This is a short English Friday sermon (10-15 minutes) that was delivered at Masjid of University of Darussalam Gontor on Friday, 31 January 2020. The title of this Friday sermon is “The Best of Deeds”
First Khutbah
إِنّ الْحَمْدَ ِللهِ نَحْمَدُهُ وَنَسْتَعِيْنُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ وَنَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُوْرِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَسَيّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلاَ مُضِلّ لَهُ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلاَ هَادِيَ لَهُ
الحمد لله رب العالمين القائل : وَقِيلَ لِلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا مَاذَا أَنْزَلَ رَبُّكُمْ قَالُوا خَيْرًا لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا فِي هَذِهِ الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةٌ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ وَلَنِعْمَ دَارُ الْمُتَّقِينَ
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلهَ إِلاّ اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنّ مُحَمّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَمَنْ سَارَ عَلَى نَهْجِهِ القَوِيْمِ وَدَعَا إِلَى الصِّرَاطِ المُسْتَقِيْمِ إِلَى يَوْمِ الدِّيْنِ وَسَلَّمَ تَسْلِيْمًا كَثِيْرًا
أما بعدُ
فيا عباد الله أوصيكم وإيّاي نفسي بتقوى الله حقّ تقاته فقد فاز المتقون.
My beloved Muslim Brothers:
In today’s friday sermon, we would like to talk about the best of deeds.
Allah states in the Surah al-Kahf:
إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا
Indeed, We have made that which is on the earth adornment for it that We may test them [as to] which of them is best in deed. [Qur’an:18:7]
In other words, Allah created this world and beautified it, originating it and perfecting it; all so that people can be tested. He looks to see which of us are most obedient towards Him and most avid in hastening towards His contentment therein. For Allah has given mankind from everything in order that they in turn may put forward their best. He has created them in the best of forms and dispositions as He states:
لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ
We have certainly created man in the best of stature; [Qur’an: 95:4]
He revealed to them the best of Books and Rulings, as He says:
اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُتَشَابِهًا مَثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ
Allah has sent down the best speech: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. [Qur’an: 39:23]
Allah has sent in the Qur’an the best of stories, each of these stories being full of instruction and example, for He says:
نَحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ أَحْسَنَ الْقَصَصِ بِمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ هَذَا الْقُرْآنَ
We relate to you, [O Muhammad], the best of stories in what We have revealed to you of this Qur’an although you were, before it, among the unaware. [Qur’an:12:3]
So let each person reflect and follow the best of ways that will allow a person to reach the contentment of Allah.
Allah has ordered us to act upon on the Qur’an in the best of ways, through praiseworthy deeds, for He says:
وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنْ رَبِّكُم
And follow the best of what was revealed to you from your Lord [Qur’an: 39:55]
And Allah praises His servants who truly follow Him:
الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَاهُمُ اللَّهُ وَأُولَئِكَ هُمْ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
Who listen to speech and follow the best of it. Those are the ones Allah has guided, and those are people of understanding. [Qur’an: 39:18]
For such servants are those of sound intellects and of an upright nature. They are those who hear the Qur’an and Hadith of the Prophet and act in accordance with them.
My beloved brothers:
From the best and most pure of deeds, the most lofty, is the remembrance of Allah, and the establishing of prayer, as well as the paying of Zakat. For Allah says:
رِجَالٌ لَا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ* لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا وَيَزِيدَهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
[Are] Men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of Zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about. That Allah may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allah gives provision to whom He wills without account.
[Qur’an: 24:37-38]
Also from the best of deeds is piety towards one’s parents. For Allah says:
وَوَصَّيْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ بِوَالِدَيْهِ إِحْسَانًا
And We have enjoined upon man, to his parents, kind treatment. [Qur’an: 46:15]
Allah promises those who are kind to their parents that He will accept their deeds, and that He will look after them in the best of manners, for He says:
أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ نَتَقَبَّلُ عَنْهُمْ أَحْسَنَ مَا عَمِلُوا وَنَتَجَاوَزُ عَنْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ فِي أَصْحَابِ الْجَنَّةِ وَعْدَ الصِّدْقِ الَّذِي كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ
Those are the ones from whom We will accept the best of what they did and overlook their misdeeds, [their being] among the companions of Paradise. [That is] the promise of truth which they had been promised.[Qur’an: 46:16]
O Muslim brothers:
Allah has encouraged us that we always employ the best of what we can say from speech. For He says:
وَقُلْ لِعِبَادِي يَقُولُوا الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ
And tell My servants to say that which is best. [Qur’an: 17:53]
This is also why He calls us to establish and sow love between people by saying:
ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ* وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلاَّ الَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا وَمَا يُلَقَّاهَا إِلَّا ذُو حَظٍّ عَظِيمٍ
And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend. [Qur’an:41: 34-35]
For indeed, interacting with others with beautiful character, showing good towards them, repairing hearts, is what eventually brings about their love and affection.
And from the best of speech that strengthens relationships amongst people, is responding to greetings with greetings better than them. Acting in accordance with the words of Allah:
وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُمْ بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا
And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant. [Qur’an:4:86]
So if someone sends their salaams upon you, then return in turn with a greater salaams or the like of the salaams they gave to you. This is one example of great communication and connection.
So may Allah guide us to the best of deeds and sayings, and comprehensive manners, and may He assist us all in the way of piety and obedience. Piety towards Your trustworthy Messenger, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), the ability to be dutiful towards those You have commanded us to be dutiful towards, in accordance with Your words: O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. [Qur’an: 4:59]
May Allah bless me and bless you with the Noble Qur’an and with the Way of His Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
بارك الله لي ولكم في القرآن العظيم، ونفعني وإياكم بما فيه من الآيات والذكر الحكيم. أَقُوْلُ هذَا القَوْلَ وَاَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ، فَاسْتَغْفِرُوْهُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ.
The Second Khutbah
الحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله، نبينا محمد و آله وصحبه ومن والاه، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أنَّ محمّداً عبده ورسولهُ
O Muslims:
Allah, the Most glorified, states:
مَنْ عَمِلَ صَالِحًا مِنْ ذَكَرٍ أَوْ أُنْثَى وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَنُحْيِيَنَّهُ حَيَاةً طَيِّبَةً وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَجْرَهُمْ بِأَحْسَنِ مَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ
Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do. [Qur’an: 16:97]
Someone who is characterized by the best of deeds and actions, and the best of characters in their interaction with others, then for such a person there is the goodly life that Allah blesses those He loves with in this world. They will come on the Day of Judgment in a state of security and contentment, in a state of delight with regards to what Allah has promised them from His tremendous reward and lofty ranks.
For Allah says:
لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا الْحُسْنَى وَزِيَادَةٌ وَلَا يَرْهَقُ وُجُوهَهُمْ قَتَرٌ وَلَا ذِلَّةٌ أُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
For them who have done good is the best [reward] and extra. No darkness will cover their faces, nor humiliation. Those are companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally. [Qur’an: 10:26]
So let us be avid and keen to ensure we have the best of deeds in our prayer, our Zakat and our ties with our parents. Let us devote ourselves to the best of speech, busying ourselves with remembrance of Allah and kind words. Above all, let us strive to imbibe the most noble of character – for all of this is how a human being becomes realized in his humanity. Becoming someone raised up in ranks not just with Allah, but with mankind at large.
فَيَااَ يُّهَاالنَّاسُ !! اِتَّقُوا اللهَ تَعَالىَ. وَذَرُوالْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ منها وَمَا بَطَنْ. وَحَافِظُوْا عَلىَ الطَّاعَةِ وَحُضُوْرِ الْجُمْعَةِ وَالْجَمَاعَةِ. وَاعْلَمُوْا اَنَّ اللهَ اَمَرَكُمْ بِأَمْرٍ بَدَأَ فِيْهِ بِنَفْسِهِ. وَثَنَّى بِمَلاَئِكَةِ قُدْسِهِ. فَقَالَ تَعَالىَ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ قَائِلاًعَلِيْمًا
اِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلاَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّوْنَ عَلىَ النَّبِىْ يَاَ يُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا صَلُّوْا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوْا تَسْلِيْمًا
اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ. وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَجِيْدٌ
اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِلْمُسْلِمِيْنَ وَالمسْلِمَاتِ وَالمؤْمِنِيْنَ وَالمؤْمِنَاتِ الأَحْيَاءِ مِنْهُمْ وَالأَمْوَاتِ إِنَّكَ سَمِيْعٌ قَرِيْبٌ مُجِيْبُ الدَّعْوَةِ
رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ الهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالعَفَافَ وَالغِنَى
. رَبنا أَدْخِلْنا مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنا مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَلْ لنا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ سُلْطَانًا نَصِيرًا
اللَّهُمَّ أَحْسِنْ عَاقِبَتَنَا فِى الأُمُورِ كُلِّهَا وَأَجِرْنَا مِنْ خِزْىِ الدُّنْيَا وَعَذَابِ الآخِرَةِ
رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِيْنَ.سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ
الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُوْنَ. وَسَلاَمٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِيْنَ. وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ.
عباد الله، إن الله يأمر بالعدل والإحسان وإيتاء ذي القربى وينهى عن الفخشاء والمنكر والبغي يعظكم لعلكم تذكرون. فاذكروا الله العظيم يذكركم واشكروه على نعمه يزدكم وادعوه يستجب لكم ولذكر الله أكبر.
أقم الصلاة
Reference used for this Friday sermon:
This Friday sermon is mainly a summary and adaptation from the following sources:
General authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment, United Arab Emirates, https://www.awqaf.gov.ae/en/Pages/FridaySermonDetail.aspx?did=6967
University of Darussalam Gontor, https://unida.gontor.ac.id/khutbah-jumat-singkat/
Arabic Language Department, University of Darussalam Gontor, http://pba.unida.gontor.ac.id/contoh-khutbah-jumat-bahasa-arab-di-unida-gontor-3/
