Majesty of Divine Speech - Episode 7 Righteous Company

Majesty of Divine Speech - Episode 7: Righteous Company

Opening and Seeking Refuge

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.

Introduction and Quranic Recitation

I'll be reciting verses 27 to 30 from Surah Al-Furqan, Surah number 25. We have moved to the subject really of the most important type of companionship in this world. We talked yesterday about the importance of seeking forgiveness and recognizing one's sin. And today, Insha'Allah ta'ala, we discuss one of the biggest things that can lead a person into a life of sin.

The Wrongdoer on the Day of Judgment

We begin with an ayah that describes a person on the day of judgment. Which according to some sahaba is a specific individual, but according to the majority, the implication is general. It applies to anyone that fits the description.

"And on the Day when the wrongdoer will bite his hands, he will say, 'Oh, I wish I had taken a way with the Messenger.'"

The day on which the wrongdoer is going to be biting (عَلَى يَدَيْهِ) - on both his hands. The first thing Allah says is this person is going to be chewing on both of his hands. Now this action is not done by somebody in their sane mind, first of all. It's done by someone completely overwhelmed by fear or emotion or shock.

The Reality of Human Reaction to Shock

You will see people do this in the world and this is an ancient practice even. That doesn't happen voluntarily, it happens involuntarily. You know you will see people, they come home and their house is on fire. And the expression that's on their face and the sounds they're making are not the sounds you expect from a grown human being, right? There's this shock and there's sadness, overwhelming sadness that's taken over them. Similar things happen at the death of a family member. If you see people that are at that situation and they first hear the news, the kind of reaction they have is very strong. It almost breaks the human being, that kind of a reaction.

Analysis of the Wrongdoer's Words

So Allah describes the state on the Day of Judgment of a person who did wrong. And He says he'll be biting on both of his hands (يَعَضُّ الظَّالِمُ عَلَى يَدَيْهِ) and then as he's biting onto his hands he's saying یا (لَيْتَنِي اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا)

There are actually three words here: يا and ليت and يا لي is called حرف نداء. Also called حرف الحسرة here. It's a word to call on someone and a word to call in despair. You know like in English people say "oh" or "ah". You know this cry that comes out of you, that's یا alone. And then there's the word ليت and ليت in Arabic is very powerful. You use it when you're describing, you know the English expression "Crying over spilt milk," right? When it's too late to cry over spilt milk, that's that whole expression. But when somebody's in that situation and they've lost everything, the word that comes out of their mouth in English is probably a cry or a sigh, right? But in Arabic it's the word ليت

And then what have they lost? They haven't lost something else, they've lost themselves. So يا ليتني . And then this person says (اتَّخَذْتُ مَعَ الرَّسُولِ سَبِيلًا) - "If only, if only I took..."

The Difference Between Taking and Adopting

Now there's another subtlety here. أخذ is to take something. اتخذ is to take something and hold on to it. And to love it. And to be addicted to it really strongly. Like this is the word Allah uses for Bani Israel when they had taken the calf we heard about in Tarawih today. Right, when they were worshipping this baby cow, this calf, Allah says اتخذوا. They took it, they held on to it. Meaning they were in love with worshipping this thing.

So now in this ayah He says I wish I had a love and I held on with full love and devotion to what? سبيلا مع الرسول - A path that goes alongside, exactly alongside the Messenger. If I had taken a way of life that goes and coincides with the way of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم)

The Second Regret

Then He says again:

"Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken so-and-so as a friend."

And there's again three words here: يا and ويل. And then تی at the end they consider also تنوین. It's یا but it's converted into ي for phonetic reasons. So first He cried يا ليتني, يا ليتني And He's crying again يا ويلتي. And on top of this He gets again ليتني

What Allah is describing is this insane moment of a person who's beating on himself, crying senselessly on the Day of Judgment.

The Two Types of Regret

And now look at what He says. The first time He was showing His regret, He was saying: If only I took a way alongside the Messenger. If only I chose a way for my life that goes along with the Messenger's life (صلى الله عليه وسلم)

The second time He says: If only I hadn't taken such and such person as my close friend, as my buddy, the person I rely on.

The Subtlety of the Description

There are two things here. One, you know, we would think when these ayahs are being recited they're talking about non-Muslims, they're talking about kuffar, because they don't believe in the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). But the ayahs are very subtle Allah (عز وجل) did not describe this person crying and saying, "I wish I believed in the Messenger. If only I had believed in him." He doesn't say that. He says, if (صلى الله عليه وسلم) only I had taken a path alongside the Messenger

So there could be a tragic human being that is a believer who says لا إله إلا الله and he says محمد رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وسلم) but doesn't take a path alongside the Messenger still. Doesn't care for the sunnah of his Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). Is not concerned with what he says. Is not concerned with his way of life. So that could be the case here too. And he's still a ظالم right? Because he doesn't even say kafir, he says ظالم

The Role of Bad Company

And then the second time around, what is it? You know, if we don't have a love and devotion for the sunnah and the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم),it's obviously coming - something else is filling that void. And usually that void is filled with our company, our friends.

And our friends in this day and age, it's kind of weird because either we have human friends or we have virtual friends. And we're living in a strange time, right? So either you have friends outside - you play sports with them. You know, back when I was in high school kids, you know, would go out to, you know, go see a movie or go play some pool or some basketball or something. You have friends you hang out with on a daily basis. Nowadays your friends are on Facebook and on MySpace, or your friend is your Xbox and your profile on some, you know, online video game. That's your friend.

You know, it's not just talking about physical friends. It's whatever you hold dear and you spend all of your time with it. And it calls you away from the way of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم). And this person is crying on that day: If I didn't take that! If only I didn't take that as my friend! That person!

The Friend's Deception

And then in this ayah, because Allah (جل جلاله) you know, describes this person who was an alternative to the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم)an alternative to the sunnah, He goes further, this person, and says:

"Indeed, he made me think of the Reminder after it had come to me."

This alternative friend of mine, this khalil of mine that I took my whole life, he misled me. He took me away from... And the ijma' of this ummah is, and dhikr here means Quran. The first ayah about the sunnah, the second ayah about Quran. This person took me away from the Quran. He misled me from the Quran.

How Bad Friends Lead Astray

And just commenting on the word أضل we find Ibn Kathir rahimahullah saying: He says, because of this أضل this person would come to you as a friend and say, "What are you wasting your time doing this for?" Or he would give you argument after argument: "What does this ayah mean? And what does that ayah mean? You don't know? Or are you following something you don't even know? This is confusing. This is a contradiction. How come Allah says this? How come there is polygamy in the Quran? And how come there are these ayahs? How come one ayah was cancelled by another ayah?"

They will come with intellectual types of arguments. And when you say, "I don't know, I'm not a scholar," "But why are you wasting your time? Come with me, let's go see a movie. You know, let's go do something. Let's go hang out. You know, why don't you join us anymore?"

So they will come to you with arguments or they will come to you with peer pressure. But they will pull you away from the remembrance. There will be something that will pull you away from having this relationship with Quran.

Personal Responsibility

لقد أضلني عن الذكر بعد إذ جاءني - And this is a tragedy. You know, so far you could blame the friend. So far in the ayah he is saying: If I didn't take him as a friend, I wouldn't be in this mess. He is the one who took me away from the dhikr.

But then he realizes the blame is his own: بعد إذ جاءني - After the dhikr, the Quran had already come to me. I already knew Quran. I already knew about the ayahs. I already knew this friend is taking me away from the dhikr. I still took his way. I still took him as a friend. I still thought that would be the way to go.

Satan's Ultimate Deception

"And Satan is ever treacherous to man."

His friend was just a tool. But the real enemy in this case was who? Shaytan. Shaytan has always been, in the case of the human being, for the human being خذول

And خذول is also a very important word. خذول is different from other words in Quran describing the enemy of Shaytan. عدو - you know the word عدو? Someone who pretends to be your friend and goes alongside you. And as soon as he leads you to the cliff where you're falling off, he runs away. So he knows that he's leading you to destruction. He knows it. But he will stay with you and push you on and encourage you and say, "No this is the way to go. I'm with you all the way." And as soon as you go too far all the way, that's when he abandons you.

And look at this - this ultimate type of deception. He's not just a deceiver. خذول is different. خذول exceptional deception. This ultimate kind of deception. You don't realize that he's fooling you until it's too late. That's وكان الشيطان للإنسان خذولا. Until it's too late. Now he realizes. So he calls the Shaytan خذول

The Messenger's Testimony

And then the messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) - See so far it was the ظالم describing, being described. And then the messenger is being quoted in this ayah on the Day of Judgment.

"And the Messenger said, 'O my Lord! Indeed, my people have taken this Quran as abandoned.''

Before we quote this ayah, we know that the Rasul of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is given the exceptional permission by Allah (عز وجل) to make shafa'ah on the Day of Judgment. To intercede and to request and to plead on behalf of his ummah on the Day of Judgment. All of you know this. And the permission and the rule for that is even mentioned in the Ayatul Kursi: إلا بإذنه - "Except by His permission" (Quran 2:255(.

So this shafa'ah is there. And we all pray that we are part of that umbrella which the messenger covers on (صلى الله عليه وسلم) the Day of Judgment

Two Types of Testimony

But you know what's not often talked about? There are two testimonies of the messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and their polar opposites. One testimony for this ummah in its favor. To protect this ummah from the fire of hell. On the Day of Judgment he makes a case for his ummah to protect them from the fire of hell.

But there's another testimony. And this is the other testimony. This is the testimony in which the messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) is prosecuting, making a case against some people from this ummah. May Allah not make us from them.

And imagine on the Day of Judgment: Allah is the judge. You know how you have a courthouse? You have a judge and you have lawyers. Allah is the judge. And who's the prosecutor? (مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - Muhammad Rasul Allah salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam). Who's gonna win a case against him? If he testifies against someone, if he makes a case against someone, what hope does this person have left?

The Messenger's Complaint

And what does the messenger say (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ الرَّسُول - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam wa qaal ar-rasul) - The Rasul says on that day - يا رب "My Lord! (إِنَّ قَوْمِي - inna qawmi) - This nation of mine, without a doubt (اتَّخَذُوا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا - ittakhadhu hadhal qur'ana mahjura) - they took the Quran and abandoned it."

Mahjura means to leave something. To make hijrah from it. To leave it behind. And he says this not about the kuffar. What's he saying this? Who's he saying this to? (إِنَّ قَوْمِي، إِنَّ قَوْمِي - inna qawmi, inna qawmi).

You know we learn in Quran also: When Surah Al-Kafirun was revealed, before this, the messenger would say (قَوْمِي - qawmi) like all the other messengers would say (قَوْمِي - qawmi) - "My nation." He would say this to Quraysh. But then Surah Al-Kafirun was revealed and he wouldn't call them (قَوْمِي - qawmi). What did he call them? (قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ - qul ya ayyuhal kafirun) (قُلْ يَا قَوْمِي لَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ - qul ya qawmi la a'budu ma ta'budun) He said (قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ - qul ya ayyuhal kafirun) (Quran 109:1). He didn't say) (الْكَافِرُونَ - al-kafirun).

Because who's his (قَوْم - qawm)? Those who believe in him are his (قَوْم - qawm). Before these ayat before (يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ - ya ayyuhal kafirun) they're his nation like all the other messengers invited their nation: (إِنِّي دَعَوْتُ قَوْمِي لَيْلًا وَنَهَارًا - inni da'awtu qawmi laylan wa nahara) (Quran 71:5).

But now in this ayah, it includes those who allegedly follow the messenger (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam). And his complaint to Allah against them is: They abandoned the Quran. They left the Quran: (إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا - inna qawmi it-takhadhu hadhal qur'ana mahjura)

Allah's Response About Enemies

And the final ayah in this passage:

"And thus did We make for every prophet an enemy of the criminals, and sufficient is your Lord as a Guide and Helper."

Now if you look at this ayah from before, the few ayahs that we've been reading, Allah didn't mention any enemies of the messenger (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam). He didn't mention any enemies. He mentioned a person who walks away from the way of the messenger. And it's too late. And he walks away from the dhikr, from Quran, because of his friend.

The Two Types of Criminals

So this is a person who lived a life of (غَفْلَة - ghafla). And the two enemies, the two antithesis: Anyone who takes away from Quran and takes people away from the sunnah of his messenger (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam). Who does that represent? An enemy of the messenger (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam). Can you imagine?

And now look: There are two criminals here. One criminal is the one who calls his friend away from deen. The other criminal is the one who walks away from the deen, the one who leaves it. Because you know, every time a Muslim abandons this deen in practice, every time a Muslim proudly takes on disobedience to Allah, he has set a precedent, an example, for a hundred other Muslims to do the same thing. That's what he's done. He has become an enemy to this ummah.

Real-Life Example

You will see this tragedy happen. Brothers tell me all the time: Young brothers, they live here their whole life. Their parents go to Egypt or Pakistan for summer vacation and they go with them. And they go there and they make salah. And their Muslim cousins in a Muslim country: "What are you doing man? You praying? What's the matter with you? Aren't you from America? You know, what are you doing wasting your time like this?"

And they're blasting music and the adhan is going on and he says, "Wait, wait, let's go to masjid." "Okay you go ahead sheikh. We're going to stay here." And these are Muslims! And what has happened? One person disobeys openly. And what does that do? It opens the flood gates for everybody to disobey openly. And this happens in the land of people who call themselves Muslims. The name that Ibrahim (عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام - alayhis-salam) gave to us: (هُوَ سَمَّاكُمُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ - huwa sammaakum al-muslimin) (Quran 22:78) - "Those who submit before Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - azza wa jal) those who give in completely."

The Ultimate Truth About Enemies

Right? So now, no wonder in this passage, who is being considered an enemy? The ultimate enemy: Shaytan. But the tool of shaytan: The first tool of shaytan is that bad friend. And the second tool of shaytan is the one who gave in to the waswasa of the friend. These are all criminals. And these are the criminals against which the messenger testifies (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

"O Allah, do not make us from them, O Allah, do not make us from them."

No Excuse Left

And then he says: (وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ هَادِيًا وَنَصِيرًا - wa kafa bi rabbika hadiyan wa nasira) - After saying all of this, there is no excuse left. You can't blame your friends. You can't blame shaytan. You can only blame yourself. Because dhikr came to you and it came to me.

So Allah says at this point: (وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ - wa kafa bi rabbika) - And Allah is enough. (وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ - wa kafa bi rabbika) - Allah is enough. Your Lord is enough for you. (هَادِيًا وَنَصِيرًا - hadiyan wa nasira) - He is enough for you as a guide, so seek his guidance. And he is enough for you for help, so seek his help.

You say "I can't help myself" - you haven't realized Allah is enough as help. You say "I am confused, I am misguided" - you haven't realized Allah is the one to ask guidance from. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - azza wa jal) will guide.

Closing Prayer

So may Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - azza wa jal) make us of those people who don't make hijrah from the Quran, who don't get deluded by friends and society and any other distractions that virtual or real otherwise that take us away from the remembrance of Allah and the sunnah of his messenger (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam)

والسلام عليكم ورحمة الله

Following the Prophet's Example

"Say, [O Muhammad], 'If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.'"

If indeed you love Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى - subhanahu wa ta'ala) but then follow me, then Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى - subhanahu wa ta'ala) will love you and forgive you your sins. Follow the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam)

If we really love the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam), we would not only follow the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) we would be even more - you know we would be trying to know about the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) more all the time.

Story of Transformation

That night he went home and he took a shower and he went to the masjid and he cried until fajr time. He cried until the morning. And Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى - subhanahu wa ta'ala) accepted his repentance. And he studied about Islam until he became the Imam of Mecca and Medina. The Imam, the worshipper of Mecca and Medina, known for his worship.

But you know what he was before? He was a highway robber.

Final Encouragement

Have these high aspirations and this strong determination and go for it because you can do it. It doesn't matter what age you are. It doesn't matter what age you are. It isn't how smart you are, but it's how much

you fear Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى - subhanahu wa ta'ala)