*Note, All khutbahs are in ‘as-delivered format. Consequently, some things may be unclear or omitted in writing as it is written in a way that fits with my own style and prompting methods. Feel free to leave a comment below if any concerns arise.*

Delivered Sept 9th, 2022

Goal: Live in a way that inspires Yourself and Others.

Prelude:

 يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

Verily all praise is for Allah, 

We praise Him and seek His aid, and ask for His forgiveness 

We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of ourselves and our evil actions. 

Whomever Allah guides there is none who can misguide him, and whomever Allah misguides there is none who can guide him, 

and I bear witness that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah alone, having no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.

O you who believe,

fear allah with the utmost strength, 

And do not die except as muslims

As-Salamu alaikum warahmatullahi ta’ala wa barakatuhu, wa ghafartuhum,

ya ikhwatina fi deenillah, fi deenil haq, fi deenil Islam

Amma’baad

Part I:

Intro:

My brothers and sisters…

What does it mean to be… remarkable?

Etymologically speaking, the word itself comes has french roots, meaning to “take note of”

Thus, to be remarkable, means to be worthy of others taking note of you.

The remarkable, are those who inspire others through their actions… worldly OR spiritual.

Body:

As we are all aware, 

Yesterday Afternoon, the Queen of England, otherwise known as simply “The Queen” passed away.

While I’m sure everyone’s timelines have been inundated with tributes and the like.

It’s of special import to repeat it here today, given what we can learn.

Evidently, she has inspired many, being a beacon of stability – a symbol of constancy in an ever changing world. 

This is someone who Allah granted the highest of stations in life. 

Allah says in surah Yusuf, verse 76:

  نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَـٰتٍۢ مَّن نَّشَآءُ ۗ

narfaun darajatin man nasha (Yusuf: 76)

For Allah elevates to high stations whomever he wills. And this is something we must respect, regardless of our opinions.

This event… is a poignant opportunity for reflection.

–

As soon as one comes to life, one is qualified to die, said the philosopher Martin Heidegger.

Some of us do not make it past the delivery room, while others go on to live a century.

But all life, no matter how seemingly great, must end.

Kullu nafsun dha ikatul mawt. – All souls must taste death

Kullu man Alayha fan – Everything is fleeting 

As Allah reminds us in Suratul Ankaboot and Suratul Rahman.

–

2 days before the Queen died, she still carried out her duties, as a woman of 96 years old.

Other than remarkable, what can we call this?

Even though she was not a Muslim, there are many things we can note from her life of service and commitment to her people.

It was not the monarchy that defined her, but she who defined it.

We must ask ourselves…

In our current trajectory, if we were to go on to live the century she did, would we have lived a similarly impactful life?

Are we doing anything to perhaps be better?

A khutbah is a reminder, but not always should it be of what is to come or what has passed. 

After all, what’s most important is the present 

For, ultimately, it is all we have.

End:

Allah subhanahuwata’allah says in suratul Ali Imran, verse 110.

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ

 بِٱللَّهِ ۗ\

Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, 

enjoining what is right, 

forbidding what is wrong, 

and believing in Allah. 

Believe it or not, Allah is talking about our own generation, this ummah.

And, fittingly, it was the best amongst the best of peoples, Rasulullah SAW, who was our beacon of light. 

His entire life is coded into what we call Hadith, 

His sunnah… is what all Muslims look towards as the ultimate way to live. 

His life, was one which, even before acceding to prophethood, inspired others. 

Being the best man amongst mankind, If we can live even 10% like him in our own times, 

Imagine the people whose lives we could impact… let alone our own.

Part II:

Alhamdulillah wassalatu wasalamu Ala rasulillah

Intro: 

2 weeks ago I had a discussion with a close friend of mine, 

After suffering through a cancer scare, being diagnosed with a chronic illness, and having his academic career as an international student hang in the balance, he asked me: 

what is the purpose of life? 

“To live as the hope of another,” is what he answered. 

An truly remarkable answer befitting a believer who has been severely tested.

Body:

Ya Ikhwan,

The question posed to us today

is how to live a righteous and inspiring life.. how to live as the hope of another?

The answer is simple:

Our actions.

Let’s examine verse 177 of Suratul Baqarah:

It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the Allah-fearing.

Our actions defined our past, define our present, and WILL define our future.

Thus we must continue seeking to change and improve ourselves, such that we become worthy role models for our fellow brothers and sisters.

While it would be nice if we all could build the tallest masjids, or donate a million dollars, we need to start small. 

The easiest way to change is to not do it alone.

We must surround ourselves with those focused on improving themselves 

Those who exhibit diligence in their coursework 

Those who attend to their prayers regularly

Those who have a zeal for excellence in both the Dunya and the akhira.

—

END:

Allah azza wa jal, in suratu hajj, verse 77 commands:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱرْكَعُوا۟ وَٱسْجُدُوا۟ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ وَٱفْعَلُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ۩

O ye who believe! 

bow down, 

prostrate yourselves, 

and adore your Lord; 

and do good!;

that ye may prosper. Surah Hajj – 77

I started the khutbah with how we are the best amongst generations and allahs expectation of us. 

Well, It is not only an expectation, but also a command to strive to be the best in the path of Allah.

Al-Dhahabi reported: Abu Hamid al-Tusi, may Allah have mercy on him, said, “Know that the religion has two conditions. The first is to abandon what has been forbidden. The other is to perform righteous acts of obedience. Abandoning what is forbidden is more difficult than being obedient. Everyone is capable of being obedient, but none are capable of abandoning lowly desires except the truthful. For this reason the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 

“The true emigrant is one who emigrates away from evil, and the one striving in jihad for the sake of Allah is he who strives against his desires.”

The most noble of Jihad, is the Jihad of the nafs.. 

The struggle… against our own souls.

My brothers and sisters, 

Are we living up to Allah’s command and expectations of us? 

Are we living up to the best amongst mankind moniker?

Are our actions for the sake of Allah and not material gain?

Are we denying ourselves that which we love and desire but know is wrong?

Are we praying as though each Salah is our last?

Are we endeavoring to do what is truly right and good, and inspire those around us?

— 

The life we live today largely determines the life we will wake up to tomorrow. 

What kind of example are we setting for ourselves… for those around us… and for those who may come after?

To live as the hope of another, we must first be the hope for ourselves.

Nothing is more inspiring than your own past actions. If you accomplished an act yesterday, you can accomplish it today.

And If you can accomplish an act today, why can’t you do the same… tomorrow?

—-

“The most beloved actions to Allah are those performed consistently, even if they are few.” [Prophet Muhammad PBUH, Sahih Bukhari].

All we need to do is make a consistent effort to improve ourselves daily in both our commitment to the deen and our actions in daily life, 

step by step. 

As Confucius said, the man who moves a mountain… begins by carrying away a small stone.

Wassalatu Wasallam ala Sayyidina Muhammad bin Abdullah Khatamul Anbiya wa imamul Mursaleen

DUA

Akimussalah