Part One
Praise be to Allah Who has accepted Islam for us as our faith. I do praise His profuse
favours and blessings (Glory be to Him). I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship
except Allah alone with no associate; to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names and the Most
Sublime Attributes; He is not accessible to ocular perception, nor can human intellect grasp
His essence. I equally bear witness that our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, is Allah’s
Servant, Messenger, Select Creature, and Master of all Humankind. O Allah, send Your Salat
and Peace upon Your Servant and Messenger, Muhammad, his family, his Companions – the
pious leaders and eminent Muslim personalities, his tabi'īn (the contemporaries of the
Companions of the Prophet [Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him] after his death), and all those who follow
them in righteousness as long as days and nights keep alternating (till Doomsday).
Now then,
Observe taqwa vis-à-vis Allah and fear the instant you shall appear before Him (to
account for your deeds), the Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail, except him
who brings to Allâh a clean heart.1
O Muslims!
In their pursuit of happiness in the herein −and in their tracking of the avenues leading
thereto− people in general adopt diverse ways which they strongly champion and adhere to,
judicious minds have the certitude that there is only one way which is conducive to gaining
divine satisfaction, realising people’s objectives, combining worldly happiness with eternal
bliss in the hereafter, and experiencing the joy of mundane life together with that of the
afterlife. We are here talking about the genuine and exclusive religion which Allah can accept
1 This expression is borrowed from the Holy Qur’ān (Al-Shūrā: 88-89).
2
from His creatures. Allah has never ordained, nor will He ordain, any other faith except
Islam: Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm... [Āl-Imrān: 19]
Allah (May He be extolled) has made of Islam the religion of all His Prophets and Messengers,
along with their respective followers. Nūḥ (Noah, Peace be upon him), the first prophet on earth, said:
"But if you turn away [from accepting my doctrine of Islâmic
Monotheism, i.e. to worship none but Allâh], then no reward have I asked
of you, my reward is only from Allâh, and I have been commanded to be
one of the Muslims (those who submit to Allâh's Will)." [Yūnus: 72]
In the same vein, Ibrahim Al-Khalīl (i.e. Allah’s close companion, Abraham) and his son
Ismā’īl (Ishmael, Peace be upon both of them) said: "Our Lord! And make us submissive unto
You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, ... [Al-Baqarah: 128]
Allah further added: And this (submission to Allâh, Islâm) was enjoined by
Ibrâhim (Abraham) upon his sons and by Ya'qûb (Jacob), (saying), "O my
sons! Allâh has chosen for you the (true) religion, then die not except in
the Faith of Islâm (as Muslims - Islâmic Monotheism)." [Al- Baqarah: 132]
Mūsā (Moses, Peace be upon him) said to his people: ... “O my people! If you have
believed in Allâh, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims (those
who submit to Allâh's Will)." [Yūnus: 84] Allah (the Great and Almighty) said about His
prophet ‘Īsā (Jesus, Peace be upon him): Then when 'Iesa (Jesus) came to know of their
disbelief, he said: "Who will be my helpers in Allâh's Cause?" Al-Hawâriûn
(the disciples) said: "We are the helpers of Allâh; we believe in Allâh, and
bear witness that we are Muslims (i.e. we submit to Allâh)." [Āl-Imrān: 52]
The Queen of Saba’ (Sheba) said: "My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself,
and I submit (in Islâm, together with Sulaimân (Solomon), to Allâh, the
Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)." [Al-Naml: 44]
Islam is then the religion which Allah (the Great and Almighty) ordained for His creatures. This is
how He addressed the ummah of Prophet Muhammad [May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him]: This day,
I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you,
3
and have chosen for you Islâm as your religion. [Al-Māedah: 3] Allah (Glory be to
Him) has equally proclaimed His unfailing and truthful vow to make this religion prevail over
the rest of religions: It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad SAW)
with guidance and the religion of truth (Islâm), to make it superior over
all religions even though the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters,
disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) hate (it). [Al-Taubah: 33]
There is definitely no other religion which is as precious as Islam. It is the faith ordained
by Allah for His creatures as the sole path leading to His satisfaction and the only way to
attain glorious ranks, reach a distinguished status, and achieve victory as well as prevalence.
This is confirmed in the hadith reported by Imam Ahmed in his Musnad, Ibn Ḥibbān in his
Sahih, and Al-Hākim in his Mustadrak –via an authentic chain of narration on the authority
of Ubey Ibn Ka’b (May Allah be pleased with him) who narrated, “The Messenger of Allah
[May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him] said, ‘Herald to this Ummah grandeur, faith, and supremacy on
earth; whoever performs deeds which are normally intended to guarantee the hereafter but
diverts them towards mundane purposes will have no share in the afterlife.’” In the Sahih
by Imam Muslim, along with other hadith books, Prophet Muhammad [May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon
him] was reported to have said, “Allah compacted for me the East and the West of the earth;
and the dominion of my Ummah will reach as far as what was unfolded to me.”
Islam is surrender, submission, and amenability to Allah’s command and the teachings of
His Prophet Muhammad’s [May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him]. Islam requires singling out the adored
Lord for worship (Glory be to Him). He is the sole deity to Whom all acts of worship shall be piously
and faithfully addressed and His Prophet Muhammad [May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him] shall be
accordingly followed. That is the true prerequisite for the exoneration from polytheism and
polytheists.
Polytheism is an aggression against the perfection of divinity (Be he extolled and remote from human-like
attributes). Unlike monotheism, which elevates the status of its followers, refines their values
through devoutness, and endows them with the honour of servitude to the Lord of the
Universe, polytheism leads its followers to total psychological and spiritual degradation: ...
and whoever assigns partners to Allâh, it is as if he had fallen from the
sky, and the birds had snatched him, or the wind had thrown him to a
far off place. [Al-Hajj: 31] Polytheism is the unpardonable sin which Allah never
expiates if its performer does not repent before his/her death: Verily, Allâh forgives
not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives
except that (anything else) to whom He pleases... [Al-Nissā’: 48]
4
Islam, O servants of Allah, is the true religion which is conformable to human nature.
Thanks to this religion, Allah lifted the constraints and fetters that restricted the life of
preceding generations. This alleviation is meant to be a sign of divine mercy, grace, and good
treatment. This is echoed in Allah’s verses (Glory be to Him): Those who follow the
Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e.Muhammad
SAW) whom they find written with them in the Taurât (Torah) (Deut,
xviii, 15) and the Injeel (Gospel) (John xiv, 16), - he commands them for
Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained); and
forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and
all that Islâm has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At-Taiyibât
[(i.e. all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods,
etc.], and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khabâ'ith (i.e. all evil and
unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), he releases
them from their heavy burdens (of Allâh's Covenant), and from the
fetters (bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him
(Muhammad SAW), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the
Qur'ân) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be
successful. [Al-A’rāf: 157]
Islam is also the religion with which Allah established the foundations of a social order
based on solidarity, just like the building blocks which support each other. This is confirmed
in the hadith reported by Imam Muslim and Imam Bukhari in their respective Sahih Books
where Al-Nu’mān Ibn Basheer (May Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that
Prophet Muhammad [May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him] said, “The believers’ solidarity and mutual
love is analogous to the concord found in the human body: whenever an organ is affected,
the rest of the organs will consequently respond via symptoms of sleeplessness and fever.”
In the two Sahih Books, Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that
Prophet Muhammad [May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him] said, “The believer is to the believer like
building blocks; they interlace to support each other.”
It is a religion whereby Allah has meant to safeguard people’s lives, souls, material
possessions and minds. Hence, He has decreed as haram (forbidden) such acts, like taking
someone’s life, unless rightfully, committing offenses involving moral turpitude, committing
adultery, taking anything that would endanger the sobriety of the human mind including
alcohol, narcotics, and sedatives as well as the unlawful taking of others’ property by any
means or form.
5
It is a religion that purports to uphold for every human being his rights and show him his
obligations in such a lawful and unique enactment that has set precedence for all other
legislations and surpassed all the man-made laws that are designed to safeguard human rights.
In fact, it is a religion that is geared to raise man’s status and sustain his dignity.
It is a religion whereby Allah has determined so indiscriminately to set up the principles of
justice among all the peoples He has created, Muslims and non-Muslims, Arabs and non-
Arabs, blacks and whites, males and females, and young and old. He has made taqwa (fear of
Allah’s punishment) the sole criterion for superiority among them: O mankind! We
have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations
and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable
of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. one of
the Muttaqun ]. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. [Al-Ḥujurāt: 13]
Therefore, it is not surprising that a religion encompassing such virtues and merits would
certainly be vested with greatness, loftiness, prominence and prevalence in this world.
Indeed, it behooves all Muslims to observe integrity vis-à-vis their religion for the sake of
Allah alone, to execute His commands and those of His Messenger whenever they are called
upon to carry out that which would warrant to secure their prevalence, to hold fast, all of
them together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. the Qur'an), and not to be divided among themselves.
Only then will they ensure the kind of sovereignty, leadership, and glory that Allah (May He be
extolled) has promised those true believers among His servants: But honour, power and
glory belong to Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad), and to the believers,
but the hypocrites know not. [Al-Munafiqūn: 8]
May Allah benefit you and me with His Holy Book's guidance, the Sunnah of His Prophet
(May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him). I say this and I ask Allah, the Almighty, the Exalted to forgive my
sins, yours and those of all Muslims; He is truly the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
Part Two
6
All praise be to Allah! We praise Him, seek His assistance and guidance, and ask for His
forgiveness. We seek refuge in Him from the evils of our own souls and from our wicked
deeds. Whoever Allah guides no one can misguide and whoever He misguides no one can
guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah, Who has no partners.
I also bear witness that our Prophet, Muhammad, is His servant and Messenger. May Allah’s
Peace and Blessing be upon him! May Allah be pleased with his family, Companions and
those who followed him in righteousness!
Now then,
Fear Allah, O servants of Allah! As authenticated in the Sunnah of the Prophet (May Allah’s Salat
and Peace be upon him) there are good signs heralding victory, loftiness and prevalence for this
religion. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported in Sahih Al Bukhari the
Messenger of Allah (May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him) saying: “I have been commissioned with
words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; I have been helped by terror (in
the hearts of enemies): and while I was asleep I was brought the keys of the treasures of
the earth which were placed in my hand.”
Mu’āwiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan 2 (May Allah be pleased with both him and his father) reported
in both Sahihs (Bukhari’s and Muslim’s) ‒when delivering a khutbah‒ that he once heard the
Messenger of Allah (May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him) say: “A group of people amongst my followers
will remain obedient to Allah's orders and they will not be harmed by anyone who will not
help them or who will oppose them, till Allah's Order (the Last Day) comes upon them
while they are still on the right path.”
As authenticated by Ubey Ibn Kaab (May Allah be pleased with him) Imam Ahmad3 and
Ibn Hibbān4 reported in their Musnad and Sahih respectively that the Prophet (May Allah’s Salat and
Peace be upon him) said: “Convey the good news to this Ummah (Islamic nation) that it shall
prevail and achieve ultimate faith and loftiness on earth.”
O servants of Allah! Such good tidings are indeed blessed and were heralded by the
truthful and trustworthy (the Prophet, May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him) whose words are ever true.
Make certain –May Allah have mercy on you– to win over such precious favours by
carrying out Allah’s commands and adhering to His religion. Hence you shall win and
achieve success.
2 Muawiyah Ibn Abi Sufyan (c. 602 – 680 CE) was Islam’s fifth caliph and the founder of the Umayyad
dynasty.
3 Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal is a collection of Hadiths collected by Imam Ibn Hanbal to whom the Hanbali
madhab of Sunnis is attributed.
4 He was a prominent Shafi’i muhaddith (hadith specialist) and prolific author who died in 965 CE.
7
Always remember that Allah has ordered you to ask Him to send His Salat (Graces,
Honours and Mercy) and Peace upon the Seal of Prophets, the leader of all Messenger and
the Mercy He sent down on Al-alamin (the Worlds). He, the Almighty, says in His Truthful
Book: 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 salat 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-Aḥzāb: 56]
O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) upon Your Servant and
Messenger Muhammad (May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him)! Be pleased with the four Caliphs: Abu
Bakr, Omar, Othman and Ali, with the Prophet’s family, Companions, the tabi'in, and those
who follow them righteously until the Day of Resurrection! O Allah! Be also pleased with us
all, along with them, by Your Pardon, Generosity and Bounty, O You, the Most Generous
and Bounteous of all!
O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims!
O Allah! Grant glory to Islam and Muslims! Protect the unity of Your Religion! Destroy the
enemies of religion and all tyrants and corrupters! Unite the hearts of Muslims; unify them;
guide their leaders and unite their word on the Truth, O You, Lord of al-'ālamîn (the
Worlds)!
O Allah! Grant victory to Your religion, Your Book, the Sunnah of Your Prophet
Muhammad (May Allah’s Salat and Peace be upon him) and Your truly-believing servants and Mujahideen.
O Allah! Grant us security in our homelands, make good our leaders and those responsible
for our affairs, support with truth our Imam and leader, provide him with righteous retinue
and guide him to do whatever you love and accept! O You. All-Hearing of our prayers! O
Allah! Guide him, his Crown Prince and his brothers to do what is good for Islam and
Muslims and for the country and the people! O You to Whom people shall return on the Day
of Resurrection!
O Allah! Make good all our last deeds (just before we die)! Save us from the disgrace of
this Worldly life and the punishment of the Hereafter!
O Allah! Make better our belief which is the bond of our lives! Make better our Dunya
(life in this world) where we live! Make better our Hereafter to which we are returning! Make
life an increase of every good and death a relief from every evil!
8
O Allah! We ask You to guide us to do good deeds, forsake reprehensible actions and love
the needy! O Allah! We ask You to forgive us and have mercy upon us! O Allah! If You
want to send an affliction on a nation, please make us die before your affliction was sent!
O Allah! Protect us against Your enemies and ours in any way that pleases You, O
Lord of Al-‘Alamin! O Allah! Protect us against Your enemies and ours in any way that
pleases You, O Lord of Al-‘Alamin! O Allah! Protect us against Your enemies and ours in
any way that pleases You, O Lord of Al-‘Alamin! O Allah! We leave them to You (to deal
with them) and seek refuge in You from their evils! O Allah! We leave them to You (to deal
with them) and seek refuge in You from their evils!
O Allah! Protect all Muslim countries and all Muslims wherever they may be! O Allah!
Make peace among them and shove away from them and from us all fitnahs (temptations)! O
Allah! Save us and them from the evil of Fitnahs, those of them which are apparent and those
which are concealed! O Allah! Save their bloodshed! O Allah! Save their bloodshed and
safeguard their material possessions and honour, and grant them victory against Your enemy
and theirs, O You, Lord of Al-'ālamîn!
O Allah! Cure those of us who are sick! O Allah! Bless the souls of those of us who are
dead! O Allah! Fulfil our hopes in accordance with Your pleasure and make our last deeds
good ones! 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 Aaraf: 23]; 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]
O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and Peace on our Prophet,
Muhammad, on his family and Companions. All praise be to Allah, the Lord of al-'ālamîn!
