The virtues of connection and visiting each other & Qunut al-Nawazil for New Zealand .

The Virtues of Connection and Visiting Each Other & Qunut al-Nawazil for New Zealand

Opening

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

الله أكبر الله أكبر لا إله إلا الله

إن الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا من يهده الله فلا مضل له ومن يضلل فلا هادي له وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله

يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون

يا أيها الناس اتقوا ربكم الذي خلقكم من نفس واحدة وخلق منها زوجها وبث منهما رجالا كثيرا ونساء واتقوا الله الذي تساءلون به والأرحام إن الله كان عليكم رقيبا

يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا يصلح لكم أعمالكم ويغفر لكم ذنوبكم ومن يطع الله ورسوله فقد فاز فوزا عظيما

أما بعد فإن أصدق الحديث كلام الله وخير الهدى هدى محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم وشر الأمور محدثاتها وكل محدثة بدعة وكل بدعة ضلالة وكل ضلالة في النار

Allah is whom we praise. We praise Him and we thank Him. And we seek refuge in Him from the evil of our own souls and the evil of our actions. Whomsoever He guides, none can misguide Him. And whomsoever He leaves astray, none can guide to the truth. And I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship but God Almighty alone, and that Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is His slave and Messenger.

Indeed, the best speech is the speech of Allah. And the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. And the worst of affairs are those newly introduced. And everything newly introduced into faith is an innovation. And every innovation goes astray, and everything which goes astray will lead one to the hellfire.

The Hadith of Visiting Umm Ayman

It's recorded in Sahih Muslim from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), Anas Ibn Malik, the servant of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. He was a young man from the age of 10 until the time the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم passed, and served him personally in his home.

Anas records that after the lifetime of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم Abu Bakr came to Umar and said to him: "Come, let us visit Umm Ayman as the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to visit her."

And so they went out, and when they reached the house of Umm Ayman and said to her: "We've come to visit you in the manner that our Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم used to visit you," she began to weep and cry.

They said to her: "Umm Ayman, don't you know that what's with Allah is better for the Messenger of Allah?"

She said: "I'm not crying because I don't know that what's with Allah is better for the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم, but I'm crying because the revelation has been cut off. I'm crying because I realize now that revelation has been cut off." (Muslim hadith 2454)

Lessons from This Hadith

There's an immense benefit that we can take from this hadith:

1. Visiting as Part of the Prophetic Sunnah

It is apparent from their actions that they understood that visiting people in the Muslim community was part and parcel of the sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. He would go out and visit others.

2. Visiting Those Your Loved Ones Loved

It's also apparent that one of the sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was not only to visit anyone, but it was also to visit those whom your loved ones loved. Umm Ayman was the wet nurse of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, his foster mother through nursing. There was no connection between Abu Bakr and Umar and her, but they knew that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم loved her. So they wanted to do good by him by doing good by her.

3. Visiting the Elderly

It's also apparent that Umm Ayman was an elderly woman. And so visiting the elderly, visiting others is imperative for social cohesion, for us to build the type of communities that we want with each other.

Preparing for Ramadan Through Connection

We are just weeks away from Ramadan. We have less than two months. We are now in the beginning of Allah's month, Rajab, the sacred month of Rajab.

It's befitting to mention here when we talk about Rajab that there are no special fasts for Rajab, there are no special prayers for Rajab. All of those things are bid'ah. However, it is from the general Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that in preparation for Ramadan, he would fast during Rajab and Sha'ban.

Building Inclusive Communities

One of the things that's so prominent in our community in Ramadan are the beautiful days and nights that we have together - breaking our fast, sitting together, fasting together, praying together, and enjoying each other's company.

But I want to stress one thing: Many times in Ramadan, we gravitate towards those that we're most like. We gravitate to those who we know personally. And unlike the hadith that I mentioned from Sahih

Muslim, we don't think about:

• Those who are not related to us
• Those who are elderly
• Those who are young
• The converts
• Our foreign exchange students
• Those who don't have family in the area

We have to take in mind our personal community - those that are closest to us. While our hearts are attached and concerned about things that happen around the world, we have people in our communities who are connected to those events, who are suffering when trials and tribulations hit communities around the world.

How will we ever know that if we only sit with the people that we know and the people that we like and the people that we're familiar with?

The Reality of Community

Let's be honest: Not all of us are going to be the best of friends. Not all of us are going to hang out together. Not all of us are going to like the same things and do the same things. And that's okay.

But we should at least take the time to visit each other, to make sure that we understand that although we may be different, we stand in the same line for salah, we worship the same Lord, we are there together. As the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, like a wall - bricks holding each other up.

Implementing Our Ideals

During Ramadan and up until and during the times that we prepare for these major holy days and acts of worship, we always like to say: "We're all the same as Muslims. We all are equal." We make very grandiose statements. And those statements are beautiful, and they are true with Allah. But how we implement them is something completely different.

It's important that we take into mind what we say and apply it on the ground:

• Reach out to those elderly who can't make it to the masjid because of age or mobility or health
• Reach out to those youth and create a space for them in the masjid
• Make space in the masjid for the believers, the converts, the sisters - everyone who needs space

Patience with Children in the Masjid

A lot of times during Ramadan we get upset: "Why are the kids making noise? Why are the people not paying attention?" Alhamdulillah, Allah has blessed you with noisy children in your masjid, because you

could not be blessed and not have children in your masjid at all. And then where would the next generation be that doesn't see the masjid as their own, that doesn't feel welcome in the house of Allah?

So we as adults, we sometimes get a little more perturbed and disturbed than we should. We have to have patience and look for the long-term results.

The Hadith of the Man Visiting His Brother

In a hadith narrated in Sahih Muslim from Abu Hurairah, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

أن رجلا زار أخا له في قرية أخرى فأرصد الله له على مدرجته ملكا فلما أتى عليه قال أين تريد قال أريد أخا لي في هذه القرية قال هل لك عليه من نعمة تربها قال لا غير أني أحببته في الله عز وجل قال فإني رسول الله إليك بأن الله قد (Muslim hadith 2567) أحبك كما أحببته فيه

"A man went out to visit his brother in another village, and Allah sent an angel to him on his path. When he came to him, he said: 'Where do you want to go?' He said: 'I want to visit my brother in that village.' He said: 'Do you have any favor that you would like to give him?' He said: 'No, except that I love him for Allah's sake.' He said: 'I am a messenger from Allah to tell you that Allah loves you for the sake of the one that you have loved him for.'"

Mixing with each other, visiting each other, is one of the main causes for the love of Allah in our life.

The Hadith Qudsi About Divine Love

Imam Malik narrates in his Muwatta, as does Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, in a Hadith Qudsi that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said Allah Himself has said:

وجبت محبتي للمتحابين في وجبت محبتي للمتزاورين في وجبت محبتي للمتناصحين في وجبت محبتي للمتباذلين في (Ahmad hadith 22265)

"My love is obligatory for those who love each other for Me, and My love is obligatory for those who visit each other for Me, and My love is obligatory for those who advise each other for Me, and My love is obligatory for those who give to each other for Me."

In the hadith of Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: "I heard from the tongue of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم himself say that he was informed by his Lord: 'My love is obligatory for those that love each other for Me, and My love is obligatory for those that connect with each other for Me, and My love is obligatory for those that stand together for Me.'"

The Hierarchy of Paradise

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was once sitting with his companions in his masjid. People were walking in and out. And he said:

ألا أخبركم برجالكم في الجنة النبي في الجنة والصديق في الجنة والرجل يزور أخاه في ناحية من المصر لا يزوره إلا لله في الجنة Ahmad hadith 15695(

"Should I not tell you about which of your men will be in Paradise? A Prophet is in Paradise, and the Siddiq (one who affirms the prophecy) is in Paradise, and the one who visits his brother who lives somewhere else, not visiting him for any reason other than loving him for Allah, is in Paradise."

Allahu Akbar. Look at the hierarchy. After the Prophets come the Siddiqin - those that were the strongest supporters of the Prophets. And after them who? Those who love each other and visit each other for Allah's sake.

The Reward for Visiting

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said in another hadith:

Tirmidhi) ما من عبد أتى أخاه يزوره في الله إلا أرسل الله إليه ملكا يقول طبت وطاب ممشاك وتبوأت منزلا في الجنة hadith 2391)

"Never does any man from amongst you go out to visit his brother for Allah's sake except that an angel is sent that supplicates saying: 'You have done well and your footsteps are blessed and you have earned your place in Paradise.'"

The Hadith About Expressing Love

Once the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was sitting amongst his companions. This hadith is again narrated by Anas. A man said to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم privately, pointing to another:

إني أحب هذا في الله

"I love this person for the sake of Allah."

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: أعلمته؟ "Did you tell him?"

He said: "No."

He said: فأعلمه "Then go and tell him."

So he goes and tells him: إني أحبك في الله "I love you for Allah's sake."

The man returns the greeting saying to him: أحبك الذي أحببتني من أجله "May the One for whose sake you have loved me love you."

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then told him:

(12669 Ahmad hadith) أنت مع من أحببت ولك ما احتسبت

"You will be with those who you love, and you will have that which you took into account."

Practical Application

Take into account the importance of reaching out to people that are sitting right next to you. I can guarantee you today that there are people sitting next to you that you see every week. Every week you

come here for Jumu'ah you see them - you probably never give them salam. You probably think they don't know you, you don't know them, you don't live near each other. It doesn't matter.

Start the connection today. Give each other salam. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said:

(Muslim hadith 54)

"Shall I not instruct you of something that if you do it you will love each other? Spread the greeting of peace amongst you."

Benefits of Visiting for Allah's Sake

When we visit each other for Allah, when we connect to each other for Allah, when we put effort in for each other for Allah, then many beautiful things happen:

1. We gain the love of Allah Himself
2. We implement the sunnah of our Beloved (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)
3. We follow in the path of our pious predecessors who followed that sunnah
4. We are able to initiate and understand the ties of brotherhood and sisterhood amongst us as a community
5. We strengthen weak ties in our community
6. We understand the difficulties that our friends and family are going through

This is a very small world. We think of things happening far away never affect us. I can guarantee you that at least a few of you here today have been affected by what we heard of last night.

Take time out today to find out who is hurting, who is in need, who simply needs a smile, a handshake, a hug, a phone call, a text. Connect with them for the sake of Allah. Visit them for the sake of Allah.

You will be doing one of the greatest things that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said can be done, and that is:

(Tabarani hadith 13897)

"To bring happiness to the heart of another believer."

Standing Strong as a Community

We are not a faith of victims. We're not here to espouse victimology. We're not here to lay the blame on anyone, but we're also not here to stand down.

We will continue to attend our masjid. We will continue to support our Islamic schools. We will continue to bear witness to the faith that is near and dear to us because that is what Allah wants from us in these difficult times.

Qunut al-Nawazil

I want to make mention of a very important sunnah that we're going to practice now inshallah in Salatul Jumu'ah, and that is the sunnah of Qunut al-Nawazil.

It's reported from Ibn Abbas and others that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam), whenever he wanted to make du'a for a people or against a people, then he would make Qunut in his prayer. (Bukhari hadith 1006)

This is what we do as Muslims. Not candlelight vigils, not forums and all of that other stuff. Every single thing in our faith we have a way to support our brothers and sisters spiritually and emotionally, socially and individually.

The Body of Believers

It's important for us to keep in our heart the idea that we are part of one body. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said:

(Bukhari hadith 6011)

"The example of the believers in their mutual love and mercy and compassion for each other is like one body. When one part of the body is pricked or infected or harmed, then the rest of the body finds itself feverish and unable to sleep."

Keep in mind those who have lost so much. Keep in mind that the sunnah of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) is for us to continue through in strength in these things.

How to Perform Qunut al-Nawazil

During the Qunut, after the second rak'ah, when the imam stands up and says:

He will then raise his hands in du'a. It is sunnah for you to raise your hands in du'a. This is narrated in the Musnad as well as others. It is sunnah for you to say "Ameen" when he makes du'a. This is narrated from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) and his companions as well.

There is no specific du'a that should be said, but it should be something which is appropriate to what is going on at that time.

Quranic Guidance for Difficult Times

Allah says:

"Do not lose heart and do not despair, and you shall have the upper hand if you are truly believers."

Sample Du'a for Qunut al-Nawazil

"O Allah, give victory and save those who are weak from amongst the Muslims."

"O Allah, be stringent against those who have wronged them."

"O Allah, curse those who call to ignorance and racism and hate and prejudice."

"O Allah, curse those who have disbelieved in Your signs, made light of Your prophets and messengers, and have killed Your righteous servants."

"O Allah, guide us amongst those You have guided."

"O Allah, pardon us amongst those You have pardoned."

"O Allah, have mercy upon those who were killed from amongst us."

"O Allah, we ask You for guidance and we ask You for the guidance of our neighbors and our friends and our family."

"O Allah, open their hearts to Islam and guide them to the best of this life as well as the next."

"O Allah, give strength to the hearts of the Muslims. Preserve them in every situation they may be in."

"O Allah, preserve and protect their children, their women and their men."

"O Allah, protect the lives of the innocent and have mercy upon the souls of the martyrs."

May Allah grant us the strength to support each other and to be there for one another in these trying times. May He unite our hearts and make us a source of comfort and strength for each other.