الحمدُ لله، الحمدُ لله الذي أسلمنا للإسلام، وهدانا للطريق المستقيم نحمده تعالى ونستعينه، ونشكره تعالى ونستغفره ونستغيثه، نعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا، من يهد الله فهو المهتد ومن يضلل فلن تجد له وليا مرشدا، 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، وحبيبه وصفيه، بلغ الرسالة وأدّى الأمانة ونصح الأمة، النبي الأمي الذي أرسله الله بالهدى والدين الحق، بشيرا ونذيرا بين يدي الساعة، صلى الله عليه وسلم وعلى آله وأصحابه 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. اتقوا الله فيما أمر وانتهوا عما نها عنه وزجر قال الله تعالى في كتابه الكريم قُلۡ أَرَءَيۡتُمۡ إِن كَانَ مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَفَرۡتُم بِهِۦ وَشَهِدَ شَاهِدٞ مِّنۢ بَنِيٓ إِسۡرَـٰٓءِيلَ عَلَىٰ مِثۡلِهِۦ
Say, “Have you considered: if the Qur’an was from Allah, and you disbelieved in it while a great witness from the Children of Israel has testified to it …”
My dear brothers, sisters, scholars and respected elders.
I want to share with you our beloved Prophet’s ﷺ very first words to the people of Madina, but before we can truly appreciate these remarkable words. Allow me to tell you the story of the man who Allah describes as “the great witness of Bani Israel”.
He was the chief rabbi of Madina. The most senior person from the three main Jewish tribes that existed in Yathrib. And his name was Al-Husayn ibn Salam. Al-Husayn with a Saad, not like Al-Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet ﷺ. Al-Husayn ibn Salam ibn al-Harith Abu Yusuf al-Israili al-Ansari was from the Banu Qaynuqa’a tribe, a lineage tracing back to Prophet Yusuf (AS). Despite the Pagans hostility towards the Prophet Muhammad, they respected the Jewish tribes as learned people of scripture and because sog this the Jewish tribes held influence in Yathrib’s social and economic life.
Among the Jewish community, there were two groups, one sought religious truth and awaited a prophet, while the other sought regional power, assuming the awaited prophet would be from Bani Israel. The rejection of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by some was rooted in tribal identity rather than his character or message. Al-Husayn ibn Salam’s pursuit of the truth made him of the former.
He was already renowned as the most knowledgeable man in Madinah, was highly respected for his wisdom and character. People praised him for his honesty, piety, and humility. He engaged in honest trade, refusing to exploit his religious authority for economic gain. His day was divided into three parts: one-third in public worship and teaching, one-third in private worship and study, and one-third in business and farming. Ibn Salam focused on verses in the Torah about the coming prophet, hoping to witness his arrival. When he heard about a man claiming prophethood in Makka, he investigated and found the description matching what he studied in the Torah.
When Prophet Muhammad ﷺ migrated to Madinah Husayn Ibn Salam could easily have been 60 or even 70 years old. He was so excited that he climbed one of his palm trees and sat on top hoping to get a glimpse of the Prophet ﷺ, suddenly he heard a man shouting:
قد قدمَ رسولُ اللَّهِ، قد قدمَ رسولُ اللَّهِ قد قدمَ رسولُ اللَّهِ
The messenger ﷺ has arrived! the messenger has arrived! the messenger has arrived! He was overcome with raw emotion that manifested in takbeer (Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar) – his aunt Khalidah who was down below scolded him but his excitement could not be contained, for the brother of Musa (AS) was coming, sent to confirm the truth of all other prophets and complete the message of his Lord- without hesitation he ran to meet the Prophet , ﷺ he waded through the crowds of people at his door and moved swiftly until, finally his ﷺ Mubarak face, became clear to him:
، عرفتُ أنَّ وجهَهُ ليسَ بوَجهِ كذَّابٍ،
“I knew instantly that his face was not the face of a liar” (meaning that this was the most important thing to Husayn Ibn Salam, after all his research, after all his investigation, it came down to this one noble quality “truthfulness”). He took his shahadah on the spot and it was The Prophet ﷺ himself who changed his name to Abdullah Ibn Salam. He became a loyal advisor to the Prophet , ﷺ one such incident was when he approached the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ with concerns about the Jewish community’s reaction to his acceptance of Islam. Recognizing the propensity for slander and falsehood among the Jews, Abdullah advised the Prophet ﷺ to invite their prominent leaders for a meeting while keeping his conversion concealed.
Abdullah remained concealed in one of the rooms as the Prophet engaged the Jewish leaders in dialogue. The Prophet ﷺ presented Islam to them, urging them to embrace it. However, they responded with disputes and arguments, showing reluctance to accept Islam.
To test their loyalty and views, the Prophet ﷺ inquired about Abdullah’s status among them. They spoke highly of Abdullah, considering him their leader, their rabbi, and their scholar.
Then, the Prophet ﷺ posed a pivotal question: What If Abdullah embraced Islam, would they follow him? Shockingly, they emphatically rejected the idea, expressing horror at the notion of Abdullah accepting Islam.
At that moment, Abdullah emerged from the room, addressing the assembly of Jews directly. He urged them to fear Allah and accept the message brought by Muhammad ﷺ, emphasizing that Muhammad was indeed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prophesied in their Torah. Abdullah boldly declared his faith in Muhammad ﷺ and the truth of Islam.
True to Abdullah’s prediction, the Jews responded with accusations and insults, calling him a liar, evil and ignorant, the son of an evil and ignorant person.’ And they continued to heap every conceivable abuse on him (RA). Only his family and aunt Khaildah accepted Islam but the other tribes all reacted the same way. He is the first Muslim to be promised Jannah in his lifetime, this great witness, who lived to be over 100 years old, who pivoted from studying the Torah with such great zeal to studying the Qur’an with even more veracity, tells us in an authentic narration, about the first thing he heard the Prophet ﷺ say to the people of Madinah:
فَكانَ أوَّلُ شيءٍ سَمِعْتُهُ تَكَلَّمَ بِهِ، أن قالَ
the first thing I heard him say was:
يا أيُّها النَّاسُ أفشوا السَّلامَ، وأطعِموا الطَّعامَ، وصِلوا الأرحامَ، وصلُّوا باللَّيلِ، والنَّاسُ نيامٌ، تدخلوا الجنَّةَ بسَلامٍ
“O people, spread Salam, Feed the hungry, Maintain family ties, Pray at night while people are asleep, you will enter Jannah in peace.”
وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحۡيٞ يُوحَىٰ
Allah says about the speech of Muhammad ﷺ: “He does not utter a single word from his desire or purpose, it’s nothing but revelation inspired to him.” Ibn kathir comments: He conveys the message to the people in its entirety, providing fully without any addition or subtraction.
Spread Salam, Feed the hungry, Maintain family ties and Pray at Night are the four pillars upon which Madina al-Munawwarah (The Luminous City), the light in the darkness, the first Muslim Society, was established. Madina became a benchmark from which the essence of all Muslim societies originated. These words are his ﷺ inaugural address to the people of the great city, emphasising their importance even more.
O Allah, guide us to follow the example of Abdullah Ibn Salam in seeking the truth and embracing it with conviction. Grant us the courage to stand firm in our faith and to convey and establish Your message with wisdom and compassion. Protect us from falsehood and grant us success in this life and the Hereafter.
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، صلى الله وسلم وبارك عليه وعلى آله وصحبه، والتابعين وتابعي التابعين 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 يا أيُّها النَّاسُ أفشوا السَّلامَ، وأطعِموا الطَّعامَ، وصِلوا الأرحامَ
، وصلُّوا باللَّيلِ، والنَّاسُ نيامٌ، تدخلوا الجنَّةَ بسَلامٍ
، أَفْشُوا السَّلامَ،
The concept of spreading peace (Salam) is deeply rooted in the fabric of our Deen. When we greet each other with “As-salamu alaykum,” we are invoking one of the names of Allah, the Flawless Source and Giver of Peace and praying for protection and well-being for one another. It is a declaration of safety and goodwill, a promise that we will not harm one another but will strive for mutual respect and understanding because we understand that Allah alone is Flawless. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ emphasized the significance of spreading Salam, stating,
أَفْشُوا السَّلَامَ تَسْلَمُوا
“Spread salam and you will receive salam.” This simple act of exchanging greetings becomes a means to foster love and compassion within our community. It is not merely a formality but a profound expression of our commitment to the values of peace and unity.
Imagine a world where every encounter begins with a sincere greeting of peace. The Prophet ﷺ illustrated the importance of this gesture when he said,
لا تدخلون الجنة حتى تؤمنوا ولا تؤمنوا حتى تحابوا أولا أدلكم على شيء إذا فعلتموه تحاببتم أفشوا السلام بينكم
“You will not enter Jannah until you believe, and you will not believe until you love each other. Shall I not guide you to something that, if you do it, will spread love among you? Spread Salam among yourselves. “Initiating the greeting of peace is an act of virtue that draws us closer to the mercy of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ taught us أقرب المتلاقين إلى رحمة الله من بدأ بالسلام
that the one who initiates the greeting is closest to the mercy of Allah. Therefore, let us be the ones to take that first step towards spreading love and compassion in our interactions.
As members of the Ummah, we are interconnected like the limbs of a single body. When one part feels pain, the entire body responds with care and concern. Similarly, when we spread Salam, we strengthen the bonds of unity and mutual care within our community.
The greeting of peace, Salam, is not merely a customary exchange of words but a profound expression of goodwill and brotherhood. By greeting one another with sincerity and warmth, we foster a culture of compassion and understanding. In a world plagued by division and conflict, the simple act of spreading peace(salam) through our words and actions can have a transformative impact on society.
وأطعِموا الطَّعامَ
“Feed the hungry” Social and economic welfare through true altruism seeking the pleasure of Allah. Community Service exemplified – What does Allah (SWT) say about the people who embody this noble quality:
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً * إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاء وَلَا شُكُوراً
“They feed the needy, the orphan, the captive out of love for Allah, (they say) We feed you only for the approval of Allah. We do not want reward or gratitude from you” The pronoun in “love for it” refers to Allah, meaning they feed the needy out of love for Allah. Therefore, feeding the hungry is among the deeds that lead to Paradise.
من تصدق بعَدل تمرة من كسب طيب -ولا يقبل الله إلا الطيب- فإن الله يقبلها بيمينه ثم يربيها لصاحبها كما يربي أحدكم فَلُوَّه حتى تكون مثل الجبل
.
“Whoever gives in charity the equivalent of a date’s weight of lawful earnings – and Allah does not accept anything but what is lawful – then Allah takes it in His right hand and nurtures it for its owner as any one of you nurtures his foal, until it becomes like a mountain.” These are noble values that Islam fosters, noble qualities that instil piety in the very foundation of the Muslim society.
وَصِلُوا الْأَرْحامَ
“And maintain family ties.” to all those connected to you by blood relations from both the paternal and maternal sides. Their right to your generosity and giving takes precedence even over orphans and the poor. The Prophet ﷺ said:
إن الصدقة على المسكين صدقة وعلى ذي الرحم اثنتان صدقة وصلة
“Giving charity to the poor is charity, and giving to a relative is two things: charity and maintaining family ties.” kind words, a smile, visiting them, advising them, supporting them when distressed, overlooking their mistakes and most importantly, avoid harming them, whether through words or actions.
وصلُّوا باللَّيلِ، والنَّاسُ نيامٌ
“And pray at night while people are asleep” The directive to pray at night while people are asleep represents a clear shift from communal or social aspects to a deeply personal and spiritual dimension of our Deen. Why?
إِنَّ نَاشِئَةَ ٱلَّيۡلِ هِيَ أَشَدُّ وَطۡـٔٗا وَأَقۡوَمُ قِيلًا
“ Getting up at night is the best means of subduing the self and is more suitable for uprightness in speech.” The two qualities a person needs in order to successfully navigate community work. Speech that emanates from Hawa (desires) is not upright, because it is baseless speech that serves our desires only. Hawa is often associated with impulsive or fleeting desires, driven by the pursuit of worldly pleasures and gratifications.
تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِسَلَامٍ
“You will enter Jannah in peace.” The reward for those who embody all these qualities.
سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَٱدْخُلُوهَا خَٰلِدِينَ
The gate keepers say, “Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein.
O Allah, we ask You to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood among us. Help us to spread Salam, feed the hungry, maintain family ties and pray at night while people sleep. Unite our hearts upon Your love and guidance. Grant us the ability to uphold the principles laid out by our beloved Prophet ﷺ in Madinah. O Allah, we ask You to grant us entry into Jannah with Salam.
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 في سورة النور 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، وَاخْذُلِ الْكُفْرَ وَالْكَافِرِينَ، وَانْصُرِ المُجَاهِدِينَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ. وَاجْعَلْ كَلِمََتَكَ هِيَ العُلْيَا وَكَلِمَةَ الْكُفْرِ هِيَ السُّفْلَى.
رَبَّنَا ءَاتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقَِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.
عِبَادَ اللَّهِ، رَحِمَكُمُ اللهُ، إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ، يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ. أَذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ يَذْكُرْكُمْ، وَادْعُوهُ يَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ، وَلَذِكْرُ اللهِ تَعَالَى أَعْلَى وَأَوْلَى وَأَعَزُّ وَأَهمُ وَأَكْبَرُ.