الحمد لله، الحمد لله الذي هدانا لهذا وما كنا لنهتدي لولا أن هدانا الله، نحمده ونستعينه، ونستغفره ونشكره وَنُؤْمِنُ بِهِ ونَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ ،و نعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له ونشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك و له الحمد، يحيي ويميت، بيده الخير، وهو على كل شيء قدير، ونشهد أن سيدنا و مولانا محمداً عبده ورسوله، بلغ الرسالة وأدى الأمانة ونصح الأمة، وكشف الغمة، وجاهد في الله حق جهاده حتى أتاه اليقين ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.
أما بعد! فيا عباد الله اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. يأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم. ومن يطع الله ورسوله فقد فاز فوزا عظيما
قال الله تعالى في كتابه الكريم: إِنَّ عِدَّةَ الشُّهُورِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِي كِتَابِ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا فِيهِنَّ أَنْفُسَكُمْ
Dear brothers, sisters, honoured elders and respected scholars.
“The number of months with Allah is twelve, as recorded in the register of Allah on the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these months, four are sacred. This is the correct way, so especially in these months do not wrong yourselves.” (9:36)
The four sacred months are Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah, Al-Muharram and Rajab. We are now in the first month of the year, the month of Muharram. Muharram holds a significant place in the hearts and minds of believers. It is not without reason that it is known as Shahrullah al-muharram – The sacred month of Allah. This is an extremely virtuous month where there are special rewards for certain deeds, such as fasting.
أفضل الصيام بعد رمضان شهر الله المحرم
“The best fasting after that of Ramadan is fasting during the month of Allah Al-Muharram…” and of the days of Muharram, the tenth of Muharram is the day of Ashura. Ibn ‘Abas, (RA) reported that: “When the Prophet (ﷺ) arrived in Madinah he observed that the Jews were fasting on the day of Ashura, so the Prophet (ﷺ) asked them: “Why do you fast on this day?” they replied, “This is a great day. It is on this day that Allah saved Musa and his followers while drowning Fir’aun and his people, so Musa fasted this day out of gratitude to Allah and that is why we also fast on this day.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said in response: نَحْنُ أَوْلَى بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ “We have more right to Musa than you.” and thereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) fasted this day and commanded All Muslims to do likewise.” i.e. The fasting of Ashura was compulsory for the Muslims, but when fasting the month of Ramadan was prescribed this fast became (مستحب) recommended.
This encounter between the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Jews highlights a significant link between the Prophets in this month, especially the parallel between the migrations of Nabi Muhammad (ﷺ) and that of Nabi Musa (ﷺ). When we recall the Hijrah of Rasul Allah (ﷺ) from Makkah to Madinah, we remember how the disbelievers sought to harm him, yet Allah (SWT) protected him. Similarly, Nabi Musa (ﷺ), facing persecution from Fir’aun and his soldiers, was commanded by Allah (SWT) to lead his people out of Egypt to Saynaa سيناء. Fir’aun’s army pursued them until they were trapped at the sea.
These two migrations share profound similarities. Both Muhammad (ﷺ) and Musa (ﷺ) received divine revelations and were persecuted, leading to their forced exile from their homelands due to threats on their lives. And yet there is a difference between the nation of Mohammad (ﷺ) and the nation of Musa (ﷺ).
When Nabi Musa (ﷺ) led his people out of Egypt and fir’aun and his soldiers pursued them, all of Musa’s people were in a state of intense fear and panic. They said to Musa, “You have brought us out of our land and now we will be killed here.” As if to say, “We wish we never followed you”. Their fear was solely for their own lives; Allah speaks about it in Al-Shuara:
فَلَمَّا تَرَا ٱلْجَمْعَانِ قَالَ أَصْحَابُ مُوسَىٰٓ إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ ٦١ قَالَ كَلَّآ إِنَّ مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ ٦٢ فَأَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَىٰ مُوسَىٰٓ أَنِ ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ ٱلْبَحْرَ فَٱنفَلَقَ فَكَانَ كُلُّ فِرْقٍۭ كَٱلطَّوْدِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ٦٣
“And when the two groups saw each other, the companions of Musa said, we are sure to be overtaken (doomed), Musa said, No! Allah is with me and He will guide me. Then we revealed to Musa saying strike the sea with your stick and it parted and each part became like huge mountains.” (26: 61-64). When Allah (SWT) saved them and they saw the miracle; soon after they crossed the sea, instead of thanking Allah (SWT), who saved them from fir’aun and from drowning as well, they passed by some people who were worshipping idols; so they asked Musa to allow them to do the same, forgetting their Lord. Allah (SWT) says in Al-A’raf:
وَجَاوَزْنَا بِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ الْبَحْرَ فَأَتَوْا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ يَعْكُفُونَ عَلَىٰ أَصْنَامٍ لَّهُمْ ۚ قَالُوا يَا مُوسَى اجْعَل لَّنَا إِلَٰهًا كَمَا لَهُمْ آلِهَةٌ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَجْهَلُونَ
“And We brought the children of Israel, across the sea and they came upon a people, devoted to some of their idols (in worship); they said, O Musa make for us a god as they have. He said: “You are definitely a people who don’t know (the Majesty and Greatness of Allah) “. (9:138)
The companions رِضْوَانُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ were totally different. For example, when Rasul Allah, (ﷺ) migrated, Abu Bakr accompanied him and he was always more concerned about the safety and the life of our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) even more than his own life. He always used to say to the prophet (ﷺ) O Rasul Allah,
نَفْسِي فِدَاكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؛ فَإِنْ أَنَا مِتُّ فَأَنَا فَرْد أَمَّا أَنْتَ فَأَنتَ أُمَّةٌ
I am willing to sacrifice my life to save yours; if I die I am only a single person, but you; you are a whole nation O Rasul Allah”. That is why Abu Bakr is mentioned in the Qur’an, reflecting such care and awareness. Allah (SWT) says:
إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفَلَى وَكَلِمَةُ اللهِ هِيَ الْعُلْيَا وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
“When they were in the cave. And he (ﷺ) said to his companion, be not sad, Allah is definitely with us” then All sent down his tranquility upon him and supported him with unseen soldiers..”. (9:40) When he arrived in Madinah the people welcomed him with open arms, chanting “The light of the full moon has risen upon us from Thaniyya, bringing us the farewell day. We offer thanks to Allah for what He has invited us to.”
The difference is clear, therefore, we have to act differently from the way the Jews acted and do the opposite of what they do even when they fast the day of Ashura. As Muslims, we should be keen to fast the ninth along with the tenth of this month (Tues & Wed). Imam Muslim narrated that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) fasted on the day of Ashura, the Sahabah said: O Messenger of Allah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews. The prophet (ﷺ) said: “Next year, we will fast on the ninth day.”
But If this is not possible, then try to fast other days of this sacred month such as Mondays, Thursdays or the middle three days of the month. It is very important that the Muslims make provisions for their hereafter by increasing their performance of righteous deeds.
فمن يعمل مثقال ذرة خيرا يره
“Whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it.”
أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله لي ولكم ولسائر المسلمين من كل ذنب فاستغفروه إنه هو الغفور الرَّحيم
الحمد لله الحمد لله رب العالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، أرسله بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين، ومن تبعهم بإحسان إلى يوم الدين.
أما بعد! فيأيها الذين ءامنوا اتقوا الله ما استطعتم واسمعوا وأطيعوا وأنفقوا خيرا لأنفسكم. يا عباد الله أوصيكم وإياي بتقوى الله وطاعته
There are only two occasions in the Qur’an where Allah speaks about his Ma’iyah, his being present with a people or with a person on the tongue of a prophet. And both these incidents were related in the first khutbah. The concept of ma’iyah is emphasised explicitly under very similar circumstances. prompting the question: With whom is Allah’s favour and aid and what qualities bring about Allah’s support?
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“Allah is with the believers.” (8:19)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ
“Allah is with those who leave off sin (2:194)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“Allah is with the patient.” (2:153)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
“Allah is with the doers of good.” (29:69)
Allah is with these categories of people, but to speak to specific incidents, there are only two. One is when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is in the cave with Abu Bakr during the Hijrah, as they are on their way to Al-Madinah. They hear the footsteps then see the feet of the people who are trying to kill them. This is surely the end of their journey. The Prophet then says to his companion:
لا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا
Do not grieve for Allah is with us. This is one occasion where “Allah being with” is spoken by a prophet. Despite imminent danger, all the enemy needed to do was look down to see them and end them. The other incident involves Musa (AS). When he is pursued by the army and imminent danger looms again, his people say, “We’ve been caught.” Facing a seemingly inescapable situation, Imagine hearing the army behind you and they make no secret of their intentions they will mutilate you they will cut you into pieces they will do all sorts of horrible things with you and in that moment Musa says: no no
كَلَّآ إِنَّ مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَهْدِينِ
“Allah is with me and He will guide me” These two incidents highlight moments of vulnerability and desperation when both prophets, Musa and Muhammad (ﷺ), affirmed that Allah was with them, and then, Allah brought about their victory.
Believers, when facing their most desperate situations, can lean on the fact that Allah is with them, provided they exhibit qualities that attract Allah’s favour. And more importantly, Allah being “with” someone does not always mean immediate material victory, but it assures ultimate success. With Musa and Muhammad (ﷺ), the victory was evident. If Allah is with you, you don’t lose.
Now, we must ask ourselves: Do we possess the qualities that ensure Allah is with us? It’s easy to claim Allah’s support in victory, but a believer measures it by the qualities Allah mentions in the Qur’an. During hardships or oppression, you determine Allah’s presence by reflecting on these qualities. What are these qualities? Alghumdulilah ,they boil down to only three:
- Taqwa (Piety): Leaving off sin. No one engaged in disobedience can claim Allah’s support. No matter what the material outcome is in those moments, is Allah with those who murdered al-Hussein absolutely not, is He with those who won the battle of uhud, was Allah with the cannibalistic crusaders in the battle of al-ma’arah or with the zionist aggressors that kill children by the thousands, No!
- Ihsan: Engaging in good deeds. Allah is with the those who leave off sin and do good.
- Sabr: Being patient, the most repeated quality in the Qur’an.
When we embody these qualities—staying away from disobedience, actively engaging in good which pleases Him, all while enduring with patience—Allah is with us!
May Allah (SWT) accept our good deeds, make us from those who follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) and make this new year one filled with blessings and victory for the Muslim Ummah. It being the first Jumu’a of the New Year, alhamdulillah, we will start the Friday post Jumu’a lunch today. The Jumu’a Mosque of Cape Town will be serving lunch in the annex located outside to my right. Everyone is welcome to join in the barakah of this meal.
إِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ، يَا أَيُهَا الذِينَ آمَنُواْ صَلُّواْ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُواْ تَسْلِيماً.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَبَارِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ. وَارْضَ اللَّهُمَّ عَنِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ أَبِي بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرَ وَعُثْمَانَ وَعَلِيٍّ، وعن أم المومنين عائشة التي أمرنا الله أن ندافع عنها، وَعَنْ سَائِرِ الصَّحَابَةِ أَجْمَعِينَ، خُصُوصاً اِلأَنْصَارَ مِنْهُمْ وَالمُهَاجِرِينَ، وَعَنِ التَّابِعِينَ وَتَابِعِي التَّابِعِينَ وَمَنْ تَبِعَهُمْ بِإِحْسَانٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّينِ.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِ وُلَاةَ أُمُورِ المُسْلِمِينَ لِمَا يُرْضِيكَ وَلِاتِّبَاعِ سُنَّةِ نَبِيِّكَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ عَلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيمِ، وَأَصْلِحْهُمْ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى شُيُوخِنَا، وَعَلَى رئيسنا، وَعَلَى أَمِيرِنَا، وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ أُمَرَاءِ وَزُعَمَاءِ المُسْلِمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى المُسْلِمِينَ فِي هَذِهِ المَدِينَةِ، وَوَفِّقْهُمْ لِمَا تُحِبُّهُ وَتَرْضَاهُ يَا أَكْرَمَ الأَكْرَمِينَ.
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِزَّ الإِسْلَامَ وَالمُسِْلمِينَ، اللهم ألف بين قلوبنا، ووحد صفوفنا، واجعلنا يا رب العالمين من عبادك الصالحين. ربنا آتنا في الدنيا حسنة وفي الآخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النار.
إِنَّ اللهَ يَامُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى، وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَّكَّرُونَ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ. وَقُومُواْ إِلَى صَلاتِكُمْ يَرْحَمُكُمُ اللهُ.
