Living Islam Serving Humanity by

Living Islam: Serving Humanity

Imam Omar Suleiman

Opening

First and foremost, my dear beloved brothers, sisters, and scholars, I ask Allah to reward you all for being here tonight, and I also thank you on behalf of ICNA Relief for being here tonight.

The Testimony of People

I want to just reflect on a few ahadith of the Messenger (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ). First and foremost, Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) informs us that when we pass away, that there is something directly related to the testimony of the people that comes into play on the Day of Judgment. Because every single person when he passes away, Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) says something very simple, but something so very profound:

"Either he is relieved from people, or people are relieved from him."

The Hadith of Janazah

And we know the famous hadith in Bukhari, where Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) is with his companions, and one janazah passes by, and the sahaba say good things about him, and they speak of him in a good manner. And Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) says:

"It became mandatory, it became mandatory, it became mandatory."

And the sahaba did not ask what the Prophet (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) meant by that. Then another one passes by, and the complete opposite is said, and Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) says:

"It became mandatory three times."

And the sahaba inquired from the messenger (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ), what is it that you meant when you said (وَجَبَتْ). What became mandatory? And he said (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ):

"Jannah became mandatory for him as a result of your testimony. And as for the one that you spoke ill of:

(Bukhari)

Hellfire became mandatory as a result of your testimony against him."

The Question of Legacy

And so dear brothers and sisters, before we even start talking about da'wah and we start talking about relief, first and foremost we have to ask ourselves a very simple question: When I leave this earth, am I leaving a void of good behind?

You know, as it was said about Zayn al-Abideen rahimahullah, Ali ibn Hussain, that the people of Medina used to live, they used to get their food, they used to get their drink and they did not know where it used to come from. And then whenever Zayn al-Abideen passed away they understood that he was the source of that food and that drink that used to come to them.

So I want you to think very very deeply before anything else: when I leave this earth, have I left behind a void of good?

The Most Beloved People to Allah

And Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) has informed us that good deeds, in general when we talk about doing good deeds, that this is something that can increase our lifespan. What is your purpose here on earth when you serve Allah, what is your benefit to the people? But instead of going into the long hadith in At-Tabarani, the hasan hadith where Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) says:

(At-Tabarani)

"The most beloved people to Allah are the ones that are most beneficial to the people."

Two Ways This Work is Belittled

I want to address two things in regards to this type of work. There are two ways that this work is belittled, the work of da'wah and the work of relief. There are two ways that they're belittled.

Analysis Paralysis

First and foremost it's something called analysis paralysis. Where you look at all of the bad things and you become a pessimist. And so you look around you and you say, did you see that protest that was going on in Orange County the other day? Man, they're going to put us in internment camps over here. We're going to be just like the Japanese.

You see what's going on in the Middle East, that's all just a conspiracy. And people will forward these videos and things of that sort to say that this is all just, and you know what, it might be a conspiracy. I'm just saying that some people are just so pessimistic and ridiculous with their pessimism.

And instead of doing anything productive they become obsessed with negativity. As Harry Truman said: "A pessimist makes difficulties of his opportunities, whereas an optimist makes opportunities of his difficulties."

The Hopeless Mentality

So you have the people in the community that will sit around and that will say, come on, is really serving homeless people and this mercy on wheels, this funny looking yellow van that's going around serving people. And a pamphlet that you put on someone's door, is that really going to make a difference?

Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) told us about those people:

(Muslim)

"The one who says the people are hopeless is the one making people hopeless" or "he is the most hopeless of them."

That the people are hopeless, let's just not worry about anything, let's not do anything. Everything's going to end and the people that sit around smoking their argeela and are obsessed with stories of Ad-Dajjal and it's the end of the world and all of the minor signs of the Day of Judgment have passed, let's just roll over and die.

Allah Doesn't Need Us

And dear brothers and sisters, before we even talk about this work, there's a reality that we need to think of, that all of us need to understand. Allah doesn't need you and I. Allah doesn't need ICNA, Allah doesn't need CARE, Allah doesn't need these organizations. It's our honor and it's from our own benefits.

If we become involved in this work and we ask Allah:

"To make us the tools of this work."

Thinking Small vs. Thinking Big

But you know what? Instead of thinking big, instead of thinking, because this is the other mentality, the other idea is that, you know what? How come Muslims are still worrying about mercy on wheels? How come Muslims are still worrying about doing little health clinics here and there? Look at the Jews, they've got hospitals and they've got this and they've got that.

Leave the Jews alone. Leave them alone. You know, they say that when something bad happens, you blame one of two things. You either blame hasad, you blame envy, or you blame the Jews. You can't blame the Jews for everything. We should be happy for them. الحمد لله رب العالمين we're happy for them.

We don't have this enmity with people and we're not sitting there looking at them and saying, oh they're doing this and they're doing that, and we're still trying to do this little rinky-dinky, you know, work here and there. Don't worry about that. Start small.

Stop trying to be superman, okay? Because Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) says in the authentic hadith from Jabir:

Think small on a small level. Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) says, whoever digs a well that will serve the thirst of someone, that will quench the thirst of someone, no jinn or human being or animal or a bird will drink from that well except that Allah will reward him for it on the Day of Judgment.

Small Acts, Great Rewards

It's small, but you know what? Allah will reward you for it. So next time you want to ask, do we still get rewarded for serving non-Muslims? You get rewarded for serving a dog. You get rewarded for serving a bird. These are human beings. These are our brothers and sisters in humanity.

Of course we have to serve them. Of course we have to be there for them. And whoever builds a masjid for the sake of Allah, even if it is the size of a bird's nest or smaller than that, Allah will build him a home in paradise.

And what's so beautiful about this hadith is as the ulama point out, Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) is showing us that the effect that you leave on this earth, whether it's a tangible effect in the sense of welfare as in the first example or whether it's serving the spiritual needs of people is what you will be asked about on the Day of Judgment. And those are the most beloved people to Allah. But Allah does not need you and I. First and foremost we have to understand that.

Allah Will Replace Those Who Turn Away

And we don't need to think big. You know why? Because Allah addresses that mentality too:

"You're now being called to give for the sake of Allah, and whoever is stingy is only harming himself. Allah is self-sufficient and you are in need of Him. And you know what? If you turn your backs on this, Allah doesn't need you. He will bring another people and they will do the same job. And you know what? They'll be better than you."

The Deen Doesn't Depend on Race

And we can think of it in the sense that this deen, this great religion does not depend upon a race of people. And this is what some of the ulema saw the tafsir when Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) explained that Salman (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ) a Persian and his offspring. It doesn't depend on one group of people. It doesn't depend on any race.

Don't think too highly of yourself. Allah can find other people who are going to do this work. And you know what? If there is no one who is willing to do this work:

"Allah would even bring support to this deen with a person who is anti-Islam."

Examples of Unexpected Guidance

Bilal's Conversion

You know, you think about the story of Bilal (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ). Bilal (رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ) accepted Islam because of Islamophobia. He never met the Prophet (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) never met the sahabah of Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ). He accepts Islam because he hears the people talking bad about Muhammad (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ)

I mean seriously, someone walked into the masjid today and you say, "So, brother so and so, what brought you to Islam?" "Man, I was watching Sean Hannity and I just had to come become Muslim."

Seriously? He was hearing them speak ill of Rasulullah (صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ) and this was the reason why he was ready to die for this deen. He was ready to be lashed and deprived of food and drink and be pulled into the desert and have a stone placed on his back. Be pushed to the brinks of death.

Dr. Gary Miller

Allah doesn't need you and I. If Allah is going to guide a person, Allah is going to guide them. You know, any of you heard of Dr. Gary Miller? Gary Miller, you know why he says he accepted Islam? Because of the story of Abu Lahab. Because of the story of Abu Lahab.

Sister Melissa

And in my own masjid, three weeks ago, a person comes into the masjid because they said that they could not tolerate the hate and the bigotry that they were seeing on the television and they had to come and see what Islam was for itself. And that person today, sister Melissa, is a Muslim.

You never know. Allah will do something. Allah will guide whoever He wants to guide.

Our Benefit in This Work

It's in our benefit to jump on the bandwagon, but it will move regardless. It will move regardless. And you know what, if there are no human beings even, Allah teaches us that Allah will do it with animals:

"[Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant?]"

If it needs to be birds, He'll do it with birds. And you know what, if there are no birds whatsoever, no animals, no human beings. When Allah wants to guide someone, Allah will guide them.

But it's in our interest to try to be a part of serving our brothers and sisters. Serving their needs, not just for the sake of Allah, of course for the sake of Allah, but there are some things that are just human nature, from your fitrah. That when you see someone suffering, you want to alleviate that suffering.

The Foundation of Da'wah: Character

But dear brothers and sisters, Allah will reach whoever He wants to reach. And I just want to somehow, you know, somehow when we think of da'wah, we completely eliminate the aspect of relief.

You know, Ata radiallahu ta'ala anhu wa rahimahu Allah, he said something very profound. He says:

(Unknown Source)

"The da'wah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم started before the ba'thah, before he received revelation."

With what? With his husn al-khuluq. With his character.

His da'wah had started and he didn't even know that his da'wah had started. But because of the person that he was, he was a credible person in society to speak to the people and to deliver to them that message. He was already a sadiq al-ameen.

He was already someone that was known to take care of the poor. And that's what Khadija radiallahu ta'ala anha, when she says:

"By Allah, Allah will never abandon you."

It's not because you were making an hour climb to go and to meditate and to do itikaf. It's not because of your ibadat. It's because of your benefit to the people. You're being there for your family. You're being there for the orphans. You're being there for the people of your society. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم had that credibility.

Repelling Evil with Good

And I want you to really think deeply. You see that mercy on wheels bus today? That is something that should warm your heart so much. Because you know what? As the brother was saying earlier, when Allah says:

"Repel evil with that which is good."

You know, this ayah is so misunderstood. And there is a need for public relations. I cannot stress the need for public relations and the need for speaking from a position of strength as a Muslim community.

But at the end of the day, dear brothers and sisters, if we treat people the way we're supposed to treat them, and if we are of a benefit to this society, we're not going to need those public relations anymore. People will come and speak on our behalf that used to speak against us.

The Example of Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr Siddiq radiyallahu ta'ala anhu, the example from the sahaba. Did you know that Abu Bakr radiyallahu ta'ala anhu was going to make hijrah to Habesha? Was going to migrate to Habesha? Who was the one who stopped him? Was it a Muslim? Who was it? Ibn al-Dughna. Someone who's not a Muslim.

And he says to Abu Bakr, he says, a man like you should not be kicked out of his society. A person like you should not be treated in this manner. And he takes him back and he grants him protection.

Then the second portion of the da'wah starts where Abu Bakr Siddiq radiyallahu ta'ala anhu recites Quran openly. And the families of the people that were attacking Islam come and they start to be touched by the Quran. That's when the second portion of that da'wah starts. But the first portion, the first and most fundamental aspect, is having credibility. Is being of a benefit to your society.

ICNA Relief's Work in Hurricane Katrina

And I know that many of you don't know the work of ICNA Relief in Hurricane Katrina. It's hard to even really talk about it in a few minutes. And I know my time is up. I don't want to go too long with this.

But in Hurricane Katrina, dear brothers and sisters, ICNA Relief was there when the dead bodies were still on the ground. We walked into New Orleans when National Guard was the only thing there. And the dead bodies were still floating all over the place. And FEMA allocated a place in their office next to Red Cross and Catholic Charities for ICNA Relief.

And ICNA Relief was the only organization that provided apartments to evacuees. No other organization did that, not even Red Cross. That went to all of these major shelters. A Muslim organization. Imagine the

effect wearing Muslims for Humanity. Walked into the Astrodome. Walked into the Superdome. Walked into the Riverside Center. And found the people that were in need.

Even if it was a pastor. An old person in need. Someone who couldn't tolerate the conditions of the shelter. And put them in private apartments.

The Response to Quran Burning

You know what happened when Terry Jones, the guy with the ugly mustache, decided that he wanted to do his Quran burning? You know what happened? First and foremost, I don't even want to talk about how many people accepted Islam. The manager of the largest homeless shelter in New Orleans accepted Islam because of ICNA Relief's work. The manager of the New Orleans mission.

But I don't want to talk about that. But whenever the Quran burning was going to take place, I wake up in the morning and I get a phone call from the Archbishop of New Orleans. And he has a petition. From 200 religious leaders. And a statement.

And it says that, we are ready to take to the streets on your behalf that we are not going to tolerate this bigotry anymore. And we have released something to the Times-Picayune, the New Orleans newspaper. A civility statement and a call for tolerance and an end to bigotry.

I didn't ask them to do that. When you are a benefit to your society, not me, but because of the work of ICNA Relief over there, if anything was ever to happen to the Muslims over there, any act of intolerance, any act of vandalism against the masjid, the other religious leaders come forward and they say, we are not going to tolerate this. We are not going to tolerate this.

The Legacy of Small Efforts

And I'll end with one thing because these things go hand in hand, dear brothers and sisters. The aspect of da'wah, which is the foundation, which is having the credibility, the moral authority to give the people the da'wah that we know as da'wah today. And the aspect of da'wah itself.

Let's go back to Bilal radiyallahu ta'ala anhu just to demonstrate to you how Allah really does not need us. And if Allah wants to guide a person, He will guide them.

Umar ibn al-Khattab radiyallahu ta'ala anhu asks Bilal, "Ya Bilal, why is it that the only thing you were saying was ahad un ahad? One, one. Out of everything that was happening, all you were saying was one God, one guide. How come you weren't saying anything else? All you were saying was ahad un ahad."

What was the answer of Bilal radiyallahu anhu? "If I knew anything other than ahad un ahad, I would have said it."

He only knew ahad un ahad. The only thing that reached him was ahad un ahad. That was the only thing from the da'wah of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم

The Power of Small Pamphlets

What if one of those Y-Islam pamphlets inspires a new Malcolm X rahimahullah, or an Imam Suhaib Webb? I didn't know that Suhaib Webb, his first exposure to Islam was a pamphlet. What if it's one brochure? What if it's one brochure? What if it's one pamphlet? You never know. A giant might come as a result of the small efforts.

Don't think on your standards. Think on the standards of Allah. A small well, a bird's nest, and it might go a very long way.

The Legacy of Tufail ibn Amr

Abu Huraira radiyallahu ta'ala anhu, the greatest muhaddith, the one who narrates the largest amount of authentic hadith from the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. Who was responsible for his Islam? We don't even know his name. Tufail ibn Amr al-Dawsi radiyallahu ta'ala anhu.

Someone whose name will literally, probably come up in the seerah of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم one time which is when he accepts Islam. But it was because he went back to his tribe of Daws, and he took Islam back to them. And amongst al-Daws was Abd al-Shams, Abd al-Rahman Abu Huraira.

The one whose name would become Abd al-Rahman Abu Huraira radiyallahu ta'ala anhu. Abu Huraira is from the legacy of Tufail. And we are all from the legacy of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم .

Conclusion

And we are all from the legacy of the leaders of this community who thought to establish these projects. And we ask Allah to allow us to have a legacy of our own if it's a small pamphlet that reaches someone, or if it's a small act of kindness that causes someone's heart to be opened. We ask Allah to grant us all the entire reward of that.

And we ask Allah to bless ICNA and to bless all of the Muslim organizations and all of the du'a, those who are working in this cause. And we ask Allah to make us amongst those who are honored by this deen, by this da'wah, by la ilaha illallah.