-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh (May
Allah’s peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you).” The Prophet returned his greeting and
the man sat down. Then the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Thirty”
(Reported by Abu Dawud).
Initiating the greeting of peace and returning it are among the Muslims’ duties
towards one another. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A Muslim’s
duties towards his fellow Muslims are six.” One of them is, “When you meet him,
you should greet him with the greeting of peace” (Reported by Muslim). In al-
Bukhari’s narration, this duty reads, “Returning the greeting of peace.”

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

Exchanging the greeting of peace is the way to reconcile two people who have
severed ties with each other, and the better of them is the one who initiates this greeting.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “It is not lawful for a Muslim to
part company with his Muslim brother for more than three nights – each of them
turning away from the other when they meet. The better of the two is the one who
first greets the other with the greeting of peace” (Agreed upon).
Faith will not be complete or set right one’s condition until people love each
other. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “By the One in Whose
Hand my soul is! You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not
truly believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of something which, if
you do it, will make you love one another? Spread the greeting of peace among
you” (Reported by Muslim). The Prophet’s Companions, may Allah be pleased with
them, regarded this as one aspect of faith. ‘Ammar ibn Yasir, may Allah be pleased with
him, said, “There are three qualities that whoever combines has combined all aspects of
faith: observing justice even against oneself, giving the greeting of peace to everyone,
and spending out of one’s money even if one is in straitened circumstances.”
The greeting of peace brings about good and blessings. Allah, Exalted be He,
says:

... a greeting from Allah (i.e. say: As-Salamu ‘Alaikum –


peace be on you), blessed and good. ... (An-Nur: 61)
Returning the greeting of peace is one of the rights of the road that must be
observed by whoever sits by the wayside. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him,
said, “Beware of sitting by waysides.” Some people said, “We cannot do without
sitting by waysides as they are our meeting places where we talk together.” He said, “If
you must sit there, then observe the rights of the road.” They asked, “What are the
rights of the road?” He said, “Lowering your gazes, refraining from harming people,
returning greetings of peace, enjoining good, and forbidding evil” (Agreed upon).
There are good manners for giving the greeting of peace. For instance, the young
should initiate greeting the old, those riding should initiate greeting those walking, those
walking should initiate greeting those sitting, and the small group of people should
initiate greeting the large group. It is recommended to repeat the greeting of peace
whenever there is need for that. Anas ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said,
“Whenever the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, greeted someone with the
greeting of peace, he would repeat it three times” (Reported by al-Bukhari).

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

Greeting children with the greeting of peace was one of the practices of the
Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Indeed, doing so is a sign of humility and
gentleness towards them, and it trains them to follow the manners of Islam. Anas ibn
Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, once passed by a number of young boys. He
greeted them the greeting of peace and said, “The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon
him, used to do so” (Agreed upon).
Just as the greeting of peace is prescribed for those sitting by waysides, it is also
prescribed when joining and leaving gatherings. The Prophet, peace and blessings be
upon him, said, “When one of you arrives at a gathering, he should say the
greeting of peace to those who are already there, and when he intends to leave,
he should also say the greeting of peace to them; for the first greeting is not more
meritorious than the last one” (Reported by Abu Dawud).
The Islamic greeting of peace is confined to Muslims. The Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, said, “Do not be the ones who start the greeting of peace
with the Jews and the Christians” (Reported by Muslim). He also said, “If the People
of the Scripture greet you with the greeting of peace, return their greeting by
saying, ‘Wa ‘alaikum (And upon you too)’” (Agreed upon).
It is recommended to raise one’s voice with this greeting of peace as much as
necessary to be heard. Abdullah ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his
father, said, “When you give the greeting of peace, make it clearly audible, for it is a
greeting from Allah, blessed and good.” It is narrated that “When the Prophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, returned home at night, he would say the greeting of peace in such
a way that it would not awaken anyone asleep, but would be audible to anyone who was
awake” (Reported by Muslim).
Giving the greeting of peace and returning it should not, however, be observed
during the Friday khutbah, for the khutbah requires full attention and deep concentration.
Likewise, they are not to be observed while one is relieving oneself, for it is improper to
greet others and utter Allah’s name under such circumstances.
The greeting of peace offers security and is a supplication in itself. One of the
aspects of the beauty and perfection of Islam is that it enjoins its followers to give such a
greeting to both the living and the dead. Indeed, no one is more in need of supplications
than those who have departed this life. Whenever the Prophet, peace and blessings be
upon, went to the cemetery, he would address the dead, saying, “As-salamu ‘alaikum
(peace be upon you), O dwellers of the abode of the believing people!” (Reported by
Muslim).

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

The greeting of Allah to the believers in the hereafter will be “Salam!” (Peace).
Allah, Might and Majesty be to Him, says:

Their greeting on the Day they shall meet Him will be


“Salam: Peace (i.e. the angels will say to them: Salamun
‘Alaikum)!” ... (Al-Ahzab: 44)
Their final abode will be Paradise, the Home of Peace, where there will be no
death, no sorrows, no worries, and no illnesses. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

For them will be the home of peace (Paradise) with their


Lord. … (Al-An‘am: 127)
It will be then said to them:

“(It will be said to them): ‘Enter therein (Paradise), in


peace and security.’” (Al-Hijr: 46)
The gates of Paradise will be opened for them, and its keepers will receive them, saying:

... “Salamun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you)! You have


done well, so enter here to abide therein.” (Az-Zumar: 73)
Describing the state of Paradise when they enter it, Allah, Glorified be He, says:

No Laghw (dirty, false, evil vain talk) will they hear
therein, nor any sinful speech (like backbiting). But only
the saying of: Salam! Salam! (greetings with peace)! (Al-
Waqi‘ah: 25-26)

... to dwell therein for ever (i.e. in Paradise), with the


Permission of their Lord. Their greeting therein will be:
Salam (peace!). (Ibrahim: 23)

... And angels shall enter unto them from every gate
(saying): “Salamun ‘Alaikum (peace be upon you) for you
persevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final
home!” (Ar-Ra‘d: 23-24)

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

When the dwellers of Paradise enjoy the pleasures that Allah will bestow upon
them in it, their pleasure will not be complete until they see their Lord and He greets
them. Allah, Exalted be He, says:

... Salam (peace be on you) – a Word from the Lord


(Allah), Most Merciful. (Ya-Sin: 58)
Now then, O Muslims!
Islam is a religion of peace whose teachings cover every aspect of life. It is
suitable for every time and every place. Its rulings and provisions are bound to set right
all matters in this world and in the hereafter to ensure happiness for all humanity. It calls
to submission to Allah through peace. It guarantees mercy among all creation and guides
to that which is most just and right in everything. Whoever holds firmly to it will
succeed, attain honour, and gain the good pleasure of the Lord. I seek refuge in Allah
from the accursed Devil:

O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islam (by obeying


all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion) and
follow not the footsteps of Shaitan (Satan). Verily, he is to
you a plain enemy. (Al-Baqarah: 208)
May Allah bless you and me with the Great Qur’an and make us benefit from its
verses and great words. I have said what you have heard and I ask forgiveness of Allah
for myself, for you, and for all Muslims, for any sin that we have committed. Ask Allah
for forgiveness. He is the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

Part Two

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Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

Praise be to Allah for His kindness to us and all forms of gratitude are due to Him
for the success He has blessed us with and for His graciousness. I bear witness that there
is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partners, in glorification of His dignified position,
and I bear witness that our Prophet, Muhammad, is His servant and messenger. May
Allah bestow His bountiful peace and blessings upon him and upon his family and
Companions.
O Muslims!
Knowledge of the names and attributes of Allah is the most honourable branch of
knowledge. With it, a person will love Allah, glorify Him, fear Him, and have hope in
Him. The more such knowledge a Muslim gains, the nearer he will draw to Allah and the
more he will abide by His commands and shun His prohibitions.
Servitude to Allah in all its forms depends upon the requirements of Allah’s
names and attributes. Gaining optimal happiness and attaining high ranks in Paradise lie
in treading the path leading to Allah by understanding and acting on the dictates of His
names and attributes. Allah, Glorified be He, loves His names and attributes and loves to
see their positive effects manifested in His servants’ words and deeds.
Servants of Allah!
Know that Allah has commanded you to ask Him to bestow His peace and
blessings upon His Prophet. Allah says in His perfect Revelation:

Allah sends His Salat (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy)


on the Prophet (Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon
him)) and also His angels (ask Allah to bless and forgive
him). O you who believe! Send your Salat on (ask Allah to
bless) him (Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon
him)), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic
way of greeting (salutation i.e. As­Salamu ‘Alaikum). (Al-
Ahzab: 56)
O Allah! Bestow Your peace and blessings upon our Prophet, Muhammad, and be
pleased with the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, who ruled by truth and thereby established
justice, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, along with all the Companions, and also be
pleased with us together with them, by Your munificence and generosity, O Most
Generous of all the generous!

13
Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

O Allah! Grant power and glory to Islam and Muslims, humiliate polytheism and
the polytheists, and destroy the enemies of the religion. O Allah! Make this country of
ours, as well as all other Muslim countries, safe, secure, and prosperous.
O Allah! Set right the condition of Muslims everywhere. O Allah! Make their
homelands places of safety, security, and prosperity, O All-Mighty! O Most Strong!
O Allah! Grant victory to our soldiers. O Allah! Make their feet stand firm. O
Allah! Grant them victory over the enemy, O All-Mighty! O Most Strong!
O Allah! Lead our ruler to Your guidance, make all his deeds pleasing to You,
and guide all the rulers of the Muslims to act according to Your Book and rule by Your
Shari‘ah, O Owner of Majesty and Honour!

... Our Lord! Give us that which is good in this world and
that which is good in the Hereafter, and save us from the
torment of Hellfire! (Al-Baqarah: 201)

... 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. (Al-A‘raf: 23)
Servants of Allah!

Verily, Allah enjoins Al-‘Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping


none but Allah Alone – Islamic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsan
[i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allah,
totally for Allah’s sake and in accordance with the Sunnah
(legal ways) of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon
him) in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and
kin (i.e. all that Allah has ordered you to give them, e.g.
wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of
help), and forbids Al-Fahsha’ (i.e. all evil deeds, e.g. illegal
sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell
lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right), and
Al-Munkar (i.e. all that is prohibited by Islamic law:
polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil
deeds), and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression), He
admonishes you, that you may take heed. (An-Nahl: 90)

14
Sheikh Dr. Abdul-Muhsin al-Qasim 23-1-1439 (13-10-2017G)

Remember Allah, the Most Great, the Sublime, and He will remember you. Thank
Him for His blessings and favours and He will give you more. Verily, remembrance of
Allah is greater than all, and Allah knows what you do.

15

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