You ll Find the Solution in the Quran
By Yaser Birjas | 2026-01-13T12:51:11.051072+00:00 | Topic: Quran
You'll Find the Solution in the Quran
Khutbah by Sheikh Yaser Birjas
Opening
Takbir
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the Greatest. There is no god but Allah. Allah is the Greatest. There is no god but Allah.
Main Khutbah
My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, in the wake of this financial crisis, many many people start returning back to some traditional values and principles. Many people start returning back to their faith, their religions and to their books.
Muslims, among all different groups in the world, they got more of the attention. They got most of the attention because of the different values they can bring to this crisis and to contribute to the solution. Many people, they have taken this book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala only for the barakah.
You will see that precisely in Ramadan. When Ramadan begins, that's when people start remembering the Quran. When Ramadan starts, that's when people start putting some extra effort, even though time did not change.
The same 24 hours they had the day before Ramadan began, were the same 24 hours when Ramadan began and started. But all of a sudden, there was time for the Quran in their lives. There was time that they can dedicate throughout the day and even the night for worship and for the recitation of the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Many people have taken this book only for the barakah. But to realize that this is indeed a miraculous book, it's the word of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, which holds in it everything man would need in order to be successful in this life. That is the promise of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
It was set down, explanation for all things, including what people today talk about, financial issues, lifestyles, the future of the world, international peace, whatever people talk about, there is something about it in the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. This Muslim ummah, the first few generations, they
succeeded, they became victorious, they became the leaders of civilization for their times because of their adherence to the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and searching deep in the meanings of the word of Allah azza wa jal.
What is the Quran?
What is the Qur'an anyway? What could the Qur'an offer us? And what are the rights of the Qur'an on us Muslims? Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:
To the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam the instruction was given that indeed we have revealed to you a spirit, which means soul, it's soul.
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala named this book of Qur'an as a soul. Soul for what? As human beings we function by body and by the soul. If the soul is not there, the soul departs, you are called dead body.
So you function by both. In this world, in this dunya, many people they put extra emphasis and they put too much effort on pleasing and satisfying the body. And the soul become completely dissatisfied.
Now, in the wake of this financial crisis, when many many people, those who've been all completely indulged in this life and this dunya, they lost what they valued so much of this life. Their soul was all this time dissatisfied, not strong enough to sustain that collapse. Many people, they committed so many crimes.
And probably, I remember the first time when we start talking about this financial crisis, the mortgage crisis, the first crime came from this county. When a man went and he killed his family, killed himself. Why? Because he was unable to maintain the lifestyle he enjoyed.
Why? Because the soul was empty. And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala said about this book:
That we have sent down to you, ruled that soul from the command of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. It is indeed, this book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, the soul and the spirit.
Your soul is not going to be nourished by eating too much, by exercising too much, by doing whatever you want to do. Your body will be happy with that. But your soul, which came from a different source, from a heavenly source, nothing will nourish that soul but what came from that same place.
And the Quran was revealed from up there, from the divine. And your soul will not be nourished until you go and attach yourself to the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, the spirit and the soul.
The Example of Umar ibn al-Khattab
Umar ibn al-Khattab radiallahu anhu was an example. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in surah al-An'am:
In this ayah, Allah is describing according to the tafsir, Umar ibn al-Khattab radiallahu anhu.
When people spoke about Umar, they knew how stubborn he was. They could not imagine a man like Umar would ever become a Muslim.
And Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam made that dua, asking Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to guide this man, or another Umar, Amr ibn Hisham. Allah chose Umar ibn al-Khattab. He was literally just like a dead man walking among the living beings.
And when he became Muslim, people could not even believe that. Even when some were told that Umar became Muslim, they said, "No, by Allah. The donkey of Umar might become Muslim, but Umar himself, no way."
To that extreme, people thought that Umar, a man like him, would never be Muslim. And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, through this Qur'an, breathed that soul and spirit, into the spirit and the soul of Umar ibn al-Khattab radiallahu anhu. And when he read those few verses of the Qur'an, he immediately said, "Take me to Muhammad," to announce his shahada, to become a Muslim by saying:
Those who have been given that light نور that light, so they could walk through the people, like those who are always in darkness? No way.
The Quran as Criterion
The Qur'an is soul and spirit, and it is indeed a light, light of guidance. The Qur'an was made for Furqan, criteria to differentiate between those who are truthful and those who are not. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:
Praise be to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, who revealed, who sent this Furqan down to warn people, to talk about the future, about the afterlife.
For what reason? So that this Furqan can tell what is right and what is wrong. In this culture, there are many, many, many therapies teaching people to try to find themselves, find their own point of reference, whatever they want their life to be, it's up to you. But Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala created us people with this point of reference.
We come with this innate feelings about the presence of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to believe in one God. If we defy this, we are not gonna be successful in this life. Because it's gonna be against what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala created us for, and how He created us subhanahu wa ta'ala.
He is the one who said:
Doesn't He know best? Why? Because He is the Creator subhanahu wa ta'ala. And if He creates, then He knows what is best for you. This Qur'an became like the manual through which you could operate and you know what is right and what is wrong.
Many people, they choose to make their own point of references, their own criterias, and they get really troubled when they cannot figure out so many things happening in the world. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he was the example. And when Aisha radiallahu anha was asked about the conduct of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, what was the conduct of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, what did she say?
(Sahih Muslim Hadith 746)
His mannerism, his akhlaq was the Qur'an itself.
Which means, he was implementing what was there. So he sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had the highest standard of mannerism and akhlaq following the instructions of the Qur'an. It is a criteria.
The more you follow the instructions of the Qur'an, the higher you get in spirituality and your way of life closer to the example of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
Four Descriptions of the Quran
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:
O people, O mankind, there came to you from your Lord موعظة admonition. For what is there in the chest, in the hearts, means doubts, pains, psychological problems, whatever. شفاء Healing. هدى Guidance. ورحمة للمؤمنين And mercy for the believers.
Four descriptions were given to the Qur'an in this ayah. Number one,موعظة Admonition. Advice.
1. Admonition موعظة
The Qur'an is indeed gives you that most powerful advice. Powerful advice. You listen to it, if you humble yourself on your heart, Wallahi, you will obey and you will submit to the will of Allah.
Even there are so many stories about the early pious princesses and the salaf as-salihرحمهم الله تعالى upon hearing one ayah, their heart won't be able to hold it and they fall sick.
Umar ibn al-Khattab, one time, as he was walking around the city, he overheard someone reciting specific ayah from the Qur'an. In Qiyamul Layl, the night prayer, he fell sick for a whole month.
People visiting him didn't know what was going on with Umar. Abdul Rahman ibn Auf, he collapses in his salat after hearing some verses in the Qur'an from the recitation of his own father. Why? Because admonition. موعظة If they open their hearts for it, it will go through. But if it's not, it just go through from one ear to the other one.
2. Healing )شفاء(
And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala called it شِفَاءٌ لِمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ Healings for that which is there in the hearts.
What is there in the heart anyway? The whims of the heart. الشهوات والشبهات Doubts and desires. Many people, they follow their whims.
Why? Because nothing really can constrain them from doing that. Nothing can restrain them from that because everything is open. But when they believe that there is divine guidance in the Qur'an, there is healing for this.
Point of reference, if Allah said this is not good for you, then you listen and you obey. So you just avoid that. And also healings for physical pains.
Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he recommended ar-ruqiyah for us. And ar-ruqiyah, when you feel the pain in your body, you put your hand there and recite some verses of the Qur'an. Seeking protection and healing.
Healing from doubtful matters. How many times people they argue with you about Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And about the angels. About the day of judgment. And then you tell them, I honestly don't know the answer. Then when you go and you ask the imam or the shaykh, whoever you're asking, they tell you, Allah says so in the Qur'an.
You feel so comfortable. Immediately you feel relief. Why? Because if it's there in the Qur'an, that's amazing. You have that full confidence that it's there in the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
3. Guidance )هدى
Wahudun. Guidance.
How many people became Muslim only because they heard one verse from the Qur'an. And then they understood that. And I know so many people like that.
HEADING
Wallah. So many people like that. They listen to it. They understand it coming from Allah. They submit to that. And I remember inviting somebody to Islam.
And as we were talking about the concept of God. The concept of God. Wallahi, Ya Ikhwan. Talking just about the concept of God in Islam. What does it mean? Who is He? The attributes, the actions of God and so on. You can see it through his eyes.
Open so wide. Amazed and mesmerized. Amazed and mesmerized.
Why? Because it really makes so much sense that God is One. And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is superior. He is not like His creation.
And this person himself was a clergyman. He was a religious man who preaches to others about God. And when we had that conversation, he himself could not avoid saying, you know what, this makes a lot of sense to me.
But unfortunately, he couldn't just pronounce or utter the word because he has so much obligations in this dunya and this life. And many many examples that we know about other people as well.
4. Mercy (رَحْمَة)
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says, رَحْمَة Mercy.
Remember those moments when you feel so weak? When you feel so oppressed? Taken advantage of? There was so much pain in your heart and in your life, in your chest. What did you do? If you went to the masjid and you prayed, and you listened and you heard beautiful recitations from the imam. Or you just played a CD.
Or listened to the Qur'an, you feel completely relieved. Because it's mercy from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Does it affect only Muslims? No, by Allah.
Even with non-Muslims. I remember at one point, I had to invite a plumber to come and fix something in the house. Intentionally, I let the Qur'an play. I just left it there on. And when the man came in, he started walking in the kitchen, and I left him for about 5-10 minutes alone. No words, nothing.
When I came back to him, the first thing he asked me about, he said immediately, he said, what is this? I said, what are you talking about? He said, this thing that plays, what is that? Is that radio? I said, no, this is CD. He goes, what is that? I said, what are you asking about? And it's in Arabic, there's no translation in it even. He said, it is so beautiful.
I said, I feel so comfortable. When he was walking, he felt completely so comfortable, completely relaxed. Just like a psychological therapy.
He felt so relaxed even though he did not understand a word. I said, you see that? That's the Qur'an. He couldn't believe it.
He said, that's the Qur'an? Usually in our actual centers, when people come in, we give them hard copies of the Qur'an. Translation. They don't get a chance to listen to it.
They don't really hear the Qur'an that would affect directly their hearts. And the man, subhanallah, I just gave him a translation of the Qur'an afterwards, and when he left, he said, I promise you, I'm gonna read that. Unfortunately, I've never seen him after that.
That's my mistake. But the point is, wallahi, it has that effect on people. Because Allah said so.
It's rahmah. Mercy from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to mankind.
Rights of the Quran Upon Us
What do we know and what we learn from this? We learn that the Qur'an has haq on us. The Qur'an has rights on us Muslims. Unfortunately, we are not doing the right that is due to the Qur'an.
First Right: Be Happy with the Quran
Number one. The first thing is to be happy whenever we hear the Qur'an and whenever we receive the Qur'an, the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Allah azza wa jal says:
Say, O Muhammad, to them: By the grace of Allah and His mercy, they shall rejoice. That's better for them than what they collect.
And the preceding ayah speaks about this mercy and this grace of Allah being the Qur'an itself. If you know how to recite the Qur'an, rejoice. If you know how to read it perfectly, be happy.
If you can understand it without translation, then you need to be extra happy. For every degree, you have a blessing and have an extra right on you. The Qur'an has an extra, if you can understand, the right of the Qur'an on you is more and greater than those who cannot without translation and so on.
So be happy that Allah blessed you. And if you cannot read the Qur'an, then it's about time that you receive this grace and this mercy of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Take few moments of your life and your time and go and learn the recitation of the Qur'an.
Second Right: Give Respect and Reverence
Of the rights of the Qur'an, to give it that respect, veneration, and reverence. Whenever you see the Qur'an, you respect that, because it's the word of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. If you don't show that respect to the word of Allah azza wa jal, how would you obey His instructions? If you don't give that
respect, that profound and deep respect and veneration to the book of Allah, how would you then go and follow the instructions that are there in the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala?
And the Prophet shall say:
(Sahih Muslim Hadith 804)
Means when you recite the Qur'an, you become the companion of the Qur'an. And the Qur'an becomes your companion. It will come as a shafi' to intercede for you on Day of Judgment. There isn't much to do here but to physically a few minutes every day, regularly, just to recite the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
You know, in our contemporary time, people cannot escape doing something on a regular basis. Specifically if you go to work, and you have to continue with your work early in the morning, there is something you have to do every day. Not at the beginning of your work time, somewhere in the middle, or later at the end of the day.
Reading your emails. You check your emails for business work, for business purposes. And you spend days, hours and hours, not knowing where you should start, where you're going to end.
Can't we start before the emails? Can't we start with a few minutes, reciting the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala? If this is the business of this dunya, why not taking care of the business of the akhira first? And then we ask Allah the blessings in this dunya as well.
Third Right: Reflecting and Pondering
Of the rights of the Qur'an, reflecting on it. Pondering over its verses and ayat.
As Allah azza wa jal said:
This book was revealed to you for what? Just for the barakah? لِيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ So that they reflect on its verses and ayat.
What do they mean to you? And what should be done about these verses? And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:
What's wrong with them? Should they reflect on these verses of the Qur'an? Or maybe they are, they have locks on them. So they're not open to receive these words of guidance from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Al-Imam Ahmad rahmatullahi ta'ala alayhi was very famous and known for following the instruction of the Qur'an with tadabbur. That he has every Ramadan, besides the recitation, he would reflect, recite the Qur'an from cover to cover, from the beginning to the end, silently. Just silently, going over the verses and the words for reflection.
If the brothers can please come forward in this area. We have a lot of space actually here, so we can have everybody, inshallah, come in. Please, move forward please.
Jazakumullah khair.
Conclusion
My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, this is the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. It is the soul and the spirit. It is nur of guidance from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. It is shifa, healing, for that which is there in the chest. There's so many values that are mentioned there in the Qur'an, that we can learn specifically in our time, that we all need to go back to the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
See what exactly Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is instructing us to do in order to have this successful life. Have that peace of mind, and that healing of the heart. When we go back to the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, looking for these words of guidance, Abdullah ibn Abbas radiallahu ta'ala said, Whenever you hear the verse or the ayah that begins with, O you who believe, O you who believe, it says, Pay attention carefully to it.
So whether it's something good that you're gonna be commanded to do, or something bad or evil, that will be instructed to abstain from. That is the meaning of following the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
How many of us can recall some of these instructions mentioned in the Qur'an? There's so many things there in the Qur'an Allah says, Stay away from. How many of us can recall these instructions that are mentioned in the Qur'an? That's part of our tadabbur. That's part of our reflection on the Qur'an.
You go and you read. Not just for the sake of the barakah, but to follow the instructions of the book of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. I believe a few months ago, I came to this masjid and gave another khutbah, and it was particularly at the beginning of that financial crisis. And I mentioned in that khutbah, that the sources of rizq, they're not limited to what many people think of.
They're not just limited to the job. Many people, they think job security, what can secure them in this life? It's your security with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Because so many people, can always take advantage of the new changes in their lives, if they reflect.
So if someone loses his job, that's not the end of the life. Why don't you take this as an opportunity from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, so that you could change your career. Move on somewhere else.
Take an advantage of this to go further, with education whatsoever, to improve your life and the akhira. If you check in the Qur'an, you will see that. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is commanding you, My land, this earth, is so vast and wide.
So why don't you go around and worship me? The rizq is with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, not with the abd, not with the slave of Allah azza wa jal. Provision is with Allah, not with people. So rejoice.
Go back again and see what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala mentions and instructs you to do. These are heavenly youth, coming from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. These are verses, they have so many shades of instructions and values, and the most valuable for it right now, when people are feeling down, feeling stressed out, that is the best time to go back to the Qur'an, so that you could find healings, you can find guidance, and you can find everything that you need as an answer for what you see from around you.
That's an opportunity, an invitation, to go and reflect on the verse of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Take the time, every day in the morning, wherever you go, to go and reflect on these heavenly ayat.
Closing Dua
Translated by Zainab Salman