7 Types of People receiving shade on Day of Resurrection

This week’s khutbah is on a hadith of the Prophet SAWS in which 7 types of people are described as receiving shade from Allah SWT on the Day of Resurrection.

 

The hadith in question is translated to have said:

 

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Seven people Allah will give them His Shade on the Day when there would be no shade but the Shade of His Throne (i.e., on the Day of Resurrection): And they are: a just ruler; a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosques, two men who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom an extremely beautiful woman seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer and) says: ‘I fear Allah’; a man who gives in charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the left hand does not know what the right has given; and a man who remembers Allah in solitude and his eyes become tearful”.

Dear brothers and sisters, the remainder of this khutba will break down the explanation of the 7 types of people mentioned in this hadith and alongside it, will aim to provide a practical example that we can all implement so that we are of these people insh’Allah.

 

  1. A Just ruler, is one who looks after the interests of the Muslims, including Judges and ministers, etc, and to rule with fairness. For us, this can be applied in our everyday lives in business or studies, as a parent, as a middleman between friends that disagree or any situation where the ruling or judgement offered is logical and impartial and unbiased towards anyone.

 

  1. A youth who grew up with the worship of Allah – Allah SWT has mentioned youth specifically here, since the difficulties our youth face from desires and temptations are huge, and therefore resisting this and staying on the right path has extra rewards compared to those who are much older. A practical example here is to utilize the time you have as a youth for things you will find harder to do in later live. For example learn Quranic Arabic as a course here is starting later on this month.

 

  1. That in turn brings us to number 3 which is those whose heart is attached to the mosque. Whether it be coming here regularly to pray, make it an aim to increase either by another congregational prayer or aim to help the house of Allah SWT either by providing a service to it or through regularly funding its upkeep.

 

  1. This talks of the unity that we are blessed with in the Muslim community. And this is practically illustrated in this hadith by informing us of the importance of mercy towards one another. We live in a time where family ties are strained and social media is the new family. Fight that urge and show compassion to one another for the sake of Allah SWT.

 

  1. Fifth describes a man who is tempted by the woman but chooses Allah SWT over illicit relations with her. Dear brothers and sisters, this is, unfortunately, a sign of our times. It’s almost the case that this example was written for this time in history. Never before has it become so socially acceptable to engage in such actions. However, Allah SWT is merciful and Allah SWT is fair. Guard your chastity and your senses in these times and Allah SWT is the most rewarding as this test is one of the most potent of our times. Practically this is achieved through rememberance of Him, through fasting for Him and through engaging in Halal relationships as soon as practically possible to do so.

 

  1. Next is a man who gave in charity and in this Hadith it is showing the importance of giving without making a fuss or advertising it or embarrassing those who charity is given to. A great practice by which we can do this is through a monthly direct debit of an amount equalling 2% of our monthly income for example. How often do we check our bank balance to see the details of each and every transaction? Such a small amount will go unnoticed after a few months and yet will be counted for you on the day of resurrection as stated. And as we know, charity never causes poverty and so there is no excuse for not implementing this strategy today. Our very own masjid is an example of a charity that could do with a monthly donation.

 

  1. And lastly, remembering Allah SWT in places where the person knows no one will be there, and secretly between only him and Allah, can show the true intentions and away from showing off. A practical example of this is waking up fifteen minutes before the start of Fajr. Prepare for this prayer by praying 2 units of Tahajjud prayer. This is away from the family and even others in the masjid and at a time when the majority are asleep. This is also the best time to ask of Allah SWT so make it a benefit in this life and the next through this practical example.

 

Dear brothers and sisters, through this one hadith there are examples that each and every one of us can implement into our lives today. If the hadith states that Allah SWT will shade us on the day if we follow one of the seven then surely it also means that we will be in favour with Him insh’Allah. Therefore there can be no other more pressing thought in the minds of each and every one of us to see which one of the seven we can implement as soon as possible so that we are of the people that are referred to in this hadith.

 

May Allah SWT enable us to remember the 7 traits in this hadith. May Allah SWT enable us to implement the traits in this hadith and may Allah SWT reward us in our efforts in implementing the traits in this hadith.

 

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Youth in the Masjid

Allah SWT has blessed this community with a base that is a welcome haven for all. This masjid, like

masjids all throughout the world are the houses of Allah SWT but benefit us all in different ways.

For some, this is a place of worship alone. They visit to carry out their congregational prayers. For

others, it is a place of knowledge, somewhere to learn more on Islam. For some it is a place to meet

like-minded people, to socialise and to build community bonds.

Dear brothers and sisters, we need to understand that this place is a blessing for us all and full of

potential to be great for the whole community – muslim and non-muslim alike.

And with any base such as this, we need the energy and the strength of the youth as well as the

experience and the wisdom of the elders. As with all things in Islam, it is about finding the balance

and this is no exception.

Naturally when it comes to interaction, there is a big difference between the two groups in terms of

their thinking and therefore there is a potential for conflict.

Allah SWT has therefore laid down some rules to avoid this and we should aim to adhere to these

rules so that we can best work together in a productive way.

One such advice is found through the 41st to 49th Ayats of Sura Maryum in the Quran. It is translated

to have said:

Mention too, in the Quran, the story of Abraham. He was a man of truth, a prophet. He said

to his father, ‘Father, why do you worship something that can neither hear nor see nor

benefit you in any way? Father, knowledge that has not reached you has come to me, so

follow me: I will guide you to an even path. Father, do not worship Satan— Satan has

rebelled against the Lord of Mercy. Father, I fear that a punishment from the Lord of Mercy

may afflict you and that you may become Satan’s companion [in Hell].'”

His father answered, ‘Abraham, do you reject my gods? I will stone you if you do not stop

this. Keep out of my way!’ Abraham said, ‘Peace be with you: I will beg my Lord to forgive

you— He is always gracious to me—but for now I will leave you, and the idols you all pray to,

and I will pray to my Lord and trust that my prayer will not be in vain.’

Dear brothers and sisters, if you analyse, you will see the etiquette and manners by which the

Prophet of Abraham addressed his father. Despite him being an idol-worshipper, there was love and

respect shown at all times.

We can dedicate hours just to this passage and still not get the full benefit of the wisdom in this

passage but for the purposes of this khutba, it demonstrates the level of decorum we must show to

our elders. We must in essence glorify them at all times. This is the position the elders hold in Islam.

But to do this we need the youth to attend the masjid. And this is the ultimate challenge.

And so this khutba ends with 5 practical steps we can all do to achieve this.

1. Understand their world. For example, most youth now have a smart phone. Are we telling

them that this masjid has its own app? An app with times of prayer, both start and

congregational, an app that allows it to send questions and request for advice straight to the

masjid? One that shows not only this masjid but all participating masjids in the country?

For those who aren’t aware it’s called My Mosque and it is on the Play and App store. We

also have Facebook and Twitter account. And even a website. We will put details up soon

insh’Allah on the notice boards and walls but it is already there to connect with the youth.

2. Tell them of our classes. This isn’t just a place to pray. We can learn here too. There are

classes run throughout the week and we welcome ideas for more classes. Again, use the

forums mentioned earlier to get the ideas across.

3. Youth have an overwhelming desire to change the world for the better. The energy is there.

Why not connect that with the more senior brothers who are already making this happen?

We have links now with projects that involve feeding the needy, such as the food collection

box at the back. We also are involved in projects feeding the homeless, donating blood,

visiting the sick, visiting the elderly, spreading the word of Islam and many more. All with

local people making a difference. Again, connect with the masjid and you can get all that

information and make that impact in the community.

4. Have a say in how your masjid is run. Whether it is an idea for a future khutba or whether

it’s an idea for some way this masjid can help you and the community, come to the masjid

with it and make it happen. It all starts with the idea and the energy to do it. We even have

social events here where everyone is invited, so attend those to connect with the masjid.

5. Involve the Muslim women. This is particularly important and can’t be overstated. We need

to establish a position for our sisters to have a say in how our masjids are run. Again, it all

starts with participation and involvement so contact us to get started.

Dear brothers and sisters, let’s make this masjid a community hub that attracts experience and

youth alike. We can only do that if we all make an effort to make it happen.

May Allah SWT bring the youth to the masjid. May Allah SWT make this masjid a central base for our

community and may Allah SWT rewards us all for our efforts in making this happen.

Ameen wa Alhamdullilahi Rabil-alameen.

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How we deal with Masjids (Mosques)

Islam has made the masjid the heartbeat of the Muslim society. It is the hangout of Muslims where they meet one another daily, not only to perform the obligatory prayers but also for other acts of worship and activities that are beneficial for the Muslim community.

The following Hadith talks of the masjid in which the Prophet SAWS said:

Whoever ate garlic or onion should avoid us, to avoid the masjid and stay at home as the angel get affected by whatever the son of Adam gets affected by.

Dear brothers, most of us can interpret this hadith to talk of not smelling a foul smell when coming to the masjid but we can expand upon this further by saying that this is about consideration for others.

And so similarly we have, especially at Jumma, brothers trying to weave in and out of rows in their attempt to leave the hall. Show consideration and come to the front of the hall if you plan to pray so that people don’t get trapped in front of you.

But that is not the main point that this khutba is attempting to make. The title of this about dealing with Masjids.

Dear brothers, what do you see when you look at this masjid? For most of us, we use this as a place of worship. Somewhere to read our Jumma prayers, our daily congregational prayers, our Taraweeh prayers in Ramadhan.

However, this building is a house of Allah and it has the potential to offer much more. But before this point is expressed further, there is an ayat of the Quran in Sura Al-Noor:

Shining out in houses of worship, God has ordained that they be raised high and that His name should be remembered in them, with men in them celebrating his Glory morning and evening.

Dear brothers, this is the function of the masjid. This is what Allah SWT has told us a masjid needs to do. This is how we need to deal with the masjids such as the one in which we are sat.

Are we delivering on this responsibility placed upon us by Allah SWT?

We are blessed in Manchester in that we have over 50 masjids in this city. We are seldom more than a 10 minute drive to the nearest masjid. And yet besides Friday, Eid or Taraweeh prayers, the masjid is less than a third full.

We need to bring it into our hearts. To make it feel like a second home. Our nearest masjid to our home should be so well frequented that we notice little changes like new paint work or something out of place. It should take the place of cafes, cinemas and other social venues.

Allah SWT talks of coming to the masjid in Sura Al-Araf when He says:

O children of Adam, dress well when you are at worship, and eat and drink as we have permitted but do not be extravagant; God does not like extravagant people.

Dear brothers, putting effort in our attire in the masjid is part of the complete picture we need to build in order to make this house of Allah fulfil it’s potential.

We live in a time where the Muslim Ummah is attacked in the media almost daily. We feel embarrassed, lost and lonely when events before us are unfolding in the so-called name of Islam.

Its at times like this, the masjid has the potential to become our solace in protecting us from that. But in order to do that we need to make it a place we want to visit beyond worship and prayer.

Specifically this masjid, our website is just the start. But from that we need to get together as a community and offer services in this house of Allah for our local community.

So-called “Coffee mornings” for locals, for the elderly, for those interested in Islam. Presentations, lectures and classes for all ages, and on all different types of skills from vocational to religious.

The following hadith applies to this khutba in which the Prophet SAWS is reported to have said:

Whoever went to the Masjid, and does not want except learning good or teaching good, he would get the reward of doing and completing Hajj.

Dear brothers, we have a base from which to do just that. We just need community participation and community involvement. This place is a community centre that is awaiting its community.

Let’s begin today by suggesting ideas via our website, email or telephone on how we can make our masjid an example of how should deal with a masjid.

May Allah SWT enable us to fulfil the responsibility of the masjid. May Allah SWT enable us to fulfil the potential of this masjid and may Allah SWT reward us for the efforts in fulfilling the responsibility of the Masjid.

Ameen wal hamdullilahi rabilalameen.

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Manners of Entering the Mosque

Dear brothers, besides the month of Ramadhan and the night prayers that come with it, the largest gathering we find consistently in a month at a masjid is on the blessed day of Jumma or Friday as we know it.

Our Masjid is no exception. During this time you will find any community or masjid announcements being made as it is the time that most people are likely to attend and hear the message.

Therefore, dear brothers, this is also the best time to take some time to reflect on the manners of coming to the Masjid. After all, if we are to benefit from our time here then we should be aware and try to adhere to the manners relating to our weekly visit.

And dear brothers, we are all here for the same purpose, to please Allah SWT, to fulfil our obligation to Him. This is His house and His claim to the masjid is defined in Sura Al-Jinn:

And He revealed the masjids are for Allah, so do not invoke with Allah anyone.

My dear brothers, this place is a sanctuary from the outside world. Besides the odd dodgy ringtone during salat, we are able to switch off from all the distractions of the information age when we are inside of the masjid. There is no Google, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube inside these four walls to distract us. And as we grow older we begin to realise just how valuable this place is for serenity and peace of mind for us all.

The Prophet SAWS mentions the love Allah SWT has for the masjid in the following Tirmidhi hadith:

The most beloved places to Allah is the Masjid and the least is the shopping areas

Dear brothers, we should all avoid bringing the dunya into the masjid. There is nothing that cannot wait because everything outside of this place is under the control of the one we are visiting when we are in this place!

Why wouldn’t we want to put life on hold because Allah SWT is in control of our life and it is in this place we can make requests regarding it.

The Prophet SAWS mentions the need to avoid such an act by specifically talking about doing business in the masjid. He is narrated to have said:

If you see someone selling or buying inside the Masjid, say to him: May Allah not make your trading profitable.

Dear brothers, what follows are 3 simple ideas that we can all implement that will make our time in the masjid an even more blessed one insh’Allah.

  1. Enter the masjid with your right foot and say Salaam. Even if nobody is making eye contact that doesn’t matter. It starts your visit with the correct intention.
  2. Put your mobile phone on silent my dear brothers. Focus in prayer is such a fragile thing that even a piece of fluff on the carpet can be the most interesting thing when we are trying to offer salat. You can imagine then what a melodic ringtone does to the focus in comparison. Equally so, for those of us blessed with young children, it is such an immense feeling of pride to bring them to the masjid. However, we must always remind ourselves that this masjid is a solace for us all and if the children are too young to keep in control during salat then maybe they are too young to come to the masjid. The message here is one of consideration for your fellow brother or sister who is trying to connect to Allah in a rare moment of solace in an otherwise busy day.
  3. Avoid passing in front of somebody who is praying. This is difficult sometimes and consideration in this case should be two-way. For example if a brother was to start praying adjacent to the exit door then he is preventing anyone wanting to enter and exit the masjid. And as you leave try to connect to that feeling of joy at having just visited the house of Allah and having just fulfilled your obligation and having just made a request of Him in your duas. Try to instill into your heart that feeling of loss as you leave as it will create that desire to return back to the masjid as soon as possible.

Dear brothers, the masjid is our fortress from the outside world. Let’s aim to visit it often and in the correct manner insh’Allah.

May Allah SWT enable us to develop the correct etiquette for entering the masjid. May Allah SWT instill into our hearts good manners for the masjid. And may Allah SWT reward us for the manners we develop for the masjid.

 

Ameen wal hamdullilahi rabilalameen.

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