Be Opposite the Disbelievers!

Be Opposite the Disbelievers!

Opening Salutations and Praise

As-salamu alaykum. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. We praise Him, we ask His forgiveness, we believe in Him, and we trust in Him. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and the evil of our deeds.

There is none worthy of worship except Allah. There is none worthy of worship except Allah. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah.

He is alone and has no partner. And we bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. O you who believe! The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, Those who associate others with Allah are the polytheists.

Those who associate others with Allah are the polytheists. All praise is due to Allah. We praise Allah the Almighty today.

We thank Him for giving us another day of worship, to worship Him, Yawm al-Jum'ah. And we bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship besides Allah. And we bear witness that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is Allah's Messenger and His servant.

Seeking Refuge and Guidance

Brothers and sisters, we seek refuge with Allah from the evil of ourselves. And we bear witness that whomever Allah guides is guided aright. And yet, whomever Allah allows to be misled, no one, no one, no one can guide them right.

We ask Allah's blessing upon His Messenger Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, upon his companions and his family and the Muslims everywhere. Ameen. Brothers and sisters, I feel compelled to begin today's khutbah with what is called Hadith Qudsi.

The Hadith Qudsi: Divine Guidance

It is a reminder for me and a reminder for us. This is something that Allah said, though it's not in Quran, it's Hadith of the Prophet, Hadith Qudsi. And the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said that Allah said:

"O My servants, all of you are astray unless I guide you, therefore ask My guidance and I will guide you."

(Hadith Qudsi - Sahih Muslim 2577)

This is Allah speaking. And I bear witness that I have no knowledge, I have no guidance. I have, me, myself, have no knowledge and no guidance except for what Allah has given to us.

I also say what the angels said that's recorded in Quran:

"Glory be to you O Allah, we have no knowledge except for what you have taught us. Indeed, You are the Knowing, the Wise."

This is what the angels say. So I want to say in context, before I speak anything, I speak as nothing.

Dependence on Divine Revelation

And if we're going to be guided today in this khutbah, in this Jummah, then I must depend upon Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to say something that Allah has taught us or something that the messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم has given to us. I have nothing to say this, nothing here, nothing, anything, except what Allah and His messenger have put there inshallah.

A Lesson from England: Eating with the Right Hand

Imam I want to share an experience with you and the rest of the believers here at this wonderful masjid. And something that I learned a few months ago in my last trip to England. I have been to England many times, many many times. But I learned something in my last trip that I never knew before.

I was invited by the Muslims. Some Muslim youth, they had a conference there. And before I spoke, we were sitting together with this Muslim youth leaders and we were eating.

And I noticed one of them were eating with their left hand. Now, it's very difficult being imam. It's very difficult.

Because as an imam, as a father, as a principal of a school, as a school teacher, we have the responsibility that if somebody in our presence is doing something wrong, then for their sake and our sake we have to correct them. Because if we allow it to go on, then they say it's okay.

And this was the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. Anything that was said or done in his presence that he didn't correct, it's accepted as sunnah.

So therefore if something was done in the presence of the Messenger of Allah that was wrong, he had to correct it. So I took this from the Messenger of Allah and I told the brother, I said, What the Prophet said, eat with your right hand. Now brothers and sisters, for some people this is trivial.

Ah, what's the difference? Right hand, left hand, what's the difference? The difference is the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, Eat with your right hand. Now, I want to prove to you that this is nothing trivial. I'll prove

exactly that this wasn't trivial.

The Story of the Man Who Refused

This hadith, In the presence of the Messenger of Allah there was a man eating with his left hand. And the Prophet said, Eat with your right hand. The man said, I can't.

The Prophet said, May you not be able to. And nothing prevented this man from eating with his right hand except for pride. And from that moment on that man was not able to raise his hand to his mouth. (Sahih Muslim 2021)

Whatever the Messenger of Allah give you, take it. That's what Allah says, Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah. Why? Who is he? He's Rasulullah.

He's who? Rasulullah. He's not some rajulun, some man. He's Rasulullah.

He's a Messenger of Allah. Therefore everything that he speaks, he speaks from Allah. So if he tell you to eat with your right hand, you eat with your right hand.

There's no argument there. So, I was in England, in Manchester. The brother eating with his left hand, I said, brother eat with your right hand.

Nobody told me. He said, Imam Siraj, you don't know this. But the Muslims in England have a difficult time eating with their right hand.

I said, SubhanAllah, why? He said, because they teach you in England to eat with your left hand. They teach you in England to eat with your left hand. Now Muslims say, well, how come we have to eat with our right hand? But they don't ask the question, why should we eat with our left hand in England?

The Command: Be Opposite the Disbelievers

So I learned that, I said, SubhanAllah. And now, Imam, I understand the words of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:

(Sahih Muslim 259)

"Be opposite the disbelievers."

And by the way, brothers and sisters, I'm going to give you a very short khutbah. If some of you are concerned that I'm going to be long, I'm going to be real short.

The Imam gave me the leeway. He says, Imam, you can stretch out a little bit. But I'm not going to stretch out because I'm your guest.

And you look like you have to go. So, I give short khutbah. Tomorrow at the program, we all come back.

We give long. But today, short, inshallah. But you have to listen.

Inshallah, I say a few words, and then we go.

Think Different, Think Differently

I was in the city of Chicago, and I came back to New York Saturday morning, and I had my car parked in the airport. And I drove my car about two hours, going to a prison upstate to visit some Muslims.

And as I was driving my car on the major Beacon Highway, I noticed a huge poster, one of my favorite people, Muhammad Ali. And Muhammad Ali was in one of those stances, those box, you know, those stances. And I could read the caption under the picture of Muhammad Ali, and I read these words.

It says, Think different. Think different. So, the first thing I did, I corrected the grammar.

Think is a verb. And so, if you are going to modify a verb, then you must modify it with an adjective, or a verb, an adverb. So, you have to say, think differently.

So, I changed it slightly to rethink differently. And I said, subhanAllah. That's it.

Brothers and sisters, I'm here to tell you today in this city, in this masjid, masjid al-Ansar, that if you're going to be successful, as a Muslim, as a believer, you must think differently from everybody else. Your mind must be guided by the light of the Qur'an, and the direction, and the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. And you have to think differently.

The Contrast of Black and White

Now, I'm looking at some of you, dressed. And I see all kinds of colors. But two colors I want to mention today.

Abyad, white, or Aswad, black. There is no greater contrast of any color other than black and white. This is the greatest contrast that you can ever get.

And that is black and white. Because when black and white is together, then they represent a contrast for each other. Then the whiteness next to the black, help the black to be seen more.

And the black next to the white, help the white to be seen more. It is the greatest contrast that you can have. The contrast between black and white.

And today in the second part of the khutbah, for a few moments, I want to talk about black and white. And I want to tell you why. I close.

And I want you to think about the words of the messenger of Allah, Wallahi, I swear by Allah, it is filled with wisdom. Khaliful Mushrikeen.

The opposite of those who associate gods with Allah. Be opposite. Think differently. Walhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen.

Second Khutbah: The Reality of Paradise and Hell

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. Wassalatu wassalamu ala rasoolillahi wa ala sahbihi ajma'in. Amma ba.

Now brothers and sisters, I have some bad news for you. And I have some good news. It is better, I think, to give the bad news first.

And then the good news. Everyone here today, I'm sure, having their heart and their desire to go to Jannah, to go to paradise. This must be foremost in your mind.

That when I die, I want to go to Jannah. This is what life is all about. Wallahi.

Because, I don't care what you get in this life. You can become a millionaire. You can get the biggest house.

You can have the prettiest wife or the handsomest husband or most children or beautiful car. No matter what you get in this life. It's nothing if you go to hell.

The Most Important Thing: Dying as a Muslim

So right now, everyone of you must say, I want to go to Jannah. I want to go to paradise. When I die, I want Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to be pleased with me.

All of you, I'm sure are saying that. If you're not, you should. That right now the most important thing is that you die Muslim.

Yes. There's nothing more important than that. I have nine children.

Imam Allah is my witness. If my children become doctors, I'll be very happy. Or scientists, I would be very happy.

But I don't want them to become doctors and scientists and lose their deen. I'd rather them to sweep the streets of New York City and die as a Muslim than to become doctor and then die as a disbeliever. I swear by Allah.

You want to make me happy as the father? Be a Muslim. Just be a Muslim. Wake up every day.

Thank Allah for giving you life. Every breath that you have, thank Allah for that. Thank Allah for everything that He gave you.

Gratitude in All Circumstances

Gave you a wife, then you be thankful for that. Because people don't have a wife. Two blocks from the masjid,

The Bad News: The Ratio of Paradise to Hell

Black and white. First, the bad news. According to the social scientists, there are about 6 billion people on this earth right now.

6 billion people. On Yawm al-Qiyamah, on the day of judgment, Allah will say to our father Adam, alayhi salat wa salam, take out all the people that's gonna go to hell fire. Listen.

Listen. Isma'ul. Take all the people that's gonna go to hell fire.

Adam will say, how many? How many people will go to hell fire? You wanna go to Jannah? Let me tell you your odds. You have to know your odds. What's the chance of me going to Jannah? What's the chance of me going to go to paradise? What's the chance? So Allah told Adam, take all the people to go to hell.

How many? Isma'ul. Listen.

(Sahih al-Bukhari 3348, Sahih Muslim 222)

"From every one thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine to hell and one to paradise."

You didn't hear what I just said. How many people going to hell out of every one thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine will go to hell?

You didn't hear what I said. How many people will go to hell out of every one thousand, nine hundred and ninety nine will go to hell and one will go to paradise? The Prophet said that to his companions.

You know what they did? They were very sad. Like some of you should be sad right now. Oh my goodness.

One out of a thousand. What's my chances? And the Prophet sensed that they felt sad. And then he said this, والله

He said والله I swear by Allah and whose hand my life is.

(Sahih al-Bukhari 3348, Sahih Muslim 221)

"I hope that you, my ummah, will be half of the people of paradise."

They said, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar. They became very excited.

There's some chance now.

The Good News: All the Ummah Can Enter Paradise

Now let me give you the good news. Let me give you the good news. That was the bad news. Now let me give you the good news.

Man, you're going to be so happy. You may just jump up. Imam, I hope they don't jump up. But what I'm going to tell them now, they may just jump up.

And just jump up and just shout. But don't shout. Can't talk.

Only I can talk.

(Sahih al-Bukhari 7280)

"All of my ummah will go to jannah. All of my ummah will go to paradise."

Happy? But there's more. I'm sorry to bust your bubble.

"Except those who refuse."

My entire ummah will go to jannah, except those who refuse. Now if I ask each one of you, do you want to go to jannah? Yes, yeah, yeah.

Yes, ask everyone. Nobody would refuse. So when the Prophet said that صلى الله عليه وسلم :

It was said, "Who would refuse, O Messenger of Allah?"

And here it is. This is the key.

(Sahih al-Bukhari 7280)

He said, "Whoever obeys me will go to paradise. And whoever is disobedient to me have refused."

The Analogy: White Hair on Black Ox

And then the Prophet said صلى الله عليه وسلم,Then I finish. When he said that, I hope that half of the people of paradise would be from my ummah or you would be half of the people. He said, let me explain why. And this is what I want to say about black and white.

And then we finish. He says:

(Sahih Muslim 221)

"The difference between the Muslims and the non-Muslims is like a white hair on a black ox, or a black hair on a white ox."

That's it. Now I understand. I understand now.

That's it. The believer compared to a disbeliever is like a white hair on a black ox. Or a black hair on a white ox.

What does it mean? It means contrast. It means contrast. The next two minutes I want you to listen.

I'm finished. So the next two minutes you got to listen. Or you're going to miss it.

You have to listen or you're going to miss it.

The Woman on the Bus: Style vs. Comfort

I was on a bus. My car was inoperative. So I had to take a bus. And every once in a while Allah humbles you. So now lately I've been taking buses and trains.

I know you don't know what a train is but in New York City we have subways. I got on a bus the other day. And when I got on the bus I couldn't help but see as you get on the bus right in the middle of the bus was a woman.

And she was dressed in the latest style. Everything frills and everything. She was decked out.

You can't help but see it. You walk on the bus. And there it is right there in the middle of the bus.

She's right there. And she had the best style. She was decked out.

Then I noticed her shoes were off her feet. And she was rubbing her feet. Obvious pain.

She was rubbing her feet because her feet was in pain. And you know why her feet was in pain? Because she wore shoes of style but no comfort. So she looked good in her own mind but she didn't feel good because what

The Beauty of the Muslim Woman

Black and white. Well, what are you saying that for? Imam, it is my opinion. This is my opinion.

This is my personal opinion that there is no one on this earth more beautiful than a Muslim woman. There's no one who comes close to that. Who is a servant of Allah.

Who dresses to please Allah. Khaliful Mushrikeen. The opposite the disbelievers.

So when this woman before she leave the house like the other woman she looks in the mirror. But they looking in the mirror for something different. When the woman in the street look in the mirror she looking to make sure she has the best style.

She looks good. She can attract the man. But this woman when she look in the mirror she make sure she's dressed appropriately.

Make sure that Allah is pleased with her. Make sure she's covered. So when she go out in the street that she covered to please Allah subhana wa ta'ala.

If she does that, she's beautiful. Opposite. And then Imam hit me.

The Transformation of Iman

Black and white. The more you grow. The more you study.

The more iman you have. The more you become disattracted to some of the things of the dunya. You don't like what you used to do.

Because something happened to you. What happened to you? Something is in my heart now. Something is in my mind.

I have Quran in my mind. I have Quran in my heart. I have the love of the prophet.

I have the love of Allah. I have something in me. And I'm now different.

I feel different. And I warned you. I warn you.

Those of you who still like the dunya and you don't make a distinction then iman is not written in your heart. If you come here and you come here for juma and say, man let me get out of here. I can't give the khutbah so I can go.

I go back to my business. And be careful. Be careful.

Be careful. Make a distinction. Like black and white.

Yes. And believe me. The more iman you have now you're gonna treat your wife differently.

It's different now. You have a different criterion.

Conclusion: Be Opposite the Disbelievers

So brothers and sisters, I close, be opposite the disbelievers. And alhamdulillah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has given us the great model and Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in the Quran.

(Sahih al-Bukhari 7280)

"All of my ummah will go to paradise. Except for those who refuse."

Let us not refuse. I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to forgive us our sins. And have mercy upon us.

And guide us to the straight path.

Closing Supplications

We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to help the Muslims everywhere in every part of the globe where Muslims suffer. We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to help the Muslims in Palestine.

We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to help the Muslims in Afghanistan who struggle today. We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to help the Muslims in Bosnia, in Chechnya, and everywhere on the globe where there are Muslims. We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to help the Muslims in Somalia, help the Muslims in Sudan, help the Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago, help the Muslims in America and Europe, help the Muslims everywhere.

Allahumma salli ala muhammad wa ala azwajil muhammad wa zhuriyati muhammad wa sallim tasliman kathiran. Rabbana taqabbal minna innaka anta as-sameena aleem. Rabbana la tuakhidna annasina ata'na.

Rabbana wa la tahbil alayna isran kama matadhu allatheena min qablina. Rabbana wa la tuhammilna ma la taqtala na'bi' wa fur'amna wa qfil lana wa arhamna wa anta marlana fa ansurna ala alkaamil kafireen. Walhamdulillahi rabbil alameen.

Iqamatu salat.