Fear Must Go! by

Fear Must Go!

Sh. Omar Suleiman | ICNA-MAS Convention 2018

Opening

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, peace be with you all, bismillah walhamdulillah wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa man wala, we begin with the name of Allah and we bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped or unconditionally obeyed except for him and we ask him to send his peace and blessings upon his messenger Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), his family, his companions and those that follow until the day of judgement, Allahumma ameen.

Introduction: The Nature of Fear

Dear brothers and sisters everything I had prepared just went out the window because of what Sheikh Muhammad al-Shinawi covered, not because he took my material but because there were so many points that he touched on that segway into this discussion of fear. Fear is a very interesting emotion, it can motivate or it can paralyze, it can be productive or it can be destructive depending on who you fear, why you fear and what you fear.

That fear is either praised in the Qur'an or it is looked down upon when it becomes paralyzing and destructive and leads you to nowhere but despair. The last lecture by Sheikh Abu Abad talked a lot about hope and unless you have that hope to balance you out there is no way that that fear could possibly be productive because the default of fear is that it is a paralyzing emotion, it needs hope in order for it to be productive.

The Hadith of Courage: Anas ibn Malik's Description

But I want to start off based on a hadith that builds on what was just talked about with Anas ibn Malik ( رضي الله عنه - radi Allahu anhu) describing the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and I want you to picture the scene.

If there was to be an attack on a city, what usually happens to the most important people that reside in that city? Where do they go? What do they do? I'm actually asking a question by the way, it's not rhetorical. They hide. When a head of state is present and an attack unfolds, typically speaking the head of state will be locked down under maximum security and those who are already most vulnerable and poorest will be the greatest at risk because they weren't even important in the first place.

And that's another discussion all together. But too often we only talk about the oppressed when they die, not when they're living. So when we talk about black lives matter, it's not black deaths matter, there's a whole system of black lives matter which is to be discussed before black deaths.

But that's aside from the case. Usually the most vulnerable are thrown up there. And the most powerful and the most important, those who are deemed most important are hid away and tucked away, often by their own commands.

The Scene in Medina: The Prophet's Fearlessness

I want you to picture the scene in Medina. And this hadith sends shivers down my spine because I always think about it when I think about the quality of fearlessness that we take from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). Anas ibn Malik ( رضي الله عنه - radi Allahu anhu) as he usually did when he would reflect on the life of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) described a beautiful quality of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and then a manifestation of that beautiful quality. And there's a pattern there when you study the narrations of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he'll say something beautiful about the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) but it's easy to cast a quality on a person.

But then he'll actually give an example of how that quality was lived. So he says:

(Bukhari 2908, Muslim 2307)

The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was the best of people. And in this context, he was also speaking about the way that he was externally. He was the most perfect of people.

And the most generous of people.

And the most courageous of people.

And he recalled this incident that took place where there was some noise outside in the middle of the night in Medina, and the people thought that they were under attack. So when Medina is under attack, where do you think the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) should go? What do you think the protocol should be? Shouldn't everyone surround the house of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and make sure that he's protected? Medina is supposedly under attack, and he said, and we came out and we see the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) riding on his horse, unstrapped to it, so the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is completely unrestrained on this horse, and he has a sword in his hand, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is riding around to make sure that whatever came would be deterred, and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) says to the companions, says to the people of Medina:

(Bukhari 2908, Muslim 2307)

Do not be afraid, do not be afraid.

Examples of Prophetic Courage in Battle

علي رضي الله عنه says that when the battle would become toughest, when it would become hottest, and when we would be utterly exhausted, the people would hide behind the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in battle. He was the nearest to the enemy. Al-Bara' said that the bravest of us would only be standing next to him (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

What was it about the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) that gave him such courage and such composure in the face of things that would usually cause people absolute fear, and fear is a more comprehensive emotion in the Qur'an, there are different things that you fear. Some people fear death, and you sound radical when you tell people not to fear death, until you can throw in a Socrates quote which exists, or a quote from Plato, or a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, who said that if you haven't found something worth dying for, then you're not really alive, but when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) says that the nations will gather against you and feast on you at a table, and fear, الوهن will be placed in your heart, and the companions said, what is الوهن The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

(Abu Dawud 4297)

To love the world too much, and to hate death too much, that doesn't make us a death cult, you can find similar sayings in context to the same effect, that if you haven't found something that gives you absolute resolve in the face of things that should, should make you scared, then you need to reconsider what it is that you're living for in the first place.

The Fear of People's Blame

What was it about the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) that he didn't fear the snares of the people, and the stares of the people, and the smears of the people, Allah describes that as a legitimate fear in the Qur'an, the fear of being outcast:

They're not afraid of the blame of the blamers, we're not worried about being outcasts, what was it about the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) that when a man grabs his sword and stands on top of him, and says:

(Bukhari 4135, Muslim 843)

O Muhammad, who will stop you from me killing you, that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) with full composure and tranquility can say Allah, without stuttering, without shaking, Allah.

The Source of True Fearlessness

There was something about him (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and it was that complete trust in Allah, that nothing was worth fearing but Allah, that no consequence that would be faced for his sake is worth fearing. Is to be feared either, what's the worst that they could do to you? What's the worst that they could do to you when you're living for Allah? If they kill you it's shahada, it's martyrdom. Whatever they do to you, if they slander you then Allah will glorify you and raise you, what's the worst that they could do to you?

That's that fearlessness that was in the voice, the unquivering voice of Ibn Taymiyyah when he said what can my enemies do to me, my garden is in my heart, jannah is in my heart, you can't take it away.

They kill me, it's martyrdom. They deport me, then it's a chance to reflect on the signs of Allah and if they leave me in isolation then it's a chance to be in seclusion with Allah. There is no fear because there is nothing worth fearing except for him and there is no consequence worth fearing if it is faced because of your determination to do what he commands you to do and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) taught us many lessons in that.

Developing Fearlessness Through Experience

And I want you to think about this because fear is a natural emotion and it takes time to get over that and for many people they really start to get over that fear when they face things that they realize were not so bad as they were made out to be when they overcome difficulties in their life then they're able to conceive of how they would deal with a difficulty of a greater magnitude when they face it in their lives.

So it's not when you're afraid that you're insincere but sincerity propels you to that fearlessness and to that courage.

Modern Examples of Islamic Courage

When we see the izzah, the honor of our modern day Muslim heroes in Al-Hajj Malik al-Shabazz Malcolm X who said very bluntly that he never does or says anything except that he expects the most difficult of circumstances and consequences as a result of it. If you YouTube Muhammad Ali bodyguard, a man who many in America predicted would be assassinated by the way and said it was a miracle that he lived to see 40.

You could actually go back and read the editorials of people expressing amazement that Muhammad Ali was not assassinated may Allah have mercy on him and the man walked around without a bodyguard fearing no one but Allah. In an era where any black man who opened his mouth too much would be

assassinated. Muhammad Ali may Allah have mercy on him who had the biggest mouth for Allah and for the truth went untouched.

Apartment was set on fire the day that Malcolm was assassinated and it only allowed him to grow in that determination. It was meant to shake him but it only further stabilized him. Where does that come from?

The Battle of Uhud Example

What it comes from is not seeing what's around you that is supposed to be causing you fear but stabilizing that which is in the inside and reminding yourself of the one who sent you here with a purpose and the one who truly protects you and the one who truly rewards you and the one who truly honors you.

What can anyone do to you then? It was the scene in the battle of Uhud when the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was almost killed and he's carried behind the mountain and his enemies call out, is Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) amongst you? Is Abu Quhafa, the father of Abu Bakr amongst you? Is Umar amongst you? And they boast, they boast that this was a day for us that we have avenged our fallen in Badr. And one of the words that came out of them or one of the sentences that came out of the mouth of Abu Sufyan that day was, we have Uzza, we have Uzza, an idol and you have no Uzza. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) didn't tell Umar to respond and insult his idol because his idol was insignificant and his words were insignificant and his intimidation was insignificant.

He said respond and say, Allah is our protector and you have no protector. He brought it back to Allah because if you have Allah then nothing else matters. Then no one else can frighten you.

Then no one else can scare you. Then no one else can intimidate you because you realize that all dignity and honor and protection comes from him. Take it back to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).

The Cave Incident: Ultimate Trust

Shaykh Muhammad just spoke a little bit about it when he's in the cave. Shaykh Muhammad spoke about the actual protection from the enemies. But think about that.

If there was any moment that would absolutely send shivers down your spine, imagine being in the cave that day and you can smell and see your enemies just a few feet away from you. All with their swords ready to pierce your body. All of them waiting for the opportunity to kill you.

You've already seen so many of your own killed. You've already seen the torture of Ammar and Sumayya and Khabbab and so many of your family. You've already seen it all and now this appears to be the end.

And Abu Bakr started to fear not for himself but for the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) says to him with full composure:

Do not be afraid. Allah is with us. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) didn't even mention any of the spider web or the bird's nest or any of the circumstances.

No. Why are you afraid? Allah is with us.

And this is such a beautiful effect of the Qur'an here. Allah specifically says, He cast down tranquility on his heart. And Allah knows best but the scholarly interpretation that his heart is referring to Abu Bakr here. That he cast down tranquility on the heart of Abu Bakr.

Abu Bakr already had ikhlas. He was already sincere. He was already truthful.

But Allah settled his heart and put tranquility. When you have that composure, as you look around you and everything is meant to intimidate you. Everything is meant to threaten you.

Everything is meant to shock you. But on the inside, you're growing that trust in God to where it doesn't even faze you anymore. I'm not going to pretend like I have no fears.

And I'm not going to suggest that any one of us has attained the courage of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in this room. Nor will we ever attain the courage of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in this room.

But what I will suggest is this.

The Formula for Courage: Tawheed

That the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)'s equation for attaining a sense of courage and not being afraid, always circulated around that singular concept of tawheed. Of experiencing monotheism in the heart and settling your heart with Allah. And never overestimating the circumstances or the people or the threats or the things that are said about you.

If you haven't found something worth dying for, then you're not really living. If that sounds radical, well we have a radical fear of Allah and a radical fearlessness of all of these cowards that are trying to intimidate us because of our belief in Allah. Settle yourself on the inside.

Allah knows that we have enough courageous examples from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and his companions and the righteous who we saw live in our lifetime that we're able to propel through the most difficult of circumstances.

Practical Application in Modern Times

Dear brothers and sisters, these are times that are meant to scare you and I want to end with this and my time is already up and actually I didn't even scratch the surface of what I wanted to do. But I'll say this.

The first thing is just recognize that everything around you right now is meant to intimidate you. All of these, all of the news cycles, all of the politicians' words, all of these threats, all of the incidents that are taking place, it's meant to scare you. The greatest way to resist that is to build that trust in Allah.

How you do that is by centering him in your life in times that are not frightening so that you will have him in times that are frightening. And that's what the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) taught that remember Allah in your times of prosperity and Allah will be with you. Be with Allah in your prosperity, Allah will be with you in your adversity.

That's not just referring to, I know you always hear that at the fundraiser, that's not just referring to your financial capital or the money that you have. When you have money, be generous and give so that when you don't or when you're in a hard time, Allah will send money to you. Be with Allah in prosperity, Allah will be with you in adversity.

Be with Allah in times when you're not afraid and Allah will know you and be with you in times that you are afraid. But center Allah in your life and as a community we need to center Allah once again in our discourse and remind ourselves that Allah is our protector and they have no protector.

All content from the original khutbah has been preserved while correcting Arabic texts, adding proper Islamic references, and organizing the material with clear headings and subheadings for enhanced readability. The complete discourse on overcoming fear through trust in Allah remains intact.