Noah’s Ark or the Titanic
By Sulaiman Moola | 2026-01-16T16:07:12.362675+00:00 | Topic: Quran
Noah's Ark or the Titanic
Khutbah by Sheikh Sulaiman Moola
Opening
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.
And peace and blessings be upon the one who was sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his companions, and those who were guided by his guidance and followed his Sunnah until the Day of Judgment and beyond.
Opening Verse and Hadith
قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فِي كِتَابِهِ الْمَجِيدِ وَفُرْقَانِهِ الْحَمِيدِ
Quranic Verse
"And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice; indeed, the most disagreeable of sounds is the voice of donkeys."
Hadith
(Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 8595)
"I was sent to perfect the best of character." Or, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said.
Introduction
Honorable scholars, respected brothers, elders, and esteemed sisters:
It is indeed part of the short-sightedness of man that he only reflects over the apparent and forgets the hidden.
He tends to focus on the visible and ignore the invisible. He highlights the prime of issues and discards its end result.
Whereas in the Quran, Allah repeatedly invites us to introspect and reflect over the depth of matters and, more importantly, on its final result and its outcome. In other words, the gaze of a believer is not superficial and shallow. The gaze of a believer is deep, far-reaching to the end.
Main Theme: Reflecting on the End
The Quranic Call to Reflect
By way of example, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in the Quran:
"Have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them who disbelieved?"
And reflect over the nations that occupied the earth before you. And the key thing that the Quran invites us: كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَتُهُم - What happened to them in the end?
Modern Examples: The Financial Crisis
To be relevant with the happenings of the world today, we have the Eurozone crisis, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and heaven alone knows what happens beyond. Again, let's introspect on the outcome of this system -not at its beginning, not at its prime, but in the end, what happened to the system?
And more ironically, the bailout system is again the outcome of the crisis. Again, walking on that very slippery slope.
Hadith on Interest (Riba)
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said it very eloquently:
(Musnad Ahmad)
"Verily, a system, the lifeline of which is interest and usury, will inevitably bring that nation down to poverty and penury."
One scholar elaborating very beautifully on the concept of interest, its beginning, its prime, and its ultimate, he says it's pretty much like feeding a person food that is unhealthy, which creates obesity in the individual.
Apparently, there is growth, there is development, but that is obesity setting into that individual, and that would ultimately make him more prone and susceptible to so many illnesses and so many diseases.
Islamic Economics vs. Exploitation
In a nutshell, Islam is not there to exploit the desperation of another person, but rather take him forward and assist him.
So if I have $50,000, and I don't have, but if I do, and somebody needs to buy himself a car, Islam would teach me that I don't milk his desperation, I don't exploit it, but rather I give it to him as a gesture, and what would I get in return? This kind gesture will bring blessings, divine happiness, and barakah in my home. This is the Islamic module. This is the Islamic example.
The Nation of Aad: A Warning
The Quran says: Reflect over the nation of Aad. They devised mighty plots. Again, the Quran invites us to introspect, not at the execution of those plots. What happened to those nations in the end?
If we apply our eye across the world and analyze the political landscape of the world, you would know and realize we live in very exciting or trying times, however you choose to phrase it. People that were anchored and established in the empires for three decades, who thought they were indispensable or unsinkable as the article suggests, they've moved on, they have died a political death and some have died a physical death, and a new chapter has opened and life has continued.
The point is: You've amassed, you've accumulated, but in the end what happened? And that is the point of reflection.
Pride and Arrogance: The Root of Destruction
Let us not have the shallow gaze or the short-term vision, but the long-term vision of what is going to happen in the end. And amongst those people, and I want to tie it up to the theme, that the Quran warns us their end is nasty and evil, are the proud, the arrogant, and the haughty.
Now today this crime has been perpetrated on a micro level and a macro level. There are the individuals that perceive themselves to be indispensable, and there are the cabinets and the nations that perceive themselves to be unsinkable and indispensable.
The Definition of Pride According to Imam Ghazali
So what is the definition of pride? Be it perpetrated on a small scale or on the global platform. Imam Ghazali, and I will quote and then elucidate on his writings, he says:
The proud and the arrogant individual or nation is he, when he's advised, he haughtily rejects it. Yet when he advises other nations, he does so in a condescending manner. He does so with derogatory terminology. He does so with inflammatory remarks.
And any person who perceives himself better than anyone in the creation of Allah, in essence is a proud and an arrogant and a haughty person.
True Goodness Defined
Furthermore, he writes: It is important for you to realize, that a good person is not a man who is in his prime, is not a man who has amassed political strength, is not a man who is leading the ship, but rather a good person is one who has been defined good by Allah in the final outcome, and that is unknown, and it rests upon the death of that person.
Practical Exercises to Suppress Pride
He then gives us some practical examples, how we can, or some practical exercises, how we can learn to suppress the element of pride within ourselves, that will create and foster a better relation in our community.
Seeing a Young Boy
He says: If I see a lad walking, a young boy walking, the general notion is this boy, he's got no experience, he's done nothing in his life, I know better.
When you see a young boy, you say to yourself: "Hang on, this boy has not even reached the age of puberty, he's got no liabilities, he's got no sin on himself, undoubtedly he is better than me in the eyes of Allah. How can I even imagine myself to be better than him?"
Story of Abdullah Ibn Mubarak and the Young Boy
And I often quote the incident of Abdullah ibn Mubarak, who was one day strolling, and he passed by a young boy that was playing in the sand, and initially he ignored the boy and walked past, and then he had a counter thought and he said to himself:
"But the Prophet of Allah would also greet the children. I wouldn't lose much if I take a step back, and be polite and courteous and cordial to the boy."
So he took a step back and then with a warm embrace, he greeted the boy and he said, "How are you my young boy?"
And then Abdullah ibn Mubarak said, or Malik ibn Dinar rather, he said, "Let me engage the boy."
So I asked him, "What's the difference between the human intellect and the human ego?"
He said, "The human ego is the very thing that made you ignore me and walk past me, and the human intellect is the very thing that told you, take a step back and greet, you won't lose your honor, the Prophet of Allah also
greeted children."
He said, I was impressed. I engaged the boy on another level. I said, "Why are you playing with sand?"
He said, "Because Allah created us from sand and to sand is our return. In fact, there is an angel that announces when the corpse of the human is returned to the grave: 'O man, you started your journey from sand and you returned to sand, the only thing we dispatched you with a clean slate and you return with nothing but sins.'"
I asked the boy the third question: "Why do you laugh and cry?"
He said, "Sometimes while I'm in my amusement, I have a flash of the mercy of Allah and that manifests with a smile on my face. And at times I am reminded of the painful torment of the hereafter and that translates with pain and agony on my face."
And Malik ibn Dinar said: From that day onwards, I never ever thought myself to be superior to any child.
Seeing an Elderly Person
So what I'm saying is, the attitude that I address others in a condescending manner, this has devastating implications on our community as a whole and these are the very signs of danger for this Titanic to hit an iceberg.
And then okay, you meet an elderly man, is it time for you to feel that? No, this man he is elder than me, so I guess he's sinning before me, so I'm definitely better than him—that's the perception.
But what does Imam Ghazali say? You say to yourself, this man is elder than me in age, that means he's worshipping the Almighty way before my birth. How can I ever imagine that I'm better than him?
So you look at the young child and you say he's innocent. You look at the elderly and you say that you know what? This man has been worshipping Allah before me, hence he's better than me.
Hadith on Fasting and Prayer
There is a hadith, Musnad Ahmad, where Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) who narrates it, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that two people, Abu Huraira says two people accepted Islam from a particular tribe. One of them were martyred and the other one was given an additional one year of life.
Ironically Talha ibn Ubaidullah says, I seen the man who lived for a year longer entered paradise before the martyr. I was astonished and perplexed and I narrated that to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and he said:
"Is it not the man who was given one year additional life observed 30 fasts more? Has he not performed 6,000 odd rakats?"
And we said yes in the affirmative. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"It's the extension of one year of life that has secured his entry into paradise before."
Page 6
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The best of you are those who, when they are seen, remind you of Allah."
So, the question is, what is the profile of a Muslim? What are the characteristics of a Muslim? What are the qualities of a Muslim?
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one whom people trust with their wealth and their lives."
So, the first thing is trust. The second thing is that the believer is the one who, when he speaks, he speaks the truth. The third thing is that the believer is the one who, when he makes a promise, he fulfills his promise. And the fourth thing is that the believer is the one who, when he is entrusted with something, he does not betray that trust.
So, these are the four characteristics of a believer. And the question is, how do we get these characteristics? How do we become trustworthy? How do we speak the truth? How do we fulfill our promises? How do we not betray trust?
The answer is: By following the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) was the most trustworthy person, the most truthful person, the most fulfilling of promises, and the most loyal to trust.
So, if we want to be believers, we must follow the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the mirror of his brother."
So, the believer is a mirror to his brother. He sees his brother's faults and helps him to correct them. He sees his brother's good qualities and encourages him to develop them.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who loves for his brother what he loves for himself."
So, the believer loves for his brother what he loves for himself. He wants his brother to be happy, successful, and prosperous. He wants his brother to have all the good things in life.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is kind to his family, kind to his neighbors, and kind to all people."
So, the believer is kind to his family, kind to his neighbors, and kind to all people. He is compassionate, merciful, and forgiving.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is patient in times of hardship, grateful in times of ease, and content with the decree of Allah."
So, the believer is patient in times of hardship, grateful in times of ease, and content with the decree of Allah. He knows that everything that happens is from Allah, and he accepts it with gratitude.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is humble in his dealings with people, and he is not arrogant or proud."
So, the believer is humble in his dealings with people, and he is not arrogant or proud. He knows that he is nothing without Allah, and he does not boast about his achievements.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always striving to improve himself, and he is not content with his current state."
So, the believer is always striving to improve himself, and he is not content with his current state. He knows that he can always be better, and he is always working to become a better person.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always seeking knowledge, and he is not ignorant."
So, the believer is always seeking knowledge, and he is not ignorant. He knows that knowledge is the key to success in this life and the next.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always helping others, and he is not selfish."
So, the believer is always helping others, and he is not selfish. He knows that helping others is a way of pleasing Allah, and he is always looking for ways to help those in need.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always forgiving others, and he is not vengeful."
So, the believer is always forgiving others, and he is not vengeful. He knows that forgiveness is a virtue, and he is always willing to forgive those who have wronged him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always fearing Allah, and he is not heedless."
So, the believer is always fearing Allah, and he is not heedless. He knows that Allah is watching him, and he is always trying to do what is right.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always remembering Allah, and he is not forgetful."
So, the believer is always remembering Allah, and he is not forgetful. He knows that remembering Allah is a way of staying connected to Him, and he is always trying to remember Allah in all that he does.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always striving to do good deeds, and he is not lazy."
So, the believer is always striving to do good deeds, and he is not lazy. He knows that good deeds are a way of pleasing Allah, and he is always looking for ways to do good.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always avoiding evil, and he is not sinful."
So, the believer is always avoiding evil, and he is not sinful. He knows that evil is harmful, and he is always trying to avoid it.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always truthful in his speech, and he is not a liar."
So, the believer is always truthful in his speech, and he is not a liar. He knows that truthfulness is a virtue, and he is always trying to speak the truth.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always fulfilling his promises, and he is not a betrayer."
So, the believer is always fulfilling his promises, and he is not a betrayer. He knows that fulfilling promises is a virtue, and he is always trying to fulfill his promises.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always protecting the rights of others, and he is not unjust."
So, the believer is always protecting the rights of others, and he is not unjust. He knows that justice is a virtue, and he is always trying to be just.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always patient in the face of adversity, and he is not despairing."
So, the believer is always patient in the face of adversity, and he is not despairing. He knows that patience is a virtue, and he is always trying to be patient.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always grateful for the blessings of Allah, and he is not ungrateful."
So, the believer is always grateful for the blessings of Allah, and he is not ungrateful. He knows that gratitude is a virtue, and he is always trying to be grateful.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always striving to be a better person, and he is not complacent."
So, the believer is always striving to be a better person, and he is not complacent. He knows that he can always improve, and he is always working to do so.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always helping others, and he is not selfish."
So, the believer is always helping others, and he is not selfish. He knows that helping others is a way of pleasing Allah, and he is always looking for ways to help those in need.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always forgiving others, and he is not vengeful."
So, the believer is always forgiving others, and he is not vengeful. He knows that forgiveness is a virtue, and he is always willing to forgive those who have wronged him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always fearing Allah, and he is not heedless."
So, the believer is always fearing Allah, and he is not heedless. He knows that Allah is watching him, and he is always trying to do what is right.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always remembering Allah, and he is not forgetful."
So, the believer is always remembering Allah, and he is not forgetful. He knows that remembering Allah is a way of staying connected to Him, and he is always trying to remember Allah in all that he does.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always striving to do good deeds, and he is not lazy."
So, the believer is always striving to do good deeds, and he is not lazy. He knows that good deeds are a way of pleasing Allah, and he is always looking for ways to do good.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always avoiding evil, and he is not sinful."
So, the believer is always avoiding evil, and he is not sinful. He knows that evil is harmful, and he is always trying to avoid it.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always truthful in his speech, and he is not a liar."
So, the believer is always truthful in his speech, and he is not a liar. He knows that truthfulness is a virtue, and he is always trying to speak the truth.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always fulfilling his promises, and he is not a betrayer."
So, the believer is always fulfilling his promises, and he is not a betrayer. He knows that fulfilling promises is a virtue, and he is always trying to fulfill his promises.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always protecting the rights of others, and he is not unjust."
So, the believer is always protecting the rights of others, and he is not unjust. He knows that justice is a virtue, and he is always trying to be just.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always patient in the face of adversity, and he is not despairing."
So, the believer is always patient in the face of adversity, and he is not despairing. He knows that patience is a virtue, and he is always trying to be patient.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always grateful for the blessings of Allah, and he is not ungrateful."
So, the believer is always grateful for the blessings of Allah, and he is not ungrateful. He knows that gratitude is a virtue, and he is always trying to be grateful.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always striving to be a better person, and he is not complacent."
So, the believer is always striving to be a better person, and he is not complacent. He knows that he can always improve, and he is always working to do so.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always helping others, and he is not selfish."
So, the believer is always helping others, and he is not selfish. He knows that helping others is a way of pleasing Allah, and he is always looking for ways to help those in need.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always forgiving others, and he is not vengeful."
So, the believer is always forgiving others, and he is not vengeful. He knows that forgiveness is a virtue, and he is always willing to forgive those who have wronged him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always fearing Allah, and he is not heedless."
So, the believer is always fearing Allah, and he is not heedless. He knows that Allah is watching him, and he is always trying to do what is right.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always remembering Allah, and he is not forgetful."
So, the believer is always remembering Allah, and he is not forgetful. He knows that remembering Allah is a way of staying connected to Him, and he is always trying to remember Allah in all that he does.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always striving to do good deeds, and he is not lazy."
So, the believer is always striving to do good deeds, and he is not lazy. He knows that good deeds are a way of pleasing Allah, and he is always looking for ways to do good.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always avoiding evil, and he is not sinful."
So, the believer is always avoiding evil, and he is not sinful. He knows that evil is harmful, and he is always trying to avoid it.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always truthful in his speech, and he is not a liar."
So, the believer is always truthful in his speech, and he is not a liar. He knows that truthfulness is a virtue, and he is always trying to speak the truth.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always fulfilling his promises, and he is not a betrayer."
So, the believer is always fulfilling his promises, and he is not a betrayer. He knows that fulfilling promises is a virtue, and he is always trying to fulfill his promises.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always protecting the rights of others, and he is not unjust."
So, the believer is always protecting the rights of others, and he is not unjust. He knows that justice is a virtue, and he is always trying to be just.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always patient in the face of adversity, and he is not despairing."
So, the believer is always patient in the face of adversity, and he is not despairing. He knows that patience is a virtue, and he is always trying to be patient.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always grateful for the blessings of Allah, and he is not ungrateful."
So, the believer is always grateful for the blessings of Allah, and he is not ungrateful. He knows that gratitude is a virtue, and he is always trying to be grateful.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always striving to be a better person, and he is not complacent."
So, the believer is always striving to be a better person, and he is not complacent. He knows that he can always improve, and he is always working to do so.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always helping others, and he is not selfish."
So, the believer is always helping others, and he is not selfish. He knows that helping others is a way of pleasing Allah, and he is always looking for ways to help those in need.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always forgiving others, and he is not vengeful."
So, the believer is always forgiving others, and he is not vengeful. He knows that forgiveness is a virtue, and he is always willing to forgive those who have wronged him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always fearing Allah, and he is not heedless."
So, the believer is always fearing Allah, and he is not heedless. He knows that Allah is watching him, and he is always trying to do what is right.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always remembering Allah, and he is not forgetful."
So, the believer is always remembering Allah, and he is not forgetful. He knows that remembering Allah is a way of staying connected to Him, and he is always trying to remember Allah in all that he does.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always striving to do good deeds, and he is not lazy."
So, the believer is always striving to do good deeds, and he is not lazy. He knows that good deeds are a way of pleasing Allah, and he is always looking for ways to do good.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always avoiding evil, and he is not sinful."
So, the believer is always avoiding evil, and he is not sinful. He knows that evil is harmful, and he is always trying to avoid it.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always truthful in his speech, and he is not a liar."
So, the believer is always truthful in his speech, and he is not a liar. He knows that truthfulness is a virtue, and he is always trying to speak the truth.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always fulfilling his promises, and he is not a betrayer."
So, the believer is always fulfilling his promises, and he is not a betrayer. He knows that fulfilling promises is a virtue, and he is always trying to fulfill his promises.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always protecting the rights of others, and he is not unjust."
So, the believer is always protecting the rights of others, and he is not unjust. He knows that justice is a virtue, and he is always trying to be just.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always patient in the face of adversity, and he is not despairing."
So, the believer is always patient in the face of adversity, and he is not despairing. He knows that patience is a virtue, and he is always trying to be patient.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always grateful for the blessings of Allah, and he is not ungrateful."
So, the believer is always grateful for the blessings of Allah, and he is not ungrateful. He knows that gratitude is a virtue, and he is always trying to be grateful.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always striving to be a better person, and he is not complacent."
So, the believer is always striving to be a better person, and he is not complacent. He knows that he can always improve, and he is always working to do so.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always helping others, and he is not selfish."
So, the believer is always helping others, and he is not selfish. He knows that helping others is a way of pleasing Allah, and he is always looking for ways to help those in need.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always forgiving others, and he is not vengeful."
So, the believer is always forgiving others, and he is not vengeful. He knows that forgiveness is a virtue, and he is always willing to forgive those who have wronged him.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always fearing Allah, and he is not heedless."
So, the believer is always fearing Allah, and he is not heedless. He knows that Allah is watching him, and he is always trying to do what is right.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always remembering Allah, and he is not forgetful."
So, the believer is always remembering Allah, and he is not forgetful. He knows that remembering Allah is a way of staying connected to Him, and he is always trying to remember Allah in all that he does.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always striving to do good deeds, and he is not lazy."
So, the believer is always striving to do good deeds, and he is not lazy. He knows that good deeds are a way of pleasing Allah, and he is always looking for ways to do good.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always avoiding evil, and he is not sinful."
So, the believer is always avoiding evil, and he is not sinful. He knows that evil is harmful, and he is always trying to avoid it.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always truthful in his speech, and he is not a liar."
So, the believer is always truthful in his speech, and he is not a liar. He knows that truthfulness is a virtue, and he is always trying to speak the truth.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always fulfilling his promises, and he is not a betrayer."
So, the believer is always fulfilling his promises, and he is not a betrayer. He knows that fulfilling promises is a virtue, and he is always trying to fulfill his promises.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always protecting the rights of others, and he is not unjust."
So, the believer is always protecting the rights of others, and he is not unjust. He knows that justice is a virtue, and he is always trying to be just.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always patient in the face of adversity, and he is not despairing."
So, the believer is always patient in the face of adversity, and he is not despairing. He knows that patience is a virtue, and he is always trying to be patient.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the one who is always grateful for the blessings of Allah, and he is not ungrateful."
So, the believer is always grateful for the blessings of Allah, and he is not ungrateful. He knows that gratitude is a virtue, and he is always trying to be grateful.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The believer is the
attends the funeral of my friend before he concludes the prayer of the dead, he will be sure to be forgiven."
So when the Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) made this public address, the people came out in their numbers, in scores, in multitudes.
Society is society. They will talk, they won't keep quiet. People will say whatever they want to say. You know, this one person wrote a poem and some people condemned him, so he said:
"If people condemned my writing, I will not be demoralized by the negative comments of society. People have accused the Quran of being sorcery, and they've equally held the accusation of lies against the paragon of creation Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم"
And another poet said:
"If the man blemishing me is incompetent, this is actually a testimony to my perfection, because the man blemishing me is incompetent, so it doesn't have a negative spin, if any a positive beat."
As it may, when the people came and they seen his corpse they said:
"O Musa, you said we must attend the funeral of one of the friends of Allah. How is this possible? This man is wicked, he's the scum of the earth. We have banished him from our society."
فَتَعَجَّبَ مُوسَى مِنْ ذَلِكَ - The Prophet Musa was confused, perplexed.
"O my Lord, what is this?"
He speaks to the Almighty. So Allah says:
"That is correct what they are saying. This was the condition of this man."
I beg of your undivided attention. It's a very critical and a very crucial explanation.
"But the destiny of this man turned differently in the 11th hour."
And who am I to judge and who am I to pronounce a ruling that I am superior to him?
"O Musa, let me tell you what happened to this man when it was the time of death. He was in isolation, society had banished him. فَنَظَرَ الرَّجُلُ يَمِينًا فَلَمْ يَرَ أَحَدًا - He looked towards his right, he seen absolutely no person."
Now humanly when a person is in the throes of death, you want a shoulder to lean on, you want a comforting hand, you want somebody there to be on your side. And let me digress and share with you a very emotional brief dialogue.
Digression: Amr ibn al-As on His Deathbed
When Amr ibn al-As )رضي الله عنه(, the conqueror of Egypt, when he was in the throes of death, his son was at his bedside. So the son said to the dad—and this is now meaningful dialogue. Today we have all other types of dialogue and we engage with our parents and child and quality time and the rest of it—but how about this as a dialogue?
The son asked the dad while the dad, the father is slipping away into death. He says:
"O my dad, describe death to me. I don't wish to be insensitive to your pain and your agony, but after you're gone, none will explain to me what death entails. If it's all possible, could you explain to me the agony of death?"
So he says to his son:
"Go and gather a thousand mountains of the world, and place them on my shoulders."
"And I feel as if I'm trying to breathe from the eye of a needle."
"The mountains, the colossal mountains of the world are on my shoulders, and I'm trying to gain my composure and get a breath from the eye of a needle."
And he passes on reading the very famous dua:
"O Allah, You commanded and we disobeyed. You forbade and we violated. We find no excuse or justification for ourselves. So make our hope in the chosen one (the Prophet Muhammad)."
I don't have time to elaborate, but that was the moment and that was the dialogue.
Back to the Wicked Man's Story
So this wicked man at the time of death, he looked to his right, he seen no one. He looked to his left, he seen no one. So he turned his gaze to the heavens. وَبَدَأَ يُنَاجِي رَبَّهُ - And how he spoke to Allah!
He said:
"O my Lord, society has ditched me, my community has banished me, my colleagues have forsaken me, the nation has abandoned me. My Lord, I die in isolation, my gaze on you, my hope on you. If I knew by You punishing me it will elevate your grandeur, it will push your ranking higher up on the stage, or by You forgiving me it will drop your status, then I would have never mastered the courage to ask you to forgive me. But I know very well, my Lord, You are at the pinnacle of glory. Forgiving one or punishing one will not affect your
greatness in any way. Hence I muster the courage and I ask you, my Lord, forgive me. You remain exalted, my entire abode will be rescued."
O Musa, what is it? كَانَ لَا يَزَالُ عَلَى مَا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْعَظَمَةِ - He was a man who said this, and there's an Arabic expression they say:
"The Almighty remains exalted even when He descends, and the servant remains humble even when he ascends."
O Musa, what is it?
"He was the lowest of My servants. Had he extended his request for everyone on the earth, rest assured I was going to pardon everyone, O Musa, and grant him exactly what he wanted."
Coming back to the point: What was I saying? When you look at the sinner, don't have this attitude of superiority. "I know better."
What did Imam Ghazali say? وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا يَلْقَانِي فِي آخِرِ الطَّرِيقِ وَمَا يَلْقَاهُ - "I really don't know what's going to meet me at the end of the road and what's going to meet him at the end of the road."
A man who was banished from community and society, the Almighty brought the nation to lead his prayer in the desert in the hope of pardon for themselves. Such was the end of this person.
Viewing the Disbeliever with Hope
Furthermore he writes:
وَإِنْ رَأَيْتَ كَافِرًا - "If you see a disbeliever, if you see a sinner, does it give you the right to say I am superior, I am better?"
No, not at all. And you heard from me loud and clear: This is the beautiful teachings of Islam.
What should you say?
"Perhaps he will be favored with the beauty of Islam and he will die a noble death, and I will be denied the truth before my eyes close and my end will be wicked. And he will stand up close to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم"
Example: A Man Who Died Without Praying
There was a man who came and joined the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in a campaign and he was alongside with the Prophet of Allah in the campaign. And he passed away in that particular campaign. He reverted, he had not
offered one prayer. He accepted the faith, he participated in the campaign, and he passed away in that particular campaign.
The hadith of Bukhari, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
"He did a little and he secured a lot."
For him, was it not a great reward?
Example: Ikramah, Son of Abu Jahl
The son of Abu Jahl, who was the arch enemy of Islam, the sworn enemy of Islam, the man who had caused the greatest pain to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم What did he do when he embraced the faith? One could never imagine that this person would ever embrace the faith of Islam. But yes, history bears testimony to the fact that the day came that he embraced the faith.
And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم made a prayer in his favor:
"O my Lord, this is the son of Abu Jahl. His father has caused me great pain, but he has embraced my faith. I have forgiven him and I equally ask you to forgive him, every time he tried to harm Islam."
This man was so impressed, overwhelmed. He lifted his hands and he said:
"O Muhammad, I've only embraced the faith but you've given me such amnesty and rescue, such protection and shelter. I feel like I was amongst you from the very beginning. I will vow to you: Whatever wealth and resources I had used anti-Islam against Islamإِلَّا أَنْفَقْتُ ضِعْفَهَا فِي سَبِيلِ الله - I will now double my resources to enhance the cause of Islam."
The Cure: Humility, Not Superiority
So the point I'm saying, the long and short: To rescue the ship of humanity, what is it? The attitude that I'm superior has to come out.
The verse that I recited in the beginning is one of the profound advisors of the great giant Luqman. Now we all know Luqman )علیه السلام(. He was dark-skinned, he lacked physical beauty. Somebody asked him once and said to him: "Your face is so ugly."
He didn't have physical features, beauty, whatever it is, you know, you lack physical beauty. So he gave such an amazing answer. He said:
"When you say my face lacks it, I'm asking you: Are you frowning on the pattern or are you objecting on the pattern maker? Are you moaning on the design or the design maker?"
And that is the Almighty. He was a great man of profound wisdom.
Luqman's Advice to His Son
He said to his son:
"O my son, don't be hostile, don't be harsh, don't frown, don't be abrupt with people."
By the way, I read an article they say: When you frown, you exert more facial muscles than when you smile, so it's cheaper to smile. The definition of a smile: The only curve that puts things straight.
And somebody made a definition of a yawn: What's the definition of a yawn? The only time married men get to open their mouths!
Anyway.
وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ - Do not moan and groan with people. Do not be abrupt. Be polite, be cordial, be courteous.
Don't... Now remember, if you keep my initial comments in your heart, that from your heart you believe every person superior to yourself, then that smile will foster a relation. It won't be a false smile, because I truly believe the young and the old, the learned and the ignorant, the male and female, believer and otherwise, he is better than me, he is better than me.
And one scholar said it's so beautiful. He said:
"I consider everyone better than me because I assume he sins and I know I sin. With regards to myself, I have a conviction. With regards to myself, I know I do wrong. And what others do? After all, every servant sins, so it's a perception."
Furthermore he says: Allah doesn't like الْمُخْتَالُ and الْفَخُورُ - the proud and the arrogant.
The Ahlul Lughah, those who have studied the Arabic linguistics, they tell us: The word مُخْتَالٌ refers to arrogance over inner beauty. So either it is intelligence, its competence, its skill, its physical beauty, while فَخُورٌ refers to pride over external beauty-external beauty in terms of fame, in terms of recognition, in terms of affluence.
Those things, be it internal or external Allah )سبحانه وتعالى( shuns and abhors those people who carry the traits of pride and arrogance.
Hadith: The Arrogant Man Swallowed by the Earth
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) has said in the hadith of Bukhari:
A young man was walking in the previous nations, clad in a beautiful garb. He had combed his hair very beautifully, well-dressed. That's not a problem. It's wonderful. Allah loves neatness. But here came the problem: Suddenly his walk gave off the notion of superiority. "I am better, my garb more exclusive, my know-how greater."
And then what happened?
- Allah ordered the earth to split, and it continues to sink in the depth of the world, in the depth of the earth.
The Quran on Pride
The Quran speaks about the ship. We're talking about the ship of humanity. As massive as the ship is, but when you look at that ship in the dead center, it's a speck in front of the ocean.
You fly the A380. As it takes off, wow, amazing, 520, the comfort on board, you have your all the other amenities and luxuries. Take a shower on board and the rest of it. But when you are cruising at an altitude of 11,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level and you look outside in the broader atmosphere, what is this entire A380? Nothing but a speck in the atmosphere of Allah.
So you might be proud and arrogant, but in front of the land of Allah, the Quran says:
As much as you shrug your shoulders, you're not going to even get close to the lowest mountain, never mind the clouds. You're not going to even get close to the lowest mountain. And as much as you strike your feet on the ground, rest assured this earth is very strong. It will swallow nations.
Sayyiduna Umar's Fear
Sayyiduna Umar said:
"The thing I fear the most for my people when this nation will fragment and every one of them will become obsessed on their personal opinion, and they won't have space and room to listen to others, to welcome another view, to entertain another view. That is the biggest fear with which I die. I fear the most for my people."
And whoever says "I am a scholar" is ignorant. And whoever says "I am in heaven" is in hell.
And Sayyiduna Umar said: "The one that said he knows it, rest assured he's ignorant. And the one that said he's in paradise, take it from me, he's in hell."
That is why somebody asked our mother Aisha:
"When do I know that I'm a good person?"
She said: "When you truly believe you're a bad person."
"When do I know I'm a bad person?"
"When you truly believe you're a good person, then that is sufficient to spell the destruction of yourself."
The Two Qualities That Save or Destroy
Now Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said:
"The ship of mankind has always been rescued because of two good qualities, and the ship of humanity has always lost its focus and has sunk with its crew because of two qualities."
What Saves the Ship
What are the two factors that are going to rescue the ship of humanity? When the crew will have good vision, noble intention, good ideas, then they will sail and they will make it across.
Remember the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) has painted a time before Qiyamah where he said: "It will get so bleak that a murderer will murder and the murdered will be murdered, and both of them will go to hell."
So the companion said: "We can understand the crime of the murderer, but it's not the murdered an innocent party, is not a victim of the aggression of the victor and the perpetrator?"
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: "The one who died, he died with the equal aspiration to kill. It's just that fate prevailed and his time had expired. Otherwise he died with the aspiration of killing."
Taqwa: The Key
When evil intention will dominate, when the nature of our thinking will be diluted, our vision will be obscured, we won't have good intention, then we will be digging our own holes.
So when we have good intention and we have taqwa, taqwa is the thing that has rescued anyone.
Someone asked: "You don't sing poetry?"
He said: "I have a poem."
They asked him: "You don't have poetry?"
He said: "I have a poem.'
They said: "What is it?"
And then he sang these couplets. What did he say?
Every man wishes that his dream comes to fruition, it sees conclusion, but Allah has decided only what He wants will ultimately prevail. Man calls out and cries out: 'My wealth, my empire, my position, my dynasty, my empire.' But taqwa and consciousness of Allah...
What is the taqwa? The Arabic poet said it so beautifully:
"Live in this world like how a person is walking in a thorny jungle. Because when you're walking in a thorny jungle, I might hurt myself, I might prick myself, I might get offended, I get hurt here. In the very same way, a believer has to be conscious, he has to be focused, he has to be objective in how he navigates his way forward."
What Destroys the Ship
And the things that have destroyed the ship of humanity... And I want to speak a little more on this and then bring it to: What is the message? How can we better represent Islamic values and Canadian ethics that brings the conclusion of the write-up on the topic of the Titanic? And I'll bring it to some tangible solutions that you and I can do.
So what can we do? The two things that have destroyed the ship of humanity:
Number One: Self-Conceit
Number one is to be conceited, to look at myself as superior and to look at others as inferior.
What is the manifestation of this evil malady? The one who has the sickness in him, whenever he talks, he'll be chanting one slogan. He'll only be trumpeting himself: Me, myself, and us. Me, myself, and us. That's it.
When you meet him in a gathering, he needs the center, he needs the stage, he needs to dominate the show. Aversion to the contradiction of his opinion. He will never ever accept a counter opinion.
And I'm afraid this thing has really fragmented this ummah, where we don't have the muscles and the strength and the vision to allow and to entertain and to hear the views of other people as well.
So that is why the scholars have written something so unique. They say:
"There is one form of truth that is disliked."
- "It is a truth, but it's disliked."
So the question was asked: "What is that type of truth that is disliked?"
He said: "When a person starts paying tribute to himself and he starts blowing the trumpet of himself. As much as it is good, it's correct, but that's not healthy. That will destroy you."
And furthermore he writes: "This will have an adverse effect on you."
He said: "Remember, that self-conceited arrogant attitude of yours... I mean look at the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) I might be digressing here, but it's an example in a marital context that might be very meaningful."
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) receives revelation that Archangel Jibreel meets with him. And for the record, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) was the only prophet who had the privilege of seeing Jibreel in his original form.
Otherwise the prophets would see him in a human impersonated form.
So the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) meets with Jibreel. Prophethood is conferred upon him. He didn't come home and say to his honorable spouse and noble consort Khadija: "Do you know what? I had a meeting with Jibreel and I'm scheduled to meet with Mikael tomorrow."
No, no, no. "Embrace me and shroud me, give me comfort."
He came in as a normal, ordinary, humble, simple man. What was the amazing nature of his character? The impeccable, the flawless, the infallible teachings of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)
So anyway, he says: "Remember, that self-conceited attitude will attract the wrath of Allah. And if you want to see how harmful this is, take an example of your friends. When they praise themselves, you just keep on nodding your head. And then when he goes out, you say: 'Oh, he's got an attitude. He thinks too much of himself.'"
They say: Some people fly so much they have an altitude problem. Some have an attitude problem. "He's got an attitude, he's got a chip on his shoulder."
Exactly will be the response of people to you if you sit and brag about yourself when you walk out of the gathering.
Number Two: Despondency
So now bringing to a conclusion, this is what we've heard. These are the things that are going to destroy us. The other component I don't want to go into detail: That will cause the ship to wreck. One is pride, self-conceited, and the other thing is despondency.
Today the ummah has become a victim of psychological defeat. Study the rise and the falls of nations. Physical defeat in battle never mark the end of a nation. But a nation that became a victim of psychological defeat never stood on its feet again.
Physical fall has always happened throughout times. It has happened in the best of eras for strategic reasons, for other reasons. But when a nation has become a victim of psychological defeat and he has given up its hope...
Sayyiduna Yaqub (عليه السلام - ʿalayhi al-salām) what does the Quran teach us? As bleak as the time will become, Islam provides us direction and navigation. And we have to have hope and optimistic. Obviously we need to have reasonable hope and we cannot be in fantasy and wishful thinking.
The Way Forward: Three Prophetic Examples
So what is the way forward? I share with you three examples: How can we better represent Islam? And that is where the writer brings it to that conclusion: How can we better represent Islam?
Example One: Slaughtering the Lamb
The narration is in Tabari. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) was out with the companions. It was the time of meal. So
he said:
"Can we perhaps slaughter a lamb and we can arrange some meal?"
So one Sahabi said: "Leave the slaughter of the lamb. I'll slaughter the lamb. I will slaughter it."
That's fine. Another companion said: "Oh Prophet of Allah, I will skin the animal."
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said "That's fine."
The third one said: "I will cook the meal."
That's fine. Did the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) sit back and say, "Yes, do it quickly"? No, not at all.
What did he say? And it gives me a shiver in my spine. If the leaders of the world, if the parents of the world, if the guardians of the world could lead by the example of Muhammad, I promise you the destiny of humanity will be different.
He said:
- "Okay, you slaughter it, you skin it, you prepare the meal. I will gather the firewood and ignite the fire."
"Oh Prophet of Allah, don't insult us. Please take a seat, we will take care."
"Well, I know you will suffice for me and I know you are ready to give your life for me, but Allah dislikes it when one servant elevates himself over others, giving a notion of superiority. And Allah loves it when we mutually work together and we put our shoulder to the wheel and we work collectively. This is a sight loved by Allah."
I read an English proverb. It said:
A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.
"A society grows great, the foundation, the building blocks of that community are amazing when an elderly man comes and plants the seed, consciously knowing I will not see the seed grow, but there will be a boy in the progeny of this ummah who will one day play under the shade of the street. And that's enough to make me happy."
If only that can become the building blocks of our community. If only that can become the vision.
So what did the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) say? "I know very well."
Example Two: After the Campaign of Uhud
Let me share with you another incident. I've been actually asked to continue a little, so I won't extend too much time as well.
It's the occasion after the campaign of Uhud. Look at the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam), one-on-one interaction. How he presented this example to the world.
You know in Arabic they say, because the example I'm going to give you elucidates this theory: The teachings of Islam is it's better for you to persevere in your own pain. Don't moan, don't groan, don't yell, don't make a noise. Persevere. That's the teachings of Islam.
When the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)'s blessed finger was injured, the Sahaba were very hurt about it. And make no mistake, this was the very finger that split the moon. And he said: "This is a finger and whatever it has endured has been in the cause of Allah."
Anyway, the Arabic proverb goes as follows: It is better for you to persevere on your own pain than to moan and groan. And it is better for you to moan and groan on the pain of others than to persevere.
Now today, if we look at humanity by and large, over the most trivial of inflictions on myself, I make a noise. I want to mobilize, I want to get it in the media, I want to address it, I want intervention methods because I've been violated, my rights have been infringed upon and the rest of it. But I'm silent to the pains of others. I'm silent to the agony of others.
If this becomes the ethos of the Muslim, if this becomes the driving mentality of the Muslims, if this becomes the lifeline of the Muslims—and not Muslims, by extension, humanity—that I can persevere on my own pain, but it hurts me to see when others are oppressed, that will bring about a transformation in the community.
Story of Jabir and the Prophet's Kindness
So here's Jabir. It's the occasion of Uhud. His honorable father has been martyred and he passes away. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) meets Jabir, and I'm going to bring it to a conclusion, making a request to everyone: To tap the life of someone, to add value to the life of someone, to change someone positively.
How can we better represent Canadian values, Islamic values? Here is a perfect example. And who better than (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) the master?
So the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said:
"You're looking so sad, you're looking so depressed. Is there anything wrong?"
He said: "Oh, well, Prophet of Allah, you know my dad has been martyred in the battle of Uhud. And obviously I continue to think about him and I pine for him and I yearn for him."
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam): "Can I give you some psychological comfort?"
He said: "Please tell me."
He said: "Allah has not spoken to anyone but behind a veil. But the honor of your father is so amazing, the veil was removed and the Almighty spoke to your father without a veil."
Jabir was elated, overwhelmed, ecstatic, overwhelmed. "What an honor my father got in the court of Allah!"
But the challenge of Jabir is far from over. The father leaves behind liabilities, and the young man Jabir is under enormous pressure, under enormous pressure to clear the debts of his late father.
He has absolutely nothing. He comes back to the door of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)
Are there such doors today in the ummah that if a young boy feels suicidal at 12 o'clock, he can turn direction? Are there doors in this ummah if a young girl is going through stress or depression or anxiety or anything else, do we have the necessary mechanisms to embrace them, empower them, and give them the correct direction?
Jabir comes back to the door of Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam)
"Oh Prophet of Allah, as much as I take solace from the comforting words you said about my late father, but here comes another twist in my life. There's liabilities. They are young sisters. I have siblings. And my father hasn't left behind any assets and wealth. Nothing more than one simple basic tree. And I'm owing a lot of dates to the different people whom my father had borrowed from."
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said:
"Tomorrow at midday I will be at your place. Just separate your dates and be sure to receive me."
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) spot on, comes on his time. He then goes around the dates, circumambulation around the dates, and then he invokes the blessings of Allah upon the dates.
He said: "Now call them and start settling the debts."
They come one by one. I am only sharing with you one example. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) touched the life of every person. We're talking of how we can save...
I told you what we need to do objectively, and these are some perfect examples. Call them and start dishing out.
So he calls them one after the other and he starts giving them their dates until the debts have been settled. He's all happy and all excited. He comes home. His wife asked him: "What's the good news?"
"Allah has settled the debts of my late father. He invoked the mercy of Allah. The debts have been settled and the dates remain as they are. So I have an asset, liabilities have been removed. I'm happy to know my father is in the bliss, in the gardens of bliss."
Thereafter, time moves on. Comes the campaign of... Briefly I will quickly run you through it.
So the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) alongside with his companions are returning from this campaign. They are getting close, praising Allah, invoking gratitude on Allah. And Jabir is at the rear of the entire group.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) doesn't ignore him. What did we say in the write-up here? The arrogance of full speed ahead. The arrogance of full speed ahead. Whatever happens to others, let it be.
No, no. Look at the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam). Everybody is moving at a distance. He noticed Jabir is in the rear. So he comes to Jabir. He said:
"What's the problem, yeah, Jabir?"
He said: "Oh Prophet of Allah, my camel is very, very sluggish."
"Okay."
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam): "Give me your stuff. You sit on your camel and just give me the stuff."
So the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) takes the stuff and then gently strikes the camel of Jabir.
It was the mere strike of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) coupled by the divine strength of Allah. So Allah told the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam): "When you took a handful of dust and you scattered the dust, it was your hand, but it was aided by Allah."
Apparently your hand, but the power was coming from Allah. If you look at the eloquence in this word, it's just mind-boggling.
So a gentle strike from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) onto the camel of Jabir. And yes, suddenly the camel is now moving.
Everybody's like: "Jabir, how did you get that right? What gas are you using?"
It's the blessings of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) nothing more.
Anyway, he's happy now. He's swerved, he's got his confidence. His car is moving, his camel is swerved, all is coming right in the life of Jabir.
Look at the life of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam). It's an insult for us to look elsewhere to guide or to present when we have the greatest, the noblest of examples.
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) comes to him. He says:
"How's the camel?"
He says: "It's awesome."
"Okay, Jabir, I need to ask you a favor, please."
"Yes, oh Prophet of Allah, please tell me."
"Will you be kind enough, can you sell me your camel, please? I want it."
Jabir is like: "Oh man, oh man. If when it wasn't working, yeah, that was the time to sell it, not now. But how dare I say that to the Prophet of Allah? Please, Jabir, will you sell it?"
So Jabir says: "There's like this contradiction of emotions in my heart. I'm saying, but I have... You can have it, you can have it."
The Prophet says: "No, no, no. What an example. The pinnacle of Allah's creation, the glory. But what was his interaction with fellow humans? What time did he have? What was his character? How did he interact with
people? Sell it to me."
He said: "Okay, oh Prophet of Allah. If you insist, make a price."
So the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said:
"I'll buy it for one dirham."
He said: "No, Prophet of Allah. In Bidaya, this whole narration is written. One dirham? That's like kind of cheating, man. I'm sorry, oh Prophet of Allah. That sounds harsh. But one dirham?"
"So, okay, sorry Jabir. For me, then, two dirhams."
"Oh, no, man, oh Prophet of Allah. Let's be real."
Until he elevates the price to one ounce of gold.
Jabir has a flash and he says: "Hey, yes. I'm owing somebody an ounce of gold. I'll offset that ounce with this camel. Oh Prophet of Allah, that's perfect. Sorted out. I will sell you the camel for one ounce of gold."
All measures in place, but one condition:
"Can I enjoy the ride till Medina? I'm enjoying it. It's such a beautiful ride. Till Medina, can I enjoy it?"
"It's yours, Jabir. Till Medina, I won't take it. We get to Medina, we will exchange money. Take my camel from you and the deal is done."
Anyway, as we get closer, closer, Jabir starts intensifying his speed and he's moving even faster and even faster.
So the Prophet said: "What's all the excitement? Why so quick?"
He said: "Oh Prophet of Allah, I'm just newly wed."
Now you know, I often say: You get two types of couples. You get the newly wed or the nearly dead. You get two types of couples, the newly wed or the nearly dead.
So one brother said: "Sheikh, how do you define the newly wed from the nearly dead?"
I said: "If you go in the bedroom and there is the most exclusive of clothing, there's the most beautiful of fragrance, deodorants, then you must know it's a newly wed. And if you walk in there and there's a cough mixture and there's false teeth and there's a staff and there's a magnifying glass and there's some bandage, then it's a nearly dead."
Be it as it may, so he said: "Oh Prophet of Allah, I'm newly wed."
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: "Okay, go, go, go. Who do you get married to, Jabir?"
Oh, look at the youth of this umma. I cried when I read this. What was the maturity of those youth?
"Was it a young girl or was it a woman that was previously married?"
He said: "Oh Prophet of Allah, I got married to a woman slightly elder than me in age."
"Jabir, Jabir, why not a young girl? You could have enjoyed the initial moments of your life."
He said: "Oh Prophet of Allah, my dad passed away. He left behind young sisters. I didn't want to bring a young girl in the house who will become a friend to my sisters. I needed to have the maturity of a spouse who will be a mother to my sisters and a partner to myself. I had to forfeit my own interests. I had to overlook my own desire. I had to think long term for my sisters as well as myself. I ignored the aspiration and the fantasy of a young man and I honored the vision of my late father's soul. I brought an elderly woman who will mother my sisters and be a spouse to me."
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) teared and he said:
يَا جَابِرُ، أَصَبْتَ - "Jabir, you have your compass in order. Jabir, you have your compass in order."
What a vision, what maturity, what was the rational, what was the thinking behind Jabir? Was he not a young man like any other young man? Did he not have the fantasy and the aspiration that any young man and woman would have to commence, gradually evolve and move on, enjoy? But the vision was long term.
If only the youth, not of the ummah, but the thousands that have converged here can embrace that mentality and that approach, things will be different.
Anyway, Jabir said: "I'm excited because I'm newlywed."
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - ṣallā Allāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) taking that and then he's making dua for me. And then he's making dua for me.
And I started counting. 25 times he made dua for me:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِجَابِرٍ ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِجَابِرٍ، اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِجَابِرٍ
Imagine the dua from the Prophet!
He said: "I'm ecstatic. I get home, I'm all excited. I meet with the Prophet, I meet with my spouse and my partner. I share my experiences and my emotions. I said, you know, I'm a bit sad. Our camel is moving well. I wanted to take you for a ride, but yeah, you know what? It's no longer ours."
"Why?"
"Well, it's a long story brief. The Prophet of Allah has bought it from me and I couldn't decline. And I'm finding it so difficult to part with it. My emotions are so contradicting."
So my wife comforted me. She consoled me. She said: "No, don't get so personal. Go in the morning and there will be khair in it. Go to the Prophet of Allah and say, 'Oh Prophet of Allah, here's your camel.' And that's it. And do the right thing and Allah will bless us."
He says: "I get up in the morning. I take my camel. I come there. The Prophet of Allah tells Bilal: 'Give him his money and give him extra also. Give him the one ounce of gold and give him extra.'"
So I go, I collect my one ounce. I said: "That's enough."
He says: "And the Prophet of Allah has told me I must give you extra."
Said: "SubhanAllah, what is this additional money for?"
"I don't know. It's just in compliance to the sentiments of the Prophet."
So I'm more excited. I've got my one ounce to offset my liability and I also have some additional money. I can do something good.
As I walk out of there, somebody says:
"Yeah Jabir! (أَجِبْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَجِبْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ - Jabir, the Prophet of Allah is calling.)"
I said: "Now what, now what? I just hope we're not dropping that one ounce to half an ounce. That's the fear."
If you're dealing with me or you, but not when you're dealing with Muhammad ﷺ
It's the fate of the money, Jabir.
"Jabir, have you the money?"
"And I am so humbled by the additional money. I feel so great, so awesome, so kind of you, that additional money that you've given to me."
The Prophet ﷺ smiled. There's a moment of silence. He said:
"Jabir, where's the camel?"
He said: "Here's it, oh Prophet of Allah. Here's it."
The Prophet ﷺ embraces Jabir. He said:
(أَبْقِ بِدَائِكَ - "Read the narration, Jabir. I was just having some time with you. I was just enjoying my moments with you. I was keeping you in company. I was keeping you in some light-heartedness. We're living in a world of depression.")
Muhammad Ibn Sirin said: "If there isn't meaningful light-heartedness, the human race will die with depression."
If there isn't meaningful—I stress the word meaningful—because Islam wants objective, not something that is meaningless.
"Jabir, I was just engaging with you. Did you think I would have ever taken this from you?"
So Jabir tears and he says: "How can I take it, oh Prophet of Allah? I have taken the money."
He said: "Jabir, this is the character with which my Lord has sent me. The camel remains yours. The money remains yours. The additional remains yours."
As Jabir walks out of there, he's screaming, he's yelling. He meets a non-Muslim. The non-Muslim says: "What is the matter, brother?"
He said: "Come and meet my Prophet. He's the greatest human the earth has ever seen."
Conclusion
I leave you with these comments. I ask you, as I said in one of my talks once, this is the time that Allah has given us. The ground is fertile. The opportunity is perfect. And these are my last thoughts that I would leave with you:
Aspire to inspire before you expire.
Aspire to inspire before you expire.
End of Khutbah