30th Dhul Hijjah 1443AH
Assalamu alaykum warahmatullah wabarakaatuhu.
All praise is for Allah Who made the sun a shining glory and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and the count of time. All praise is for Allah Who made the day and the night alternate in succession for anyone that wishes to remember or present his gratitude. I bear witness that there is no god worthy of adoration/worship except Allah Alone having no partner. To Him alone belongs the dominion of the universe. From Him was the beginning and to Him will be the end and return. I bear witness that Muhammad (SAW) is His slave and messenger, who was the best man to worship and surrender to Him.
O Allah! Exalt our master Muhammad, whose light preceded all Creation, whose appearance is mercy to all the worlds, on the number of Your Creations which have passed before and the number of those which remain, those who are fortunate and those who are not, with blessings which exceed all count and which encompass all limits, blessings with no limits, no boundaries, ceaseless, blessings which are eternal, enduring as You endure.
O Allah! Bless our Master Muhammad, whose heart is so full with Your Glory, and whose eyes are so full of Your Beauty that he came to be overjoyed, supported and victorious, and bless likewise his Family and Companions and grant him and them abundant peace, and praise be to Allah for all of that!
O Servants of Allah! The Hijrah Year 1443 ends today and 1444AH will be ushered in. The advent of every New Year is marked by many Muslims with sincere resolutions and plans to improve and become closer to their Lord, but the days and hours slip away while the people’s conditions remain the same and even deteriorating. This routine continues to repeat itself, year in year out. The resultant effect of such failures is loss and disgrace in this world and the next. Therefore, we must invest our time in obedience to Allah and make sure that our spiritual condition is improving from year to year; for the more time runs away from us, the closer we are drawing to our graves.
The beginning of the Islamic New Year is not celebrated like the Christians and other people celebrate their new year. It is not an eid like fitr or adha. No vigil is required of Muslims to usher in the new year, no party and no formal gathering for prayer has been established. However, it is very significant in the life of a Muslim as it presents him with an opportunity for introspection and stock taking. Ibn Abbas (RA) reported the Prophet (SAW) saying that “whoever fast the last day of Dhul-Hijjah and the first day of Muharram, he has indeed ended the outgoing year with fast and opened the coming year with fast and Allah shall grant him forgiveness of fifty years” (Nisa’i, Ahmad, Baihaqi’).
O servants of Allah! The New Year starts with Muharram which is one of the four sacred months in which we are to increase in the doing of good and refraining from sins. Do not measure your success in the years past by the net worth of your wealth or worldly acquisitions. Spend some good time reflecting on your spiritual life in the past year and assess your progress or otherwise. I swear by Allah that improvements in our worldly lives do us absolutely no good if our spiritual lives are not improving at the same time. In this wise, “… turn to Allah in repentance all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.” (Q24: 31)
What do we really understand when we say a month is ‘sacred’? Sacred months are months sanctified by the Creator –Allah- and fighting, rancour and all manners that constitute hinderance to peace and well-being are forbidden. Allah (SWT) said: “They ask you concerning the sacred month – about fighting therein. Say, ‘Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allah and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] the Sacred Mosque [Ka’bah in Makkah] and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allah. And fitnah [Polytheism and Disbelief] is worse than killing’. And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever – for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.” (Q2: 217)
“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein … ” [Q 9:36] The four months are Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab, all of which were recognized right from the days of Sayyidina Ibrahim (AS). Stay well within the limits defined by Allah, fulfil all His obligations, shun all His prohibitions and fulfil the rights of the people.
My Brethren! Faith is not by wishes or beautification. Repentance is not only by words without being translated into action, which should entail quitting the sin repented for. Faith is the belief in the heart which should also translate into actions that are in accordance with the belief. Repentance is the feeling of regret for what was committed of wrong doings and sins. It is further to return to Allah and to correct the deeds as well as to fear Him and realize that He is watching you whenever you do any deed. Thus, you achieve true Imaan and penance before it is too late, when you become helpless and unable to do anything in this regard.
The Prophet (SAW) advised us to: “Take advantage of five things before five things befall you. Take advantage of your youth before you grow old, your health before you get ill, your wealth before you become poor, your free time before you become busy, and your life (while still alive) before you die.” Therefore, waste no time with the five things mentioned herein because once the times expire without judicious use, the achievement will be nothing but loss accompanied by lamentation. May Allah help us against waste of time.
O Servants of Allah! Take the benefits of this admonishment and do not waste what is left of your life as you have done up till now. Death is inevitable and once it comes all avenue to doing good would have been shut and plea for return of the soul tpo enable it remedy its shortfalls will be heeded. Therefore, Allah admonishes you to “… expend, in alms, of that with which We have provided you before death comes to any of you whereat, he will say, ‘My Lord, if only You would reprieve me for a short time so that I might give charity and become one of the righteous. But Allah will never reprieve a soul when its term has come. And Allah is Aware of what you do” (Q63:10-11).
The Islamic calendar starts with the month of Muharram which is one of the four sacred months. Fasting during the month is recommended. The Holy Prophet (SAW) said: “The best fasts after the fasts of Ramadan are those of the month of Muharram.” Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are not obligatory, yet, the one who fasts in these days out of his own will and choice is entitled to a great reward by Allah (SWT).
In the month of Muharram falls the day of Ashurah (10th of Muharram). Although, the month of Muharram is a sanctified month as a whole, yet, the 10th day of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day is named Ashurah. According to Ibn Abbas (RA) when the Holy Prophet (SAW) migrated to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which Prophet Musa (AS) and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was drowned in its water. The day is fasted as a mark of gratitude for the favour of Allah in delivering the children of Israel from the tyranny and oppression of the Pharaoh. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet (SAW) said, “We are more closely related to Musa than you” and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashurah (Abu Dawood).
Zakah is a pillar of Islam which requires those with qualifying assets/wealth to pay to the poor an agreed percentage. Some people usually pay this in Ramadan while others wait till the end of the year. If you are yet to discharge your Zakah obligation for 1443AH, make haste now and pay it. Since we do not operate under an Islamic government to compel the payment of Zakah, we should willingly and honestly discharge this obligation. It is about Zakah that Allah directed His Prophet (SAW) to: “Take a portion of their wealth as charity, so that you may cleanse and purify them thereby; and pray for them; for your prayers are a source of comfort for them. Allah hears all and knows all.” (Q9:103).
O servants of Allah! Do not let the days of this year go past you while you were engaged in playing and neglecting your duties to Allah. Do not be lost in the home of this world. Know that all the wealth you acquired in this world and the ones that pre-occupy your time belong to your heirs. Once death comes upon you, those properties no longer belong to you; those who did not know how you came about them and who will not be questioned as to how they were acquired will now inherit and enjoy the full value of the assets/properties. Ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah, (SAW), said,
“Which of you loves the property of his heir more than he loves his own property?” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, there is none of us who does not love his own property more.” He said, “His property is what he sends ahead (i.e., gives in the way of Allah), and the property of his heir is what he keeps back (i.e., the property he will leave if he dies tomorrow).” [al-Bukhari]
O servants of Allah! It is time to come to reality; leave off, today, all the things that you give priority above the demands of your Creator. Fear of poverty, desire to build up wealth for our children, desire for fame through leadership positions, etc., are the major distractions and lubricants that fuel most of the corruptions and wrong doings that characterise our living. What you hoard does not belong to you (they belong to those qualified to inherit you) but you will be accountable for how you got them and what you did with them. But “whatever good you send before you for yourselves (spending in the way of Allah), you will certainly find it with Allah, better and greater in reward” (Q73:20).
O Servants of Allah! Fear Him and perform the responsibilities about which you will be questioned on the Day of Resurrection. Allah the Almighty says: “O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are (appointed) angels, harsh and severe, they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.” (Q66: 6).
PART 2
All Praise goes back to Allah who, in His unquantifiable Wisdom, chose and sent Muhammad (SAW) as a Prophet and Messenger to the two worlds {worlds of Men & Jinn) as carrier of glad tidings and a Warner. We ask ALLAH to bestow His salutation upon our master and leader, Muhammad, SAW, his household, his companions and all those who believe in him till the end of time.
O servants of Allah! The events of the Muslim new year is similar to the celebrations of National Independence Days by countries around the world.
Independence celebration is about gaining freedom from an external power that hinders you from taking charge of your lives and the activities surrounding
you. In the same vein, the new year rekindles the events of the Hijrah to Madinatu Tayyibah by the Prophet (SAW) and the Sahabah.
Our New Year is historical being a day when a slave gains freedom; the day that the persecuted Muslim of Makkah entered Madinah; and the day that the Great Prophet (SAW) arrived Madinah to establish dawlah al-islami (Islamic Government).
The hijrah emancipated the fledgling Muslim population from oppression and gave it freedom to serve Allah without hinderance. The resultant effect is the blossoming of Islamic brotherhood, establishment of an Islamic government under the leadership of Allah’s chosen Prophet and governance structure. The establishment of a standing army and political, social and economic structure were facilitated following the Hijrah to Madinah.
On this day, the Muslims in Madinah had joy in that the Great Prophet (SAW) was in their midst providing exemplary and selfless leadership which translated into peace, harmony and progress making the worship of Allah in the Islamic mode a natural choice. Allah gave credence to this when He (SWT) confirmed that “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad, SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much” (Q33:21).
As we take stock of the passing year, we ask: Should Nigerians not show gratitude for the immense favours which Allah has bestowed upon them? Yes! We should but we are not. This is a land that Allah has blessed with abundant human and natural resources and thrust with leadership of the black race but out of wickedness and greed of its leaders and foolishness of its masses through sheepish followership on the basis of ethnicity and religious deception. Time has come for the masses to wake up to the reality that Allah will not change their pitiable condition until they themselves desire and actively work for the change.
O servants of Allah! Nigeria and, indeed several countries are witnessing a lot of hardship ranging from economic down turn, political turmoil, banditry and war. The natural calamities have also become prevalent because “Corruption has appeared on land and on sea (all place of human habitation) because of what people’s hands have perpetrated (through acts of disobedience) that He may make them taste something of what they have done (as punishment) that perhaps they may repent” (Q30:41).
Curiously, right from the onset, the current Nigerian leadership correctly diagnosed the ailments of the country as corruption and insecurity among several others and promised to tackle it head long. Unfortunately, they merely deceived the people and the problems have now become bigger. Living in Nigeria has never been this traumatizing and challenging. The governance of the country has been seized by criminals and the government appears helpless; citizen have lost interest in the ability of the leaders to provide the needed security.
O servants of Allah! This New Year celebration is one that the Muslim leaders, Muslims in political leadership and the Muslim followers need to examine themselves properly and ascertain whether the roles that Allah has put each to play is being played. Wherever there are gaps, each party should make amends. We each need to know that there is no connection between Allah and anyone except obedience to Him. In the sight of Allah all people, whether nobleman or commoner, are the same. Allah is their Lord and they are His servants seeking elevation through taqwa and seeking to obtain what is with Allah through obedience. I adjure you and I to fear Allah in dealing with people and do not fear people in your relationship with Allah.
O servants of Allah! Difficult times, like the one we are all confronted with now, are a test of our resilience and sincerity of Iman. At this point in time, let the true value of Islamic brotherhood manifest; let those who have be kind and generous to those without, let the employers pay wages that are reasonable and promptly without putting the employee to suffering, let those who sell be compassionate and not hoard essential commodities to create artificial scarcity and price hike, let all play his/her role towards alleviating the suffering of the common man. NG on July 29, 2022
O servants of Allah! The New Year starts with Muharram which is one of the four sacred months in which we are to increase in the doing of good and refraining from sins. Do not measure your success in the years past by the net worth of your wealth or worldly acquisitions. Spend some good time reflecting on your spiritual life in the past year and assess your progress or otherwise. I swear by Allah that improvements in our worldly lives do us absolutely no good if our spiritual lives are not improving at the same time. In this wise, “… turn to Allah in repentance all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.” (Q24: 31)
What do we really understand when we say a month is ‘sacred’? Sacred months are months sanctified by the Creator –Allah- and fighting, rancour and all manners that constitute hinderance to peace and well-being are forbidden. Allah (SWT) said: “They ask you concerning the sacred month – about fighting therein. Say, ‘Fighting therein is great [sin], but averting [people] from the way of Allah and disbelief in Him and [preventing access to] the Sacred Mosque [Ka’bah in Makkah] and the expulsion of its people therefrom are greater [evil] in the sight of Allah. And fitnah [Polytheism and Disbelief] is worse than killing’. And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever – for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.” (Q2: 217)
“Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein … ” [Q 9:36] The four months are Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram and Rajab, all of which were recognized right from the days of Sayyidina Ibrahim (AS). Stay well within the limits defined by Allah, fulfil all His obligations, shun all His prohibitions and fulfil the rights of the people.
My Brethren! Faith is not by wishes or beautification. Repentance is not only by words without being translated into action, which should entail quitting the sin repented for. Faith is the belief in the heart which should also translate into actions that are in accordance with the belief. Repentance is the feeling of regret for what was committed of wrong doings and sins. It is further to return to Allah and to correct the deeds as well as to fear Him and realize that He is watching you whenever you do any deed. Thus, you achieve true Imaan and penance before it is too late, when you become helpless and unable to do anything in this regard.
The Prophet (SAW) advised us to: “Take advantage of five things before five things befall you. Take advantage of your youth before you grow old, your health before you get ill, your wealth before you become poor, your free time before you become busy, and your life (while still alive) before you die.” Therefore, waste no time with the five things mentioned herein because once the times expire without judicious use, the achievement will be nothing but loss accompanied by lamentation. May Allah help us against waste of time.
O Servants of Allah! Take the benefits of this admonishment and do not waste what is left of your life as you have done up till now. Death is inevitable and once it comes all avenue to doing good would have been shut and plea for return of the soul tpo enable it remedy its shortfalls will be heeded. Therefore, Allah admonishes you to “… expend, in alms, of that with which We have provided you before death comes to any of you whereat, he will say, ‘My Lord, if only You would reprieve me for a short time so that I might give charity and become one of the righteous. But Allah will never reprieve a soul when its term has come. And Allah is Aware of what you do” (Q63:10-11).
The Islamic calendar starts with the month of Muharram which is one of the four sacred months. Fasting during the month is recommended. The Holy Prophet (SAW) said: “The best fasts after the fasts of Ramadan are those of the month of Muharram.” Although the fasts of the month of Muharram are not obligatory, yet, the one who fasts in these days out of his own will and choice is entitled to a great reward by Allah (SWT).
In the month of Muharram falls the day of Ashurah (10th of Muharram). Although, the month of Muharram is a sanctified month as a whole, yet, the 10th day of Muharram is the most sacred among all its days. The day is named Ashurah. According to Ibn Abbas (RA) when the Holy Prophet (SAW) migrated to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram. They said that it was the day on which Prophet Musa (AS) and his followers crossed the Red Sea miraculously and the Pharaoh was drowned in its water. The day is fasted as a mark of gratitude for the favour of Allah in delivering the children of Israel from the tyranny and oppression of the Pharaoh. On hearing this from the Jews, the Holy Prophet (SAW) said, “We are more closely related to Musa than you” and directed the Muslims to fast on the day of Ashurah (Abu Dawood).
Zakah is a pillar of Islam which requires those with qualifying assets/wealth to pay to the poor an agreed percentage. Some people usually pay this in Ramadan while others wait till the end of the year. If you are yet to discharge your Zakah obligation for 1443AH, make haste now and pay it. Since we do not operate under an Islamic government to compel the payment of Zakah, we should willingly and honestly discharge this obligation. It is about Zakah that Allah directed His Prophet (SAW) to: “Take a portion of their wealth as charity, so that you may cleanse and purify them thereby; and pray for them; for your prayers are a source of comfort for them. Allah hears all and knows all.” (Q9:103).
O servants of Allah! Do not let the days of this year go past you while you were engaged in playing and neglecting your duties to Allah. Do not be lost in the home of this world. Know that all the wealth you acquired in this world and the ones that pre-occupy your time belong to your heirs. Once death comes upon you, those properties no longer belong to you; those who did not know how you came about them and who will not be questioned as to how they were acquired will now inherit and enjoy the full value of the assets/properties. Ibn Mas’ud (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah, (SAW), said, “Which of you loves the property of his heir more than he loves his own property?” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, there is none of us who does not love his own property more.” He said, “His property is what he sends ahead (i.e., gives in the way of Allah), and the property of his heir is what he keeps back (i.e., the property he will leave if he dies tomorrow).” [al-Bukhari]
O servants of Allah! It is time to come to reality; leave off, today, all the things that you give priority above the demands of your Creator. Fear of poverty, desire to build up wealth for our children, desire for fame through leadership positions, etc., are the major distractions and lubricants that fuel most of the corruptions and wrong doings that characterise our living. What you hoard does not belong to you (they belong to those qualified to inherit you) but you will be accountable for how you got them and what you did with them. But “whatever good you send before you for yourselves (spending in the way of Allah), you will certainly find it with Allah, better and greater in reward” (Q73:20).
O Servants of Allah! Fear Him and perform the responsibilities about which you will be questioned on the Day of Resurrection. Allah the Almighty says: “O you who believe, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are (appointed) angels, harsh and severe, they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded.” (Q66: 6).
PART 2
W
O servants of Allah! The events of the Muslim new year is similar to the celebrations of National Independence Days by countries around the world.
Independence celebration is about gaining freedom from an external power that hinders you from taking charge of your lives and the activities surrounding
you. In the same vein, the new year rekindles the events of the Hijrah to Madinatu Tayyibah by the Prophet (SAW) and the Sahabah.
Our New Year is historical being a day when a slave gains freedom; the day that the persecuted Muslim of Makkah entered Madinah; and the day that the Great Prophet (SAW) arrived Madinah to establish dawlah al-islami (Islamic Government).
The hijrah emancipated the fledgling Muslim population from oppression and gave it freedom to serve Allah without hinderance. The resultant effect is the blossoming of Islamic brotherhood, establishment of an Islamic government under the leadership of Allah’s chosen Prophet and governance structure. The establishment of a standing army and political, social and economic structure were facilitated following the Hijrah to Madinah.
On this day, the Muslims in Madinah had joy in that the Great Prophet (SAW) was in their midst providing exemplary and selfless leadership which translated into peace, harmony and progress making the worship of Allah in the Islamic mode a natural choice. Allah gave credence to this when He (SWT) confirmed that “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad, SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with) Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much” (Q33:21).
As we take stock of the passing year, we ask: Should Nigerians not show gratitude for the immense favours which Allah has bestowed upon them? Yes! We should but we are not. This is a land that Allah has blessed with abundant human and natural resources and thrust with leadership of the black race but out of wickedness and greed of its leaders and foolishness of its masses through sheepish followership on the basis of ethnicity and religious deception. Time has come for the masses to wake up to the reality that Allah will not change their pitiable condition until they themselves desire and actively work for the change.
O servants of Allah! Nigeria and, indeed several countries are witnessing a lot of hardship ranging from economic down turn, political turmoil, banditry and war. The natural calamities have also become prevalent because “Corruption has appeared on land and on sea (all place of human habitation) because of what people’s hands have perpetrated (through acts of disobedience) that He may make them taste something of what they have done (as punishment) that perhaps they may repent” (Q30:41).
Curiously, right from the onset, the current Nigerian leadership correctly diagnosed the ailments of the country as corruption and insecurity among several others and promised to tackle it head long. Unfortunately, they merely deceived the people and the problems have now become bigger. Living in Nigeria has never been this traumatizing and challenging. The governance of the country has been seized by criminals and the government appears helpless; citizen have lost interest in the ability of the leaders to provide the needed security.
O servants of Allah! This New Year celebration is one that the Muslim leaders, Muslims in political leadership and the Muslim followers need to examine themselves properly and ascertain whether the roles that Allah has put each to play is being played. Wherever there are gaps, each party should make amends. We each need to know that there is no connection between Allah and anyone except obedience to Him. In the sight of Allah all people, whether nobleman or commoner, are the same. Allah is their Lord and they are His servants seeking elevation through taqwa and seeking to obtain what is with Allah through obedience. I adjure you and I to fear Allah in dealing with people and do not fear people in your relationship with Allah.
O servants of Allah! Difficult times, like the one we are all confronted with now, are a test of our resilience and sincerity of Iman. At this point in time, let the true value of Islamic brotherhood manifest; let those who have be kind and generous to those without, let the employers pay wages that are reasonable and promptly without putting the employee to suffering, let those who sell be compassionate and not hoard essential commodities to create artificial scarcity and price hike, let all play his/her role towards alleviating the suffering of the common man.
In the spirit of the New Year and the Prophet’s prayer for Madinah, we also entreat Allah thus: O Allah, we implore You to establish in our hearts a strong love for one another equal to the love that the Ansars showered upon your beloved Prophet and the Muhajirun, or even more. O Allah, bless and increase the wealth of our places of abode as we beseech You to transmute its barren lands into fertile and mineral resource-filled lands. O Allah, the abundant favours and blessings that You have put in our land has become the source of our torment. O Allah! Secure us with Your powers such that all our enemies (the know and visible, the hidden and pretentious) are destroyed to allow us enjoy what You have given to us. O Allah! Take away insecurity and poverty from us and replace therewith security and wealth that will benefit us in this world and the Hereafter.”
O Allah! We have been serially and severally deceived and cheated by those who were trusted with political and religious leadership of this blessed country. We ask You to replace all the evil men and women who are obstacles to achieving a decent, progressive and happy society that will make life easy for Your servants to serve you as You deserve to be served.
I wish you all a Happy Hijrah Year 1444. Kullu aam wa’ antum bikhair
Wassalamun alal mursaleen walhamdulillah Rabbil aalameen.
Suleiman Zubair
