Part One
Praise be to Allah, our Lord! Glory to Him! There is no divinity except Him. He
preordained the destiny of all creatures, whether while they are retreating
oradvancing, moving or travelling. I praise Him () for whatever bounties He has
offered His creatures, and I thank Him for His unceasing favours munificently and
successively bestowed upon His servants with generosity and abundance.
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah without
associate, a genuine testimony delivered in quest of gaining reward in the Herein and
the Hereafter. I equally bear witness that our Master and Prophet Muhammad () is
Allah’s Servant and Messenger. Allah unlocked through his prophethood blind eyes,
closed hearts, and deaf ears, in addition to orientating through him erratic people who
strayed too far in misguidance. May Allah send His unceasing Salât(Graces, Honours,
and Mercy) and Peace onto him, his immaculately virtuous family, his wives (who are
mothers of the believers), his pious Companions whose good deeds serve as
landmarks and whose speech is uncompromisingly truthful, thetabi’în (the
contemporaries of the Companions of the Prophet [] after his death), and all those
who have followedtheminrighteousness till the Day of Judgment.
O people! Now, let me enjoin, first of all, myself and then you to observe taqwa
(fear of Allah). So, observe taqwa, may Allah have mercy on you! He who is
cognisant with the Herein will never feel gratified by its well-being and affluence, and
will never experience sorrow because of its afflictions. He who is target to alternating
day and night will fall prey to their lethal rotation; and he whose proxy is death will
face annihilation. Our lifespan is constantly decreasing due to unfolding hours, and
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our health is subject to occasional malady. One never hails a day without departing
from another; the most catastrophic predicament is to lose hope.
May Allah have mercy on you! Get prepared for the day you return to Allah, as
there is no shelter from Allah’s chastisement except with Allah Himself. How
felicitous the eyes which have experienced an overflow of tears due to true knowledge
actually are! And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid
your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and
admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world
is only the enjoyment of deception (a deceiving thing).[Al-Îmrān: 185]
O Muslims, pilgrims to the House of Allah! Humanity is utterly exhausted despite
the availability of life facilities. Peoples around the world are experiencing a feeling
of unhappiness in spite of the latest technologies they have at their disposal. In
addition, countries are engaged in constant conflict despite their command of various
factors of concord and aspects of consensual existence.
In fact, humanity is today in dire need to follow a path of friendliness, mutual
affection, and tolerance. It is an imperative necessity motivated by sympathy and
solidarity with humanity at large. The world today suffers from a lack of affection and
clemency in all its transactions, life styles, and policies. Violence, ruthlessness, and
injustice are salient features characterising modern life.
Brothers and sisters in the worship of Allah! If contemporary veterans of politics,
experts in economics, military leaders ‒among others in all walks of life‒ have found
it extremely difficult, even impossible, to abide by a set of ethical norms and
humanitarian standards governing their transactions and relations, history provides
evidence that it was not the case in our religion. Islam has not known such a difficulty
or experienced such a dilemma. On the contrary, the essence of our religion and its
ultimate objective is expressed through the following verses from the Holy Qur’ān:
And We have sent you (O Muhammad SAW) not but as a mercy
for the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).[Al-Anbiyā: 107];
And by the Mercy of Allâh, you dealt with them gently... [Al-Îmrān:
159]; ...and My Mercy embraces all things.[Al-A’rāf: 156]
Throughout history, our religion has handled the incidents it has encountered in a
unique way characterised by an exemplary conduct, arighteouslife and a spotless
record. Such a gold mine of behavioural art and interactional code has been
acknowledged even by the enemies, as it invariably manifests itself in every single
attitude, event, action or reaction. These highly refined ethical norms and
sophisticated arts of interpersonal relations are visible even in matters of war and
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politics ‒including how to deal with tyrants, heretics, and war opponents, let alone the
treatment of women, children, and civilians.
My brothers and sisters in the worship of Allah! Guests of Allah, the
Compassionate! I know that speaking about such topics is
multifariousanddigressive.However,wewillconfine our discussion to just clemency,
pardon, and tolerance in our religion, and how we are expected to behave in wartime,
in cases of tension overshadowing mutual relations, as well as in armed conflicts.
Clemency ‒may Allah have mercy on you‒ lays the foundations of nations’ welfare,
psychological stability, and safety in this world. In our religion, it is not restricted to a
specific location or timeframe, nor is it exclusive to any given religion or race. On the
contrary, it ismeantforthewholeworldfrom the moment Prophet Muhammad () was
sent as Messenger until Doomsday: And We have sent you (O Muhammad
SAW) not but as a mercy for the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all
that exists).[Al-Anbiyā': 107]
Brothers and sisters in religion! Pilgrims to the House of Allah! It would be no
surprise to speak about clemency as part of war issues. In fact, one form of clemency
requires the delivery of services and facilities to people at large even if they
instinctively abhor such an action because it runs contrary to established tradition and
personal inclination. This is indeed one of the greatest forms of clemency which is
similar to that shown by a father towards his son when the former coerces the latter to
acquire knowledge and strictly abide by the rules of politeness, knowing that such
coercion may cause hardships to the son. This is similar to clemency or mercy shown
by a bitter pill a patient has to swallow as remedy for his disease. Likewise,
sometimes one is engaged in an undesirable war prompted by irrevocable reasons, but
its warlike facet hides a dimension of clemency which is manifest in its rulings and
ethics.
This is perfectly true as clemency clearly manifests itself in the way our religion
has dealt with wars and battles. As you all know, wars have their undeniable disasters,
as their outcome is usually serious casualties: deaths and injuries. It is to be pointed
out that our religion does not cherish the idea of war, nor does it welcome armed
conflicts. In fact, it endeavours to prevent and eliminate them as much as possible,
because it does not advocate war and never encourages waging wars, either. In
ahadith, Prophet Muhammad () says: “Never yearn for encounter with the enemy,
but ask Allah for well-being and uncompromised faith.”
If the term “war” occurred six (06) times in the Holy Qur’ān, its counterpart the
term “peace” occurred one hundred and forty (140) times. Thus, anyone who wants to
reflect on this issue should contemplate the ratio between both terms. In Islam, only
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belligerents in the battlefield should be fought: But if they incline to peace,
you also incline to it, and (put your) trust in Allâh. Verily, He is the
All-Hearer, the All-Knower.[61]; And if they intend to deceive
you, then verily, Allâh is All-Sufficient for you. It is He Who has
supported you with His Help and with the believers. [Al-Anfāl: 61-62]
Allah, the believers, and equitable people do know that Muslims’ ghazwas
(military expeditions), wars, and jihad ‒whether led by Prophet Muhammad ()
himself (called ghazwa)or by his Companions during his lifetime (called sarî’ya)‒
were not motivated by mundane gains, financial drives, pursuit of leadership
positions, or extension of power and annexation of further territories. Rather, all the
aforementioned military actionsprimarily aimed at guiding people towards the right
path, emancipating themfrom worshipping other peopleor being subservient to them.
Such military actions aimed at helping them embrace the worship of Allah alone,the
Lord of mankind, eradicating injustice, and supporting the victims of tyranny. All
such enterprises were undertaken with the highest respect for clemency, chastity,
dignity, and honour. History bears witness to this statement, and comparing our wars
tothose waged by others can attest to its veracity.
Dear brothers and sisters! Pilgrims to the House of Allah!
If the term “soft power” has gained currency nowadays, we do confidently and
proudly affirm that it is war in Islam ‒along with its ethicsand conventions‒ that
should be called “soft power.” In a cursory statistical account focussing on Prophet
Muhammad’s () period of prophethood, it has been shown that the overall period of
wars covered just five years out of twenty-three (23) years; and the overall death toll
during those five years and during the series of ghazwas did not exceed one thousand
and forty-eight death casualties, not a single one of them was a civilian; in fact, some
researchers say that their number did not exceed a few hundreds.
Try tocompare this with the statistics ofthe first and second world wars. In the First
World War, the number of death casualties amounted to seventeen million people
including armed forces and civilians, whereas in the Second World War, sixty million
people were killed. The grand total is seventy-seven million deaths in just two wars.
In the ensuing period, however, the number of fatal casualties was incalculable.
Why is the difference between the casualties of our wars and theirs so big? It is
basically because our religion does not like wars. Islam endeavours to avoid war as
much as possible and is never engaged in it except when itiscompelled. Should the
need for war arise, Islam will then advocate a series of principles, ethical standards,
and conditions: Permission to fight is given to those (i.e. believers
against disbelievers), who are fighting them, (and) because they
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(believers) have been wronged...[Al-Hajj: 39]; And fight in the Way
of Allâh those who fight you...[Al-Baǭara: 190]; you wished that the
one not armed (the caravan) should be yours ...[Al-Anfāl: 7]. Muslims
would restrictively fight belligerents seeking armed confrontation and never chase
after fugitives to kill them outside the battlefield.
Muslims’ jihad involves power but is associated with clemency, pardon, chastity,
and remission of faults. In addition, when both parties are engaged in war, and fierce
fighting reigns over the battlefield, Islam insists on not lengthening the war period and
putting an end to armed conflict as promptly as possible. One of the verses in the
Holy Qur'ān reads as follows: So, when you meet (in fight Jihâd in
Allâh's Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when
you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond
firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time)
either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom
(according to what benefits Islâm), until the war lays down its
burden...[Muhammad: 4]
Thus, Muslims fought battles with clemency, won wars with pardon, and gained a
good reputation for not returning maltreatment. The instructions of our religion during
wars are: Do not act treacherously towards your enemy, do not exceed the limits in
killing, do not mutilate corpses, do not kill the elderly, children, and peaceful
worshippers in sanctuaries, and do not cut off or uproot trees.
O pilgrims! O Muslims!
If you care to see more wonderment in this respect, look at the clemency of our
Prophet Muhammad ()–as our leader and set example– his forgiveness and tolerance
vis-à-vis those who have done harm to him, or those who assaulted and abused him.
Look at his clemency as illustrated in one of the incidents reported in the two
Sahihs1 thus: “A Bedouin with a sword assaulted the Messenger of Allah () while he
was napping under a tree. He said: ‘Who will save you from me now, O Muhammad?’
‘Allah (),’ replied the Prophet. Right then, the sword fell from the Bedouin’s hand.
The Messenger of Allah () picked it up and said: ‘Who will save you from me
now?’ The man replied: ‘Be the best captor!’ the Messenger of Allah () said: ‘Will
you bear witness that there is no deity but Allah?’ The man answered: ‘No, but I
promise I will not fight you or be among those who do,’ so the Prophet() let him go.
1Sahih Muslim and Sahih al-Bukhariare collections of hadith of the Prophet (). They contain roughly
7500 hadith in 57 books.
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Upon returning to his comrades, the Bedouin told them: ‘I have just been with the
best of men ever.’
When the Prophet () was asked to invoke a curse against the
Mushrikin(polytheists), he said: “I have not been sent as the invoker of curse but I
have been sent as mercy.”
The Prophet was asked to invoke a curse against Thaqif2, and he () said: “O
Allah! Guide Thaqif!” He supplicated for them and not against them. [This was
narrated by Al-Tirmdhi]. Justice is a supreme moral standard, but mercy and
forgiveness are even more so.
Now then, O servants of Allah!
Our Prophet Muhammad () incarnates the greatest manifestations of mercy,
forgiveness, and good manners. He would not even expose the names of munafiqin
(hypocrites) let alone kill or punish them. His motto in this regard is “What is the
matter with such and such people?” The State of Islam was founded on the morals of
love, mercy, fraternity, and support of one another. I seek refuge in Allah from the
accursed Satan:Verily, those who have believed, and those who have
emigrated (for Allah's Religion) and have striven hard in the Way of
Allah, all these hope for Allah's Mercy. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving,
Most-Merciful.[Al Baqarah: 218]
May Allah () benefit me and you with the Great Qur'ān and the Guidance of
Muhammad (). I say this, and I ask Allah to forgive my sins, yours, and those of all
the Muslims, so ask Him for forgiveness, for He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Part Two
2The Thaqif was one of the Arab tribes. It was, and still is, the main tribe of the town of Taif in
present-day Saudi Arabia. The tribe worshipped the pre-Islamic 'goddess' ‒ Al-Lāt.
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Praise be to Allah, the Generous, the Provider (with the means of subsistence)! I
praise Him () and I thank Him. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah Alone
with no associate. Everything bears witness and proof to His Oneness. I also bear
witness that our Master and Prophet, Muhammad ‒the faithful and the truthful‒ is His
Servant and Messenger. May Allah’s Salat (Graces, Honours and Mercy), Peace and
Blessing be upon him, his family and Companions who believed in their Lord, trusted
in His Messenger and severed all connections with whims, the tabi’în(the
contemporaries of the Companions of the Prophet [] after his death) and those who
righteously followed them! O Allah! Send much of Your Peace unto them until the
day (the Day of Judgment) all creatures are summoned!
Now then, O Muslims! O Pilgrims to Allah’s House!
Our religion is one of mercy, and our Prophet () is the Prophet of mercy.
However, it is regrettable to see present-day culture, the mass media, the means of
communication and media websites with their shortcomings and all the irk they cause
to believers upon exposing them to such disruptive images that certainly make no part
of Islamic ethics or Sharia’ law. The behaviour of those morons in the battle fields
and war zones is marked with such cruelty and harshness that are alien to the
teachings of our religion and the instructions of our Prophet during wars.
What you may see are corpses being mutilated, heads being torn to pieces after
being severed from the bodies. This is occasionally accompanied by takbir (saying
Allahu Akbar, or Allah is Great) and acts of cruelty. Such images are then
photographed and aired or published through the media websitesamidst an atmosphere
of jubilation and joy.
Thoughsome of those killed may deserve it, our religion does not warrant
mutilation or revenge for these are aspects of cruelty and ruggedness that would have
serious repercussions on manners, conduct, attitudes, and on the way they are being
perceived by the younger generations, particularly teenagers, the narrow-minded and
those with no fiqh (no real or properunderstanding) of Islam.
Dear brothers and sisters in faith,
In our religion, only the wretched may be bereaved of the precious gift of mercy.
Mercy in humans is equated with tenderness of the heart; as scholars put it:
“Tenderness of the heart is a sign of faith.”
Those who seek mercy will have to observe forbearance and benevolence vis-à-vis
people.Indeed, Allah's mercy is close to those who are benevolent. In ahadith: “The
merciful are granted mercy by Al Rahman (Allah, the Merciful).” [Narrated by
Ahmad, Abu Dawood, and Al-Tirmidhi]
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Commenting on the above-mentioned hadith, Al Qurtubi3, may Allah bless his soul,
said: “The hadith presented the concept of al-rahimun (the merciful) in its broad
sense thereby including all sorts of people and other creatures as well: the benevolent
and the lecherous, the humans and the non-humans, and animals and birds.”
Therefore, observe taqwa (fearof Allah) –may Allah have mercy on you. The
believers must pursue mercy and recommend it for one another. Just as patience is the
rein of souls, mercy is a pre-condition for ensuring righteousness for the country and
itscitizens;Then he became one of those who believed, and
recommended one another to perseverance and patience, and (also)
recommended one another to pity and compassion. They are those
on the Right Hand (the dwellers of Paradise).[Al Balad: 17-18]
This being said, I advise you to send your Salat and peace on the Mercy and Blessing
Allah bestowed on you, your Prophet Muhammad (), the Messenger of Allah, as
Your Lord commanded you to do in His wise Book where He so truthfully and
graciously said: Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings,
Mercy) on the Prophet (Muhammad صلى لله علیھ وسلم ), and also His
angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send
your Salât[1] on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad صلى لله علیھ
وسلم ), and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of
greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum. [Al Ahzab: 56]
O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace and Blessing on Your
Servant and Messenger, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad (), the beloved and the
Chosen One; on his virtuous and immaculate family and on his wives, mothers of the
believers. O Allah! We seek Your satisfaction with the four Caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar,
Othman, and Ali,with the Prophet’s Companions, the tabi’in and those who followed
them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment! O Allah! We seek Your Satisfaction
with us as well, as You are Most Forgiving, Most Generous, and Most Beneficent!
O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and
Muslims, and fail polytheism and polytheists! O Allah! Let down tyrants and infidels
and all other enemies of Islam!
O Allah! Grant us security in our homelands, and set right our Imams and leaders! O
Allah! Entrust our government to those who fear You and seek Your satisfaction, O
Lord of the Worlds!
3He is most famous for his commentary and exegesis of the Holy Qur'ān.
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O Allah! Grant our Imam and Leader a success of Your own! Honour him with
Your obedience and make Your word the uppermost through him! Make him an asset
to Islam and Muslims! Grant him sound health and wellness! Extend his life so he can
worship You more! Guide him, his deputy, his brothers and his aides to do what You
love and please, and lead them to righteousness and piety!
O Allah! Help the Muslim leaders to abide by Your Book and to follow the Sunnah
of Your Prophet, Mohammad ()! Make them a blessing on Your faithful, and unite
them on the grounds of righteousness, truth, and the sunnah! O Lord of the Worlds!
O Allah! Set right the conditions of Muslims! O Allah! Set right the conditions of
Muslims and spare their blood!Unite them on the grounds of truth, guidance and the
sunnah and grant them victory against Your enemy and theirs!
O Allah! Whoever intends to carry out evil deeds against us, our religion, our
homeland, our Ummah, our security, our unity, our leaders, our ulama (religious
scholars), the people of virtue, goodness and piety among us, keep him, O Allah, busy
with himself, let his plotting be to his own detriment, and make his destruction in his
planning, O You, the Strongest, the Almighty!
O Allah! Make for this nation (the nation of Islam) a matter (an affair) of
rationality (guidance) where the people of piety are honoured and those of sins are
guided, and where virtue is promoted and vice is prevented! Verily, You are the
Omniscient!
O Allah, the Protector of believers, the Supporter of the defenseless, the Reliever of
those in need, the Ultimate Hope, the Refuge of the weak! Grant relief to our brothers
and sisters in Syria! O Allah! Grant relief to our brothers and sisters in Syria! O
Allah! Bring an end to their suffering! Grant them speedy relief and draw them closer
at heart! O Allah! Grant them an aid, a fighting power and a triumph of your own! O
Allah! We beseech You to grant them great victory, relief, mercy and perseverance! O
Allah! Grant them rectitude and success, strengthen their resolve and bring unity
among them!
O Allah! We invoke Your Mercy on those nursing infants and bowing4 elders!
O Allah! Defeat the tyrants and oppressors in Syria and those who sympathize and
side with them! O Allah! Disperse their gathering, scatter their crowds, and tear them
apart! O Allah! Make their plotting to their own detriment!
O Allah! Destroy the usurpers and occupiers among the Jews, for You are certainly
able to do so! O Allah! Inflict Your wrath which is so inevitably destined to strike the
people who are Mujrimûn (criminals, polytheists or sinners)! O Allah! We pray You
to drive them off to their own detriment and we seek refuge in You from their evils!
4 Bowing to Allah while performing their prayers
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O Allah! Guide us to the path of repentance to You and reliance on You and open up
for us the doors of acceptance and gratification! O Allah! We implore You to accept
our obedience, and supplication! We implore You to make righteous our deeds,
expiate from us our wrongdoings, lead us to redemption, forgive our sins and bestow
on us Your mercy, You, the Most Merciful!
Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You forgive us not, and
bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers.
[Al-A'raf: 23]
Glorified be Your Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! You are free from what
they attribute unto You! May peace be upon all the messengers! And all praise be to
Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!
Part one
Praise be to Allah with whose graces good deed are accomplished. We praise Him () and ask
for his assistance in the bygone and the forthcoming events. I bear witness that there is no deity
worth worshipping except Allah alone with no associate. With His Grace the pilgrims to His
House have been able to complete their Hajj having stood on Arafat soil. I equally bear witness
that Muhammad is the Servant and Messenger of Allah; he was sent down by his Lord with
guidance and lucid Qur’ānic verses. He who follows the straight path will be saved; he who
rejects it will be doomed and done for. May Allah send His Salat(Graces, Honours, Mercy) and
Peace on him, his righteous and immaculate family, his wives –the Mothers of the Faithful– his
Companions and all those who follow them in righteousness till the Day of Judgement.
Nowthen,
O Muslims! Observe taqwa of Allah,fortaqwa is the best sustenance on the Day of Promise.
And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is
At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc.). So fear Me, O men of
understanding![Al-Baqarah: 197]
O pilgrims to the Sacred House of Allah!
Today is the last Day of Tashreeq in Hajj; it is the last day of casting the jamarat (pebbles) for
those who did not rush yesterday to end their Hajj. He who stayed until today will gain more
2
mention of Allah (). Allah says,And remember Allâh during the appointed
Days.[Al-Baqarah: 203]. Those who rush to end their Hajj or those who stay –O servants of
Allah– will be equally rewarded. Both ways are paths of taqwa (fear of disobeying Allah). Allah
says, But whosoever hastens to leave in two days, there is no sin on him and
whosoever stays on, there is no sin on him, if his aim is to do good and obey
Allâh (fear Him). [Al-Baqarah: 203]
Allah () concludes this verse by reminding pilgrims that as He has gathered them in this
blessed place wearing ihram, speaking different languages and belonging to different races and
homelands and standing as equals regardless of age, social position, or wealth. He () will
gather them on the Day of Judgement, their first and their last, barefoot, naked, and
uncircumcised. We began the first creation, We shall repeat it[Al-Anbiyā’: 104].
The conclusion of Hajj acts simulates the termination of life – the gathering of mankind to the
Lord of the Worlds. That is why Allah concludes the verse about casting the pebbles by saying,
and obey Allâh (fear Him), and know that you will surely be gathered unto
Him[Al-Baqarah: 203]
O pilgrims to the Sacred House of Allah!
Allah has magnanimously bestowed this unique nusuk(rite) on the Muslim Ummah (nation)
which runs contrary to the pilgrimage of the early Jāhiliyah (the pre-Islamic age of ignorance).
Their gatherings then were marred by idolatry, intoxication, gambling, ansāb and azlām.1
Masha’ir were dedicated to worldly affairs, be they permitted or prohibited. They would recite
poetry, take pride in robbery and looting and in burying their daughters alive. They would
consider all these as acts of magnanimity though they were nothing save a mélange of
contradictions. Islam came to guide people to what is good, to warn them against all evil, and to
sever for good all the manifestations of early Jāhiliyah, as represented in itsmanāsik(rites) and all
itsaffairs. The Prophet () sent Abu Bakr () in the year prior to the Farewell Pilgrimage to tell
people: “In the years to come, no mushrik (polytheist) shall be allowed to perform pilgrimage,
and no naked person shall be allowed to circumambulate the Ka’ba.”
During Hajj season, the people of Jāhiliyah were so infatuated with mentioning their
forefathers that one would say, ‘Father used to give food, organise campaigns, carry blood
money, etc….’ They would mention nothing but their ancestors’ feats. Allah revealed to His
1Al-Ansāb ( الأنصاب ) were altar stones, in whose vicinity sacrifices were offered (during the time of Jāhiliyyah),
according to Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, `Ata', Sa`id bin Jubayr and Al-Hasan. They also said that Al-Azlām ( الأزلام )were
arrows that they used for lotteries to make decisions, as Ibn Abi Hatim narrated.
3
Messenger () what actions pilgrims should:actions that are different from the mottos of
Jāhiliyahwhen they are performing their manāsik. Allah says, So when you have
accomplished your Manasik [(i.e. Ihrâm, Tawâf of the Ka'bah and As-Safâ
and Al-Marwah), stay at 'Arafât, Muzdalifah and Mina, Ramy of Jamarât,
(stoning of the specified pillars in Mina) slaughtering of Hady (animal, etc.)].
Remember Allâh as you remember your forefathers or with a far more
remembrance. But of mankind there are some who say: "Our Lord! Give us
(Your Bounties) in this world!" and for such there will be no portion in the
Hereafter. And of them there are some who say: "Our Lord! Give us in this
world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save
us from the torment of the Fire!" For them there will be alloted a share for
what they have earned. And Allâh is Swift at reckoning.[Al-Baqarah: 200-202]
O pilgrims to Allah’s Sacred House!
You have performed a nusuk which is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is a unique nusuk in image and
shape. It is a nusuk that, unlike other forms of worship, required a unique financial and physical
ability.
You have lived spiritual auras, and inhaled the zephyr of faith that brought you even closer to
Allah and moved you farther from disobeying Him. You have experienced true fraternity, and
enjoyed the breeze of justice and equality. The rich and the poor share the same attire, the same
standing on Arafat, the same casting of jamarat (pebbles), the same circumambulation, overnight
stay and sa’iy. In their nusuk, they are all equal. The closest to Allah is not the one whose ride
runs faster, but it is he who fears Allah more. The winner is the one qualified by his/her good
deeds, faith and righteousness. Verily, Allâh accepts only from those who are Al-
Muttaqûn (the pious - see V.2:2). [Al-Mā’idah: 27]
O pilgrims to Allah’s Sacred House!
The manāsikof Hajj are stringing the last of their beads. What are you going to do then? Will
sincere repentance, good deeds, straightforwardness in obeying Allah be the light that guides you
through the rest of your lives, or will it be discord, backbiting, and oblivion of Allah’s
commands?
4
Will every pilgrim convey the tolerance, justice unity and fraternity of Islam that he has
experienced? Is it possible for the pilgrim to transform these into actual reality vis-à-vis his own
family and society?
Upon returning home, every pilgrim must take after these meanings and values while carrying
within himself (i.e. thinking about) the meaning of unity and the need of the Muslim Ummah for
it; he should know that the unity of Muslim societies will not be based on a certain colour,
language, or wealth.However, it will materialize when the source is one, and that certainly is: the
Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger ().
It is absolutely impossible for one Imam (leader), who is unique in his way of ruling,to be
acceptedby all Muslims astheir exclusive ruler. However, Muslims are capable of making the
Book of Allah their exclusive ruler, for if they hold tight to it, they will be guided (to the straight
path): Verily, this Qur'an guides to that which is most just and right and
gives glad tidings to the believers (in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger
Muhammad) who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a great
reward (Paradise). [Al-Isrā': 9]
May Allah bless you and me by the Qur'ān and the Sunnah and make their verses and wise
sayings beneficial to you and me! Having said that,I seek Allah's forgiveness for me, you, and all
other Muslims; so ask Him for forgiveness and repent to Him. Verily, He is theForgiving,the
Merciful!
Part Two
Praise be to Allah!Abundant,pure and blessed praise be to Allah as He likes and sees fit for
His Lordship!
Now, then!
Fear Allah, O servants of Allah, and you should know that this life is but a temporary abode,
that we shall return to Allah, and that the Hereafter is the permanent abode.
O pilgrims to the Sacred House of Allah!
This situation reminds us of the famous Farewell Khutbah delivered by the Prophet () in
front of the pilgrims. He ordered them to pass it on to his Ummah until our present day and the
generations yet to come until the Day of Judgement. He made them all witnesses of the
5
messageit contained.It generallycontained the necessity of maintaining the Five Necessities:
religion, mind, life, property, and honour.
In this khutbah, he () said about protecting religion:"I left among you that which if you
hold tight to you will never go astray after me: The Book of Allah." So the Ummah will not rise
up if it does not implement its religion as its Lord meant it to be.
He () also said about protecting the human mind:"Verily, all practices of the days of
Jāhiliyyah are now under my feet." Thus, there is no way to abuse the mind by alcohol, drugs,
or thoughts that would lead one astray from the Right Path.
He () also said about protecting life and property: "Verily your blood and your property are
sacred and inviolable; the blood revenges of the days of Jāhiliyyah are remitted. And the first
claim on blood I abolish is that of Ibn Rabi’ah Ibn Al-Harith Ibn Abdul Muttalib who was
nursed in Bani Sa’d and was killed by the Hudhayls. All interest and usurious dues accruing
from the age of Jāhiliyyah stand wiped out. And the first amount of usury that I remit is that
which Abbas Ibn Abdul Muttalib is about to receive. Verily, it is being remitted entirely."
He () also said about protecting honour in that famous khutbah:"Fear Allah concerning
women, for verily you have taken them on the trust of Allah and have made their persons
lawful unto you by the word of Allah.It is your right upon them that they must not admit
anyone whom you do not like to enter your homes."
There is no place in Islam to bid on the rights of women, nor to throwtheminto what
contradicts their natural disposition and chastity.Thosewhorunafter whims and desires are not
satisfied till they reducewomento banners of seduction and perversion. The Prophet
()said:"Beware this worldly life and beware women, for the first trial of the children of Israel
was in women."
Therefore, fear Allah, O pilgrims! Fear Allah, O Muslims! Repent to Him in all sincerity.
Then praise Allah, O pilgrims of the Sacred House of Allah, for He has set this nusuk up and
perfected it for you by His Blessing and Generosity, and made easy and accessible for you what
those before you weredeprivedof. He () said:And they carry your loads to a land
that you could not reach except with great trouble to yourselves. Truly, your
Lord is full of kindness, Most Merciful.[An-Nahl: 7]
May Allah accept the deeds, bless the efforts of the leadership of this country and all
institutions and individuals for the great services they have offered to facilitate for the pilgrims
6
their nusuk. May Allah reward them for such deeds and efforts! Indeed, serving the pilgrims is a
great honour and a great act that brings one closer to Allah.
May Allah grant reward, guidance and success to all in both abodes (i.e. thosestillalive and
thosedead).
Ask Allah –may He have mercy on you– to send His Salat (Graces, Honours and Mercy) and
Peace on the best creature of Allah and the purest of mankind, Muhammad ibn `AbdAllāh, who
is given al-Hawdh2and is vested with intercession, for Allah sent His Salat (Graces, Honours and
Mercy) and Peace on him and then ordered His angels, that are praising His sanctity, to do
likewise and called out to you, O believers, to ask Him to send His Salat (Graces, Honours and
Mercy) and Peace on him. Allah the Almighty () says: O you who believe! Send your
Salât on (ask Allâh to bless) him (Muhammad), and (you should) greet
(salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salâmu
‘Alaikum).[Al-Ahzab: 56]
O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace on Your Servant and
Messenger Muhammad who has the brightest face and the most glorious forehead. O Allah! Be
pleased with his four Caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar, Othman and Ali, on all of his Companions and
the tabi’în, and those who righteously followed them till the Day of Judgement! O Allah! Be also
pleased with us all, along with them, by Your Pardon and Generosity, O You, the Most Merciful,
Most Compassionate of all!
O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O
Allah! Fail polytheism and polytheists (who associate partners with You)! O Allah! Grant
victory to Your Religion, Your Sacred Book, Your Prophet’s Sunnah, and Your true servants!
O Allah! Bring an end to the suffering of Muslims! Rescue those in distress, and help those
indebted pay back their debts! Cure those of us and those of the Muslims who are ill!Protect the
pilgrims and travellers, O You, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate!
O Allah! Make the seasons of blessings profitable for us! O Allah! Make the times of bounty
and gifts our path and ladder to Your Mercy, O You, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate!
O Allah! Grant us security in our homelands and set right our Imams and leaders! O Allah!
Entrust our government to those who fear You and seek Your satisfaction, O Lord of the Worlds!
2This is the Arabic word for the water basin given by Allah () to the Prophet () in the Hereafter, from which he
will give the believers to drink and they will never feel thirsty again.
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O Allah! Guide our leader to do and say whatever you please and accept. O You the Ever-
Living, the Eternal Guardian! O Allah! Make righteous his retinue, O You, the Lord of Majesty
and Bounty!
O Allah! Set right the conditions of Muslims everywhere! O Allah! Set right the conditions of
Muslims everywhere! O Allah! Set right the conditions of Muslims everywhere! O Allah! Grant
victory to our brothers who are oppressed in their religion everywhere! O Allah! Grant them
victory over Your enemy and theirs, O You, the Lord of Majesty and Honour!
O Allah! Accept from the pilgrims their Hajj! O Allah! Accept from the pilgrims their Hajj,
and return them to their families safeand successful, O You, Most Merciful, Most
Compassionate!
… Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter
that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire![Al-Baqarah:
201]
Glorified be You, our Lord, the Lord of Honour and Power! You are free from what they
attribute unto You! May peace be upon the Messengers! The last of our supplications is all praise
be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!
