In the Name of Allāh, the most gracious and merciful. All praise belongs to Allāh. May the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon His Final Messenger, Muhammad (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), his family and his companions.
Suggested points for the Eid khutba
The meaning of Eid
Eid is meant to celebrate by thanking Allāh for allowing us to worship him and fast for 30 days. Allāh (subhānahu wa ta’ālā) says:
“The month of Ramadān [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’ān, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey – then an equal number of other days. Allāh intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allāh for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.”[1]
The greatness of Islām
Islām is the final divine message to humanity. It is applicable at any time and any place. Allāh (subhānahu wa ta’ālā) says:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islām as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin—then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.[2]
Islām is a universal message of mercy for the entire mankind.
“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.”[3]
Islām is built on five Pillars
This is what the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said.
Each pillar has the power to attract different type of people to Islām.
The First Pillar is the endorsement of Allāh as the Supreme Being and the only One to be worshipped, and that Muhammad (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) is his final messenger to the entirety of mankind. This is known as the shahādah.
The second pillar is establishing a continuous obedience, glorification and link with the Lord through five daily prayers.
The third pillar the is the zakāt which is charity to be paid to others. It reflects the social and financial responsibility the Muslim has to show to his brothers and sisters.
The forth pillar is of a different nature. It is fasting where we abstain from the most basic biological desires, including eating, drinking and sexual reproduction. In doing so it reinforces the superiority and dominance of the higher thinking faculties over these lower, primal desires.
“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”[4]
Fasting is also a means to control oneself and improve the character of the person. The Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“If one does not eschew lies and false conduct, Allāh has no need that he should abstain from his food and his drink.”[5]
The fifth pillar is a physical and spiritual journey that connects the person to his Lord through a collective submission to Allāh. It is a symbol of the unity of God and the unity of those who worship God. Allāh (subhānahū wa ta’ālā) says:
“And [due] to Allāh from the people is a pilgrimage to the House—for whoever is able to find thereto a way. But whoever disbelieves—then indeed, Allāh is free from need of the worlds.”[6]
Challenges and achievements in this Ramadān
The challenge of true “extremism”
Ramadān historically is known as the month of achievements and success in the challenges Muslims face. The first challenge and success was experienced during the time of the Prophet (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in the Battle of Badr. Nowadays, we as British or European Muslims are facing a number of challenges and we are succeeding—by the grace of our Lord.
We have seen in the beginning of this Ramadān some apparently young Muslims who were involved in killing innocent people despite such killing being clearly and categorically prohibited in the Qur’ān:
“Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land—it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one—it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors.”[7]
The Muslim response was outstanding. They condemned this crime but also defended their Islām from those who would seek to exploit those killings. British Muslims were united and unequivocally confirmed that such deranged behaviour has nothing to do with Islām and therefore should not be targeted either by blame or calls for changing it. This was a great achievement by the Muslim community.
General Elections 2017
As we all know the general elections took place on 8th June 2017 and it was in the middle of Ramadān. As we are commanded to increase what is good and reduce what is bad, we have seen more young Muslims participating in voting and raising awareness for the right candidates. Al-Hamdu lillāh, the outcome of the election was very satisfying for Muslims and those who wanted positive change in the country and is a sign—inshāAllāh—of further constructive change to come.
West London fire
This was a very tragic incident. Many of our brothers and sisters lost their lives or loved ones in the fire. We ask Allāh for mercy and paradise for those who returned to Him and we also send our condolences to all the families and friends of the victims.
The level of support and solidarity the Muslim community showed to the victims and their families was amazing. It is to be admired. Mosques were open help the victims, funds were raised and other types of help where provided. Muslims were also among those calling for accountability and justice for the victims. Muslims have proven that they are an invaluable part of the fabric of society.
Finsbury Park attacks
In yet another challenge, some Muslims were victims of another “terrorist attack” in a blessed night of Ramadān after they offered their night prayers peacefully. It was another violent outcome of the increasingly toxic Islamophobia fuelled by many media outlets and some politicians.
However, our response was very mature and up to the challenge. We supported the victims. We had a unified voice and message: we don’t want to be divided. It is true we have our differences as British citizens. However we are all keen to live together in peace and harmony, sailing in the same boat.
The Second Khutba – key messages for our community
Importance of steadfastness
Allāh (subhānahū wa ta’ālā) praised those who remain steadfast despite the challenges:
“Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allāh’ and then remained on a right course – the angels will descend upon them, [saying], ‘Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.’”[8]
We have seen the outcome of being firm on the din and it is crucial we remain like that at all circumstances.
Furthermore, in order to do that, the Sharī’a has encouraged us to continue offering voluntary fasts after Ramadān. Abū Ayyūb al-Ansārī (radiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“Whoever fasts during the month of Ramadān and then follows it with six days of Shawwāl will be (rewarded) as if he had fasted the entire year.”[9]
But beyond Ramadān we should seek to continue—albeit to a lesser degree—the main acts of worship that we renewed our relationship with during Ramadān: fasting, qiyām al-layl, reading Qur’ān, making du’ā and giving sadaqa.
- Fasting: Mondays and Thursdays and the three middle days of each lunar month.
- Qiyām al-layl: at least praying the witr prayer every night.
- Qur’ān: Reciting a portion regularly without fail.
- Making du’ā for ourselves and our Ummah, for this dunya and hereafter.
- Sadaqa: Continuing to give charity all year round—the need does not cease after Ramadān.
Importance of Unity:
“And hold firmly to the rope of Allāh all together and do not become divided. And remember the favour of Allāh upon you—when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favour, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.”[10]
Importance of positive engagement and setting a role model for other communities:
“You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind. You enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allāh. If only the People of the Scripture had believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.”[11]
My final advice it to enjoy the Eid in a good way without disobeying Allāh. We need to use this opportunity of Eid to be grateful to Allāh, forgive each other and maintain the ties of kinship.
May Allāh’s peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad (sall Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam), his family, his companions and his followers until the Last Day.
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Source: www.islam21c.com
Notes:
[1] Al-Qur’ān 2:185
[2] Al-Qur’ān 5:3
[3] Al-Qur’ān 21:107
[4] Al-Qur’ān 2:183
[5] Al-Bukhāri. Book 9, Hadīth 1241
[6] Al-Qur’ān 3:97
[7] Al-Qur’ān 5:32
[8] Al-Qur’ān 41:30
[9] Muslim. Book 5, Hadith 681
[10] Al-Qur’ān 3:103
[11] Al-Qur’ān 3:110
