MEC | Salam fellow Chicagoans (and everyone else). So... for some reason, the MCC Web Administrators don't like to update their site with the Jummah prayer timings, that's a bad thing. You guys should update it, people can show up at 2pm thinking there is a Jummah prayer going on, haha, fortunately, that didn't happen to me, so we good... For now. Let's jump right into the khutbah, shall we? |

All praise is due to Allah. We pray to God to send blessings upon our beloved Prophet (S), his family, and his companions.
Abu Harairah (R) said, the Prophet said that the rights of a Muslim on another Muslim are six.
- When you meet him, say Salam
- If. He invite you, accept.
- If he asked for advice, give him good advice.
- Sneeze, say Alhamdulillah.
- Sick, go visit.
- Die, go to funeral.
The first right, as soon as you meet him, say Salam.
*KK Interjection*
There is a middle aged Desi uncle talking on his phone during the khutbah. I don't mean he is standing at the mosque's threshold and I can just faintly hear him. No, this brother was sitting in front of me, his phone rang a minute or two after the khutbah started and instead of silencing his phone, he stood up and answered it, then he proceeded to the back of the mosque and and was standing a foot away from a group of men listening to the khutbah and continued his conversation, I actually heard him say, "No, I'm at the mosque for Jummah." So... both he and the person he was speaking with had no clue about how one must be in a mosque or at the very least how one should behave during a prayer. Anyway, he seemed confused so he walked to the door, but then he just walked back in, all the while continuing his conversation. I saw many people getting visibly agitated by this oblivious idiot. Finally, I saw someone get up, and walk him to the door and ask him to finish his conversation outside. That guy is my hero. Unfortunately for him, he had to break his prayer in order to bring some relief to the several dozen people that were within earshot of this idiot.
So continuing, I apologize, I missed some of the khutbah because I couldn't hear the Imam over the inconsiderate Desi uncle that took a phone call during prayer. Clearly I am unhappy about this.
*End interjection*
Salam is not a typical greeting, its a dua (prayer), not like Ahlan Wa Sahlan (Welcome), good morning, or good evening. You are asking Allah to protect your brother, from harm or misfortune.
The Prophet said, spread Salam (the greeting and the meaning of the word also, Peace), feed the hungry, pray at night.
The Prophet said: "You will not enter paradise until you believe, you will not believe until you love each other."
A man came to the Prophet asking him what was the best aspect of Islam, the Prophet replied that the best aspect of Islam is to feed the people, the hungry.
There are people that don't greet each other because they think differently, they have different opinions or ideas, this is not right. Initially giving the Salam is not obligatory, but returning it is.
If your brother seeks advice from you, help him sincerely. Don't cheat him. Act in the same manner as if you are seeking advice. Especially if someone is wanting to marry off his daughter and he comes to you to ask the character of such and such person. Be honest and truthful and sincere when giving your advice.
Hajj js based on Arafah.
Din (religion) is based on Nasihah (advice).
Hadith: Allah likes the act of sneezing and dislikes the act of yawning, because sneezing comes from God and yawning is from shaytan (satan).
When someone sneezes know that this is a rahmah (mercy) from God. They are expelling the congested air from their lungs. That's why we thank God and say Alhamdulillah.
Story about a man who heard someone on an island sneeze and say Alhamdulillah, then a man went with a boat for one dirham to say yarhamakullah. People asked why he did this, he said maybe Allah will accept their dua and he dreamt that night that both their duas were accepted.
Hadith: If a Muslim visits his sick brother, 70,000 angels ask for your forgiveness.
When meeting your sick brother, you have to say something good.
The last right the Nabi (Prophet) mentioned, when your brother dies you should follow his funeral. Even if he's dead he has rights over you. Washing the body and burying it are Fard Kifayah (Obligatory).
Whoever attends the funeral and performs the prayer over the body, will receive immense reward, qira'at, a mountain of blessings. And if you go with the procession to bury the body you will have two qira'at.
Nowadays we substitute saying Salam with "How are you?" and "Hey", there is now harm to say that after saying Salam. The greeting of the people if paradise is Salam.
You get the following good deeds for your greeting:
Assalamu Alaikum, 10,
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, 20,
Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahu wa Barakatuhu, 30.
We ask Allah to have mercy on us and give us the ability to fulfill the rights of our brothers.
Well all right!
What did you all think? I actually really liked this one, it was quaint, nothing in itself special, but it instilled basic ideas of common decency. Clearly the phone man was unable to benefit from a talk that was explaining the rights of your fellow Muslims. Ironic.
I have to say, that was REALLY stupid, what that phone dude did.
Anyway, the khutbah was good, I am a little disappointed, I was hoping for a really crappy khutbah to write about, but then again, I am more pleased than not, because I would prefer to hear something of value then hear utter ridiculous Salafi nonsense.
Speaking of which, it came to my attention that MEC has banned Inam ul Haqq, a very educated and moderate Muslim, but they let dumb ignorant villagers like that Palestinian spout hate and ignorance. Truly... MEC has it backwards when it comes to high standards. Inam ul Haqq never said anything outlandish or not within the tradition of Islam, but it's okay to have some ignorant fool interrupt his khutbah and yell at him, and then almost immediately after that, ban the khatib and not that dumb idiot that ruined everyone's prayer. That's smart, good job.
Get your stuff straight MEC. Also, for any MEC/MCC community leaders that read this, I hope this is proof enough that I am not out to get you, I say it like it is, if you bring in good people that speak good things, they will be commended for that, if you bring in villagers that speak ignorance, you will be berated for that. So, stop ignoring my valid points and focusing on what hurts your egos and make some changes. I can't do anything, but you, our community leaders, have all the resources and power to exact meaningful and lasting positive change. You just need some gumption, that's what I am providing.
Thank me later.
Salam.