Mamdouh Mustafa 2018

All praises due to Allah. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship but Allah. And I bear witness that Muhammad is the true slave-servant Prophet and Messenger of Allah.

May Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, his household, his companions, and everybody following him till the Day of Judgment. We ask Allah Almighty to forgive our sins, purify our intentions, define our goal, bless our gathering, fix our deeds, guide us and our families, and make us among those who listen and follow the best of what they listen to. Allahumma ameen.

The Eternal Message of Guidance

My brothers and sisters, on this minbar, the message has been repeated all the time, and it will continue to be repeated. The message of Al-Qur'an, the words of Allah, the words of guidance, and the message of Rasulullah ﷺ, the message of action, the message of amal, the message of deeds, the message of role model, message of the Qur'an, the message of the words of Allah, the guidance, what to do and what not to do, how to be, and the message of Rasulullah ﷺ showing us through the human example ﷺ what to do and how to do it. So this message will continue insha'Allah rabbil alameen.

The Pure Word and Its Impact

Today we are with the word, kalima, and not any word but the pure word and its effect and its impact on the human soul, on the human heart, on the human actions, and how Allah looks at the words that we utter. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in the Qur'an gives us the example of the good pure word and its power and its effect. For us to be careful what we say, and think before we say it, and plan how to say it, and when to say it.

Words as Reflections of Faith

I don't want you to understand this hadith without context, my brothers and sisters. Why a word that a person did not pay attention to, would raise him to high degrees, and a word did not pay attention to, that put him in the lowest degrees? Someone might ask. Because it is a habit.

Because that word is a habit. That word is a reflection of faith and belief and what is in the heart. When a person is used to the words of Qur'an, to the dhikr of Allah, to سبحان الله, to أستغفر الله, to تبارك الله, ماشاء الله, to الله أكبر, سبحان ربي العظيم, then the words of goodness will come even when you don't pay attention to.

And Allah will reward. And when a person is used to and surrounding himself or herself with the environment that has foul language, bad words, negative words, also bad words would come without intention, and the person would be punished for it. So that's why we're talking about al-kalimat al-tayyibah.

Allah's Parable of the Good Word

Allah says in the Qur'an: "Have you not seen how Allah presents an example - a good word is like a good tree."

طيِّب in Arabic means good, goodness in general. So there is طيِّب and opposite is خبيث. Remember طيِّب in one side and خبيث in the other side.

Pure, impure. And Allah used both in this surah here, in this ayah. كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ - كَلِمَةً خَبِيثَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ. It's very simple, clear, subhanallah.

Understanding What Makes a Word Good

So when you put the adjective طيِّب, you have to see what is it describing. When I say this place is طيِّب, and this food is طيِّب, and this drink is طيِّب, and this person is طيِّب. Actually I am giving a different adjective to each one.

This place is طيِّب, means it's clean, it's leveled and all of that. This food is طيِّب, means delicious, spice is right. This drink is طيِّب, if I want it cold, it means it is طيِّب. But if it is hot and I want it cold, then it is not طيِّب. So طيِّب means what I want, what pleases me in here, now.

This person is طيِّب, means manners and good. الطيِّبات للطيِّبين - Allah described humans as طيِّب also.

And كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً means the impact of it is so good. The way it is said, it is a good word. And the person said it, said it in a good way. And its impact which is the most important, mashallah it's fruitful. Then it is called كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً.

The Power of Words to Transform

What do we need from a tree? Either fruit or shade or lumber like wood. You need the tree for something. So when the tree is fruitful, when the tree is beneficial, it is طيِّبَةً. Allah telling us exactly like a tree, you would use it to fulfill whatever need you want, shade or fruit or wood or whatever it is, the word goes as far as that.

Sometimes a word, my brothers, would fix problems between nations. A word. Sometimes a word would bring a couple together who are about to divorce. Sometimes a word would bring a person from bad to good. And sometimes a word would do the opposite.

A person enters Islam with a word and exit with a word also. A person enters a marriage contract with a word and the divorce happens also with a word. So a person can go to Jannah with a word and go to hellfire with also a word.

That's why Rasul ﷺ, he said, say the word, لا إله إلا الله, of course while you're believing in it. And that is the part I wanted to emphasize. It's not lip service. That word comes from iman. That's why I started with the hadith, not paying attention, you're still even rewarded. Why? Because it comes as a reflection. Iman.

The Tree with Deep Roots and High Branches

So he's telling his uncle and he's telling everybody ﷺ, say the word, لا إله إلا الله, but they know it is not just a word. It goes far. It will make me from inside a different person. And it will make me look like a different person. It will make me act like a different person.

So kalima tayyiba. Like a good tree. أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ - It has deep root. Deep root is in the ground. وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاءِ - So high. And what does that mean? Means it gets all the nutrition. Means that word comes from a good person who believes in Allah, following the sunnah of Rasulullah. Roots. And then فَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاءِ. Look at the effect of that word. It goes so far, high in the sky.

تُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍۭ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا - You see, still the guidance of Allah. The word goes there, with the guidance of Allah, with the permission of Allah, people will be guided. Subhanallah.

Allah's Command to Speak Well

And Allah told us in the Quran that we as Muslims need to always say good words to each other. Allah says, "And always say the good words." So husna has to come out from qawl.

Not only you dress up and look good, and comb your hair, you want to smell good, all of this fine. But once the mouth is open, subhanAllah, people run away. So what is the benefit? You find someone mashaAllah clean and chic and good and all that, and once he say something, he offend someone, or he put someone down, or ordering someone, or making people, criticizing others.

So the words are like that. SubhanAllah, some of the salaf as-salih, one of the guided predecessors, he says, I look at the person, I revere them, until they open their mouth. Once they all open their mouth, then I continue revering them, or I just abandon.

The Impact of Our Words on Others

So that tells us, how you address people, how you talk to people, when to talk to them, when they are sad, when they are happy, one word can lift someone up, and one word can bring them down, subhanAllah. Word. You just say to someone, mashaAllah, you look great today, subhanAllah, you can make their day. Man, what happened? You have been eating too much? What's going on? And you put them down. They know, they are aware of their own shortcomings. You point it out, you bring them down, subhanAllah. One word.

Sometimes you say the haqiqah, you say the truth. But subhanAllah, the way it's said, it makes somebody collapses. And unfortunately, many will address the youth like this. Some say something, and then they even run away even more. A couple addressing a wife like that, or a wife addressing her husband like that, or they're addressing their child like that.

Wallahi, ya ikhwani, a young man came to my office at the masjid one time, and cried. He cried. 16, 17 years old. Cried. Bitterly. Why? Because he said, I never heard from my father a word of encouragement. Always telling me, this is haram, you're gonna go to hellfire. This is haram, Allah is gonna angry with you. Oh, this is, this is...

Father must be saying the truth. Because the child having a problem. The kid having an issue. Yes, I agree with you. But is this the way to keep telling them? Okay, okay. Alright, if I'm going to hellfire anyways, khalas, what should I do? That's what the kid said. What should I do now? I'm going to hellfire anyways. So, why should I be correct or try?

But one word lifts them up, says Rasul ﷺ said, كل ابن آدم خطاء - All of us make mistakes. وخير الخطائين التوابون - The best ones are the ones who correct themselves. Are you willing to correct yourself? Yes, I'm willing. So you're good. الحمد لله. You put your foot on the right step. Next time, talk to your father, tell him, Dad, would you please remind me about Jannah? Some more? About Jannah? About how to be good? You see, kalima, kalima. Word.

Choosing the Best Words

Allah says, Tell my servants, when they open their mouth, to say the good word. الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ - Means you're going to pick your words. Why? إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ - See, shaitan, put things in your heart, you want to say certain word to make someone feel negative. And you feel like satisfied.

Sometimes, sometimes all of us like this, you know, like someone irritates you, you say, you know what, I'm going to tell them something, you know, make them feel bad. Allah said, tell my servants to say الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ. Even if we end up doing that, we come back to Allah, and try the good words.

Purifying Our Hearts Before We Speak

That's why, one of the shuyukh, subhanAllah, whenever someone ask them a question, before they answer the question, they will say, أَخِي الْحَبِيبِ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ - Then they give the answer. You know why they say this? My dear brother, may Allah forgive you, and then they give the answer. They're cleaning their own heart first.

That shaykh is cleaning his heart first. Why? Because sometimes, the question is offensive. Sometimes, I know as a shaykh that this person is challenging me. Right? Then I have to clear myself, because otherwise I'm going to react in a bad way, then the knowledge is lost between both of us. Right? Knowledge is lost. If somebody is jahil, then why the shaykh becomes jahil too? Right?

So you said, my dear brother, so you bring the love and the brotherhood first. So it's above me and you now. May Allah forgive you, and forgive me. And then you give the answer, for the sake of Allah. So it's not about you and me, and how I feel and how you feel anymore. See? كلمة طيبة.

Examples of Good Words in Daily Life

If somebody does something to you, you say, جزاك الله خيراً, شكر الله لك. If somebody does something wrong, or something that was better to do something else, says, عفا الله عنك, why did you do such and such.

Like Allah told his Rasul ﷺ, "May Allah forgive you, why did you do such and such." You see, even when you are blaming someone, you need to have a good word first. So you get over your own self.

I am not saying that I am self-righteous. Allah says in the Quran, don't do that. "Indeed the soul is inclined to evil" - Our nafs is weak sometimes. You want to get things personal. Personally I want to win. Then when you say these things and put Allah's name there, you bring yourself down. Whether it is your right, or not your right. Whether you are right, or you are wrong.

You see, when you are blaming someone, you put the forgiveness of Allah first. عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْكَ - May Allah forgive you. Why did you do this and that? You know, even in our traditions you find this goodness sometimes. When somebody does something, and he comes and says, سامحني يا أخي - forgive me.

What is the reply? Say, الله يسامحك - You don't say, I forgive. What do you say? You say, الله يسامحك - May Allah forgive you. That is more important than me forgiving you. Right? And if Allah forgives, I am also forgiving. Why am I making dua? Aren't I? Like when you said, forgive me, say, may Allah forgive you. That means I already forgive you. And I want more forgiveness. Subhanallah. Because I am making dua for you now. You wronged me, and I am making dua for you. What does that mean? That means I am bringing it up to Allah.

We need to learn this akhlaq, ya ikhwani. This akhlaq. And I am telling you, and I make the mistakes too. We are not prophets. We are not angels. But we remind each other.

So, if somebody does something, you tell them, جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا. Somebody something great, say, ما شاء الله لا قوة إلا بالله, تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ. And if somebody something bad, غَفَرَ اللَّهُ لَكَ, عَفَى اللَّهُ عَنْكَ, سَامَحَكَ اللَّهُ - Why you do such and such. Like that. Either good or bad, you lift the spirit of that person up. Lift it up.

Building a Supportive Community

You know when a child breaks a glass or something like that. What is the first reaction? They are scared. They are shocked, and they are scared. They are shocked of what happened, but they are scared of the blame. They are scared of what is coming next. Because our culture is like that. Oh yeah, you did this and that, and you know, everybody associates. So when something wrong happens, even if it's beyond their ability, they are afraid of what is coming next.

But if our community will try, that always good word comes. Always good word comes. Then I know I have a strong support system. Then we learn from our mistake. We know that people got our back. My family, my friends, people around, people in the masjid. Then everybody is eager to come to these gatherings. Because this is our life. Everybody speaks nice. Even if I do wrong, I will find many people giving me advice. Giving me nasiha. كلمة طيبة.

Good Words Ascend to Allah

And ya ikhwani, كلمة طيبة goes to Allah. Allah says, "To Him ascends good speech, and righteous work raises it." To Allah. To Him. Allah is the destination, subhanahu wa ta'ala. إليه. يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ - The pure, good words go to Allah.

So when you say something good, it goes where? It goes where? To Allah. Like you give sadaqah, it goes to Allah. Kalima also sadaqah. Rasul ﷺ said, وَالْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ - And the good word is sadaqah.

إليه - يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ - To Allah. You are dealing with Rabbul Ibad. You are not just trying to make someone feel good. You are sending these words to Allah. Say, ya Allah, deposit it in my account. So that is your main concern.

Then the effect will come, بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهَا - The fruit will come, بِإِذْنِ اللهِ - It is not like, I am so good, I speak so good, I make people cry, make people laugh. No, no, no. Allah is the one. You do it for Allah's sake, in the name of Allah, according to the way of Allah, following the sunnah of Rasulullah, and trusting that the effect will come from Allah.

The Relationship Between Good Words and Good Deeds

إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ - See, good deeds come next. The mufassireen said, that your good word will not go to Allah unless it is followed by good deeds. So good deeds lift up the good word. The good word is going up, but it needs good deeds to push it up. That's one tafsir.

The other tafsir, إِلَيْهِ يَصْعَدُ الْكَلِمُ الطَّيِّبُ - So you do two things, words and actions. Okay? Words go straight to Allah. But Allah raises the good deeds up. وَالْعَمَلُ الصَّالِحُ يَرْفَعُهُ اللَّهُ - Allah takes the good deeds, the heavy one, and take it up to Him. But the good words, there is no barrier between them and Allah - Straight, goes to Allah.

So tafsir, الحمد لله, Allah revealed the Qur'an for us to be understood in different ways. So if you are so good in the words, but less in the action, have hope words will go straight to Allah. If you're doing words, also the other tafsir telling you you have to do good action as well. So you are both. You talk and you act.

The Reward for Good Words

So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala give them this reward in jannah. May Allah make us among those who say the pure words. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala open the hearts of the people for our words and may Allah protect us from the evil words and actions.

أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله العظيم لي ولكم

Second Khutbah

الحمد لله الصلاة والسلام على رسول الله وعلى آله وصحبه ومن تبعه وولاه وسلم تسليما كثيرا أما بعد

My brothers and sisters, الكلمة الطيبة is emphasized in the Quran and the sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ. Today I hope we get the gist of this and to start acting upon it.

Applications of Good Words

كلمة طيبة can be the nasiha, advice to someone. كلمة طيبة can be dua, like we want to make dua for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted all over the world, whether in the Middle East or in China or in Asia or in Africa, Muslims all over the world. They are stepped on, they are humiliated, they are misunderstood, they are persecuted, you name it.

So, كلمة طيبة is create awareness, to create awareness among people of an issue. كلمة طيبة is to invite people to donate for the sake of Allah. كلمة طيبة is to enjoin good or forbid bad. كلمة طيبة is to lift the spirit of someone up. كلمة طيبة is to appreciate the act of someone, to thank someone, to make dua for someone.

So, كلمة طيبة, we make it inshallah the theme of our life. See how many good words you can affect people's life with everyday. Try inshallah.

When We Cannot Speak Good - The Value of Silence

Save yourself and save others from anything other than that. So, if you are able inshallah to say something good, say it. If you are not able, wallahi you give sadaqah to yourself by being quiet.

And subhanAllah, I remember a word that my father told me when I was young. He said, our shuyukh taught us, my father says, our shuyukh taught us, they said: "Talk when you desire to be quiet, and be quiet when you desire to talk."

He said, you know, you talk when you like to be quiet, when you want to be quiet, that is the time actually to speak. And speak, and be quiet when you have desire and lust to speak. That is the best time to be silent is when you have this eagerness to talk, you want to talk, you cannot resist, you are itching to talk. That's the time to be quiet. The best time is that time. And the best time to talk is when you desire silence. Because you will pick your words and you will say the words of wisdom. SubhanAllah.

Final Du'a

So may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make us among those who say the good words and do the good actions and follow the book of Allah and the sunnah of Rasulullah ﷺ. We ask Allah almighty to bring the victory to the Muslim Ummah, to bring the unity to the Muslim Ummah, to help our brothers in China, in Syria, in Iraq, in Pakistan, in Afghanistan, in Burma, and everywhere. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala unite us, unite our hearts. And may Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala bring this Ummah to its victory and its power and its status for His sake, subhanahu wa ta'ala.

أَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ