Be Peacemakers

Be Peacemakers - Eid Khutbah

Opening: The Greatness of Allah

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala gave us the blessing of this day, the Eid, as a day to remind ourselves that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is greater than anything conceivable in our imaginations. Imam al-Tahawi says, no imagination can achieve knowledge of Allah, and no understanding can realize the true nature of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

(كُلُّ مَا خَطَرَ بِبَالِكَ فَاللَّهُ بِخِلَافٍ ذَلِكَ - "Everything that has occurred to your heart, Allah is other than that.")

Because only a created thought can come to your heart, and Allah is the uncreated reality behind creation. Everything out there is witnessing that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is One. Everything in the universe is testifying to the oneness of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Everything is being sustained by Allah. Allahu Akbar.

The Creation and Guidance of Humanity

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala created the human being, gave him sight, gave him hearing, gave him understanding, consciousness.

The hearing, the sight and the understanding - all of these the human being is responsible for.

And then through His rahmah, through His grace, He sent messengers to teach people how to live, how to behave. And He made those messengers the best examples of how to live and how to behave. Nothing that they commanded, they didn't follow. They were the first to follow the words that they commanded. They were the first to believe.

The Prophet believes in what was revealed to him. The Prophet himself believes in what was revealed to him. The Prophet, when he heard the Jews tell him about his descriptions in the Torah, when they would finish he would say

(أَشْهَدُ أَنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ - "I testify that I am a messenger of Allah.")

The Prophet himself, his iman was growing in his heart.

The Nature of Iman and Ramadan

And this is the nature of the believer. His iman should always be in increase. Ramadan is a time for increasing iman.

(وَرَجَّحَتْ زِيَادَةُ الْإِيمَانِ بِمَا تَزِيدُ طَاعَةُ الْإِنْسَانِ - The preferred opinion of our ulema is that iman increases when you increase your devotion to Allah.)

Ramadan is a time when you increase your devotion to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And this is why your iman is higher.

You're getting up before dawn in times that you can't do that. Some people weren't even getting up for dawn before Ramadan started. Some people weren't even getting up for fajr. But in Ramadan they find they're able to get up before dawn. They have a meal and then they pray. There's people that stay and get the reward of a hajj

and an umrah by staying until the shuruq. There's people that recited the Quran in its entirety several times in Ramadan. Some people twice, some people one time. Some people didn't have the tawfiq to do that, the success from Allah. But everybody had some taste of the Quran who participated in Ramadan.

Maintaining Practice After Ramadan

Allah is Rabb Ramadan, but He's also Rabb Shawwal. He's the Lord of Shawwal. Nothing changes after Ramadan. The Prophet ﷺ in the hadith sahih, they said, he didn't increase in his prayer numbers in Ramadan or other than Ramadan. The Prophet, his iman was the iman of Ramadan all through the year. Because Allah doesn't change. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is the same. But He facilitates Ramadan in order for you to prepare for what's coming after Ramadan.

(مَنْ صَامَ رَمَضَانَ وَأَتْبَعَهُ سِنًّا مِنْ شَوَّالٍ كَانَ كَصِيَامِ الدَّهْرِ - "Whoever fasts Ramadan and then follows it up with six days in Shawwal [it is as if he fasted] the entire year.")

In the hadith in Sahih Muslim and Ibn Majah, whoever fast Ramadan and then follows it up with six days in Shawwal. And Imam Malik said six days anytime after that until the next year, debating on what that partitive من meansمن from. So, those who want to stay in their state in Ramadan, the best thing to do is maintain your practice. Don't diminish your practice.

Daily Quranic Practice

The Prophet ﷺ reminded us to read the Quran. He said, whoever reads a hundred verses of the Quran is written from the highest people. A hundred verses of the Quran a day. There's a riwayah 50 verses a day and you won't be written from the people of heedlessness. If you just do Ayatul Kursi and if you do Amana Rasulu everyday, which is in many hadith to do that. And if you do Surat Mulk, 30 ayat the Prophet said, there's a chapter in the Quran that has 30 verses. I wish it was in the heart of every believer. Mulk, mulk will protect you in your grave. Mulk will protect you in your grave. The verse, 30 verses of mulk

(تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ - "Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion")

will protect you in your grave.

Don't lose your momentum. You were gaining momentum and then you get into 10 days, don't, ah, Ramadan's over. Now I can go back to my heedlessness. Don't be that person. This is the time to keep your faith strong by continuing your ibadah.

(فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ - "So race to all that is] good") (اعْمَلُوا الْخَيْرَةَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ - "Do good that you might succeed")

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Muslims Under Siege

What I want to talk about this morning is something very important for this community. Muslims are under siege. It's very clear. Anybody that reads the news, anybody that sees what's going on out there, you don't need prognosticators to tell you what's going on out there. You can feel it. You don't need to read your yahoo.com to know what's going on. Every day the headlines are about Muslims.

Who did this?

If you ask me, I say Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala did this. Because Muslims have been sitting on this religion for so long and not sharing it, the whole world's turning against them. Because this is the age of the internet, this is the age of mass communication, this is the first time in human history where you could be in a Christian country and openly talk about Islam and know that they won't burn you. They might burn the Quran, but they won't burn you. This is the first time in human history and yet the Muslims are getting along with their business as if nothing matters.

Our Role as a Moderate Nation

"And thus we have made you a just [moderate] community"

"That you will be witnesses over the people."

"And the Messenger will be a witness over you because you saw how he behaved."

He's the proof against us. You saw how the Messenger of Allah behaved. You've read his seerah. You know how he dealt with his enemies. He dealt with them with magnanimity.

Calling to Islam with Wisdom

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in Surah an-Nahl

"Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom"

"And good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best."

(جَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ - "Argue with them in a way that is best.")

Speak with them, dialogue with them. Not argumentation, dialogue.

(جَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ - In the best way. أحسن means the most beautiful way.)

Speak to them in the most beautiful way.

لَيْسَ الْمُؤْمِنُ بِالطَّعَّانِ وَلَا اللَّعَّانِ وَلَا الْفَاحِشِ وَلَا الْبَذِيءِ - "The believer does not taunt, curse, abuse or talk indecently."

(Sahih, Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1977)

The Prophet said, a Muslim, a Mu'min never curses. He doesn't curse people. He doesn't speak ill of people, finding faults in them. He doesn't use foul language. He doesn't use harmful, noxious talk to people.

Speak to people in the best way.

Allah Knows Who is Guided

Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala tells us in the Quran, in this verse, to talk with people in the most beautiful way. And then He says

"Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way"

"And He is most knowing of the [rightly] guided."

Allah knows who has gone astray, and who is rightly guided.

Just tell people. Don't argue about what they're doing.

The Prophet's Example with His Opponents

You'll never find the Prophet ﷺ complaining to the Mushrikeen about what they were doing to him. Every time

he spoke with them, he used it as an opportunity to explain to them what he believed. He didn't say, you evil people, don't you see what you're doing to me? You're oppressing my people, you're killing all... He said, listen to these words. Listen to what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says.

"Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct"

"And giving to relatives." Allah commands justice. And He tells you to take care of your orphans, the weak amongst you. He calls you to economic justice. He calls you to treating people in the best way.

(وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ - "And treat people with good character")

(Sahih, Sunan al-Tirmidhi 1987)

Interact with people with beautiful character.

The Prophet's Character and Conduct

The Prophet ﷺ مَا كَانَ فِي الصَّخَابِ فِي الْأَسْوَاقِ - "He was never loud or coarse in the marketplaces." He never raised his voice in the market place. And the market place is the one area in traditional cultures where you could raise your voice. The market place. But he didn't raise his voice in the market place.

كَانَ الصَّحَابَةُ يَكْرَهُونَ رَفْعَ الصَّوْتِ عِنْدَ الْقِتَالِ - The sahaba, this is sahih hadith. The sahaba used to hate raising the voice when they were in battle. A time you would think people would be raising their voices. But Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala put sakinah in their hearts. He put tranquility in their hearts. Why? Because they did dhikr of Allah.

"Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured". Isn't it with dhikr of Allah that the hearts are still. They're made tranquil.

The Right to Defend and the Command to Be Patient

The Prophet ﷺ was then told

"And if you punish [an enemy, O believers], punish with an equivalent of that with which you were harmed". In your da'wah, if they do things to you, then return in respect. You have a right to defend yourself.

"But if you are patient - that is best for [those who are] patient." But if you're patient, yes, indeed, defend yourself, do those things that you have to do. But if you're patient, that's better for the people of patience.

And then the command

"And be patient."

"And your patience is not but through Allah" Your patience is only for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Your patience is only for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

And then Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says

Don't Cause Others to Curse Allah

"And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds"

Don't curse the idols of those who call on other than Allah. Because they in turn will curse Allah out of ignorance. In other words, you cause them to curse Allah by your cursing their, the things they hold sacred.

That's what Allah says in the Quran. That came because the Prophet used to speak about the idols and then the jahili Arabs would get angry and they would say things about his Lord. And so Allah said, no, don't do that. Don't speak about their idols. Just tell them about God. Forget about their idols. Tell them about Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

Every Community Thinks Their Actions are Good

And then Allah says something very powerful. Everything in Quran is powerful. But reflect on this. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says, like that, we have made every ummah, every community, deem their actions beautiful. They think what they're doing is right. They think what they're doing is good. Every group thinks this. They think what they're doing is good.

Many people that went overseas to Iraq, these soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan, they thought they were doing good. Now some of them have become murderers. They have seven young soldiers who probably were just like these innocent people here in this community. People that you work with, people that you have transactions with in stores. A 21-year-old young man who should be in college studying or learning some trade. But instead he's over shooting an Afghani farmer. Not even a combatant. Just for sport. Seven soldiers. And then they tried to cover this up. Mutilating the bodies.

There Are Conscientious People

One of the positive things, despite these terrible atrocities, one of the positive things is that there are people that have consciousness. They're conscientious people. They reveal these things. That's why we know about them. It can enrage Muslims. But that is something that is positive about this community.

General Patton's Example

When General Patton went to Morocco, landed first in Morocco, he begins his memoirs, My War. He has a book about World War II. General George Patton, he's considered one of the greatest generals in American history. His opening statement in that book, as he arrives in Morocco, he said, just finished reading the Quran. A good and interesting book. Now you can't get more American than General George Patton. He's as red, white and blue as the flag. But when he went to a Muslim country, he wanted to know, what do these people believe? And so he read the Quran. And he said, a good and interesting book. That was his assessment.

This was a man who knew Greek, who knew Latin, who spoke French. He knew the history of the ancient world. He was a military historian. He was an educated man. He read the Quran, and he said, a good and interesting book. He didn't say this book should be burnt.

When he met with the king of Morocco, he said, invariably some of our soldiers will do heinous things. This goes with any group of people, they always have fools amongst them. And he said, but I want you to immediately tell me of any incident. He said, if anyone rapes, we will hang them. And he said, that the king of Morocco lit up. And he said, this will bring great joy to the Moroccan people if miscreants are dealt with with this kind of justice.

Stop Letting Others Define Us

We haven't told people who we are. We're letting other people define who we are. We're letting other people tell us who we are. They're saying, this is an evil group. These are devil worshippers. These are people that are violent people. Really, violent. There's Afghanis in here. Peaceful people. Trying to get by. Leaving their job. Like the Bengali taxi driver in New York City. Simple Muslim. Probably prayed five times a day. Had a beard.

And the man says to him, are you a Muslim? And he says, yes. Not ashamed. He could have said, no, no, I'm not a Muslim, I'm Hindu. But he said, I'm a Muslim. The man said, assalamu alaikum. And then he took a knife out and slit his throat. And missed his jugular vein. He could have killed that man. He could have killed that man. This is the type of environment that has been created by the seeds of hatred that have been sown in the hearts of too many people in this country.

Americans Are Generally Patient People

Americans generally are patient people. They're patient people. You know that. You've lived in this country. Those of you who are immigrants, you've lived long enough to know that. That people here generally are good people. They're patient people. But if you brainwash people, if you give them messages day in and day out, they will begin to believe those messages. And then they can do the most heinous things. They can do the most heinous things.

Our Safety is at Risk

Our houses are increasingly becoming less safe in this country. Our masajid are increasingly becoming less safe in this country. We've had now several masajid since the mosque 51, the park 51 incident. Several masajid have been abused in this country including Fresno, California right down the road.

The people doing this are often, they're not bad people per se. They're not evil people. كَذَّلِكَ زَيَّنَّا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمْ - We make each group think what they're doing is good. These people think they're doing something good. These are evil people. We have to stop them because they've been brainwashed.

An Immense Opportunity

If the Muslims don't wake up and recognize, one, the immense opportunity that we have. For the first time in the history of this country since the beginning of this country in which people were very interested in Islam. This is a fact. In this country early on because of the problems with Libya, the problems with Algeria, the first country to recognize the United States of America was Morocco.

Benjamin Franklin's Tolerance

Benjamin Franklin in his autobiographies when there was a preacher that came to Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love, the first capital of the United States. There was a preacher that came and he had such an impact. The other preachers envied him which is often the case when you have somebody who's effective in what they do, you have the enviers. And they wanted to prohibit this person from speaking anywhere in the city of Philadelphia.

Benjamin Franklin said, I noted a change in the character of people since the coming of this man to Philadelphia. The people were actually behaving more with brotherly love like Philadelphia. So you know what he said? I'm going to build a house that is free for anybody to say something good. Even if the Mufti of Constantinople wanted to come and tell the American people about Islam, he would find an open place in my setting here.

Thomas Jefferson's Vision

This is the founding father, Thomas Jefferson, who said that he wanted to see an America that was safe for every type of Christian, every Jew, every Muslim, every Mohammedan. This is in his own writing. Every Mohammedan, every Hindu, for the Hindus, and for even the atheists of every stripe. This was the dream of these early people. They did not want to see the type of religious bigotry that existed in Europe where people fought wars over what people believed.

Freedom of Belief

"And say, 'The truth is from your Lord, so whoever wills - let him believe; and whoever wills - let him disbelieve'" (Quran 18:29). Say the truth from your Lord. Whoever wants to believe, let him believe. Whoever wants to disbelieve, let him disbelieve.

"There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong" (Quran 2:256). There's no coercion in this religion. Things are clear.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says وَلَوْ شَاءَ رَبُّكَ لَآمَنَ مَن فِي الْأَرْضِ كُلُّهُمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُكْرِهُ النَّاسَ حَتَّىٰ يَكُونُوا مُؤْمِنِينَ - "And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed - all of them entirely. Then, would you compel the people in order that they become believers?" (Quran 10:99). They would all be believers. If Allah wanted, He could do that. But what is He saying? No. Do you think you can force people to become believers? We're not out to convert the world. Muslims have never been. Really. Because our own book tells us you can't convert the world. But all you can do is tell people if they want to come in, welcome. If they want to stay out, you're free to do that.

Allah Will Sort Everyone Out on the Day of Judgment

"Indeed, those who have believed and those who were Jews and the Sabeans and the Christians and the Magians and those who associated with Allah - Allah will judge between them on the Day of Resurrection" (Quran 22:17). Those who believe, those who are Jews, those who are Sabeans, Christians, Magians, those who are idolaters, polytheists, all the groups, Allah will sort them out on the Day of Judgment. Just be patient. Be patient.

Nobody's in a hurry. The day is coming and Allah says, I'll make everything clear. ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِم مَّرْجِعُهُمْ - "Then to their Lord is their return" (Quran 6:164). And then on that day, I'll send them back to their Lord. I'll send them back to their Lord. فَيُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ - "And He will inform them about what they used to do" (Quran 6:60(. He will explain to them what they were doing. That's immediately after كَذَّلِكَ زَيَّئًا لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ عَمَلَهُمْ - And like that, we made every group think what they were doing was good.

And then Allah says, I'm gonna explain to them what they were doing.

Seize This Opportunity

We have an immense opportunity. Shakespeare says, There's a tide in the affairs of men, which if taken at the flood, leads on to ventures, a fortune. You get success. Omitted, then you spend your life in shallows and miseries. Upon such a sea are we now afloat.

This is the time to tell people about Islam, who we are. Don't let other people define us. They have tools. We have tools too. The internet has democratized mass media. You can have more impact on the internet than you can on CNN, if you're clever enough. There's YouTube videos now that have more people see those videos than see O'Reilly at any given time, or Fox News. Muslims have to be creative. Tell people who you are.

Really. If you can't do it yourselves, then empower those who are doing it. We have groups, Islamic networks group, that's going out and teaching people about Islam. Explaining to them what Islam is. Not to proselytize, to

inform. Thomas Cleary said, Americans can't even think about thinking about Islam. So we have to break down the barriers. We have to let them know who we are. This is an immense opportunity, people.

The Prophet's Only Request

The Prophet ﷺ asked for one thing from Quraish (خَلُّوا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ النَّاسِ - Just let me talk to people.) Don't stop me, don't prevent me. Just let me talk to people. That's all the Prophet asked. (خَلُّوا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ النَّاسِ - He didn't want to fight.

(لَا تَتَمَنَّوْا لِقَاءَ الْعَدُقِ - "Do not wish to meet the enemy" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3026, Sahih Muslim 1742). The Prophet ﷺ didn't want to fight. He was not a murderer حاشاه. He was (وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ - "And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds" (Quran 21:107). He was a mercy to all the world. He loved guidance for people. He loved good for people.

The Prophet Praised Good in Everyone

He praised the Jews when they did praiseworthy things. He praised the Christians when they did praiseworthy things. He praised the Mushrikeen when they did praiseworthy things حَلْفَ الْفُصُولِ - He said I witnessed an alliance of virtue in the Jahiliyyah. If I was called to it in Islam, I would answer. The Prophet was not a fanatic, حاشاه. He was not a prude. He was never an angry person. He said (لَا تَغْضَبْ - "Do not get angry" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6116).

Outrage is not anger. There are times to be outraged. There are times for indignation. Muslims should be outraged. But so should good Americans. People that are out there should be outraged at the type of prejudice, at the type of violence being directed to Muslims. They should be outraged. Is this a country that they want their children to grow up in? Increasingly looking like a fascist country if these things will continue? If these ideas proliferate? Is this the type of a country?

Learning from History

Chris Hedges wrote a book about the right increasingly becoming like fascist. Calling any dissent, treason, to dissent. Theodore Roosevelt, considered a great American, said, it's not patriotic to agree with the president when he's wrong. This country was about dissent. It began as a movement of dissent.

These are reactionary peoples. There's a rabbi in Florida that wrote a beautiful essay. And he identified three problems in this country. He said, the problem in this country is you have an extreme right that has an agenda. Many of them have alliances with warmongers who want to sell weapons, who want to create enemies out there. Russia's no longer an enemy. Let's make the Muslims an enemy.

The Monterey Language Institute went from the dominant language that was being taught there 15 years ago was Russian. Now it's Arabic. New enemy. It's convenient when you have an industry that thrives on war. How

Economic Injustice and Scapegoating

When people find out what has been done to them in this country, the economic injustice, all of these mortgages, people losing their jobs, all the jobs being shipped over by the same corporations that are building the weapons, shipping those jobs over to China, to Indonesia, to other places. Who cares about the American worker? Who cares about the American worker?

So what do they do? What do they do? Just like they did to the poor white southerner. Turn all of your anger on the black people. They're the cause of all your problems. You're better than them. You were born with white skin. Right? That's what they did. Turn them on that. But they're still on the caboose of the train. Right? They're still on the caboose of the train. That's what they did. That was the strategy of certain demagogues in this country. Turn them on the black people.

Now, before that, in Germany, when they had hyperinflation, what did Hitler say? It's all the Jews' problems. It's all the Jews' problems. It's not the fact that we started a war against all of the other western countries, and now they've wiped us out, completely gutted our economy, and we're stuck to reap the bitter fruit of World War I. No, it's the Jews' problems. They've done this to us. And what happened? They had enough propaganda. They had their Fox News. Really, they had their Fox News. They had their propaganda machine.

Modern Propaganda

Goebbels taught a lot of these people how the thing works. Jacques Ellul wrote a book called Propaganda, which explains how much of western propaganda now is based on the ideas of Joseph Goebbels, the only PhD amongst the inner circle of the Nazis. This is what's happening. Blame it on the Muslims. They're your problem. Don't blame it on all this warmongering.

Don't blame it on the fact that we have a budget of defense that used to be called the Department of War. Now it's called Department of Defense. A budget that is nine times greater than all of the other military budgets in the world combined. Until a famous author from Boston could write a book called The Abode of War, calling America the abode of war, Dar al-Harb. And that's an American calling America the abode of war.

"Every time they kindled the fire of war [against you], Allah extinguished it" (Quran 5:64) (وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا - "And they strive throughout the land [causing] corruption." وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُفْسِدِينَ - "And Allah does not like corrupters" (Quran 5:64). Allah doesn't love people that sow corruption in the earth.

We Should Be Peacemakers

We should be peacemakers, not warmongers. Our religion is a religion that calls to peace. People can say يا أخي

مسلم wars are being fought everywhere and you're saying peace? No, you think about what fighting a machine like this does to Muslims today. You think about that. Just think about the suffering that's been brought on the Iraqi people. The suffering that's been brought on the Afghani people. And then talk to me about war.

No, we want to see these wars end. And Muslims have to wake up in this country because we have a destiny in this country. If we don't rise up to the destiny that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has chosen this community to bring peace, the people in the future, I believe, will curse this community. They will curse them. All of those things they had. All that wealth. All that intelligence. All of that power. And yet they squandered it on 401K plans that dissipated before their eyes. Squandered it on a new car that they could have used their old car to have. Squandered it on big entertainment centers. That's not what we were created for.

Second Khutbah: Living Within the Laws

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى نِعْمَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَكَفَى بِهَا نِعْمَةً ، عِبَادَ اللهِ، أُوصِيكُمْ وَأُوصِي نَفْسِي بِتَقْوَى اللهِ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ عَلَى مَا هَدَانَا، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا

Praise be to Allah, praise be to Allah for the blessing of Islam and it suffices as a blessing. Servants of Allah, I advise you and I advise myself with the taqwa of Allah. Allah is the Greatest for what He has guided us. Allah is the Greatest. I seek Allah's forgiveness for me and for you and for all the Muslims. I say this statement of mine.

Live within the laws. This is our religion. To be good citizens. This is our religion. Be exemplars for this religion. You're here. You're not somewhere else. You have immense opportunities. Many of you have been blessed greatly. Use your wealth for good. Use your wealth. You get what you need and then use it for good.

Don't squander this opportunity. Life is very short. Many of us are growing old before our eyes. Really. We're getting older. This community has been here now for some time. We have young children. We need to sow the seeds for those young children to reap the benefits of our hard work and labor. Please, take it as an opportunity.

Don't Ignore the Warning Signs

Don't ignore the winds that are blowing out there. Don't ignore these winds. Really. Many of the Jews in Nazi Germany they didn't see those winds blowing. They didn't. They thought it can't get... This must be as bad as it's gonna get. We're watching it get worse and worse and worse. At which point? Really. If we allow this to happen they will make it impossible for Muslims to live in this land with their children without concern every time their child goes to school.

But I believe in the heart of hearts it's Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala that's waking us up. And if we don't wake up if we don't wake up we have no one to blame but ourselves. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has told us tell people who you are.

(Sahih al-Bukhari 3461)

The Prophet ﷺ said بَلِّغُوا عَنِّي وَلَوْ آيَةً - "Convey from me even if it is one verse".

Empower people. If you can't do it yourself.

Closing Supplications

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala accept your Ramadan. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala accept all of our fasting, our standing in prayer. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala guard all of your homes. Guard your children. Protect your women. Protect the Muslims everywhere. May Allah make this land a safe land. May Allah prevent it from any harm coming to it.

May Allah bring these leaders to an understanding so that they pull out of places where they shouldn't be. Where they leave people alone. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala give wisdom to these people. May Allah give them wisdom. The people that are over us in authority.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala insha'Allah protect our women. Especially those, all of them but those who are openly Muslim wearing the hijab with great courage. May Allah protect them. May Allah protect them from any harm coming to them.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make you people of the Quran all year long. May Allah give us understanding of the Quran. May Allah make us people of the Quran. May Allah increase our understanding of the Quran. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala forgive all of our sins. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala restore peace and order.

Make us people of peace. Make us people of order. Bring the Muslims back to their senses if they've lost their senses. And make those of sense become leaders in our community. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala insha'Allah protect all the people in Afghanistan. All of them. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala bring these troops home. To their homes where they should be. May He protect the Afghan people from any harm.

May He protect the people of Iraq from any harm. The people of Palestine. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala protect the people of Palestine. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala give them wisdom to come to some kind of agreement. May we be peacemakers. May Allah make us amongst those who call to peace. Addaru salam.

The Ultimate Peace is in the Akhirah

In the end, the ultimate peace is in the akhirah. This world is a place of turmoil. It's a place of strife. It's a place of grief. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make all of you people of akhirah. Make all of you people who know that ultimate peace is with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. But as long as we're in this world, may He make us people who struggle for the best. That call to the best.

May He make us people of ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ - idfa' billati hiya ahsan. Who return wrongs with rights. أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ - I say this and I seek Allah's forgiveness for me and for you.

اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

جَزَاكُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ، عِيدُكُمْ مُبَارَكٌ