Belief in the Lordship of Allah
First Sermon
Indeed, all praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His assistance, and we ask for His forgiveness. We seek Allah’s protection from the evil within ourselves and from the consequences of our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, no one can misguide; and whomsoever He leaves to go astray, none can guide. I testify that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ﴾
“O you who believe! Be mindful of Allah as He deserves, and do not die except as Muslims.” [Aal ‘Imraan:102]
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ نَفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالًا كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاءً وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءَلُونَ بِهِ وَالْأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا﴾
“O mankind! Be mindful of your Lord, who created you from a single soul, and from it created its partner, and from both of them dispersed many men and women. And be mindful of Allah through whom you ask one another, and [fear breaking] the womb [i.e. family ties]. Surely, Allah is ever watching over you.” [An-Nisaa:1]
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَنْ يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا﴾
“O you who believe! Be mindful of Allah and speak in a straightforward manner. He will rectify your deeds for you and forgive you for your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly achieved a great success.” [Al-Ahzaab:70–71]
As for what follows,
Indeed, the best speech is the Book of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The worst of matters are those newly introduced (into religion), for every newly introduced matter is a bid’ah (innovation), every bid’ah is misguidance, and every misguidance leads to the Fire.
Dear Muslims,
Be mindful of Allah, the Most High, and be conscious of Him. Obey Him and do not disobey Him. Remember that faith in Allah consists of 4 aspects:
1) Belief in the existence of Allah
2) Belief in His Rubūbiyyah (Lordship)
3) Belief in His Ulūhiyyah (i.e. He alone deserves to be worshiped)
4) Belief in His Names and Attributes.
In this khutbah, we will speak about belief in His Rubūbiyyah (Lordship).
Servants of Allah,
Belief in the Rubūbiyyah (Lordship) of Allah means to believe that Allah alone is our rabb (Lord), without any partner or assistant. Being a Lord means that the creation, dominion, and command of managing and controlling this entire universe belong to Him. Therefore, there is no creator besides Allah, no true owner besides Him, and no authority besides Him.
Allah, the Most High, makes it clear that the entire creation belongs exclusively to Him. Allah says:
﴿أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ﴾
“Surely, His is the creation and the command.” [Surah Al-A'raf:54]
﴿بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ﴾
“The Originator of the heavens and the earth.” [Surah Al-Baqarah:117]
﴿الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ﴾
“All praises and thanks are to Allah, the (Only) Originator of the heavens and the earth.” [Surah Fatir:1]
Dear believers,
The 13 greatest creations of Allah are: the heavens, the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars, the night, the day, mankind, animals, rain, wind, the seas and the rivers. Allah, the Most High, has repeatedly praised Himself throughout the Qur'an for creating these wonders, especially at the beginning of selected chapters of the Qurán, such as Surah Al-Jāthiyah. Allah, the Most High, says:
﴿حم تَنْزِيلُ الْكِتَابِ مِنَ اللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ إِنَّ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَآيَاتٍ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَفِي خَلْقِكُمْ وَمَا يَبُثُّ مِنْ دَابَّةٍ آيَاتٌ لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِنْ رِزْقٍ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ آيَاتٌ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ﴾
“Hâ-Mîm. he revelation of the Book (this Qur’ân) is from Allâh, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. Verily, in the heavens and the earth are signs for the believers. And in your creation, and what He scattered (through the earth) of moving (living) creatures are signs for people who have Faith with certainty. And in the alternation of night and day, and the provision (rain) that Allâh sends down from the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and in the turning about of the winds are signs for people who understand.”
[Al-Jathiya: 1-5]
Evidence that Allah is alone in His dominion is found in the Qur’an. Allah, the Most High, says:
﴿وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلِيٌّ مِنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا﴾
“And say: ‘All praises belongs to Allah, Who has not begotten a son, and Who has no partner in the dominion, nor is He weak to need a protector. And magnify Him with all magnificence.’” [Surah Al-Isra:111]
﴿ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَالَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ مَا يَمْلِكُونَ مِنْ قِطْمِيرٍ﴾
“Such is Allah, your Lord! His is the kingdom. And those whom you invoke besides Him do not own even a Qitmeer (the thin skin over the date seed).” [Surah Fāṭir:13]
Proof that Allah alone issues [divine] commands is also found in the Qur’an. Allah, the Most High, says:
﴿أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ﴾
“Surely, His is the creation and the command.” [Surah Al-A'raf:54]
﴿إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَيْءٍ إِذَا أَرَدْنَاهُ أَنْ نَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ﴾
“Verily, when We intend a thing, We say to it: ‘Be!’ — and it is.” [Surah An-Nahl, 16:40]
﴿وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُ الْأَمْرُ كُلُّهُ﴾
“And to Him all matters shall return.” [Surah Hūd:123]
Dear Muslims,
Remember that Allah’s commands are of two types:
1. Religious commands
2. Commands in respect to running the universe.
As for religious commands, this refers to commands related to the shariah (Islamic laws) and prophethood. Allah alone decrees the laws of shariah as He wills, and He alone may abrogate any of these laws through His infinite wisdom. He legislates laws that suit the needs of mankind and rectify their condition. Moreover, these laws are deemed acceptable by Him — be it worship or other actions — as Allah is fully aware of their condition and what benefits them. He is the Most Merciful towards them.
The second type is Allah’s command of the universe. This is related to the management of the affairs of the universe. It is Allah alone who commands the movement of the clouds, the falling of rain, the giving of life and death, the granting of provisions, the creation of all beings, the occurrence of earthquakes, the relieving of hardships, the end of the world, and everything else that takes place in the universe.
Whenever Allah commands any of these thing to happen, they occur inevitably without any resistance or obstruction. Allah, the Most High, says:
﴿إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَيْءٍ إِذَا أَرَدْنَاهُ أَنْ نَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ﴾
“Verily, Our Word to a thing when We intend it, is only that We say to it, ‘Be!’ — and it is.” [Surah An-Nahl:40]
﴿وَمَا أَمْرُنَا إِلَّا وَاحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ﴾
“And Our Command is but a single [word], done in the blink of an eye.” [Surah Al-Qamar:50]
Meaning that whenever He intends for something to happen, He merely says "Be," and it instantly comes into existence, faster than the blink of an eye — without delaying even for the slightest moment.
Thus, we learn that the command of Allah is divided into two categories:
1) Commands in respect to running the universe.
2) Religious commands – reckoning on the Day of Judgment will be based according to these commands.
The Second Khutbah
All praise is due to Allah alone, and may peace and blessings be upon the last of all prophets.
As for what follows:
Servants of Allah,
Be mindful of Allah, and remember that many of those who publicly rejected the Rubūbiyyah (Lordship) of Allah in the past — did so out of pride and it was not what they actually believed. This was the case with Fir‘awn (Pharaoh of Egypt), who said to his people:
﴿أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَى﴾
“I am your lord, most high.” [Surah An-Nazi‘at:24]
Fir’awn also claimed:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الْمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرِي﴾
“O chiefs! I know not that you have a god other than me.” [Surah Al-Qasas:38]
However, this was not his actual belief, but rather he said this due to his pride and tyranny. Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَجَحَدُوا بِهَا وَاسْتَيْقَنَتْهَا أَنْفُسُهُمْ ظُلْمًا وَعُلُوًّا﴾
“And they denied them (the signs) wrongfully and arrogantly, though their own selves were convinced thereof.” [Surah An-Naml:14]
Furthermore, remember that the idolaters during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) acknowledged the Rubūbiyyah (Lordship) of Allah, the Most High, even while associating others in worship with Him. They believed that Allah is the Creator, the Sustainer, and the One who governs this universe. However, despite this belief, they still associated partners with Him by directing acts of worship — such as supplications, sacrifices, vows, and prostration — to idols and false deities.
Thus, they became disbelievers, and their belief in Allah’s Rubūbiyyah (Lordship) did not benefit them. This is because they did not fulfill the main requirement of Rubūbiyyah (Lordship), which is to believe in Allah’s Ulūhiyyah (i.e. He alone deserves to be worshiped).
It is well known that simply affirming Allah’s Rubūbiyyah (Lordship) is not enough for a person to enter into Islam. They must also testify that Allah alone is worthy of worship.
Allah, the Most High, says in the Qur’an, clarifying that the idolaters acknowledged His Rubūbiyyah (Lordship) over the creation:
﴿قُلْ لِمَنِ الْأَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيهَا إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ قُلْ مَنْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ قُلْ أَفَلَا تَتَّقُونَ قُلْ مَنْ بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ يُجِيرُ وَلَا يُجَارُ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ سَيَقُولُونَ لِلَّهِ قُلْ فَأَنَّى تُسْحَرُونَ﴾
“Say: ‘Who owns the earth and whoever is therein, if you know?’ They will say: ‘It is Allah’s.’ Say: ‘Will you not then remember?’ Say: ‘Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Great Throne?’ They will say: ‘Allah.’ Say: ‘Will you not then fear Him?’ Say: ‘In Whose Hand is the sovereignty of everything, and He protects while against Him there is no protector, if you know?’ They will say: ‘It is Allah’s.’ Say: ‘How then are you deceived?’” [Surah Al-Mu’minūn:84-89]
***
Remember that Allah, the Most High, has commanded you with something great. May Allah have mercy on you. He says:
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا﴾
“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send peace and blessings upon him.”[Al-Ahzaab:56]
O Allah, send Your peace and blessings upon Your servant and Messenger, Muhammad. Be pleased with his rightly guided successors, his companions, those who came after them and all those who follow them in goodness until the Day of Recompense.
O Allah, grant honor to Islam and the Muslims. Humiliate shirk (polytheism) and the polytheists. Destroy Your enemies—the enemies of this religion—and grant victory to Your believing servants.
O Allah, grant us security in our homelands. Rectify our leaders and those in charge of our affairs. Make them rightly guided and a source of guidance.
O Allah, guide all Muslim leaders to rule according to Your Book, uplift Your religion, and make them a means of mercy to those under their care.
O Allah, whoever intends to afflict us, Islam or the Muslims with evil—preoccupy them with their own selves and turn their plots against them.
O Allah, protect us from inflation, diseases, interest, fornication, earthquakes, trials, and tribulations—whether apparent or hidden—especially in our country and all Muslim countries, O Lord of the worlds.
O our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe. Peace be upon all the messengers, and all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the universe.
This sermon was prepared by:
Majid ibn Sulaymān ar-Rassī in the city of Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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