Part One
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of theworlds, and thefavourableoutcomewill be thatof the
pious! I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah alone with no associate; He is the
Guardian of the righteous; and I bear witness that our Prophet Muhammad is the Servant and
Messenger of Allahas well as the Leader of the Messengers, the Seal of Prophets, and the
Mercy bestowed upon theworlds. O Allah, send YourSalāt(Graces, Honours, and Mercy) and
Peace unto Your Servant and Messenger Muhammad, his family, the magnanimousand
blessed believers, all his Companions, his tabi'īn (the contemporaries of the Companions of
the Prophet [May Allah‟s Salāt and Peace be upon him] after his death), along with all those
who follow in their footsteps till Doomsday!
Now then,
O servants of Allah, do observe taqwā vis-à-vis Allah (fear of disobeying His
commands), for the observanceoftaqwāis the best provision with which you willmeet your
Lord (on the Day of Judgement), the bestprovisionwhichrenders your livespleasant and which
purifiesyour deeds.
O servants of Allah!
There is a solidbond betweenthe blessings Allah bestows upon His servants, on the
one hand, and the responsibilities He assigns to them, on the other. It is therefore
incumbentupon them to take care of such responsibilities and assumethem in accordance with
whatpleasesAllah‒May He be extolled. Allah will reward generously those honouring their
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responsibilities, inspire them to express unfailing thankfulness, and bestow upon them
abundant blessings.
This is why Prophet Muhammad (May Allah‟s Salātand Peace be upon him) made all
the mukallafeen (those obligated to observe the precepts of religion)guardians of those under
their responsibility, those to whom theirprotection is entrusted and those made to
beartheirburden. Besides, they are expected to attend to the favours and responsibilities with
which they are endowed in such a way as to preserve them, seek their sustainability, prolong
their role in attracting further blessings, continue to receive divine graces, and iterate tokens
of gratitude toAllah.
Thus, the Prophet (May Allah‟s Salātand Peace be upon him) said, “All of you are
guardians (i.e. like shepherds herding their flocks)and each is held responsible for what he
is entrusted with (i.e. flock being herded). Thus, a governor is a guardian, and he is
responsible for his subjects; a man is a guardian, and he is responsible for his household;
a woman is a guardian in her husband’s house, and she is responsible for her remit; and
the servant is a guardian, as he is responsible for protecting his master’s property and
therefore responsible for his remit.All of you are guardians, and therefore responsible for
your remits.” [A Hadith reported by both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim in their Sahīh
Books, and extracted from the repertoire narrated by Abdullah Ibn Omar ‒may Allah be
pleased with both of them]
Although there is a vast array of responsibilities entrusted to us, the most important
and highly-valued of which is the responsibility of raising children, both males and females.
Indeed, they represent the most prominent blessing since they are the fruit of emotional
bonds, the fragrance of tranquil minds, the apples of the parents‟ eyes, and the real joy of
worldly life. No blessing for the hearts is better than seeingthat our children are well-bred
andno distress is worse than seeing them ill-mannered and spoiled. They are Allah‟s trust to
their fathers and mothers. He commanded their parents to fully honour their responsibility
and warned them against breaching their covenant and betraying divine trust through abuse
orfailure to act in accordance with it. Allah ‒His name be glorified‒said:
O you who believe! Betray not Allâh and His Messenger, nor betray
knowingly your Amânât (things entrusted to you and the duties
which Allâh has ordained for youand know that your possessions
and your children are but a trial and that surely with Allâh is a
mighty reward.[Al-Anfāl: 27-28]
As interpreted by Imam IbnJarīr ‒may Allah have mercy on his soul‒the verses above
mean: “The possessions Allah entrusted you withas well as the children offered to you by
Allahare in fact both a trial and an affliction. Allah has given them to you in order to test you
and submit you to a real ordeal. He wants to see how you are going to proceed, that is to say,
whether you intend to perform your duty vis-à-vis Him, fulfil yourobligations
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towardsHimconcerningthose blessings, and abide by His prescriptions and proscriptions
while enjoying such favours. In addition, let it be known to you thatAllah has reserved for you
munificent reward because you obeyed Him when He decreed commands and interdictions
as to how to handle your possessions and deal with your children ‒blessings through which
He submitted you to trial in the herein. So, obey Allah in all tasks with which He entrusted
you in the herein and you will certainly receive from Him abundant recompense on the
Encounter Day.”
Just as Allah has made it mandatory for children to observe filial dutifulness through
treating them kindly when He ‒SublimeSpeaker beHe‒ said:
And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And
that you be dutiful to your parents…[Al-Isrā‟: 23]
He has by the same token commanded parents to helptheir children behave kindly
with them. Thus, parents should not exact from them filial obedience in matters beyond their
capacity, nor should they ask them to accomplish impossible missions. Parents must not only
claim their own rights andforget about their duties vis-à-vis others. This is a kind of
stinginess in dealing with others that had better be avoided by any believer who would
similarly avoid being stingyinweights and measures (when selling or buying).
Theprimary factor which assists children, males and females alike, in observing filial
piety is to show them affection and compassion and to treat them leniently, following the
exemplary behaviour of our noble, clement, and affectionate Prophet whose conduct has been
commended by Allah as our best example and model behaviour. He was once seen by Al-
Aqra‟ IbnḤābis kissing his grandson Al-Hassan ‒may Allah be pleased with him. Then, Al-
Aqra‟ said with much surprise, “I have ten children, but I have never kissed any of them.”
The Prophet (May Allah‟s Salātand Peace be upon him) said, “He who does not show
compassion (to others) will never be shown compassion.” In another version of the
hadith,“What can I do for you if Allah has taken awaycompassion from your heart?”
[Reported by both Sheikhs (Imam Bukhāri and Imam Muslim) in their Sahīh Books]
When his son, Ibrahīm, passed away, the Prophet (May Allah‟s profuse Salātsand
Peace be upon him) shed tears and said, “The eye sheds tears, the heart is filled with sorrow,
but we never say except what pleases the Lord. O Ibrahīm, we are really grieving over your
farewell.” [Reported by Imam Bukhāri in his Sahīh Book]
He also used to holdOsāmah IbnZeyd and Hasan Ibn Ali ‒may Allah be pleased with
both of them‒ and say, “O my Lord! Love them, for I do love them.”[Reported by Imam
Bukhāri in his Sahīh Book].In another version again reported by Imam Bukhāri, “O my
Lord!Show them compassion, for I do show them compassion.”
Another reason equally facilitating filial piety is fair treatment of the children and
equalitybetween them indistributing gifts. When BasheerIbnSaadAl-Ansāri came
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accompanied by his son,Al-Nu‟mān, and said, “I offered this child of mine aslaveboy who
belonged to me.” The Messenger of Allah (May Allah‟s Salātand Peace be upon him) said,
“Have you done the same with all your children?” He said, “No!” The Prophet said,
“Observetaqwā vis-à-vis Allah and be fair with your children!” So, Basheerwent home and
took back that gift.
In another account of the hadith, the Prophet (May Allah‟s Salātand Peace be upon
him) said, “Would you feel happy if they showed you an equal degree of filial piety?”
“Yes,definitely”, he said. The Prophet said, “No, then’!” Still in another narrated version, the
Prophet “(May Allah‟s Salātand Peace be upon him) said, “So, do not appeal for me as
witness, for I will not be a witness to injustice.”
Therefore, equalitybetween children in gifts or avoiding the favouring of some over
others are reasons for filial piety and for blocking the door to any potential conflicts, disputes,
or severance of relations after their parents‟ death. Besides, equality and fair treatment
provethe parents‟ true love towards their children.
Again, among the most credible pieces of evidence attesting to parents‟ love for their
children is when they take care of their education and upbringing according to good moral
standards. In their educational mission, parents would guide their children to do good deeds,
train them to holdfast to righteousness, and orientate them through practice. This would
manifest itself through encouraging children to adopt forms of behaviour conducive to
obedience and discouraging disobedience. In the former case, parents would highlight the
merits of the path of obedience, but in the latter, they would stress the drastic and repugnant
consequences of disobedience. They would also do their best to attain harmony between their
speech and their action and take precautions against any contradiction between verbal and
behavioural communication. In fact, the most serious harm will take place when actions are
not in concord with speech. This might result in destruction after construction and in the
breach of pacts after their conclusion.
Another clearevidence of the parents‟ love for their sons and daughters is taking care
as to the friends they have and the company they keep. The Prophet‟s following effectual
parable is worth citing: “The similitude of good company and that of bad company is that of
the owner of musk and of the one blowing the bellows. The owner of musk would either
offer you some free of charge, or you would buy it from him, or you smell its pleasant
fragrance; and as for the one who blows a pair of bellows (i.e., the blacksmith), he either
burns your clothes or you get a repugnant smell from him.” [Reported by both Imam
Bukhāri and Imam Muslim in their SahīhBooks]
The parable in the hadithabove highlights the commendable status of good company,
its influence on thecompanion, and the benefits to be derived from keeping such company.
On the other hand, the parable stresses the lamentable status of bad company, its adverse
effect on thecompanion. Bad companyhas lately reached a status so deplorable that we can
see the banners of falsehood multiplying, the itineraries of temptation bifurcating, and the
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paths of misguidance branching off.This encouragedsome evildā’is1(callers at the gates of
Hell) todrum up support at the gates of Hell; whoever appeals to their call will be thrown into
Hellfire.
Then, evil friends started to cause the most serious harm and the greatest perils to
which they steer the naïve and unmindful from among the youth. They allure into such
pitfalls the inexperienced; those easy to command and persuade to give in to claims and
slogans that are far from being substantiated by the Qur’ān, the Sunnah, or the ethics of the
Ummah’sSalaf.
They convince them to listen to false and deceitful calls launched by parties, groups
and organizations that are motivated by nothing but the opposition of Allah and His
Messenger, machination against His religion, renunciation of His path and dissuasion (of
people) away from it.Such are indeed the bad deeds, sins, crimes and atrocities they commit,
and which –by Allah– are attributed to Islam only by those who are ignorant or enemies of it,
those seeking fitnah (temptation) and making it their ultimate end, and those who give in to
their whims and carry out the commands of their satanic spirits.
They are thus lured into the „niceties‟ of leaving aside congregation and quitting
obedience ignoring the stark warning contained in the following words of the Prophet(May
Allah‟s Salat and Peace be upon him): “Whoever defects from obedience (to the Amir) and
separates from the congregation ‒if he dies in that state‒ will die the death of one
belonging to the days of Jāhiliyyah (i. e. would not die as a Muslim). Whoever fights under
the banner of a people who are blind (to the cause for which they are fighting. i. e. do not
know whether their cause is just or otherwise), who gets flared up with family pride, calls,
(people) to fight for their family honour, and supports his kith and kin (i. e. fights not for
the cause of Allah but for the sake of this family or tribe) ‒if he is killed (in such a fight),
he dies as one belonging to the days of Jāhiliyyah. Whoever attacks my Ummah
(indiscriminately) killing the righteous and the wicked, sparing not (even) those staunch in
faith and fulfilling not his promise made with those who have been given a pledge of
security, he has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with him.” [Narrated by
Imam Muslimin hisSahih]
Talking to Ḥudhaifah Ibn Al-Yamān –may Allah be pleased with him– in response to
his question regarding the distinguishing marks of those evildā’is (callers at the gates of Hell)
who would throw in the Hellfire anyone answering their call, the Prophet of mercy and
guidance (May Allah‟s Salat and Peace be upon him) so truthfully put it in his famous Hadith
on Temptation thus: “Yes, they belong to us and speak our tongue.” Then the man
(Ḥudhaifah) asked: “O Messenger of Allah!What do you order me to do if such a thing
should take place in my life?" The Prophet(May Allah‟s Salat and Peace be upon him) said,
"Keep to the congregation of Muslims and their Imam (leader)."The man asked,"If there is
1The actual plural of the Arabic word dā’I ( داع ) ‒caller to Islam‒is du’āt( دعاة ). But literally, the du’āt
‘alāabwābijahannam ( دعاة على أبواب جهنّم ) are ‘callers at the gates of Hell’.
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neither a congregation (of Muslims) nor a leader (what shall I do)?"The Prophet
replied:"Keep away from all those different sects, even if you had to bite (i.e. eat) the root of
a tree, till you meet Allah while you are still in that state." [Narrated by the two venerable
Sheikhs, Bukhari and Muslim in their Sahihs, which are the most accurate books after the
Book of Allah Almighty]
Therefore, observe taqwa (fear of disobeying Allah) –O servants of Allah– and do
seek to give your children the care and attention you have been entrusted withto rear them
properly, help them honour you, and protect them against all perils, particularly the risk of
bad company who are set to do evil rather than good things, and betray rather than be trusted.
May Allah benefit you and me with His Book's guidance, the Sunnah of His
Messenger (May Allah‟s Salat and Peace be upon him). Having said this, 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
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All praise be to Allah! We praise Him and seek His assistance and 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 send His
profuse Salat and Peace be upon him, his family, and Companions!
Now, then, O Servants of Allah!
Some scholars have said:“Education may vary depending on time and place; what
may seem right for some people could be wrong for others, and what might be acceptable in
some countries may be unacceptable in other countries. A rational man must have a special
quote for every special situation, and for every special time there is a special importance.”
It is by no means an act of compassion the way some parents tend to pamper their
children by relieving them of responsibilities, allowing them to do what they please and let
them live as they wish. They would buy them gold and silk to wear, provide them with all the
comfort they wish to have at home, and would never reject their requests or say „no‟ to
whatever they wish to do. This is so despite the fact that their poverty and misery areobvious
to onlookers.
As a result, they would grow up amidst a state of self-indulgence and luxury with no
predisposition to withstand adversity, endure when accidents occur, settle for less if need be,
and to be grateful for the blessings bestowed on them. When rich, they would turn wasteful
and lavish, and when poor, they would live miserably. They would lose strength and resolve
when faced with the least serious calamity. They would turn desperate with tears in their eyes
just for seeing their clothes stained or their food delayed. This is but the outcome of improper
upbringing, false love and pretentious compassion. In this respect, moderation is indeed the
best practice, and let it be known that those who have no mercy vis-à-vis their children may
never have it vis-à-vis others.
Do observe taqwa –O servants of Allah– and send yoursalat and peace on the Seal of
Allah's Messengers since you have been ordered to do so in the Book of Allah, the Qur’ān:
Allâh sends His Salât (Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the
Prophet (Muhammad –May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon
him), and also His angels (ask Allâh to bless and forgive him). O
you who believe! Send your Salât on (ask Allâh to bless) him
(Muhammad –May Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him), and
(you should) greet (salute) him with the Islâmic way of greeting
(salutation, i.e. As-Salâmu ‘Alaikum.[Al-Aḫzāb: 56]
O Allah! Send Your Salat(Graces, Honours, Mercy) and Peace on Your Servant and
Messenger, Muhammad! O Allah! Be pleased with his four Caliphs, Abu Bakr, Omar,
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Othman and Ali, with all his family, Companions, the tabi’în (the contemporaries of the
Companions of the Prophet [May Allah‟s Salat and Peace be upon him] after his death), and
all those who righteously followed them till the Day of Judgement! O Allah! Be pleased with
us all, along with them, by Your Pardon and Generosity, O You, Most Merciful, Most
Compassionate 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 Your Religion! Destroy the
enemies of Your religion and all the despots and the corruptors! Unite the hearts of Muslims
and unify them!Set right their leaders and unite their word on Truth! O You, Lord of al-
'alamîn (the worlds)!
O Allah! Grant victory to Your religion, Your Book, the Sunnahof Your Prophet
Muhammad (May Allah‟s Salat and Peace be upon him),Your truthful believing servants and
theMujahideen!
O Allah! Grant us security in our homelands, set right our leaders and those
responsible for our affairs, support with truth our Imam and leader, provide him with the
righteous retinue and guide him to do whatever you love and accept, O You, the All-Hearing
of our prayers! O Allah! Guide him, his Crown Prince and his brothers to do what is good for
Islam and Muslims, for the country and for the people, O You, to Whom people shall return
on the Day of Resurrection!
O Allah! Grant us a good ending in all of our affairs and save us from the humiliation
of the worldly life and the punishment of the Hereafter! O Allah! Make better our religion
which is our bond, make better our Dunya (life in this world) which is the source of our
living, make better our Hereafter to which we are returning, and make life for us an increase
of all that is good and death a relief from every evil!
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 strikes!
O Allah! We seek refuge in You against the vanishing of Your Blessing, the change in
the good health you granted us, the suddenness of Your Vengeance, and all kinds of Your
Wrath!
O Allah! Protect us against Your enemies and ours in any way that pleases You, O
Lord of al-'ālamîn(the Worlds)! O Allah! Protect us against Your enemies and ours in any
way that pleases You, O Lord of al-'ālamîn! O Allah! Protect us against Your enemies and
ours in any way that pleases You, O Lord of al-'ālamîn! O Allah! We leave Your enemies
and ours 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! We
leave them to You (to deal with them) and seek refuge in You from their evils!
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O Allah! Protect the Mujahideen in all their homelands and stop their bloodshed! O
Allah! Stop the bloodshed of all Muslims wherever they are! O Allah! Save them from the
evil of fitnahswhether apparent or concealed! O Allah! Reconcile their differences! O Allah!
Reconcile their differences! O Allah! Reconcile their differences! O You, Lord of al-'ālamîn!
O Allah! Cure those of us who are sick, have mercy on those who are dead, and help us fulfil
our hopes in accordance with what you please, 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-A'rāf: 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]
May Allah send His Salat(Graces, Honours, Mercy) and Peace on our Prophet,
Muhammad, on his family and all of his Companions, and all praise be to Allah, the Lord of
al-'ālamîn!
