Friday Khutbah (May 7, 2004) delivered by Shaykh Muhammad Taher
This reminder was originally delivered in Arabic. Any meanings lost in translation are not to be attributed to the speaker as reminders are translated by volunteers. The mosque has no official translater and volunteers often have no formal qualifications to translate on the day. Please forgive any errors as they are from our human weakness and any right guidance is from Allah.
From the necessities that the Islamic Sacred Law is concerned with preserving, guarding the rights of man, is the preservation of the intellect. The intellect is one of the greatest blessings that Allah has bestowed upon human beings. Allah has made the intellect the jewel of this living being, and by it man is distinguished from the rest of creation and all other creatures, which Allah, Exalted is He, has created. With the intellect man distinguishes between good and evil, between benefit and harm. With it he is happy in his life, with it he conducts his affairs, with it he enjoys himself and is healthy. And with the intellect nations advance and life progresses. Allah has placed in this intellect amazing capabilities which benefit man. By means of the intellect man rules over his affairs. Furthermore, the intellect enables one to have foresight, reflection and contemplation of this vast creation, and contemplation of the dominion of Allah, the wondrous nature of His design, the beauty that this Divine Power creates, giving evidence of the power of Allah and the greatness of His creation. For this reason Islam is covetous over the protection of the intellect and its preservation from anything that may harm it.
Oh Muslims
Because of the importance of the blessing of the intellect, and the need to protect it in order for man to use it to bring about benefit for his life, his body, and his deen, Islam has forbidden anything harmful that may harm this blessing. Islam has forbidden the drinking of alcohol, and the consumption of intoxicants, because they remove the intellect and harm it. The one who drinks alcohol loses control over himself, and there are other things that afflict him.
Allah says:
"Oh you who believe! Intoxicants and gambling and idols and divining arrows are only the filth of Shaitan's handiwork, so avoid them so that you may be successful. Indeed Shaitan only wants to stir up enmity and hatred amongst you by means of intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of Allah and the prayer. Will you not then abstain? (al-Maida 90-91) "
Indeed the drinking of alcohol is one of the greatest enormities, one of the most serious offences, the mother of vile deeds. Don't you see from intoxication the disappearance of the intellect and the committing of all kinds of things. Someone might commit fornication, steal, and kill all at the same time. These things are well known!!
It is narrated that a king from the kings of bani Israel took a man, and made him choose between drinking alcohol, killing a boy, eating pork or being killed. The man refused and rejected these other things and chose to drink the wine, because he saw it as the lesser act, compared to killing a boy and eating pork. As soon as he drank and the alcohol went around his head; he could not prevent himself from doing anything that they wanted him to do.
Local news reports on Monday mornings are never free of stories in which we hear about a sexual assault, or a murder, a rape, a theft, a disappearance. All of this is because people, on their weekend breaks, go to excess in their consumption of intoxicants and drugs, and this is a natural result of Shaitan's work.
For this reason we look to the legislations of Islam, considering that they maintain the life of man, and respect his Adamic nature, his humanity, seeking goodness for him and desiring righteousness for society, protecting it from all means of harm and destruction.
The consumption of intoxicants is to wage war against Allah; it is manifest disobedience. So whoever takes anything from it, or supplies it for something other than it, or circulates it, or sells it for something else, or condones it, indeed he deserves the curse of Allah and his punishment. The Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alaihi wa salam cursed the producer of alcohol, and the one who demands its production, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it and the one it is carried to, the one who sells it and the one it is sold to, the one who drinks it and the one who gives it to drink, and the one who consumes its profit. Whoever the Messenger of Allah has cursed, peace be upon him, deserves the curse of Allah, without exception.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Every intoxicant is forbidden, and Allah has a promise for the one who drinks intoxicants, Allah gives him Tinata Al-khabal to drink." They said: "What is Tinatu al-khabal? He replied: " It is the sweat of the people of the Hellfire." Muslim.
In the Hadith: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him not sit at a table around which alcohol is passed." (Tirmidhi)
In relation to this hadith, we remind our brothers, who are students, who are attending graduation parties and other parties to celebrate the end of the academic year, at which alcohol will be present and passed around, to pay attention and be aware of this command, and it is upon them to avoid this to the best of their ability. Likewise, our brothers who are businessmen, it is upon them to have taqwa of Allah in their business, and fear Him, Exalted is He. Businessmen, and these kinds of people, do not abandon the love of wealth and covetousness for deals and bargains, which calls them to do what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden. Know that you, if you inform whoever interacts with them, that the drinking of alcohol, or the sitting at a table at which alcohol is passed around is an issue which your religion prohibits, and your Sacred Law rejects, you will be received with respect and appreciation.
Allah says:
“And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way out for him. And he will provide for him from where he could never imagine.” (al-Talaq: 2-3)
Oh Muslims!
One of the causes of committing this disobedience is weakness of one's fear of Allah, The Living, The Everlasting, because whoever does not fear Allah and have taqwa of Him, does not fear his punishment and seek His Mercy, Allah destroys him and does not protect him. Whoever Allah does not protect is indeed lost and ruined. Have you not heard the words of Allah:
“Whoever Allah guides is rightly guided, and whoever Allah leads astray will not find a friend to guide him.” (al-Kahf: 17)
Because, when the fear of Allah, Exalted is He, becomes weak in the hearts of many people it becomes easy for them to disobey Allah, or to procrastinate. One of them will say: “Let us enjoy ourselves today and repent tomorrow!” And this is better than the saying: “ On the Day of the Fire your Lord is most Merciful.”
Allah says:
“ Know that Allah is severe is punishment, and that Allah is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (al-Ma’ida: 97)
It is upon the Muslim to fear Allah, and it is upon him to be reminded that however long his life may be in this world, one day he will die, and Allah will take him to account for his actions.
Allah says:
“And fear the Day when you shall be brought back to Allah. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.” (al-Baqara: 281)
Another cause of this is poor upbringing and education, and a lack of supervision of children. Imposing no restraint upon them, letting then befriend whomever they wish. They go alone with whomever they wish; they go where you know and where you don't know. They associate with whomever, without any supervision or check. So if children are left without any direction, or supervision, or advice, or guidance, especially in a society that permits everything, then what can guarantee that our children won’t commit that which is haraam, and do that which is prohibited? This is a great, huge responsibility that is placed upon the shoulders of all parents and guardians. It is an obligation upon guardians to implant the principles of faith and the meaning of having fear of Allah, Exalted is He!, and also desire and hope of His Pleasure. Teach them love of Allah and His Messenger, salla Allahu alaihi wa salam. Teach them love of obedience and worship. Let them know every now and then with a beautiful reminder, beautify the company in the house, be open and honest in everything. With this and that let the guardians be examples for their children to follow, to apply sincerely, the manners and morals of Islam, complying outwardly with the rulings of the deen, exalting and magnifying the creed of faith in the unseen, in Allah, in Paradise, and the Last Day.
Fill their free time with that which brings about benefit, and let them enjoy themselves in what Allah has permitted. Let your children know that the forbidden things in our din are known, limited and very few, and that everything else is halal, permissible.
Allah says:
“He is the one who created all that is in the earth for you.” (al-Baqara: 29)
“Say: Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which he has brought forth for his bondsmen, and the good things of His providing? Say: Such, on the Day of Resurrection, will be only for those who believed during the life of this world. Thus do we detail Our Revelations for people who have knowledge. Say: My Lord only forbids indecencies, such of them as are apparent and such as are hidden, and sin and wrongful oppression, and that you associate with Allah that for which no warrant has been revealed, and that you say concerning Allah that which you know not.” (Al-A'raf, 32-3)
We have, over the last few weeks, been explaining the objectives of the Shari‘ah, the Islamic Sacred Law. It is by theses objectives that Muslims should conduct their lives. Remember that the Shari‘ah is about bringing about benefit and putting off harm.
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