ICC | I returned to the ICC basement mosque for another khutbah today. I will start off by saying that it was for the most part a very good khutbah, there was one thing I didn't agree with, not because that is my actual opinion but because the khateeb didn't back up what he said appropriately and basically insulted the jama'at's intelligence (indirectly of course). |
The following is more or less the transcription of the khutbah today.
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God tests us with hardships, if we endure them then we pass, if we lose faith or damage our faith, we failed the test.
Allah loves the Prophet (S) the most from all of creation, the Prophet (S) also suffered the most out of all of creation.
Sometimes we have a bad day month or year, the Prophet (S) faced this as well. It all started when he received his prophet-hood.
He preached for 7 years and he gained followers. Then the Quraysh (his tribe) started to find this to be more than a nuisance. They felt threatened.
The Quraysh made an agreement to boycott the Prophet's family, no dealings with any of them, no trade, or marriage. Even members of his family who didn't accept him were affected. They were boycotted for three years.
We forget the Prophet (S) was human and had feelings. (Read my comments about this point after the khutbah transcription).
They finished the boycott after feeling sympathy.
Abu Talib raised the Prophet, he fell I'll, the Prophet is sad because his uncle didn't accept Islam, even on his deathbed, although he was very close to, but God decided he would not accept Islam.
The Prophet said that he would pray for his uncle's forgiveness, God revealed a verse that forbid praying for someone not Islam, "You do not have the power to guide people, only I do." (Read my comment to this at the end also).
His wife, Khadijah (R), falls ill and passes away. The Prophet (S) is now fed up with the Quraysh, the Prophet (S) travels to Ta'if and presents Islam to the three leaders and they all reject him. They told him to leave the city, the children threw stones at him as he walked out of the city rejected.
God knew what the Prophet (S) endured, and He knew that even through all this suffering he never faltered.
God determined it was time for the Prophet (S) to meet him. When a person receives a blessing in a period of hardship it is appreciated more than when received in a period of ease.
Isra al Mi'raj took place.
27th of Rajab is the date it is popularly believed to have taken place.
Program on Sunday, where we won't celebrate but will learn about the Isra al Miraj.
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What do you think about the khutbah? I am trying a new style of writing. Basically, I will transcribe the khutbah as best as I can, usually written in short-hand, but I will extrapolate wherever I can. Then, following the khateeb's words will be mine. This should accomplish two things.
One, it should allow the reader to read and get a general idea of what the khutbah was about without any of my comments or thoughts, so it's an unbiased review.
Two, it will also make things clear, so you know who is saying what, you can clearly see what the khateeb said and what I said.
Continuing, here are some of my thoughts regarding this khutbah.
Like I said initially, it was pretty good overall, it was delivered by a youngish desi american khateeb, he had no accent and was articulate enough. He was confident in how he spoke, although at times it reached the point of yelling which is really unnecessary. It's a tiny mosque, people can hear you just fine without you raising your voice, unless you are attempting to conjure up some dramatic effect, which is also unnecessary.
Two points that I wanted to write about.
The first point, the khateeb said, "We tend to forget that the Prophet (S) was human." He didn't break this down to an extent that I would find reprehensible, so this is not a critique of him or his words, these are just my thoughts on this one statement. Yes, the Prophet (S) was indeed a human being, so he did have emotions, he did weep, he did rejoice. However, let's not pull a Wahabi and pretend that we are on the same level as him. He was a human being, but he was no ordinary human being, he was Insan-i-Kamil, the Perfected Human Being, he was a True Human Being.
What does this mean? It means he conquered his nafs, his ego. He was no longer enslaved to himself, as most of us today are. I won't delve further into this point, but it's something good to understand. Ask if you have questions.
The second point I wanted to point out I already alluded to in the opening paragraph.
The khateeb made the claim that it is forbidden to pray for someone who is not a Muslim, then he quoted a verse and he gave the following translation of the verse:
"You do not have the power to guide people, only I do."
Since the khateeb only quoted a small section of the actual verse, I have pasted the entire verse here:
Surah Al Bakarah, Verse 272
____________________
God tests us with hardships, if we endure them then we pass, if we lose faith or damage our faith, we failed the test.
Allah loves the Prophet (S) the most from all of creation, the Prophet (S) also suffered the most out of all of creation.
Sometimes we have a bad day month or year, the Prophet (S) faced this as well. It all started when he received his prophet-hood.
He preached for 7 years and he gained followers. Then the Quraysh (his tribe) started to find this to be more than a nuisance. They felt threatened.
The Quraysh made an agreement to boycott the Prophet's family, no dealings with any of them, no trade, or marriage. Even members of his family who didn't accept him were affected. They were boycotted for three years.
We forget the Prophet (S) was human and had feelings. (Read my comments about this point after the khutbah transcription).
They finished the boycott after feeling sympathy.
Abu Talib raised the Prophet, he fell I'll, the Prophet is sad because his uncle didn't accept Islam, even on his deathbed, although he was very close to, but God decided he would not accept Islam.
The Prophet said that he would pray for his uncle's forgiveness, God revealed a verse that forbid praying for someone not Islam, "You do not have the power to guide people, only I do." (Read my comment to this at the end also).
His wife, Khadijah (R), falls ill and passes away. The Prophet (S) is now fed up with the Quraysh, the Prophet (S) travels to Ta'if and presents Islam to the three leaders and they all reject him. They told him to leave the city, the children threw stones at him as he walked out of the city rejected.
God knew what the Prophet (S) endured, and He knew that even through all this suffering he never faltered.
God determined it was time for the Prophet (S) to meet him. When a person receives a blessing in a period of hardship it is appreciated more than when received in a period of ease.
Isra al Mi'raj took place.
27th of Rajab is the date it is popularly believed to have taken place.
Program on Sunday, where we won't celebrate but will learn about the Isra al Miraj.
____________________
What do you think about the khutbah? I am trying a new style of writing. Basically, I will transcribe the khutbah as best as I can, usually written in short-hand, but I will extrapolate wherever I can. Then, following the khateeb's words will be mine. This should accomplish two things.
One, it should allow the reader to read and get a general idea of what the khutbah was about without any of my comments or thoughts, so it's an unbiased review.
Two, it will also make things clear, so you know who is saying what, you can clearly see what the khateeb said and what I said.
Continuing, here are some of my thoughts regarding this khutbah.
Like I said initially, it was pretty good overall, it was delivered by a youngish desi american khateeb, he had no accent and was articulate enough. He was confident in how he spoke, although at times it reached the point of yelling which is really unnecessary. It's a tiny mosque, people can hear you just fine without you raising your voice, unless you are attempting to conjure up some dramatic effect, which is also unnecessary.
Two points that I wanted to write about.
The first point, the khateeb said, "We tend to forget that the Prophet (S) was human." He didn't break this down to an extent that I would find reprehensible, so this is not a critique of him or his words, these are just my thoughts on this one statement. Yes, the Prophet (S) was indeed a human being, so he did have emotions, he did weep, he did rejoice. However, let's not pull a Wahabi and pretend that we are on the same level as him. He was a human being, but he was no ordinary human being, he was Insan-i-Kamil, the Perfected Human Being, he was a True Human Being.
What does this mean? It means he conquered his nafs, his ego. He was no longer enslaved to himself, as most of us today are. I won't delve further into this point, but it's something good to understand. Ask if you have questions.
The second point I wanted to point out I already alluded to in the opening paragraph.
The khateeb made the claim that it is forbidden to pray for someone who is not a Muslim, then he quoted a verse and he gave the following translation of the verse:
"You do not have the power to guide people, only I do."
Since the khateeb only quoted a small section of the actual verse, I have pasted the entire verse here:
Surah Al Bakarah, Verse 272
Not upon you, [O Muhammad], is [responsibility for] their guidance, but Allah guides whom He wills. And whatever good you [believers] spend is for yourselves, and you do not spend except seeking the countenance of Allah . And whatever you spend of good - it will be fully repaid to you, and you will not be wronged.
Reading the above verse, it's clear why he only mentioned the first part of it, that was the only part that was relevant to the point he was trying to convey, and it doesn't hurt to not mention the rest of the verse, cool, I got you.
BUT!
Where in this verse does it say we ought not to pray for non-Muslims? Are you telling me that if a person converts to Islam and their entire family remains Christian or Jewish or Hindu or whatever faith or lack of faith they ascribe to, that that person who gave up his or her entire world and life to accept God's message must content themselves with the supposed fact that there is no hope for their loved ones and that they are destined for the pits of Hell? This is utterly ridiculous. I hope you all see that.
If you don't agree with me, sure, why not, that's your right, but I personally believe that praying for another human being, Muslim or not, is a wonderful thing. Try it some time, it might soften your heart a bit.
Thank you for the decent khutbah.