Salafus-Saaliheen سلف صالحين

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah
Amma ba'd

Be a Key for Good, a khutba by 'Umar Quinn (hafidhahullaah)

After khutbat al-Hajjah, the khateeb said:

It was reported in the musnad of Imam Ahmad (rahimahullaah ta'aala) on the authority of Nu'man ibn Bashir ibni 'Aamir al-Ansari (radiallaahu 'anhumma) that the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:
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"Al-Jama'atu rahmah wal Firqatu 'adhaab (The Jama'ah (community) is a mercy, and division (and separation and disunity) is a punishment.)"

The community is a mercy, and al-furqa is a punishment from Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala.

The word al-Jama'ah is one of the many terms that was applied by the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and his companions to al-Firqatu Najiya (The Saved Sect) and at-Taifatul Mansura (The Victorious Group).

The Jama'ah (the community) is exactly as was defined by 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (radiallaahu 'anhu) when he said to one of the tabi'een named 'Amr ibn Maymoon:
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Ya 'Amir ibn Maymoon. I used to think that you were the most knowledgeable of the people of this town. The majority of the people in the Jama'ah are in opposition to the Jama'ah.
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Al-Jama'ah ma wafaqa al-Haqq walaw kunta wahda (The Jama'ah is what is conformity to the truth even if you are all by yourself.)

In that case, you will be the Jama'ah.

And it was stated by Imam al-Barbaharee in his book Sharh-us-Sunnah (The Explanation of the Sunnah). The Sunnah here meaning the 'Aqidah of Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jama'ah. He [Imam Barbaharee] said:
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Al-Jama'ah is the companions of Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and the Jama'ah is the truth, and whoever is upon the truth. They are the Jama'ah.

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Ya ayuhal Muslim (O Muslim), al-Haqq (the truth) is the building block of the community. The truth is that which the people must cooperate upon. There are many people in the days in which we live who call to "li-Wahdit il Muslimeen" (The Unity of the Muslims). And there is a difference - O Muslim - between the unity of the Muslims and "al-Wahdat ul Islaammiyah" (Islaamic Unity, unity upon Islaam). And the difference is that Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala said in His Book (what means):
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...Cooperate upon righteousness and piety, but do not help one another in sin and transgression...(Suratul Ma`idah, ayah 2)

Some people think that Jama'ah (community) is when the people all agree with one another, and work together for a common goal, whether that goal was substantiated by the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) or not. Whether that goal was something the companions were upon or not, as long as the people are together. They think that this is unity. The statement they use: "We cooperate concerning what we agree upon and we pardon each other concerning what we differ about." And they think that this is unity - ya ayuhal Muslim! They think unity is when you have large numbers of people. But the Jama'ah was understood by the companions to be:

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Al-Jama'ah ma wafaqa al-Haqq walaw kunta wahda (The Jama'ah is what is conformity to the truth even if you are all by yourself.)

The 'ulemma (scholars) of al-Islaam say that Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala mentioned "al-akthariyah" (the majority) a number of times in His Book, and in every instance He mentioned the majority with dispraise and rebuke. He tabaraak wa ta'aala said (what means): And if you obey most of those on earth, they will mislead you far away from Allaah's Path. They follow nothing but conjectures, and they do nothing but lie. (Al-An'aaam, ayah 116)

And Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala said (what means): And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it eagerly. (Yoosuf, ayah 103)

And Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala said (what means): But most of mankind doesn't have knowledge. (Suratul Al-A'raaf, ayah 187)

And He tabaarak wa ta'aala said (what means): Truly, Allaah is full of Bounty to mankind, but most of them are ungrateful. (Surat Yunus, ayah 60)

So Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala has mentioned "al-akthariyah" (the majority) fi siyak a dhan (in the context of rebuke and of dispraise), ya ahuyal Muslim! And that is because the majority of the people in every time and place, you will find them upon al-mukhalafa, you will find them upon opposition to the sharee'ah of Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) concerning their beliefs ('aqeedah), concerning their business practices, concerning their 'ibaadah (worship), concerning every affair that has been governed by Allaah tabarak wa ta'aala and His Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). You will find the people in opposition to that. You will find the people in opposition to that!

And so the Jama'ah Ma wafaqa al-Haqq walaw kunta wahda (The Jama'ah is what is conformity to the truth even if you are all by yourself, ya ayuhal Muslim.)

It was stated by Ibnu Wadah in his book "Al-Bid'ah wal hawad." Ibnu Wadah was one of the scholars of hadith and fiqh from the earliest generations. He mentioned in his book about innovations.

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He said with a chain of narration that Abu Dardah (radiallaahu 'anhu) said to the people in his time:

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If the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) was to emerge on you people in these days [this was in the second generation, O Muslim], he wouldn't recognize anything of what he and his companions were upon of the truth.


One of the narrators of the statement of Abu Darda was Imam al-Awza'ee (rahimahullaah), the great scholar of hadith from the tabi'een. He had an entire madhhaab attributed to him. They say there were six main madhaahib - two outside of the four (famous) madhaahib, and one of them was for Imam al-Awza'ee, one of the great scholars to ever walk the face of the earth. He said:
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And how would the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) be if he was to see the times in which we live?

And Yunus ibn 'Ubaid (rahimahullaah) said:
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And how would Imam Al-Awza'ee be if he lived to see the time in which we live?

And we say:
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How would they all be if they were to see the time in which we live?


Except that they would be like 'Abdullaah ibn al-Mubarak Maroodi (rahimahullaah) who said:
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Know, ya akhee (my brother) that death is a gift from Allaah for whoever meets Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala upon the Sunnah of Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). And we complain to Allaah concerning the death of our brothers, and the fewness of those who support the religion, and the appearance of many innovations in the religion.


The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) mentioned, as you have heard before, about al-fitan in great detail, about trials and tribulations and tests in great detail. The 'ulemma of Islaam say: the ahadeeth of fitna are all positive, and they all encourage the person to rush to do good deeds. A person looks at the condition of the people in the days in which he lives, and this should cause him to be positive. It should cause him to rush to do good deeds. It should cause him to see that there is a great opportunity for him to spread the good and to revive the Sunnah of Muhammad (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam).

The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said about such people in the hadeeth of Anas ibnu Malik (radiallaahu 'anhu) reported by Ibnu Majah (237) and other than him:

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Indeed from the people are people who are keys to open the good for the people and to lock away the evil. [These are the keys to the community; they are the bulding blocks of the community. Be from them, ayuhal Muslim.] And indeed from the people are people who are keys lock away and block the good, and they open up the evil for the people. So Tooba [which the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said is a tree in Paradise from which the silken clothing of the people in the Paradise is taken from] is for the one whom Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala places the keys of good at his hands. [Ayuhal Muslim, the opportunity is right in front of you. Take the means and put your tawaakul (reliance) on Allaah, and you will meet Allaah upon the Sunnah and your death will be a kiraama (gift) from Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala. It will be an honor from Allaah to die upon the Sunnah of al-Mustafa (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam).] And woe be to the one whom Allaah has placed the keys of evil at his disposal. [We seek refuge in Allaah from this evil condition.]

Ayuhal (O) Muslim, the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) informed that [the ones who are keys to good and lock away evil] are the best of the people, the one whom Allaah has placed the keys of good at their disposal.

The 'ulemma of Islaam say: If you want to be a key for the good, the first matter you must have is:

al-Ikhlaas (sincerity for Allaah) in statements and in action

Maymun ibnu Mihram said:
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Perhaps a person will do a small action that will be magnified on account of his intention and sincerity. Perhaps a person will do a large action that will be shrunken and will be made nothing on account of his insincerity to Allaah.


It was stated by Rabee' ibnu Khaythim (or others pronounce it "Khuthaim," the khateeb clarified) (rahimahullaah), who said that whatever you do that you do not intend the face of Allaah thereby, then it will disappear.

And Imam Malik ibnu Anas (rahimahullaah) - Imam Darul-Hijrah - said:
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Whatever is sincere for Allaah, then it will survive.


'Abdullaah ibn Mubarik said about Imam Malik:
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I never saw anyone who rose in status like Imam Malik ibnu Anas (the Imam of the people of Madinah). I didn't see him fasting a lot or praying a lot, but he had a sareerah (heart).

Imam Malik was sincere for Allaah, and for this reason his mention has survived.

Fudayl ibn 'Iyaad said:
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The one who wants to be mentioned will never be mentioned. The one who wants to be remembered, he won't be remembered. But the one who doesn't want to be mentioned, doesn't want to be known, prefering al-Khumul (anonymity), he will be mentioned by the people, he will be remembered by the people.


So the first thing you must do, O Muslim, is to be sincere to Allaah.

So the second thing you must do, O Muslim, is:

Make du'aa to Allaah

From the most frequent of his du'aa, the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to say:
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Allaahumma inee as`aluka al-'afwa wal 'afia fi dunya wal akhira (Oh Allaah, we ask you for pardon and for good condition in this world and the hereafter.)


And he used to say:
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Ya Muqqalib al-Quloob thabit Quloobuna 'ala dineek (O You Who changes the hearts, make our hearts firm upon your religion.)


So you must ask Allaah - and know that there is nothing that I said that is not in the Hand of Allaah - and you cannot get what is in the Hand of Allaah except by asking Allaah, and Allaah giving it to you.

The third matter, and probably one of the most important matters for those who want to be a key for the good, and a person who is from the Jama'ah, a person who is working for that mercy that comes on account of being from the Jama'ah and working for the good of the entire community, is that:

You must seek beneficial knowledge concerning your religion

The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:
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Talabul 'ilm fareedatun 'ala kulli Muslim. (Seeking Knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.)


Seeking Knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.

Al-Imam, Shaikhul Islaam Ibnul Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:
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Ignorance is a lethal disease, and the only cure for it are two things that work together: a text from the Book of Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala or a statement from the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). And the doctor to administer that cure is al-'aalimu Rabbani (a scholar who raises the people upon the truth).

And he also said:
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Knowledge is (what) Allaah said, (what) His Messenger said, (what) the companions said, and it is not at-tamwee (pulling the wool over the eyes of the people). And it is not propping up difference between the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) and between the opinion of a scholar, saying such and such a scholar said such and such when you hear that the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said [something else].After 'Abdullaah ibn 'Abbaas (radiallaahu 'anhumma) informed of the Prophet's statement concerning a matter of Hajj, some people said, "but Abu Bakr and 'Umar said [something else]." Ibn 'Abbaas said:
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Soon, rocks may descend upon you from the sky to crush you. I say to you: 'the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said,' and you tell me that Abu Bakr and 'Umar said [something else]?


This is knowledge, O Muslim. What has come from Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala, what has come from the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and what has come from the companions of the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) in explanation of the Book and the Sunnah. This is knowledge of the Religion. This is knowledge of the Religion.

Knowledge of the Religion is not taken from philosophy. Knowledge of the Religion is not taken from what a person thinks he might, possibly understand when he reads the Qur`an, and he doesn't even understand the Arabic language, nor has he consulted the books of tafseer, and the statements of the sahaaba. This is not knowledge.

Knowledge is not when a person has a hallucination, or a vision, or a dream, saying that Allaah told him such and such, or the Prophet told him such and such. And they want to make it as though it is revelation sent down. Rather, knowledge is what came from Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala and from the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and it must be learned.

Knowledge is what came from Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala and from the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam), and it must be learned, O Muslim!

Most people spend more time in the bathroom than they spend reading. Most people spend more time in the bathroom than they spend in the masjid. Most people spend more time watching the television set than they spend reading the Book of Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala, or seeking beneficial knowledge. This is a tremendous problem!

It is a tremendous problem! And you wonder why Muslims have so many problems, and they are so far away from the knowledge of the religion of Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala.

Second Khutbah: After praising Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala and asking Allaah to send the salaam upon the seal of all Prophets, the khateeb said:Likewise for those who want to be a key for the good:

You must act upon what you know

The 'ulemma of al-Islaam say, "The Sunnah is like the Ark of Nuh (Noah, 'alaihi salaam). Whoever rides upon it will be saved."

That a person acts upon what he knows. If he has knowledge of a matter, he rushes to practice it.

Imam Ahmad (rahimahullaah) said,
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I never heard a hadith of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) except that I acted upon it.


Imam Ibnul Qayyim said in "Al-Fawaa`id" about those who do not act upon what they know, "Every time actions say 'come to me' (calling to the Jannah), then their actions say, 'don't listen to them.' Because if what they were upon was the truth, then they would have been the first one to answer their own call. Don't listen to them. Because if they were upon the truth, they would have been the first ones to act upon what they knew."

How many people have been "burned" or oppressed by a person who was thought to be righteous from amongst the Muslims, a person who was looked at in his appearance, in his way of dress, the way he carried himself, and reputation as a person who knew something about the religion, someone who was righteous?

And so this one married his daughter to that one, and this one did business with that one. And these people are few and far between amongst the Muslims in the first place - those who are seen practicing the religion. And this one oppressed that woman, and that one oppressed his brother concerning business. And so the people leave off seeking to understand the religion, saying "if this was something correct, and if it was good, then they would have been the first ones to act upon it. They would have been the first ones to act upon what they knew!"

Likewise, from the means to be a key for the good, O Muslims,

Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil

Al-Imam Ibnu Rajab (rahimahullaah) said that what compels a person to order the good and forbid the evil on one occasion is hoping for the reward from Allaah, and perhaps what may compel him to enjoin the good and forbid the evil is the fear of the punishment of Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala. And perhaps he will be compelled to enjoin the good and forbid the evil for being angry for the sake of Allaah, that what Allaah has made enviolable and forbidden is being committed without shyness. And perhaps a person will order the good and forbid the evil as a goodwill to the Muslims and that he has sympathy for them and what they are doing to themselves of opening themselves up to the punishment and wrath of Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala.

Perhaps what will compel the person to order the good and forbid the evil is that he realizes that the people in the past sacrificed their lives and their wealth to spread the Deen of Allaahu subhanahu wa ta'aala.

O Muslims, likewise, from the means to be a key for the good and to be of those who are in conformity to the truth - even if you are by yourself - is:

That you support the good with your wealth and self

Responding to a companion who told him, "I love you, O Messenger of Allaah," the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "then prepare for poverty."

Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala said about the hypocrites (what means): They are the ones who say: "La tunfiqu (spend not) on those who are with Allaah's Messenger, until they desert him." (Al-Munafiqun, ayah 7)

Allaah subhanahu wa ta'aala said in His Book (what means): Verily, the Mushrikun (polytheists, disbelievers) are Najasun (impure). So let them not come near Al-Masjid-al-Haraam (at Makkah) after this year, and if you fear poverty, Allaah will enrich you if He will, out of His Bounty. (At-Tawbah, ayah 28)

You should know, O Muslim, that you must put your money where your mouth is. You must put your money where your mouth is. If you say that this is what you're upon - upon the Sunnah of al-Mustafa (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) - then you should know that there is no such thing in the United States of America as The Ministry of Endowment and Da'wah that spends on the Masaajid of Allaah to support the maintenance of the masaajid.

If you say you're in support of al-Haqq (The Truth) - and you are among the people of the truth - O Muslim, then you must support it without a doubt.

Allaah said (what means): The Mosques of Allaah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allaah and the Last Day; perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and fear none but Allaah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance. (At-Tawbah, ayah 18)

You should know that whether you spend or don't spend, Allaah will support the truth and the people of the truth, O Muslim.