FRIDAY SERMON 22 Jamadil Awwal 1436H / 13 March 2015 IMPORTANCE OF UNITY Khatib: Ustaz Muhd Firdaus bin Pazim @ Fadzim Islamic Officer Islamic Centre UTM
Which means: O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.
My respected brothers, Firstly, we are grateful to Allah swt because He had bestowed His grace and guidance to us as Muslims.
Second, Allah has also given His guidance in making Malay, an Islamic race.
Third, we are in a country where Islam is the biggest religion and official religion. Hence, we are living in a country where Islam is a religion of the federation.
Apart from that, we are united in one faith under the belief of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah and the mazhab of imam al Shafi'iy.
While in terms of moral character, it is by the moral of Islamiyah. This is the essence of blessing that Allah bestowed upon our nation and Malaysia.
If we examine the above statement, we find that the Sultan, as a religious leader, with a sense of responsibility to allows religion to be a legal body state of the government since 1895, over a hundred years ago.
Therefore, as Muslims we must be grateful and preserve this privilege Allah has given us, so the rights and privileges can be maintained and preserved forever, Insya Allah.
If we look at other countries, we often hear news of Muslims killing each other because of differences in ideology and beliefs.
This is why the government does not allow other than the Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah faiths to be practiced in our country.
The government also does not allow other sects, except for the Shafi'iy sect to be practiced in this country, except for some reasons decided by the fatwa committee because of the large impact it have in the community.
The most unfortunate event that we re dealing with are situations where people claim they are Islam and is willing to fight for Islam, but their practice are in conflict with what is required by Islam as what is practiced by the IS, which has now become one of radical organizations and is opposed by all States for killing anyone who does not want to comply with what they want.
Based on the current challenges, Muslims must stay united in facing the challenges by strengthening the relationships based on beliefs and tenets of Islam.
Not based on ideology and party affiliation. Muslims outside the country is now being suppressed, oppressed and victimized by those who have hatred towards Islam.
If we are not able to defend the religion, culture and Islam s way of life, we are also likely to be the victim of provocations and threats from non Islamic nations like in Europe and USA today, wal iyazu billah.
Not all Muslims want to take a lesson from history. How many Islamic countries had been torn apart by the splitting among Muslims? In which, consequently, Muslims too have to face the loss and suffering.
So let us reflect for a moment, while we still have the opportunity to rule by the strength of politics, while we can still carry out religious activities freely, while we can still make our own decisions, let us tighten our bonds of kinship and brotherhood in Islam to ensure Muslims remain superior and competent in our beloved homeland.
Although we adopted a policy of democracy and freedom of expression, but the truth is we cannot run away from Allah's commandments that urge us to unite in a congregation and to not be divided because of self interest or for specific groups that would eventually lead to the destruction of the Muslims themselves.
Thus, due to the danger of division and hostility that can lead to the destruction, Allah reminds us to unite and do not be divided. Allah says in Surah Ali Imran verse 103 :
And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers.
And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.
Allah says in Surah al Anfal verse 46 :
And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
ب ار ك الله ل ي و ل ك م ف ى ال ق ر آن ال ع ظ ی م و ن ف ع ن ي و إ ی اك م ب م ا ف ی ھ م ن الا ی ات و الذ ك ر ال ح ك ی م و ت ق ب ل م ن ي و م ن ك م ت لاو ت ھ إ ن ھ ھ و ال سم یع ال ع ل ی م. أ ق و ل ق و ل ي ھ ذ ا و أ س ت غ ف ر الله ال ع ظ ی م ل ي و ل ك م و ل س اي ر ال م س ل م ی ن و ال م س ل م ات و ال م ؤ م ن ی ن و ال م ؤ م ن ات الا ح ی اء م ن ھ م و الا م و ات ف اس ت غ ف ر و ه إ ن ھ ھ و ال غ ف و ر ال رح ی م
O servant of Allah, remember that this world is a place for temporary lodging. Truly, hereafter is the everlasting and permanent abode. So let us devote to Allah for obtaining happiness and escape from the punishment of hellfire.
Allah says in Surah Al Ahzab verse 56:
Which means: Indeed Allah confers blessing upon the prophet and His angels (ask Him to do so). O! You who have believed, ask Allah to confer blessing upon him and ask Allah to grant him peace.
Let us pray that may Allah SWT be please with the khalifahs of Rasulullah s.a.w i.e Sayyidina Abu Bakr al Siddiq r.a., Sayyidina Umar al Khattab r.a., Sayyinda Uthman ibn Affan r.a., Sayyidina Ali ibn Abi Thalib r.a.
And to his companions who struggle to uphold the religion of Allah, also to his uncles Sayyidina Hamzah and Sayyidina Abbas r.a. and to his granchildren Sayyidina Hassan and Sayyidina Hussain r.a., his daughters Sayyidatina Fatimah al Zahraa, his wives Sayyidatina Khadijah and Sayyidatina Aisyah r.a. and the other wives. Followed by his family, companions, followers of the companions and those who come after them from time to time until the end of the world.
O Allah, forgive all Muslims and believers, whether surviving or deceased. O Allah, grant us glory and prosperity to those who fight and spendtheirwealthinyourwaysuchasthose who pay zakat, waqaf etc.
Ya Allah, bestow your guidance and help to the leaders and kings of the Muslim countries especially to Abdaka Al Harith Lishariatika Al Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Al Sultan Iskandar, the Sultan and ruler for the State of Johor Darul Takzim.
And to Raja Zarith Sofea Binti Al Marhum Sultan Idris Shah, Tengku Ismail Ibn Sultan Ibrahim, Pemangku Raja Johor and, the Prince and Princess, the royal kinship, and all Muslims.
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