Jummah Khutbah Heroes and Heroism
By Yaser Birjas | 2026-01-13T07:51:24.467386+00:00 | Topic: Iman
Heroes and Heroism
Opening
"Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings."
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful."
"All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions, and may they be granted abundant peace. To proceed:"
Introduction
Mohamedov and McGregor fight that just happened last weekend. And many, many people watched all over the world and specifically within the Muslim community with such a very unique and special enthusiasm, subhanallah. If it shows us anything, it shows how desperate the Muslim community has become to find hope somewhere, anywhere, something to give them some sense of pride.
Why? Because that fight just proved that we really need hope, we need heroes. It's to that level that we're looking for symbolic winning or victory, even if it was on the octagon. And subhanallah for many people, as we know, the fight is not really about two MMA professionals fighting, you know, it wasn't about that for them.
It's a fight by proxy between good and bad, and right and wrong. So for them, that fight is just like a symbolic. They always wanted someone just to stand up, you know, for this hate speech, for this Islamophobia, for racism, for all this, those commercialized, subhanallah, hate, all of this.
They want someone to stand up for this. But they didn't do anything until someone came, subhanallah. So they thought of him that he was the hero that they needed.
But in reality, it was just the hero they wanted. Heroism is not necessarily on the octagon, it's not there, it's somewhere else. We need to work on it, inshallah, but why do we need heroes for anyway? It's a human thing.
It's natural. And it's not even new in the history of mankind, not just the Muslims. They all spoke about heroes.
And the word hero itself comes from Greek mythology, which means the protector, someone that guards you and protects you. We look for that protector in our lives. Why? Because they're symbols of virtues.
They're symbols of attributes we all cherish and we strive for. So for us, when it looks for heroes, if they're real, subhanallah, that means it's doable, something you can achieve. Oh, you can find someone who can stand up for justice then, and stand against the tyrants, and so on.
So it's doable, and we would love to have heroes like this so we can emulate and follow their example. But once again, many people think this is necessary.
But is it? Do we really have to have heroes in order to bring change and find success? Do we really need that? Maybe we want this, but in reality, maybe we don't need this, subhanallah.
The Story of Bani Israel
And we have an example for this that was mentioned in the Quran. See, in Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala brings into us the example of how much people always look for heroes. The story of Bani Israel, jama'ah.
The story of Bani Israel, it's all about heroes, by the way. When Musa alayhi as-salam, to Yusha ibn Nun, and so on. But then the famous story, after the time of Musa alayhi as-salam, when Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala narrated to us the story of Bani Israel, Look at this.
So the time after Musa alayhi as-salam, what happened to Bani Israel? They went into a lot of, you know, turmoils and going up and down. And subhanallah, the difference between our Ummah and Bani Israel is that every time a prophet dies in Bani Israel, he used to be followed and succeeded by another prophet. So they're always led by prophets.
Symbols of virtue. And they always have this divine connection with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. So they always aspire for someone like this, but then they needed some sense of, you know, strong leader that they could follow.
Bani Israel Asks for a King
That's what they wanted. So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala writes the story to us that after some time, the time of weakness for Bani Israel, time of defeat, they've been actually driven out of their home, their children, they've been enslaved, and so on. So they needed hope.
So they went to one of their Anbiya, who came right sometime after Musa alayhi as-salam:
"When they said to a prophet of theirs, “Send to us a king, [so] we may fight in the way of Allah.”"
Can you bring us out a king? We want a king whom we can follow and fight with in the way of Allah azza wa jal.
What do you call this, ajama'ah? Hero. Can you find us a hero that we can follow? So you take us, lead us, you know, to the fight so we can win against evil?
And then that's what they desired, right? These are the ideals right now in their mind, that we need someone strong we can follow so we can, you know, defeat tyranny and defeat injustice, and stand up again and have our name and fame back as it used to be before. That's what they wanted.
But is that what they needed? So when he said:
"[The prophet] said, "Is it not possible that if fighting was prescribed for you, you would not fight?""
So the Prophet told them, what if it becomes true that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala prescribed that you fight in the way of Allah in order to bring back your haq and your right? What would you do in this case?
"And why should we not fight in the cause of Allah when we have been driven out from our homes and from our children?"
And they said, why not? Why wouldn't we do that? We've been driven out of our homes and taken away from our children, our families. And then Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:
"But when fighting was ordained for them, they turned away, except for a few of them. And Allah is Knowing of the wrongdoers."
When now the real fight came their way, they all turned their back to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and went somewhere else. So they always desire that, but there are no doers. We always look for heroes, but we're not willing to do the fight.
It just like happens in these kind of things. We want someone to beat the devil out of this racism and this Islamophobia and so on. And it happened on the Octagon, but after that what happens? Subhanallah, so we want that, but where are the doers? Where are those people who stand for justice? Those who can stand against tyranny, against all injustices and so on.
Where are these people who want to take the action, the real action and the right action? It's not going to be easy, but there you go. We had an example.
So these people, they came to their Prophet and said, can you find us a hero we can follow and we can go after? He said, what if I bring it to you and then you're not going to follow? So no, no, no, we will.
We'll do it. And when the real task came, oh subhanallah, I'm tired. I have family to take care of.
I think I can do that. We have tons of excuses. The fight was over last weekend.
What did we get out of it, jamal? Nothing. We enjoyed it. And we just started debating over the internet if that brawl afterwards was justified or not, and if it was okay or not, if it's good or not.
That's what we got out of it. Did we do anything? That reminds me with the khateebs in Muslim countries. You go to the masjid in some Muslim countries, specific in the Arab world, subhanallah.
If the khateeb wasn't shouting or yelling or smashing the member, people leave saying it wasn't a good khutbah. If he wasn't cursing or yelling or saying something political for people to feel good about themselves, it wouldn't be actually a good khutbah. Why? Because I could not get that energy out of me.
Well, good for you. Then use it for something positive. Many people come to the jum'ah and they listen to the khutbah.
And when they leave, you ask them, how was it? They say, it was great. What was it about? It was about 25 minutes. That's all what they remember.
The time they spent here. But did they learn anything? Are they going to take action? That is what matters in a jum'ah. So we have these kind of examples, but then there is no action that comes afterwards.
The Prophet Sends Talut
And then the story continues with Bani Israel. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:
"And their prophet said to them, “Indeed, Allah has sent to you Saul as a king.”"
So the Nabi of Bani Israel comes to them, your wish is fulfilled.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala sending you a king. Sending you the hero that you need. So when they were told who was he, Talut:
"They said, "How can he have kingship over us while we are more worthy of kingship than him and he has not been given a great amount of wealth?""
They objected to it.
Remember, when people look for heroes, they look for virtues that reflecting their own things. They want something they complain about this hero, this king that the Prophet brought to them.
He says, how come he's going to become the king when he's not from the line of kings? You know, Bani Israel, they have different tribes. And each tribe has a specific duty towards their community. And one of them was the tribe that produced the leaders for them.
So how come he's not from that line? He's from somewhere else. Not even know. And then they said to him, We deserve to be the kings, not him.
So again, now suddenly, it's not what they needed, it's what they wanted, they were fighting for. Even though they were brought what they needed. He's not even rich.
So what were they fighting for? What were they striving for? Virtues and attributes they themselves cherish. Maybe we're cherishing the wrong attribute. Maybe we're looking for the wrong virtue.
Not the right thing. Because it's maybe easier. Maybe because it's, you know, a shortcut to success.
Allah's Choice vs. Their Desires
And that's why Allah جل جلاله sent them a king that they needed, not that they wanted. So the Prophet answered:
"[The prophet] said, "Indeed, Allah has chosen him above you and has increased him in knowledge and stature."
First of all, it's Allah's selection. What does that mean? End of story.
If Allah selects him for you, what do you need more than this? That's Allah's choice for you. And it must be the best choice from Allah جل جلاله. And then he said, So he said, Allah selected him for you and he has two things that you need. So he has the knowledge and he has the power, the strength.
So the ulema, they say, as for the knowledge, that's the deen. This is where we get our morality. The moral, the akhlaq, the manners, the etiquette.
That's what we are looking for. We're looking for this. That's what we need.
Maybe not what we want in the moment, in time. But that's exactly what we need. Also someone who is a doer.
Because you need the physical strength because you need to do something. You need to move, you need to go out, you need to write, you need to talk.
You need to stand against the tyrants and send wrongdoers.
So you need that. You need the physical action. So you have the ilm that gives you the wisdom.
And you have the action by which you translate that knowledge into victory, into success, into achievements. That's what you needed. But when they looked at that, for them, that wasn't what they wanted.
They thought they're going to bring someone who brings them where they were just with a shortcut. Like many of us just would love to hear something that makes us feel good. And when we leave, alhamdulillah, that was exactly what was in my mind.
Like I posted on this on Facebook. I actually have a lot of emails and posts from people saying, subhanallah, he spoke my mind. I said, why don't you speak about it first? Why did you wait until someone else to write what you had in your mind about it? Why don't you do something about it? So be a doer, not just a listener.
You just read. If you think that you can write it, put it together in words and share it with the people. The point is, we need to create doers of jama'ah.
People who take that knowledge and put it into action. That desire to achieve something good and put it into action, inshallah. So Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala continues the story.
And he told him, and Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says as well:
وَاللَّهُ يُؤْتِي مُلْكَهُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ - Quran 2:247
Allah gives that mulk, gives that power to whomever he wills. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, he's very generous. He's just, his mercy and his ilm is so spacious, subhanahu wa ta'ala.
The Test of the River
And now the nabi is telling them furthermore, like listen, you're going to see signs that will prove to you that he is the one. He is the one you need. You might not have that faith in him, but he is the one you need.
And Allah will provide him with the evidences for you. Evidences, tangible evidences, such as, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will give with him the ark, which is in the Jewish tradition or the Bani Israel tradition, has the relic that's left by Musa and Harun. Every time they go into a specific event or a specific festivity or even battle, they take it out, basically ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for the blessings and for the support as well.
And he says, you will see this. It will come to you through the angels. They'll come to you.
So all the evidences were given to them that he is the one you need. And then what happened? The story continues. They went out with him.
Not so many, but they went out with him. And then as they came, of course, after a long journey to fight Jalut, they came across a river. They were thirsty.
They were tired. Now the ultimate test. You want success? It's not going to be a short journey, and it's not going to be an easy journey.
You're going to have to put some sacrifice. Even if you desire these things in that moment, you have to delay it until it's the proper time for you. So they were tested.
Allah will test you and try you that you're going to come across a river. If you drink, you're out. And if you don't and you abstain and you remain fast, then you're with me.
You'll continue with me. So the test was an open book test. Like it wasn't a secret.
They were told, listen, I know you're hungry. I know you're thirsty. You're tired.
We know all of this. But you know what? You need now. You're going to be tested.
You're going to come across a river. The desire to drink from it is so strong. Everybody's the same thing.
We have the same opportunity. However, to pass the test, don't drink from it. Don't drink.
They were given the instruction. They were given even the solution. They were given even, you know, the success rate.
Like, hey, make sure to do that. But then when they came across the river, what happens? Forget you. Let's drink.
That's what happens in the Muslim ummah most of the time. We know what the problem is. We know what the dangers are.
We know we have the resources. And we know what needs to be done and how we do them, how we use them in the right way, alhamdulillah. We know all of this.
But when it comes to doing, how many people will take the action? We always have in our mind, someone else have the action because I have the excuse, alhamdulillah. Excuses are amazing. If it wasn't for the excuse I have, I will be held accountable.
Who said you won't? Just because you excuse yourself doesn't mean you are. So here again, we see him bringing his people to the test and said, don't drink, stay with me. But then we came across the river.
What happened? The majority, they took from the river. So they were out. Now, as they crossed the river, the next side, of course, of it, a small group of people remained with Talut, alayhis salam.
Victory Through Faith
So when he came across them and he just, he met the people, the people look at each other, says, that's it, we're doomed. We're not going to be able to stand against Talut, against Jalut. He says, no, no, no.
He says, listen, it's not about the size. Like we see it today, when you go online, (بالله أعوذ - billah a'udhu), it's scary, (جماعة يا والله - jama'a ya wallah)
Try, dare to post something positive about Islam and see in the comment section what happens down there. They scare you off. See the amount of the loud noise that has this sense of hate and sense of racism, Allahmusta'an, against Muslims and others as well.
All of this. It is so loud, that will scare you off. And that's why a lot of people, they start wondering and asking among themselves, I don't think we can do something about it.
But Talut, he said to them, he says, No, How many in the past? How many small group of people won against larger group of people? And Allah is with those who are patient.
So let them know how we could win. He says, you need to be patient. It's a process.
It's not a one-time thing. It's going to take a while. So it is a process to get to this level of success and make that great achievement.
And you're going to have to learn to go through the process. And he says that you will, but you need to be patient. And they did.
And they stood firm against the army of Jalut. And then what happens? They won, subhanAllah. Who brought the victory to Talut and his army and Bani Israel? It wasn't Talut himself.
It was Dawud. He was a young man, a young boy in the army of Jalut at the time. And with a slingshot, he hit Jalut and he killed him.
And subhanAllah, what we learned from this that maybe you're just one of those few people in the crowd. You don't know your fate. Maybe it's going to be you, or you, or you.
The one who's going to take it and shout to the next level for us, bin Allahazza wa jal. Believe in yourself. Join the effort.
I mean, when Dawud joined Jalut, did he know that he was going to be the one to kill Jalut? When he joined Talut, did he know that he was going to kill Jalut? He didn't. He was just like anyone else. But Allah subhanAllah put barakah on his hand and as a result, he was rewarded.
AllahsubhanAllah gave him the knowledge. Gave him the wisdom. Gave him the hukm.
He became a prophet. He became a king for Bani Israel. He did a lot.
And Allah taught him so many things. Dawud. So your duty is just to make that effort and join the good effort.
If there is something good going on, just join. Say, I'm just one person. What am I going to do? You might be the next Dawud.
Not that you're going to be a prophet or anything, but you might be the one who's going to bring the real action. You're probably going to be the one that's going to make the big difference. How? Slingshot.
Dawud had nothing in his hand. And that's how he brought actually the big difference. SubhanAllah.
I don't know what your talent is. Maybe it's making a short video. Maybe it's writing something.
Maybe talking to some politician. You know what? Just voting in the next, actually voting in the next election coming soon. Maybe that would be the big difference you might bring.
But just do something about it. It's not just about sitting there and watching and waiting for the next hero to do the job for us, inshaAllah wa ta'ala. No.
Be the next Dawud that will join that hero that even if you don't think is the one you need, or the one actually you need for sure, but maybe that person is that the one who bring you success, inshaAllah wa ta'ala.
Making Heroes, Not Just Seeking Them
Again, my dear brothers and sisters, we've come to the subject of heroism and heroes. It's not new.
Like I said, it's in Bani Israel as well. And it's also in the MuslimUmmah. Until this day, whenever we go to Muslim lectures and conferences and speaking about role models, who do they bring to us as role models? We bring beautiful names of the Sahaba radiyallahu ta'ala anhum.
Ibn Abbas, Abdullah ibn Umar, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Aisharadiyallahu ta'ala anha. We bring beautiful names and when you read their stories, are amazing stories. Khair ibn Walid, Umar ibn Khattab, amazing stories.
There's no doubt about it. They're heroes. We believe that.
But they're real. They're not just imaginary heroes. They're not myth.
They're real people. But we speak about them so much so in a way that we make them myth that we can't even emulate. We can't even actually follow.
If we think about how many Sahabis were around the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), they were in the thousands. In the thousands. But how many can you count by name?
100? 50? 30? 20? I don't know.
Most of us probably, maybe we stop at 20 and then just like start struggling. Why? Because we only remember those who stood out among the crowd.
And they're not always the majority.
They're just few. So the most Sahaba, they were not Umar ibn Khattab. They were not Ali ibn Abi Talib.
They were not Abdullah ibn Umar or Abdullah ibn Abbas or Aisha. No. They were the average Muslim.
But you know what? They changed history. Why? Because they joined a good cause. They participated.
They were doers. Maybe they were anonymous to us. And that could be you too.
You might bring the change from behind. We don't even know who did it. But subhanAllah, that change can be the most amazing, most positive change.
Why? Because someone was really taking the right action and put it in the right direction, inshaAllah ta'ala. If there is something good happening in your community, join it. If something happening outside in this society as well and you think it's good, join the good cause, ajma'a.
Bring that positive change. You might not think that this is the person that will bring that positive change, but you might be the next Dawud in this community. May Allahsubhanahu wa ta'ala bring us success, ya Rabb al-alameen.
The Hadith of the Mujaddid
When the Nabi (صلى الله عليه وسلم - sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) mentioned about the time, the difficult times prior to the Day of Judgment, He said:
(Sunan Abi Dawud 4291)
He said: Allah will send to this Ummah at the head of every hundred year, someone who revives the tradition, revives this, you know, the principle, revive hope for the Ummah.
Who would revive the deen for them. So perhaps a lot of people, they kept taking this hadith and say, subhanAllah, where is he? So that's why we keep looking for heroes. It's not about looking for, it's about making them, (جماعة يا - jama'a ya)
That's what matters right now. So let's stop looking for heroes somewhere and start making them. How do we do that? One step at a time.
We're only responsible to do our part. And like Allah سبحانه وتعالى spoke about Jalut, He gave him the ilm and He gave him also the power. Learn and learn a skill.
Learn what needs to be done. Learn about your deen. Learn about deen of the society.
Learn about your culture. Learn about what really you need to take as hikmah and wisdom in this society, in this time. And then learn the skill that brings that change, Inshallah تبارك وتعالى
Let's not wait for this mujaddid to come. Let's be part of creating them, Inshallah.
Closing
والحمد لله رب العالمين
May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make us among those who take action for positive change and not just wait for heroes to appear. May He bless us to be part of the solution and grant us success in this world and the next. Ameen.