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Alhamdulillah, we were able to raise funds thanks to those of you who attended our fundraiser, however, the amount we raised is significantly less than last year. As you can see around you when you visit ICOI, we have been serving about 3,000 of you at Taraweeh, especially since many of you have come from far to hear the Sh. Mishary recite. You are all more than welcome, and we hope your experience at ICOI has been a pleasant one. Honestly, this whole program and our masjid has operating costs that exceed what we collected at our fundraiser.
We are addressing those of you that didn't have a chance to come to the fundraiser and those of you that have come from far, we need your help specifically. Insha'Allah, we are doing a fundraising drive starting now and culminating in a fundraising night on the night of 23rd, Saturday before Isha. Insha'Allah, we will be collecting funds and passing out pledge forms for a few minutes before Isha. PLEASE, bring your checkbooks. If you haven't donated yet to ICOI, please bring your checkbooks next Saturday and don't forget. Next Saturday we need your help, bring your checkbooks to help out this place that you have enjoyed during Ramadan and the year. Insha'Allah, may Allah SWT allow your reward to multiply during one of the last odd nights of Ramadan.
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Reflecting Upon the Life of Prophet Ibrahim(raa)
| Khatib : |
Zaid Shakir |
| Khutbah No: |
182 |
| Khutbah Date: |
01/20/06 |
These are the waning days of Dhul Hijja, the month of the Hajj and soon many of our brothers and sisters will be returning to their homes from Mecca. Hajj calls to our memory the great struggle of our great patriarch Prophet Ibrahim(raa). The ritual of Hajj is a commemoration of his struggle. Allah(swt) addresses Ibrahim concerning the beginning of this pilgrimage :
[b] وَأَذِّن فِي النَّاسِ بِالْحَجِّ يَأْتُوكَ رِجَالًا وَعَلَى كُلِّ ضَامِرٍ يَأْتِينَ مِن كُلِّ فَجٍّ عَمِيقٍ[/b][i]“And proclaim the duty of the pilgrimage amongst humanity and they will respond on foot and riding by every mean from every deep and distant mountain pass.” [/i] [b]22:27 [/b]On this day it is related that every one who is destined to make that pilgrimage heard that call and responded [i]"La beik Allahuma la beik," [/i]responding to the call of Ibrahim and affirming the oneness of Allah (swt). Prophet Ibrahim is an exemplar for all of us. It behooves us to examine a few of his characteristics on the basis of two verses in which Allah(swt) describes Ibrahim:1)
[b] إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ كَانَ أُمَّةً قَانِتًا لِلّهِ حَنِيفًا وَلَمْ يَكُ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ[/b][i]"Verily, Ibrahim was a nation in of himself, devoutly obedient to God he was naturally inclined towards monotheism, one who gave thanks to the many blessings bestowed upon him by his Lord.” [/i][b]16:120[/b]In this description there are many aspects of the life and character of Ibrahim that are not just relevant for him but for all Muslims. We should take lessons from his virtues and they should inspire us on how to live our lives. "Ibrahim was a nation" carries the meaning that: All the virtuous characteristics that can be found exemplified in individuals of a nation - someone extremely generous, exceedingly brave, very articulate, intelligent- all of these characteristics were gathered together in a single individual, Ibrahim. We should strive to be a paragon of that virtue, indeed, this is a realistic accurate expression of the nature of Ibrahim. We should reflect upon this so we can be people who embody generosity, mercy, forgiveness, honesty, integrity, fidelity and all the virtuous characteristics in our Prophets Ibrahim and Muhammad (pbuh). 2)
[b]إِنِّي جَاعِلُكَ لِلنَّاسِ إِمَامًا [/b] Allah(swt) tells Ibrahim "I shall make you a leader of all men." Truly, every Muslim should be a leader as we are told over and over in the Quran "to make us leaders for the righteous". Ibrahim fulfilled the mission of leadership that Allah(swt) chose him for. The question for each of us who pray to Allah(swt) consciously or unconsciously- are we fulfilling the mission for leadership that He has placed upon us? Why were we brought to America? Allah(swt) has a plan for Muslims being in this land in these numbers in these times. We are not here to cheat taxes, sell alcohol, or embody the values of the most vile people in society as some Muslims are doing today. That is why Allah (swt) directs us and inspires us towards the example of Ibrahim. Who will be example of right family structure, of altruism at a time when people are becoming increasingly narcissistic, of humility when people are becoming arrogant- if not the Muslims then who? This is the Muslims responsibility and Ibrahim through his courage and his virtues fulfilled these challenges. How will we do it when our history is recorded by those who follow us? Ibrahim was persistently dutiful to Allah(swt), as the Quran says [i]"The most beloved actions to Allah are those done most consistently even if they are small." [/i]This is the way of the Muslim to strife in worship and have consistency in worship- it is not just the way of Ibrahim, it is our way. Allah(swt) describes righteous people as
[b]الصَّابِرِينَ وَالصَّادِقِينَ وَالْقَانِتِينَ وَالْمُنفِقِينَ وَالْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِالأَسْحَارِ[/b][i]Those who are patient in adversity, and true to their word, and truly devout, and who spend [in God's way], and pray for forgiveness from their innermost hearts – in our dealings with others, ourselves and Allah [/i][b]3:17[/b]These are signs of righteousness, not the way we dress or walk because anyone can dress or walk humbly and not believe in Allah(swt). Allah(swt) says
[b]لَن تَنَالُواْ الْبِرَّ حَتَّى تُنفِقُواْ مِمَّا تُحِبُّونَ وَمَا تُنفِقُواْ مِن شَيْءٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ بِهِ عَلِيمٌ[/b]/[i]"You will never attain righteousness until you spend from that which you love and whatever you spend Allah will be well informed concerning it." [/i][b]3:92[/b]When there’s a choice between new car or spending for the masjid, a bigger house or sponsoringa Muslim child’s education- what would you choose? That is righteousness. There are people in our Ummah whose names we do not know, those who are not the giving the khutbah or lectures. These are the people, like some of our grandmothers, who get up in the middle of the night and pray to Allah(swt) and seek his forgiveness, and perhaps through them Allah is warding off punishment for us. And we pray that we are amongst those people whose deeds of righteousness are unknown but they weigh to Allah(swt) more than anyone could fathom. Ibrahim(raa) was inclined towards monotheism as his monotheism was only an acknowledgment of his nature. Every child is born in a natural state inclining us towards the worship of Allah(swt) but do we acknowledge that state or deny it? We should acknowledge it, proclaim it to others in our society where people are inundated with idolatrous practices. People are not worshiping idols of stone but there are other things that can be taken as idols [i]"A persons very self and inclination can be taken as their idol" [/i]They worship themselves, truly how much vanity is in our society? How many people are worshipping money? When presented with making money when doing something Allah(swt) has said is haraam and making less money to do something that is halal, the one that chooses haraam is worshipping that money over Allah(swt). In one of the rare instances that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) prayed against someone who could be a believer, he prayed against worshippers who[i]“when given they are happy and when they are denied they are saddened. May they be ruined and even when they are pricked by a thorn may they find no relief." [/i]Muslims must be of the people who uphold
tawhid and show the world before the world is ruined by those who want to destroy environments and the future generations all in the name of making money. In Hollywood, psychologists are trying to find how to market destructive messages and music to children to corrupt them since it is profitable. If muslims do not oppose to this then who will? Ibrahim was grateful for all the blessings of Allah(swt) through his many trials. We should give our thanks as Allah(swt) orders us
[b]فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُواْ لِي وَلاَ تَكْفُرُونِ[/b][i]So remember Me, and I shall remember you; and be grateful unto Me, and deny Me not.[/i][b]2:152[/b]This is the way of the Muslims and of our Prophet Ibrahim. Ibrahim was chosen for the honor of guidance and Allah(swt) guided him onto the straight path. Everyone of us if Allah(swt) has inspired us to pray all daily prayers, to be respectful and pay zakat, and to want to even try to live the life of a believer, this is because he chose us for this guidance and we should be cognizance of that because it gives us purpose for our lives. We should have purpose of our life, Muslims should not drift in this world like a feather in the wind- we should have direction and one thing to focus on is to recognize great honor that Allah (swt) has chosen us for this path. We could be in the worst situations but Allah (swt) chose us for something higher and greater and He has directed us for a purpose and ultimately towards His worship. Every day in prayer, Muslims pray for [i]"guidance to the straight path”[/i]
[b]اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ[/b]We have been chosen and guided to Allah (swt) and we should never turn back now that He has chosen us. We must go forward like Ibrahim against every obstacle and hurdle until we meet our Lord. This is the essence of Islam to “worship your Lord until death comes to you."
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