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Khutba  #10

Mercy Versus Confronting Injustice and Oppression

May I ask you to hold to Taq’wa and to revere Allah and obey His Divine Guidance.  Let us choose wisely in this life and heed the consequences of our choices for the hereafter.  Let us be aware of our eventuality and departure into the everlasting life.  May Allah provide us all with the spirit of righteousness and obedience as the best means for our salvation.

Allah (swt) says in Surah 2 (al-Baqarah), Ayah 197:

وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُوْلِي الأَلْبَابِ

“…and make provision; but verily the best provision is Taq’wa [Allah’s consciousness],

remain then conscious of Me.  O’ men of understanding.”

In Islam Taq’wa (piety and righteousness) is the rock upon which so much rests, it is vitally important.  With Taq’wa Allah helps mankind to know the straight path and helps man overcome his troubles and solve problems.  In Surah 65 (al-Talaaq), Ayah 2-3 Allah declares in the following manner:

 “…and the person who practices Taq’wa, Allah will make an outlet for him,

and provide for him from where he expects not...”

May Allah provide us with the spirit of piety and divine obedience as the best ingredient for salvation!  Allah in Surah 10 (Yunus), Ayah 57 admonishes us in this manner:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاء لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ

“O’ mankind! There has come to you good admonition from your Lord

and a healing for what is in you hearts;

and a guidance and mercy for the believers.”

This Ayah speaks about mercy and compassion.  Allah is the most Merciful and the most Compassionate; He cares very much about us and knows our weaknesses.

Allah’s Mercy and Compassion are quite vast, actually beyond our imagination.  Allah repeated the phrase:  In Allah’s name, ever Merciful, ever Gracious in opening every Surah of the Holy Quran except Surah al-Tawbah.  Allah’s love and care for us and for all creatures on earth is truly boundless and this reflects His Compassion toward us.  It is incumbent upon a Muslim to give a helping hand and be of assistance to others.  By being kind and helpful to others, Allah will bless such person and increase His bounty, credit him accordingly, and accept his repentance.  Let us quote the Holy Quran Surah 7 (al-A’raaf), Ayah 56 about this:

وَلاَ تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلاَحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا

إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ   

“…Invoke [Allah] with fear and longing,

surely, Allah’s Grace is near the Doers of Good”

The phrase of  “In the name of Allah, Ever Merciful, Ever Compassionate” is repeated in the Holy Quran numerous times.  This is to indicate the beginning of each Surah, but also to constantly remind us of Allah’s love for us; therefore we must follow and constantly try to extend our love and compassion to others.

We invoke this phrase before we eat or whenever we start an endeavor, to affirm Allah’s Presence and Mercy in our hearts.  It is important to know that Islam wants to extend Allah’s Compassion not only to mankind but also to all creatures. 

In the Quran we have two words: The Compassionate and The Merciful.  The blessing of The Compassionate or Rahman covers mankind and all creatures in the world, while the blessing of The Merciful or Raheem pertains solely to the believers.

Allah’s Messenger Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had said in a Hadith:[1]

He also said:[2]

If these are the teachings of Islam, how can people accuse Islam of being a religion of terror, hatred and cruelty?   Islam is truly the religion of compassion and mercy to mankind, yet there is one important point to be discussed, and the point is that Islam commands Muslims to confront injustice and oppression.  Islam commands against acts of cruelty to others, for cruelty brings cruelty in response, and often leads to harm and destruction, and gives pain to innocent people.  Tyranny is a dreadful disease and Islam disallows it.  Islam also urges Muslims to struggle against any cruel man.  Let us refer to a Hadith by Allah’s Messenger who said:[3]

Jihad has many forms in Islam.  In general Jihad means striving the best you can to support and spread Islam.  It is to be done in the schools, in communities, in churches, to friends, on radio and TV, in papers and books, and anywhere possible.  It is not only to explain in writing and publications about Islam, but also to live Islamicly in the true sense, no matter how difficult the circumstances may be.  Jihad is building the Islamic character, as best we can, with the consciousness that Allah is the Central Being who constantly watches over us.  Character building by following the Islamic ethics, nurturing a personality along Islamic values is one form of jihad too.

Living Islamicly in the family and bringing up the children and educating them in the Islamic way, and preparing them for the tough struggle on behalf of Islam is another form of Jihad.

Imam Ali urges his contemporaries as well as us toward good deeds and actions.  He says:[4]

For the end of the 1^st part of the Khutba, read Surah Al-Asr, take a short intermission, then start the 2^nd part of the Khutba with a short Du’aa.

As it was mentioned previously, it is a duty for all Muslims to support and spread Islam and to speak up for the truth in the face of injustice.  In Surah 89 (al-Fajr) Allah explains the destiny of some tyrant rulers.  Allah, after taking oath in 5 ways of expression, announces to us by saying:

“By the dawn;

By the ten nights,

and By the even and the odd

and By the night when it departs.

Truly, in them there is proofs for men who understand.

Have you seen how your Lord dealt with Aad?  The people of Eram, of the lofty buildings.

The likes of which was not established in the Land.  And with Thamud, who hewed out the rocks in the valley,

and with Pharaoh, Lord of hosts; who did transgress beyond bounds in the lands and made therein much mischief;

So your Lord poured upon them severe torment.

Verily, your Lord is Ever Watchful.”

In these verses Allah declares one cardinal principle:  that Allah is the sponsor, supporter and overseer of the ones who believe in truth and justice, and fight against oppression.  Thus, believers as such who reject false deities and believe in Allah, indeed, they have taken hold firmly, and that is the rope of the Almighty.  Allah assures us in Surah 2 (al-Baqarah), Ayah 256:

لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللّهِ

فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ لاَ انفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“…and he who rejects Taghoot [powers of evil] and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the rope of God, whose support is never failing, for Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing”.

In this Ayah Allah affirms assuredly that the unyielding rope will not falter, it will not weaken, nor break.  Allah is the one who hears all and knows all.  He knows what is in our hearts, how sincere, faithful, and dedicated to his religion we are.  Allah knows our thoughts and inner feelings and we stand bare in His knowledge, since we can keep no secrets from Him.  Thus Allah will help those who help themselves in His way, and since He fully knows the sincerity of the believer, He will see to it that this connection with Him will not falter.

Allah is the guardian and the sponsor of the believers.  He brings them out of darkness, into light.  Allah sponsors every believer in Him; He guides them, watches over them, and cares for them.  Allah (swt) sees to it that the believers’ hearts are illuminated with His guidance and care.  Islam is the beacon by which people can see the way to Allah as he has mandated for man.

The believers will be helped to feel the light of heavenly guidance, and Allah helps them out of the blinding darkness of ignorance and false beliefs.  Allah is in charge of the believers in Him.  He protects them and saves them from trouble.  Allah says in  Surah 2 (al-Baqarah), Ayah 257:

اللّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّوُرِ

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ

أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

“Allah is the Wali [Guardian] of those who believe, He brings them out of darkness into Light. 

But as for those who disbelieve, theirs are the powers of evil that take out of the light into deep darkness.  These are destined for the fire, therein to abide for good.”

It is clear that the disbeliever’s way of living will be different from that of the believers. When disbelievers deny being accountable to God, they become captives to their own wishes, often in a self-centered manner.  They become prisoners of their own personal lusts, passions, and greed, often to the detriment of others.

These disbelievers are people who live in a void, and will be devoid of Allah’s blessings or sponsorship, and whatever their belief is, it will prove to be powerless, devoid of Allah’s blessings, and will often lead to trouble.  Then Allah assures us that the people who rely on their false beliefs and false deities will suffer the consequences of such beliefs in their earthly life, and more so, in the hereafter.  In this regard the Holy Quran in Surah 2 (al-Baqarah), Ayah 257 describes them as:

أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ

“…These are destined for the fire, therein to abide for good.”

Indeed for these disbelievers the major loss will be in the hereafter, they will be condemned as to be the dwellers of hellfire, and they will suffer in hellfire for a long time.  Such people, after having been warned repeatedly, they do not take heed, ignoring the warning sent to them.  Allah’s promise is true though they do not believe it, so the surprise of surprises is when they find out that the promise of Allah has come true.  We ask Allah to forgive our sins and redeem our bad deeds and take our souls in the company of the righteous.

In one of his orations, Imam Al-Saadiq said:[5] 

“Allah imposed on His creation with emphasis to remember Him many times,

▪    I do not mean that they should simply say, `Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no deity but Allah, and Allah is the Great.'  Though these are part of it,

▪    I mean that people should visualize (acknowledge) Allah in any of their dealings  —so if the act leads to obedience to Allah’s Commands the person should go ahead with it;

▪    but if the act leads to disobedience, the person should refrain from it.”

Finally, let us read Surah Al-Nasr with a short Du’aa to close the Khutba.