يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ –
O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.
Today 10th of Dhull hajj, the last day of the 10 best days and finally it’s a day of celebration, and until sunset we have the very last moments of these blessed days.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja).” Then some companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Not even Jihad?” He replied, Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah’s sake) and does not return with any of those things. Bukhari 969.
Oh people: Yesterday the pilgrims, stood upon the plain of Arafāt. They supplicated sincerely to Allah Most High. They shed tears. Their hearts were deeply attached to the Lord of the heavens and the earth.
So, what do you think of Allah, the Generous, as they ask Him and supplicate Him? And what do you think of the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy, while they place their hopes and trust in Him? And what do you think of the Gracious, the Merciful, while they seek His forgiveness and His mercy? Do you think the Most Gentle would disappoint them?
No, by Allah! Our Lord will not turn them away or disappoint them. This is what we think about Him Glorified is He. And this should be what every true believer thinks of their Lord, Majestic and Exalted. Ibn al-Mubārak said: I came to Sufyān al-Thawrī on the eve of ʿArafah, and he was kneeling on his knees, tears streaming from his eyes. I asked him: Who is in the worst state among this gathering?’ He replied: The one who thinks that Allah will not forgive them.
O Allah, make their Hajj accepted, their striving rewarded, And their sins forgiven.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ واللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ (3 times)
It is from the Sunnah (established way) of Allah – the Most High – that He tests His servants, both individuals and communities, with ease and hardship, so that He may see who among them will be thankful during times of ease and who among them will be patient during times of difficulty. Those doing so will have a favourable outcome in this world and will attain the great triumph in the Hereafter. And this law applies universally. It applies to all communities and in all eras.
For He, glory be to Him, tests and grants relief, withholds and gives, and all of His actions, glory be to Him, revolve around mercy and wisdom. The trials of prosperity and adversity do not end except with the transition from this world to the Hereafter. As a person’s fluctuations between prosperity and adversity, they fluctuate between fear and sadness. Because if they are in prosperity, they fear losing it, and if they are in adversity, they are saddened by its occurrence. And no will be spared from fear and sorrow, except in Paradise: Allah says
Al-Aḥqāf (46) 13–14: (13) Indeed, those who have said, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then remained steadfast – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Those are the companions of Paradise, abiding eternally therein, as reward for what they used to do.
We are in a state of prosperity surrounded by fear. And our brothers and sisters in many places have been afflicted with hardship, so they are in sorrow until their hardships are removed.
We live in a state of security, stability, and abundance, yet we fear that what has afflicted others—disorder, fear, and hunger—might also affect us. Indeed, Allah the Exalted has often paired safety and sustenance together in many verses of the Qur’an, because true stability cannot be achieved without both:
Al-Qasas (28) 57: Have We not established for them a secure sanctuary to which are brought fruits of all kinds as provision from Us? But most of them do not know.
And this state of safety, abundance, and stability is preserved only through gratitude:
Al-A’raf (7) 10: And We have certainly established you upon the earth and made for you therein ways of livelihood. Little are you grateful.
Likewise, denial, whether through disbelief (kufr) or ingratitude towards blessings is a cause for transforming ease into hardship:
If we look at our current reality, we will find that we are falling short in expressing gratitude to our Lord—Glorified and Exalted is He—despite the fact that many others are facing trails and afflicted by fear and hunger. Unfortunately, we are falling to by giving preferences to Haram over Halal.
Yet the people of sin have not left their sins, the exaggerated have not abandoned their excesses, and those who falling short in acts of obedience have not made amends. And they always looking for concessions in religion in any means and baseless.
Rather, sins are increasing—within ourselves, our homes, our women, and our children. Wastefulness and ingratitude are rambling—on our tables, and at our celebrations. Even memorials have lavish meals, and leftovers are thrown into the garbage. As if we are indifferent to those dying of hunger. We still cry for the one who is dying for hunger, a clear example of hypocrisy.
We live in a state of well-being and free from diseases. We take precautions against infection, yet we do not take precautions against the punishment of the One who decreed diseases. We feel safe from Him – Glorified is He – even though He has warned us of His plan, saying:
Al-A’raf (7) 99: But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people.
We must fear during times of ease before we are forced to grieve during times of hardship. Our fear should be of Allah the Exalted. That fear should drive us to action. We must fear our sins and repent from them and abandon them. We must fear our shortcomings in acts of obedience and become diligent in fulfilling them. We must fear the sins of those around us—our family, children, colleagues, and neighbours—and so we must enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. Calling others to account must become a habitual behaviour for us. For Allah the Exalted does not punish a community among whom some hold others accountable:
Hud (11) 117: And your Lord would never destroy a society unjustly while its people were acting rightly.
So let us spread righteousness and reform. And how greatly we are in need of renewing our commitment to our religion and repenting from our sins. Let’s start with priority day to day commitment is for attending mosque for obligatory prayers and giving your priority response to call of Muadhan. Otherwise, we will be afflicted with what others were afflicted with.
We seek refuge with Allah the Exalted from the loss of His blessings, the removal of His protection, the suddenness of His punishment, and all forms of His anger. We seek refuge in Him—Glorified is He—from misery, from a bad fate, from exhausting trials, and from the gloating of adversaries. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, the Responsive.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ واللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ 3 times
All praise is to Allah, and peace and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah, and I bear witness that there is no deity other than Allah and I bear witness that Mohammad is His servant and messenger.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ واللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ 3times
So fear Allah – the Exalted – in these great days, and fill them with the remembrance of Allah the Exalted, for Allah the Exalted said:
Al-Baqarah (2) 203: And remember Allah during [specific] numbered days.
And the Prophet ﷺ said:
يَوْمُ عَرَفَةَ وَيَوْمُ النَّحْرِ, وَأَيَّامُ التَّشْرِيقِ, عِيدُنَا أَهْلَ الإِسْلَامِ, وَهِيَ أَيَّامُ أَكْلٍ وَشُرْبٍ
“The day of Arafat and the day of sacrifice and the days of At-Tashriq are our Eid, people of Islam, and they are days of eating and drinking.” [Sahih Al Jami Albani 8192]. Sahih Muslim 1141a. https://sunnah.com/muslim:1141a.
The Days of Tashrīq are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah. [Muslim 1141]
O Muslims, this day is the greatest of days in the sight of Allah – the Exalted – as the Prophet ﷺ said:
إِنَّ أَعْظَمَ الْأَيَّامِ عِنْدَ اللَّـهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَوْمُ النَّحْرِ ثُمَّ يَوْمُ الْقَرِّ
Indeed, the greatest day in the sight of Allah, Blessed and Exalted, is the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm al-Naḥr), followed by the Day of rest (Yawm al-Qarr). [Abu Dawud 1765, Sahih (Albani)]
So honor it as Allah – the Exalted – has honored it:
Al-Ḥajj (22) 32: That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ واللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ 1 time
Oh people: We live in security and stability, while others are surrounded by chaos from all directions. This calls for fear and urgency in turning to Allah – the Exalted – seeking His protection. Indeed, the images of those suffering contains powerful lessons and reminders that should lead us to repentance and turning back to Allah, and committing to His commands – so that we are not afflicted with what has afflicted others.
And the woman can be a source of trial for a man. Either she pleases him in a lawful manner, and he is made happy through her and expresses gratitude to Allah – the Exalted – for that, and she helps him to remain grateful; or he is tempted by her, disobeys Allah Almighty for her sake, and thus brings upon himself Allah’s punishment because of her. Allah the Exalted has said:
At-Taghabun (64) 14: O believers! Indeed, some of your spouses and children are enemies to you, so beware of them. But if you pardon, overlook, and forgive ˹their faults˺, then Allah is truly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
So, O Muslim women, be a support for men in obeying Allah – the Exalted – and do not be a cause of their disobedience. For the affairs of homes and families in this time have largely fallen into the hands of women. And the woman is a caretaker in her husband’s house and is responsible for those under her care.
O Muslim women, one of great pillar of Islam Hajj, bring the great example of Hajra A.S a wife of Ibrahim, when she was left alone with an infant in the middle of a desert with no water and food. Today millions walk between Safa and Marwa because of one woman’s struggle. Allah – the Exalted honoured the struggle of a women for the rest of time.
O woman, purify your home from forbidden things, raise your children to fear Allah – the Exalted – and instil in their hearts love for Him and obedience to Him. Firmly guide them upon the truth. If you do so, Allah – the Exalted – will avert punishment from us, preserve faith and security, and our children will become a source of joy for us.
May Allah safeguard and protect the Muslim women, shield them and their children from every kind of trial, both apparent and hidden, and rectify their spouses and their offspring.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ واللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ 1 time
You are now leaving your places of prayer to draw closer to Allah – the Exalted – with your sacrificial offerings. The time for slaughtering extends until the setting of the sun on the thirteenth day (of Dhul-Hijjah), which is the last of the Days of Tashriq—days in which fasting is not permitted.
Let the first thing you eat today be from the meat of your sacrificial animals. So, eat from it, gift part of it, give some in charity, and store some for later. Most of us sacrifice an animal in our home countries so we can offer the Udhiyah according to Sunnah by choosing a right perfect animal and then slaughter it by hand according to sunnah, where even knowing the fact that we will not able to get the share of meat but will be most happy to distribute all shares to poor and needy.
Show joy and happiness on your Eid, avoid whatever Allah – the Exalted – has forbidden for you, and express gratitude to Allah Almighty Who has guided you and blessed you.
And do not forget your less fortunate brothers and sisters. So, shelter them, feed their hungry, care for their sick, support their widows, sponsor their orphans, and show your concern for them. Comfort them with what Allah Almighty has given you and remember them in your supplications.
For indeed, by helping them, you earn the pleasure of your Lord, you come to the aid of your fellow believers, you protect yourselves, and you safeguard your own security and provision. For truly, giving and generosity repel calamities and hardship.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ واللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ 1 time
I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon your Prophet as your Lord commanded:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ واللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ 1 time
