(The Verse of the Throne)
Shaykh Dr. Abdul Bari Bin Awad Ath Thubaity
Khutbah Masjid e Nabawi
First Sermon:
All praise be to Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ), the Ever-living and Sustainer of [all] existence. I praise Him and to Him I am thankful. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah. He is One, He has no partner, He is Exalted and Great. I also bear witness that our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the servant and Messenger of Allah, who guided us to the straight path. May Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) bless him, his family, and his Companions who followed a firm path.
After the Praise:
I exhort myself and all the listeners to attain the consciousness of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ). Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ
O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].
(Ali-Imran: 102)
Ubayy b. Ka’b said:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: O Abu’ al-Mundhir, do you know the verse from the Book of Allah which, according to you is the greatest? I said: Allah and His Apostle (ﷺ) know best. He again said: Abu’l-Mundhir, do you know the verse from the Book of Allah which, according to you, is the greatest? I said: Allah, there is no god but He, the Living, the Eternal. Thereupon he struck me on my breast and said: May knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abu’l-Mundhir!
(Sahih Muslim: 810)
Ayatul Kursi is the greatest verse because this verse contains all the basic things related to names and attributes. This verse describes the great power of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ).
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ
Allah – there is no deity except Him
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that:
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
There is no god but Allah.”
(Sahih Muslim: 35)
So the meaning of this part of the verse is that Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is the Truth; His speech is also the Truth; His promises are also the Truth; His religion is also the Truth, His Book is also the Truth; what Allah has informed is also the Truth and what Allah has commanded is also the Truth. And His virtues and attributes are the most perfect, He is the One who is forever, glorious, beautiful, and perfect from eternity to eternity, His favor is forever and ever.
الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ
The Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence
He is the One who will neither die nor suffer from decay. Eternal life and survival are only for Him. His beginning or the end cannot be determined. In the (Al-Qayyum), the perfection of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is mentioned, because He is self-sufficient, and keeps others sufficient; no one can exist without His existence. All the attributes of perfection in these two names are mentioned in a series. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ used to pray frequently through them. When he faced severe hardship in life, he ﷺ would say:
يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّوْمُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيْثُ
O Ever-Living One, O Eternal One, by Your mercy I call on You!
If a Muslim ponders and understands well that his Lord is Al-Hayy (the Ever-Living), Al-Qayyum (the Self-Sustaining and All-Sustaining), his heart will be satisfied and at peace. He will not need plans and he will be saved from evil and sins.
لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ
Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is free from all kinds of defects, deficiencies and shortcomings found in His servants. The whole universe system, the spinning wheel of life and the livelihood of all living things are bearing witness to it. If this wasn’t the case, the entire universe will be disrupted and the flow of the universe will be destroyed while the system of the universe will be disturbed. The waters of rivers and seas will be stopped.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنْبَغِي لَهَا أَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ
It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming.
(Ya-Sin: 40)
When the eyes are at peace, and the stars have set, some believers get up from their beds and pray to Him, who neither sleeps nor does He get drowsy and then He accepts their prayers.
Narrated Abu Huraira (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)said, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?”
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 1145)
لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth
That is, everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to His ownership, power and estimation. In all things are His grace, hierarchy, command and wisdom. He is the Creator, Owner and the True God of all the greatest heavens and worlds. There is no true god and lord except Him.
Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? (مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ)
Narrated Abu Huraira (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: The luckiest person who will have my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who said sincerely from the bottom of his heart;
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
There is no god but Allah.”
(Bukhari 99)
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاء
He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills
Therefore, He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, the All-Knowing, and the Aware. Not only does He see the black ant crawling on the black rock in the dark night, He also sees the ant’s veins and the pathways that bring food to its organs.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
وَعِنْدَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِنْ وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍ فِي ظُلُمَاتِ الْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ
And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him. And He knows what is on the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but that He knows it. And no grain is there within the darkness of the earth and no moist or dry [thing] but that it is [written] in a clear record.
(Al-An’am: 59)
Therefore, the vastness of the knowledge of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is not known to any angel or even prophets and messengers; so how can knowledge of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) be covered by occultists, soothsayers and magicians who claim to know the future?
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
قُلْ لَا يَعْلَمُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ الْغَيْبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
Say, “None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected.”
(An-Naml 65)
وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth
How great is Allah’s Self, He is Great and Exalted, His power is very clear; His knowledge is also vast. His bounty, grace and generosity are also limitless. His power and majesty is infinite. His wisdom is far reaching. His forgiveness and mercy are immeasurable .
A Muslim worships a Lord whose bounties are greater than all things and Allah’s grace is greater than the desire of every seeker. That is why the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded that whenever one prays to Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ), do not consider any supplication as a burden on Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ).
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
“When anyone of you appeal to Allah for something, he should ask with determination and should not say, ‘O Allah, if You wish, give me.’, for nobody can force Allah to do something against His Will.
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 6338)
The Prophet (ﷺ) also said:
“When you ask Allah (for something), ask for Al-Firdaus which is the best and highest part of Paradise.” (i.e. The sub-narrator added, “I think the Prophet also said, ‘Above it (i.e. Al-Firdaus) is the Throne of Beneficent (i.e. Allah), and from it originate the rivers of Paradise.”)
(Sahih al-Bukhari 2790)
وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا
And their preservation tires Him not
This means that everything in the universe is under the protection of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ). He is the Protector of all things. He preserves the performance of all the slaves. He protects whomever He wills from evil, suffering, and temptation. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught us a du’a (prayer):
اَللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي مِنْ بَينِ يَدَيَّ، وَمِنْ خَلْفِي، وَعَنْ يَمِينِي، وَعَنْ شِمَالِي، وَمِنْ فَوْقِي، وَأَعُوذُ بِعَظَمَتِكَ أَنْ أُغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِي
O Allah! Guard me in front of me and behind me, on my right hand and on my left, and from above me: and I seek in Thy greatness from receiving unexpected harm from below me.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) protects man alone, provided he is mindful of the limits of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) and avoids what is forbidden.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللَّهُ
So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard.
(An-Nisa: 34)
Ayatul Kursi is nothing less than a booty for Muslims. It is one of the greatest blessings of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) and should be recited in the morning and evening prayers with the belief that it will ensure protection from Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ).
Narrated Abu Umamah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi at the end of every obligatory prayer, nothing but death will prevent him from entering Paradise.”
[An-Nasa’i reported it, and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic)]
And if Ayatul Kursi is recited at bedtime, then Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) will appoint a guard over you and Shaytan will not come near you until morning as narrated by Narrated Abu Huraira (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ):
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) ordered me to guard the Zakat revenue of Ramadan. Then somebody came to me and started stealing from the foodstuff. I caught him and said, “I will take you to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)!” Then Abu Huraira described the whole narration and said: That person said (to me), “(Please don’t take me to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and I will tell you a few words by which Allah will benefit you.) When you go to your bed, recite Ayatul Kursi, (2.255) for then there will be a guard from Allah who will protect you all night long, and Shaytan will not be able to come near you till dawn.” (When the Prophet (ﷺ) heard the story) he said (to me), “He (who came to you at night) told you the truth although he is a liar; and it was Shaytan.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari: 5010)
May Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) make the Holy Qur’an a blessing for me and all of you, and may Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) enable me and all of you to benefit from His wise admonitions. I conclude my talk on it and ask Allah for the forgiveness of my sins and that of all Muslims and all of you should ask Him for forgiveness for your sins; He is the Forgiving and the Most Merciful.
Second Sermon:
All praise is for Allah, who is sufficient for us, I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is one, He has no partner, He is exalted and great, and I also bear witness that Muhammad is Allah’s chosen servant, chosen Prophet, and His favorite Messenger.
After the praise, I advise everyone to adopt the consciousness of Allah.
When the environment is filled with speculation and fabrication, then it is the responsibility of the Muslim to weigh what he is seeing and saying is in accordance with the Shariah law and arguments. Therefore, if the words of a Muslim extinguish the temptations, awaken the ray of hope, strengthen the law and order, promote satisfaction among the people, bury the noise, close the door to the fitnah, give priority to the national interest, strengthen the whole nation and protect the rights of rulers, then such words are good words.
And if a man’s speech creates a commotion, sabotages peace and order, creates a riot, hurts the trust of the rulers, creates a rift in the position of the scholars and becomes an obstacle to national development, then such speech is evil speech. It should be nailed down in the beginning and everyone should detach from it.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is firm on a strong foundation, its internal unity is very strong, and the attempt to discredit the kingdom is just a disgrace, but the enemies of the kingdom have always been defeated. Whereas measures to strengthen the peace of the Kingdom of al-Haramayn, stop attacks against the Kingdom, and make efforts for unity are legally and rationally obligatory in all respects.
Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) says:
﴾فَلْيَعْبُدُوا رَبَّ هَـٰذَا الْبَيْتِ ﴿٣﴾ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ وَآمَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍ ﴿۴
Let them worship the Lord of this House, (3) Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear. (4)
(Quraysh 3-4)
Send blessings and salaam (peace) to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Allah, the Exalted, commands you to do so in His Book, saying:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.
(Al-Ahzab 56)
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
O Allah, bestow Your favor on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your favor on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.
O Allah! Be pleased with the four Caliphs, Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali, along with them, the Ahl al-Bayt, and all the Companions, and also be pleased with us for your mercy, grace, and kindness, O the Most Merciful of those who are merciful!
O Allah! Give supremacy to Islam and Muslims, O Allah! Give supremacy to Islam and Muslims, O Allah! Humiliate the disbelief with the disbelievers, O Allah! Destroy the enemies of you and your religion, O Allah! Make this country and all Islamic countries the cradle of peace.
O Allah! Whoever has evil intentions about us or about Islam and Muslims, O Allah! May he be afraid of his life, O Allah! May his deceit lead to his destruction, O Hearer of Supplication!
O Allah! We ask you to grant us paradise and every word and deed that brings us closer to it. O Allah! We seek Your refuge from Hell and every word and deed that brings us closer to Hell.
O Allah! Reform our religious affairs, therein lies our salvation. O Allah! Make our world right also, this is our livelihood. And make our Hereafter good, we have to return there, and make life a means of all good for us, and make death a means of avoiding all evil, O Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! We ask You for guidance, piety, piousness, and contentment.
O Allah! We ask You from the beginning to the end, all kinds of external and internal comprehensive good, and we ask you for the highest ranks in Paradise, O Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! You are forgiving and love forgiveness, so forgive us.
O Allah! We seek Your refuge from the decline of Your favors, the end of Your favors, Your sudden capture, and Your all kinds of displeasure, O Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! Open the doors of your blessings, mercy, grace, and sustenance on us.
O Allah! Make all our affairs better and leave us not for a moment to our own mercy or to any of Your creatures.
O Allah! We ask You for the best end, to forgive all past sins and disobediences.
O Allah! Forgive us, our parents, and all Muslims, O Allah! Have mercy on the Muslim dead, heal the sick, and take care of all our affairs by yourself, O the most merciful of those who are merciful!
O Allah! We ask you, O Allah! You are rich, and we are poor, give us rain, and do not let us down. O Allah! Give us rain, O Allah! Give us rain, O Allah! Give us rain. O Allah! May it be your merciful rain, not your chastisement, not to tempt, to drown, and to destroy, O Allah! Let there be such rain that the earth rises and people get drinking water, it benefits all urban and rural areas.
O Allah! Grant our rulers, the guardians of the al-Haramayn and their crown princes, to do what you love, O Lord of the Worlds! O Allah! Grant them both success according to your will and guidance, O Lord of the Worlds! O the most merciful of those who are merciful! Verily, Verily you have power over all things. O Allah! Grant us good in this world and the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment and punishment of the Hereafter.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَانِ وَإِيتَاءِ ذِي الْقُرْبَى وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنْكَرِ وَالْبَغْيِ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
(An-Nahl: 90)
Remember Allah, He will remember you, thank Him for His blessings, and He will give you more, remembrance of Allah is a great worship, and Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is well aware of all your deeds.
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