Moving Sacredness from Divine Text to Individual Rights, Modernity

Moving Sacredness from Divine Text to Individual Rights, Modernity

Opening

"Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you."

"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 the noblest of messengers, our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions."

(خُطْبَةُ الْحَاجَة) Opening Khutba

"Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and the wickedness of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides, no one can misguide; and whoever He misguides, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partners; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger."

Main Khutbah

Subhanallah, even though it's just on the political side of this argument, it seems that it's seeping into almost everything in the life of the people. This concept of alternative fact have become the symbol of this ideological debate and argument over the power of the individual to challenge everything and anything, including the truth. Even the truth has been challenged.

And for us as Muslims, we truly believe that the divine text, the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) collectively of course, obviously, it's a divine text and that is sacred. And it should remain sacred and should be no alternative that sacredness of the book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam). But how do you understand that sacredness? That's a different story. Dr. Jassim is going to talk about that in this modern time.

What I want to talk about here inshallah ta'ala is to establish the meaning of the sacredness of the text and why this is sacred and why it should remain so. Obviously when they start calling these terms alternative facts, what they're trying to do is to neutralize even the truth. So that no one can bring anything but be challenged.

Even when you come to a Muslim and you say, The Messenger (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said so and so, it's an authentic hadith. This is an ayah in the Qur'an and the understanding of it is very clear and so on. Anyone today can actually come and challenge this.

The Challenge of Modern Times

Especially in our time, the post-modern time, we have transferred the power into the hand of the individual. You know the entire technology of our time is based on what? The main thing that we're looking for is to be user-friendly. So you give the power to the user.

Even this conference right now, you gotta have the app mashallah right now. You have all the lectures, right? All the speakers. You can start some lectures and some speakers to follow them, right? They give you the power to choose where you attend, where you be, where you go.

We're following the trend. I'm not saying it's haram right now. What I'm saying is that once you transfer the power to the hand of the user, then you give them the justification to come and challenge everything that even once considered sacred.

Such as the Qur'an and the sunnah of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam). We believe as Muslims. We believe as Muslims that the Qur'an is sacred, obviously.

There's no doubt about this. And the sacredness of the Qur'an and the sunnah of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) comes from the source. Because sharaful ilm ya'tamid ala sharaful ma'loom.

Which means the status of that knowledge dependent on the status of the source. And if the source is coming from Allah, obviously it gives it the highest level of sacredness.

Quranic Verse

Allah yaqul:

"And if anyone of the Mushrikeen (polytheists, idolaters, pagans) seeks your protection, then grant him protection, so that he may hear the Word of Allah (the Qur'an), then escort him to where he can be secure."

Reference: Quran 9:6

Allah is telling believers at the time of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) after the Fath of Mecca. And if any of the Mushrikeen request an asylum, protection from you, so that they might come to you, Allah says, فَأَجِرْهُ give them that asylum. Give them that protection حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَامَ اللَّهِ So while you're giving them that protection, give them the opportunity to listen to كلام الله Allah azza wa jalla.

In a manner that such as majesty the Qur'an is كلام الله And because it's from Allah azza wa jalla, there is no doubt, it is considered sacred.

The Sunnah as Sacred Text

As for the sunnah of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) it is also in the same way, collectively speaking right now. I'm not talking about the details of صحيح، حسن، ضعیف, authentic and so on, no.

We're talking about the sunnah, the source, the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) tradition that has been verified to be authentic to us. This is considered also sacred in that sense because Allah ordered us to listen to the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and follow his example.

Quranic Verse

Allah azza wa jalla says:

"It is not but a revelation revealed."

Reference: Quran 53:4

That nor does he speak out of his desire, this is nothing but a revelation,وحي from Allah.

Another Quranic Verse

And Allah azza wa jalla is telling us:

"And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from."

Reference: Quran 59:7

Whatever comes to you from Allah azza wa jalla, from the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) take it. Whatever he forbids you from, refrain from it, abstain from it. So we follow the example of Rasulallah (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) from the order that came from Allah.

The Necessity of Sacred Text

As believers, we do believe that الوحي, revelation, which means that sacred texts are now is necessity. It's a necessity for us human beings. Why is that? Subhanallah, as human beings, one thing we see in ourselves in our life is one of the main issues that we're looking for in this life.

We're looking for purpose. Many, many people regardless where their religious orientation, political orientation, whether it's cultural debate, or even political debate, or religious debate, whatever that is. What is it that people look for whenever they start asking all these questions? They're looking for security.

They're looking for safety. They're looking for يقين which means they're looking for certainty. And not having that certainty of the answer is bothering them.

So when people decide to drop Allah out of their life, they're now left for many, many questions, tons of questions. They're looking for answers for, and now they're left to seek these answers on their own. And once they drop the sacred texts out of their lives, where they're gonna find these answers? They're left for themselves.

And they only end up with wonders. Questions they keep wondering about. Is it true? Could that be the purpose? Why do we die then? So if you're gonna die anyway, why do we live in the first place? So all of this creates that sense of anxiety.

The Psychological Impact

And then anxiety develops fear. Fear of what? Fear of the unknown. And subhanallah, Allah azza wa jal, in this creation Allah made for us here as human beings, we do actually, we do have that inner compass that tells us, hey, when you're anxious, look for safety and security.

And Allah made the brain self-regulates. When there's a threat, it goes all the way up. And when there's safety, it regulates safety.

The problem with our theological questioning is when there is no door to close, like if a dog chases you, and you just go home and you close the door, you feel safe, so the brain regulates safety. But when there is nothing like this to close, all these ideological and theological questions keep running and keep running in your mind, the brain doesn't know where to regulate. Did we arrive to the right answer, so we are safe, so we stop it? Or are we still exploring and wondering and looking for answers, therefore the threat is still high.

Your mind is always actually wandering around. And as a result, you go into the fear of the unknown. Fear of the unknown becomes overwhelming, and the brain has to take over, so it shuts you down.

You become resentful. You go into survival mode. And survival mode, people, they completely disconnect themselves from everything and everyone, including from Allah Azza wa Jal and from the sacred text.

The Divine Purpose

The Quran and the Sunnah believe in the sacred text. This is the first principle. It's considered super rational, beyond anything that you can feel or taste actually in this world.

And that's where belief comes in. So we believe Al-Wahy, revelation, is a necessity. When Allah send the Anbiya to us, send them in order to perfect this human creation, the creation of mankind.

And how do you become perfect? You become perfect when you truly understand your position in regards to Allah. Allah Azza wa Jal made the purpose very clear. People, they keep challenging it, and that's why they go all different places, and all different spaces, and all different directions, and they don't find an answer.

Quranic Verse

"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me."

Reference: Quran 51:56

That I've created man and jinn, no reason but to worship Me. So the purpose has been clear.

But because we're human beings, we're rebellious, we keep challenging it. I wanna find another purpose. Why? And why not? And this and that, it's okay to wonder, it's okay to ask questions.

But if you don't have a first principle to refer yourself back to, you'll be left on your own. So that's why Allah, Allah Azza wa Jal, in order for us to go to that direction, He taught us what is right and what is wrong.

Quranic Verse

"And have shown him the two ways (good and evil)?"

Reference: Quran 90:10

We have guided him to the two paths. The path of guidance and the path of misguidance. And how about He gave us what? He gave us the ikhtiyar, which means the option to choose. So you have the free will.

But again when people, they don't want to go to where Allah is asking them to go, which is to go to the path of guidance, and explore that in the book of Allah Azza wa Jal, in the Sunnah of the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) in the creation of Allah, people want on their own exploring, away from that first principle. And as a result get very anxious, and extremely exhausted and tired. Allah send the wahi for us so we understand.

Human Limitations

And that understanding is probably beyond this realm that we're living in. You see, as human beings, I mean Allah Azza wa Jal created us with limitations. So many limitations.

So your eyes have limitation, your hearing have limitation, your senses have limitation, everything. Even your brain, regardless how much we think how smart we are, regardless how much we expand in our own challenge, mental challenge to everything in this world, still we have limitation. We don't have an infinite way of thinking.

It's limited. So as a result Allah Azza wa Jal put us in the right place. And for us to submit to this is very important.

So that's why He send us the text, which is basically way beyond this limitation, for us to see guidance beyond this world.

Hadith About Doubt

In the hadith, the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam),explaining this principle basically, the Prophet (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

(Sahih Muslim Hadith 134)

"The Shaitan comes to one of you..."

Shaytan will come to one of you. And ask a simple question. (مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا؟ - man khalaqa kadha?) Who created this? Obviously the answer is, for the believer, Allah. And then the Shaytan takes to the next level. Okay, but then who created this? And then who created this? And who created this? So keep going from one question to the other one, until you go beyond what is actually real in this world, at least for us. What is tangible. When you go beyond the tangible world, then the question that comes to your mind is, if everything was created by Allah Azza wa Jal, then the question that comes to our mind is what? (مَنْ خَلَقَ الله؟ - man khalaqa Allah?) Then who created Allah Azza wa Jal? You see that sense of the doubt, it's called the moment.

I'm gonna explain this tomorrow more inshallah, another session on atheism actually. But when you come to this moment, when you start feeling, you know, okay, who created Allah Azza wa Jal? That's when you start going beyond the tangible realm and world, to the super ration right now, where we have no limitation, no understanding of it clearly. And that's where submission comes in.

Which is where the wahi, the sacred text, came actually downfall. So that we tame this way of thinking. So the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم says, when you get to this point:

Then say (أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّحِيمِ - a'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim) and quit. Because you can't get there. It's too hard for you to understand and to comprehend. It is so hard.

The Nature of Sacred Text

Which is why we have the sacred text. Allah says:

Allah will not remain in the same state of affairs until He distinguishes between (الطَّيِّبَ مِنَ الْخَبِيثِ - al-khabeetha min al-tayyib) the good and the wicked. Which means there will be trials and tribulations and tests where people are gonna be scrutinized based on the strength of their iman.

And they recognize the wicked from the good. And then Allah says:

And obviously Allah is not gonna expose you or disclose the unseen to you. Otherwise there will be no meaning for this trial.

No meaning for this test. If everything is gonna be clear in that sense, that you have no choice but everything, follow this and that's it, the only path. So what's the point of this test? Allah says, no, no, no.

He's not gonna disclose the unseen to all of you. But He selects, among His rusul, His messengers, whoever He wants. So He disclosed this wahi, this sacred text to them.

And He gives it to them and they deliver that to us. That is all part of the divine plan that Allah set for humanity and for mankind.

Human Composition

As human beings, we're made of two components. An earthly component and a heavenly component. The earthly component is your body. And your body was made, as Allah mentioned in the Quran, many, many ayat was created from the earth, right? So if your body is made out of dirt, turab, and is made out of clay, and made of basically all earthly components and water, right? So how should I nourish and nurture my body? From the exact same ingredients, same source, earthly source.

Food, exercise, drink and so on, right? You're not going to go into the masjid, mashallah, and atikaf forever expecting Allah strengthen your body just like that. It's not going to happen. You're going to have to exercise, you have to use earthly components.

The Soul and Heavenly Components

And we have another element that makes you a human being. What is it, ajma'a? Ar-ruh, the soul, right? And the soul is not from earth. In hadith Abdullah bin Mas'ud radiallahu ta'ala anhu wa ardaa, the messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم says:

(Sahih al-Bukhari Hadith 3208)

Allah will bring the creation, the inception of the child basically, in the wombs of the mother, for the first 40 days, and then 40 days, and then 40 days.

So after 120 days, the angel will come down with the ruh فَيَنفُخُ فِيهِ الرُّوحَ So the angel will breathe that soul into the body of that baby. And becomes a full living human being.

So the source of the ruh is not from earth, it's actually from heaven. And as a result, how would you nurture your soul and your spirit? With chocolate? Doesn't matter, even if it was dark chocolate, music? It's not gonna help much. You have to look for heavenly source.

And that's where the sacred texts come in. It's coming from heaven. And you have to connect it back to its source.

Otherwise, you will remain exhausted. And that sense of anxiety, fear of the unknown, and always wondering, and always trying to see and explore, are we alone in this world? And if there's anybody around us, who is that? Aliens? What is it exactly? Subhanallah, the Quran and the sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم supplied us all these questions, and gave us all the answers. So keeping it sacred is for our own sanity as well.

The Five Principles of Sacred Text

That is the first principle that you believe in, and you keep actually holding on to. Therefore, make sure, if you would like to find that safety and serenity, and peace and tranquility in your life, you always have that first principle, the Quran and the sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. I believe as a Muslim, that Al-Wahy, in general, Al-Wahy is Masoom, in that sense.

Al-Wahy, which means the revelation, is considered infallible. And how? It's so simple, so important for us to understand that. And there are five points I wanna share with you quickly, inshallah, in the last five minutes, bint Allah azzawajal.

I'm running real quick, inshallah, on how the sacred text is sacred, and why it should remain actually sacred. And as a believer, I should always believe in that.

Number One: It's Perfect

Number one, I believe that Al-Wahy, revelation, and the sacred text is sacred, because it's perfect. That's what Allah says in the Quran:

Today, on the hajj day, when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم he gave his final khutbah. Allah revealed to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم part of the ayah from surah Al-Ma'idah:

This day, I have perfected for you your religion. So it's perfect right now. So the deen was perfect. And the ni'mah, Allah, the blessing Allah bestowed upon the believers, is considered now complete. And I'm pleased to assign for you Islam, submission to Allah azzawajal, as your faith and your religion. So I believe that it's perfect, because Allah said so.

Number Two: It's Preserved

Number two, if it was perfect, what guarantees that it remains perfect? That's when al-'ismah, infallibility comes in. Allah guaranteed that He will preserve it. And He will preserve this perfection.

He says in the Qur'an:

Allah says, in regards to this reminder, which is the Qur'an, that it is we who have sent it down, and we ourselves will preserve it. That we is a royal we. Allah.

So again, Allah guaranteed that it will be preserved. How was it preserved؟ حِفْظُ الصَّدْر Memorization generation after generation after generation, that's one example.

In writing, the same thing, we have manuscripts go all the way back in that time. And will continue to exist inshaAllah until the Day of Judgment.

Also حِفْظُ الْفَهْمِ . Means the understanding of the Qur'an. The collective understanding of the Qur'an throughout the history of the Muslim Ummah, there is a sense of sacredness over there. Not to one particular opinion, but overall, it's actually understood.

And those who claim the Quran can never be understood, and it's always actually a mystery. I seek refuge with Allah, that's not true. Shaykh al-Islam ibn Taymiyyah rahimahullah wa ta'ala, he says:

One of the greatest doors that people, they block against, you know, people against Allah azza wa jal. And turning off the light of Allah in the path of people. Which leads to ilhad, which is basically kind of deviating away from understanding the Book of Allah. They claim that the Quran is a mystery, cannot be 100% understood.

No. The Quran was revealed to be understood and to be followed.

Number Three: It's Mercy

Now we know it's perfect. We know it's preserved. So what do we get out of this? Mercy.

The Quran was sent as mercy. Like I said earlier, if you don't follow it, you're going to get into an anxiety. You're going to depression because you don't know what's the purpose of your life.

And people they choose to end their life early because what's the point? But if you believe it was perfect, preserved and was sent as mercy, so you believe in it. And follow its instruction. Allah says in the Qur'an:

Allah azza wa jal says, we are sending down to Muhammad, to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم the revelation of the Qur'an, what is a healing and mercy to the believers.

So it's healing to the heart and the mind and even the body. And also rahma, mercy. How do you get that mercy? Once you put the Qur'an in its right position in your life, and you understand it, and submit to it in the best way like Ibrahim alayhi salam did, then indeed you can have, you understand the meaning of being mercy.

But once people start kind of neutralize that, and put their own personal experience, that's when you know the sacredness of the text.

So how is it rahma considered anyway? One single principle in maqasad al sharia and masaleh al ibad, is the Quran was sent to bayan al masaleh, which means to explain what are the benefits for the people, so to encourage them to follow, and also to ward them off any evil, any harm, anything that is harmful to be removed away from their path.

Number Four: It Has Wisdom

After knowing that it's rahma and mercy, so what do I need to understand? The wisdom.

The wisdom in the revelation in the Qur'an, in the sacred text is obvious and clear for those who open their minds and their heart to it. But those who already have that emotional resentment against it, and they try to understand, it's blocked. They will not be able to understand what's in there.

Like many people, they come to me and say, Shaykh, you know, I've been doing this for so long, but I don't get it. I don't feel it. So this is a problem. You need to purify the intentions and the heart, and clear it first, before you can start seeing through. So it's perfect, and it's complete, and it has the hikmah and the wisdom, that's obviously there, for those who have the knowledge obviously. Allah yaqul in surat Hud:

Allah says about the Qur'an, Alif Lam Ra, this is a divine command from Allah azza wa jalla. Whose contents have been made firm and set forth in detail from one who is all wise, hakeem, hikmah, wisdom, and all aware. So whatever command you see in the Qur'an and the sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم it has a wisdom behind it.

If you don't understand it, go and ask those who do understand. Like I said, collectively speaking, the understanding of the sacred text has been preserved. So look for it, explore that.

Number Five: It's Evergreen

Number five and the last point inshallah wa ta'ala, as a result obviously, if I know that it's gonna be perfect, it's gonna be protected and preserved, was sent as a mercy, and being mercy for me, I understand there's a wisdom behind it, so what is it for me today? We believe that it's as they say, evergreen. What does that mean? It fits every time and every generation, with some of course adjustment to difference between a thawabit, these are the first principles, fixed matters in our deen, our shari'ah, and then we have now the flexibility of fitting into different society, which Dr. Jass is gonna talk about inshallah wa ta'ala later. So it's perfect for that, and Allah made it very clear.

Allah azza wa jal says in surah an-Nahl:

"It says, O Muhammad, warn them of the day when we shall call a witness from among every community to testify against it. So every community will have a witness, right? But then He said, And we bring you as a witness against these people, which means the people of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم's time, and then who's gonna come after that? No one else, but the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم That's why it needs to be continuously considered a testimony for every generation and every time.

Then Allah azza wa jal mentioned some of these principles that will never change. He says, in the same context of ayat:

"The main core principles that don't fluctuate, don't change regardless of the change of time and generation and culture and so on. What are these? Justice, kindness, to be kind to your parents and relatives and forbid you again all kind of evil and wickedness and all kind of disobedience and also injustice.

All of these are principles. Allah is telling us, even though the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم lived 1400 years ago, but these principles will remain the core of justice and of course the principle, the first principle in our society that will never fluctuate.

Our Position as Muslims

So what is my position finally? As a Muslim, what is my position for the sacred text? Allah says:

"If Allah and His Messenger have decided on an affair, they should exercise their choice.

If Allah says something, you know He knows best for you, you follow it. Listen to the Quran. Don't just read it. Listen. Sometimes we get busy reading, we don't even understand what we're reading. Listen and understand.

Submit yourself to the will of Allah. That's why you're called Muslim, the one who submits. Ibrahim alayhi salam had the best example of submission.

Learn that. What does it mean exactly? Knowledge, you need that. Collectively speaking, you will understand the meaning and the depth of the Quran, the sunnah.

Final Hadith

And finally, when a man came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and he says:

(Sahih Muslim Hadith 38)

"Tell me something about Islam, that I should not ask anybody else after you. I want to know something about Islam from you, I won't have to worry about asking anybody else. He gave him two words.

(Sahih Muslim Hadith 38)

Say, I believe in Allah, then prove it. And the meaning of proving it (اسْتَقِمْ) over here, which means follow the instruction and submit yourself.

May Allah make us among them, Ya Rabbal Alameen.

Closing